Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: it’s not just about you
Date: November 15, 2024

Episode Overview

This heartfelt episode of Christ With Coffee On Ice centers on the idea that our walk with Christ isn’t solely about personal growth—it’s also about serving others. Host Ally Yost explores the tension between seeking a close, intimate relationship with God and extending that love outward through generosity, prayer, encouragement, and sharing God’s word. Deeply rooted in scripture, Ally encourages listeners to move beyond a self-focused faith, highlighting practical ways to serve people both within and outside the church. Expect vulnerability, plenty of scripture, and actionable encouragement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Checking In and the Tenderness of God’s Heart

• Ally acknowledges listeners who may feel distant from God (04:10):

  • Feeling Seen by God:
    “If you are somebody who's listening right now and you feel like you and God used to be besties … I just want you to know that you are so seen by the Father.” (06:13)
  • God’s Compassion Over Disappointment:
    “He actually has so much compassion for you. ... He's not disappointed in you.” (07:16)
  • We’re Always God’s Children:
    “We are always referred to as children of God, not adults of God ... that's how He always looks at us.” (08:24)

• Practical Encouragement:
  Ally challenges listeners to see themselves through God’s compassionate perspective, not as disappointments, but as beloved children—even in seasons of spiritual dryness.

2. Prayer for the Distant and the United Church Body

• Community-Oriented Prayer (10:41)
  Ally leads a heartfelt prayer, emphasizing the call to pray for fellow believers experiencing distance from God:
  • “What we can do as a community, as a body ... is we then extend our compassion to those that could be listening or compassion to those who are in the church that possibly could need that message.” (11:44)
  • Prays for restored closeness with God, spiritual routine, breaking of distractions, strength from God (not self), and an end to spiritual drought:
    “I just pray that this drought is over with now in Jesus name, that this Drought of feeling far away from you ends now.” (16:24)

3. Shifting the Focus: It’s Not Just About You

• Intentional Pivot:
  Ally recognizes how easily faith can become self-centered, even with good intentions:

  • “We can be so focused on our relationship with the Lord … that we forget about serving others.” (17:42)
  • She affirms the vital importance of personal communion with God, but cautions against neglecting service.

• Big Picture Faith:
  “Sometimes we need to go into things with a little bit more of a bigger picture. … Maybe what you're learning in that moment doesn't apply necessarily to you ... [but] the Lord wants to give you that wisdom and knowledge so that you can help someone else.” (21:14)

4. Five Biblical Ways to Serve Others

a) Prayer for Others

• Scripture: Ephesians 6:18
  “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (29:09)
• Insight:
  Prayer isn’t just for yourself—it’s an act of service for the whole body of believers.

b) Sharing and Giving to the Needy

• Scripture: Hebrews 13:16
  “And don’t forget to do good and share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” (31:19)
• On Heart Posture:
  Generosity is a form of worship, not a transaction:
  “Your motive to giving shouldn't be like, okay, if I give this, then God will give me more. ... That's not the heart posture, that's not a pure heart.” (36:08)
• God as Cheerful Giver:
  “God is the ultimate cheerful giver. He delights to give to us.” (37:10)
  • Ally explores the word “cheerful” (Greek: hilaros), arguing that true godly giving is marked by joy—even hilarity.

c) Giving Encouragement

• Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11
  “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (48:02)
• Practical Example:
  Ally shares a story about encouraging a stranger in Chipotle for her unexpected kindness (50:01).
  • “There is nothing sweeter than receiving encouragement from somebody that you care about, but also low key from someone you don't really know.” (49:35)
• Encouraging Strangers:
  “There is something so beautiful about encouraging one another in something that maybe they didn't have to do.” (51:26)

d) Working with Intention and Joy

• Scripture: Philippians 2:14-15
  “Do everything without complaining and arguing ... shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (53:20)
• Witness by Example:
  “We are representing the kingdom of God ... if somebody knows that you are Christian and that you are a believer in Jesus, we better be acting that way to the best of our abilities.” (54:41)
• Heart Posture:
  Ally stresses the importance of doing everything with a pure, loving heart that stands out in a dark world.

e) Spreading God’s Word

• Scriptures:
  • Psalm 96:3 (“Publish his glorious deeds among the nations...”) (59:26)
  • 2 Timothy 4:2 (“Preach the Word of God. Be prepared whether the time is favorable or not...”) (59:39)
  • Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission) (1:00:02)
  • Mark 16:15 (Go into all the world and preach the good news...) (1:00:32)
• Practical Evangelism:
  Sharing the Word doesn’t have to be formal—relate it in daily conversation:
  “Spreading the word of God doesn't have to be like sitting down, lecturing people, reading the Bible to them. ... The more that we learn the word ... the more that verses will just come up in natural conversation.” (1:01:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you are somebody who's listening right now and you feel like you and God used to be besties ... I just want you to know that you are so seen by the Father.” (06:13)
• “We are always referred to as children of God, not adults of God ... that's how He always looks at us.” (08:24)
• “Sometimes we do [personal faith] so much that we forget about serving others.” (17:42)
• “Just because you're sitting at a sermon and you're receiving a word doesn't mean ... you can't still take notes. Maybe you're supposed to be helping somebody through that subject that you haven't met yet.” (21:14)
• “God is the ultimate cheerful giver. He delights to give to us. ... True giving comes from a happy heart, and it also gives us a happy heart.” (37:10)
• “God wants us to give happily because that is how God Himself gives.” (38:03)
• “It’s good to remember that it's not an issue of what you have or don't have. It's what has you.” (45:21)
• “Encouraging one another ... is such a beautiful way of allowing them to just really feel seen in that moment.” (51:26)
• “If somebody knows that you are Christian and that you are a believer in Jesus, we better be acting that way to the best of our abilities.” (54:41)
• “The Word of God can apply to every part of our life ... the more that verses will just come up in natural conversation.” (1:01:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–05:50 — Season wrap-up, connection with listeners, call for feedback on podcast format.
• 05:51–11:30 — Acknowledging spiritual dryness; God’s tenderness and prayer for reconnection.
• 11:31–17:40 — Collective prayer for the church and encouragement to support others.
• 17:41–26:45 — Transition: Moving beyond self-focused faith to serving others; how sermons/messages can equip us for others.
• 29:09 — Serving through prayer (Ephesians 6:18).
• 31:19–46:00 — Generosity; the heart of giving, scriptures on cheerful giving and faith in God’s provision.
• 48:02–53:19 — Encouragement as service (1 Thessalonians 5:11); Chipotle story.
• 53:20–58:52 — Serving through joyful work and intentional living (Philippians 2:14-15).
• 59:26 onward — Spreading God's word through scripture and natural conversation.

Practical Challenges & Takeaways

• Challenge: Don’t just seek personal closeness with God—let that overflow into acts of service for others.
• Application: This week, consciously pray for someone else, give cheerfully when prompted, offer encouragement (even to strangers), work with joyful intentionality, and incorporate God’s word naturally into conversation.
• Ally’s Final Encouragement:
  “Let’s give. Let’s have a cheerful, giving heart this next week. Let’s challenge ourselves to really look to others more. ... That would make us look more like Jesus.” (1:03:23)

Tone: Warm, encouraging, unscripted, practical, scripturally rich.

For anyone longing for fresh purpose and renewed vision in their walk, this episode is sure to inspire a cheerful, outward-facing faith.