Faith Matters Podcast

#424 - Just Be Willing; Potential Day 6 of 7

Purpose The past few days, we’ve read stories throughout the Bible that show how God used the most unlikely people to do great things.He used people who weren’t accepted by society to change culture. Moses was bad at speaking, but God used him to persuade the leader of the Egyptians to let millions of slaves go. He used David, who was the smallest of his brothers, to defeat a giant. God used Joseph, who looked after sheep, to help lead a nation.Here’s the thing. God doesn’t use the most talented; He uses the most willing.God gives people purpose. If you don’t feel good enough, or if you don’t know what your purpose is, just know this: God will give you purpose. You don’t have to be the best or the most talented—you just have to be willing. Be willing to let God use you.'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 'Jeremiah 29:11https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JER.29.11

#423 - The Multiplyer; Potential Day 5 of 7

Not quite enough, or is it? Insecurity is something all of us deal with in some way or another. We all look around at other people, and at times, feel like we don’t measure up.But here’s what you need to know:You have everything you need to do what God needs you to do.And here’s the lesson we can learn from the Bible story today: life’s not about what you have; it’s about what you let God have.God will use whoever you are and whatever you have to do what He wants to do. He wants to use you. So, what do you have that God can use?Where do you feel less than? Know that God can and will use that too.What do you need to let God have? What do you need God to multiply in your life?Let God have it all. Just watch and see what happens when you give it over to Him.'Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 'John 6:5-13https://my.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.6.5-13

#422 - Bullying is a Big Deal; Potential Day 4 of 7

The One Who Got Picked OnJoseph was picked on by his brothers when he was young, but later in his life, he was put in charge of all of Egypt.Bullying is a big deal. People get picked on all the time, and it’s not OK. If you are someone who gets picked on, do not let that person take you out. God has given you a purpose and a plan for your life. Don’t ever let anyone take that away from you.Keep pressing on, don’t give up, know who God make you to be, and don’t listen to what the bullies say about you.Now, if you are someone who picks on other people, you need to stop it immediately. You’re reading this right now for a reason. Maybe you’re a Christian, or maybe you’re checking out what God’s all about. I assume you’re reading this to better your life or become a better person. If that’s the case, then the first step for you is to stop picking on other people. Don’t be the one stealing others from their purpose. Be someone who lifts other people up and helps them become who God intended to be.If you keep going and don’t give up even when it gets hard, you will one day find yourself in the place exactly where God wants you to be.Keep reading this plan. In a couple of days, you’ll see how this story ties into our purpose.

#421 - The Smallest One; Potential Day 3 of 7

The Smallest One David was the smallest one of his brothers, yet he was the one to defeat the giant.This just goes to show that it’s not the person we are or even the things we have that can overcome the big, hard things in our lives, but it’s God. It’s His strength and His power that will help us overcome.We will all face giants in our lives and go through difficult things, but God will be with us when we face them. He will give us the courage to defeat them and overcome. What’s the giant in your life? Is there something that’s hard or something that seems impossible? Maybe it’s something that will be difficult to overcome or get through. What’s your giant? Name it. Remember that with God anything is possible, and no giant will be too big for you to handle with His strength.Keep reading this plan. In the next few days, you’ll see how this story ties into our purpose.

#420 - But I’m Not a Good Speaker; Potential Day 2 of 7

The Bad SpeakerMoses wasn’t a good speaker, but God still used him talk to Pharaoh, which ended up saving millions of people from slavery. He was also a part of some pretty incredible miracles God did through him.Here’s the thing. You don’t need to be the best. You just have to be willing to be used by God. He can even take your weaknesses and do great things with them.Moses even argued with God and told God to send someone else. Make sure to say yes when God calls you to something because if you say no, He will find someone else who is willing, and you will miss out on the awesome things God could use you for.So, where do you feel like you fall short? What areas of your life do you need to say yes to God? Try it and see what happens. Keep reading this plan. In the next few days, you’ll see how this story ties into our purpose. 'Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. but every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 'Exodus 3:1-22https://my.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.3.1-22

#419 - We All Have Unique Talents; Potential Day 1 of 7

Potential (Day 1 of 7) from YouVersion Unique Our gifts are given to us by God. Talents are what we have that we can give back to Him.Some of you may have talents you haven’t even begun to discover yet, but we are all created with things we are good at. They won’t be the same as others’ talents. Some of you will be good at drawing, while others of you may be good at singing or acting. And some of you are really good at sports. What we shouldn’t do is compare our gifts and talents to other people’s. Don’t focus on what you don’t have that others do, focus on what gifts and talents God has given you. It will take practice. We can and will get better at our gifts and talents the longer we spend on them.Discover your talents, and start to figure out how you can use them for God and for His glory.