By His Grace
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith: Honoring the Red, White, and THE BLUE

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith: Honoring the Red, White, and THE BLUE

by | Jul 6, 2023 | Podcast

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On this episode of By His Grace, our guest is National Police Association spokes person Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a retired police officer with a long and distinguished career in law enforcement. Sgt. Smith shares her experiences and insights into the challenges and dangers faced by police officers on a daily basis. She addresses the negative portrayal of law enforcement in the media and emphasizes the importance of understanding local police departments and their day-to-day activities.

Sgt. Brantner Smith highlights the value of programs like the Citizens Police Academy, which provides participants with hands-on experiences, from visiting different police divisions to spending a night in jail. These experiences enhance our understanding and empathy for law enforcement. With retirements up by 45% and ongoing understaffing in law enforcement agencies, there is a critical need for young individuals to consider a career in law enforcement. Sgt. Smith also discusses the need for young people to pursue careers in law enforcement, as many police departments are currently understaffed. Sgt. Brantner Smith encourages organizations like Turning Point to inspire and recruit young people to join the profession. The National Police Association advocates for citizens to pay attention to local elections, such as those for county prosecutors, board of supervisors, school boards, and sheriffs. It’s important to support candidates who prioritize the safety and protection of communities.

Misty Phillip is also joined by her husband Peter Phillip who shares his experience with the Citizens Police Academy, which allows participants to get a hands-on experience of being a police officer, and encourages everyone to go through it for increased awareness and empathy. He also shares the importance of honoring those who protect and serve.

Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith

Sgt Betsy Branter Smith retired in 2009 as a 29-year veteran of a large metropolitan police department in the Chicago suburbs. Beginning her career as a police dispatcher at age 17, Betsy became an officer four years later and has held positions in patrol, investigations, narcotics, juvenile, hostage negotiation, crime prevention and field training.  She received her four year degree from Western Illinois University in 1991, and was a class officer and graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Staff and Command in May of 2001.

As a sergeant, she supervised her department’s K-9 Unit, served as a field training sergeant, recruitment team sergeant, bike patrol coordinator, Crowd Control Bike Team leader, and supervisor of the Community Education/Crime Prevention Unit.  Betsy served on the Elderly Services Team, the Crisis Intervention Team, and was a proud founding supervisory member of NPD’s Honor Guard Unit.  Betsy received numerous awards and commendations from her police department as well as many local and national awards for her performance as a police officer and supervisor.

From 1999 – 2003 Betsy hosted various training programs and was a content expert for the Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN), is currently an on-air commentator and advisor for the Police One Academy and was a featured character in the Biography Channel’s “Female Forces” reality show.

She has been a law enforcement trainer for over 20 years and was a content expert and senior instructor for the Calibre Press “Street Survival” seminar from 2003 through 2012 where she also created the “Street Survival for Women” seminar.  Betsy is a popular keynote speaker at conferences and events throughout the United States and has trained in various international venues. Since 1995, Betsy has authored hundreds of articles for law enforcement, government and civilian publications including Innovations in Government, Police Marksman, Law and Order, Police Chief, Law Officer, PoliceLink.com, PoliceOne.com, LawOfficer.com and various civilian firearms magazines through Harris Publications including “Combat Handguns.” She served on the advisory board of Police Marksman magazine, is currently a featured columnist and video contributor on both Officer.Com and PoliceOne.Com, and is an author, spokesman, and program host for the National Police Association.

National Police Association

The National Police Association defends law enforcement agencies, officers, their supporters and the public using litigation, communications, activism, and advocacy. In addition to filing our own lawsuits and FOIA requests, the NPA reviews lawsuits with the potential to create negative precedents in public safety, officer safety and constitutional rights.

Dave Smith & Associates

This episode sheds light on the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and the importance of appreciating and supporting them. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the realities of police work and how we can show our gratitude to those who serve and protect our communities.

Dr Stella Emmanuel: A Wake Up Call to the Church

Dr Stella Emmanuel: A Wake Up Call to the Church

by | Jun 29, 2023 | Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:00 — 24.8MB)

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This podcast contains material for entertainment/informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your own doctor about medical questions.

The episode features an interview with Dr. Stella Emmanuel, who gained recognition for her views on COVID treatments and her speech on the steps of the Supreme Court. She shares her story and perspectives on spiritual and physical preparedness for difficult times. The conversation touches on biblical references, concerns about digitalization, the state of the church, and the urgent need for waking up and repentance.

On this episode of By His Grace, join host Misty Philip as she interviews Dr. Stella Emmanuel, a passionate physician and minister of the gospel living in Houston. Originally from Cameroon, Dr. Emmanuel shares her personal journey and experiences in the medical field throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During the episode, Dr. Emmanuel discusses the importance of Christians living with eternity in mind and emphasizes the need for the church to wake up and disciple believers. She highlights the prevalence of sin and iniquity within the church and the need for repentance and preparation for difficult times.

Dr. Emmanuel also delves into her concerns about the global economic landscape, discussing the digitalization of the world economy and the introduction of central bank digital currency (CBD). She shares her belief that these developments may align with the prophecy in Revelation 13 about a required mark for buying and selling. The conversation further explores Dr. Emmanuel’s experiences advocating for alternative treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, for COVID-19. She discusses the opposition and attacks she faced when speaking about the effectiveness of these treatments and encourages individuals to be physically and spiritually prepared amidst the ongoing challenges.

With a focus on the need for revival and a return to the true gospel, Dr. Emmanuel appeals for Christians to take responsibility and stand against the moral decline in society. She urges the church to cry out to God for mercy and emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the persecution and pain that may precede the Lord’s return. Throughout the episode, Misty Philip engages with Dr. Emmanuel’s insights and experiences, offering a thought-provoking discussion that encourages listeners to examine their own faith and readiness for the times ahead. Be sure to tune in to this powerful episode of By His Grace.

Topics Covered


1. Living in Sin and the Call to Wake Up:– Many people in the church are living in sin and iniquity, which will prevent them from entering heaven.– Christians need to wake up and start living with eternity in mind.


2. Being Prepared for Difficult Times:– It is important to be prepared for difficult times by stocking up on food, water, medication, and other essentials.– Unbelievers will come to the church for support during challenging times, and the church needs to be prepared to provide both physical necessities and spiritual guidance.– Some people may compromise their beliefs, such as taking the mark or getting vaccinated, for convenience or to provide for their families.


3. Concerns about Digitalization and Centralization of Money:– World Economic Forum is discussing digitalizing the world economy.– Central bank digital currency (CBD) is being introduced, which will centralize money.– Bill Gates has proposed a quantum dot tattoo that can store biometric information and money.– This system is launching on July 1.– It is believed to align with the prophecy in Revelation 13 about a mark required for buying and selling.


4. Speaking Out and Facing Opposition:– Dr Stella realized that the COVID-19 response was not based on science and believes COVID-19 was used as a cover for promoting the vaccine and transhumanism. She decided to speak out about their beliefs and went to Washington, DC and demanded that Anthony Fauci provide evidence for his claims. The speech with the Frontline doctors went viral, gaining 20 million views within a few hours.– They were subsequently attacked by CNN and others. Dr Stella started a tele-health service and treated over 150,000 people with hydroxychloroquine, successfully keeping many out of hospitals.


5. Importance of Being in the Word of God and Repenting:– Dr Stella emphasizes the importance of being in the word of God and having a relationship with Jesus.– Repenting from sins is highlighted as a way to avoid shame when God returns.– The excerpt discusses the importance of reading and understanding the Bible for Christians.– There is concern about Christians being distracted by media and technology, leading to a lack of desire for God.– Churches are accused of becoming more like entertainment centers rather than places of worship.


6. Preparation for the End Times:– Dr Stella mentions a ranch in Texas where revival programs are held to help people reconnect with their faith.– The speaker also discusses a 100-day prayer program and claims that there are non-human creatures among us.– The focus is on praying for God’s mercy and waking people up to the truth before it’s too late.– There is skepticism about the belief in a pre-tribulation rapture in the church.– She expresses concern about the moral state of many Christians and questions how many will be raptured if it were to happen today, and argues that the rapture will happen after the tribulation and not before. She mentions that God’s wrath will be released after the church is raptured.– Dr Stella emphasizes the need for people to be prepared for the times and encourages reading books like Revelation, Matthew 24, Daniel, to understand eschatology.


7. The Story of Dr. Stella Emmanuel:– The speaker is a physician and minister of the gospel living in Houston.– They went to medical school in Africa and are originally from Cameroon.– They discovered that hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin were effective in treating COVID patients.– They faced opposition and attacks when speaking about the effectiveness of these treatments.– In July 2020, they attended a pro conference in Washington DC organized by Symongo.– During this conference, they had a moment on the steps of the supreme court where their voice was used to break fear and panic worldwide.


8. Spiritual and Physical Preparedness:– The speaker emphasizes the importance of being spiritually and physically prepared.– They encourage people who have taken the COVID vaccine to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness, claiming that God can regenerate them.– They do not believe that the vaccine is the mark of the beast, but suggest it is a precursor to accepting surveillance technology.– The speaker criticizes pastors who accepted money from the government to open vaccine centers, accusing them of corruption.– They call for a return to the true gospel and a time of revival and crying out to God.


9. Urgency and Responsibility for Christians:– The speaker expresses frustration and sadness over the state of the current generation and urges Christians to take responsibility for allowing the devil to take over.– The host, Misty Philip, is interested in hearing about Doctor Stella Emmanuel’s story and what led her to that moment.– COVID did not hit Africa, particularly Sub Saharan Africa, because malaria is endemic and people take over-the-counter medicines for fevers.– The CDC and FDA are refusing to give accessible and inexpensive medicines for COVID, resulting in unnecessary deaths.– The speaker advises people to be prepared and take necessary precautions.– The battle has moved beyond COVID, and people should focus on their jobs and the challenges they face.– The speaker discusses biblical references to COVID and the need for the church to wake up and disciple believers.– Humanity is facing an existential threat and needs to cry out to God for mercy.– There will be persecution and pain before the Lord comes to take out the church. The church needs to be aware and prepared.– The speaker advises stocking up on food, water, and medicines for when things get worse.

Pray for America

Vax Detox

Scripture References

Revelation 13 ESV – The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling,[a] that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.[b] And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

10 If anyone is to be taken captive,
    to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
    with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

The Second Beast

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence,[c] and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of[d] the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[e] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.[f]

Matthew 24 ESV – Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

24 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day and Hour

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[b] but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,[c] whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[d] and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Doris Swift: Rediscovering Jesus’ Joy: Surrendering Joy Stealers

Doris Swift: Rediscovering Jesus’ Joy: Surrendering Joy Stealers

by | Jun 16, 2023 | Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:51 — 24.6MB)

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“On this episode of By His Grace, host Misty Phillip interviews Doris Swift at the NRB conference about her new book, “Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You.” Doris talks about the importance of finding joy even during difficult times and how it can help us share our love for Jesus. Misty and Doris discuss surrendering our joy stealers to God and finding strength in Jesus’ joy. The episode also delves into the Fierce Calling podcast, the personal relationship with Jesus, and the importance of surrendering everything to God, using our experiences for God’s glory.”

Doris Swift

In ministry for over 30 years, it’s Doris’s joy to encourage and equip women to walk deeper in God’s word and take action where their PASSION, COMPASSION, and CONVICTION intersect, in other words, their Fierce Calling. I’m an author, speaker, founder of Fierce Calling MInistires, and host of the award-winning Fierce Calling Podcast.

Book

Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You

Topics Covered

The Importance of Joy, The Book of John’s Approach to Joy, Finding Joy in Difficult Times, The Surrendering of Joy Stealers, The Fierce Calling Podcast, Abiding in Jesus for Joy, Building a Personal Relationship with Jesus, The Value of Transparency and Overcoming Shame

Joy can shift perspectives and help others share their love for Jesus.

The Book of John emphasizes surrendering joy stealers and abiding in Him.

Author’s book on joy includes a foreword by Suzanne Eller and encourages readers to find more information about its author.

Speaker expresses gratitude for Misty’s endorsement and encouragement during hurricane season.

Speaker “lives through” their book on joy after their home floods and finds strength despite feeling exhausted.

 “Joy of the Lord is your strength” message encourages seeking refuge and building strength in Jesus’ joy.

Sharing stories of personal struggles and surrendering joy stealers to Jesus is key to finding renewed joy and peace.

Fierce Calling podcast seeks to inspire and provide listeners straightforward application of biblical truth. 

Abiding in Jesus’s love and pruning by the Father helps bear more fruit and experience the joy of Jesus.

Building a personal relationship with Christ is essential to abide and experience Jesus’s joy.

Surrendering everything to Jesus can redeem all messes for God’s glory. 

Overcoming shame and finding transparency can brighten any situation and bring us closer to Jesus.

Time Stamps

Live from NRB conference, interviewer excited to speak with Doris about her new book “Surrender the Joy Stealers” and her resilient attitude despite life’s obstacles.

At an event, women anonymously shared their joy stealers and surrendered them to God. The speaker was moved by the struggles they faced and inspired a study to work through their issues and surrender them to God.

“Fierce Calling” podcast features guests sharing stories of their passionate and compassionate work, offering practical biblical truths to inspire listeners to pursue their own calling for God’s kingdom.

Abide in Jesus to experience his joy; pruning leads to more fruit; joy is not dependent on circumstances.

 Don’t hide secrets, surrender to God, and use experiences for his glory; woman had a teen pregnancy and felt shame until meeting Jesus.

Confessing junk is freeing; care what Jesus thinks, not people; the enemy isolates us but Jesus can redeem messes.

 Choose joy even in difficult times, read Doris’ Book of John study for love and Jesus. Endorsed by Suzanne Eller. Find Doris and more about the book online.

Full Transcript

Misty Phillip

Doris Swift. Welcome to the By His Grace podcast. My friend. I’m so excited to have you here.

Doris Swift

Thank you so much for having me, Misty. I’m really excited to be here today.

Misty Phillip

Yeah. So if you all hear a little noise in the background, I don’t know if we’ll be able to edit it out. But we are live at the NRB conference and I was so excited to see that Doris was going to be here because I wanted to interview her about her new book surrender the Joy. Stealers rediscover the Jesus joy in you. And I had the incredible honor of getting a sneak peek at this before it hit the shelves when she asked me to endorse it. So if you all don’t know Doris, she is just so bubbly and full of joy, and the Jesus joy in her is just so evident. And I know that it’s not just because life’s always been super easy. The fun, funny thing about that is Doris has been working on this Bible study for a while, and she’s gone through a lot of things that could steal her joy, but she’s surrendered those joy stealers. And so I’m thinking, Doris, about you’re in the middle of writing this study and going through that and your entire home floods. Like, how do you have joy when that happens?

Doris Swift

Yes. First, I want to thank you so much, Misty. It was just such an honor for you to endorse the Bible study, so thank you for that and all those sweet, encouraging words. As always. It was definitely a challenge going through having our home flood after Hurricane Ian came through, and I just was living the book. Oftentimes you hear authors say when they’re writing a book, they’re living through it. And I can honestly say that regardless of what was happening, no matter what, I grabbed hold of the fact that Jesus told us that his joy would be in us, that our joy would be full. And I always grasped hold that my joy was full no matter what, because I had Jesus joy in me to make my joy full. So regardless of how I felt or how exhausted I was, I knew that the joy of the Lord was my strength and that it’s the strength of others. And I want to share that message and encourage other people in that as well.

Misty Phillip

Absolutely. That’s so good. And you’re right. I don’t know what it is. I’m always leery when I start a new book. Like, do I really want to write about that and what’s going to happen with that? Yeah. Because that can be a whole thing right there. But I love that you said, the joy of the Lord is our strength. It’s our strength. And I think the enemy comes at us in so many different ways and life circumstances and things happen that really try to eat at that joy and try to just take away from our joy. But if we can focus on Jesus and study His Word and get in His Word, that changes our perspective on everything.

Doris Swift

Amen. And I have spoken with so many women who feel like where they’ve been, what they’ve done, what’s been done to them, or perhaps they’re going through a really challenging or difficult season and just can’t see past it, can’t see that God can use them even in the midst of the difficult seasons in their lives. And I just felt compelled by the Lord to write this study, to encourage women. It’s a six week study, six week Bible study. And the weeks begin with revealing what threatens to steal our joy, because before we can surrender it, we need to name it and we need to recognize what it is. And then we need to respond, which is the second week, by surrendering it to the Lord. And then we need to receive the joy openly and know that we have that joy that Jesus has given us. So to receive what God has for us, and then we are renewed. We want to renew our minds. We want to be renewed and refreshed, and then we want to rest in Him and find rest because we have work to do.

Misty Phillip

Absolutely, yes.

Doris Swift

And then the last week is reach because God produces the fruit in and through us, and he wants us to bear abundant fruit and be fruitful. And so what is all that floor? It’s not for us to keep to ourselves. A vine dresser doesn’t plant a vineyard so that he can keep it all to Himself. It’s for others. And so that’s what the Lord wants to do in and through us. And so it is a strategic six week Bible study rooted in John 15, that helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever present Jesus joy within that fills them, empowers them, and ripens the fruit that God produces in their lives.

Misty Phillip

That’s so beautiful. What inspired you to write this study?

Doris Swift

There was an event that I spoke at some years ago, I believe it was 2014, and I was speaking on joy, and I asked women to write on little slips of paper what threatened to steal their joy that day. And it was all anonymous. They could write anything they want, and they deposited them into this box up front. And then they took a white carnation as like a symbolism of, yeah, I’m going to release this to God. I’m going to surrender this joy stealer today, and I’m going to take up the joy that Jesus gave me and the peace that he offers. And I don’t really think much about it. I figured there’d be things in that box, like busy schedules and different things that might overwhelm us throughout the day. But when I brought that box home and I just planned to read them and pray over them that the women wouldn’t take them back once they surrendered them. And when I read through each one. By the time I got to the last one, it was like a full on ugly cry because I just was so overwhelmed with compassion for these women who were going through such difficult seasons, and they felt safe to be honest about it, because their name wasn’t on it, but God knew who they were. There were so many things that they were dealing with addictions and marriage struggles and things with their kids and all kinds of things like that. So it just inspired the study so that women can work through their joy sealers, release them to God, because surrender is so key. And so once they can surrender those, it doesn’t mean their circumstances will even change from what they can see. But God is always doing something that they can’t see, and he wants to use them for his glory.

Misty Phillip

Yeah, absolutely. I’ve experienced that in my own life. Some of the biggest things that I held secret or private that I didn’t want to know anybody to know. But once I released that and was able to speak about it, then, now I have total freedom over it where I didn’t have that before, but now I do. And God’s brought so much healing in my life, but I had to say it, I had to admit it, I had to confess it, I had to surrender it, and then let the Lord do what only he can do. So I have a question for you. What do you hope women are going to get out of this study?

Doris Swift

I would hope women would grow closer to Jesus and that they would throw off any shame that they’re wearing right now because there’s so many women walking around with shame and the things that threaten to steal their joy. So I would hope that through this book that they can discover what their joy stealers are, what is holding them back, and then surrender it and then walk forward in their purpose and their calling. Their fierce calling.

Misty Phillip

Yeah, absolutely. We didn’t even touch on this. But Doris, you are the host of the Fierce Calling podcast, and tell everybody about your show if they don’t know your show.

Doris Swift

Thank you. Yes. On Fierce Calling, I talk with guests who are taking action where their passion, compassion and conviction intersect, which is my definition of a fierce calling because we all have something that we’re passionate about. And I want the guests to come on, share their stories, how God is using them, provide practical ways to apply that biblical truth to their lives, the lives of the listeners, so that then they can step out of any doubt they have and walk in their fierce calling. And the guests come from all walks of life. They come from all different types of ministry, service, and different things in their lives that they’ve experienced. But we’re all connected by our stories, so it is so precious to hear the stories of so many of these guests, and I would usually say women, but I’ve had a few male guests on too. So it’s been really fantastic to see how women have really been able to experience transformation just by hearing how God has brought not only the guests through, but they can look back in their own lives and see, oh yeah, God has brought me through this or that, and I do have something to offer. And what I’ve been through or what I’m going through is something that God can use for the furtherance of the kingdom.

Misty Phillip

Absolutely. Revelation says that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Doris Swift

Amen.

Misty Phillip

And so every time we tell our story, we’re overcoming, and we can help other people to overcome as well. Well, you mentioned shame is one of the big things that people hold on to, whether it’s shame or maybe it’s anger or maybe whatever those particular struggles are that they’re dealing with that really want to rob them of their joy. If someone is struggling with that, what would you tell them? How do they surrender the joy?

Doris Swift

What is so important, and as we read in John 15, is that Jesus tells us he gives us the keys to experience the joy that he has given us freely, and that is to abide in Him. And abide simply means remain. I know sometimes we can try to make things more difficult or complicated or confusing, but abide means remain, and he tells us to abide in Him. He abides in us, abide in his love as he abides in the Father’s love. And he is the vine, the true vine, and we’re the branches. And the Father is the vine dresser. And a vine dresser intricately and very personally prunes the vines so that they can bear more fruit. And it’s very delicate, it’s very intimate, and it draws us into this beautiful picture of the Trinity of God that we’re part of that. And when we abide in the vine, we will experience the joy that Jesus has already given us, which is what really the Bible study is about, is about the fact that Jesus gave us his joy, gave it to us already. It’s ours. And joy is not dependent on circumstances. It can exist simultaneously with difficult seasons in our lives. It’s not the same as happiness. It’s not based on how we feel. It’s truth. It’s God’s truth, his promise. And we can stand on that. And each day when we awaken, his mercies are new. Every morning, as the Word says.

Misty Phillip

I hold on to that one every morning.

Doris Swift

Yeah.

Misty Phillip

So let’s talk about remaining for a minute. So maybe we have somebody listening who doesn’t really know. They don’t know John 15, they don’t know what we’re talking about. How does someone remain in Christ? How do you stay connected to the vine?

Doris Swift

Yeah, well, it’s so important to have that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So if you have not yet surrendered your life to Him, that is the first step and it is a beautiful thing. So many of us may have grown up in churches that never talked that way, that never mentioned anything about a personal relationship. Growing up, I knew who God was. I knew who Jesus was. I knew who the Holy Spirit was. I loved them. I knew who they were about them, but I didn’t know them personally. I didn’t know that I could have a personal relationship with Jesus and that he was my friend, that he was my Lord, and that he was my Savior. So the very first step is to surrender our lives to Christ and just admit we’re sinners. We’re all sinners saved by grace.

Misty Phillip

All of us are sinners. And it doesn’t matter how big your sin is, because I am, like Paul says, the chief of sinners. And even in the midst of our sin, jesus died that we might have life. He came while we were sinning. So don’t let your sin hold you back, because I think that goes along with that shame. We commit sin. We know it’s wrong. The enemy is our accuser and comes against us, accusing us. And so we feel like we can’t come to the Lord, but that’s where we experience freedom when we come to the Lord, and we just confess our sins.

Doris Swift

Yeah. And it’s just so freeing for us to do that. And I even wrote a post years ago entitled what if Everyone Found Out? Or something like that. What if everybody found out? Because so many of us have had things buried in the back of our closets and we don’t want anybody to know. And it takes so much energy to keep those things hidden. And we carry so much shame and worry that people would find out the truth. And if they found out, they wouldn’t like us or they would judge us. But the truth is that God knows everything, and we can surrender it all to Him. And he loves us. And maybe we’re not supposed to share it with everyone at once. We don’t want to cast our pearls before swine or what the Bible says, but God will give us opportunities to share our stories with others. And our experiences, good and bad, can be used for his glory. I had a teen pregnancy and I was a teen mom. And for years I carried shame. I wasn’t ashamed of my baby, but I was ashamed because, honestly, you can’t really hide that sin very long. It’s going to come out, people are going to notice. So instead of trying to hide the sin, I hid myself. And I didn’t want to come out. I didn’t want to see any of my friends. And that was a really challenging time in my life. I didn’t know where I fit in. I didn’t feel like I was really still a teenager, couldn’t hang out with my friends. And then I really wasn’t like a mom going to mom’s groups and those kind of things. So it was a difficult season. I had a very hard relationship. The person I was with, I was supposed to marry this person, and he did not turn out to be who he said he was. And it was a really tough time for an 18 year old girl to be going through those things. And for years I carried the shame until I met Jesus.

Misty Phillip

When you meet Jesus, it changes everything.

Doris Swift

It changed everything. It just transformed my life. And I threw off the shame. And I even actually, later on, began volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center because I had been through experience like that. I had a supportive family, but some women don’t, and they’re lost as I felt lost. So I could understand that not all of our stories are going to be the same, but we can use those experiences to minister to the hearts of others. And God really uses it in amazing ways.

Misty Phillip

That is so amazing. And I have my own closet full of junk that you can actually listen to podcasts all over the Internet and find out, because I got to the point with all my stuff, too, that once I confessed it, it was so free. And now I don’t really care what people think because I care what Jesus thinks and he’s the one that I want to please and the one that I want to serve. And so that’s beautiful. And we do have to remember that the enemy doesn’t want that for us, right? So he’s going to isolate us like you were isolated, right? The shame, the guilt, whatever tactic that he has to try to make us feel like people aren’t going to like us or the Lord won’t understand. And I just want to say, and I know you echo it, that that’s bull, right? It’s we need to bring it to Jesus and he can take our biggest messes and turn them into our message and redeem it all.

Doris Swift

Absolutely.

Misty Phillip

Well, I want to ask you a question about the Bible. What is your favorite book in the Bible and then why there are so many currently?

Doris Swift

It’s John. This is the Bible study.

Misty Phillip

They’re all good. And when you do a Bible study, speaking from personal experience, like, you dive deep into something and it really speaks to you. And John is so rich. I listen to the audible. I listen to Max McLean read the Bible every night before I go to bed. And sometimes I listen longer. It depends on how long it takes me to settle my brain down, but that’s just my sort of way to be calm and quiet and focus on the Lord. And I’ve been listening to John lately, and the Gospels are so rich, so much goodness.

Doris Swift

They really are. And I love so many of the books. There’s so much good nuggets of truth all throughout that we tend to grab hold of. We’ll quote verses from Philippians and Ephesians. My verse in Ephesians, I believe it’s four. One is to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. And I love that verse. John is just amazing because, of course, I’ve been studying a lot with a study, but I also love the fact that if you have a new believer or someone that’s just coming to the faith, we can point them to John and say, read John. And you really can get to know Jesus through the Book of John. I also love Esther, which is amazing because the providence of God is all over that book, but yet he’s not mentioned.

Misty Phillip

I know. Is that amazing?

Doris Swift

Yeah, it’s so amazing, and it kind of reflects the fact that we can be Jesus to the world and even we want to speak his name, but in some arenas, we might not have the opportunity right then to do it. But the way that we live our life is a living sacrifice to the Lord, and it will bring others to Christ through our grace story, through the way we actually live it out. Because, let’s face it, Christians often are called hypocrites tell us to do this, but you’re not doing it. So the way we live our life, people are watching, and then it opens doors for opportunity to meet with people on a personal level and begin relationships that way.

Misty Phillip

Yeah, and I would totally agree with that. And even the fact of having joy, just being joyful right now, our world is really crazy and people are very selfish and self centered and in their own world. And even when we’re going through difficulty, we can still show up with joy. And that radically shifts people because they don’t understand how can you have joy in the midst of name it XYZ, right? A million different things that could steal our joy, but when we just carry joy, it opens up the door for us to share our love of Jesus. So I am so excited for the women to read your words, Doris, and to do this study to really dig into the Book of John and what the Lord has to say about abiding in Him and surrendering everything that causes us to the things that want to rob us of our joy. And the book is there’s a foreword by Suzanne Eller, who wrote a book on joy. She’s been on the podcast, and so that’s a great endorsement for the book right there as well. And so I’m just so excited for you. Please tell people where they can find you and find out more about you.

Doris Swift

Thank you. Well, the best way would be to go to my website, Doriswift.com, and you will find all of my social media links. You’ll find my podcast page and about the book where you can grab the book book and how you can be a part of this amazing journey to surrender your joy, stealers to God and rediscover the Jesus joy in you.

Misty Phillip

Yeah. That’s so great. We’ll put all of the links in the show notes. So, Doris, thank you so much for sharing your joy with me. I’m so glad to call you my friend and for sharing about your book on the podcast.

Doris Swift

Thank you so much for having me.

Fred Stoeker: Fighting for Purity: Overcoming Pornography

Fred Stoeker: Fighting for Purity: Overcoming Pornography

by | May 20, 2023 | Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:54 — 23.8MB)

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In this episode of By His Grace, Fred Stoeker shares his personal journey of addiction to pornography, heavy drinking, and chasing after multiple girlfriends. He experienced a spiritual awakening and used Christian teachings and prayers to take control of his actions. He is the author of “Every Man’s Battle” and “Every Young Man’s Battle,” which discusses the importance of controlling the eyes and mind to break free from addiction.

Summary

Fred provides an excerpt from the book he co-authored with his wife, Brenda entitled, “Battle On, Battle Over,” which highlights the increasing problem of porn addiction in women. The speaker warns that exposure to graphic content can create greater desire and urges listeners to prioritize purity. The episode also discusses the science behind how porn addiction affects the brain and how Christianity can help overcome this sin.

The Speaker’s Struggles with Addiction

  • Addiction to pornography, heavy drinking, and chasing after multiple girlfriends.
  • Spiritual awakening and began heavily attending church and learning.
  • Marriage did not solve his sexual sin issue.
  • Battle against his addiction and with the help of the Lord, was able to control his eyes and mind to break free almost entirely.

Every Man’s Battle and Every Young Man’s Battle

Discusses the importance of controlling the eyes and mind as a defense against addiction.– Only surrendering to the Lord can fill the God shaped hole in our hearts.– Overcoming sin is a sanctification process, but God is gentle, kind, and loving, helping us overcome any struggle as long as we give that battle to Him.– The speaker learned to avoid triggers through God’s training.– Women have also found the books helpful in changing their behavior regarding eye movements.– Every Man’s Battle has been updated for its 20th anniversary, and it provides training on how the mind and neural pathways work when looking at pornography.

Fred and Brenda Stoker’s Work

  • Married couple writing a book together for both men and women.
  • There is currently a wave of sexual sin and porn addiction in both men and women.
  • Female sexuality is intensely relational and tied to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, while male sexuality is visual.– Pornographers have learned to tie romantic themes to porn to appeal to women.
  • Women can get addicted to porn and seek it as a medication for loneliness and disconnection.–
  • Every Man’s Battle and Every Young Man’s Battle provide practical steps to defend the eyes.
  • Women with father wounds or broken marriages are particularly vulnerable to being hooked on porn.

Importance of Guarding Eyes and Mind

  • Pornography can be destructive to both individuals and marriages.Call to prioritize purity in the present time.
  • Overexposure to certain types of media can physically alter the brain by burning out receptors.
  • Exposure to increasingly graphic content can create an increasing desire for more.
  • The speaker emphasizes the need to use tools to guard one’s eyes and mind.
  • The ultimate goal is to follow God’s ways and desire purity.

Pornography’s Effect on Men and Women

  • Pornography is not just a problem for men, but increasingly for women as well.
  • Misty shares her personal experience with husband’s struggle with pornography. Husband’s struggle began during stressful time with special needs son.
  • Sexual sin may not be sexual at its root but may stem from financial pressure, weak manhood, or other pain points.
  • Prayer and worship can help deal with pain and stress without resorting to sexual sin, leading to freedom from masturbation and the lustful gaze.

Battle On Battle Over

We live in a culture that’s awash in pornography and sexual sin. For the first time in history, a growing percentage of women have been swept up by the same savage undertow as men, and they are drowning together in this heaving, destructive sea.
Perhaps you’ve been gripped by the same relentless riptide, and it’s yanking you into a dark, addictive abyss, causing you to wonder if there’s a way out. Is sexual freedom even possible these days?

The answer is an affirmative yes, according to Brenda and Fred Stoeker, the co-authors of Battle On, Battle Over. In their remarkably frank and brutally honest book, they zero in on the root causes of sexual sin and highlight a major vulnerability in both male and female sexuality that sets you up for a fall. The modern-day scourge of sexual temptation is as close as the nearest smartphone, but Brenda and Fred will give you a roadmap to freedom.

You’ll discover how to shut down your sexual sin and experience total victory for the rest of your life. Whether you’re a man or a woman, if you have significant issues with pornography and sexual self-stimulation, let Battle On, Battle Over be your guide to conquering these foes once and for all.

Topics covered in Battle On, Battle Over:
• Is sexual purity even possible in our current culture?
• The great vulnerability in human sexuality that we call “The Stealth Trap.”
• Why women are now being addicted in large numbers for the first time.
• How our view of our own manhood, as men, can trap us.
• How to rebuild your soul to ensure a lifetime of freedom from porn and masturbation, through one-on-one worship, fasting, and the study of the Word.
• How sexual purity impacts individual destiny, family destiny, and local church destiny.
• How husbands and wives can work together to win the battle. It is not just every man’s battle, but every couple’s battle.
• Three open letters: One to single women, one to divorced men, and one to single men who’ve never been married.

Author Biography

Brenda Stoeker is a seasoned marriage teacher and a co-author of Every Heart Restored and The Healing Choice. She’s also a registered nurse and mother of four, and Fred and Brenda have been happily married for over forty years.

Fred Stoeker is co-author of the best-selling Every Man’s Battle and Every Young Man’s Battle., Every Man’s Marriage, and Every Young Man’s Battle. Every Man’s Battle is currently translated into nearly thirty languages and has sold well over 1,000,000 copies world-wide already. A graduate of Stanford University, Fred has won two Christian Book Award Gold Medallions and two Silver Medallions for writing excellence. He is also a popular conference speaker who travels both nationally and internationally to challenge men and women to become sexually pure and to reconnect in true intimate relationship with their spouses, all the while encouraging and equipping people to rise up and be Christian rather than simply seem Christian.

Today, Fred Stoeker is President of Living True Ministries, whose mission is to practically elucidate God’s truth for everyday living and to encourage and equip men and women to rise up and be Christian, rather than to simply seem Christian. (For more information, go to www.FredStoeker.com). Fred is also a well-known conference speaker who has spoken in or been televised into 59 nations, and who is bent upon challenging people to become sexually pure and to connect in true intimate relationships with their Father in Heaven and with their spouses and children on earth. Fred has been nominated for numerous writing awards and has won two Gold Medallion awards and two Silver Medallion awards for writing excellence. He has been married to his wife Brenda for over forty-one years and has four adult children following Christ, and he has co-written threebooks with Brenda, including the Silver Medallion winner Every Heart Restored. The other two books are Grief and a Shattered Spirit and the newest, Battle On, Battle Over, www.battleonbattleover.com.  

Mike Yorkey is the author, co-author, or general editor of more than 120 books, including more than a half dozen with Brenda and Fred Stoeker.

Thank you for listening to the By hIs grace podcast! We love hearing from our listeners. Please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Biblical Motherhood

Biblical Motherhood

by | May 10, 2023 | Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:43 — 14.4MB)

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Welcome to the By His Grace Podcast, I’m Misty Phillip and today, I want to encourage my fellow moms as we approach Mother’s Day. Today I want to be discuss the importance of biblical motherhood and the impact it can have on our families and communities.

Motherhood is an incredible journey, full of joys and challenges.

It’s a journey that requires patience, love, and sacrifice. As we navigate this path, it can be easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the bigger picture. But when we look to the Bible for guidance, we can find wisdom and encouragement to help us on this journey.

Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

10 [d] An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself[e] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f]
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31 is a beautiful passage that describes the qualities of a virtuous woman. This woman is a wife and a mother, and she is praised for her hard work, her wisdom, and her kindness. She is a woman who fears the Lord, and her children rise up and call her blessed. As mothers, we can learn a lot from this passage. We can strive to be women of integrity, who work hard to provide for our families and create a loving home environment. We can seek wisdom from the Lord and ask Him to guide us as we raise our children.

Biblical Examples of Strong Moms

As we study the Bible we find countless examples of strong and faithful mothers who raised children who went on to do great things. One such example is Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She was a Hebrew woman living in Egypt during a time when Pharaoh had ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed. But Jochebed refused to give up on her son and placed him in a basket in the Nile River, trusting that God would protect him.

Jochebed

Through God’s grace, Moses was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and grew up to become a great leader of the Israelites, leading them out of slavery in Egypt. Jochebed’s faith and determination remind us that even in the face of difficult circumstances, God can work miracles through the love and dedication of a mother.

Hannah

Another example is Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Hannah was unable to have children, and she prayed fervently to God for a son. When God blessed her with Samuel, she dedicated him to God’s service and raised him to be a faithful prophet. Hannah’s story shows us that even when we face disappointment or hardship, we can turn to God in prayer and trust that He has a plan for our lives and our children’s lives.

As mothers, we can learn so much from these biblical examples. We can be encouraged that our efforts in raising our children in the ways of the Lord can have a lasting impact.

We can trust that God is with us every step of the way and that He will equip us with everything we need to be the best mothers we can be.

Modeling the Christian Life

One of the most important things we can do as mothers is to model a life of faith for our children. We can teach them about God’s love and grace, and show them what it means to live a life that honors Him. We can pray for our children and ask God to protect them and guide them on their own faith journeys. We can read, study, and memorize scripture together.

Motherhood both challenging and rewarding!

Motherhood can be challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding roles we can have in life. When we embrace biblical motherhood, we can experience the joy of seeing our children grow and thrive, and we can make a positive impact on our families and communities.

Mom your work is valuable, your love is powerful, and your influence is eternal. Keep pressing on, and trust in God’s grace to guide you through every moment of motherhood.

Verses that have encouraged me in my motherhood journey

I want to share a few scriptures that have encouraged me in my motherhood journey.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

3 John 4 ESV says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Hebrews 12:1 ESV “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”

Galatians 6:9 ESV  -“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So, to all the mothers out there listening today, I want to encourage you to keep pressing on. Remember that you are loved and valued by God, and that He has entrusted you with the incredible responsibility of raising your children. Seek His guidance and wisdom, and trust Him to help you on this journey. Thank you for tuning in to the By His Grace Podcast.

The Struggle is Real: But so is God

“The Struggle is Real but So is God” is a Bible study by Misty Phillip that explores the struggles and challenges that people face in their lives, and how God can help them overcome these challenges. The study focuses on practical ways to apply biblical principles to our everyday lives. The study emphasizes the importance of faith, prayer, and perseverance in facing the trials and difficulties that come our way. It encourages readers to trust in God’s wisdom and plan for their lives, even when things seem difficult or overwhelming.

Through this study, readers are challenged to deepen their relationship with God and to seek his guidance and strength in all areas of their lives. They are reminded that, even in the midst of struggles, God is always present and willing to help us overcome. “The Struggle is Real but So is God” is a practical and inspiring resource for anyone looking to deepen their faith and trust in God, and to find hope and strength in the midst of life’s challenges.

Purchase your copy of The Struggles Real:But so is God today!

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