Renewed Mindsets: Don't Conform-TRANSFORM

Send us Fan Mail

A quiet room in Judea, two expectant mothers, and a surge of joy that still echoes across centuries. We open Luke 1:39–56 and step into the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, where recognition happens before explanation and blessing rises before certainty. Elizabeth names the miracle at work, and Mary answers with the Magnificat—an audacious hymn that dares to say the humble will be lifted and the proud will fall, because the Mighty One is faithful to every promise.

We read the passage in full and linger on its texture: the leap of John in the womb, the Spirit-filled clarity of Elizabeth’s words, and Mary’s steady courage to call herself blessed because God acts, not because she is impressive. Together we explore how Advent hope is not soft sentiment but a holy reversal—mercy that disrupts pride, justice that feeds the hungry, and a covenant that reaches from Abraham to forever. This is the kind of hope that reshapes our habits: showing up for one another, speaking blessing, practicing watchful prayer, and making room for hidden growth that bears world-changing fruit.

Along the way, we keep our hearts set on the double horizon of Advent—Christ has come and Christ will come again. Expectancy is not anxiety; it is love awake at the window. If you need a reset from the noise of the season, this reading and reflection offers a place to breathe, to believe before seeing, and to live as if God’s promises are already working under the surface.

Listen now, share this with a friend who needs courage, and help us spread hope. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us which line of Mary’s song speaks to you today. Stay watchful, stay holy, and stay renewed.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

A startled greeting, an honest question, and a quiet yes—Mary’s encounter with Gabriel in Luke 1:26–38 still speaks to anxious hearts and hurried days. We slow down for Advent and read the text aloud, letting the angel’s words land with fresh weight: do not be afraid, the Lord is with you, nothing will be impossible with God.

We dig into the scene in Nazareth, exploring how divine favor can feel unsettling and how real faith makes space for questions without surrendering to doubt. Gabriel’s promise ties heaven’s initiative to Israel’s hope—David’s throne, a reign without end, and the Holy Spirit overshadowing what seems impossible. Mary’s response is more than compliance; it’s courageous consent, a whole-life yes that invites us to consider where we, too, can trust God’s word in the middle of uncertainty. Along the way, we highlight Elizabeth’s pregnancy as a living sign that widens belief, and we talk about practical ways to keep watch: short readings, slow breathing, a single phrase carried through the day, and simple encouragement shared with a friend.

You’ll hear our on-air banter about translations and the joy of reading Scripture clearly and simply, plus a closing call to stay watchful, prayerful, and renewed. If you’re longing for peace that doesn’t ignore reality, for hope that reorders your pace, and for a vision of Jesus’ kingdom that heals rather than crushes, this reading offers a grounded path. Listen, reflect, and pass the hope along. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so others can find the Advent journey too.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

A shaken priest, a startling angel, and a promise that refuses to fit inside human limits. We continue our Advent journey with Luke 1:5–25, walking through Zechariah’s encounter with Gabriel, the sign of silence, and Elizabeth’s unexpected joy. This is a story about more than a miraculous birth; it’s about how God prepares a people, turns hearts, and grows hope in places we had written off as barren.

I share the passage in full and unpack why the details matter: John’s consecration, his Spirit-filled calling from the womb, and his mission to turn fathers toward children and the rebellious toward wisdom. We talk about the shock of unbelief meeting divine certainty, and why Zechariah’s silence is both a discipline and a mercy. In a season crowded with noise, his quiet months invite us to practice attention, let go of control, and allow God’s word to take root. Elizabeth’s secluded gratitude reframes delay as kindness, reminding us that God’s timing often protects fragile beginnings while preparing the way for Jesus.

You’ll walk away with simple, grounded practices for Advent: show up to ordinary duties with expectant hearts, carve out strategic silence to deepen trust, and name God’s kindness in small beginnings. This reflection is for anyone who feels stuck between promise and fulfillment, who needs to remember that hope often grows offstage before it steps into the light. Stay watchful, stay holy, stay renewed with us as we lean into the story that changes every other story.

If this encouraged you, subscribe and share it with a friend. Leave a review to help others find the show, and join us at renewedmindsets.com for past episodes and updates.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

Start here if you need two things at once: a deep breath and a holy nudge. Day eight of our Advent journey takes us into Malachi’s vivid promise of a messenger who prepares the way and a refiner who restores worship to its true center. We read the passage aloud, sit with the language of silver and soap, and talk honestly about why hope that never asks anything of us rarely changes us. The result is a short, focused time that slows your pace and sharpens your heart.

We explore how preparation is more than getting our calendars straight—it’s consenting to God’s purifying work. Malachi’s imagery reminds us that the refiner is both fierce and kind, removing dross so what’s precious can shine. That theme threads through everything we’re building this season: daily Scripture reading, a few minutes of quiet, and a simple prayer that aligns us with the One who came and who is coming again. You’ll also hear the easy rhythm of our conversation—quick check-ins, a returned guest voice, and a moment to laugh at production hiccups—because spiritual life happens in real time, not in a studio vacuum.

Along the way we call each other to stay expectant, stay watchful, and keep our eyes on Jesus. The text in Malachi lands with a clear invitation: let your worship be refined, let your hopes be anchored, and let your actions reflect a heart made ready. If this reading stirs you, pass it on to someone who needs courage or clarity today. Subscribe to Renewed Mindsets, leave a review to help others find these Advent reflections, and share the link with a friend who could use a steady word of hope.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

A brief prophecy with a vast horizon: Jeremiah 33:14–16 names a future where justice is not a slogan but a person, and safety is not fragile but secured. We slow our pace for Day Seven of Advent, breathe together, and let this promise reshape our expectations for hope, holiness, and everyday courage. With Lauren back on the mic, we keep it simple and honest—no drumroll needed—just a clear reading, a grounded reflection, and a call to keep our eyes on Jesus.

We explore what it means to call Him the Righteous Branch, the descendant from David who does what is just and right throughout the land. That name—The Lord Is Our Righteousness—breaks the cycle of striving and turns righteousness from a checklist into a relationship. In a world that trades in anxiety and distraction, we talk about a different rhythm: short daily pauses that re-center the heart, prayer that makes space for presence, and watchfulness that looks like hope in action. Along the way, we share a few smiles, preview upcoming voices, and remember that joy belongs in the room when we speak about promise.

This conversation doubles as an invitation. Share the message with someone who needs a steady word. Stay watchful, stay praying, and stay ready—not with fear, but with a clear-eyed faith that the One who came is coming again. If this resonated with you, hit follow, send the link to a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Renewed Mindsets. Your encouragement helps others breathe, reset, and remember the hope that holds.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

Start here if your soul needs quiet. Day Six of our Advent journey lingers over Isaiah 53, reading the whole passage aloud and letting its stark beauty do the work: a Servant with no impressive form, carrying grief that isn’t His, trading His wounds for our healing. We invited Lauren to voice the text so you can simply listen, breathe, and receive what this “Man of Sorrows” still offers—wholeness for the fractured, peace for the restless, and hope that outlives the dark.

We unpack the core movement of the chapter: a truthful diagnosis of our straying hearts, a deliberate silence in the face of violence, and a surprising outcome where suffering becomes seed for life. Instead of hot takes, we practice stillness. Instead of polished answers, we sit with a story that refuses spin: He was pierced for our rebellion, and by His stripes we are healed. That exchange shapes how we carry our own pain, how we forgive those who wound us, and how we live awake to the quiet strength of Jesus.

As we close, we point forward with expectancy. Advent is not sentimental pause; it’s training our eyes to see the King who came low and will come again in glory. If you’ve been tired, cynical, or just numb, this gentle reading is a reset. Press play, share it with someone who needs hope, and walk with us through the days ahead as we keep our minds renewed and our eyes on Jesus. Subscribe, leave a rating so others can find the show, and send this episode to a friend who could use a steady word today.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

What if comfort is not a cliché but a command that reshapes how we wait? We open Isaiah 40:1–5 and sit with words that ask us to speak tenderly, clear obstacles, and expect God’s glory to be seen by all. This short Advent reflection traces the thread from ancient prophecy to John the Baptist’s voice in the wilderness and on to the hope that centers our everyday lives.

I read alongside Ashton, a steady reader and history teacher, and together we let the text do its work: valleys filled, mountains lowered, curves straightened, rough places smoothed. We explore how “prepare the way” becomes real practice—repentance that restores, prayer that steadies, and small acts of love that turn waiting into watchfulness. The conversation keeps its focus on Jesus while making space for ordinary rhythms that renew the mind: a few minutes of quiet, a shared reading, and a decision to speak comfort into weary spaces.

You’ll also hear a preview of upcoming voices joining the readings, because Advent is better in community. If you need a reset, this reflection offers a grounded path: remember fulfilled prophecy, receive present comfort, and lean toward future hope. Take a breath, fix your eyes on Jesus, and consider who needs a word of comfort from you today.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, leave a review to help others find it, and share the link with a friend who could use some hope. Stay watchful, stay holy, and let’s keep our minds renewed together.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

A small village and a world-sized promise—today we pause our pace and sit with Micah 5:2–5a, where Bethlehem is named as the birthplace of a ruler whose origins reach into the distant past. We read the passage, reflect on the wonder of fulfilled prophecy, and share why Advent invites us to slow down, breathe, and live watchful and prayerful with real hope.

We walk through how a scattered people were promised a shepherd who would stand in the Lord’s strength and lead them to undisturbed peace. That picture is not flashy; it’s faithful. It reframes how we think about influence, reminding us that God often does his most decisive work through humble places and ordinary obedience. The convergence of prophecy and fulfillment anchors our faith in history rather than sentiment, offering a reasonable trust for anyone weary of uncertainty. Bethlehem isn’t a holiday backdrop; it’s a signpost that the story is coherent, the promises hold, and peace is a person, not a vibe.

Along the way, we share an honest, light moment about mics and missed days, then return to the heart of Advent: watching, praying, keeping our hearts ready for the One who came and the One who is coming again. If you’re carrying hurry, doubt, or distraction, this short reflection aims to steady you with Scripture, stir expectancy, and send you back into your day renewed. Listen, share the link with someone who needs peace, and keep your eyes on Jesus. If this encouraged you, subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more listeners can find these Advent reflections.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

A quiet moment can change the tone of an entire day. We set aside a few minutes to breathe and read Isaiah 9:2–7 aloud, letting an ancient promise speak into a modern ache: a people in darkness see a great light, burdens break, and joy returns like harvest time. Instead of more noise, we listen for names that steady the soul—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—and consider what it means to live under a government that brings real justice and peace without end.

As we move through day three of Advent, we lean into expectancy, not as wishful thinking but as a practiced posture: watching, praying, and keeping our hearts ready. The reading frames hope as something concrete and near, meeting confusion with counsel, weakness with strength, loneliness with care, and anxiety with deep peace. We talk frankly about weariness, the weight of headlines, and the quiet burdens we carry, then turn our eyes toward a kingdom that outlasts cycles and storms. The focus is simple and deliberate: slow down, remember the promise, and take one step of faith today.

You’ll also hear a warm update from Rick, a nod to Ashton’s return on a future reading, and a heartfelt push to share what stirs you. If this reflection lifts your spirit, pass it on—send the link to a friend who needs courage. Subscribe for daily Advent readings, leave a review to help more listeners find hope, and visit renewedmindsets.com for past episodes and resources. Share the truth while there’s still time, and stay watchful, stay holy, stay renewed.

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick

Send us Fan Mail

Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/h9N33uZ

Support the show

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/renewedmindsets

Renewed Mindsets can be found on Facebook, Twitter (X), Threads and Instagram as Renewed Mindsets. Our website is renewedmindsets.com   Leave a voicemail message, yellow microphone on every page, I might just use it on a future episode.

If you like what you hear then tell someone about the show.

Your continued support ensures that God's message to the podcast world will continue to be available for everyone. And know, 50% of all funding will be used as an offering to my local church. The rest will help supplement the cost of providing a quality show ie. equipment, bandwidth fees, Tylenol etc.  HA!

The Intro/Outro music is Are You Ready? by Floodgate. From the Album, Are You Ready? copyright 2002 OffBeat Ministries, Inc.
Floodgate is available on Apple Music and iTunes.
Music used with permission.

Thank You.  I Love You!

SEE YA!

Rick