This is the final episode of 2022.  What a journey it has been.  We will look at several scriptures from Ezekiel that I believe represent and speak to what God is doing today in and through His sons and daughters.    I will weave teaching along with prophetic encouragement and blessing into this episode.  My goal in this last episode is to speak life into your spirit that would bring hope and faith into your heart.  

I wanted to close the year by listening to what the Lord wanted me to share and release it to you in a way that reflects His heart and goodness.    I'll end the episode by sharing a personal story from my family that speaks to the power of faithfulness.  I want you to know how faithful God is to us.  You can trust His heart as you seek Him and He will lead you all the days of your life.    

Ezekiel 37:1-10 

Ezekiel 47:1-12 

Matthew 13:1-23 

Ezekiel 34:11-16  

"Glorify" by Jordan Feliz, Toby Mac, and Terrian 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyE6OIcFXMI

We will look at several images in the Old Testament that will help us see how God shapes our heart.  God can deposit so much into us when we keep our heart moldable and we remain open to hear His wisdom.    I have found no better position to be in than that of being dependent on God's provision.  

I believe this episode will minister to your spirit.  I'll also take some time this episode to personally listen to the Lord and encourage you through what I hear the Father sharing for you.  One of my favorite aspects of how the Lord forms us is how intentional He is in every situation.    

Jeremiah 17:7-10 

Jeremiah 18:1-10  

Psalm 1:1-3

Ezekiel 36:

Song: "Always" by Chris Tomlin

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOhm4Px_xdY

It's amazing how God will take our defeats in life and work His character into us if we give Him that place in our heart.  It will be difficult, but well worth it.    Today we'll look at an incredible example of this in the life of Solomon and the Israelites.  

There are a lot of times where we will view our defeats in a negative light forgetting how God can lead us and counsel us into a place of wholeness and healing.  When we are willing to demonstrate our humility the Lord can shape our heart and strengthen us.  We will develop the fruit of the spirit through these times and He will bring us into an elevated place with a higher perspective that will build a new level of endurance in us.  God's desire is to bring us into a place of strength by coming through our moments of defeat.  So embrace your defeats and be tender with your heart and you'll see God strengthen your spirit.   

Key Scripture: 

2 Chronicles 1:1-10 

Matthew 17.    

Song: Bright side of broken by Mercy Me  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfcyIwwnT-Y

Today we'll look at why sharing our stories is so powerful.  I'll share some of my personal stories that will help us understand the four levels of our brain.  There is a reason that Jesus told stories and used parables to help people understand the truth He was bringing forward.    What happens when we share our stories?  

We gain new perspective, we are strengthened, we understand ourselves more, we feel connected with others, we build trust in our relationships.    One of the reasons we read scripture is that it gives us so many different examples to show us what it is like to be human.  The stories bring us hope and encourage us that change is possible.  Jesus Himself came into our world to give us an example of how to live a Godly life.    

Song: Take you at your word by Cody Carnes  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_U5zlM6N2s

Today we get to look at how incredible our brain is.  God designed our brain in a very relational way.  Once we come to understand how it operates and processes pain we'll discover just how it impacts our ability to change/grow.    We'll look at both the right and left hemisphere to see how they function. The right hemisphere which is rooted in relationship is responsible for the formation and strength of our identity and character.  

I believe that by understanding our brain we'll develop a better approach for our own growth and maturity.    This episode will inform you what we need at each level when we are stuck.  We'll see that the "elevator" in our brain operates one level at a time and when we don't have a well formed brain rooted in love/joy we can't form a strong identity.    

Song: Homecoming by Cory Asbury    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-L-L7OD_A

Today we are talking about building a lifestyle of encountering God in our day to day life.  God always intended to walk in relationship with us, however we make choices that go against God's word and ways.  We are hurt and wounded by others yet we have a God who loves us and is always available to heal us and restore us.   

 We are going to look at several examples of individuals in the Bible that took ownership of their actions in times of their mistakes and sin.  We will look at David, Isaiah, James, and the prodigal son.  All these examples give us hope and should strengthen our heart.    God's heart for us is that we would experience His presence in our daily life.  We can draw on His wisdom and guidance in any situation.  

When God meets us in our life, it does something inside of us that increases our trust and faith.  We begin to expect God to move and help us.  Scripture gives us many examples of individuals who made mistakes and had plenty of hardship, yet they were able to grow through it.  My hope in this episode is to encourage you that when you are in Christ you can look in the mirror and see what God sees, an incredible individual that reflects His image in a unique way.    

Scripture:  

James 1:22-25  

Psalm 51  

Isaiah 6:2-9  

Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son)   

Song: Losing my Ability by Jonathan & Melissa Helser 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sK2pcu3K2I

Would you say you are a person that welcomes hardship and trials?  How about finding joy in our hardship?  Many of us would probably say we don't enjoy having to go through hard things, however as we mature and grow we can develop the mindset to see the opportunity of hardship as a way to grow and become stronger.    

If you look into what really empowers growth, maturity, and transformation is it when we are going through hardship.  We are shaped by how we learn to navigate these situations and as we look to the Lord for guidance in leadership we begin to see He is with us and brings a level of balance and stability to grow our capacity.  When we increase our capacity we are able to endure hardships.    

Today we'll look at the way created our brain and make some incredible discoveries on the reality of how our brain processes pain and hardship.  I'll give you an introduction to the four levels of our right hemisphere in the brain and as we unpack these I think you're going to discover some wonderful truths that will help you understand how we truly change.    

Key Scripture:  James 1:2-9   

Resource mentioned: R.A.R.E Leadership by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder  

Song: Father Of Jesus by Jonathan Helser 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH4BMQqgI58

Today we're going to jumping into Psalm 32 and looking at what David has to say about bringing our heart before God and bearing our brokenness and pain.  We all long for change, transformation, growth, and maturity in our lives and this powerful Psalm has a lot to say about how we prepare our heart for the Lord to change us.    This week's episode is going to lead us into our topic next week where we'll look at how our brain was designed to help us change.  This Psalm will set the stage for how God has made us and how we really change.  

If I would ask you how we really change what would you say?  This is a question I've been wrestling over the past several years.    The change that we often desire only comes through suffering and hardship.  We may not like the process, but a major part of how we change is by inviting the Lord into our pain and discomfort and inviting the Holy Spirit to shape us in our trials.  It's in our ownership of our choices in which we give up control and begin to trust God with our life.    

Key Scripture:  

Psalm 32  

Song: Bright side of Broken by Mercy Me  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfcyIwwnT-Y

Today you'll discover how much God delights in you.  I'm going to share a little devotional with you that I'll read over you and encourage you to catch God's heart in it for you.  The devotional is called, "The Importance of joy."  It's not something you'll have to take notes on but just want you to listen how God would speak this over you and notice what it stirs in your heart.    

I'll also share a few scriptures from John around God's desire for you to personally experience His joy.  I'll share a personal time in my life where I was in a difficult place and needed someone just to be with me, and Jesus showed up and demonstrated His kindness to me in a tangible way.  That one encounter led me deeper into a place of intimacy with Him and from that one encounter my trust in Him was strengthened.    I'll close the episode of an image the Lord showed me a few years back that shows us how His love can motivate us and produce fruit in us and that will impact those around us.   

 Philippians 2   

Song: Stand in your love by Josh Baldwin  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T2tMt0Ky6g

Today we will be looking at God's wisdom behind our emotions.  I know for me I haven't understood or been aware of the purpose of our big emotions that can often leave us stuck.  Today we'll look at what I've come to know as the big six emotions and their purposes.  Those emotions are Shame, Anger, Despair, Sadness, Anxiety/Fear, Disgust.  I think you'll find these helpful.    

We'll also look at another great passage from Provers that teaches us the importance of stopping to listen and seek for God's wisdom.  I'm sure you might be like me and you've found yourself drawn to someone in your life that had a lot of wisdom, and when they spoke you listened.  Think of this, the God who created the universe and everything in it desires to have an intimate relationship with you and reveal His wisdom to you.    I'll also share a few great illustrations with you that I think will help you understand the role of these emotions.  One of them has to do with "Joy Island" and the other lights on a dash board, curious?  Please take a listen.    

Key Scripture:  Proverbs 1:20-23 (Passion Translation)   

Song: Morning by Morning by Pat Barrett and Mack Brock  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r0x4UMekkY