growing in god

Welcome back for Part 2 of Growing Pains! Your growth in Christ matters now and for eternity.

Have you ever endured a season of stripping? We're talking about when God literally removes  everything from your life that brings you comfort to build your character, bring you closer to Him, and to show you what it truly means to be rich. No one is ever really prepared for the stripping process. It can be painful, but the outcome in you and lessons learned can be beautiful. Join Eric and Tacondra in a candid conversation about their seasons of loss and the lessons learned to help you understand that when God begins removing things from your life it's not because He's mad at you. 

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Our adversary comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and one way he does that is to whisper lies in our ears. He points his ugly finger in our faces and lets the accusations fly. In this episode, Lynndey and Casey chat about a time when they have both found themselves under the weight of the enemy's lies, and how they found victory in remembering Who has the final word. When we are grounded in The Truth we walk in the ultimate freedom, and the accusations of the enemy are rendered powerless.

Scripture:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   John 10:10

Saying goodbye to the year behind us in a healthy way is so important! Our host share their personal ways of letting go to move ahead. Confession is the first stop, which is saying, this is what I’ve done well this past year, and what I haven’t. Their second self- reflective stop centers around forgiveness. We ask God, who it is that I still need to forgive, then actively choose to divorce ourselves from the hurt caused by others, with no expectation of something in return. Next stop, identity. As we reflect on who we are in God and who He is, our feet will stand on the firm foundation that God provides His children. As we lean ahead we go next to the Nitty gritty, the daily action steps that we need to put in motion to realign the things that last year allowed to misalign. Last stop, it’s time to DREAM! Dreaming with God is asking Him what He has for you in the next year ahead.  

Scriptures Referenced:

Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty. Prov 14:23 

But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matt. 6:15

They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Gen 37:19

**This episode is one of our earlier recordings, therefore the sound quality is more uneven. We felt, however, the content was rich and meaningful, and decided to share it anyway. Thank you for extending grace in our imperfections, and thank you for listening!**

God gently leads us through the seasons of our lives, little by little. God gave the children of Israel only as much manna as they needed for the day. David said, your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, meaning, at each step God shows where to go and what to do. But, very often in life, we want to see the whole map before we are willing to take one step. However, God wants us to learn how to live life dependent on Him, for each season that we find ourselves in. It’s as we learn to follow His lead step by step, little by little that we can embrace the fullness each season holds.

Scripture Reference:
"Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and you inherit the land."
Exodus 23:30

Sometimes in life it is a sacrifice to turn our attention towards God in thankfulness and praise. However, Psalm 100 tells us it’s through thankful declarations that we can press through any circumstance and enter His presence where fullness of joy is found. And surprise, science agrees with God! It’s been proven that those who have a grateful attitude enjoy an increased feelings of happiness and hopefulness.  

Scripture Reference: Psalm 100
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Identity has become a huge topic today, inside and outside of the church. While we may celebrate and promote what we do, we have forgotten who (and Whose) we are. In this conversation we take it back to the Garden of Eden to look at the simplicity of man’s identity. We discuss the beauty and freedom found in knowing we were made to be God’s children, fully dependent upon Him.


Scripture References:
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces are never covered in shame.
Psalm 34:5 

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:8-14

The roots of a tree hold it fast in place, so that when the storms of life blow it won't be moved. The most distinguishing thing about roots is that they grow underground where it isn't obvious to people what's happening. In our culture it's sometimes challenging to do the work that no one can see or appreciate. Even in the church we tend to be fruit focused, which is good, but our fruit will only be as good as our roots. Join us today as we discuss the importance of having roots and the ways and reasons in which we can grow deep in God.

Scripture References:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness."  Colossians 2: 6-10

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." Psalm 1: 1-3

This is the season where God is calling his prodigals back. His loving eye is always on us, just as a father keeps his eye on His child. God will never stop waiting for us to come back home no matter how far we’ve gone. His eyes 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, his heart 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒈.

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We weren’t created to do life alone! But many times in our fast paced world, we don’t have time to have those “God” conversations that refresh us and bring life. The Springs and Roots podcast is an ongoing conversation between two friends, demonstrating how our faith inform our lives. The roots of a tree hold it fast in place so that it won’t be moved, while springs are fresh waters that bring life. The Springs & Roots podcast is meant to stir you up and refresh you as you continue to grow deep roots in God.

Scripture Reference:
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." John 15:4