Reflecting the Creator Podcast

Getting Cross-eyed

Have you ever played the game of trying to focus on something close, then focus on something far away, then back again? As a child, I tended to do this when I was bored. From one eye to the other. As adults, we can get caught in the same trap, focusing on this, then that, then back again. Before we know it, we end up with a headache. Are we causing ourselves stress in the moment because we don’t just focus on what is in front of us? Are we so wrapped up in going between our phones, our laptops, the kids’ games, the job, the house, the recovery, our spouse, etc? On and on the list goes. We have so much screaming for our attention that it is difficult to truly focus on anything. Is this the life of a child of God? What if we stopped and simply focused on what God has placed in our hands today and focused on faithfulness? That is what we will discuss today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectingthecreator.substack.com [https://reflectingthecreator.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Unless the Lord Builds the House - Psalm 127:1-2

Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds a house,They who build it labor in vain;Unless the Lord guards a city,The watchman stays awake in vain.It is futile for you to rise up early,To stay up late,To eat the bread of painful labor;This is how He gives to His beloved sleep. This passage reminds us of the authority and power God has over the results in our lives. We can get so wrapped up in the work that we believe the results of our efforts are all up to us. This passage reminds us that the results are up to the Lord. This doesn’t excuse us from hard work or giving our best effort. Read through Proverbs, and that will deteriorate that thinking. But the results themselves are up to the Lord. Today, we examine our lives through this passage in Psalms and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us areas and ways that are carrying the stress of results that are up to the Lord to give. Join me as we dig into Psalm 127:1-2 and ask the Holy Spirit to reprove, correct, train, and make us clearer image bearers of Christ Jesus today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectingthecreator.substack.com [https://reflectingthecreator.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

God's Restores and Calls Us to Our Future

We see the character of God at work in the lives of both Elijah and Peter. When we feel nothing goes right when we do the right thing, or we have failed miserably in our lives, God has shown in His Word. Today we will look to Elijah’s spiritual depression in 1 Kings 19 and how even when Elijah did things right, he still faced opposition. We read of Jesus restoring Peter in John 21. In both cases, God does not leave us in the darkness of our emotions but restores us and calls us back into our calling and divine design for His kingdom and people beyond ourselves. Grab your bible as we did into these two men’s stories and how God met them both where they were. _ Here is the link to the podcast Brian mentioned: Dr Mark Rutland: “The Power of Restoration” [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-restoration/id1511448958?i=1000760000937] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectingthecreator.substack.com [https://reflectingthecreator.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Psalm 84: The Blessing of the Lord on Us

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectingthecreator.substack.com [https://reflectingthecreator.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Sharing Resources: Apps for Bible Study

“Why Bother with the Bible?” Study [https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/series/why-bother-with-the-bible/] The Bible Project [https://bibleproject.com/] Read Scripture App [https://www.readscripture.org/] BONUS APP: Blue Letter Bible [https://www.blueletterbible.org/apps-tools.cfm] I didn’t talk about this app, but this is my favorite Bible study app I have on my phone. I love word studies, and this allows me to dig into the Greek and Hebrew meaning of words, as well as commentaries and concordances. Blue Letter Bible is a great resource! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectingthecreator.substack.com [https://reflectingthecreator.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]