As the Israelites had traveled from the land to their new home, God sent a cloud by day and a fire by night. Both of these were very real symbols to the nation that God was leading them, and they represented three beautiful things for the Israelites. First, the cloud and the fire were God’s provision. The cloud gave shade to the tiny nation traveling through the harsh climate. When God does a new thing in our lives, it can be scary. While the Israelites were certainly thankful to be free, the idea of journeying to a new place had to be overwhelming at times. Let God be your cloud by day and your fire by night and rest in His love. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

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GJR056: The Cloud & the Fire

Of course, the victory celebration doesn’t end with the Israelites merely leaving the land of Egypt. That would be a great, Hollywood-worthy ending complete with a young, chiseled Moses staring confidently into the sunset. But once again, the Israelites are faced with a desperate situation as the Egyptians chase them in the wilderness. Ahead of them is the Red Sea and the tiny nation has no boats, ships, or even floaties among them. Behind them is the life they once knew—cruel oppression and open hatred. If there were ever a moment to dig deep and try to muster some faith, this is it. Yet the Israelites respond the same way we do when faced with a crisis. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR055: What Does Your Red Sea Look Like?

The truth is that sometimes God uses opposition to His will to further His glory. So often God turns a test of our faith into His testimony. He does this for the honor of His name and to draw even more people to Him. But this doesn’t mean the road is easy or painless. What happened to the Israelites was degrading, unfair, and just plain cruel. Yet God never left the wheel. He still reigned on His throne, even as it looked like everything was spinning out of control. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR054: For His Glory

The nation of Israel had been enslaved for four hundred years. Four hundred years of crying out to God as generation after generation hoped their children and grandchildren would one day know the sweet blessing of freedom. Some scholars refer to this period in Israel’s history as “The Silent Years” because from all appearances, God was silent during this time. Have you endured “the silent years” in your own life? In these moments, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on. You question yourself—did you miss what God said? Did you fail to walk in His ways? Was your faith simply not enough to prompt Him to show up? The Lord is calling us to be open to the new thing in our lives Join in drawing nearer to God and invite Him to do a new thing in our lives. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR053: God is Doing a New Thing

I know there are times that we get discouraged by unfulfilled dreams. And you might be in that place right now. Sometimes our dreams appear barely still alive and some are just dead. Your dream may be so dried up that you wish it were such that you could just walk away and start on something else. Your dream can be resurrected! God can restore your dream and lost hope and give you purpose. Dare to Dream again! Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR052: When God Resurrects a Dream

What about perhaps the most well-known resurrection is Lazarus apart from the resurrection of Jesus. When Lazarus became ill, his sisters sent Jesus a message. Jesus did respond…though he seemed much slower than they would have liked. Her words flowed from an aching heart. How many times have you whispered words similar to Martha’s? If God had only acted, I would have had a family by now. If Jesus had only intervened, I would be fully healed. If God had only protected me, I’d still have a job right now. It’s not wrong to ache in the space in between pain and resurrection. It doesn’t mean your faith is small if you cry because everything in you is aching. It’s OK to reveal the anguish of your soul to the One who formed you. Listen as He is Risen! Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana  

GJR051: Understanding Physical Resurrection

Sometimes when we go through seasons of heartache, it’s easy to assume that we’ve done something wrong. We search for the sin or mistake we made that caused the calamity we’re experiencing. We find in the story of Job how that sometimes our test has nothing to do with us at all. What’s more God can—and often does!—restore what was taken from us during times of testing. But emotional and financial resurrection begins when you remind yourself God is in control and choose faith in the midst of the suffering. It seems easier to sing praise when everything is going well and you are feeling good. But when things aren’t going so well and you emotions are not on the top of the world and you feel finances are drained it take tremendous faith to rise about the circumstances of life and praise God through the pain and suffering. In the lowest of low and the highest of high we cling to the knowing that God is our Redeemer and has everything in control for our good. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!” - Job 19:25–27 Remember God is with you… Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR050: Emotional or Financial Resurrection

When most people think of the word “resurrection” they think of Jesus Christ returning after the Crucifixion. This is definitely the most important resurrection in all of history. In fact, it’s the Resurrection that gives us hope, comfort, and peace. But there are actually several different types of resurrection that can affect your life. Relational resurrection happens when we think a relationship is over but God steps in. Sometimes, this resurrection might involve reconciling with a spouse after divorce proceedings were started. Or your resurrection might be about making peace with a parent after a long season of silence or re-connecting with a sibling who abandoned the family. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR049: Embrace a Relational Resurrection

Expect to be tested As we grow, we are tested and tried. Sometimes it feels like we’re facing the same trials again and again, doesn’t it? We don’t love facing the same tests over and over, still, we know God knows what He is doing. I may not realize that I need the repetition, but He knows my heart. Not every test that you re-take is about teaching you something. Sometimes God allows you to experience a trial so that you can model a grace-filled response for someone else. Listen as we learn how to see the blessing even in the battle. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR048: See the Blessing in the Battle

One of the ways to keep our eyes on the enemy is to not let our eyes get off our primary concern in our relationship with God and to see His Kingdome grow. Many times adversity and obstacles can get in our way to cause us to take our eyes off Jesus and the path set before us. We can get distracted by the obstacles and pretty soon we have lost sight of our purpose and just try to “make it through.” The problem with this is that our energy and focus is on the obstacles. Because as soon as one obstacle is handled rest assured that another obstacle is right around the corner. When we are focused on the obstacles then we are focused on the wrong things. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, keep your focus on the calling God has for you and the temporary concerns will come into proper perspective. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR047: Eyes on the Enemy

Your mission on this earth will come up against incredible resistance at times. God will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) God is faithful. He will always provide a way of escape. As we are on the mission of fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives, He will show us where the victory can be found. no weapon forged against you will prevail,    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,    and this is their vindication from me,”declares the Lord.(Isaiah 54:17) Our mindset in the battle as God’s children is that as we come upon many afflictions and trials, we are ready to fight against that with which the world bombards us. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR046: Expect Resistance in the Battle

Remember the old Mission Impossible television shows? Maybe you’ve seen the movies staring Tom Hanks as Ethan Hunt? The operatives came up against seemingly un-surmountable obstacles and they put their training to the test and worked to overcome the adversity. The shows wouldn’t have been very exciting to watch if the characters didn’t have amazing obstacles to overcome. Unlike characters in the movies or television we face obstacles in our lives everyday. For example, at the time of this podcast our whole world is being turned upside down by a virus called COVID19. As tough as life gets, we can find comfort of knowing that God has a plan and a mission for our lives. Listen as we learn more about how we always need to be advancing and how God will be there to help us overcome the obstacles and struggle of life. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR045: This is a Battle

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV Fruit of the Spirit are thoughts based upon biblical principles to inspire us to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives because these are fruit given to us by the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves. The lack of self-control has been in the news.  Their president didn’t win, so they took to the streets in protest. Colleges relaxed rules because sad students couldn’t cope with their loss. A cartoon showed people in their 20's on the floor at the workplace throwing a temper-tantrum. The vending machine didn’t have their usual candy bar selection.  The last one is a little bit far-fetched, but we've seen similar examples.  Self-control is control over ourselves when things don’t go our way. Listen as we learn more about how the fruit of the Spirit inspire Self-control in all we do. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR044: Self-control

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV Fruit of the Spirit are thoughts based upon biblical principles to inspire us to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives because these are fruit given to us by the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves. God calls us for steadfastness, or faithfulness. It’s not meant to change. Our faith is a trust and conviction to an allegiance to the Bible and what the Bible says about God. There is only one prerequisite to this faithfulness. You must believe in Him--His existence, His works and His character. Listen as we learn more about how the fruit of the Spirit inspire Faithfulness and Gentleness. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR043: Faithfulness & Gentleness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV Fruit of the Spirit are thoughts based upon biblical principles to inspire us to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives because these are fruit given to us by the Holy Spirit, not from ourselves. You are busy walking through the city, your head lowered as you read the latest news on your phone. You happen to look up to see a young man scurrying ahead to open the door for a woman. One arm is laden with bags while the other works to navigate the stroller holding a small child. The toddler drops her stuffed animal and the young man swoops to pick it up and tucks it in her arms. He holds the door ajar until they are safely inside, then he walks ahead of you down the street.  He chose kindness. Listen as we learn more about how the fruit of the Spirit inspire Kindness and Goodness. Together, Giving Jesus, -Lana

GJR042: Kindness & Goodness

Welcome to the weekly audio Podcast from Giving Jesus Radio with host Lana Wynn Scroggins. When you need Inspiration and Encouragement to help you through your day. Lana is your Inspirational and Encouragement Cheerleader! Lana is the founder of Giving Jesus where she hosts products created and designed for sharing and giving Jesus to others on her website. Thank you for joining us in sharing Jesus and Kindness with others. Find someone you can bless today and you will have the best day ever!

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