Join authors Michelle Diercks and Pastor Andrew Jones for a special Advent series that weaves together themes from their upcoming books from Concordia Publishing House. Michelle explores how God's promises bring peace in all circumstances in "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" (releasing January 7, 2025). Pastor Andy's book "10 Lies Satan Loves to Tell" (releasing January 14, 2025) unmasks the deceptions that often shake our trust in God's faithfulness. To celebrate their book launches, these two authors have created "Advent Reflections," a thoughtful series examining how Satan's lies try to distract us from hope. At the same time, God's promises remain unshakeable - just as they did for Mary and Elizabeth. Through these conversations, Michelle and Andy demonstrate how the truths of God's Word strengthen, our hearts, reminding us that God still makes the impossible possible.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Elizabeth's story of waiting and faithfulness
• The significance of Elizabeth's meeting with Mary
• Parallels between Elizabeth's story and Hannah's story from the Old Testament
• Personal reflections on infertility and faith
• The importance of found family and deeper church relationships
• The concept of God as "Lord of Hosts"

Scripture References:

Story of Elizabeth (Luke 1)

Hannah's story (1 Samuel)

Featured Books:

• "Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell" by Pastor Andrew R. Jones
• "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" by Michelle Diercks
• Both available through Amazon and Concordia Publishing House (CPH), with free first chapters available on their website
• Read the First Chapter of Ten Lifes Satan Loves to Tell
• Read the First Chapter of Promised Hope

Join authors Michelle Diercks and Pastor Andrew Jones for a special Advent series that weaves together themes from their upcoming books from Concordia Publishing House. Michelle explores how God's promises bring peace in all circumstances in "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" (releasing January 7, 2025). Pastor Andy's book "10 Lies Satan Loves to Tell" (releasing January 14, 2025) unmasks the deceptions that often shake our trust in God's faithfulness. To celebrate their book launches, these two authors have created "Advent Reflections," a thoughtful series examining how Satan's lies try to distract us from hope. At the same time, God's promises remain unshakeable - just as they did for Mary and Elizabeth. Through these conversations, Michelle and Andy demonstrate how the truths of God's Word strengthen, our hearts, reminding us that God still makes the impossible possible.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Mary's encounter with Gabriel and her faith response
• The 400-year period of silence between the Old and New Testaments
• How Satan's lies of "you cannot trust God" and "you must save yourself" affect us
• Finding peace during difficult family gatherings, especially during holiday seasons
• The importance of remembering God's presence (Emmanuel) during Advent

Featured Books:

• "Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell" by Pastor Andrew R. Jones
• "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" by Michelle Diercks
• Both available through Amazon and Concordia Publishing House (CPH), with free first chapters available on their website
• Read First Chapter of Ten Lifes Satan Loves to Tell
• Read First Chapter of Promised Hope

Scripture Reference:

• Luke Chapter 1 - Mary's Story

Resources Mentioned:

• CPH website for previewing both books' first chapters
• Both books available through Concordia Publish

In this powerful episode of Peace in His Presence, guest host Deb Burma interviews Michelle Diericks about her upcoming book "Promised Hope" (releasing January 7th). They dive deep into one of the most significant names of God - Yahweh - and explore its profound meaning through the story of Moses and the plagues of Egypt.

Who is Yahweh?

The name Yahweh appears over 6,000 times in the Old Testament, typically shown as "LORD" in small capitals. Through the dramatic encounter at the burning bush, God reveals Himself to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM" - or more accurately, "I am what you will discover me to be." This sets the stage for an incredible demonstration of God's power and presence.

God's Power Revealed Through the Plagues

In the book Michelle covers all the plagues, but in this episode she highlights three of them.

1. The Nile turning to blood - striking at Egypt's lifeline
2. The plague of frogs - challenging their fertility goddess
3. The plague of darkness - confronting their supreme sun god, Ra

Each plague systematically demonstrated Yahweh's superiority over Egypt's false gods.

 Why This Matters Today

Michelle shares a powerful insight about God's presence in our struggles: "He walks with us through the fire, carries us if need be." Just as God was present with the Israelites in their suffering, He remains present with us in our challenges today.

"The bush remained unconsumed by the flames because the Israelites would not be consumed by their horrific suffering in Egypt."

This message resonates deeply for anyone facing their own "Egypt moments" - situations we didn't choose but must navigate with faith.

The Promise of His Presence

The episode concludes with a beautiful reading of Psalm 121, emphasizing God's constant presence and protection. Whether facing personal trials or watching global suffering unfold, remember that Yahweh is not distant - He is right there in the midst of it all.

Want to explore God's names more deeply? Michelle's new book, Promised Hope, will be released on January 7th, complementing her previous work, Promised Rest. Both books explore the profound meanings of God's names throughout Scripture.

Click here to see Michelle's book on Amazon

In this heartwarming episode, Michelle is joined by her sons Jacob and Matthew, to discuss the first chapter of her upcoming book "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" (releasing January 7th). Together, they unpack the powerful names Adonai and Kyrios, exploring how God's sovereignty brings comfort in life's unfixable moments.

Key Moments:

• Deep dive into Genesis 15 and Abraham's journey of faith
• Discussion of the 25-year waiting period in Abraham and Sarah's story
• Personal story about Michelle's first day of confirmation class
• Beautiful parallel between God's covenant with Abraham and His promises to us
• Special mother-sons moment discussing God's faithfulness through generations

Scripture Referenced:

• Genesis 15:1-6
• Ephesians 2:8-9
• Romans 4
• Hebrews 11

Quotes Worth Remembering: "God is the one who does all the verbs. He is the one that did this covenant." - Michelle

"Faith isn't something that comes from us. Perfect faith is imputed to us by God because Jesus had perfect faith." - Matthew

Connect with Michelle:

• Pre-order "Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God's Faithfulness" (releasing January 7th) Click here to order from Amazon

Jacob is a first-year seminary student at St. Louis, while Matthew is in his second year of the pre-seminary program at Concordia Wisconsin. Both are following their calling to become pastors.

📝 Special Note: This episode marks a unique moment in the Promised Hope Series as Michelle's sons help launch the podcast series about her new book.

Join Michelle as she sits down with Martha Van Buskirk, author of the newly book "Transcribed Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Grace."

From her fascinating journey from Washington DC politics to becoming a pastor's wife, Martha shares how God taught her profound lessons about identity, purpose, and the extraordinary impact of ordinary moments.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Martha's transition from a high-powered career in Washington DC to seminary life and ministry
• The challenge of finding identity beyond status and achievements
• How God uses our "ordinary" lives for extraordinary purposes
• The importance of seeing people with "gospel eyes"
• Finding purpose in life's transitions and challenges

Notable Quotes:

"I am a child of God. That's my identity.'" - Martha Van Buskirk

"We don't have to be famous. We don't have to have millions of social media followers to do really important work and make a difference in God's economy." - Martha Van Buskirk

Highlights:

• How God uses our ordinary moments for His extraordinary purposes
• The importance of being "seen" and truly seeing others
• Practical ways to share kindness in everyday encounters
• Understanding our unique identity as God's children

About the Book:

"Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Grace" releases November 7th. The book encourages readers to:

• Embrace their identity as God's children
• Find purpose in everyday moments
• See the extraordinary in ordinary acts of kindness
• Connect with others through simple acts of grace

Connect with Martha Van Buskirk:

Martha's Website

Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Grace on Amazon

This podcast episode celebrates the launch of Lindsey Hausch's new book, 'The Secret of Being Content: A Journey through Philippians.' The episode features a discussion of chapter seven of the book, which focuses on anxiety as the opposite of contentment.   Lindsey Hausch, joined by the Seasoned Mamas, explores the biblical teachings on anxiety, highlighting how the words of Paul and scriptures offer guidance and tools to navigate life's challenges with peace. The episode emphasizes being enveloped in God's peace, discussing how focusing on Christ can bring contentment and combat anxiety. Practical examples from the Seasoned Mamas lives illustrate the peace that transcends understanding. The conversation concludes with a prayer, encouraging listeners to live lives of thanksgiving and rely on God's promises for peace.   00:00 Introduction and Book Launch Announcement 00:25 Special Group for Women: The Gray Space 00:43 Celebrating with the Season Mamas 01:21 Diving into Chapter Seven: Peace That Transcends Understanding 01:56 Understanding Anxiety and Contentment 04:43 Biblical Insights on Anxiety 07:01 The Story of Martha and Mary 14:47 Personal Stories of Peace 23:19 Final Thoughts and Reflections 32:38 Closing Remarks and Prayer   The Secret of Being Content: A Journey Through Philippians Buy on Amazon   The Grace Space where Lindsay is leading her Study on Facebook

Michelle welcomes Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award-winning hip-hop artist Flame for an in-depth discussion on Baptism.

Michelle has received many questions about Baptism over the past couple of years from people of various backgrounds. She wanted to provide a space for a conversation to help people understand some of the different beliefs surrounding Baptism.

In this episode, Flame takes us through his transformative journey, sharing how his beliefs about Baptism have changed from his Calvinistic background to his current beliefs as a Lutheran.

Flame shares what was helpful to him as he wrestled with his understanding of Baptism. He offers words of encouragement to those who are wrestling with this topic and to those who are walking alongside someone who has questions.

Our prayer is that this episode will begin to answer your questions about Baptism and serve as a starting place to learn more.

 Learn more about Flames story through his book! (click here)

Listen to Flame's podcast to learn more: Extra Nos Academy

 

In this heartfelt episode of the Peace in His Presence podcast, host Michelle warmly welcomes special guests, The Seasoned Mamas to celebrate the upcoming release of Deb’s new book 'Immeasurably More: 100 Devotions on God's Extravagant Grace,' coming out September 24th.   The episode delves into the inspiration behind the book, with Deb sharing her thought process on creating the subtopics for the devotions, all rooted in Ephesians 3:20.   The session is filled with genuine moments of joy, laughter, and relatable reflections as Deb, Lindsay, Faith, and Michelle discuss the transformative power of God’s grace.   The highlight is a segment where participants share their favorite Psalms, prompting spontaneous singing and deep, personal insights. Listeners are promised an uplifting and faith-filled experience as they explore how God’s word brings joy and peace even in uncertain times. This episode is especially meaningful for, overthinkers, and those who sometimes struggle with anxiety, offering comfort and reminders of God’s unwavering presence.   00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:07 Introducing Deb's New Book 01:36 Deb's Writing Process 03:55 The Power of Grace and Love 07:53 The Joy of Writing 12:10 Faith and Transformation 17:52 The Joyful Noise Devotion 26:20 Understanding Joy in Our Hearts 26:50 Faith and Joy in Difficult Times 29:13 Journal Prompt Discussion 31:20 Personal Reflections on Psalms 32:57 Sharing Poems and Songs 49:10 Concluding Thoughts and Announcements   If you would like to find out more about Deb's Book you can click on this link.

 In this episode of the Peace and His Presence podcast, host Michelle Diercks discusses her journey in becoming a certified Christian life coach and how this has helped her manage anxious thoughts.

Michelle shares her personal struggles, particularly concerning her husband's health, and introduces a scripture reading and writing plan to help listeners focus on God's Word instead of their 'what if' thoughts. She highlights the importance of relying on God's promises and finding peace in His steadfast love, even amid life's uncertainties.

Michelle invites listeners to join her on a two-month journey of writing God's word on their hearts to transition from worry to truth.

Links to the scripture reading plan and social media where daily Bible verses and devotionals.

If you do not receive my email newsletter you can sign up by clicking on this link. My newsletter is free and you do not need to pledge your support, that is not required. Substack will ask you that because there are some newsletters that have subscription fees.  

You can get a copy of the Bible Reading/Writing Plan Here.

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Michelle's Book, Promised Rest

In this episode, the Michelle welcomes Tanner Olson, a poet, author, and speaker, to discuss his book, 'Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.'   They explore how Tanner's simple yet profound writing offers solace and guidance amid life's uncertainties. Tanner shares insights into his creative process, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the small things and turning them into messages of hope.   They also discuss the role of prayer, the comfort in knowing God is always with us, and the journey of finding peace despite overthinking and anxiety. Throughout the conversation, Tanner reads excerpts from his book, providing a glimpse into his heartfelt poems and prayers. The episode concludes with Tanner offering a benediction from his book.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:37 Meet Tanner Olson 01:30 The Art of Simple Writing 04:04 Inspiration Behind 'Continue' 07:34 Sharing Poems from 'Continue' 15:30 Personal Reflections and Faith 22:41 The Power of Self-Talk 23:15 Navigating Grief and Uncertainty 24:24 Promoting Tanner's Work 25:23 Reading 'Krusty with Love Handles' 32:45 Reflecting on Psalm 23 34:55 Comparing to King David 36:40 Final Thoughts and Benediction   Connect with Tanner on his website, Written to Speak.   You can find information about Tanner's newletter and books on his website.