Podcast
A Moment of Hope
Hosted by David and Marilynn Chadwick with Jenn Houston · EN
Begin your day with a "Moment of Hope." This podcast is a compliment to David and Marilynn's weekday devotional - providing deeper insights and encouragement. Featuring Jenn Houston.
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Gratitude: Practice the Habit
4d ago00:05:30Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV I'm learning to become more intentional about being thankful. But sometimes I find myself drifting back into an attitude of discontent. So I find I must regularly renew my resolve to give thanks in everything. To make a thankful heart a permanent habit. I'm curious. Do you experience God in a fresh way when you practice gratitude? I think we'd agree that giving thanks to God is a discipline we should do every day. In that respect, it's different from the spiritual discipline of fasting. When a person comes off a fast, they gradually start eating food again. So, should we gradually allow ourselves to become grumpy again? Of course not. The Bible teaches us that giving thanks is to be a continuous mindset—much like prayer. So it makes sense that right after the Bible teaches us "to pray without ceasing," it reminds us to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). To form any habit, we must become fully persuaded of its value. Here are a few reasons why giving thanks is worth our best effort: Giving thanks to God is a powerful counterattack to discontent. It's easier to replace grumbling or complaining with thanksgiving than to simply try to "not gripe." Gratitude feeds our faith. I discovered that thanksgiving can stand up under a fiery trial. Giving thanks seemed to use less energy than praying for a specific end—this can be a good thing when you're going through a hard place. Giving thanks helps us roll our burdens into God's hands, which, in turn, calms our anxious heart. Having a thankful heart makes us more aware of our surroundings and more in tune with God's blessings. We become more expectant, watching for him to show up. Giving thanks can also make us more sensitive to the needs of others—opening the door to holy conversations—a blessing in themselves. We don't have to understand all the reasons why giving thanks is a good thing in order to experience its benefits. Forming a habit of giving thanks can change both our attitude and our actions. We may discover that giving thanks is a form of worship. It connects us to the Lord and places our focus squarely upon him. And when we focus on Jesus, it changes everything.
Transcribe →Gratitude: How Not to Say Thank You
5d ago00:04:37Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick Is it possible to offend God with the way we thank him? Apparently so—if our "thank you" comes from a self-righteous heart. Jesus told this story to a group of religious leaders who were confident in their own "goodness" and scorned everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 18:10-13). The two men couldn't have been more different. The Pharisee was well-bred, well-educated, and well-off. He had an impressive religious pedigree. He had arrived. The tax collector, on the other hand, was a loser. To the Jews, he was an object of scorn—a pagan Gentile. A sinner, and easy to despise. He had no social standing, no prestige, and probably not many friends. Then as now—nobody much liked a tax collector. At first glance, it looks like the Pharisee is thanking God for his many blessings. But a closer look lets us in on the real truth. His "prayer of thanks" was just a way to boast that he wasn't like those "evildoers." He probably spoke loudly enough for the tax collector to hear him. That means his thanks to God was just an announcement of his own righteousness—a reminder to everyone in his hearing that he fasted and tithed. The Greek translation of this passage sheds even more light on the true nature of this man's prayer: "The Pharisee stood and prayed like this to himself" (Luke 18:11 MOUNCE). To himself. Did you catch that? The Pharisee's prayer went no further than himself. But the tax collector was stricken by his own sinfulness. He stood at a distance—not even daring to look to heaven as he uttered, "God have mercy on me, a sinner" (v. 13). Jesus spelled it out plainly: The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified—righteous before God. His prayers were heard. A few reminders as we develop a thankful heart: First, true thankfulness is always accompanied by humility. Next, none of our acts of righteousness will ever make us righteous in God's sight—we all need grace and mercy, just like the tax collector. And finally, the ground at the foot of the cross is level.
Transcribe →Gratitude: Grumbling or Grateful?
1w ago00:04:57Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits." Psalm 103:2 ESV Thankful. Just one little word was printed in small letters across the front of the woman's t-shirt. But for some reason, it caught my attention. I think it was the period at the end of what wasn't even a sentence. Thankful. I guess you could read it this way: "Thankful, period." I would like that to be me. I'm thankful. Period. But I have to confess. Sometimes I am less than thankful. Perhaps it's because I'm not paying attention to all the blessings in my path. Or maybe I sometimes take God's benefits for granted. I was jolted out of this spiritual lethargy by something a minister from Africa once said when speaking to a church gathering. He was a genocide survivor from Burundi and had seen more death and destruction than I could comprehend. "Do you have all your arms and legs—your limbs?" he asked us. "Then you are blessed!" "Do you have your eyes, your sense of hearing, your ability to speak?" "Then praise God and give him thanks. Rejoice and count your amazing blessings!" he exclaimed. From his perspective, it was an incredible blessing simply to be alive. Healthy. Not maimed by war. Reasons to rejoice! Stop and think for a minute. Reflect on the many benefits you enjoy simply because you don't live in an area ravaged by war. Do you have all your limbs? Can you walk? Are you able to see and hear and talk? Then, as the African minister would say, "Rejoice at your great blessings!" Our congregation was deeply moved by the man's words and came alongside his organization to explore ways we could help rebuild their war-torn country. But there was a powerful, personal takeaway for me. His words made me want to become more intentional about being thankful to God each day for my many blessings. To resist complaining about petty annoyances. Next time we are tempted to grumble, let's pause and take a look at our hands and feet… and be thankful. Savor the ability to walk and see and hear. Let's be intentional to count the ways God has poured his grace upon us and "forget not all his benefits."
Transcribe →Gratitude: Remember Past Victories
1w ago00:05:08Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live." Deuteronomy 4:9a NIV Did you know the word "remember" is found in the Bible over 200 times? Failing to remember, or forgetfulness, quenches gratitude. Forgetting to be thankful also empties prayer of its power. It's easy to get caught up in the flurry of day-to-day life. We miss opportunities to pray and forget to notice answers when they do come. The Lord knows we drift to forgetfulness, so the Bible is brimming with reminders: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2). There is more about praise in the Bible than prayer. Ancient Israel repeats the vicious cycle of worshiping God, followed by falling away whenever they forget his mighty miracles. God places blame squarely on Israel. He admonishes parents to teach their children to remember him—and his miracles. "Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them" (Deuteronomy 4:9). Why not think of ways to refresh your own memory? Try giving thanks throughout the day. You might notice a lifting of your mood. Apparently, these "feel good" responses have a physiological basis. Researchers found subjects who practiced sustained gratitude for just five minutes experienced a rise in the level of disease-fighting antibodies, lasting for over five hours! My friend's daughter Molly began writing in her "thank you book" each day. Finding only a few things at first, her daily list eventually numbered in the hundreds. Her family watched her change from a somewhat depressed teen to one whose faith and positive attitude inspired those who knew her. It helps to spend time remembering places where God has answered your prayers. Reminisce with family or friends about past victories. Better yet, start your own thank-you book. In Prince Caspian, book 2 of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, the children are a dangerous and grueling uphill climb. They're exhausted and ready to give up when they come to a cliff. They look down on a little town where they had once won a decisive victory. "By jove," said Edmund, "we fought the Battle of Beruna just where that town is!" This cheered the children more than anything." He adds, "You can't help feeling stronger when you look at a place where you won a glorious victory."
Transcribe →Gratitude: Weapon Against Worry
1w ago00:04:45Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6 NLT A friend once confided she had to go into counseling because she was so worried about the escalating war in the Middle East. She lived in daily fear of terrorist attacks on US soil. She is an affluent, well-educated, suburban woman, far from any real conflict. But anxiety over the world situation overwhelmed her heart. That's the goal of terror. We've been talking about the power of gratitude this week. I'd like to suggest that giving thanks may be one of our best secret weapons against worry. I talked with a friend who actually lives and serves on the front line of war, providing relief to refugees. I asked him if he was afraid of terror attacks, which frequently happen in his area. The childlike simplicity of his answer startled me: "We've just learned to trust God for our protection." He said these words as calmly as I would have said, "I've learned to buckle my seat belt when driving to the grocery store." But it was his next comment that held the key: "God is doing amazing work among these refugees," he said with excitement. "Many are accepting Jesus. I praise God and give thanks as I see the refugee children reciting Bible verses and taking a bold stand for the Gospel." There wasn't a trace of worry in his voice—only gratitude. And joy. Most of us don't face daily threats from war. But fear and worry can still attack us right where we live. Perhaps we can take a lesson from my friend and simply trust God for his protection. Moreover, we can follow his example in our own neighborhoods as we step out boldly to share God's love with the broken around us. And as we see God at work, let's remember to pray and give thanks—then watch fear and worry flee. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
Transcribe →Gratitude: The Power of One
2w ago00:05:03Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done." Luke 17:16 NLT We can learn some lessons from a leper about being thankful. Let's look at the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Only one came back to thank him. But there is much more to the story. Take a few minutes to reflect on this passage: As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!" He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you" (Luke 17:11-19 NLT). Jesus instructed the ten men to visit the priest. According to Jewish law, a priest must perform the religious ritual for lepers to be pronounced cleansed. Miraculously, all ten lepers were healed—even before they got to the priest. But only one of them thanked Jesus. When the leper saw he was healed, he ran back to Jesus. He praised God and fell to the ground at Jesus's feet, lavishing him with thanksgiving. Jesus wonders that none of the others came back to thank him. Only one out of the ten. Only one gives glory to God. "Stand up… and go," Jesus tells the Samaritan leper. "Your faith has healed you." The word translated "healed" is "sozo," which can also mean "saved." It seems the man was also spiritually saved and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. This man was not only a leper but a despised Samaritan. A pagan, according to the Jews. Yet he was the only one out of ten. The one who gave God glory. Do you want to be the one? The one to notice when Jesus blesses you abundantly. To go back to Jesus and thank him—to give him glory. I want to be that one.
Transcribe →Gratitude: The Habit of Gratitude
2w ago00:05:03Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2 NIV I'd like to become more thankful for the small things in life. Easy to say—harder to do. That's why I'm focusing on being grateful for the everyday answers to prayer. It's easy to blow right past the ordinary blessings God sends each day. We move so fast. Who has time to drink in the magic of the blue sky? And when was the last time you took an extra minute to look into the eyes of your husband, or children, or friends? Get creative. Find ways to focus on being thankful. Here are a few practical tips: On your drive to school or work (or wherever it is that you go each day), find the most scenic route. Refresh your soul with a glimpse of beauty. I choose to travel up a tree-lined hill in our neighborhood and through back roads instead of getting on the main highway. It only adds about three minutes to my trip. Enjoy little breaks throughout the day. Studies recommend thirty minutes of sunshine daily to keep up our vitamin D supply. Why not pick a pretty spot? Take a book. Or go for a walk. Have a definite "quitting time" each day. I was always a big fan of early bedtimes when the kids were small. Make a date to watch Netflix or something fun with your spouse or a friend. Stop the work and savor some down time. Remember, rest is God's idea. Stop multi-tasking for just one day. A friend shared how a mentor helped her calm down her highly stressed life. Her best piece of advice, according to my busy friend, was simple. When working, learn to focus on each person or task with your whole attention. Research shows that the value of multi-tasking is an illusion—it's far less efficient than we think. Keep a thank-you book. List a few blessings at the end of your day. How many little blessings do you miss because you are sleepwalking, or worse, racing through life? Above all, when those tiny blessings come your way, pause and give thanks to the Lord. You'll find yourself becoming more watchful and even more thankful. And before you know it, you will have developed the habit of gratitude.
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 20:22
2w ago00:05:12Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you." Proverbs 20:22 Today is the last day of our long journey through many of our favorite proverbs. We have learned so much! Proverbs 20:22 says, "Do not say, 'I will repay evil;" Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you." What a way to end our time in Proverbs! Because we have all experienced something evil! When we are hurt by someone, everything within our human nature wants to retaliate with equal and greater pain. In the Old Testament, it's called "lex talionis," the law of retaliation, which is where we get the idea of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Gandhi once said that if everyone lived by this maxim, the entire world would be sightless and toothless! The problem with retaliation is that no one retaliates with equal force. The person offended always retaliates with greater force, which only causes even greater escalation when that other person retaliates again. An often overlooked fact is that when God instructed "an eye for an eye," he was actually trying to limit the escalation. One eye for one eye. One tooth for one tooth. No more and no less. But in this proverb, and in the teachings of Jesus, we are instructed not to retaliate at all (Matthew 5:38-42). Do not take vengeance in your own hands. Do not repay evil with evil. And then do what? Give it to the Lord. Trust him with the repayment. Operate in forgiveness and grace, in the same way that God has dealt with you (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). It's Paul's profound teaching in Romans 12:19. Let God handle the vengeance. He does it better than we do. And the promise is secure: God will repay. It may not be on our timetable or our way. That's why we need to "wait on the Lord." But he will deliver us. He will carry out justice because he is a just God. That's his nature. He promises to not let anyone get away with anything. Following God's ways of justice means the world will keep a lot more eyes and teeth! It will have less destruction and more love. Thank you for sticking with me as we have studied through the book of Proverbs together. I believe the practical wisdom in this book will continue to serve you well in every area of life!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 20:17
2w ago00:04:30Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel." Proverbs 20:17 Today's proverb is also out of Proverbs 20, verse 17, which says, "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel." Here is another powerful verse about the terror of deception. Titus 1:2 says that God does not lie. Truth is his nature and character. Deceit brings such pain. It is a tactic that leaves a wake of destruction. 1 Peter 2:1 says that we should rid ourselves of all malice and deceit. Leviticus 19:11 says not to lie or deceive one another. Even Jesus, in John 8:44, addressed those who opposed his message and described them in this way: "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." What a profound verse! Satan's native language is deceit, which means that if we lie, we are speaking the language of the devil, the diabolos, the divider. Imagine putting a bite of hot bread into your mouth, fresh out of the oven. Warm. Delicious. Mouth-watering. For the moment, it's worth having! Now imagine you got this bread in a dishonest way. Maybe you stole it and held a baker at gunpoint to get it. You swallow the bread and all of a sudden, your mouth feels like it's full of rocks. What a difference that would be! Both startling and gross. Here's the truth of this proverb. When bread is gotten by dishonesty, it may taste good for the moment, but later the mouth will be full of gravel. Really think about that picture! Gravel in your mouth. Yuck! What a terrible taste and sensation that would be. God knows that a person who gets something by dishonest gain, though it may taste good for the moment, will eventually be destroyed. Eventually judgment will come, and that person will reap what he or she has sown. God is the ultimate judge. He is a God of justice. Eventually he will judge all ill-gain, even though it may momentarily be delicious and satisfying.
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 20:16
2w ago00:04:37Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners." Proverbs 20:16 There is a vast array of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Immense knowledge offered on a multitude of topics. Everything from family to money to interpersonal relationships to personal success. God clearly places a high value on practical wisdom and the importance of living responsibly. Today, we are going to look at another verse from Proverbs 20. Verse 16 is today's proverb: "Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners." What is this saying? This verse is speaking to the importance of financial stewardship. Specifically times where you may be asked to put up a deposit or a pledge for another person's debt. You may ask to give "security," or "collateral," for another person's transaction, which means that if that person can't pay the debt, you must. This proverb is giving a very strong warning: "Don't do this!" If you put up security for a foreigner, especially someone you don't really know, you are inviting many potential problems into your own life. The message is clear: manage your finances well. Be smart about your pledges and investments. Know the people you are investing in. Don't become the security for someone who could end up leaving you in a heap of financial duress. This is wisdom. It should be embraced, desired, and applied to your life. Over time, you will find that your wise investments will yield a security of blessings for yourself and your family. Much like the miracle of compound interest—every seven years in the stock market, your investments most often double—the same holds true here. If you make wise investments, avoid taking on others' debts, and make good choices, over time, your future is blessed.
Transcribe →