1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hello and welcome to the Praying Christian Woman Podcast. 2 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: I am Alana here with Jamie. How are you. I'm 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: doing great good. I am so glad that we get 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: to get back to a more regular traditional episode. 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: It has been a while. Well, I'm so glad you're 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 2: feeling better. I know you're not even one hundred percent yet, 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 2: but at least you're better. So we are all just 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: very glad to have you back and in good health. 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. And I know that you had made a 10 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: little announcement and I appreciate everybody's prayers. I got a 11 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: really bad flu that turned into just some really bad 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: asthma complications, and yeah, it has been an ordeal. But 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: I love getting on to jump with you on these recordings. 14 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: I love that we get to chat about prayer and 15 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: months ago now, as twenty twenty five was coming to 16 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: a close, while you and I were recording an episode, 17 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: we were talking about how hard it is to incorporate 18 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: daily Bible reading into both of our quiet times and 19 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: our just daily rituals, and so we put a pin 20 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: in it, and it's taken us a little while, but 21 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: we want to have this discussion because if two women 22 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: who have been podcasting for a Christian audience about prayer 23 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: for closer to a decade than to half a decade. 24 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: Now have a problem making daily Bible reading a habit, 25 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: then that means a lot of women are going to 26 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: be having an issue too. And just like with everything, 27 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: we want to come at this without any sense of 28 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: guilt or shame. So today, instead of just jumping right 29 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: into why we need to read our Bibles more or 30 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: how to read our Bibles more, We're going to start 31 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: at the root. What are some of the things that 32 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: are keeping us from reading our Bibles more. We jokingly 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: called these bibles, but I'm not sure it's a term 34 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: that's gonna stick. 35 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: Well. Our verse of the day is a little bit 36 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 2: longer than usual. But I love this because if we're 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 2: talking about God's Word, these are not things that keep 38 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: you from reading the Bible. But this is just about 39 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 2: the Gospel itself, and I think a lot of the 40 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: same principles can apply and we can kind of glean 41 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: stuff no pun intended, from this passage. 42 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 3: So it's Matthew thirteen, the Parable of the Sewer. 43 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: I'm just going to read verses three through nine and 44 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: eighteen through twenty three. 45 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: I was wondering where the pun was going to come in. 46 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, what pun Jabi? 47 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's the parable of the sewer. 48 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess I dropped the like disclaimer about the 49 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: pun before I actually. 50 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: Told you the pun. It's like living in my own head, 51 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 3: which is how things go. 52 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 1: I do it all the time. I do it just 53 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: got all the time. Like, but I had this whole 54 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,519 Speaker 1: conversation with you in my brain. Why didn't you follow 55 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: my acquire? You actually surprised. I told you this is 56 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 1: my head five weeks ago. 57 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 2: Right, all right, So Matthew thirteen, verses three through nine, 58 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 2: and then eighteen through twenty three. Then he being Jesus, 59 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: told them many things in parables, saying a farmer went 60 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 2: out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, 61 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: some fell along a path, and the birds came and 62 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 2: ate it up. Some fell on rocky places where it 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because 64 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: the soil was shallow, But when the sun came up, 65 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: the plants were scorched and they were withered because they 66 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 2: had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew 67 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 2: up and choked the plants. Still, other seed fell on 68 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 2: good soil, where it produced a crop one hundred sixty 69 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 2: or thirty times. 70 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: What was sown. 71 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 2: Whoever has ears, let them hear, And then verse eighteen, 72 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: he explains the parable. Jesus says, listen, then to what 73 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: the parable of the sower means. When anyone hears the 74 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 2: message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the 75 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in 76 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 77 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 2: The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who 78 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 79 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 2: But since they have no root, they last only a 80 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: short time. When trouble or per secution comes because of 81 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among 82 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but 83 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 2: the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth 84 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: choke the word, making it unfruitful. The seed falling on 85 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: good soil refers to someone who hears the word and 86 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 2: understands it. This is the one who produces a crop 87 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 2: yielding one hundred and sixty or thirty. 88 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 3: Times what was sown. 89 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: You know what I didn't realize until you read this today. 90 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: This is my very favorite parable. Like yesterday, if you 91 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: had asked me, what's your favorite parable, I'd been like, oh, 92 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: I don't know, like the last Sheet just because like 93 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: it's a feel good story and it's kind of cute. 94 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: But I actually I go to this one all the 95 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 1: time in my explanation of life. I even use this parable. 96 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 1: I've used it in secular teaching about bookmarketing, like I 97 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: truly have. I've been like, our job is to write 98 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: the books, and whether or not people buy it, read it, 99 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: like it, pass it on, review it, none of that's 100 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: up to us. But that doesn't stop us from writing 101 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: the books. I love this parable, so I'm really glad 102 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: you chose it. 103 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 3: Yeah. 104 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: No, I love this parable because I am an American 105 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: and Jesus spelled it out for me. 106 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: You know. 107 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: They talk about like with movies, like a lot of 108 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,479 Speaker 2: them are European or other continents. People and other continents 109 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: are consuming movies. They prefer a little bit of ambiguity, 110 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: a little bit of non tied up loose ends, not 111 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: a you tied up with a bow. And Americans, I'm 112 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: an American. I love that Jesus just spells it out 113 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: and tells me. 114 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: What he means is what it means. That's funny. Well, 115 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: our just for fun question today is do you remember your. 116 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 3: Very first Bible? Yes? No, I think this was my 117 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 3: very first Bible. I know. 118 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: My mom had a Bible that I used sometimes that 119 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 2: was hers and it was one of the old ones 120 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: that had like the family tree and it was actually 121 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,799 Speaker 2: filled out like quite Yeah. I had that Bible still, 122 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: it was neat. But the first Bible that was given 123 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 2: to me was one of the tiny little pocket New Testaments, 124 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: and it was given to me by mister Dennison. And 125 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: he was an elderly man in our church who had 126 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: a real heart for the Bible. He was obsessed with 127 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: Noah's Ark and the cubits, and you know, he was 128 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 2: very intellectual. He liked to figure out the actual dimensions 129 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 2: and he was kind of like an engineering kind of nerd, 130 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 2: I guess, okay, But what I remember most about him 131 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 2: was he was passionate about God's word and he challenged 132 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: each of us to read the Bible every day for 133 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: I don't know how long or if it was a challenge, 134 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: it was just read the Bible every day, and so 135 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 2: I would I took it so seriously, and I even 136 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 2: still have it. 137 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: I just came across it the other. 138 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: Day in in my like my little like in my bedroom. 139 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 2: I won't call it a junk draw or it's a 140 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 2: like there's some jewelry that I don't wear often. 141 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 3: There's the Bible and a couple of other random things. 142 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: But I came across it, and it's so heaven presented 143 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: to Jamie Ireland from mister Denison. 144 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 3: And I don't remember the date. I think it was 145 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 3: like nineteen eighty six or eighty wow. 146 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I treasure it because I treasure his love 147 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: for God's Word that is so special. 148 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: Do you know without any doubt that mister Denison is 149 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: now in heaven? Like is he? Was he that old? 150 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: Or do you remember him dying? This is a really 151 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: indelicate entom. Is mister Dennison still with us? 152 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 3: He couldn't be, There's no way. 153 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: I think in nineteen eighty six he was like probably 154 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 2: in his seventies. 155 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: So I love that you have this legacy that was 156 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,679 Speaker 1: passed down to you from someone. It's not a family 157 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: heir loom. It was just somebody who was in your 158 00:07:55,160 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: life for a season who you still remember. You know, 159 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: forty years later and you still have this Bible, you 160 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: still have that impact. And let's picture mister Dennison like 161 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: thinking back on his life before he passed. My guest 162 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: is he's going to be thinking about his family and 163 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: that kind of thing. He probably didn't even think of you. 164 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: And I don't mean to make you feel bad, but 165 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: I love that he still had such a big impact 166 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: on you and probably never knew it. Do you think 167 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: that's a fair assessment. 168 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 3: I think it's absolutely a fair assessment. 169 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:39,719 Speaker 2: I picture all of us kids just kind of maybe misbehaving. 170 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 3: Or you know, fooling around or whatever. 171 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: And there are other leaders along the way that like 172 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: one of them. I actually wrote them like former youth 173 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 2: leaders when I was kind of I think they realized 174 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 2: that I wasn't one hundred percent living the Christian life 175 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: that I was should be living. And I just think 176 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: they probably felt like their efforts their teaching fell on 177 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 2: deaf ears. And even I remember when I kind of 178 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: rededicated my life to Christ writing them a letter and saying, 179 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 2: I know you probably didn't think I was listening you. 180 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 2: Probably from everything outwardly, you probably assumed that I was 181 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 2: just completely shut off. 182 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 3: But I wasn't. 183 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 2: And I go back to that to myself and just think, 184 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 2: thank you God that someday, Please God, let me see 185 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 2: like those times when I just thought what I said 186 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 2: or what I prayed was falling on deaf ears and 187 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: not making yss. 188 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: But did you never know? And I love the verse 189 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: in Isaiah where it says God's word will not return 190 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: to him void, and it has a similar picture to 191 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: me of the parable of the sower of the seed 192 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: and the seeds. It will never not grow. It might 193 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: not grow in the same spot you thought it would, 194 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: it might not grow in the same time frame you 195 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: thought it would, but it will never not grow. And 196 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: I think that's beautiful. My first Bible was given to 197 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: me by my dad. It was pink, and it was 198 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: a precious Moment's Bible. And I used to really like 199 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: precious moments. Now I honestly think they're a little bit 200 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 1: creepy looking, like those big old eyes. 201 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 3: They're cute, They're cute, but I get it. 202 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, But it was special because at the time 203 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: it was just me, my dad and my brother, and 204 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: I was not super girly like I did some girly things. 205 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: I was on the baton team, and so we had 206 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: to do you know, our hair, even more lipstick and 207 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: stuff at young ages for you know, basically like stage 208 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: makeup and stuff. But that was basically like the job 209 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: of what you did to be on the baton team. 210 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: It wasn't you know, ooh, I'm going to go out 211 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: with my mom and get my fingernails painted and I 212 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: didn't have my ears pierced. And so having a pink 213 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: Bible actually felt special to me because it was obviously 214 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: something my brother would never want. And now boys are 215 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,439 Speaker 1: totally fine with pink I go to my son's baseball 216 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: games and two thirds of the boys on the team 217 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: are wearing pinkets. Totally changed culturally back in this would 218 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: have likely been the late eighties. Like, there was no 219 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: way that my brother would have wanted anything to do 220 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: with my pink Bible. So it felt special because it 221 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: felt like mine. It came from my dad. It was 222 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: sort of a rite of passage. I grew up in 223 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: a family where emphasis was placed on the sinner's prayer, 224 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: probably a little more than we did in raising our 225 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: own children, but basically it was like, once you've made 226 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: that commitment and you've said the Sinner's prayer, then you 227 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: get a Bible of your own. So it was a 228 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: special commemorative kind of Bible as well. 229 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is really cool. 230 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: So today we're talking about these Bible blocks, which is 231 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:53,719 Speaker 1: our shortcut of talking about reasons why we don't spend 232 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: as much time in scripture as maybe we feel like 233 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: we should. So what Jamie and I have done, and 234 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,679 Speaker 1: as we have each come up with some of our 235 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: own Bible blocks or blocks we see as common Bible blocks, 236 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 1: and we're just gonna discuss them. So do you want 237 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: to take the first one? 238 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 3: Yeah? 239 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 2: I think the first one is kind of broad. It's 240 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 2: just lack of interest. And I don't mean like a 241 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 2: non Christian's lack of interest. I mean someone who's a believer, 242 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: someone who has, you know, dedicated their life to Christ, 243 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 2: but just feels like I know the Gospel, like do 244 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 2: I really need to study it? And I've heard this 245 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: argument before, like if you know the basics, you know, 246 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 2: the disciples were fishermen and they learned from Jesus for 247 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 2: a time, but they didn't like read scripture over and 248 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 2: over necessarily, Not that we know that, but I've heard 249 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 2: people say stuff like that, like why do I need 250 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 2: to read the same stuff over and over again, or 251 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: you know that kind of lack of interest or a 252 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: lack of interest of just it's boring. I think if 253 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 2: we get into kind of a Christianity where we're looking 254 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 2: for signs and wonders, we're looking for an experience, we're 255 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: looking for what we can get from our Christianity, I 256 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 2: think we can lose sight of who God is through 257 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: his word. And I think that's really dangerous, even if 258 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 2: you're in kind of the vein of you know, what, 259 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 2: prayer is so important, and I've been guilty of this 260 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 2: where I get so wrapped up and the act of 261 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 2: prayer that even recently we kind of had this discussion 262 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: like I sometimes feel like I coast on my previous 263 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: Bible knowledge and prayer becomes so much the focus that 264 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 2: it loses some of its power because I'm not constantly 265 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 2: tapped in to what God is saying to me through 266 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 2: his word, which every time I go back to it. 267 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 2: That's the evidence that I was right to question whether 268 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 2: I was reading it enough. Is when I do go 269 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: back and read it, all of a sudden, I'm like, 270 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 2: oh wow, Like God starts revealing things to me over time. 271 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, Yeah, I've had the same struggle. Well, I absolutely 272 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: spend daily time with the Lord. Why do I have 273 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: to have my Bible open to do it? And that 274 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: isn't right? And I like what you talk about with 275 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: spiritual coasting. I could definitely see stages in my life 276 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: where I have done that or yeah, relied on previous 277 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: Bible knowledge, which eventually does get rusty. And even so 278 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: it's this idea of if you're saying, I don't really 279 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: want to read the Bible because I feel like I 280 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: kind of already know everything that's in there anyway, it 281 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: doesn't have much for me. Hey, that comes across as 282 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: kind of arrogant if you really know. Yeah, and b 283 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: I think it misses the point. It's like saying, well, 284 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: I mean I've already I mean, I don't want to 285 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: get into like, you know, bedroom language. But it's kind 286 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: of like, well, I've already consummated my marriage, so I 287 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: already know what it feels like. Why bother doing this anymore? 288 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: You know, It's just that's not really the purpose. So 289 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: the point. The point isn't just to learn whatever God 290 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: has to be. The point is to draw closer to 291 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: God through his word. 292 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think another dangerous thing to do is 293 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: to rely on other people. So I find myself doing 294 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: this too, where I find a teacher that I really like, 295 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 2: or a Facebook page that I think is really cool 296 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 2: where or you know, a Bible study creator and I'm 297 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 2: not doing the Bible study. I'm just listening to what 298 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 2: they say about the Bible in clips and sound bites. 299 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 2: And I mean it is addictive to just be like, oh, 300 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: that's a great insight, and it could be biblical, which 301 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 2: is fine, but that's God speaking to them through them, 302 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 2: Like we're missing that's good. I do think it's good 303 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 2: because I think not only does it help you to 304 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: gain from what another member of the Body of Christ 305 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 2: is learning, but it helps you exercise testing against scripture. 306 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: But you're missing a point. You're missing a whole segment 307 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 3: of our walk of faith, which is the Bible is 308 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 3: living inactive. 309 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 2: It is more than a double edged sword dividing soul 310 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 2: and spirit, joints and marrow. You know, we're missing the 311 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 2: personal conviction of God's word that comes through reading it 312 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 2: and the joys of you know, learning new things. I 313 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 2: will say, so, I had a very strange thing happen, 314 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: and I want to hear what you have to say 315 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 2: about this, because I still don't know, really, and GPT 316 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: had no idea. He couldn't tell me, he couldn't tell 317 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 2: me what it meant. So I was at this point 318 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 2: of feeling very like drawn to read God's word, and 319 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 2: I was starting to pray, and I just had this impression, 320 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: you need to go to the Bible. 321 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 3: So I go into our living room. 322 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 2: And I have there's an old Bible up on the shelf, 323 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: and I pull it out and it's one of these 324 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: things where I didn't know where to look, and so 325 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 2: I was like, Okay, I'm just going to open it up. 326 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 3: So it opens it up, and it's. 327 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: This obscure passage in Ezekiel that talks about two harlots who. 328 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: Are like hoaring the land, one. 329 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: Horse with the Assyrians, one horse with the Babylonians, and 330 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 2: you know, and I'm just reading it, like, am I 331 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 2: the harlot? 332 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 1: Right? Who's the harlet? Is it mean? Is it me? 333 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 2: And I'm just like trying to this, and of course 334 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 2: I come back to Okay, you can't always just open 335 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 2: it randomly and expect God to speak. And I really 336 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 2: did try to read between the lines and see what 337 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 2: it can. 338 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 3: You know, couldn't figure it out. 339 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,879 Speaker 2: This A couple weeks later, the same thing happened where 340 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 2: I felt led to read the Bible. That Bible happens 341 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 2: to be on her bookshelf right near where I was, 342 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 2: so I stopped for a minute and it opens to 343 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 2: the same thing and either a that Bible is worn. 344 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 2: I mean there were no like markings or anything, but 345 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 2: maybe it's just a fold that. That's what I've kind 346 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 2: of come to think probably happened. Was It's just there's 347 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 2: there's a worn out opening to that page. 348 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: M hm. 349 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 2: Or God has something for me, and I really prayed 350 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 2: for wisdom, and I'm like. 351 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 3: I am being humble. 352 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 2: Maybe I am in some way in my life being 353 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 2: dishonorable or straying. 354 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 3: So I don't know what are your thoughts. 355 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: So I like, I was going to make a silly joke, 356 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: but you beat me to it about like, I know 357 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: exactly what this is telling you, and it's that your 358 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: Bible is worn to this one spot. But on the 359 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: one hand, I think we need to be careful. Do 360 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: you know the joke about the man who played Bible Roulette. 361 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: That's kind of what some people call this saying, where 362 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: you just like, open up I have not. Let me 363 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: see if I can get it right. A man it's 364 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 1: really really wanting to the no God's will for his life. 365 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 1: So he says, God, please tell me what I'm supposed 366 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: to do. And so he says, I'm going to open 367 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: up my Bible and whatever verse my eyes land on, 368 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: I am going to obey you one hundred percent. And 369 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: so I don't have the verses right in front of me. 370 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: Someone have to paraphrase. But he closes his eyes. He's 371 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 1: having this real intense moment with the Lord. He opens 372 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: up his Bible and he dramatically puts his finger on 373 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: the page and it lands on the verse that says 374 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: and Judas went out into a field and hung himself, 375 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: And so he shuts his Bible. He's really really scared. 376 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: He's like, God, I really don't think that this is 377 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: what you're telling me to do. And I should preface 378 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: this that obviously, you know, actually self harming is not 379 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: a joke at all. This joke has nothing to do 380 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: with that and everything to do with reading more into 381 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: one verse out of context. But this man is so distraught. 382 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: He's like, Okay, God, I'm just gonna pretend that that 383 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: wasn't the real verse, and let's just try it again. 384 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: And so he does the exact same thing. He prays 385 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 1: really really hard, he closes his eyes, he opens up 386 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: the page. He's a little more nervous this time. He 387 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: points to the verse and then he like opens one 388 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 1: eye and it says, and Jesus looked at him and said, 389 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: go and do likewise, No, that's how I felt, right right. So, 390 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 1: on the one hand, we need to be careful about 391 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: reading too much into coincidental Bible verses. On the other hand, 392 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: God's Word is living and active, and I have had 393 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: a couple experiences. I will share two experiences with you. 394 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: One of them was right after Scott and I had 395 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: met and Scott had It was all long distance at 396 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: this point, and it was like the first conversation that 397 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: turned learns to hey, should we prayer fully consider entering 398 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 1: into it? Courtship is kind of the wording that we 399 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: were discussing. And I got really really nervous, and so 400 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: I went and talked to my friends. She's like, well, 401 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: sometimes and I don't know what to do. I just 402 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: open up my Bible and point to a verse and 403 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: see what happens. So I'm like, Okay, maybe I'll do that. 404 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:26,200 Speaker 1: And the verse that I pointed to was the verse 405 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 1: where Jesus is walking out on the storm and the 406 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: disciples are terrified and Jesus says, take courage. It is 407 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: I do not be afraid, And that spoke volumes to me, 408 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,120 Speaker 1: and I knew that I needed to be careful that 409 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: that one verse out of context did not mean that 410 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: everything from my life from that point on needs to 411 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: hinge on that. Right. It's really important that if we're 412 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: looking at a verse or a passage out of context, 413 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: that we feel like God has specifically for us that 414 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: we all so No, it has to align with other things, 415 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: and it has to align with God's full picture of 416 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 1: what he teaches in his word. It has to align 417 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: with agreement from other believers. Like, there are so many 418 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: checks and balances. So never make a life decision based 419 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: off of one finger pointed at one verse, is what 420 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: I'm saying. But can God use that? I think he can? 421 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: Can God use that for confirmation? I think he can? 422 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: Can It be dangerous? Absolutely? You know. That's the other thing. Now, 423 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: what your story reminds me of is something that happens 424 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,679 Speaker 1: to me this summer after I graduated college, and for 425 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: people who listens to our three part episode on True 426 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: Crime Junkies about fleeing my abuse of church, you know, 427 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: like it was a pretty tumultuous time in my life. 428 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:56,159 Speaker 1: And what happened to me then was I was just 429 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: randomly walking with some friends and I said to one 430 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: of them, you know that story and judges, about that 431 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: judge who's like supposed to sacrifice his daughter because he 432 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: told God that the first thing that came out of 433 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: his door he was going to burn at the altar? 434 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,640 Speaker 1: What's that all about? And I have no idea why 435 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: that story popped into my head, And my friend was 436 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: just like, oh, but for some reason, I think we 437 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: were on a hike with a group from church. For 438 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: some reason the moment it popped into my head, I 439 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: couldn't get it out, and we didn't have cell phones 440 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: or I could just google it, like what is this? 441 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 1: What does this mean? And even that story has various interpretations. 442 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: Some people believe that it's a warning against making foolish vows. 443 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: Some people don't believe that he did kill his daughter. 444 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: Some people believe that his daughter became a perpetual Virgin, 445 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: Like there's a lot of stories and a lot of interpretations. 446 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: But at this point all I had, I didn't even 447 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: a Bible with me. All I had was like, yeah, 448 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: I remember this really weird story and I can't figure 449 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: it out, and it bothers me that I can't figure out. 450 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:12,639 Speaker 1: So this whole heike, I'm like, this story is so weird, 451 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, it felt as obscure as that one in 452 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 1: Ezekiel about why in the world am I thinking about 453 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: like two harlots, you know, like why would God put 454 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: this in my head? So then after this hike was 455 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 1: I think it was like a Sunday afternoon hike followed 456 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: by a Sunday evening church service. And at this point 457 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: I was with a friend going to their church and 458 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: so we got there a little early and I see 459 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: this big church library. So I'm like, oh, perfect. So 460 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: I go to the concordance section. I go to Judges, 461 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: and like it was such a big collection of concordances 462 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,199 Speaker 1: that like, I think even the Book of Judges was 463 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:56,479 Speaker 1: divided into a couple different volumes. The one that I 464 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: needed was missing, Like every single other volume was there 465 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: except the one I needed. Like God, I am convinced 466 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: that you are trying to teach me something from this story, 467 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: and yet the book that would explain it to me 468 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 1: is missing what gives And my friend knows that I've 469 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: been kind of mulling over this story all day. We 470 00:25:17,359 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 1: get to the evening church service. It's my very first 471 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: time at this new church. The pastor gets up guess 472 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: the sermons about really yes, which is I'm sure why 473 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: the was missing because the pastor was using it for research. 474 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: And what I took was so I was obviously I 475 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: was listening. I was so ready for God to give 476 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: me like this chakaina glory, like my life is going 477 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: to change from this second on, and it really wasn't 478 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:52,119 Speaker 1: anything like that. Basically, the takeaway that I got was 479 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: do not offer God a sacrifice that he hasn't asked 480 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:02,360 Speaker 1: you for, and it was I think it's a profound 481 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: truth to live by. It did apply to certain things 482 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: in my life, including my relationship with Scott, which at 483 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: that point have been put on hold. It wasn't quite 484 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,240 Speaker 1: what I expected, though. It wasn't the one thing that 485 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: now I knew exactly what I was gonna do with 486 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 1: the rest of my life or anything like that. But 487 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 1: I have gone back to that lesson before, like, oh yeah, 488 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: like God really wanted this to be driven home and 489 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: we do not sacrifice something to God that he hasn't 490 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:36,200 Speaker 1: asked you for. So I would encourage you, like, maybe 491 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 1: it just is that that's where your Bible falls. Maybe 492 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: maybe have one of your kids open it's, like, hey, 493 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: open it to random erse and tell me what it isn't. 494 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 1: If it's that one, then your coup probably be like, Okay, 495 00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: I think it's just the Bible, but maybe God does 496 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: have something for you in it. And I guess kind 497 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,479 Speaker 1: of like my story, that doesn't necessarily mean it's going 498 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: to be the most dramatic Bible verse you've ever read. 499 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: It might just be a oh, here's the reminder to 500 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,679 Speaker 1: be praying for this thing, and you're like, okay, thanks God. 501 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: Who knows. It's a mystery how God works. 502 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:10,080 Speaker 2: It is, But I just thought it would be fun 503 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 2: to share that because it is. It's a real struggle, 504 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 2: and I think one of the I mean to lead 505 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 2: us to another Bible block. 506 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 3: Sometimes we don't know where to start. Sometimes we just 507 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 3: don't know where to begin. And so that was my 508 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 3: first block that I was saying Sorry, that's a segue. 509 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 3: It's not I didn't steal that, that's. 510 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: A It was a perfect segue. Yeah, And it is 511 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: this question of where do I begin. What I will 512 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 1: often do is I'll be like, Okay, I'm going to 513 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:42,520 Speaker 1: become more regular with my Bible study, so that probably 514 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: means I need to choose a book of the Bible 515 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: and then I need to read through it. You know. 516 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: So I kind of have it in my head that 517 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: the right way to actually study the Bible is you know, 518 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: you have your system, you have your reading this, and 519 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: then you get distracted and you're like, oh, well, where 520 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: was I Does that mean I need? You know, let's 521 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: say you want to read through the entire New Testament, 522 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: so you start at Matthew, and then you get distracted. 523 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:06,719 Speaker 1: In five weeks later, you're like, ooh, does this mean 524 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: I need to start over at the beginning to Matthew? 525 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 1: But I've already read that part, but I don't remember 526 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: exactly where I was. And then all of a sudden, 527 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: you're just paralyzed from decision fatigue, kind of like when 528 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: you walk into a store that's just too big and 529 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: you just don't even know. 530 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, like I think to begin. 531 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think about a brand new homeschooler going to 532 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: the Idea fair that's like the big homeschool curriculum fair 533 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 1: in Alaska. It's like you don't even you don't know 534 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: what you it's so overwhelming, And sometimes approaching the Bible 535 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: can feel that way. I don't know that I've got 536 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: the perfect. 537 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 2: Antidote to that deal, no other than well, I mean, 538 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 2: I guess there are a couple of things, but you know, 539 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 2: you could, like you said, start like either a formal 540 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 2: Bible study where you're going through day by day and 541 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 2: it's marked out for you, or devotional that has Bible 542 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 2: versus and so then you don't lose your place because 543 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:08,600 Speaker 2: you're bookmarking, or just a personal read through. But no, 544 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 2: I honestly, I think the more regular you become, the 545 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 2: less lost you'll feel. 546 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 3: Probably maybe, but not always. 547 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it could turn into one of those things 548 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: where there's actually not a right formula, like there's not 549 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 1: a right order. So I think about all of my plants, 550 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: and I think about how I would need to instruct 551 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: somebody on how to take care of them if they 552 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: were going to house it for a couple months or 553 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: something like that, and people who haven't ever taken care 554 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 1: of house plants would feel really intimidated because I have 555 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: a lot and they are special to me, so I 556 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 1: would feel sad if they weren't taken care of. But 557 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: it's also not like the dogs, where it's like, well, 558 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: you get them their food. They're in the office. I 559 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 1: can't actually use the word at five pm. And you 560 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: do it in this room in this way, and you 561 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:16,280 Speaker 1: give them this command so they know that it's time, 562 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: and you know. It's more like, well, you see if 563 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:26,959 Speaker 1: they need water, and then you give it to them, 564 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: you know, And that can be intimidating. And I think 565 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:35,479 Speaker 1: one of the Bible blocks that I absolutely have is 566 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: along the same lines. And I have had it pounded 567 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: into my head that there is a right way to 568 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: study Scripture and a wrong way, and the right way 569 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: is much more intellectual and much more structured. It is, 570 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: as I have learned, and I don't believe this, but 571 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: what I've learned is it's wrong to just open up 572 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 1: the Bible to a random spot. You have to have 573 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: a system, you have to have plan, and it has 574 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 1: to be for your intellectual edification. I have it in 575 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: my head that it's wrong, or it's maybe like you're 576 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 1: a second class Bible scholar if you are reading the 577 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: Bible for inspiration and not for education, because then you're 578 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: just one of those like frillly girls who likes to 579 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: feel good, you know. And that is absolutely there in 580 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: my head. And I think the antidote to that is 581 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: what we've talked a lot about for prayer. And there's 582 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: not a right way you need to find what works 583 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,800 Speaker 1: for you. All of these things that have pounded into 584 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:43,640 Speaker 1: my head is the right way are from the pastors 585 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 1: and teachers and people that I have known who that's 586 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: the right way for them, because God has wired them 587 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: to be intellectual and God has wired them to be 588 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: systematic about it. And that's not how God has wired me. 589 00:31:57,160 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: God has wired me to create the beauty of His word. 590 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: So I love Isaiah. It is Isaiah and Psalms are 591 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 1: probably my two favorite books of the Bible because it's 592 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: beautiful language, it's poetic, it's grand and lofty, and those 593 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: are the things that draw me and speak to me. 594 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: And so I think there also can be a need 595 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,719 Speaker 1: to ask yourself what are you looking for from your 596 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: Bible study? And you might be thinking that you need 597 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: thing A when really your soul is craving thing W. 598 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 1: And so there might be a very big gap between 599 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 1: what you think your Bible study should look like and 600 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: what God actually designed you for. Have you found a 601 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: block like that in your own life? 602 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. 603 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 2: I mean I tend to look up to people who 604 00:32:54,800 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 2: are very regimented and disciplined. And Carol Holmes podcast interview 605 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 2: that we did today, she was talking about how she 606 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 2: is very disciplined and doesn't find it difficult at all 607 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 2: to wake up at five am and have an hour 608 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 2: and a half quiet time like she doesn't. That's how 609 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 2: God made her and wired her. She recognizes not everyone's 610 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:23,120 Speaker 2: wired that way, but she believes that God had plans 611 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 2: for her that involved her being very disciplined, very organized, 612 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 2: very regimented to be able to accomplish the things that 613 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: He had for her. So I tend to envy people 614 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 2: like that. I feel like you and your prayer life 615 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 2: and your Bible reading. I think of the scripture journaling 616 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,680 Speaker 2: that you like to do, of actually writing out the 617 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 2: scriptures in a journal. That is so foreign to me 618 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 2: to be able to do that and stick with it, 619 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 2: and to you, I'm guessing that's just the way you 620 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 2: like to do it. I'm sure there's an element of 621 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 2: discipline involved. You can speak to this and we'll probably 622 00:33:58,120 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 2: talk about it more in the how too's of different 623 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 2: way to incorporate the Bible into your life. 624 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 3: But do you find that difficult? 625 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:10,040 Speaker 1: Well, this brings me to a Bible block that's more 626 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 1: unique and definitely not a universal one, and that is 627 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 1: physical limitations. If I get my strained, if I read 628 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: a Prince Bible, which is what I used to love 629 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:25,680 Speaker 1: to do, and I also love, like you said, writing 630 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: out Bible versus, but I get carpal tunnel. So that 631 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:34,359 Speaker 1: is one of my Bible blocks I feel like has 632 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 1: kept me away from bibling the way that I most enjoy. 633 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: I love writing out scripture. It's not for everybody. It's 634 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 1: definitely not something to feel jealous of people who do it. 635 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 1: It's also definitely not something that you have to do 636 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 1: it beautifully. I don't do it to post on Instagram 637 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 1: or anything even remotely like that. I don't do it 638 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: to look nice. I do it because the act of 639 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:05,319 Speaker 1: slowing down and writing the verses out seals it in 640 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: my head. But I don't think that that is the 641 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 1: way that everybody has to do it. I think it's 642 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,640 Speaker 1: worth trying. If that's appealing to you and you like that, 643 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: I think it's a great way. Especially what I was 644 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 1: finding is I was rushing through because I can read 645 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 1: really fast. And this is another one that falls under 646 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 1: physical limitations that I think more people can relate to. 647 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:31,399 Speaker 1: We have all become skin readers, yes, you know, and 648 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 1: so it is physically hard for some of us to 649 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 1: train our eyes to read one line at a time, 650 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:43,680 Speaker 1: and by writing out Bible verses, you have to train 651 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: yourself to do that, and you have to train yourself 652 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:50,120 Speaker 1: to slow down. So I encourage people to try it, 653 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: but I also don't feel like it's going to be 654 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: for everybody. Some people are going to be like, Okay, 655 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 1: I could get the exact same thing by reading this 656 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: verse and not have to waste all this extra time 657 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: writing it out, or some people will get a hang 658 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,680 Speaker 1: up of I need to make this look perfect. So 659 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: now all of a sudden, you've bought yourself like five 660 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: hundred dollars or so journaling supplies and a two hundred 661 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: dollars calligraphy class. And that's not really what I'm saying either, 662 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: so yeah, I think we have to go to find 663 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:24,239 Speaker 1: what works for you. And honestly, between you and me 664 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: and however other many people are listening. Because of these limitations, 665 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: I haven't found that thing that works for me as 666 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:31,680 Speaker 1: well yet. 667 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. 668 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 2: Well, I would say one of my blocks involves envying 669 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:39,879 Speaker 2: people like you who enjoy and are good at doing 670 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:43,840 Speaker 2: that kind of extensive writing, or being like Carol who's 671 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,759 Speaker 2: just not hard for her to set those goals and 672 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 2: meet them. Waking up at five am and having a 673 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 2: full hour and a half before the kids get up 674 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:57,719 Speaker 2: to spend time with God. I have not had consistent 675 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:01,320 Speaker 2: success with any of that, And one of our blocks 676 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 2: as humans, I think, is trying to emulate people who 677 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:09,439 Speaker 2: are different from us because it seems so exotic, like ooh, 678 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:11,799 Speaker 2: I could only be one of those that do that. 679 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 2: And so I think one of the blocks just is 680 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 2: inherently focusing and wanting to be something you're not, when 681 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,680 Speaker 2: the antidote is to focus on what are my strengths, 682 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:26,840 Speaker 2: What is my learning style, what is my motivation style? 683 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 3: What am I good at? What do I love doing? 684 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:30,879 Speaker 1: What form of. 685 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 2: Consuming God's word or reproducing God's word or whatever it is? 686 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 2: What form of celebrating God's word and infusing myself with 687 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:41,799 Speaker 2: it brings me joy and comes. 688 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 3: Easily for me. 689 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:45,759 Speaker 2: Not that we shouldn't stretch ourselves at times, because I 690 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 2: think there are times when it's important to try to 691 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:51,400 Speaker 2: grow in different areas. But for the most part, I 692 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 2: think most of us err on the other side, which 693 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 2: is wanting to emulate other people that are different from 694 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 2: us and not appreciating or celebrating what we do. 695 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 1: Well. Yeah, I'm taking off my co host hat. I 696 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:04,200 Speaker 1: am putting on my best friend and prayer partner hat. 697 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:08,120 Speaker 1: I want to dig into this with you. So when 698 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:13,719 Speaker 1: you feel jealous of somebody, I love to find the 699 00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:15,799 Speaker 1: seed of that. And this could even take us back 700 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: to the analogy that you came up with for the 701 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,719 Speaker 1: trees and the roots of anxiety. So the trees and 702 00:38:20,760 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: the roots of your envy. For a minute, when you 703 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,400 Speaker 1: look at somebody who wakes up at five and spends 704 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:29,400 Speaker 1: an hour and a half in Bible study, or you 705 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 1: look at somebody who has a systematic way of writing 706 00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:38,839 Speaker 1: out Bible versus, what exactly is it about those practices 707 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:39,840 Speaker 1: that you envy? 708 00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:41,480 Speaker 3: What aspect of it? 709 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 2: Because it feels like such an offering. It feels like 710 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 2: a sacrifice that shows devotion to God and gives God 711 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:55,440 Speaker 2: first fruits, because it's like, I'm not just reading this 712 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 2: real quick to check it off a list. I'm writing 713 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:02,440 Speaker 2: out slowly. I'm doing it more than once. I'm making 714 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 2: a habit of this. So there's an element of discipline, 715 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 2: which to me represents extreme sacrifice because routine and discipline 716 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,600 Speaker 2: like repetition, doesn't come easily for me. So I'm like, well, 717 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:19,120 Speaker 2: that has to be a huge sacrifice. And same with 718 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:23,240 Speaker 2: getting up early. It's I do long for time alone 719 00:39:23,239 --> 00:39:25,480 Speaker 2: with God. And now in this season of my life, 720 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,120 Speaker 2: I have one kid in college. I have two who 721 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:30,879 Speaker 2: go to school at least for a few hours during 722 00:39:30,880 --> 00:39:34,040 Speaker 2: the day, so I do have access to that time 723 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:36,320 Speaker 2: now and I love it. I love my middle of 724 00:39:36,360 --> 00:39:39,719 Speaker 2: the daytime with God when I have it. But there 725 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:42,799 Speaker 2: was a time when I would have had to get 726 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:47,799 Speaker 2: up at five am to have alone time, and I didn't. 727 00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 3: Consistently do it. Yeah, So did that answer my question 728 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:51,640 Speaker 3: or did? I? 729 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:55,200 Speaker 1: Like? No, it did, and I no. I even jotted 730 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:57,400 Speaker 1: down some notes. So my next question for you is 731 00:39:57,440 --> 00:40:00,560 Speaker 1: going to be like, here's what you're wanting. It's a 732 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,160 Speaker 1: way that we can find for you to get that 733 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 1: that's not necessarily waking up at five right, So here 734 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:08,160 Speaker 1: are some of the phrases that I wrote down. The 735 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:12,200 Speaker 1: idea of first fruits, the habit and the discipline and routine, 736 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:15,959 Speaker 1: doing it slowly, not just checking it off a list 737 00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:18,799 Speaker 1: or not just rushing through it. And this idea of 738 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:20,240 Speaker 1: sacrifice or time. 739 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:20,880 Speaker 3: Alone with God. 740 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:26,080 Speaker 1: Those are the seeds that I hear your soul craving. 741 00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:32,560 Speaker 1: So next the question becomes, how can you find what 742 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:36,399 Speaker 1: you're truly seeking, which isn't a five am wake up call? 743 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:42,000 Speaker 1: How can you find this focus and slow alone time 744 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:44,320 Speaker 1: with God that feels like you're giving him the first 745 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,319 Speaker 1: fruits of your time that doesn't feel rushed in a 746 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 1: way that fits your personality and your schedule. Does anything 747 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:52,520 Speaker 1: come to mind right away? 748 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:53,040 Speaker 3: Yeah? 749 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 2: I think my mentality has kind of become when the 750 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:01,600 Speaker 2: kids are gone, that's when I have to do podcast 751 00:41:01,680 --> 00:41:05,839 Speaker 2: stuff or work or whatever, you know, things that are 752 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:09,920 Speaker 2: like quote unquote work related, whether it's ministry, work, whatever. 753 00:41:10,360 --> 00:41:16,800 Speaker 2: And so I have lately been not taking that time 754 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:20,040 Speaker 2: to spend with God. So I could say the first 755 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,239 Speaker 2: thing I do when the kids go to school is 756 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:27,080 Speaker 2: spend time with God and maybe set a timer to 757 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:31,680 Speaker 2: go off at a time or whatever, and determine an 758 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:34,160 Speaker 2: amount of time. That's not just a check off your 759 00:41:34,200 --> 00:41:36,399 Speaker 2: list kind of thing, but just to spend time with God. 760 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 2: That's one thing, is just creating time for him. It 761 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 2: doesn't have to be five am, but it can be yeah, 762 00:41:43,680 --> 00:41:47,160 Speaker 2: eleven twenty, and that's okay. And it doesn't have to 763 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:49,200 Speaker 2: be every day. It doesn't have to look the same 764 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:52,439 Speaker 2: every day. And I think that could be another Bible block. 765 00:41:52,480 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 2: It's like, well, until I can commit to waking up 766 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:57,279 Speaker 2: every day at five point thirty and having an hour 767 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,520 Speaker 2: and a half of undistracted time with god's not worth it. 768 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 1: Right. It's a all or nothing mentality. And what we're 769 00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:07,680 Speaker 1: talking about is kind of the physical fitness equivalent of 770 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:10,160 Speaker 1: you don't need three hours of the gym and day. 771 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,719 Speaker 1: You can start by just taking the stairs instead of 772 00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:18,760 Speaker 1: the elevator, right, start by adding little bits of Bible 773 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:25,560 Speaker 1: into your already packed day and realizing, okay, this I'm 774 00:42:25,600 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 1: going to ruffle a couple feathers. But I know I've 775 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:32,840 Speaker 1: said this before on the podcast. There's nothing that says 776 00:42:33,000 --> 00:42:37,239 Speaker 1: that you must open your Bible every twenty four hour 777 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:41,279 Speaker 1: period to be in good standing with the Lord. Yeah. No, absolutely, 778 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:47,080 Speaker 1: there's everything about obeying God's word, fearing God's word, revering 779 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:51,000 Speaker 1: God's word, meditating on God's word that means you have 780 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:55,200 Speaker 1: to be reading it, but that doesn't have a set time. 781 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:57,480 Speaker 1: And I think another block for people like you and 782 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 1: me who are in Christian miniattree is sometimes we feel like, Okay, 783 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 1: I did my Bible reading by preparing this post. I 784 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:11,000 Speaker 1: did my Bible reading by doing this praying through the 785 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:15,400 Speaker 1: Psalms the biggest reason, because in my brain I was like, 786 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:17,759 Speaker 1: wouldn't it be fun? Back when you and I were 787 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:21,879 Speaker 1: thinking about Instagram and we were toying a tiny bit 788 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 1: with the idea of doing more with our praying Christian 789 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:28,000 Speaker 1: women Instagram, there was a time where I entertained the 790 00:43:28,120 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: idea of maybe kind of fun to write beautiful Bible 791 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,440 Speaker 1: verses and post those on Instagram. But I knew the 792 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:38,880 Speaker 1: second I got into that it would become performative, and 793 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:41,520 Speaker 1: it would become I have to and it wouldn't become 794 00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:44,400 Speaker 1: a discipline in a way to spend time with God. 795 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:47,080 Speaker 1: And so I was like, Nope, even even if it's 796 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 1: the best idea in the world just not going to 797 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:53,520 Speaker 1: go that way. I think that's partially why I have 798 00:43:53,640 --> 00:43:59,200 Speaker 1: deliberately not allowed it to turn into an artistic discipline. 799 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:01,640 Speaker 1: I think I would have fun doing that, but I 800 00:44:01,719 --> 00:44:05,160 Speaker 1: think the minute I got all the fancy art supplies 801 00:44:05,200 --> 00:44:07,600 Speaker 1: and that kind of stuff, it would completely shift it. 802 00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:10,840 Speaker 1: And that's not to say that for somebody else that 803 00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:13,960 Speaker 1: would be the absolutely perfect way to get back into scripture, 804 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:16,960 Speaker 1: or to get into scripture, I just do. For me, 805 00:44:17,560 --> 00:44:21,560 Speaker 1: that would turn into a bigger block than a help. 806 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:25,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, which is a great segue into our next episode 807 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:28,279 Speaker 2: if you stay tuned, because the next episode we're going 808 00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:31,919 Speaker 2: to be talking about kind of creative ways to incorporate 809 00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:36,000 Speaker 2: scripture into your daily life. And if you've listened to 810 00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:39,360 Speaker 2: us three times, you probably know that it's going to 811 00:44:39,480 --> 00:44:43,640 Speaker 2: involve not trying to be like someone else and knowing 812 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 2: yourself and like you said, what's good for you isn't 813 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 2: necessarily good for someone else, and vice versa. Like to 814 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:53,840 Speaker 2: really get to know yourself and give yourself permission to 815 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:58,160 Speaker 2: think outside the box and to maybe learn from other 816 00:44:58,200 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 2: people and get ideas from other people, maybe put your 817 00:45:00,680 --> 00:45:02,040 Speaker 2: own twist on it or not. 818 00:45:02,320 --> 00:45:06,319 Speaker 1: You know exactly well. With that, we would love to 819 00:45:06,440 --> 00:45:10,759 Speaker 1: leave you with our blessing and benediction. May God look 820 00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:12,920 Speaker 1: down from heaven and here when you call on him. 821 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:15,319 Speaker 1: May He grant you the righteous desires of your heart 822 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:18,600 Speaker 1: and answer all of your honorable petitions. May the Holy 823 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:20,800 Speaker 1: Spirit teach you to pray as you should and grant 824 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:23,040 Speaker 1: you the faith to enter His throne room with courage 825 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 1: and confidence. May He lead you into a spirit of 826 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 1: humble prayer every day, and may He answer you in 827 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:29,359 Speaker 1: your time of need. 828 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:34,000 Speaker 2: And our benediction comes from Psalm nineteen fourteen. Let the 829 00:45:34,040 --> 00:45:36,279 Speaker 2: words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 830 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:39,400 Speaker 2: be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord, my Strength and 831 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:48,080 Speaker 2: my Redeemer. Do you love true crime but feel like 832 00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:51,360 Speaker 2: it's a guilty pleasure because of the swearing and explicit content. 833 00:45:52,239 --> 00:45:54,600 Speaker 2: If so, I can't wait to tell you the good news. 834 00:45:55,360 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 2: Alana and I just launched our brand new podcast, Christian 835 00:45:59,280 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 2: True Crime Yunkies, a squeaky clean crime show for believers. 836 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:04,799 Speaker 3: Each week we. 837 00:46:04,800 --> 00:46:09,160 Speaker 2: Bring you unforgettable testimonies of survival, stories of justice, and 838 00:46:09,280 --> 00:46:14,640 Speaker 2: tales of redemption. And yes, sometimes plain old murder, always clean, 839 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 2: always from a Christian perspective. Listen to Christian true crime 840 00:46:19,640 --> 00:46:23,480 Speaker 2: Junkies today. Wherever you listen to podcasts, and don't forget 841 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:26,360 Speaker 2: to follow us. New episodes come out every week and 842 00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:33,600 Speaker 2: you don't want to miss out. We'd like to take 843 00:46:33,719 --> 00:46:35,600 Speaker 2: just a quick second to thank the team at Life 844 00:46:35,600 --> 00:46:38,799 Speaker 2: Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. If 845 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:41,640 Speaker 2: you get a lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens 846 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:44,440 Speaker 2: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 847 00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:48,120 Speaker 2: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. 848 00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:53,759 Speaker 2: That's life audio dot Com.