Beyond Ourselves Podcast
Guess Who Wins
Have you ever given your best effort at something, but failed? On the other hand, have you ever won a competition and been named the champion? Even the most humble of people want to win. We want to be on the winning team. Good news is in store for all who love and follow Christ. Isaiah 19:20 says this: “It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” Jesus isn’t only a Champion for the Jews, He’s the eternal Champion over all for all of time. He wins! If you’re on Christ’s side, you’re on the right side. The victory is coming. It’s going to happen. And you’ll be part of the celebration!
LORD, You are the CHAMPION over all! We praise You!
When Filled with Anxiety…
What do you do with worry? How do you respond when you get a bad diagnosis? To whom do you turn in the middle of the night when you’re afraid or sad? It’s normal to feel anxious, despair, and worry when our loved ones are ill or problems arise. But what Jesus wants us to know is that He’s with us and He cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Just like a person casts a fishing line into the water, we can cast our anxiety on Jesus. He cares for us and will see us through what we’re going through – one moment at a time.
Jesus, thank You for being a CARING LORD on whom we can cast our anxiety!
Train to Heaven or Hell, DEBBIE TAYLOR WILLIAMS
I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU RECEIVING THIS 2 TIMES. THE 1st POST INCORRECTLY SAID BY Linda McConnico. “TRAIN TO HEAVEN OR HELL” WAS WRITTEN BY DEBBIE TAYLOR WILLIAMS. FOR PURPOSES OF FORWARDING OR SHARING, PLEASE USE THIS.
There are two trains. Everyone is born on one train. Its conductor has bad intentions, but to keep you unaware, he takes you along fun stops where you enjoy the rides of life – good things at work, fun parties and people. His destination is hell, but that’s not what he displays on the “Next Stop” sign. No, rather, he displays your next earthly desired destination. At the stops in life, a representative for another train places a brochure, called the Bible, in your hands that warns you that your conductor has bad intentions and is taking you to an evil destination where there is no train out. The representative invites you to ride his Father’s train for free. He tells you He’s bought you a ticket on His Father’s train that will take you to heaven. Today, we’re at one of those stops. If you’re on the train to hell, will you accept the gift of the free ticket to heaven Jesus bought for you? If so, talk to God. Admit you’ve been on the wrong train. Ask Him to forgive you. Get on the train to heaven. (Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27, Acts 2:37-38, Romans 10:8-11
Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for paying the price for our ticket to heaven. Stir the hearts of those who have never repented of their sins and confessed You as Lord and Savior to do that now.
“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation,” Romans 10:9-10.
Are We or Aren’t We
Are we or aren't we? 60 Sec Listen or Read to answer this important question. #BeyondOurselves
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Whopper of a Problem?
TODAY, I’M SPEAKING AT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN, San Antonio. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS THAT THE WORDS WILL REACH DEEPLY INTO THE HEARTS OF THE LADIES.
Do you have a whopper of a problem? Perhaps you’re even where the Lord led you, but the situation is more than you can handle. When Joshua found himself in a tough place, the Lord appeared to him as Captain of the Lord’s host. Listen to what happened. Joshua 5:14-15 states, “Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’ The CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOSTS said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” Did we get that? Joshua bowed down and said, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The Lord told Joshua that the place he was standing was holy ground; then told him what to do. Isn’t that the position each of us needs to take; one of humbling asking the Lord to tell us what to do?
CAPTAIN of the HOSTS, we bow before You. Speak to our heart and mind. Tell us what to do.
Where is Our Faith in God’s Commands
We talk about it. We sing about it. But, how much of it do we have? What am I talking about? Faith. We place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ; that He substituted His body on the cross in place of ours. We stand at a distance and say, “Whew! That’s great. I didn’t have to go through the scourging and crucifixion. Thank You, Jesus. I believe.” But, then, when God says to exercise our faith in the next thing, we back down. He says cut off your sin. We say no. He says forgive. We say no way. He says lay aside your old self. Put on the new self made in the image of Christ Jesus, and we stand there with our arms folded. If we really had faith that God “calls into being that which doesn’t exist,” as Romans 4:17 states, then we would obey His commands trusting that they lead to the promised abundant life. So the question is, where is our faith?
Lord Jesus, You CALL INTO BEING THAT WHICH DOES NOT EXIST. Where is our faith in your daily commands?
Let the Carpenter Build Your Life from the Inside Out
Have you ever looked at your life, job, or a relationship, and felt discouraged or hopeless? Have you ever said, “I don’t see any way out of this?” Or, have you thought, “My best years are over”? If you have any of those thoughts, be encouraged. Hebrews 3:4 tells us that “the builder of all things is God.” In other words, God is the one who engineered the heavens. God is the brain behind chromosomes. Jesus built His church from a small number of men and women. If God can build the heavens, our bodies, and make us fit for His kingdom, no doubt, He can reconstruct what is broken in our lives. Turn to the Builder of All Things. Ask Him to fill you with His glory. Let the Carpenter start working from the inside out of your life.
Jesus, Heavenly Builder of All Things, it no wonder that You’re our Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for us on Your holy body so You could build us into a kingdom of priests. Where we’ve fallen, reconstruct us into holy vessels who bring You glory.
Take a Look at This Star
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Many people attempt to rise to “stardom.” Some do. But no one, not even the most famous person comes close to Jesus, who explains in Revelation 22:16, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.” Jesus tells us that HE is the STAR to whom we should look. He is the STAR on whom we can set the course of our life and know we will arrive safely on heaven’s shores. To whom might you need to point out this most fantastic of Stars?
Lord, we praise You, the BRIGHT MORNING STAR.
This is one of God’s 365 character traits. To learn about His other traits, sign up free HERE.
Singles and Couples – Where Were You Married
Where were you married? I was married in an outdoor tabernacle on a wooden pew when I was 12. Oh, I’m not talking about when I married my earthly husband, Keith. I’m talking about when Jesus took me as His bride. I was at a youth camp and the Holy Spirit convicted me during the evening service that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged my sin and confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He drew me close. He took my hand in His nail scarred hand. My Jesus betrothed me to Him in love and forgiveness before the Heavenly Father and angels. One day, I will see Him face to face. He is coming for me just as Matthew 25:6 says, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Now, I’d love for you to hit the reply button and tell me where you were married.
Jesus, You are the BRIDEGROOM of our dreams. Thank You for loving us and sacrificing Your life so that we are a cleansed, pure spotless bride.
Wilted or Watered?
Have you ever walked through an unwatered garden? The plants are wilted. The leaves are yellow. There’s little, if any fruit. Stroll out of that garden and into a well watered garden; one loved by the owner. What do you see? The plants are full and perky. The leaves are green. The garden is filled with a beautiful fragrance. Flowers and fruit abound. The gardener has held withheld nothing and has committed everything to care for each plant. Jeremiah 31:12 speaks of the bounty of the Lord and a well watered garden. It says, “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, and they will be radiant over the bounty of the Lord—and their life will be like a watered garden, and they will never languish again.” God is BOUNTIFUL in His love and care toward us. We do well to remember that.
Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You, BOUNTIFUL Lord!