The Sinner and The Saint

#268 - Does God Really Trust You?! Biggest Spiritual Trap - Part Two

Scripture But this beautiful treasure is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (The Voice) The Gist In Part Two of this series, we dive into one of the most spiritually sophisticated heart blocks/traps there is: unworthiness mistaken as humility.  True humility says: "I am not the source." Unworthiness disguised as humility says: "I should not be here at all/" We discuss: why it's difficult to catch, the fears and obstacles that hide underneath it, and what God is actually looking for when it comes to humility and us trusting Him to work in our weakness and insecurities.  Digging Deeper When I say "I'm not worthy of this," am I expressing genuine dependence on God - or am I protecting myself from the risk of stepping forward? Am I confusing the feeling of inadequacy with a word from God? Who told me I was too small for this? If a beloved friend looked at me in the eyes and said, "I trust you with this," would I argue with them or receive it? Why do I argue with God? There is a difference between "God loves me anyway" and "God trusts me with this." Which is harder to hold? What does that reveal?

#267 Does God Really Trust You? - Part One

Scripture Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. 2 Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete. Paul urges those who read and hear his letter to respond to the good news by offering their bodies—eyes, ears, mouths, hands, feet—to God as a “living sacrifice.” Paul knows well enough that sacrifices end in death, not life. But the sacrifice of Jesus changes everything. His resurrection steals life from death and makes it possible for those who trust in Him to become a sacrifice and yet live. But how do we live? We do not live as before, wrapping ourselves in the world and its bankrupt values. We live in constant renewal and transformation of our minds. 3 Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith.  Romans 12:1-3 (The Voice) The Gist Allison drops a doozy of a question on us from her scripture meditation.  Is it easier for you to believe in God's love for you than the trust/faith He has in you?   God's Love for you - is something you receive that flows to us and costs nothing but surrender.  God's trust/faith in you - this means God looks at us, fully knowing us - and says, "I'm sending her." It requires us to agree with His assessment of what He's placed inside us.  Heart Blocks to trusting in His love and trust: Unworthiness mistaken for identity, fear of visibility, past experiences used against us for future promises, and the gap between how we see ourselves and how God sees us.  Digging Deeper Unworthiness as identity — Where have I mistaken the feeling of unworthiness for the truth of who I am, and what would shift in me if I agreed with God’s assessment instead of my own? Fear of visibility — What part of being “seen” feels unsafe to me, and how might God be inviting me to trust that His gaze is protective rather than exposing? Past experiences as barriers — Which past experiences am I still allowing to predict my future with God, and what would it look like to let His promises speak louder than my memories? Gap between God’s view and mine — Where do I most resist believing what God says about me, and what fear sits underneath that resistance? Agreeing with His sending — If God looks at me fully and says, “I’m sending her,” what keeps me from saying yes to His confidence in me?

#266 Celebrating Failure

Scripture Moses (to God): 11 Who am I to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel’s children out of Egypt? Eternal One: 12 Do not fear, Moses. I will be with you every step of the way, and this will be the sign to you that I am the One who has sent you: after you have led them out of Egypt, you will return to this mountain and worship God. Moses: 13 Let’s say I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to rescue you,” and then they reply, “What is His name?” What should I tell them then? Eternal One: 14 I AM WHO I AM. This is what you should tell the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to rescue you.” Exodus 3:11-14 (The Voice) The Gist Today, we discuss the in's and out's of failure and how to learn to celebrate it.  Digging Deeper What if success is not the outcome but the willingness to try? What act of bravery did this failure require that I haven’t acknowledged yet? What did this failure teach me that success never could have? How does celebrating failure loosen the grip of needing to be impressive? What can I genuinely thank this failure for? How might God be using this failure to redirect, refine, or free me? What does this failure remind me about where my identity truly rests?

#265 Church Stereotypes: Pews and Prejudices

We're all one body of Christ, but let's be honest - we've all got different personalities, and some are just plain hilarious.  Today, we have some fun conversations about the different church denominations, their characteristics, stereotypes, and styles.  Every church has a personality, and if you've been in church long enough, you've probably visited a few of these.

#264 Unravel Your Sin and Shame - Part Two

Lessons from the Well Scripture: John 4:4-30 (Message) Please read the story in its entirety; this is only a portion of the story.  26 “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it. 28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves. The Gist: Sometimes, even after reading a story in scripture for what feels like 100 times or more, something new will stand out to us. This is part two of our time in John 4, the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Two things stood out to us like never before: Why did Jesus ask a question he already knew the answer to? And why did John include the detail in verse 28 about the woman leaving her water pot behind? In this week’s podcast, we take a closer look at the second question and consider why John included the detail of “leaving her water pot at the well.”  This isn’t about getting the right answer or finding a solution, but more about being curious and entering into the story to learn more about God and ourselves. When the woman arrived at the well, the most important thing she had in her possession was her water pot, until she met Jesus. Why put this detail in the Scriptures? Today, we consider how this signals a shift in her priorities, shows an urgency and excitement, may symbolize leaving her old life behind, and highlights her transformation from shameful seeker to miraculous messenger.  Digging Deeper: What feels "essential" to me now that may not be essential in God's eyes? Where have I taken on a weight that I was never meant to carry? Where is my "yes" to something causing a quiet "no" to God? What truth do I avoid because it might require change? Where do I feel resistance when I think about deeper surrender?