Christian podcast Archives - Soaring With Him Ministries

Patricia — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:13:00 +0000

The Struggle Is Real, but So Is God

{Interview & Column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}

Listen to this interview with podcaster, entrepreneur, and author Misty Phillip, where she talks about her bible study, The Struggle Is Real, but so Is God, a study focused on how to keep strong faith through life’s hard circumstances. If you are reading this in your email, click HERE to listen. Read the column about this conversation below.

“Blessed be your name when the sun’s shining down on me; when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be your name. Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering; though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be your name.” — Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be Your Name”

Job is the first of the poetic books in the Hebrew Bible and is believed to be the first written book of Scriptures. It tells the astounding story of a righteous man who was tested extensively and did not lose faith in God. It is a gripping story of loss and prosperity and offers a vast theological treatise about enduring faith and God’s sovereignty.

Even though some believe the book’s story to be an allegory, the prophet Ezekiel and the apostle James in the New Testament mention Job as a historical figure.

The very first chapter of the book sets the stage.

Job is a rich and blessed man who loves God with all his heart and obeys his commandments. The scene changes to a conversation between God and Satan, where the fallen angel claims that Job only trusted God because he was wealthy and prosperous.

And thus, Job’s trials began. For the following 42 chapters, we witness Job tested in every way. He lost all his children and all his possessions. His friends accused him. Painful sores covered his body, and his wife told him to curse God and die.

Through it all, Job’s response tells the reader that he was convinced of two absolutes: his innocence and God’s sovereignty. Even though he felt overwhelmingly depressed, he remained faithful.

While many tried to convince Job that God had abandoned him, his humility and trust in God’s unchanging faithfulness and limitless might paved the way to God’s final response: God rebuked his friends, and the drama ended with Job’s wealth, health, and happiness restored.

Is God still good, even when the worse happens?

The question has inevitably pierced the hearts of believers tested by prolonged trials through the ages, and the answer, I believe, paves the way to measure the steadfastness of one’s faith.

Earlier in February, I talked to podcaster and Bible teacher Misty Phillip about her Bible study “The Struggle is Real, but So is God.”

During our conversation, Phillip recounted her family’s many trials, including losing her baby boy, stillborn after years of infertility and miscarriages. There were years of overwhelming loss and hardships as Phillip and her husband cared for his parents with terminal brain tumors and the ongoing care of a special needs son.

As Phillip described the funeral of their stillborn baby, a solemn moment gripped my heart: The family held hands to say goodbye to their son while singing Matt Redman’s song, “Blessed Be Your Name.” Friends and family who had come to minister to the grieving family left the funeral encouraged by their steadfast courage and faith.

Trials brought them closer to God

This trial and many others brought the Phillips closer to God. Instead of cursing their maker, they chose to believe in his faithfulness and purpose in the valleys. And today, as she looks back, Phillip can testify how her response to life’s tragedies paved the way to minister to others through her growing ministry and Bible study.

I can relate. Misty and I have talked about how upside-down biblical faith can be. But when one understands that God does not allow anything to happen to his children that cannot work together for their eternal good and his glory, faith has lingering effects in one’s heart.

Like Job, we can only become overcomers if we press on. And like him, we cannot claim to have strong faith until it’s tested and tried by fire, and the measured heat purifies our hearts as God purposefully designed.

Find out more about Misty’s ministry and book at mistyphillip.com/. For the interview with Misty Phillip, visit bit.ly/3YuiIBh

Patricia Holbrook is a columnist, author, podcaster and international speaker. Website: www.soaringwithHim.com. For speaking engagements and comments, email pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

The post appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

31 Days to Discover God’s Love for You

Patricia — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:12:20 +0000

When we think about the gods of most religions, certain attributes echo as truth to their faithful followers. There is no doubt that the followers of most religions of the world would deem their gods wise, powerful, omniscient, just, etc, etc.

However, there is undoubtedly one attribute of Yahweh, the One True God of the Bible, that stands out as the trait that no other “god” possesses: Yahweh is a Loving God. Not only does He have love for His children, He IS Love. (1 John 4:7-8) And we know of the truth and depth of His love because He chose to abandon His glory and come to earth to dwell among us, live a perfect life and die as the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. (John 3:16)

It’s the gospel story we celebrate each year at Christmas and the Redemption story we sing about on Easter.

God is also the only personal God – another trait that no other god offers. It is indeed Yahweh’s greatest desire to reveal Himself to His children, and He longs for close communion with those who received His Son as their Lord and Savior.

A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to the life and work of Elisabeth Elliot. Elisabeth was a bestselling author, radio host, and speaker and the wife of Jim Elliot, who, together with Nate Saint, was one of five missionaries speared to death in 1956 while attempting to make contact with members of the Auca/Waodani tribe in the Amazonian jungle of Ecuador.

Honoring a Legacy

Elisabeth died in 2015 but left behind an incredible legacy with her story of steadfast faith through painful loss and countless trials. Her story shows a life committed to the truth of the Bible and eager to share God’s redeeming love and faithfulness.

In 2020, the Elisabeth Elliot foundation was founded to serve “as an evolving repository of her work; a resourceful collection of her writings and teachings, and a place to honor Elliot’s legacy—the remarkable life of a woman mastered by God and wholeheartedly devoted to the service and glorification of Jesus.”

Elisabeth Elliot’s lost manuscript was published in September 2022

I interviewed Kathy Reeg, president of the Elisabeth Elliot foundation, for my podcast and YouTube channels and was blessed by the beautiful stories Kathy shared about Elisabeth, including the surprising discovery of a never-before-published manuscript among Elisabeth’s belonging. The manuscript was published in September 2022 under the title: “Heart of God,” and it is formatted as a 31-day devotional with beautiful insights into the heart of the One True God.

Enjoy our conversation! It was filled with insights about Elisabeth’s lifelong commitment to steadfast faith and obedience and it will surely bless you this Christmas season.

PS: The Elisabeth Elliot Foundation is giving one of my followers a copy of Heart of God. Share this post or interview on social media, and tag me for a chance to win a copy.

Listen to the podcast episode below. If you are reading this in your email, please CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast.

Click HERE to learn more about Heart of God and where to purchase it.

Click HERE to learn more about the Elisabeth Elliot foundation.

This interview is also available on Patricia’s YouTube Channel. Click HERE to watch it.

The post 31 Days to Discover God’s Love for You appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Brooklyn Tabernacle’s pastor Jim Cymbala’s Interview {Recharge Wednesday}

Patricia — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:06:00 +0000

Did you know that, According to a recent Gallup poll, this is the first time since the 1930’s that the number of Americans who describe themselves as affiliated with a church, synagogue, or mosque has fallen below 50 percent? Worse yet, another survey has concluded that about 1500 pastors and other religious leaders leave the ministry every single month. 1500!

Jim Cymbala has been the pastor of the renowned Brooklyn Tabernacle for the past five decades. During our conversation, we discussed his brand-new book, Fan the Flame, which was born from his desire to encourage church leaders and their flock to stay focused on their God-given assignments.

The conversation revealed baffling information to me, and as a person called into ministry, I could not wait to dive into this book. By the way, pastor Cymbala is giving a copy of his book to one of my followers.

All you have to do to enter the drawing is listen to the interview (below) and share this post on Social Media. Please make sure to tag me!

This interview is also available on my YouTube Channel. Click HERE to watch it.

Use the links below to share on Social media!

LINKUP PARTY opens on November 9 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! This week, I share my interview with pastor @JimCymbala from the Brooklyn Tabernacle. We discussed his new book, #FantheFlame and the growing discouragement among pastors and ministry leaders in America. Join us and…
Click To Tweet

The post Brooklyn Tabernacle’s pastor Jim Cymbala’s Interview {Recharge Wednesday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.