Faith Matters Podcast

#607 - Way of the Warrior; Day 2

THE WARRIOR SEEKS TO BECOME INVISIBLE The warrior does not need to be seen. They are most powerful when they are invisible. The warrior knows that lesser opponents depend on swords and bows and arrows, but the weapon of the warrior is their wisdom. While there are many expressions of wisdom, for our purpose it will be defined as the ability to bring peace. The warrior wields a weapon only to defend, protect, and liberate. When the warrior is wise, they fight only for peace.Where there is wisdom, there is always hope. Wisdom simplifies. Wisdom clarifies. Wisdom untangles. Wisdom unshackles. Wisdom illuminates.This is the highest expression of wisdom – to live our lives for others rather than ourselves. The fool lives to consume all they can take from the world. The wise live to create a better world. Wisdom is revealed by what a person fights for. If you fight for yourself, you have given yourself to too small a thing. The warrior fights against injustice, against poverty, against despair, against depression.In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon discovered that wisdom is better than strength. Wealth cannot secure your victory, and poverty cannot prevent it. Never let your lack of resources justify your lack of ambition. Never allow the measure of your wealth to be the measure of your life. Solomon was a man with both great wealth and great wisdom, but he could see clearly that only great wisdom ensures the best future.The path toward wisdom is not taken by steps but by choices. We do not become fools because we lack the right information; we become fools because we love the wrong things. There is no more spiritual act than to choose. Before you swing your ax, choose your tree. Decide what your life is about; decide what is worth living for; find your intention. And no matter what may come, never relinquish your intention.In the end, most of us will wonder if what we’ve given ourselves to has been worth the fight, especially if no one remembers our names. And that’s why we must never forget that what is done for ourselves will one day be forgotten, but that what we have done for others will be remembered for eternity.GUIDING QUESTIONSWhat are you fighting for in your life? Are you fighting just for your future, or the future of others? Are you letting a lack of resources serve as an excuse not to fight for your future? Are you giving your love away to foolish people or places? How can you recalibrate your intention for your life toward health, wisdom, and peace?

#606 - Way of the Warrior; Day 1

#605 - Why Faith Matters by Tom MacDonald

Does Faith Matter?Isn't 'god' just another imaginary character like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?We don't believe that, and neither does one of the most grounded, creative and listened to youtube independent musicians on the planet. LISTEN IN to hear WHY FAITH MATTERS according to Tom MacDonald.

#601 - Faith Matters; Book of Signs - Ch 10 Spiritual Warfare

Faith Matters with Brian and Andi HaleListen in as we review Chapter 10 in Dr. Jeremiah's Book of Signs. Tonight, it's Spiritual Warfare. Are you ready? LISTEN IN on www.diggingdeeper.usIf you are a disciple of Jesus, then you are in a spiritual war. And if the idea of knowing one's enemy makes sense in a conventional battle, it makes even more sense in our spiritual battle because our enemy is stronger and the stakes are higher.We don't have to live in fear of Satan, our enemy. Nor do we have to live i n fear of the demons at his command. All we must do as soldiers in God's army is take our place in the spiritual battle to which we have been called - and stand.

#600 - Everlasting Love; Day 5

We Love Because He First Loved Us1 John 4:19We love because he first loved us.The most perplexing thing about God is not that He is omniscient, omnipresent or omnipotent. Since He is God, these virtues are somehow given or expected. Otherwise, He wouldn’t be known as God.The thing that is the hardest to comprehend is that though He is so powerful and almighty, He is also love! Through the tainted lenses of how we see our world, power and love don’t seem to jive.You cannot be powerful and loving at the same time. You must be either one. But our God is both. The extent of His love is fully expressed in the father’s unconditional love.Therefore, as children of God, we love because love comes from God. And we can love because He first loved us. Knowing this helps us understand that this love does not originate from us.It is not something birthed out of a desire within us, rather it is a new revelation of where this love comes from.Now that we know where this love comes from, we have a new responsibility. Because no one has seen God, loving people can become a way for people to see God, through us.So when we choose to love, others will see and experience God through us, knowing that God is living in us, and His love is made complete in us.Loving others is not an emotional decision. Rather, it is a spiritually convicted decision. It is now our duty of care as followers of Christ to show others this dimension of love.Remember, we love because He first loved us!Reflection:This love that we now have is one birthed out of the revelation of who God is. Armed with this truth, who do you want to love and how do you plan on doing that?Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.1 John 4:7‭-‬21 NIV

#599 - Everlasting Love; Day 4

Madly In LoveThink of the times when you get mad; when your toddler’s food is all over the floor; when someone stubbornly makes his mind up and refuses to hear you out; or when you have to hold your anger because you know whatever comes out from your mouth will not be pleasant.That’s us. But God’s anger is different from our anger. He is slow to anger. In other words, He is patient with us. However, He does get mad. There was a moment when he walked out from silence and stopped the slavery of his own people.God sent Moses to confront Pharaoh, but Pharaoh refused to listen. In the end, Pharaoh rode out with his chariots to destroy the Israelites, only for God to destroy him in the water. God’s love is displayed in his anger towards Pharaoh. I am sure we do not want to get on the wrong side of God.His wrath is directed towards sin and how sin hurts his people. His anger flows out of His love. It is like your parents getting mad when you run out into the street with oncoming traffic. The opposite of love is not anger, but indifference. The love of the father is seen in his strong emotion.Instead of lashing out in anger, the father ran towards the prodigal son and embraced him. He waited patiently for his son to come home even though his son was a mess.If you think you’re a letdown, always remember – He is slow to anger. He is slow to be mad at you. You only have to choose to go home.Romans 2:4 (NLT)Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?Reflection:How has God been patient with you?