HealingStrong's Around the Word
by HealingStrong
Join us around the table with friends who love the Lord and want to dig deeper into God's Word. Hosted by Cheryl Collins and joined by friends of HealingStrong, this podcast is sure to peak your interest in learning more about God's Word, as discussions on each podcast are short, bite-sized morsels that help to go deeper and enjoy God's Word. Cheryl and the podcast team will discuss stories that build trust in God through the history of Joseph, Esther, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, Nehemiah, the Disciples, and of course, Jesus! These episodes encourage our faith in overcoming our fear, and who doesn't need strengthened faith?
Episodes
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Announcement: Summer Break Without A Faith Break
We’re hitting pause on Around the Word for a short summer break, and we wanted to leave you with one clear encouragement: don’t take a break from God’s Word!!! Summer can be full of good things, but the days can also slip by fast. Keep Scripture close, because the Bible is our bread of life, our...
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Episode 83 - The Acts Series: Ready With Your Testimony (Acts 7:1-16)
Stephen is on trial, the room is tense, and he chooses a surprising strategy: he doesn’t start with self-defense. We read Acts 7:1–16 out loud and slow down to notice how Stephen builds a rock-solid foundation by retelling Israel’s story, beginning with Abraham. That opening isn’t filler. It’s a...
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Episode 82 - The Acts Series: Grace and Power (Acts 6)
The early church doesn’t wait long to face a messy problem: people are being overlooked. Reading Acts 6 together, we wrestle with the tension between practical care and spiritual priorities when the Hellenist widows are neglected in the daily distribution. We love how honest this chapter is about...
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Episode 81 - The Acts Series: Counted Worthy in the Suffering (Acts 5:12-42)
Peter’s shadow falls across the street and sick bodies get up. That’s where our table talk lands today, right in the middle of Acts 5:12–42, where the early church is impossible to ignore and impossible to intimidate. We read the passage out loud and pause to notice what’s actually happening:...
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Episode 80 - The Acts Series: One in Heart and Mind (Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-11)
A church where nobody is in need sounds like a miracle, until you realize it starts with something simple and brutally hard: being one in heart and mind. We open Acts 4:32-37 and talk about the early Christian community, where unity and generosity flow out of the Holy Spirit’s power and the...
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Episode 79 - The Acts Series: Don't Stay Quiet (Acts 4:23-31)
The fastest way to lose your courage is to believe the loudest voices get the final word. We pick up Acts 4:23–31 right after Peter and John are threatened and ordered to stop speaking about Jesus, and we watch what the early church does next: they run to their people, lift their voices together,...
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Episode 78 - The Acts Series: What if Courage is Simply Telling the Truth (Acts 4:1-22)
They arrest Peter and John for talking about resurrection, then act shocked when the message spreads. Acts 4 is a masterclass in Christian courage: a real man is healed after forty years of suffering, thousands believe, and the people in charge scramble to regain control by calling the miracle a...
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Episode 77 - The Acts Series: Power To Speak When You Are Scared (Acts: 2: 14-47)
We watch Peter move from fear to fearless clarity as he stands up after Pentecost and ties Joel, David, and the resurrection of Jesus into one urgent message. We sit with the crowd’s question, “What shall we do?”, and trace how repentance, baptism, and Spirit-filled community become the beginning...
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Episode 76 - The Acts Series: Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)
We read Acts 2:1–13 and talk through Pentecost as a loud, disruptive, holy moment where the Holy Spirit comes with wind, fire, and supernatural speech. We explore what it means that people from many nations hear the mighty works of God in their own language, and how the Spirit still guides and...
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Episode 75 - The Acts Series: Prayer Before Big Decisions (Acts 1: 12-26)
We read Acts 1:12–26 and watch the early believers face a painful leadership gap after Judas, choosing unity and prayer instead of panic. We talk through Sabbath day details, Peter’s honesty about betrayal, and why God’s calling still includes quiet people with unseen impact. If today's episode...
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Episode 74 - The Acts Series: What If Waiting Is Part Of The Plan? (Acts 1:1-11)
We open Acts with Luke’s letter to Theophilus and read Acts 1:1–11 out loud, stopping to ask what the text actually says and why it matters. We talk about Jesus’ command to wait for the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ kingdom expectations, and the urgent call to become witnesses instead of standing...
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Episode 73 - The Daniel Series: Fireproof Faith
When life’s heat intensifies and escape feels impossible, we turn to Daniel 3, Romans 8:28, and Isaiah 41:10 to discover what courage looks like amid real flames and uncertain outcomes. By shifting focus from a worldly “little k” king to the sovereign “Capital K” King, we release the need for...
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Episode 72 - The Daniel Series: Out Of The Fire
Daniel 3’s blazing furnace and the unburned trio offer more than a miracle—they reflect how we face pressure, pain, and public scrutiny today, revealing the difference between admiring God from afar and trusting Him intimately in the midst of the fire. Nebuchadnezzar’s praise uncovers a hard…
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Episode 71 - The Daniel Series: Fourth Man In The Fire
This episode uses the powerful image from Daniel 3—three men walking free from a roaring furnace without a trace of smoke—to explore real-world trials like illness, broken relationships, and career challenges, highlighting how faith can transform fiery struggles into freedom. We reflect on the...
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Episode 70 - The Daniel Series: Standing Firm In The Fire
In this episode, we delve into Daniel 3:13–23, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery ultimatum with unshakable conviction, calmly refusing to bow even without guaranteed salvation—exemplify mature faith that declares, “even if He does not.” Their courage, forged...
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Episode 69 - The Daniel Series: Taking a Stand When Others Bow
In this episode, we explore Daniel 3:8–12, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand firm with quiet conviction among pressure to conform, challenging a culture fixated on performance and spectacle. We examine the human dynamics of jealousy, fear, and virtue signaling that drive public...
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Episode 68 - The Daniel Series: Peer Pressure and A Furnace
In this episode, we reflect on Daniel 3:1–7, where King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree and golden image demand submission amid intense pressure, mirroring modern struggles with public expectation and the urge to rush God’s timing. We explore the repeated pattern of forcing promises into reality—from...
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Episode 67 - The Daniel Series: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Interpretation
In this episode, we explore Daniel 2:24–49, where Daniel calmly interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of a statue made of layered metals, revealing the rise and fall of empires—Babylon’s gold, Medo-Persia’s silver, Greece’s bronze, Rome’s iron, and the fragile mixture that follows—and points to a...
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Episode 66 - The Daniel Series: Fear Gives Way To Praise
In this episode, we reflect on Daniel 2:19–23, where a king’s ultimatum and a sleepless night lead to a transformative prayer that shows praise as a powerful response to fear and pressure. We explore how Daniel’s focus of seeking God, waiting, and praising before and after the breakthrough…
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Episode 65 - The Daniel Series: When Pressure Rises, Seek God First
In this episode, we dive into Daniel 2:1–18, where Daniel faces the impossible demand to reveal the king’s dream or face execution, showing how faith moves amid pressure by seeking God first. Connecting this crisis to modern challenges like health scares and job losses, we highlight how clarity...
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Episode 64 - The Daniel Series: Ten Days To Ten Times Better
In this episode, we explore Daniel 1:9–21, where a teenager’s small, courageous request for ten days of vegetables and water—trusting obedience over argument—sets a revolutionary example of wisdom, integrity, and health amid pressures from both the king and the Lord. We discuss how Daniel’s...
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Episode 63 - The Daniel Series: Resolved Faith In A Pressured World
In this episode, we explore Daniel 1 and the quiet strength behind his choice to refuse the royal menu, using it to examine how conviction, health, and integrity intersect amid modern pressures. We discuss the importance of setting clear standards before temptation arises, viewing God’s…
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Episode 62 - The Daniel Series: Names That Stick And Names That Save
In this episode, we reflect on Daniel 1:3–7, where Daniel and his friends are renamed by Babylon, illustrating how labels—though promising clarity—often steal identity, a pattern still seen today as culture assigns us names tied to our seasons or struggles. We explore how empires and cultures...
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Episode 61 - The Daniel Series: Guarding Your Heart From Idols
In this episode, we explore how the heart drifts toward compromise by examining Exodus 20 alongside Daniel 1, revealing how a people called to exclusive allegiance slowly replace the living God with “little g” gods—good things like work, family, or comfort—that take first place and lead to exile....
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Episode 60 - The Daniel Series: When You Walk Through The Fire, You Are Not Alone
In launching a new series on Daniel, we focus our time in Isaiah 43:1–2, where God affirms our identity as created, redeemed, and called by name—promises that transform how we face trials, offering His presence amid flames and floods that don’t consume us. We dive into the deeper meaning of “fear...
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UPDATES: A Holiday Pause, Resources, and January Expectations
We are taking a brief holiday pause, then come back to listen in January for a new series on Daniel. Listen in as we share some updates across HealingStrong and what resources we have for you over this break season. Listeners get resources for the break, an encouragement from Luke 1 for those...
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Episode 58 - The Esther Series: Courage in Crisis (Esther 10 NIV)
The story of Esther demonstrates God's sovereignty as He works behind the scenes, using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes to fulfill His redemptive plan. • Mordecai is elevated to second in command under King Xerxes, paralleling Joseph's position in Egypt • The book highlights how God...
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Episode 57 - The Esther Series: The Tables Turn in a Divine Reversal (Esther 9:1-32 NIV)
The tables turn dramatically for the Jewish people as what was meant to be their day of destruction becomes their day of victory and deliverance through Queen Esther and Mordecai's influence in the Persian court. • God turned what enemies meant for evil into good as Jews were allowed to defend...
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Episode 56 - The Esther Series: Turning the Tide Against Destruction (Esther 8:1-17 NIV)
We explore Esther chapter 8, where divine providence unfolds as Mordecai rises to power and the Jewish people gain the right to defend themselves against annihilation. • Haman's estate is given to Esther, who then appoints Mordecai to manage it • King Xerxes gives his signet ring to Mordecai,...
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Episode 55 - The Esther Series: Courage in the Face of Annihilation (Esther 7 NIV)
Queen Esther displays remarkable courage as she reveals Haman's genocidal plot against the Jews during a second banquet with King Xerxes. The king's furious reaction and Haman's desperate attempts to save his life lead to a dramatic conclusion where justice is served in the most poetic way...
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Episode 54 - The Esther Series: Divine Insomnia (Esther 6 NIV)
God orchestrates a remarkable reversal of fortunes as King Xerxes' insomnia leads to Haman being forced to honor his enemy Mordecai through the streets of the city. • The king's sleepless night leads him to read chronicles recording Mordecai's loyalty in exposing an assassination plot • Haman...
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Episode 53 - The Esther Series: The Danger of Obsession (Esther 5:9-14 NIV)
The story of Haman and Mordecai in Esther 5:9-14 reveals how pride destroys joy while faith builds strength in difficult circumstances. We explore how Haman's obsession with one small slight poisoned his perspective despite his many blessings. • Haman leaves Queen Esther's banquet joyful but...
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Episode 52 - The Esther Series: Prayer, Preparation, and Providence (Esther 5:1-8 NIV)
Queen Esther demonstrates remarkable courage and wisdom as she approaches King Xerxes after three days of fasting, risking her life to save her people. Her strategic approach reveals how God works behind the scenes, orchestrating divine timing even when His name isn't mentioned in the story. •...
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Episode 51 - The Esther Series: Faith in the Face of Danger (Esther 4:12-17 NIV )
We explore the inspiring story of Queen Esther as she faces a life-or-death decision that will determine the fate of the Jewish people in Persia. • Reading from Esther chapter 4:12-17, where Mordecai challenges Esther to approach the king uninvited • Discussion of the divine purpose in Esther's...
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Episode 50 - The Esther Series: Between Duty and Death (Esther 4:1-11 NIV)
We delve into a crucial turning point in the Book of Esther where Mordecai discovers Haman's plot to annihilate the Jewish people and urgently communicates with Queen Esther through palace intermediaries to intervene. • Mordecai publicly mourns in sackcloth and ashes when he learns about the…
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Episode 49 - The Esther Series: Haman's Plot - Genocide and God's Providence (Esther 3:7-15 NIV)
We explore Esther 3:7-15, where Haman convinces King Xerxes to issue an edict for the destruction of all Jews in the Persian Empire, setting the stage for one of the Bible's greatest rescue stories. • Haman's manipulation of King Xerxes through vague generalizations about "a certain people" • The...
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Episode 48 - The Esther Series: The Feud Between Mordecai and Haman (Esther 3:1-6 NIV)
We explore Esther 3:1-6, examining the ancient conflict between Mordecai and Haman that threatens to escalate into genocide against the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. • Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman despite the king's command, openly identifying himself as a Jew • Haman is identified as…
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Episode 47 - The Esther Series: Divine Timing in Everyday Lives (Esther 2:19-23 NIV)
We explore the extraordinary ways God uses ordinary people within the story of Mordecai discovering a plot to assassinate King Xerxes in Esther 2:19-23. This remarkable biblical account reveals how regular people become part of God's extraordinary plans without even realizing it. • Mordecai,...
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Episode 46 - The Esther Series: Jewish Orphan Girl to Queen of Persia (Esther 2:15-18 NIV)
We explore Esther's journey from orphan to queen through her encounter with King Xerxes, highlighting how her humility and God's favor positioned her for a greater purpose. The passage reveals how Esther's wise decision to seek counsel from those who knew the king best demonstrated a humble…
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Episode 45 - The Esther Series: Broken Systems to Accomplish His Perfect Will (Esther 2:1-14 NIV)
God works through flawed cultural contexts to bring about His perfect will, as evidenced in the story of Esther where a young orphaned Jewish girl finds unexpected favor in a Persian king's court. • Discussion of how God uses worldly systems for His divine purposes despite their flawed nature •...
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Episode 44 - The Esther Series: Power Dynamics in Biblical Marriages (Esther 1:13-22 NIV)
We explore the beginning of Esther's story, where Queen Vashti refuses King Xerxes' command and his advisors suggest removing her from her position to prevent widespread disrespect from women throughout the kingdom. • King Xerxes consults his advisors about how to handle Queen Vashti's…
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Episode 43 - The Esther Series: Royal Pride and Defiance (Esther 1:1-12 NIV)
We dive into the dramatic opening of Esther, where King Xerxes throws an extravagant 180-day party to display his wealth and power before Queen Vashti's defiant refusal sets the stage for a royal crisis. This colorful introduction reveals the Persian king's pride and pompous character while...
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Episode 42 - The Esther Series: For Such a Time as This (Esther 4:12-14 NIV)
We explore the powerful message from Esther 4:12-14 about trusting God's presence even when we can't see Him working. Our discussion centers on how God orchestrates circumstances behind the scenes and uses imperfect people to accomplish His divine purposes. • God remains present and working even...
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Episode 41 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Lessons from the Battle (Romans 6:23, John 3:16, Romans 10:10 NIV)
We wrap up our 20-day study of Jehoshaphat, exploring how this ancient king's story offers powerful lessons for modern believers facing their own battles. Throughout this journey, we've discovered timeless wisdom about turning immediately to God, preparing ourselves spiritually, and leading with...
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Episode 40 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)
We explore the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18, connecting these spiritual warfare principles with the story of Jehoshaphat and examining how proper spiritual preparation equips us to face life's battles. • Understanding that our struggles are spiritual battles, not just physical or emotional...
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Episode 39 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Oops I Did It Again (2 Chronicles 20:31-37, 21:1 NIV)
We explore King Jehoshaphat's disappointing final chapter and what it teaches us about our own tendency to return to unwise alliances after spiritual victories. Even biblical heroes like Jehoshaphat experienced cycles of obedience and drift, showing God's ongoing redemption for imperfect people.…
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Episode 38 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Valley of Praise (2 Chronicles 20:26-30 NIV)
Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah celebrate their miraculous victory by gathering in the Valley of Beracah (Blessing) to praise God after witnessing their enemies destroy themselves while they simply sang praises. • Three enemy armies came to fight Judah but ended up killing each other while...
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Episode 37 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Singing into Battle (2 Chronicles 20:22-25 NIV)
We explore the supernatural power of praise through the incredible victory story in 2 Chronicles 20, where singing and worship became God's chosen method to defeat overwhelming enemy forces. • God set ambushes against Israel's enemies while His people simply sang praises • When Judah's army…
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Episode 36 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Worship Before Victory (2 Chronicles 20:18-21 NIV)
King Jehoshaphat's story teaches us to praise God for victory before we see it, demonstrated by his radical military strategy of placing worshippers at the front of his army. His example shows us how to respond to adversity with faith-filled worship rather than fear, trusting God's promises even...
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Episode 35 - The Jehoshaphat Series: Standing Firm in Faith (2 Chronicles 20:13-17 NIV)
Ancient biblical wisdom offers profound guidance for our modern battles when Jehoshaphat learns that God will fight for him while he simply stands firm in faith. • God's message to Jehoshaphat: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God's" •…
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About this show
Join us around the table with friends who love the Lord and want to dig deeper into God's Word. Hosted by Cheryl Collins and joined by friends of HealingStrong, this podcast is sure to peak your interest in learning more about God's Word, as discussions on each podcast are short, bite-sized morsels that help to go deeper and enjoy God's Word. Cheryl and the podcast team will discuss stories that build trust in God through the history of Joseph, Esther, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, Nehemiah, the Disciples, and of course, Jesus! These episodes encourage our faith in overcoming our fear, and who doesn't need strengthened faith?
Hosted by
HealingStrong
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