Finding Your Mantle

We are to value the things with which we have been blessed. After all, God has provided them to us out of His goodness and mercy. Although we treasure His blessings, they should never mean more to us than Jesus' gift of taking our place on the cross. When we cherish our relationship with Him above everything and everyone else, we are letting the Lord know that the "Price" we forgo to follow Him is never too great and is always right. In this episode, we review scripture from the Gospel of Matthew that highlights the true treasure of following Jesus

"Hey, can you give me a hand with this?" Ask yourself how many times someone has asked you this question, and then ask yourself how you respond... anxious, annoyed, apathetic? According to the way Jesus responded to appeals for help, we should be ready to respond joyfully with the resources and gifts with which we have been blessed. In this episode, we discuss why we should have a heart positioned that is "happy to help."

Most individuals still relish the opportunity to go out for a meal and actually eat in a restaurant. It is a time to relax and fellowship in the company of family and friends. In this episode, more than 4,000 people gathered to relax, fellowship...and be fed both physically and spiritually. Yes, it was Jesus who "served" a helping of the "Good News" and finished the event much like He did with the feeding of the 5,000+. This episode takes a look at how the people got more than a bargain when they dined-in with Jesus.

Have you ever received a gift that keeps giving? Most presents either wear out or at least their appeal fades over time. Not so with the gifts of the spirit, especially the role those gifts play in our spiritual journey. With those gifts, we can become evangelists, pastors, teachers, and other faith-building members within the body of the church. It is up to each of us to find our roles and fulfill them, in order to grow and mature as a unified church reflecting the truth that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 14:1-6, 12-14So, how good are you at multi-tasking? Even the best can handle only so much at any given time. Eventually, we need to prioritize to get the tasks done. That leads to the question, "how do you choose what is most important?" In that decision, our hearts need to be right with God to instill the proper elements when making an honest, sound selection. When our hearts are not aligned properly, our focus can shift to making decisions for worldly recognition, which displaces God from our lives. What is left can become idols, as they consume our time, energy, and passion. In this episode, we look at the consequences of allowing our hearts to become "idol."

Matthew 25:1-13We spend the better part of our lives preparing for school, work, family, and other commitments. However, how much time do we prepare ourselves spiritually for Christ's return? We know He is coming, but we do not know the day or the hour. The best approach we can apply is to prepare to be prepared, and we discuss the importance of spiritual preparedness on today's episode.

Okay, we have all seen and heard things that are just too good to be true. Perhaps it was an advertisement, a suggestion from a friend, or a political promise. But what about an answered prayer from God? Is there anything that is too good (or too hard) to be true for our Heavenly Father? Today's episode considers the expression "No way, man" in the context of a miracle and how we can miss God's blessing if we limit His bounty to the finite boundary of our minds. Time to grow our faith...

Ever felt alone, as though no one was listening? Yes, all of us have had those moments. When they occur don't fret, because they are when God is hard at work in us. He has not abandoned us, as God appreciates the quiet, one-on-one time with us, perhaps even more than when He performs a spectacular miracle. So be sure to lean into God to hear His "still, small voice."

As a follow up to Part 1 of "Who's Foolin' Who," this episode highlights Part 2 of watching out for wolves in sheep's clothing. Making sure we follow the Ultimate Shepherd is what each of us needs to do in our spiritual journey. Staying close to Him will help us to bear good fruits and avoid the downward spiral brought on by bad fruits.

We can all enjoy a good practical joke, but being fooled when it comes to our faith is no-laughing matter. Getting steered off-course from the Lord leads to definite trouble. This episode is part 1 of a two-part discussion about how to be aware of the false prophets in our lives, and how we can stay anchored to the Lord's teachings.

We have a tendency to make assessments of individuals simply by what we see in their appearance. By doing so, we can end up making poor decisions that might adversely impact the future of the individual being assessed. A lot of times, we miss the better part of people by not getting to know their heart, which is the true identity of a person. In this episode, we see how a progression of assessments potentially jeopardized the future of a prominent figure from the Old Testament and how we can instill the right approach in our own lives.

Why is Jesus so evident in some lives but not others? For some people, Jesus is seen in all they do, while other individuals struggle to see Him at all. In this episode, we discuss some of the reasons why certain people, reflect Christ, even in challenging circumstances, and why other people don't realize His presence.

Every blessing from God is valuable and has the potential for its worth to grow exponentially. Like other things of value in our lives we need to preserve God's blessings and protect them from becoming compromised by the evils of this world. In this episode, we discuss the importance of fortifying the hedge of protection God provides for the blessing of the relationship we have with Him.

Feeling anxious? Yes, I know, when aren't we feeling anxious about something. In this episode, we take a look at someone who allows Jesus to help her identify her anxieties and overcome them. What did He say to change her? Enjoy the episode and find out.

It is amazing how the little things in life make a big impact on us. Yet, it is easy to overlook the little blessings that come our way. In this episode, we focus on the little book of Philemon and the big lesson it teaches us on the topic of forgiveness and the opportunity it presents for spiritual growth on our journey.

So, how do you want to be remembered? The way we live our lives will dictate the answer to this question. If the Lord is a major part of our lives, He will be evident in the way we live and will be a large part of how we are remembered by family, friends, and others. In this episode, we discuss the importance of a spiritual legacy and how it can impact the spiritual journey of those who survive us.

We feel so good when an issue gets resolved. But then we realize there are so many more to be addressed that the feeling of helplessness overtakes us. Want a way to "put them to bed" all at once and be rid of your troubles, anxieties, other matters that bog you down? In this episode, we explore the first step in easing our burdens to lighten our load.

We have all been disappointed(displeased) with the outcome of certain events in our lives. When that happens, we have two choices: 1.) Become hopelessly disgusted; or 2.) Make the best of the outcome, Knowing God "has you." In this episode we conclude our two part discussion of Jonah in "Follow The Leader: Part 2." We focus on Jonah's wanting to pursue God, but his displeasure with God's decision becomes a roadblock."We're only responsible for the effort, not the outcome."       - Bryant McGill

Conditional statements can enhance the ability of computer languages to handle various decisions. With God, conditional statements are generally unproductive in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, as everything He speaks is true and we need to obey. In this episode, which is the first part of a two part discussion, we take a look at what it means to "Follow The Leader," and why placing conditions on God doesn't work.

Crossing to and fro over bridges can add an enjoyable element to any journey. But have you ever thought what the trip would be like without bridges? Virtually impossible to cross when traveling by car or on foot. We want to keep those "Bridges," especially in our spiritual journey, as we never want these divides to terminate our access to God. In this episode, we discuss a few of the great divides in life and beyond, including the one that is permanent.

Victory can be sweet, but it can also leave a bitter after-taste...especially when we realize the victory leads to defeat! If we are not careful and follow God's instructions, today's victory will be tomorrow's defeat. As we journey to find our mantles (those assignments God has given to us), this episode provides a game plan how we can side step the enemy's pitfalls and retain God's winning edge.

"Who, me? You want me to do what?" How many of us have had this reaction when asked for the first time to do something of critical importance, whether at work, at home, or especially in our spiritual journey? Well, God has equipped each of us with the necessary "tools" to fulfill the appointments He has given to us. In this episode, we discuss ways to be prepared for receiving God's assignments, as the episode includes an interview with someone who never expected what God assigned to her.

Picture this: The phone rings, you answer, and a voice on the other end says, "Hello, this is God calling." Sounds far-fetched, but God calls on us everyday! When He does, we need to be ready to take up the call. In this episode, we discuss the  benefits of responding when God calls us to take up our mantles for His kingdom.

As we search to find our Mantles, or the assignments that God has placed on our hearts, we will run into detours. We must overcome these hurdles, and stay the course to fulfill the assignments God has given to us, to usher in His Kingdom. This episode talks about some of these obstacles, and what it takes to defeat them.

God has Mantles(aka assignments and callings) for each of us. In this first episode, we put context around the definition of 'Mantle' to get the podcast series underway for listeners to begin their journey of finding their mantles, while building the relationship God has always intended for them.