Grace 809

Based on his book Making Your Marriage a Fortress, Gary Thomas helps couples anticipate and weather the inevitable storms of life. He says that they can grow closer to each other and God through these experiences. He provides encouragement and hope for couples who are currently struggling, as well as offering a preparatory warning to couples who haven’t yet faced a crisis and need to know that such crises are inevitable.
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Spiritual muscle is developed not by sitting but by acting. Not by listening but by doing.

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like” (James 1:22-24 NLT).

You turn away, pause, and wonder, Did I comb my hair? Such a question would betray one truth, and that is lack of attention. James indicts us for doing the same. We go to church. We hear a message, enjoy a few songs, but are we changed? Do we worry less and pray more? Are we less concerned about our will and more concerned about God’s? Let’s not be lookers. Let’s be doers.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Proverbs 31. I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “A Mother’s Advice”

This chapter is a mother’s advice to her son. The son is King Lemuel, and I’d like to tell you about him, but scholars don’t know anything about him. There’s a fair amount of conjecture, but no facts. One thing that seems true is that there was no king of Judah or Israel with this name. So instead of spending time on who he was, let’s just talk a little about the content of this chapter.

She warns her son about the dangers of sexual immorality. Good advice. And the advice would be just as good as if it were from a mother to a daughter or a father to either son or daughter. Both men and women invite all kinds of trouble if they are not sexually pure. I know that sounds very old fashioned, but look at the consequences on our culture today brought on by the sexual revolution that began in the 60s, not the least of which is more than 62 1/2 million abortions in America alone since 1973. STDs are rampant. About a quarter of the children in the US live in single-parent homes…the highest rate in the world. I could go on. Beloved, God’s plan for marriage is not to take our fun away, it is to give us a better, happier life. 

Then this wise mother talked to her son about the dangers of alcohol. Nearly everyone has a family member or knows someone whose life was ruined by alcohol. I never met my paternal grandfather. He was killed while driving drunk. My biological father was an alcoholic, as were three of his four brothers, if I’m not mistaken. And I could go on with other stories. Don’t get me wrong. Alcohol can be used responsibly, but a dangerous substance must be used with the realization that it is indeed dangerous. 

She talked about the importance of defending the defenseless. This is certainly important for a king or any person in a position of power, but it’s true for all of us. What are we doing for the defenseless? What is your church doing? Some churches feed the needy. Some have programs for the homeless. Some are active in right to life activities. Individuals can volunteer in soup kitchens, or do prison ministries, or counsel women who are considering abortions. Literally, the sky is the limit. Ask God what He would have *you* do.

And then verses 10 to 31 are probably the verses that Proverbs 31 is best known for: the mother tells her son the value of a woman of character and virtue. In the original Hebrew language, each verse begin

Former teachers Sue Acuna and Cynthia Tobias explain the changes middle schoolers experience and their inner struggles. They’ll share advice for parents navigating their children’s transition to middle school. Hear advice for communicating with middle schoolers, dealing with their doubts and questions about God, and adapting as they grow.
Receive a copy of the Helping Kids Through Life’s Changes bundle and an audio download of "Middle School: The Inside Story" 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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Sue Acuna discusses how parents should be monitoring their child’s electronic usage.
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Do you feel it is you against the world? Not so, my friend. Outnumbered by foes and outdone by fear? Please reconsider. Surrounded by adversity? Perhaps. Yet, you are also encircled by divinity. With God’s help you can ride these raging rapids with unbreakable courage.

Immovable. Determined. Square-jawed and resolved. Like the prophet Elijah who “…went and did according to the word of the Lord…” (1 Kings 17:5 NKJV). Elijah affirms a positive answer to these questions: Can a person maintain faith in a world that has little? When a culture belittles belief, can a believer beget strength? Yes! With God’s help, we will discover strength to ride this storm, an unbreakable courage and steadfast faith.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Wednesday and we’ll read Psalms 120-121. Before reading each one, I’ll have an introduction, and after the reading I have some comments for you. These are very short chapters, so this will be a short show today. I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Ascents Part 1.”  

I really like these short little Psalms. Besides being sung on the journey up to Jerusalem, I can easily see these as songs that became popular to be sung as people went about their daily lives, especially Psalm 121. Don’t you have some favorite songs or choruses from your church that you find yourself singing throughout the week? I know I do. 

In my imagination I can almost hear a man or a woman sing these to the Lord as they go through the day with the cares of the world weighing them down, or as they celebrate how God has blessed them in one endeavor or another. Can’t you?

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 120-121 HCSB

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Steve Webb 0:00
It is probable that Jesus sang these songs when he made his journeys from Galilee to Jerusalem.

Steve Webb 0:06
Well, hi there. This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God caster Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today is Wednesday. So we’ll read Psalms, chapters 120, and 121. Before reading each one, I’ll have a brief introduction. And after the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. These are very short chapters. So this will be a short show today. I do have an on this date in church history. And I’m calling today’s episode a sense part one, the shownotes for today is that Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 287. So let’s get r

Former teachers Sue Acuna and Cynthia Tobias explain the changes middle schoolers experience and their inner struggles. They’ll share advice for parents navigating their children’s transition to middle school. Hear advice for communicating with middle schoolers, dealing with their doubts and questions about God, and adapting as they grow.
Receive a copy of the Helping Kids Through Life’s Changes bundle and an audio download of "Middle School: The Inside Story" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly! 
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna advise parents on how to understand their middle schooler.
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Get today's featured resource "Middle School: The Inside Story"
Explore more episode resources
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Minute, please give us your feedback.

Ancient Israel had the scruffy hills of Gilead, and somewhere in this rugged land Elijah came to believe in a mighty Yahweh who refused to share his glory with others. He confronted Ahab and Jezebel with a surgical strike. Baal was regarded as the god of fertility, yet Baal’s veil was about to be yanked back. Jehovah has declared a drought.

Does Elijah have some encouragement for our generation? Absolutely! The story of Elijah offers us hope. Elijah shows us that one person following a living God is greater than hundreds of people praying to a lifeless one.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.