Cheer UP! Podcast
Cheer UP! Podcast
Journeying With John
🙏✨ Feeling lost in life's challenges? Tune in as we explore identity in Christ, embracing change, and the lessons from the Gospel of John. Uncover the power of surrender with Kara & Cheri! #FaithJourney #CheerUpPodcast #SpiritualIdentity
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Hi and welcome to the Cheer Up Podcast. I am your host, kara R Hunt, and with me is the lovely Sherry Swalwell. How are you doing today, sherry?
Speaker 3:I am doing great, but I have to tell you I'm laughing at myself right now because yesterday we decided to watch a I love. Well, actually, what I'm going to say is going to segue perfectly into what we're talking about today, but I love watching reality TV shows, especially the ones about relationships like not the nasty ones that are, you know, like just yeah.
Speaker 2:That's just risque. But the cleaner ones, yes, the cleaner ones, it's just risque, but the cleaner ones, yes, the cleaner ones.
Speaker 3:So we I well, my daughter got hooked or got me hooked on Farmer Wants a Wife. It is so awesome, like, if you have not watched that, kara, you've got to watch that.
Speaker 2:I've seen it.
Speaker 3:I've seen it, yes, oh, my God. Well, I love how gentlemanly they are, I love how respectful they are. And then the host. Ok, so so I have watched 90 Day Fiance more than once, and the host on that one. When they do the finale, she is a tell off.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yes, she is so mean, like she purposefully pits people against each other and the hostess on Farmer Wants a Wife is like okay, now we need to talk, and she like almost apologizes. She's like now we need to talk a little bit about stuff, when life got real, and like she's almost like, oh, I hate to bring this up, but and she does it so respectfully and she doesn't like so. How did you feel when so-so walked in and made you know no, I mean, it's so respectful, but anyway, the whole point of why I'm getting to this I'm not landing the plane very well. I'm letting you circle the plane.
Speaker 3:But my point is is that it brought tears to my eyes. It was so sweet that I was crying. We had had to tape them. We don't watch anything like real life, real time because we just don't have the time, so we always watch it after. So we had taped three of them, so we were catching up and so we're sitting there watching them and I was so moved that I was crying because you know, oh, it's so romantic, oh they're so sweet, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 3:And I'm like, oh my gosh, like my eyes were swollen and all this stuff, and I'm like I did not think I cried that much. No, I realized this morning when I woke up and my eyes are itchy and wanting to close, it is the allergy. So when you ask me how I'm doing this morning, I'm doing pretty good, but, man, my allergies are like kicking in. So if I start sneezing during the podcast, I apologize. But I did enjoy watching the Carver Wants a Wife and seeing the conclusion. It was pretty good. So if you haven't ever watched that but you want like a sweet love story that you'd like to start Farmer Wants a Wife and I've heard they have an Australian edition too I'm kind of thinking we might watch that before summer wraps up. This is kind of something to watch as a family, because we like to watch things with the family, right and just just clean love stories, without all the secret rooms and and sex scenes and all of that.
Speaker 2:So it's definitely a more family-friendly version. I should say, and I should probably also say that we're not the producers of Farmer Once and why, that we're not sponsored by them in any way. We're not getting paid. You know we're not getting paid by them to market their show. But again, as we mentioned before, we're just giving you a glimpse into the lives, into the behind-the-scenes lives of Kara and Sherry.
Speaker 3:And you know what, kara, and again, we're not marketing them at all but one of the guys and the girls that he ended up with were believers. It made me so happy. They talked about God on the show and I was like, oh yay, god, you go. I was so happy, so happy, so happy, right go, I was so happy, so happy, so happy, right. When. I was happy. I was happy.
Speaker 2:You did, and I like reality shows too, more along the lines of survival-less type shows. I don't know why, oh, I like those too.
Speaker 2:I like those too. I don't know why, but I am like drawn to those shows like Alone, like Survivor, like you know, dropping people in the middle of the woods and have to fight their way back, you know, and just seeing how they survive, which is very interesting, because I am not a survivalist, meaning, if you drop me in the middle of the woods and I had nothing but a flint to make fire, I would actually tell them to keep the flint and hand me a Bible, because I would need to pray my way. I would need to pray my way through that whole entire journey. I can't.
Speaker 2:I'm horrible with Northeast, south and West, right, you know, and things like that, and then I'm in a jungle. I can't see the sun to give me some type of navigation, you know, or something like that. I'm terrified of animals that can rip me up into pieces. That can you know. Uh, just just just maul me if I come upon them at the wrong time, you know. So, no, mine would definitely be a journey of faith, um, and lots and lots and lots of prayer, and actually they. It'd be interesting to watch, though.
Speaker 3:So, if anyone ever want to make a show like that, because it would be an adventure- I would have to have my husband with me and even then he would probably be like Sherry, I love you and we've been together for 25 years. But you need to step it up just a little bit. Figure out something that you can do Go collect the firewood, do something, do something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I will be sitting there just looking around like is that a snake Is?
Speaker 3:that a snake.
Speaker 2:Wait, I heard something bursting into bushes and I'm like you know, and I tease my husband because one of the ones we like to watch together is the Amazing Race, the ones we like to watch together is.
Speaker 2:The Amazing Race and you know sometimes, when you're racing with your spouse or your significant other, your boyfriend or girlfriend, and you know when time is short and you're so close and you don't want to be last because you don't want to get, you know, sent home, and tensions are up that sometimes you've seen where the spouses will bicker right, yes, and they will say something. And usually it's the guy who says something and the wife is like don't yell at me, or something like that, or you need to hurry it up. What is taking you so long? Like you know, put some extra effort into it. And my husband will say in a heartbeat he's like man, if I said that to you, the race would be over. And he's like. I can see you right now just sitting down and he's like and pouting. He goes and pouting. And I'm like he's, he's like there's $10,000 on.
Speaker 2:I mean, there's a million dollars on the line, or whatever. Like we got to hurry up and go and I'm like I'm done, it's over. And he's like well, what about the money? I'm like what about it? I don't care anymore. You yelled at me, you screamed at me, you know, he's like. He's like. Oh man, he said we would never make it. He's like because you would give up as soon as I said something in a wrong tone. You know and.
Speaker 2:I'm like. Well, yeah, I'm like because I don't care about the money, but I do care about us. He's like we would have to bow out of this.
Speaker 1:I was like yeah you're right, because we would have to bow out of this.
Speaker 3:I was like, yeah, you're right, cause we would have to have a conversation. Well, it's funny because when, when I watched that with my husband, I'll look at him and I'll be like you do realize that you would have to do that challenge, you do realize that you would have to do that, you do realize I'm not doing that, you do realize that. And he's like yes, I know, yes, I know yes. I know why I have to go Because it's fun.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And heaven forbid they ask me to eat anything that I'm not like, or something that even looks like it's crawling or whatever it's like. Okay, game over. Yep, yep. No, it's part of the challenge. I didn't know this was going to be part of the challenge. So no, it's part of the challenge.
Speaker 1:Well, I didn't know this was going to be part of the challenge, so we're done, we can walk away now Exactly Okay, so that was just a little bit more insight into our personalities as well, and how would we relate to somebody's show?
Speaker 2:So maybe we just watch them because we're like, oh, we will love it. Now both of my boys will be amazing on the Amazing Race and I think I've talked to both of them like you guys need to go, you guys need to go, oh how fun would that be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm like you guys need to audition, you know, because they survivalists running fast navigation. Oh boy, they would have it down pat, you know, and I'll be watching from the sidelines because I would never make it. But what does all of that have to do with the topic for today in the true podcast? Absolutely nothing.
Speaker 2:But welcome to the background lives of Sherry and Kara, like I said, it was just a glimpse into our personalities, the way we kind of react and handle things, and just a little bit of love and laughter to start off your day. We hope that you're enjoying yourself, that we made you smile, giggle, laugh this morning. We just want to welcome and thank you so much for joining us today. Welcome to Chur Nation, all of you who are new. If this is the first time listening to the podcast, thank you for joining in and thank you for staying through our little behind the scenes thing there. We like to watch what we don't like to watch, and you know, and things like that. And thank you so much to all of our listeners that are all over the world, different countries and across the parts of America as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you and no matter what podcasting platform you're on, if you could like download, subscribe, we would greatly appreciate it. It just helps with the algorithm and the way all of that kind of works.
Speaker 2:And if you have been blessed by this podcast, please share it. Share it with a friend or family member or someone who would just like a little giggles in the morning along with. You know Christian living topics, and today we are continuing our year-long Biblical Figures podcast. That we have been doing so and today. So, if you want to hear all of those, we've covered tons of them David, bathsheba, elijah, elijah Jezebel, deborah the prophetess. We have covered Noah, all of them. So we have done those. And now we're into the New Testament and we've covered Matthew, mark, luke, and today. Today we're going to talk about John, the Gospel of John and John, and I can't wait to hear what Sherry has to say to us about John. I am very, very interested. So, sherry, what is it that you want to share with us about John and or the book of John?
Speaker 3:us about John and or the book of John. Well, first off, so me watching Farmer Wants a Wife has a little bit to do with today, simply because I am somebody who, well, god made me a relationship person, like he made me a relational person I am. I'm not someone who organizes well. I'm not someone who deals with facts well. I'm not someone who remembers all kinds of cool information. I'm somebody that when I read the Bible, I read it from a relationship lens. So when I read the Bible, even if I'm just reading, like, say, an Old Testament, I'm sorry, yeah, an Old Testament passage, or a New Testament passage, I'll read about it, and then I'll think about it from a relationship aspect. So, like, um, when we were talking about um, uh, zacchaeus last week and we were talking about him being a tax collector, my mind automatically went to what about Matthew? Was he, um, a corrupt one? Was he a? Um full of integrity? What kind of a person was he? What kind of a disciple was he? You know those types of things. So I'm always looking at things from a relational aspect or a relationship aspect, and I think that that's probably one of the reasons why I'm drawn to the Gospel of John and I have always said that the Gospel of John is my favorite. However, the more I read the Bible, the more I love all four of the Gospels. So, like Matthew, I love about the fact that he breaks down the genealogy at the very beginning. But again, I look at it from a relational perspective. So when I'm reading through it I will never forget perspective. So when I'm reading through it, I will never forget.
Speaker 3:I was reading through the New Testament one year with my church and it was Christmas time and I was reading Matthew 1. And normally I would skip the genealogy because I'm like, yeah, I don't care about any of that stuff, no offense, but I'm just going to skip it. No, I decided to read through it. I'm like, well, there must be a reason why God put it in here and he wants me to. You know, I made that commitment that I'm going to read through the whole New Testament. So that means I'm going to read these genealogies too and I'll never forget. God downloaded to me and he, he like, showed me that Joseph was the stepfather of Jesus. And I mean, I knew, I knew it, but it just like it hit me differently that day and so just different things like that. I look at things from a relational perspective and that is what I love about.
Speaker 3:The book of John is the book of John. If you want to know, if you want to experience God's love for you, if you want to have that example of Jesus when he walked this earth and his love for people, then read the book of John. The book of John is so wonderful at expressing that. It's so good at describing that and John himself he was. He considered himself the favorite disciple. I want to say that he was one of the younger ones. He was the brother of James. They were nicknamed by Jesus. He called them the sons of thunder.
Speaker 3:And when it talks about, well, he wrote the book of John. But when it talks about the book of John, it talks about, like I just said, how God's unfailing love for people and how God loves people. But it isn't just that God loves the idea of people or God loves people. Well, he does love us unconditionally, but he loves every single part of us unconditionally, so he loves us. Last week we were talking about when we come to Christ.
Speaker 3:We sometimes have residue and we sometimes well, I think everybody has residue. So I don't want to say, sometimes we all have residue, whether it's pride, whether it's unforgiveness, whether it's bitterness, whether it's fear, everybody has residue of some kind. Sometimes it's more open and you can see it like swearing or excessive drinking or things like that, like those are things that people can see, but a person can be prideful just as much and that can be residue just as much. It's just that it's more hidden. Well, the book of John.
Speaker 3:It talks about how God loves every single part of us. God doesn't love us simply because, well, there's this saying that I love to say and we say it to our kids all the time, but it is even more perfect with God, there's nothing that we can do that will make God love us more, and there's nothing we can do that will make God love us less. And I think that that really sums up the theme of John, the book of John, better than anything else. And John, the man, he, he understood that, like he, he believed that in the very core of his body. He knew that. He knew that, he knew that God loved him, no matter what he knew that he was especially loved by God.
Speaker 3:Was he God's favorite? Some people say he was. I don't really know, so I'm not going to speak to that, but I am going to say that God, um, loved him just like God loved Mark, just like God loved Matthew, just like God loved Zacchaeus, just like God loved every single one of his children. And that is kind of what the book of John is all about and it's just. It's just really.
Speaker 3:I think that's why it's my favorite, kara, because it just really, in my opinion, my take on it that when you read the book of John, you really just see God's love shine through and, as a relational person, it just really speaks to my heart and I think you can tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that John also wrote the book of Revelation, because isn't he the one that had the vision that God gave him the vision? And I also think he's the disciple that never died, no, that died a natural death. Right, he wasn't martyred, he was like one of the only disciples that wasn't martyred. He ended his life living on that island. Am I correct with those two?
Speaker 2:statements. Yes, I believe he was. Can you hear me? I had the mute button. I believe you're right and I believe he is the same John who also wrote second, excuse me first, second and the other books of John First, second and third.
Speaker 2:John, yes, and so I think he's the same one who wrote that one, and I'm not 100% sure on that, but I do believe it is the same John that was on the island of Patmos in the book of Revelation, who had the dreams and the visions you know of everything that was to come, and I also believe 100% that it was. He's the same John till right before, I believe, shortly before the crucifixion, um, where he told his mother, mary, a woman behold your son right and son, behold your mother Right. Um, and I don't know if that's in John actually um, you know, uh and things. I'm not exactly sure what it is in the scripture, but I think that's that he's the same John there. So, to where you know, jesus was just kind of like you know, take care of my mom, and it's funny. Well, a couple of things.
Speaker 2:One you talked about how he, you know, consider himself. You know God's favorite. Talk about knowing who you are in Christ, amen, he. You know a lot of people today are who am I? Why am I here on this earth? You know who am I? I don't know who I am.
Speaker 2:John did not have that problem. He did not have an identity crisis. He was not searching for who he was, he knew who he was. He knew who he was in Christ and so much. So, you know, and there's a, and I cannot remember where this scripture is, but Jesus was going to make his way to a hometown Excuse me, to a town, not his hometown. He was going to make his way to a town I think it was Samaria, but I'm not, don't quote me on that.
Speaker 2:But anyway, when he got there, there was like they weren't welcoming to him and back then in the Middle East, that was kind of like a big thing, because they're kind of known for their hospitality.
Speaker 2:And so, and I just remember John and his brother James, you know, like you say, he nicknamed the sons of thunder. They were just kind of like, hey, you want us to rain, fire and brimstone down on this town, like because we'll do it. You know, like, how dare they deny us, you know, deny us hospitality, you know, and everything else. And it's the way that they said it, and you know, when you read it in scriptures, the way that they said it, that they had no doubt that they could do that. They knew who they were in Christ, you know, and did they have, like you know, a bit much of an attitude. Well, yeah, but they were mad because they're like how are they going to deny you? How are they going to deny us Like oh Lord, do you want us to rain down fire, you know from heaven, you know and just kind of like, demolish this town.
Speaker 2:They didn't say could you? They were like, do you want us? Because we'll do it in a heartbeat. And I've always just, I don't know, I think I resemble them and you know, when I read that scripture I'm like, because they were just really put out, they were just like what, how dare they? So they did not have.
Speaker 2:Resemble them as in um being, you know, easily upset by something. You know cause they were, they were, they were kind of mad, but of course, you know, god rebuked them and said Jesus rebuked them and said no, we, we're not getting ready to do that, you know, and everything else. But they knew that they could do it. They knew that through Christ, that they had that power. They knew who they were in Christ. There was no doubt in their mind and that's what I love about John and both his brothers they weren't wondering, they weren't guessing, they knew who they were. They honestly knew their identity in Christ, and not only because they walked with him.
Speaker 2:And today we're like, yeah, that's because they walked with Christ. They've seen everything he did. They were, you know, pretty much at his feet listening to his teachings. Everything he did, they were, you know pretty much at his feet listening to his teachings. Guess what we have even. We have the Bible with us today, old and New Testament, and especially the New Testament. When it comes to Jesus Christ, that is where our identity comes from, he tells us right then and there. So, sherri, sorry to go off on a little rabbit trail there, but I just want to pick up on what those two things that you had mentioned.
Speaker 3:No, you didn't go off on a rabbit trail at all. In fact, I love what you just said, because how much? Well, first off, two things. One is whenever I hear the sons of thunder, I think of the Avengers and it it just reminds me of Thor and I'm thinking I don't know Avengers, and it it just reminds me of Thor and I'm thinking I don't know. I just picture Thor. When I picture John and his brother saying that to Jesus like are you, can we, can we take them out? Like can we just? Yeah, Don't, don't use your, your, your thunder cloud sword. What is that? The sword, hammer. Don't use the hammer, we're good. No hammer needed this time. Yeah, no hammer needed. Yeah, that's what I hear when I hear the phrase sons of thunder. So I hope I'm not being sacrilegious, but God hasn't convicted me as I'm speaking, so I don't think I am religious, um, but god hasn't convicted me as I'm speaking, so I don't think I am.
Speaker 3:But but then it just makes me think. I'm like how much more powerful could we be like? Is it because of john's um faith, like strong identity in christ, that he knew that? He knew that he knew who he was? Is that why he was able to die a natural death and he didn't have to be a martyr? Is that why God blessed him with the ability to, to write and see revelation, see what was going to be ahead like is? Was that his reward for?
Speaker 3:Because, I mean, if you've got that kind of an identity, then you've got faith, and God says faith pleases him. So was it John's reward for the faith that he had? And if that's the case, we can have it too. God is so in the Bible. That's another phrase or another thing that I love to say all the time, and that is that God is a respecter of all. So if God allows one person to do it, he'll allow anybody to do it. Is that something that that we all have the ability that, if we are that secure in our, in our identity with him, like? I think that that's something to really think about and something to really talk to the Holy Spirit about for ourselves.
Speaker 3:I really strive for brought that up, exactly, exactly, and to strive for it in a God I give you like help, increase my faith. Not I'm going to do this in my own power, I'm going to muscle through it. No, god increased my faith as only you can, that that kind of strive for it. But man like you like encouraged me this morning, kara, when, when you were talking like that, because oh, I like one, I, I want to have that kind of faith so that I can be that kind of person, but two, I can't wait to go to heaven and sit at Jesus's feet and say, okay, give me the details. Like seriously, what was the plan? Is this? Why, like tell me, tell me everything that you want to tell me. And I kind of have a feeling up in heaven he's going to tell us because, like that's part of the quirks of being in heaven.
Speaker 3:Right, Of being going to tell us because, like that's part of the quirks of being in heaven, of being in heaven. But, um, and if he doesn't want me to know, well, it won't be important and I won't care because I'll be up there with with God anyway. But like, oh, you just like seriously encouraged me. What other kinds of encouragements do you want to give me? Cause that was awesome.
Speaker 2:Oh it's just that, as I was listening to you, as you were talking about John, and you know how he considered himself his favorite, and you know, and some of the I don't want to use the word exploits, because that's not exactly the word I'm looking for that him and his brother James did because there was a reason, right, there was a reason. God gave them that nickname there was a reason, you know he was like.
Speaker 2:He knew who they were at their core, you know, and the thing is is that they knew who they were at their core. They knew their authority in Christ. They knew who they were in Christ. They knew who they were as people. They knew their purpose. They knew what authority in Christ. They knew who they were in Christ. They knew who they were as people. They knew their purpose. They knew what their purpose was and they know the things that they could do right and or couldn't.
Speaker 2:Do you know, with respect, because they didn't just rain fire down on that town or whatever, like they wanted to. They said Lord, can we, you know Lord? No, actually they said Lord, do you want us to Right? So they didn't take it, they didn't just do it themselves, they still had respect for God, for Jesus. It's like Lord, do you want us to do this? Because we will, in a hot minute, like it won't take long, we can do this.
Speaker 2:No, you know, it was just their belief, their strength, their knowing and their knower, the authority that they had, you know, as believers in Jesus Christ and them following him. They just knew it without a shadow of a doubt. They didn't doubt at all that this was something that they could do, and if Jesus approved it and if he repostamped it, that it was going to be done, and they would have slept well at night, you know, because they felt like that Jesus had been wrong and that they had been wronged and they were just those type of personalities. But they knew who they were. And I just think, as believers, that is something we really have to grasp our authority that the Lord has given us, utilizing our teacher, our counselor, the Holy Spirit, just acknowledging the power that God has given us to trample on serpents, so to speak, has given us to trample on serpents, so to speak, and to know it, and to know it with such a on a deep level that no one can ever talk us out of it. No one can ever talk us out of it. No one can ever say, oh, that stuff is not true, oh, that was back in the day.
Speaker 2:You know, we don't have that type of authority, we don't have that type of identity now and you're just shaking your head like, yeah, you need to talk to someone else, because I already know, I've been through too much, I've seen too much and I already know the authority that I have in Christ, I already know who I am. You can't tell me I'm somebody else when I'm not. You know, and just know it, so much so that even the most stringent opposer can't talk you out of it or make you feel some kind of way about it. As a matter of fact, it just strengthens your faith and your authority that you know that you have been given by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And it affects every aspect of our life, not just mentally and spiritually and emotionally, but our marriages, the way we raise our children, the way we respect or respond to our parents and or other people around us.
Speaker 2:You know he did not make us carpets to be walked upon and I'm not exactly sure where that version of Christianity came from. But we're not just carpets for people to just walk over us. He has given us authority to handle the situations and circumstances and spirits around us. So I just love how they just they to me. When you look up identity in the Bible excuse me, in the dictionary in our current times, their picture needs to be there Because I just they, just they knew who they were. There was no shadow of a doubt.
Speaker 3:Well, and not just that, kara, but I love how you brought out that not only did they know who they were in God, but they loved him so much. Again, that goes back to the love in the book of John and how John epitomized Jesus' love and showed Jesus' love and knew how much he was loved, but they respected him enough to be like okay, we're not in charge here. So like they didn't take over Thor's position because Thor was like I'm Thor, I can do what I want and oh, I'll, I'll explain it or I'll apologize later. No, they knew who they were, but they knew who God was and they were not going to step on God's territory.
Speaker 3:They were going to keep their place and they were going to be the helpmate. So, just like in just like in a marriage relationship and trust me, I'm not going there that they were married to Jesus, I'm not, I'm just using this as an example but in a marriage relationship, the woman is the helpmate of the husband. That is a biblical structure and that is the way that God commands it to be and that's the way that God wants it to be. So, when and they were following that same order, they were following the order of or you can even just say it as a boss and a like a boss in a job and an employee, they knew their role, they knew their position, they knew that God was God. They did not try to be God, but they respected him enough to say, hey, we are here, we know that in your name, we can do mighty things. And if you want us to take this, you know, if you're tired and you want to take a bypass and go over there and eat lunch, we gotcha, we gotcha, we can do it and um, but you know, hey, if you're like, no, not this time, we respect you, jesus, and we'll go eat lunch with you. So so they definitely knew who they were and I love the fact how you brought out that they were so respectful that it wasn't that they wanted their way they didn't they.
Speaker 3:But at the same token they love there was such a love there. They loved Jesus so much that the fact that he was being disrespected they couldn't handle, because they did not want to see their Savior be disrespected. That hurt their heart, Just like I always tell my kids you know if they're arguing or bickering with each other or whatever they're like, you know, but so-and-so. So I'm like you guys don't understand. It hurts me when you hurt your sibling and it hurts me when you hurt your sibling. So I'm not taking sides here, because you're both are hurting me, because I love you both and they love Jesus so much that they were like we're sticking up for you. Because of this love that we have for you, this relationship that we have with you, we know who we are in you and we love you so much that we can't stand to watch somebody ridicule you or whatever it was that was happening there.
Speaker 3:I don't remember the details so I don't want to over speak, but I love that. So I mean, john is a book of love. John was the epitome of love, him and his brothers to Christ and I. I continue to say it is my favorite gospel, because I feel like I really really understood Jesus's heart when I read the book of John. I understand where he's coming from. And now I have to say I love John even more because I want to be like John someday. Well, sooner rather than later, I want to be like John. I want to have my identity so secure in God that it's immovable to have my identity so secure in God that it's immovable Like I want God to do great and mighty things through me because of who I am in him. So if you, if you think that that the people in the Bible, if you think that the disciples were picked because they were oh so amazing and you know they could do no wrong, and so perfect, right Right.
Speaker 3:Right, right, Uh, that God picked them because, you know, he just couldn't not think again like they were human they, they had flaws and issues and all kinds of things, but God used them anyway. He used them despite that and they grew into their position. I don't think that John and James had a secure identity in Christ when they were growing up. I don't think they even knew who he was at that point. But yet then they got to the point of and how, Kara, did they get to that point? They got to that point by having a relationship with Him. And how do we have a relationship with God? By spending time with Him. And how do we do that? Through prayer, through reading His Word, through worship, through listening to Him, asking Him a question, trusting Him enough that he'll answer us in his time, not in our time and trusting him enough that he will answer us and that we will be able to understand and hear what it is that he has to say. Like I could sit here and talk about that forever because, honestly, that is so exciting to me. I love it.
Speaker 3:In fact, I was just talking this morning to my husband. We were talking about, oh, something that we've been working on in our house and we can't figure out the problem, Like we can't. We know there's a problem, we know where the problem is, but we don't know where the source of the problem is. And so it gets really frustrating because you're like, okay, I'm, I'm running in circles here because I know that there's an issue, I know we need to fix it. But running in circles here because I know that there's an issue, I know we need to fix it, but by golly I can't figure out where the source of the issue is. And so I said to him, I said, well then we just need to make it a matter of prayer, because I know that God will tell us. I know that he'll answer that and I do.
Speaker 3:From walking with him for over 40 years, I know that he will answer that for us. I don't know when, but I'm confident that he will. And that's what it means to have a relationship with him, so we can have the same type of a relationship, the same strength of a relationship with God, that John did. It's not out of our grasp, it's not beyond our reach. We all can have that just as easily as John did. All it takes is building that relationship with him spending the time putting the time in Whatever relationships are important in your life. You're going go wrong when you take that time and dedicate it to God and grow that relationship with him. Is there anything else that you want to add, Kara, before we wrap up? I'm so excited now. I want to reread the book of John.
Speaker 2:You know, if you're someone who has been told oh, you're unlovable, no one likes you, you're stupid, you're too tall, you're too short, you're too thin, you're too fat, you're just, you know that you're just surrounded by negativity and words. You just shake your head and go no, that's not what my God says, that's not what my daddy says, that's not what my Abba Father says. He says I am love. He says I'm a daughter of a king. You know?
Speaker 2:And so it goes back to what Sherry was saying Read the Bible, get that relationship with your Father going, your Heavenly Father going, and find out what he says about you.
Speaker 2:Don't let all those negative, fiery darts that's coming at you just hit you and you know and burn you to the ground, to where you're walking around with your head low and your eyes lowered.
Speaker 2:No, straighten your shoulders, walk straight, chin up, because you are a daughter, you're a son of the King, and the more you get into that relationship with God and you read his word and you read what he says about you, then all that stuff is going to come naturally and they're going to say those things and it's going to roll off of your back like water rolls off of a duck's back. And that's only once you get that relationship going, because you know his love for you and you know how much you love Him, and that relationship is so deep that you know that you know who you are. And when someone tries to come to you and try to tell you something different, you just scoff and you tsk and you're like what, I don't know who you're talking to, because that is not me. I'm like what, I don't know who you're talking to because that is not me, and we just need to get that comfortable with who we are in Christ. So that's all I wanted to share, sherry.
Speaker 3:Well, I have to piggyback on that, kara, because I was that person. I was that person who did not know my identity in Christ. I was that one that I've heard the sermons, I've heard the lectures, I've um, you know, read the books and I've never been able to get it from my head into my heart. And um, and it's kind of funny because in the the Jesus in the everyday membership, I had to write um a devotional about my identity in Christ. And I'm like Lord, this is hilarious, because I don't even know what it is Like. I don't. And if you read Road to Freedom, it's book five, I think no book four. In the Redemption of Green Pines series, I wrote a whole book and she learned her identity in Christ as well in the book Wind Does. And so I bring all that up to say that, god and his love, I'm 50. How old am I? I think I'm turning. I think I just turned 52. I have such a hard time remembering how old I am. I think I. I think I just turned 52 and it literally took 52 years for me to understand what my identity in Christ is. And it makes a difference and it doesn't turn you—learning your identity in Christ. Learning who you are in God does not turn you prideful. It doesn't turn you better than anybody else, holier than thou. No, it gives you this sense of confidence, yes, but it's a confidence in Christ. So it's a humble confidence, it's a. I don't look any different. I probably still weigh the exact same amount. It has nothing to do with what I look like on the outside, but I can walk around now with a confidence, knowing who I am, knowing who I'm trying to please. I'm not trying to please people anymore. I could care less what you think of me, if you think that I look good or don't look good, but I have a better sense of wanting to please my father. So I'm going to dress in a way that is appropriate for him. I'm going to dress in a way that pleases him. I'm going to dress in a way that, even if other people have said that I look ugly or that that doesn't look good on me or whatever, whatever, not that I'm not going to listen to my husband because I am, but I mean I'm just talking about like, if I have listened to and believed lies of what other people have said I need to be or not be, it doesn't matter anymore. I walk around with a sense of I know who I am in him, and that makes all the difference. And as we're getting ready to close off today, one thing that I want to encourage, one thing that I want to to challenge you about, is what are you putting in your mind? What are you believing? What are you listening to? What is your God? Because what we listen to and we just got done talking about different shows out there and there are some that I have stopped watching because I noticed that they turn they're not healthy for me mentally, they're not pleasing to God mentally, they're not something that I think that he wants me filling my mind with. And then there are other ones that are just really sweet and bring me back to God.
Speaker 3:So what is your? What is your? We talked about this a lot in my family. What is your diet consists of? If you eat a diet that consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, good sources of protein, healthy fats, and you limit your processed foods, you limit excessive sugar, you limit your caffeine, you're going to have a outlook and you're going to get sick less often. You're going to have a higher immunity system. You're going to just be healthier overall. It's also going to affect your mental health. It's going to affect your level of energy, it's going to affect your productivity, it's going to affect your sleep. All these things. Things is going to affect in a good way. If you eat one cup of green beans but the rest of your day consists of donuts, high sugar, cereals, high sugar, coffee, drinks, processed food, candy, chocolate, like if that's what the majority of your diet is, you're going to be sluggish, you're going to want to take naps, you're not going to want to do anything. Your productivity is going to go down. So the same is true spiritually, if you spend the majority of your day consuming negative messages. If you consume, whether it's through music and lyrics, whether it's through books, whether it's through TV shows, movies, whether it's even just through conversations with friends, it's going to affect you spiritually and it's going to affect you mentally, emotionally and physically. It is so important that we nurture and grow and build up our immunity spiritually, and the way to do that is what we talked about.
Speaker 3:So my challenge to you today is to have a conversation with the Holy Spirit. Say, holy Spirit, is there something in my life that I'm doing or not doing, or that I need to do differently? Do I need to change my diet? Do I need to add more scripture reading and less? You know a certain show or a certain music or whatever it is? And if you have to start small? But just ask the Holy Spirit and trust me, just like my husband and I are talking to him about how to fix the issue that we have at our house that we can't figure out the source of it, but yet I know he's going to reveal it to us. Ask him to reveal to you what changes you need to make in your life Little changes, big changes, whatever and just see what he says. And then be bold, like John and like his brother James, and be respectful of Jesus's answer and do what he asks. Don't do what you want, do what he asks.
Speaker 3:Sometimes ripping that bandaid off is really hard, but once you do, when you do it God's way and you do it to please him, because you love him, the rewards are immense. And the rewards are sometimes just peace of mind. The rewards are better sleep. The rewards can be all kinds of different things. It doesn't have to be the reward can be all kinds of different things. It doesn't have to be. You know, I don't know. It doesn't have to always be something that's tangible. Sometimes it's intangible, sometimes it's just a piece that passes over you, sometimes it's just the fact that you can go to bed easily at night and you're not struggling to fall asleep because of all the things running through your head.
Speaker 3:I just want to challenge you with that. I just want to because we're here. We're here to point you back to God. We're here to help you have that relationship with God that will bring you joy and will bring you that abundant life, and so that's why we give you the challenges. That's why we talk to you about the biblical figures, that's why we do what we do. It's just because we care about you so much. We love you and we just want to continue to point you back to him.
Speaker 3:That's our heart behind the podcast, because in John 16, 33, which is the theme verse of the podcast these things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I, jesus Christ, has overcome the world. He can overcome the world, he can do miracles in our lives, but we have to position ourselves in such a way to be able to receive those miracles. So, like John, yes, like John, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 3:So, ask the Holy Spirit this week what it is that he wants you to change one change, two changes, whatever it is, and then ask him to give you the boldness that John had to make those changes and to be that person that God wants you to be. And, just like we talked about last week, we don't have to do it in our own strength. We don't have to change in our own strength. That's what the Holy Spirit is for in our lives. It's so exciting because it just all intermixes together, doesn't it, kara?
Speaker 3:Like one part of the Bible explains and talks about the other part, and it gets us and it really. All it takes is us surrendering, and God does the heavy work, he does the heavy lifting. We just have to surrender, and sometimes the surrendering is is the heavy part, is the hard part, because that's the first part. But, man, once we surrender and once we ask God to do what only God can do, look out, world, you might be the next John. You never know. Only God knows. But, man, if that's you, drop us a line. Even if that isn't, you, email us at cheeruppodcasts at gmailcom. Even if that isn't you, email us at cheeruppodcasts at gmailcom. We would love to hear your story. We would love to rejoice with you on the praises that God gives you. We would love to share in your burdens if you want us to pray with you. We just want to do life with you.
Speaker 3:So if you want to email us at cheeruppodcasts at gmailcom, or you can start a thread in the Facebook group on Facebook cheer up podcast, you can just join right away. There's no hoops that you have to jump through in order to join and head over to Kara's website, kararhuntcom. She has audiobooks now. She has all kinds of fun stuff, so so make sure you check out her website. You can also come over and check out mine, sherryslawwellcom, and there's also a membership. If you want to take your relationship to the next level and you don't know how, or you just want community and you want someone to walk it with you, check out Jesus in the Everyday Membership. It's $10 a month, but it's an investment in your spiritual health. So, on that note, we are done with the Gospels, but don't think we're done with the New Testament.
Speaker 3:We are going to talk about that ever-releasing Paul next week, the one that we keep talking about he's friends. It seems like Paul next week, the one that we keep talking about he's friends, it seems like with everybody. But he also has some issues with people too. We talked about that this month, in July. So come back next week and we're going to talk about Paul.
Speaker 3:He has quite the story, let me tell you. He is a character that, I have to say, intimidates me quite a bit, and I know he will have changed up in heaven, so I'm sure that when I meet him up there I won't be as intimidated or scared. But if I had met him here on earth, I'm not so sure if I would have been besties with him, because he kind of intimidates me quite a bit. But his love for God is amazing and that in and of itself is wonderful to talk about next week. Amazing, and that in and of itself is wonderful to talk about next week. So come back next week and we will talk about Paul, who was originally Saul and became Paul, and we'll explain all of that too, if you don't already know, no-transcript.
