LifeAudio

In this episode of Words of Life, two powerful testimonies highlight what it really means to show up for others — in both everyday moments and life-and-death situations. Captain Kathy Michaels reflects on how a spiritual mother figure changed the trajectory of her life through consistent love and mentorship. Later, Major Gary Sturdivant shares his miraculous recovery from a near-fatal COVID diagnosis and how it radically changed his perspective on time, forgiveness, and what truly matters.

Whether you’re mentoring someone, questioning your own calling, or wrestling with what to do with your “bonus” days, this episode is a heartfelt reminder of God’s personal, life-altering love.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Mentorship is about presence, not perfection.
   Kathy’s testimony shows how someone simply being there with love and consistency can lead others to faith, healing, and eventually ministry.
  
  
  
• Your calling doesn’t depend on credentials — it depends on your obedience.
   Kathy’s journey from stay-at-home mom to officer reveals how God equips the willing, not just the “qualified.”
  
  
  
• Surviving something life-threatening shifts your entire framework.
   Major Gary’s story challenges us to forgive quickly, love intentionally, and make each day count like it’s a gift — because it is.
  
  
  

Even mentors need to be mentored.
 Burnout is real, and this episode opens up honest space to acknowledge the need for ongoing support, even when you're the one others look to for strength.

Learn more about Words of Life at https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/wordsoflife

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

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Chloë Elmore, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Hey! God loves you. Meditate on Isaiah 49:15-16. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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

A menudo buscamos a Dios en lo extraordinario, pero también Él se manifiesta en nuestra vida diaria, incluso a través de nuestras emociones. En estos mensajes compartiremos cómo Dios utiliza tanto la alegría como la tristeza, la fuerza como la fragilidad, para moldear nuestro carácter y acercarnos más a Él. Acompáñanos con un corazón abierto para descubrir que tus emociones también son un lugar en donde Dios quiere encontrarse contigo.

Escrito por el Capitán Carlos Solís

CANAL EN TELEGRAM

GRUPO EN WHATSAPP

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

When fear and weakness threaten to overwhelm us, God calls us to courageous obedience. Just as He told Gideon in Judges 6:13-14 to “go in the strength you have,” the Lord invites us to trust His power, not our own. Jennifer Slattery shares how God’s presence transforms impossible situations into testimonies of His strength and victory.

Highlights

• Gideon’s story shows God calls ordinary, fearful people to extraordinary purposes

• “Go in the strength you have” reminds us our weakness is the stage for God’s strength

• Personal story of stepping into a difficult calling with limited resources

• God doesn’t expect perfection—He expects obedience and trust

• True victory comes from God fighting our battles for us

Join the Conversation

What’s one area where God is calling you to step out even though you feel weak? Share your reflections and encourage others to trust God’s strength. Tag @LifeAudio and use #CourageousObedience #FaithOverFear #StrengthInChrist to join the discussion.

 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

Courageous Obedience When We Feel Weak and Afraid 

By Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6:13-14, NIV

Have you ever sensed God asking you to do something you knew would be incredibly difficult, say yes, and find yourself in what felt like an impossible situation? One that took every ounce of strength you had, and you still felt like you were perpetually failing?

That was precisely where I landed, years ago, when my husband and I opened our home to a teenager with a really rough background, and numerous behavioral challenges for which we weren’t prepared. As is often the case, this situation came in the middle of an already stressful season, and for the youth, this was an emergency. We were empty nesters at the time, I was leading an international ministry, completing my Christian ministry degree, working to meet numerous writing deadlines, and preparing for speaking engagements I’d accepted long before we answered God’s call to love on this deeply wounded, and incredibly angry teenager. To complicate matters, this was a busy time for my husband as well, as he was doing a lot of traveling for work—leaving me to parent this kid alone. Adding to the chaos was the fact that the teenager h

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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

We often talk about “guarding our hearts and minds” as Christians, but how often do we actually do it? As our daily prayer and devotional from Alicia Searl points out that it’s one thing to say it and another thing entirely to practice it—both for our children and for ourselves. Scripture reveals that our hearts are the source from which all things flow (Proverbs 4:23) and, without intentional protection, can easily be swayed by the world’s temptations.

Philippians 4:6-8 gives us the antidote: bring everything to God in prayer and focus our thoughts on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and admirable. This requires humility, self-examination, and a willingness to let God transform us. It’s not about living in fear but about living intentionally—making choices that draw us closer to Him, trusting that His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Alicia also reminds us to ask ourselves daily:

• Is this activity pulling me closer or further from God?

• Are my influences and friendships encouraging me to grow in faith?

• Am I nourishing my heart and mind with truth or falling into temptation?

Guarding our hearts and minds isn’t a passive command—it’s an active call to anchor ourselves in God’s character, Word, and truth.

Today's Bible Reading:

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 4:7

Key Takeaways

• Guarding your heart is a proactive spiritual discipline (Proverbs 4:23; Philippians 4:6-8).

• Prayer and Scripture are God’s tools to transform our hearts and minds.

• The peace of God is not just emotional calm; it’s His protective shield over us.

• Evaluate your influences and habits to ensure they draw you closer to Christ.

Let’s Pray Together

O God, we come before You with hearts willing to seek Your presence and minds longing for Your truth. Please transform us and breathe Your peace into every corner of our lives. Guide us to make choices that honor You, surround us with faithful friends, and help us guard our hearts and minds with humility and obedience. Thank You for being an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent Father who loves and protects us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources

• What Does It Mean to Guard Your Heart? – Crosswalk.com

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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

Nighttime has a way of magnifying our worries. As our nightly prayer and devotional remind us, when the day’s noise dies down, our minds often rush ahead into the what-ifs of tomorrow—or rehash today’s troubles. This endless cycle of anxious thoughts can feel overwhelming.

But God invites us to shift our focus away from fear and toward His promises. Worrying is easy, but it puts trust in things that will ultimately fail—our own strength, others’ abilities, or temporary circumstances. Instead, we are called to place our trust in the One who never fails. His peace is not something we can create on our own—it is a gift we receive when we lean into His presence.

When we bring our burdens to Him, He promises safety and rest. Peace doesn’t mean problems vanish, but it does mean we can rest secure in the arms of our unchanging Father. As you prepare for bed tonight, may you release the rush of worry and trade it for His peace.

Tonight’s Scripture: Psalm 4:8

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Read more on BibleStudyTools.com

Your Nightly Prayer

Heavenly Father,
I confess how my heart and mind often run to worry, whether real or imagined troubles. Yet You call me to trust and peace. Shift my focus from fear and worry to Your unshakable love and promises. Teach me to lay down every burden at Your feet, knowing You alone keep me dwelling in safety. Fill me with the Spirit of Peace, the shalom the world can’t give, and quiet my mind as I focus on You. I trust and rest in You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Three Things to Meditate Upon

1. What current issues in your life tempt you to worry?

2. How has God faithfully carried you in the past—sometimes in ways you didn’t notice at first?

3. What promises of God can you focus on tonight to redirect your heart from anxiety to trust?

Calls to Action

• Before bed tonight, take five minutes to write down your biggest worry, then pray Psalm 4:8 over it.

• ✨ Share this prayer with someone you know who struggles with nighttime anxiety.

• Subscribe here to receive nightly encouragement straight to your inbox.

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

Joel and Lynn Rosenberg blend deeply personal reflections with major breaking news from the heart of the Middle East. As they honor the life and faith legacy of Joel’s mother, they also dive into the details of a historic 20-point peace plan brokered by President Trump—one that promises a potential end to the Gaza war if Hamas agrees before a looming deadline. The Rosenbergs unpack what’s in the plan, who’s on board, and what this could mean for the future of Israel, Gaza, and the broader region. Along the way, they offer a biblical perspective on peace, forgiveness, and hope in the midst of conflict, inviting listeners to pray for lasting change and to consider the impact of the gospel in times of loss and uncertainty.

(00:02) "Future of Gaza-Israel Peace Efforts"
(06:46) Parental Support Catalyzes Peace Efforts
(11:44) "Praise Brings Peace Amidst Chaos"
(20:55) "Cautious Optimism and Faith"
(24:08) "Reunited with the Lord"
(31:12) Netanyahu's Covert "Day After" Strategy
(34:55) Middle East Peace Agreement Reached
(38:55) Hamas Statement on Gaza Conflict
(46:07) Trump's Negotiation Approach Analyzed
(50:02) Netanyahu's Stance on Hamas Talks
(59:19) Peace for Israel in Prophecy
(01:00:03) "Israel's Path to Regional Dominance"
(01:05:09) Pray for Peace and Support

Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.com
Make a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua Fund
Stock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5

Verse of the Day

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 -  if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways and seek me, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and I will heal their land

Prayer Request

Pray for people in the region to have hope, as they are suffering.
Pray and ask the Lord to give us his heart for the people.
Praying for the people around you in your church, community, and family who are hurting.
Pray for Palestinians to have good leaders.

Related Episodes:

• Crises for Christians in Israel, Gaza & West Bank? The True Story #303
• Joel at Refuge Church Pt 2 God Shaking Israel: A Biblical Perspective on Recent Events #296
• Khalil Sayegh — How Does An Evangelical Palestinian From Gaza See The Gaza War? #285
• Alaska Epicenter Cruise Session 3 Part 2: Stories of Faith and Transformation in the Middle East

Links For Reference

• https://allisraelnews.com/full-text-us-president-trumps-comprehensive-plan-to-end-the-gaza-conflict 
  
• https://allisraelnews.com/most-israeli-politicians-express-support-for-gaza-peace-plan-as-pm-netanyahu-argues-it-isolates-hamas
• https://allisraelnews.com/israels-hostages-to-return-within-72-hours-if-hamas-accepts-trump-declares-after-netanyahu-meeting
• https://www.cru.org/content/movementlife/ph/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally1.html

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Johnathon Eltrevoog, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Are your insecurities keeping you from finding victory in Jesus? Meditate on Hebrews 10: 38-39. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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