This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode with a few additional thoughts. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Psalm 27:13-14

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Do you have ways, places, and perhaps people that help you see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? Seeing carefree birds soar and hop on branches helps me. The kindness of people and children also helps me see the goodness of the Lord. 

Thinking of places, friends, and children gave me an idea, which resulted in receiving phone voice recordings and adding them to this episode. I hope you will find the same encouragement I did, and I wonder if you will agree with why I think Spurgeon would smile? 

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Psalm 142:3

When my spirit faints within me,

you know my way!

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

In this episode, we will look at Psalm 142, which David wrote in a cave! There is much to learn from David in that room without a view.  

This Psalm met me recently and helped me identify some sneaky snares and traps. 

Once identified, it was much easier to step right over them. I hope you might identify your own and do the same.

Even in the cave, there is hope.

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Psalm 42:1

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.

It seems I go in circles and cycles. I face a need, these days it’s usually a physical need, and begin the search for answers.

Often the search is on YouTube or Google, and no amount of searching quenches the thirst. Usually, the thirst only deepens as the answers provided end with a huge price tag and a huge dose of exasperation.

Again and again, God draws me back to what I need first and foremost, which is a big drink of Living Water. There is no price tag on His presence and the outcome is peace surpassing understanding.

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

― C.S. Lewis

I will end this episode with the song, “Come Away.”

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Isaiah 61:1a

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

One place I go when I need my heart softened and strengthened is Isaiah 61. It’s where I have gone for decades when I want to remember the mission and the heart of Jesus.

I will end this episode with a song inspired by this lovely description of Jesus. And by the way, my favorite words to sing in this song are:

He comforts all who mourn

He gives them beauty for ashes

Then He looks into their heart

And heals the broken places 

The song is called, "If I Could."

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Ephesians 1:3

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

I read this verse in multiple versions and three words stayed the same: “every spiritual blessing.”

In this episode, I will share a real-time quest to find spiritual blessings in the midst of a very loud morning here in my corner of earth. The crashing and scraping outside my window made the perfect metaphor for my often very loud thoughts, so I recorded it for you. You may be tempted to grab your hard hat. 

I will read to you from:

Psalm 19:1-14

Psalm 8:3-9

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:1

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Isaiah 35:6b

Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Lettie Burd Cowman titled her devotional book, Streams in the Desert, after this verse.

It was first published in 1925. Her writings were based on her hardships and her experiences of fellowship with God. I randomly opened my dusty copy to a page and it met me in just the right way. It turns out there was nothing random about it after all.

F.B. Meyer wrote: Remember to store up an accurate remembrance of the way in which God comforts thee. 

I’m glad Lettie did just that.

I will read to you from:

2 Corinthians 12:7-12 

1 Peter 1:6-9 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Genesis 5:24a

Enoch walked with God

It’s a breathtaking thought that we can walk with God. 

I am someone who loves to walk. In this episode, I will share some thoughts from my journal.

From walking slowly arm in arm with my mom to stepping inches away from a coiled, rattling rattlesnake. 

I will also share some of my favorite walks in Scripture. 

I will read to you from:

Matthew 4:18-22

Luke 24:13-32

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at www.sherriyoungward.com

John 17:26 

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

This is the third and final episode in a series called "Alone With Jesus." The first week I read John 13 and 14, last week I read chapters 15 and 16, and today I will read chapter 17. 

This is the longest and most complete prayer we have, and it couldn’t be more beautiful.

What could be more precious and powerful than the actual prayer of Jesus for us? And what could possibly be more in the center of God’s will?

May His prayer be answered in us. 

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

John 15:12 

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

This is part two of a series called “Alone With Jesus.”

Last week I read John 13 and 14 and this week I will read John 15 and 16, with a few thoughts here and there. Next week, we will end the series with John 17. 

The longer I live, the more I see my ongoing need to have His Nature refreshed to my heart. I not only benefit personally, but I also better know how to love others as He loves me. 

Pastor Joe Focht recommended you sit alone and read through these chapters — because Jesus was alone with His disciples when He spoke these things. 

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

This is part one in a series called “Alone With Jesus.”

I will read John 13 and 14 with a few thoughts sprinkled in.

Then next week, I will continue until we cover chapters 13-17. 

I heard it said that John chapters 13-17 are the private ministry between Jesus and His close disciples. Jesus had finished His public ministry and this was His private ministry between Himself and His disciples.

Pastor Joe Focht recommended sitting alone and reading through these chapters because Jesus was alone with His disciples when He said these things. 

I didn’t mention it in the episode, but recently I read through all the chapters and I was deeply moved. I am hoping the same for you. 

These episodes are a little longer than usual and I hope they might be a place you return for time alone with Jesus. 

If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com