Grace 809

Michelle believes newlywed wives can benefit from her perspective of a “seasoned” wife on topics like being content in marriage vs. comparing to other families; the importance of respecting your husband, believing the best about your spouse, and developing a “team” mindset. Michelle shares practical advice and wonderful stories from her own marital experiences.

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Michelle Lentz encourages newlyweds to enjoy time with their spouse.

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Christ followers hear a language that others miss.  In  2 Kings chapter 6 we see this truth played out in dramatic fashion.  Elijah’s protégé, Elisha, followed in his mentor’s footsteps and upset the powers of the age.  The king of Aram decided to take the young prophet out.  He sent a kill squad.  They surrounded the city by night.  It appeared to be the end.

But the man of God saw what his frightened servant could not.  “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see’” (v. 17).  One saw through the filter of fear.  The other, the filter of faith.  Elisha learned this lesson from Elijah.  We’d be wise to do the same.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the law. Deuteronomy 20-22. I’m calling today’s episode “There Are Two.” 

And I have an important announcement today.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”? I don’t think I’m a fool, but if I am, so be it. Every so often, current events and/or cultural conditions can’t help but influence my commentary on the day’s reading. This is obviously not a political or a news show, and I do dislike participating in political speech on this show. As a matter of fact, I don’t think that what I’m about to say is political, because I’m only going to talk about what the word of God says. But some might want to paint today’s episode with a political label. Whatever. What I am about to talk about needs to be addressed, especially with what’s going on in our current culture.

Genesis 1:27 So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.

Genesis 1:31And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW)

Deuteronomy 22:5 A woman must never wear anything men would wear, and a man must never wear women’s clothes. Whoever does this is disgusting to the Lord your God. (GW)

Now listen. I’m not a transphobe. I do not hate people of either sex if they disagree with me or Scripture. And I am certainly not afraid of them. That is what “phobia” means. You know that, right? The reason I’m talking about this today, my motivation, in everything I say on this show, is to explain the Scriptures in such a way that the true nature of God is revealed. I believe that when He is properly understood, people’s hearts will be changed and eternal lives will be saved. Failing that, my hope is that there will at least be understanding, and maybe even less antipathy.

When these scriptures were written, it was common for men and women to wear clothes that were similar. Both sexes wore long robes, but with distinctive styles that differentiated between the sexes. Deuteronomy 22:5 was a command not to blur the lines between the sexes or to purposely dress in the manner of the opposite sex.

You see, as Genesis 1:27 says, God created only two sexes. Male and Female. There is not a spectrum. It’s one or the other. Now, before you say, “But Steve, some people are born with the organs of both.” Yes, I know that’s true. But hear me. 

We live in a fallen world. We live in a world that is suffering the effects of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinne

Transcript

Today is Epistles Sunday. Our reading will be 1 John 1-3.. Before I begin the chapters, I’ll have an introduction to John’s Epistles for you. Tomorrow is August 1st, and I will have an announcement to share with you on the show, so don’t miss it. I’m calling today’s episode “They’re Talking About You.” 

Chapter 1

John begins chapter one much like he did his Gospel. He refers to Jesus as the Word, and he affirms that the Word has existed from the beginning. And he says that he, John, personally saw and heard Him.

He says that it is through Jesus that we can have a relationship with God, and that when we have that, we have a relationship with other believers…we truly are brothers and sisters.

This is important because if we say we believe, and yet don’t love each other, we are fooling ourselves. 

And then at the end of chapter one we read one of the foundational truths of the Gospel. John writes in verse nine, “God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.” Of course, God sets a high standard for us, but He knows how weak and fallible we are. But because of what Jesus did on the cross, this forgiveness is available to all who believe.

Chapter 2

And in the opening verses of chapter two, John continues this thought. And this one just blows me away. Did you know that you are a topic of conversation between Jesus and the Father? You are. And I am. Listen to this. John writes: I’m writing this to you so that you will not sin. Yet, if anyone does sin, we have Jesus Christ, who has God’s full approval. He speaks on our behalf when we come into the presence of the Father.” 

When you and I sin, Jesus looks at the Father and says, “Forgive him, Father. I already paid for that sin with my blood.” What better advocate could there possibly be? Such Good News!

Of course, there are a lot of golden nuggets of truth in these first three chapters, but I’m going to leave you with that last one.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-3 GWT

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Transcript

Today is Gospel Saturday Acts 17-18. I’m calling today’s episode “Just Do Your Job.”

Something that struck me in today’s reading was in verse 5 and 6. Paul had told the Jews that Jesus was the Christ, and he was opposed and slandered. Other translations use the word “blasphemed” or “became abusive” or “insulted.” His response to this treatment was interesting. What do many of us tend to do today when people don’t accept our message? We try to change our approach. We try even harder to convince them that Jesus is who He said He is. But Paul shook the dust from his clothes in protest and said to them, “You are responsible for your own fates! I’m innocent! From now on I’ll go to the Gentiles!” He didn’t seem to fret over saving every last person he delivered the message to. 

Folks, we need to remember that our job is merely to deliver the message as faithfully and accurately as we can. It’s not our job to make them believe. We can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who convinces. Yes, we must be prepared to give an answer when people ask questions, but we cannot bring about change in the human heart. Once we’ve delivered the message, our job is done.

That’s not to say that we should take too casual an attitude about witnessing, however. Note that in verse 28, we’re told that Apollos “would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate,” and here is the key part of the verse, “using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.”

He defeated the Jews with the scriptures. Not his own human arguments, but with scripture. Very important. Scripture is the living Word of God. My own arguments are just the word of Steve, which isn’t worth much. But God’s Word? That’ll change someone’s eternity.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 17 NCV; Ch. 18 CEB

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9/11 survivor Darin Kinder tells about rescuing people from the rubble of collapsed buildings.

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As a secret service agent, Darin Kinder was trained to handle emergencies. As a Christian, he was gifted with compassion for others. Hear his eyewitness account of the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City on 9/11/2001 and how he was able to serve other people and make it out alive.

Receive a copy of "Bury Me in a Dirty Suit" and an audio download of "Serving and Surviving in New York on 9/11" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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Immediately after the Mount Carmel experience, Elijah instructed Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain” (1 Kings 18:41 NIV). But then we read that the sky was cloudless. How do we explain his announcement? I found the answer in the Hebrew word that is translated sound. Elijah was choosing to hear God’s covenant and disregard the circumstances.

The circumstances: the silent sky, the blazing sun, dearth of clouds. The promise of God, the words spoken to Elijah, said, “Pull out your umbrella.” Elijah chose to hear the “voice” of God’s promise.

What about us? Multiple times each day, we choose the message we follow. Are we reeling from the problems, or are we standing on God’s promises? 

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Prophecy Friday Zechariah 8-14.  I’m calling today’s episode “There Is A Fountain.”  

The Messiah is prophesied in chapter 6. There, He is referred to as the Branch, who will build the Temple of the Lord. What temple did Jesus build? The Church. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:19.

And then in chapter 7, the Lord, through Zechariah, said that His people ignored Him, so He ignored them and scattered them among the nations.

But in chapter 8 He once again said how much He loves them, and then makes nine more statements that demonstrate that love, so that they would not be discouraged by the punishment they had received because of their disobedience. 

And isn’t that how a loving Father disciplines his child? How terrible it is when a parent allows a child to lose hope, to doubt that he or she is still loved. Discipline should always be couched in love, and the child should always have that love reinforced.

This is what God the Father has always done for us, His children.

In verse 1 of chapter 12, we read, “The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him.”

This verse is confirming that the God who created all that is spoke this message, just in case there was any doubt about its veracity. The Supreme Being of the Universe has a message, and all who hear should listen. 

The bottom line of God’s message is that any nation that comes against Jerusalem will ultimately be soundly defeated. Any nation that comes against Israel is on a fool’s errand. They may triumph for a day, but the final outcome is sure. 

The chapter ends, of course, with a look forward to Jesus Himself, the fact that He would be pierced, and the mourning that would take place upon His death.

Chapter 13 begins with the declaration of what would be the result of the piercing. It says, “On that day a fountain  will be opened for the house of David and for the residents of Jerusalem, to wash away sin and impurity.“ Of course, being on this side of the prophecy and having knowledge of the New Testament and the work of Jesus, we know that this promise applies to all, not just to the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, it applies to all who believe.

The rest of the chapter speaks more to who this Messiah would be, and it ends with another beautiful promise, “I will refine them as silver is refined and te