Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living
1,089 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsEmbrace Holy Living
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Episodes
We Are Evangelists
May 07, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 5:8-15 I was sitting in a packed auditorium, and the man at the front was talking about the newest rollout of a popular computer software. It would be a massive overhaul of the software. Early in his presentation, the speaker shared with us his job title. He was an “evangelist” for the company. […] The post We Are Evangelists first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Making Gravy
May 06, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 5:1-7 I tried for years to make gravy. Drippings with flour and milk. Drippings with flour and water. Drippings with flour and butter and milk. Something had to work. However, for me, gravy seemed impossible. Years later, I learned that I was doing it wrong. I wasn’t working from a roux. A roux […] The post Making Gravy first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
A New Heart
May 05, 2024 07:00Jeremiah 31:31-34 In Jeremiah, we see God telling His people that there will be a day when a new covenant is made with them. We have this image of the sinful heart that has had difficulty keeping the Mosaic law being remade into a new heart that desires to know and love the Lord. No […] The post A New Heart first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Blessing of Love
May 04, 2024 07:00James 1:16-25 It has been said that the gospel can be boiled down into one word: love. We use the word love in so many contexts: “I love pizza; I love video games; I love my dog; I love my spouse; I love my children.” You get the picture. If we want to know how […] The post Blessing of Love first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Unshackled
May 03, 2024 07:00Galatians 3:11-22 There are so many wonderful hymns of the church that depict breaking the chains of sin. While we may never know what it’s like to be a prisoner to drugs, alcohol, or gambling, these are not the only vices that can tear lives apart. Envy, greed, lust, gluttony, adultery—these are no less powerful […] The post Unshackled first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Confess and Believe
May 02, 2024 07:00Romans 10:8-15 In Romans 10, Paul writes that salvation’s only requirement is that we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. The confessing part seems pretty easy to understand. We use our voice to tell people that Jesus is Lord. The words we use every day when we speak […] The post Confess and Believe first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Radical Love
May 01, 2024 07:00Romans 8:1-9 Paul is a minister of the new law, the new covenant. In Romans 8, the church is reminded that the Mosaic law leads to death. Life lived by the new law of love is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. By that power, we are able to choose a life […] The post Radical Love first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Gloriously Transformed
April 30, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 3:9-18 The new law is love and it isn’t easy. Here’s some good news: Because of the new law, we can see and reflect the one true God. As we do, we will shine bright with a glow that will not fade. Unlike the glow from Moses (the old law) that faded, our […] The post Gloriously Transformed first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Check List Holiness
April 29, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 3:1-8 Are you a list maker? Do you add things to your list just to check them off? Each check mark brings the feeling of accomplishment. The Corinthians knew about checking off lists. Paul reminded them that there was no list in existence that would lead to eternal life—not even the Ten Commandments […] The post Check List Holiness first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Pray For Each Other
April 28, 2024 07:00James 5:13-20 Are you in trouble? Pray. Are you happy? Sing praise songs. Are you sick? Be anointed with oil. Have you or others sinned? Forgive each other, confess your sins, and pray for each other. Need powerful and effective prayer? Find a righteous person. The church is a community that works together. We share […] The post Pray For Each Other first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Remember to Be Kind
April 27, 2024 07:00Ephesians 4:25-32 Ephesians 4 begins with putting our verbal house in order. Sin can start with a “little white lie.” Tempers can escalate and turn into sin by giving the devil a foothold. Core feelings such as rage or bitterness soon propel people into a life they may not recognize. It then goes deeper into […] The post Remember to Be Kind first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Accountability to Restoration
April 26, 2024 07:00Galatians 6:1-10 As I entered the bus, the man looked up, surprised to see me. It had been a while since we had seen each other, and his innocent question opened a flood of emotions. “Are you doing all right?” he asked. I was not. I had been on a downward spiral, and this Christian […] The post Accountability to Restoration first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Correction, Community, Christ
April 25, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 7:9-16 Have you ever encountered someone who enjoys being right and quickly reminds others of their incorrectness? This is not the writer’s attitude in 2 Corinthians 7. Paul takes the demeanor of a spiritual parent. In the same way that many parents find disciplining their children sad and difficult, Paul also shares this […] The post Correction, Community, Christ first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
Perfecting Holiness
April 24, 2024 07:002 Corinthians 7:1-8 Second Corinthians 7 begins with a reminder of God’s promises and the believer’s responsibility: “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (v. 1). During their teenage years, young people face many obstacles and temptations. With the advent of social media and […] The post Perfecting Holiness first appeared on Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living.
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.