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Becky Graves is facing terminal cancer. She shares with Libby that Fear is not [her] Future!

If you know me you know I LOVE Marvel movies. Well, recently I watched the new Spider-Man movie called Spider-Man: Brand New Day with my husband (Spider-Man is my favorite superhero, so your girl had to see it). The movie had the premise of Peter Parker isolating himself after the whole world was cast under a spell to forget that Peter Parker was Spider-Man and really that Peter Parker even existed. He decides to not tell his old friends, Ned and MJ, that he used to know them and that he is Spider-Man to keep them safe and away from any harm that may come from knowing his secret. So instead, he decides to keep to himself and remain alone.

Now, I won’t spoil anything from the movie, but I think we often tend to do what Peter Parker has done. Sometimes we can isolate ourselves because it’s easier. Life is easier when we’re alone. Life is easier when no one knows our secrets or things we are ashamed or scared to admit. At least that’s what the enemy wants us to believe. But the Bible has a much better way of living for us and for Peter Parker.

James 5:16 starts by saying, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” The Bible encourages us to be in community. Talk with each other. Confess sins to one another so that we can be healed from our sins.

Have you ever held a secret or sin so close to your chest that it hurt? But then maybe you talked to someone. Maybe it was a friend, spouse, or a family member who was there for you. Who listened to you, encouraged you, or made you feel loved. Well, that is exactly what we are supposed to do! We need people or even just one person who is truly there for us. Who will help us when we desperately need it.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” Peter Parker doesn’t have anyone to help him up. He thinks it’s just better that way. But we are not meant to walk this life alone. Not you. Not me. Not even Spider-Man. God loves when people gather in His name. How amazing is that? Our God LOVES it when we get together! Friendships or relationships rooted in Him have incredible power to do so much for His kingdom.

So let this be a reminder to you and me to find those relationships. Find your people who are rooting for YOU. Find people who are cheering you on when you’re winning in life, and are there to comfort you when you feel like you’re losing. Because we may not be fighting the Green Goblin or Thanos like Spider-Man, but we are fighting a bigger battle. A spiritual one. And just like Peter Parker, we are not meant to fight any battles alone.

Libby shares what makes the communities of Southeast Louisiana so special.

Josh shares about his daughter Kaylee's brave experience this Summer.

General Manager Julie shares about how your gift at the end of the LifeSongs fiscal year is sharing hope in hopeless places.

What’s on your mind? This time of year can evoke images of the quintessential “lazy, hazy days of summer,” but in actuality my mind is spinning just trying to recover from the busyness of “Maycember.” If I’m not careful with my thoughts, I can easily get anxious and overwhelmed.

What we fill our minds with is important. Philippians 4: 7-8 says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

When I’m worrying, am I focused on what is true? When I’m critical, am I thinking about things that are lovely? Comparing myself to others or dwelling on what I lack – that’s not an accurate picture or healthy view of things.

However, when we choose to dwell on God’s promises, we notice His blessings, even when things feel uncertain. Our minds may not understand His peace, but He covers us with it. We remember that He will redeem and restore; we start to recognize that we have nothing to fear.

Debbie has been on a challenging journey lately. She shares, “God has been using Lifesongs. I can’t tell you how often a song has come on – just what I needed to hear! God is good! God is faithful! You make a difference in people’s lives!”

Your generous giving means LifeSongs is there to help Debbie keep her thoughts focused on God’s goodness. Thank you! No matter what may be on your mind today, I hope that as you listen, you can reflect and ponder on God’s faithfulness through the song lyrics, the prayers, the encouragement, too, and allow God to fill your heart and mind with His truth and protect you with His peace.

Pat Barrett’s got a fire! He encourages the LifeSongs family with a Zoom into the LifeSongs Morning Show. Learn about his dad Marty – touring with Brandon Lake – and what the fire of the Holy Spirit is doing in younger generations seeking a true faith-filled life!

(Transcribed by UniScribe (https://www.uniscribe.co). )

– Your favorite musicians, exclusive interviews, local artists, all on the LifeSongs podcast. – It’s the LifeSongs morning show. I have Josh and I’m very excited to welcome via Zoom, Pat Barrett. Pat, how you doing? – Hey, doing great. Good morning. – Is Pat short for Patrick Patagonia Tree? – Yes.

Yes, it’s short for Pat with more T’s. No, I was, my actual name is Joseph. Joseph Patrick Martin Barrett. And my dad, I was like, “Dad, why didn’t you call me Joseph?” And his response was always like, “Well, I just didn’t really get around to it.” I was like, “Wait, what?” So I became, I was Patrick. And then when I was in fifth grade, there was another Patrick in our class. And my teacher was like, “I can’t do this. One of y’all has to be named something different.”

So she says, “Who’s going to be Pat?” And I just raised my hand. And then it became Pat from then on out. Your teacher couldn’t handle two Patricks in the class? See? And that’s why I’m like, did I remember that correctly? But I think I did because she was unwilling to do like the Patrick B or Patrick G thing. She wanted no last names. I don’t know why.

different time. I don’t know. Yeah, that’s just lazy. I’m 45, so, like, in every class of school, it was, there were 14 Joshes. Like, we were all Josh. Oh, yeah. Yeah. See, and that’s why I was a little surprised, because Patrick, we’re out there, but we’re not, we’re not a Josh or Steven or anything.

Ryan, you know, like we can do this. But she was like she didn’t she wanted none of that. Let’s talk about I’ve Got a Fire. The song and the album great for so many reasons. The song is is so great. The saxophone solo. Come on. Why can’t every song have a saxophone solo?

I know. I know. I’ve asked myself and I’m doing my part, okay? You are. Let the record show I’m doing my part. Your dad in the music video is the sweetest thing ever. The first time I saw the video, I immediately emailed a link to my dad so that he could watch it. It was like Field of Dreams. I just wanted to play catch. It was great. Yeah. Oh my gosh. That’s the feeling I had when we were filming it because it started off like, oh, this will be so fun and funny and joyful. And then also…

while we were filming it, I was like caught off guard by how emotional I was kind of getting. So I was like, I’m having a forever memory moment with my dad and I recognize that in real time. I also think like my kids seeing a video of their dad dancing in a fountain with his dad is such a, it’s just such a beautiful picture. And one day I hope if my kids ever asked me to do it, I’ll return the favor because

how much joy it’s brought me. So I just– Dad has also, since the music video, he’s jumped in on tour dates as well. Oh, I saw one of the live performances of him, like, working his way through the crowd. That was so great. He did that– he did that, like, four or five times during the Brandon Lake tour that we just wrapped up. It’s not only was that– was the music video such a sweet memory, it’s had this continuing fun father-son, like, experience for us. So it’s been really sweet.

I’m sure Brandon Lake was very cool with that idea because he brings his kids up on stage all the time. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Like I have video of Lake dancing with my dad while my dad’s got a cowbell. Oh my goodness. I mean, come on. There’s footage. Yeah, I mean, so it was not only like, oh, allowed. It was welcomed and encouraged and just, I mean, so wild.

I’ll tell you like every night, every night was different but definitely on that second leg like once you’ve done the tour, you’ve gone through the set that many times, you lean more into moments like that that make it that night so specific and special and different and we felt like kids out there. And I’m in my, again, I’m in my 40s so like

Getting to feel that way and to, at this point in my life, I’m still saying yes to Jesus. I’m saying yes to leaning in to the Holy Spirit and His leading and purpose and plan in my life. Like, the “I’ve got a fire” thing is just funny because Dad was such a picture of that for me growing up.

and something to model like kind of one of those like Paul like follow me as I follow Christ type things like gosh this was modeled for me like how the older I get I can still grow younger in faith and have faith like a child and grow in wisdom but never grow out of childlike faith

That’s what’s been really, really fun. And just a reminder, I felt like a kid again, you know, past six months. And I want to keep it. I want to keep that flame burning.

I’m so glad that you got to do that with your dad and that he’s been a part of this amazing season in your career, which is really cool. And how you got to feel that childlike wonder and to express yourself in that way, which for just a second, it clicked in my brain why I love the whole Sons of Sunday thing that you’re in. It’s like if the kids from the Sandlot started a worship band. Yes, yes, that feeling is…

I mean, it was like, my only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner. You know? Yeah. Because that has been…

What a great picture. I love the Sandlot. I mean, that was like my childhood. The feeling of doing something you love with people you love. When you’re doing your own thing and writing your own individual record, that’s got another joy all of its own. But when you get to do something like that and share it with guys and something that feels unique, it’s a new thing. It’s like, oh, you bring your peace. You bring your peace, your personality, the way you write, the way you see the world. And we’ve already had so many of those moments that we haven’t shared before.

behind the scenes writing song. So to kind of like let people in on that and continue, it’s the best. Is there a new Sons of Sunday project coming out? One More Day is being pushed on the radio things right now, but we’re still writing. We still write a ton and I would not be surprised. It hasn’t been recorded if that’s what you’re asking, but it’s always in the chat.

I don’t know if this song has been released for radio or not, but I was watching your performance in My Father’s Business the other day, and there’s a line that you sing a lot in the song that has just… It caught me off guard. It’s, God forgive us for times we called it praise, but it was show business. This is the heart behind the commandment of not using God’s name in vain. Our industry, the music industry, is so guilty of this all the time. Yeah.

How do you merge these two? This identity of, like, my job is to be on stage and to sing songs and to entertain, but also to lead worship and to be truly present with God. Yeah, I mean, that’s literally why I wrote the song is because I feel calling it attention is a polite word for it. It’s actually, it’s one of the things that Jesus warned the most about, and it was religious showmanship, right?

was a big deal to Jesus. Giving people the appearance of righteousness without the deep formation that happens in discipleship and walking with Jesus, which is why, I mean, when you read the Sermon on the Mount, so many of those things that he talks about have to do with no one else seeing them. So when you give,

Don’t let your one hand know what the other hand is doing. Don’t give to be seen by other people. Don’t fast to be seen. Don’t pray long, lengthy prayers and wear long, flowing robes of people. Especially in our world is a constant reality check. Why are we doing the things that we’re doing? Are you writing a song because you want to be famous? Or are you sharing a song because of the way it’s helped you in your life?

And I think that doing the internal work of like, okay, this is kind of what David prayed in the Psalms, Lord, search me and know me. You know, when I wake and when I rise, if there’d be any wicked way in me, lead me in the path everlasting. Like there’s a,

There’s a prayerfulness that, a deep prayerfulness and accountability for people who do public religious work. I think a really great way in practical terms would be for every one public moment that’s like you being the leader and sharing your spiritual songs and worship, for every one public moment,

there should be nine private ones. That’s good. So then the totality of your leaning into God and even leadership is not in front of other people. It’s behind closed doors. So then you never assume that position is more than what it really is. Because does God care about you more when the camera’s on or when the song’s out? No, He cares about you the same.

And sometimes we mix that up. And then it can get even deeper. I can open up my journal. As a songwriter, when you’re, oh, I need to write a song, I’m going to open the scriptures and I’m going to not read because I care about it, read because I need some content. Yeah, you’re mining content. Yeah. And so I think there’s that song. I’m so glad no one’s talked to me about that song, by the way. I love it. I love it. I think that’s a very abrasive…

check to myself. I don’t want to lead worship or say I’m leading worship when deep down I’m the one who wants the praise and I’m the one who wants the attention and I’m the one who wants the eyes on me. And that song is, it’s a prayer of mine. It makes me sad for the times that that’s been true. And then it’s also created a path to honesty of when I’m like, oh God, like I just, my guard was down back there and I was

I kind of lost sight of the goal. And I think there’s such mercy and grace that’s found there in repenting. And I think that’s one of the, in the song too, it’s not just about like, here’s a critique of what we’re doing. It’s like, no, here’s an invitation back to repent and to continually not take the high position to take the low one. I think when those practices are part of your life, it absolutely levels the playing field. You don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to. And you stop

trying to get attention that actually belongs to somebody else. And I think it’s a daily walk, but I think it’s really important. The world is on fire. You got wars all over, viruses, the Met Gala, it’s all awful. The Met Gala! You just threw out the Met Gala! Yeah, I mean Zendaya didn’t even show up, so what’s the point? But every night on your tour, you get to see a very different kind of fire. You see young generations pouring their hearts out in worship.

What are you seeing that would bring hope to us? Oh, wow. Where do I even start? I am seeing a desire for authenticity that, especially in younger people, that will make you a little nervous. People are growing very disinterested in the pageantry of cultural, I want to say cultural Christianity, but I just mean like the showmanship without the deep, honest,

conversations revolving around it or people opening up their lives and sharing in real terms, not broad, how God is impacting and helping them. And some of it, I mean, I’m a songwriter, so like I care a lot about the word choice. I think oftentimes we are not practiced enough in saying the thing we actually feel. And so we end up saying things like, “Hey guys, pray for me. It’s just been a tough season,” which is true. But the Falcons had a tough season.

We can do better with how honest we are about our life. And when we’re honest about it, we can let God into it. When we’re explicit about the things that we feel, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And what I’ve found to be encouraging is when you lean into that, all of a sudden, you realize that God wants to be a part of every single area of your life.

not the showy ones. It’s funny that show business line, it’s a different, yeah, pageantry is the word. Like we’re not interested in playing church. Sure. I don’t want my kids, when my kids think about discipleship, I don’t want them to think about a building. I want them to think about a conversation with somebody who loves them and is helping share Jesus with them in their life in a way that makes an impact first. And then I also want them to think about church and all that stuff. But not only that.

So I think there’s even a more growing, there’s a hunger for that type of, there’s a leaning into that type of faith that I think really pleases the heart of God. And it makes the fire burn bright because it’s not dependent on all the other stuff. Thinking about the younger generations that bring this desire for something truly real, not something packaged, but something a little jagged, a little raw. They are probably the most

They know all the vocabulary when it comes to emotional health and mental health. They’ve been in counseling since they were two. But they bring that to the world of following Jesus and find

the truth is Jesus is God of that. He’s big enough to handle all these intense emotions and all these things. It’s not just you have to be in this box in order to experience Jesus. It’s He’s there with you. I’ve got teenagers at home, so I’m grateful that they’re entering into young adulthood in the next few years with that world present.

I’m more hopeful for them and their church experience than some of the stuff that I’ve experienced. Yeah, yeah. And I am often reminded, I mean, I’m the same way, but it’s even different for them. They have been marketed to their entire life. Right. Digitally, commercially. When Jesus and faith and spirituality feel like a marketing ploy or a means to

build some business or some brand or some other thing like that’s like you’re not going to trick them yeah so if it’s not real to you don’t think it’s going to come across as real to them and their ability to sniff that out is uncanny so and it should be a challenge to any other leader that has myself included where you’re like well if I just present it the right way then it’s going to feel like no

The invitation is to embody the things, the life that Jesus has invited us into, and not just talk about it. And you can tell, if we’re all honest, when you get around somebody and you’re like, you live this. So I think that’s the encouragement. It’s…

There’s too much on the line. Life is too precious. The invitation of God is too miraculous. There is a kingdom to participate in and talking about it and dressing it up really nicely in our Sunday’s best is not…

That’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about living a life of the life that Jesus came to show us and died and rose to display and give us like that. Like this is this is real. And that makes me really hopeful. I mean, when I say hopeful as a dad, I’m like, that’s that’s the right that’s the right conversation to be having.

Your favorite musicians, exclusive interviews, local artists, all on the LifeSongs Podcast.

(Transcribed by UniScribe (https://www.uniscribe.co). )

Josh shares about VBS in the Summer of '92.

Let’s talk truth—marriage takes work. Ask your parents, ask your pastor, ask any couple you know: great marriages don’t just happen! That’s why we’re so excited that FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage getaway is coming back to Baton Rouge.

Over 96% of couples who’ve attended said their marriage rating went from a 4 to an 8–in just one weekend, and this is your chance to slow down, reconnect, and get back to what matters most … each other.

WHAT: Weekend to Remember with FamilyLife

*LifeSongs Family: Enter code SAVE100 to save $100 off regular price couple’s registrations to any event nationwide

Have you ever dreamed of defying gravity, seeing the galaxy, exploring the stars? Astronauts are now going farther from Earth into space than ever before. I can’t fathom all that goes into a moon mission. And the amount of faith it takes to be willing to go on such a journey?

Wow.

Big picture: I trust in God. But there are many times I realize I’ve been leaning too much on my own understanding. It’s like I’m constantly trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces. Letting go, giving it to God and allowing Him the control vs. gripping too tightly on our own takes faith. But He is making our paths straight. Even when things don’t fit in the neat boxes we’ve set up, even when the timeline is different than we expected, even when the outcome doesn’t look how we anticipated, He is at work!

Recently, things didn’t go quite as we’d planned. During Shareathon, over a thousand friends gave generously and, through Second Harvest, those gifts also helped provide over 8,500 meals to our community! We are SO grateful!

As for the budgeted need for LifeSongs, however, we came up about $20,000 short. This is one of those opportunities for us to lean on God, trusting He will provide. Would you pray for God to meet these needs? If you’d like to help, your gift can reach more people like Jessica.

She says, “I have listened to LifeSongs my whole life. It has brought me comfort when nothing else could. I’m learning to rely on HIM instead of myself. I need that connection with him. Life can be tough, but you truly make a difference. I hope this ministry continues to grow and touch others out there who need it. (We ALL do).”

God is using your giving to LifeSongs to provide comfort and connection for Jessica, and hope and encouragement for so many more. Our mission may not be to the moon, but you are joining us in something even greater: Sharing the love of Jesus. Thank you!