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Praise & Shine Ep. 11 – Good Advice Hang In There

“Hanging in there”—the Bible calls it perseverance—isn’t possible through mere willpower. We persevere because God promised, over and over, that He’s with us, that He’ll give us strength, and that He’ll accomplish His purposes in our lives. That’s the message He spoke to the Israelites through Isaiah: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Praise and Shine Ep. 9 – We Already Know

We never really know what tomorrow will hold. Some days can feel mundane and tedious, while other days are filled with joy. Still other times, life can be grueling, agonizing even, for long periods of time.

But despite life’s unpredictable ups and downs, we can still be securely grounded in God’s peace. Because we know the end of the story. We know who “wins.”

Praise & Shine Ep.8 Tough Times

In 2017, the opportunity to help people in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in the US prompted a group of us to travel to Houston. Our goal was to encourage people who’d been impacted by the storm. In the process, our own faith was challenged and strengthened as we stood with them in their damaged church buildings and homes.

Praise & Shine Ep. 7 – Relaxing in the powerful arms of God

From the Rescuers Down Under, a doctor pronounces, “you must relax” while trying to treat Wilber. Wilber replies, “Relax? I am relaxed!” clearly a sarcastic response, “If I were any mope relaxed, Id be dead”. The scene is funny and captures how we feel while panicking whether or not what we are facing is life threatening. Our instinct is to fight back and not to relax. And yet more often than not, our attempts to fight back only amplify anxiety. If we allow ourselves to experience the pain and lift it up to God, something amazing happens. A peace we may not understand will surround us.