Celtic Preacher

The Fight Of Your Life (Inner Tension Isn’t Always A Signal Something Is Wrong)

Inner tension isn’t necessarily a sign your doing something wrong. Jesus teaches that living in this world will cause us tension. It will feel like a pull to go in the very direction you try to avoid. This hidden, unseen inner battle is a part of living in this world. It's not something we can escape from, and it shows us our loyalty is to something more than what we can see here on this earth. Pod 195 Matthew 22

The Stories We Tell Ourselves To Get Us Off The Hook

Don't make excuses for yourselves, Jesus taught. Don't be too easy on yourself. If you make up stories about why you neglect the most essential things in your life, treat it as a wake-up call, and don't let yourself off the hook. Why settle for less? The Parable of the Banquet  Luke 14 and Matthew 22. Pod194

 

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

It can appear to others that we have everything we need, but deep down, we know we lack. We know something is missing. Jesus, in today's teaching, shows us we can become attached to the wrong things. We might think our ways of coping are harmless and only affect us, but before we know it, we have lost our freedom. We are left with a restless longing. Text Mark 10 and Matthew 19 Pod 192

An Unfulfilling Pursuit - If I Could Have...

An Unfulfilling Pursuit- If I Could Have…

Comparing ourselves to others can create a cycle of discontent. Jesus recognizes this tendency within us and addresses the mind that likes to compare and all its false promises. Pod 191 Text Matthew 20

 

Is spiritual/emotional growth always difficult?

Let's make sure we are on the same page. God has a plan for us. If we were a house, the project would be a complete tear-down and renovation, including the foundation. God is not making a few cosmetic changes here and there. This explains why our spiritual/emotional life feels overwhelming at times. God is making radical changes in us to help us become the people we were created to be. Matthew 18 Pod 190

I Don’t Want To Talk About It

If we continually think about a conflict in the past, it's a sure sign that we have unfinished business to attend to. Hurts have a persistent way of reappearing, grabbing our attention and demanding we listen. In today's teaching, Jesus gives us wisdom, freeing us from past conflicts with people/events/circumstances that have hurt us. Text Matthew 18 Pod 189

Adjusting Our Expectations

Unmet expectations can cause us a lot of disappointment. Expectations are acceptable if they harmonize with God's purpose for our lives. If we are not on the same page, we end up struggling against the reality of our lives, which never goes well for us. God isn't primarily leading us into more of what we think we need. Jesus taught us that we are being positioned for inner freedom, and that's a whole different purpose in our lives. Matthew 16:21-28 Pod 188

Who Is Jesus? Is He God?

"Who do you say I Am?" is a question everyone grapples with after hearing Jesus' teachings. Can Jesus be trusted?  Like Peter, we can be ambivalent and second-guess our choices when life gets overly challenging. Following Jesus is about being led beyond our frail personalities. Matthew 16

Courage Is Not The Absence Of Fear

We all have our fears, and as long as we are on this earth, fear will be known to us. Jesus' way of navigating fear is to invite us to move toward it. The answer isn't to deny fear or run from it. Jesus didn't let fear dictate his every move. He said courage is needed, but a brave step forward might be as simple as doing the next thing that needs to be done. In other words, I may be frightened out of my wits, but I will keep doing what I need to do. The text is Matthew 14, Walking on Water Pod 186 

Going Through A Season Of Uncertainty?

The scripture teaches, "You are right. You often don't know what to do." The right path is not always clear, the correct response can elude us, and the most beneficial way to help someone doesn't always work. So take the pressure off because God is working on your behalf as you go through a season of uncertainty.  The text is Romans 8 Podcast 184