Unshakable Hope

by Max Lucado

Is the empty tomb good news or bad news? It's good news, right? We know the tomb is empty because Jesus is alive. But have you ever thought about how Mary Magdalene felt when she found the tomb empty? She panicked. She thought the body of her beloved Jesus had been stolen. Mary Magdalene didn't yet know that Jesus had risen from the dead.

How often in life do we panic or despair when something bad happens? Sometimes it's so bad that it seems nothing good could ever come of it. Like Mary Magdalene, we don't know the end of the story. We can't see what God sees, but we can trust what He says.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."John 16:33

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. Hebrews 6:18

For every problem in life, God has given us a promise. The question isn't: Will God keep His promises? The question is: Will we build our lives on it? Will we flounder in our circumstances, or will we stand on the promises of God?

Join Vickie and Jasa on the podcast to hear their thoughts on the book.

Click here to listen on iTunes, and please leave a review to help others find us.

Find previous podcasts here.

The Art of Turning From Sin to Christ for a Joyfully Clear Conscience

by

Kevin DeYoung 

We don't talk much about the conscience, do we? But the Bible has a lot to say about it. The conscience can seem mysterious if we're not sure how to listen to it, if we can trust it, or what role it should play in our lives. Author Kevin DeYoung reminds us that the conscience is not something to be puzzled over but is a God-given gift.

This little 40-page book answers three questions:

1. What is the conscience?
2. How can we have a clear conscience?
3. Why does it matter?

The conscience is our built-in moral compass that tells us the difference between good and bad. It operates in close connection with the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of wrong and defend what is right. All mankind is born with that innate conscience, but our moral compass can get off-kilter when we're not following Christ.

Most of us know the story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet whose nose grew longer every time he told a lie. Because Pinocchio wasn't human, Jiminy Cricket served as his conscience. But Pinocchio didn't listen to his conscience and eventually turned into a donkey. By ignoring his conscience, he became like a beast.

DeYoung says, "Having a conscience is a mark of a feeling human being. Knowing right from wrong makes us functioning adults. To have a malfunctioning conscience is to be less than human." 

In the book, DeYoung describes four different kinds of a misfiring conscience: 

1. Evil conscience – when you know it's wrong but do it anyway and feel bad about it
2. Seared conscience – when there's no feeling left (like frostbitten hands—when the pain stops and numbness sets in is when the real danger begins) 

1. Defiled conscience – when you start calling good bad and bad good 
2. Weak conscience – when you think things are wrong that aren't

Titus 1:15

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

So, how can we live with a pure and clear conscience? 

1. Turn from sin
2. Turn to Christ

Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret 

by

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

Edited and Revised by Gregg Lewis

Today's podcast topic is a biography of Hudson Taylor, a man remembered for his life of faith, prayer, and mission service. Taylor was an English missionary to China in the 1800s who founded the China Inland Mission (now OMF International). He is known today as one of the greatest missionaries of all time, but he never claimed to be great. He simply served a great and faithful God. 

As a teenager, Taylor was an unbeliever until, through the fervent prayers of his mother, he was converted to Christ while reading a gospel tract. The words that captivated him were "the finished work of Christ" as he suddenly realized what Christ had done for him. Young Hudson Taylor had a heart for missions and began to prepare long before he knew where he would go. Though he had plenty, he fasted from the comforts of this world and lived on as little as possible. He considered it a joy to trust God alone for all his needs. Taylor made his first voyage to China at age 21 and spent nearly his entire adult life in missions. Throughout his life of service, he endured hardship and criticism by trusting God and abiding in Christ.

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Hudson Taylor is known for the quote: "Learn to move man, through God, by prayer alone." He lived his life and ministry this way, and his story is an example to us all.

Listen to the podcast to hear some of Hudson Taylor's personal stories of struggle and faith. 

Click here to listen on iTunes, and while you're there, please leave a review. It helps more people find us! 

Podcast archives

Dressing the Wound

by

Vickie Petz Henderson

In today's podcast, host Vickie Petz Henderson gets personal. She opens up about why she wrote Dressing the Wound and shares some of her own struggles with unforgiveness. When illness blindsided and ended her career, not everyone was supportive, and Vickie was left feeling betrayed. She found herself replaying the hurtful scenario over and over in her mind. The wound in her heart festered and grew, consuming her thoughts, until she recognized the real source of her ongoing pain: unforgiveness.

Betrayal is a wound inflicted by others. Unforgiveness is self-inflicted. @VickiePetzH #TheHeartoftheAuthor #podcast #DressingtheWound

We've all been hurt, and in order to heal, we must forgive. It's not an easy thing to do. Forgiveness is not a one-time event, but a process. Sometimes, it's a lifelong process because we have a tendency to relapse. Something triggers the memory, and it's easy to start ruminating on it again. We nurse that wound, and it grows bigger and becomes infected with the bitterness that we feed it. 

Be careful what you feed. It might grow. @VickiePetzH #TheHeartoftheAuthor #podcast #DressingtheWound

The Bible describes bitterness as a "root" that defiles many (Heb.12:15). Roots grow deep underground and are hard to pull up. We don't see the roots, but we see what they produce. People around us see the effects of bitterness when it spews out of us. We have to nip it in the bud before it takes root, and the only remedy for bitterness is forgiveness. Unless we forgive, we will never be free from the pain or bitterness of our wounded hearts.

Unforgiveness destroys the offended, not the offender. @VickiePetzH #TheHeartoftheAuthor #podcast #DressingtheWound

Join Vickie and cohost Jasa Babb on the podcast as they share some of the practical steps we can take toward forgiveness and freedom. 

Good News for Weary Women 

By

Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

Is the Proverbs 31 woman an inspiration to you? Or is she breathing down your neck? If it feels more like the latter, you're not alone. Author Elyse Fitzpatrick dedicates this book to the "wearied, burdened, wounded, and struggling women who love their Lord but can't seem to find the joy, peace, or freedom they've heard so much about." She has good news for those in bondage to their to-do lists and weighed down by expectations they'll never live up to. God doesn't judge us by how successful we are with our to-do lists. Instead, He calls us to faith.

The problem with Proverbs 31 is that we make it into something it was never meant to be – a checklist used to measure ourselves (or others) against. The woman described in the proverb isn't a godly woman because she does all these things, but she does these things because she's a godly woman. She seeks after God first, He provides, and the things she accomplishes are the result. Also, she doesn't do it all each and every day! These are virtues she's developed over a lifetime of following and serving God. 

The Christian culture can seem demanding and impossible, but there is hope. That hope is in the gospel. We don't have to measure up because Jesus has already redeemed us. He already loves us and isn't going to love us any more than He already does. When we put unrealistic expectations on ourselves and others and measure our worth or godliness by our to-do lists, we're adding requirements to the gospel that aren't there. As the author points out again and again: You are accepted, and you are loved because of Jesus. The end.

When your list of to-dos becomes overwhelming, ask yourself, "Is all that I'm doing God-honoring, or is it just conforming?" Get up each day and ask God what He is calling you to do. 

Listen to the podcast for more

Click here to listen on iTunes

Podcast archives

The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system, and The Road Back to You explains how it works and applies it to the Christian life.

This is part three, the last of the Enneagram series. See part one here and part two here.

To review, there are nine personality types, divided into:

Heart personalities – Types 2, 3, and 4 Gut personalities – Types 8, 9, and 1 Head personalities – Types 5, 6, and 7

Today, we're talking about the "head" personality types.

TYPE 5 – THE INVESTIGATOR

General characteristics:

More intellectual than emotional, value thoughts over feelings Very private, independent, and socially withdrawn Learn everything possible about subjects that interest them

Healthy Type 5's:

Have balance between participation and observation Engage with others comfortably Have a lot of knowledge and are willing to share it with others

Average Type 5's:

Have a scarcity mentality Hoard their time, space, affection, etc. Observe and don't participate

Unhealthy Type 5's:

Are worried about their security, independence, and privacy Don't want to depend on anyone for anything Become defensive and push people away

TYPE 6 – THE LOYALIST

General characteristics:

Loyal, understanding, funny, and compassionate Anxious and insecure, don't like unpredictability Slow to trust but feel comfortable around people who are like them

Healthy Type 6's:

Trust their own experiences and realize that certainty and accurate predictability are not likely Are productive, loyal, honest, and reliable Have come to believe that in the end, everything will be all right

Average Type 6's:

Question everything and struggle to get the worst case scenario out of their head With authority, can either be overly skeptical or overly subservient Are very loyal and committed

Unhealthy Type 6's:

Find danger in every corner Have anxiety that borders paranoia Think the world is unfair and that people cannot be trusted

TYPE 7 – THE ENTHUSIAST

General characteristics:

Fun, popular, optimistic, spontaneous, adventuresome Not good at finishing things, get bored and move on to the next thing Avoid heavy conversations, confrontations, and commitments

Healthy Type 7's:

Are aware that the energy they invest in happiness is not the same as the gift of joy that comes from the Lord Embrace all their emotions and accept life as it is Can take disappointment and incorporate it into the whole of their life instead of just ignoring it

Average Type 7's:

Avoid sadness and try to reframe almost everything that's sad Want everything to be painted through rose-colored glasses

Unhealthy Type 7's:

Think they've been dealt an unfair hand and pity themselves Are risk takers, always looking for the next thrill Can get involved in irresponsible, harmful, or addictive behavior because they're seeking instant gratification

This is just an abbreviated outline. Listen to the podcast for more detail, including tips for spiritual transformation and famous people of each personality type.

Listen to the podcast

Listen on iTunes

Podcast archives

THE ROAD BACK TO YOU: AN ENNEAGRAM JOURNEY TO SELF-DISCOVERY 

BY

IAN MORGAN CRON AND SUZANNE STABILE 

The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system, and The Road Back to You explains how it works and applies it to the Christian life.

This is part two of the Enneagram series. See part one here.

To review, there are nine personality types, divided into:

Heart personalities – Types 2, 3, and 4 Gut personalities – Types 8, 9, and 1 Head personalities – Types 5, 6, and 7

In part one, we covered the "gut" personality types, and in part two, we're talking about the "heart" types.

TYPE 2 – THE HELPER  

General characteristics:

Knows and takes care of the needs and desires of others More comfortable giving than receiving and doesn't know when to say no Needs to feel accepted and appreciated by others Healthy Type 2's:

Can name their own needs and feelings without fear of losing relationships Have appropriate boundaries and know what is and what isn't theirs to take care of Are aware of the true self that exists beyond their relationships Average Type 2's:

Are convinced that the expression of their needs and feelings will threaten the stability of their relationships Want something in return for their generosity whether they admit it or not Don't appear to expect anything from others but secretly think, "If I can see your needs, you should be able to see mine." Unhealthy Type 2's:

Are codependent In their desire to be loved, will accept almost any substitute (appreciation, neediness, companionship, etc.) Can be insecure, manipulative, and often play the role of a martyr

TYPE 3 – THE PERFORMER

General characteristics:

Thrives on efficiency, productivity, and being acknowledged as the best Would rather lead than follow Competitive to a fault Healthy Type 3's:

Have transcended the goal of just looking good and impressing others Are truly loved and known for who they are, not what they've accomplished Feel valuable already, so they work toward a common good Average Type 3's:

Are overachieving, highly-driven workaholics Have a need to perform that transcends everything else See love as something to be earned Unhealthy Type 3's:

Find failure totally unacceptable and don't admit their mistakes Are desperate for attention Can be petty, mean, vengeful, and act like they're better than everyone else

TYPE 4 – THE ROMANTIC

General characteristics:

Embraces uniqueness, feels different and misunderstood Comfortable with melancholy and annoyed by overly cheerful people Emotionally intense, complicated, sensitive, and self-conscious Healthy Type 4's:

Have a large emotional range but mange it well Don't speak or act on every single feeling they have Understand that they don't have to be special to win God's unconditional love Average Type 4's:

Struggle with accepting themselves as they are Seek to find their identity by exaggerating their uniqueness Want to be wanted and pull people in but then get nervous and push them away Unhealthy Type 4's:

Tend to be manipulative Play the role of the victim in order to maintain relationships

This is just an abbreviated outline. Listen to the podcast for more detail, including tips for spiritual transformation and famous people of each personality type. Tune in next week for part three!

Listen to the podcast

Listen on iTunes

Podcast archives

The Road Back to You 

by

Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile 

The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system, and The Road Back to Youexplains how it works and applies it to the Christian life. The nine personality types are based on coping mechanisms each person develops as a child in response to wounding words or messages, which color the way a person perceives the world. The Enneagram is not just a tool for self-discovery, but an eye opener to how others see the world. It helps us understand ourselves, empathize with others, and learn what to work on to mature spiritually. The authors remind us, though, that no matter what our personality, our goal is to look like Christ.    

There are nine personality types, divided into:

3 heart personalities – Types 2, 3, and 4 3 gut personalities – Types 8, 9, and 1 3 head personalities – Types 5, 6, and 7

There is too much information to cover in one podcast, so we're breaking it down into three parts, starting with the "gut" personalities.

Type 8 - The challenger  

         General characteristics:

         Blunt, aggressive, don't beat around the bush

         Make decisions fast and from the gut

         Welcome opposition, enjoy a good verbal skirmish

Healthy Type 8s:

         Make great friends and exceptional leaders

         Champion for those who cannot fight on their own behalf

         Collaborate and value the contributions of others

Average Type 8s:

Tend to be steamrollers rather than diplomats

Unhealthy Type 8s

Are preoccupied with the idea that they are going to be betrayed

Tend to be suspicious and slow to trust

If wronged, will resort to revenge

Type 9 - The peacemaker

General characteristics:

Don't like conflict, go with the flow, want everyone to be happy

Not self-starters, tend to procrastinate

Don't like big social gatherings, but really enjoy the outdoors

Healthy Type 9s:

Make good mediators, can harmonize an irreconcilable situation

Can see everyone's different perspectives

Are unselfish, flexible, and inclusive of others

         Average Type 9s:

         Seem sweet and easygoing, but tend to be stubborn

         Are totally out of touch with their anger

Overlook themselves, feel unimportant, don't ask for much

Unhealthy Type 9s:

Have trouble making decisions

Become overly dependent

Tend to engage in numbing behaviors to dull negative feelings

Type 1 - The Perfectionist

General characteristics:

Driven to do what is right and want others to do what is right

Self-disciplined, perfectionistic, detail oriented

See the world as black and white, right or wrong

Healthy Type 1s are:

Committed to a life a service and integrity

Balanced and responsible

Able to forgive themselves and others for being imperfect

Average Type 1s:

Tend to judge and compare

Struggle to accept imperfection that is inevitable

Unhealthy Type 1s:

Fixate on small imperfections

Obsess with micromanaging

Assert control over others to relieve their own inner turmoil

This is just an abbreviated outline. Listen to the podcast for more detail, including tips for self-improvement and famous people of each personality type. Tune in next week for part two!

Forgiveness (or unforgiveness) is a topic many of us don't really like to talk about. We may even feel that it's not an issue for us. But very few people in the world harbor zero bitterness in their hearts over some form of injustice. We've all been hurt. Have you ever felt irritated or lashed out at someone and didn't even know why? Could it be that something sparked a bit of bitterness or resentment smoldering beneath the surface of your heart? There are two ways to respond to hurt and injustice. You can either keep count, or you can let go.

Often, we think we've forgiven when we've really only pushed the hurt down and ignored it or denied it. In the foreword of the book, David Jeremiah says, "The effort to stuff our hurts below the reach of conscious memory is like trying to hold a fully inflated beach ball under water. The slightest shift in pressure and off it goes, shooting off beyond control." If this happens to you, consider it an opportunity to face the hurt for what it is and to ask God to help you forgive. Otherwise, bitterness festers and grows and corrupts the heart. 

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.

God cares about our hurts. He doesn't ask us to bury them and pretend they never happened, but He does ask us to forgive. He commands it. But He doesn't expect us to do it on our own power. He gives us the grace we need to forgive when we ask for it. We just have to make the choice and be willing to let go and trust God to bring justice in His way, in His time. 

The outcome of our lives is not determined by what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens to us.– Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds 

by

Jen Wilkin

Do you know a lot of Bible stories but aren't sure how they all fit together? You're not alone. Author Jen Wilkin realized when asked to lead a Bible study that she knew a lot about the Bible, but she didn't really know the Bible. She found herself not knowing how to study the Bible on her own. It can feel overwhelming not knowing where to start or how to go about it, but the old Chinese proverb puts it into perspective: "How do you move a mountain? One spoonful of dirt at a time." This book is for people who are ready to start digging. 

Wilkin realized two fundamental things she had wrong about the Bible: 

1. Failing to understand (or forgetting) that the Bible is about God. As humans, we tend to make the Bible about us. We turn to it for comfort, to tell us what to do, or to support our own agenda. The underlying attitude is, "How can the Bible serve me?" While the Bible is a source of comfort and instruction, it is not about us. It's about God. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible clearly reveals who God is on every page. And the purpose of reading and studying it is to know Him. 
2. Depending on feelings when reading the Bible. Most of us are probably guilty of this at times. Our emotions don't always line up with what the Bible says. We don't always feel the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Bible says are the fruits of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23). Sometimes we don't feel like reading the Bible at all. But Romans 12:2 tells us to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The path to transformation runs from the mind to the heart, not the other way around. We have to be obedient until the heart feels it.

The heart cannot love what the mind does not know. @jenniferwilkin #WomenoftheWord #TheHeartoftheAuthor #podcast

The book offers much more insight, including how to study with purpose, perspective, patience, process, and prayer, and how to pull it all together. The last chapter offers extra help for teachers. In the end, it's all about seeking His face.

Listen to the podcast as Vickie and Jasa share their personal insights about the book. 

Click here to listen in iTunes and leave a review if you like the show.

Find previous podcasts here.