1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adam's, 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, others, 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 2: and even yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: with all of our heart's soul, mind and strength, and 7 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves, whether through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: or biblical truth. My hope is to encourage you to 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 2: love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Laura l Smith 11 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: to the show. Laura is a speaker, podcaster, and best 12 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 2: selling author of numerous books, including her newest release, Brave Women, 13 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 2: Mighty God. Thirty Things you Can Do. In this encouraging 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 2: and truth filled book, Laura points us to the stories 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: of women in scripture, women who faced fear, uncertainty, and hardship. 16 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 2: Yet we're empowered by God to rise up, speak truth, 17 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 2: and live with courage. Through their example, she reminds us 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: that the same Mighty God who worked in their lives 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 2: is still at work in hours today, equipping us to 20 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 2: be brave right where we are well, hello Laura, and 21 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: welcome to The Love Offering Podcast. I'm so happy to 22 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: have you, Rachel. I'm so excited to be here. 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me today. 24 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: So I'm gonna be really honest from the get go. 25 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: I'm a whimp. I'm scared of bees, of mice, of heights, 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 2: of tight spaces. I'm telling you, if people are like you, 27 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: want to go Scott having no thank you. I just 28 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: not consider myself brave in most respects, but maybe in 29 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 2: others I would. As we start today, would you say 30 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: that you have always considered yourself brave or is that 31 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: something you've grown in? Okay, first, I'm going to tell 32 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 2: you you're braver than you think. 33 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: You know that first? 34 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 2: Why I need today's conversation right. 35 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: Because you have started a podcast, you have lived in 36 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: an RB, You've done some things that took a lot 37 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: of courage. Yeah, so I know that you're braver than 38 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: you think. Second of all, I would have never called 39 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: myself brave. I like you, I'm terrified of mice, but 40 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: also would have considered myself more of a timid person 41 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: and not a risk taker. But the thing is, it's 42 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: not that I'm actually that brave. It's that the Lord 43 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: makes me brave, and when we realize what he can 44 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: do for us, what he will do for us, what 45 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: he wants to do for us, that we can step 46 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,839 Speaker 1: into the things that take courage because we're not doing 47 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: it in our own strength, We're not doing it in 48 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: our own might or our own wisdom, or because we're 49 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: so connected. We can do it because we have the 50 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: God of the universe on our side. 51 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. No, absolutely, I said all that well, kind of 52 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: in jest. There was a lot of truth to that. 53 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 2: But I do think that the things that God has 54 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 2: called me to do, I think because I have been 55 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: so fearful and so scared and feel so I'm inadequate 56 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: in my own strength, it has made me more reliant 57 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: on Him because I know who I serve, and so 58 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 2: being obedient has taken a lot of courage and a 59 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: lot of bravery to do what He's called me to 60 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: do that I don't feel like that I'm naturally equipped 61 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: to do. And so that's why I'm so excited about 62 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 2: today's conversation. But we're going to take a brief break 63 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 2: to hear a word from today's sponsor, and when we 64 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 2: came back, we'll talk about stories of women in the 65 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: Bible and how their courage can shape our own. Well, 66 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: welcome back. I'm talking with Laura el Smith about her 67 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 2: book Brave Women, Mighty God. And in your book, you 68 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: highlight women in the Bible like Ruth, Abigail and Priscilla, 69 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: women who faced real challenges and unknowns. Honestly, how did 70 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: you even choose? I feel like every woman in the 71 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 2: Bible was super, super brave, So how did you even 72 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: like condense it down to the few that you did? 73 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: For sure, that's a hard one. I started with my favorites, 74 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 1: you know, the women who I just adore and whose 75 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: stories have shaped my life and inspired me for years. 76 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: And then I just kind of started going on a 77 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: scavenger hunt, and every time I opened the Bible, I 78 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: just had on my radar for women. And I even 79 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: discovered some women who I didn't know, which was super cool. 80 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: I was like, who is she? Like why why did 81 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: I not know about her? And just kind of as 82 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 1: I was writing, I wanted to represent a large variety 83 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: of women. So I've everyone from a woman living in poverty, 84 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: single mom, you know that range, to a woman who's 85 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: a queen, like the Queen of Sheba, who's like one 86 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: of the richest people, most powerful people in the world 87 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: at that time. So to show how God empowered and 88 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: equipped women of all walks of life, in all different 89 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: stages of life. I wanted to represent just different women 90 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: because today we're all in different stages, and we're all 91 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,679 Speaker 1: in different spaces and life, and we have different challenges 92 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: and different things. The Lord, as klin is to be 93 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: brave in, and I wanted to show, like, look, God 94 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: empowers and equips this woman and this woman, and this 95 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: woman and this woman and this women, so their stories 96 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: apply to our stories. And I just wanted to give 97 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: a broad range of different gals with different issues so 98 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: that we could see how that applies to us. 99 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, you know, we all face situations that feel 100 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: intimidating or overwhelming. So for the woman listening who feels 101 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 2: afraid or unsure, what does it practically look like to 102 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: choose bravery in those moments? 103 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's truly relying on the life Lord 104 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: and non on us. So one of my favorite verses 105 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: in a Versa just came to mind over and over 106 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: as I was writing this book is Ephesians one nineteen 107 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: and can I just read it out loud for a moment. Yeah, Okay, 108 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: so this is Paul writing to the church in Ephesus. 109 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: But he says, I also pray that you will understand 110 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe 111 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: in him. This is the same mighty power that raised 112 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: Christ from the dead and seated him in the place 113 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Okay, 114 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives 115 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: in you and me. So there are things that I'm 116 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: afraid of all the time. I'm afraid to post something 117 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: on social media because who am I to say that 118 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: I started seminary this fall? Who am I to start 119 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: grad school at my age? Because I haven't been to 120 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: school in decades. You know, I ran a half marathon 121 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 1: this last year. Who am I to do that? I 122 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: had never run more than six miles before. I think 123 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: if we make all of these excuses, I know we 124 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: do myself, friends of mine, women I'm around, make excuses 125 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: as to why we can't do things. Those excuses are 126 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: usually driven by fear. Yeah, but when we look at 127 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: what we're afraid of, the same power that raised Jesus 128 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: from the Dead lives in us, so we can conquer 129 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: those fears again. Not because I'm so cool, I'm so brave, whatever, 130 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: but because God is with me, and if it's something 131 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: he calls us to do, then He's going to make 132 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 1: sure that we have what we need to get it done. 133 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: You know, I've heard before they say that there's like 134 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: three hundred and sixty five verses about do not fear 135 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: in the Bible because we knew how much we were 136 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: going to fear, right. I mean, fear is a pretty 137 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 2: and feeling that we have probably most days about something. 138 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 2: Fear of failure, fear of a situation, fear of people, 139 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 2: fear of rejection, like the list could go on and 140 00:06:58,320 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: on and on, couldn't it. 141 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely? And the truth is, when we think about all 142 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: those fears, if we actually stop to think about them, 143 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: most of the time, it's the enemy telling us to 144 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: be afraid of something so we don't step into what 145 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: God has for us. Like would the enemy love it 146 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: if we didn't start a small group in our home. 147 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: Wouldn't the enemy love it if we didn't reach out 148 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: to our neighbor. Wouldn't the enemy love it if we 149 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: didn't take that class, Like, of course he would, because 150 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: we wouldn't be growing our faith, growing the kingdom, growing community, 151 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: loving our neighbors like the enemy would love those things. 152 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: So he's going to make us feel like, well, like 153 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: what if it's embarrassing? What if they don't like us? 154 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: What if they say no? What if no one shows up? 155 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: Because he wants to stop the good work we're doing 156 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: and the good things God is calling us into. So 157 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: I think it's really important to think about those fears. Okay, 158 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: so what if no one shows up? 159 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 2: All right? 160 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: So you don't actually have the small group that week? 161 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: All right? Like so what right? Like what if your 162 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: name it's the worst thing? I actually want to go 163 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 1: on a walk with you? Fine, call someone else, Like, 164 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: I just think the fears that we have once we 165 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: stop to actually be like, why are we actually afraid 166 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: of that? What's the worst thing that could happen? So 167 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: often helps us see that's actually done. I mean, trying 168 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: to stop me from doing good work for the kingdom. 169 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's good. 170 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: I don't want him to have a place in this decision. 171 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: That's right. He wants to keep us stuck one hundred percent. Okay, 172 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 2: So you write about how God meets us not in 173 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 2: just the big life changing moments, but in our everyday 174 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: lives and while we're doing ordinary things. So how can 175 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: we become more aware of His presence and power in 176 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 2: those daily moments. 177 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's so important to remember that He 178 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: is with us. Twenty four to seven. Read an incredible 179 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: book this Fall called With by Sky Jathani. I highly 180 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: recommend it. It's all about how God's greatest desires to 181 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,719 Speaker 1: be with us. And actually, if we think back to 182 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: the Garden of beading, like God designed humans to walk 183 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: and hang out with them in the garden every day. 184 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: That's his grand plan, and every time we mess it up, 185 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: he just tries to get us back to that. The 186 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: rest of the Bible is just got just trying to 187 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: get back to a space where He can hang out 188 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: with us. And how beautiful is that. But that means 189 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: He cares about every detail in our life, about the 190 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: carpool and the changing the diapers and run into the 191 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: sports games, and the packing the snacks, like folding the laundry. 192 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: He cares about all of that. But we see it 193 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,080 Speaker 1: in women in the Bible. We have both Rebecca and 194 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: the Samaritan, women were literally going to the well getting 195 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: their water for the day. That's like Eswandakroger. I mean 196 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: they needed water every day. Like I'm sure most of 197 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: us stop by the store at some point most days, 198 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: like to get something right or pop on Amazon whatever. 199 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: That was their daily chore to get the things they 200 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: needed for their homes to go correctly. And that is 201 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: where the Lord met both of them. So I think 202 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: sometimes we're just like we're doing the things and they 203 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: become mundane, and they sometimes even become burdensome. But just 204 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: to pause and remember that the Lord is with us 205 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: and all those things and be like, oh wow, like 206 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: cares about what I'm making for breakfast today, and he 207 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 1: cares about the fact that I washed these clothes for 208 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: my family so that they have clean clothes like that, 209 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: He cares about all that. It's so beautiful and it 210 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: changes the narrative on everything we're doing. 211 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm just thinking about how he's so gentle and 212 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: patient with us too. And you know, sometimes we read 213 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 2: these stories in scripture and you're like, I could never 214 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 2: do that, whatever that may be, because we can compare 215 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: our lives to these really big characters of people that 216 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 2: save nations talk to kings or went to battle or whatever. 217 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 2: We forget that they spent years shepherding in fields and 218 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 2: there were all these daily, ordinary moments that God was 219 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 2: building up their character and their attributes and all the 220 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: things for that really big moment. Does that make sense 221 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: when I'm trying to say, like, for sure, God is 222 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 2: building that in us too, but it's just harder to 223 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: see it in the moment, do you think No? 224 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: I think that's very true. I think that's totally true. 225 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 1: We do have to put in all the reps to 226 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: get to the big moments, for sure, and all of 227 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: us will only have a couple of like those kind 228 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: of moments in our lifetime. But it's the building the 229 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 1: faith and the joy and the rest of them. But 230 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: truly it's those little moments that really is where life 231 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: has lived. I think if we worry too much about 232 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: the time we're going to save the day or win 233 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: the battle or whatever like, those are important, but it's 234 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: really in the day to day that we get to 235 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,719 Speaker 1: experience to love that Jesus has for USI Gracie has 236 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: for us, and then we get to shine it out 237 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: to others. I think we do read about like esther 238 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: taking down a genocide, and we're like, wow, she was cool, 239 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 1: Like she was so brave. But then there's a woman, 240 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: Zarah Peth's widow who literally she's starving to death. She's 241 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: making the last meal for she and her son. She's 242 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: a widow, she's raising this boy, and the prophet Eliga' 243 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: is like, oh, no, make a meal for me. She's like, 244 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: I don't have enough food for you, but he's like, 245 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: do it, and so she does. And it ends up 246 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: that she has enough grain and water to continue to 247 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: make food to get Elijah and her son and her 248 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: through an entire famine. All she's doing is bacon, a 249 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: loaf of bread. Guys, she's not Indiana War. She's not 250 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: taking down the bad guy. She's making dinner. And it's 251 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: just a loaf of bread. It's not a big dinner party, 252 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: it's nothing fancy. But she sustains her son, who she 253 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: loves her own life, and the prophet Elijah so he 254 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: can go on to do the God's good work simply 255 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: by making dinner with the two ingredients she has in 256 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: her pantry for a very long time. So I think 257 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 1: it's important to remember that the things we're doing we 258 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: don't even know what kind of impact they'll have, And 259 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: what if it sustains our family for another day, just 260 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: by giving them hope, or that somebody saw them today 261 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: or someone asked them a question when they felt like 262 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: nobody cared. What if that is our life's work price God, 263 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: if we can sustain our families like that. 264 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 2: I love that you simplify it in that way. And 265 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 2: I love that Scripture includes both examples, the one of 266 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: the a queen and the one of a widow, and 267 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: both mattered and we get to read and being inspired 268 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 2: by both. So okay. For the women maybe listening that 269 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 2: feels stuck in patterns or cycles that they don't know 270 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 2: how to break, what encouragement would you offer her? Somebody 271 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: that wants to step into something new but feels maybe 272 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 2: held back by their past. 273 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the first thing I would tell you 274 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: is Jesus loves you so much right now, very where 275 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: you are, and he's not ashamed of you, he's not 276 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: judging you. There's no condemnation for those of us in 277 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: Christ Jesus, so hear that and actually receive that like that, 278 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,839 Speaker 1: something that's happened in the past does not define who 279 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: you are in the future. Jesus does if you let him, 280 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: And he promises that he has good plans for us, 281 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 1: that he has a hope and a future for us, 282 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: that he will direct our steps, that he has an 283 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: abundant life for us. So this is what he's offering us, 284 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: which amazing. So first, it's thus this mindset of like 285 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: what where I was, what happened, what the circumstances were. 286 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: Don't have to define what's next, because the same power 287 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 1: that raised Jesus from the death lives in me, and 288 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: my Lord adores me. And second is he has abundance, 289 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,599 Speaker 1: He has goodness for us. He promises his goodness and 290 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 1: leve will follow us all the days of our lives. Okay, 291 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: so how do I go from here to here? And 292 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: I honestly think the best way is to start by 293 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: spending time with the Lord. I mean, spend time in prayer, 294 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: telling him all of it. The Psalms show us we 295 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: have full permission to scream on them for what the 296 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: past was, to tell them why we feel like we're stuck, 297 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: to show them we don't know what's next, we don't 298 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: know a door to open, where to go, how to 299 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: get there? Talk to him about all of it. And 300 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: I don't mean one time, I mean talk to him 301 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: about it. Also, you can surrender surround yourself with good 302 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: Christian community, whether that's one friend or three friends who 303 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: you can kind of start saying this is where I 304 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: think I need to go, this is where I feel stuck. 305 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: Do you have any advice? Can you pray for me? 306 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: Use some secrete resources they want to help you and 307 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: love on you. And then thirdly, I think you actually 308 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: need to make that take that first step. And it 309 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be huge. It can be sending a 310 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: text to someone. It can be signing up for the class. 311 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: It can be asking someone to meet you for coffee, Like, 312 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: do the first thing that you're learning from your time 313 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: with the Lord that seems practical from your internet search, 314 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: that you feel like aligned with God's plan for you 315 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: in your life, actually get the ball in motion that 316 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: you might not solve it today, but just just take 317 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: the first step. 318 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it does, and maybe I think we get 319 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 2: braver as we go. I remember, even when I first 320 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 2: started the podcast, I was scared to death. I would 321 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 2: read everything to make sure it was perfect, and then 322 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: I would edit and edit and edit and edit and 323 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 2: I still want to steward everything well and I want 324 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 2: to do everything with excellence, but I was almost afraid 325 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 2: to be myself and afraid to mess up and afraid 326 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: to not look perfect. And then I realized that that's 327 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 2: not sustainable, and that's really not even what the audience wants, 328 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 2: because we are human and they're human too, if you 329 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: don't want to listen to somebody that's perfectly curated or 330 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 2: fake almost and so, but now eight years later, it 331 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: has gotten easier. My armpits aren't as sweaty, and my 332 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 2: heart's not beating as past and my mouth's not as dry. 333 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: And so I think just taking that first baby step 334 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 2: and seeing okay, God showed up for me and it 335 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: was okay, makes the next step and the next step 336 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 2: easier and easier. 337 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: Do you think, amen? And that can mean like if 338 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: you're out there thinking, oh, I've always wanted to start 339 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: a podcast, but I don't know where to start. Pray 340 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: about it, talk to some prints about it, buy yourself 341 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: a microphone on Amazon. Take that first step. Just buy 342 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: the microphone. That's your step one, right, Google, that's how 343 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 1: to start a podcast. Send a message to someone you 344 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: know who has a podcast. Do that first thing. And yes, then, 345 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: like you said, then you have this kind of courage like, well, 346 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: I have a microphone now, so maybe I should do 347 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: the next thing. Or I did that Google search, or 348 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: I had that conversation like what's the next thing after that? 349 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: And yes, God will continue to equip and empower us 350 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: as we go every baby. 351 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: Thinking what is the next step God is asking me 352 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 2: to take? And we're going to take a brief break 353 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 2: and you can think on that, and we're going to 354 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 2: hear a word from today's sponsor, and when we come back, 355 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 2: we'll talk about prayer, comparison and how to live courageously 356 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: in the life that God has given us. Welcome back. 357 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Laura el Smith about her book Brave Women, 358 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 2: Mighty God, and we were just talking about taking the 359 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 2: first step, and so I think that really does start 360 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 2: with you mentioned prayer, and in your book you talk 361 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 2: about women like Hannah who poured out their hearts in prayer. 362 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 2: So how does prayer strengthen us and help us walk 363 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 2: bravely in difficult seasons? 364 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: Sure, I think prayer always reminds us, first of all, 365 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:24,880 Speaker 1: who God is. He is so mighty and so powerful 366 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 1: and so good, and he loves us so much. So 367 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 1: time in prayer reminds us who is actually on our side. 368 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 1: And then it also reminds us who we are. We're 369 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: his beloved daughters. He's he died for us. That's who 370 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: we are, the ones he would do anything for. So 371 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: when we pray, we can remember this is who's on 372 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: our side and this is who we are. And that 373 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 1: makes me braver just in those two things, before I 374 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: even know what the next step is or before I 375 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: know if it will ever be fixed, heeled solved, whatever. 376 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: Just knowing that this beautiful, perfect, loving, incredible god who 377 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: created the four season and who created gravity and who 378 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: created the solar system, like that he is on my 379 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: side and that he loves me and endors me and 380 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: would do anything for me. I'm like, okay, so what 381 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 1: if I start the podcast and no one listens. I 382 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: still have the God of the universe loving me like 383 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: it just it takes away some of the fear and 384 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: makes gives me courage to try something. What if I 385 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: reach out to that someone and they don't respond. Okay, 386 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: the God of the universe still listens to me anytime 387 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: I talk to him, So I think prayer just reminds 388 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: us again who God is and who we are in him, 389 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 1: and it just it just changes everything. 390 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 2: So often it's like we feel like we have maybe 391 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 2: one puzzle piece, but we don't know what the whole 392 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 2: puzzle is going to look like. And I think that's 393 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: what's so challenging, is like we may feel this the 394 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit leading us in a direction and asking us 395 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 2: to be brave and whatever that is for each specific 396 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 2: person listening right now, but you don't have to have 397 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 2: all of the answers like you just talked about. It's like, Okay, 398 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 2: you know the one thing that you're supposed to do, 399 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 2: and so just be obedient. Talk to us about the 400 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 2: role that obedience plays in this whole scenario. 401 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's huge, right because God is inviting 402 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: us into these things, and He's given us free will 403 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: to choose if we want to step into it or not. 404 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: He's saying, I have something better for you today. You 405 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: get to choose if you want it or not. You 406 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: might have to take a risk, you might have to 407 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: put yourself out there. You might have to get out 408 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: of your comfort zone or try something you haven't done 409 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 1: before that might cost you time or money. But do 410 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: you want this abundant life? And we get to choose, 411 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: and the obedience of saying yes, Lord, I want to 412 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: do what you call me to do because you always 413 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: know better. And I can look back on my own 414 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: life and see over and over again, and most of 415 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: us can. And we call this remembrance stones and Bibles speak, 416 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: but of times that God has been faithful before, things 417 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: that I was like, Okay, God, I don't know if 418 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: I should do this, but I'll try it. And He 419 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: totally showed up. And I don't know how to have 420 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: this conversation, and he gave me the words, and I 421 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 1: don't know if I can move or change churches, or 422 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: leave this job or whatever the thing is. And God 423 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: showed up again and again and again. So I think 424 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: it's it's stepping into what He has for us. And 425 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: it could just be taking that one tiny step, or 426 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: it could just be diving in, depending on your personality 427 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: and your circumstances. But then also remembering how He's been 428 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: there in the past helps us be obedient in the 429 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: future because it's like, oh, well, he showed up, he 430 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: always says, so of course I can do this again. 431 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 2: We've talked a lot about fear, But I want to 432 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 2: talk about the reward because every time I have been 433 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 2: brave and I have been obedient, obviously I'm hopefully pleasing 434 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 2: the Lord in that, but almost every single time, I'm like, 435 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: I'm so glad I did that, because if I hadn't, 436 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have experienced this. So talk to us about 437 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 2: when we are brave, what's possible? 438 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 1: Sure? I mean, I think if if we are brave 439 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: with the things the Lord calls us, let's be clear, 440 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: necessarily sky diving it might be, but I'm just very clarification. Yes, 441 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: being brave in the things the Lord calls us to 442 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: do creates the most beautiful things because what he's calling 443 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: us to do is something that's going to make the 444 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: world a more eden like place, like this is his goal. 445 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: So if we step into those things, of course it's 446 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: going to be cool. I mean, but you can look 447 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: at women in the Bible, everyone from Jayelle who has 448 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 1: like the bad guy come to her tent and she 449 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: has to take a tent peg to kill him, like please, no, 450 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: thank you. I don't want him coming to my house. 451 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: I don't want to have to grab a sharp object. 452 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to do any of those things. So 453 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: she takes down the bad guy, which takes down their army, 454 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: which like frees their nation. Okay, like that was probably 455 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: worth it, even though it sounded awful. And you know, Rebecca, 456 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: this teenage girl going to the well to get water 457 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: for her family, and some man comes up to her 458 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: and says he's a distant worker for her relative, and 459 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: here's some jewelry, and will she moved to a whole 460 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 1: nother nation to marry this distant relative. Sounds scary, sounds 461 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: like some and I'm not interested in And she does, 462 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: and she becomes the family line that Jesus comes from. 463 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: Like the things that God calls us to do are 464 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: beautiful and again, like our lives don't necessarily look like that, 465 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,120 Speaker 1: but they don't have to. What if the brave thing 466 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: God is calling you to do is start a Bible 467 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: study at your workplace that takes courage. What if it 468 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: changes one woman's life? Huge reward? What if you make 469 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: your new best friend? Huge reward? Right? Like, what if 470 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: it's just all of a sudden it makes the workplace 471 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: more pleasant for you? Huge reward? Right? We don't always 472 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: know what God has in store, but if he's calling 473 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: us to it. It means there's goodness there. 474 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we may not know it until the future. 475 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 2: And you know, we need to be obedient and brave 476 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 2: regardless of the outcome. But I do think that the 477 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,640 Speaker 2: more often than not we can experience God's goodness in it. 478 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 2: For sure, talk to us about comparison, because I think 479 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 2: comparison can often keep us from fully stepping into who 480 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 2: God created us to be because we're thinking, well, I'm 481 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,919 Speaker 2: not doing that, so this doesn't really count or whatever 482 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 2: it may be. So how can we bravely embrace our 483 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,679 Speaker 2: unique calling instead of measuring ourselves against others? 484 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 1: Yes, I think it's so important. Comparison is such a 485 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: trap and it always has been. I mean it was 486 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 1: when I was growing up, but I now with social 487 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: media and listen, I love Instagram. It's so much fun. 488 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: But also the comparison trap is real and we can 489 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: start saying, well, she's doing this, and she has this 490 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: many followers, and she went on this vacation, and her 491 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: kids are doing this, and she has this kind of 492 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: a marriage, or she even has kids. If you don't 493 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: have kids and wish you had kids, or you know, 494 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: the comparison can be ridiculous. But the truth is that 495 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,719 Speaker 1: Jesus made us eat uniquely and beautifully and cause us 496 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: as masterpieces. We know that He knit us together and 497 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: our mother's wombs and put us in our specific places. 498 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: And only you can do the good work God calls 499 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: you to do like no one else can do it. 500 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: The Bible we see Mary and Martha, two sisters who 501 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:04,680 Speaker 1: were both doing really good work. And I know their 502 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: stories get tangled up sometimes on how these are presented, 503 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 1: but I've done a lot of research on them. And 504 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: Martha like killed it in hospitality. She is like the 505 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: Martha Stewart of her day. She made Martha start Martha 506 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: Stuart right, like she would have had a show on 507 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: HGTV and on the Food Network. Like she was awesome 508 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,360 Speaker 1: at hospitality and that was so important in their culture. 509 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: Everybody in the room knew Martha was killing it. Everyone 510 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: in the room was like, oh my gosh, she is 511 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: the best. And Mary decides to do something that women 512 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,919 Speaker 1: didn't usually do, which was to sit at the feet 513 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: of a rabbi to learn, and Jesus said what she 514 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,479 Speaker 1: did is awesome too. So they're both very different. They 515 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: were both serving the Lord. Martha was serving him through hospitality, 516 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: and Mary was serving him by learning from him and 517 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,679 Speaker 1: then teaching others what she learned from him, and they 518 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: were both really important. We see later in the Gospel's 519 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: Word it says Jesus loved Mary and Martha. He loved 520 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: them both, he adored them both. And I think we're like, oh, 521 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: I should be more like Martha. We did this on 522 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: our own, Like my house should look better, my yard 523 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: should look better. I should decorate better. I should be 524 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: cooking those meals I saw all those people on Instagram 525 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: making or we're like, we wish we were more like Mary. 526 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: I wish I knew more verses in my Bible. I 527 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: wish i'd had quiet times like that Gal. Like, again, 528 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: we're supposed to serve the Lord. How we're supposed to 529 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 1: serve the Lord, and in the ways that he calls 530 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,200 Speaker 1: us to, and he loves all of us, and he 531 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: loves us how he made us, and how Rachel spends 532 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: time with the Lord probably doesn't look like how I 533 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: spend time with the Lord. And that's awesome. So I 534 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: think it's just really important to be like, hey, what 535 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: he has for you is so beautiful, and exactly what 536 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: he has designed for you, and he probably wouldn't even 537 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: find joy or thrive if you actually had what that 538 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: other person had. 539 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, I agree with that, and I agree with 540 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 2: everything that we've talked about today. But I want to focus. 541 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:56,719 Speaker 2: I feel like I have led the direction to focus 542 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 2: so much on us and women, and there is such 543 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 2: a role for us to play to be brave. But 544 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 2: I want to really make sure as we start to 545 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 2: come to a close that we are focusing on the 546 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 2: Mighty God, because that is who is directing us, that's 547 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 2: who speaking, that's who's with us. Like you talked about 548 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,120 Speaker 2: at the very beginning of the show. I mean, God 549 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 2: created the entire universe and he is victorious. We know 550 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 2: that in the end. And so that's the kind of 551 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: God who is with us. So talk to us about 552 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: this mighty God who is going to help us to 553 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 2: be brave when we are afraid, and to do it 554 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 2: do what he is leading and directing us to do. 555 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:35,880 Speaker 1: For sure. So our Mighty God is the one who 556 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 1: split the Red Sea into Our mighty God is the 557 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: one who raised from the dead and who raised other 558 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: people from the dead. Our Mighty God can create earthquakes 559 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: and rainbows in the sky and sunsets and sunrises every 560 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: morning that are so stunning they take our breath away. 561 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 1: And this is the God who is equipping and empowering us. 562 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: So he is also the god who can and give 563 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: you the words in the hard conversation. He is the 564 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: god who can give you the connection, who will eventually 565 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: get you the job interview, or help you find the 566 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,479 Speaker 1: right house in the right neighborhood. If you are really 567 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,239 Speaker 1: just craving community and you don't have one right now, 568 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,360 Speaker 1: start praying him and asking him to give you community. 569 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,719 Speaker 1: Where can you start? What class can you sign up 570 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,119 Speaker 1: at your local library or local gym or something to 571 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: start meeting people? Ask him to show you. How can 572 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: you speak out more boldly about him? Ask him for courage, 573 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: ask him for words, ask him for opportunities. How can 574 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:35,120 Speaker 1: you heal a broken relationship? Ask him to step in 575 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 1: where you can't, and to give you grace where you 576 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: need it. Like he is for you and not against you, 577 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: and he only wants goodness for you. It doesn't have 578 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,160 Speaker 1: to depend on you. Second, Corinthing's twelve nine tells us 579 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: his grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect 580 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 1: in our weakness. So he knows that we're not perfect. 581 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 1: He knows we have weakness. But that's this beautiful opportunity 582 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: for his power to sweep in and do what it does. 583 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: You know, things feel overwhelming. I know it feels like 584 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: too much, and you don't know where to start and 585 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: how you're going to change this. And this is not 586 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: how you thought things would look. But the God of 587 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: the universe, like the one who created irises. Have you 588 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 1: seen those flowers are so crazy beautiful and so unique, 589 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: and butterflies that come out of caterpillars and literally not 590 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,679 Speaker 1: just our solar system, but so many of them. He 591 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: is someone who wants to help you. I think when 592 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: we remember that it's a great writer, it doesn't depend 593 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: on us. It never has, it never will newsflash, it 594 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: never well. So when it feels out of your control, 595 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,000 Speaker 1: it is. But it's in God's control. So turn to him. 596 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: He wants to help, He wants to be there for you. 597 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: He wants goodness and Love's that's his aim. 598 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 2: So this season, I've been asking all of my guests, 599 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 2: is there a biblical concept of love that you think 600 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 2: applies to this topic today? 601 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: To every listener out there, Jesus loves you so much 602 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: like he wakes up thinking about you, and the Bible 603 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 1: tells you he's numbered every hair in your head, and 604 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: that he actually has your name written on his hands, 605 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: like if he how to phone, you would be his screensaver. 606 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: He loves you so much that, of course he wants 607 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: goodness for you, and so will he ask you to 608 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: step into some hard things sometimes, of course, but his 609 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: end game is goodness for you. Think of somebody who 610 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 1: you love, and what do you want for them, whether 611 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: that's your kid or your spouse, or your sister or 612 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: your mom. Like you want goodness for them, you want 613 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 1: health for them, you want friends for them, you want 614 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: joy for them, you want peace for them. Jesus loves 615 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: you a million times more than the person you love most, 616 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 1: so he wants all those good things for you. And 617 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: because he wants those good things for you, he will 618 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 1: empower and equip you to take the steps you need 619 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 1: to take to do them to get to them. 620 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: Yes, yes he will. Well, Laura, tell us something you 621 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: are loving right now. 622 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: Something I'm loving right now as going for runs in 623 00:29:48,080 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: the wood with woods with worship music. In my years, 624 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: this to me is like the best part of my day. 625 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: I get to be outside. I get to spend time 626 00:29:55,880 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: with the Lord. I get to move my body and 627 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: get fresh air, and it just feels like it just 628 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: feels like a blessing. And I'm not a fast runner 629 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: by any means. I just love to be out there, 630 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: and so to me, this brings me so much joy 631 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: and it's just such a sweet time to spend with God. Yeah. 632 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 2: Are you training for another race? 633 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 1: No? I so, I told Rachel before we started recording that. 634 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 2: Sorry, I'm like continuing our conversation. 635 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: We went to go see my daughter who ran the 636 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:24,960 Speaker 1: Boston Marathon last weekend. She's amazing. I am not a 637 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,400 Speaker 1: marathon runner. I can run a half marathon. I did 638 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 1: say that at again, that I'd run a half marathon. 639 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: But I'm not training for anything right now. I'm just 640 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: enjoying it, just for fun. 641 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 2: Enjoying it just for fun. Yes, just for mental health, 642 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 2: physical health, emotional health, spiritual healthcare. 643 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: Amen, we're all overall health. Amen. 644 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:43,160 Speaker 2: Well, well, Laura, I no, I want to stay connected 645 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 2: with you. I'm sure listeners are going to want to, 646 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 2: so tell us how we can best do that and 647 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:48,520 Speaker 2: purchase a copy of your new book. 648 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 1: Sure, So, I'm a Laura Smith, but there's a lot 649 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 1: of Smiths out there, so it's Lara Smith author on Instagram. 650 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: On my website is also Laura Smith author and you 651 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: can find all the things there. My book Brave I'm 652 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: an Mighty God is available on Amazon and anywhere else 653 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 1: where people sell books. 654 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 2: Well, would you do us the honor of praying for 655 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: us as we close today? 656 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,719 Speaker 1: It would be my pleasure. Oh Dear Jesus, thank you, 657 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: Thank you for loving us like you do. How the 658 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: sweet is it that you want to be with us, 659 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: You want to spend time with us, You want goodness 660 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: and love for us and all of our days. Thank 661 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 1: you for being that kind of a good, good father, 662 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: of a savior, of a comforter who has always guiding 663 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,960 Speaker 1: us towards goodness. Help us believe that it's true, Lauren, 664 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,440 Speaker 1: Help us not disbelieve it with our heads both our hearts, 665 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: and that we can believe so fully that you're for 666 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: us and that you are with us, that we can 667 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: be confident that we have a holy confidence to step 668 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 1: into the amazing things you have for us, not in 669 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,680 Speaker 1: our own mind, but in yours Lord, for the good 670 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 1: of the people around us, and for your glory and 671 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: your Holy name Jesus, I pray Amen. Amen. 672 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 2: Laura, thanks for joining us today and helping us to 673 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 2: remember that we can be brave women because we serve 674 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 2: a mighty God. 675 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for having me, Rachel. 676 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering podcast. 677 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation reminded you that you are not 678 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: alone in what you're facing. The same God who empowered 679 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 2: the women of scriptures with you now, strengthening you, guiding you, 680 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: and equipping you to live bravely for his glory. If 681 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 2: you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend and 682 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 2: leaver of you. It helps others find the show and 683 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 2: spreads the message of love even further. To connect with me, 684 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 2: visit me on my website at Rachelkaadams dot com, where 685 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 2: you can download the Love Always Devotional, a free resource 686 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 2: to help you realize how beloved you already are. Be 687 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 2: sure to check out Brave Women, Mighty God Thirty Things 688 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 2: You Can Do by Laura L. Smith. A special thank 689 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 2: you to Life Audio for supporting this podcast and making 690 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 2: it possible. To find more great podcast visit lifeaudio dot com. 691 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 2: Until next time, let's make our lives an offering of love,