Shows
Revolution Church - Pastor Zak White REVYOURLIFEShoot the Wolves - Pastor Eric DykstraOur children are like sheep—naive, curious, and easily led astray. But God has called us to be shepherds, leading them toward truth. Watch this powerful message from Pastor Eric Dykstra to learn how to protect your family and strengthen their faith in a hostile world.
2025-03-1630 min
Revolution Church - Pastor Zak White REVYOURLIFEShoot the Wolves - Pastor Eric Dykstra Our children are like sheep—naive, curious, and easily led astray. But God has called us to be shepherds, leading them toward truth. Watch this powerful message from Pastor Eric Dykstra to learn how to protect your family and strengthen their faith in a hostile world.
2025-03-1630 min
Earned Fun AverageEpisode 68 - Uncle SamBatting clean up for The Show Before The Show is Sam Dykstra. Sam is a reporter for MLB Pipeline and MiLB and helps ranks minor league prospects. We dove into his ranking process and talk some of the current big names to watch for in the minor leagues.We discuss The Show Before The Show podcast MiLB he hosts with Tyler Maun, Ben Hill and Josh Jackson. Sam also discusses his Proffitt & Loss.Make sure you check out the podcast and check out Sam online.Sam Dykstra - Twitter: https...
2023-07-0539 min
Strength for TodayS2E20-God's strength is yoursThis is the final episode of 2022. What a journey it has been. We will look at several scriptures from Ezekiel that I believe represent and speak to what God is doing today in and through His sons and daughters. I will weave teaching along with prophetic encouragement and blessing into this episode. My goal in this last episode is to speak life into your spirit that would bring hope and faith into your heart.
I wanted to close the year by listening to what the Lord wanted me to share and release it to you in a way tha...
2022-11-2959 minStrength for TodayS2E19-God forms our heart to reflect HisWe will look at several images in the Old Testament that will help us see how God shapes our heart. God can deposit so much into us when we keep our heart moldable and we remain open to hear His wisdom. I have found no better position to be in than that of being dependent on God's provision.
I believe this episode will minister to your spirit. I'll also take some time this episode to personally listen to the Lord and encourage you through what I hear the Father sharing for you. One of my favorite aspects of how...
2022-11-2246 minStrength for TodayS2E18-Turning our defeat into victoryIt's amazing how God will take our defeats in life and work His character into us if we give Him that place in our heart. It will be difficult, but well worth it. Today we'll look at an incredible example of this in the life of Solomon and the Israelites.
There are a lot of times where we will view our defeats in a negative light forgetting how God can lead us and counsel us into a place of wholeness and healing. When we are willing to demonstrate our humility the Lord can shape our heart and streng...
2022-11-1524 minStrength for TodayS2E17-Why share our stories?Today we'll look at why sharing our stories is so powerful. I'll share some of my personal stories that will help us understand the four levels of our brain. There is a reason that Jesus told stories and used parables to help people understand the truth He was bringing forward. What happens when we share our stories?
We gain new perspective, we are strengthened, we understand ourselves more, we feel connected with others, we build trust in our relationships. One of the reasons we read scripture is that it gives us so many different examples to show us what i...
2022-11-0831 minStrength for TodayS2E16-God's design of our brainToday we get to look at how incredible our brain is. God designed our brain in a very relational way. Once we come to understand how it operates and processes pain we'll discover just how it impacts our ability to change/grow. We'll look at both the right and left hemisphere to see how they function. The right hemisphere which is rooted in relationship is responsible for the formation and strength of our identity and character.
I believe that by understanding our brain we'll develop a better approach for our own growth and maturity. This episode will inform yo...
2022-11-0144 minStrength for TodayS2E15-Becoming who we see in the mirrorToday we are talking about building a lifestyle of encountering God in our day to day life. God always intended to walk in relationship with us, however we make choices that go against God's word and ways. We are hurt and wounded by others yet we have a God who loves us and is always available to heal us and restore us.
We are going to look at several examples of individuals in the Bible that took ownership of their actions in times of their mistakes and sin. We will look at David, Isaiah, James, and the prodig...
2022-10-2549 minStrength for TodayS2E14-Do you see opportunity to grow in hardship?Would you say you are a person that welcomes hardship and trials? How about finding joy in our hardship? Many of us would probably say we don't enjoy having to go through hard things, however as we mature and grow we can develop the mindset to see the opportunity of hardship as a way to grow and become stronger.
If you look into what really empowers growth, maturity, and transformation is it when we are going through hardship. We are shaped by how we learn to navigate these situations and as we look to the Lord for guidan...
2022-10-1839 minStrength for TodayS2E13-Developing a heart for changeToday we're going to jumping into Psalm 32 and looking at what David has to say about bringing our heart before God and bearing our brokenness and pain. We all long for change, transformation, growth, and maturity in our lives and this powerful Psalm has a lot to say about how we prepare our heart for the Lord to change us. This week's episode is going to lead us into our topic next week where we'll look at how our brain was designed to help us change. This Psalm will set the stage for how God has made us and how w...
2022-10-1122 minStrength for TodayS2E12-God's delight in youToday you'll discover how much God delights in you. I'm going to share a little devotional with you that I'll read over you and encourage you to catch God's heart in it for you. The devotional is called, "The Importance of joy." It's not something you'll have to take notes on but just want you to listen how God would speak this over you and notice what it stirs in your heart.
I'll also share a few scriptures from John around God's desire for you to personally experience His joy. I'll share a personal time in my life wh...
2022-10-0426 minStrength for TodayS2E11-Understanding our emotionsToday we will be looking at God's wisdom behind our emotions. I know for me I haven't understood or been aware of the purpose of our big emotions that can often leave us stuck. Today we'll look at what I've come to know as the big six emotions and their purposes. Those emotions are Shame, Anger, Despair, Sadness, Anxiety/Fear, Disgust. I think you'll find these helpful.
We'll also look at another great passage from Provers that teaches us the importance of stopping to listen and seek for God's wisdom. I'm sure you might be like me and you...
2022-09-2733 minStrength for TodayS2E10-The Wonderful Way of WisdomToday we get to talk about wisdom, one of my favorite aspects of who God is. I've come to depend on God's wisdom daily and discovered a long time ago that if we're open to seeking His wisdom and receiving it, then He establishes us on a firm foundation that is hard to be shaken. I'll give you a lot of practical tools and daily exercises that can help you experience the presence of God.
We'll cover three acrostics that you'll be able to recall and implement rather easily. Those three acrostics are B.E.S.T, C.A.K...
2022-09-2045 minStrength for TodayS2E9-Living in Relational ModeToday we'll be looking at the strength we get from examples in our lives. It's important we have positive role models in our lives, because they will be essential to forming our identity and character. so who do you have in your life as an example? We'll look at Philippians 2 where Paul talked about the example of Christ and how that is always our greatest example we can have.
We'll also look at how our emotional and spiritual capacity is impacted by the examples in our lives. We all have a certain capacity, the encouraging thing is how Jesus...
2022-09-1347 minStrength for TodayS2E8-Anchoring ourselves to hopeIt's really amazing when we realize how amazing the New Covenant promises are for us as followers of Jesus. We are learning to live in the heart of God each day and what it's like to be led by His Spirit each day. It can be challenging to know what's it's like to be in the presence of God however when we're intentional about making space in our lives we begin to understand just how thrilled He is to be with us and just how much He wants to share with us.
We have an amazing hope that...
2022-09-0635 min
Revolution Church - Pastor Zak White REVYOURLIFEHeart for the Lost - Eric DykstraIt's time to move our families FORWARD, together. In this new season, Pastor Eric Dykstra will encourage us to build habits that will face us forward and move us forward in all areas of life. Come see what wisdom God's Word gives our families for these modern times.
2022-09-0438 min
Revolution Church - Pastor Zak White REVYOURLIFEHeart for the Lost - Eric Dykstra It's time to move our families FORWARD, together. In this new season, Pastor Eric Dykstra will encourage us to build habits that will face us forward and move us forward in all areas of life. Come see what wisdom God's Word gives our families for these modern times.
2022-09-0438 minStrength for TodayS2E7-Strength from knowing, seeing, and hearing from JesusIt is one thing to just know about Jesus however it's amazing the sense of strength that comes by being with Jesus and noticing how He empowers you. We'll start off this episode with a great little exercise of connecting with Jesus. If you've ever found yourself at a place in your life where you feel like you can't get your bearings or find your place.
I'm sure you might be able to relate to the prodigal son at some point in your life, but we'll spend a little time thinking what it feels like when we're comin...
2022-08-3042 minStrength for TodayS2E6-Joy, A Foundation to help you endureWhat do you think about when you think about what brings stability into our life? There are foundations that are crucial to help us endure the hardships of life. The Bible talks a lot about joy and the many benefits it provides in our life. If you're like me I'm sure at times you would have a hard time defining what joy really is let alone what it feels like.
In this episode we will look at a few more of joys benefits and the strength it provides for us. I hope you are beginning to see how imp...
2022-08-1839 minStrength for TodayS2E5-Quieting our heart to receive joyToday we'll start with an exercise that will help us quiet our heart and focus on the joy of Jesus being with us. I believe this beginning exercise will help you connect with God's heart. This is a practical tool that you can use each day rooted in appreciating the person and character of Jesus.
I'll also read a few scriptures over you in regards to joy as a way of letting God's word soak over our heart. This exercise will help you connect with God and not just hear the information of what God says about joy. ...
2022-08-1634 minStrength for TodayS1E4-Defining Joy and seeing it's benefitsToday we'll look at Proverbs 1 and glean some incredible truths about wisdom. When we position our heart to receive God's wisdom there will come , forth a joy in our spirit. We must learn how to seek and draw upon the Lord's wisdom because it will provide a source of strength in our life.
I'll also share a few brief passages from a book called Joy Starts Here that will help us understand the benefits of joy in our life. It's incredible to realize what joy can do on so many levels. We'll also look at defining joy properl...
2022-08-1127 minStrength for TodayS2E3-Discontent with the oldIf you are like me there have probably been times in your life where you have felt stuck and unable to move forward in your life. There have been many times in my life where I've had a desire to change on some level and haven't been able to step into that change quickly. One thing I've learned about the Lord is that He's very interested in our process of transformation. We can get stuck on the result or outcome of our desired transformation, but when we learn to be in tune with the Lord and what He is doi...
2022-08-0933 minStrength for TodayS2E2-The importance of joyToday I'll share two illustrations of how important joy is as a foundation for our strength. This season we are going to be looking at what joy is and how we can grow in joy, be strengthened in joy, and how central it is to the forming of our character and identity. I believe these images/illustrations will give you some great encouragement and understanding in how God shapes us and forms us.
The reality of joy in our walk with the Lord will help us understand that so much of what God is doing in the world...
2022-08-0431 minStrength for TodayS2E1-A great adventureWelcome to season two of Strength for Today. In this episode I'll briefly recap a bit of our journey together from season 1 and cast some vision for where we will be going in season 2. I'm excited what the Lord has put on my heart and believe you'll find it helpful, practical, and inspired.
I'll share 4 words the Lord spoke to me consistently over the course of the summer that will encapsulate what you'll experience this season. Much of this season will be grounded in two core elements. Those two elements are God's love and joy. I'll be unpacking...
2022-08-0229 min
Strength for TodayS1E70-Season 1 recap and blessingToday is the end of season 1. I recap all the places we have been and what we have covered. When I recalled all the ground we have covered I was amazed at how faithful God was to His original promise He had made with me as I stepped out and launched this YouTube channel and podcast by on January 3rd. I'm grateful for the experience of putting all the content together, learning the tech side of it all, and the process and flow I was able to establish with the Lord.
We covered topics related to developing intima...
2022-06-1030 minStrength for TodayS1E69-Distinctions between love/joy bonds and fear bonds part 2oday is the second part of the distinction between love/joy bonds and fear bonds. I'll give you the last 4 characteristics and what it looks like and feels like to be motivated by either joy or fear.
I'll close this episode by sharing a few more resources. One of the resources is that I'll share 5 characteristics that will help you thrive from Life Model Works and a few great quotes from John Lynch who is head of True Face Ministries. I'll pray a prayer of blessing over your relationships as well to finish out the week.
2022-06-1025 minStrength for TodayS1E68-Distinctions between love/joy bonds and fear bonds part 1Today we are looking at the distinction between the motivation of fear and joy in our relationships. we have to understand that God desire and goal for us is to live in safe secure connection with him. when we read and look through scripture we have to evaluate the type of relationship that we see between God and his people. what motivates Us in pursuing relationships is going to be what determines the fruit and quality of our relationships.
Ill give you four distinctions between love/joy bonds and fears bonds. the goal in understanding and evaluating our r...
2022-06-1013 minStrength for TodayS1E67-Understanding the motivation of our relationshipsWe are going to look at what is motivating our relationships. we know that relationships can be very challenging and complex. we have all had different experience in our relationships with each other and also and how we relate with God. today's episode will help us understand relationships and the quality of connection we experience in those relationships.
There are two aspects of what really motivate our relationships with each other and with God. Those two aspects are either rooted in fear or love and joy.
We see that the things that hinder our joy in...
2022-06-1024 minStrength for TodayS1E66-The obstacles that keep us from being protectorsToday we will look at the things that keep us from becoming a protector. I will Define two types of individuals that we will label a predator and a possum. I will break down what each of these is like and what it is like them to act like and difficult and overwhelming circumstances. I will give you six big emotions that we often get stuck in, that serve as obstacles in terms of us staying relational. I
If we are trying to become protectors like we see Jesus to be, then we have to have an a...
2022-06-1033 minStrength for TodayS1E65-Becoming a protector of othersLast episode we looked at what happens in our life when we follow Jesus closely. We notice that we become like Him. We've also looked at recently Jesus is a good shepherd and that a shepherd protects His sheep. If this is what Jesus does then we become protectors of other people as well.
We'll look at what a protector is and some characteristics that are modeled in their life. A share an example from nature in how young elephants need to be kept in check as they learn to control their power and strength. We also look at ho...
2022-06-1026 minStrength for TodayS1E64-The joy of being foundOne aspect I love about the lord Lord is the passion and joy He has to find us and pursue us when we're lost. If you've ever been lost you really appreciate those who come and look for you.
It's important we believe and know how much God loves us. We see in Luke 15 and John 15 how much He does by coming to find the lost and celebrating when His children come to Him.
We learn to trust He is good.
I'll share about 3 aspects we read about in scripture on the:
good she...
2022-06-1022 minStrength for TodayS163-God will lead you by His goodnessOne of the great characteristics of John's gospel is how He captured the incredible I AM statements that Jesus made. These statements reveal so much about who Jesus was and what He was about. Today we look at John 10, "I am the good shepherd." We'll break down this incredible passage and look at all the incredible aspects it shows us and how you can be encouraged.
We'll cover why Jesus being a shepherd is important, how it shows us He cares for us and leads us. We'll also see that there are bad shepherds and hirlings we need to w...
2022-06-0343 minStrength for TodayS1E62-The power of being connectedOne thing I've always admired about the life of Jesus was how He was always able to stay connected to His Father. From that place of connection flowed His vision, skills, heart, and direction for His life. He set such an incredible example for us to follow and really demonstrated how the Father is the source of all we do and accomplish.
People will often define the success of a life by what they are able to accomplish which is often measured by results and performance. We find out in the Bible that that isn't how God measur...
2022-06-0121 minStrength for TodayS1E61-The Power of Being KnownThere is something powerful in being known by another person. At our core the deepest desire we have is to be seen and known by someone. As I've read through the gospels I'm amazed at how Jesus was so intentional about knowing people and there is an element in each interaction He had where Jesus showed He knew them personally.
We see that demonstrated in Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well. When we are known it unlocks powerful things within us. We'll see what the rivers of living water that Jesus offered the woman at the wel...
2022-05-3028 minStrength for TodayS1E60-God's word and promises grow in God's kingdomToday we'll look at how powerful God's words and promises are in His kingdom. When God speaks, His words always accomplish what they were intended for. We can also be assured that what is in the seed of God's word will produce what's inside that seed. It's the same with a natural seed, it'll produce what's inside of it.
When our heart is filled by God's we receive the peace of God's kingdom, which cannot be accessed any other way in this world. The peace of God comes when we align our lifestyle with His word. Have you ever b...
2022-05-2722 minStrength for TodayS1E59-The mercy of God's KingdomIf you have ever been impacted by someone extending mercy to you then you'll want to listen to this episode. We'll look at Isaiah 54 which is all about the mercy of God on His people. We know that mercy has the ability to release our potential within ourselves. This episode will also show the goodness and gentleness of the Lord in His character toward us.
One of the keys to experiencing the mercy of God is to keep our hearts open and humble to him and as we do that, we'll come to know how generous the Lord i...
2022-05-2524 minStrength for TodayS1E58-The Image and meaning of the suffering servant (Jesus)One of the aspects about Scripture that always amaze me are the prophetic passages that point us toward Jesus. Today we look at Isaiah 53, one of the most prophetic pictures we have of the nature of Jesus the person. This passage gives us a different picture then what most people where expecting in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. This passage tells us that Jesus would suffer in the hands of humanity in order to bring us peace and reconcile us back to our rightful relationship with God.
It's amazing that Isaiah had this image from the Lord al...
2022-05-2332 minStrength for TodayS1E57-4 key values of God's kingdomToday I'll share 4 key values of God's kingdom. These four values were brought to my attention through a great online E-Course called "What every believer should know about the life of Jesus" and that can be found on Deeper Walk International's website under the online learning tab. These are great summaries of what the life of Jesus was all about and how as followers of Jesus these 4 values are important markers of our walk in life.
The four values we'll cover are
1. Salvation
2. Stewardship
3. Spirituality
4. Servant Love
Take a listen...
2022-05-1338 minStrength for TodayS1E56-How God's kingdom bings balance and stabilityOne of God's greatest desires is for us to have balance and stability in our lives. We have seen how important it is to stay focused on God's kingdom and live within it. When we don't live within God's kingdom or understand it, we compromise living under the provision, favor, and grace that God offers. Today I'm going to share a couple different resources with you that give you specific kingdom values and when we are living within these values we'll experience more of God's presence and direction in our lives.
The two books I'll reference are, "The Pr...
2022-05-1129 minStrength for TodayS1E55-A distinction between two opposing kingdomsHave you ever gotten distracted while doing something? If you're like me, there are many times I can recall being distracted when I was trying to get something done. It takes intentional effort and focus to stay focused and clear on the task at hand.
I'll begin this episode by sharing an image that the Lord shared with me before I started recording this episode. I believe this image and what God shared about it will set the tone and direction of where we are headed this week.
In this episode I'll share two examples from th...
2022-05-0928 minStrength for TodayS1E54-Learning to perceive God's kingdom through our spiritKey Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 2 (ESV)
Matthew 11:25-30 (ESV & Message)
2022-05-0636 minStrength for TodayS1E53-Washing ourself with God's wordIn this episode I'm going to emphasize the importance of God's word to His kingdom. I've come to realize that on days when I feel discouraged, despair, anger, fear and other emotions that can have a negative impact on me I must get into HIs word and listen for what He wants to share with me. I've noticed that HIs word has power and authority to strengthen me.
I'm always amazed at how His word minsters to me and brings me back to center feeling stable and encouraged. God's kingdom was created through His word and when we yie...
2022-05-0437 minStrength for TodayS1E52-Developing a kingdom lifestyleThe Old Testament is full of individuals that were operating under the government of God's kingdom. It's amazing that even before Jesus came into the world, God's spirit was leading people and He was revealing the values and culture of His kingdom. We can be encouraged through the examples in the Old Testament that God loves His people.
It's important to know and experience His kingdom through reflection and seeking after it. We know that in order to become good or skilled in something we have to be willing to learn about it and to practice what we are...
2022-05-0226 minStrength for TodayS1E51-God's kingdom changes our thinkingKey Scriptures:
Romans 12:1-3
2 Corinthians 10:4-7
2022-04-2928 minStrength for TodayS1E50-Strength from the mission and identity of JesusToday we will look at Luke 4 and see how it is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. When we look into the mission, vision, and lifestyle of Jesus in Luke 4 we see many aspects of how Jesus accomplished everything the Father set out for Him to do. We get a look at many of the kingdom values and principles from the life of Jesus. We'll also look at how Jesus was strengthened in the Spirit as He was tempted in the desert. We realize that the kingdom of God is much more accessible that we realize or imagine.
We can stay...
2022-04-2723 minStrength for TodayS1E49-Looking ahead to what is comingIn this episode we'll look at one my favorite passages that points us toward the person of Jesus and what He would come into the world to reveal and accomplish. This passage reveals the mission, identity, and lifestyle that Jesus would live. It's amazing that this was revealed to Isaiah 700 years before Jesus would ever set foot in the world. It gives us hope and we can be assured that Jesus has and is still accomplishing these things in the world today. This passage reveals the heart of God for His people as His desire is to se His children...
2022-04-2528 minStrength for TodayS1E48-The Kingdom of heaven is like...In this episode we'll look at the descriptions of God's kingdom that Jesus teaches about. A primary message we hear from Jesus from His time on earth was, "repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is here." So many times we think the kingdom of God is a futuristic kingdom we'll only experience after we die.
Jesus' life made it very clear that God's kingdom is present and we are called to live in and bring that kingdom into the world around us. I'll cover 7 of Jesus' teachings from the gospel of Matthew and Mark. These scriptures give us great...
2022-04-2241 minStrength for TodayS1E47-Seeing and living from God's KingdomIn this episode I'll give you a great visual that will help you comprehend God's Kingdom. This illustration will help you understand the structure, values, and principles of God's kingdom. Jesus brought His Father's kingdom into the light and continues to do that today. You and I can access that kingdom in the present. It doesn't just have benefits for us int the future, it has so many wonderful benefits in our every day life.
We just have to learn to see it, believe in it, and operate according to its values and principles. When we fully align our...
2022-04-2034 minStrength for TodayS1E46-My experience of God's KingdomIn this episode I'll share with you about the time in my life where I first started understanding and seeing the Kingdom of God. This was a term that I had heard a lot in my life and saw in scripture but never really experienced in my own life. I'll share several examples from my life when I was newly married and when we took a big step of faith.
We saw God move in incredible ways as we started understanding God's Kingdom and living our lives from its values and principles. The Kingdom of God was revealed...
2022-04-1834 minStrength for TodayS1E45-Aligning ourselves in the right kingdomThe four gospels talk a lot about the kingdom of God, but it's really a subject that doesn't get talked about or taught on all that much. Would you say you have a good understanding of what the kingdom of God is and how it operates? I know for me, it wasn't until I was out of college and on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes that I had one of my supervisors really break down the kingdom of God for me that it really started to impact my life and change the direction of my life and how...
2022-04-1526 minStrength for TodayS1E51-God's kingdom changes our thinkingKey Scriptures: Romans 12:1-3 2 Corinthians 10:4-7
2022-04-1428 minStrength for TodayS1E44-An introduction to God's KingdomHave you ever been lost somewhere with no map or GPS? If you have you know it can be frightening and frustrating. They are helpful tools that can help us find where we are and where we need to go. Life can be overwhelming as well if we don't understand our world and have the proper world view.
In today's episode we will look at the origins of our world through the lens of what God shares with us in His word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Lord doesn't want us to be lost and ove...
2022-04-1325 minStrength for TodayS1E43-God See's you and validates youIn this episode I want to take a moment to pause and affirm what you might be feeling, going though, and experiencing in your life. We all want to be seen and validated, especially in the times that are challenging and difficult. I felt compassion and mercy rise up in my heart as before I started recording this episode and was led to take a pause to speak to your heart and spirit.
Be encouraged that the Lord sees you and affirms who you are and how you are feeling today. He is near. I'll also share a little bi...
2022-04-1127 minStrength for TodayS1E42-Appreciating beautyIn this episode we'll look into the life of the disciple John. John wrote the gospel of John, 1-3 John, and Revelation. We'll look at the transformation we see in John's life from early on through his maturing. He goes from being called one of the "sons of thunder" to John the beloved. John expressed the Father heart of God so beautifully.
John's life is an example to us of how to "lean into" the heart of God and experience His love in profound ways. We'll look into the meaning and significance of the book of Revelation as wel...
2022-04-0823 minStrength for TodayS1E41-You are lovedToday we practice reflection and biblical meditation. I'll read an excerpt from one of my favorite devotionals by Graham Cooke called "Becoming the Beloved." This has 6 incredible soaking readings. What do I mean by soaking? Simply listening with our heart and receiving in our spirit directly from the Lord. We listen to how God is saying it to us and for His heart in it and how He wants us to feel .
The title of the excerpt is "The Law of Christ within you". My hope is that you'll listen to it several times as if it's being spoke...
2022-04-0619 minStrength for TodayS1E40-Strength in how God sees usToday we practice reflection and biblical meditation. I'll read an excerpt from one of my favorite devotionals by Graham Cooke called "Becoming the Beloved." This has 6 incredible soaking readings. What do I mean by soaking? Simply listening with our heart and receiving in our spirit directly from the Lord. We listen to how God is saying it to us and for His heart in it and how He wants us to feel .
The title of the excerpt is "Seeing what God Sees". My hope is that you'll listen to it several times as if it's being spoken over you fr...
2022-04-0425 minStrength for TodayS1BE4-The Practice of Biblical MeditationIn this episode I'll share one of my favorite resources that has changed my heart in profound ways. I'll share a breakdown of what biblical meditation is and give some practical insights on how we engage in this process to aid in our transformation. The resource I'll be sharing from is called, "Becoming the Beloved" by Graham Cooke. This is the first part in a series of soaking sessions Graham does. It contains a book of 6 soaking devotions that you can work through and listen to. It comes with a cd as well you can listen to. and really emphasi...
2022-04-0218 minStrength for TodayS1E39-The power of focus and reflectionBeing present to our process of our transformation is key. We often want our transformation to be quick and immediate, when God has a very intentional way of changing us according to His time frame. One of the keys that I've learned is to slow down and become aware of all that God is doing in us and around us.
We'll look at the art of biblical mediation and the power it has to change the culture and posture of our heart. When our heart changes it becomes receptive to the Lord's voice and direction. I'll also give you...
2022-04-0135 min2022-03-3035 min2022-03-2827 minStrength for TodayS1E36-Keep Pressing OnI'm sure we all know that life can be challenging and there will come set backs. Today we'll talk about the ability to keep moving forward or what we might call enduring. God's heart is for us to become like Him in every area of our life, but we know there will come failures and hardships because we live in a fallen world. We can be thankful for the work of Jesus and who He is us.
Paul gives us hope as he talks about the greatest aspect of his life is now knowing Jesus and what knowin...
2022-03-2539 minStrength for TodayS1E35-God's intention for our formationWhen we look at the way God designed us there is a natural way of how He works in us that could be much easier and more accessible than we even realize. I'll share a great illustration from David Takle's book, "Forming a work of grace," on how he contrasts our spiritual formation between sailing and rowing. Much of our time has been spent in our own effort to try and earn God's love and salvation, when in reality we are already accepted through the work of Jesus.
Paul spends a lot of time communicating the difference betwee...
2022-03-2328 minStrength for TodayS1E34-Valuing the ability to endureIt's important to value endurance. Strength from the Lord enables us to endure hard things. When we look at the life of Paul we see that he's not shy to let us know about all the things he had to suffer and endure in order to spread the good news of the gospel. We often want to be removed or rescued from hardship however hardship can provide a significant opportunity for growth and dependence in the Lord.
Paul teaches us that our weakness is a prime opportunity for the Lord to show His strength. I'll share more from my...
2022-03-2131 minStrength for TodayS1E33-The healing journeyIn this episode I share about my own healing journey. I'll share how the Lord has connected parts of my past with my present through some of the heart healing networks I've been a part of. Everyone of our healing journeys is different, because we all have different experiences. The Lord loves to bring the healing and restoration that we desire, but it often comes in a very different and unexpected way that only the Lord can accomplish.
The Lord loves to interact with us in our pain and brokenness. The word of God tells us that He is our...
2022-03-1833 minStrength for TodayS1E32-God's strength coming from withinToday we look at two of my favorite prayers that Paul prayed for all believers. There are so many treasures in these passages that I often spend extended time in them just gleaning from the depth of wisdom and love there is in them. We must understand that God's strength is formed from within our spirit as we spend time in His presence.
When we meditate on all that God is we are naturally changed from within. When Paul prayed that the eyes of our heart be opened and for all wisdom and revelation he knew it would...
2022-03-1620 minStrength for TodayS1E31-The Father's heart for youToday we look at all we have access to in the person of Jesus. We look again at what Paul wrote and desired for all people in terms of experiencing the riches of Jesus, just as he did. We'll look at what Paul and John say about the goodness of Jesus and how it empowers us to live into the fullness of all that God has for us.
We can trust God that we are accepted and adopted as sons/daughters. It is through being a much loved child and putting our faith in Jesus that we begin to...
2022-03-1425 minStrength for TodayS1E30-Moving beyond our pastToday we look at a lot of experiences and circumstances that made the man we know as Paul in scripture. I've alway been fascinated by what developed the people we read about in scripture and the circumstances around their life that made them into who they were. When Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he wasn't just magically transformed all at once.
Paul would have a lot of experiences that would develop his message to the world. Even though he had a past of persecuting christians, Paul was able to develop his new identity in Christ...
2022-03-1140 minStrength for TodayS1E29-Do you believe you've been made new?A big part of our Christian life is learning to live into the new creation that God has made us. We are always progressing and discovering the wonders and riches of who God is in us and what He forms us into, which is His image. It is His joy to walk with you and does it in a way that will honor and validate you.
We'll look at Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4 of Paul's writings to see what He says about living into the new creation we are in Christ. We'll look at the Greek meaning of each w...
2022-03-0938 minStrength for TodayS1E28-Looking deeper at our process of transformationIf you've walked with the Lord for sometime or even if you're just starting I'm sure you've realized that our transformation doesn't just happen in one big moment. Our transformation is a progressive process that involves more than our own self effort.
I'll share different parts of our transformation process through a great resource I read from David Takle called "Transformation by design." I'll use this resource mixed in with personal experiences and in correlation with the life of the apostle Paul. We'll also take a deeper dive into the actual life and person of Paul and make the...
2022-03-0738 minStrength for TodayS1 Bonus Episode 3-Scripture prayer of declaration over youn this episode I'll show you a way that I have interacted with scripture and learned how to pray it over myself and others! I'll take a lot of Paul's main ideas from all his letters and read them over you, as well as craft them into a prayer of blessing for you. I encourage you to just listen and soak in them the first several times you hear them, them begin to process them with the Lord and take notice of which ones really seem to minister to you and seem critical for this season in your life.
...
2022-03-0528 minStrength for TodayS1E27-The world isn't the same without youIn this episode we'll look at an overview of Paul's key statements through his writings in preparation of the bonus episode that will be released tomorrow in which I'll show you a way of reading scripture over yourself and praying it over yourself. It's one thing to read scripture and another to know God's heart behind it and the way He would say it to us.
Scripture is meant to give us direction and guidance in our life but that's not the only thing it was created to do. It also helps us feel connected to God throu...
2022-03-0432 minStrength for TodayS1E26-The power of one encounter with JesusIn this episode we'll look at the life of Paul and how his life was impacted by Stephen and the disciples despite the fact that he was persecuted the early believers. The life of Paul should give us a new strength as we see the power of one encounter with Jesus can completely turn our life around.
I share one of my favorite stories of impact of a senior athlete in high school that courageously shared her faith in a group setting, that ended up leading a freshman athlete to Christ and would become an influential leader for...
2022-03-0231 minStrength for TodayS1E25-The chain reaction of godlinessIn this episode we'll look at the life of Stephen who was the 1st martyr of the early church in the book of Acts. Stephen was a person that represented strength, who didn't back down when his life was threatened. We can be encouraged that our commitment to live godly lives will be a testimony to those around us. It's important that we practice the art of celebrating the good in lives.
I share about practice the FCA staff I was on had in terms of celebrating victories, and always noticed that these times created momentum and creativi...
2022-02-2832 minStrength for TodayS1E24-We're not given everything up frontHave you ever had an experience or situation in your life you wish you could go back and erase? I believe we all probably have made choices we are not proud of and wish we could have a re-do or hit the reset button. Let me ask you this though, would you be the person you are today if you hadn't walked through season of your life?
Difficult situations can either make or break us. God loves to walk through these seasons with us and if we're humble and allow Him to we often find that we can...
2022-02-2527 minStrength for TodayS1E23-Who you've become and are becomingWhen we are born we don't have a fully formed identity. God has given us an identity, but throughout our lives we are always discovering it and living into it. Difficult situations are often the fertile ground where we can discover more of our identity and learn to establish our identity in all circumstances.
We'll look at the instance right after Peter revealed who Jesus was, He falls back into his old identity and Jesus speaks to the devil who was influencing Peter when Jesus said He must suffer and be crucified. Peter says this will Never be a...
2022-02-2326 minStrength for TodayS1E22-Given a new nameWe'll look into the life of Peter in this episode. Have you ever experienced God in a powerful and tangible way? If you have, it was from the place of your spirit. Jesus directly asked Peter, who do you say that I am? Jesus said the answer that Perter gave was revealed through the spirit and not from the flesh.
When Peter had this experience He was given a new name from Jesus. His name was Simon before answering this question, and as we have experienced, we discover our new identity that Christ has given us through what H...
2022-02-2124 minStrength for TodayS1E21-Reveal and speak your identityTrue Identity is expressed through meekness which is defined as power under control. When we discover our true identity it empowers us to live in confidence and trust in God. We look at a scene from the movie "Gladiator" where Maximus reveals his true identity to the emperor and strikes fear into his being. This is a great example what the victory of Jesus accomplished over the devil when He rose from the dead. We must be confident in who He is in us, and reveal our true identity to the enemy.
I share a way of discover...
2022-02-1834 minStrength for TodayS1E20-The glory and authority of Jesus' identityIn this episode we look at the 7 "I AM" statements that Jesus makes in the gospel of John. I encourage you to spend a day in the coming week focusing your attention on one of these statements and asking Jesus how He wants to reveal Himself through that I AM statement to you!
We'll also look at the story on the Mount of transfiguration where Jesus reveals His glory and majesty to 3 of His disciples! This is a prime of example of how Jesus often interacts with us, when we need to know more of who He is. Wh...
2022-02-1622 minStrength for TodayS1E19-The strength of "I AM"Do you desire to know God at a deeper level? The Bible is full of examples of God revealing Himself to us. Today we look at Exodus 2 & 3, where God revealed Himself to Moses through a burning bush. God makes the statement that "I AM WHO I AM." This encounter was at a time where Moses was in exile and had lost site of who he was and this encounter helped him realize who he was and was to become.
Adversity can provide the greatest opportunity for the further development of our true identity. When God reveals Himself to us, it...
2022-02-1418 minStrength for TodayS1E18-You are special to Godn this episode I'll talk about the difference between our persona and personality. These are two aspects of our identity. Persona is how we are known in heaven and by our God and our personality is how we are known in the world and by the people who know us.
I also talk about what it feels like to be living from our true spiritual identity. I share what "being in the zone" is like and give 6 characteristics of what it feels like to live from the identity God gave us.
I close the episode with tell...
2022-02-1341 minStrength for TodayS1E17-Influence through our identityIn this episode we will look at the lives of Daniel and his three friends and how they found strength in the Lord during some very difficult life circumstances!
We'll look at the meanings of the Hebrew names of Daniel, Hananniah, Michael, and Azariah along with the Babylonian names that were given them and see the contrast in the source of their identity. We'll examine our true spiritual identity that God gave us and how the world or flesh tries to remove us from our true identity and conform us to the worlds idea of identity.
You'l...
2022-02-0922 minStrength for TodayS1E16-The strength of God's identity in usI begin by sharing a little about what I see and sense the Lord doing in the world today, around making Himself known and just how important it is to know who He is, and who He's made us to be. I'll dive into how knowing our true identity will bring a new level of strength into our being. We'll see an impact on our influence and leadership, as we become more confident of our identity.
We'll look at what was happening in Acts 17 and see the power of the early believers knowing their real spiritual identity that...
2022-02-0715 minStrength for TodayS1E15-Discovering what God says about usThis episode we'll do an exercise where I read over several scriptures of what God says about who we are and what we have access to. We must realize that when we come into the world, we have an identity, but it's not fully developed. Life is about joyfully discovering who we are in relationship with God and what we're called to accomplish!
I encourage you to just listen as I read these statements from scripture over you. Catch the heart and voice of God toward you, and experience them relationally with God. God doesn't just want us to r...
2022-02-0427 minStrength for TodayS1E14-Where we find our source of identityWe'll explore two very different sources of where we can draw our identity from. The Bible talks about an identity rooted in the flesh and the spirit. We'll examine what an identity in the flesh and spirit really looks like.
We have a great example from the life of Jesus in the gospels of where He drew His source of identity from His Heavenly Father!
I'll lay out characteristics of what a life in the spirit will model.
I'll also share one of my favorite illustrations of how the moon is a great represent...
2022-02-0225 minStrength for TodayS1E13-Understanding our spiritual identityWe dive into understanding our true spiritual identity in this episode. God has given us each a unique and special identity out of His deep love for us. Understanding our identity begins with forming a strong secure attachment with the Lord, and we look at what it means to love the Lord with your whole heart, mind, strength, and soul!
A big key we'll discuss is establishing a proper view of who God is, realizing we are made in His image. The more we discover Him, the more we'll begin to understand our true identity.
I also s...
2022-01-3136 minStrength for TodayS1E12-You are God's workmanship!How does it feel to be God's very workmanship? This is what Ephesians 2:10 tells us. We reflect the image of God as it says in Genesis 1:27, "Let us make man in our image." We dive in today with some creative ways to interact with scripture. We'll walk through some key verses, giving you time to interact with them.
When God gave us His word, He tells us that it is living and active. So when we read it and meditate on it, it should bring a sense of life into our inner being! I share a personal prophetic i...
2022-01-2830 minStrength for TodayS1E11-Created to experience God in relationshipHow does it feel to be God's very workmanship? This is what Ephesians 2:10 tells us. We reflect the image of God as it says in Genesis 1:27, "Let us make man in our image."
We were created to experience God in relationship. We see the desire of God's heart is for us to live in relationship. We see this in the way that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in fellowship as one. They live in loving relationship with each other as an example for us to follow! God's heart is not that we would just know information about Him...
2022-01-2624 minStrength for TodayS1E10-Our Spiritual Wealth Found in JesusIn this episode we see how Paul contended for the hearts of those he worked with and wrote to. Paul informs us that in Jesus is hidden all the treasures of wisdom in heaven, how we have access to all that wisdom through an interactive relationship with Him!
I also share a personal story from my time of staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where I saw a powerful example of how the right environment and loving relationships can change us and introduce us to God!
Key Scripture:
Colossians 2:1-3 (Amplified & Passion Translat...
2022-01-2420 minStrength for TodayS1 Bonus Episode 2-A few great tools of listening prayerIn this episode I'll share with you two great forms of listening prayer that will help you discern the voice of God in your life. I'll also share two examples from my personal walk of how I've used these tools and share the fruit from using them.
These two forms of prayer can be remembered through the acrostic R.E.A.L & S.L.O.W prayer. I learned these two forms of listening prayer through a ministry called Deeper Walk International.
If you're intrigued and could use some extra tools to help you hear the voic...
2022-01-2215 minStrength for TodayS1E9-The Process of StrengtheningIn this episode we explore the common characteristics of the process God uses to. strengthen us. I share 5 keys I learned through my brothers trial.
I also share all the advantages we have as a Christ follower.
Key Scriptures:
2022-01-2133 minStrength for TodayS1E8-Finding Strength in hardshipIn this episode I share about how God provided strength in our family during a time where my oldest brother was going through something terribly difficult and unfair. No one likes to go through difficult times, they can often leave us feeling overwhelmed or without any hope. Where do you turn when you don't feel strength, or know where to find it.
During this challenging season my brother went through, I'll share how the Lord provided strength for our family and friends. I also share about what I learned from this and encourage you with some practical thin...
2022-01-1928 minStrength for TodayS1E7-What if you could not grow weary or tired?In this episode we dive into Isaiah 40 and look at all the incredible promises from the Lord and see how there is no one or nothing that can compare with Him and His strength! We are told about the strength of the Lord and that He doesn't grow weary or tired. What does that mean for us? If God lives within us, and we take on His nature then it's possible that we can live in such a way that we can constantly be refreshed and re-energized through His strength residing in us.
We will take a deep...
2022-01-1722 minStrength for TodayS1E6-Interacting with JesusIn this episode we engage with two exercises that help us interact with the presence of Jesus! Jesus wants us to understand two important truths in our relationship with Him. That He is incredibly wonderful and beautiful, and how to see Him in His fullness. The second truth is that He has an amazing view of us. He wants us to have the same view of ourself as He does.
Our example and model of right relationships and union is the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and how they interact. Have you ever thought of how they i...
2022-01-1424 minStrength for TodayS1E5-The birth of Jesus provides strength to the worldIn this episode we look at Luke chapters 1 & 2. Does a birth that happened so long ago really make a difference today? Absolutely!! We look at all the incredible aspects of Jesus' birth and what it means for us to ponder all these significant details in our hearts just as Mary did. I'll explain how the birth of Jesus was the fulfilment of Isaiah 9 and how we benefit now as a new covenant believer. One of the beautiful benefits we get to experience is that Jesus now dwells internally within us, and connects with us in our spirit. We have direct...
2022-01-1219 minStrength for TodayS1E4-The hope of Jesus coming into our worldIn this episode we dive into Isaiah 9, which is the prophetic declaration from Isaiah about the coming birth of Jesus. This prophetic declaration was 700 years before Jesus was born, which gives us confidence in what the Lord speaks to His people! We'll examine what this passage tells us about who Jesus would be and who He still is today. The four names that were given where Wonderful Councelor, Prince of Peace, Might God, and Everlasting Father.
Main Scripture:
Isaiah 9
2022-01-1012 minStrength for TodayS1 Bonus Episode-My 12 heart valuesThis is a bonus episode to let you know a little bit more of who I am! I share 12 heart characteristics/values that make up who I am. I share why it's important for us to be vulnerable, and that one of the bravest things we can do is to let others get to know who we really are. We must live from our true heart values, so I wanted to share mine with you, and continue to build relationship and trust with you!
2022-01-0816 minStrength for TodayS1E3-God with us and His promises to usThis episode we look at what we are setting our thoughts on and the direction those thoughts are leading us in our day to day to lives. It is important that we learn how to set the Lord before us, and we examine Psalm 16 and what it would look like to set always have our mind set on the Lord.
This episode also looks at what it takes to have faith and trust in the Lord that He is present with us, and when He is He'll provide an inner strength in our spirit, that can't be pene...
2022-01-0741 minStrength for TodayS1E2-My story of finding a new strengthI share in this episode about a time in my life where I found a new source of strength that changed the course of my life. It was a time when I was in seventh grade and went to a church camp with some friends, and heard about the wonderful news of Jesus Christ!
It was an incredible week, but more than anything I was invited to enter into a relationship with the living God, and little did I know how it would shape and give direction to the rest of my life!
2022-01-0521 minStrength for TodayS1E1 SFT-Foundation and vision for Strength for TodayIn this first episode I tell you about how and why Strength for Today was created! I share a foundation of strength and how it comes from our relationship with the Lord. The emphasis is on how God is a proven present help in our time of need. I give you 5 goals of what I hope Strength For Today will provide for you. We look at 3 key definitions of what strength is that will be beneficial for all future episodes.
Episode Concludes with 5 promises from Psalm 46:1-5, and little exercise of listening prayer, asking the Lord what He feel...
2022-01-0130 min