I needed another Christmas story to help me break out of my December blues. Here it is.

Romans 8:8 says, "Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." The obvious question then is, how do I get ot of the realm of the flesh. In this episode, I give you three practical steps to do that very thing.

Where do you worship

Jesus gives us the ultimate example of how to prepare to face temptation. He was led by the Spirit to a place of solitude whe he feasted upon the Word of God. He demonstrated his understanding of need for spiritual nourishment over physical nourishment by fasting for 40 days. He purposely weakened his flesh in order to strengthen his spiritual connection with God.

To connect with the Spirit, we must accept the reality of our existence. We are spiritual beings trapped in a physical existence for a short time. God leaves clues and roadmaps to assist us in recognizing truth, a truth that leads to Him.

Jesus would often withdraw to lonely places to disconnect from the demands of life and reconnect with the source of his strength. Likewise, we need solitude to encounter the Spirit.

The parable of the soils exposes the areas of our hearts that remain resistant to the Word of God. The Spirit will fill us, but only to the we allow. Preparing our hearts begins with soil examination.

Episode 1 in our new series Encountering the Spirit takes us that the first step is to recognize that the only vehicle that God uses to manifest his spiritual power is the Holy Spirit. Thus, in order to be a new creation, we need the Spirit more than life itself.

I talk with my brother from another mother, Chad, about whether Christians should observe the Sabbath

Didn't make my deadline