YOU Podcast

Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye’s duet, “Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing” was remade by Aretha Franklin. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the Queen of Soul, but there ain’t nothing like the real thing. I so enjoy the original duet and the ebb and flow between Tammi and Marvin. Aretha’s version does not give me the sameenergy. I want the real thing.

Ray Charles did a remake too–Coke used it for one of their commercial some years back. My sentiments were the same. Much like how I agree Pepsi and Coke can’t be compared because I think Pepsi is the real deal, Ray’s version of “Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing” was not the real deal. On the rare occasion when I decide to have a Pepsi, Coke can’t take its place. I can’t help thinking about the precious original duet.

Some churches also look authentic on the outside, but when you “taste” what they’re doing, you might find it is not the real thing.

Some churches also look authentic on the outside, but when you “taste” what they’re doing, you might find it is not the real thing. That was the case of the church in Laodicea. Christ’s admonition to them speaks to us today.

My oldest daughter died of heart disease twenty years ago. While she was in the Intensive Care Unit, another young girl was admitted. This young girl had been playing chicken with a friend, attempting to cross the street before traffic approached. The friend made it to the curb, but she didn’t.

My family and I were standing outside of ICU doors when her mother came out with a dazed look in her eyes and a face wet with tears. I was compelled to comfort this mother, despite my own distress. We formed a circle around her and prayed. We were both strengthened. I had no knowledge of my call to minister to hurting women back then. But it emerged at the right place and the right time.

I was compelled to comfort this mother, despite my own distress. We formed a circle around her and prayed. We were both strengthened..

That moment of ministry was an image of church at Philadelphia. I had little strength, but kept the Word of God and did not deny His name during that situation. Because of their faithfulness, the church at Philadelphia received encouragement from Jesus. It is a word that can encourage all of us in our walk with Him.

My husband has this uncanny ability to sleep and be alert at the same time. I say to him, “Babe, yesterday I was …” Ten minutes into the conversation, I hear snoring.

“Babe, you asleep!”To which he replies, “No I am not.” “You are snoring!”“No, I am not. I’m just trying to breathe.”

His eyes then close again, and I squeal, “Babe! You are asleep.” Yet, each and every time, he can verbatimly tell me what I said.

I can’t get mad at my husband for falling asleep while I am talking, because he never misses a bit of our conversation.

…they looked as if they were awake and actively following God’s instruction, but they were asleep.

The same thing can’t be said for the church in Sardis. They were kind of like my husband. Except, they looked as if they were awake and actively following God’s instruction, but they were asleep. The complacency of Sardis sparked a startling reminder from Christ.

Warnings come to us in a variety of forms.• Some fall in the category of obvious. Do we really need a printed warning telling us not to use a hair dryer in the shower?• Some warnings come with a sigh of relief. You understand this one if, instead of a speeding ticket, a police officer lets you go with a warning.• Some warnings catch our attention immediately. When the highway sign says, “Bridge out ahead,” or the doctor tells you your current health habits are leading to heart disease, we certainly change directions—or at least we should.

Certainly, when a warning comes from God Himself, we should definitely heed without delay!

How seriously we take such warnings can also depend on who is giving us the warning. Certainly, when a warning comes from God Himself, we should definitely heed without delay! That was the experience of the church in Thyatira. They needed a course correction, and Jesus warned them what would happen if they failed to change.

The date was April 20, 1999. Inconsequential to many, but life changing for the Bernall family, it was the day their daughter Cassie took her last breath and went to be with Jesus. There really aren’t any words to accurately portray the devastating loss. However, an amazing story of deliverance and faithfulness emerged.

Just two years earlier, Cassie had been on a destructive path. In her own words, she described being led by a dark force. While on a Christian youth retreat, Cassie accepted Jesus as her Savior. Suicide desires and death wishes for her parents no longer ravished her thoughts. Cassie had been set free. Her parents report achange in attitude and overall well-being.

A gunman stood over Cassie, asking if she believed in Jesus. Her answer, an unwavering, yes! The gunman pulled the trigger. Cassie’s unwillingness to conform to evil to save her life was vastly different from some of the Pergamum believers. Christ rebuked their compromised faith.

Fast forward to April 20, 1999. A gunman stood over Cassie, asking if she believed in Jesus. Her answer, an unwavering, yes! The gunman pulled the trigger. Cassie’s unwillingness to conform to evil to save her life was vastly different from some of the Pergamum believers. Christ rebuked their compromised faith.

What would you say if I told you fear was created by God? Would you look up the over 300 Scripture verses that reference it? Probably not. Still I declare; God created fear. More than that, fear has a perfect purpose.

Have you ever been scared to the point you feared for your life? If you have been, you probably took steps to save yourself. With this you must agree that fear’s purpose is to alert and prepare us to act. Who else, but God, could install in us a built-in alarm system?

Have you ever been scared to the point you feared for your life?

Although God created it, fear should not be a constant. This knowledge is important as we live in uncertain times. Persecution is passed out like candy on Halloween, and Satan intends for us to be afraid. However, Jesus warned His followers of coming persecution.

In the message Jesus gave to the church at Smyrna, we will learn that standing strong in the face of fearful situations is possible because Jesus is with us, lavishing the grace of God upon us.

Whether it’s Bryan McKnight’s “Crazy Love” or Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” when the beat drops on either, the reminiscing begins! Times of hilarious or downright stupid expressions of love flow through our minds. Rhythmic sways overtake the body while the mind reflects on how there was nothing to keep us from trying to win the affections of a beloved. Crazy love!

When you first came to faith in Christ, did you feel a similar affection? The compulsion to tell others about Him overtook you. Right? Handing out tracks became the thing to do. Oh, and the drive to work for Christ, non-stop! Crazy love!

As we will see in Jesus’ message to the church at Ephesus, works cannot replace our love for Jesus. When it does, Christ, Himself, beckons us to return to Him with the fervor of a first love.

But Bible study brought a new understanding. You discovered the truth that Christ’s love is not earned but freely given. However, the busyness of church somehow made you believe working for Christ was the most important part of the relationship. As we will see in Jesus’ message to the church at Ephesus, works cannot replace our love for Jesus. When it does, Christ, Himself, beckons us to return to Him with the fervor of a first love.

Bucket lists. Lists of activities or tasks people want to complete before they die. Books and blogs abound with ideas: The 100 places to visit before you die. The 100 books to read before you die. The 100 movies…and on it goes. Some people create a list as a fun escape, and others take it quite seriously.

One thing should be on the bucket list of everyfollower of Christ: lead others to faith in JesusChrist.

Most people do not complete their bucket lists— unless the list consists of only “low hanging fruit,” those things that are easy to grab on to and do. Whether people complete their full list or not, they should be commended for trying.

One thing should be on the bucket list of every follower of Christ: lead others to faith in Jesus Christ. That’s a task that not only has impact on this life “before you die,” but it impacts eternity. Unfortunately, although we may do the task, we don’t always complete it. In other ways, just because we share our faith doesn’t mean theperson will accept Christ. Matthew 13 helps us see that the full completion of that task is something we leave in the hands of God, who can make that transformation complete.

I used to ride a commuter train to school. I was also a new Christian, and I looked forward to that 45-minute ride as a time to read and study my Bible. A woman sat down next to me while my Bible was open on my lap, and she kept peering over at what I was doing.

We have “windows of opportunity” every day toshare Jesus, but we can easily miss them.

This irritated me. My Bible study time was being interrupted by this nosey woman. I shifted slightly away from her, but she only leaned in even further. Finally, I stopped reading, placed my hand over the open Bible, and looked directly at her. She certainly noticed that!

After an awkward moment, I was convicted to engage in conversation. I remembered that my morning prayer had been for God to give me an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. I almost missed it because I was so focused on my own time with the Lord!

We have “windows of opportunity” every day to share Jesus, but we can easily miss them. Jesus wants to tell His story through us. We need to be ready to share.

Most businesses in America are known simply for what they sell. It’s rare—but refreshing—when we hear of businesses that are as known for their values as well as for what they sell. One of the most well-known corporations with strong values and practices is Hobby Lobby.

Our lives must match what we say in public.

The CEO of Hobby Lobby, David Green, has built a “Christian culture” where others lean on God in prayer. He leans on the Bible to guide business decisions. But this is not just a face he puts on for the public. He sees management as the servants of the employees, and he seeks to live that out with his employees.

• Employees are paid well above the minimum wage.• Stores close early enough to allow parents to tuck their kids into be• Employees have Sundays off.

Our lives must match what we say in public. As we tell others about Jesus, it’s equally important that they see Jesus in us.