Beyond Ourselves Podcast

If You’re Down

03/11/2024

Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Do you feel betrayed? If so, the apostle Paul can relate. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he recounts what he experienced while serving Christ.

“In far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

After reading Paul’s experiences you may wonder how Paul continued day after day. We find his answer in Romans 15:5.

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement…”

There we have it. Paul knew Jesus as One who gives perseverance and encouragement. We can, too, by going to Jesus in prayer, opening our Bibles, and hearing from Him.

Lord Jesus, You are a God of ENCOURAGEMENT. Help us keep our eyes on You and our ears open to Your encouragement so we persevere in a way that glorifies You as Paul did.

We’d love to hear from you! If you haven’t already, follow Debbie on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube and leave a comment!

 

bible gateway logo

Share

If You’re Looking for Supreme

03/10/2024

When we go to the first way God is identified in Genesis 1:1, we find these words. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word for God is Elohim.

Scholar Charles Ryrie explains that Elohim is “a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ The form of the word is plural, indicating plentitude of power and majesty and allowing for the New Testament revelation of the triunity of the Godhead.” 1

What are we first told about God, Elohim, the supreme Deity of eternity?

Genesis 1:1-4, 27 – He created the heavens and the earth. He created man in His own image; male and female.

Genesis 2:8-9 – Elohim planted a garden and caused every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food to grow.

Genesis 2:16-17 Elohim commanded Adam, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat; for in the day you eat of it you will die.”

Genesis 3:21 God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve to cloth their nakedness after they sinned and were ashamed.

Elohim, God is the supreme ruler. In His holiness and mercy He has made a provision for our salvation through Jesus Christ.

GOD, ELOHIM, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us, for how You’ve reached down and saved us, for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day. It is with utmost reverence we worship You.

1 Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update (Chicago: Moody Press, 2008), 2057.

Looking for some more resources to deepen your relationship with God? There’s a sale on several of the books and Bible studies in our shop. Check them out HERE!

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Where to “Hang Out”

03/09/2024

Where is “home” to you; the place where you or the one with whom you “hang out” and find comfort, love, and purpose?

If you didn’t say the Lord, you’re missing out. Why?

Deuteronomy 33:27 says God is a dwelling place.

Psalm 91:9 tells us, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

Again, in John 15:7, Jesus explained, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Jesus affirmed the gift of being close to Him when He said, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love,” John 15:9.

John writes that we are to “abide in Jesus, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming,” 1 John 2:28.

Yes, we are to be with, dwell with, abide with, hang out with Jesus as we would a dearest family member or closest friend.

Lord, what a gift for You to be a DWELLING PLACE where we can dwell and abide. We love You.

Want to learn more about about abiding in Jesus and bearing good fruit? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 15 by clicking HERE.

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Knock, Knock

03/08/2024

How would you describe yourself? Would you ever use “door” to describe yourself? I certainly wouldn’t. But Jesus did.

In John 10:9, He said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved…”

Why would Jesus describe Himself as a door?

He wants us to know that there is an “outside” of heaven and an “inside” of heaven. Heaven is a place, and we are “outside” until we go “into” heaven through Jesus.

Make no mistake. Everyone will not live “in” heaven. Only those who enter through Jesus will be in heaven.

Our Heavenly Father sends a personal invitation to everyone to enter eternal life in heaven through Jesus who paid our entrance fee by dying on the cross for our sins. Knocking on the door is not required. Repenting of sin and confessing Jesus as Lord is.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being the DOOR through whom we can enter heaven and live eternally.

Would you like to learn more about Jesus being the door to eternal life in Heaven? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 10 by clicking HERE.

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Ho-Hum or DIVINE?

03/07/2024

Divine. We often use the word casually. “The cake is divine!” “It was a divine vacation.” However, 2 Peter 1:3-4 uses the word “divine” in relation to God’s power and nature saying, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Peter continues, “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

These are incredible truths for us to grasp. Christ’s divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Christ has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we may become partakers of the divine nature.

In other words, God’s intention is for us to live by His divine nature; not live a ho-hum or defeated life. Believers have God’s divine power through the Holy Spirit and God’s divine promises in the Bible. Are we living by them?

Lord Jesus, DIVINE Holy One, thank You for Your divine power through the Holy Spirit and for Your divine precious and magnificent promises. We worship and adore You.

Do you want to learn more about living by God’s divine nature? Grab a copy of Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature – 2 Peter Bible Study. It’s a 4-week, verse-by-verse study of 2 Peter that is sure to bless and encourage you as well as help strengthen your walk with the Lord. The study includes videos and podcasts, which can be accessed under “Bible Studies” on the homepage. 

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Feast Your Eyes On This Crown

03/06/2024

Throughout time, people have sat on thrones and worn diadems. Some leaders have worn their crowns well and brought honor to their people. Others have brought shame. The latter was the case with the chief tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the time of Isaiah, the prophet.

In Isaiah 28:5, he contrasted the leaders who wore crowns of shame with the LORD Jehovah, saying, “In that day the LORD of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people.”

Herbert Lockyer expounds on the LORD being a crown of beauty. 1

“What a charming combination Isaiah gives us of Jehovah renowned for His luster and loveliness. A “crown of glory” is fitting for Him who is the “King of Glory,” and whose righteousness is “radiant with excess of glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9-11). In the crown, there sparkles His excellence, worth, sovereignty and glory. Truly, He is incomparable! In Jesus’ intercessory prayer, Jesus prayed that His God-given glory might adorn our lives (John 17:22).”

In our society where leaders are not always honorable, how wonderful that our king, the Lord God, is a CROWN of BEAUTY.

Lord Jesus, crown of glory, DIADEM of BEAUTY, we worship You.

1 Copyright Herbert Lockyer, “All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible,” page 80, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975.

Do you know someone who could use some daily encouragement in their inbox? Tell them about 365 Days of Praise e-devotional! They can subscribe by filling out the pop-up form on our homepage or by going HERE

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Show Me that You Love Me

03/05/2024

Have you ever wished someone would do more than tell you they love you; they would show you?

Romans 5:8 explains that is what God did when He sent Jesus to earth. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God demonstrated. He showed us His love.

In addition, Jesus showed us His love by dying on the cross for our sins so we could live with Him in heaven.

John 15:13 explains, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

If you have ever longed for someone to do more than tell you they love you, that they would show you, then your longing has been met. Your Heavenly Father and Jesus have shown you. They have demonstrated their love.

Thank You, Lord, for DEMONSTRATING Your love by saving us. Help us increasingly demonstrate Your love to others.

Would you like to learn more about how Jesus demonstrated His love for us as well as His command to love one another? Watch Debbie’s teaching on John 13

 

bible gateway logo

Share

The One and Only Deliverer

03/04/2024

Have you ever wished there was someone who could get you from one place to the next? Maybe you needed a ride because your car was in the shop. Or perhaps you longed for a promotion and hoped your boss could help you make a move.

Is the Lord interested in us moving from one place to another? Yes. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He taught them to pray, “deliver us from evil,” Matthew 6:13. Deliver us. Rescue us. Take us from evil to holiness.

Jesus’ prayer is answered for all who call on Him for salvation as Paul records in Colossians 1:13. “He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.” Deliver. Rescue. Take us from Satan’s kingdom to Christ’s kingdom.

Jesus is the Deliverer whom David prophesied was to come (Psalm 14:7) and to whom Paul referred in Romans 11:26, “…THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”

Jesus is our deliverer from past, present, and future sin. He is our deliverer from evil. He is our deliverer from fears as David again testified. “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears,” Psalm 34:4.

If you are looking for someone to deliver you from evil, deliver you from past, present, and future sin and deliver you from your fears, look no further than Jesus.

Lord Jesus, we praise you, our DELIVERER. Thank You for rescuing us from the domain of darkness, from evil, from sin, and from our fears. We love and worship You.

Are you looking for some more encouragement and Biblical teachings? Listen to Debbie’s podcasts on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify

 

bible gateway logo

Share

Are You A Delight to God?

03/03/2024

Have you ever considered that the Heavenly Father delights in Jesus? Yes, Jesus is God’s delight, as Isaiah 42:1 points out: “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights.”

In a world full of evil, what a blessing it must be for the Heavenly Father to look at Jesus and say, “My soul delights in You.”

Reading that our Heavenly Father delights in Jesus stirs in me a longing for Him to delight in me, but I can’t imagine that being the case due to the fact I still sin.

Then again, could our Heavenly Father delight in us while not delighting in our sins? Yes. Proverbs 3:12 says, “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

Our Heavenly Father has set His affection on us. He loved us before we were saved (John 3:16). Now that we are saved, He corrects us like a loving father corrects his children.

So while celebrating God’s pure delight in Jesus, we can also mindfully learn what is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, in whom Your soul DELIGHTS. Help us be more mindful of how we can live so that You delight in us.

Stay connected with Debbie beyond the blog! Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest

 

bible gateway logo

Share

When You’re Teetering

03/01/2024

Have you ever felt weak when you were attacked by Satan? Have you ever felt that you were teetering and could fall? I have. What’s especially troubling is sometimes I haven’t even immediately recognized when I was under assault by the enemy.

Those times could be more than disheartening if we didn’t have the full assurance that the Lord is our defender, as David wrote in Psalm 27:1-3. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, in spite of this I will be confident.”

What a contrast David draws between teetering in fear and being confident. Was his confidence in himself? No. The word “defense” in this verse means a fortified place, rock, strength, and a place of safety. David’s confidence was in the Lord, his rock, strength, and place of safety.

The next time you feel under attack by the enemy or you are attacked by a person because you are standing on Biblical principles, go to the Lord, confident that He is your defense, strength, and place of safety.

Lord, how we thank You that You are our DEFENDER against the enemy. We place our full confidence in You.

If you enjoyed this content and want to watch video teachings by Debbie, consider subscribing to her YouTube channel. Go HERE and click the subscribe button to be notified of new teachings.

 

bible gateway logo

Share