As we barrel head first into December and all that comes with it, I wanted to backtrack to the moments in the Bible leading up to Jesus’ appearance. I’m talking about John the Baptist. I posted a short clip a week or so back about how underrated the life of John is. I think its important to understand some background of this man and his role in preparing the way for Jesus’ entry into the world! Let me begin by reading in Luke 1 about the miraculous conception of John. So, you see, John and Jesus’ births not only overlap but they are parallel in the fact that both are miraculous! Talk about unexpected!  From the very moments since birth, John was prophesied over and raised KNOWING it was he who would fulfill prophecy as the one to usher in the new Testament. This is significant for many reasons: One, John is the first prophetic voice to rise up in 400 years. His birth is not only the fullfillment of prophecy but it will also become the link between the old and new testament. See, up until this very moment, the people of Israel have been practicing under the old testament law given to Moses after the great exodus out of Egypt. Under this old covenant, the people must make sacrifices and perform rituals, using appointed priests to make atonements to God on their behalf.  First is this: John was set apart. He knew he was set apart since birth. He didn’t run or rebel from the idea of this; indeed, he set the course of his life on a path that HONORED this great commissioning. Guys. He literally chose to live in the wilderness. Many of the gospels document his life and share that not only did he choose to separate himself from the world but he also forsook comforts. Not only was John sure of who he was, not only did John know the role he was to play, but he was the forerunner to the salvation of the world. He laid his own comfort, he laid down opportunities for community and fellowship, and instead he boldly preached against the world. He called out religious hypocrites. And risked looking like an actual crazy person to prepare the way. It’s why he was born! He never wavered from his role.  And he could have. By the time Jesus enters the scene in his adult years, John had built up quite a name and following. He had his own disciples. As Jesus approaches while John is baptizing people in the Jordan River, John’s own disciples point and say who is that? John says, “ Behold, the Lamb of God!!” And his disciples left him to follow Jesus. Do you know what John didn’t do? He didn’t make it about himself. He didn’t ask his disciples to come back and follow him. Why? Because that’s not why he came. He knew his role. He knew his ministry. And his ministry wasn’t about himself, but rather, about pointing the world to the Messiah.  Oh, what a stunning picture of hope. Doesn’t God do fine work using the unexpected? He uses barren women to have prophet sons who live set apart. Wild (and some may even say a bit crazy). But the truth is, John wasn’t crazy. He was a man who knew his role and never strayed from it. He lead the way. He becomes a link in history to the most important moments since or ever again. He users in the hope of the world. As we enter into the holiday season, my prayer is that each of you will remember, too, that God loves to use the unexpected. And in fact, He has always called you. He chose you before the beginning of time to live where you live, in the family you’re in, in the city you reside, with the gifts and skills you have… to live with purpose. You know, deep down, He did. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll all be brave enough to live set apart like John to point the way to Jesus. Lord knows the world needs hope. And the truth is… we have it. In Jesus.  Thank you to our sponsor! ⁠⁠⁠⁠NIV Journal the Word Bible⁠ ⁠⁠⁠published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

As surprising as this may sound to some people, the Bible is just as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. In some cases, maybe even more so. You have to think - part of the Bible is prophecy, meaning things to come. So a lot of it is geared towards a future time.. but future for them is present-day for us!  Today, I want to share a story that jumped out at me this year while studying the Paul and reading of his journey to spread God’s word to all the nations. Truly after Jesus’ death, a majority of the new testament is the story of the birth of the Church. One day, I’d love to chronicle the life of Paul on his mission to share the Gospel, but until then, I will pull out a piece or two.  I know its a long way around saying it, but this whole scene sounds like a modern day moment to me! Listen to what these guys said: "You know that our prosperous livelihood is being threatened by this Paul, who is persuading crowds of people to turn away from our gods. We make a good living by doing what we do…Our businesses are in danger of being discredited”! Sound familiar? I don’t know about you but this makes me think of a lot of things… the local authorities of the day sound a lot like politicians and the business men sound a lot like the money-men of..you guessed it…present day. I feel like it is becoming increasingly apparent today that the life and values of christianity is being viewed as a threat to those in power positions. I mean.. it may have been thousands of years ago, but the Bible is alive and well. The principles and lessons are timeless. Money is still king in the eyes of the world and idol worship is still alive, too. Though it comes packaged differently.. Today, these idols and (lower case) gods are sold as entertainment, celebrity status, and global ‘causes’. Where agendas are pushed at the expense of what is real and true and good. Global warming. Big pharma. Gender Ideology. Government controlled education… and the list goes on. Sounds to me like a lot of junk being pushed by the people profiting from whatever idol they are pedaling.  And here’s the deal. As powerful as these people are… politicians and big businesses alike — they are all threatened by the INTEGRITY of choices of those lives turning to Christ. You can see it all over cancel culture. Which voices get cancelled? The ones speaking God’s truth… not the ones standing saying “This is my truth”. Because truth isn’t subjective to one person or another. Truth is what God says it is. How many celebrities have been dragged through the mud for sticking to their convictions? How many Christian films and books and shows have been suppressed or deleted? Heck, the day I put up my YouTube channel, it got pulled down. I can only imagine why….  I promise I didn’t come to ruffle feathers today. But.. I did come to encourage. The Bible doesn’t just mention stories casually for no reason. The years have changed but satan’s tactics are still the same. May that be your motivation today. He’s still using his same old trick and yet, the ending will never change. Our God wins. So may we carry on fighting the good fight. Know that, just as in Pauls day, there will be those in power threatened by the very things you stand for. Let it be so. Because we know who’s we are and who we answer to at the end of the day. And it’s not those people. It’s our Father who formed us in his own image. Today, I pray each of you are emboldened to keep standing firm and sharing the good news, its the only news that brings hope and a future to a dark and hopeless world. I love y’all, and I’ll see you back again next week!  Thank you to our sponsor! ⁠⁠⁠NIV Journal the Word Bible⁠ ⁠⁠published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

Hi friends! I’m excited to be sitting down with Farrell Mason today! Farrell Mason is a mother of six children, an ordained minister, a writer, and the host of Soulful 7 Conversations podcast.  Farrell holds a master of art and business from The University of Manchester, England, and a master of divinity with a concentration in theology and the arts from Vanderbilt University. She is a part-time ordained minister of pastoral care at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville and her heart is forever committed to raising funds and awareness for kids with cancer in honor of her son. Farrell’s most recent work is called Soulful: a weekly devotional to nourish the mind, body, and spirit. I this book (and all of her writing) you will find a thread of hope, healing, and redemption! We will be doing a giveaway of a copy of Farrell’s book SoulFull!

I saw a quote the other day that said, "Jesus died for you in public. Don't live for Him in private." And I'll tell you something... that's powerful. Honestly doubt many people think to themselves "I live a private life for Christ." But do you know what it DOES make me think of? It makes me think of the surface level lives people lead. And the truth is, it's kind of the same thing. Surface level relationships, conversations, and even posts. Sure, they may actually be easier. They may feel safer. They certainly take less time. And they may even cause less stress...But I have to ask? Who is that benefiting? Listen, I didn't come here today to make anyone feel guilty for not standing on the rooftops shouting about Jesus. I just came here to encourage you to take your moment. Take your moment when it presents itself. Be bold in the small things. Share your testimony with your uber driver. Ask how you can pray for the cashier checking you out. Look that homeless person in the eye when you hand them a water or a meal and tell them God sees them and you see them. Tell them they are loved. Just do the thing in front of you. Do it with intention. It's not so big or scary or intimidating. What could you possibly lose by doing any of these things? Jesus being intentional about the needs in front of Him. The brokenness before Him. The people around Him. Can you imagine if Jesus chose to be surface level with people? Can you imagine if Jesus only posted what looked good to His followers? I mean I'm sure turning water into wine would have made for an amazing post. But what about the other stuff? The stuff less worthy of a photograph? The humble moments or the messy ones? What about the times Jesus loved enough to correct? What about the times He confronted the enemy? What about the times He upset the local authorities by following God's principles rather than mans? How affective could he have possible been by living surface level. I know its a lot of what if's today... But just think: What if Jesus had only thanked Martha for hosting rather than telling her that Mary was in the right for sitting at His feet? What if Jesus waved to the fishermen while walking by but never told them to cast their nets on the other side? What if Jesus only allowed people to serve Him rather than serving others? What if Jesus passed up the sick to get to where He was going? What if Jesus had only chatted with the woman at the well about the weather, instead of sharing the depth of who He was and the hope of eternal life? Guys. He was the model for us. In all of it. Why shouldn't WE be sharing who WE are? Brothers and Sisters of Christ. Children of God. And the hope that Jesus brought to the world? Shouldn't we be sharing about how we are who we are because of Who Jesus is and what HE did for us. About how our lives are what they are now because of the hope He offers. That the love, joy, peace... its all fruit of our lives lived honoring Him. I find it such a shame that surface level is SO often what we get today instead of time and intentionality. We live in an instant gratification world where we scroll (on average every 7 seconds per reel) going from one hit of endorphins to the next. Not only is it exhausting, but it's void of depth. Can I tell you a secret? You can't go deep if you don't take time. Roots aren't strong without it. Connection can't happen without it. Faith can't grow without it. Depth. You can't go deep if you don't take the time. Go deeper than surface level. With people. With the world. Yes, it can be intimidating to live outwardly. It opens you up to rejection and hurt. But Jesus did it. And if He did it, shouldn't we? So, today, 'll end, again, with this reminder... "Jesus died for you in public. So don't live for Him in private." Thank you to our sponsor! ⁠⁠NIV Journal the Word Bible⁠ ⁠published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

When I was in the second grade, I went to the eye doctor. I remember him telling me I needed glasses. By my best guess I was around 7 or 8 years old. When my glasses arrived, I remember walking outside and looking down... Do you know the kind of sidewalk that’s really just made of like..brown pea-gravel stuck into concrete? Well. That’s what I saw. And it wasn’t just a brown blob. I could see the individual gravels and I just couldn’t believe it. Then I looked up. And I said, “Look mom! Look at the leaves!”. I guess I had never realized you could see individual leaves on a tree from afar. For me, they’d always been big green blobs. The funny part about all of this is that I really had no idea I was so blind! I’ll have to get a confirmation on this but I’m pretty sure my mom teared up because she didn’t know my vision was so bad, either. I’m sure I never complained and, up to that point, I had nothing to complain about. After all, it was all I knew! And that’s the thing about it isn’t it?... We only know what we know! Our only frame of reference for ANYTHING (especially in childhood) is experience. We can only understand the life we have known. It is only as we get older and begin growing that we learn to work from a place of empathy or understanding outside of ourselves. I’m certain I could dig really deep and find a Biblical reference to parallel this story but to be honest with you there’s an obvious one that comes to mind... The story of Jesus healing the blind man. Its such a brief moment in the life of Jesus but we see so much in it..no pun intended! What’s interesting is the word used for eyes here is not the common word for it..instead, the greek word ‘omma’ can refer to both physical and spiritual sight. That’s what Jesus does for us. He covers us so that we may see...both physically AND spiritually. But we must allow Him to. The man in this story (with the help of friends to guide him) sought out Jesus. He asked for His touch. And he asked for healing. He had faith for it. Friends, this is a lesson to us all. God wants to be sought after. God wants to touch us and heal us. But we must come to Him. We must ask. And...we MUST allow his Healing hand over our lives. Both physically and spiritually. Sometimes God does His work little by little. Sometimes, His healing takes more than one pass through. What if that blind man had said, well... I can KIND of see a little now, and that is better than total blindness... He would have missed out on SO much more! Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the FULL! (John 10:10). Not so that we may live partially healed! So here is my reminder today, sweet friends: seek Him. Ask. Allow His touch. And know that, like this blind man.. it may take more than one pass. Know that God works on His own timeline. As we go into this season of thanksgiving I pray we all have this perspective. Clarity doesn’t always come at once. Answers don’t always come immediately. Healing can come little by little. Jesus can open your eyes how He wants to, in His time, and for His reasons. He knows what we couldn’t possibly know. He knows the exact healing process to take us through, painful as it may be. He knows the perspective shift we have to experience. And ultimately, He knows the restoration God has for us. Jesus touched that blind man’s eyes. And Jesus can touch your life, too, to bring healing... After all..that’s why He came. Thank you to our sponsor! ⁠⁠NIV Journal the Word Bible⁠ ⁠published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

Over the years, I’ve come to realize any lesson we learn from parenting can be viewed through the lens of God. He is, after all, our Heavenly Father, and we are His children. So if we want the best for our children then how much MORE does God love US and want the best for US? The same principles apply. God wants us to come to Him with our mistakes. He wants all of our mess-ups and weaknesses. See, if we take it to Him first, there is redemption. Yes, there will be natural consequences. But when you take it to God first, you take AWAY the world’s ability to turn those moments into shame or guilt or threat of revealing ‘the truth’. You take away the world’s ability to keep feeding lies about who you think you are, now.. a failure. Unworthy. Those are lies. The truth of the world will always be ugly. But the truth, in God’s hands, will be beautiful in the light of redemption. God doesn't speak ill of His children. God already knows the truth. And He has already done the work to free us from it. The truth will set you free. This is where redemption is born. Born from the Grace of God to forgive. His son, Jesus, paid the price to redeeming our stories and ultimately, our lives.  Redemption was what God had for David’s life as well. In the wake of serious sin, he was forgiven. Though there was still a price to be paid. In the last episode we mentioned the curse that “the sword would never depart from David’s house”…And, God said, ”Out of your own household I am going to brink calamity on you”. The many chapters that follow depict a series of events that unfold in the house of David. His sons turn against him and against each other.  There is scheming and corruption. David flees his own son Absalom. There is bloodshed and grief. Eventually, however, David returns to Jerusalem after running from the chaos of his household. This is where we pick up: 1 Kings 1. Not only does God go on to allow David’s son, Solomon to establish and rule a strong kingdom, but He also allows him to be the the one who built God’s temple. Furthermore, it is through Solomon that Jesus comes. The very same Jesus who will return again to establish His kingdom here on earth forever! WHAT a legacy. Isn’t that something? That God can take a man who came from such humble beginnings, who strayed into sin and committed murder and adultery… That God could choose such a man and make him part of the lineage of Jesus? That is such a picture of redemption. Reclaimed, rescued, saved or delivered. Those are all words for one who is redeemed. And that’s exactly what David was. Not only David, but truly, all of mankind. It is through Jesus that we are ALL offered salvation.  David’s life went from being anointed and being prepared, to running and then being appointed! He then fell from grace and ultimately he was redeemed. It’s a story arc that can look a lot like our own lives. In great detail, David’s life is documented. We can learn so much from it. We can see why heart posture is important. But most amazingly, we can see what redemption is offered by our good good Father.  He has that for anyone who asks for it. Today, I pray you’ll be encouraged by the life of David. By the highs and lows. By the twists and turns and the unexpected. Today, I pray you’ll remember God sees your heart. He knows the road you’re on. He offers redemption for the falls, and He offers blessing for the moments you say “yes” to Him.  Thank you to our sponsor! ⁠NIV Journal the Word Bible⁠ published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

I’ve been so excited for this upcoming episode with my friend Jenny Marrs! I remember when Shay and I first saw their show Fixer to Fabulous on HGTV during the pandemic and quickly found out they are also from our home state of Arkansas!  Jenny is a wife and mama who loves all things creative. She is a talented designer and writer! A passionate advocate for community transformation, family preservation, and orphan care around the globe. Their passion for furthering locally active, globally-focused causes led to Dave and Jenny’s founding of The Berry Farm. At its simplest, the u-pick farm and its event barn allows local families to enjoy the experience of filling their own buckets with fresh, local berries and holding events in the gorgeous newly-renovated event venue. But the real mission of The Berry Farm is a domino effect rippling from Northwest Arkansas to Zimbabwe, where profits support vocational training, farming skills and food for orphaned children.  We talk all things life. How Fixer to Fabulous came to be, and so many exciting things in the works… Thank you to our sponsor! NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠⁠ journaltheword.com⁠⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

Have you ever been in a season of life where things seem to be going really well. So well that maybe, ever so subtly, you start to drift? You left the world of contentment and drifted dangerously into a state of…complacency. Maybe you’re leaning less on God because life seems to be pretty GOOD. There are no outstanding needs. No major stressors. No pressing concerns… In theory, that sounds great! But the reality is, if we aren’t careful, this can cause us to lose intimacy with God.  I hate to say it but people have a tendency to stop communicating with God when they feel secure in their circumstances. This has to grieve His heart. After all, a relationship shouldn’t be centered on circumstances..but rather, centered on the heart.. centered on love for one another. BUT since the fall of Adam…human nature tends to be self serving. The moment you take your eyes off of God and start living for self OR just living in complacency… that’s where the enemy slips his foot in the open door of your heart. THIS is what happened to David. This was the moment he fell into complacency and eventually..he fell from grace. Not only did David relegate his duties, but he became very comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that he had time for mid-afternoon naps, and inappropriate observations. Had he been out to war like he was supposed to be, he never would have noticed the beautiful Bathsheba. See? Complacency is a slippery slope. The following series of events lead David to have innocent blood on his hands. His decisions were self-serving rather than God led. Had his heart been on the Lord, the story wouldn’t have lead to such a fall.  There are a few things I want to point out in today’s story. It was a lot to read so I’ll only grab a few for consideration: One: David’s heart posture changed. He became complacent, losing intimacy with God which ultimately resulted in a path of sin and pain.  Two: David had someone in his life, (Nathan), who loved him enough and feared God enough to POINT OUT his own unjust behavior. This is a great reminder to us all to keep friends around us who love us, fear the Lord, and are willing to hold us accountable for poor choices.  Three: David Confesses that he sinned against God and God’s word. This is not to be overlooked. Redemption cannot come without confession and repentance.  And Four: God forgives David. But there is still a price to be paid for sin. Always. Sin can only lead to death. The difference here is that God will turn our mistakes into something Good. But he ONLY does this after repentance, a heart turned back to Him. Remember Romans 8:28 “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”  David was a good man. He was a man after God’s own heart. He was obedient to God and gave Him the glory. But even good men fall. Even good people make bad decisions. Not a single one of us are exempt. But here’s the good news. David repented for what he had done. He took ownership and asked God for forgiveness. He still paid a high price. God said his household would rebel against him.. and indeed.. in the chapters ahead, it does. But, David’s heart came back to God. He received forgiveness. At the end of the day, there’s nothing we can do that God won’t forgive. (Apart from blasphemy). David literally committed adultery and murder. God still forgave him. That’s not to say there wasn’t a price to pay, for that is a principle of sin. However, when handed back to God, there will also be redemption. And that, my friends, is where we will pick up next week on our last episode. As you go out this week, I pray you’ll remember this. God offers grace no matter what offense. No matter what YOUR fall from grace looked like or looks like now. You have only to repent.. invite Him back into it. Let Him turn it for the good. He wants that for you, and for us all.. I love y’all and I’ll catch you next week! Reference : 2 Samuel 11 and 12

Well, if you’ve made it this far, congratulations. We are halfway through the Life of David. Roughly fifteen years after David first came onto the scene in the Bible (remember, he was anointed as a teenager), he finally entered the into the season of appointing. But lets not forget all the in-between! Notice: this was years and years in the making. Notice there were years of being hidden… there were years of preparation…and of course, there were years of running. That is most often the case for each of us as well. There is a call on our lives and an anointing from a young age, but it takes years, maybe even decades, to finally see it. Call me an optimist, but I find hope in that. Just knowing that the trials are preparation. Knowing the time was never wasted, but in fact, that time was honing your skills and developing your strengths. This is where we find David. If you’ll remember where we left of, King Saul was dead. And there was, unsurprisingly a bit of conflict after his death. After all, he had an entire line of sons to secede him. (And they didn’t go without a fight). During this time, 7 years to be exact, David ruled over the kingdom of Judah (which was the southern half of the nation) while Saul’s house wrestled internally for kingship of the northern kingdom. Eventually Ish-Bosheth, one of Saul’s sons, was murdered. This is when David finally became king over all of Israel. (David didn’t murder him, by the way.. he was murdered from members of his own corrupt raiding bands). Anyway..This event launched David into his place as King over the entire nation…finally uniting the the two kingdoms after years of civil war. This is a key takeaway about David. He saw God in it. This is what made him so special, he always turned his eyes back to God. He SAW God do what He said He would do in his life. He made him King. He blessed David. But David also saw WHY God did it. For the sake of his people Israel. It wasn’t for David’s vanity. It wasn’t because of his accomplishments or qualifications. It was because of his heart posture.  God chose the youngest son of farmer. He was little more than a teenager in the tiny town of Bethlehem. BUT. This boy had a heart for God. It was why he was chosen. And it was also that heart that made him continually act in obedience. He honored God in all that he did. Remaining in this heart posture, David knew God didn’t do this just to elevate a young man from shepherd to king. God did this for the sake of his people, Israel.  And there’s my favorite takeaway today. God chooses the unexpected. Because He see’s the heart and knows the motive. God calls, anoints, prepares, and appoints those who will honor His will. Because ultimately, God’s will is for the good of ALL of His children. And He can use US to accomplish whatever that is. If we are obedient. If we remain in Him. I find it remarkable that after all those years, David amassed fame, victories, and power… and instead of being filled with self-pride or ego, he sees God in it. And he sees the bigger picture for it. Not just for him. But for Israel. What a testimony to that heart of his.  Every night I pray over our own boys that they have hearts like Davids’. Hearts after God’s own… That is my prayer for each of you today. That you’ll have hearts like David. That despite the waiting and the preparation, the running and the fighting…you’ll see God in it. Not only will you see Him in it, but you’ll see WHY God did it. He did it so you can rule and reign and change the lives of others for God’s glory.  I love y’all. Catch us back next week to hear all about the next season in David’s Live… it’s not pretty, but most of us have had our own season of it. A fall from grace. And ultimately, his life ends in redemption. It’s going to be good!  Thank you to our sponsor! NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or⁠ journaltheword.com⁠ to find a beautiful edition!

Today, we are going to step over into the next season of David’s life I like to call: On The Run. I felt like it was appropriate. From experience, I can say there is usually a time we all feel like we are on the run from something. It might even be God you’re running from! Like the call on your life is so overwhelming you just... run away. Out of fear. Out of intimidation. And frankly, out of feeling like you aren’t qualified for any of it. Others of you may be pursing God’s calling on your life but you feel the enemy coming against you. Maybe today, you’re even on the run from all of the attacks the enemy has brought against you and your family and your future. Maybe you're just plain tired. Relentless warfare is a tactic from the enemy. He loves to pursue us. Why? Because if he is successful, we will be too tired to pursue our God-given purpose. This is where David finds himself. Running. Not from God but from the enemy. Let me reason some scripture here to set the scene... 1 Samuel 18:1-30 Okay, so, here’s my ‘cliff’s notes’ version of David's story. David was likely around 15 years old or so when God sent Samuel to anoint him as the future king... It was a few years later, in his late teens, that David killed Goliath and entered into the service of King Saul. So, this put David around 20 years old. At this point, he had entered into the kings household, and served for some years. Again, this is all time of preparation for what comes next for young David. During this time, he plays the lyre for Saul, and when he comes of age, begins leading men in his army. He eventually became a successful warrior and even married one of Saul's daughters. This is where things get hairy. King Saul couldn't control his jealousy any longer. Overtaken by an evil spirit, Saul attacked David while he was serving the king! David fleas... This marked the beginning of a new season. A season of running. For the remainder of 1 Samuel (at least 12 more chapters), David ran for his life. I encourage you to read these chapters for yourself, because they are seriously full of action and intrigue.. We won't have time today, though. Rather, I will share this. When David fled, he hid and gathered a group of followers. These were battle tough men who rallied behind him and fought for him. For years, David and his men were in constant motion, hiding from Saul's army, running all over the country, hiding in towns and caves and anywhere they could to keep moving. During this time (and on two separate occasions), David was within striking distance of Saul and spared his life. Remember, David had a heart after God's own.. He dared not take the life of a man God had once anointed. Simultaneously during this time David and his men were also out fighting (and destroying) enemy forces. Not only was David fighting other battles while he ran from King Saul, but King Saul was also at war with surrounding countries. Honestly...there's about 10 chapters of just running and fighting and more fighting! There was a fight everywhere you looked. So when David wasn't busy running for his life from Saul, he was busy fighting for his life against other enemies.. As weary as he must have been though, his reputation was growing... as well as the support of the people. After years of this nonstop warring and pursuit, King Saul is eventually wounded in battle against the Philistines. Rather than be overtaken by the enemy, he falls on his own sword, taking his life. At long last.. Saul was dead. The running was over. And a new season...was about to begin. Thank you to our sponsor! NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

In today’s episode, I’m so happy to be sitting down with the founder of Carly Jean Los Angeles, Carly Brannon! A wife, a momma of 4, and an entrepreneur, Carly shares how CJLA came to be and how it has empowered women to feel like themselves again with their own personal style. Carly walks us through how God has shown up in the unexpected throughout her life from closing her brick and mortar for 6 full years to raising her littles! We talk about the seasons of life and the importance of what you are making a priority in your life. To know more about Carly and CJLA visit www.carlyjeanlosangeles.com Thank you to our sponsors: - Listen to We're Going There here - NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

Thank you to our sponsor! - So Happy to Know You book: Get your copy right now at⁠ sohappytoknowyou.com⁠! Welcome back, guys! I’m pretty excited to pick up where we left off last week on the Life of David. (Go back and give last week’s episode a listen, if you missed it!) I gave a little introduction of all the good stuff this series covers and we jumped in to the first season of David’s life on record: Anointing. It’s the perfect place to begin. It represents a pivotal moment that changes the trajectory of David’s life... and, don’t we all have that? At least one big, life-changing thing that lays the groundwork for our whole future?? And this may not be surprising to anyone at this point but.. it’s usually the unexpected! When God anoints you and calls you to something greater than yourself...buckle up. It means you’re in for a wild, sometimes difficult, but always beautiful ride. Last week we learned that anointing always comes with an assignment. So this next season of David’s life that I’m calling “The Early Years” represents the next leg of preparation for his journey. And, whether we see it or not, our own early years are almost certainly going to be the preparation we need to take us into the next place. Full of trials and oftentimes, a waiting period, the early years are foundational to God’s leading you into your assignment. There’s a lot to cover today so let’s jump in and learn a little more about David’s early years. Beginning in 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (After David was anointed by Samuel and King Saul lost God’s anointing). Anointing is attached to assignment. Anointing is followed by preparation. And Anointing draws attention. The Early Years Prepare your character. And the Early Years prepare your gifts.. Anointing is followed by preparation. Early Years of preparation bring out your giftings. These years put you through trials. These years increase your faith. And, if done well, this time deepens your intimacy with God. Think about some of David's trials: out in those fields, David fought bears and lions. But he wasn't alone in those trials..he defeated them with God's anointed strength. This built not only his trust in the Lord but also grew his faith. His character was changing. His strength was growing. His faith was building. AND...in the midst of it all... He was out there worshiping. Playing instruments and writing songs of praise. His giftings were being honed. The very giftings that brought him before the king. And here's the cherry on top: He was known by others as a man who knew God.. literally the men in court recommending him to Saul said "the Lord is with him." Gosh. What if that's how people described you? A genuine heart for God and life lived for Him will speak for itself. What a testimony! We can all learn a little something from David's life... These early years were the ones that prepared him. Just as early years prepare us.. David didn't know what the future would hold for him. He was just a boy when he was anointed and told He would be king. That's all he knew. He didn't know when or how it would happen... He simply had to rely on the Lord's strength and timing to see it unfold. And maybe that's how you feel today. Like God put something in your heart and you know you're anointed for it. Maybe you don't know how it will happen or when but your spirit feels that pull. Let this be your encouragement today. That anointing will be followed with preparation. Don't fight it. Let God refine you in it. Let Him lead you through it.. because that preparation may bring you before kings (metaphorically of course). That anointing and preparation may put you in rooms with people you could have never imagined. Lean into it and listen for His voice..

Over these next few weeks, I'm excited to finally be diving into scripture about the life of David. We will be breaking down his story into a six part series! In this series, we will look at the ups and downs of the life of a man who had a heart for God. Like us, he was flawed and made many mistakes..but ultimately, he is redeemed through it all.. Be sure to follow along and see just how his journey unfolds. In preparing for this podcast I actually put a poll out a while back and was happily surprised to see that so many of you requested hearing more Biblical stories! It’s true though, stories always seem to resonate more deeply than other lessons or teachings. Stories are how we relate. Not just to one another but also to history. It’s part of the reason I love the Bible so much! Anyway, as I began combing through looking for some bite-sized stories, I realized I have definitely skipped over some big ones. One in particular I have wanted to share about is the Life of David. Trouble is… David’s life (and the study of it) could take up an entire year all on its own! So, what I thought I would do over the next few weeks is go over his life: in pieces.  David’s life was an eventful one to say the least. It doesn’t just take up a few chapters in the Bible but several BOOKS of the Bible. He is even credited with writing part (if not most) of the book of Psalms. As I set out to start sorting the events into categories, I saw something. What I saw was a man’s life that, truly, embodied many seasons. And, like us, his life reflected some of the same themes WE experience throughout our own lives. There are lessons to be found in each of them. So, in the weeks ahead, we will be looking at the Life Of David by season.  There are seasons of - Anointing There are seasons of - Early Years (Of Preparation) There are seasons of - Running Seasons of - Appointing Seasons of - A Falling From Grace And finally, there are seasons of - Redemption…. My prayer is that this series is a mix of stories and messages tailored to your heart. David’s life… like many of our own, is filled with highs and lows. It is unpredictable and unexpected. And mostly, it is the story of a man who has a heart for God and who teaches us what that relationship can look like. Through the good and the bad. In the falling and in the redemption. David is part of the lineage of Jesus. His life and his choices changed the course of the world. His story reveals God’s heart for men and give us hope that no matter what season we are in, God is there. Our lives are full of purpose. And our God is purposeful with us. I love you guys and I pray this series blesses you..   Next week’s episode we will pick up on David’s early years! We would LOVE to hear from you as we go too, so don’t be afraid to drop us a message or comment on any of our socials! Follow Hannah: @hannah.billingsley  Follow Unexpected: @unexpected.hannahlove  Produced by That Sounds Fun Network   Thank you to our sponsor the NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

Over the last few years, I have been deep diving and trying to get a better understanding of what my authority is as a child of God. And I feel like that's something that's not often preached about. It may be mentioned or talked about that we have that authority. And in fact, last week's episode, I talk about confronting the enemy, which is vital. I think that that is something critical that we need to remember that we can do and that we have the authority to do it. However, I got to thinking, how do you do that if you don't fully have an understanding of what authority is and why we have it legally in the Bible? Today, I wanted to take you through a resource that I have found lately that is really short, pretty clear and to the point. And most importantly, it is backed up by scripture, just about everything. Actually, everything in this book. It's called The Believers' Authority. It is an older book. It was written by Kenneth E. Hagen, and it is all scripturally backed up. I might not read every scripture and go through all of that today. I will make references, and I am going to be reading portions out of this book because even in the week that I've had it, I have had more takeaways than I have in the last three years of really trying to understand what authority I have in God's Kingdom and why I have that authority and how to wield it. I think it's important that we understand that as children of God. And when we do have an understanding, then we are more equipped to use it. And that is my job. That is my hope for you today that you will listen and that you will feel better equipped to confront the enemy and to take hold of your authority and understand just exactly what that is. Today, I’ll answer these questions: What is authority? Why do we have authority? What is the Source of our authority? How do we exercise it? We are the body. Christ is the head. Jesus ascended into heaven. And when He ascended into heaven, He handed over, He delegated that authority to us, and we are co-heirs with Him as one. He's the head and we're the body and we all function together. Okay, so what is the source of our authority? Again, I'm going to quote Kennedy Hagen in his book, The source of our authority is found in this resurrection and exalting of Christ by God. You will never understand the authority of the believer only with intellect. You must get a spiritual revelation of it. You must believe it by faith. Jesus already did his job! He came. He lived life as a man. He died for OUR SINS. And He ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven. He won’t be coming back until God’s timing to return and make the enemy His footstool.“You’re not demanding of God when you demand your rights; you’re demanding of the devil!!!” Your life will change if you start operating in the authority that you have. Remember if you have resources available at your disposal, and you just never use them because you don’t know they're there. It’s not going to do you any good. You have all that you need because God has done everything for us. He won the battle, He sent His son. The victory is ours and now it is our job to step up and do our part in taking partnership with Jesus and taking authority over the enemy in any and every area of our life. Scripture Referenced: Ephesians 1:18-23 Ephesians 2:4-6 Acts 3:6 Hebrews 1:13 Buy The Believer’s Authority by Kenneth E Hagin - HERE Follow Hannah: @hannah.billingsley  Follow Unexpected: @unexpected.hannahlove  Produced by That Sounds Fun Network   Thank you to our sponsor the NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

I'm so excited to finally be sitting down with my dear friend, Sweet Georgia Brown! To know her is to love her! She talented author, singer/songwriter, podcaster, worship leader, and faithful servant who is passionate about prayer. Born and raised in Arkansas, Georgia now calls Music City her home. She is a lover of Jesus and people! In today’s episode, we dive into her story and how God has shown up in her life in the unexpected. Follow Georgia Brown! Listen to Georgia's Podcast : Faith & Friends Buy Georgia’s book : Hi God, It’s Me Thank you to our sponsor the NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

I hope that you are enjoying this amazing weather we've been having.I feel like it's kind of a tease because we're still in the early days of August. But nonetheless, my heart is now on football and hot chocolate and all things fall related. I don't know if you guys love football, but we do. I love a good weekend game. It got me thinking about watching games where one of the teams is absolutely dominating. Have you ever seen one of those? You probably have! Where the other team is just holding the line, like they're not even thinking about scoring a point because they're so worried about not letting them score anymore on them. Like it's bad, kind of a bloodbath. But how often is that situation like us as Christians? Like how often do we feel like we are being dominated by the enemy? The enemy is coming after your kids. The enemy coming after your marriage, your business, your relationships, your peace. Man, I know I have been there. Then I was reading in the Word this week and something jumped out at me... Whoa. Okay, that little piece in the middle there got me.It says, as you confront the slanderer. So in other words, God didn't just give us the armor of God to keep us from being beaten down. He gave it to us to confront the enemy, to come at Him, to come for Him. Because we are living in the days of warfare, spiritual warfare. It's all around us. And I feel like so often we are so worn down by it that we just feel like we're doing our best to pray about it and to just survive. It like you're putting on your armor and you're surviving the beat down, but that is not what God wants for us. And in fact, that is not what God calls us to. Guys, the enemy has strategies against you. Plans on plans on plans, coming for you and your kids and your business and your mental health and your peace.The enemy wants to kill and steal and destroy everything good that God wants and promises for you. It is our job and well within our rights as children of God to take hold of our authority and say no and push back and decree and declare. There's another line that I've heard somewhere along the way, and it goes a little something like, you will never win a battle you don't fight. I mean, it makes sense. And did you know even that when God called the children of Israel out of Egypt and they wandered in the desert for 40 years in the wilderness? Did you know that he called them to their inheritance? That he had promises for them. But he didn't promise that those things would come easy. In fact, they had little faith and an entire generation died off because they lived in fear. And they did not reach out and take hold of the promises. They did not reach out and take hold of their inheritance. That was promised to them. And when they did, it was a new generation. It was the generation behind them. And they finally crossed over the Jordan. And what did they do? They fought. They fought. And God promised that the land would be theirs. It was theirs for the taking. But how do you take something if you don't fight for it? What a good message in that.  So today, I just wanted to leave you with this encouragement. If you are feeling pummeled and you feel like just putting on the armor of God and just praying isn't enough, maybe it's not. Maybe you needed this reminder today to encourage you to declare over your home, declare over your children, decree the promises of God. Speak it over them. Speak it over your kids lives, over your marriage, consecrate your home to God. Consecrate your words and your actions and your life and your ministry. Consecrate it all to him. He will cover and keep and protect you. And as you do so, and you hold on to those promises and you speak those promises over your kids.That is how you come into agreement with God and what his word says. And remember, God wants us to confront the enemy..not just survive him and his attacks Follow Hannah Love Mooney Follow Unexpected with Hannah Love Produced by That Sounds Fun Network

As the summer weeks have warmed up it seems like our schedules have, too. In the midst of it,  I’ve tried to get back into a rhythm. On one particular day, I walked and prayed. I had started listening to a podcast but stopped midway through because I felt the need to pray. Not just praying but praying in the Spirit. I probably walked for 30 minutes praying before I got a sweet surprise. My sister-in-law called. Now, if I’m being honest, I can’t be the only millennial out there who has an aversion to phone calls. But. I do LOVE a good convo with Erica. So I was pumped. After a little catchup, she asked me how she could be praying for me. I feel like my list was a mile long…but I kept tacking onto it because I knew she *really* would pray for all the things. And at the very last, I asked her to be praying over the podcast. This is when things got especially good. Erica said, “You know? Sometimes God gives us revelation on things that can feel big to us but not always to other people… you know what I mean? So maybe this isn’t a big thing to anyone but me, but I’m going to share it.” She began explaining. Days before, she said she had been having a ‘lazy day’ scrolling through her phone. Mostly on tiktok. Eventually, she set the phone aside to pray. As she took a breath she felt her mind saying “This is just a season…”. And in that moment, she felt God say to her… “Is this a season? Or is this a cycle?” She went on to explain how seasons are Biblical. But when you look up cycle’s, oftentimes there’s a choice involved. Like a continually repeated behavior. Today, my question to all of you listening is this: Are YOU in a season right now? OR are you in a cycle…. Seasons are a natural progression over time. Cycles…on the other hand, can be irregular and lend themselves more to a cause and effect type occurrence rather than a natural event. I mean, this is my own translation but it feels a lot like this: Seasons are God made. Cycles are man-made. Are your choices drawing you closer to God… or are they distracting you from Him in an endless loop. I want to encourage you today to reflect. Invite God into those places you find yourself in… Ask Him to show you any cycles that need breaking and ask Him to encompass you in any season you’re in. And.. He will.  Thank you to our sponsor the NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition! Follow Hannah Love Mooney HERE Follow Unexpected with Hannah Love HERE

School is about to start back and I feel like the family schedule has gone from zero to a hundred in the last couple of weeks. The speed at which things are unfolding has me overwhelmed. And I can feel the pressure of the mom-guilt wrapping around me like a weighted blanket. I hate it. But I know I’m not the only one who feels this sometimes. There’s something about motherhood (or maybe just adulthood in general) that triggers us to feel responsible for the wellbeing of everyone all the time. It’s heightened when you have small children, too, because you literally are. Responsible. For their little lives and their wellbeing.  This is just an example, (But lets be honest, its the reason I sat down to even contemplate mom-guilt today, too). We have had everything from concussions to nightmares to meltdowns and illness, birthday parties, school functions, and a myriad of small mishaps…this week alone. Mix in a 6 month old, traveling husband, and a house full of high energy boys…y’all, I’m tired. And all I can do is dwell on the ways I’ve failed my family this week. Have you ever felt this way? Exhausted. Full schedules. Loud houses. A million obligations and NO time or patience or energy to do any single ONE thing well. Like…not just a physical tired. It’s something deeper. This tired is more like a weariness of heart. And have you ever noticed that its usually when you feel this weariness that you feel MOST like a failure.. to your spouse. To your kids. To your friends and people who depend on you? I’m imagining a few head nod’s from y’all as you review some of your own chaos haha. And I didn’t come here today to vent about my life and my moments of overwhelm… I really just came to acknowledge its something we all experience. AND I came to offer a little bit of encouragement in it.  As I sat in my overwhelm this morning, I started thinking about people in the Bible (namely women) who must have felt like failures at times. Do you know the first story that came to mind? Mary. The mother of Jesus.  Today, we read a story out of Luke and come away with a few takeaways having to do with guilt and failure…  The first: Nobody is exempt from mom-guilt and feelings of overwhelm. Frankly, I’m just glad mine aren’t documented in the Bible for all of time. But… I am, as always, thankful that God made sure to include these human moments to remind us of just that. We are only human. We will fail. We will mess up. We will make mistakes. And.. we will become weary. BUT. The Bible is also full of reminders that God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses. His grace is sufficient for us. Not in our own strength, but in His. He is there to pick us right back up when we fall. Holy Spirit is there to lead us into all truth. We are never alone.  The other observation I made is this: Moment’s of failure are opportunities for growth. Moment’s of weakness provide the beautiful gift of reflection and self-evaluation… Today, I pray you’ll remember each of these things and be encouraged. God KNEW we would fail. He knew we would fail In moments of parenthood, in marriage, in friendships, in business and in relationships. But He also offered the solution when He sent His son into the world. His son, Jesus…who was by all accounts lost for a few days from his own mother… God didn’t let that little story be written into the Bible for no reason. There’s always a reason. A reminder. That God loved us so much, he made sure to include even the smallest dimensions of human life (like mom-guilt and feelings of failure) so that we may know we aren’t the only ones. We aren’t alone. And… most importantly, we are granted grace from it because of His love and the sacrifice of His precious son. I love y’all and I pray this reminder finds you when you need it…  Thank you to our sponsor the NIV Journal the Word Bible published by Zondervan. Visit your local Christian bookstore or journaltheword.com to find a beautiful edition!

*Holy Spirit (again a part of the Trinity) was there in the beginning and participated in creation… He was present throughout the Old Testament Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Job 26:13 “By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.” Isaiah 32:15 “Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.” Even though Holy Spirit was there in the old testament… He was made available to everyone after the new Covenant was made by the blood of Jesus. (In the New Testament) We hear mention of this in Matthew 3:11 from John the Baptizer… Matthew 3:11 John says “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am —so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” -NLT Matthew 3: 13-17 then says “Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” *After Holy Spirit descends on Jesus at His baptism and then leads Him into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1) - The Lesson - Sometimes you must let Holy Spirit lead you into trials before God takes you further into your purpose. *Holy Spirit empowers us to speak boldly, giving us words, wisdom, and discernment. Examples… Romans 8:26-27 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for Him.” *Holy Spirit speaks to us in dreams and visions and whispers. (Some call it conscience) I mentioned Acts in last week’s episode but it was the major marker of the New Testament to the New Covenant; So I wanted to end on the Holy Spirit here today: Acts 2:17 says “In the Last Days,” Gods says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit on those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy.” I believe we are in those, days, sweet friends. And I wanted to encourage you in that! How exciting that God promises this outpouring. The dreams and visions. Prophesying. I love reading about it and living it. I’ve been so excited to share this subject And I hope in the episodes to come, we can dive deeper in.. --- Would you take a minute to fill out this podcast listener survey so I can learn more about you?! The survey asks who you are, why you love the show, what you want to hear more of, and more. Your feedback is so helpful as I continue to create this show. Thanks so much! Thanks to Spotify for Podcasters for sponsoring this show!

A couple of years ago, a new part of my began. I got baptized in the Holy Spirit. And…it changed everything. I guess I’ll backtrack and tell you a little about how I got there. After all, If you had told me that phrase a few years back, I’d have had NO idea what it even meant! So I’ll do my best to take you back and share… I grew up in a predominantly Baptist church. I’m sure there’s a wide range denominational backgrounds listening today…and maybe some who have no background at all in anything having to do with a church. I guess I never realized just how many differences there were in the denominations. I only knew what I knew… Just as I’m sure most people only know one way as they grow up in the same church home their whole lives. Now, what I’m NOT here to do today is tell you about those differences. After all, I have no official qualifications or degrees in theology. But what I do have is a story of my own. And as I continue on my walk with the Good Lord, I’m understanding more and more that everyone will have their own unique relationship and experiences with God. Today, I’ll share a little about mine. This episode will also be touching on scripture that talks about the Holy Spirit. How Jesus sent Him. And how He empowers us. Fun Holy Spirit References: •Acts 1 (full chapter) •Acts 2 (full chapter) •Romans 8:2-6 •1 Corinthians 6:19 •John 3:6-8 •John 14:15-17 •Galatians 5:22-23 After this episode, I would love to hear questions and feedback on what YOU would like to hear more about! hmooneyassistant@gmail.com Thanks to Spotify for Podcasters for sponsoring the show!