Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living
1,075 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsEmbrace Holy Living
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Episodes
Obedient Hearts
April 14, 2024 07:001 John 5:1-6 Each day in Andrea’s classroom, they have what is affectionately called, “Lil’ Staff Meeting” (circle time). One of their daily rituals is go through a list of reminders. They make sure their “listening ears” are in good working order and to have “obedient hearts.” Andrea absolutely loves the way one of my […] The post Obedient Hearts first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Cause and Effect
April 13, 2024 07:001 John 4:14-21 From a young age, children discover the power of cause and effect. A child’s cry beckons their mother to come quickly, touching a hot surface leads to discomfort, and hard work reaps success. One thing always leads to another. It is only natural that our Heavenly Father would teach us to love […] The post Cause and Effect first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Limited Edition
April 12, 2024 07:001 John 4:7-13 Andrea had a roommate her senior year of college to whom she is forever grateful. One spring morning, she opened the door of their mini-fridge and offered Andrea an egg covered in golden foil. Beneath the foil was a beautiful milk chocolate egg with an abundant, luscious, creamy caramel center. There was […] The post Limited Edition first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Known
April 11, 2024 07:001 John 3:1-10 Separation anxiety is real. Ask any parent or teacher of young children and they will affirm that leaving tiny humans with a caregiver can be a bit of a challenge at times. Teachers are sometimes required to use the bandage approach and gently take the child from their loved one. Parents and […] The post Known first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Instant Recall
April 10, 2024 07:00John 3:9-18 Anyone with even a little formal education memorizes a lot of valuable life information: colors, shapes, math facts, sight words, formulas, famous speeches, rules of the road. All of these things are instantly recalled when needed and equip us to live life. Those of us who grew up in church most likely memorized […] The post Instant Recall first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Never Say Never
April 09, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 13:8-13 There’s a familiar expression, “Never say never” that is sometimes quoted to those who declare that they would “never” engage in a particular activity. Never is such a big, powerful, and finite word. It is five letters that join together to paint a negative perspective toward a particular situation, sometimes serious and […] The post Never Say Never first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Fine Print
April 08, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 12:31b—13:7 If you’ve ever bought a house, leased a car, or even filed for a rebate after a purchase, then you’ve encountered the legendary fine print: the famous list of stipulations and exceptions that one must agree to in order to acquire the item in question. Some are led to believe that God’s […] The post Fine Print first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Remember God Is Greater
April 07, 2024 07:001 John 4:1-6 In 1 John, the author addresses a rift within the congregation: Some believers held onto their faith and others were pulled away by a false teacher. John’s words were aimed at the remnant in that congregation—the people who remained steadfast in their faith in Jesus Christ. John states that anyone who denies […] The post Remember God Is Greater first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Fruits of Grace
April 06, 2024 07:00Hebrews 12:12-17 If I were to ask for a list of poor decisions that you have made, most of us could make a pretty significant list. Some would be small decisions—like choosing the wrong route to get somewhere on time—and others would be life-altering. Esau’s poor decision falls into the life-altering category. Esau forfeited his […] The post Fruits of Grace first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
To Know
April 05, 2024 07:00Ephesians 1:17-23 Anyone who has been married for long or has witnessed friends who have been married for long, knows that spouses know each other intimately. Married people get to know their partner’s moods, likes, dislikes, and even grunts and groans. After decades together, married couples know each other deeply. In Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul prays […] The post To Know first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
No Doubt Instructions
April 04, 2024 07:00Romans 12:9-16 Any parent who has left an older child at home to watch over younger siblings knows that they remember many of the important instructions just as they are walking out the door. Usually, the parent will quickly bark those instructions. Paul was certainly the spiritual “parent” of the Roman church. He gave strict […] The post No Doubt Instructions first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Lesson In Fractions
April 03, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 12:21-31 In 1 Corinthians 12:21-31, it becomes apparent that Paul repeats the word “part” over and over again. A quick flashback to elementary school fractions reminds us of how important each part is to understanding the whole number. There cannot be a whole number without the parts that go into it. In verse […] The post Lesson In Fractions first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Potluck
April 02, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 12:12-20 Who doesn’t love a good potluck dinner at church? Growing up, this was always a highlight for me. I would like to think that, had Paul lived in our context, maybe he would have used a potluck dinner as his example in 1 Corinthians 12. Each main dish, side dish, and dessert […] The post Potluck first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Where Do the Pieces Come From?
April 01, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 12:1-11 While reading 1 Corinthians 12, one might have flashbacks to their mother giving them a pep talk about how they are uniquely made and how their gifts help to make up the body of Christ. Our mothers were not wrong. What is most interesting, however, is that the gifts listed in this […] The post Where Do the Pieces Come From? first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Abundance of Hope
March 31, 2024 07:00Psalm 16:5-11 There are three important details about God in Psalm 16:11. God will point out the right path for us if we listen and focus on Him. When we spend time in God’s presence, we find great joy there. Pleasure will follow us into eternity. The Hebrew word in verse 11 translated “pleasures” is […] The post Abundance of Hope first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Anchored In Hope
March 30, 2024 07:00Hebrews 6:13-20 Abraham waited patiently for what he did not have—yet. Are you waiting for one of God’s promises? I received a vision of ordination from the Lord in my early 20s. I actually saw it when I closed my eyes in prayer. When I feel like chastising myself for my own impatience and perhaps […] The post Anchored In Hope first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Living Godly Training
March 29, 2024 07:001 Timothy 4:6-11 Paul agrees that physical training holds some value (v. 8). However, when we exercise our spiritual muscles, we practice not only for this life, but also for the life to come. Paul writes of good teaching in 1 Timothy 4:6. The book of 1 Timothy is a pastoral epistle written to a […] The post Living Godly Training first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Victory Through Jesus
March 28, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 15:50-58 Years ago, during my senior year in high school, I saw a notice recruiting swimmers for the high school swim team. In my younger years, my neighborhood friends and family members would spend days on end at the public swimming pool. One would toss a coin or small rock in the pool, […] The post Victory Through Jesus first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Resurrection Trust
March 27, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 15:15b-23 In Genesis 3:22, we encounter these words, “He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Death was ushered in by our first ancestor, for in Adam all die. Generations passed, the prophets came, Scripture foretold, and now […] The post Resurrection Trust first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Faith and Expectation
March 26, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 15:9-15a In the movie Breakthrough, Christian actress and singer Chrissy Metz gave a moving portrayal of Joyce Smith, a mother whose athletic high-schooler fell through the ice on Lake Saint Louis in Missouri. Her son was pronounced dead. As she went in to say goodbye, she cried out to the Lord, and He […] The post Faith and Expectation first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
The Witnesses
March 25, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 15:1-8 It’s amazing how simple the gospel is. In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he points out their stand on the gospel. He passed down the word and the Corinthian believers received it! Christ died for our sins according to the Jewish Scriptures. Jesus was buried. On the third day, He […] The post The Witnesses first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Resurrection People
March 24, 2024 07:00Colossians 3:12-17 In most western cultures, Sundays may be first on the calendar, but Mondays are treated as the first day of the week. Not so with resurrection people. We know that the first day of the week is Sunday. When churches meet on Sundays, the day of the resurrection, they begin the week in […] The post Resurrection People first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Beggars In Heaven?
March 23, 2024 07:00Acts 2:40-47 When we all get to heaven, will anyone go hungry? Will there be homeless or poor? Will there be beggars on the streets of gold? How many people will be lonely in eternity? These questions seem absurd, right? How could there be any sort of lack when the kingdom of God comes in […] The post Beggars In Heaven? first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
You Are What You Eat
March 22, 2024 07:00John 6:47-53 John tells us that Jesus’ teaching about eating His flesh cost Him dearly. Many deserted Jesus after He told them they had to eat His flesh. They did not understand what Jesus meant by His teaching. Clearly, Jesus does not expect His disciples to be cannibals; instead, Jesus knew that He would institute […] The post You Are What You Eat first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Formed By Ritual
March 21, 2024 07:00Luke 22:7-16 Jesus was a good Jew. This fact is often overlooked when talking about Jesus. We can forget that He did not seek to eradicate Judaism and He wasn’t anti-Jewish. He was seeking the fulfillment of Judaism. This means that He did not protest against Jewish holidays or rituals, but celebrated them. We find […] The post Formed By Ritual first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Examen*
March 20, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 11:28-34 Life can be busy and frantic. Living such a way can often lead to an unexamined life. We can become unaware of what is shaping us. We may read a devotional in the morning, but then all day we are inundated by ads everywhere. We may have television shows, podcasts, newscasts, and […] The post Examen* first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Remembering Jesus
March 19, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 11:23-27 In her excellent book, The Crucifixion, Fleming Rutledge points out that remembering is not merely an act of recounting an event. When we ask people to remember us in our prayers, we are asking them to pray for us. When the Israelites asked God to remember them, they were pleading that God […] The post Remembering Jesus first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Religious Eating
March 18, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 11:17-22 The Corinthian church was struggling to understand its identity. Corinth was a port city. The church, like the city, was full of people of various ethnicities, languages, religious backgrounds, rituals, and appetites. They all had their preferences, but they were also in the process of becoming the body of Christ. One of […] The post Religious Eating first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Unified
March 17, 2024 07:00John 17:20-26 Weddings have historically included a moment in the ceremony to symbolize the two becoming one. Tradition used to dictate that this was done through candle lighting, but the purpose can also be accomplished through other methods, such as using colored sand. Three colors of sand (representing Christ, the bride, and the groom) are […] The post Unified first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Saturating Life’s Messes
March 16, 2024 07:001 Peter 4:7-11 I have a rather high appreciation for a certain brand of blue dishwashing soap and sodium bicarbonate. These two items mixed with a bit of hot water and some patience covers a multitude of stains. I’ve experienced the mixture’s ability to cut through life’s messes and make it clean again. I have […] The post Saturating Life’s Messes first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Divine Guidance
March 15, 2024 07:00Romans 14:15-23 Conflict is messy. It is rough and exhausting. Conflict knows no boundaries. Conflict isn’t seasonal, nor is it restricted to a particular time of day. I don’t know anyone who would truly admit they enjoy a full-blown, all-out confrontation. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of humanity prefers peace over […] The post Divine Guidance first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Silver Linings
March 14, 2024 07:00Romans 14:8-14 I often try to find some rationale for the opposition’s actions, even if the prevailing opinion declares the actions to be not the smartest. They had a rough morning or perhaps they forgot their coffee. While I believe firmly in taking responsibility for one’s actions and that “excuses” don’t always equate to “explanations,” […] The post Silver Linings first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Declarations of War
March 13, 2024 07:00Romans 14:1-7 It’s such a wonderful thing that God created each and every one of us so differently. Every human being is a fresh new canvas covered in God’s divine fingerprints. So many varying sizes, a full spectrum of skin tones, amazing abilities, charming personalities, interesting ideas, preferred methods, differing opinions, and more. Sometimes the […] The post Declarations of War first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Unnecessary Temptations
March 12, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 8:7-13 Recently, an associate at the local grocery store was loading my groceries into my car. He began to chat about the weather and when the his shift ended. Then he volunteered something unusual: He had recently gotten his driver’s license back after some legal trouble. He proceeded to tell me that driving […] The post Unnecessary Temptations first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Known By God
March 11, 2024 07:001 Corinthians 8:1-6 I’m sitting next my daughter’s sleeping cat. Although she denies it, I feel deep in my heart that she prayed and asked God to send her that cat. She probably realized the only way she was getting a feline friend was for God to personally deliver it. (In a sense, God did. […] The post Known By God first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Closed Church Lessons
March 10, 2024 08:00Psalm 90:12-17 The little church that I attended as a child never grew much. It tried. There were Sunday school drives, revivals, and a “Christian” clown was hired once. There were “sing-spirations,” Christian film nights, and an “old fashioned” Sunday, where people dressed up in 18th-century costume. Efforts to reach the lost and troubled were […] The post Closed Church Lessons first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Lessons From Wrestling
March 09, 2024 08:00Romans 12:3-8 Wrestling fans know a “Tag Team Match” is when two wrestlers team up to wrestle two other wrestlers. Only one wrestler is allowed in the ring at a time. When the non-participating wrestlers wish to get into the action, they tag the hand of their partners to switch places. The church should be […] The post Lessons From Wrestling first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
One Point Is Needed
March 08, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 16:12-24 To be the church that God calls us to be—not going through the motions, not playing church, not even seeing a few good things happen every now and then—but to do great things for God, then we must be a singular unit. One team. One body with everyone contributing in ways great […] The post One Point Is Needed first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Jesus: The Good News
March 07, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 4:1-7 Bad news. It seems like that’s all we hear these days. It might be a devastating hurricane, another shooting, political mudslinging, or trusted Christian leaders failing. Should we be shocked that the enemy of this world is trying to thwart the work of God Almighty? The enemy is prowling about like a […] The post Jesus: The Good News first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Partnering Gets More Done
March 06, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 3:16-23 A county fair held a horse-pulling contest. The first-place horse ended up moving a sled weighing 4,500 pounds. The second-place horse pulled 4,000 pounds. The owner of those two horses decided to see what the horses could pull together. He hitched them up and found that the team could pull 12,000 pounds. […] The post Partnering Gets More Done first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Foundation Problems Are No Joke
March 05, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 3:11-15 My son Alex’s house had foundation problems. The house was settling and becoming unstable because of age and unsteady soil. The interior doors didn’t close properly. Cracks developed on some of the walls. The steps into the house were crooked. He called a company, who came to inspect and measure the damages. […] The post Foundation Problems Are No Joke first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Shallow End Believers
March 04, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 3:1-10 There were plenty of opportunities for me to learn to swim—I just never learned. At a campground that I attended as a child, my time at the lake was spent playing in the shallow waters. I couldn’t swim out to the dock like the other kids. It became increasingly unsatisfying as I […] The post Shallow End Believers first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
The Call of Creation: All For One
March 03, 2024 08:00Psalm 133:1-3 When Eve and Adam ate the apple and were expelled from the garden, God set in motion a plan to reconcile all of humanity to Godself. It is natural to wonder why God would not just destroy everything and start over. God loved us. God loves us still! The Trinity is proof that […] The post The Call of Creation: All For One first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Peace Is Not a Last Resort
March 02, 2024 08:00Ephesians 4:1-7 Over the years, there have been many attempts to establish peace in the Middle East. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and it entails much more than an absence of conflict. It describes a life of wholeness, reconciliation, and restoration. That is the “peace” God wants for us. Life is full of […] The post Peace Is Not a Last Resort first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Love Over Legalism
March 01, 2024 08:00Galatians 5:1-6 Life is ordered by rules. Most of us are comfortable with some degree of black and white. The objective of rules is to make society orderly. The church is also ordered, but not in the same way that our daily lives are. Yes, we have the Ten Commandments, and we are given instructions […] The post Love Over Legalism first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
When Love Comes Out
February 29, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 1:26-31 At the end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he widens the lens a little from talking about unity. While we need to be unified in Christ and be fools in the process, it is God who authored it all. God chose. God chose a baby and a cross to reconcile […] The post When Love Comes Out first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
A Fool For Love
February 28, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 1:18-25 Who wants to be a fool? I can think of a few people. Mother Teresa, for example, could be considered a fool for spending her life surrounded by poverty, disease, and death. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is another one, a German pastor who stood up in opposition to Adolf Hitler and was hanged by […] The post A Fool For Love first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Unique and Unified
February 27, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 1:10-17 If we are united in Christ, why is there so much division in the church? We sometimes offer the world an embarrassing look into our dysfunctional family. The truth is believers do argue and disagree about politics, worship styles, leadership, and a thousand other things. “This is normal,” you say. People are […] The post Unique and Unified first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
The Scandal of Allegiance
February 26, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 1:1-9 It is quite a challenge for us to separate the word “allegiance” from our own political leanings, whatever they may be. The term does have associations with loyalty toward a government, country, or specific cause. The church in Corinth also understood allegiance. Christians there understood that their lives and livelihoods were directly […] The post The Scandal of Allegiance first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
The Scandal of Allegiance
February 26, 2024 08:001 Corinthians 1:1-9 It is quite a challenge for us to separate the word “allegiance” from our own political leanings, whatever they may be. The term does have associations with loyalty toward a government, country, or specific cause. The church in Corinth also understood allegiance. Christians there understood that their lives and livelihoods were directly […] The post The Scandal of Allegiance first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.