← Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
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- [00:00]
A
Stay True podcast is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. If there's any pride in me, remove it. I don't want it. Pride is the most satanic sin that's out there.
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B
Do you think the earth is flat?
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A
How did we get here? Like, what are we doing? I was at the beach with some friends. We were all talking about dinosaurs. I think that they were dragons.
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B
Is it sinful to post a bikini picture on Instagram?
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A
Yeah, you know, Acts 20:24 for I consider my life worth nothing to me. My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task. The task of testifying to the good news, not the task of figuring out all the conspiracies. Who's right and who's wrong. I always say we're not dating to date. You're dating to marry. Just make sure he really loves Jesus.
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B
My boyfriend isn't as strong in his faith as I am. What do I do?
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A
Break up with him.
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B
Maddie, you're supposed to go into it a little bit.
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A
Break up with him. Bye. What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Stay True podcast. I'm your host, Madison Pruitt Trout. And we have back Leah.
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B
Let's go. We're back.
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A
Come on.
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B
I know we did this last time. What was that a few weeks ago?
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A
Yeah, it feels good.
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B
Just asked you all the. All the questions. And so we're back to do it again.
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A
It's fun. You're putting me on the hot seat.
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B
No, some of these little.
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A
And I kind of like it. I kind of like the hot se.
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B
Great at. I'm like, some of these that I'm asking you today, I'm like, I hope she never flips it around on me because I do not want to answer some of these.
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A
Sweating. She's like, well, now you've given me a good idea.
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B
I know. These are.
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A
I'm flip it back on you.
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B
Some of these are spicy. A little bit.
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A
I know. So I'm a little nervous. Most of the time we don't talk. We kind of threw out a little bit of topics on this, so I kind of have somewhat of an idea of where it may go. But these are just so fun. It's so fun getting to just feel like this is just, like a lot of questions. That you guys have what maybe is going on in culture right now, some of the, like, relevant topics that people are discussing and feeling. And so these have been so much fun. They've been so life giving to me. I feel like I've been in this place. Like, I've been processing with Grant. I'm like, I just love, like, being challenged and asked challenging questions. And, like, also having, I think, podcasts where I get to, like, speak a little bit more, because I've just been so in the place where I've been interviewing so many amazing people. And so it's just fun getting to, like, share more of my heart and.
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B
Yeah, well, it's so cool. Like, I get to read, like, the DMs that y' all send in, the Stay True. And so a lot of these questions are coming from y'.
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A
All.
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B
So these are really, really fun for us to do. Are you ready to jump in?
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A
Yeah. All right, let's do it.
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B
Let's hit it. First one. Okay. So part of your story that I love when you talk about is just you admit that you had this pride in your heart, and you often talk about how pride is this undercover sin that a lot of us are struggling with, and we don't even know it's there. So, number one, how do we spot pride in our life? What do we do to go against it? And, like, what does God's word say about pride, and what should we think about it?
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A
Yeah. So good. I was literally praying in my prayer closet the other day, and I felt like the Holy Spirit spoke to me. Like, when people ask the question, how do I fight Blank, I think that actually the right question to ask is not how do I fight it? But how do I kill it? Because I think so often we're trying to wrestle with things that feel stronger than us. Like, for me, I'm like, I wrestled with pride for so long, still wrestle with pride. But, like, there are things that so often can feel like, how am I ever going to be able to overcome this? How am I ever going to be able to, like, fight, finally move past this thing? Maybe it's anger, maybe it's lust, maybe it's pride. Whatever that thing is, maybe it's multiple things. And I just felt like the Holy Spirit spoke to me in that moment as I was. I was praying of just, like, don't fight it, kill it. Like, you are called to die to yourself. You are called is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives within you. If that light is inside of you, then darkness and Light cannot coexist. If you have chosen to die to your flesh, then it's your spirit that is now your master. It's your spirit that is now in the driver's seat. And so you have to ask yourself, like, am I letting my spirit lead or am I being led by my flesh, by my feelings, by my emotions, by my cravings? And for me, for so long, I was such a, like, emotional hothead. Like, I just was. Like, I wanted to be right. I knew all the answers. And as I've gotten older, I've just learned I'm like, man, never trust anyone who thinks they know all the answers unless it's Jesus and it's coming from the word of God. Because there are prideful things in us that we don't even see so often. And so I think one of the ways you kill pride, obviously is, is through prayer and diving into God's word and just saying, God, search my heart. If there's any pride in me, remove it, I don't want it. And just submitting yourself and yielding yourself to the Holy Spirit, but then also surrounding yourself with other people who can call out those blind spots that you can't always see. Like, sometimes there's pride in my life that I don't see. You know, whether I say some comment about something that was prideful or whether it's, you know, my viewer perspective on something and Grant sees it or whatever it may be, but, you know, it talks about in scripture, you will know a tree by its fruit. And so as you live your life, if you surround yourself with close people that are walking with Jesus, then. And you give them access to call you out, you give them access to call you higher. Then it should be like iron sharpening iron. They should be seeing that pride on your life and should have the ability to say, hey, Leah, I see that pride on your life. And that's not godly. And so let's kill it together. Like, let's pray right now and, and help you kind of create whatever boundaries or whatever you need to do in order to. To kill that. But I think it is such a thing that we think, like, it's this constant battle and fight that we almost feel like, I don't know how to be an overcomer. I don't know how to be a conqueror with that thing in my life. And that's why I like to kind of just like take a different approach of let's not think about how we can fight this thing. Let's think about how we called to kill it. Like God calls us to put to death. Like, if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. And so don't flirt with sin, Kill it, run from it, flee from it. And so if that thing is for you, pride, like, I think pride gets overlooked. And we think that it's not something we struggle with in reality. Like, it's something probably every single one of us totally.
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B
I mean, especially with social media and stuff too. Like, our culture is just telling us, like things are supposed to be about us and when in reality it's not like that at all. So I love that that's what you're saying about that.
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A
Yeah, we're trying to like, build up our own kingdom and make it all about ourselves. And here's what I would say too, is that pride can mask itself in insecurity. I think so often we think pride is just the loudest person in the room. It's just the person that's like, you know, really loud, outspoken. You can tell, like, they got a little bit of arrogance, they think a little too highly of themselves. But I would say pride also can mask itself in insecurity. If you're walking into rooms and all you're thinking about is yourself, if you're going about your day to day life and you're wondering, what will people think about me if I what? You know, what will they say about me? What if I. I'm gonna go buy this outfit so that people will say this. But if everything in your life is centered around you, you have a pride problem. You have a pride issue, you have a sin issue. And that's something to kill. That's something to cut out. That's not something to mess around with or treat it like. It's not a big deal. Because I believe pride is the most satanic sin that's out there. And it's also the most, like hidden undercover sin. Typically that's out there, but that is literally the sin that kicked Satan out of heaven was pride. Because he thought he was wise, he thought he was beautiful in his own eyes, and he thought he should be the one that was worshiped and not worship God. And so though many of us wouldn't be like, I want to be worshiped, we live our lives oftentimes like we are God and we don't fully yield ourself and submit ourselves. We think we're entitled to certain things, we demand certain things. We're always thinking about ourselves. And so for me, like, practically, it just looks like praying Psalm 139 of Just God, search my heart, remove any offensive way in me, lead me along the path of everlasting life. I know that there are sins in me that I know about. I also know that there are sins in me that I don't know about. And so God, would you also just remove any hidden faults, any hidden sins in me? And. And then living in such like, confession and community is so huge.
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B
That's really great. Something you've inspired me in is just walking in spiritual authority. And I think sometimes we can maybe get those confused of pride and also this call to walk in authority. So what does that actually mean? Like, what does walking in spiritual, spiritual authority look like? And how is that different than pride?
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A
It's so good. I love that you asked that question because it says in James 4. 6 that God opposes the proud, but he gives grace, he shows favor to the humble. And I believe that your prayer life, your communion with God is directly tied to your authority and your level of authority, your level of true God confidence. You know, you look at someone like David and you would look at someone like David and him running up to Goliath, being like, you know, you come at me with javelin and spear, but I come at you in the name of the Lord. And just this, like, boldness, this courage, this level of, like, passion and conviction that marked his life. A lot of people, including his own brothers, were like, oh, he's cocky. Oh, he's prideful. Like you. Who are you? Who do you think you are? But I see that as. That is a person who has, who. Who believes that God is so much bigger than the enemy that is against. That is someone who believes greater is he who is in me than he who is against me, than he who is in the world. And I just, I pray that for every person that there is a belief that God is so much bigger one than our enemy, but two than our problems and our circumstances and the things that we're up against. And for me, my ability to walk in spiritual authority is directly tied to my submission, to my yielding to God, to my humility, to my surrender. I think so often we're like, I just want to be strong. You think of spiritual authority, you're like strength strong, you know, like confidence. But it's like, that is. That only comes through submission, through surrender, through yielding, through humility. And so I, for me, that is like, such a big part of it. So I say, like, my spiritual authority is directly tied to my prayer life and to my submitting to the Spirit. And being led by him and just. I think the more we truly fear God and believe in the greatness of God, it. You can't help but feel like Scripture tells us the same spirit that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is inside of us. Like, if we truly believe that God's word is true and that that is true, then that means, like, we have the spirit of Christ on the inside of us. Like, how crazy is that? That's crazy. Why would we not operate then with such flesh, faith and boldness that we have the spirit of the living God on the inside of us, that we don't walk around constantly, like, in fear and in intimidation and an insecurity. But yet on the flip side, not in an arrogance, but just in a. I know exactly who I am because I know the God that I serve. And so I just would encourage every single person. Like, the more you fall in love with Jesus and you see him for who he truly is, that he is the alpha and the omega, that he is the great I am, that he is the God who is on the throne, who has all, all power and authority and dominion. When you know that God and you submit to that God and you know his word is true and you believe it to be true, then when it tells us that we have his spirit on the inside of us, like we have, we have to believe that. Yeah, but then I think practically it's just recognizing, okay, but also, he's so big. I'm so small. Like, I am nothing apart from Him. And the only way I have that power and authority is if I stay attached to him, if I'm abiding in him. Like, it's not power and authority that Maddie has, it's Christ in Maddie. It's a spirit of Christ inside of Maddie.
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B
That's so good. And we talked about this before, but, I mean, the church, we talk about God, we talk about Jesus, but often the Holy Spirit is like the forgotten. Like, we don't really talk about it that much, but the Holy Spirit, God himself lives inside of us. And so exactly what you're saying of, like, we can walk in spiritual authority because the Holy Spirit, God lives inside of us. So that. So, so cool. Another thing I feel like I hear a lot of my friends say, and I graduated from college two years ago now. And so, like, we're starting jobs and even with you as a new mom, but I remember feeling like this in high school and college too, of just, like, feeling exhausted, like, just with whatever situation is around us, like, we just are feeling weary and exhausted. And a big part of that is that we don't rest. I feel like we just don't. We don't know how to rest. Our culture, especially here in America, teaches go, go, go. So what does true soul rest look like? And what does that look like practically? Like, does that mean just like, taking a day? Like, what does that mean? What does soul rest mean? And what do you do to practice that?
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A
Yeah, I love that phrase, soul rest. I was literally just reading in scripture the other day and I came across a verse that said that. And I was like, that's such a cool, like, thought and phrase to cling to, because I feel like our soul is not rested. In today's generation world. Our soul is restless. Our soul feels overwhelmed, it feels weary, it feels overstimulated, it feels confused, it feels burdened, it feels bound. I mean, it feels like it's the opposite of rest and peace, yet everyone is so hungry for it. But I love that again and again, you see in Scripture that we have a God who leads us. It says in Psalm 23 beside still waters, that he refreshes and restores our soul, that he brings this rest and this restoration to our soul that only he can give us, which means spa treatments and vacations and, you know, ordering a pizza and watching a rom com. Like, those things cannot give us the rest that we were truly made for. And they may provide a temporary relief, but they won't give you soul rest. They won't give you a completion and a contentment that our soul deeply craves. So they'll feel like some good in a second, but it won't continue. It won't last. And so the soul, the soul rest that we're so desperate for truly can only be found in the presence of God. And if we're not getting in the presence of God, if we're not surrounding ourself with the people of God, and if we're not getting in God's creation. I think one of the biggest things for me where I find such deep rest when I feel so overwhelmed or I'm having a moment is just like walking outside, putting my feet in the grass and taking really deep breaths and just sitting in silence honestly, and just listening. And I'll just pray. Holy Spirit, will you speak to me? Your servant is listening. I wanna listen. I wanna hear from you. I wanna know you more. And God, I'm feeling overwhelmed right now. Like, will you just give me rest for my soul? You promised that in Matthew 11, 28, 30 that I can come to you when I feel weary and burdened, and you say, you promise you will give me rest for my soul. And so it's not like a maybe. It's like if you come to him and you seek him, he says in his word, when you seek me with all of your heart, you will find me. And so if we actually take his word to be true and we feel burdened and heavy and overwhelmed, seeking him with all of our heart, getting in the presence of God and coming to him when we feel weary and heavy is where we find rest for our soul. It's not in the doing. It's not in other people. It's not within. It's not in. Even in creation. But creation is meant to point us to our Creator. Creation is meant to help us connect to our Creator. But that is something that has been such a game changer for me. And it looks different every time. Like, sometimes it's let me put my phone away for five hours today and not get on it. You know, sometimes it's let me go sit outside for an hour and just sit in silence. Sometimes it's hanging out with some of my favorite friends and people and just, like, having people just bring the joy of the Lord. And, like, I mean, I literally was just having had an interview with a friend right before this and before we started the podcast. She was feeling overwhelmed and restless and weary, and I just was like, let's pray. And we prayed, and her whole countenance changed. And I was reading in Hebrews, I think it was two or three, and it was talking about, as long as we have today, encourage one another so that your heart doesn't get hardened with sin's deceitfulness. And it says, as long as we have today. So, like, today, we're not promised tomorrow, but today encourage one another and exhort one another in truth. Pray for each other so that your soul can be encouraged in the Lord. It Sundays, even in First Samuel, I'm reading the story of Saul and David and Jonathan and this whole crazy scene. And it says that there's, like, multiple times mentioned, it says, like, David found strength in the Lord, or David strengthened himself in the Lord. But then there's another verse that says, and Jonathan strengthened David in the Lord. And so sometimes, sometimes we have to find that ourselves. Seek the Lord, go wherever that is for you, you know, but also, like, sometimes it's being on the mat and, like, having your people carry you and helping, like, they're helping you find strength in the Lord because of their strength in the Lord, you know, and so I think we have to do life in community. But, yeah, it's just seeking out the presence of the Lord and Jesus promises, come to me when you feel weary and heavy, and I will give you rest for your soul.
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B
So good money. That's so good. It's been really cool to even see you practice that too. I've seen you take out distractions that didn't that caused, like, this weariness, like, I mean, with social media. Not that it was it. I just see over the past year, you're just a completely different person in the past few months than you were a few months ago just because you took out that distraction completely. And now you have time to go out outside or spend time with Hosanna and play in the yard and other things. And that truly is like soul rest, what you're talking about. And so it's been really beautiful to see you do that. And so now we're gonna get into some little spicier topics here.
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A
Your seat is getting hotter.
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B
The hot spot. The seat is getting hotter, Maddie, because there are some Christians I know that have, like, pulled scripture references about this thing. Do you? This one's kind of crazy.
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A
I don't know where you're going.
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B
Do you think the earth is flat?
- [18:01]
A
Okay, you guys know I talk a lot about rhythms and routines that help you actually show up as your best self self. And honestly, sleep is such a huge part of that for me. If I'm not sleeping well, I feel it in everything. My energy, my mood, my focus, all of it. And that's why I genuinely love our Brooklyn Bedding mattress so much. One thing I really appreciate about Brooklyn Bedding is that they truly care about quality. Every mattress is designed and assembled right here in the usa, and you can honestly feel the difference. It's incredibly supportive, so comfortable, and you wake up actually feeling rested instead of sore or exhausted. And if you're someone who sleeps hot like me, their cooling technology is amazing. It helps keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night, which makes such a difference for me in my sleep. I also love that they know sleep isn't a one size fits all. They have options for every sleep style and body type, which makes finding the right fit so much easier. And the best part is they offer a 120 night comfort trial, so there's zero pressure. Go to BrooklynBetting.com and use my promo code stay true at checkout to get 30% off site wide. This offer is not available anywhere else. That's BrooklynBetting.com and promo code Stay True. For 30% off sitewide. Support our show and let them know we sent you after checkout brooklynbetting.com promo code stay true. You guys know I'm really passionate about making decisions that align your faith with your values, especially when it comes to your family. And one area where that can really feel challenging right now is healthcare. And costs keep rising and it's hard to feel confident that you're choosing the right path. That's why I wanted to share something I've been learning about called Liberty Health Share. It's not health insurance, it's a healthcare sharing ministry, which means you're joining a community of believers who come together to help carry one another's medical expenses. And what I love about it is that it's not just practical, it's rooted in faith. It's people living out the idea that we're stronger when we support each other and show up for one another. I know so many of you are in seasons where you're making big decisions for your future and your family. They offer programs for different stages of life and different budgets. So whether you're newly married, starting a family, or just looking for a better, more aligned approach, it's worth checking out. If you've been praying about a better way to navigate healthcare, this could be something to look into. You can learn more@liberty healthshare.org that's liberty healthshare.org Liberty Health Share a force for good. Oh, I was gonna say I didn't know if you were going there or did man ever land on the moon? I didn't know which way you were going on that because there are so many. Like, everything it feels like is being tossed up of, like, yeah, I don't really know if that's true. And it's like, how did we get here? Like, what are we doing, man? I just go back to scripture and here's the thing. I'm the person that I low key love that stuff.
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B
And I have to be.
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A
You're into it then I have to be so careful because I can get so. I mean, you've seen it in me, Grant. Seen it in me. Like, I can talk for hours on end times. I can talk for hours on women preaching. I can talk for hours on flat earth, round earth. I can talk for hours on landing on the moon. Like, I just, I love these things. I love justice, I love curiosity, I love challenging. I love conversations around these things. But we have to be so, so careful because we have to, we have to remember we have to keep the main thing, the main thing, like, we can't miss Jesus in the midst of this. And I think when we get so caught up in this godless chatter, it takes us away from the main message. And it. And it also, it says in Scripture, 1st Timothy 4, 7, have nothing to do with godless myths, but train yourself up to be godly. Titus 3. 9 says, avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because they are unprofitable and useless. And I just think that that is so powerful. Second Timothy 2, 16 says, avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. That is crazy. Like, that is. It's so convicting. Cause it's like, is this producing fruit for anybody? Like, is this promoting and encouraging my faith or those who are listening? And I think you have to ask yourself those questions. Now, that doesn't mean you can't ever be curious or ask questions or, like, look into those things. I think that's great. But I think when we start become, like. I think when we start becoming so consumed with conspiracies, we start moving our attention and our affection from what matters most.
- [22:16]
B
I agree. I think the thing that I struggle with the most is, like, what's the difference? Like, where do we draw the line of, like, being informed about things, but also, like, letting it consume us? Like, I think that's what I struggle with the most, is, like, how far is too far with that of, like, being informed and knowing things, but also just reading way too much into it.
- [22:35]
A
I think you can have a stance on things and have cordial conversations with people with things that are like, you know, like, I randomly got into this conversation. Okay, this is just an example. This is hilarious. I think we talked about this recently, that I was at the beach with some friends, and we were all talking about dinosaurs. Okay? You have three different groups of people here. You got. You got one group that's like, oh, 1,000% dinosaurs lived and they were real and they walked the earth. And then there was even within that differences on. Were they here before Adam and Eve? Were they here with Adam and Eve? Did they, you know, go away when the flood came? I mean, you have even under that umbrella a whole sector of people. Then you have another group of people. This is only, like, eight of us. Okay, so then you have another, like, couple people who believe that dinosaurs never existed, that they're just, like. It's just, you know, they found bones of some other type of big animal, and because they didn't really know what else to call it. They didn't really know what else it was. They claimed it to be dinosaurs. Like, you know, they never lived. You have that group. I was the curveball.
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B
I love, I love your stance on this.
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A
There is no biblical backing. Okay, there it is. It straight. Just like. I just think it's fun. I like to say, and like, people are gonna be like, maddie, what? There are dinosaurs. No, listen, I don't really care that much. And that's why I'm saying, like, you can't care too much. I think you have a. Have a stance if you want one and have fun with it. But, like, it cannot become like, that has nothing to do with salvation. That has nothing to do with your calling and purpose. That has nothing to do with Jesus. And so it's just like, at the end of the day, you have to just be like, okay, it doesn't really matter. But my stance is. I think that they were dragons, and I think that they. When the flood came, that they are now in the water. And when it talks about in Revelation that there will be a dragon that emerges from the waters, and it talks about all throughout scripture, like in Job and in these different, like, kind of like dragon figures. These, like, dinosaur big, like, figures, I think that it's dragons in the water. And there's, you know, all this stuff that hasn't been discovered in the ocean because it's so deep. And I'm like, I know what's in the ocean, ocean. I don't. I know what's coming out. So that's where I stand.
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B
If you thought you knew your side on if dinosaurs are real or not, giving you introduce to you third side.
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A
And you know what it'll like, It'll like, lighten the mood too if. If you have some people that are heated over if dinosaurs are real or not. Because literally I'm like, they're. They're going back and forth and they're giving these, like, arguments and claims. And they're even asking chat. They're like, hey, chat, give me like, every reason why dinosaurs existed. And then they would respond to chat and be like, okay, now give me basically like a refute to these claims, like, every reason that dinosaurs did not exist. And then I type in a chat and like, chat, you know, gives good examples on both sides. And then I type in a chat. I'm like, hey, Chat, can you tell me why it was never dinosaurs but it was dragons? And chat's like, no, I can't. It literally was like, I can't make that claim. And I was like, all right, I'm just saying, I don't know, we may all be surprised.
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B
Hey, no, but back to, like, conspiracies and everything like that. My friend Morgan always says she's like, when you lose, like, the art of, like, loving people, like, when you start having these conversations that get so heated that you lose the love factor, that's when you know you've gone too far. I love, I love when she says that.
- [25:49]
A
It's so good. I always say, like, you can be right and wrong at the same time. You can be so right, Your facts, your feelings, all of it is there and you feel so right in it. But it's so wrong because you're not loving your neighbor. It's so wrong because you've completely missed the heart of that person right in front of you and you've lost sight of what really matters. And I feel like even when, when Jesus is talking in Revelation to the seven Churches, like, there's even hints of this of, like, you've fought all of these things, you've stood for truth, but you've lost your heart. Like, you've lost love. You've lost what matters most. And so I think in the midst of, you know, a culture where we're having all of these, like, YouTubes pop off, where it's this, like, fear mongering and this, like, debate and everybody wants to, you know, get people in a circle and like, debate each other. And I'm not even coming against that. I think it's cool. And I watched some of those videos, but I just think we live in such a time and a culture where that's so appealing and it's so fun to just, like, debate and argue and like, here's my side and here's my conspiracy. It's just like in the midst of that, like, we are called to speak the truth of God in love. We are called to keep the main thing. The main thing. Matthew 6:33. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and everything else will be added to you. Like, we are supposed to make it all about Jesus, you know, Acts 20:24. For I consider my life worth nothing to me. My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task. The task of testifying to the good news. Not the task of figuring out all the conspiracies. Not the task of figuring out who's right and who's wrong. Not the task of figuring out what political party is in right standing. Like, I think we just get so Caught up in all of the wrong things. And Satan is so cunning in that because it creates division. But what if the body of Christ was so unified and it was like what it talks about in Acts, where they were in one name, in one spirit, worshiping one God. And it's like, what if that's what the church looked like today? You know, the, that Christianity has more like sectors and, and divisions than any other religion. And it makes me so sad because even in the midst of those sectors, even just non denominational, there can be like so many things that divide the non denominational sector, you know, and it's like, what if we just came together and we were like, we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe that he is the only one that gives us the ticket into heaven. We believe that the Holy Spirit descended and came to live inside believers and is alive and active today. What if we believe those things? And it was all about that, you know, and it's all about loving the people in front of you and serving those around you. And so I just, yeah, I think that you gotta get back to that. Psalm 131 says, My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty. I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. And I think we have to get to this point where there's oftentimes not fruit in trying to figure out mysteries of God and trying to figure out things that are greater than our knowledge and understanding. You know, Isaiah 55 says, God, your ways are higher, your thoughts are higher. Like I'm not going to understand God or he wouldn't be God. I'm not going to understand all of the things about God or he wouldn't be a very good God. And so there's a reason that there are things we don't understand. And I think you can have innocence and purity in it and just have like fun conversation. But I think anytime it starts getting heated or it starts becoming all consuming, or you can talk about that more than you can evangelize, or you can talk about that more than you can talk about the goodness and faithfulness of God, or you can talk about that more than you can talk about how you love and serve those around you. Like that's where it starts getting dangerous. Cuz you can see certain people spend four hours talking about politics, but they can't give you 30 minutes, you know, telling you about what God's teaching them in the Word. They can't tell you the last time they've been touched By God. They can't tell you the last time they've heard a word from God. They can't tell you the last time they've evangelized to a lost person and they've collapsed in their arms and given their life to Jesus. So I think that's where it's like, we've got to come back to that and be like, oh, wait, what really matters?
- [29:30]
B
So convicting. That's so, so convicting. And I know we're about to wrap up, but I have a few DMS that I want to ask you. So these are straight from the listeners. Let me pull them up. Okay. All right. As we end the episode, I. Okay, here's a dm. I'm going on senior trip soon, and summer is coming up. Is it sinful to post a bikini picture on Instagram?
- [29:52]
A
Yeah, you know, is it sinful to post a bikini picture? I don't know. Is it causing other people to stumble? Is it to make you feel better about yourself? Is it causing people to look at you and for you to feel good about your body? I think you just have to ask yourself those questions and not is it sin or not? But does it glorify God? If I post this bikini picture, is that pointing other people to God? Is that making other people want to know God more? And I think that's the better question that we gotta ask when it comes to everything. I mean, it's like, I mean, same with, you know, is it sinful to wear a crop top? Okay, you guys, I genuinely cannot stop talking about Branch Basics because this is one of those products I use every single day and truly love. As a mom, I care so much about what we bring into our home. And honestly, cleaning products were something I never used to think twice about. But once I learned how many conventional cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals, hormone disruptors, and ingredients that can irritate your skin and body, I started making changes. And branch basics made it so easy. What I love is that everything is plant and mineral based, fragrance free, human safe, and completely transparent. They even earned maid safe certification, which gave me so much peace of mind knowing that the ingredients were independently screened for toxic substances. And I use these products constantly. Countertops, sinks, laundries, stains, literally all of it. I love that I can clean my home without worrying about what's being sprayed around my family. And honestly, the refill system is genius. You just refill the bottle with their concentrate. So it's simple, less wasteful, and actually affordable. And for anyone thinking that switching to safe cleaning has to be complicated or expensive, think again. Branch Basics surface cleaners are just under $5, so you can get started with a few simple swaps without spending a ton of money. And here's the good news. Branch Basics is now available at target and target.com, making it easier than ever to access safe and effective cleaning products. Whether you're going all in safe cleaning swaps or just starting small, find Branch Basics at target and target.com today. You guys know we talk a lot on this podcast about purpose and really seeking the path God has for our lives. And when it comes to education, I truly believe that path should lead to something meaningful. That's one of the reasons I love Grand Canyon University. GCU is a private, nonprofit Christian university located in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, and they are passionate about making education an affordable path forward for students who want to grow in their faith and in their calling. What I really love about GCU is that they are grounded in Christian truth and focused on equipping the next generation to lead with integrity and serve with purpose, which is something I know so many of you care about too. And they've actually kept tuition at the same rate on their traditional campus for 17 years. Plus, in 2025 alone, they awarded over $404 million in institutional scholarships. So whether you're looking to earn your degree on campus or online, you can pursue your purpose at gcu, Private Christian Affordable Nonprofit. Visit GCU Edu to learn more. I don't know, does it. Does it make people love Jesus more? Like, I don't know, is it. Is it sinful to. I mean, you could ask that about a lot of things, but I think ultimately just asking yourself of like, one, do I. Do I feel closer to God when I do it? Like, does it. Does it make me want to love God more? And two, like, does it glorify God? Or other people seeing that and they're like, oh man, I want to know the God she serves. Or is it like I am now looking at her body and like, now I'm comparing my body to her body, or now I'm looking at her body and I'm lusting after her body? Or maybe I'm looking at her body, it's just like, you know, what's. What's the point? What's the why? And does it glorify God?
- [33:33]
B
Yeah, that's so good. That's so, so good. Here is DM number two My boyfriend isn't as strong in his faith as I am. He reads his Bible, but he's not on Fire for God like I am. What do I do?
- [33:45]
A
I break up with him.
- [33:48]
B
Maddie, you're supposed to go into it a little bit.
- [33:51]
A
Break up with him. Bye. Bye. No, I'm kidding. I mean, I'm not kidding. I do believe that. But I think, listen, I think at the end of the day, have I heard stories where people have gotten married and one person was further along in their faith, the girl was more on fire than the guy. Sure, I've totally heard those stories. I've also heard way too many stories of people get married and they get divorced because there wasn't. The man wasn't the spiritual leader of the home. I've heard way too many stories where people have gotten married and there was adultery and there was cheating and it ultimately ended in separation because there wasn't a fear of God in the beginning because there wasn't a foundation of. Its all about the love of Jesus. And so, I mean, I. I just would feel like I'm going to have to give an account for my life. And what I'm telling you guys, I'm just like, it's all about Jesus. Like, your marriage is not about you. Your marriage is about glorifying Him. Your marriage is about showing other people him. And if that's what it's all about. But the person you're trying to get into covenant with is not all about Him. It ain't working, it ain't right, it's not good. So I would say in the relationship, because the best thing that you can do is give that person an opportunity to figure out their faith for themselves. Because if you try to push that on someone, even if they give in, even if they become that person for you, they ultimately will not. It will not last, most likely. And it will end up either they'll end up having like, resentment towards you because of it, or end up like falling away and failing away. Because it's got to be like your own personal decision, your own personal conviction that you can't make it, anybody else do it. Like, you can't make anybody love Jesus. You can't make anybody like die to themselves and pick up their cross and follow Him. Like, you have to make that decision. You know, when Jesus says that, you know, deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. He's not like, you know, force five people to come with you. But that's the whole point of Christianity is like Jesus, the Lord gives us free will. You know, he wants us to choose him, he wants us to delight in Him. He wants us to follow Him. But it's ultimately our decision. We can't force anybody to do that. And so I just would say, be really, really weary and careful, and if you already have a hesitation, now lean into that. Don't run from it. It's so easy to be like, oh, no, it's not that big. No, no, no. Pay attention to where you feel a lack of peace. Pay attention to where you see some red flags, and pay attention to where you feel hesitation, because the most important thing are the big rocks. Like, all the other little rocks will take care of itself, but it's like the big rocks, and. And the biggest being that you guys are on the same page with your faith has got to be there.
- [36:18]
B
Yep. Yep. That is so good. Noah Heron said on the podcast, he was like, don't date potential, because what if they never grow into what, like, you thought they would be? And then you just dated potential. Like, and so I love that you said that. That was very honest. And sometimes maybe no one has looked at her and told her that. And so that was really, really encouraging and feels like a big sister hug. Okay, last one. I am single and looking for a husband in all the places Christians are telling me to, at church, at volunteering, and other things, but I can't seem to find any godly men. I'm thinking about getting on some dating apps. Is it. Is that okay to do, or does that mess up God's plan? Slash, where are all the godly guys at?
- [36:57]
A
It comes back to, like, when you pray about it, like, first. Have you prayed about it before you ask your friends before you just do it? Like, go to God. Ask God. Is this okay for me to do? Like, as I take. I mean, that's what I did with the Bachelor is, like, no one approved of, Like, I mean, my family did, but, like, anyone else that I told, hey, I'm going on the Bachelor. They're like, you're crazy. Like, no, do not go on the Bachelor. That's the worst idea you've ever had in your life. So it's like, I mean, ultimately, you have to go to God and just, like, what peace do you feel in that? And just like, yeah, what's your heart? What's the purity of your intention? I know so many people that have met on dating apps, like, and it's like, even if you include Instagram as that, there's like. Like, so many people who I've met, you know, through Instagram, DMs and stuff. So I'm just like, I think you have to just ask The Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in that. And if your intent is like, I want to find a godly person to get married and to settle down and not just, like, I want to look on a dating app so that I can get some attention and so that I can just, like, go on some fun date. Like, I always say, like, we're not dating to date. Like, you're dating to marry. And obviously, goal number one would be, like, you happen to be in church and you find an amazing guy who is worshiping Jesus, and it's like, your, you know, paths cross, and it's like, you don't even have to wonder, is this good? Is this okay? It's like, that's perfect case scenario, but I just. I know of too many people that have. So it's hard. I'm like, I can't really give a. I think it's about, you know, your heart, your motives, and what the Holy Spirit's speaking to you. And if you have a piece about it and you feel your heart is pure in it, then sure. Just make sure he really loves Jesus.
- [38:25]
B
That's great.
- [38:25]
A
I mean, that was me speaking to the girl or the guy. Just make sure she really loves Jesus.
- [38:28]
B
No, that's so good. Well, Maddie, thank you so much for answering these questions.
- [38:32]
A
This was so fun.
- [38:33]
B
This is so, so fun. And you went there. I love it. You just tell it how it is. And I'm like, this is what people need to hear. So thank you for going there. This was so much fun. Thanks for letting me come on and
- [38:43]
A
answer all the questions. This is, like, my favorite thing. And truly, if you guys have any questions, like, we want to keep doing this, so send questions, send them in. I mean, we want to keep finding, like, new and fun ways to go about this. And so we're. We're dreaming up. We're getting creative, but we want to hear, like, the questions that you have. And so we want to know, like, what does God's word say? What is true? But then how do we stay true? And very relevant and everyday scenarios and situations. And so that's the heart of this podcast. And I just, you know, you guys are the best.
- [39:11]
B
They're the best. I was just thinking about. We went from pride to conspiracies to dating.
- [39:15]
A
We had everything.
- [39:16]
B
I'm like, wow. I don't even know what to title this podcast.
- [39:19]
A
No, there is no title. Just listen. Everyone needs to listen. Okay, guys, as always, be sure to stay you and stay true. We love you. Stay true. Podcast is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.