January 10, 2025 • 33 mins
Ever wondered how faith and personal growth can transform your life, even during the toughest storms? Join me, the Maestro, along with Sarge and our dear friend Mark, as we reflect on an incredible 2024 and step into 2025 with renewed hope and purpose. From moving homes and changing jobs to celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries, our journey is a testament to the enduring love of God and the unwavering faith that carried us through our personal ups and downs. We share heartfelt stories of navigating grief, embracing blessings, and witnessing profound growth while centering our lives on trust, faith, and development.
As we welcome the promise of new beginnings in 2025, we focus on aligning our lives with God's plan through the power of Psalm 51—a reminder of the joy found in a willing and open spirit. We share insights on balancing planning with surrender to divine guidance, revealing how prioritizing "faith, family, friends, fitness" can steer us amidst life's demands. Through prayer, praise, and the strength of authentic community, we underscore the importance of accountability and reflection, inviting you to embark on this spiritual journey with us as we embrace the joy of living purposefully and in harmony with God's will.
We have BIG plans at Foxhole Symphony and sure could use your financial support. Would you prayerfully consider a small monthly contribution to support us in our mission to catalyze transformation in the hearts of men? Support Our Mission
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the
transformational value of men inauthentic community.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
In our foxhole.
Men are equipped to buildrelationships that foster
belonging, accountability andgrowth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in
isolation and instead join us onthe journey from broken to
whole.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hello everyone.
They call me the Maestro, andwe are back in the foxhole where
we actively pursue belonging,accountability and growth
through authentic relationships.
No masks, no agendas, just ironsharpening iron.
Steve and Mark are in thefoxhole and it's all about their
word for 2025.
You just had a word pop intoyour head, didn't you?
(00:50):
Well, get comfortable, openyour notes app and let's get
this thing started.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, welcome back to Foxhole Symphony Podcast.
I'm Sarge here with my goodfriend, mark.
How are you, hey bro?
How are you?
I'm doing great, doing great,and happy new year, oh you
caught me off guard with thatone.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, that's right, here we are 2025.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Can you believe it?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
No, my goodness no no , not, not, not prepared
Ill-prepared is the word I woulduse, but, but I'm optimistic as
usual.
Gum of glass, half full guy, asyou know, and I'm going to look
at it where God's this plan,this journey that we're on
together, and the path that hehas me on is a good one, a
fruitful one.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, amen.
For both of us together,absolutely, absolutely,
absolutely, yeah and wow 2024.
I mean, what a year, mygoodness.
Bro, we went screaming past ourthree-year anniversary for the
(01:57):
podcast Congratulations, I know,I know, we're in season four.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Can you believe it?
No, no, there are some greatshows that only make it about
this far, so it's so funny.
You notice, when we have guests, they often say wow,
congratulations.
Some people do two of these andstop.
You and I are on episode 83.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And our three-year anniversary was end of November,
right after Thanksgiving.
So Right yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, and they say that and we're like, really yeah
, really, people do fourepisodes and quit, we're still
talking.
We don't know if anybody'slistening, but we're still
talking.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yes, there's somebody out there that needs this.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So here's a question for you, right out of the gate,
with no preparation whatsoever,none.
Well, listen, I'm just going toask you the question I haven't
asked you yet.
So first time coming at you,all right, going to ask you the
question I haven't asked you yet.
So first time coming at you,all right, you could sum up 2024
for you in your life, your walkwith God, your family, your.
(02:53):
You know this, everything you,everything you get to do.
If you could sum up 2024 in aword or phrase, what would it be
?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
His faithful love endures forever.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What would it be?
His faithful love enduresforever.
That's a.
That's a good one man.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
That dude, it's almost like people are like wait
a minute, he was prepared forthat, that was so easy for me.
I have goose flesh all over myarms.
See, look, um, it's.
It's the word rollercoastercomes to mind.
But my Father in heaven provedhis faithfulness to me over and
over and over, and sometimesthat means answering prayers
(03:33):
with victory and sometimes thatmeans walking me through some of
the most challenging moments inmy life, you know, with death,
with grief, with good news, withpositive things, either at work
or at home, with health, withyou know, things for Jack at
school, whatever it is, it was aroller coaster, it really was,
(03:56):
and maybe life is just like thatfor everybody.
It's not just me, but hisfaithful love endures forever.
The Psalm reminds me over andover that I can count on him.
So that's my short answer.
How'd I do?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's pretty good man, that is pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Do I get to turn it around back at you?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Unbelievable, okay.
So yeah, let's see for me 2024.
I mean, I could come up with anumber of different words, but
what comes to mind is growth.
I feel like man God juststretched me and grew me and
matured me and sharpened me andrefined me and drew me close to
(04:43):
him and showed me more of who heis.
I mean all these things I mean.
So it's in one word, I wouldsay.
I would say growth, but youknow, I what comes to mind as
well is, you know, there were,there were some storms.
I mean, the year started outwith a wicked storm and, um, uh,
you know, storms can bedevastating but they can also
(05:07):
clear a path, cleansing forwhat's to come.
Yeah, right.
And you know, of course, here Iam a year later and, and I
believed that along the way,like you're going to clear a
path, you're going to dosomething new, you're, you know,
just the trust, learning totrust him, learning to have
faith through all of that, and,um, uh, and struggling with that
(05:30):
, as you know, I mean, along theway.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Oh, bro, I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you,
but let's just set this recordstraight for everybody.
You physically move your family, you change jobs, sold cars,
but you made, like, all the bigdecisions in this year in the
last nine months, yeah, yeah,Turned 50, celebrated 25 years
(05:53):
of marriage.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
It was a it was a milestone year.
It was a milestone year and oneof I mean completely being
completely uprooted.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And you grew, and your word was growth, totally.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Totally.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
You know you got to work those muscles hard to grow
them and you did.
You worked your change, you'rewow.
Your paradigm shift was epic.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yes, big time.
And you know.
So I would say growth and peace.
You know, growth and peace, Imean, those are the two words
that come to mind.
So, what about 2025?
As we look ahead and before weeven get there, right, like and
listeners may have heard us talkabout this, and maybe you
listeners do this yourselves,but Mark and I like to choose a
word or phrase you know to focuson for the year, to bring
(06:42):
before the Lord, and maybe it'san area we need to grow, maybe
it's something that some aspectof God that we want to
experience more.
Or, you know, uh, somethingthat we just sense God doing in
us.
You know, in prior years, I youknow, one of mine was embrace
solitude, um, you know, mark'swas chiseled right, and so, you
(07:03):
know, deeply meaningful,something that just we can come
back to over and over again andask the Lord to do a work in us.
And so, yeah, that's what we'dlike to talk about today and
encourage you all to spend sometime in prayer If this is not a
normal practice to maybe startpracticing this year and find a
(07:24):
word or phrase uh, that, uh, uhthat you would like to focus on
for the year.
So, so, mark, what?
Uh?
Yeah, I know, uh, you knowwe're just getting started with.
Sometimes it takes a month ortwo to to solidify, but, um,
what are your thoughts at thispoint as far as a word for 2025?
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, let me start by stepping back a little bit.
Chiseled.
Chiseled had dual purpose forme last year.
The easy one was that I wantedto challenge myself to a new
level of fitness.
I think chiseled is a bit of astretch for where I am, but
(08:06):
still doing well on that side.
I'm active.
I'm reading and listening moreto podcast blogs and reading
articles about health andwellness.
I'm all hyped up about not onlywhat I'm putting in my mouth now
which, by the way, over thelast couple of months has not
been great Too many Italiandelis in my past, but I'm the
(08:27):
nitrate king but I am nowlearning more about what my
body's absorbing right, asopposed to I can put things in
my mouth and they're good, butif your body's not absorbing
them, well then it doesn'tmatter.
So, yeah, but that's thechiseled side.
On the physical mark part, whatit really was about and I'm
(08:47):
looking at the book over on mydesk right across from me is
God's Chisel, is the skit guy'sbook and the DVD of God's Chisel
, and that's really where thatcame from.
For those who haven't heard metalk about this a hundred times,
you know, god's Chisel is justsimply about the fact that I
choose to put on layers andlayers and layers of garbage
(09:08):
crap.
The world pours things onto me,other people pour things onto
me and before you know it, Idon't look anything like the
masterpiece that God made, andso I needed to give him a chance
to chisel away some of theworld, especially the noise and
messiness of the world in mylife, and I did do that.
I think I was successful intrying to make that happen.
(09:28):
So that's a step back, steppingforward.
I think my word or phrase forthis year is going to have
something to do with my prayerlife, and I'm reminded by a
senior pastor of the church I goto uses the acrostic for pray
I'm reminded by a senior pastorof the church I go to uses.
The acrostic for pray waspraise, repent, ask and yield.
P-r-a-y praise, repent, ask,yield.
(09:50):
And I even had a chance veryrecently to deploy that in my
prayer life and it was reallyfruitful for me.
I had a few things on my heartthat I wanted to confess and
needed to repent for, and,starting out in a position of
praise and knowing you know whatrepentance looks like in my
(10:13):
life, you know the turn awayfalls into the category of too
easy to say and not easy to do,for me.
I'm just oh, turn away, sure, no, that turning is, or should be,
painful.
I think in some way it soundslike a stretch I do in yoga when
I'm screaming and then asking,asking for God's forgiveness and
(10:36):
yielding to his almighty power.
Um, I think that's where I'mheaded.
This is not fully baked, butpray, p-r-a-y, praise, repent,
ask and yield seems to be whatI'm feeling.
I need to spend, as I mentionedto you before we started, I do
need to spend some dedicated anddisciplined time in a quiet
(11:00):
place with the Holy Spirit andask God what he wants me to
focus on and I have to admit toyou, I haven't done that yet
about this, but that's what I'mthinking.
So that's my head answer.
My heart answer will come in,maybe the next episode.
How about you?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, I'm a little torn.
I'm a little torn.
There's been a handful ofthings that have come up Um, I
mentioned earlier.
You know, uh, for me, you knowthe the, uh, the act of
embracing solitude has been ummonumental in in my life and um,
(11:36):
that being a phrase of mine,looking back, uh, kind of like
you referenced chiseled and man,have I learned to really
embrace and enjoy solitude andjust extended periods of time
being quiet and alone with theLord?
(11:58):
As I go into this year, I've gottwo words, and one is very
practical and the other one ismore of a state of being, and uh
, and maybe it's both, maybeit's both.
I'm, I'm kind of asking God,what, what do you want to do
with these here and how can Imaybe put them together?
Um, I think, maybe, maybe theycan be put together, maybe the
(12:24):
words, the phrase is simple joy,simple joy.
Um, you know, very practicallyspeaking, uh, you know I'm a
complex person, you know.
I mean, I mean ask, you know mydarling wife and my family,
like you know, everything'sintense and complex and you know
(12:44):
, um, it's just who I am.
Um, but going into this year, um, I feel like God is calling me
to really simplify, um, you knowto, to lead just more of a
simple life.
Uh, being more of a simpleton,um, you know, I think about my
(13:08):
parents.
I was mentioning to you, evenbefore we pressed record, I'm
going to go visit my parents andyou're like oh, what are you
going to do with them?
And it's like I'm going to sitwith them.
You're going to be present, I'mgoing to go visit my parents and
you're like, oh, what are yougoing to do with them?
And it's like I'm going to sitwith them, you're going to be
present, I'm going to be present, but they, they sit like they
don't.
You know they're not worldtravelers.
You know they, they don't, theydon't need to.
You know, go go to fancy placesor have fancy dinners.
You know they, they, they justthey, they very they love
(13:32):
routine.
They're just simple people,right, and I need more of that
in my life.
I need more of that in my lifeand I and I believe that will
lead to more contentment.
And and on the joy side, youknow it's just um, I'm going to
need, uh, strength andencouragement for this year,
(13:58):
like self-sustained strength andencouragement to combat
discouragement.
I know this to be true.
God is calling me to somethingthat I'm stepping into, that I
won't talk about just yet, butI'm excited about that and, as I
(14:20):
do, I know it's going to be.
It's not going to be quick,it's not going to be easy, and
so it's going to requireconsistency and discipline and
patience and, again, juststrength, and so I want that to
(14:44):
come from the joy of the Lord,like the joy of the Lord is my
strength.
I'm not talking about happiness, but amidst anything and
everything that might come myway, you know, just just being
filled with joy and exuding thatjoy for others around me, that
I, I need to.
I need that, and I and thosearound me need that, and so I
(15:06):
want to do that.
I want to be that for my familyand and be steady in that.
So that is, I'm looking forwardto that.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Well, it sounds like you might have to turn off the
immediate gratification button.
Oh, 100% I didn't say that sohard.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I took a hammer to it .
I took a hammer to it, it's,it's.
No, this is, this is long haulstuff.
You know, this is long haulstuff and and it's kingdom, it's
kingdom stuff, and so it's notabout me, it's about those that
I'm serving and will be serving,and that's it, period.
(15:49):
And it's about him, it's abouthim, it's about the Lord and his
movement, and so then, I wantto be still enough to recognize
that.
Get out of the way, um, and andknow that, like the lord is my
(16:09):
shepherd, I have all that I need, more than I need, and um, and
he will be my strength, and partof that too.
Like um, I think it's.
Is it Psalm 51 where it saysrestore to me the joy of my
salvation?
Um, I forget exactly whichPsalm.
I think it's Psalm 51, but, um,like I think of that too.
(16:30):
You know, walked with the Lordfor many years now and you know,
no matter how many years, likeI, I, I want to cling to that
joy of my salvation, that joy ofthe freedom we have in Christ,
and never, never, take that forgranted and have that just light
(16:51):
me up, day in and day out, in away that's contagious, in a way
that draws people not near tome but near to him and, um, you
know, that's it, that's it,period, just just.
Uh, you know a unified heartfocused on on him and um so
(17:13):
simple joy Got it Simple joy.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
51.10 is one of our favorites.
It created me a clean heart, ohGod, and put a new and right
spirit within me.
This is NIV.
Yeah 11 is do not cast me awayfrom your presence and do not
take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 is restore to me the joy ofyour salvation and sustain in me
a willing spirit.
Yes, 51.12.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
51, 12.
Oh, and sustain.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That's NRSV.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
NRSV and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Yeah, man, that, right there.
Oh man, just that word likewilling.
I'm going to look at some ofthe other translations and see
what, see if that's a differentword.
But man, a willing spirit, likethat's.
(18:06):
When I even just say thosewords and I ponder those words,
I meditate on those words, Ifeel free, like it's freeing.
Think of a willing spiritversus a resistant spirit.
Right, oh man, god, god, youknow, boy, what God could do
with a willing spirit.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I'm just sitting here thinking of some of our Bible
heroes.
You had guys like Joshua andJacob and others who were like
so anxious to go where God theywere willing like, show me, send
me, lord, right Samuel.
And then you had guys like Joband others who are like, no, not
going Nineveh, no, going totake a left, yeah, yeah, I'm
(18:58):
sorry.
Just spending time in the wordmakes my anecdotes.
My anecdotes used to be Calvinand Hobbes and now they're
biblical heroes.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It's interesting that willing spirit and the NLT says
and make me willing to obey you.
Make me willing to obey you,Wow, Then I will teach your ways
to rebels and they will returnto you.
(19:25):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
It is 51.
It's a good one.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Yeah, sustain me with a willing spirit, anyway.
So those are my words and, man,it's exciting.
You know I love a new year, theturn of a new year, you know.
A fresh beginning, new hope,it's.
You know his mercies are newevery morning and I feel like,
you know, many years ago, Istopped partying on New Year's
(19:54):
Eve and you know, gosh, it'sbeen many years that Christine
and I are in bed by probablynine.
I know, I know people give ussuch a hard time.
They're like you don't evenstay up to watch the ball drop.
I'm like, no, I have nointerest, like I literally have
no interest at all.
Um, and you know, I startedgoing to the gym the last few
(20:14):
years on new year's day.
There's like four people there,right, and it's like you know
there's if that you know at like6am, you know 7am, and it's
such a great way to start theyear and I'm not sitting here
boasting about it, Like Ibelieve me, I did plenty of
damage for plenty of years onnew year's eve, right,
(20:37):
especially as a young, young man.
Um, but boy, does it feel goodto start the year off, right,
and um, you know, uh, just befocused on him and his creation,
uh, and, and him in me and justjust being a good steward of
all that he's, he's given me,including my body.
But yeah, I used to be sodepressed, new Year's so
(21:02):
depressed, it was so depressingto me, and now there's like so
much hope and it's just I don'tknow.
I love it, I love the turn ofthe new year.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Well, so do.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
I.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Love the turn of the new year, so do I.
The midnight thing is not a—wedo it with our boys.
If they're home and they oftenare they'll be around and we'll
celebrate and hug and welcome in.
You know, we'll thank God forthe past year and say thank you
for the new one.
But I mean, I could have beenasleep from 10 to 1150 and then
(21:39):
get up to see whateverding-a-ling on TV.
I just want the countdown.
I just.
I have no interest in the music.
I don't have interest in theshows.
I don't.
I'm sorry, I'm just not hip atall.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Right.
So here's a question Do youremember where you were for the
for Y2K, 1999 to the newmillennia?
Do you remember where you know?
No, no, oh man, christine and Iwere in a, a, um, a chalet in
Vermont, um, like, hunkered down, we literally thought the world
(22:15):
was about to end, right, like Imean, it's just y2k mania,
right, new millennia,everything's gonna stop, the
grid is gonna right no, watcheswon't turn over the time.
Yeah nothing, right everythingcredit cards melt yeah, and we
and we, literally we were likehunkered down and we took
(22:36):
pictures not with our phones,because I don't think we had
cameras then but with film andwe took the clock off the wall
and it was nine o'clock and weturned the hour hand.
So, like right before midnight,took a a picture of ourselves
(22:57):
like pointing at the clock yeah,like, yeah, right, and uh, yeah
.
And then we, we woke up andeverything was fine.
We're like, oh, okay you lookoutside, yeah everybody's still
here, car engines still work.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Wow, I have no, zero, zero recollection of that that
time.
But, um, I think this F whatwe're going through now, just
this few minutes talking to you.
What a great process toactually dedicate time to be
thinking about what.
What might God be up to?
How do I get in line with hisplan?
(23:32):
Right, yeah, there's, you havea list right.
You're, you're.
You'll be talking about this inupcoming episodes, about
changes in your life, and Ican't wait.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
That's another great word.
Just alignment.
Yeah, just alignment.
Like getting man, I might needto swipe that one.
Nope, sorry, maybe that.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I'll sell it to you.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
It's like a URL.
You know, being aligned withhis will, with calling mission
purpose.
Um man, that that's a beautifulplace to be, that's a beautiful
plan.
I'm writing that one downalignment, yeah, I love, I love
to journal this time of yearespecially, you know, late
(24:15):
December, going into January andjust journaling and journaling
my prayers and spending a lot oftime just thinking about you
know where I've seen God at workin the last year.
What's?
You know what's changed?
You know how have I changed?
How has he changed me?
How have I changed?
(24:36):
How has he changed me?
And then, looking ahead, youknow where am I anticipating
seeing him work and in my life,and then mapping out my year
with the perfect year, theperfect year with the Lord and
my family and I and I, just Ilove it.
I love doing it.
Again, that doesn't need to beextravagant, but what are the
things, what are the areas oflife that you know need to be
(24:57):
planned out, maybe require someprioritization?
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I've seen your book a couple of times.
You've carried it around withyou or I've snuck into your
backpack.
I'm teasing, but I've seenthose plans.
So you, literally, yourpenmanship is terrible and so
you have nothing to worry aboutanybody, anybody copying your
notes, but I've seen youdedicate that time in a, in a
book, in a journal, to plan out,and I will tell you.
(25:24):
When I saw you do that, I think, wow, that is so like me, cause
you know I'm a planner and Ilove organizational tools.
And when my, when God opened myeyes to the holistic mark, the
relational, physical, emotional,spiritual, nutritional, on and
(25:46):
on and on all the parts of me,and I'm thinking how are you
doing in each of these areas?
Where have you surrendered?
Have you surrendered that toGod?
And seeking that alignment, Ihave to tell you, I'm reminding
myself now, and I'm looking atyou as closely as I can on my
(26:07):
iPhone to say that I really needto focus and be disciplined in
turning that conversation in myhead over to him, because I
could easily do this in my ownpower and come up with the
Vesper 2025 plan for every oneof those five or six categories
I just mentioned.
I'm sure there's four othercategories that you know.
(26:27):
Smart people will tell you youneed to plan out, Um, but I,
ultimately I, I, I want all ofme to be surrendered and aligned
to him, but I struggle.
I struggle with Putting himfirst.
(26:48):
Yeah, I put me first.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
And my family first, and so on and so forth.
But you know one of my mottos,my little silly phrase, right,
it's faith, family friends,faith, family friends, fitness
would be my Fs, my four.
I try to stay there, I try tokeep it simple.
I try to say faith, familyfriends, fitness.
(27:17):
Right, that's, those last twoare interchangeable for me.
But that's it, bro, that'sthat's what I try to offer to
him and try to keep God in themiddle of every day.
And there's work here.
Right, there's heart workrequired here.
Yeah, not an easy lesson reallyisn't, but it's all good.
(27:40):
I want to just spend a momenttalking about pray, because I'm
why, why would I pick that, thatword game, p-r-a-y praise,
repent, ask and yield.
And it has to do.
And I mentioned this to youbefore we started about just
updating my prayer life, whichalready is a very conversational
(28:01):
, open relationship I have withGod in prayer, I've decided to
adopt a very vocal yeah, I justI talk out loud to my God and I
get chances to do that everymorning, so I really enjoy that.
While I'm grounding or walkingor doing something else, I stay
(28:21):
there.
But there's another level hererequired, and it's the converse
of me throwing out my praise, myrepentance, asking and yielding
.
It's the listening part.
The other side of a healthy,thriving prayer life is, I think
(28:44):
, not only offering up to God,sometimes in the fetal position,
what my needs are and my youknow, my requests are, but also
giving the Holy Spirit real timeto work on those things with me
and guide me.
I think it probably has to dowith that alignment, but that's
(29:04):
where I'm, that's what I'm goingto be dedicating time to.
I just wanted to kind of fleshthat out for a minute.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I love it.
I love it and I want to comealong for the ride.
So I look forward to doing thatwith you.
And man, it's, it's I just thewords that come to mind are
better together, you know bettertogether.
Doing that in community, youknow, with others, is so
(29:31):
critical for encouragement,accountability, you know, all of
those great things that youknow set us up for success.
You know versus, you knowfailure for any number of
reasons, right, any number ofreasons.
(29:51):
And so I look forward to doingit with you and, yeah, you will
be right in the middle right inthe middle, but Better Together
our 2025 kickoff.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
I want to pray for you and for everyone that's
listening, that I understandthat this prayer, life, this
plan that we have, the choosingof words and phrases these are
all the game that you and I playto dedicate ourselves to our
God, to say that Father, Son andHoly Spirit are equally
(30:23):
important relationships in ourlives.
And we are going to bechallenged.
We know by doing this, we areputting a target on our chest.
Yeah, and there's going to bechallenging times this year.
We just are man.
I faced them last year withwork challenges and health
challenges and death in thefamily, challenges and things
(30:44):
like that.
And there's things you've gotto steel yourself up for and be
prepared and have people aroundyou that will support you and
stand by your side.
You are that for me, I am thatfor you.
I pray that for everybodyinvolved that you would steal
yourself up so you're strongwhen those tough challenges come
.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yes, well, thank you, brother, and I want to wish
everybody a fantastic 2025, ablessed 2025.
Everybody a fantastic 2025, ablessed 2025.
And if you've been walkingalone, man, I just want to tell
you you don't have to.
And so get plugged in, getconnected and and maybe commit
(31:30):
to, you know, doing 2025 inauthentic community with others,
and it will be better, it willbe better, and so, and maybe
you're doing that already and Ipray that you continue to do
that and continue to getsharpened and uh, uh, and may
God use you abundantly as aresult.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Who's in your foxhole ?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Amen.
Hey, good talk, brother, and uh, may it be an awesome year for
the Lord.
Amen, peace, peace.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
It's a fresh start, waiting on your first move.
I don't know about you, but I'mgoing to set up some purposeful
time with people I love andtrust to talk about this new
year.
I'm going to be asking somequestions, sharing some dreams
and see where God wants to movein my life and in the lives of
the people around me.
(32:15):
Man, it's an exciting time.
I pray that you grab hold of itand make it your own.
Lord, please continue to usethis podcast to impact the lives
of all who listen.
I ask that you would bring hopeand healing to each and every
one of them, lord.
Meet them right where they areand reveal yourself to them like
(32:36):
only you can do.
In Jesus' name amen.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it
and invite others to theFoxhole.
You can find us wherever youdownload your favorite podcast.
Be sure to subscribe so youknow when new episodes drop, and
please rate us and commentthere too, as it'll help us get
found by others who couldbenefit.
Find, follow and like us onyour go-to social media networks
by searching Foxhole Symphonyor visit foxholesymphonycom to
(33:03):
make it super easy to find us.
Drop us a line with feedback,questions, topic requests.
Who knows, maybe you'll be aguest on a future episode.
In the meantime, prepare tomove, embrace discomfort and
just be you.
Welcome to Foxhole Symphony, a podcast about the
transformational value of men inauthentic community.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
In our foxhole.
Men are equipped to buildrelationships that foster
belonging, accountability andgrowth.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Stop believing the lie that you can thrive in
isolation and instead join us onthe journey from broken to
whole.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Hello everyone.
They call me the Maestro, andwe are back in the foxhole where
we actively pursue belonging,accountability and growth
through authentic relationships.
No masks, no agendas, just ironsharpening iron.
Steve and Mark are in thefoxhole and it's all about their
word for 2025.
You just had a word pop intoyour head, didn't you?
(00:50):
Well, get comfortable, openyour notes app and let's get
this thing started.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Hey, welcome back to Foxhole Symphony Podcast.
I'm Sarge here with my goodfriend, mark.
How are you, hey bro?
How are you?
I'm doing great, doing great,and happy new year, oh you
caught me off guard with thatone.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, that's right, here we are 2025.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Can you believe it?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
No, my goodness no no , not, not, not prepared
Ill-prepared is the word I woulduse, but, but I'm optimistic as
usual.
Gum of glass, half full guy, asyou know, and I'm going to look
at it where God's this plan,this journey that we're on
together, and the path that hehas me on is a good one, a
fruitful one.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, amen.
For both of us together,absolutely, absolutely,
absolutely, yeah and wow 2024.
I mean, what a year, mygoodness.
Bro, we went screaming past ourthree-year anniversary for the
(01:57):
podcast Congratulations, I know,I know, we're in season four.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Can you believe it?
No, no, there are some greatshows that only make it about
this far, so it's so funny.
You notice, when we have guests, they often say wow,
congratulations.
Some people do two of these andstop.
You and I are on episode 83.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And our three-year anniversary was end of November,
right after Thanksgiving.
So Right yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, and they say that and we're like, really yeah
, really, people do fourepisodes and quit, we're still
talking.
We don't know if anybody'slistening, but we're still
talking.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yes, there's somebody out there that needs this.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
So here's a question for you, right out of the gate,
with no preparation whatsoever,none.
Well, listen, I'm just going toask you the question I haven't
asked you yet.
So first time coming at you,all right, going to ask you the
question I haven't asked you yet.
So first time coming at you,all right, you could sum up 2024
for you in your life, your walkwith God, your family, your.
(02:53):
You know this, everything you,everything you get to do.
If you could sum up 2024 in aword or phrase, what would it be
?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
His faithful love endures forever.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
What would it be?
His faithful love enduresforever.
That's a.
That's a good one man.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
That dude, it's almost like people are like wait
a minute, he was prepared forthat, that was so easy for me.
I have goose flesh all over myarms.
See, look, um, it's.
It's the word rollercoastercomes to mind.
But my Father in heaven provedhis faithfulness to me over and
over and over, and sometimesthat means answering prayers
(03:33):
with victory and sometimes thatmeans walking me through some of
the most challenging moments inmy life, you know, with death,
with grief, with good news, withpositive things, either at work
or at home, with health, withyou know, things for Jack at
school, whatever it is, it was aroller coaster, it really was,
(03:56):
and maybe life is just like thatfor everybody.
It's not just me, but hisfaithful love endures forever.
The Psalm reminds me over andover that I can count on him.
So that's my short answer.
How'd I do?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's pretty good man, that is pretty good.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Do I get to turn it around back at you?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Unbelievable, okay.
So yeah, let's see for me 2024.
I mean, I could come up with anumber of different words, but
what comes to mind is growth.
I feel like man God juststretched me and grew me and
matured me and sharpened me andrefined me and drew me close to
(04:43):
him and showed me more of who heis.
I mean all these things I mean.
So it's in one word, I wouldsay.
I would say growth, but youknow, I what comes to mind as
well is, you know, there were,there were some storms.
I mean, the year started outwith a wicked storm and, um, uh,
you know, storms can bedevastating but they can also
(05:07):
clear a path, cleansing forwhat's to come.
Yeah, right.
And you know, of course, here Iam a year later and, and I
believed that along the way,like you're going to clear a
path, you're going to dosomething new, you're, you know,
just the trust, learning totrust him, learning to have
faith through all of that, and,um, uh, and struggling with that
(05:30):
, as you know, I mean, along theway.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Oh, bro, I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you,
but let's just set this recordstraight for everybody.
You physically move your family, you change jobs, sold cars,
but you made, like, all the bigdecisions in this year in the
last nine months, yeah, yeah,Turned 50, celebrated 25 years
(05:53):
of marriage.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
It was a it was a milestone year.
It was a milestone year and oneof I mean completely being
completely uprooted.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And you grew, and your word was growth, totally.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Totally.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
You know you got to work those muscles hard to grow
them and you did.
You worked your change, you'rewow.
Your paradigm shift was epic.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yes, big time.
And you know.
So I would say growth and peace.
You know, growth and peace, Imean, those are the two words
that come to mind.
So, what about 2025?
As we look ahead and before weeven get there, right, like and
listeners may have heard us talkabout this, and maybe you
listeners do this yourselves,but Mark and I like to choose a
word or phrase you know to focuson for the year, to bring
(06:42):
before the Lord, and maybe it'san area we need to grow, maybe
it's something that some aspectof God that we want to
experience more.
Or, you know, uh, somethingthat we just sense God doing in
us.
You know, in prior years, I youknow, one of mine was embrace
solitude, um, you know, mark'swas chiseled right, and so, you
(07:03):
know, deeply meaningful,something that just we can come
back to over and over again andask the Lord to do a work in us.
And so, yeah, that's what we'dlike to talk about today and
encourage you all to spend sometime in prayer If this is not a
normal practice to maybe startpracticing this year and find a
(07:24):
word or phrase uh, that, uh, uhthat you would like to focus on
for the year.
So, so, mark, what?
Uh?
Yeah, I know, uh, you knowwe're just getting started with.
Sometimes it takes a month ortwo to to solidify, but, um,
what are your thoughts at thispoint as far as a word for 2025?
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, let me start by stepping back a little bit.
Chiseled.
Chiseled had dual purpose forme last year.
The easy one was that I wantedto challenge myself to a new
level of fitness.
I think chiseled is a bit of astretch for where I am, but
(08:06):
still doing well on that side.
I'm active.
I'm reading and listening moreto podcast blogs and reading
articles about health andwellness.
I'm all hyped up about not onlywhat I'm putting in my mouth now
which, by the way, over thelast couple of months has not
been great Too many Italiandelis in my past, but I'm the
(08:27):
nitrate king but I am nowlearning more about what my
body's absorbing right, asopposed to I can put things in
my mouth and they're good, butif your body's not absorbing
them, well then it doesn'tmatter.
So, yeah, but that's thechiseled side.
On the physical mark part, whatit really was about and I'm
(08:47):
looking at the book over on mydesk right across from me is
God's Chisel, is the skit guy'sbook and the DVD of God's Chisel
, and that's really where thatcame from.
For those who haven't heard metalk about this a hundred times,
you know, god's Chisel is justsimply about the fact that I
choose to put on layers andlayers and layers of garbage
(09:08):
crap.
The world pours things onto me,other people pour things onto
me and before you know it, Idon't look anything like the
masterpiece that God made, andso I needed to give him a chance
to chisel away some of theworld, especially the noise and
messiness of the world in mylife, and I did do that.
I think I was successful intrying to make that happen.
(09:28):
So that's a step back, steppingforward.
I think my word or phrase forthis year is going to have
something to do with my prayerlife, and I'm reminded by a
senior pastor of the church I goto uses the acrostic for pray
I'm reminded by a senior pastorof the church I go to uses.
The acrostic for pray waspraise, repent, ask and yield.
P-r-a-y praise, repent, ask,yield.
(09:50):
And I even had a chance veryrecently to deploy that in my
prayer life and it was reallyfruitful for me.
I had a few things on my heartthat I wanted to confess and
needed to repent for, and,starting out in a position of
praise and knowing you know whatrepentance looks like in my
(10:13):
life, you know the turn awayfalls into the category of too
easy to say and not easy to do,for me.
I'm just oh, turn away, sure, no, that turning is, or should be,
painful.
I think in some way it soundslike a stretch I do in yoga when
I'm screaming and then asking,asking for God's forgiveness and
(10:36):
yielding to his almighty power.
Um, I think that's where I'mheaded.
This is not fully baked, butpray, p-r-a-y, praise, repent,
ask and yield seems to be whatI'm feeling.
I need to spend, as I mentionedto you before we started, I do
need to spend some dedicated anddisciplined time in a quiet
(11:00):
place with the Holy Spirit andask God what he wants me to
focus on and I have to admit toyou, I haven't done that yet
about this, but that's what I'mthinking.
So that's my head answer.
My heart answer will come in,maybe the next episode.
How about you?
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well, I'm a little torn.
I'm a little torn.
There's been a handful ofthings that have come up Um, I
mentioned earlier.
You know, uh, for me, you knowthe the, uh, the act of
embracing solitude has been ummonumental in in my life and um,
(11:36):
that being a phrase of mine,looking back, uh, kind of like
you referenced chiseled and man,have I learned to really
embrace and enjoy solitude andjust extended periods of time
being quiet and alone with theLord?
(11:58):
As I go into this year, I've gottwo words, and one is very
practical and the other one ismore of a state of being, and uh
, and maybe it's both, maybeit's both.
I'm, I'm kind of asking God,what, what do you want to do
with these here and how can Imaybe put them together?
Um, I think, maybe, maybe theycan be put together, maybe the
(12:24):
words, the phrase is simple joy,simple joy.
Um, you know, very practicallyspeaking, uh, you know I'm a
complex person, you know.
I mean, I mean ask, you know mydarling wife and my family,
like you know, everything'sintense and complex and you know
(12:44):
, um, it's just who I am.
Um, but going into this year, um, I feel like God is calling me
to really simplify, um, you knowto, to lead just more of a
simple life.
Uh, being more of a simpleton,um, you know, I think about my
(13:08):
parents.
I was mentioning to you, evenbefore we pressed record, I'm
going to go visit my parents andyou're like oh, what are you
going to do with them?
And it's like I'm going to sitwith them.
You're going to be present, I'mgoing to go visit my parents and
you're like, oh, what are yougoing to do with them?
And it's like I'm going to sitwith them, you're going to be
present, I'm going to be present, but they, they sit like they
don't.
You know they're not worldtravelers.
You know they, they don't, theydon't need to.
You know, go go to fancy placesor have fancy dinners.
You know they, they, they justthey, they very they love
(13:32):
routine.
They're just simple people,right, and I need more of that
in my life.
I need more of that in my lifeand I and I believe that will
lead to more contentment.
And and on the joy side, youknow it's just um, I'm going to
need, uh, strength andencouragement for this year,
(13:58):
like self-sustained strength andencouragement to combat
discouragement.
I know this to be true.
God is calling me to somethingthat I'm stepping into, that I
won't talk about just yet, butI'm excited about that and, as I
(14:20):
do, I know it's going to be.
It's not going to be quick,it's not going to be easy, and
so it's going to requireconsistency and discipline and
patience and, again, juststrength, and so I want that to
(14:44):
come from the joy of the Lord,like the joy of the Lord is my
strength.
I'm not talking about happiness, but amidst anything and
everything that might come myway, you know, just just being
filled with joy and exuding thatjoy for others around me, that
I, I need to.
I need that, and I and thosearound me need that, and so I
(15:06):
want to do that.
I want to be that for my familyand and be steady in that.
So that is, I'm looking forwardto that.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Well, it sounds like you might have to turn off the
immediate gratification button.
Oh, 100% I didn't say that sohard.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I took a hammer to it .
I took a hammer to it, it's,it's.
No, this is, this is long haulstuff.
You know, this is long haulstuff and and it's kingdom, it's
kingdom stuff, and so it's notabout me, it's about those that
I'm serving and will be serving,and that's it, period.
(15:49):
And it's about him, it's abouthim, it's about the Lord and his
movement, and so then, I wantto be still enough to recognize
that.
Get out of the way, um, and andknow that, like the lord is my
(16:09):
shepherd, I have all that I need, more than I need, and um, and
he will be my strength, and partof that too.
Like um, I think it's.
Is it Psalm 51 where it saysrestore to me the joy of my
salvation?
Um, I forget exactly whichPsalm.
I think it's Psalm 51, but, um,like I think of that too.
(16:30):
You know, walked with the Lordfor many years now and you know,
no matter how many years, likeI, I, I want to cling to that
joy of my salvation, that joy ofthe freedom we have in Christ,
and never, never, take that forgranted and have that just light
(16:51):
me up, day in and day out, in away that's contagious, in a way
that draws people not near tome but near to him and, um, you
know, that's it, that's it,period, just just.
Uh, you know a unified heartfocused on on him and um so
(17:13):
simple joy Got it Simple joy.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
51.10 is one of our favorites.
It created me a clean heart, ohGod, and put a new and right
spirit within me.
This is NIV.
Yeah 11 is do not cast me awayfrom your presence and do not
take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 is restore to me the joy ofyour salvation and sustain in me
a willing spirit.
Yes, 51.12.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
51, 12.
Oh, and sustain.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
That's NRSV.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
NRSV and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Yeah, man, that, right there.
Oh man, just that word likewilling.
I'm going to look at some ofthe other translations and see
what, see if that's a differentword.
But man, a willing spirit, likethat's.
(18:06):
When I even just say thosewords and I ponder those words,
I meditate on those words, Ifeel free, like it's freeing.
Think of a willing spiritversus a resistant spirit.
Right, oh man, god, god, youknow, boy, what God could do
with a willing spirit.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I'm just sitting here thinking of some of our Bible
heroes.
You had guys like Joshua andJacob and others who were like
so anxious to go where God theywere willing like, show me, send
me, lord, right Samuel.
And then you had guys like Joband others who are like, no, not
going Nineveh, no, going totake a left, yeah, yeah, I'm
(18:58):
sorry.
Just spending time in the wordmakes my anecdotes.
My anecdotes used to be Calvinand Hobbes and now they're
biblical heroes.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It's interesting that willing spirit and the NLT says
and make me willing to obey you.
Make me willing to obey you,Wow, Then I will teach your ways
to rebels and they will returnto you.
(19:25):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
It is 51.
It's a good one.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Yeah, sustain me with a willing spirit, anyway.
So those are my words and, man,it's exciting.
You know I love a new year, theturn of a new year, you know.
A fresh beginning, new hope,it's.
You know his mercies are newevery morning and I feel like,
you know, many years ago, Istopped partying on New Year's
(19:54):
Eve and you know, gosh, it'sbeen many years that Christine
and I are in bed by probablynine.
I know, I know people give ussuch a hard time.
They're like you don't evenstay up to watch the ball drop.
I'm like, no, I have nointerest, like I literally have
no interest at all.
Um, and you know, I startedgoing to the gym the last few
(20:14):
years on new year's day.
There's like four people there,right, and it's like you know
there's if that you know at like6am, you know 7am, and it's
such a great way to start theyear and I'm not sitting here
boasting about it, Like Ibelieve me, I did plenty of
damage for plenty of years onnew year's eve, right,
(20:37):
especially as a young, young man.
Um, but boy, does it feel goodto start the year off, right,
and um, you know, uh, just befocused on him and his creation,
uh, and, and him in me and justjust being a good steward of
all that he's, he's given me,including my body.
But yeah, I used to be sodepressed, new Year's so
(21:02):
depressed, it was so depressingto me, and now there's like so
much hope and it's just I don'tknow.
I love it, I love the turn ofthe new year.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Well, so do.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
I.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Love the turn of the new year, so do I.
The midnight thing is not a—wedo it with our boys.
If they're home and they oftenare they'll be around and we'll
celebrate and hug and welcome in.
You know, we'll thank God forthe past year and say thank you
for the new one.
But I mean, I could have beenasleep from 10 to 1150 and then
(21:39):
get up to see whateverding-a-ling on TV.
I just want the countdown.
I just.
I have no interest in the music.
I don't have interest in theshows.
I don't.
I'm sorry, I'm just not hip atall.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Right.
So here's a question Do youremember where you were for the
for Y2K, 1999 to the newmillennia?
Do you remember where you know?
No, no, oh man, christine and Iwere in a, a, um, a chalet in
Vermont, um, like, hunkered down, we literally thought the world
(22:15):
was about to end, right, like Imean, it's just y2k mania,
right, new millennia,everything's gonna stop, the
grid is gonna right no, watcheswon't turn over the time.
Yeah nothing, right everythingcredit cards melt yeah, and we
and we, literally we were likehunkered down and we took
(22:36):
pictures not with our phones,because I don't think we had
cameras then but with film andwe took the clock off the wall
and it was nine o'clock and weturned the hour hand.
So, like right before midnight,took a a picture of ourselves
(22:57):
like pointing at the clock yeah,like, yeah, right, and uh, yeah
.
And then we, we woke up andeverything was fine.
We're like, oh, okay you lookoutside, yeah everybody's still
here, car engines still work.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Wow, I have no, zero, zero recollection of that that
time.
But, um, I think this F whatwe're going through now, just
this few minutes talking to you.
What a great process toactually dedicate time to be
thinking about what.
What might God be up to?
How do I get in line with hisplan?
(23:32):
Right, yeah, there's, you havea list right.
You're, you're.
You'll be talking about this inupcoming episodes, about
changes in your life, and Ican't wait.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
That's another great word.
Just alignment.
Yeah, just alignment.
Like getting man, I might needto swipe that one.
Nope, sorry, maybe that.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
I'll sell it to you.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
It's like a URL.
You know, being aligned withhis will, with calling mission
purpose.
Um man, that that's a beautifulplace to be, that's a beautiful
plan.
I'm writing that one downalignment, yeah, I love, I love
to journal this time of yearespecially, you know, late
(24:15):
December, going into January andjust journaling and journaling
my prayers and spending a lot oftime just thinking about you
know where I've seen God at workin the last year.
What's?
You know what's changed?
You know how have I changed?
How has he changed me?
How have I changed?
(24:36):
How has he changed me?
And then, looking ahead, youknow where am I anticipating
seeing him work and in my life,and then mapping out my year
with the perfect year, theperfect year with the Lord and
my family and I and I, just Ilove it.
I love doing it.
Again, that doesn't need to beextravagant, but what are the
things, what are the areas oflife that you know need to be
(24:57):
planned out, maybe require someprioritization?
Speaker 1 (25:00):
I've seen your book a couple of times.
You've carried it around withyou or I've snuck into your
backpack.
I'm teasing, but I've seenthose plans.
So you, literally, yourpenmanship is terrible and so
you have nothing to worry aboutanybody, anybody copying your
notes, but I've seen youdedicate that time in a, in a
book, in a journal, to plan out,and I will tell you.
(25:24):
When I saw you do that, I think, wow, that is so like me, cause
you know I'm a planner and Ilove organizational tools.
And when my, when God opened myeyes to the holistic mark, the
relational, physical, emotional,spiritual, nutritional, on and
(25:46):
on and on all the parts of me,and I'm thinking how are you
doing in each of these areas?
Where have you surrendered?
Have you surrendered that toGod?
And seeking that alignment, Ihave to tell you, I'm reminding
myself now, and I'm looking atyou as closely as I can on my
(26:07):
iPhone to say that I really needto focus and be disciplined in
turning that conversation in myhead over to him, because I
could easily do this in my ownpower and come up with the
Vesper 2025 plan for every oneof those five or six categories
I just mentioned.
I'm sure there's four othercategories that you know.
(26:27):
Smart people will tell you youneed to plan out, Um, but I,
ultimately I, I, I want all ofme to be surrendered and aligned
to him, but I struggle.
I struggle with Putting himfirst.
(26:48):
Yeah, I put me first.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
And my family first, and so on and so forth.
But you know one of my mottos,my little silly phrase, right,
it's faith, family friends,faith, family friends, fitness
would be my Fs, my four.
I try to stay there, I try tokeep it simple.
I try to say faith, familyfriends, fitness.
(27:17):
Right, that's, those last twoare interchangeable for me.
But that's it, bro, that'sthat's what I try to offer to
him and try to keep God in themiddle of every day.
And there's work here.
Right, there's heart workrequired here.
Yeah, not an easy lesson reallyisn't, but it's all good.
(27:40):
I want to just spend a momenttalking about pray, because I'm
why, why would I pick that, thatword game, p-r-a-y praise,
repent, ask and yield.
And it has to do.
And I mentioned this to youbefore we started about just
updating my prayer life, whichalready is a very conversational
(28:01):
, open relationship I have withGod in prayer, I've decided to
adopt a very vocal yeah, I justI talk out loud to my God and I
get chances to do that everymorning, so I really enjoy that.
While I'm grounding or walkingor doing something else, I stay
(28:21):
there.
But there's another level hererequired, and it's the converse
of me throwing out my praise, myrepentance, asking and yielding
.
It's the listening part.
The other side of a healthy,thriving prayer life is, I think
(28:44):
, not only offering up to God,sometimes in the fetal position,
what my needs are and my youknow, my requests are, but also
giving the Holy Spirit real timeto work on those things with me
and guide me.
I think it probably has to dowith that alignment, but that's
(29:04):
where I'm, that's what I'm goingto be dedicating time to.
I just wanted to kind of fleshthat out for a minute.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
I love it.
I love it and I want to comealong for the ride.
So I look forward to doing thatwith you.
And man, it's, it's I just thewords that come to mind are
better together, you know bettertogether.
Doing that in community, youknow, with others, is so
(29:31):
critical for encouragement,accountability, you know, all of
those great things that youknow set us up for success.
You know versus, you knowfailure for any number of
reasons, right, any number ofreasons.
(29:51):
And so I look forward to doingit with you and, yeah, you will
be right in the middle right inthe middle, but Better Together
our 2025 kickoff.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
I want to pray for you and for everyone that's
listening, that I understandthat this prayer, life, this
plan that we have, the choosingof words and phrases these are
all the game that you and I playto dedicate ourselves to our
God, to say that Father, Son andHoly Spirit are equally
(30:23):
important relationships in ourlives.
And we are going to bechallenged.
We know by doing this, we areputting a target on our chest.
Yeah, and there's going to bechallenging times this year.
We just are man.
I faced them last year withwork challenges and health
challenges and death in thefamily, challenges and things
(30:44):
like that.
And there's things you've gotto steel yourself up for and be
prepared and have people aroundyou that will support you and
stand by your side.
You are that for me, I am thatfor you.
I pray that for everybodyinvolved that you would steal
yourself up so you're strongwhen those tough challenges come
.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yes, well, thank you, brother, and I want to wish
everybody a fantastic 2025, ablessed 2025.
Everybody a fantastic 2025, ablessed 2025.
And if you've been walkingalone, man, I just want to tell
you you don't have to.
And so get plugged in, getconnected and and maybe commit
(31:30):
to, you know, doing 2025 inauthentic community with others,
and it will be better, it willbe better, and so, and maybe
you're doing that already and Ipray that you continue to do
that and continue to getsharpened and uh, uh, and may
God use you abundantly as aresult.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Who's in your foxhole ?
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Amen.
Hey, good talk, brother, and uh, may it be an awesome year for
the Lord.
Amen, peace, peace.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
It's a fresh start, waiting on your first move.
I don't know about you, but I'mgoing to set up some purposeful
time with people I love andtrust to talk about this new
year.
I'm going to be asking somequestions, sharing some dreams
and see where God wants to movein my life and in the lives of
the people around me.
(32:15):
Man, it's an exciting time.
I pray that you grab hold of itand make it your own.
Lord, please continue to usethis podcast to impact the lives
of all who listen.
I ask that you would bring hopeand healing to each and every
one of them, lord.
Meet them right where they areand reveal yourself to them like
(32:36):
only you can do.
In Jesus' name amen.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it
and invite others to theFoxhole.
You can find us wherever youdownload your favorite podcast.
Be sure to subscribe so youknow when new episodes drop, and
please rate us and commentthere too, as it'll help us get
found by others who couldbenefit.
Find, follow and like us onyour go-to social media networks
by searching Foxhole Symphonyor visit foxholesymphonycom to
(33:03):
make it super easy to find us.
Drop us a line with feedback,questions, topic requests.
Who knows, maybe you'll be aguest on a future episode.
In the meantime, prepare tomove, embrace discomfort and
just be you.
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