February 28, 2026 • 48 mins
A weekly program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of Christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans. Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.
Produced at Straight Path Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.
Christian Artists featured are:
Gaither Vocal Band
Glovers
Kingsmen
Audrey Assad
Keith Kitchen
Jason Gray
Page CXVI
Travis Green
The Issacs
Jon Buller
Francesca Battistelli
Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Brian (00:09):
Thank you so much for joining us again for Hope Today.
This is a program ofinspiration, joy, and faith.
May God encourage your heartsas you listen over this next
hour.
Today, Pastor Tom Cullen willbe considering the question:
what do you do with worry?
Listen for some help andanswers in word and music during
(00:29):
our time together.
But first of all, we lookforward to some blessings in
harmony as Mac Wingfield getsour program started.
Mac (00:42):
Well, good morning.
Thanks for tuning in today.
We live in a day when worrycomes easy for many folks.
Here's a song from the GaitherVocal Band.
Simple statement.
(03:06):
I think of a story in the book of Acts, chapter 16, where
we find the apostle Paul and hisfriend Silas in jail.
Now those fellas had a reasonnot to worry, don't you think?
Lovers tell us not true.
(03:29):
God is still God.
At midnight, down the road ofPhilippi, all in silence came.
(06:16):
So then, if God is still God at midnight, why do God's
people end up in prison?
Will I never fall?
Will I never fail?
Well, yes, I'll fall.
But he will pick me up, he willput me back on track.
This is the God we serve, asovereign God.
He knows what he's doing.
Underneath me, always theeverlasting arms.
Tom (10:02):
Thank you, Mac, for introducing our theme for us on
Hope Today.
What do you do with worry?
It's a serious question, asthere is much in our world to
worry about and much that causesanxiety.
Jesus has a lot to say aboutworry, but before we get there,
what greater reminder could wereceive in the midst of our
worry than God is in control?
(10:23):
Audrey Assad sings, everythingis yours.
(13:45):
What do you do with worry?
Well, Jesus addresses thisquestion in Matthew chapter 6,
verses 25 to 31.
He tells us three times in thatpassage not to worry.
And we ask why?
Why shouldn't we worry, Jesus?
This pandemic has ravaged theworld.
And Jesus doesn't deny thetroubles we face.
They're real.
(14:06):
But he does question the focusof our worry.
Jesus says, Therefore I tellyou, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat ordrink, or about your body, what
you will wear.
The rule of God in your life.
(14:32):
And all these things will begiven to you as well.
Only one life we live.
Only what is done for Christ.
He had it all.
(14:52):
He had money, he had fame, hehad physical ability, he had
intellect, and he gave his lifeto Christ as a young man in
university.
When one comes face to facewith eternity.
Is not life more than food andthe body more than clothes?
(15:15):
In the midst of your worry, askyourself, is it worth your
attention?
God cares for you, He willprovide for you.
Let your focus be on Him.
Keith Kitchen expresses it sowell in Faith in Your Goodness.
(18:02):
And yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuablethan they?
It's a rhetorical question, atwhich you're supposed to say,
Yes! Think of it.
The wonder of God's care.
God cares for birds.
What are birds in the wholerealm of the universe?
The tiniest sparrow is aninsignificant God on the
(18:23):
landscape of creation.
He looks after littleinsignificant sparrow.
I know that there is much ofthe world.
(19:12):
Said the Robin to the Sparrow.
I should really like to knowwhy these anxious human beings
rush about and worry so thesparrow to the Robin.
(19:35):
Friend, I think that it must bethat they have no heavenly
father such as cares for you andme.
Oh, but we do.
We have a heavenly father whosecare for you is infinite.
The birds of the air know thistruth.
God holds your tomorrow.
Jason Gray sings, sparrows.
Brian (23:32):
It is quite interesting that so many hymns, which have
become a meaningfulencouragement in the lives of
others through severalgenerations, actually originated
out of a significant tragedy.
The hymn entitled Tis So Sweetto Trust in Jesus, written by a
most remarkable woman, is noexception.
Louisa Steed was born around1850 at Dover, England.
(23:56):
As a youngster, she felt thecall of God on her life for
missionary service.
She arrived as a missionary inAmerica during her early 20s in
1871 and lived for a time inCincinnati, Ohio.
In 1875, she married Mr.
Steed, and to this union wasborn a daughter, Lily.
When Lily was four years old,they decided one day to enjoy
(24:20):
the sunny beach at Long IslandSound, New York.
While eating their picniclunch, there was a sudden cry
for help from a boy drowning atsea.
Mr.
Steed immediately charged intothe water, but as often happens,
the struggling boy pulled hisrescuer under with him, and they
both drowned.
In the ensuing days, Louisastruggled with God over why this
(24:42):
had happened.
Flowing out of her pain, andfrom deep in her soul came the
meaningful truth she penned forthis hymn.
Louisa and her daughter went onto serve admissions in South
Africa and Southern Rhodesia,even through ill health.
After she died in 1917, herhymn lived on in the hearts and
voices of those she faithfullyserved.
(25:04):
It continues today to point usto faith in God and trust in his
plan, even in life's mostdifficult times.
Tom (28:55):
Tony Evans, a pastor in Texas, tells of a time when he
and his wife were on a cruise toAlaska, and on their way back,
they hit a horrific storm.
The waves were forty feet high,and the huge vessel was being
tossed around like a rowboat.
It was a terrifying scenario.
And Tony Evans says, My wifewas upset because the captain
(29:18):
knew they were going into thestorm, and she wondered why
would he leave where they were,where they were safe, and the
sea was calm, to go where theyneeded to be when his
instrumentation told him thatthey would have to go through a
storm.
So Tony's wife decided to geton the telephone and give the
captain a piece of her mind.
So she picked up the phone andsaid to the operator.
(29:39):
The operator said, I'm sorry,the captain is on the bridge,
and we can't speak to you now.
Well said, Mrs.
Evans, I don't understand.
Why if you knew we were goinginto the storm?
We would go anyway.
I will relay that to thecaptain.
I'm sorry, he can't speak toyou right now.
(30:00):
Five minutes later, the phonerang.
It was the same operator.
She said, I just want to letyou know that I told the captain
what you said, and he asked meto relay a message to you.
And the message is this pleasego to sleep.
I'm awake on the bridge, andthere's no need for both of us
(30:21):
to be awake.
I sometimes wonder if in themidst of our worry, God doesn't
want to say that to us.
I'm awake on the bridge of yourlife, and there's no need for
both of us to be awake.
Isn't that a good reminder?
You need to know that yourFather in heaven is on the
bridge of your life looking foryour safe passage.
(30:43):
Travis Green testifies to the truth with Made a Way.
(33:42):
What are we to do with worry?
Jesus says our worry isunnecessary because God cares
for you and for me.
But he also says that worry isunproductive.
So we read in Matthew chapter6, verse 27, Who of you, by
worrying, can add a single hourto his life?
In other words, worry isunproductive.
(34:02):
It doesn't help your situation.
It accomplishes nothing.
Jesus reinforces this point inverse 34, saying, Therefore, do
not worry about tomorrow, fortomorrow will worry about
itself.
Today has enough trouble of itsown.
Indeed, how many times have youworried about an event that
never happened?
Abraham Lincoln tells of thedays when he was a lawyer and
(34:25):
had to travel from town to townwhen the courts were being held.
One night it happened that hemet a method of a circuit writer
at the end.
And the preacher said,Absolutely.
(34:55):
I discovered that there was onesecret about the forge river,
which I never failed to keep inmind.
I never crossed it until Ireached it.
How many times have you crossedthe proverbial forage river
while you were yet miles awayfrom it?
And by the time you arrived atthe edge of the river, you
discovered that a drought hadcome along and right up the
(35:18):
river.
There are many things abouttomorrow that I don't seem to
understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow,and I know who holds my hand.
I know who holds tomorrow.
(39:38):
But can I encourage you?
Many of you listening today getyour drinking water from a
geographical wonder called theOak Ridges Maraine.
It's a ridge of land thatextends 200 kilometers from
Niagara on the west to the TrentRiver on the east.
Do you think that this pandemichas caused that supply of water
to stop?
No.
No matter how gloomy our timesare, the water from that moraine
(39:59):
continues to flow.
So it is with God's goodnessand his provision and care for
you.
The supply of his care is notdetermined by the circumstances
you face.
He is above it all, and hecontinues to care for you.
John Buller brings us to thefeet of the Lord of everything.
(43:49):
It's unproductive.
Don't cross the river until youget to it.
And then this do you know thatfish never get upset when it
rains?
A fish never says it's gettingreal wet out here.
What do we do with worry?
(44:45):
Allow it to drive you deeper inyour trust of Jesus Christ,
your Savior and Lord.
Jesus said, Do not worry,saying, What shall we eat, or
what shall we drink, or whatshall we wear, but seek first
the kingdom of God and hisrighteousness, and all these
things will be given to you aswell.
Let's pray along with FrancescaBattistelli and lead me to the
(45:09):
cross.
What a blessing this has beenon Hope Today Thank you for
(47:51):
joining us we look forward tobeing with you again next time
won't you join us?
Hope Today is produced atStraight Path Studios and is
provided to you by your friends.
Until next time, pleaseremember that God cares deeply
for you.
Thank you so much for joining us again for Hope Today.
This is a program ofinspiration, joy, and faith.
May God encourage your heartsas you listen over this next
hour.
Today, Pastor Tom Cullen willbe considering the question:
what do you do with worry?
Listen for some help andanswers in word and music during
(00:29):
our time together.
But first of all, we lookforward to some blessings in
harmony as Mac Wingfield getsour program started.
Mac (00:42):
Well, good morning.
Thanks for tuning in today.
We live in a day when worrycomes easy for many folks.
Here's a song from the GaitherVocal Band.
Simple statement.
(03:06):
I think of a story in the book of Acts, chapter 16, where
we find the apostle Paul and hisfriend Silas in jail.
Now those fellas had a reasonnot to worry, don't you think?
Lovers tell us not true.
(03:29):
God is still God.
At midnight, down the road ofPhilippi, all in silence came.
(06:16):
So then, if God is still God at midnight, why do God's
people end up in prison?
Will I never fall?
Will I never fail?
Well, yes, I'll fall.
But he will pick me up, he willput me back on track.
This is the God we serve, asovereign God.
He knows what he's doing.
Underneath me, always theeverlasting arms.
Tom (10:02):
Thank you, Mac, for introducing our theme for us on
Hope Today.
What do you do with worry?
It's a serious question, asthere is much in our world to
worry about and much that causesanxiety.
Jesus has a lot to say aboutworry, but before we get there,
what greater reminder could wereceive in the midst of our
worry than God is in control?
(10:23):
Audrey Assad sings, everythingis yours.
(13:45):
What do you do with worry?
Well, Jesus addresses thisquestion in Matthew chapter 6,
verses 25 to 31.
He tells us three times in thatpassage not to worry.
And we ask why?
Why shouldn't we worry, Jesus?
This pandemic has ravaged theworld.
And Jesus doesn't deny thetroubles we face.
They're real.
(14:06):
But he does question the focusof our worry.
Jesus says, Therefore I tellyou, do not worry about your
life, what you will eat ordrink, or about your body, what
you will wear.
The rule of God in your life.
(14:32):
And all these things will begiven to you as well.
Only one life we live.
Only what is done for Christ.
He had it all.
(14:52):
He had money, he had fame, hehad physical ability, he had
intellect, and he gave his lifeto Christ as a young man in
university.
When one comes face to facewith eternity.
Is not life more than food andthe body more than clothes?
(15:15):
In the midst of your worry, askyourself, is it worth your
attention?
God cares for you, He willprovide for you.
Let your focus be on Him.
Keith Kitchen expresses it sowell in Faith in Your Goodness.
(18:02):
And yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuablethan they?
It's a rhetorical question, atwhich you're supposed to say,
Yes! Think of it.
The wonder of God's care.
God cares for birds.
What are birds in the wholerealm of the universe?
The tiniest sparrow is aninsignificant God on the
(18:23):
landscape of creation.
He looks after littleinsignificant sparrow.
I know that there is much ofthe world.
(19:12):
Said the Robin to the Sparrow.
I should really like to knowwhy these anxious human beings
rush about and worry so thesparrow to the Robin.
(19:35):
Friend, I think that it must bethat they have no heavenly
father such as cares for you andme.
Oh, but we do.
We have a heavenly father whosecare for you is infinite.
The birds of the air know thistruth.
God holds your tomorrow.
Jason Gray sings, sparrows.
Brian (23:32):
It is quite interesting that so many hymns, which have
become a meaningfulencouragement in the lives of
others through severalgenerations, actually originated
out of a significant tragedy.
The hymn entitled Tis So Sweetto Trust in Jesus, written by a
most remarkable woman, is noexception.
Louisa Steed was born around1850 at Dover, England.
(23:56):
As a youngster, she felt thecall of God on her life for
missionary service.
She arrived as a missionary inAmerica during her early 20s in
1871 and lived for a time inCincinnati, Ohio.
In 1875, she married Mr.
Steed, and to this union wasborn a daughter, Lily.
When Lily was four years old,they decided one day to enjoy
(24:20):
the sunny beach at Long IslandSound, New York.
While eating their picniclunch, there was a sudden cry
for help from a boy drowning atsea.
Mr.
Steed immediately charged intothe water, but as often happens,
the struggling boy pulled hisrescuer under with him, and they
both drowned.
In the ensuing days, Louisastruggled with God over why this
(24:42):
had happened.
Flowing out of her pain, andfrom deep in her soul came the
meaningful truth she penned forthis hymn.
Louisa and her daughter went onto serve admissions in South
Africa and Southern Rhodesia,even through ill health.
After she died in 1917, herhymn lived on in the hearts and
voices of those she faithfullyserved.
(25:04):
It continues today to point usto faith in God and trust in his
plan, even in life's mostdifficult times.
Tom (28:55):
Tony Evans, a pastor in Texas, tells of a time when he
and his wife were on a cruise toAlaska, and on their way back,
they hit a horrific storm.
The waves were forty feet high,and the huge vessel was being
tossed around like a rowboat.
It was a terrifying scenario.
And Tony Evans says, My wifewas upset because the captain
(29:18):
knew they were going into thestorm, and she wondered why
would he leave where they were,where they were safe, and the
sea was calm, to go where theyneeded to be when his
instrumentation told him thatthey would have to go through a
storm.
So Tony's wife decided to geton the telephone and give the
captain a piece of her mind.
So she picked up the phone andsaid to the operator.
(29:39):
The operator said, I'm sorry,the captain is on the bridge,
and we can't speak to you now.
Well said, Mrs.
Evans, I don't understand.
Why if you knew we were goinginto the storm?
We would go anyway.
I will relay that to thecaptain.
I'm sorry, he can't speak toyou right now.
(30:00):
Five minutes later, the phonerang.
It was the same operator.
She said, I just want to letyou know that I told the captain
what you said, and he asked meto relay a message to you.
And the message is this pleasego to sleep.
I'm awake on the bridge, andthere's no need for both of us
(30:21):
to be awake.
I sometimes wonder if in themidst of our worry, God doesn't
want to say that to us.
I'm awake on the bridge of yourlife, and there's no need for
both of us to be awake.
Isn't that a good reminder?
You need to know that yourFather in heaven is on the
bridge of your life looking foryour safe passage.
(30:43):
Travis Green testifies to the truth with Made a Way.
(33:42):
What are we to do with worry?
Jesus says our worry isunnecessary because God cares
for you and for me.
But he also says that worry isunproductive.
So we read in Matthew chapter6, verse 27, Who of you, by
worrying, can add a single hourto his life?
In other words, worry isunproductive.
(34:02):
It doesn't help your situation.
It accomplishes nothing.
Jesus reinforces this point inverse 34, saying, Therefore, do
not worry about tomorrow, fortomorrow will worry about
itself.
Today has enough trouble of itsown.
Indeed, how many times have youworried about an event that
never happened?
Abraham Lincoln tells of thedays when he was a lawyer and
(34:25):
had to travel from town to townwhen the courts were being held.
One night it happened that hemet a method of a circuit writer
at the end.
And the preacher said,Absolutely.
(34:55):
I discovered that there was onesecret about the forge river,
which I never failed to keep inmind.
I never crossed it until Ireached it.
How many times have you crossedthe proverbial forage river
while you were yet miles awayfrom it?
And by the time you arrived atthe edge of the river, you
discovered that a drought hadcome along and right up the
(35:18):
river.
There are many things abouttomorrow that I don't seem to
understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow,and I know who holds my hand.
I know who holds tomorrow.
(39:38):
But can I encourage you?
Many of you listening today getyour drinking water from a
geographical wonder called theOak Ridges Maraine.
It's a ridge of land thatextends 200 kilometers from
Niagara on the west to the TrentRiver on the east.
Do you think that this pandemichas caused that supply of water
to stop?
No.
No matter how gloomy our timesare, the water from that moraine
(39:59):
continues to flow.
So it is with God's goodnessand his provision and care for
you.
The supply of his care is notdetermined by the circumstances
you face.
He is above it all, and hecontinues to care for you.
John Buller brings us to thefeet of the Lord of everything.
(43:49):
It's unproductive.
Don't cross the river until youget to it.
And then this do you know thatfish never get upset when it
rains?
A fish never says it's gettingreal wet out here.
What do we do with worry?
(44:45):
Allow it to drive you deeper inyour trust of Jesus Christ,
your Savior and Lord.
Jesus said, Do not worry,saying, What shall we eat, or
what shall we drink, or whatshall we wear, but seek first
the kingdom of God and hisrighteousness, and all these
things will be given to you aswell.
Let's pray along with FrancescaBattistelli and lead me to the
(45:09):
cross.
What a blessing this has beenon Hope Today Thank you for
(47:51):
joining us we look forward tobeing with you again next time
won't you join us?
Hope Today is produced atStraight Path Studios and is
provided to you by your friends.
Until next time, pleaseremember that God cares deeply
for you.
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