RWHPodcast

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast INTRO Today on Run With Horses, we are looking at what to do when your spiritual life is in a rut. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Thanks for including me in your journey! Have you ever reached a spot in your spiritual life where you felt you just couldn’t manage to make a single step forward? I think it happens to many of us ore often that we would like to admit. In the past few shows we have been looking at the process of spiritual growth and you may feel like you just aren’t making any progress. Today, I want to give you some thoughts about how to get past those roadblocks and get your spiritual life moving again. First, lets examine a few reasons people get bogged down. 1.Sin that hasn’t been dealt with. This is a big one. Gotta deal with sin, ASAP. 2.Unhealthy relationships. The people you hand around with make it easy or hard to follow Jesus. 3.Lazy/ Busy – You know what to do but can’t seem to get it done. This can often be a symptom of misplace priorities. 4.Doubt/ Discouragement – A little mistake or slip here and there can steal your confidence and make you consider your ability more than God’s Grace. 5. Earthly Desires – We all easily get distracted by the things of this world. Promotion at work, the approval of others, new “things” are all competing for the place Jesus demands. Obviously not a complete list. You need to do the personal hard work of examining your own life to determine where you are aligned with God and where you are pursuing something else. Next, lets consider the obvious tools that we need to always be using to build a healthy spiritual life. Here is me, the broken record, telling you that God has given you three things specifically to help you grow. You have heard this hear before and will hear it again! 1. God’s Word - There is no way to really grow without increased time with God which equates to time in His Word. Read the Bible. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Think about it. Talk about it to others. This is foundational to a healthy spiritual life. 2.Holy Spirit – God has given you the Holy Spirit to guide you, help you understand the Bible and to change you from the inside out. When you don’t know what to pray, trust that the Holy Spirit does, and pray! 3. The Church – Hey that church takes lots of hard knocks. It is definitely not perfect, but then, how could it be, it is full of former enemies of God who are still learning what it means to be part of His family! As a resource for spiritual growth the church will include music that points you toward God, books, sermons, podcast and videos that teach, encourage and motivate you to keep on keeping on. Now, lets look at a few tools you should have in your spiritual toolbox to pull out when you need them. Spiritual Disciplines - 1. Disciplines of Abstinence: Solitude: Time away from people, leaving more space for God. Silence: Not speaking and going to a quiet place to clear a space for God to reach us. Fasting: Going without food (or something else like media) for a time. Replacing the food or media with more of God’s Word and Prayer. Sabbath: Intentional rest in God’s person and provision. 2. Disciplines of Engagement: Bible Reading: might include Bible study, Scripture meditation, and praying God’s Word. Worship: Praising God in words, music, or silence. (privately or in community.) Prayer: Talking with God about what we’re experiencing and doing together. Fellowship: Intentionally seeking out believers to encourage and speak with about spiritual things. Service: Humbly serving God by overflowing with his love and compassion to others, especially those in need. (Also tithing and giving.) A great way to “get out of your head”. Finally, lets consider how to make a plan that will give us structure and intentionality as we face our spiritual battles. If possible, identify the main area you are struggling with right now. Are there any obvious reasons or ways to address it? Ask a good Christian friend to help you evaluate your life and current lifestyle. Talking through your choices with a friend who want to see you grow may be the best way to see your own life more clearly. Make sure you have a consistent plan to include the basic activities of the spiritual life in your week, every week. Have a bible reading plan, journal what you are learning, share it with a friend. Pray throughout the day every day and invite God into every activity. Put the church on your calendar, not just the service times but plan to reach out to others throughout the week. Ask your church family to pray for you. Consider the spiritual disciplines and make a space in your life for those you believe would help you given where you are right now. Don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t done before! KEY POINT: Invite a friend to go through this time with you and pray for you as you apply these tools to your life. You are not meant to walk the Christian life alone! That is a recipe for stagnation and a nasty spiritual fall. Most of all, keep it up. Persevere. The reward is worth the struggle. Remember that God promises to be with you in the middle of every trial and He is working in you to complete the work HE started! OUTRO Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast INTRO Today on Run With Horses, I am going into a little more detail about the first stage of spiritual growth that we all should pass through on our journey of faith. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey! Today’s focus – Stage one spiritual growth. Last time we covered an overview of the three stages of Spiritual Growth. and then go over each one in detail in the next three shows. Let me know if you have questions or comments as we go along! norman@runwithhorses.net First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations What is it? Learning who you are in God’s sight. Eph.2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. You are loved! Time of developing our character. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 1 Timothy 3: 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; Learning the basics of the Christian life. The Gospel provides the entry into the Christian life and we never leave that foundation, we build on it. What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? How does that help me live today? What is available to me because of the cross? Power of forgiveness and God’s grace. Prayer – we are able to go to God directly. Fellowship – we have a body of believers who are united by the Holy Spirit. God’s mission – The ministry of reconciliation. Spiritual warfare, spiritual gifts, ministry to the body of Christ, ministry with the body of Christ. Our testimony – witnesses to His work in us. Learning about genuine spiritual worship. How do you learn these? From who? Developing good spiritual habits. Begin developing the habit of bible study and obedience. Learning the value and importance of prayer. Learning about the special community, God’s family, the Church. Developing the habit of intentional relationships. Developing a good view of stewardship in all areas of life. Time, health, relationships, finances, etc. Why are these so important? They change your mind, immerse yourself in the mind of Christ. Develop discernment, spiritual wisdom and insight. How do you learn these? From who? How do you maintain consistency? Next time: The Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction INTRO Today on Run With Horses, we look at Stage Three of our spiritual growth. We are growing to become disciple makers in Jesus’ footsteps. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey! Today’s focus -The Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction We looked at the First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations Learning who you are in God’s sight, developing your character and learning the basics of the Christian life. We looked at the Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service Learning how to relate in a biblical way to others, applying the “one another’s” of the NT in our relationships and learning the meaning and value of sacrifice as we serve others. And now, drum roll please .. we are ready for the Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction What are we talking about? We are continuing to build on the foundation of the first two stages. Remember that we never leave them. You should be growing in your understanding of who you are in Christ, of what He accomplished on the cross, of the work that He is doing in and through His church. You are continuing to learn about and practice your gifts, building up the body of Christ intentionally as you serve and take real joy in seeing others grow. Know and maintain biblical priorities. Came to seek and to save lost. To do Father’s Will. Keep the main thing the main thing. Let’s keep it real simple. Hebrews 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Matt.22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Now the real question is how do you do that! And that is the process of Spiritual Growth and Sanctification. The Christian life is the answer to that question. It is the culmination of all our choices and life activities. Our life proves that we have Faith and love God and our neighbor or it gives evidence against us. Think it’s easy? Paul didn’t! Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. In the third stage of Spiritual Growth we recognize the reality of the struggle and the value in the struggle. God uses it to grow us! Maintain healthy spiritual habits and the disciplines that build a strong spiritual life. Matt.6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We have developed biblical priorities and are actively engaged in the struggle to live them our. What does that look like practically? It looks a lot like practicing spiritual good habits and using the spiritual disciplines to support our spiritual life. This includes the basics of the Christian life like Bible Study. 2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Prayer. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And Fellowship with the Church. Eph. 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. It also includes some of the spiritual disciplines that aren’t a part of most people’s daily practice. Like Fasting. Matt. 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Solitude. Luke 5: 16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. A good resource for thinking about the spiritual disciplines is the book by Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines. Here is the Amazon link - https://a.co/d/hyxWiUN Intentionally seek out younger people and invest in their spiritual life. Deut. 6:6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Not just your children! Take responsibility for the spiritual growth of others and help them grow. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” You are to be a beacon of light in the lives of those around you. Challenge them to consider the claims of Jesus and to see the world from an eternal perspective. Prioritize disciple making activities and relationships. Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. 2 Tim. 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. This is the primary role of the church in the world today as I understand it. Make disciple of Jesus. Follow Hm and help others follow Him. Every generation is responsible for taking up the cause of Christ and reaching the next generation. It is not primarily information or education but whole life transformation into the image of Jesus. Our lives are changed from the inside out, eventually impacting every thought, word, deed and relationship. This is what it means to follow Jesus. In the Third Stage of Spiritual Growth you are taking up the mission of Christ and acting as His ambassador to the world as you prepare the next generation of disciples to one day do the same. It is a big task. But it is God’s task and He will not fail. How awesome that He lets us be a small part of the great work of reconciliation that He is doing as He builds His church! OUTRO Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running! All Bible Quotations are NKJV unless otherwise noted.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net INTRO Today on Run With Horses, I am introducing three stages of spiritual growth that we should all want to pass through on our journey of faith. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Run Your Race Well, not just Surviving but Thriving as a Disciple of Jesus! There are a LOT of things you could do with your life, but I don’t think anything compares with following Jesus and joining Him on His mission of bringing Hope to the nations. Welcome to Run With Horses and Thanks for including me in your journey! Today’s focus - Growing in Ministry – Keep taking steps towards spiritual maturity! I hope you understand that God wants you to grow. In many ways, in many area of life. God is working in you to grow. Hebrew 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Col.1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Col.2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 2 Peter1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I want to introduce three stages of Spiritual Growth as they relate to your spiritual ministry. To day we will cover an overview of the three stages and then go over each one in detail in the next three shows. Let me know if you have questions or comments as we go along! First Stage – Spiritual Identity and Foundations What is it? Learning who you are in God’s sight. Time of developing our character. Learning the basics of the Christian life. Developing good spiritual habits. Answering questions like: Who does God day I am? What does it mean to follow Jesus? How do I grow spiritually? Second Stage – Spiritual Sacrifice and Service What is it? Learning how to relate in a biblical way to others. Learn and apply the “one another’s” of the NT. Learn the meaning and value of sacrifice. Find joy in serving. Answering questions like: What does it mean to serve others? What is sacrifice in my life? Why is it important? What are my spiritual gifts? Third Stage – Spiritual Maturity and Reproduction What is it? Know and maintain biblical priorities. Maintain healthy spiritual habits and the disciplines that build a strong spiritual life. Intentionally seek out younger people and invest in their spiritual life. Prioritize disciple making activities and relationships. Answering questions like: Who around me needs encouragement today? How can I help others grow and serve? What do I need to do to help others become disciple makers? OUTRO Thanks for joining me today! Check out runwithhorses.net for show notes and past shows. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net if you have comments or questions. Join our facebook community and tell a friend if you have found this show helpful! Keep Running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Ageless Beauty Discussion on aging. How th e world views it, how Christians can/should view it Term – “sandwich generation” Stereotypes – dementia, frail, bed-ridden, no fun Loss of autonomy is probably the hardest part of old age to accept. Those ADL’s (Activities of Daily Life) you’ve performed for yourself most of your life must now be done by someone else. Many benefits to being older – experience, wisdom, able to pass on to next generation may know how to handle relationships better Old person’s situation makes a big difference – sickness, family around? Mobility Compare: tribal environment vs. modern environment -- elderly are valued; their knowledge is needed; no other resources (youtube, books) -- most experienced and good at basket weaving (e.g.). Current day knowledge hasn’t changed for centuries. Continues as it has been. -- In US, old are in the way, not respected, not useful. The knowledge they had (i.e. slide rules) is obsolete now. Technology keeps changing. Need a purpose for living, feel useful to others, feel needed -- understand what God wants from you in this chapters -- You DO have a role if you’re still breathing! Perspective/Outlook God provides a basis for seeing the future in a positive light! You can be thankful every day for something. You can be a blessing to someone every day if you try. On what do you base your worth? What makes you valuable? -- Do you feel valuable because of how you look? (what happens when you get wrinkly, bald, & saggy?) -- Do you feel valuable because you are productive in society or to your family or church? (what happens when you are no longer able to feel productive?) -- Is your worth based on your sense of pride? -- Or is it based on the value God places on you, for being created in His image? He proved how valuable you are!! (sending Jesus to pay your way to belong to His family)

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Grace when you need it . . .Every day! What is it? Merriam_Webster – Grace a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: approval, favor c: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency From GotQuestions.org (https://www.gotquestions.org/mercy-grace.html) “Mercy and grace are closely related. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not exactly the same. Mercy has to do with kindness and compassion; it is often spoken of in the context of God’s not punishing us as our sins deserve. Grace includes kindness and compassion, but also carries the idea of bestowing a gift or favor. It may help to view mercy as a subset of grace. In Scripture, mercy is often equated with a deliverance from judgment , and grace is always the extending of a blessing to the unworthy.” God’s undeserved favor toward the unworthy. It’s good news! Acts 20:24 What does it do? Romans 3:23 Hebrews 4:16 II Corinthians 12:9 2 Thess. 2:16 Titus 2:11 2 Timothy 2:1 Romans 15:15 1 Cor. 3:9 Eph. 3:1 2 Cor. 8:1 How do I get it? What do I do with it? Eph. 4:7 Rom. 12:3 1 Peter 4:10 Paul attributes his life and ministry to the grace of God at work in him. 1 Cor. 15:9 How do I respond? Romans 14:4 Humility, knowing I don’t deserve even a fraction of the grace that God gives. Confidence that God will do His part in my life. It doesn’t rest on my ability or wisdom. God will make me stand. So never stop pursuing godliness and righteousness because God has promised that you will obtain it! Courage to attempt great things. Overflowing Thanksgiving because God has counted me worthy to be part of His family.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast What’s your Next Action? - Ep.214 The last show we talked about being too busy. Today I want to confirm that we do all have a lot to do and would like to get the important things, the big rocks we talked about last time, accomplished or at least worked on. When we talked about the putting the big rocks in first, we were primarily thinking about scheduling. It’s a calendar issue. But once you get to that time, what do you do? That is the topic of today’s show. Several years ago I was introduced to the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. It is a really good and fairly simple system of organization that I would highly recommend if you have a complicated and busy life like I do. But today I am not going to go over the whole system but only one key aspect that may be enough for you to really take hold of your life and make progress in the really important areas. For everything in life that you intend to work on or make any progress on, you need a Next Action. It seems almost too obvious but how often do you have a project that needs working on that you aren’t really sure how to move forward with? I am really concerned about my and your spiritual life so let’s look at some examples. Many people feel like they don’t know the bible well enough. That actually probably true for all of us! The problem is that many people leave it there. You might hear things like. “I don’t know my bible as well as I should. I really should study more. “ But then no actually plans are made to study or learn more. There is no clear Next Action, just a vague feeling that things aren’t quite as good as they could be. Sounds like a recipe for guilt without change! What does a Next Action look like? How do you find one? Usually a little planning ahead goes a long way. If the project is important to you, and certainly growing in your ability to understand and apply God’s Word to your life should qualify as an important project it is worth some effort. The higher the priority in your life the more worthwhile it is to spend time praying and planning. The first step is usually brainstorming ideas and options. For growing in your understanding of the bible, what options do you have? Hopefully you are already a regular member of a good church that teaches the bible, if not, please start there! Be aware that the main service times are probably not the only options through the church, many churches have weekly bible studies of various kinds that might be a great fit for you. A second option might be asking your pastor for a good recommendation. There are video courses online and numerous books on specific topics as well as overviews of the book of the bible. You might get more out of a book or lesson on how to study the bible, then take notes as you read through the New Testament. Lots of options here! But this is still too vague for a Next Action. If you are serious about it, you have to make some choices. You have to make some decisions. There are lots of things you could do, but what are you going to do? Once you pick a path forward, write down the steps needed to make it happen. The first one, the one you have to do to get started, is your next action. Want to start by learning more about how to read and study the bible yourself? First step might be to research book options. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart is one I can recommend. If you choose it your Next Action would be to order it! Break any project into the smallest steps and make sure you always know what the next step is, that is your Next Action. If you keep working on these, over time any project will make forward progress. I challenged you last show to write down the big categories of life, the things you really care about. If you did that you should also now have some idea of the things in life that are really important to you. If you went the extra step, you also marked out some time on your calendar to devote to that area of your life. If you put down your spiritual life as a major priority, you still have to answer the question, what do I do with the time I have devoted to spiritual growth? This process of determining Next Actions can ensure that you always have something worthwhile that you are working on, something that is moving you forward in your spiritual life. Prayer life? What can you do, an action, that might help? Pick a better time, use a notebook, study Paul’s prayers. Church life seem stale? What might help? Spend time praying for your church leadership throughout the week, volunteer to serve in a different way, reach out to people around you during the week. There is always something, however small, that you can do that will help you. Pray about it and look for that opportunities to grow in every area of life. I understand that it is easy to get stuck. Life is busy, we have lots of distractions, it can be hard to know what to do next. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will eventually get somewhere. Keep pursuing righteousness, don’t give up and don’t quit. Keep going forward, one step at a time.

Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Too Busy? Put the Big Rocks in First! I don't know what it is about our culture but most of us are busy all the time. Or at least we FEEL busy and that turns out to be just as tiring! The problem is that we aren’t necessarily accomplishing a lot of the right things. Have you ever struggled to find time to read your bible or pray for your friends salvation? Do you miss a small group meeting or church gathering regularly because of “life”? Then you are in this category of too busy. A full discussion of this topic would include lots of details like the average American spends 3.5 hours on their smartphone every day. I am sure the 47 minutes per day spent on YouTube aren’t worth mentioning. The fact that the typical American watched 3 hours of TV every day probably doesn’t really relate to our feeling of being to busy does it? One college group I spoke with admitted that most of them watched a movie a day and often more on the weekends. Are you a gamer? That 2-4 hours that most gamers hit per day probably doesn’t matter when it comes to your struggle to find 15 minutes a day to read your bible. . . no way. Ok, Ok, Maybe I am hitting this a bit hard but listen to this. You have time to do what you really want to do. Period. Ouch. Let that rattle around in your head a little. I understand there are , rare, exceptions. I am not talking to you if you are working two jobs as a single mom of three energetic boys with no family around to help. Your life is full, I get it. That is not most people. If you are average, and coincidentally most of us are… you have time to use as you see fit almost every day. How do you choose to spend it? If you are one of those people who would like to grow spiritually, and if you are listening to this show I would assume that you are, it is in those smaller daily choices that the battle for the day is one or lost. Do you check your FaceBook page before or after your devotion time? Do you call that friend you have been meaning to pray for before or after watching that movie? We often have good intentions but slip up in the details. If that is you, keep listening for some advice on how to manage the chaos of life. I first heard the story around 15 years ago. A college professor was helping his class see the importance of having clear priorities and then following them. He pulled out a glass jar and put several large rocks in it. “Is it full?” he asked. “Yes!” came the enthusiastic answer. This was back when teachers actually taught in class and students wanted to learn. He pulled out a small box filled with pebbles and proceeded to add them in the spaces around the large rocks in the jar. “Is the jar full” he asked. “Yes.” came the answer again. This time he pulled out a plastic bin with sand in it and poured it over the rocks and pebbles, letting the sand filter through the cracks to the bottom of the jar. “Is it full now?” he asked. “No!” came the reply, the students finally realizing something was up. The professor smiled and pulled out a jar of water and poured it over the rocks, pebbles and sand until the jar was completely full. “Now the jar is full. So what is the lesson here?” he asked. “You can always fit in a little more?” came the tentative reply. After a good laugh and acknowledgement that we all try to do just that the professor gave the lesson. “Put the big rocks in FIRST.” That my friends is the key to living the life God intended, that is filled with true purpose and deeper meaning. Put the big rocks in first. What are the big rocks? Your Priorities and main purpose in life. What is really most important to you? Is it really worth the effort it will take? What will it take to reach that purpose? You need to see both your goals in life and the actions steps it will take to get there. If you are serious about making some life changes get out a pencil and paper, or live in the modern world and take notes on your phone! But Make a note to answer some questions for yourself. First, list the big categories that you see in your life right now. Here are some examples. Spiritual Growth, Career, Family, Local Church, Community Activities, Friends, House Upkeep, Garden, Exercise/ Physical Health, Hobbies, etc Now identify the most important ones. Hopefully you place your personal relationship with God right at the top. But if YOU don’t place it there from your heart you will not sustain the life that will make ti possible. Your heart will ultimately determine you choices and be reflected in your time management. Make that list of the big categories in your life that you really care about and are “mission critical” so important that you can’t function without them. For each category, ask yourself what success in that area of life looks like. Then, list the activities that contribute to being successful in that area of life. You are answering the question, What does it take to do well in this part of my life? Lay that paper aside and take out a calendar. Put in all the immovable objects in your calendar. Work schedule, church schedule, doctor appointments, etc. Now take your list of top three categories of life and put in the most important activity that contributes to success in that area. If you are a parent that is probably in your top three and time with the family is absolutely required to do well as a parent. Where is it in your daily and weekly schedule? If you follow my advice you time alone with God is THE most important part of your week and is the foundation that gives the rest of the week meaning. Put it in your best time. If you are a morning person, do it first every day. If you are a night person, do it at a time that you will be able to be consistent and protect that time. If your lunch break is best, plan ahead and be ready to give some of that time to God every day. If you intentionally do this, put the big rocks into your day first, you will find that over time, there are very few things that really matter, that you really care about, that don’t get done. My daughter wants to be a songwriter. She needs to write new songs on a regular basis to do that. One song a year does technically make you a songwriter (Hey, I wrote two songs in the past two weeks but I am NOT a songwriter!) but she would not be happy looking back after 30 years and realizing that she had a gift that wasn’t used to it’s potential. What gifts has God given you? What responsibilities has God given you? What relationships has He given you to shepherd? You are a steward of all of life and much to many people’s dismay, you can’t just float through and be successful. Put the big rocks in first, review your choices regularly and keep pursing a life of righteous and eternal value. The race before you requires patience, so keep running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net How do you face your Weaknesses? Weaknesses. Everybody has them. Nobody likes them in themselves or in others. But there they are, just waiting to embarrass you and make you feel guilty all over again. Weaknesses come in all flavors, mental, physical, emotional, and moral. And all of us have varying degrees of all kinds of limitations and weaknesses. For most of your weaknesses, you either learn to work around it, as in physical handicaps, or try to find some way to build up that area, apply to a school to boost your job potential. But for a Christian, moral and spiritual limitations are the most critical because they carry a greater weight of eternal consequences. Not that the other limitations don’t have eternal ramifications, but the spiritual limitations are more directly related to our relationship with God and His Church. What are some examples of spiritual weaknesses? First, let me clarify that much of our spiritual weakness comes from unaddressed sin in our lives. If you call unforgiveness a weakness and leave it at that you may try to shrug it off like the bad knee that keeps you from playing basketball. No need to address it and work to change it. But as a follower of Jesus, everything that hinders us from pursuing Him with our whole heart is a problem. So unforgiveness is suddenly a big deal. It isn’t just a little thing, but a massive stumbling block that threatens our unity with the church and our fellowship with God. It is sin and must be addressed as sin. Now I am sure many of you will agree with that and already make a regular practice of confessing and repenting of known sin in your life. The problem comes in with areas we continually struggle with, a besetting sin some might call it. Most of us have a spiritual weakness that regularly shows up in our life and leads to sin of some kind. How do you address that weakness? Do you address it or just give up, admit defeat in that area and move on? My challenge for you today. Don’t accept defeat, fight to the bitter end to be the person God is changing you into. He has already promised to finish the work He started in you. And if you have accepted Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross on you behalf through Faith, God says that He declares you Righteous! And that is amazing! You can’t work for that righteousness (Rom.4:5). It is God’s work on your behalf. And that work is why the battle is worth it. You will not lose this fight. You may lose a battle today, but God is using this fight in your life to build your reliance and trust in Him. He uses your weakness to make you more like Jesus. So don’t give up, ever. So how do you approach the spiritual weakness in your life that so often leads to sin? One, Embrace the TRUTH that the ultimate victory is yours, no matter how this battle turns out. God has never lost one yet, you won’t be the first. Phil. 1:3-6 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ Two, Prioritize Prayer. Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to work when you have no strength left. Repeat with Paul, when I am weak, then You are strong. 2 Cor. 12:9-10 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong The next few points are all part of using all of the tools available that God has given you. Don’t try to power your way through weakness, let God work in and through you. Three, Use Your Mind. It may sound trite to you but spending time reading, meditating on and memorizing scripture is part of the process. 2 Tim.3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Use all the tools available, God’s Word is an important one! Four, Stay Connected to God’s Family. The church is an important part of the life of a follower of Jesus. When you are weak, the gifts that God has given the church are there to lift you up. 1 Thess. 5: 8-11 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. Some believer you know has the gift of encouragement. Someone has the gift of wisdom and can give you practical pointers to help you see your way forward clearly. You need support. God has give the Holy Spirit and His Church to support you through this life. Don’t leave it out! Five, Physically Do Something Different. If you have been busy, get some extra rest, go to bed early. Stress makes you more susceptible to temptation. If you are a couch potato, get some exercise. Move you body in a good way. Get out and join people volunteering and serving in the community, do Something different. Six, Pursue Godliness and Righteousness. Flee from temptation and pursue righteousness. Be active and intentional in your pursuit and never give up. 1 Tim. 6:11-12 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Seven, Look For Someone Around You Who Needs Help. As a member of the body of Christ you have gifts that the church needs. Don’t let your temporary struggle keep you from looking to serve others. Phil. 2:4 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Yes take care of yourself. But don’t let the enemy remove you from the war. Your gifts are needed. Others are struggling like you are and we can help each other persevere. Our struggles are real. Our weakness is real. Our God is Great. If you know someone who needs this message, share it with them and Keep Running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net How strong are you? The world is really concerned about at least appearing strong if not actually being strong. Physically, emotionally, as well as mentally you are challenged to get stronger and, by the way, here is a product that will help you achieve that strength in record time with no effort on your part! Available today only for the special price of $19.99! Our heros are the winners who overcome incredible odds and win in spite of everything the enemy has to throw against them. Some of our favorite movies are the ones where the hero goes through this amazing mental and physical transformation to succeed in the battle they face. Rocky comes to mind as the model for many movies that followed after. The training scenes are motivational and show the intense desire that leads to intense effort that leads to a transformation that allows our hero to win in the end. Not surprisingly many of us take this same approach to the spiritual life. If I am struggling it must be because I haven’t put in the hours yet. I need more time in the spiritual gym to build those spiritual muscles so I can defeat the sin in my life. One major flaw in this line of thinking. It isn’t anywhere close to what God has to say! If you listen to me often you may think this is contradicting what I often say about putting time in reading God’s Word and applying effort to the spiritual life, but the focus is a little different. You don’t grow yourself, you allow God to grow you. You can’t defeat sin on your own no matter what you do. God has already won that battle for you. True spiritual strength is recognizing our weakness and inability to succeed on our own. Any efforts we put in should flow out of a knowledge that we desperately need God to work in us. I don’t read my Bible to gain spiritual insights to make me super spiritual and able to handle sin on my own, I dive into God’s Word to see more of the God who choose me and loves me in spite of my weakness. God turns the whole idea of strength and weakness on its head. He chooses the weak and opposes the strong. Paul gives a good picture of the attitude we should have in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul realizes that his weakness is a gift from God, meant to help him maintain a proper perspective of life in Christ. 2 Cor. 12: 7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Weakness is the perfect vehicle to display God’s strength. When we are strong we may be tempted to rely on our own abilities and turn away from God or boast about what we have accomplished. In our weakness, we see god at work everywhere, keeping us upright in the world and using us to accomplish His work. God chooses not the mighty but the weak, and when they show their dependence on Him by attempting the impossible as He leads them forward, God gets all the glory. The story is told of a report who went to one of DL Moody’s meetings in England. He reported that there was nothing he could see that could account for the marvelous work that was seen as a result of Moody’s preaching. Moody was shown the article and replied, “Why that is the very secret of the movement. There is nothing in it that can explain it but the power of God. The work is God’s, not mine.” So how strong are you? When considered in light of God’s work in and through us, that is really the wrong question isn’t it? The real question is how strong is God! With that fully answered and convinced in your own heart and mind, there is nothing you need to fear when you are following in Jesus’ footsteps. Because when you are at your weakest, He is able to reveal His strength in it’s fullest. Pursue God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and trust in His strength to keep you going until the day He calls you home. Keep running in His strength!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net What’s your story? Everyone has a story that they use to explain their life and the world around them. You may not think of it as a story but it is the larger context that you place your life in to explain to yourself and others who you are and what your actions mean. It is how you interpret the world around you. You may play the victim in your story or you may be the hero. The world exists to keep you down or it is an adventure in which you act and react on the way to some meaningful goal. Your story is how you give meaning to life. It is how you interpret trials as well as blessings. You likely view life with one primary purpose and group of people that everything else revolves around. Many men keep career and work firmly at the center. They have meaning and purpose as long as they have work that is engaging, pays the bills, gives them coworkers to commiserate with or just takes so much of their time and energy that they don’t have anything left for other interests. Maybe for you, your story revolves around family. If your children are taken care of, happy and productive, not trouble makers, etc, you may have a sense of wellbeing and contentment with life whatever personal trials come your way. Sports fan, outdoorsman, baker, gardener, runner, artist or volunteer. You have a story and you have a role that you fill in your mind. These stories, unexamined by most of us, are in the background running our lives and directly influencing our motivations and interpretations of life. Often we let the world around us define us and the meaning that our lives have. When we do that, the world is telling the story. There is one big problem with the story that the world tells, it is based on a lie told by the prince of liars! Satan wants you to listen to the story he tells about you. He doesn’t want you to hear the message of God’s love and redemption. He doesn’t want you to know that God’s story is still unfolding and you are a big part of it. The story the world tells is godless and meaningless. You are only able to make sense out of things vaguely and with no confidence. But these stories are powerful. They are traps that keep us from reaching our God-given potential and blind us to the reality of His work in the world and in our lives or they are anchored firmly in reality and help us see God at work behind the curtain that is the theater of life. If you want to see life change in a person’s life, help them change their story. Most of us are deeply entrenched in a story that is only partially based in the real world. Our desires, tainted by the flesh and opposed to God, lead us to interpret life with a throne in the center that we sit on. Life revolves around us and the world owes us. The constant clash of this dream with the reality that the world cares nothing for you leads to depression, fear, internal crisis of all kinds and often keeps us stuck in situations with no way out that we can see clearly. We need a better story. One with God at the center, Jesus on the throne and all of life seen for what it is. A battle ground with men’s souls at stake. God is drawing you to Himself, preparing you for eternity with Him and He uses His mission of reaching the world as the vehicle for your life change. You have meaning and purpose, a life that matters, and a family of believers who are on the Way with you. You are not alone in the world with everything against you. You are part of a family with a purpose on a mission that cannot fail. You walk through life with your story. God’s purpose is to draw you into His story. Keep running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net What do you do when you see God? Many people say they want to know God better and even have a vision of God. But do they really know what they are asking? Look at some of the people throughout the Bible who have seen God clearly and note their response. Job –At the beginning - innocent , no iniquity in me – self-view 1:8 – Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”– God’s declaration 42:5-6 – “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” -when confronted with God Moses – all the training of Pharaoh's court, Exod. 3:2-6 – Burning bush - Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Isaiah – 6:1-5 – Saw God and then - “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Ezekiel – 1;1 saw vision of God – 1:26-28 – This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking. Peter – Luke 5:8 – But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Paul – overwhelmed Acts 9;3-6As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” When confronted with God throughout the Bible there is a common pattern. Theme – self-abhorrence, self-abasement, averted face, sense of own uncleanness, blindness, prostration, falling as dead. Do you still want to see God? But that is not the end of the story. God wants us to see ourselves as we really are, and we can only do that if we see Him as He really is, not in the image we have created of Him in our minds. When we see Him as He is and see ourselves as we are, we are freed from thinking we have any standing on our own. Pride is gone, abject humility takes its place. With forgiveness and the love of God come the commission from God to serve Him. God does not aim to humiliate us but to change us. 2 Cor. 4:6 – shown the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in our hearts in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 3:4-6 4And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 Cor. 4:5-6 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Really seeing the face of Jesus for who He is takes away our petty desires to succeed in this life. We lose our fear of death because we see life in His face. With a proper view of God and ourself, we are in the best place to be His messengers to the world. Keep Running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Life Lessons from the Garden 1) Commit to the process of gardening. Commit to the work of the Christian life. It is not all cake and ice cream! 2) Know what you will grow before you begin. What is the work God is preforming in you? What does it mean to follow Jesus? 3) Plan your garden space – row spacing, trellis, etc. Live an Intentional Life! 4) Know what tools you will need. What resources has God given you to succeed in Life and Spiritual Growth? 5) Prep the soil. a. know what kind of soil you have. b. know what kind of soil you need Who are you? What does God say about who you are and what you need? 6) Pick a day and plant according to the season and type of vegetables you are growing. Choose to follow Jesus and confirm it daily. It is worth it. Begin and continue till the end! 7) Water and wait. Plant and water the seeds of the Gospel in your life as well as the life of those around you. Develop patience as you do your part and wait for God’s timing. 8) Weed. Flee temptation. Keep a close eye on your spiritual life and choices. Be proactive in fighting sin. 9) Harvest when veggies are ready! You will reap a bountiful harvest of righteousness in this life and the life to come! Summary: Gardening can be hard. But the rewards of struggling through the difficulties are tasty! A Life of following Jesus WILL be hard. But the rewards of standing before Him justified will be eternally worth it! Keep Running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Your Life is a Message – What does it say? First, How does it speak? 1) Word of Mouth a) Yours – what do you say? b) Other People – What do they say about your life? 2) Actions a) What do you do? b) Why? What is your purpose? Do you live intentionally? c) What do your actions say about who you are and what you believe and value? 3) Personality/ Character a) This is both the sum of your words and action and MORE than that. It is HOW you speak and Act. b) Your attitude, emotions, etc all play a part in how your message is perceived and received. Second, What is your life’s message? 1) Is your message important enough to be worth a life? a) Have you thought about what you want your life to communicate? b) Is your message intentional? c) Is your message worth it? Life can be hard. Some things of value will cost you a LOT. d) Are you committed to your message? 2) Your life is saying something. a) Is your message clear? b) Are you making life choices that muddy the message? c) Are you allowing others to determine your message, going along with the crowd? 3) Who is listening/ watching? a) Family b) Friends c) Neighbors, coworkers d) Strangers e) God

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net “You will become what you are becoming right now.” “Seek to be today, what you want to be known for tomorrow.” - Legacy The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, . .. And looked down one as far as I could ... Then took the other, as just as fair, . . . I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. This poem is both like and unlike life. You make choices not knowing the outcome, true. Those choices change you, also true. But in the poem, there is no goal or purpose. No end destination. The author isn’t trying to get somewhere. If there is a destination in mind, suddenly the roads aren’t equally inviting, I need to know which one takes me where I want to be. Life is like that. If you are aimless and have no real purpose or even worse, have the wrong purpose, you will struggle to make meaningful evaluations of your choices. Choices define us. Consistent choices identify us. Good choices give us opportunities to grow personally and in our relationships. Poor choices limit us in the same way. Matthew 7:13-14 Choose Life. Sounds simple. And it is. It is simple but hard. Easy to understand but difficult to live out. The distractions and temptations of the world around you are Wide Gate and Broad Way invitations. Follow the crowd, join us. The invitation to allow others to choose for you is persistent and dangerous. The glossy images and HD video ads of shiny new toys being used by healthy smiling people obviously means that is the best path for EVERYONE, Yes? No. Satan is able to disguise himself and his agenda in bright appealing colors and styles. But Poison will kill you even if it is sweet and tastes good going down. So if you shouldn’t allow others to choose for you, How do you choose what path to take in life? Again, Simple but hard. Easy to understand but difficult to live out consistently. Answer this question. What would I do if I truly loved God with all my heart, soul mind, and strength? Simple right? Small words, clear idea. Easy to understand. Need help? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” So do that. And while you are at it there is one more. What would I do if I truly loved my neighbor as myself? Again, simple and easy to understand. But oh, so hard to do consistently. Both of these questions are answered in our daily choices. You will become what you are becoming. You will be shaped by your choices. You will be know by the pattern your choices make. Every choices adds a piece to the patchwork quilt of your life and has the potential to be a beautiful, meaningful design that warms others and glorifies God or equally has the potential to be a mismatched jumble of rags that are useless to anyone. In reality most of us live lives somewhere in between. We occasionally make good choices and often make poor ones. We seek God at times and take the Narrow path but other times are drawn to the lights and sounds of the Broad path. This daily struggle is why we need each other. You need friends who will lovingly tell you that you took a wrong turn. You need to be that friend who loves those around them enough to speak truth to them and help them get back on the Narrow path. It is simple, but hard. And always worth it. Keep Running!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Are you Content or Complacent? I Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. What is it? What is contentment? Merriam Webster 1: feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation Satisfied 1: pleased or content with what has been experienced or received What is complacency? Merriam Webster 1: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies 2: an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction Why does it matter? You can be content with the wrong things. (spiritual growth vs. stuff) You can be discontent with the wrong things. (stuff in this life, not measuring up to others) What makes the biggest difference? Your perspective! Eternal or temporal. God’s or man’s. Is contentment with the right things your goal Or is it your goal to “succeed” in life, whatever that means. How does death figure in your future plans and your ability to be content? It affects work, family, hobbies, etc in the here and now. It really affects your eternity! Satisfied in Christ – What is this? Why is it worth pursuing? Only path to real JOY! You can never really be satisfied with anything less than God.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net How do I Walk in the Spirit? Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 3:1–3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Before we look at Walking in the Spirit, What is the flesh and what does it mean to live according to the flesh? The Bible indicates that the flesh is human nature as it is now, tainted by sin. Sin has affected our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, desires, actions, relationships and physical being. Out total being is influenced by our sin nature. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. “The Holy Spirit produces in us desires for God’s way that are stronger than our fleshly desires, and thus he causes us to walk in God’s statutes.” - John Piper [https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/let-us-walk-by-the-spirit] Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. How do we Walk in the Spirit? Here are some ideas to help you down that path. 1) Accept God’s judgment of your nature -- lost, confused, and unable to make it right. 2) Spend time with God on a daily basis. Time in God’s Word and in Prayer helps you recognize the pull of the flesh and gives the Holy Spirit ammunition to fight it. The Holy Spirit brings passages back to your mind when you need them and gives you strength and wisdom to turn from destructive choices. 3) Develop honest, transparent relationships with mature followers of Jesus. Look for opportunities to encourage each other in the fight against sin and the hold it has on us. 4) Investigate the Spiritual disciplines. Fasting, solitude, and the like can be valuable tools in the struggle against the flesh. 5) Intentionally join others who are on mission with Jesus. Carrying out the work of making disciples is a worthy goal and is capable of taking all of the energy and focus you can give it. You will not find a more worthy way to spend this life than carrying out the commands of Jesus in a disiciple-making community. It can be hard. It can seem like an eternal uphill climb. But the journey is worth it.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Who do you resent? I came across a small old book in the church library today. The Prison of Resentment by Bob Mumford. Subtitled: The Greatest Hindrance to Spiritual Maturity First a foundation to build on. From Galatians 5:13-26. A quick summary- you are called to freedom. Love your neighbor as yourself to fulfill the law. Walk by the Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Live by the Spirit, Walk by the Spirit. An unfortunate truth - it is easier to love God than to love people! Surprise! But Mumford says, "Righteousness is relational. If you want to be righteous before God, you must get all your relationships clear." If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are righteous before God. So NOW what are you going to do? Living out your faith in the world today is primarily about your relationships with those people around you. Six of the ten commandments are about our relationships with people. The beatitudes tell us about our attitude, heart focus and often relate it to people. How important is our relationship with others? Check out Matthew 5: 23-26. It is so important that you should put reconciliation with another believer above your own worship of God. Relationships in the church, unity in the church, is important to God! Mumford takes a slight curve and gives some good insight on why our relationships are such a mess. "When sin entered, it affected three areas: (1) it affected our relationship between us and God. (2) It affected the relationship between us and ourselves. (3) It affected the relationship between us and others." God wants you to know and experience forgiveness from both ends. He has forgiven you, you can now forgive others. Merriam-Webster defines resentment as a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury. Oh, yeah it's personal! Remember Naaman, captain of the Syrian army who went to Elisha to be healed. He was offended because he was told to go dip in the Jordan river seven times, by Elisha's servant! That is resentment. He felt slighted by Elisha. Mumford tells us that resentment starts as a subjective thought known only to you and God. No one else can see how you feel or what you are thinking. But you dwell on it and begin to wallow in the mire of your own making, building up resentment that turns into a grudge against someone. Now you are stuck in the rut and we all tend to keep on going over it and making it deeper. Mumford gives four things that help us as we think about resentment, both avoiding it and getting out of the trap. First, Testing is a real thing. You will be tested in life in many small and large ways and God often brings the test through people you know. Second, We all really need a large dose of the sovereignty of God! Nothing comes into your life that will hinder God's work in and through your life. Embrace the work He is doing as well as the method He uses to bring the spiritual growth you need. Third, if you understand God's sovereignty, it is a little easier to accept the test with joy. This is where the rubber meets the road. Accepting with joy doesn't mean that someone else wasn't in the wrong or that you weren't hurt by them. It just mean you are learning to handle life by trusting God with the details. Fourth, If you don't get a handle on your thoughts and emotions, resentment imprisons you and robs your relationships of the joy and value God intends. Little things become big things, are spiritual life suffers and we become bitter. "Resentment comes when God, or another, doesn't do what you think He should." - Mumford Our expectations of God and other people put us in the position of being disappointed often. The sin nature we struggle with causes us to desire things and believe we deserve them. We want attention, praise and recognition for every little thing we do and we want others to always treat us with respect and honor. It makes sense when you think that we all see ourselves as the authority in our life. It is difficult to surrender to God's authority. We don't want to serve others or be treated like a servant. Humility is low on our list of traits we value in ourselves. And then there is Jesus. Love Go with all your heart, soul mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself and really try to serve them. Resentment hurts you more than the one you resent. Ask God to release you and forgive you joy in Him today.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net #NDMF2023 Random Thoughts on Making Disciples – Part 2 6. Don’t count people out or pre-judge who is capable or will respond. Discipleship is not just for the most mature believers. - Who is around you now that might respond if you asked them about getting together? 7. Are you a disciple worth reproducing? - Where are you in the basics? Are you intentionally pursuing Jesus? What are your strengths and weaknesses spiritually? Are you asking these kinds of questions? 8. Don’t pre-filter. Train everyone and then coach those who put it into practice. - Do your best to encourage and equip everyone around you. When people respond by applying Scripture to their lives and pursuing Jesus themselves, be their biggest fan and help coach them as they grow. 9. Every generation has a new great commission. - Be on mission. Jesus came to this earth with a purpose. He shared that purpose with His disciples and ultimately the church. Be clear about your purpose. 10. Empower, Equip, Release. - Don’t seek or hold on to power. Give those around you freedom to grow, serve, and use their gifts. 11. Don’t be a savior. Lead people to Jesus. - People don’t need you, they need Jesus. You can’t fix everyone’s problems. That isn’t your role and shouldn’t be your goal. 12. Keys to disciple making; close proximity, relationship, life together. Know God’s Word, read all of it, and share it together. - Keep God at the center. Be focused on your own spiritual growth and invite those around you to grow with you. The life of a disciple isn’t necessarily complicated, but it is often hard. You make choices every day that make following Jesus easier or harder. You make choices every day that draw you closer to people or pull you away. Be intentional. Put Jesus first. Love those around you. Choose Joy! And keep running. . .

And Here We Are! Episode #200! Many thanks to our listeners, take a moment and let someone else know about us to help us find the people we try to encourage and support as disciple makers and followers of Jesus in the world today. Always Rejoicing! Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net #NDMF2023 Random Thoughts on Making Disciples 1. Remove unnecessary barriers that keep people from Jesus. 2. We need three spaces to be in the best position to grow spiritually. * crowds – the Big Sunday gathering * small groups – think of the 12 disciples walking through life together with Jesus. * microgroup – consider the three closest disciples to Jesus. These are intentionally organic, personal, require an invitation from an individual and are focused on multiplication. 3. Discipleship is messy. No tools are perfect. Do something. 4. Disciple thrives when four things are intentionally present. *transparency *accountability in relationships *God’s Word is the curriculum * the goal is reproduction 4. Simple is best. Up, In, Out - God, Disciples, World 5. Invest in someone. Eliminate distractions, DO something.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net What do you want for your children? Are your goals hindering spiritual growth? Many people have goals for themselves and for their children that fall short of God’s plan and purpose for their lives. Where do you stand? Where do you get your goals for your children? Do you have clear goals for your children? At the National Disciple Makers Forum ,#NDMF2023, Renae Sprouls talked about the culture problem facing the church. As she and her husband mentor young parents, they often hear variations on the same themes when they ask about goals for children: “We want them to think for themselves. We want them to be successful. We want them to question authority. We want them to be happy.” While those are not all awful things, they are built on a few dangerous assumptions: 1. There is no authority outside of self. 2. Self is the moral authority. There is no longer a general knowledge and acceptance of the Bible as an authority for life. Renae challenged parents to keep two things in mind if they want to be raising children who are not swept along with the winds of culture. 1. Be really clear about Jesus. * Jesus had a high view of Scripture * Jesus came to fulfill the law * The Bible is God’s Word; there is no higher authority. * Man shall not live by bread alone. The spiritual life matters. Scripture is the foundation. 2. Teach your children to feed themselves. * Parents are responsible for teaching life skills. Handling God’s Word is an important one! * Many people don’t know where to start with the Bible. Encourage and teach everyone – you can and must feed yourself from God’s Word. Give them freedom and confidence to try. *Children can do it too! Learn to eat like an adult! What is modeled and expected becomes normal. - TV, movies, music, SM, are all like junk food; they kill our taste for real truth. - Teach your kids, “If you don’t like it, keep trying it.” You will learn to appreciate your vegetables and your Bible as you grow up. If you find truth you don’t like, don’t ask what is wrong with the truth, but what is wrong with me that I don’t like the truth. God changes us over time as we grow in Him.

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Family Discipleship 101 What? There is a family discipleship crisis! How do we know? Look at the church culture and compare it to the world culture. Do you see a difference? No? There is a family discipleship crisis! Parents are often overwhelmed with their own spiritual issues and have trouble finding the time and spiritual energy to help their children navigate life biblically. So what is family discipleship? It is simply parents taking responsibility for their own and their children’s spiritual growth. Instead of leaving it up to the church to disciple your children, it is taking initiative to know and grow your kids! And it all starts with your personal walk with Jesus. Why? First, it is your role a parent. It is in the job description! Deut. 6. My understanding is that in the past, maybe even through the 1960’s, parents were much more involved and aware of the need to be involved in their kids’ lives. Today, many expect the church and Christian schools to do it and even choose a church based on what is available for their kids! Second, you are in the best place to work with your kids throughout the formative years of their life. You are with them most often and should be in a place to know them best. Third, no one but God loves them more than you do! How-To? Keep it simple and build a foundation you can add to as they grow. My personal belief is that all disciple making is relational, and this is even more important with your kids. Really get to know them, not just tell them what to do. Two keys are time and communication. Talk about spiritual things with your children as you face things. You might not be able to share everything, but you can share general thoughts about where you are and the struggle and victories in your spiritual life. As you go through life, help your kids see God at work around you and in your family. Point out the blessings and teach them to be thankful. Having this as a goal is a great challenge for those of us who might not be naturally as thankful as we should be. Knowing your kids are watching you helps motivate you to be intentional about giving thanks! Encourage your children to read the bible themselves and learn to look for God at work. Help them see what obedience looks like. Keep your children engaged with the church family and help them learn to see God at work in the greater church family. Take baby steps and build on the foundation you make! It is worth the effort so keep going! You can do it!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Single Christian Parent – Tips for Spiritually Supporting Your Children Things not to do – --Don’t badmouth the unsaved parent or the divorced parent. “Don’t listen to your mom.” Better way to approach that. “What does God say?” You can pray together for the unbelieving person. --Don’t give in to depression, hopelessness, fear over ruining the kid because it’s just you. Don’t give up! 1. Trust God – He will do His part Though it’s not ideal for both parents not to be Christians, God can work in spite of that. Example: Timothy (with solid faith of mom and grandma) Not ideal to be raised by one parent, God does amazing things there too! 2. You do your part – Be intentional Work to build the relationship. Be honest about your own limitations (time, work hours, expectations). God will provide. Help child to learn to trust God as you trust Him, too. Spend time in the Word of God together. Take child to church (if can). Share your own spiritual testimony with them, apply Bible truths to daily life, pray together, etc. Make sure your spiritual life is open to your children, invite them into your relationship with God. Try to provide good alternatives for your child if you have to be working and gone. -- library, creative outlets. Not just leaving them to video games, movies, etc. Your attitude is so important! Don’t let regrets, past mistakes, etc. weigh you down and color how you move forward. You, as the parent, can do a lot to encourage spiritual growth 3. Look for and Rely on the Christians around you -- Christians in your own family (role models) -- Christian role models in your church family Connect your child with those who can assist in the gaps of your own parenting. Pull in your church family – If you have no Christian wife, look for Christian women in your church who could meet some of those needs, be a good role model for your daughter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Look for the man who can be a dad to your son or the woman who can be a mom to your daughter. Encourage those relationships with healthy couples. Encourage friendships with girls (or boys if sons) who have healthy relationships with their parents. 4. Expect and trust your child to do his/her part, too. They must choose and respond. Sometimes we feel bad for our kids, so we as parents try to overprotect them. It’s difficult, but God uses difficulties to grow people, too! It is difficult. It’s not what you chose necessarily, but God can still do great things in you and your children! Be patient over time, do the best you can, be open with your kids, understand that God is at work. Be in it for the long haul. It is one day at a time. God is doing His part, you do yours and trust Him with the results!

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net What do you expect from church? What are your expectations of other people in the church? Are they different than what you expect from yourself? (https://research.lifeway.com/2019/10/14/8-unrealistic-expectations-of-church-leaders-and-how-to-navigate-them/) By Joe McKeever Some unrealistic expectations of leaders and church members adapted from Lifeway Research: 1. Every sermon will be a winner. 2. Every church member will be happy and kind all the time. 3. Every doctrinal question will be answered in the sermons. 4. Every church program or event will be successful. 5. Every worship service will meet everyone's needs, felt and actual. 6. The church is solely responsible for all children's spiritual development. 7. The pastor should be available to everyone at all times. 8. Every church leader should be superhuman, never tired, grumpy, needing a raise, etc. The answer as presented in the article is pretty good. 1. Get people praying. Particularly about real spiritual heart change and the spiritual condition of the church and community. 2. Address issues in small groups. Perfectionism, the role of the church in life and ministry, the mission of Jesus and every Believers responsibility are good topics for small group study and discussion. 3. Focus on discipleship. If every Believer is dedicated to intentionally applying efforts to growing in the character of Jesus and making real intentional efforts to be engaged in the mission of Jesus to the world, real spiritual growth and heart change results. I would add to that, encourage and develop a church culture that is pro Scripture. Encourage reading daily, not just a verse or two but multiple chapters. Share good audio Bibles, and encourage listening to Scripture. Develop a church culture that is hungry for God's Word and mature enough to be directly engaged in reading and studying it themselves , not just relying on pastors and teachers in the church for their spiritual growth. Hear, Obey and Share.