Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
Are you ready to build a life,business and legacy that truly
lasts?
Welcome to Faithfully Investedwith Allen and Stacy Jo Thorne,
where Faith meets real talk.
Biblical wisdom meets everydaylife and leadership meets
laughter.
Together we will uncover God'sblueprint for leadership,
marriage, and mission, helpingfaith-driven leaders invest in
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what matters most.
Each episode, we explorebiblical wisdom, have real
conversations, and of course,have some fun along the way
because let's be real.
Walking in faith is anadventure.
It sure is.
So pull up a seat, grab yourcoffee or your sweet tea, and
join us as we steward ourcallings with intention, because
(00:42):
when we invest in his kingdom,he brings the increase.
Hey, great day friends, andwelcome back to Faithfully
Invested.
I am Allen.
And I'm Stacy Jo And today we'rediving into something that, once
again might step on a few toes,but in the best way possible.
(01:06):
Right?
I'm gonna, I'm gonna put thatdisclaimer in there.
In the best way possible.
In the best way possible.
This one, we're calling, it'snot about me.
Mm.
Dying to self.
Without losing yourself.
Yeah.
Uh, emphasis on the questionmark.
It's not about me.
Right.
As if to say, what do you meanit's not about me.
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Anyway, we're called, asChristians, we're called to, to
die or die to self.
Right.
And so, yeah.
Anyway, we, you know, if we'rehonest.
We are.
Yeah.
If we, we are.
I find it funny that some,sometimes people start with
that.
Well, if I'm honest, I was like,well, I, I certainly hope so,
(01:52):
you know, but seriously, ifwe're, if we're honest.
If we're honest, and if, ifyou're honest, we've all had
moments where we've beenserving, but secretly keeping
score, uh, seriously.
And our, and our flesh, it'seasy.
To get bound up in thenonsensical, look what I can do
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thing.
Uhhuh.
How about like, you know, likemaybe blessing or doing
something nice for someone andthen.
Blessing them again and againand again by reminding them 14
times about what you did.
I mean, we've either all beenthat person or known that
person, right?
Oh man.
I mean, man, can you think of asituation?
I can't, I'm trying to get awayfrom that person because that's
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not annoying or nothing, right?
Yeah.
Right.
It's, uh, but uh.
But that's definitely not how,uh, who we're called to be as
his kingdom servant.
No.
So let's talk about what itmeans to, to serve like Jesus
without losing who God made youto be.
Yeah.
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Okay.
But I.
I wanna just set the, the story,the record, straight first.
Okay.
Dying.
She's good at doing that.
I, I am.
Because dying to self doesn'tmean erasing your God-given
personality though.
No, no, no it doesn't.
But it is, it is biblical.
'cause we, we walk and, uh,what?
(03:18):
To really simplify it, uh, Paulwrites in, in Romans eight, to,
to live by the flesh, which ismm-hmm.
Is living by the world's ways,living by our flesh, living
outside of Christ.
To live by the flesh is death,but to, to walk in the spirit.
To live in the spirit is life inpeace.
Right.
So, and that's a, and that, andalong that way to live by the
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spirit, to be convicted by thespirit, to be in Christ and know
that there's no condemnationwhere, uh, in Jesus.
Uh, uh, earlier in the go in thegospel account says, if any of
you are to follow me, if youwant to follow me, you must deny
yourself.
Right.
Pick up your cross and followme.
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Yeah.
Yeah.
So that's, so it's, it's a, it'sa process.
Yeah.
But it causes some seriousconsideration on how the world
around us has skewed our Godintended personality and
identity, and.
How we get back to his intendedcenter point so that our
servant's heart can.
(04:21):
Literally emulate humility inChrist rather than pompous, self
inflated pride.
Right?
You gotta be, you gotta watchout for that pompous,
self-inflating pride thing.
You could call that arrogance aswell.
Arrogance, yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, Galatians two 20 says,like you said, I've been
crucified.
Uh, I guess you didn't say thatone yet.
(04:41):
I didn't hit Yeah, but youdidn't get there yet.
But I've been crucified withChrist and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me.
Right.
And that's about surrender, notself erasure.
Yeah.
If that's a word.
I don't know.
I guess it's a word.
It's definitely a word.
It's good, you know, selferasure.
Self erasure, yeah.
Word.
But it may be about givingsomething up that you may really
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enjoy.
Yeah.
But isn't necessarily the seasonthat you're in and.
Uh, for me, I just recentlyrealized this because as I was
performing on the weekends witha local band for many years
mm-hmm.
I really loved doing it.
(05:24):
Right.
I loved it, but God showed methat it was time to put it down
because he had something elsefor me.
Right.
And I struggled with that.
I struggled with that for awhile before I actually
surrendered it.
Yeah.
To him and gave into his planbecause, you know, we talked in
last season, in the very lastepisode about, you know, his
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plan and I had to surrender thatto his plan.
I knew he was telling me thatthat season was over and it was
time to move on, and it washard.
Yeah, I had to give it up and itwasn't that I necessarily wanted
to, but I wasn't finding the joyin it anymore.
Right.
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Either he was he He was closingthe door.
He was because he was openingYeah.
A different door.
It was time.
Yeah.
It was time to move on.
And I have, um.
I believe that the, the largestpart of, of dying yourself is,
is not just being moreinterested in God's master plan,
but submitting right to his planover my own.
(06:29):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, he, uh, he told us allthrough Isaiah that his thoughts
and his ways are higher andgreater than our own.
Um, so why.
This.
And, uh, this is not ahypothetical question, why, as
believers would we not want tosubmit to his higher and greater
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plan for us?
Yeah, that's good.
And, and it's not about becominga robotic servant with no need
for boundaries.
I mean, absolutely not Jesuswashed feet.
Yeah.
I mean, he is the best exampleof a servant leader to ever walk
this earth.
Hmm.
But.
He also snuck away for naps andtime with his Heavenly Father in
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prayer.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
I know what you're thinkingabout right now.
Ah, yeah.
Naps.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Hey, you know, naps are, I likenaps.
I know you do.
You know, uh, I know you do.
You know when the, the best timefor prayer is and when?
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Right before a nice nap.
That's true, true story.
I like what one, and I mentionedthis last episode as well.
I like what one of my favoritepreachers said some time ago
that, uh, he said that sometimesthe most Christian thing that,
that I can do is get away andtake a nap, a prayerful nap.
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Increase mood and productivity.
Naps is good, baby.
All right.
I'm telling you, naps is good.
Well, you're digressing.
I, yeah, I do.
I, I I like naps.
What?
It's okay.
Anyway, I digress.
And, uh, yes.
Uh, proper boundaries are, arebiblical.
Jesus, Jesus said no to some.
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You know, he, uh, he knew hisidentity and he knew his
mission, uh, was only to do whatthe father said.
And, uh, we see just one examplein John six I.
When he fed well over, uh,5,000, the, the text says 5,000
men and mm-hmm.
But there was, there was womenand children there too.
(08:42):
Mm-hmm.
So well over, uh, 5,000, uh, uh,he fed over, well, five with
some kids.
Sack lunch, man.
He had, uh, five loaves and twofishes.
His mom was like, I said thatfor you.
Can I, I've often thought,'causeyou know, I've, I listened to
other podcasts and, and, uh, andI watched, we, we, we really
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appreciate what Dallas has donewith the chosen and, uh, but I
often wonder, uh, I what thiskid thought when, when the
disciples come up to her andsaid, Hey man.
Gimme your lunch.
I need that lunch.
The savior needs your lunch.
But, uh, the, I mean, the kiddidn't even get an honorable
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mention.
Right.
But anyway, you know, but, uh,so the, but the people, this,
this was an ama.
Uh, I mean all, all laughteraside, all, all joking aside,
all, uh, the people were amazedand, and the word says that, uh.
They were amazed at what Jesushad done here with, with such a
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small thing.
He fed'em and they had, they hadfood left over and the people
were amazed and it said thatJesus perceived that the people
intended to take him by forceand make him a king.
Mm.
But he knew that that wasn't hismission, right?
Yeah.
He, he, he, he knew that hismission was spiritual, not
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political.
Mm.
Uh, and so he withdrew to themountain again to be alone by
himself.
Um.
In doing so, he was saying no tothe people.
His, he, sometimes you gotta sayno.
Uh, when we know our calling,when we understand our identity,
and we were able to say no.
So, but Jesus was doing this.
He was saying no to the peopleas he kept the Father's plan.
(10:30):
He stayed in step with theFather's plan.
Uh, and you know, it doesn't sayso in, in John's text, but um,
but when Jesus went up to themountain, I bet that he prayed.
And then I think you might havetaken a nap.
What do you think about that,Ben?
You're back to the naps.
Hey, I think you need to go takea nap.
(10:52):
But I mean, for sure he prayedand, and I don't know, maybe he
ma, he napped too.
I don't maybe know for sure notmentioned.
But you said that Jesus, I wannago back to you said that Jesus
said No, and that's so goodbecause I just want you all to
know that No.
Is a complete sentence.
It is.
(11:12):
If it's not part of God's planfor you, yeah, it is definitely
okay to say no.
Yeah.
Even when you're beingpressured, it's okay to step
away, draw that boundary lineand say, no, this is not what
God has for me at this time.
Yeah.
It's not easy in the moment,like I already said.
It took me a while to get tothat point, but I assure you
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that it will be totally worthit.
Yeah.
Because what the Lord has donewith me since, uh, and it's been
a year, it's been a year over ayear, a year and a half now.
Yeah.
Well, since I walked away fromthat.
Yeah.
And what the Lord has done is.
Incredible.
So I can assure you it's worthit.
Say no if you need to say no.
(11:56):
Right, right.
It's uh, our.
Our, his plan is fulfilledthrough us by obedience.
Right.
We mentioned that last, and we,and we just mentioned it now,
it's worth, worth mentioning.
He, he definitely blesses ourobedience.
Yeah.
And he's certainly blessed,blessed yours.
When, when he closes one doorand we're obedient to that, he
will, he will mm-hmm.
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Kick open the next door withboth feet.
Yeah, he will.
Yeah.
So.
So, all right.
Uh, so we gotta, we gotta find asecure center point between two
dangerous ditches.
Mm-hmm.
One is selfishness.
Whew.
Living from the flesh or shiningthe light on.
Me, me, me.
(12:37):
Right.
It's all about me.
Well, that's what we're sayinghere.
It's, it's not mm-hmm.
It's not all about me.
Uh, and the other is, is losingyourself to the point that
you're, you're just.
Becoming a burned out peoplepleaser, right?
Uh, with a fake smile and anabsence of real love.
Four people in the mission.
(12:57):
Yeah.
So we gotta, first and foremost,we gotta, we gotta follow his
plan, we gotta lead in love.
Mm-hmm.
If, if we're, if we're losinglove along the way, then that's
probably not his plan.
And, and, or we might, or wemight need to, um, to check
ourselves and our, or checkourselves with them in our quiet
time and ask them, you know,where, where's that?
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Why am I not able to lead andlove in this area?
Where, where's what's, what'sthe wound in that?
There's, there's a conversationfor another time.
Right.
So, and we'll, and we'll get toit.
We'll come back to that, um, inlater episodes.
Yeah.
I'm just picturing that, thatsmile that says I'm fine.
Yeah.
But inside you're like, fine.
One, one laundry load away fromhaving a full blown breakdown
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because you know, I'm fineactually means.
I have feelings inside needingexpressed.
Yeah.
So men take note when your wifesays, oh, I'm fine.
She may actually need to talk,or maybe she needs a hug.
There's just a little free bonusfor you today.
Or she needs some space.
I'm just saying maybe she needssome space.
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That could be too.
Yeah.
A yeah.
That's a great.
Tip, babe.
Yeah, yeah.
Gotta We, we, it's, it'simportant to understand, to, to
be able to work with each otherthere.
Yeah.
Uh, fine isn't always good.
In fact, uh, I've learnedthrough experience of fine is
rarely good.
Um, but let's keep moving.
I've, I've heard other acronymsfor that.
(14:25):
Uh, and anyway, like I said,we're, we're gonna keep, they
all basically go back to thesame thing.
Yeah.
We're gonna keep moving on that.
So, so how, how do we.
Get centered and, and getcentered, stay centered and keep
out of the ditches.
Uh, one word.
What's that?
Identity?
Yes.
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When you know who you are inChrist, you can serve from
overflow, not obligation.
You nailed it.
And that's where that is.
And it that to serve from, fromoverflow.
Remember in last episode, Isaid, I wanna be so full that I
don't even have to bend.
Right.
I just want it to pour out.
Right?
Yeah.
Because when I'm serving fromobligation.
Yeah, I'm, I'm doing it outwithout really wanting to.
(15:10):
Yeah.
Yeah.
You nailed that one, babe.
That's good.
Identity serves from overflow,not obligation.
And that comes from knowing whoyou are in Christ, which is your
true identity.
That's it, man.
The, the key to finding andstaying, uh, at a center point,
staying inside the Lord's well,is, is consistently.
(15:32):
Seeking our identity in him.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, it's, I mean, if you've, ifyou've been in the church for a
while or, or if you're even, youmay have heard, you know,
identity in Christ.
Identity in Christ.
Yeah.
But it's not cliche.
'cause we got our, our, ourcalling is found inside our
identity in Christ.
And we talk about that a lot.
And the reviving recovery.
(15:53):
Mm-hmm.
Unbound content.
Yeah.
Um.
Uh, the al the alternative when,uh, usually results in an
endless downward spiral ofunnecessary obligations that are
most always I.
Always tangled up and what Johnrecognizes as, as the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes,and the boastful pride of life.
(16:14):
Mm.
And that's what we're to die to.
Yeah.
The, the lust of the flesh, thelust of the eyes, and the
boastful pride of life.
That's what, that's what we.
Seek in the world as we'reoperating from the flesh.
Mm-hmm.
These three challenges are atthe forefront of what we must
die to as we, as we're called inChrist to, to die to self.
(16:36):
This is what our flesh wantsand, and what the world defines
as the good stuff.
Right.
And, and, and I'll admit, youknow, uh, that I pursued this
stuff for the majority of mylife.
The, the, the first.
Mm-hmm.
I would say almost 40 years ofmy life, I pursued what the
world called.
The good stuff.
(16:56):
The, yeah.
The uh, the sex, the drugs, therock and roll.
Yeah.
Uh, and, uh, but you know, asI've become a, a, uh, a true
believer in Christ, I've, I'vedone, I've done well to heed
through, uh, Paul's warning, uh,to the Romans that is to, to
live by the flesh is death.
Mm-hmm.
(17:17):
To live by the flesh is death,but.
Romans eight, six to live by thespirit is life and peace.
So, uh, that's a pretty gooddeal for dying to self, you
know?
Right.
We get to, we get to live by thespirit.
Uh, as, as we grow in the spiritand we get life in peace.
So what do you want?
Do you want death or do you wantlife in peace?
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Mm, I I'm at this point, youknow, I'll take life in peace.
Please.
I'm, I'm going for life inpeace.
Yeah.
Um, ding, ding, ding, ding,ding.
Yep, I, amen.
Life and peace.
Number one answer.
Yeah.
Tell'em what, tell'em what theywant.
You've won Life in Peace.
Uh, but, uh, I, so I'mdefinitely in on life in peace.
Mm-hmm.
So when we operate in thespirit, we, we bear more
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fruitful responses, uh, insteadof potentially we some
performances, uh, conducted invain.
'cause if we're operating, uh,and we've discovered this from
experience, if we're operatingoutside his, his will then.
Our efforts are in vain, right?
So, uh, and I, I, I'll.
(18:24):
In full transparency.
You know, the, the spirits stillrefining me on this one, you
know,'cause you know, there's,there's no perfection here.
But, you know, common, commonslogan around here is it is all
about progress, not perfection.
Right.
You know?
Well, well, we're all works inprogress for sure.
All of us works in progress and,and I'm still being refined in
(18:45):
this area.
No.
Yeah.
True story.
Believe it.
Believe it.
True story.
Hashtag true story.
Yeah.
But.
I can all too easily get caughtup in what the world considers
the good stuff as you put it.
Yeah.
And I too was, you know, formany years was caught up in the
good stuff.
Yeah.
You know, the alcohol, thedrugs, the, the promiscuity, you
(19:06):
know, you name it.
Right.
I, I did it.
I'm in full transparency here,but just even going to back to
my point earlier about how ittook me so long and more recent
to give up the performance partof my life.
Yeah, because it felt good.
Yeah.
Just like living in the worldcan feel good.
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Yeah.
But it doesn't.
It isn't good for us.
It doesn't really fulfill, doesit?
No, it sure doesn't.
At the end of the day it, it'sempty.
Right?
But when God find, when Godreally spoke to me, or maybe it
was more when I really listened,'cause I'm sure he was speaking
to me earlier, but when I reallylistened to what he was saying,
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that it's not about performance,it's about worship.
It was time to give up thestage.
Yeah.
And it was time to step onto aplatform of presence.
Yeah.
And worship him and praisepresence and Yeah.
Presence and praise.
Yeah.
And worship.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
The stage I, I love, I, Ilearned a long time ago that the
(20:15):
stage is for performance and aplatform is for worship.
Yep.
And so I love that he has calledme out of the performance.
Yeah.
Platform or performance stage.
Yeah.
And has.
Moved me to a place of presenceand worship with him.
(20:36):
Right.
That's an upgrade.
I would definitely say it'sdefinitely an upgrade.
I would definitely say that's anupgrade.
And I, and I've, I've seen youin, in both on the stage and on
the platform, and I, I'd takethe platform, I, I'd take, I'd
watch you all day long on aplatform.
Oh, thanks babe.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, you might be a littlebiased on that, but, well, I, I
(20:58):
dunno, but thank you.
Alright.
As your husband, my opinionmatters.
It does.
It definitely does.
So, but what about scorekeeping?
Oh boy.
Score keeping.
Oh no.
Gotta go there.
Mm-hmm.
Track and performance kind ofsounds like the boastful pride
of life.
Uh, and aren't we supposed tosteer clear of that kind of
(21:20):
nonsense?
Sense.
So correct me if I'm wrong here,but, but when, when we're guided
by the spirit and, and we'reseeking to find our true
identity in Christ, shouldn'tlove be at the forefront of, of
his plans for us, you wouldthink?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, I hope that Paul and,and, uh, first Corinthians, uh,
(21:42):
the, the first Corinthians, uh.
13.
It's, it's common.
You've, you've probably heard itat, at many weddings.
Yeah.
And, uh, so, but I hope thatPaul's first Corinthians, uh, 13
passage convicts you as much asit does me, as we're reminded,
uh, that love doesn't brag.
(22:03):
Hmm.
And it's not arrogant.
Arrogant is, is pride overboard?
Way overboard.
Um.
So love doesn't brag.
Love isn't arrogant.
Uh, likewise.
It's, it's love is patient, kindand not jealous, right?
Uh, love doesn't actunbecomingly, uh, which is means
(22:26):
that, you know, love doesn't actlike a jerk.
Love, love doesn't shine, shinethe light on themselves, right?
I think that would come back toarrogance.
Yeah.
Um, and it doesn't seek its own,uh, love isn't provoked.
And it takes no account of wrongsuffered, right.
(22:47):
Wow.
Blemo.
Mm-hmm.
Blemo.
Right?
Consider that, you know, we'veheard it many times, but have we
actually considered it?
But because,'cause love is thegreat commandment.
Mm-hmm.
Love, uh, I mean, we're calledto, to love the Lord our God,
the Lord is one.
Uh, love the Lord and love ourneighbors as ourselves.
And that's a call to loveourselves.
(23:09):
You know?
So, but, and this is what loveis.
So have, we've heard it.
But have we considered it?
Have we, do we, do we love Godthat way?
Do we love ourselves that way?
And do, uh, do we love, uh,others that way?
Yeah.
So when, when we really taketime to read it slowly.
And, and I would encourage you,and I love what our pastor says,
(23:30):
uh, he's read the word slowly.
Yeah.
I remember the first time I, I,I heard that.
And I, and I.
Started reading the word slowlyand I, I was able to pick up,
able to pick up much more.
So when we take time to read theword slowly.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, conviction hits pretty hardthen.
Yeah.
When we're reading the wordslowly, love, love has no place
(23:54):
for score keeping.
Yeah.
There's no place forscorekeeping in love, so excuse
me while I repent quietly.
Uh, good lord.
What's Sege my dear?
Lovely wife.
Uh, well, yeah, sadly, um, Ihave to say that I've done that
many times.
Yeah.
(24:14):
I didn't go as far as to make upa tally chart and post it on the
fridge or anything, but althoughthe thought did cross my mind
Yeah.
Well, but just so you and thekids could be reminded of, of
all that I've done.
Right.
Especially when I feel like I'mbeing, I'm.
Been overlooked, you know?
Right.
And, and my dad and I seem tohave a scorecard going right now
(24:36):
about who is calling who andwhen.
Right.
And if you're listening, dad,I'm trying to get better at
that, but, but you know, he'llcall me and he'll say, Hey,
remember who I am?
And I'll be like, oh yeah.
Do you remember who I am?
Because it's been a week sinceyou've called me.
Oh, there that is.
Do you know how many times I'vetried to call you?
And this is how many timesyou've called me.
So yeah, I know all about this.
(24:57):
Score keeping thing.
But you're right.
I think, I think maybe you mightwant, I need to work on that a
little more.
And I, I think need to, youmight have to learn how to play
Rummy cube.
You might need to learn how toplay Rummy cube.
Yes.
Yeah.
But I've, uh, but my dad plays alot of Rummy Cube.
That's what he's referring to,right?
Yeah, he is.
Uh, I, not that this, not thatwe're keeping score here, but I,
(25:21):
I think I've done worse.
You have, you have done worse.
You know, I'm trying, I'm nottrying to one up you, but I
think I, I think I can go alittle below you, but, uh, I
have, uh, I bust out a bunch ofchores.
Uh, I bust out a workout or prepfood for the week.
I, I bathe the pups, feed thecat, unload the dishwasher, and
after I forwarded the laundrytwice.
(25:42):
Uh, and Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
And why isn't everybody reallyimpressed with me?
Why?
What?
Look at all I've done and then Iget nothing.
Nothing but crickets fromanybody because, you know, you
gotta be careful.
It is just one thing I learned,uh, or early in recovery from my
brother Steve, and he, he said,careful with those expectations,
(26:05):
bro.
Careful, careful.
Yeah.
Your expectations of otherpeople let you down every time.
So I, but I gotta ask myself.
I'm doing all this stuff andI'm, and I'm looking for, for
praise.
I'm looking for a man.
I'm looking for the attaboy man.
Man, you really crushed it,dude.
Um, and it didn't get this, so,so I gotta ask myself, me.
(26:28):
Uh, did, did you do all that forrecognition or did you do it
because that's what love does inour family's home.
Yeah.
That's what love does.
Did I do it for recognition ordid I do it for love?
You know, as a Christ follower,I aim at the, I aim at the
ladder, I aim at, uh, doing itoutta love.
Uh, and I'm doing my best tomove away from sort of doing it
(26:52):
for recognition.
Yeah.
In the meantime, I.
I gotta write an episode calledthe The Anointed and Silently
appreciated.
I'll do that one all on my own.
You can put that in seasonthree.
Yeah.
That could be all on you.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
Really anointed and silentlyappreciated.
(27:14):
Silently appreciated.
Well, clearly.
Clearly we know that, uh, wordsof affirmation must be your love
language.
Well, you know, they're in theresomewhere, but, all right.
Acts of service maybe too.
Yes, yes.
Hey fam, here are threetakeaways that you can actually
walk out this week.
(27:34):
Yeah.
Do you wanna start us off withthe first one?
Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Number one and only three thisweek.
Yeah.
So the first one is invite theHoly Spirit into your daily.
Mm-hmm.
That's a big deal.
Invite the Holy Spirit into yourdaily schedule.
Ask him, what do you, who do youwant me?
What do you want me to do today?
(27:55):
Who do you want me to servetoday?
And how should I do that?
Yeah.
And then check your motives.
Are you loving from overflow orare you hoping for applause?
Right?
And if it's applause, you know,maybe join Allen in praying over
for a few moments.
You may forwarded the laundrytwice, but, but seriously, you
(28:19):
know, ask yourself, are youloving from overflow or hoping
for applause?
Because checking your motivesand your heart.
Yeah.
Is what we have to do.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And number three, uh, don'terase your personality just to
look holy.
Mm.
Don't no self erasure.
Don't be that person.
(28:41):
Don't, don't try to be holy.
Just, just, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We, if we gotta try to be holy,then we probably need to sit
with the Lord.
We gotta increase our intimacy.
Yeah.
Uh, with the Lord.
We gotta sit in and we got thatsecret space that we've talked
about several times, uh, throughthis season, um, last season.
(29:02):
But, uh, but we don't wannaerase our personality No.
To look holy, no.
All right.
So, servants should never be,uh, from a fake identity.
Remember, our identity shouldalways be found in Christ.
'cause our identity in Christ,inside that identity is our
purpose.
Yes.
As we aim to serve, as we'vebeen served.
(29:25):
Our service is entirelyrelational.
Absolutely.
It's, it's not about religion.
Mm-hmm.
It's not about looking holy,it's about being relational.
Yeah.
It's about love.
It's about forgiveness, it'sabout relation.
Mm-hmm.
So, so be yourself and, and useyour God-given talents to serve
others as you're led by thespirit.
Yes.
(29:45):
And also set healthy boundaries.
Yeah.
I mean, Jesus did.
If someone drains you every timeyou're around them.
It's okay to love them with alittle distance.
You know who that person is anda lot just popped in your head.
Right.
Right.
You know who that person is, youknow who it is, but set that
boundary.
Yeah.
If, if they're draining, youlove them from a distance, pray
(30:08):
for them.
Pray for lot.
Pray with them.
And pray for yourself, uh, froma distance for as long as it
takes.
Yes, absolutely.
So, well, let's wrap this up,babe.
Yeah.
We're gonna wrap it up.
Uh.
So here's the truth, when we dieto ourselves, uh, and that's,
that's a journey.
Mm-hmm.
You know, that's a, uh, the, theword calls it sanctification.
(30:30):
We don't want to get into bigreligious words, but
sanctification.
That's our, our journey ofbeing, uh, sanctified and, and
gaining the fruit.
Uh, of the spirit along the way,you know, and, uh, and finding,
uh, discovering our identity inChrist.
But so what, but all that tosay, when we die to ourselves,
we don't disappear.
Mm.
(30:51):
Lemme say that again.
When we die to ourselves, wedon't disappear.
No.
But he makes us more transparentso that Jesus' light can shine
through us.
You don't have to lose yourhumor, your story, or your
voice.
You just have to let Jesus driveit all forward.
Don't, don't drive it yourself.
Let him give Jesus the wheel.
(31:13):
Right.
Isn't that how the song goes?
Absolutely.
Jesus.
Take the wheel.
So give him the wheel.
Yeah.
It's a, and it's important toremember, uh, but, and it is
important to remember anythingthat Paul wrote, but go, uh,
right now it comes to mind.
Galatians two 20.
Uh.
You're not living life alone.
(31:33):
You're right.
Uh, remember, we're not alone.
None of us are ever alone by hisHoly Spirit.
Christ lives in you.
Yes.
Yeah.
I.
Just take a and and sit in that.
Yeah.
None of us are by his spirit.
Christ lives in us.
And that means that yourpurpose, your peace, and your
(31:56):
personality are all being madenew in Christ.
Yes.
I love that.
And we love y'all, so keep yourheart soft.
Keep your boundaries firm.
Yeah.
And of course, keep your coffeestrong.
Absolutely.
Keep your coffee strong.
Oh, keep your coffee strong.
We love strong coffee aroundhere.
(32:17):
We do.
We do.
And if you're secretly, uh, andif you, uh, secretly are
tallying how many times youserved this week, you know, get
rid of that.
How many times you called yourdad this week?
Let it go, right?
Yeah.
Let it go.
Uh, so there's no need to rip upthat scorecard, let it go.
(32:39):
'cause, and know that Jesus seesthe Lord, sees what you're
doing.
Mm-hmm.
And, and, and like the word saysas as.
As you sit with him, uh, hehears your prayers.
Yeah.
He sees your service and, and hewill reward you what, what
you've done.
And secretly he will reward you.
Absolutely.
Not that we do it for a reward.
(33:00):
No, but I mean, man, that wouldbe out of obligation.
That would be out of obligation.
And that's, you know, not thewindow, not what we're talking
about out the window.
That's right.
Overflow.
But understand he sees you.
Yeah.
You know, I got to, um, I wanna,uh.
I, I met this kid yesterday and,uh, I was at a shopping center
(33:24):
and, and I, uh, just, he just,the lord really spotlighted him.
And I got in my truck and, andI, I heard, where are you going?
Mm.
And so I went back.
In fact, he was out in the.
He was getting the carts andthat, and he just looked sad,
just looked sad.
And he was quiet and he, and,but I, but so I went back, I
(33:46):
made a circle and, and I wentback and, and, uh, and I asked
him, you know, Hey, hey, hey,how you doing man?
You know, and uh, I was like,this might sound weird, you
know, uh, strange, strange whiteguy coming up to you, talk to
you about Jesus.
And I was like, but where doyou, where do you stand with
Jesus, man?
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, and.
(34:09):
He was, uh, and it wa I did thisbecause the Lord said, go back
and mm-hmm.
And, you know, he was, uh, hewas like, I know Jesus.
Yeah.
And, uh, and I wouldn't haveexpected to hear that, but he
goes, he goes, I don't, I don'treally go to church right now,
but you know, I, uh, uh, Isometimes I just like to sit and
(34:31):
talk with them.
Mm.
And I was like, cool man.
And it's, uh, and that's.
And that wasn't, and I didn't dothat because, you know, I
thought, you know, I, I did that'cause the Lord said, go talk to
this kid.
Yeah.
And, and he, and, and I waslike, well, and what the Lord
told me to say is that I seeyou.
I.
Mm.
I was like, Jesus says that hesees you and, and he loves you
(34:55):
where you're at.
And, and you should have seenthis kid's.
Aw, this kid's countenancechange.
Yeah.
And he thanked me several times.
And it's not about me.
I'm not, I'm not blowing myselfup here'cause I, I didn't do it
for me.
And I, I would've never donethat of myself, but, right.
But.
But the, the point is that, thatJesus sees us, the our Lord, our
(35:17):
our creator.
God sees everything, and I wouldencourage you as, as, as you
walk with him and as he promptsyou to do such a thing.
When he does that, don't missthat opportunity to, to let some
'cause this.
This might have been.
It could have changed the, thepoint of this guy, this guy's
day.
(35:38):
Yeah.
Because he was, he was, but hewas lifted up by that.
Yeah.
That someone would come back.
That someone would, that that,that the Lord would, uh, and
that the, that the Lord wouldsay that he sees, yeah.
Me.
He sees you.
And, um, so rock on Thomas.
(35:59):
The Lord sees you, man.
All right.
And he loves you and he seesevery one of you as well.
Yeah.
So next week we are talkingabout leading from the low
place, having humility overhype.
Yeah.
And this too, you know, we mightstep on a few toes here too.
We seem to be, uh, stepping onsome toes in a world that that
(36:20):
celebrates self-promotion andplatforms and curated influencer
lifestyles, but.
We'll dive into some sscriptural scriptures that will
make us think twice about that.
Yeah, I know.
My ti I'm getting tongue tied.
It's alright.
Scriptures, but we can't wait,uh, until we come back and talk
to you about leading from thelow place.
(36:41):
So until then, stay faithfullyinvested.
'cause when you are faithfullyinvested, God brings the
increase.
Yes, he does.
God bless every one of you andwe will talk to you next week.
Have a great week.
Talk with you next week.
Absolutely.
We never wanna talk at you.
God bless.
Bye-bye.
Thanks for joining us onFaithfully Invested with Allen
(37:04):
and Stacy Jo.
If today's conversationencouraged you, challenged you,
or helped you see your callingmore clearly, don't keep it to
yourself.
That's right.
Share it with a friend.
Leave a five star review andkeep leaning into God's
blueprint for your life, yourleadership, and your legacy.
So until next time, remember,when you invest in his kingdom,
(37:24):
he brings the increase.
Are you ready to build a life,business and legacy that truly
lasts?
Welcome to Faithfully Investedwith Allen and Stacy Jo Thorne,
where Faith meets real talk.
Biblical wisdom meets everydaylife and leadership meets
laughter.
Together we will uncover God'sblueprint for leadership,
marriage, and mission, helpingfaith-driven leaders invest in
(00:21):
what matters most.
Each episode, we explorebiblical wisdom, have real
conversations, and of course,have some fun along the way
because let's be real.
Walking in faith is anadventure.
It sure is.
So pull up a seat, grab yourcoffee or your sweet tea, and
join us as we steward ourcallings with intention, because
(00:42):
when we invest in his kingdom,he brings the increase.
Hey, great day friends, andwelcome back to Faithfully
Invested.
I am Allen.
And I'm Stacy Jo And today we'rediving into something that, once
again might step on a few toes,but in the best way possible.
(01:06):
Right?
I'm gonna, I'm gonna put thatdisclaimer in there.
In the best way possible.
In the best way possible.
This one, we're calling, it'snot about me.
Mm.
Dying to self.
Without losing yourself.
Yeah.
Uh, emphasis on the questionmark.
It's not about me.
Right.
As if to say, what do you meanit's not about me.
(01:30):
Anyway, we're called, asChristians, we're called to, to
die or die to self.
Right.
And so, yeah.
Anyway, we, you know, if we'rehonest.
We are.
Yeah.
If we, we are.
I find it funny that some,sometimes people start with
that.
Well, if I'm honest, I was like,well, I, I certainly hope so,
(01:52):
you know, but seriously, ifwe're, if we're honest.
If we're honest, and if, ifyou're honest, we've all had
moments where we've beenserving, but secretly keeping
score, uh, seriously.
And our, and our flesh, it'seasy.
To get bound up in thenonsensical, look what I can do
(02:13):
thing.
Uhhuh.
How about like, you know, likemaybe blessing or doing
something nice for someone andthen.
Blessing them again and againand again by reminding them 14
times about what you did.
I mean, we've either all beenthat person or known that
person, right?
Oh man.
I mean, man, can you think of asituation?
I can't, I'm trying to get awayfrom that person because that's
(02:35):
not annoying or nothing, right?
Yeah.
Right.
It's, uh, but uh.
But that's definitely not how,uh, who we're called to be as
his kingdom servant.
No.
So let's talk about what itmeans to, to serve like Jesus
without losing who God made youto be.
Yeah.
(02:56):
Okay.
But I.
I wanna just set the, the story,the record, straight first.
Okay.
Dying.
She's good at doing that.
I, I am.
Because dying to self doesn'tmean erasing your God-given
personality though.
No, no, no it doesn't.
But it is, it is biblical.
'cause we, we walk and, uh,what?
(03:18):
To really simplify it, uh, Paulwrites in, in Romans eight, to,
to live by the flesh, which ismm-hmm.
Is living by the world's ways,living by our flesh, living
outside of Christ.
To live by the flesh is death,but to, to walk in the spirit.
To live in the spirit is life inpeace.
Right.
So, and that's a, and that, andalong that way to live by the
(03:40):
spirit, to be convicted by thespirit, to be in Christ and know
that there's no condemnationwhere, uh, in Jesus.
Uh, uh, earlier in the go in thegospel account says, if any of
you are to follow me, if youwant to follow me, you must deny
yourself.
Right.
Pick up your cross and followme.
(04:00):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So that's, so it's, it's a, it'sa process.
Yeah.
But it causes some seriousconsideration on how the world
around us has skewed our Godintended personality and
identity, and.
How we get back to his intendedcenter point so that our
servant's heart can.
(04:21):
Literally emulate humility inChrist rather than pompous, self
inflated pride.
Right?
You gotta be, you gotta watchout for that pompous,
self-inflating pride thing.
You could call that arrogance aswell.
Arrogance, yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, Galatians two 20 says,like you said, I've been
crucified.
Uh, I guess you didn't say thatone yet.
(04:41):
I didn't hit Yeah, but youdidn't get there yet.
But I've been crucified withChrist and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me.
Right.
And that's about surrender, notself erasure.
Yeah.
If that's a word.
I don't know.
I guess it's a word.
It's definitely a word.
It's good, you know, selferasure.
Self erasure, yeah.
Word.
But it may be about givingsomething up that you may really
(05:03):
enjoy.
Yeah.
But isn't necessarily the seasonthat you're in and.
Uh, for me, I just recentlyrealized this because as I was
performing on the weekends witha local band for many years
mm-hmm.
I really loved doing it.
(05:24):
Right.
I loved it, but God showed methat it was time to put it down
because he had something elsefor me.
Right.
And I struggled with that.
I struggled with that for awhile before I actually
surrendered it.
Yeah.
To him and gave into his planbecause, you know, we talked in
last season, in the very lastepisode about, you know, his
(05:47):
plan and I had to surrender thatto his plan.
I knew he was telling me thatthat season was over and it was
time to move on, and it washard.
Yeah, I had to give it up and itwasn't that I necessarily wanted
to, but I wasn't finding the joyin it anymore.
Right.
(06:07):
Either he was he He was closingthe door.
He was because he was openingYeah.
A different door.
It was time.
Yeah.
It was time to move on.
And I have, um.
I believe that the, the largestpart of, of dying yourself is,
is not just being moreinterested in God's master plan,
but submitting right to his planover my own.
(06:29):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, he, uh, he told us allthrough Isaiah that his thoughts
and his ways are higher andgreater than our own.
Um, so why.
This.
And, uh, this is not ahypothetical question, why, as
believers would we not want tosubmit to his higher and greater
(06:51):
plan for us?
Yeah, that's good.
And, and it's not about becominga robotic servant with no need
for boundaries.
I mean, absolutely not Jesuswashed feet.
Yeah.
I mean, he is the best exampleof a servant leader to ever walk
this earth.
Hmm.
But.
He also snuck away for naps andtime with his Heavenly Father in
(07:14):
prayer.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
I know what you're thinkingabout right now.
Ah, yeah.
Naps.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Hey, you know, naps are, I likenaps.
I know you do.
You know, uh, I know you do.
You know when the, the best timefor prayer is and when?
(07:35):
Right before a nice nap.
That's true, true story.
I like what one, and I mentionedthis last episode as well.
I like what one of my favoritepreachers said some time ago
that, uh, he said that sometimesthe most Christian thing that,
that I can do is get away andtake a nap, a prayerful nap.
(07:58):
Increase mood and productivity.
Naps is good, baby.
All right.
I'm telling you, naps is good.
Well, you're digressing.
I, yeah, I do.
I, I I like naps.
What?
It's okay.
Anyway, I digress.
And, uh, yes.
Uh, proper boundaries are, arebiblical.
Jesus, Jesus said no to some.
(08:20):
You know, he, uh, he knew hisidentity and he knew his
mission, uh, was only to do whatthe father said.
And, uh, we see just one examplein John six I.
When he fed well over, uh,5,000, the, the text says 5,000
men and mm-hmm.
But there was, there was womenand children there too.
(08:42):
Mm-hmm.
So well over, uh, 5,000, uh, uh,he fed over, well, five with
some kids.
Sack lunch, man.
He had, uh, five loaves and twofishes.
His mom was like, I said thatfor you.
Can I, I've often thought,'causeyou know, I've, I listened to
other podcasts and, and, uh, andI watched, we, we, we really
(09:04):
appreciate what Dallas has donewith the chosen and, uh, but I
often wonder, uh, I what thiskid thought when, when the
disciples come up to her andsaid, Hey man.
Gimme your lunch.
I need that lunch.
The savior needs your lunch.
But, uh, the, I mean, the kiddidn't even get an honorable
(09:25):
mention.
Right.
But anyway, you know, but, uh,so the, but the people, this,
this was an ama.
Uh, I mean all, all laughteraside, all, all joking aside,
all, uh, the people were amazedand, and the word says that, uh.
They were amazed at what Jesushad done here with, with such a
(09:47):
small thing.
He fed'em and they had, they hadfood left over and the people
were amazed and it said thatJesus perceived that the people
intended to take him by forceand make him a king.
Mm.
But he knew that that wasn't hismission, right?
Yeah.
He, he, he, he knew that hismission was spiritual, not
(10:07):
political.
Mm.
Uh, and so he withdrew to themountain again to be alone by
himself.
Um.
In doing so, he was saying no tothe people.
His, he, sometimes you gotta sayno.
Uh, when we know our calling,when we understand our identity,
and we were able to say no.
So, but Jesus was doing this.
He was saying no to the peopleas he kept the Father's plan.
(10:30):
He stayed in step with theFather's plan.
Uh, and you know, it doesn't sayso in, in John's text, but um,
but when Jesus went up to themountain, I bet that he prayed.
And then I think you might havetaken a nap.
What do you think about that,Ben?
You're back to the naps.
Hey, I think you need to go takea nap.
(10:52):
But I mean, for sure he prayedand, and I don't know, maybe he
ma, he napped too.
I don't maybe know for sure notmentioned.
But you said that Jesus, I wannago back to you said that Jesus
said No, and that's so goodbecause I just want you all to
know that No.
Is a complete sentence.
It is.
(11:12):
If it's not part of God's planfor you, yeah, it is definitely
okay to say no.
Yeah.
Even when you're beingpressured, it's okay to step
away, draw that boundary lineand say, no, this is not what
God has for me at this time.
Yeah.
It's not easy in the moment,like I already said.
It took me a while to get tothat point, but I assure you
(11:34):
that it will be totally worthit.
Yeah.
Because what the Lord has donewith me since, uh, and it's been
a year, it's been a year over ayear, a year and a half now.
Yeah.
Well, since I walked away fromthat.
Yeah.
And what the Lord has done is.
Incredible.
So I can assure you it's worthit.
Say no if you need to say no.
(11:56):
Right, right.
It's uh, our.
Our, his plan is fulfilledthrough us by obedience.
Right.
We mentioned that last, and we,and we just mentioned it now,
it's worth, worth mentioning.
He, he definitely blesses ourobedience.
Yeah.
And he's certainly blessed,blessed yours.
When, when he closes one doorand we're obedient to that, he
will, he will mm-hmm.
(12:16):
Kick open the next door withboth feet.
Yeah, he will.
Yeah.
So.
So, all right.
Uh, so we gotta, we gotta find asecure center point between two
dangerous ditches.
Mm-hmm.
One is selfishness.
Whew.
Living from the flesh or shiningthe light on.
Me, me, me.
(12:37):
Right.
It's all about me.
Well, that's what we're sayinghere.
It's, it's not mm-hmm.
It's not all about me.
Uh, and the other is, is losingyourself to the point that
you're, you're just.
Becoming a burned out peoplepleaser, right?
Uh, with a fake smile and anabsence of real love.
Four people in the mission.
(12:57):
Yeah.
So we gotta, first and foremost,we gotta, we gotta follow his
plan, we gotta lead in love.
Mm-hmm.
If, if we're, if we're losinglove along the way, then that's
probably not his plan.
And, and, or we might, or wemight need to, um, to check
ourselves and our, or checkourselves with them in our quiet
time and ask them, you know,where, where's that?
(13:20):
Why am I not able to lead andlove in this area?
Where, where's what's, what'sthe wound in that?
There's, there's a conversationfor another time.
Right.
So, and we'll, and we'll get toit.
We'll come back to that, um, inlater episodes.
Yeah.
I'm just picturing that, thatsmile that says I'm fine.
Yeah.
But inside you're like, fine.
One, one laundry load away fromhaving a full blown breakdown
(13:43):
because you know, I'm fineactually means.
I have feelings inside needingexpressed.
Yeah.
So men take note when your wifesays, oh, I'm fine.
She may actually need to talk,or maybe she needs a hug.
There's just a little free bonusfor you today.
Or she needs some space.
I'm just saying maybe she needssome space.
(14:04):
That could be too.
Yeah.
A yeah.
That's a great.
Tip, babe.
Yeah, yeah.
Gotta We, we, it's, it'simportant to understand, to, to
be able to work with each otherthere.
Yeah.
Uh, fine isn't always good.
In fact, uh, I've learnedthrough experience of fine is
rarely good.
Um, but let's keep moving.
I've, I've heard other acronymsfor that.
(14:25):
Uh, and anyway, like I said,we're, we're gonna keep, they
all basically go back to thesame thing.
Yeah.
We're gonna keep moving on that.
So, so how, how do we.
Get centered and, and getcentered, stay centered and keep
out of the ditches.
Uh, one word.
What's that?
Identity?
Yes.
(14:46):
When you know who you are inChrist, you can serve from
overflow, not obligation.
You nailed it.
And that's where that is.
And it that to serve from, fromoverflow.
Remember in last episode, Isaid, I wanna be so full that I
don't even have to bend.
Right.
I just want it to pour out.
Right?
Yeah.
Because when I'm serving fromobligation.
Yeah, I'm, I'm doing it outwithout really wanting to.
(15:10):
Yeah.
Yeah.
You nailed that one, babe.
That's good.
Identity serves from overflow,not obligation.
And that comes from knowing whoyou are in Christ, which is your
true identity.
That's it, man.
The, the key to finding andstaying, uh, at a center point,
staying inside the Lord's well,is, is consistently.
(15:32):
Seeking our identity in him.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, it's, I mean, if you've, ifyou've been in the church for a
while or, or if you're even, youmay have heard, you know,
identity in Christ.
Identity in Christ.
Yeah.
But it's not cliche.
'cause we got our, our, ourcalling is found inside our
identity in Christ.
And we talk about that a lot.
And the reviving recovery.
(15:53):
Mm-hmm.
Unbound content.
Yeah.
Um.
Uh, the al the alternative when,uh, usually results in an
endless downward spiral ofunnecessary obligations that are
most always I.
Always tangled up and what Johnrecognizes as, as the lust of
the flesh, the lust of the eyes,and the boastful pride of life.
(16:14):
Mm.
And that's what we're to die to.
Yeah.
The, the lust of the flesh, thelust of the eyes, and the
boastful pride of life.
That's what, that's what we.
Seek in the world as we'reoperating from the flesh.
Mm-hmm.
These three challenges are atthe forefront of what we must
die to as we, as we're called inChrist to, to die to self.
(16:36):
This is what our flesh wantsand, and what the world defines
as the good stuff.
Right.
And, and, and I'll admit, youknow, uh, that I pursued this
stuff for the majority of mylife.
The, the, the first.
Mm-hmm.
I would say almost 40 years ofmy life, I pursued what the
world called.
The good stuff.
(16:56):
The, yeah.
The uh, the sex, the drugs, therock and roll.
Yeah.
Uh, and, uh, but you know, asI've become a, a, uh, a true
believer in Christ, I've, I'vedone, I've done well to heed
through, uh, Paul's warning, uh,to the Romans that is to, to
live by the flesh is death.
Mm-hmm.
(17:17):
To live by the flesh is death,but.
Romans eight, six to live by thespirit is life and peace.
So, uh, that's a pretty gooddeal for dying to self, you
know?
Right.
We get to, we get to live by thespirit.
Uh, as, as we grow in the spiritand we get life in peace.
So what do you want?
Do you want death or do you wantlife in peace?
(17:39):
Mm, I I'm at this point, youknow, I'll take life in peace.
Please.
I'm, I'm going for life inpeace.
Yeah.
Um, ding, ding, ding, ding,ding.
Yep, I, amen.
Life and peace.
Number one answer.
Yeah.
Tell'em what, tell'em what theywant.
You've won Life in Peace.
Uh, but, uh, I, so I'mdefinitely in on life in peace.
Mm-hmm.
So when we operate in thespirit, we, we bear more
(18:01):
fruitful responses, uh, insteadof potentially we some
performances, uh, conducted invain.
'cause if we're operating, uh,and we've discovered this from
experience, if we're operatingoutside his, his will then.
Our efforts are in vain, right?
So, uh, and I, I, I'll.
(18:24):
In full transparency.
You know, the, the spirits stillrefining me on this one, you
know,'cause you know, there's,there's no perfection here.
But, you know, common, commonslogan around here is it is all
about progress, not perfection.
Right.
You know?
Well, well, we're all works inprogress for sure.
All of us works in progress and,and I'm still being refined in
(18:45):
this area.
No.
Yeah.
True story.
Believe it.
Believe it.
True story.
Hashtag true story.
Yeah.
But.
I can all too easily get caughtup in what the world considers
the good stuff as you put it.
Yeah.
And I too was, you know, formany years was caught up in the
good stuff.
Yeah.
You know, the alcohol, thedrugs, the, the promiscuity, you
(19:06):
know, you name it.
Right.
I, I did it.
I'm in full transparency here,but just even going to back to
my point earlier about how ittook me so long and more recent
to give up the performance partof my life.
Yeah, because it felt good.
Yeah.
Just like living in the worldcan feel good.
(19:31):
Yeah.
But it doesn't.
It isn't good for us.
It doesn't really fulfill, doesit?
No, it sure doesn't.
At the end of the day it, it'sempty.
Right?
But when God find, when Godreally spoke to me, or maybe it
was more when I really listened,'cause I'm sure he was speaking
to me earlier, but when I reallylistened to what he was saying,
(19:54):
that it's not about performance,it's about worship.
It was time to give up thestage.
Yeah.
And it was time to step onto aplatform of presence.
Yeah.
And worship him and praisepresence and Yeah.
Presence and praise.
Yeah.
And worship.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
The stage I, I love, I, Ilearned a long time ago that the
(20:15):
stage is for performance and aplatform is for worship.
Yep.
And so I love that he has calledme out of the performance.
Yeah.
Platform or performance stage.
Yeah.
And has.
Moved me to a place of presenceand worship with him.
(20:36):
Right.
That's an upgrade.
I would definitely say it'sdefinitely an upgrade.
I would definitely say that's anupgrade.
And I, and I've, I've seen youin, in both on the stage and on
the platform, and I, I'd takethe platform, I, I'd take, I'd
watch you all day long on aplatform.
Oh, thanks babe.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, you might be a littlebiased on that, but, well, I, I
(20:58):
dunno, but thank you.
Alright.
As your husband, my opinionmatters.
It does.
It definitely does.
So, but what about scorekeeping?
Oh boy.
Score keeping.
Oh no.
Gotta go there.
Mm-hmm.
Track and performance kind ofsounds like the boastful pride
of life.
Uh, and aren't we supposed tosteer clear of that kind of
(21:20):
nonsense?
Sense.
So correct me if I'm wrong here,but, but when, when we're guided
by the spirit and, and we'reseeking to find our true
identity in Christ, shouldn'tlove be at the forefront of, of
his plans for us, you wouldthink?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, uh, I hope that Paul and,and, uh, first Corinthians, uh,
(21:42):
the, the first Corinthians, uh.
13.
It's, it's common.
You've, you've probably heard itat, at many weddings.
Yeah.
And, uh, so, but I hope thatPaul's first Corinthians, uh, 13
passage convicts you as much asit does me, as we're reminded,
uh, that love doesn't brag.
(22:03):
Hmm.
And it's not arrogant.
Arrogant is, is pride overboard?
Way overboard.
Um.
So love doesn't brag.
Love isn't arrogant.
Uh, likewise.
It's, it's love is patient, kindand not jealous, right?
Uh, love doesn't actunbecomingly, uh, which is means
(22:26):
that, you know, love doesn't actlike a jerk.
Love, love doesn't shine, shinethe light on themselves, right?
I think that would come back toarrogance.
Yeah.
Um, and it doesn't seek its own,uh, love isn't provoked.
And it takes no account of wrongsuffered, right.
(22:47):
Wow.
Blemo.
Mm-hmm.
Blemo.
Right?
Consider that, you know, we'veheard it many times, but have we
actually considered it?
But because,'cause love is thegreat commandment.
Mm-hmm.
Love, uh, I mean, we're calledto, to love the Lord our God,
the Lord is one.
Uh, love the Lord and love ourneighbors as ourselves.
And that's a call to loveourselves.
(23:09):
You know?
So, but, and this is what loveis.
So have, we've heard it.
But have we considered it?
Have we, do we, do we love Godthat way?
Do we love ourselves that way?
And do, uh, do we love, uh,others that way?
Yeah.
So when, when we really taketime to read it slowly.
And, and I would encourage you,and I love what our pastor says,
(23:30):
uh, he's read the word slowly.
Yeah.
I remember the first time I, I,I heard that.
And I, and I.
Started reading the word slowlyand I, I was able to pick up,
able to pick up much more.
So when we take time to read theword slowly.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, conviction hits pretty hardthen.
Yeah.
When we're reading the wordslowly, love, love has no place
(23:54):
for score keeping.
Yeah.
There's no place forscorekeeping in love, so excuse
me while I repent quietly.
Uh, good lord.
What's Sege my dear?
Lovely wife.
Uh, well, yeah, sadly, um, Ihave to say that I've done that
many times.
Yeah.
(24:14):
I didn't go as far as to make upa tally chart and post it on the
fridge or anything, but althoughthe thought did cross my mind
Yeah.
Well, but just so you and thekids could be reminded of, of
all that I've done.
Right.
Especially when I feel like I'mbeing, I'm.
Been overlooked, you know?
Right.
And, and my dad and I seem tohave a scorecard going right now
(24:36):
about who is calling who andwhen.
Right.
And if you're listening, dad,I'm trying to get better at
that, but, but you know, he'llcall me and he'll say, Hey,
remember who I am?
And I'll be like, oh yeah.
Do you remember who I am?
Because it's been a week sinceyou've called me.
Oh, there that is.
Do you know how many times I'vetried to call you?
And this is how many timesyou've called me.
So yeah, I know all about this.
(24:57):
Score keeping thing.
But you're right.
I think, I think maybe you mightwant, I need to work on that a
little more.
And I, I think need to, youmight have to learn how to play
Rummy cube.
You might need to learn how toplay Rummy cube.
Yes.
Yeah.
But I've, uh, but my dad plays alot of Rummy Cube.
That's what he's referring to,right?
Yeah, he is.
Uh, I, not that this, not thatwe're keeping score here, but I,
(25:21):
I think I've done worse.
You have, you have done worse.
You know, I'm trying, I'm nottrying to one up you, but I
think I, I think I can go alittle below you, but, uh, I
have, uh, I bust out a bunch ofchores.
Uh, I bust out a workout or prepfood for the week.
I, I bathe the pups, feed thecat, unload the dishwasher, and
after I forwarded the laundrytwice.
(25:42):
Uh, and Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
And why isn't everybody reallyimpressed with me?
Why?
What?
Look at all I've done and then Iget nothing.
Nothing but crickets fromanybody because, you know, you
gotta be careful.
It is just one thing I learned,uh, or early in recovery from my
brother Steve, and he, he said,careful with those expectations,
(26:05):
bro.
Careful, careful.
Yeah.
Your expectations of otherpeople let you down every time.
So I, but I gotta ask myself.
I'm doing all this stuff andI'm, and I'm looking for, for
praise.
I'm looking for a man.
I'm looking for the attaboy man.
Man, you really crushed it,dude.
Um, and it didn't get this, so,so I gotta ask myself, me.
(26:28):
Uh, did, did you do all that forrecognition or did you do it
because that's what love does inour family's home.
Yeah.
That's what love does.
Did I do it for recognition ordid I do it for love?
You know, as a Christ follower,I aim at the, I aim at the
ladder, I aim at, uh, doing itoutta love.
Uh, and I'm doing my best tomove away from sort of doing it
(26:52):
for recognition.
Yeah.
In the meantime, I.
I gotta write an episode calledthe The Anointed and Silently
appreciated.
I'll do that one all on my own.
You can put that in seasonthree.
Yeah.
That could be all on you.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
Really anointed and silentlyappreciated.
(27:14):
Silently appreciated.
Well, clearly.
Clearly we know that, uh, wordsof affirmation must be your love
language.
Well, you know, they're in theresomewhere, but, all right.
Acts of service maybe too.
Yes, yes.
Hey fam, here are threetakeaways that you can actually
walk out this week.
(27:34):
Yeah.
Do you wanna start us off withthe first one?
Yeah.
Yeah, absolutely.
Number one and only three thisweek.
Yeah.
So the first one is invite theHoly Spirit into your daily.
Mm-hmm.
That's a big deal.
Invite the Holy Spirit into yourdaily schedule.
Ask him, what do you, who do youwant me?
What do you want me to do today?
(27:55):
Who do you want me to servetoday?
And how should I do that?
Yeah.
And then check your motives.
Are you loving from overflow orare you hoping for applause?
Right?
And if it's applause, you know,maybe join Allen in praying over
for a few moments.
You may forwarded the laundrytwice, but, but seriously, you
(28:19):
know, ask yourself, are youloving from overflow or hoping
for applause?
Because checking your motivesand your heart.
Yeah.
Is what we have to do.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And number three, uh, don'terase your personality just to
look holy.
Mm.
Don't no self erasure.
Don't be that person.
(28:41):
Don't, don't try to be holy.
Just, just, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We, if we gotta try to be holy,then we probably need to sit
with the Lord.
We gotta increase our intimacy.
Yeah.
Uh, with the Lord.
We gotta sit in and we got thatsecret space that we've talked
about several times, uh, throughthis season, um, last season.
(29:02):
But, uh, but we don't wannaerase our personality No.
To look holy, no.
All right.
So, servants should never be,uh, from a fake identity.
Remember, our identity shouldalways be found in Christ.
'cause our identity in Christ,inside that identity is our
purpose.
Yes.
As we aim to serve, as we'vebeen served.
(29:25):
Our service is entirelyrelational.
Absolutely.
It's, it's not about religion.
Mm-hmm.
It's not about looking holy,it's about being relational.
Yeah.
It's about love.
It's about forgiveness, it'sabout relation.
Mm-hmm.
So, so be yourself and, and useyour God-given talents to serve
others as you're led by thespirit.
Yes.
(29:45):
And also set healthy boundaries.
Yeah.
I mean, Jesus did.
If someone drains you every timeyou're around them.
It's okay to love them with alittle distance.
You know who that person is anda lot just popped in your head.
Right.
Right.
You know who that person is, youknow who it is, but set that
boundary.
Yeah.
If, if they're draining, youlove them from a distance, pray
(30:08):
for them.
Pray for lot.
Pray with them.
And pray for yourself, uh, froma distance for as long as it
takes.
Yes, absolutely.
So, well, let's wrap this up,babe.
Yeah.
We're gonna wrap it up.
Uh.
So here's the truth, when we dieto ourselves, uh, and that's,
that's a journey.
Mm-hmm.
You know, that's a, uh, the, theword calls it sanctification.
(30:30):
We don't want to get into bigreligious words, but
sanctification.
That's our, our journey ofbeing, uh, sanctified and, and
gaining the fruit.
Uh, of the spirit along the way,you know, and, uh, and finding,
uh, discovering our identity inChrist.
But so what, but all that tosay, when we die to ourselves,
we don't disappear.
Mm.
(30:51):
Lemme say that again.
When we die to ourselves, wedon't disappear.
No.
But he makes us more transparentso that Jesus' light can shine
through us.
You don't have to lose yourhumor, your story, or your
voice.
You just have to let Jesus driveit all forward.
Don't, don't drive it yourself.
Let him give Jesus the wheel.
(31:13):
Right.
Isn't that how the song goes?
Absolutely.
Jesus.
Take the wheel.
So give him the wheel.
Yeah.
It's a, and it's important toremember, uh, but, and it is
important to remember anythingthat Paul wrote, but go, uh,
right now it comes to mind.
Galatians two 20.
Uh.
You're not living life alone.
(31:33):
You're right.
Uh, remember, we're not alone.
None of us are ever alone by hisHoly Spirit.
Christ lives in you.
Yes.
Yeah.
I.
Just take a and and sit in that.
Yeah.
None of us are by his spirit.
Christ lives in us.
And that means that yourpurpose, your peace, and your
(31:56):
personality are all being madenew in Christ.
Yes.
I love that.
And we love y'all, so keep yourheart soft.
Keep your boundaries firm.
Yeah.
And of course, keep your coffeestrong.
Absolutely.
Keep your coffee strong.
Oh, keep your coffee strong.
We love strong coffee aroundhere.
(32:17):
We do.
We do.
And if you're secretly, uh, andif you, uh, secretly are
tallying how many times youserved this week, you know, get
rid of that.
How many times you called yourdad this week?
Let it go, right?
Yeah.
Let it go.
Uh, so there's no need to rip upthat scorecard, let it go.
(32:39):
'cause, and know that Jesus seesthe Lord, sees what you're
doing.
Mm-hmm.
And, and, and like the word saysas as.
As you sit with him, uh, hehears your prayers.
Yeah.
He sees your service and, and hewill reward you what, what
you've done.
And secretly he will reward you.
Absolutely.
Not that we do it for a reward.
(33:00):
No, but I mean, man, that wouldbe out of obligation.
That would be out of obligation.
And that's, you know, not thewindow, not what we're talking
about out the window.
That's right.
Overflow.
But understand he sees you.
Yeah.
You know, I got to, um, I wanna,uh.
I, I met this kid yesterday and,uh, I was at a shopping center
(33:24):
and, and I, uh, just, he just,the lord really spotlighted him.
And I got in my truck and, andI, I heard, where are you going?
Mm.
And so I went back.
In fact, he was out in the.
He was getting the carts andthat, and he just looked sad,
just looked sad.
And he was quiet and he, and,but I, but so I went back, I
(33:46):
made a circle and, and I wentback and, and, uh, and I asked
him, you know, Hey, hey, hey,how you doing man?
You know, and uh, I was like,this might sound weird, you
know, uh, strange, strange whiteguy coming up to you, talk to
you about Jesus.
And I was like, but where doyou, where do you stand with
Jesus, man?
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, and.
(34:09):
He was, uh, and it wa I did thisbecause the Lord said, go back
and mm-hmm.
And, you know, he was, uh, hewas like, I know Jesus.
Yeah.
And, uh, and I wouldn't haveexpected to hear that, but he
goes, he goes, I don't, I don'treally go to church right now,
but you know, I, uh, uh, Isometimes I just like to sit and
(34:31):
talk with them.
Mm.
And I was like, cool man.
And it's, uh, and that's.
And that wasn't, and I didn't dothat because, you know, I
thought, you know, I, I did that'cause the Lord said, go talk to
this kid.
Yeah.
And, and he, and, and I waslike, well, and what the Lord
told me to say is that I seeyou.
I.
Mm.
I was like, Jesus says that hesees you and, and he loves you
(34:55):
where you're at.
And, and you should have seenthis kid's.
Aw, this kid's countenancechange.
Yeah.
And he thanked me several times.
And it's not about me.
I'm not, I'm not blowing myselfup here'cause I, I didn't do it
for me.
And I, I would've never donethat of myself, but, right.
But.
But the, the point is that, thatJesus sees us, the our Lord, our
(35:17):
our creator.
God sees everything, and I wouldencourage you as, as, as you
walk with him and as he promptsyou to do such a thing.
When he does that, don't missthat opportunity to, to let some
'cause this.
This might have been.
It could have changed the, thepoint of this guy, this guy's
day.
(35:38):
Yeah.
Because he was, he was, but hewas lifted up by that.
Yeah.
That someone would come back.
That someone would, that that,that the Lord would, uh, and
that the, that the Lord wouldsay that he sees, yeah.
Me.
He sees you.
And, um, so rock on Thomas.
(35:59):
The Lord sees you, man.
All right.
And he loves you and he seesevery one of you as well.
Yeah.
So next week we are talkingabout leading from the low
place, having humility overhype.
Yeah.
And this too, you know, we mightstep on a few toes here too.
We seem to be, uh, stepping onsome toes in a world that that
(36:20):
celebrates self-promotion andplatforms and curated influencer
lifestyles, but.
We'll dive into some sscriptural scriptures that will
make us think twice about that.
Yeah, I know.
My ti I'm getting tongue tied.
It's alright.
Scriptures, but we can't wait,uh, until we come back and talk
to you about leading from thelow place.
(36:41):
So until then, stay faithfullyinvested.
'cause when you are faithfullyinvested, God brings the
increase.
Yes, he does.
God bless every one of you andwe will talk to you next week.
Have a great week.
Talk with you next week.
Absolutely.
We never wanna talk at you.
God bless.
Bye-bye.
Thanks for joining us onFaithfully Invested with Allen
(37:04):
and Stacy Jo.
If today's conversationencouraged you, challenged you,
or helped you see your callingmore clearly, don't keep it to
yourself.
That's right.
Share it with a friend.
Leave a five star review andkeep leaning into God's
blueprint for your life, yourleadership, and your legacy.
So until next time, remember,when you invest in his kingdom,
(37:24):
he brings the increase.
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