Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” --Matthew 9: 10-13

Today, I'm excited to be sitting down as my sister Gabby shares her testimony. One of restoration, redemption and Gods pursuit of her. While this may seem like a long one, I kid you not, it's worth the listen and not just because we're related. From salvation to Gods restoring work, it's a good reminder that we are to pick up our cross' daily. To be the hands and feet of Jesus to all whether those far off or struggling and not just that, but to be busy about furthering Gods kingdom and not that of our own.

May this encourage you and God be glorified and praised.

If you could imagine your life in a few weeks, months or even years based off where you are today, what would you imagine? I sat down with Laura to talk since our last May 2021 recording titled "Single Like a Pringle" to share our updates.
 
 My, we both couldn't have imagined what the Lord would or could do for us, through us and most importantly, in us.
 
 Grab your coffee, tea or drink and get ready as we unpack what they Lord has done because I'm not kidding -- He has done exceedingly and abundantly more.
 
 We're both in awe and give God glory for everything because as Ephesians 3:20-21 says:
 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ask or imagine, accordingly to His power at work within us".
 
 Friend, I don't know what pile of ashes you may find yourself in today, but God brings beauty from them and Romans 8:28. God brings good from what was bad.
 
 May this episode bless and encourage you! God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more!

Like most books, they're meant to be read from cover to cover and so is this 5 Chapter podcast. How do you start a fire and what keeps it going? Are there things that impact it's burning or gets it quickly dying?

Closing thoughts- after "reading" chapters 1-4, I wanted to close this book with the question, "What do you see if you were to examine yourself?". What would you see?

Are you tired because you've been doing it on your own, bearing the weight and need the Helper (Holy Spirit)?

Are you tired and need to intentionally make time for rest because this doesn't come second nature?

Are you freely forgiven yet hold back because the past still haunts you today?

Or do you know what to do and are just waiting for things to "fall into your" lap to do? Just a little motivation will do...

Whenever you find yourself, may the Lord speak to you and in all things, may we truly honor Him. To have that fire burning for Him and Him alone.

Like most books, they're meant to be read from cover to cover and so is this 5 Chapter podcast. How do you start a fire and what keeps it going? Are there things that impact it's burning or gets it quickly dying?

Chapter 4: Ah, the "what if's" of life. What if I never had taken that step? What if I never walked down that road. What if I listened sooner. What if, what if....and yet, Christ's blood washes us white and we are made new if we repent and confess our sins.

What if Paul, after encountering the Lord, walked out as if he were still Saul?
What if Mary, who being possessed with several demons, after being delivered still lived thinking she were bound?  And yet, many of us still live in our yesterday's. The shame of past mistakes. It's one thing to live in unrepentant sin and another thing to allow the devil another second longer a seat at our table. To listen to his lies. To tell us we will never be made new. We can never be used. "Yeah, you might be forgiven but you can't possibly be used by God. Who, YOU?!"

David.
Mary.
Paul.
Peter.
Thomas the doubter.
The list goes on.
Welcome to the club of sinners. Those who's sins have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and can walk today in that TRUTH. That freedom. Don't live in the past, walk in the freedom that Christ's blood paid once and for all. He has a plan for your life and wants to use YOU. Not just your neighbor. Not just your pastor or your child's Sunday school teacher. You too.

Like most books, they're meant to be read from cover to cover and so is this 5 Chapter podcast series "Where Is Your Fire". How do you start a fire and what keeps it going? Are there things that impact it's burning or gets it quickly dying?
 
 Is it possible to have a favorite chapter in a book because this episode has a special place, maybe because it's an area that hits close to home. I was once afraid of Holy Spirit--real talk. Jesus--yes! He died for my sins. Father--yes! He's who He is but Holy Spirit? It's taken some time and ah, He's an amazing part of the trinity but the weight of the words of Jesus when He said, "it is better that I go because I will leave the Helper".
 
 We would be fooled to think we can do it on this side of eternity without help from Heaven--His Spirit. As wood is important to a fire, so is the fire itself so vital to everything.

Like most books, they're meant to be read from cover to cover and so is this 5 Chapter podcast series "Where Is Your Fire". How do you start a fire and what keeps it going? Are there things that impact it's burning or gets it quickly dying?

In today's episode, Chapter 2 titled "You Might Need Rest, but You Need to Persevere", I wanted to share how important rest is. In our minds, rest can almost feel unproductive, something we can't reward and yet, in the story of Mary and Martha, it was Mary who was noted as choosing the better part. Don't get me wrong, James covers how faith and works work together to show we are Christ's followers and somehow "Keep the Sabbath holy" may drops low on some of our "to do" lists.

May the Lord help us to learn to not only work well for His glory, but truly rest and persevere to finish the race set before us.

Like most books, they're meant to be read from cover to cover and so is this 5 Chapter podcast. How do you start a fire and what keeps it going? Are there things that impact it's burning or gets it quickly dying?

In today's episode, Chapter 1 titled "You Don't Need Motivation to get Going", I wanted to cover that you are not always motivated to move and yet, even if we're not always motivated, some of us make our beds every morning. Some of us get going to work. We try to get to that workout class and yet, even there we don't always have that urge to do it in the moment. That "ah, I am always feeling the push to go".

Like any ultimate destination, roads can become cluttered with traffic, inclement weather and somehow, we keep driving. Why is that? Because we have somewhere to go and like it or not, we need to hunker down and just keep going even if that means slowing down.

Are you kidding yourself? Are you experiencing very real things and saying "it's okay."

Are you experiencing difficult situations and walking through hard circumstances?

Do you feel like a failure? Like you can't seem to get enough or get through? What does your outlook for your future look life?

Do you hope for the good or do you always need to anticipate or foresee another bad thing?

In today's final episode in the series "The In-Between", the encouragement is to be honest. To be real. Where are you? What's keeping you up at night? What are you struggling with or is challenging for you?

Can I encourage you to be honest? To be really real? Bring it all to God because He does care for you.

May you bring Him all your needs. Not just those cute, prepackaged prayers but those honest, raw and real ones too. 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares about you."

Be blessed

Have you ever had a situation where you were so sure but ended up being so wrong? In chapter 4 of the series titled "Be Open", I just wanted to talk on the possibility that what you had in mind may not be entirely right. (that last statement may have just caused you to tighten the grip on something you hold so tight) But could it be that there's the possibility that what you had in mind, may have not been entirely right?

I don't know about you but in my years, there are moments I can look back on and confidently now say "thank you God that you didn't give me ___________." I can now see that wouldn't have been good or "I can see now how all those moments led to here. Even though it was hard, thank you!" It brought me to the other side.

Let's not kid ourselves. The in-between isn't aways easy, it's downright exhausting sometimes. It breaks us down even, but could it be that even there, in the in-between, God hasn't stopped working? Could it be that He's orchestrating something far greater, dare I say even better than we could have even imagined?

Could it be that what we thought...isn't what's right?

May this episode bless you and encourage you to trust God once more and episode 5 and final in this series coming out soon.

Be blessed

Who's your go-to person? That one person you know is reliable, will always pick up their phone or show up when it's go time?

Today's episode in the series "The In-Between" we cover the importance of fellowship with God and the things of Him. While in the in-between, we have all sorts of data and things coming our way whether we realize it or not, and it's so vital that we stay connected to the source...the Vine- God. 

Whatever you're facing today, can I encourage you to go to God? You don't have to have it all together. You don't have to have the answers or solutions but what you can do is bring it all at His feet. Let Him help you, fill you and ultimately guide you in all.

I pray episode 3 blesses you and would encourage you to continue to go to God and episode 4 to come soon!