The Bridge Austin

Waiting can be extremely hard. As humans, we are not really known for our patience… especially when it comes to driving! We wanted to get where we want to go as fast as we possibly can. In today’s message, Pastor Chris teaches that this is often how we approach life as well. We want that job now. We want that raise now. We want that law to pass now. As much as you wish you could have all these things now, it’s best to wait on the Lord because He knows exactly when you need them.

What is the significance of the Mount of Olives, the Temple Mount, and Israel? What are the signs of Jesus' return? Rabbi Schneider shares how connected God is to Israel, how the signs of Jesus' return are already happening, and how Jesus confirmed the signs of the end of the age. Learn what our response should be and what it means to us today as the rabbi unpacks biblical prophecy spoken by Jesus himself.

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Today, Pastor Jack teaches that our advancement is in God’s timing. Like David, our focus is to be ready for service in whatever role we find ourselves in. To live a Christ centered life is to submit to His agenda, not rushing ahead or comparing ourselves to others.

Today, join Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lefleur as they discuss setting boundaries for your family. They explain that healthy boundaries start with understanding what each child truly needs and tailoring rules by age, maturity and individual challenges — not just enforcing control for control’s sake. Mark and Courtney emphasize focusing first on relationship, then building clear expectations, household boundaries, and rewards that encourage responsibility and independence. Ultimately, they advise parents to adjust their approach as teens grow, and create a home that offers structure, peace and a place of rest for their weary souls.

Explore all of the practical resources from Mark designed to help you as you raise your teen by visiting parentingtodaysteens.org

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org. 

Communication is a key factor in any healthy relationship, especially when nurturing your connection with your spouse. In this Best of 2025 episode, Heather Holleman and her husband, Ashley, join us to share practical insights on communicating effectively within marriage while living out a gospel-centered life together. Their encouragement serves as inspiration to guide you on how to strengthen your marriage through intentional care and conversations.

Receive a copy of The Six Conversations and an audio download of "How to Have Meaningful Conversations with Your Spouse" for your donation of any amount! Your Gift DOUBLES to Help Deliver Hope and Joy! Save 2X the marriages and families this Christmas with your life-changing gift today!

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When hope is tied only to a desired outcome, disappointment becomes inevitable. Katherine Wolf knows this truth more personally than most. At just 26, with a newborn in her arms and a lifetime ahead of her, she suffered a massive and unexpected stroke that changed everything.

Today, through her writing, speaking, and nonprofit ministry Hope Heals, Katherine invites others into a deeper, sturdier hope—one that can withstand even the darkest valleys.

On today’s show, she joins us to share her journey: how suffering reshaped her faith, her understanding of God’s goodness, and even her family’s finances.

In 2008, without warning or symptoms, Katherine experienced a catastrophic brainstem stroke caused by a congenital condition she never knew she had—an arterial venous malformation (AVM). Overnight, she went from fully able-bodied to fighting for her life.

A 16-hour surgery saved her, but her new reality included significant impairments. Today, she uses a wheelchair, has facial paralysis, reduced function in her right hand, and additional physical limitations. Still, she radiates joy and purpose.

“I did live—and I’m doing great,” she says with her trademark resilience.

Katherine describes the stroke as the moment “the pebble hit the metal”—a collision between everything she had learned about Jesus and the hardest chapter of her life.

Years of Scripture, sermons, prayer, and discipleship prepared her for a moment she never imagined. “This is no longer a drill,” she remembers telling herself. Her long walk with Christ, though imperfect, had built a foundation strong enough to stand when everything else fell apart.

In her memoir Hope Heals, she writes that suffering is not the end of the story—but the beginning of a new one. Christian hope does not deny pain; it declares that pain will not have the final word.

Katherine’s more recent book, Treasures in the Dark, draws from Isaiah 45:3—God’s promise to give “hidden treasure” in the shadows of our lives so we might know Him more deeply.

“If we must walk through darkness—and we all do at some point—why not gather the treasure God has placed there?” she asks. In other words, don’t waste your pain. Let God use it to form you, deepen you, and show you His faithfulness in ways comfort never could.

One of the greatest treasures to emerge from Katherine’s hardship is Hope Heals, the nonprofit she and her husband, Jay, founded.

Hope Heals Camp

Their flagship outreach is a fully scholarship-supported summer camp for families affected by disability. Guests experience rest, community, and the love of Christ through what Katherine calls “inter-ability community”—people with and without disabilities sharing life together.

Volunteers and families leave forever changed. The joy is contagious.

Mend Coffee Shop

In Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, Hope Heals also operates Mend, a universally accessible coffee shop that employs people with disabilities and creates a space where everyone belongs.

Katherine describes both initiatives as “glorious,” a word she uses often—and always with delight.

Medical crises don’t just affect the body; they often reshape a family’s finances. Katherine knows this firsthand.

When disability or sudden illness enters a story, she notes, “the finances can be ravaged.” Many famil

For thousands of years, philosophers and other great minds have wrestled with the meaning of life. But for as many books as have been written on the topic, the answer isn’t as complicated as you might think! Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals that for a few ancient magi, finding the truth was as easy as following a star in the sky.

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When overwhelmed and ready to quit, your need is perspective, the antidote to discouragement. Chip shares how to gain this perspective.

God’s plan for slaying the dragon of discouragement

A - Attitude -Jas. 1:2-4

God’s will in adversity – JOYFUL ENDURANCE

R - Resource -Jas. 1:5-8

God’s promise in the process – SUPERNATURAL WISDOM

T - Theology -Jas. 1:9-12

God’s prescription for perseverance – DIVINE PERSPECTIVE

Hanging tough in tough times demand we:

1. Get God’s perspective on our circumstances. Jas. 1:9-11

2. Get God’s perspective on our future. -Jas. 1:12a

3. Get God’s perspective on our motivation. -Jas. 1:12a

Summary/review – You can slay the dragon of discouragement!

1. Re-evaluate your circumstances.

The test: is my faith in things that are perishable or things that are PERMANENT?

2. Re-evaluate your focus.

The test: is my hope determined by the size of my problems or the certainty of God’s PROMISES?

3. Re-evaluate your motivation.

The test: is the primary motivation of my heart to LOVE CHRIST or simply get relief and please myself?

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