Daybreak 41

Scripture Referenced: James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Scripture Referenced: 1 John 2:15-17

Scripture Referenced: 1 Peter 1:3-123 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

Scripture Referenced: “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Scripture Referenced: Genesis 12Genesis 15Genesis 18Genesis 21

Scripture Referenced: Psalm 77:11-12But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;    I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.They are constantly in my thoughts.    I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 8:17He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’

Scripture Referenced: Psalms 111-115

The Pursuit of God by A. W. TozerChapter 2 - The Blessedness of Possessing NothingThis New Testament principle of the spiritual life finds its best illustration in the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac. Genesis 22:1-19Abraham’s love for Isaac threatened to usurp God from the throne of Abraham’s heart.God only wanted to remove Isaac from the temple of Abraham’s heart so that He might reign unchallenged there.Abraham was now a man wholly surrendered, a man utterly obedient, a man who possessed nothing. He had everything – but he possessed nothing! There is the spiritual secret. There is the sweet theology of the heart which can be learned only in the school of renunciation.“Things” had now become external to Abraham; his real treasures were now inwardand eternal.

Scripture referenced: Job 42:1-6 Then Job replied to the Lord:2 “I know that you can do all things;    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,    things too wonderful for me to know.4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;    I will question you,    and you shall answer me.’5 My ears had heard of you    but now my eyes have seen you.6 Therefore I despise myself    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Quote Referenced:“Man’s work, no matter how boring, unpleasant, or difficult, is generally regarded as of more value than women’s. “Equal opportunity” nearly always implies that women want to do what men do, not that men want to do what women do, which indicates that prestige is attached to men’s work but not to women’s. Women’s work, particularly the task assigned by Creation exclusively to women, that of bearing and nurturing children, is regarded not only as of lesser value but even degrading and “animal-like.” This is a hideous distortion of the truth, and an attempt to judge women by the criteria of men, to force them into an alien mold, to rob them of the very gifts that make them what they were meant to be. To subject femininity to the criteria of masculinity is as foolish as it would be to judge meat by the standards of potatoes.”Link to Let Me Be Woman by Elisabeth Elliot: https://amzn.to/4iLmSinAs an Amazon Affiliate, I earn a small commission by you using this link to shop.

Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 40:11He tends his flock like a shepherd:He gathers the lambs in his armsand carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Song Referenced: Thunder in the DesertI hear thunder in the desertA gathering cloudHeaven stirring up our witnessAs Your Spirit pours outThese are the days that we've been waiting forFor all of our livesA new beginning's riding on the stormGod open our eyesWhen the raid comesCrashing through our praisesThundering Your greatnessOver our livesYour Holy SpiritUshering a harvestEvery buried promiseComing aliveI hear shouts of joy returningFor every tear that we've sownAll the dreams we thought we buriedReap a heavenly foldThese are the days that we've been praying forWhen all is restoredThe skies are heavy and this thirsty groundIs ready for moreAre you ready for blessingAre you ready to see revivalAre you ready for healingWell get ready, get readyAre you ready for harvestAre you ready to see the futureAre you ready for greaterWell get ready, get readySongwriters: Joel Timothy Houston / Christopher Michael DavenportThunder In The Desert lyrics © Shout Mp Brio, Shout! Music Publishing Australia, Hillsong Mp Songs

Scripture Referenced: So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭26‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Scripture Referenced: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Awaiting the New Body 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 6 “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” 7 So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. 8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 7:1-11 7 “Is not all human life a struggle?    Our lives are like that of a hired hand,2 like a worker who longs for the shade,    like a servant waiting to be paid.3 I, too, have been assigned months of futility,    long and weary nights of misery.4 Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’    But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn.5 My body is covered with maggots and scabs.    My skin breaks open, oozing with pus. 6 “My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle.    They end without hope.7 O God, remember that my life is but a breath,    and I will never again feel happiness.8 You see me now, but not for long.    You will look for me, but I will be gone.9 Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes,    those who die[a] will not come back.10 They are gone forever from their home—    never to be seen again. 11 “I cannot keep from speaking.    I must express my anguish.    My bitter soul must complain.

Scripture Referenced: Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Philippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing. Jeremiah 33:3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 29:12  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Scripture Referenced: Philippians 4:4-14 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. "The secret of joy is Christ in me - not me in a different set of circumstances." -Elisabeth Elliot

Chronological Bible Recap

Join me as I continue the discussion of postpartum struggles for women in the thick of motherhood. Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 66:13 "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you."

Scripture Referenced: Psalm 126 1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,[a]    it was like a dream!2 We were filled with laughter,    and we sang for joy.And the other nations said,    “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!    What joy! 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,    as streams renew the desert.5 Those who plant in tears    will harvest with shouts of joy.6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,    but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Join me as I talk about how my postpartum experience is going with baby #3! Plus, I close this podcast with a few practical tips on how to support women in their postpartum recovery & journey.

Scripture Referenced: Galatians 3:15-19 New International Version The Law and the Promise 15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

Scripture Referenced: John 19:4-11 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Scripture Referenced: John 16:5-15 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.

Scripture Referenced: Luke 11:5-13 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Matthew 21:18-22 18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 45:5-7 ESV 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other,    besides me there is no God;    I equip you, though you do not know me,6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun    and from the west, that there is none besides me;    I am the Lord, and there is no other.7 I form light and create darkness;    I make well-being and create calamity;    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Scripture Referenced: Genesis 3:13-16, Luke 1:11-17, 26-45 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock    and all wild animals!You will crawl on your belly    and you will eat dust    all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity    between you and the woman,    and between your offspring and hers;he will crush your head,    and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;    with painful labor you will give birth to children.Your desire will be for your husband,    and he will rule over you.” Luke 1:11-17, 26-45 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Scripture Referenced: Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven    and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;    it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Joel 2:13-14 Rend your heart    and not your garments.Return to the Lord your God,    for he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love,    and he relents from sending calamity.14 Who knows? He may turn and relent    and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings    for the Lord your God.

Scripture Referenced: Nehemiah 7:73b - 8:1-13 Public Reading of the Law When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, 1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law.  4 The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!”  Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places.  8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.  10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

Scripture Referenced: Haggai 2:5-9 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.

John 8:44 ESV You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁠1 Peter 5:8⁠ ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Revelation 12:9⁠ ESV And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Ephesians 6:12⁠ ESV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Scripture Referenced: Genesis 2:15-25 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam[f] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[h] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones    and flesh of my flesh;she shall be called ‘woman,’    for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Join me on a more casual episode of the podcast as I share what God is teaching me in the midst of meeting new people and exploring new friendships.

Scripture Referenced: Jeremiah 29:10-14 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Scripture Referenced: Jeremiah 18:1-12 At the Potter’s House This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

Scripture Referenced: 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 48:17-19 New International Version 17 This is what the Lord says—    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:“I am the Lord your God,    who teaches you what is best for you,    who directs you in the way you should go.18 If only you had paid attention to my commands,    your peace would have been like a river,    your well-being like the waves of the sea.19 Your descendants would have been like the sand,    your children like its numberless grains;their name would never be blotted out    nor destroyed from before me.”

Thessalonians 5:16-18 New International Version 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Scripture Referenced: Psalm 121 A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from?2 My help comes from the Lord,    the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip—    he who watches over you will not slumber;4 indeed, he who watches over Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you—    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;6 the sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—    he will watch over your life;8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going    both now and forevermore.

Scripture Referenced: Proverbs 31:10-31, 1 Peter 3:1

Scripture Referenced: Isaiah 7:10-25 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.[f] 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.” 18 In that day the Lord will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. 20 In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also. 21 In that day, a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats. 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. 23 In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[g] there will be only briers and thorns. 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25 As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

Scripture Referenced: 2 Chronicles 25:7-9 7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” 9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”

Scriptures referenced: 1 Chronicles 14-16

I'm pregnant! Join me as I talk about God's beautiful sovereignty in the midst of conception and beyond.

Scripture referenced: Psalm 78:11-39 They forgot what he had done,    the wonders he had shown them.12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors    in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.13 He divided the sea and led them through;    he made the water stand up like a wall.14 He guided them with the cloud by day    and with light from the fire all night.15 He split the rocks in the wilderness    and gave them water as abundant as the seas;16 he brought streams out of a rocky crag    and made water flow down like rivers. 17 But they continued to sin against him,    rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.18 They willfully put God to the test    by demanding the food they craved.19 They spoke against God;    they said, “Can God really    spread a table in the wilderness?20 True, he struck the rock,    and water gushed out,    streams flowed abundantly,but can he also give us bread?    Can he supply meat for his people?”21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious;    his fire broke out against Jacob,    and his wrath rose against Israel,22 for they did not believe in God    or trust in his deliverance.23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above    and opened the doors of the heavens;24 he rained down manna for the people to eat,    he gave them the grain of heaven.25 Human beings ate the bread of angels;    he sent them all the food they could eat.26 He let loose the east wind from the heavens    and by his power made the south wind blow.27 He rained meat down on them like dust,    birds like sand on the seashore.28 He made them come down inside their camp,    all around their tents.29 They ate till they were gorged—    he had given them what they craved.30 But before they turned from what they craved,    even while the food was still in their mouths,31 God’s anger rose against them;    he put to death the sturdiest among them,    cutting down the young men of Israel. 32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;    in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.33 So he ended their days in futility    and their years in terror.34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;    they eagerly turned to him again.35 They remembered that God was their Rock,    that God Most High was their Redeemer.36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,    lying to him with their tongues;37 their hearts were not loyal to him,    they were not faithful to his covenant.38 Yet he was merciful;    he forgave their iniquities    and did not destroy them.Time after time he restrained his anger    and did not stir up his full wrath.39 He remembered that they were but flesh,    a passing breeze that does not return.

Scripture Referenced: Psalm 30:8-12 8 To you, Lord, I called;    to the Lord I cried for mercy:9 “What is gained if I am silenced,    if I go down to the pit?Will the dust praise you?    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;    Lord, be my help.” 11 You turned my wailing into dancing;    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

In this podcast, I’m talking all about the challenges of building adult friendships and relationships. This episode is not talking about people you’ve known for years but rather meeting new people as adults and building relationships.Whether you’re a people pleaser or don’t care what others think, I think you might find some value in this episode and how we can all be better at relationship building. God is in the midst of relationships, and our need for community is apparent in His word. Scripture Referenced: Psalm 56 For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.” 1 O God, have mercy on me,    for people are hounding me.    My foes attack me all day long.2 I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,    and many are boldly attacking me.3 But when I am afraid,    I will put my trust in you.4 I praise God for what he has promised.    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?    What can mere mortals do to me? 5 They are always twisting what I say;    they spend their days plotting to harm me.6 They come together to spy on me—    watching my every step, eager to kill me.7 Don’t let them get away with their wickedness;    in your anger, O God, bring them down. 8 You keep track of all my sorrows.[b]    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.    You have recorded each one in your book. 9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.    This I know: God is on my side!10 I praise God for what he has promised;    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?    What can mere mortals do to me? 12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,    and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.13 For you have rescued me from death;    you have kept my feet from slipping.So now I can walk in your presence, O God,    in your life-giving light.