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By Julie T. Jenkins
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The podcast currently has 594 episodes available.
God’s Word consistently reminds us that we are strangers and aliens to this world, but have we done such a good job of assimilating that no one can tell that we don’t belong here?
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Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I’m your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God’s grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world.
One of my favorite sitcoms from the 90’s was Third Rock From the Sun. The premise was that four aliens were given human bodies and instructed to observe life on earth and report back to their home planet everything they learned. Of course, no one could know their true identity, but it was often difficult to hide. They knew nothing of gender roles, relationships, how families worked or human emotions. Trying to fit in and remain undetected was very challenging and always resulted in hilarious situations. Near the end of the show’s five-year run, they had learned much about human behavior, but they had become so entrenched in their lives on earth, some even falling in love for the first time, they couldn’t bear the thought of returning to their home planet.
In addition to providing great entertainment, the show also has a lot of parallels to the spiritual world. Hebrews chapter 11 gives us a list of people who came before us and pleased God because of their faith. God asked many of them to do hard things that involved risk and blind obedience. Certainly, that’s what the aliens of 3rd Rock were asked to do. They were instructed to go to a planet they had no knowledge of and carry out their orders without question. It was much like Abraham, who was called by God to leave his family and his people and travel to an unknown land where God would give him a whole new life. Verse nine says, “By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Issac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”
Hebrews 11 goes on to mention other heroes of faith like Able, Enoch and Noah. Verse 13 says, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” Verse 16 explains why they held such attitudes. “They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.”
We have that same heavenly country to long for and what’s more, we have a better idea of what it will be like than they did. They had no written word of God to read and study – only the knowledge of God that had been passed from one generation to the next. We have Old and New Testament prophecies as well as the words of Jesus that describe in some detail what is awaiting us in that “better country.” And yet, we often live as if we’ve forgotten that it even exists.
Our comfortable lifestyles make it particularly easy to forget about that “better country.” I have to admit that I find life here pretty good. I have plenty to eat, a home I love, a happy, healthy family, fulfilling work to do and plenty of leisure time as well. I’m most likely to start thinking about and longing for “that better country” when things here start to go wrong. When I feel the pain of an unstable economy, or I witness injustice, government corruption and rising crime or if someone I love is facing a serious illness…those are the times I long for a kingdom that is not of this world and remember that it’s where I truly belong.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing heaven as an escape from the troubles of this world. But I think we’ve got it backwards when we think that way. God intended it to be the true home of every human being and our time on earth is designed to make that a reality for everyone who will receive the gift. Our time on earth is meant to be a time of preparation for ourselves and everyone we can possibly influence.
Jesus recognized our proclivity to focus on all the wrong things – apparently it wasn’t a problem unique to the time and place we live, because He addressed it with His followers. Luke 12: 32-34 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Is Jesus saying we should all sell our homes, cars and clothing? He may call some of us to do that, but I believe what He’s really getting at is what we value. Are we looking to material possessions to make us feel secure and good about ourselves? If so, that’s what we treasure. And as He pointed out, those things can be stolen from us or destroyed because they only have earthly value. If we understand that He is our Good Shepherd and that the Father has already given us the kingdom, we have all we need and it has eternal value. Our security and our contentment should come from that knowledge.
The Apostle Paul built on that idea in his letter to Timothy, saying, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” What kind of life are we taking hold of? The life that is of this world is about pleasure, building a name for ourselves, gaining more material comforts, being admired and respected. According to Paul, and Jesus, that isn’t even truly life, just a sad, worldly copy of the real thing.
On the other hand, living the life that is truly life requires sacrifice, being focused on the needs of others and living in a way that may seem foreign to the people around us. There will be times when, like the aliens of 3rd Rock, we don’t fit in and there’s no hiding it. God may call us to do hard things as He did with Abraham. We may have to take risks and step into the unknown, but, as Abraham discovered, the blessings outweigh the cost.
Sometimes we choose the world’s version of life, not because we’re unwilling or afraid to do the hard things God asks of us, but because we get distracted. I remember hearing a Haitian pastor speak about what life was like in the community where he pastored. His people were desperately poor, having to subsist on what they could grow in their little gardens or found growing wild…maybe some eggs from a chicken or two. They had no electricity and very simple homes that barely provided shelter from the sun and rain. Their children didn’t go to college and build better lives with each successive generation. They faced tremendous opposition from powerful witchdoctors who were used to controlling everything that happened in the village. But these people loved Jesus, with a love that was pure and unwavering. They knew that He alone was their provider and protector. When they gathered for services they had no electricity for air conditioning, a worship team or slick video productions, but they sang together and worshipped with all their hearts. Before they went to bed, they read scripture and prayed by candlelight, knowing that God would provide for them tomorrow just as He had today. And they had witnessed miracles! The witchdoctor had threatened to put a curse on the pastor if he didn’t stop preaching the gospel, assuring him that he would be dead within three days. In spite of having seen the witchdoctor accomplish things they couldn’t explain, the church prayed for their pastor and stood firmly on God’s word. Three days later, the witchdoctor was dead, but their pastor was alive and well. As I listened to these stories, I found myself envying them. They were so focused on the true life that Paul spoke of. They lived in total dependence on God to provide food, shelter and protection. Their faith was simple and genuine. They didn’t waste time on social media, shopping online or watching TV. Those things weren’t available to them and they were better off for it. Of course, I always have the option of eliminating those things from my life or even using them more wisely. Maybe I could love Jesus simply and whole-heartedly just as they do if I keep my focus where it belongs and live the life that is truly life.
I recently learned something new about the Phillipians that Paul wrote to in the New Testament. The city of Phillipi was unique in that its’ residents were not only citizens of their home city, but of Rome as well. At that time, Roman citizenship offered protections, rewards and responsibilities. Rome didn’t want the people of Phillipi to move to Rome. They were expected to remain in Phillipi, representing the values and culture of Rome while furthering the interests of the Roman Empire. It’s no coincidence that Paul used the word ”citizenship” to describe how the Christians of Phillipi should live their lives of faith. Phillipians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Philippians would’ve understood that he meant they should participate in daily life where they were living, but be mindful of Who they represent and where they ultimately belong. And we can do the same. Rather than bemoaning the fact that God has placed us in this very imperfect world, we should make it our goal to represent Him and the life that is truly life. And if that causes us to seem a little out of step with what everyone around us is doing, that’s a sign that we’re getting it right.
Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join ,us each week as we explore together God’s extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders . All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.
What’s the sound of Living Out Loud for Jesus? What would life look like for you if you made the decision to allow your life to be a living horn for Jesus? As followers of Jesus, the sound we make as a proclamation of whose we are and who Jesus is, must be louder than the sound we made when we were lost. Let’s Live Out Loud for Jesus! He’s listening!
We've all had many hurtful things happen in our lives that have left deep wounds to the soul. Join Tewannah as she shares how God revealed the roots of her unforgiveness and took her on a journey that enabled her to forgive those who had caused pain in her life. Through that healing, she was able to learn to love unconditionally and have a heart like Jesus.
True holiness is a matter of the heart. Although we can fool ourselves and others by presenting a squeaky clean image, God calls us to concern ourselves with what’s going on inside, rather than what we look like on the outside. Enjoy this important teaching from Julie Harwick.
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Welcome to Women World Leaders podcast. I’m your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God’s grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world.
They say you can’t judge a book by its’ cover. I always thought that it was a pretty valid statement, but the truth of that statement proved itself on a much deeper level when I observed the unmasking of someone I thought I knew very well.
My husband and I had recently re-connected with a friend we hadn’t seen since our wedding. He was about to get married himself, so we had the opportunity to get to know his new wife from the start of their marriage. She seemed incredibly sweet and appeared to worship the ground he walked on. She was open about the fact that her past had included drug addiction and a failed marriage to another addict, but she seemed as far removed from that life as anyone could be.
She brought three daughters to the marriage and though they were older than our kids, the youngest got along really well with our girls. We vacationed together. They stayed with our kids when we went on a cruise for our 20th anniversary. They joined our church, and she enthusiastically jumped in and began to develop a women’s ministry.
She had her first child at a very young age and was already a grandmother. I was so impressed to hear her talk about selecting the perfect bible study that she could do with her grandson when he was in her care. She seemed like a spiritual giant who was constantly pouring herself into her family, friends and anyone in need.
After many years of such stellar behavior, there were some surprising developments. She was abruptly asked to step down from her leadership role in women’s ministry. Initially, that action really disturbed me, but I was about to discover the reason why. Her husband began to confide in mine that she was not so sweet and supportive of him when no one else was around. Anytime they experienced conflict, she became verbally abusive and unreasonable.
She accused him of being a narcissist, so he volunteered to go to marriage counseling. The counselor sensed much deeper problems and advised them to both be evaluated for any mental illnesses. He was given a clean bill of health, while she was diagnosed with multiple illnesses and prescribed numerous medications . Things improved for a while, but she soon decided that she didn’t need the medications and tried again to convince him that he was the problem.
She had always been generous with family and friends, buying them gifts and helping out with expenses, but soon she began spending unbelievable amounts of money on a daily basis. She ran up large credit card balances and every time he tried to close one out, she simply opened another. She had no explanation for purchasing a hundred dollars’ worth of Starbucks gift cards day after day. He wanted to fight for their marriage, but she seemed set on destroying him financially and became more and more adversarial toward him with each passing day. They ended up in divorce court and she took as much as she possibly could from him, leaving him in deep debt. Although she left the marriage with a settlement that would’ve taken care of her for decades, the money was all gone within two years. Not long afterward, we discovered that she had been arrested for writing bad checks.
As the story unfolded, each revelation of who she really was came like a punch to the gut. I thought I knew this woman. I trusted her with my children. I looked up to her as someone I’d like to emulate. I thought she was far better to her husband than I was to mine, but the reality was just the opposite. I had never been so wrong in my evaluation of someone. She played the character she wished to portray better than any award-winning actress and I completely bought into the deception.
1 Samuel 16:7 says “The Lord doesn’t look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God was speaking to Samuel about who he was to anoint to replace King Saul. Once he arrived in Bethlehem and was directed to Jesse’s family, Samuel was introduced to all but one of Jesse’s sons. When he laid eyes on Eliab, who was tall, well-built and exuded confidence, he thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But God’s response was clear and direct. “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.” Jesse continued to bring his sons one by one before Samuel, but in each case, God rejected them. After the Lord rejected seven of Jesse’s impressive sons, Samuel asked if there were any more. As an afterthought, Jesse said there was one more, his youngest, who was tending to the sheep. Much to the surprise and dismay of his seven brothers, when David stood before Samuel, God pronounced, “Rise and anoint him. This is the one.” While David was not a perfect king, he ruled Israel well for decades. He had a close relationship with the Lord and earned the enviable title of “a man after God’s own heart.”
Although we don’t always have the ability to know someone’s heart, God certainly does and it is of tantamount importance to Him. His word is full of references to the heart; 725 to be exact. When Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment, He answered without hesitation with Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” When King Solomon, David’s son, prayed for his nation, he acknowledged that God alone knew every human heart and he prayed that his people’s hearts would be fully committed to the Lord.
God explains why the condition of the heart is so critical. He inspired Jeremiah to warn, “ the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” God revealed this much to Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, he wrote in Proverbs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
So many of the Old Testament prophets were instructed to warn the people, not just about their behavior, but about the condition of their hearts, which was the source of their sin. Joel cautioned, “Let your remorse tear at your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful.” Isaiah gave the Israelites an insightful, but convicting message from the Lord when he said, “ The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Jesus quoted that very scripture to describe the condition of the Pharisees, who were considered among the holiest people of His day.
These respected men were experts when it came to interpreting and applying the Law. They were very careful to follow it to the letter, even going so far as to tithe the proper amounts of the herbs they grew in their gardens. They took great pride in their devotion to fulfilling even the smallest requirements of the Law. Jesus, however, was not impressed. He called them out for fussing over minor details while they created exceptions in the Law that would allow them to abandon responsibility for their own parents in their old age. He criticized them for turning His Father’s House, the temple, into a den of thieves and accused them of being like whitewashed tombs – clean looking on the outside, but filled with dead men’s bones and decaying flesh.
No one but Jesus would have ever dared to speak that way about the Pharisees. Aside from the High Priest, no one had more power or influence with Rome. The Pharisees, along with the Sadducees and chief priests, comprised the Sanhedrin which was the ruling, elite class of Jesus’ day. The wealth, power and respect that came with the title led the Pharisees to believe that they were, “just a little bit superior” to everyone else. Jesus pointed it out when He told the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. The tax collector cried out for God’s mercy because he recognized that he was a sinful man, but the Pharisee thanked God that he was not like the tax collector beside him or other sinful people, because he fasted twice a week and tithed a tenth of everything he had. Jesus said only one of them went away forgiven, and it wasn’t the Pharisee.
That probably came as a surprise to His audience, because they were used to thinking of Pharisees as the holiest people around. From their outward appearance, they looked pretty righteous, but no one could miss the disdain they showed for everyone else. Jesus dared to point out their hypocrisy because He recognized exactly where their superiority complex came from – hearts that were far from God. They studied the prophets ad nauseam but failed to recognize that Ezekiel’s words in chapter 11 were meant for them when he said, “ I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Jesus called them out again and again, in an effort to make them see their hearts’ true condition. In Matthew 13:15 He said, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
Having an authentic relationship with Jesus is impossible without a heart that is wholly His. Just like the Pharisees and my deceptive friend, we can follow all the rules and present a very convincingly righteous outward appearance, but if our hearts are full of ourselves instead of Jesus, we are frauds. And though we may be able to fool the people around us and even ourselves, God knows exactly who and what we are. In Luke 16:15, Jesus said, “ You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.” Ultimately, no one can fool the maker of the Universe and the only opinion that really matters is His. And yet, we often devote so much of our effort toward doing things that will make us look good on the outside while we neglect to open our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to make them more like His. Creating an impressive exterior only requires self-control and determination. Developing a heart for God requires humility, sacrifice, introspection and time. Is it any wonder that our natural inclination is to focus on the outward appearance? But what comes naturally is always inferior to what comes supernaturally. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a pretty good reason to pursue having a heart for Him. “Blessed are the pure in heart,” He said, “ for they shall see God.” The more we allow Him to purify our hearts, emptying them of ourselves and filling them with Himself, the more we will see, know and experience His glory.
I’d like to close with this benediction, from 1 Thessalonians 3:13. “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.”
Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast! Join us each week as we explore together God’s extravagant love and your courageous purpose. Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry. From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders . All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without written consent.
Have you ever wondered where you really belong? Or doubted that how you show up is really what others want and believe you to be? Are you who think you are? Do you believe that God made us to be misfits? My sisters, you didn’t get the part you tried out for because You Are A Misfit! Join Dr. Jia Conway as she sheds light on the glory of being a misfit!
We have all struggled with some form of fear. But, is fear preventing you from taking a step of faith into ministry? Tewannah shares how her fear of public speaking revealed a lack of trust in the Lord. Join her as she talks about overcoming this struggle and allowing God to fulfill His calling on her life.
The amazing true story Who Is Able?: The Dana Louise Cryer Story is now available in paperback, hardback, and eBook!
Join us by listening to Part I of Dana's podcast. This incredible story of forgiveness is something only God could orchestrate. Kidnapped at 5 years old, Dana was brutally harmed for over a decade in a shack in the woods, but she survived and was rescued. Dana lives to share what only God can do with a life that was robbed of childhood and teenage years and left to figure out her life at a young age. Get a glimpse into this captivating account as Dana shares parts of her life with you in this podcast, preparing you for what you'll read in the full-length story, newly-released book, Who Is Able?: The Dana Louise Cryer Story. Get your copy today at World Publishing and Productions or AmazonThe podcast currently has 594 episodes available.