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Thanks for joining us at the Spaces of Grace podcast. Today we are giving an update for the upcoming holiday season. Specifically, we're taking about our Thanksgiving challenge called Change Your Mindset to Grow a Thankful Heart and our Advent event called The Hush of Advent.
You may also enjoy another recent post by Mary called Perfect, Establish, Strengthen, and Settle.
Listen to the podcast for all the details!
Today we are talking about women as caregivers. How do we care for ourselves when we are so busy caring for others?
In Part 2 we discuss many resources that busy women can use to care for themselves so they are then able to care for others. We discuss
- How to fit in a quiet time including our favorite books and apps
- How to add Movement/exercise, even if you only have 10 or 15 minutes
- How to get more fresh food in your diet
- How to deal with pain
- How to come to terms with a new normal
- How to accept that we can't do it all
Today we are talking about women as caregivers. How do we care for ourselves when we are so busy caring for others?
In Part 1, we look at who we're caring for, women of the Bible who were caring for others, and how we deal with our feelings in the midst of caregiving.
Happy Advent! Mary and I would love to have you join us as we discuss Advent and how you can get ready for Christmas during this time of preparation.
We’ll be discussing the background of Advent, ways you can celebrate it with your family, and the meaning of Isaiah 7:14. Don’t let the busyness of the season prevent you from truly celebrating Christ’s birth.
In this episode, we'll meditate on Proverbs 11:23. Do I have a mindset that expects failure or success in my life? Do what we think and say influence our reality?
In this episode, we'll meditate on Proverbs 11:23. Do I have a mindset that expects failure or success in my life? Does what we think and say influence our reality?
The healing of the paralytic man is an incredible story. Jesus is preaching in Capernaum when four men go to extraordinary lengths to get their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus. Their faith simply wouldn't let them stop until they got him some face time with Jesus.
Do we have the faith that lets miracles happen? Let's explore that question today.
When it was time for Elizabeth's baby to be born, she gave birth to a son." Luke 1:57
Elizabeth and Zacharias had waited a lifetime for their son to be born. Long past childbearing years, they thought that this blessing had passed them by.
But God had big plans for them-- in His timing.
How does that relate to us?
We'll discuss that in the podcast.
Thanks for listening. May your soul's meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!
Today's verse is Nehemiah 9:31, but if you have time read all of Chapter 9.
Three thoughts stand out to me from Nehemiah's reflection on Israel's history.
Join Only By Prayer in listening to this reflection to see how it may relate to your life today.
The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed. Jeremiah 51:17-18 NLT
In this passage, God is disgusted with the craftsmen. He couldn't understand why they were suing their gifts in a way that disrespected Him.
That lead me to evaluate my talents and gifts, and I realized that ultimately there are only three ways I can use mine ...Resource
In this podcast I recommend a book I'm reading called Called to Create, A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk by Jordan Raynor. I have links to the book in the podcast blog on my website at OnlyByPrayer.com.
short meditations on scripture intersecting life
As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6
I have a college friend who has started a second career. She is an artist, more specifically a sculptor, or potter. Recently she posted pictures of some of her work online. I studied her nature sculptures of rabbits, loons, owls, and a cheerful little bird—I think it was a Carolina wren.
Now we don't live close to each other, so I haven't seen her at work, but I can imagine her hands sculpting a big lump of clay into exactly the form that she wants it to take. As I zoomed in on the photos I could see all the amazing detail work that gives life to each of her pieces ...
To hear the rest of this podcast as we discuss being the clay in the Potter's hands, listen by simply clicking on the arrow below. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes so it's delivered to your podcast library every week.
What Do You Think?
Finally, what are your thoughts on the process of being the clay in the Potter's hands? How is God shaping you today? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks for listening! May your soul's meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today.
short meditations on scripture intersecting life
Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.
The backstory for this verse is that the Israelites had been released from exile and were back in Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. I can only imagine the feelings the older exiles must have felt after living for many decades as servants in Babylon. To set foot in their homeland again must have been such a joyful time. And I wonder about the younger ones who had been born in captivity, and Babylon was all they knew. I'm sure they had heard stories of their homeland and to see if for the first time was an experience they would never forget.
The First Thing They Built Was ...
After they were settled, they started building the temple. They needed to put first things first, and they did because the very first thing they built was the altar so they could make their burnt offerings to the Lord. They needed to have a way to take care of the sin problem between them and the Lord.
And we need to do the same thing when we sin. We need to "rebuild our own altars" too. Join Jane from Only By Prayer on today's podcast by listening below. You can also subscribe on iTunes to have each new podcast sent right to your device.
Thanks for listening, and please leave your thoughts below.
short meditations on scripture intersecting life
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. Zechariah 3:1
Whether we have been "living in exile" as the Israelites were by pursuing a selfish, sinful lifestyle for a long time, or we had a fight with our spouse or other "quicker" sin, as soon as God calls us back to Him, Satan is right there doing what he does best to us: accusing and deceiving.
Join Only By Prayer today as Jane talks about this problem and how to overcome it.
To listen to the podcast, click below or subscribe to it on iTunes. Thanks for listening, and may your soul's meditation be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!
short meditations on scripture intersecting life
Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:12-13
Prayer is powerful. It changes situations, people, and events. Daniel was one of the most faithful pray-ers in the Bible. We can take away much from his example.
Let's dive into these two verses to see how they can impact our prayers today!
Please subscribe to us on iTunes and leave a review too. Thanks so much for listening!
Jane VanOsdol
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life
Ezra 1:1-5
In today's podcast, we're talking about the phrase "stirred up."
Have you ever felt stirred up about something? Yesterday you weren't the least bit bothered, but now all of the sudden it seems that a certain situation, person, or injustice is all you can think about.
Well in these verses, and many other places in the Old Testament, we see God stirring up people to do something, and it just may be that God is doing the same thing in your life.
Thanks for listening. What is God stirring up in your heart, in your life today? We'd love to hear about it in the comment section below.
As I read through the Bible, I can't help but be in awe of the amazing characteristics of God.
In today's scripture focus in Ezekiel, it struck me how the Lord always strikes the right balance.
As a parent, I know I sometimes struggled with finding the right tone. I could be overly harsh or too permissive. It was difficult at times to not be swayed one way or the other.
But we can take our cue from God. Today we are going to reflect on Ezekiel 20:27-49, where we see God finding the perfect mix of righteous judgment and mercy. I can trust Him because I know He always has what's best in mind.
Pray on!
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life.
But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. Jeremiah 23:3
Some of you may know that I am on a cross-country journey with my husband. He is riding his bicycle, and I am pulling the travel trailer. One of the things God put in my mind to do on this trip is to pray for our country while I'm driving. So I started Prayer Across America. Check it out if you'd like to join me in praying.
Well, this week I was feeling a bit discouraged (read that as sorry for myself) as if I was the only one praying for our great nation ever. God used a few things to encourage me, including the above verse. Listen in to the podcast to hear the rest of the story.
Listen in to the podcast to hear the rest of the story. You can also subscribe on iTunes.
Thanks for listening and ...
Pray on!
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life
Are you discouraged with your journey with God? Sometimes we need to step back at look at the big picture rather than just where we are at the moment. Assess your progress over one year, 5 years, 10 years for an accurate picture of your spiritual life.
Join me today in Reflections as we talk about forward progress. Leave your thoughts in the comment section and thanks for listening!
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life
1 Corinthians 13
The #LoveTrumpsHate is being bandied around lately. I see it on signs, blog posts, Facebook, and Twitter. But it's often accompanied by words and actions that aren's so loving. No matter who you supported in the election, both sides are slinging nastiness back and forth. Clearly the love is missing from this hashtag.
Why? It's certainly a good intention.
To find out, let's look to the Lord, the One who gave us the manual on love, 1 Corinthians 13. Join us for a short discussion on what this kind of love looks like.
Be sure to write down your reflections and keep the conversation going with God throughout the day. May your soul's meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!
Pray on!
Jane VanOsdol
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life.
Show Notes
When I am starting something new, there's the excitement and freshness of this new thing. Perhaps I've been thinking of it, dreaming of it, praying for it for a long time. I bring energy, zest, and enthusiasm to the table. I've researched and planned and am ready to go.
And then when I'm nearing the finish line of said dream or project, I receive a fresh burst of energy because the end is in sight. I've almost reached my goal.
But it's in the messy middle that dreams fade, marriages fail, jobs lose their luster, and parenting seems not quite so fun.
"It's in the messy middle that we must "set our faces like a stone and determine to do His will."
Join me on this short podcast today to reflect about messy middles and how we can persevere through them. And remember, messy middles lead to enduring endings if we persevere.
May your soul's meditations be fuel for Spirit-led actions today!
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life.
Show Notes
In today's Reflections we are meditating on Matthew 1:18-20.
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Consider this: When ordinary people humble themselves, set aside their own agendas, and make room for God to work, the Holy Spirit "invades," fills their space, and turns the ordinary into the miraculous.
Let's look at these verses in light of Joseph's life and choices. What can we learn from him to apply to our own lives? Feel free to leave your comments below.
Pray on!
The simple act of living out their Christian faith is dangerous for so many Christians around the world. Because of extremism, many are part of underground churches that worship in secret. Other have no community support at all and worship on their own.
Let's consider some facts on persecution. According to Open Doors, every month around the world the following occurs:
- 322 Christians are killed for their faith
- 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed
- 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians (this includes beatings, abductions, rapes, arrests, and forced marriages)
According to the Pew Research Center, among the world's 25 most populous countries, these five countries have the highest religious restrictions: Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkey.
2016 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
This Sunday, November 6, 2016, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please take some time to pray for those who are suffering for their faith. I have listed resources here that will help you to pray in an informed way. These resources also highlight other ways you can help if you desire. For example, through VOM I have purchased Action Packs and filled them with blankets, clothing, etc. for displaced Christians. You'll find numerous opportunities to make a difference. But remember, we need to start with prayer, as that is the most powerful way to affect change.
Resources for the Persecuted Church
There are other organizations as well. These will get your started as you seek to become informed and to help. Thank you for supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ, and feel free to post your prayers in the comment section.
Pray on!
On today’s podcast I (Jane VanOsdol ) welcome Todd Daniels, the regional manager for the Middle East for International Christian Concern. With the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) coming up on November 3, 2013, we wanted to draw attention to this issue. Be sure to see the link below for your IDOP kit. The kit includes several resources to use for yourself, with a small group, or your church. You will even find a lesson for children in it.
In this podcast’s session, we discuss several issues concerning the persecuted church, including the following topics:
- The scope of the problem of persecution
- Steps to take to make a difference to suffering Christians around the world
- How to pray for persecuted Christians
- Relevant scriptures
- Parts of the world where persecution exists
Resources
www.persecution.org
IDOP kit: http://info.persecution.org/IDOP2013
Save Our Sisters: http://www.persecution.org/assistance/save-our-sisters/
Suffering Wives and Children: http://www.persecution.org/assistance/suffering-wives-and-children/
https://www.facebook.com/persecuted
https://twitter.com/persecutionnews
The following organization is working with resettled Christians. It is a need, but a really challenging task:
http://www.iraqichristianrelief.org/our-projects/
Thank you for joining us for Reflections, short meditations on scripture intersecting life.
Show Notes
In today's Reflections we are meditating on Isaiah 61:2-3
To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.
The loss of a loved one is the most devastating loss we can endure. It shakes us as nothing else can. We are left bereft, dealing with a toxic swirl of emotions.
Like many of you, I know grief. I lost my second daughter when she was just 11 days old. God inserted Himself into the midst of my suffering, and walked through that time with my family and me. It was not easy, but as I held on to Him, He held me.
For those of you who know grief as your constant companion right now, I want to give you hope. You will get through this. I hope today's podcast encourages you in this journey.
To listen, just click on the triangles or subscribe on iTunes.
Pray on!