Real Hope Conversations

He's an international Evangelist, a prolific sportsman, a sporting and military chaplain, and he helps run a charity helping thousands of orphans and disadvantaged individuals across Europe. David Smethurst is an incredible man with a passion for God, join our chat with him on todays episode of Real Hope Conversations.

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Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 

If I am to wholly follow the Lord Jesus Christ, I must forsake everything that is contrary to Him. - AW Tozer 

It would be very easy to look at the quote above and think, ‘that’s other people, not me’, but the truth of the matter is that we all are called to forsake all and to pick up our cross and follow Christ. That is the Christian life. 

It would be easy to focus our attention on ourselves, on all that we have lost or may lose on this journey as a result of our faith.  

However, as we reflect in our readings this week on the cost of following Christ, our goal is instead to shift our attention heavenward. To cultivate a heart that can see God’s big picture. A heart that longs and wants God above all so that the price we may pay to follow Him means nothing compared to the all-consuming love we have found in Him.

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Returning contributor Kath Henry is a mentor of christian leaders, one of the chaplains at Hope 103.2 and an overall wonderful woman of God. Listen in to todays conversation about Grace and Forgiveness.

"Donate to our November Appeal. Click here http://hope1032.com.au/donate"

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

GRACE AND FORGIVENESS 

Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. - Oswald Chambers 

It’s easy to talk about forgiveness until you’re faced with a situation where you’re seeking forgiveness or where you’re needing to extend forgiveness. In theory, it is easy but in practice it is a whole lot harder. 

This is where grace comes in… 

This week our study looks at grace and forgiveness because they go hand in hand. Our Almighty Father has extended grace and forgiveness to us and so our prompt should be to extend such grace and forgiveness to those around us. Something written so easily is not so easy in reality. How do we extend grace and forgiveness? Where do we start? How to we lead through forgiveness and is there a limit to forgiveness? We will look at all these questions and more in this week’s readings.  

May you grow in grace and forgiveness this week as we dive into God’s Word.  

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Neri Morris is a returning contributor to the Real Hope Podcast, she's also an author, the owner of an ethical and sustainable online marketplace called Thread Harvest, and part of the team for the faith-based design and innovation Non-for-profit organisation Seed.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

POWER IN THE NAME 

‘I am the Alpha and Omega,‘ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.‘ 

REVELATION 1:8 (NIV) 

How many times have you heard phrases like, ‘Be like John’ or ‘What would Anna do?’ or ‘Holly is a walking ray of sunshine’. Names are powerful. One word can contain so much meaning. A name can remind us of who a person is, can conjure memories and describe a person’s character and overall approach to situations.  

Throughout the Bible there are many names used to reference God. Names like Elohim, YHWH, Adonai, El Shaddai and Jehovah Jireh are all used to describe characteristics of our mighty God. Every name powerfully reminds us that our God is present and personal in our lives, that He has no limits, that He is master, He is healer and He is the Almighty. 

As you read through this week’s devotions, our prayer is that these names of God will take new meaning into your day-to-day life. That you will be powerfully reminded of who God is and how He is intricately weaving Himself through your everyday.  

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Today we talk to Russ Matthews who is involved in City Bible Forum. He obtained a business degree from University of Maryland and a masters degree from Faith Baptist Bible College.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine. Dwight L. Moody

If you went to Sunday School as a child, you will probably have learnt the song ‘This little light of mine’. It’s a song that talks about letting our light for Christ shine in the world. However, as we grow up and get older, the actual words of the song take on new meaning.

God calls us to shine our light in a world that’s full of darkness. The words of this children’s song are a real call to action from our Heavenly Father. As we live out each day, our lives need to shine to bring attention to the Saviour King who will bring healing, restoration, unity, peace and hope to a world desperate for it. They just need us to light the way. 

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Elyse Murphy is a media personality and heavily involved in ministry, she speaks for large crowds and coaches in boardrooms, she writes about both heartbreaking and hilarious moments of life, and she’s passionate about both spiritual health and physical fitness. Jump in and hear a bit about how God's plans work different from our own plans.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

DREAMS AND PLANS

I just hope people see that if God can do something beautiful with my broken pieces, then God truly has a plan for each and every one of us.

- Nick Vujicic

We all have dreams. Dreams of opportunities, dreams to see changes in our circumstance, dreams for our children, dreams for our families, dreams for our world. All too often though our dreams are finite. We don’t allow space for our infinite God to work His plans through our dreams.

Through the next five days, take time to dream and seek. Reflect on the dreams God has written on your heart and seek Him in those dreams. Take time to pause, reflect and realign your heart with the plans of our Heavenly Father who dreams for you, who directs your path, who walks beside you all to see His perfect plan worked out through your life – to bring Him glory and shine His light to those around you.

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John is a relationship manager for 96five in Brisbane. Having trained and worked as an agriculturalist, he swapped vocations to become a church planter and missionary in Australia and Thailand.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

All our infirmities, whatever they are, are just opportunities for God to display his gracious work in us.

- Charles Spurgeon

When we talk about healing, so often we refer to illness – cancer, diseases, brokenness of the body etc. However, we know that healing can refer to many other things such as healing of the heart and soul. Healing of brokenness. Healing from pain and trauma.

Our God is the great physician. He is the ultimate healer. One not bound by medicine or science but one who is all powerful and mighty to deliver and save. He is our Saviour. The hope of the world. In Him we find healing, peace and rest. Is it always in our timing? No. Is the healing always as we think it should be? No. Is He always working in the midst of our needs? Yes!

This week as we explore God – the great physician – we pray your eyes will be lifted upwards. You may not get all the answers but we pray you know and draw near to our Heavenly Father who is always with you in every circumstance and season.

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Phillip Randall is the CEO of Hope Media, has led various organizations and ministries over his career and is involved with the Community Broadcasting Association.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. - John Maxwell

We are all leaders. Leaders in our homes, leaders in our families, leaders in our workplace, leaders in ministry and leaders in our community. No matter what your title, in some aspect of your life you are a leader.

But how do we as people of faith lead from a Christian perspective? How do we bring God into every aspect of our leadership of others to reflect Christ?

This week we’ll be looking at Christian Leadership in our families, in business, in ministry, in decision-making and in following. Our hope is that through these devotions you’ll be refined and encouraged as a leader in your life. 

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Lucy Weil is the Marketing and Communications Manager for Hope Media here in Sydney. A deep lover of Christ here to talk about what it means to have a Courageous Faith.

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

COURAGEOUS FAITH

When’s the last time you ran in the direction of your challenge? We tend to retreat; we tend to duck; we tend to hide. We may escape for a moment but as soon as we emerge from our hiding, there’s our Goliath, still waiting on us. Why don’t you try another tact? Saturate your mind with God, and then – in faith –run at our giant. Emboldened by an un-squashable resolve, load your sling with the rock of faith and take a swing at your giant. - Max Lucado

The Christian life is not easy. It’s messy. It calls for us to be ‘in the world but not of the world’. It asks us to rub against the grain of society. It requires us to stand in the face of adversity, criticism, injustice and misunderstanding. It calls for us to let go of our sinful humanity and run towards a loving Heavenly Father with abandon. It is a life that requires courage and faith in order to shine the light of Christ in a broken world.

This devotional theme is intended to challenge. It is intended to ask you to take stock of how you’re running the race marked out for you. In a world that increasingly opposed to faith, how can we continue to stand courageously in its midst?

Our prayer is that you will be emboldened, and encouraged to continue to take that next step… because you are not alone. We are in this together.

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David Barker is the CFO of Hope Media Limited, he has a theological studies degree and is very passionate about the old testament and the history of the Israelites. 

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

GOD THE PROVIDER - A Study of Exodus 13–17

We can’t predict what type of sustaining graces God will provide for us. And we can’t expect that the kind of sustaining grace someone else receives will be the same kind of care we will receive. We can only trust that the provision will come. - Louie Giglio

God is always with us and always working in our situations even when we can’t see it. He is the God of provision. However, this provision does not always present itself the way we think it should, or in the time we think it should.

The story of the Israelites in Exodus 13–17 shows us the amazing goodness and heart God has for His people – us. In every moment, God was with the Israelites. He constantly showed His power and care for them as His people. Yet still they complained. Yet still they forgot what He had already done. Yet still they doubted Him and lacked trust in Him.

How often is their response similar to our own responses to situations in our lives? How often do we forget, complain and lack trust in our Heavenly Father?

Our prayer is that through this devotional study you’ll not only see God at work in the lives of the Israelites but that you’ll also see how God the Provider has been and still is at work in your own life. 

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Laura is the host of 'Afternoons with Laura Bennett' on Hope 103.2, she has a Masters of Media, is a film reviewer and author of 'Live Your Dream'. 

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

RESTORATION

Whenever God restores something, He restores it to a place greater than it was before. -Bill Johnson

So often when we think of the word ‘restoration’, we think of it as the process of something being brought back to its former condition or glory.

However, when it comes to the Bible, the word ‘restoration’ often refers to a process of being made better than it was before. Being made new, not being made as it was. How often do we pray for God to restore a relationship, life or situation, and expect it to go back to the way it was? How often do we limit God to what we know, rather than see Him as God who is working to make things new, and even greater than before?

Through these devotionals you’ll discover God’s plan for restoration in our lives, our world and our hearts. A plan that is good and perfect and beyond our imagination. 

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