https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/emergent-word--4500698
Words have power. Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Throughout history, words have been used to bless, encourage, teach, inspire, and strengthen generations. A timely word of encouragement can restore hope, awaken faith, shift perspective, and sometimes change the course of a person's life.

Emergent Word Podcast is where culture meets Christ.

Through thoughtful conversations about faith, culture, social issues, current events, personal growth, and everyday life, Emergent Word explores the world around us through a Christian lens while offering messages of encouragement, faith, and hope.

This is a place for honest reflection and meaningful conversation. Some episodes will challenge you to think. Others will encourage you when life feels heavy. And some may simply remind you that no matter where you are or what you are facing, there is still reason to hope.

At Emergent Word, we believe hope transcends cultures, backgrounds, borders, and circumstances. Our desire is to encourage listeners to find peace, walk by faith, discover purpose, and move forward with renewed hope.

Wherever you are in the world and wherever you are in your journey, you are welcome here.

Listen. Reflect. Be encouraged. And let the Word emerge.]]>enSociety & CultureCopyright That Next Level Thinkinghttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/dea9d9be65e325d32026ba70dcc7248d.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/emergent-word--4500698Tue, 29 Sep 2026 06:27:54 +0000That Next Level ThinkingThat Next Level Thinkingfeeds@spreaker.comWhat if changing the words you speak and the messages you receive could change the direction of your life? Words have power. Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Throughout history, words have been used to bless,...
Words have power. Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Throughout history, words have been used to bless, encourage, teach, inspire, and strengthen generations. A timely word of encouragement can restore hope, awaken faith, shift perspective, and sometimes change the course of a person's life.

Emergent Word Podcast is where culture meets Christ.

Through thoughtful conversations about faith, culture, social issues, current events, personal growth, and everyday life, Emergent Word explores the world around us through a Christian lens while offering messages of encouragement, faith, and hope.

This is a place for honest reflection and meaningful conversation. Some episodes will challenge you to think. Others will encourage you when life feels heavy. And some may simply remind you that no matter where you are or what you are facing, there is still reason to hope.

At Emergent Word, we believe hope transcends cultures, backgrounds, borders, and circumstances. Our desire is to encourage listeners to find peace, walk by faith, discover purpose, and move forward with renewed hope.

Wherever you are in the world and wherever you are in your journey, you are welcome here.

Listen. Reflect. Be encouraged. And let the Word emerge.]]>false0c80e0db-e301-5404-81ea-83b430f04af3episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/remembering-9-11-2021-20-years-later--46476922https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46476922Sat, 11 Sep 2021 18:08:47 +0000That Next Level ThinkingTwenty years after September 11, 2001, we remember a day that changed our nation, our world, and so many individual lives forever.In this reflective episode, I revisit my memories of the morning of 9/11 and consider what two decades have taught me...38511,20th,9/11,9-11-2001,after,and,anniversary,coping,forget,grief,healing,loss,love,never,of,remembering,remembrance,september,tribute,withfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dying-dead-things--43972122https://api.spreaker.com/episode/43972122Sat, 20 Mar 2021 03:32:37 +0000That Next Level ThinkingSometimes the things that once held us back no longer have the same hold on us. The problem is, we may not realize it because we stopped trying a long time ago.In this reflective episode, I share the story of a stubborn tree stump that remained in my...400and,beginnings,christian,development,emotional,encouragement,faith,fear,go,growth,healing,lessons,letting,life,making,new,overcoming,personal,reflection,selffalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-21-day-wellness-challenge-from-coasting-to-living-intentionally--42876108
After the disruption, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion of 2020, I entered 2021 without much of a plan. I hadn't established many goals or developed a clear vision for the year. I was simply taking life one day at a time.

Maybe I needed the rest.

But eventually I had to ask myself an important question:

Was I intentionally resting, or had I simply begun to drift?

In The 21-Day Wellness Challenge: From Coasting to Living Intentionally, we explore the difference between restorative rest and quietly disengaging from our own lives.

This isn't based on the idea that 21 days is a magical formula for creating a permanent habit. Human behavior is far more complicated than that. Instead, 21 days gives us a defined period to interrupt our routines, pay attention to how we're living, and begin making more intentional choices.

The number 21 also brings us to the story of Daniel, whose prayers had been heard from the first day even though he could not yet see what was happening. His experience offers an important reminder: there can be a difference between nothing happening and nothing we can see happening.

Over the course of 21 days, the challenge focuses on seven simple practices: beginning the day with God, reinforcing what is true, moving your body, becoming more intentional about food, staying hydrated according to your individual needs, making room for laughter, and ending the day with quiet reflection.

This isn't a fast, a diet, or a promise of transformation by Day 21. And it isn't another standard of perfection to measure yourself against.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is presence.

Whether you've been overwhelmed, distracted, exhausted, or simply coasting through your days, you don't need a new year, a perfect Monday, or ideal circumstances to begin again.

Twenty-one days isn't magic.

It's simply a place to begin.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42876108Mon, 11 Jan 2021 04:52:17 +0000That Next Level ThinkingHave you ever looked up and realized that you've been going through the motions? After the disruption, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion of 2020, I entered 2021 without much of a plan. I hadn't established many goals or developed a clear vision...
After the disruption, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion of 2020, I entered 2021 without much of a plan. I hadn't established many goals or developed a clear vision for the year. I was simply taking life one day at a time.

Maybe I needed the rest.

But eventually I had to ask myself an important question:

Was I intentionally resting, or had I simply begun to drift?

In The 21-Day Wellness Challenge: From Coasting to Living Intentionally, we explore the difference between restorative rest and quietly disengaging from our own lives.

This isn't based on the idea that 21 days is a magical formula for creating a permanent habit. Human behavior is far more complicated than that. Instead, 21 days gives us a defined period to interrupt our routines, pay attention to how we're living, and begin making more intentional choices.

The number 21 also brings us to the story of Daniel, whose prayers had been heard from the first day even though he could not yet see what was happening. His experience offers an important reminder: there can be a difference between nothing happening and nothing we can see happening.

Over the course of 21 days, the challenge focuses on seven simple practices: beginning the day with God, reinforcing what is true, moving your body, becoming more intentional about food, staying hydrated according to your individual needs, making room for laughter, and ending the day with quiet reflection.

This isn't a fast, a diet, or a promise of transformation by Day 21. And it isn't another standard of perfection to measure yourself against.

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is presence.

Whether you've been overwhelmed, distracted, exhausted, or simply coasting through your days, you don't need a new year, a perfect Monday, or ideal circumstances to begin again.

Twenty-one days isn't magic.

It's simply a place to begin.]]>571christianfaith,christianity,daniel,encouragement,faith,habits,hydration,intentionality,laughter,mindfulness,movement,nutrition,prayer,reflection,resilience,rest,selfcare,spiritualgrowth,wellbeing,wellnessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/finding-hope-in-the-midst-of-the-storm--42660544
Finding Hope in the Midst of the Storm is a message of faith and encouragement for those walking through grief, loss, and seasons of profound change. Through the story of Mary, the promises of Scripture, and reflections on the difficult journey of healing, this episode explores what it means to hold on to hope even when sorrow remains.

We are reminded that faith does not require us to deny our grief, rush our healing, or pretend that everything is okay. Healing takes time, and moving forward does not mean forgetting the people we love or the life we once knew.

Sometimes hope is not a triumphant feeling. Sometimes it is simply believing that today's darkness is not all that there will ever be.

For anyone facing loss, loneliness, or a difficult season, this message offers a gentle reminder: sorrow does not have the final word.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42660544Fri, 25 Dec 2020 21:14:09 +0000That Next Level ThinkingGrief can make it difficult to imagine that life will ever feel different. During the holidays, when memories and traditions often bring the absence of those we love into sharper focus, that pain can feel especially overwhelming. Finding Hope in the...
Finding Hope in the Midst of the Storm is a message of faith and encouragement for those walking through grief, loss, and seasons of profound change. Through the story of Mary, the promises of Scripture, and reflections on the difficult journey of healing, this episode explores what it means to hold on to hope even when sorrow remains.

We are reminded that faith does not require us to deny our grief, rush our healing, or pretend that everything is okay. Healing takes time, and moving forward does not mean forgetting the people we love or the life we once knew.

Sometimes hope is not a triumphant feeling. Sometimes it is simply believing that today's darkness is not all that there will ever be.

For anyone facing loss, loneliness, or a difficult season, this message offers a gentle reminder: sorrow does not have the final word.]]>423bereavement,bible,christianfaith,christianity,christmas,christmashope,comfort,encouragement,faith,grief,griefsupport,healing,hope,inspiration,jesus,loss,mourning,prayer,scripture,spiritualgrowthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fallen-leaves-winter-lessons-from-trees--41737470What are you carrying into a new season that was meant to be left behind?

Every year, deciduous trees shed their leaves as they prepare for the winter ahead. Before letting them go, they reclaim valuable nutrients and conserve resources until a new season of growth begins.

In Fallen Leaves: Winter Lessons from Trees, we consider what this natural cycle can teach us about our own lives. Sometimes growth requires more than adding something new. Sometimes it requires recognizing what has reached the end of its season and having the courage to release it.

Relationships, habits, possessions, old ways of thinking, jobs, disappointments, and even plans that once served a purpose can become burdens when we continue carrying them long after their season has passed.

Through biblical reflection and lessons drawn from nature, this episode invites us to consider the "dead leaves" we may be carrying and ask an important question:

What do I need to release so that I have room to grow?

Sometimes letting go is not the end. It is preparation for what comes next.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41737470Sat, 31 Oct 2020 23:53:59 +0000That Next Level ThinkingWhat are you carrying into a new season that was meant to be left behind? Every year, deciduous trees shed their leaves as they prepare for the winter ahead. Before letting them go, they reclaim valuable nutrients and conserve resources until a new...What are you carrying into a new season that was meant to be left behind?

Every year, deciduous trees shed their leaves as they prepare for the winter ahead. Before letting them go, they reclaim valuable nutrients and conserve resources until a new season of growth begins.

In Fallen Leaves: Winter Lessons from Trees, we consider what this natural cycle can teach us about our own lives. Sometimes growth requires more than adding something new. Sometimes it requires recognizing what has reached the end of its season and having the courage to release it.

Relationships, habits, possessions, old ways of thinking, jobs, disappointments, and even plans that once served a purpose can become burdens when we continue carrying them long after their season has passed.

Through biblical reflection and lessons drawn from nature, this episode invites us to consider the "dead leaves" we may be carrying and ask an important question:

What do I need to release so that I have room to grow?

Sometimes letting go is not the end. It is preparation for what comes next.]]>328change,christianfaith,christianity,encouragement,faith,growth,inspiration,lessons,lettinggo,life,nature,newbeginnings,purpose,reflection,renewal,seasons,spiritualgrowth,transformation,trees,winterfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hope-in-2020-finding-an-anchor-in-uncertain-times--41710944
Hope in 2020: Finding an Anchor in Uncertain Times reflects on that difficult moment and asks a simple question: How do we keep from becoming overwhelmed by despair when so much around us feels uncertain?

This episode offers three reminders for navigating difficult seasons: breathe and reconnect with the life around you, live fully by loving and forgiving while you have the opportunity, and anchor your hope in something greater than the circumstances of the moment.

Drawing on faith and the words of the Psalmist, this message points toward God as a source of refuge and stability when everything else seems to be shifting.

Originally created during the uncertainty of 2020, this episode remains a reflection on finding hope, perspective, and faith in the midst of circumstances we cannot control.

When the world feels uncertain, we still need an anchor.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41710944Fri, 30 Oct 2020 05:44:09 +0000That Next Level Thinking2020 was a year marked by extraordinary uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic, racial inequality, political and social unrest, financial hardship, illness, grief, and loss left many people searching for stability in a world that seemed to change almost...
Hope in 2020: Finding an Anchor in Uncertain Times reflects on that difficult moment and asks a simple question: How do we keep from becoming overwhelmed by despair when so much around us feels uncertain?

This episode offers three reminders for navigating difficult seasons: breathe and reconnect with the life around you, live fully by loving and forgiving while you have the opportunity, and anchor your hope in something greater than the circumstances of the moment.

Drawing on faith and the words of the Psalmist, this message points toward God as a source of refuge and stability when everything else seems to be shifting.

Originally created during the uncertainty of 2020, this episode remains a reflection on finding hope, perspective, and faith in the midst of circumstances we cannot control.

When the world feels uncertain, we still need an anchor.]]>2892020,adversity,anxiety,bible,christianfaith,christianity,covid19,difficulttimes,encouragement,faith,god,hope,inspiration,pandemic,prayer,resilience,scripture,socialunrest,spiritualgrowth,uncertaintyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shh-some-things-need-time-to-grow-knowing-when-to-speak-and-when-to-be-silent--41518005
Sometimes an idea, dream, opportunity, or vision arrives like a seed. There may be excitement and possibility, but before anything becomes visible, something important has to happen beneath the surface. Roots need time to develop.

In Shh... Some Things Need Time to Grow, we explore the wisdom of knowing when to speak, when to seek counsel, and when it may be better to quietly pray, prepare, work, and allow something to develop.

Drawing from the parable of the sower, the story of Zechariah, and biblical teachings about the power of our words, this episode considers how prematurely sharing our dreams can sometimes expose them to doubt, fear, criticism, comparison, and even our own tendency to talk ourselves out of pursuing them.

The lesson is not to become secretive or suspicious of everyone around us. There are times when encouragement, wisdom, and counsel are exactly what we need. The challenge is developing the discernment to know when to speak, what to share, and with whom to share it.

Some things are ready to be shared.

Others still need time to grow roots.Sometimes silence is not secrecy.

Sometimes silence is cultivation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41518005Sun, 18 Oct 2020 07:09:49 +0000That Next Level ThinkingNot everything God places on your heart needs to be announced the moment you receive it. Sometimes an idea, dream, opportunity, or vision arrives like a seed. There may be excitement and possibility, but before anything becomes visible, something...
Sometimes an idea, dream, opportunity, or vision arrives like a seed. There may be excitement and possibility, but before anything becomes visible, something important has to happen beneath the surface. Roots need time to develop.

In Shh... Some Things Need Time to Grow, we explore the wisdom of knowing when to speak, when to seek counsel, and when it may be better to quietly pray, prepare, work, and allow something to develop.

Drawing from the parable of the sower, the story of Zechariah, and biblical teachings about the power of our words, this episode considers how prematurely sharing our dreams can sometimes expose them to doubt, fear, criticism, comparison, and even our own tendency to talk ourselves out of pursuing them.

The lesson is not to become secretive or suspicious of everyone around us. There are times when encouragement, wisdom, and counsel are exactly what we need. The challenge is developing the discernment to know when to speak, what to share, and with whom to share it.

Some things are ready to be shared.

Others still need time to grow roots.Sometimes silence is not secrecy.

Sometimes silence is cultivation.]]>547falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/missing-your-exit-when-loyalty-keeps-you-in-the-wrong-season--41195418
Loyalty can be a beautiful quality. So can gratitude, commitment, and honoring the people who have helped us along the way. But there is a difference between genuine loyalty and remaining somewhere because we feel obligated to keep paying a debt that was never meant to last forever.

In Missing Your Exit: When Loyalty Keeps You in the Wrong Season, we explore what happens when an artificial sense of loyalty prevents us from recognizing that something in our lives has changed.

Healthy relationships require boundaries, honesty, and the freedom to acknowledge when circumstances are no longer what they once were. Gratitude for what someone has done in the past does not require us to ignore unhealthy patterns in the present. And avoiding difficult conversations may preserve temporary peace while quietly allowing resentment and relational imbalance to grow.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season and a time for everything. That raises an important question: Are we trying to remain in relationships, commitments, habits, or circumstances whose season has already ended?

I share a personal story about missing an exit while driving and turning what should have been a short trip into a stressful two-hour ordeal. That experience became a powerful metaphor for the times we miss the exits in our own lives and find ourselves circling through seasons we may have been meant to leave behind.

But missing an exit doesn't mean the journey is over.

God's grace is sufficient even when our path takes longer than expected. We can reassess where we are, learn from the journey, and move forward with greater wisdom.

Sometimes the question isn't whether we have been loyal.

It's whether our loyalty is keeping us from moving into the next season.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/41195418Tue, 29 Sep 2020 06:32:21 +0000That Next Level ThinkingHave you ever remained committed to a relationship, obligation, or season simply because you've invested so much in it already? Loyalty can be a beautiful quality. So can gratitude, commitment, and honoring the people who have helped us along the...
Loyalty can be a beautiful quality. So can gratitude, commitment, and honoring the people who have helped us along the way. But there is a difference between genuine loyalty and remaining somewhere because we feel obligated to keep paying a debt that was never meant to last forever.

In Missing Your Exit: When Loyalty Keeps You in the Wrong Season, we explore what happens when an artificial sense of loyalty prevents us from recognizing that something in our lives has changed.

Healthy relationships require boundaries, honesty, and the freedom to acknowledge when circumstances are no longer what they once were. Gratitude for what someone has done in the past does not require us to ignore unhealthy patterns in the present. And avoiding difficult conversations may preserve temporary peace while quietly allowing resentment and relational imbalance to grow.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season and a time for everything. That raises an important question: Are we trying to remain in relationships, commitments, habits, or circumstances whose season has already ended?

I share a personal story about missing an exit while driving and turning what should have been a short trip into a stressful two-hour ordeal. That experience became a powerful metaphor for the times we miss the exits in our own lives and find ourselves circling through seasons we may have been meant to leave behind.

But missing an exit doesn't mean the journey is over.

God's grace is sufficient even when our path takes longer than expected. We can reassess where we are, learn from the journey, and move forward with greater wisdom.

Sometimes the question isn't whether we have been loyal.

It's whether our loyalty is keeping us from moving into the next season.]]>617boundaries,change,christianfaith,christianity,discernment,ecclesiastes,faith,freedom,gratitude,growth,lettinggo,loyalty,obligation,purpose,relationships,scripture,seasons,spiritualgrowth,transition,wisdomfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/it-is-well-with-my-soul--40873841
Words matter. The things others repeatedly say about us can influence how we see ourselves, but so can the words we repeatedly speak about ourselves. During difficult seasons, it can become especially easy for grief, disappointment, loss, or adversity to slowly become intertwined with our identity.

In It Is Well With My Soul, we explore the importance of acknowledging pain without allowing pain to become the definition of who we are.

I share a personal experience that taught me how another person's repeated interpretation of my emotions could begin influencing the way I actually felt. It became a reminder that even well-intentioned people can sometimes reinforce a narrative about us that doesn't reflect the whole of who we are.

This episode also considers the importance of discernment when deciding who has access to our most vulnerable moments. Some people genuinely want to support us through difficult seasons. Others may be more interested in observing what is happening than helping us move through it.

Healing does not require pretending that everything is fine. There are times to grieve, times to talk, times to seek support, and times to acknowledge that life hurts.

But our circumstances do not have to become our identity.

Saying “It is well with my soul” doesn't have to mean denying sadness, grief, uncertainty, or pain. It can be a declaration that even in the middle of what is difficult, our circumstances do not have the final word.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Sometimes wellness doesn't begin with everything around us becoming well.

Sometimes it begins with the quiet declaration:

It is well with my soul.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40873841Sun, 13 Sep 2020 02:55:55 +0000That Next Level ThinkingWhat happens when other people begin defining us by what we've been through? Words matter. The things others repeatedly say about us can influence how we see ourselves, but so can the words we repeatedly speak about ourselves. During difficult...
Words matter. The things others repeatedly say about us can influence how we see ourselves, but so can the words we repeatedly speak about ourselves. During difficult seasons, it can become especially easy for grief, disappointment, loss, or adversity to slowly become intertwined with our identity.

In It Is Well With My Soul, we explore the importance of acknowledging pain without allowing pain to become the definition of who we are.

I share a personal experience that taught me how another person's repeated interpretation of my emotions could begin influencing the way I actually felt. It became a reminder that even well-intentioned people can sometimes reinforce a narrative about us that doesn't reflect the whole of who we are.

This episode also considers the importance of discernment when deciding who has access to our most vulnerable moments. Some people genuinely want to support us through difficult seasons. Others may be more interested in observing what is happening than helping us move through it.

Healing does not require pretending that everything is fine. There are times to grieve, times to talk, times to seek support, and times to acknowledge that life hurts.

But our circumstances do not have to become our identity.

Saying “It is well with my soul” doesn't have to mean denying sadness, grief, uncertainty, or pain. It can be a declaration that even in the middle of what is difficult, our circumstances do not have the final word.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Sometimes wellness doesn't begin with everything around us becoming well.

Sometimes it begins with the quiet declaration:

It is well with my soul.]]>341adversity,christianfaith,christianity,discernment,encouragement,faith,grief,healing,hope,identity,joy,mindset,peace,relationships,resilience,restoration,scripture,spiritualgrowth,wellbeing,wordsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/emergent-word--40854411https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40854411Sat, 12 Sep 2020 03:52:16 +0000That Next Level ThinkingThe power of life and death lies in the tongue. Sometimes, all it takes is one word to bring us back from the brink of destruction and/or despair.341christianity​,death,failure,faith,god,grace,hope,inspiration,inspirstional,jesus,love,media,mental-health-awareness,motivation,news,purpose,suicidefalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/soul-directive-guarding-your-heart-through-discernment--40504822
Betrayal can feel sudden, but when we look back, we may recognize signs that were present long before we were willing or able to see them. Words, actions, patterns of behavior, and the way people treat others can reveal more about character than appearances ever will.

In Soul Directive: Guarding Your Heart Through Discernment, we explore the importance of wisdom and discernment in our relationships. Drawing from biblical lessons about character, fruit, betrayal, and influence, this episode asks us to pay closer attention to the people we allow into our inner circles.

Discernment is not about expecting perfection from others. We all have shortcomings, make mistakes, and have bad days. Rather, it is about learning to recognize patterns, listen carefully, observe character, and distinguish an occasional failure from behavior that consistently reveals something deeper.

The people around us can also influence more than we realize. Their attitudes, perspectives, habits, and expectations can affect the atmosphere of our lives and, over time, influence the direction in which we grow.

Scripture tells us that iron sharpens iron. That leaves us with an important question:

Are the people in our lives sharpening who we are becoming, or dulling what we were created to be?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40504822Wed, 26 Aug 2020 20:22:05 +0000That Next Level ThinkingNot everyone who enters our lives is meant to have the same level of access to us. Betrayal can feel sudden, but when we look back, we may recognize signs that were present long before we were willing or able to see them. Words, actions, patterns of...
Betrayal can feel sudden, but when we look back, we may recognize signs that were present long before we were willing or able to see them. Words, actions, patterns of behavior, and the way people treat others can reveal more about character than appearances ever will.

In Soul Directive: Guarding Your Heart Through Discernment, we explore the importance of wisdom and discernment in our relationships. Drawing from biblical lessons about character, fruit, betrayal, and influence, this episode asks us to pay closer attention to the people we allow into our inner circles.

Discernment is not about expecting perfection from others. We all have shortcomings, make mistakes, and have bad days. Rather, it is about learning to recognize patterns, listen carefully, observe character, and distinguish an occasional failure from behavior that consistently reveals something deeper.

The people around us can also influence more than we realize. Their attitudes, perspectives, habits, and expectations can affect the atmosphere of our lives and, over time, influence the direction in which we grow.

Scripture tells us that iron sharpens iron. That leaves us with an important question:

Are the people in our lives sharpening who we are becoming, or dulling what we were created to be?]]>313betrayal,bible,boundaries,character,christianfaith,christianity,destiny,discernment,faith,friendship,guardingyourheart,influence,ironsharpensiron,purpose,relationships,scripture,selfreflection,spiritualgrowth,trust,wisdomfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-not-you-when-god-s-favor-feels-undeserved--40410356
Sometimes the doors that open for us don't seem to match our circumstances, qualifications, expectations, or even the way we see ourselves. Instead of receiving the moment with gratitude, we begin questioning whether we belong there at all.

In Why Not You? When God's Favor Feels Undeserved, a simple walk on an overcast morning becomes an unexpected reminder of God's personal care.

As I reflected on the parable of the lost sheep, a question that had been lingering in my mind began to change. Instead of asking, Who am I that God would do this for me? I began to consider another possibility:

Why not me?

The shepherd's pursuit of one sheep reminds us that being one among many does not make us invisible. God knows us individually, understands what we need, and is not limited in His ability to care for one person while caring for another.

This short message is an encouragement for anyone struggling to receive an unexpected opportunity, wondering whether they are worthy of God's attention, or questioning why something good could happen to them.

You don't have to diminish someone else's blessing to receive your own.

And you don't have to have everything figured out before walking through an open door.

Sometimes instead of asking, “Why me?

”Perhaps the question is:

“Why not me?”]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40410356Wed, 19 Aug 2020 20:21:21 +0000That Next Level ThinkingHave you ever received an unexpected opportunity or blessing and found yourself wondering, Why me? Sometimes the doors that open for us don't seem to match our circumstances, qualifications, expectations, or even the way we see ourselves. Instead of...
Sometimes the doors that open for us don't seem to match our circumstances, qualifications, expectations, or even the way we see ourselves. Instead of receiving the moment with gratitude, we begin questioning whether we belong there at all.

In Why Not You? When God's Favor Feels Undeserved, a simple walk on an overcast morning becomes an unexpected reminder of God's personal care.

As I reflected on the parable of the lost sheep, a question that had been lingering in my mind began to change. Instead of asking, Who am I that God would do this for me? I began to consider another possibility:

Why not me?

The shepherd's pursuit of one sheep reminds us that being one among many does not make us invisible. God knows us individually, understands what we need, and is not limited in His ability to care for one person while caring for another.

This short message is an encouragement for anyone struggling to receive an unexpected opportunity, wondering whether they are worthy of God's attention, or questioning why something good could happen to them.

You don't have to diminish someone else's blessing to receive your own.

And you don't have to have everything figured out before walking through an open door.

Sometimes instead of asking, “Why me?

”Perhaps the question is:

“Why not me?”]]>287blessings,christianfaith,christianity,devotional,encouragement,faith,favor,god,grace,gratitude,hope,inspiration,jesus,lostsheep,opportunity,purpose,scripture,shepherd,spiritualgrowth,worthfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-spirit-of-offense-finding-freedom-through-forgiveness--40347292
Resentment, assumptions, anger, and unforgiveness can quietly take root when we continually replay the words and actions of others. Sometimes the person who offended us has moved on, or may not even realize an offense occurred, while we remain burdened by what happened.

In The Spirit of Offense: Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness, we examine what Scripture teaches about offense, judgment, grace, and the renewal of our minds.

This episode invites us to look inward and consider not only what others have done, but also how our own experiences, assumptions, and expectations influence the way we interpret their actions. Are we assuming the worst? Are we filtering someone's intentions through previous hurt? Are we holding others to a standard of grace that we ourselves could never perfectly meet?

Forgiveness does not require us to abandon wisdom or discernment. It does, however, challenge us to release people from the grip of our judgment and recognize our shared humanity.

The conversation focuses on four practices: releasing others from our judgment, forgiving perceived offenses, giving people the benefit of the doubt while exercising wisdom and discernment, and renewing our minds.

Sometimes forgiveness does more than release another person.

Sometimes it releases us.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40347292Sat, 15 Aug 2020 22:08:55 +0000That Next Level ThinkingHow much power do we give an offense long after the moment itself has passed? Resentment, assumptions, anger, and unforgiveness can quietly take root when we continually replay the words and actions of others. Sometimes the person who offended us has...
Resentment, assumptions, anger, and unforgiveness can quietly take root when we continually replay the words and actions of others. Sometimes the person who offended us has moved on, or may not even realize an offense occurred, while we remain burdened by what happened.

In The Spirit of Offense: Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness, we examine what Scripture teaches about offense, judgment, grace, and the renewal of our minds.

This episode invites us to look inward and consider not only what others have done, but also how our own experiences, assumptions, and expectations influence the way we interpret their actions. Are we assuming the worst? Are we filtering someone's intentions through previous hurt? Are we holding others to a standard of grace that we ourselves could never perfectly meet?

Forgiveness does not require us to abandon wisdom or discernment. It does, however, challenge us to release people from the grip of our judgment and recognize our shared humanity.

The conversation focuses on four practices: releasing others from our judgment, forgiving perceived offenses, giving people the benefit of the doubt while exercising wisdom and discernment, and renewing our minds.

Sometimes forgiveness does more than release another person.

Sometimes it releases us.]]>399anger,assumptions,bible,bitterness,christianfaith,christianity,discernment,faith,forgiveness,freedom,grace,healing,judgment,offense,relationships,renewingthemind,resentment,scripture,spiritualgrowth,unforgivenessfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-prayer-away--40200074
Are you tired of waiting on God? What if God is waiting on you?]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40200074Fri, 07 Aug 2020 20:39:13 +0000That Next Level ThinkingThe Introduction of Thatnextlevelthinking Podcast with an episode titled, "A Prayer Away." Are you tired of waiting on God? What if God is waiting on you?
Are you tired of waiting on God? What if God is waiting on you?]]>422achieveyourgoal,amen,bethankful,blessing,entrepreneurs,family,friends,happiness,inspirationalquotes,inspiringquotes,inspo,mentalhealthawareness,morningmotivation,motivation,motivationalquotes,positivevibes,pray,selflove,successmindset,successtipsfalsefull