Encountering God with Todd Galberth

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Encountering God with Todd Galberth"

Podcast: Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Todd Galberth
Date: January 23, 2024
Episode Theme: A deep, uplifting conversation about faith, healing, encountering God, worship leading, personal transformation, and the real-life journey of gospel artist Todd Galberth.

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Overview

This episode explores the power of encountering God in everyday life, both through music and personal faith journeys. Host Crystal Renee Hayslett and guest Todd Galberth engage in an authentic, humorous, and heartfelt conversation weaving through Todd’s musical calling, ministry leadership, personal trials—including family health challenges—marriage, and the importance of honest relationships and spiritual growth. The episode also delves into practical steps for sustaining faith and finding deeper connection to God, especially through life’s hardest challenges.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Todd’s Musical Calling and the Album "Encounter"

• [00:28] Todd shares about the heart behind his celebrated live worship album, Encounter.
  • Purpose: He wanted listeners to feel as though they were present at the live recording, aiming to create a genuine experience of God’s presence.
    • Quote: “I wanted people to feel like they were in the room... a part of the encounter.” – Todd (02:05)
  • The album’s impact and ongoing chart performance are viewed as evidence of God’s favor: “Yo, that's God.” (02:25)
• [03:01] Crystal reveals she even works out to Todd’s music, especially the song "He Won't Fail".
  • Backstory: Todd recounts the collaborative writing process with Chandler Moore and "James from Detroit" for this now-iconic track.

2. The Unfailing Nature of God

• [04:45] Todd discusses how singing “He Won’t Fail” never gets old due to witnessing faith rise in the audience as the song is sung.
  • “When you begin to declare these words, it's like, you know what? I've seen God do it before, and if He did it before, then he’s God enough to do it again.” – Todd (04:46)

3. Faith Beyond Human Limitations

• [05:59] Todd reflects on how people often project human failings onto God, boxing Him in due to past relational hurt.
  • Quote: “We put this thing on God... We box God into this thing where we put human characteristics on Him. And He’s like, no, let’s establish this. I am not like man.” (06:01)
• [07:45] On perseverance: “Don’t get tired of doing good... keep doing the right thing. Not perfect things, but right things.” (07:38)

4. Calling, Service, and Breakthrough Moments

• [08:22] Crystal summarizes Todd’s multifaceted role as a songwriter, gospel artist, praise and worship leader, and (formerly) an actor.
• [11:12] Todd credits his growth and “every major opportunity” to serving others’ visions, not self-promotion:
  • Quote: “I properly cared for someone else’s vision as if it was my own... God has been over the top faithful to create opportunities.” (12:00)

5. First Encounter with God and Transformative Faith

• [12:56] Todd recalls a teenage revival that changed his relationship with God:
  • “He stopped being the God of my mother, the God of my father, and became my God that night.” (13:42)
• [14:00] Passion for facilitating encounters for others:
  • “This may be somebody’s only chance for that encounter... I’m a middleman. I’m pulling people up, I’m pulling God down.” (14:25, paraphrased)

6. Worship Leadership and Ministry at Change Church

• [15:51, 18:00] Crystal describes the shift Todd brings to worship, noting it’s about spiritual atmosphere, not performance.
  • Todd: “God is not looking for singers... He’s looking for worshipers.” (16:43)
• [19:00] Todd explains the intentional song choices, vertical focus, and demographic considerations for worship at Change Church.

7. Journey to Atlanta and Relationship with Pastoral Leadership

• [20:55] Todd shares how he was led (reluctantly!) to Atlanta and Change Church through Isaac Curry and a providential dinner with Pastor Darius Daniels.
  • “I sat at that table with that man and I said, that’s my pastor.” (22:29)

8. Healing, Marriage, and Family Life

• [35:16] Celebration of 20th anniversary with wife Vanessa and their journey as a family.
• [40:01] Both Todd and Vanessa’s shared diagnosis of—and healing from—papillary thyroid cancer.
  • Quote: “God is a healer... even when it doesn’t make sense, even when the timing is off.” (42:40)
  • Miraculous restoration of Todd’s singing voice; both now cancer-free.

9. Growth, Future Goals, and Spiritual Investments

• [45:13] Todd announces plans to start Bible college (Liberty University), prioritizing investment in theology and longevity (“A year of investments: spiritually, emotionally, family, financially.”).
  • Importance of worship leaders having sound theology; “The two most consistent voices people hear week in and week out are the pastor and the worship leader.” (46:44)

10. Advice, Listener Letters, and Faith Practice

• [49:13] Listener letter from Kayla about struggling to read and understand the Bible.
  • Todd’s advice:
    • Find an approachable translation (e.g., NIV)
    • Use devotionals, Bible commentary, and tools like the Bible App
    • Read slowly; pray for understanding
    • Reference The Tony Evans Study Bible for clarity (52:53)

11. Personal Growth Reflections

• Both hosts share ongoing challenges:
  • Crystal: Learning to listen for God’s voice, battling “what-ifs,” and surrendering control (54:35)
  • Todd: Addressing procrastination and “weight” that holds him back, wanting true victory for a real testimony (55:34, 56:57)

12. Final Encouragement: Keep It Honest, Sweetie

• Crystal’s fill-in-the-blank: "Keep it open minded, sweetie." (57:23)
• Todd’s: "Keep it honest, sweetie."
  • "The relationships that I’m falling more in love with are the relationships where people tell me the truth." (58:07)
  • Advocates for truth spoken in love, and the importance of honest, growth-oriented relationships.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On service and opportunity:

  • "Every door that God has opened for me has come through serving. ...I’m the living scripture of ‘your gift will make room for you.’" – Todd (11:12)

• On faith in difficulty:

  • “Even when it’s inconvenient, God is still good. Even when it doesn’t make sense.” – Todd (43:25)

• On God’s restoration:

  • “He is not just a restorer… He is the God that makes it better than what you thought it could be from the beginning.” – Todd (32:17)

• On worship:

  • “A worshiper doesn’t need a song, but the song needs a worshiper.” – Todd (16:43)

• On genuine relationships:

  • “People will watch you fall apart... but tell me the truth. I appreciate the truth. I can grow from the truth.” – Todd (59:02)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Todd’s Encounter Album & Impact – [01:28–02:23]
• Writing "He Won’t Fail" – [03:28–04:12]
• On God Not Being Like Man – [06:01–07:38]
• First Spiritual Encounter at Revival – [12:56–13:42]
• Worship Leadership Philosophy – [15:51–16:43, 19:00–20:16]
• Call to Atlanta & Pastoral Connection – [20:55–22:29]
• Healing from Cancer (Todd & Vanessa) – [40:01–44:57]
• Plans for Bible College & Spiritual Growth – [45:13–47:40]
• Advice on Reading the Bible – [49:13–53:22]
• Personal Growth Reflections – [54:35–56:57]
• Keep it Honest, Sweetie – [57:17–59:41]

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Tone and Language

This conversation is warm, down-to-earth, humorous, and faith-filled, with both speakers using open, colloquial language and honest storytelling. Todd is frequently self-deprecating, always redirecting praise to God, and both host and guest balance light-hearted teasing with deep spiritual insights. The episode is accessible to both church-goers and those exploring faith, offering both inspiration and practical guidance.

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Final Thoughts

In "Encountering God with Todd Galberth," listeners are invited into a vulnerable, joy-filled discussion about meeting God in real life, embracing honest relationships, and living authentically—whether onstage, in church, or at home. Through honest testimonies, practical advice, and mutual encouragement, Crystal and Todd model what it means to “Keep It Positive” and, more importantly, keep it real.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Hello, and welcome to this episode of Keep It Positive, sweetie. I'm Krystal Renee Hayslett, and today I have with me my bro, Todd Galbraith. The Todd Galbraith.

[A]

Todd Galbraith is fine. Thank you. Number one, thank you so much for allowing me to be on your amazing, incredible, incredible, life changing podcast. Super honored. Super honored. There have been many people to sit on this soft couch in that spot.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I'm just grateful to be on. So thank you so much.

[B]

No, I'm grateful. I appreciate you. And I know you're very busy right now. You're on tour. I mean, a lot. Like, you literally have to leave here and go do hit the road. But thank you for taking time in between your busy schedule. We met at Change Church through my brother, Isaac Curry. He introduced us. And you lead our praise and worship team.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And when I think of you, the name of this episode is Encountering God. And my favorite album right now is your Encounter album. It is so good.

[A]

I'm blushing. You can't see it through the black skin, but I'm turning. I'm really red right now.

[B]

It's so good.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

So it had me in a chokehold for months now. The new Maverick City album that you're on has been a chokehold, but I guess everything you touch just, you know, turns to go.

[A]

It's Jesus. I'm so grateful for that. The Encounter project. So super grateful. The episode is called Encounter, but that was legitimately you ever do. So I'm sure you've written something or had an episode or that was like, you knew. Like, this one is the. Like, nobody had to tell you. Nobody had to affirm, confirm. You were like, I know that. That's it. And that's how I felt when we left that recording that night. I literally walked behind the stage and was just crying. I was like, yo, that's the best thing I've ever done.

[B]

No, it was in my life. Insane. So it was like, when you listen to it, you feel like you're at the live recording.

[A]

Yeah. And that was the goal from the mix to how we produced it. I wanted people to feel like they were in the room. I wanted them to feel like they were a part of. Of the encounter. So I'm so grateful, like, legitimately. I was talking to somebody yesterday. The record, a year old as of two weeks ago, and it's still on the charts.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

And so like, yo, that's God.

[B]

Nothing but God.

[A]

For real.

[B]

Nothing but God. So I normally start the show off with a quote or a song. And since I have a singer here, I'm like, what are you gonna sing together?

[A]

We gonna sing together. That's crazy.

[B]

One of my favorite.

[A]

That's wild. We gonna see What? I did not see that in the notes. I would have sent back revised. Revised script.

[B]

Not doing that. Well, I can tell you what one of my favorite songs is. I actually work out to this song. Well, I work out to the whole album.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'm one of those girls I actually like to.

[A]

You say you work out.

[B]

Oh, my.

[A]

We've never seen you work out. We see pictures of weights. We see pictures of treadmills. No one has ever seen you like going. But that's another conversation.

[B]

It always gives me a hard time. Are you really working out?

[A]

Have you moved today? Ma', am? We're waiting. We're waiting on you to move, but go ahead.

[B]

One of my favorite songs is He Won't Fail. Written by you, my good brother Chandler Moore and somebody else. I can't remember who else was on there, but I did double check to make sure that, yes, there's a song.

[A]

My guy from Detroit, his name escapes me right now. He actually. James, last name James. He wrote this. I went to a concert. He had just legitimately, like, that week. He was like, man, I wrote this little hook. Guys, can I just sing it for you guys? And he was like, he won't fail. He won't fail. He won't leave you. No, he won't fail. I was like, yo, the whole roll. I was like, bro, he just. Those lines. I was like. He said, man, I don't have anything else with the same song, but I just wrote it. I said, well, I'm taking that from you. Come on, you got it. Yes.

[B]

Even your struggles, you can give it to Jesus. You got to get the album and listen to it to hear the rest of it.

[A]

That. That's. That's my. Every night when I. When I do a concert, I look forward. Like, it has never gotten old. Like, there are some certain songs, you're like, okay, I'm singing this again. But that song is like, what I know is gonna take place when we start declaring that over the room and in the room, it's always. It's like, yo, like, God, just number one. You see people's faith begin to rise.

[B]

No, literally.

[A]

Literally, like, oh, no, God won't fail me. I know what I'm in. Doesn't look good. It doesn't feel good. But I have this truth that if he said it, he Is God enough to. To bring it to pass? Unless, like, yo, no, he won't fail me. I know everything about my situation is saying that I'm failing. But when you begin to declare these words, it's like, you know what? I've seen God do it before, and if he did it before, then he's got enough to do it again. So I know he won't fail, period.

[B]

That's so good. I recently started, like, really diving into the Bible and making an intentional effort to read it all the way through. Because I ain't done it, but I'm doing it now.

[A]

That's dope.

[B]

No, that's really dope, you know, because I always tell people, once you get to, like, numbers and judges, I'm like, how many more names do I have to read? And I just skip to the devotionals and just.

[A]

You're going through a lot of names that most people can't pronounce, right?

[B]

Exactly. So that was always my stopping point when I would start to try to read the Bible. But one thing I'm noticing now as I'm reading it is everything God promised the people in the Bible, no matter what they did, no matter how they deviated from his instructions, he still did what he said he was going to do.

[A]

He's consistent.

[B]

It's crazy.

[A]

And I think one of our biggest problems is that we box God. Not intentionally, but we put him in this box because of how we've been treated by people, of how we've been let down by people who we thought loved us or who we thought would never leave us or who we thought would always be in our lives. And for whatever reason, they're not there anymore. And so we put this thing on God. It's like, okay, we know you God, but. And then we look at ourselves and how jacked up and messed up we can be. So it's like, it almost makes sense for you not to come through for me, right? It almost makes sense for you not to open the door. It almost makes sense for you to let my life just fall apart because of who I am. And then when I add how other people have treated me in the process. So it's like we box God into this thing where we put human characteristics on him. And he's like, no, let's establish this. I am not like, man, hello. I don't change. I am the same. Today, yesterday, today, and forevermore. And so it was like, yo, once you understand that, yo, if he said it, that no matter how much you can mess it up in the middle. You know what I'm saying? He has this amazing way of making all things work together for the good of them that love God. So it's like, yo, it's like, no matter where you are, like, you gotta let your past go. Let the dumb stuff you've done go. And understand God is not like man, he doesn't operate like, he doesn't move like man, period. He is God, and so just let him be Him. Your job is not to mess it up. It's like, yo, don't get tired of doing good Be not weary and well doing for in due season you're gonna reap don't get tired of doing good. Keep doing the right thing. Not perfect things, but right things.

[B]

Right things, yeah. Cause people keep trying. And you be like, all right, now, how many times am I supposed to keep doing good and y' all keep trying me, right?

[A]

No, no, that happens. But it's like, yo, you. It doesn't. You can't, like, let other people dictate. Especially when you have vision, you have goals, and you know where you're going. You cannot allow other people to dictate, like, to mess up what God is doing in your life. So it's like, yo, you keep trying me, and I may blow it and give you the response that you deserve. Right? But I'm glad that he makes all things work together for the good of them who love Him.

[B]

Amen to that. Amen to that. I love it. For the people who do not know Todd, you are a songwriter, gospel artist, praise and worship leader, and actor.

[A]

You know, I used to do actor. I didn't. I don't like to bring that up around you, but it's. You know. Nah. I did a few little Chitlin Circuit plays back in the day. That's actually how I got started.

[B]

Awesome.

[A]

Like, I wasn't. I used to. I was leading worship at a little Pentecostal church with, like, 40 members, and I got a call. A friend of mine was, like, playing drums in a play. I can't remember the guy's name. He was like, yo, a background singer got sick. Would you. You want to come? I was like, how much y' all paying? He told me how they were paying. I was like, yo, sign me up. I'm on the way.

[B]

Right?

[A]

And I started and started singing background. I think this play was called. Was it if Loving youg Was Wrong? I don't know.

[B]

That's a Tyler Perry show.

[A]

Was it? I think the play was called if Loving youg Is Wrong.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And I was singing background, and the main character, the main guy got sick.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And couldn't do a show. And they were like, yo, you seen this show? You've been out here singing this show. They was like, yo, we want you on stage. I was like, ha. They want you on stage. I was like, okay. Got on stage and did it and did it and stayed on stage. But I did it for like, two, maybe like three years.

[B]

Wow. So you got bit by the acting bug. Did you enjoy it?

[A]

I loved it.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

I just didn't like some of the stuff that came with it. I want to be very careful what I just said. Yeah. I just didn't like stuff. I didn't like some of the stuff that I couldn't control that came with it. But being on stage, watching people laugh, watching people cry, being able to sing and just. And it was one of those gifts I didn't know I had until I did it right. I was like, oh, I'm not too shabby. Hopefully you don't have any B roll rolling of my chit in the circuit.

[B]

We're gonna find it insert here.

[A]

But I know, right? But I loved it, though, you know, having the opportunity to express more of who I am authentically. And that vein was really cool.

[B]

That's amazing. I love that. And that's the way that God made room for you.

[A]

Yeah, for sure. I actually posted this today. I was like, my life is just so. It's so weird and amazing because every door that I've walked through was not a door that I was going after legitimately. Legitimately. I was. Because I was talking to worship leaders. I was like, yo, I said, every door that God has opened for me has come through serving. Serving somebody else, like, every major opportunity. And so it was like the door didn't present itself until I was doing the thing that I was doing naturally, not chasing after something. And for me, from the posture of my heart and just from me serving at my local church or serving somebody else's vision, God always opened the door. I told him, I said, I'm the living scripture of your gift will make room for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because every opportunity that I've gotten, it didn't exist before I showed up legit. You know what I'm saying? Even, like, we're talking about the plays. There was an opportunity for me to be on stage until it happened.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like, even the jobs and opportunities to meet and write, those opportunities did not exist until I showed up. And when I showed up, God opened the door. God created Room.

[B]

He was in the room.

[A]

Yeah. He created an opportunity that did not exist before I got there.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And like, that's my whole life. So I'm like, yo, people ask me all the time, what's the secret sauce? I'm like, serving servant. I know it feels a little anti climactic. It's not. But it's like, yo, I've like, been faithful and I properly cared for somebody else's stuff the way I would if it was my own.

[B]

Say that again.

[A]

I properly cared for somebody else's stuff for somebody else's vision as if it was my own. And I believe from that posture, God has been like, over the top faithful to create opportunities for me to do. I tell people all the time, I won.

[B]

I won.

[A]

I'm a little country boy from Rayford, North Carolina. I'm from the sticks. I'm from the sticks. And looking at what God has done in my life, I'm like, I won. And that's why for me, it's like, I'm so grateful and appreciative for every opportunity because I know the truth. I know the rated R version. I know how faithful God has been. And so every open door, every platform, every opportunity, I'm like, yo, I'm coming in low and I'm coming in grateful because I know it's the Lord's opportunity. It's the Lord's platform. And he's just opened his door for me.

[B]

That is so awesome. When I think of your album entitled Encounter, when was like the first time Todd encountered God, man.

[A]

Probably at a revival at.

[B]

Probably revival. I remember them revivals.

[A]

Little storefront revival in Rayford, North Carolina. Mount Sinai Church. I'll never forget Bishop Kelly, Bishop Benny L. Kelly was preaching at this revival at my church. And I'll never forget that night as long as I live. Cause it was like it was coming to church. I'm a church kid. I grew up in church. It's like just going to church, just going to church. And I never gave it. I don't know, I think it was a Thursday night. And when I tell you, all I know is I remember waking up in a corner in a fetal position, broken and crying and screaming. But that night changed my life at 16 years old.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

16 years old. That night just like, drastically changed my life and my viewpoint of like, he stopped being the God of my mother, the God of my father, and he became my God that night. Wow. You know what I mean? That's why I'm so passionate about leading people in encounters with Jesus, yes, because religion will not change you. Religion can help you be more organized. Religion can give you some moral principles, but religion cannot change you. Jesus can change you. An encounter with God has the ability to change the trajectory of your life. So that's why I'm like, yo, that's why I go hard. That's why I don't play. I take it so serious. You do, because I know that this may be somebody's only chance for that encounter. This may be the Sunday that somebody invited their brother, who they've been praying for for years, to come to church. Yeah, this may be the Sunday that the mother that's been praying for her son to show up and pay for him to come to a concert that I'm at, and he finally made a decision to come. And so how do I approach that moment? I'm like, no, I have to go hard, because this may be their only shot. And I'm like, yo, I tell people I'm a middleman. I'm pulling people up. I'm pulling God down to create this encounter in the middle. That's it. It's like, the quicker I get myself out of the way, get past what I got on, get past how good you think I can see.

[B]

Cause you be fly. No, no, he put it out.

[A]

No, get past all of that. And like, yo, how quickly can I get you into the presence of God? Quick, so that he can be exactly what you need him to be in that moment.

[B]

I'm telling you, Todd, you definitely have a mantle over your life. You are anointed. Literally. There was one Sunday someone else had started praise and worship, and then all we heard is your voice on the microphone, and it was just like a. The whole energy just shifted. You know what I'm saying? You have that effect where. And I know it's nothing but God. Like, it's not you at all, but God uses you. And it's definitely something that immediately shifts the atmosphere when you tap in with that.

[A]

I don't say this arrogantly at all, but I'm so grateful that. And people say what it. Like, you hear people all the time, especially people who are like, not church. They're like, yo, like, I don't know what it is about your voice. Cause number one, I'm telling you right now, I do. People think I say this for people to be like, no. Yes, you are. I do not think I'm a really good singer.

[B]

I'm the same way.

[A]

I'm like, yo, I don't think I'm a great.

[B]

I Say that, too.

[A]

No. You sing way better than me. But I do not think I'm a great singer at all. I know. The thing that I have confidence in is that I know God's hand is on my life. And I know that he has anointed.

[B]

Me to do what I do.

[A]

And the anointing is like. Is back on him. It's like he's giving me this ability to do something that I couldn't normally do on my own strength.

[B]

And it's so true. You say you've been quoted as saying God is looking for a worshiper, not a song. A worship does not need a song. A song always needs a worship.

[A]

A worshiper does not need a song, but the song needs a worshiper.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's like, yo, God is not looking for singers. Those who will sing. That's who I'm after. No, he's looking for worship. They that will worship me in spirit and in truth. Not sing in spirit, in truth. Not dance, in spirit, in truth, but worship me. So he's not after a song. He's after a worshiper. And a worshiper doesn't need a song. You may not know a song, but you can open your mouth and open up your heart in a way that you can sing lyrics to God that will never go on a piece of paper or never maybe be on a song on Apple Music that will make him inhabit wherever you are and show up in a way that will be so transformative to your life. So you don't have to be a singer. You don't have to be great singers. I don't feel like I'm a great singer, but I know that God has anointed me to do what I do, and that's where I have my confidence.

[B]

I joked with you last week when I lost my voice. I said, I sound like you, but I can't sing like you. I lost my voice and I like. I was like, I sound just like you.

[A]

I live in this raspiness. So you're at the soundman video guy. You're going to have to put a little reverb on me, turn the highs up, because I sound like a Pentecostal preacher.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. When we talk about you being the leader of Praise and Worship team at Change Church.

[A]

Change Church.

[B]

Shout out Pastor Darius Daniels and Pastor Shamika Daniels. We love y'. All.

[A]

Yes, I do, too.

[B]

Man. I'm so glad I finally found a, like, a consistent church home here in Atlanta. It has completely changed my life.

[A]

That's dope.

[B]

Just. I Love you guys. And I love my church home. But what comes along. Because people don't understand what all comes along with being over that ministry?

[A]

Oh, man. A lot. A lot. And not just over that ministry.

[B]

Because you also.

[A]

Are you right?

[B]

Are you also a pastor?

[A]

Like, yeah, I'm an executive pastor.

[B]

Executive pastor, yeah.

[A]

So it's a few things that kind of fall under my leadership. I mean, it takes a lot, but music in particular, people think that, you know, they just pop some songs out and go, right. You know, it's never that simple. Like, there's a process, and it's like, yo, how do we get people to Jesus? You know, how do we lead people? And, like, with worship, it's like vertical. Me and the team, we get into it all the time. Like, that song isn't vertical. Because it's like, yo, when we start worship, I want the songs to be not about what God can do for us, but about what we can do for God. Like, that we're coming in to tell God how good he is, how faithful he is, how great he is. So the intentionality that goes with that has to be thought through and then understanding who we're singing to, the demographic of people that we're singing to, because we. Our worship may look different than a church in Indiana or maybe a church on the other side, maybe another church in Duluth. It may feel and look different because of the demographic of people that we're serving. So we have to think through that. Stylistically, how does that feel? What does it sound like? Is it vertical lyrically? Is it biblically sound? Is it aligned with vision? All of those things go into place.

[B]

Do you ever talk to PD and be like, hey, what's the sermon about? And, like, tie it into that.

[A]

It depends. If it's something that he wants to nail in that month, then we may, like, intertwine, like, some songs, or we may do a special. It might be something right before he speaks, or it might be an opener. So I'm grateful that he trusts me, you know? Cause he could have, you know, I've. No, not gonna say that. But, yeah, I'm grateful that he trusts me. He doesn't micromanage the situation. He trusts me.

[B]

That's dope.

[A]

And he allows us to be. He's like, yo, I brought you here because I trust you. I brought you here because you do this and I don't do this.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know what I mean? So it's like, yeah, I'm going to let you do what I brought you here to do. And if there's something I need to speak to, he'll speak to. And that's what I love about him. So consistent. What you see is what you get. He does not waste his words. And so when he says something, he makes it count. And so, like with him, it's not that I'm so great that he can't say anything. I trust him with my life. The only reason why I'm in this city is because of him.

[B]

I was gonna ask you, so how did they even. The relationship build or how did they even come apart of you being a part of changes?

[A]

Isaac Curry is a bridge. I just resigned from my last assignment and I was like, yo, I think I'm gonna move to Dallas. But then I was like, I think I'm just gonna travel for a while. I've been working full time ministry for like 16 years.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah. So I was like, I'm gonna chill for a little bit. Just travel. I was really thinking about going to Dallas. I really love Dallas. And I swore on a stack of Bibles I would never live in Atlanta, Georgia, really, ever.

[B]

What's so bad about Atlanta?

[A]

Despise this city, really. And the Lord said, you gotta come, you gotta bring it out, you gotta bring it up. But no, I just did not want to. I never really enjoyed Atlanta. Atlanta for me was always in, out, in, out, in and out. But I came, I resigned. Ike was like, yo, you know Pastor Darius, he's opening up a campus in Atlanta. I didn't think y' all should talk, bro. Just talk. Just talk. I was like, bro, I'm actually cool. I'm chilling.

[B]

Yeah, I'm.

[A]

I just need that space.

[B]

Right?

[A]

And we talked. I drove up here. We met in close by here by Perimeter. Went to Del Frisco's.

[B]

Okay. Yeah.

[A]

Went to Del Frisco's. Del Frisco's. I love that one. Give her some.

[B]

Yeah, not the grill, the other one. Yeah, the big one, the steakhouse.

[A]

They closed the grill.

[B]

They closed the grill. Did it catch on fire or something?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Anyway, something happened, but there goes the grill. Anyway, Del Frisco's. Call you, girl.

[A]

Call Del Frisco's. We'll take some. Some sponsorship money over here.

[B]

Absolutely. Lunch provided by Del Frisco's.

[A]

But we had dinner and I sat at that table with that man and I said, that's my pastor.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Literally, like, if. Even if I didn't work with him, I said, that's my pastor.

[B]

That's my pastor.

[A]

And I have heard him Preach several times. But when I started to hear vision, when I started to hear his heart, when I started to hear his vulnerability, I was like, yo, I can connect with that.

[B]

Yeah, I can connect with that.

[A]

Because it's different. He is different. Our church is different. And it's because he's different. Because of what God has called him to do. You know what I mean? So it's been. That's the reason why I'm here. That's why I am in this amazing, beautiful, incredible.

[B]

You see how that changed city? It hurts to say it, but now.

[A]

It has gone on just the airport alone has just been life giving. No more connect outside of the mean people who work there, yes. They're just not being able to get on connections after connect. Cuz living where I live is connection connect. So being able to get almost anywhere in the world makes this city a lot.

[B]

See, you like it better a little bit. You like leaving is what you're saying.

[A]

That's crazy.

[B]

That's what I heard.

[A]

No, I. I like. I love my side of town. I love my people. We're good.

[B]

It's good. I remember when you guys did the popup. Not show, but y' all did a popup service.

[A]

Service, Yep.

[B]

Yes. And Chandler called me. He's like, hey, sis, I'm in town. Come out. And I was like, okay. I literally was just coming to support Chandler. Did not know what I was walking into. And I got there and I was like, what is this? That was my first time seeing you perform live. It was just an amazing experience. And that was my first time experiencing Pastor Darius Daniels. And I was like, there's something different about this man that made me. When Ike called me and said, hey, they actually opened up a church here come. I was like, okay, I don't have a church home. I'll come and I haven't left.

[A]

That's dope.

[B]

You're stuck with me.

[A]

That's so good.

[B]

But yeah, I remember that. And it was definitely a pivotal moment in my walk. Because like a lot of people, I've dealt with church hurt. I've gone to churches and really, you know, saying, poured my life into them and made sure that people knew this is where I'm going. Come, let's serve. Let's worship and get closer to God. And what ends up happening is that the human side comes out and then you allow. Instead of seeing what God was using that person for, you only see the human and their flaws and it turns you off in the church. And that was my experience. So you guys Caught me at the right time when I was thirsty for the word and needed that home base again.

[A]

That's good. And the Lord knows exactly what we need, especially for the season that we're in.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know what I mean? So timing was everything for that.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

You know what I mean? You had to be at the right head, be in the right head space.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And to get the right phone call the right day, you know what I mean? To have your heart open enough to even be like. Cause some people can become so jaded that anything. The moment that they see anything that comes close to what their past experience was, then it's like, ah, nah. See everybody like this. Or see everyone. Every preacher's like this. Every church is like this. And they put everybody this box because of something that happened to them. And so I'm so grateful that you were open enough to, like, oh, this is. And the fact that it was exactly what you thought it was.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah. Once I actually got the experience, like, oh, this is what I thought. Yeah.

[A]

It wasn't a bait and switch. It was like, oh, no, this is exactly what it is. But for you to come and have your heart open enough to even receive that and feel the difference. And again, it's not trying to harp on how great Pastor Darius is because he's a human being. You know what I mean? But that all flows from him down because of legitimately who he is as a person. I tell people he's a better man than he is a preacher, and he's a phenomenal preacher. He's a phenomenal pastor. Yes, he is. But he's a better human being than he is. So that's why I love him so much. That's why I'm in this beautiful city.

[B]

There we go. Forever. I love Atlanta. We're gonna. We're gonna bring you on over here.

[A]

Listen, it's all good.

[B]

You gonna. Next year, you're gonna be like, I just. I don't know why I didn't move here sooner.

[A]

I'm. I'm. I want to say. I want to say that. I want to say that. Been finding some really good restaurants here lately, though. The restaurant game is coming up.

[B]

Listen, this is a spot. We got some good, good stuff. I'm sure you get this all the time, but have you ever thought about being a pastor because you had got something on you?

[A]

Cut that out the video, we're done. I think when I tell you I've heard that more, first of all, I've heard it My entire life. But when I tell you I've heard that more in the past 12 months, this year in particular is weird.

[B]

I'm just saying.

[A]

And so I grew up around. Everybody wanted to be a pastor. So I'm being like, anti. I don't want a pastor. Anti. I just want to come serve the Lord in this capacity. Take my butt home and go get something to eat. You know what I'm saying? I feel you, but I don't know. My heart has really been closed off to the idea just simply because I've worked very closely with pastors, and people will never know what it takes to do that job well.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I'm going to say that again. Not to do the job, but to do the job well. What it takes is a lot. The sacrifice, the way you put yourself out there, the vulnerability, how open you are to criticism, ridicule, lies. And to put all of that out there and bring your family through that, it's a different beast. So people don't understand. So for me, I'm like, I'm good.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I worked in the kitchen. I know what it is in the kitchen. So I'm like, I'm good. But at the same time, I don't want the Lord to have to break my legs off if that is, you know, the next evolution for me in my life. I told God at 16, yes. So my answer will always be yes.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

But I'm not pressed at all, like, yo, I'm good. I will serve somebody else. I will be a cheerleader. I will lead worship. I will do some admin, Whatever it takes. But it's not something that I'm going after now. If it happens.

[B]

Yeah, this is all right.

[A]

But I'm not. I'm not.

[B]

I feel you. No, but everybody, like, they see it. They see it on your life.

[A]

Yeah, everybody. This year in particular, it's so weird. And I'm like, what am I doing? I'm out here trying to. And I'm not checking. And my thing is, I'm not. I'm not even. Like, we're on tour right now. I said I would never go on tour. I never wanted to go on tour.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Never wanted to. I love serving in the local church. Like, I love watching people go from A to B, B to C, C, D, D. I love seeing the same people and being able to shake their hands and hug their neck and love on them and speak life to them. I love serving in the local church. I mean, the local church. A lot of people who do what I Do they want to get out the local church to get on the road and go travel? Like, traveling. And that's whipped cream for me, serving at my church, that's the main thing, right? That's whipped cream and cherries. It's great. It's cool. But if I had to choose between the two, I'd be right here at my church.

[B]

I think I know the moment that I thought that as well, because I've heard people say that. But I think the moment I thought about it was on the Encounter album. When you talked about doing the pottery, the way you told the story, I was like, oh. He's like, I'm supposed to throw it away? You're like, no, you don't throw it away. And how you compare it to how God puts us back together again, that's the moment. I was like, he got a little preacher.

[A]

I mean, look, I enjoy speaking. I enjoy all of that. It's totally different. People tell me all the time, like, oh, well, if you can sing, you can preach.

[B]

Not necessarily.

[A]

That's two totally different vibes. The preparation you got. One is corporate. The other one, y' all sitting down looking like, say, you better say something. You better say something good, or I'm gonna get on Instagram right in front of your face. So it's just two different types of preparation. But the fulfillment. Now, this is what I will say. The fulfillment is different when I speak than when I sing.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

At this point in my life, it's a different type of fulfillment. And so, again, I'm not fighting the evolution. Yeah, but it's gonna be God. If you see a pastor pass through Todd, you're like, that's God. Go to that church. God told him to do that. Yeah. So. But. Yeah, but that. I'll never forget being at that Potter. That thing was so life changing.

[B]

Oh, my goodness.

[A]

Literally just being in it and, like, putting your hands on the clay and just having this guy who's not a Christian.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So I'm taking everything that he's saying, looking at the Bible, looking at the heart of Jesus. And he's like, yo. Because I kept messing it up, I was like, trying. He was like, you gotta hold it steady. And it kept falling apart. And I was like, yo, so what do you do with this clay? You know, once we. I'm like, you just gonna throw it in the trash can? He was like, no. Never throwing this clay in the trash can. He said, I can use this clay. He said. He said, I can use this clay and recycle this clay. And use it over and over again. It will never be to the point where it can't be used.

[B]

I hope y' all didn't miss that.

[A]

He was like, but. But for the untrained eye, for somebody who doesn't know what to do with it, yeah. And it's easy to throw it away.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But for the potter who understands what it is, he has the ability to say, no, no, no, I can still use that. Yes, I can still restore that. I can still put this back together. And not just. But here's the thing, and this is what I love about God. Not just can he restore it and put it back on the wheel and make it something, but he has the ability to make it something beautiful. Sometimes people can restore something and it's like, well, it's not going to look as good as what it was originally set out to be. But God has the ability to take, no matter how jacked up, messed up, toe up from the flow of your life, your situation, whatever you are in, he has the ability to not just restore you, but actually make you better than what you thought you would be from the beginning, to actually take what you thought, how great your life was going to be. That he has the ability to give you the eyes haven't seen, ears haven't heard. Neither has it entered into the heart. He has the ability to go above what you can even ask or think. He is not just a repairer. He is not just a restorer. He is the God that makes it better than what you thought it could be from the beginning. And that's. That's what's dope. That's what's dope. Like, he's not just going. Like, he's not just going to put you back together for you to be put back together. No, he going to put some shine on that, Joan. He going, no, you going to be flossy. You going to be everything and more than what you thought you would be. And that's dope. That's what I love about Jesus. He doesn't just put you back together again. Like, if this table was broke down and it looked like that to begin with. He's not gonna put duct tape on the side just to say, oh, it's workable now. You know what I mean? But it don't look like what it originally was supposed to look like. He's like, no, I'm gonna restore you in a way that people won't even know that you were broken before. That's what's dope about Jesus. I'm gonna fix you. I'm gonna do it so dope, I'm gonna put the three Hebrew boys in the fire. And as a matter of fact, when you come out, you're not even gonna smell like smoke. You know what I'm gonna look like? You've been in fire. He is a restorer. Like, in the most beautiful way possible. So Jesus, I love him. He's so dope. He's so dope. He dope, dope, y'.

[B]

All, Today's word was brought to you by the master Todd.

[A]

The master Todd is crazy.

[B]

Listen, you just gave us a word.

[A]

No, but he's got. That's the dope thing about God, is that he just. He doesn't just put you back together.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He doesn't duct tape your life. He doesn't put staples on you. When he restores you, he restores you in a way that when people see you, they don't even know what you've been through. You don't even look like. You don't smell like what you've been through. That is what Jesus does. That's how good he is. So good.

[B]

So that's so good.

[A]

No, it is. That's good. I ain't got nothing to do with me. He's. He's just good. He dope. Jesus is dope. I need another T shirt. Jesus is dope.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

On my cardigan sleeve.

[B]

Yeah, you did that needs to go on the road with you. We can make it happen. Shifting gears real quick, you just celebrated the 20th anniversary of you and your wife Vanessa. Shout out. Vanessa, baby.

[A]

I know she was.

[B]

And you have two beautiful children. I was giving them a hard time yesterday in church when Pastor was going through all these R and B songs. They were literally sitting at her like this. I look back, I said, y' all know what he talking about.

[A]

It wasn't Drake. It wasn't Yachty.

[B]

They were like, what is he talking about?

[A]

That's crazy. Even though my daughter is a hippie, she's a real hippie. She listens to music. I'm like, who are you listening to? I'm like, what is. I don't even know the names of these people, right?

[B]

No, but you have a beautiful family. What was it? I'm always interested. I asked PD this. I always ask married couples, what was it that made you know that your wife was the one that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

[A]

Her worship. It was the first time I like, newly getting saved, walking out my faith. And the first time I saw her worship. I was like, yo, I think that's my wife.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

It was legitimately because of her heart for Jesus. I didn't know what God was going to do with me at that point. All I knew is I wanted God to get the glory out of mine, but I knew it was going to take somebody being with me with that type of heart and with that type of passion for Jesus.

[B]

That's amazing.

[A]

And so, literally, I'll never forget, it was at my church. And she came in your hometown? Yeah.

[B]

So she's from.

[A]

Yeah, we're from the same area.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

She's from the big city.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Just a fair deal. Caution light up in a little, little city. And she came to my church, man. I saw her. I was like, yo, this girl love Jesus.

[B]

You can't. You can't fake that. Angie got pretty feet.

[A]

All right, B.

[B]

Pretty feet, B.

[A]

So I was like, yo, she really loves Jesus. And I'm like, I know. Again, I didn't know exactly what God was doing, but at the same time, I'm like, yo, I'm gonna need somebody like that on my team for where I'm going. And then just to get to know her, and we just. It just flow. It wasn't work. I love just flowed.

[B]

Yes. That is awesome.

[A]

But we met at a bowling alley. My best friend Roderick was dating her friend. She was at her friend's house, and she said, if you want to go see. If you want to see me, you got to bring somebody to go out. He begged me, and I wasn't going. I said, I'm never going to a bowling finale with you and some weird girl. And I didn't know. I didn't know her, but I just heard this girl.

[B]

I think she's my wife.

[A]

Yeah, right.

[B]

She comes to the Bow and Alley with us.

[A]

But, yo, so we went, and that night, I was like, okay.

[B]

She cool.

[A]

All right. And then we went to church. He came to church, and we church kids. So, you know, we went to church. I was like, oh, you love Jesus. For real? For real, like. And from there, here we are.

[B]

I love it. I love y' all travel together 20 years. Yes. That's amazing. I love it. How do you balance? Because you're now on the road a lot. How do y' all balance everything? Cause she's got the kids, man.

[A]

It can be a lot. I've learned that balance is not a real thing. You know, it's like, yo, you have to give attention, the proper attention to what? It's like, if I'm home Be home. You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If I'm home, be home. Put the phone. That can be a struggle sometimes, but it's like. But if I'm home, put the phone down.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

Lock in. Because I travel so much. So they don't deserve fragments.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, you know what I mean? They don't deserve fragments because at the end of the day, that's all I really got. That's the foundation. Like, that's what's real. You know what I mean? Because I can walk out here tomorrow and disappoint people, and everybody who cheered for me and clapped for me will be gone. You know what I mean? So the people who are gonna be there, and it sucks, but that's who normally gets the fragments, is the people who really care and the people who really love us are the people we give the least to. And that's just an encouragement to anybody who's watching. Like, let's reverse that. That's not a statement to be like, oh, man, that's true. That's a statement to be like, yo, let me do better.

[B]

We gotta fix that. Yes.

[A]

Like, for real. That's good for me. It's like, yo, I'm home. Be home. Like, lean in, hang out with my kids. Lean in, walk in the room. What y' all doing? Let's go somewhere. Let's go. Id, let's. So, like, when I'm home, be home. And be very intentional. I know I'm gonna have to go. It's just a part of the assignment at this stage of my life. So it's like, yo, make it count. Yeah, make it count. Make them feel the impact when I am there.

[B]

Absolutely. I love that. Speaking of your wife, I know that on one of your albums, you spoke about a diagnosis and healing that you both experienced.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Could you share that with us?

[A]

This is so crazy. We both got diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.

[B]

Wait, what?

[A]

Both I got diagnosed first. It's crazy. And this is why. You have to have the right person in your life. For maybe six months, she kept telling me, yo, you have a little lump on your neck. Like, it was protruding just a little bit. Just a little. Like, I would have never thought.

[B]

She knew. You did the right thing.

[A]

She was like. She kept telling me, you need to go to the doctor. You need to go to the doctor. I never went to the doctor. After six months, I finally went to the doctor. Went to the doctor. They took some biopsies. They was like, ah, it looks a little suspicious, but I think you're fine. Let's just remove your thyroid. We're taking half of your thyroid out. You can keep the other half. I was like, okay, cool. So they took half of my thyroid out. We don't think it's cancer. Soon as they took half the thyroid out, they biopsy. Oh, yes, he's absolutely cancer.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Had to go back in two weeks later.

[B]

Oh, my goodness.

[A]

And I legitimately. It was so. It was like, literally right over my vocal cords.

[B]

That's what I'm saying.

[A]

They were so close. They had to put sensors around my vocal cords to let the doctor know if he was, like, getting too close. I'm like, yo, this is. I need my vocal cords.

[B]

This is your voice. Right?

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

My livelihood.

[A]

So got diagnosed, went through the process. Literally, as I'm healing. Literally as I'm getting ready to be like, okay, I'm good. I was doing my live recording. I was doing decrease. Right when we get ready for the live recording, I'm finally getting strong enough. My wife goes. She's like, yo, I've been feeling. Da, da, da, da. Goes to the doctor. She gets diagnosed with the same thing. It was crazy. Like, it was Duke. We were in North Carolina. Duke. Some people from Duke came to our house to, like, take samples of our carpet dust. They were like, yo, how did two people get. They were like, that's kind of unheard of.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it was so weird. It was the timing of it all. Literally my first big live recording. And, man, it was like going through that process together and watching God literally walk us through this thing of healing. And I went through it. She went through. Our surgery wasn't as extensive as mine, but she came out cancer free. Both cancer free.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Literally, I think, like, seven, eight years now, just free. And it was like, the way God, we were just so like, God, why? It was the timing. And I'm like, when God does something, it's like, what are you trying to produce? And I was. Again, it was with that album, I was like, God, what are you trying to produce through this thing? And what are you trying to produce through us as a couple? And what is it that you're trying to do through us to get to the world? And it was like, yo, God is a healer.

[B]

He is.

[A]

And it may. Sometimes it may be by the laying on of hands, Sometimes it may be through medicine. Sometimes it's in your obedience and, like, to see how God just kind of, like, literally pushed something out of me, and I really feel like a part of that was for that record. Like, there were some things I needed to experience as we wrote for it, as we prepared for it, as we went up that night. And even to see what God did that night in the room, if. If you haven't listened to that record, it's like, encounter is encounter. Encounter is that's my baby. But decrease is special. And that testimony is on that record. And the people that were at the altar, I mean, that room was filled with over 3,000 people. And the altar, it was droves of people that was at the altar. And people got healed that night.

[B]

Jesus.

[A]

And I think it was just something that the Lord used in that moment to let people. People's faith rise and to know, like, yo, even when it's inconvenient, God is still good. Even when it doesn't make sense, even when the timing is off. And sometimes we can get so caught up, like, man, the timing was just so awful. Now, like, God, why would you allow this to happen now?

[B]

That was the last weekend, right?

[A]

This doesn't even make sense. And he's like, just chill. I'm gonna make it work.

[B]

He always does.

[A]

I'm gonna make it work for your good. Just. Just be chill. Wow.

[B]

I had no idea that both of you went through that.

[A]

Both. Both got our little scars right here, Our little war wounds. But God, when I tell you God was so good for me, I couldn't even sing. I thought I would never be able to sing again.

[B]

That's scary.

[A]

Like, I could sing.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Thought I would never. I'll never forget, I was in North Carolina. Couldn't sing. I was struggling, struggling, struggling, struggling. And I literally. I said, lord, okay, well, this is just what it is. This is my new normal. And the moment that I tried to accept the new normal God, I was like, listen. I was up singing, and I'm literally having a conversation with God while I'm up singing. This is just my new normal. And the Lord said, do you hear that? I'm like, hear what? Do you hear that? I said, hear what? He said, listen. And I was like, I literally. I was singing, and I stopped singing. I said I could not believe. The Lord was like, yo, don't box me in. Like, I just wanted to show you that even if you couldn't do that, I could still use you. Even if you couldn't do it the way you thought you could, I could still get the glory out of it. But since you're trying to say, I can't watch this, watch what I do.

[B]

Watch what I do.

[A]

You say, you hear that? Bam. I say, yo, so God has been so good. Like, so faithful.

[B]

That is so good. All right, the last question I'm gonna ask you is, what is next for Todd Galbraith? Man.

[A]

You know what? Next I could tell you to start the church. No, I know that this year that I'm going into will be a year of investments for me. Investments on a lot of levels, financially, some things that are in my heart, that are outside of music, that I want to be a student. I am going to start. I'm putting it out here. I'm putting it out here on your podcast.

[B]

Keep you pop TV exclusive.

[A]

Now do not. This isn't necessarily going to correlate. You're gonna make it correlate with what you just said. But I am going. I'm starting Bible college next year.

[B]

Amazing.

[A]

But that's just because I just want to be a better steward of the Word.

[B]

I'll join.

[A]

You gonna join?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You gonna go to college? Bible college?

[B]

Where's it at? I thought you were gonna teach it.

[A]

No, I'm not teaching. I'm going to school. She said.

[B]

Like, where did I sign up?

[A]

I think I'm going to Liberty University, though.

[B]

Oh, no, I ain't about to pay for no more school. Pd. I'm gonna take your class. Bible U.

[A]

You going to Bible? You? I'm going to Bible.

[B]

Yeah. I got there rolling on college, but that's good.

[A]

I want to go. I just want to. I want to make sure. I tell worship leaders. That's crazy. I tell worship leaders all the time. We have to have good theology. We're always in front of people. The two voices people hear week in and week out is the pastor and the worship leader.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The two most consistent voices people hear week in and week out. And so in order to do your job well, you have to have good theology. You can't just be up there saying what your mama said. We're in a series right now. God didn't say that.

[B]

He did not say.

[A]

A lot of people stand up and say a bunch of stuff that God did not say.

[B]

And if you don't know for yourself, then you'd be like, oh, yeah, that's what it is.

[A]

You know, repeating something you thought was cool from somebody else.

[B]

And I was repeating stuff we didn't heard for years. That was wrong.

[A]

We all have. We all have. And then you're like, oh, the Bible didn't say that at all. So I just want to have good. The. So I am starting school. So I'm investing In my spirituality, I'm investing in just getting a greater understanding of the word financially. I'm investing in some things that I feel like is going to set my children up and my family up better. And so I see. I'm literally saying this is a year of investment. So spiritually, emotionally, family, financially. And the music is gonna. Is gonna come.

[B]

It's gonna come, yeah. I mean, like, naturally comes.

[A]

Yeah. Like, the music is gonna come. Have an opportunity to speak. That's gonna come, and those things are gonna come. But I want to be super intentional. Like, I want to invest. I want to pour into something that I may not see fruit immediately from, But I know that it's going. You know, I'm investing in things that I know is going to upset me. My family, my spirituality. Just legitimately take it to another level. So it's a year for me. 20. 20. What is it? 4.

[B]

4. Yeah.

[A]

Of investments. I'm investing in everything because I'm a person. I like to see it quick. I want to get it.

[B]

Me, too.

[A]

I'm like, I need to. I get a house. I want to. Paintings on the wall. I'm having everybody there.

[B]

I need the pool dug in tomorrow.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

What are we doing?

[A]

So it's gonna be next year. It's like, yo, I'm intentionally making myself be patient.

[B]

And it takes maturity to do that.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

And growth. That's amazing. I'm proud of you, man.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

And God's gonna bless all that. I'm not gonna join Bible Univ.

[A]

Come on, man. Let's go. We gotta get this word. We gonna be here doing these podcasts.

[B]

I told you, I'm gonna go to Bible youe with pastors here. This man said, Liberty College. Wait, wait. You trying to.

[A]

She said, oh, you're about college. College, like, real homework. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, I'm cool. Ty, thank you so much.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

This has been amazing. All right, so now we are going to do my favorite part, where our listeners write in, and it's called positive outcomes.

[A]

Sweet.

[B]

And we're gonna give them advice.

[A]

I love that. For us.

[B]

Yes, we are the ones we're giving you.

[A]

I put on my doctor hat now. Let's go.

[B]

All right. Hey, Crystal. My name is Kayla. I grew up going to church with my dad, but I was never taught how to pray or read the Bible. It was more like just them telling us what to do. I didn't really believe in God because of those reasons. When my sister passed back in 2003, everyone would tell me just to pray about it. But Again, I didn't know how to. It wasn't until a few years later my boyfriend at the time would just lay in the bed and I asked him what was he thinking about? And he said he was praying. I then asked him, how does he pray and what does he say to God? After that, I started to pray. But it wasn't until 2016, when he and I were going through the roughest time that I believed in God. I asked God, I asked God a few days before he broke up to end it if it wasn't meant for us to be together. Of course, I wasn't prepared for what he was going to do. However, that's when I knew for sure that God was real. Be careful what you ask for, because, honey, I'd be like, lord, send me a sign. I still struggle to fully commit myself to reading the Bible. I also grew up dyslexic, which makes it somewhat hard for me to understand the Bible. Do you know of any ways that can help me understand and read the Bible? Go to Liberty.

[A]

Go to Liberty University. Yo start. You gotta yo, you have to bring it to where you are. So if it's like, yo, what translations are you looking at? Right? So I'm an NIV guy. I love the niv. And then I go back to the King James. I would say even start with devos. Devos are great. The Bible app has scriptures that come up every day. They have thousands of devos on there where you can come, where you can actually read along with a group of people that you can do every single day. But I would say start with a translation. If the amplified or the new King James Version is a version that you can kind of, you know, read and understand. And when you read the Bible, read it slow. I don't care if you're dyslexic or whatever. I don't care if you have a perfect iq. Read it and read it slow and read it again. And then when you read it again, read it again. And then you go, you go, you have your Bible and you may get your little commentary where it explains it. You know what I mean? It's like, yo, what you. There are so many tools out there. You can go to Google and ask Google. Google has that ability that'll send you to different resources that will explain the Bible. Like, there are so many ways if you want it, if you really. And I can tell in your heart to write in. It's something that your heart desires. But I was like, yo, find your translation that you connect with, find You a devo. Go to the Bible app. It's legitimately the Bible app. Jump in a devo that they have every single day. Find the scripture and then research it almost like you would do like a term paper. It's like, yo, I want to know what God is really saying through this. And find the ways that through commentaries, through research, through just legitimately, hey, what does it mean when the Lord says thou shall not. Da da da da da da da. And find things that are solid. But I would legitimately start with the Bible app. Find a translation that you're comfortable with and read that thing slow. Read it slow and ask the Holy Spirit. Pray. You talked about prayer. Ask the Lord. Hey, open up my heart and my spirit to really receive and understand what this is saying to me in this season of my life. What is the word actually saying? Not what my interpretation of it is, but what is it actually saying? And so find you a good. Find you a great commentary. Like, find you one that you can go to a Bible Christian bookstore and find one that's really good. The Tony Evans Bible is great, great, great, great resource because it explains it as well. So check that out. Find your commentary, read it slow, find a translation that connects with you, and then go back. I tell people, always go back to the King James Version and look at it as well. But that's just my non Bible college.

[B]

We'll see what you say next after your first semester.

[A]

First semester, I might come back over, like, look, I got a better way to answer that question.

[B]

There you go. All right, Kayla, I'm gonna echo everything he said. I feel like you answered that perfectly. I don't want to come behind that. That was perfect, perfect, perfect. So I pray for you. We both are praying for you, that you get through everything that you. That you're going through. But, yeah, everything he said, and just take your time with it. Don't rest.

[A]

Read it slow. Read it slow.

[B]

Yeah. All right, so now we do what I'm going through and what I'm growing through right now in this season, I am growing through, listening, learning to listen to God, learn to listen to my inner voice. A lot of times my voice is a lot louder than God's, you know, so that's what I'm growing through, what I'm going through. And I'm growing through. I think right now, growing through the what ifs, you know, I have a lot of what ifs in my life, and I'm like, okay, what if this doesn't happen? And learning, you know, what just Be. Let God take lead in every area of my life.

[A]

Gotcha. Yeah. So what I'm going through. What I'm going through, man, I think what I'm going through is a season. A season of growing up. It's like what I was talking. Like, I'm 41. Right. And there's just some areas, because they haven't fallen apart that I've just kind of, like, been chilly in, or I'm just like, okay, it's not killing me. You know what I mean? But it's not growing me either. So lay aside every sin and weight. And sometimes we can lay aside sin, because that's obvious, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But then it's like, weight, the thing that stops us from moving as fast as we could.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so I think I'm, like, going through a season of, like, growing up and getting rid of weight.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

You know, Getting rid of weight. Things that are Things that have slowed me down. I'm terrible with procrastination.

[B]

Me too.

[A]

I'm, like, terrible.

[B]

Oh, my goodness. When's your birthday?

[A]

December 18th.

[B]

Oh, that's my mom's birthday.

[A]

What?

[B]

Yeah. I'm excited.

[A]

We gonna get a real good gift this year, mom. I'm excited for both of us.

[B]

But, yeah, procrastination is.

[A]

Procrastination is. But it's like, I want to grow up in some areas that. Because they haven't destroyed me, but I know that they're holding me back and stopping me from getting to where I'm trying to go maybe quicker than I could.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

If I just dealt with these things and grew up in these areas.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

So I feel like that's kind of what I'm going through and going through. Yeah.

[B]

Like, all of the same. Yeah. Sometimes I feel like I'm going in, going through the same thing.

[A]

Yeah. Cause I want. I want to. I want to have victory over those areas, and I want to because I want to. It's like, yo, once you. It's not a testimony until you got victory over it. And so I want to be able to help people through those types of things. And so I'm like, yo, I got to grow up. I got a legitimately, like, yo, okay. It's not killing you, bro, but you could be so much further if you just dealt with this differently, if you just grew up in these certain areas of your life.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Right. All right. The last thing we do is keep it blank, sweetie. So what would you tell the audience if you had to fill in the blank for this? Week. What would you say if I had to fill in a blank or keep it blank, sweetie.

[A]

Keep it blank, sweetie.

[B]

I can go first if you want.

[A]

Yeah, you go first. You go first. I'm gonna take a sip of water, see what I can come up with.

[B]

Let's see. I would say keep it open minded, sweetie.

[A]

Keep it open minded.

[B]

Oh, that's for you too. Keep it open minded.

[A]

Keep it. You said keep it open minded. I would say keep it honest, sweetie.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

We're living. I hate when people say we're living in a day. I mean, people need to be honest no matter what. But we get so little truth in our relationships.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And the majority of the stuff you hear from people are things that they think you want them to say versus truth.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And the relationships that I'm falling more in love with are the relationships where people tell me the truth.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And like the honest, like, hard conversation, honest truth. And those are the relationships that I'm fostering and leaning into because we get such little truth where people. And people will watch you fall apart. People will watch you do dumb stuff. People will watch you have a booger in your nose and not say nothing to you. But people will just watch you in all facets of life knowing that they have the ability, because of the proximity that they have to you to be able to speak to some things. But I don't know where the fear comes from. And a lot of times it's fear of falling out. Fear of what saying the truth will, you know, will bring in the relationship. But I'm like, yo, tell me the truth. Yeah, tell me. Tell me the truth. I appreciate the truth. I can grow from the truth.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

But don't let me fall. And you had the ability to say something or to speak to something, you know what I mean? Like, because of fear. Don't you know, I mean, tell the truth in love?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Not maliciously. You know what I mean? Because it can be different because people can snap on you, tell you the truth.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

And what happens is most people tell you the truth when they're aggravated, so then it doesn't even hit the same.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But if you tell me when we're sober.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

You can absorb it.

[A]

Yeah. It's like it's not number one. I know. It's coming from the right place. It's not coming from a malicious place. It's coming from a place of love.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So tell the truth, sweetie.

[B]

I love it. I love it. Ladies and gentlemen, Todd Galbraith. Thank you so much.

[A]

Thank you for letting me sit on this couch.

[B]

I don't want this couch.

[A]

And it's as comfortable as it looks.

[B]

You know what I'm saying, people?

[A]

It's comfortable.

[B]

It's very comfortable.

[A]

I want to take a nap after this episode.

[B]

That's what most people say. They're like, this felt like therapy. Now I'm gonna go to sleep, but you gotta go. Cause I got somebody else going.

[A]

And I was late, y'. All. I was late, too. I was gonna put that. I was late for this episode, but.

[B]

But it was amazing. So we gonna. You've actually made up for the lateness. Cause this was really good.

[A]

Cause your producer, she was.

[B]

She don't play.

[A]

Yeah, she don't play.

[B]

She don't play the radio. You know, they cut out recess in school because she didn't play.

[A]

I get that. I saw that on her face.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

I saw that on her face.

[B]

All right, guys, thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Keep it positive, Sweetie. If you want to write into our positive outcomes Open listener letter, please write into keepitpositivesweetiemail.com and @sweetie with an IE you can follow Kips on all platforms @keepitpositivesweetie, and you can follow me on all platforms @lovechrisorene. And that's L, U V. Todd, tell the people where they can find you so they can follow you and keep up with you.

[A]

Todd. Galbraith.com Instagram is my social media drug of choice. And that's tgalberth. T, G, A, L, B, E, R, T, H on IG or Facebook or TikTok. Sucks for me and my algorithms, but it's a great platform.

[B]

Yes. Make sure you guys follow him and make sure you guys tune in. We have some more great things coming. You know what to do. In the meantime, keep it positive, sweetie.

[A]

Lord, we love you, we thank you, we honor you, thank you for this amazing opportunity we have to encourage, inspire, share our heart. I pray, Lord, that this podcast, this episode, would do exactly what you want it to do. So let your kingdom come. Let your will be done in Jesus name, amen.

[B]

Amen. Thank you, Pastor.