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Luke 12:21

Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.

Question

Prayer

The world we live in is filled with negativity, despair, and hopelessness. However, studying the Bible reveals to us how we can experience victory despite what’s going on around us. In the Old Testament, David the young shepherd provided a strong example of how to overcome challenges. Despite the fear around him when Goliath showed up, David never gave up hope; he faced a giant much bigger than himself and slew him. Our strength lies in spending time with God; hearing directly from Him in the midst of the situation causes us to prevail.

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What if your deepest pain was actually planting seeds for the spiritual fruit your family needs most?

Every Christian parent walks through seasons of hardship and heartache, moments that feel like a “dark night of the soul.” But why does God allow these painful, confusing valleys? And—more importantly—what is He growing in us through them?

In this solo episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, host Catherine pulls back the curtain on her own current season of struggle: holding down the fort as her husband works in another state, navigating loneliness, and wrestling with God’s timing and plans. But this isn’t just about surviving difficulty—it’s about discovering what God is accomplishing in the midst of it. Catherine reminds listeners that these hard, unchosen seasons are not evidence of God’s absence, but fertile ground for His deepest growth.

Key Insights and Takeaways:

• Gifts vs. Fruit: Catherine draws on a striking analogy from a recent sermon—how, in the Old Testament, priests wore alternating gold bells (gifts) and pomegranates (fruit) on their robes. Just as gifts and fruit were literally woven together, so too must our talents be balanced with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
• How is Spiritual Fruit Grown? Unlike our natural gifts, spiritual fruit isn’t something we’re born with or can develop by sheer will—it’s birthed in intimacy with God, often in the hardest and most uncomfortable soil. As Catherine powerfully states, “The fruit of the Spirit is birthed in the opposite soil from what it reflects."
• The Soil Where Each Fruit of the Spirit Grows:
  • Love is birthed in loss
  • Joy is birthed in mourning
  • Peace is birthed in chaos
  • Patience is birthed in waiting
  • Kindness is birthed in disappointment
  • Goodness is birthed in need and injustice
  • Faithfulness is birthed in betrayal
  • Gentleness is birthed in conflict
  • Self-control is birthed in temptation
• Pain Has Purpose: Using vivid stories—from her own journey to those of friends facing life-threatening illness or unimaginable grief—Catherine assures parents that God never wastes our dark nights. These seasons prepare us, shaping our character to carry God’s gifts with humility and serving as a foundation for godly parenting in a fallen world.
• Practical Encouragement: Catherine offers heartfelt encouragement and a moving prayer for listeners enduring their own difficult seasons, reminding every Christian parent that “God is growing something in you that you will need for where He is taking you.”

Notable Moment:
Catherine shares, “Fruit is birthed in the dark night of the soul… Spiritual fruit grows in the dark, in the painful places, in the moments that push us and stretch us and sometimes crush us—because fruit is birthed in the dark night of the soul.”

Don’t miss:
This episode’s challenge to examine your own family: Are you nurturing both gifts and fruit in your parenting? Are you modeling for your children what it looks like to trust God through sorrow and uncertainty?

Call to Action:
How might your current struggles be the very soil God is using to grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control in your home? What fruit is He birthing in your family—right now, in the dar

Join us for an extraordinary conversation as Faith Driven Investor shares a special crossover episode from the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, where host Justin Forman sits down with President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi at his lakeside residence. President Chakwera brings a unique perspective as both a former pastor who led the Assemblies of God for 24 years and now as the leader of a nation, sharing profound insights on the intersection of faith, investment, and nation-building.

In this powerful discussion, President Chakwera reveals how God called him from the pulpit to the presidency, his vision for transforming Malawi from an aid-dependent nation to an investment-driven economy, and the critical role faith-driven investors can play in Africa's development. He shares candidly about the importance of shifting from poverty alleviation to wealth creation, the untapped potential in Malawi's agriculture, tourism, and mining sectors, and why partnership—not paternalism—is the key to unlocking Africa's vast resources.

Key Investment Topics Discussed: • The transition from aid to investment: Creating sustainable economic growth through strategic partnerships • Malawi's ATM strategy: Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining as key investment sectors with massive potential • Infrastructure development as the critical enabler: From 11% to 75% electricity access by 2030 • The $1 trillion+ opportunity in rare earth minerals, including the world's largest rutile deposits • Why Africa's youth demographic (average age 18 in Malawi) represents an unprecedented investment opportunity

Powerful Quotes from President Chakwera:

"Investing for me is using what God has given me in order that I might be a blessing to other people."

"We need to re-engineer ourselves and how we look at all these resources and say, how do we now become a productive oriented community, rather than a consumption oriented one?"

"A faith-based investor recognizes that we've got to build on the trust we have, and then our dealings will not be based on any corrupt practices."

President Chakwera's journey from pastoral ministry to presidential leadership offers unique insights for investors seeking both financial returns and Kingdom impact. His vision for Malawi to become "an inclusively wealthy, self-reliant, upper middle income economy" by 2063 presents compelling opportunities for faith-driven capital to make a transformative difference in one of Africa's most beautiful and resource-rich nations.

Sometimes, we walk through life wearing our shame like dirty laundry. But why? Coach Shannon explains that Christ has conquered shame and given us a clean, fresh start!

As a thank-you for your support this month, you’ll receive a copy of Organic Outreach for Ordinary People by Kevin Harney. It’s a simple, practical guide to sharing your faith in everyday conversations—right where God has placed you.

Yours with a gift of any amount.

Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.

When darkness seems overwhelming and evil appears unstoppable, we desperately need reasons to keep going. In this study of Psalm 37:12-40, Dr. John reveals three truths from David's reflections: the certain fate of the wicked, the possibility of remaining steady through faith, and the eternal promises that sustain God's people. Drawing from David's experiences facing overwhelming opposition, this message shows why believers can maintain hope and generosity even in the darkest times.

Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John’s series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God’s faithfulness amid life’s challenges. From David’s escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.

Feeling the post-summer financial fog? You’re not alone—but now’s the perfect time to reset.

Summer is a season of rest, family, and fun—but it can also knock our financial habits off course. That’s why fall is an ideal time to pause, reflect, and get back on track. Let’s explore six small but meaningful steps that can help realign your finances with your goals—and your faith.

Summer often brings looser schedules and, sometimes, looser spending. That’s okay—we need time to rest. But if your finances feel off-center, it may be time for a reset.

Before moving forward, look back. Did your summer spending reflect your values or just your impulses? Whether it was vacations, eating out, or spontaneous purchases, reviewing where your money went brings clarity. Think of it as an act of stewardship—learning from the past so you can plan better for the future.

Seasons change—and so do financial rhythms. Back-to-school costs, higher grocery bills, or other expenses may have shifted your cash flow. Revisit your budget to ensure it reflects your priorities: generosity, saving, and wise spending.

A helpful tool: The FaithFi app makes budgeting a daily reminder that every dollar belongs to God. It helps you plan and track your finances in alignment with your faith.

Life gets busy, and bills sometimes slip through the cracks. Go back and confirm you haven’t missed any payments. Even one late bill can hurt your credit. Also, review your autopay accounts to ensure everything is running smoothly. A little attention here prevents bigger headaches later.

Generosity sometimes takes a backseat in busy seasons. If that happened this summer, take time to prayerfully revisit your giving. Ask yourself: Has God blessed me in a way that calls for deeper generosity? Whether to your church, a ministry, or a neighbor in need, giving is more than duty—it’s an expression of trust in God as your ultimate provider.

We all have one thing on our financial to-do list that gets pushed aside—reviewing insurance, starting a will, or scheduling a meeting with an advisor. Stewardship often looks like taking the next step, even if it’s small or unglamorous.

Fall is a season of preparation. Anticipate upcoming costs, such as school expenses, open enrollment, holiday shopping, or tax planning. Mark dates and set reminders now so you won’t be scrambling later. Wise stewardship is proactive, not reactive.

Don’t feel pressure to fix everything in one day. Growth—financial and spiritual—comes through steady, faithful diligence. Proverbs 4:26 reminds us: “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”

Wherever you’re starting from—catching up, starting over, or just resetting—God meets you there. He isn’t after perfection; He’s after your heart, and He promises to walk with you every step of the way.

At FaithFi, we’re committed to equipping Christians to integrate faith and financial decisions for the glory of God. If you believe in this mission, we’d love to invite you to become a monthly partner.

A gift of $35 or more per month (or $400 per year) helps us continue this vital work. As a thank-you, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including our quarterly Faithful Steward magazine, Pro Access to the FaithFi app, and early access to our devotionals and studies.

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