In this episode, Finn and I talk about God’s miracles for King Joram, King Jehoshaphat, and a needy widow and how God used Elisha to help them know that He is the true Conquering Redeemer.
With your kids: Tell your kids the story of how you came to know Christ.
How do I live in unselfishness and humility, considering the interests of others? How does my own physical and mental capacity fit into all this? How do I find enjoyment in the toil and ways God richly provides? How do I walk this life’s path in fullness of joy in His presence, with His easy yoke and light burden, and do everything for His glory? When I’ve tried to control my schedule and the people in it, I’ve felt like these things are impossible, that I’ll never have enough time to do His will.
One picture God brought to mind was thinking of my time like a batch of chocolate chip cookies. If I ate the whole batch myself, I would feel sick. If I gave away all the cookies and let someone else lick out the bowl, I would feel sad. Instead, one morning I might get to eat one cookie alone with Jesus and then share the rest with my kids and husband. Another morning I might get to eat two or three with God. Some days the cookies will be pretty much all given to my children. Other days I might get to share a couple cookies with just my husband. Sometimes, our whole family will eat them together, and other times I’ll leave my husband and kids to enjoy the cookies with each other so that I can bring cookies to someone else. And some evenings, I might take a cookie into my room and shut the door, so that when I’m finished, I can re-enter family life with the pleasure lingering on my tongue.
Sometimes, I will eat too many cookies and feel sick. But that’s why Jesus came, to redeem my sins and mistakes and carry His work in my life to completion. Then the cookies shared with Him will last forever. So let’s keep baking! (Phil. 1:6, 2:3-8, Ecc. 2:24, Ps. 16:11, 1 Tim. 6:17, Matt. 11:28-30, Col. 3:17)
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday in our homes, I wanted to make Finn’s bonus episode about Jesus’ death and resurrection available to everyone this Easter. He is Risen!
You can find the rest of the bonus episodes on https://www.patreon.com/aliciayoder
And. . . for the full story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you can check out Episode 64 and 65 on the podcast.
Until April 16, you and your children can listen to the Passion of Jesus drama on https://www.yourstoryhour.org/listen-for-free
It’s 8 episodes that are around 30 minutes, and includes the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
In this episode, God shows His power to Ahaziah and takes Elijah up to heaven, while Elisha continues the ministry. In Christ, we get to be a faithful part of His Body with members from all across the world!
With your kids: Who are the 5 people you talk to most often each week? Ask God to show you how you can talk with them about how great He is.
P.S. Don’t forget, if you’re a patron, you can check out the latest bonus episodes on my patreon page, https://www.patreon.com/aliciayoder. So far, Finn has told the stories of Samuel being born, David’s friendship with Jonathan, the end of Saul’s life, and Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Are you feeling overwhelmed not knowing how to pray about our current crisis? You can pray along with this 4 minute video, and check out their other ones, too. (There are prayercast videos for over 100 nations in the world!)
https://prayercast.com/coronavirus.html
How do I do the good works God has prepared for me to do in this pandemic season? How do I know if I’m doing the right things, when others seem to be on such different adventures? My holy adventure right now is caring for my three children in the four walls of this home, which doesn’t seem like much of an adventure, or even a path leading somewhere.
God gently helped me to think of my seasons as a pasture, with His sovereign care and protection and the principles from His Word being the fence. There’s not one path inside the fence, and He is the One who carries me into a different pasture when He wants to. I am safe to make choices in this pasture and laugh and enjoy the husband sheep and three little lambs in the pasture with me.
Some sheep do lots of running and jumping in their pasture, and some do lots of drinking water and resting. He doesn’t love the active sheep more than the resting ones, and I don’t have to be afraid for sheep from other pastures to see my life in this pasture.
Will you trust Him to fill you with His Spirit’s strength to do the things He’s called you to do in the pasture He has you in today? And that the rhythm of resting and working is beautiful to Him?
I’ve had to repent of the lie that working is always more pleasing to Him than resting. I’ve had to repent of wanting to be in complete control of where my husband sheep and little lambs go in our pasture and what they do. And Jesus has given me the reminder of His role as my Good Shepherd leading me, interceding for me (whether I’m working or resting), and that He delights to give me the freedom to lay in the grass, looking up at the sky He made.
Where do natural disasters and pandemics like the coronavirus come from? Our pastor preached from Psalm 106, explaining that natural disasters are a result of the curse/judgment of God because of Adam’s sin (and the sin of all of humanity). The very ground is cursed because of Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:17), and we are constantly working to harness creation. This creation is groaning because it’s not living it’s original curse-free purpose. We are reminded of our frailty, and of the greater judgment to come. We have sinned like our fathers before us and deserve to live under this curse. But in His great love, God sent Jesus to become a curse for us, to bear the wrath that keeps us from ultimate judgment and will welcome us into an eternal life on a curse-free new Earth (for all who confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and receive His forgiveness for their sins through His death on the cross). This is the outward-focused loving God everyone needs as the whole world groans today. (Romans 10:9)
https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/bereancc/sermons/329201616382557/
In this episode, I share about Jehoshaphat’s worshipful response to an enemy army coming against him and that as believers we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand the gift of His Word, the Bible.
P.S. I’ve put some bonus episodes on my patreon page that are exclusively for patrons, and you’ll also have access to each regular podcast episode a week before it releases anywhere else. Happy listening!
With your kids: What’s one thing that’s been making you feel nervous or scared or concerned lately? Share with each other and pray for each other, then sing a song of praise to God!
As we wake each morning with the reality of the coronavirus, what reality should also fill our minds? This is Christ’s world. As Jonathan Edwards put it, “The rising and setting of the sun is a picture of the death and resurrection of Christ, the true light of the world.” He is victorious. His yoke, His way is light as we compare it to the weight of glory that is coming for those who are in Christ. A way that trusts Him without having to understand it all, leaning on Him as He makes our paths straight. According to Michael Reeves, “we most honor the Father by sharing his own everlasting delight in his Son.” As these realities capture our thoughts, we will be able to share this truth with the sick, the healthy, and the fearful. Will you take a moment to remember and worship this Christ?
