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Alright. These are the words, these are the words of life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. Hey, real quick, before we jump into today's episode, I just want to remind you to check out the show notes for this episode for plenty of links to Bible study resources to help you in your own Bible study journey. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation.
Oh, my soul, praise Him for He is your help and salvation. If I had to pick a verse to share or verses to share that have been very meaningful to me, I am going to say Isaiah 43. And these are the verses one through three, and this is what it says. Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name.
You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. We have gone through a lot of natural disasters where we have lived, hurricanes. Tornadoes So many. I couldn't even begin to count the times that I was in a storm shelter.
During Hurricane Harvey, that was such. Devastating flooding. These verses: when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. It meant so much to me. Three years ago, almost four now, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
During that time, I was really just searching and looking for God in His Word. And I reread this. You know, I always remember the part about the flood that I would not drown. And then when the verses that said, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. And I was getting ready to have my radiation treatments.
And I just remember thinking, like, you're with me, God. You are with me through it all. Hmm. That's good. There are a couple of verses that do serve as life verses for me.
Uh but then I'm sure like all of us. Scripture of that. has intersected my life at just the right time. In 2021, my wife Kendall was eight months pregnant. And of course, we had all lived through the pandemic together and through COVID.
And it was still very much something that all of us were having to contend with at that time. Both her and I got COVID a month before. Her due date was just feeling so low and so drained. wishing that she didn't have COVID. Here she was, so very pregnant.
already struggling, then also having COVID now. You know, we've been through so many different ups and downs. all of us through society with the pandemic. And then my devotions. And that time came Psalm 126, 5 through 6.
Those who sow with tears will reap the songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow or return, with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Every time I think about that period of time, this verse comes to mind and In that moment, I was caught with the contrast of having lived through the pandemic. And then... you know, deciding to have a second child in that time.
going through those different stages. and all the questions that that entailed. And then at the end of it still having our son Jack thinking about Tears shed. in sewing and yet the joy of reaping the the gift of Our new son. Yeah, so it's just powerful how scripture can connect with us in such an intimate way.
The psalmist didn't think that that's what that would be about. Uh but The Spirit of God used it to bless me in that way. It's beautiful. The one that I would love to share about is Mark 5, and it's the story of the woman who had a flow of blood for many years.
Now, a certain woman had a flow of blood for 12 years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. for she said, If only I may touch his clothes, I shall be made well. Immediately, the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.
And Jesus immediately knowing in himself that power had gone out of him, turned around to the crowd and said, Who touched my clothes? But his disciples said to him, You see all the multitudes thronging you, and you say, Who touched me? He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him. and told him the whole truth.
And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction. When my husband and I had become pastors, Salvation Army officers. We have two beautiful daughters, our oldest daughter and she was little. But in the beginning of serving in ministry, I had a miscarriage and I had an ectopic pregnancy.
And there were hard months. I think there was very dark times for me. My husband wasn't quite sure of all that was going on. I felt so bad that my body could not handle whatever was going on to be able to give life to the babies that God was creating in me. I felt terrible.
I felt that I was flawed. I felt that I was unworthy. I felt sometimes doubting: did God punish me? You know, all these things that we come and we think of. It took a long time for my body to heal.
God gave us the beautiful thing of having my second daughter years later. But that that you're not sufficient. Your body isn't enough. Carry on with me. And there is a mental and an emotional trauma that you go through.
when your body is not well. And when you have these wishes and desires for your family, for I mean, I grew up in a big family. I have four siblings. And so this was a big desire in my heart to know that my desire isn't what my body can do. It was very heartbreaking.
A lot more emotional also that was physical.
So when I read this story, and I can just picture, you know, the woman is so desperate touching the hem of Jesus for his healing power, for his presence, and that Jesus saw her out of all the people that were around there. Jesus saw her pain, saw her suffering, saw her struggle that nobody else saw, and he was touched by her. And I think that is so powerful that we can touch God's heart as well. He knows our suffering, he suffered with us, he cares for us. And so I see this image of this woman touching Jesus' hem.
And that no matter what, Jesus says at the end Your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed by your affliction. we can touch Jesus, right? And he can be touched by us. to heal us.
To give power over us. And this, in my story, this happened so many years ago. I still ask God to heal my body, to heal my mind, to heal my heart. And God gives me that peace, that promise to heal us from affliction. And I'm so grateful.
Yeah. Um Thank you for your testimony, Claudia. Um You know, we talked about earlier just kind of What the Bible says about suffering and just navigating things and asking God why do certain things happen and Um Something that God has just really been teaching me.
So yeah, he doesn't. Who doesn't cause the suffering, but If we turn to him during those times of suffering, I do believe that he will produce something in our soul. that couldn't be produced. Any other way. If we lived perfect.
lives where nothing went wrong. And um Um I'm currently Kind of in the middle and on the back end of what has been a very challenging season that started with just. water damage to our house and many things just going wrong. That led to lots of financial strain and then just fear that, like, the moment I would walk into my house.
something Awful would be waiting, and I have never felt that kind of anxiety. And then on top of it, My wife and I. are currently walking through. a season of Mm-hmm. Wanting to grow our family and For whatever reason.
It's not happening. A verse that has just been so meaningful to me is In Joshua 1.9, Have I not commanded you, Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. And You know, I've just been praying in this season that God would do that. He would ever. Can be produced in my soul through this season, that God would do that.
Um I've seen it. He has answered so many prayers. We have a list on our wall of just prayer requests. And while this one big one of growing our family has yet to be answered. in this season.
God has just checked off everything else on that list. I've just been encouraged to just trust God, to not be discouraged, to not be afraid that God will use whatever season we're walking through to produce something in us. And I've seen that. And so, I would love to say that, you know, we'll end up having another child. Whether or not that happens, I don't know.
But I can confidently say that like God has been faithful in encouraging me along the way and and Bringing strength and answering so many prayers.
So, yeah, Joshua 1:9 has been. a big one for me. And then one more. As I was thinking about this series I was just asking God like What is it that you have been teaching me as I've been reading through the Bible this year? I was just brought back to Bible verse in Exodus 34.
Think first six. God Himself describes Himself as gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and I don't know for sure, Caleb would probably know, but like that is probably the most quoted. Piece of scripture by the Bible itself. I don't think I can go three weeks in this reading plan where I don't hear some version of that quoted. And so.
Yeah, just a reminder that we we have a Gracious and compassionate God, who's slow to anger, who's so patient with us, a loving parent, rich in mercy. giving us everything that we need. for whatever we're dealing with in life or going through.
So yeah, those those two for me. We pray that you're enjoying and being blessed by this conversation. We're going to take one more ad break and we'll be right back. The following is not an actor, but a real-life story from Trinity Debt Management. Every day I speak with people who are worried and are feeling a lot of pressure because of credit card debt.
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Well, in this studio, where we've recorded so many podcasts, there's been lots of tears and their joy. They're tears that come out of a place of Abundance. God Himself, the creator of the universe. Has a plan for you, and for us to be talking to you about the Bible and what it means, and why it's important, or how you might be able to get started. or where to start.
These are just a few verses. that have been inspirational to each of us. The Salvation Army's mission, doing the most good, means helping people with material and spiritual needs. You become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army. Visit salvationarmyusa.org to offer your support.
You can subscribe to Words of Life on your favorite podcast store or visit salvationarmysoundcast.org. Join us next time for the Salvation Army's Words of Life. These are the words, these are the words of life. These are the words, these are the words, these are the words of life. Thanks so much for listening to Words of Life.
We want to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the show. Visit lifeaudio.com, where you'll find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They have shows about prayer, Bible studying, parenting, and more. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you next time.
Hi friend, are you stressed, maybe even worried about so many needs around you that you've forgotten you are worth taking care of too?
Well, I'm Bonnie Gray, the host of Breathe, the Stress Less podcast. I want to invite you to join me as I share practical tips based on science, inspired by God's word, to help you spark joy and restore God's peace and love to your soul. Subscribe now and go to lifeaudio.com. The Historical Jesus Podcast is the sweeping saga of the life and times of Galilean Jesus of Nazareth, as well as the faith, religion, and church founded to honor and disseminate his acts and teachings. Join me, Mark Vinette, on this fascinating journey through time, exploring the many great works of Christian theology, literature, architecture, music, and art inspired by the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.
