Monumental Moments with Melissa Motschenbacher : The Forge Podcast Network

Devo #130: Count Your Blessings | Why You Need to Start Counting (and Writing Down) Your Blessings Today

Were you ever told as a child to "count your blessings"? In this episode of the Monumental Moments devotional series, I share how a morning reading in John 1:16-17 turned into spontaneous worship — and led me to two powerful songs that capture the heart of gratitude: "Counting My Blessings" by Seph Schlueter and "Miracles" by Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music.

We talk about how easily song lyrics stick in our minds compared to Scripture, and why that's worth paying attention to. Then we dig into the Old Testament tradition of memorial stones — physical reminders God's people built so they'd never forget His faithfulness. From Joshua's twelve stones at the Jordan River (Joshua 4), to Jacob's pillar at Bethel (Genesis 28), to Samuel's stone called Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7), these "stones of remembrance" challenge us to mark our own blessings and miracles instead of letting them fade from memory.

Psalm 68:19 reminds us that God "daily loads us with benefits" — so this episode ends with a practical challenge: grab a pen and paper right now and start writing down the blessings and miracles in your life. Don't just count them — thank God for them too.

🔑 In this episode:

• John 1:16-17 and the overflow of God's grace in our lives
• "Counting My Blessings" by Seph Schlueter and "Miracles" by Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music
• Why we memorize song lyrics faster than Scripture — and what to do about it
• Biblical memorial stones: Joshua 4, Genesis 28 (Jacob at Bethel), and 1 Samuel 7 (Ebenezer)
• Psalm 68:19 and God's daily blessings
• A simple journaling challenge to start counting your own blessings today

✨ How can you make Monumental Moments and live to Multiply His Movement today?

#Devotional #ChristianPodcast #CountYourBlessings #Gratitude #Bible #ChristianLiving #Worship #ElevationWorship #MaverickCityMusic #PsalmStudy #BibleStudy #MonumentalMoments #FaithJourney #Thankfulness #ChristianMusic

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Devo #129: Last Call | A Firefighter's Funeral, the Sound of the "Last Call," and What It Means to Live Sober-Minded

What does a 21-gun salute, bagpipes, and a haunting radio dispatch called the "Last Call" teach us about life, death, and faith? In this episode of the Monumental Moments devotional series, I share my experience attending the funeral of a beloved WWII Army veteran and 40-year firefighter — a man who served 23 years as Fire Chief and was deeply respected in his community.

For the first time, I witnessed a first responder's "Last Call" (also known as End of Watch or Last Alarm) — the ceremonial radio dispatch where a station dispatcher calls a fallen firefighter's name and badge number three times, then officially signs them off duty forever. It's a tradition that grips your heart and forces you to confront mortality in a way few other moments can.

This graveside experience led me straight to Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 and its sobering wisdom that it's "better to spend your time at funerals than at parties" — because sorrow has a refining influence on us. We unpack what it means to live with a sober mind, reflect on legacy, and prepare for the day we hear (or long to hear) the words of Matthew 25:21: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Whether you've lost a loved one, attended a funeral recently, or simply want to grow in your walk with Christ, this episode is a powerful reminder: don't wait for your own "Last Call" to get right with God.

🔑 In this episode:

• The moving story of a firefighter's funeral and military honors
• What the "Last Call" / "End of Watch" radio tradition means and why it matters
• Biblical wisdom from Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 on death, sorrow, and reflection
• Matthew 25:21 and living as a "good and faithful servant"
• How to live a sober-minded, faith-filled life starting today

✨ How can you make Monumental Moments and live to Multiply His Movement today?

#Devotional #ChristianPodcast #Faith #Ecclesiastes #LastCall #FirefighterTribute #Bible #ChristianLiving #Grief #Legacy #MonumentalMoments #FaithJourney #BibleStudy #EndOfWatch #SoberMinded

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A cute "Stay Awhile" sign with some not-so-cute fine print sparks a powerful question in this episode of Monumental Moments: are we truly willing to linger in God's presence, or are we rushing off the moment we've gotten what we came for?

Looking at Exodus 33:7-11, this devotional highlights Joshua's example — the one who stayed behind at the tent of meeting, unwilling to miss a single word from the Lord even after Moses had already gone. It's a beautiful picture of hunger for God's presence that goes beyond the minimum.

If your relationship with God often feels rushed or transactional, this episode is an invitation to slow down, stay a little longer, and position your heart to receive more of Him.

Bright red caution tape reading "DO NOT ENTER" surrounding a church parking lot sparks an unforgettable question in this episode of Monumental Moments: have we, God's people, unintentionally put up our own barricades around the church? Through judgment, pride, or condemnation, are we making people feel unwelcome in the very place meant to welcome sinners and saints alike?

Walking through Matthew 7:1-5 and Galatians 6:1-5, this devotional challenges listeners to examine their own hearts before pointing fingers at others — to remove the "log" before addressing the "speck." It's a powerful call to humility, compassion, and tearing down the barriers we may have built around God's house.

Who in your life needs to be seen, welcomed, and invited in — not met with judgment, but shown Jesus?

There's something about a clothesline full of laundry that tells a story — and in this episode of Monumental Moments, that story becomes a powerful picture of sin, grace, and the cleansing power of Christ. After a drive through the Amish countryside of Lancaster County, PA, watching home after home air their once-dirty laundry to dry in the sun, this devotional unpacks a memorable family story and a timeless biblical truth: we all have dirty laundry that only God can fully clean.

Through Isaiah 64:6, 1 John 1:9-10, and Isaiah 1:18-20, this episode explores how our sin — like scarlet and crimson stains — can be washed white as snow through the blood of Jesus. But first, we have to be willing to bring it out of hiding and into His light.

If you've been keeping your "dirty laundry" tucked away on the middle line, hidden from view, this episode is an invitation to bring it forward and let God do what only He can do.

It only takes one spark to start a forest fire — and the Bible says the same is true of your tongue. In this episode of Monumental Moments, we explore the striking connection between wildfire science and James 3, where Scripture warns that the tongue is "a fire, a world of evil" capable of corrupting the whole body and setting the whole course of a life ablaze.

Using the real-world "30/30/30 rule" used by wildfire forecasters — and a firsthand account of a roadside grass fire that quickly spread out of control — this devotional challenges listeners to recognize the warning signs in their own speech before they spiral into something destructive. Just like wildfires are easier to prevent than to extinguish, our words are easier to control before they ignite chaos in our relationships and our witness.

Are you adding fuel to the fire — or water to the flames?

What if the most meaningful moment of your day happened in a hotel lounge between meetings? In this episode of Monumental Moments, Melissa Machenbacher shares a remarkable true story about a chance encounter with a young hotel worker whose name literally means "gift" — and how that moment turned into a powerful, Spirit-led gospel conversation.

Melissa walks through what it looked like to be obedient to God in real time — pausing, listening, sharing her story, and pointing a Muslim woman searching for truth toward Jesus. From the first conversation to a gifted Bible, this episode is a beautiful reminder that God places us exactly where He needs us, and that sharing your faith doesn't require a perfect plan — just a willing heart.

Rooted in 1 Peter 3:15, this episode will challenge and encourage you to stay prepared, walk through the fear, and offer the greatest gift you can give anyone — the hope of Jesus Christ.

Topics covered:

• How to recognize and lean into a God-appointed moment
• Sharing the gospel with someone from a different faith background
• What obedience looks like even when someone doesn't say yes
• The power of listening before speaking
• Practical first steps you can share with someone curious about faith
• Why your personal God story is one of your greatest evangelism tools

📖 "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have — but do this with gentleness and respect." — 1 Peter 3:15

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The latest from Melissa!

The latest from Melissa!

The latest encouragement from Melissa!