LifeAudio

Family discipleship, Christian parenting, and teaching toddlers about Jesus are at the heart of this conversation with pastor, author, and podcaster Adam Griffin, lead pastor of Eastside Community Church and co-host of The Family Discipleship Podcast. Adam shares the vision behind his new children’s board book, What Will You Teach Me?, and why the earliest lessons—colors, numbers, animals, and music—can all point children back to God.

This episode explores how parents can integrate faith into everyday learning, why discipleship doesn’t require seminary training, and how spiritual formation begins long before children can read or speak.

Highlights

• Why most Christian kids’ books miss an opportunity for deeper discipleship

• How everyday lessons like math, science, and language reveal God’s design

• The inspiration behind What Will You Teach Me?

• Why this board book is designed for babies through age four

• How repetition helps children learn truth through story and visuals

• What “family discipleship” really means—and why it’s often overcomplicated

• Bridging the gap between spiritual and secular education

• Why discipleship deserves the same priority as academics

• How parents can lead spiritually without being experts

• Adam’s vision for future family discipleship resources

Join the Conversation

How do you naturally incorporate faith into everyday learning moments with your kids?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts using #LifeAudio.

Resources & Links

• What Will You Teach Me? by Adam Griffin (B&H Publishing)

• ️ The Family Discipleship Podcast

• Family Discipleship by Adam Griffin & Matt Chandler

• Deuteronomy 6:4–9

• Matthew 28:19–20

• Explore more faith-centered po

Today’s Bible Verse: “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.” — Genesis 4:26 

Genesis 4:26 marks a quiet but powerful turning point in Scripture—the moment when people intentionally began to seek the Lord. In a world already fractured by sin and sorrow, this verse highlights humanity’s response: calling on God in dependence, worship, and hope.

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MEET YOUR HOST: Chaka Heinze at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Chaka Heinze is a writer, speaker, and lover of the Bible. She is actively involved in her local church on the Prayer and Healing team and mentors young women seeking deeper relationships with God.

After personally experiencing God's love and compassion following the loss of her eleven-year-old son, Landen, Chaka delights in testifying to others about God's unfathomable and transformative love that permeates even the most difficult circumstances.
Chaka and her husband of twenty-six years have five children ranging from adult age to preschool. Trained as an attorney, she’s had the privilege of mitigating sibling disputes for twenty-plus years.

Follow her on Chakaheinze.com.

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Sometimes we want change because we’re bored—but often we want it because life feels hard, confusing, or beyond our control. That’s where Israel stood at the Red Sea: water in front, an enemy behind, and no clear way forward.

Moses’ call to “be still” wasn’t a suggestion to relax—it was an invitation to surrender. Stillness, in moments like these, means releasing what we can’t fix and trusting God to do what we cannot. You may not know when change will come, but you can know Who is with you in the waiting. The Lord sees the road, fights for you, and guides you step by step.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:13

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER 

Gracious Lord,
I’m looking for change—answers, clarity, relief, direction. And if I’m honest, I’m tired of carrying what feels too heavy for me. Tonight, I hear Your Word: You will fight for me, and I need only to be still.

So I quiet my striving and surrender what I cannot control. I place before You the places I feel trapped, the fears that chase me, and the “Red Sea” moments where I don’t know how to move forward. Open doors I cannot open. Bring healing I cannot produce. Give wisdom I cannot manufacture.

Teach me what it means to stand firm—not in denial, but in trust. Help me to believe You are working even when I can’t yet see the way. And when You call me to move, give me courage to take the next faithful step.

More than changed circumstances, Lord, I want a heart anchored in You. Shape my desires, align my will to Yours, and guide me in the path You’ve prepared.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Where is my “Red Sea” right now?
   What situation feels impossible or stuck—where you need God to make a way?

2. What does “be still” look like for me tonight?
   Is it releasing control, stopping the mental spirals, forgiving, asking for help, or simply praying one honest sentence?

3. What is one next step of faith I can take?
   Like Israel stepping forward, what small act of obedience might God be inviting you into—one phone call, one apology, one decision, one prayer, one step?

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Have you ever caught yourself dreading a birthday… or worrying about a new wrinkle or gray hair?

In our culture, aging is often something we fear, hide, or try to fix. We separate generations, invest heavily in staying young, and quietly send the message—to ourselves and others—that growing older means growing less valuable.

But what if we’ve been seeing it all wrong?

On this week’s episode of The Love Offering Podcast, I’m joined by Isabel Tom for a conversation that gently challenges our assumptions and tenderly reframes how we see aging. Our conversation is inspired by her book, The Value of Wrinkles, and it’s one I believe we all need—no matter our age.

Isabel grew up living with her grandparents and has spent over a decade serving older adults. Her perspective is both refreshing and deeply convicting. Together, we talk about:

• What the elderly offer us that we truly cannot live without
  • How cultural beliefs about aging shape the way we treat ourselves and others
  • Why loving older generations can profoundly change our lives
  • Practical, meaningful ways to care for and honor those who came before us

This episode isn’t about fearing the future—it’s about honoring faithfulness, wisdom, and the beauty of a life well-lived. It’s about remembering that every season matters and that love doesn’t diminish with age—it deepens.

I hope this conversation encourages you to see aging (your own and others’) with more grace, gratitude, and hope.

Connect with Isabel:

https://www.valueofwrinkles.com/

Connect with Rachael and Read the Show Notes:

https://rachaelkadams.com/writing/

Download Your Love Always Free Devotional:

https://rachaelkadams.com/free/

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

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Many people know God is loving and kind—but struggle to feel or trust that love in their most wounded places. For those impacted by trauma, religious abuse, legalism, or deep loss, God can feel distant, harsh, or unsafe.

In this moving conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with author Sherri Hughes Gregg to explore how Jesus consistently reveals Himself as tender, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted. Drawing from Sherri’s book The Compassionate Christ, her personal journey through divorce and cancer, and powerful Gospel narratives—including the leper, the grieving widow, and the Samaritan woman—this episode gently challenges fear-based views of God and invites listeners into healing truth.

Together, Jennifer and Sherri model how we can wrestle respectfully with Scripture, release shame-laden interpretations, and encounter Christ as He truly is: the One who comforts, restores dignity, and brings beauty from ashes.

Download this episode's free companion guide with Scripture and journal prompts here.

Resource referenced: The Compassionate Christ: Draw Near to the Risen Savior (A 31-Day Devotional Retelling of Stories from the Life of Jesus) 

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. When you think about God’s posture toward you, what emotions surface most easily—fear, comfort, suspicion, hope? Why do you think that is?

2. How have past experiences (family, church culture, trauma, or suffering) shaped the way you interpret Jesus’ actions and words in Scripture?

3. Which Gospel story mentioned in this episode—the leper, the widow, or the Samaritan woman—do you most relate to right now? What about it resonates with your current season?

4. Are there moments when suffering or disappointment has caused old fears or shame-based beliefs about God to resurface? How have you responded to those thoughts?

5. What would it look like to intentionally observe how Jesus interacts with wounded people in the Gospels, without filtering His actions through fear or self-condemnation?

6. Where might God be inviting you to receive comfort before resolution—to trust His nearness even while you wait for healing or answers?

7. What is one lie about God’s character you feel prompted to gently release—and one truth about His compassion you want to sit with this week?

Connect with Sherri Hughes Gregg:

On Instagram

On Amazon

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

A Prayer to Share Our God Stories by Tara L. Cole

Parenting often begins with plans, books, and expectations—but God gently reminds us that our children are not formulas to be solved.In today’s episode, we reflect on the beauty and challenge of parenting children who are wonderfully unique, and how sharing our God stories can shape their hearts and faith for generations.

Reference: Psalm 78:4

Prayer: Father, help us to remember to share our God stories with our children, so they may put their trust in you. In Jesus' name, amen.

LINKS:

5 Habits of a Praying Mom 

Follow Everyday Prayers @MillionPrayingMoms

Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! 

Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon.

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Feeling distracted, annoyed, or judgmental at church can quietly reveal places where freedom hasn’t fully taken root. John 8:36 reminds us that true worship flows from the freedom Christ gives—not from conformity, comparison, or comfort.

Highlights

• Judgment can quietly imprison our hearts, even in worship.

• What looks distracting on the outside may be evidence of deep healing and redemption.

• God often invites us to love the very people we instinctively avoid.

• Freedom in Christ doesn’t always look neat, quiet, or familiar.

• Worship involves the whole person—heart, mind, and body.

• Letting go of fear of others’ opinions creates space to encounter God more fully.

• Jesus frees us not only from sin, but from rigid expectations and spiritual pride.

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Full Transcript Below:

When You Feel Annoyed at Church
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." – John 8:36 NIV

I tried to close my eyes. That was my best attempt to ignore the woman standing in front of me. If I close my eyes, I won't have to be bothered with her. That was my line of thinking, anyway. If I close my eyes, I can think about the words in the song, and the love for God in my heart—not her.

Yet, before long, I squinted my eyes open to catch a glance. She was still doing it. She was moving her body during worship. She wasn't standing still. She wasn't being like everyone else. She was swaying her body, unlike the rest of the church.

She's distracting. She is one hundred percent distracting. She shouldn't be allowed to do this.

I was bothered in my heart, perturbed in my mind, and critical with my words. In the car, I told my husband about it.

Later, though, at home, after praying about gathering a group of women at my house to experience God's love and the truth of His Word, she came to mind.

God, do you want me to invite… her?

Indeed, I had a strong impression on my heart that she is exactly who He wanted me to invite.

Anyone but her.

Despite my hesitancy, I obeyed. Once she was at my house, some of the ladies began to open up about their stories.

When it was the dancing girl’s turn, she shared, "I used to be a stripper. Then, I found Jesus. He saved me and rescued me out of that. Now, when I move during church worship, i

En este devocional estaremos hablando sobre como Isaías, al encontrarse con Dios, entendió su fragilidad y al mismo tiempo descubrió que podía ser renovado y usado por Él. Así también nosotros, aunque no tengamos una visión tan clara como la suya, podemos responder con fe y valentía al llamado de Dios. No tengas miedo, pídele que te ayude a ser fuerte y deja que su gloria llene tu vida y te guíe a marcar la diferencia.

Escrito por Luciano Goicochea

Telegram: https://t.me/TheSalvationArmySoundcast

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Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we do a deep dive on the book of Proverbs with author Sherri Hughes-Gragg. Sherri walks us through the wisdom and compassion of God that are on full display in Proverbs, how short scripture passages like these can serve as a touchpoint to bring us back to God, and what it truly means to love our neighbors as ourselves. 

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Sherri Hughes-Gragg

The Compassionate Christ

Book of Proverbs

Interview Quotes:

“I think if we only read Proverbs at face value, we are missing a lot of the depth and the richness of the text. And I think that’s true for all of Scripture, actually. When we approach Scripture with the culture and history of the Bible in mind, it really illuminates it.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg

“One of the things I love about the Proverbs is how practical it is. When I open the Proverbs to read them, pretty much every time something hits me right between the eyes and challenges me, usually about the way I’m loving my neighbor.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg

“Books like the book of Proverbs have challenged me on what it means to live in right communication with God and my neighbor.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg

“God really is a compassionate, merciful God. More so than we could ever even imagine. His mercy and compassion are beyond our imagination. And when we begin to rest in that, we then have the capacity and the responsibility to live compassionately with others.” - Sherri Hughes-Gragg

________________________ 

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*Episode produced by Four Eyes Media*

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Our world is filled with constant distractions, and technology has made it easier than ever to stay busy without being truly present. We can scroll, text, post, and reply all day long—often without ever having a real conversation. This devotional points out something many of us feel but don’t always admit: when we lose the art of meaningful communication with people, it can also weaken our communication with God. And when prayer becomes occasional instead of continual, our spiritual life can start to feel like it’s running on fumes.

The encouraging truth in today’s devotional is that prayer isn’t meant to be limited to a quiet room or reserved for a specific time of day. Prayer is meant to be constant connection—moment-by-moment conversation with our Heavenly Father. Because of Jesus, we have direct access to God. We don’t have to wonder if we’re allowed to approach Him or if He wants to hear from us. He does. Prayer is personal because relationship is personal. God doesn’t want our attention only when we’re desperate; He invites us to come to Him in everything—our burdens, joys, fears, needs, and even the mundane moments of the day.

Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing” isn’t a call to withdraw from daily responsibilities, but to stay connected to the Lord while living them out. It’s choosing to lift your gaze and voice to Him throughout your day, abiding in Him like a branch connected to the vine. When distractions crowd in, continual prayer helps re-center our hearts and anchor us in joy, gratitude, and dependence on God. Today’s devotional encourages us to repent of what competes for our attention and ask God to help us build prayer into every part of life—so that communion with Him becomes less of a routine and more of a lifeline.

Main Takeaways

• Technology can connect us to people while distracting us from real relationships—including our relationship with God.

• Prayer is meant to be continual communication, not occasional emergency outreach.

• Because of Jesus, we have direct access to God as our Father.

• “Pray without ceasing” means staying connected to God throughout daily life, not withdrawing from responsibilities.

• When distractions pull at our attention, prayer helps us return to joy, gratitude, and dependence on the Lord.

Today’s Bible Verse: 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“Help me by Your grace and the power of the Spirit to remember to keep prayer a daily, moment-by-moment, lifeline to my Heavenly Father.”

You can read the full prayer and devotional at the links below.

Looking for more daily encouragement and faith-filled content?