Does God hear you when you pray? Sometimes, He hears those unspoken prayers as well. God’s provision is always timely and comes just when we need it.

Hey there, friends! Welcome to A Few Minutes with God Podcast. Today we will dive into God’s Word and His promises to lift our spirits and strengthen our faith. I’m your host, Felice Gerwitz, and you can find today’s show notes at AFMWGPodcast.com – I also want to thank our sponsor, Judson College. If you want a unique college experience that is authentically Christian. In this day of not knowing what you will find on a college campus, it is worth checking out. JudsonCollege.com

Today we’re talking about something so close to my heart: how God provides for us. If you’ve ever wondered if God sees your needs—or if you just need a reminder of His faithfulness—this episode is for you.

You know, life can feel uncertain sometimes. Bills pile up, plans fall apart, and we’re left wondering, “How am I going to get through this?” But here’s the beautiful truth: we serve a God who isn’t distant or distracted. He’s a provider—Jehovah Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide.” And He’s been showing us that from the very beginning.

Let’s start with a story from Scripture that I love—Exodus 16. The Israelites have just been freed from slavery in Egypt. They’re in the wilderness, and they’re hungry. They start grumbling, saying, “At least in Egypt we had food!” All I can think about is that God just saved you from captivity, and you are no longer slaves. How can you not be grateful? But God doesn’t punish them. Instead, He provides. He sends manna—bread from heaven—every single day. Not just once, but faithfully, day after day, teaching them to trust Him.

I think there’s something so powerful here. There are so many lessons. The first is that God provided. But even more, he didn’t give them a stockpile to hoard; He gave them daily provision. Enough for today, with a promise for tomorrow. It’s like He was saying, “Depend on Me. I’m not going anywhere.” And that’s still true for us today. Maybe your “manna” looks like a timely paycheck, a friend’s encouragement, or even strength you didn’t know you had. God provides what we need, when we need it.

In the New Testament—Matthew 6:26. (Read on air.) Jesus is teaching, and He says, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Don’t you I love that! Jesus points to the sparrows—little, ordinary birds—and says, “If God takes care of them, how much more will He take care of you?”

A lady recently recounted that her feet were hurting, and she usually walked to church and home afterward. It wasn’t far, maybe two or three miles, but this one day, she wondered how she would get home. Another lady going her way offered her a ride home. She was so amazed. This lady had no idea her feet hurt, but God did. She had already sacrificed and walked to church, but now God provided for her to get home. She was so thankful, but then she said, “Why am I surprised God watches over me!”

A miracle happened when we needed to remodel our home (my husband is a contractor) to make room for our third child. All of a sudden I started saving extra money. I asked my husband if things were going better at work. He said, no things are the same. And, I explained that our savings was growing without us even trying. The cost of the remodel was all that extra money we had in savings, almost to the penny. And, then the big savings stopped! It is like the manna. God provided for right then, this specific need. He didn’t give us a big, big surplus, just what we needed. And, yes we would rely on Him.

And that’s the thing—God’s provision doesn’t always look how we expect. Sometimes it’s miraculous, like the loaves and fishes feeding 5,000 in John 6. Other times, it’s quiet—a kind word, a job opportunity, a moment of peace when your heart’s racing. Philippians 4:19 promises, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Not some needs—all of them. And not from a limited supply, but from His endless riches.

So, what do we do with this? How do we live like we believe God provides? First, we look back. Think of a time God came through for you. Maybe it was big, maybe small—but write it down, remember it. I use to encourage you all the time to keep a Praise Journal. Prayer Journals are great we write down specific prayer petitions and we pray that God blesses them, but a praise journal acknowledges that yes, God – you are there for me. I see you. I know in my heart that I am loved. Those are your “stones of remembrance,” like the Israelites set up in Joshua 4, to remind you He’s faithful. Second, we pray. Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:11, “Give us today our daily bread.” It’s simple, but it’s trust—asking God for what we need today. And third, we rest. Stop striving so hard to control it all. The birds don’t stress, and neither should we.

Please know that you are seen, you are loved, and you are held by a God who provides for you, not just today but always. He sees you, and He knows everything that happens in your life. Some of it is good, some of it a cross to bear and a hardship. Yet it is no surprise to God. Maybe you’re in a wilderness season right now, waiting for your manna. Hold on—He’s already at work. Maybe you’re in a season of plenty—praise Him and share it. Either way, God’s got you in the palms of His hands, and He’s not letting go.

Let’s pray:

“Father, thank You for being our provider. Thank You for seeing our needs and meeting them in Your perfect way. Help us trust You, rest in You, and see Your hand at work. Help us to understand that you truly love us. For anyone listening who’s worried today, please Lord wrap them in Your peace, Your love and Your joy – that joy that surpasses all understanding and please, show them Your provision. We love You, Lord, we praise You, Lord, you are worthy of all the glory and the honor. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

The post God’s Provision: Trusting Him appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

When you pray and fast, you take an active role in your faith journey. In this episode, we discuss how your prayer life and faith can improve for the better.

This is probably one of the least popular tasks of a Christian. We don’t mind attending church, opening and reading our Bible, and giving money to charity. But when challenged to pray and fast? That makes it so much more complex.

However,  prayer and fasting are two spiritual powerhouses. These are proven disciplines that can transform your life as a Christian. If you’re ready to learn more, grab your coffee—or maybe skip it if you’re fasting—and let’s get started!

But first, I want to thank our sponsor, Judson College.  Judson College offers biblical and practical training wherever a student is called to equip and live all of life for Christ.

Fasting is a timeless practice, especially for Catholics during Lent. This is a time of preparation and penance leading up to Easter, commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before beginning His public ministry. This starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, the week of Easter. Lent is a time not only for Catholics but all Christians to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Why? Because it causes us to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and a personal call to conversion.

The number 40 is indicative of different biblical periods. I’m sure you’ve read about how the number 40 in the Bible is related to times of trial and purification—for example, the Israelites’ 40 years in the wilderness and Noah’s 40 days of rain. Rooted in the Church’s tradition, Lent invites us, the faithful, to turn away from sin and embrace self-discipline. We are denying the flesh, remembering to say no to whatever we have selected to fast from, and in this way, using it as a powerful reminder. It also is a renewal of our baptismal promises, preparing our hearts to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. Lent is both a personal journey and an act of solidarity, uniting Catholics and Christians worldwide in spiritual growth and sacrifice.

So, how do you fast? Simply, add the element of “fast” or giving up something in penance to your prayer life.  What that looks like is different for each person. Skipping lunch or giving up chocolate and offering it up for a special intention makes it powerful. When we give things up, we are reminded to deny ourselves and our flesh. And when we deny ourselves, we recall the importance of denying sin.

Prayer and fasting aren’t just old-school Catholic habits; they’re actually tools God gives us to grow closer to Him and improve our lives. But why are they so important?”

Let’s start with prayer. It’s our direct line to God. When we pray, we raise our minds and hearts to God, and through prayer, we talk to the Lord, we listen to Him, and we align our will with His. It is not easy, and it takes practice because we are often distracted when we pray. Why is that because the enemy doesn’t want us growing closer to God? We witnessed Jesus, before he began His public ministry, in the desert for 40 days, and at the end, satan tempted the Word and made Flesh. Jesus gave us an example of withstanding temptation.

Prayer takes discipline, and when we do it with a focus on wanting to grow in the Lord, we are not just asking God for things—it’s about building a relationship. Think of it like spending time with a friend: the more you talk, the deeper the bond. Yet, with the Lord, it is so much more powerful. It is as if we are in the presence of Christ.

Now, what about fasting? How can we think about God when we want that cookie or that cup of coffee? Let’s read Matthew 6:16-18, (Read on air.)

Jesus says, ‘When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men… But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret.’

Jesus doesn’t say if you fast—He says when. Fasting’s for a Christian is not optional; it’s a given for a life of faith. But it’s not about showing off to others and letting them know how holy you are by your works. No. It’s about humility, discipline, and turning to God.

In fact, prayer and fasting were so important for the disciples that it was the only way to defeat the evil one. In the following scripture, the disciples tried to heal a young boy suffering from demonic possession. Yet they were unsuccessful. The desperate father brought his son to the Lord and asked him for healing. When you read the scripture, listen to the words as I read them, take note of Christ, as he expresses his frustration with his disciples, but then, when they ask him, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus explains it is because of weak faith.  : Matthew 17:14-21

14 When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 15 and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon,a]">[a] and itb]">[b] came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of ac]">[c] mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”d]">[d]

The second place we read about this situation is in Mark 9: 14-29. In Mark 9:27-29 a further explanation of the situation is as follows:

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” (In the footnotes it adds the word fasting. )

What are the takeaways from these verses? Pray and meditate on them, but in a nutshell, the Lord is asking us to have faith the size of a mustard seed, which only comes with praying and fasting.

So, how do prayer and fasting together improve your prayer life? Your faith journey? First, they help to tame the chaos. Life’s busy—work, family, endless notifications, the pull to look at social media or watch the news. Prayer gives you peace and a moment to hit pause and refocus on what matters. Fasting, on the other hand, trains your body to say ‘no’ to instant gratification. Skipping a meal or turning off the television for a day reminds you who’s in charge—not your stomach, not your screen, but your soul, guided by God.”

Second, they supercharge your spiritual growth. When the disciples couldn’t cast out a demon, Jesus told them in Matthew 17:21 that ‘this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.’ There’s power here. Fasting sharpens your prayer life, making it more intentional. Ever notice how skipping lunch makes you hungrier for God? It’s like clearing the clutter so His voice comes through louder.

Third, they connect you to the Church. Even if you are not Catholic, Christians I know practice fasting often. Catholics have been fasting since the beginning—Lent, Ash Wednesday, regular Fridays, and especially Holy Thursday-Good Friday-Holy Saturday before Easter. When you fast, you’re not alone; you’re joining millions of believers, past and present, in a shared sacrifice. And prayer? Whether it’s the Our Father at Mass or a quiet moment with your Bible, it’s the essence of our communion with each other and with Christ.”

How To Pray and Fast:

Make praying for others a habit. Does the Lord bring someone to mind? If you think about them often, this can be an indication that they need prayer.

During Lent, select one thing and fast from that thing or group of things during the entire 40-day period. Some Christians do not fast on Sunday but only on weekdays and Saturdays because the Lord rose from the dead on Sunday. However you do it, make it work for you. It always amazed me that when my kids were in college often, non-Catholic friends often joined in their Lenten fast. Some have continued it to this day.

As Christians, prayer and fasting aren’t just duties; they’re gifts. They draw us out of ourselves and into God’s heart. They make us better spouses, parents, friends—better Christians. So, this week, take up the challenge. Pray a little deeper. Fast a little more. Let God work in the quiet spaces.

Please share this episode with a friend and join us next time as we explore more ways to live our faith boldly. Until then, keep praying, keep fasting, and keep seeking Him.

The post Pray and Fast appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Magnificat® Ministry Presents Magnificat® Proclaims. In this episode, Pat Higginbotham, Assistant Coordinator for Magnificat’s Central Service Team, shares her unique story of gravitating toward Catholicism and eventually becoming Catholic as a young wife and mother of three. Pat, married to her husband Chuck for 51 years, is a mother to three and grandmother to twelve grandchildren. Pat was a Prayer Group leader in her previous parish and coordinator of the Magnificat Chapter in Morgantown, West Virginia.

In this podcast, Pat, initially baptized into the Methodist faith, relates how, in her early years, she became curious about the Catholic religion. Later, she met Chuck, a practicing Catholic, and they married. Pat discusses how sometimes we become closer to Christ during the difficult and unsettling times in our lives and how she found purpose in being directed by the Holy Spirit in ministering to friends and serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Pat’s journey is a testament to the importance of discernment and listening to God’s call in our lives, and she shares some hard lessons learned until she could distinguish His call.

Magnificat® Ministry Presents Magnificat® Proclaims. The Podcast showcases inspiring testimonies from religious, laity, and clergy that bear witness to God’s goodness and greatness and His grace in our lives. The testimonies inform, educate, encourage, and explore how we can develop, deepen, and cultivate our relationship with the Triune God. Show hosts are Monique Moussot and Maryann Ridini Spencer.

Watch the video podcast of this episode on Magnificat Ministry’s YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/@MagnificatMinistry

Visit: Magnificat® A Ministry to Catholic Women website and peruse the Magnificat Proclaims books in the store: https://magnificat-ministry.org

The post Magnificat® Proclaims/Episode 2, Pat Higginbotham appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Do you ever feel that the more you know, the more you don’t know? Whenever I study scripture or a topic I want to learn more about, it seems that the Holy Spirit directs me in a specific way, or I “accidentally” stumble upon something that sparks an idea. This happened to me, and my planned topic was postponed until I could write this one. I pray it is a blessing to you.

I was praying and thinking about faith and its importance; I started thinking about the fruits of faith–what are they, and how can we see them in our lives? Jesus said, and I’m paraphrasing, they will know we are Christians by our love. Look up John 13:35. But what are the fruits of faith? Where are those blessings?

If we are faithful, a decision we make, we receive blessings. (Check out my podcast on Blessings here.) But not necessarily how you might think this happens. For example, if you follow God, everything will go great; you will never have hardships or difficulties, right? In some ways, yes, because we can cope with these things, and we realize in the grand scheme of life, they are minor, even if, at that moment, the hardships seem insurmountable. I remember a close friend once shared that she never was concerned with having no money because she had her faith, happiness, and health until her health and that of her husband were under attack. Yet, without faith, how would you live?

Faith is not a feeling. Faith is a belief in the unseen. Faith is truly a gift from God. Can we ask for more faith? Yes, of course. What is faith? It is a belief that there is more in life than what we can see, the material things around us. If we can use our senses to experience the material, that is not faith.

Oh, to live when Jesus roamed the earth in the flesh. Not that I would enjoy all that dust and dirt or even the primitive ways of life. There is something attractive to the simplicity of living, even under those hardships. Can you imagine being one of the disciples? Listening in as Jesus spoke to Joseph and Mary? Can you imagine the Holy Family living life together and learning from Christ? In the movie The Nativity, one of my favorites, there is a line where Joseph talks about the coming Messiah with Mary and says, “Will I even be able to teach him anything?”

Yet, only Jesus, Mary, and Joseph knew before his public ministry that Jesus was God. Joseph and Mary had faith beforehand, but they were chosen and said yes to participate in the greatest mystery of all time. Can you imagine being chosen? Well, we are, and we participate not in the same way as the Holy Family but in a special way by our faith in Jesus.

The Word became flesh.

Thus, Christianity was born, and our faith in Christ grew along with that of many other believers. As Christians, we realize this greatest miracle, and we, through no effort of our own, expect our “yes” we can participate in the miracles and gifts and blessings. After all, God gave us free will, and He will not force us to believe, but the signs are all around us if we have eyes that see!

An unbeliever thinks that hard work and effort cause the good in their life. I remember hearing an acquaintance say, “I make my own luck.” Luck is often attributed to chance or good fortune. But how can you make or create “chance” or “fate”? In this case, I believe it is impossible.

It is more challenging to be without faith than to have faith. I can rest assured that even though many of us fight against sin, we are often victorious because we have the grace of God. Galatians 5:22-23 talks about the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of Christians, which is a contrast or the opposite of the sin in our lives. These can be considered the fruits of faith. What are they? 

We can all pray for these gifts, and if we receive them, how will we use them for the kingdom?

Read Galatians 5:15-23 – here you are warned against the things that will close the doors to heaven. A section of verse 20 reads: “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” But verses 22-23 are more joyful! (Read on air.)

When we have the Holy Spirit and these fruits available to us through faith, we can definitely find joy. One year, I wrote those spiritual words on cards and passed them out randomly to my family. Whatever word we selected was the word for the year. It was amazing that many of us selected the word we needed the most; only God could know this, right? All of us were amazed by God’s hand in this simple family activity. But why are we surprised? When we participate with the Lord and share the good news, He is in our midst. He is always there, but we often do not recognize the gift.

I know I use the word gift in a seemingly cavalier manner, but it is truly a gift.

Remember, virtues are a gift, as are the fruits. God gives them through His grace. But our Lord and Savior provide us with these things, and we must do our part to strive toward the goal of attaining these in our lives and also in our prayers. Ask the Lord, “How can I share this with others? How do we participate in the spiritual life?

First of all, it is a journey. It is a walk, and for some of us, we arrive quickly; for others, like myself, it is a long and winding path. The quickest way to get to the goal is to set aside the old ways of life. How do we shed this old life? One way that helps me understand this is to compare it to a diet.

It means a lifestyle change if you’ve ever been on a diet to lose a few pounds. We eliminate the chips, soda, and other packaged foods that harm our health. We buy fresh produce, and we eat healthily. We exercise, drink lots of water, and get rid of sugary drinks. And we work super hard to try to lose that weight. But what happens after we reach our goal? Hopefully, we will lose the weight we want to shed. But what happens when we go back to our old ways? We gain weight back, sometimes more than we started with initially.

A lifestyle change is only possible by the grace of God, with His blessings, and through prayer. In fact, you can accomplish this both by praying and fasting. Some things take our focus off of self and onto God. But often, we are too hard on how we look or what we do; we think we fail God and the others we love the most.

I recently read the staggering statistics for suicide. This is tragic, and the enemy’s goal is to make us think that life is not worth living. This is a lie; remember, the evil one is the father of lies. God’s grace and goodness are there for each of us to lean into and rely on if only, as the scriptures say, we have “eyes that see.”

Open your eyes wide to the wonders and goodness of the Lord through faith. The fruits of faith are joy, goodness, and so much more. God loves you; He cares about you, and He created you for a purpose.

The fruits of faith are a happier life, the ability to cope with the unexpected, and seeing God in those little things that happen in our lives. One friend who recovered from cancer would tell me how she took such delight in the sunset and the sunrises. She shared that she would tease the Almighty God that He was showing off just for her.

This is true faith when you can see God in the everyday wonders we take for granted and appreciate it as a personal gift. Dear friends, you are a gift; your life is not an accident, and you are here for a reason. Do not ever lose hope, but remember the awesomeness and ability that God has given us because we live. Once again, share the good news with others.

Enjoy your faith, count your blessings, and look toward the grace that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The post Fruits of Faith appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The blessings we receive in our lives are a total gift. Are you ready for more blessings? This podcast discusses how we can be open to God’s grace.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our entire lives were filled with blessings? One blessing after another. Take a moment to imagine what that would look like.

Thanks to NOW Programs. Check out this amazing personalized program

What came to mind? I can imagine incredible blessings, but the ones that truly matter are a faith-filled, happy, healthy home and family. The material blessings in this life are wonderful. For many of you listening to this podcast, even if you are not in the USA, you enjoy clean water, a home where you live, food to eat, electricity, and the internet. These things make our lives easier, and we often take them for granted over those less fortunate.

Yet none of the things I mentioned are forever. They are temporary gifts in our lives.

What is a true blessing? Let me read a favorite Psalm of many of us: Psalm 23: (Read on air.)

Consider these words with the eyes of faith. Material blessings are wonderful, but we don’t need them to have everything as much as we need spiritual blessings. God is there to comfort us in our distress; we have the basic needs to live, and we may be blessed with a wonderful family and friends. These are all special gifts and graces.

In the Scriptures, blessings are abundant. They are given in abundance when the will of God is followed. The Divine Will is something I am currently studying, and it is a vast subject. At some point, I will share more about this topic.

Sometimes, God gives, and God takes away. That may be the story of your life. Think about Job’s life and the lessons to be learned from those passages. As you get older, you will not be able to escape the difficulties that happen in life. And yet we can rejoice because the blessings abound, knowing that the Almighty and King of the Universe cares about us. We may not see it. We may not hear it. We may feel lost but know He is there.

This brings me to the topic of loneliness. Many people are lonely. It transcends age. Young people, as well as old, can all suffer from feeling alone and left out. The common thread is a relationship, or lack of relationship, with God. As a young homeschool mom, I tried to make daily Mass a routine, and I failed miserably. On occasion, we did go, and I was impressed by the little ladies we sat near and how they seemed to make it routinely. One was always smiling and asked me my children’s names. I watched as she wrote them down in her prayer book and said she would pray for us (and them) each day! Even if I couldn’t attend, God took care of us and blessed us through this lady. She wasn’t lonely; she had a relationship with Christ and prayed for others, and God gave her the gift of joy.

As a young single woman in my first job, I had little chance of meeting anyone. I worked long hours and didn’t like the bar scene. Online dating wasn’t a thing at the time, and I’m not sure if I would have done it anyway. I finally realized it was my choice to be lonely, and I renewed my commitment to God, and all loneliness was gone! I was happy and content.

Truly spiritual blessings demonstrate the goodness and awesome power of God. I heard a priest once explain that the Catholic churches are such vast structures because they attempt to give the glory that God is due within the church through a beautiful structure but also because God is enormous and it is, in fact, symbolic. I believe that is why the oceans and sky are so vast, with millions of stars in the sky. It highlights the glory of God.

Psalm 19: 1-4, 8-10, 14 (read on air). Pray and meditate on that Psalm, especially when you doubt God’s blessings or feel lonely and lost!

A blessing is a grace, a gift. After the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and Mary in a mighty way. This blessing was a gift to infill them with the ability to preach and teach. In this way, while the blessing upon the person is personal, it is for the entire community.

What talent, spiritual gift, and time do you have to work for the Kingdom of God? Do you volunteer in a ministry? Do you give your time and talents to others? When my children were little, the only energy I had was for my husband, children, and extended family. This was my calling, I believed, from God. Family first. Mother Teresa, in her acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, gave a fantastic speech, and a paraphrase is the following: “If you want to bring peace to the whole world, go home and love your family.”- Mother Teres.a

Blessings include spiritual gifts, talents, personality traits, ideas, and material possessions. Have you read the scripture about the talents? Read Matthew 25 in its entirety. The story’s moral truth is that if God gives you a blessing in the form of a “talent”  and asks how will you invest the gift I’ve given you? 

Will we use it for ourselves? For our family? Or will we seek God and ask how to use it for the kingdom?

The post Blessings In Our Life appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Magnificat® Ministry Presents Magnificat® Proclaims. In this episode, Donna Ross, Coordinator for Magnificat’s Central Service Team, shares her powerful and poignant testimony of how the Holy Spirit brought her back to the Catholic Church and gave her a new appreciation for the faith.

Donna credits the Blessed Mother’s loving persistence for her return to the church. Donna hopes that the experiences she shares will demonstrate that God is alive and that He desires intimacy with us if we allow Him. Like Mary, Donna cries out, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. (Luke 1:46-47, 49).

In this podcast, Donna also shares how working for Disney’s “Magic Kingdom” prepared her in ways she never could have imagined working for God’s Eternal Kingdom and chronicles her surprising and unsuspecting path back to the faith after reading a book on the Marian apparition site, Medjugorje where Our Lady, who began appearing in 1981,  asked for conversion of the heart through prayer, Scripture, fasting, Eucharist, and Confession—stones to use against our Goliath. Later, attending a potluck dinner where the Rosary was recited, Donna soon found herself all-in for the faith. She also shares details on the growth of the Magnificat Ministry and plans for the road ahead.

About Magnificat® Proclaims

Magnificat® Proclaims, brought to you by Magnificat® Ministry, showcases inspiring testimonies from religious, laity, and clergy that bear witness to God’s goodness and greatness and His grace in our lives. The testimonies inform, educate, encourage, and explore how we can develop, deepen, and cultivate our relationship with the Triune God. Show hosts are Monique Moussot and Maryann Ridini Spencer.

Watch the video podcast of this episode on Magnificat Ministry’s YouTube Channel at https://youtube.com/@MagnificatMinistry

Visit Magnificat® A Ministry to Catholic Women website and peruse the Magnificat Proclaims books in the store:  https://store.magnificat-ministry.net/books-e-books

Visit Magnificat® A Ministry to Catholic Women website and peruse the Magnificat Proclaims books in the store:  https://store.magnificat-ministry.net/books-e-books

The post Magnificat® Proclaims | Episode 1, Donna Ross appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

As a Christian, there is a cost to following Jesus. Is it worth it? What does this mean? In this podcast, we compare the minimal sacrifice to the wonderful blessings that come with faith.

According to Scripture, we realize there is a cost to following Christ. The sacrifice can include giving up personal and sinful desires; all of those things will lead us to death. These sacrifices can bring us peace and joy, yet many people who look at Christians and the Christian faith see only the sacrifice, not the blessings.

I may have told you this story, but it bears repeating. In college, I watched a committed Christian friend suffering many trials. I worried about her and silently thought that while I was happy, I knew the Lord and loved Him; I wasn’t the target of what I felt was an attack.

Her parents gave her a new car, and soon after, she was in an accident that wrecked it. She praised the Lord that she wasn’t hurt badly. Then she was often sick because she spent much time in the science lab. Her lab work required her to look at a microscope, which made her nauseous. It seemed like one thing after another after another. I learned so much from her, and my faith grew. I saw how her love of God transcended all of those things.

But, what did people at school think of her? They were confused and puzzled. They believed that if you followed God, all things should be easy. And they are in some ways. As a Christian, we know what is essential.

When we prioritize Jesus above all things, we essentially say that we will deny ourselves and carry our cross in following Him. In Luke 9:23-26 (Read on air.)

And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

This life is not all there is; we have an everlasting life with God. Having everything in this world, all the riches, all the luck, all the things people think are important, we can’t take it with us. We should consider this; each day is a gift and a blessing that we are alive. But we all know we will not live forever. Is our house in order? Do we see what is important, and what do we think could be more important than our faith in God?

When we prioritize Jesus above all else, we must carry our cross and do this daily. Some days are difficult, but do we see it in perspective? Some days, I don’t want to work, I don’t want to participate in the ministry where I am the coordinator, I don’t want to cook or clean or do anything! I want to go on strike from my busy schedule and have a day off. I was purely miserable until I realized it was something I could not change in the short term. So, my days continue, and I carry my cross, whatever that is, and follow Jesus.

Some people are ill, and that is a cross. Some people have to work way past retirement age, which is a cross. Some people have financial difficulties or struggles with personal situations or people. All those things are a cross. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus.

I want to caution you if you are a complainer, and we all are occasionally. Complaining wastes time takes effort, and makes us all around miserable. Focus on the things you can change, do something about this, and leave all the things you can’t change alone.

 When we follow Christ, we may lose friends. The cost of following Jesus may lead to strained relationships with family or friends. I have personally lost friends over being “too Catholic.” Is that even a thing? Shouldn’t you be all in when you have faith? Following Christ is not a halfway measure.

Sometimes, it is a material sacrifice; maybe you’ve never given money to a church or a charity, and now you do. Luke 21:1-4 says (Read on air.)

The post The Cost of Following Jesus appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

What happens when you open your heart to God’s love? In this episode of A Few Minutes with God, we will discuss the grace of God’s love and how it can empower you.

God’s love is amazing; it is such a blessing, and His love is unconditional, and yet we often turn from His love because we feel unworthy. Yet we should recall this verse, which is listed as the Greatest Commandment. Matthew 22:34-40 (read on air).

 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad′ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.”

Can we embrace that, and can we open our hearts to love the Lord totally?

Recently I’ve reread C.S. Lewis’ popular book, The Screw Tape Letters. This was in preparation for attending the play, which I am looking forward to seeing. This book is excellent if you want to know how the evil one works. One of the ways is by allowing us to doubt that we are worthy of an Almighty and loving God. But we know that is not true.

Romans 3:10-12 states:

as it is written:“None is righteous, no, not one;11     no one understands;    no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;  no one does good,not even one.”

If we don’t believe, we have difficulty doing good. Or, as the verse states, we have turned aside altogether.

Psalm 14:1-3 says a similar thing, but we should take heart because later in Romans, we see there is hope for us.

Romans 3:22-24 states: the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Faith is a grace, a gift from God. And with faith, we can see through the eyes of love. Faith opens up an entirely new world for us, and the way we develop it goes a long way in how we can grow in faith. Opening our hearts gives us the capacity to love God more and to love others.

The first step is to open your heart to the Lord through surrender. We have to “let go and let God.” We must believe in faith and trust that He loves us and that His love is available for us, no matter who we are or where we live. God loves you, and yes, if we are in sin, we should repent, but by opening our hearts to God, we will see the sin in our lives. We can be blinded or ignore sin, yet God waits for us.

Proverbs 3:5 — it takes trust. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.”

This takes vulnerability. Be honest with God about your fears, struggles, and desires. God knows, but in doing this act, we show our willingness to grow in faith. 

Next, open your heart to God with prayer. We thank God and praise Him for all He has done for us. When was the last time you thanked the Creator of the Universe for the gift of life? Sometimes, we have to look hard to find something to be thankful for, and other times, it is easy. By praying and quietly reflecting on the Lord, we can prepare our hearts for a deeper love.

This leads us to the last point. When you open your heart to God, you will be flooded with gratitude. You will see with new eyes, and you will become a thankful person. And you will see that God’s love has always been present. You just never saw it in the same way! Your life will bear fruit.

And what will you do with this knowledge? Who will you tell? How will you share the good news? That is the challenge we all have, and we can once again ask God for the ability and opportunity to share his love with others!

May God be blessed.

The post Open Your Heart To God’s Love appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Where do you see true justice and mercy played out other than in Christ Jesus? We read the scriptures and learn that Christ is just, yet He is also merciful. How is that possible? We see it in His charity and the mercy that comes even while we are sinners. This podcast examines how we can grow in our Christian faith and evangelize to others.

Before we can delve into the dichotomy between Christ’s justice and mercy, we must look within ourselves. How do we perceive the world and others? If we don’t look at this issue through the lens of faith, the truth can often become distilled.

Our outlook on life is one of the ways we see others and approach life’s issues. One of our pastors made the statement, “To the evil, all things are evil, and to the good, all things are good.” He then smiled and said, “Don’t blame me; this is a teaching from Jesus.”

The verse he alludes to is in Luke 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

What is in our hearts? Is it love, or is it the grace that comes from God? Is it compassion? When we love, we show mercy to others because we have a greater capacity to love. Jesus taught us so much about justice and mercy, yet we fail to understand this because of the way we see others. Matthew 7: 1-6 reads. (Read on air.)

Do you see the good in others or only the bad? Sometimes we don’t get along with people, and it is difficult to change our mind about the person or to see the good that person has within. This scripture verse tells us to look at ourselves first.

[Thanks to our sponsor NOWPrograms. Their philosophy is don’t accomodate, remediate. And it really works.]

So, as we look within our hearts we can examine our attitude. Are we self-righteous? Is it compassionate? What do you see when you see when you look at yourself? Sometimes we see areas that need to change but take heart. Jesus is there for us!

Jesus lived his life challenging us, yes, but with love and mercy. His teachings and His sacrifice on the cross demonstrate his justice and his mercy. Jesus showed us, as sinners, how to be reconciled to Him. How do we do this? By picking up our own cross and following Him.

How do we thank Jesus for his death on the cross? How do we see his death as the moment where justice (not for Him but for us) and mercy intersect? Jesus was crucified not for any sin He committed but to save us from our sins.

God’s Justice and Mercy Demonstrated

The Lord is righteous, He is the just judge, He is the Alpha and the Omega and through Jesus and Him alone do we have mercy for our sins.

We are healed by his stripes. Isaiah 53:5 foretold this! (Read on air.) The stipes, the wounds of the scourging at the pillar that Jesus endured and then His torture and death on the cross was for us, for each one of us. So when we are upset or down or feel that no one understands us, we must remember that God is just and merciful to those who repent, believe and call upon His name. He is there for us always.

Share the good news with others!

The post Justice and Mercy appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Bishop David Toups was ordained and installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont on August 21, 2020. Growing up as the youngest of three in both Louisiana and Florida, he was ordained a priest in 1997 for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He has previously served in parish ministry in Florida, in the office of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations in Washington, DC, and as a seminary professor, dean, and rector/president at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. Bishop Toups shares the humorous story of how the United States Nuncio called him to inform him of his new appointed position by Pope Francis amid the Pandemic. Shortly after, in his new position as Bishop of Beaumont Diocese the area dealt with

hurricane conditions, He went out to take spiritual authority over the storm. His Episcopal motto is Romans 8:28. ‘For we know that all things work together for good for those who love him, those he has called according to his purpose. It was his family’s motto growing up and the Episcopal motto of the previous Bishop of Beamont.

He is responsible for numerous articles and is the author of two books: Reclaiming Our Priestly Character (2008) and The Priests We Need: A Rector Speaks to His Seminarians (2019) both by IPF Publications.

Bishop David L. Toups is the Spiritual Advisor for the Central Service Team of the Magnificat Ministry since October 5, 2017.

This testimony was given to the Metairie Mother Chapter, LA, in December, 2024. The recording is 44 minutes, 25 seconds in length.

To find out more about Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women, visit us at www.magnificat-ministry.org

Magnificat Store

Did you know there is a wonderful shopping opportunity just waiting for you? Explore our shopping cart for rosaries, apparel, books, jewelry, statues, CDs, study programs, (ex. Bible studies, Life in the Spirit Seminar, Growth in the Spirit series), and much more. To find great gifts for family, friends and YOU, we invite you to visit    https://store.magnificat-ministry.net

The post Testimony of Bishop David Toups appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.