This week on the By His Grace podcast, Misty Phillip sits down with Jen Ludwig to discuss some practical ways to “embrace Advent” – through quiet times, schedule planning, and personal & family traditions. The Holidays are just around the corner. Let’s embrace this festive season with purpose, and intention.
Jen encourages people to start thinking about how they will prepare to celebrate Christmas this year. The Advent season – the four weeks before Christmas – traditionally focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. If we can plan ahead to set aside a little bit of time each day during the chaotic pre-Christmas days to rest in each of these things, through sitting with Jesus and soaking in Scripture, it is easier to keep our hearts and minds focused on Him and ready to truly celebrate on December 25!
Embracing Advent includes:
Four weeks of short daily readings to encourage you to…
Hold on to HOPE
Find PEACE
Choose JOY
LOVE and Be Loved
Take a few minutes each day to step away from the holiday chaos and prepare your body, soul, and mind to whole-heartedly experience Christmas this year!
Jen Ludwig Bio and Social Media Links:
Jen Ludwig is a Jesus-follower, worship leader, and songwriter. After attending Pepperdine University and finishing her graduate studies at UCLA, she settled in Southern California, where she currently resides with her husband and two teenagers. Her devotional book, Embracing Advent, encourages individuals to focus on the hope, peace, joy and love that Jesus offers at Christmas, and every day of the year.
On this episode of the By his Grace podcast, Misty Phillip sits down with Rachael Adams, speaker, podcaster, and author of the newly released A Little Goes a Long Way.
About
“Hi, I’m Rachael! My writing and podcasting journey began when I was sitting in church and saw a love offering envelope in the pew in front of me. I sensed the Lord whispering to my heart that, metaphorically speaking, we are his love offerings to the world. So, I began having conversations with women who were living faithfully and loving the world around them in practical and tangible ways. Through the conversations I have had and through my own personal experience, I discovered many of us don’t believe our contributions or offerings matter. It is my hope this devotional and my ministry can change this narrative. That women will be encouraged and realize their God-given purpose and believe their lives are significant to his kingdom. In God’s hands, small acts done with great love can have an enormous impact.”
On this episode of the By his Grace podcast, Misty Phillip sits down with Caris Snyder and they discuss how anxiety and depression are rampant in today’s adults and teens and the best ways to confront and combat them.
About
Caris Snider is a Christian Communicator who shares the hope of God through writing, speaking, and leading worship. Her passion for the Lord comes forth as she shares from her life experiences of overcoming anxiety and depression that began as a child. Caris desires to help all generations see their value and worth. It is important to her to give a voice to the voiceless and help those who feel alone in their battle. Caris has actively served in churches she attends helping with children and youth ministries since 2008. Caris is the author of Anxiety Elephants 31 Day Devotional. She speaks in schools to students on coping skills for anxiety and trains teachers on how to help children with anxiety. Find out more about her at carissnider.com.
I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a praise unto our God.
Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
On this episode of the By his Grace podcast, Misty Phillip sits down with David Waldy, the Fierce Empathy Coach. David recounts his life story on how he went from the “American Dream” to being able to help others realize their own dreams and live their best lives.
About
David is a Kansas farm boy at heart. After a painful wake up call, he walked away from the corporate corner office to become an alignment coach, speaker, author, & business consultant. Sharing a philosophy he calls “Fierce Empathy”, he now empowers leaders to develop their emotional intelligence, confidently lead their teams and families, eliminate anxiety & worry, and create aligned lives filled with peace, joy, and contentment. He has worked with thousands of leaders around the world and shared stages with influencers like Tony Robbins. He is a husband, father of three, outdoorsman, coffee snob, avid non-fiction reader, and personal growth junkie.
On this episode of the By his Grace podcast, Misty Phillip sits down with Jill Dasher, author of Shallow: Drowning in the Shallow End of People’s Approval, to discuss the story behind the book, letting go other external approval, combatting perfection, and the life-changing freedom that only comes from the Holy Spirit. Jill advises how to stop living as shallow human beings, let go of perfection and start walking in a life of security and freedom.
No matter how pretty and shiny we look on the outside, we are all broken people who struggle with sin. None of us has it all together. When we seek the approval of others, we live the shallows in our relationships, family, and the world. But God wants more for us! He wants us to come to him with our brokenness and let go of perfection and external validation.
“Day by day and moment by moment, I am learning to live in the reality of who I was created to be while fighting the urge to simply become who the world says I should be.”- Jill Dasher.
The story behind Shallow with this book and Jill’s blog is to share the redeeming power of God’s grace through restoration.
About
Jill Dasher is the author of the brand-new book SHALLOW, drowning in the shallow end of people’s approval. She is a writer and Christian speaker who is passionate about sharing the freedom that exists when you refuse to live in hiding & freely submit all of your fears, flaws, & failures to the God who made you. She is married to her best friend and partner in dreaming, Zach. Together they have five kids that keep life interesting.
Jill invites you on a healing journey to go beyond the shallow and into the deep__beyond topics that are easy or socially accepted and into the more profound realm that begs to remain silent yet longs to be set free. Truly free. She invites others to welcome the Holy Spirit into difficult spaces to bring healing and to journal their way to a life worth living.
Misty Phillip sits down with Christian Ray Flores. Christian is an entrepreneur, investor, evangelist, media producer and artist. During his music career, he dropped back to back top-ten hits culminated in his number-one single, “Our Generation”[2] – an anthem of freedom and change. It became a song widely used as the anthem of Boris Yeltsin‘s election campaign.
Misty Phillip sits down with author Judy Dungan in this episode of the By His Grace podcast to discuss her new book published by Moody Bible Publishers, The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ. Do you often feel stuck battling the same fears, temptations, lies, and doubts, wondering if you’ll ever overcome them? Does it seem as if you’re in that battle alone? Author Judy Dunagan has been there. In this episode, we discuss practical ways to silence the enemy’s voice.
Key Takeaways
“Sometimes the enemy’s voice seems the loudest in our lives. But the Lord is a bigger Lion – His power, majesty, and authority are what gives us courage.”
“The Roar of Prayer is a mighty weapon.”
About Judy Dunagan
Judy Dunagan is an acquisitions editor for the women’s Bible studies and books at Moody Publishers. A wonder seeker of God and His Word, Judy is passionate about discipleship and making God’s Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. She is a speaker and Bible teacher and serves on the Board of Deeper Walk International, the ministry her father, Mark I. Bubeck founded. Judy and her husband Rick live in Colorado.
Take heart, my friends. The enemy’s roar is but a whisper in the presence of our mighty God. In The Loudest Roar, you’ll marvel at the power, majesty, and authority of our Lord Jesus and learn how to stand in the unshakable victory He’s already won for you.
Misty Phillip sits down with musicians and worship leaders Shane and Shane in this two-part episode of the By His Grace podcast. Shane and Shane’s music has deeply affected Misty’s walk with the Lord. It was a huge treat to sit down with them in their studio in Dallas earlier this year to record the stories behind their worship music. In this episode we discuss the Worship Initiative, a subscription-based membership community to equip the church, and it’s musicians. We talk about faith and obedience.
Shane Everitt
“When we when we originally started the Worship Initiative we just wanted to equip the church.”
“Doing a songwriting class with a small university down on the south side of town here for a few years and I think in that process we kind a realized there’s a there’s a pretty deep need.”
“The younger generation in the church we’re pretty scripturally illiterate and so I think that was kind of a burden for us.”
“There’s a lack of not just like Biblical literacy, but like understanding of who Jesus is.”
“We wrapped the songs in scripture we write devotionals.”
“We wanted to see people love the Lord.”
“Take the vocation of of leading songs serious. Like to try and put that the weight of the mantle of the position on the shoulders of people. We don’t need song leaders we need pastors to put put language teach people how to pray through song, and that’s really what we’ll do you wanna do now. We want the body to be healthy.”
“We want the word of Christ to dwell richly in the bride.”
Psalm 2 “It is such a good reminder every time you know that the Lord is our shepherd and we don’t have to want.”
Shane Barnard
“I’ve been singing a song that we it’s always kind of the newest songs because I was your favorite but you can’t really get this on Spotify we just released a video on YouTube it’s a song and I wrote kind of with the with the church of the Ukraine in mind about fighting a battle that gods already won. We don’t know what you’re doing but we know what you’ve done”
What is the Lord speaking to you?
“My purpose is a person, and His name is Jesus.”
“Being faithful is what He wants us to do.”
“It is at just living a life of faithfulness tday by day versus finding my value and the pursuit of this or that. All of those things are real but they’re just real bad gods, not necessarily wrong, but they don’t save you or anyone else.”
“In God’s billions of thoughts and all the billions of things he’s orchestrating it one moment the best way for me to glorify God may look like that.”
“Okay you’re gonna go hard for a few years and you’re gonna be upside down cross and that’s the best way for me to get glory, but it’s not just got to get the glory, but that’s it for your ultimate joy.”
“Trust in a good God and that’s why it’s it’s okay and just lean into the thought that God‘s in control and he is good. ”
“it’s all where we find our value, you know, it’s like and if my value in my worth is found in Jesus I am completely free to lay down my life with no expectation of return.”
Scripture Reference
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God”. – Colossians 3:16 ESV
John 21 ESV
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers[b] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Misty Phillip sits down with musicians and worship leaders Shane and Shane in this two-part episode of the By His Grace podcast. Shane and Shane’s music has deeply affected Misty’s walk with the Lord. It was a huge treat to sit down with them in their studio in Dallas earlier this year to record the stories behind their worship music. The band consists of Shane Barnard (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Shane Everett (vocals). We go behind the music to discuss their upbringings, testimonies, and how faith has impacted their journey.
Shane Barnard
Shane Barnard talks about growing up on the West coast with a wild gold-digging adventurous cowboy with a gold pan and a gun. His mom was catholic, and they occasionally attended church. They migrate from California to Texas. In the eighth grade, he was on the roof of his house in West Texas, where the stars filled the sky. He looked up and encountered God, who captivated his heart. Shane compares the experience to Psalm 8.
Upon sneaking into a Bible church to play basketball, he heard it’s a simple gospel that God loves him regardless of what he’d done and that he could be forgiven where he gave his life to the Lord. One day he picked up a guitar and began leading small groups singing and praying to God. Shane’s entire family came to Christ. After years of sharing the gospel, at 65 years old, the scales fell off his Father’s eyes, and he became a believer.
Shane Everitt
Shane Everitt is Texas, born and bred. His Grandfather was a very religious deacon in a Baptist church, and his Father rebelled. Shane grew up with a Father in rebellion, but his Grandfather always made him go to summer camp each year. Every year Shane got baptized but never had a saving knowledge of Jesus. He grew up around the church, but it wasn’t until college that he had a transforming relationship with Jesus. He learned he could sing by joining the choir to fulfill a needed art credit.
The Shane’s met in college at Texas A&M. Everritt sang in bars throughout college to make ends meet. One night he was sitting at the end of the stage waiting to be paid when the lights came on. Under the neon, it looked one way, but when the lights came on, the reality of the bar was illuminated. The Lord used this image to reveal the condition of his heart, and Shane began weeping uncontrollably. The next day, he went to church, where he gave his life to Christ and was radically transformed. The following Sunday, he sang in the choir; the rest was history.
We discuss the creative process and how they’ve defined their roles. Barnard turned to the psalms to be a balm for his soul. Everitt does the management and business side.
Scripture Reference
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” – Psalm 8 ESV
Resources
Frances Jane van Alstyne Crosby was born on March 24, 1820, and died on February 12, 1915. More commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, she was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and songs.
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