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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Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 11:21
2d ago00:04:46Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered." Proverbs 11:21 "Be assured…" is how today's proverb starts out. Let's take a look at it together. "Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered" (Proverbs 11:21). According to these words, we should be absolutely assured of the truths in this Scripture. So what is it of which we should be assured? That no evil person will go unpunished! How many of you have ever been wrongly hurt by an evildoer? Betrayed by a close friend? Used by a boss for his or her own benefit? Abused by a spouse? Lied about? Slandered? And then seemingly gotten away with their evil acts? Does any of this sound familiar? Of course! We have all had people wrongly hurt us. It's an unfortunate part of living in a broken world. But according to God's Word, no evil person will go unpunished. Every evil person who has ever lived must face the judgment seat of God. They will be judged for their wrongdoing and will face consequences. God's judgment will be a perfect judgment. Romans 12:19 says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" Alexander the Coppersmith did the apostle Paul "great harm." Paul simply said, "the Lord will repay him for his deeds" (2 Timothy 4:14). What a powerful reminder for us all! We must leave vengeance to the Lord. Only he can and will judge all things perfectly. We can't match his righteous ability to bring about justice in our sinful state. Our flawed human hearts, minds, and perspectives are always skewed. Nonetheless, rest assured: God will judge all evil and wrongdoing. In light of that, don't be vengeful. Don't become an evil person in your pain caused by evil people. Remember, bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. So, release your offenders. Forgive. Let God be God. And enjoy the rest of your life knowing he will ultimately bring about true justice.
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 11:4
3d ago00:04:46Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Proverbs 11:4 When God pours out his wrath, and that day will surely come, your wealth will mean nothing. When it comes to eternal salvation, the amount of money you have accumulated will not impress God at all. When you die and face the One who owns all the world and everything in it, he is not going to say, "Wow, your wealth is really impressive!" I have often asked people this question, "Have you ever seen a hearse with a U-Haul attached to it?" Of course, the answer is a resounding, "No!" In fact, Rockefeller's financial overseer was purportedly asked, after Rockefeller died, how much he left behind. Candidly, the financial overseer supposedly responded, "He left it all." King Solomon himself was a man of riches. He excelled not just himself but also "all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom" (1 Kings 10:23). As someone who experienced great wealth Solomon still knew this truth: "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 11:4). Don't miss the very important second part of this proverb: On the day of God's wrath, it is righteousness, not riches, that delivers us from death. God's righteousness is found solely in Jesus. Accepting him gives us forgiveness so that when God looks at our souls, he sees the righteousness of God in Jesus. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). One day, God's wrath will come. In that moment, there will only be two options: Either you have Jesus's righteousness or you don't. Please, my dear friends, make sure you are covered in the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), as it truly is life's most precious possession!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:17, She Makes Her Arms Strong
6d ago00:04:39Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong." Proverbs 31:17 ESV The two Hebrew words describing the Proverbs 31 woman, eshet chayil, are translated "woman of valor" (Proverbs 31:10 OJB). From the beginning, God created the woman to be part nurturer and part warrior. Valor means showing courage in the face of danger. So naturally, valor requires a measure of mental toughness. But the Proverbs 31 woman of valor also had to be physically strong: she "works with eager hands…gets up while it is still dark," provides food and tasks for her family and servants, "buys a field… plants a vineyard"… and "sets about her work vigorously" (Proverbs 31:13-16). Even her arms, we're told, "are strong for her tasks" (Proverbs 31:17 NIV). Another version reads: "She makes her arms strong" (Proverbs 31:17 ESV). I have to smile when I think about her "strong arms" because it reminds me of my friend Beth. We both loved being mothers and now grandmothers. But we agree—when raising our own children, we were used to the constant physical demands that came with lifting, dressing, and bathing little ones. Our arms grew strong. But lifting grandchildren is a little harder. So Beth started doing 100 pushups a day. "I want to be able to lift all those grandbabies," she laughed. She does her first set during her normal exercise time—then she drops to the floor for a few more throughout the day. "It's amazing how they add up," she said. Beth—and her 100 daily pushups—give us a good mental picture of what it looks like to make our arms strong. The Amplified Bible describes the Proverbs 31 woman's strength in more detail: "She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong" (Proverbs 31:17 AMP). Why not begin now to reflect on how to strengthen yourself—spiritually, mentally, and physically? Who knows? Maybe you'll even want to try Beth's 100 push-ups challenge! Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 22:6, Grow Your Child with the Grain
1w ago00:05:05Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 AMPC Education should be a delight, not drudgery. It's the same with spiritual training. Children learn differently. Research has shown that some of what were previously thought to be learning disabilities are often just different ways of processing information. The Lord of the Universe seems never to tire of creating unique humans. At birth, every person is "wired" differently from the nearly eight billion people on the planet—and from every other person who has ever lived! Astounding, isn't it? So as parents, it makes sense that in addition to discovering our child's unique beauty, we should experiment to see how they best learn. What makes them tick. The kindest way to raise our children is "in keeping with their gift or bent" (Proverbs 22:6 AMPC). Our best clues come simply from watching what they naturally love to do. Our three now-grown children were all very different. Bethany was multitalented and loved to learn. She played volleyball and basketball, but she was also passionate about languages. In third grade, she chose to attend a French Immersion magnet school where English wasn't even spoken. She learned everything from grammar to long division in French. It's easy to see why she now loves educating her children at home. David, our older son, was shooting wads of trash through lampshades at age two. It's no surprise basketball grabbed his heart at an early age. Basketball scholarships paid for both his undergraduate and master's degrees in college. We've watched basketball, along with his good math mind and strategic business acumen, open up doors to his career path in the sports world. Our youngest, Michael, was talented in a variety of sports but gravitated to swimming. He carved his own unique trail as a standout collegiate swimmer and eventually a professional swimmer and world record holder. Our determined Michael used to say, "Swimming found me!" His athletic gifts and work ethic, combined with his high "EQ," or emotional intelligence, have made him an effective leader who now expresses his gifts through a ministry calling. David and I tried to "grow" our three children "with their grain." By God's grace, as they've gotten older, they've not left the foundation of that training. More importantly, they've held tightly to their faith in Jesus. Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:10, Part Nurturer, Part Warrior
1w ago00:04:37Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Who can find a woman of valor?" Proverbs 31:10a OJB A woman of valor is a warrior at heart. She fights for her faith, her family, and her community. But sometimes, her toughest battles are for her God-given dreams. I wonder if some wars are harder than others because the enemy knows the stakes are so high. I think back to our long years of infertility and my fierce fight to have a baby. I couldn't have known it at the time, but I was waging a battle not just for our firstborn daughter, but also for our next baby, a son. Then another son. And now, twelve grandchildren and counting. Our daughter once said something to me which made me pause: "Mama, you didn't know when you were going through all those years of infertility that you were also fighting for all these little people to be born," pointing to our grandchildren. Perhaps my fight was so fierce because the enemy wanted what I had—the promise of children and grandchildren who would glorify God. And ultimately, generations beyond those. But I had something else the enemy wanted. And so do you. He wanted to steal my testimony. He wanted to make it impossible for me to tell the miraculous story of God's healing that enabled me to have those babies. He wanted to rob me of the chance to encourage others who are waiting for answers to their own prayers. Quite simply, the devil wants to steal the story God is weaving through your dream. Or through this trial you're enduring so bravely. He wants to steal your testimony. In the end, he wants to steal God's glory. Dear friend, don't give up. God is faithful. One day you will have a story to tell. A story that will cause others to yearn to know this wonderful God Who is the Giver of Dreams. Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:10, 28, Her Children Rise Up
1w ago00:05:01Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "A woman of valor, who can find? Her children rise up and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:10, 28 JPS The Proverbs 31 "woman of valor" must have had some warrior in her. After all, the Hebrew term chayil, translated "valor," is a military term. I once asked my husband how he saw me as a fighter. David thought for a minute and said: "You have fought so hard for our children's dreams." It's true. I fought harder to help our kids reach their dreams than I ever fought for my own. This quote says it best: "Reaching your own dreams is fulfilling—helping someone else reach their dreams is sublime." And when that "someone else" happens to be your own children, it's joy on steroids. I wonder if the Proverbs 31 woman of valor discovered this same joy in seeing her children succeed. We're told, "her children rise up and call her blessed," (Proverbs 31:28 ESV). The Hebrew word, qum, translated "rise up" is very strong. It means, "to accomplish, to build, to establish, to strengthen, to succeed." I'd like to think her children were now grown, happy, and fulfilled. They had reached their dreams, in part, because of their mother's impact. She had taught them. Nurtured, clothed, and cared for them. Perhaps they saw their mom in prayer, seeking the Lord and fighting for their dreams. The Proverbs 31 woman poured her life into her children, so I can imagine her satisfaction as she watched them flourish. Nothing makes me happier than when my children, and now grandchildren, "rise up" and succeed. To love our children well calls for self-sacrifice and courage. What are some ways you can encourage your children to dream big? Or is there another child, not your own, who desperately needs your encouragement? "Tread lightly around the dreams of a child," Mother Teresa once said. "You may be treading on the dreams of God." As women of valor, let's dare to fight for the dreams of the next generation. Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:10, Love Makes Her Brave
1w ago00:04:33Tap to summarizeby Marilynn Chadwick "Who can find a woman of valor?" Proverbs 31:10 OJB I agree with Indiana Jones: "I hate snakes!' Or maybe I don't actually hate them…I'm just not thrilled about having them near our home. Some time ago, I saw a very large snake trying to get into the crawl space under our house. A short time earlier, our older son had found a copperhead while cleaning out our garage. My first thought with this snake was, "Yikes!" My next was, "Go get him!" Like any good soldier, I ran toward the danger. I went after that snake with a vengeance and sent him into the next life. Why? Because he was trying to get into my house, a threat to my home and my family! I'm scared of snakes, but my love for my family made me brave. Maybe you can relate. Is there a time when you did something that scared you to protect someone you loved? If so, you were showing valor. I'm captivated by the Hebrew word chayil, translated "valor," used to describe the Proverbs 31 woman. "Who can find a woman of valor?" (Proverbs 31:10 OJB). God created woman to be a nurturer. But he also made her brave. Simply put, valor is personal bravery in the face of danger, especially in battle. In its nearly 100 uses in the Old Testament, the word for "valor," chayil depicts warriors, like King David's "mighty men." Other times, chayil describes God as a warrior for his people. It's the same word used for heaven's angel armies. I find the term "woman of valor" both compelling and poetic. My daughter, a young wife and mother, likes this expression because it makes her think of courage and strength. Valor is courage. But the woman of valor also embodies honor, strength of character, virtue, and so much more. I believe we need to become women of valor as we face our own battles today. Unlike the woman of Proverbs 31, we enjoy breakthroughs in medicine, science, and travel. But consider the enemies we face in our world: Addiction, divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, poverty, unemployment, pornography, human trafficking, joblessness, homelessness. Daily, we're bombarded by news of terror attacks somewhere in the world. If this isn't war, my friend, I don't know what is. The woman of valor is essentially a warrior, a fighter at heart. She fights not only for her personal world, but also for the world around her. As I listen to conversations with women of all ages, stages, and walks of life, I'm hearing a recurring theme—their heart's desire to be strong for their families and communities. In short, they long to be courageous women God can use to change their world. Is God calling you to become a woman of valor? Remember, it's love that makes you brave. -Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:22
2w ago00:04:49Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 What great truths are found in Proverbs 17:22! Let's take a look at them today. The first truth is that a joyful heart is good medicine. Other translations say a cheerful heart is good medicine. What is the primary lesson here? Choose joy! Seek to focus on what is positive. Raise your faith. Focus on God's goodness. Remember all God's benefits to you! Choose to believe that everything will work out for good. Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Philippians 4:8 says we are to fix our eyes on, to think about, and to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. There is a reason why God tells us to do these things! Because there is a clear correlation between what we focus on with our minds and how it consumes our hearts, and thus affects our entire being. The second truth is that if you have a crushed spirit, it can actually dry up the bones and cause poor health. Secular studies even show this truth. We are body, soul, and spirit. If your spirit is crushed, it can affect your physical health. If your body is struggling, your mind can be affected. And so on, and so forth. We are interdependent beings. So, how do you deal with a crushed spirit? The best way is to count your blessings. Each day. If necessary, write them down. Meditate on Psalm 103:3-5. Don't forget all of the benefits of salvation. Give thanks in all things. This helps you to choose joy and experience the good medicine that comes from it. As a result, your spirit will not just survive but thrive, and your physical health–your bones–won't ever dry up. For more encouragement, check out the song Choose Joy by Parker Robinson as mentioned in today's podcast! To listen on Spotify, click here. To listen on Apple Music, click here.
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:17
2w ago00:04:55Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17 God has a high value for strong, biblical, refining relationships all throughout Scripture. Look at the many times God commands what has been referred to by many pastors as "the one anothers." James 5:16 says to confess to and pray for one another. John 13:34 says to love one another. Galatians 5:13 says to serve one another. Galatians 6:2 said we should carry one another's burdens. Ephesians 4:32 says to be kind and compassionate with another. The list goes on and on and on. The heart's cry of every person is to have good, loyal, and true friends. People with whom we can live out "the one anothers." In a world full of selfish ambition, personal agendas, and performance-based love, friendships that carry this depth of loyalty are so rare. More than loyalty, what is even rarer is a friend born for adversity. A true friend will walk with you through both joys AND trials. He or she is not just there for the good times, the chuckles, and the fun moments. While it is wonderful to share great memories, the mark of real relational depth and strength is found when life is not perfect. When sins are revealed. When you step on each other's toes. When you let each other down. When you're broken and have nothing to give. A true friend is always there, in both the good times and the bad, but especially during the fires. That friend is a forever kind of friend. It's the most wonderful gift when this person is your spouse, the one to whom you have a covenant for all your life! Also, when they are your kids who have moved from children to close friends through the years. Do you have any friends like this in your life? Those who will stand by you no matter what? Those who are there for you no matter what? If so, count your blessings and take a moment today to reach out to them and thank them for being a true friend and brother or sister. You truly have one of life's greatest joys!
Transcribe →Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 17:15
2w ago00:04:59Tap to summarizeby David Chadwick "Those who justify the wicked and condemn the righteous are an abomination of the Lord." Proverbs 17:15 The standard of truth and righteousness are obvious in God's eyes. The lines are not blurred. And his ways must always be kept apart from the ways of the world. People and cultures, over time, have moved away more and more from God and his truth. This has happened throughout the ages, since the beginning of time. It will continue to happen with greater frequency and intensity until Jesus returns. Go back to the Old Testament and read what the prophets constantly warned against. Isaiah 5:20, for instance, shows us some of what was going on in those times. Isaiah said, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Do you see the parallels from back then to today? The sin patterns in the Old Testament are the same sin patterns we are facing now. The condition of the human heart has not changed. And you can see them everywhere you turn, right before your eyes. It's an all-out war against truth, justice, and righteousness. The laws of God that he reveals in nature and the foundational truths of his Word are being jettisoned, discarded, and abandoned frivolously! We are watching wickedness be justified and righteousness be condemned. No nation can stand when it goes down this path. We must be people of prayer. We must be discerning so that we, too, don't call evil good and good evil. So that we don't mix up wickedness and righteousness. Until Jesus returns for his bride, our job is to pray earnestly and to call people to return to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." One day, the healing that Jesus brings will be eternal. Until that day, may we all seek to contend for glimpses of healing and righteousness as we wait for the soon and coming victory of King Jesus!
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