February 25, 2025 • 45 mins
Ever wondered how to truly shine brightly in a world that often feels overshadowed by grumbling and selfishness? This week Kim continues the Abide Classes with session 3 and joins Chalee Brown, Laurel Wike, and Charity DeGonia as they share the transformative power of living according to God's truths. Together, they review on the teachings from Philippians 2 and the remarkable example set by Timothy, emphasizing the importance of selflessness and genuine care for others. The discussion aims to inspire you to integrate the practices of confessing sins and declaring God's truths into your daily life, encouraging a spiritual journey filled with growth and reflection.
Discover how Scripture can be a powerful catalyst for change, equipping us to align with God's will even when faced with life's everyday challenges. They dive into the empowering effects of confession and declaration, shedding light on how God strengthens us to overcome setbacks such as grumbling and selfishness. With insights from a thought-provoking book on walking in the fear of the Lord, they explore how understanding this concept deepens our relationship with God and equips us for godly living. As they transition to worship with the song "Gratitude," they invite you to join them in expressing heartfelt thanks to the Lord.
Embrace an attitude of gratitude and praise through the lens of Psalm 103 as together they explore themes of redemption, grace, and divine love, sharing personal stories of finding God's steadfast love in our darkest moments. Charity and Chalee offer insights into how gratitude has transformed their perspectives, encouraging listeners to cultivate thankfulness and seek a deeper connection with God. As they offer blessings and a prayer for your spiritual journey, they hope this episode inspires you to engage with Psalm 103, finding grace and peace along the way.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kim McIntire (00:08):
Hey everyone, welcome to the it's Time to Rise
Up podcast.
I'm your host, Kim McIntyre.
We know there are so manythings you can do with your time
, so thank you for choosing tospend your time listening today.
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(00:32):
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Podcast.
Thank you again for joining ustoday.
We're going to jump right intothis episode.
(00:53):
I'm honored to welcome threeprevious guests to the podcast
today Chaley Brown, laurel Weickand Charity Degonia.
Welcome, friends.
Thanks.
We're glad you're back.
Today we are walking throughClass 3 of Abide, but before we
do that, we're going to do somereview from Philippians 2.
(01:15):
I hope the listeners have hadtime over the past couple of
weeks to put into practice thetwo key words confess and
declare.
Confessing just asking God,lord, what in this passage is
revealing a sin in my life thatI need to confess and repent
(01:36):
before you and then declare God.
What truths are there in thispassage that you want me
declaring over my life and myfamily?
So what we're going to do rightnow is we're just going to go
ahead and finish readingPhilippians 2, not the entire
chapter, but verse 12 through 24.
And then we're going to shareour responses to the word.
(01:58):
The key words confess anddeclare.
Laurel, do you want to readthat aloud for us?
Laurel Wike (02:03):
Sure, dearest friends, you were always so
careful to follow myinstructions when I was with you
.
Laurel, do you want to to obeyhim and the power to do what
pleases him In everything you do?
(02:32):
Stay away from complaining andarguing so that no one can speak
a word of blame against you.
You are to live clean, innocentlives as children of God in a
dark world full of crooked andperverse people.
Let your lives shine brightlybefore them.
Hold tightly to the word oflife so that when Christ returns
, I will be proud that I did notlose the race and that my work
was not useless.
But even if my life is to bepoured out like a drink offering
(02:56):
to complete the sacrifice ofyour faithful service, that is,
if I am to die for you, I willrejoice and I want to share my
joy with all of you, and youshould be happy about this and
rejoice with me.
If the Lord Jesus is willing, Ihope, to send Timothy to you
soon.
Then when he comes back he cancheer me up by telling me how
(03:16):
you are getting along.
I have no one else like Timothywho genuinely cares about your
welfare.
All the others came only forthemselves and not for what
matters to Jesus Christ.
But you know how Timothy hasproved himself Like a son with
his father.
He has helped me in preachingthe good news.
I hope to send him to you justas soon as I find out what is
(03:38):
going to happen to me here, andI have confidence from the Lord
that I myself will come to seeyou soon.
Kim McIntire (03:47):
What a good word.
Let's share who has something aresponse from the keyword
confess.
Chalee Brown (03:55):
Well, I know that verse 16 for me really jumped
out there Holding fast to theword of life so that in the day
of Christ I may be proud that Idid not run in vain or labor in
vain.
And when I read that thatholding fast I kind of got two
(04:22):
things from that.
Actually, when you hold fast tosomething, I got that I would
run to God first and I wouldhang on to Him last.
When I think about holding fastto something, I think about
hanging on to it to the end.
But for some reason God alsotook me to the other part.
So I think that I haven't alwayshad God as my first choice.
Even serving the Lord,sometimes I can put Him on the
(04:43):
back burner and reach to Him asa first choice.
You know, even serving the Lord, you know, sometimes I can put
Him on the back burner and reachto Him as a last resort.
Maybe in my own wisdom I wantto approach something or go my
own way.
And then on the hang on to lastpart, you know, I think about
the word that is this classabide, you actually abide, you
stay with Him, and my husbandcould definitely attest to this.
(05:04):
And this is where convictioncame in for me is that I am that
person.
I'm ready to start somethingnew, right, I'm excited.
I like to pump people up, youknow, but finishing strong, you
know, is a weakness of mine.
And so God really pulled thatout for me, and he brought to
mind Philippians 1.6, right,yeah, and I'm confident of this,
(05:26):
that he who began a good workin you will carry it on to
completion into the day ofChrist Jesus.
So that's really what jumpedout for me, so good.
Kim McIntire (05:35):
Thank you.
Charity DeGonia (05:36):
Anyone else.
Yeah, the whole 19 through 24that talks about Timothy.
For some reason God just kindof stuck me there and I was
trying to just dive in and seewhy and I was looking at this
man he uses.
He talks about Timothy and he'slike, hey, I want to send him
to you and I'm thinking, well,that's great, you know he's
sharing, you know the ministry.
(05:57):
But really, if we look at whathe's saying about Timothy, he's
saying Timothy has a passion forothers.
About Timothy, he's sayingTimothy has a passion for others
, he's selfless, which he'scalled us, you know, in
Philippians 2, 5 through 11,he's already calling us to be
selfless.
You know he's like die toyourself.
So now he's like here's Timothy, he's already doing that.
(06:17):
He's already died to self, he'salready selfless.
And he talks about Timothy'sreputation because he's been
with him.
You know, right, and that stuckwith me.
Like God says hey, watch whoyou're with, because your
reputation carries it and I wantto be known, as you know that
people were with charity orwhatever.
You know, not because I'manything, but because we carry
(06:39):
Christ with us and that it be apositive thing.
Sure, you know the reputationof being with the right people
and carrying God's, you know,the Holy Spirit with me in a way
that I'm not.
I mean, I'm not comparingmyself to Timothy, by any means,
but, you know, just having thatas a model of I want to be
selfless, I want to carry thatpassion for others and know that
(07:02):
it carries with me you knowthat other people understand
that selflessness that I'mtrying, I'm seeking in my
passion for others.
That's good.
Laurel Wike (07:11):
We do see that in you Charity, amen.
Well, I'll share as well.
I think for me it was as far asconfess verse 14, where it says
and everything you do, stayaway from grumbling or, in this
translation, complaining andarguing or grumbling and
disputing.
And we live in a culture, justa culture of complaining, and I
(07:32):
know raising kids in thisculture.
You know it's so easy for themto slip into it, and then I find
myself in correcting them thatI can slip into grumbling and
complaining about theirgrumbling and complaining right.
Right.
So, and you know, I have afriend who is a counselor and
(07:57):
she talks about how our biggestjob in parenting is, when our
kids get on the roller coasterof emotions, that our job is to
stay on the platform.
And so, just as I think aboutthat so often, because it's just
a daily thought, dailyexperience, but to stay on the
platform and that myresponsibility, more than to
(08:19):
correct them when they grumbleand complain, is to model for
them what grumbling andcomplaining a life that isn't
marked by that, looks like andthat's the best way to teach
them.
Kim McIntire (08:31):
Yeah, it's good, powerful Confession really has
its place.
God knew what he was talkingabout.
Charity DeGonia (08:38):
Well, and the more I do the confess and
declare, I feel like it reallycan go hand in hand.
As I'm confessing this, it'sjust a flip into.
I'm declaring that I'm going tobe opposite of whatever you
know, but God's reallyconvicting me to work on that.
And, man, when you say I'm goingto work on that, God's going to
put you to the test too, youknow.
Is this a moment that you'regoing to be selfless?
Is this a moment that you'regoing to complain?
(08:59):
Because I feel what you'resaying, Laurel.
I get home from work and I'mlike, oh, these kids need so
much.
And God says, but that's whereyou're supposed to serve and
that's where you're supposed tobe selfless.
Laurel Wike (09:08):
Beautiful.
Well, and I think the versethat stood out to me for that
was just right next to verse 13and 14, where it says oh, no,
going back to verse 13.
For God is working in you,giving you the desire to obey
him and the power to do whatpleases him.
So, first and foremost, ifwe're thinking about grumbling,
(09:31):
just as an example, first hechanges my desire inside of me,
because our natural desire is ifit doesn't go my way, I'm going
to grumble, yeah, but hechanges that desire in me, and
then he also gives me the powerto fulfill that desire to stop
(09:51):
complaining, yeah, and that'syou know.
Even in doing school with kids,you know like, hey, god's going
to, whether it's homework orhomeschooling, or god, god can
give you the desire to do thiswork that you don't want to do,
because right now it's the rightthing for you to do and then he
can also give you the power toaccomplish it.
I mean, the applications areendless.
Chalee Brown (10:10):
So true and that's so good too, because you know,
I think that you know, when thescripture talks about like he
doesn't just call us tosomething, it's kind of like
what Charity was saying you know, he doesn't just call us to
something and have us confess itand leave us.
You know and I think about thatscripture that talks about like
he has given us everything weneed for godliness.
(10:31):
You know he has fully preparedus.
I actually it was 12 and 13,that kind of stuck out to me as
well on the declare.
But this scripture has alwaysbeen a little bit, you know,
iffy for me.
I've always, I've never, beencomfortable with the scripture.
Work out your own salvation withfear and trembling you know,
(10:52):
and I think that it's awesomethat God works in me to will and
work for His good pleasure.
But, like I said, it used tomake me uneasy.
But my declaration with this isI can hold him in the right
place of honor and respect andawe, because he's the lion and
the lamb.
He's the God of justice andmercy.
(11:14):
You know, he's not just the onethat calls us to confess, he
actually gives us the power todo it.
He's rooting for me,strengthening me, Come on, and
through his Holy Spirit, he'sinfilling me and changing my
desires and my vision and myfocus to be more like Him.
And so I hold Him in a holyplace of awe and he's that same
God that I hold in that place ofawe, and he's personal and
(11:37):
intimate, helping me through theprocess.
Charity DeGonia (11:41):
So I feel like because those verses that you
guys are talking about isdefinitely a place that God
stopped me, each time too.
But God kept saying that thisis what happens when we meet
with him, when we get into hispresence, and that's like that
important part, because we canread through things, but until
we actually hear from him andhear exactly where he's going to
work on us, that's where thatpower comes from that you're
(12:02):
talking about on us.
That's where that power comesfrom that you're talking about,
and not only that, but that'swhere my passion and my
excitement and my hunger formore.
It draws those things out, youknow.
It draws me to that power, andthen I just want more of what
God has for me, so good,no-transcript.
Kim McIntire (12:44):
This is my second time on the podcast.
That book has radically changedmy view of what the fear of the
Lord really is, because I wasoff track with my understanding
of the fear of the Lord.
So if you, I, was a person whoreally struggled with this verse
as well Like what in the worlddoes that mean that I'm working
(13:09):
out my salvation with fear andtrembling?
But the fear of the Lord bringsall of that into alignment and
really clears the perspective ofwhat that means.
So it's a great book.
It's a 42-day read, a few pagesa day, 42 days.
I promise you will understandwhat it means to walk in the
(13:31):
fear of the Lord, and I know youall have read it with me
because we're all in thistogether.
Right Abide in the awe of God.
Laurel Wike (13:38):
They go hand in hand.
Kim McIntire (13:41):
You guys, thank you so much.
What good insights from simplytwo words that prompt our
responses to Scripture.
So never underestimate thepower of what one word can do as
you approach Scripture.
Oh, you guys, that just was ablessing to my heart.
(14:02):
You make this job so easy forme.
Oh, that was good.
So we're going to go ahead andconclude our time in Philippians
, chapter 2.
, and we are going to move intolesson 3.
And the text is Psalm 103.
Sharing that with the listeners, we're going to settle
(14:26):
ourselves before the Lord, we'regoing to get ready to go into
worship and we would invite youto worship along with us.
Invite you to worship alongwith us.
This song is Gratitude.
It's very well known.
Music (15:02):
Sing it with your whole heart.
I got nothing new.
How could I express All mygratitude?
I could sing these songs, as Ioften do, but every song must
end, and you never knew.
(15:25):
So I throw up my hands andpraise you again and again,
cause all that I have is ahallelujah, hallelujah, and I
(15:47):
know it's not much, but I'venothing else fit for a king,
except for hearts singinghallelujah, hallelujah.
I've got lonely spots, I've gotjust one move, with my arms
(16:20):
stretched wide.
I will worship you and I'llthrow up my hands and praise you
again and again, cause all thatI have is a hallelujah,
hallelujah, and I know it's notmuch, but I've nothing else to
(16:50):
thank for again, except for aheart singing hallelujah,
hallelujah.
Oh, come on, my soul, oh, don'tyou get shy on me and lift up
(17:15):
your song, because you've got alion inside of those lungs.
Get up and praise the Lord.
Come on, my soul, oh, don't youget shy on me.
Lift up your song, cause you'vegot a lion inside of those
(17:39):
lungs.
Get up and praise the Lord.
So I'll throw up my hands andpraise you again and again,
cause all that I have is aHallelujah, hallelujah.
(18:00):
All that I have is a hallelujahhallelujah, and I know it's not
much, but I've nothing else fitfor a king except for a heart
singing hallelujah, hallelujah,hallelujah.
Kim McIntire (18:41):
And with that we are going to go into the two
keywords that we're going to beusing through Psalm 103.
Charity DeGonia (18:57):
But before we do that, Charity will you open
us up in prayer.
Thank you, father.
God, we just come to you rightnow, god, and I just pray over
our listeners that you wouldmeet them right where they are,
god, that this would be anencouragement to them, god, that
they would be able to feel thepower of their hearts, coming to
you with gratitude andthanksgiving, and all that it
will do that you will do intheir hearts and minds.
(19:17):
Through this, god, we thank youfor how this is going to change
lives of the listeners that areon today, god, and we praise
you for all that you are, god,and how you love us in your name
, amen.
Kim McIntire (19:29):
Amen, amen.
So our two key words for Psalm103 are well, this is a phrase
give thanks and then praise.
We're going to talk a littlebit about the difference between
those two words.
So, as we look at Psalm 103,we're looking for ways to give
thanks to the Lord, and when wethank God, we're acknowledging
(19:52):
what he's done or what he'sdoing or what he has yet to do.
And it's important, when weread the Word, to respond to God
with thanks, and I'll admitthere have been times I haven't
been as good at doing that as inother times.
When you look at Psalm 103,verse 3, it says he forgives all
(20:13):
my sins and heals all mydiseases.
So with that I would say thankyou, lord, you saved me and you
healed me.
Very simple, very profound.
I say that a lot.
Praise is the other key word.
When we praise God, we'reacknowledging who he is, so it's
not as much about what he'sdoing for us, it's just he is
(20:34):
God and he's worthy of ourpraise because of who he is.
So we see His characterthroughout this text.
We also see the acts that hedoes toward His people.
So we're really wanting to bepurposeful about giving thanks
and praising God when weapproach His Word.
Psalm 103 is just a psalm thathas really taught me to praise
(20:58):
and give thanks with all myheart, and that's why it's in
the Abide class.
So we're going to go ahead andread that text, shaley.
Actually, I think you're goingto read that for us, psalm 103.
And we're going to just talkabout the first six verses in
today's class.
Go ahead, shaley.
Awesome.
Chalee Brown (21:20):
Bless the Lord, o my soul and all that is within
me.
Bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, o my soul, andforget not all His benefits, who
forgives all your iniquity, whoheals all your diseases, who
redeems your life from the pit,who crowns you with steadfast
love and mercy who satisfies youwith good, so that your youth
(21:44):
is renewed like the eagles.
Amen.
Kim McIntire (21:47):
What a good word.
Yeah, and I think there are acouple of testimonies here.
Why don't we talk about those?
Just how giving thanks andpraising God has impacted, I
know, charity.
You had a testimony you wantedto share.
Let's do that before we talkabout our responses.
Charity DeGonia (22:02):
Yeah, well, this did transform the way I was
looking at God in a lot ofdifferent ways, just because,
you know, a lot of times we lookto Him as a Savior when we need
something, all the time, and sothis shifted the way I was
looking at the Bible, like whenI was reading it it and where I
would look for answers to thingsall the time Okay.
(22:23):
Lord, I'm going through this.
What answer do you have for me?
And you know, as I've gonethrough Abide, it's taught me
how to listen.
And he does give us answers,and he gives us, he challenges
us, for sure.
This is where it reallytransformed me, from this is my
problem to my God.
It changed everything.
So now my God is bigger than myproblem every time, because I
(22:47):
can go to Him and get on myknees and I'm listening to
something and I'm like, okay,I'm going to give thanks for
whatever is in this chapter oranother chapter, or just not
even in the Bible, but like,what can I give Him thanks and
praise for?
And it shifts my mind focus, ormy focus completely to His
character.
And His character always meetsus, amen, right, he always fills
(23:12):
us and gives us what we need,and sometimes that's
encouragement.
But I can tell you this it hasbuilt my trust in Him.
Amen, because now I know thathe has everything I need.
Yeah, and when we recognize allthe things that he has for us,
then we go.
Well, why would I not trust Him?
Yeah, and that's where itchanged me.
Kim McIntire (23:30):
Yeah.
Charity DeGonia (23:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Kim McIntire (23:31):
That's good, that's awesome.
Shaili, did you have somethingas well?
Chalee Brown (23:35):
Yeah, you Did you have something as well.
Yeah, you know, I think, justfor me, you know, I've known the
Lord.
I've known the Lord for a long,long time and I think it just
we all know that there is alwaysmore to know about the Lord,
right?
Sure, he has so many layers ofwho he is that we can discover,
(23:55):
and I think it just reallydeepened my gratitude for who
God is right.
And what kind of came to mindwas I'm grateful for His
consistencies and Hisdifferences, and that's like
well, okay, what does that mean?
Well, I think when I thinkabout the praise, his character,
it is consistent, it isunchanging, forever, right, it
doesn't matter to whom, it isthe same.
(24:17):
But then, on the thanks side, Ithink that really speaks to how
God meets me personally.
Kim McIntire (24:24):
Kind, of like what Charity?
Chalee Brown (24:25):
was speaking to, sure, and what I need in.
Whatever I'm going through, solike I think about as a parent
with my boys, I'll always behonest with both of them.
Right, that's just my character, that's not going to change.
But I deal with themdifferently.
(24:46):
In circumstances where one kidI might treat in a certain way
because he needs that extrasupport, maybe another kid would
feel smothered by that, youknow.
So it just really deepened mygratitude for who God is and how
, on one hand, he's soconsistent in His character and
on the other hand, he is bigenough to be personal for me you
(25:07):
know, so good, so rich.
Kim McIntire (25:10):
Thank you for sharing those testimonies,
ladies.
Oh, I'm so excited to hear theresponses from these first six
verses.
Laurel, why don't you start usout?
Laurel Wike (25:22):
Sounds good, I'll just start right in verse one.
I always seem to get stuck injust one verse for a little
while.
Kim McIntire (25:28):
Yeah, me too, me too.
Laurel Wike (25:32):
I love the translation.
Chaley read Bless the Lord, Omy soul and all that's within me
.
And I have New LivingTranslation.
Praise the Lord, I tell myselfall that's within me and I have
new living translation.
Praise the Lord, I tell myselfwith my whole heart I will
praise his holy name.
And I kind of, while I wasstudying, was going back and
forth between those two and Ilove and I am thankful for the
(25:52):
fact that I can command my soulto praise amen not just that, I
can command my soul to praise,and not just that I can command
my soul to praise, but that Ican command my soul to praise
wholeheartedly.
And you know back to the awe ofGod that you were talking about
with John Bevere at the end ofthe verse.
You know His holy name, wepraise Him for His holy name.
(26:13):
And actually as I was studyingI was thinking about that so
much because that book has alsoshifted my.
I mean, I feel like on onelevel I had a pretty good
intellectual understanding ofwhat the fear of the Lord was.
I actually had someone sittingin a Bible study with me once
and they read Fear of God andthey assumed, because they were
(26:35):
relatively young in faith, thatit was a negative thing.
And I remember always thinkingabout that, like young in faith,
that it was a negative thing.
And I remember always thinkingabout that like wow, they
thought that was a negativething, like I know that's a
positive thing, right, but thisbook has opened up so much more
depth of understanding to that.
So you know we've talked abouthow reading this has brought
(26:59):
just a whole new focus on theholiness of God, even into our
prayer times.
Oh, yeah, but His holy name.
Like here, it uses the name ofGod singular.
But you know, throughoutScripture, of course, we see
hundreds of names of God and Ihave a poster on my wall at home
in the living room that says Iam, and it literally has 200
(27:20):
names of God listed around it.
And at the beginning of thisyear I just started studying
through that because the artistwho created it also provided
with it a sheet of all thebiblical references for these
names.
These names, and as I've beenjust studying through them and
(27:40):
putting them together andrecording the names of God, like
these are the names of God thatstart with A and that start
with B.
So the recording doesn't get toolong, right, and then I'll like
listen to it in the car and orwherever you know I have time,
and it is just bringing agreater depth of understanding
of you.
Know, we know the scripture thename of the Lord is a strong
tower.
(28:01):
The righteous will run to itand they will be saved, and
there is so much just in thatone word, like His name, that we
can praise Him for.
And you know, for someone whomay want the cliff notes, I
think of Elevation Worship'ssong Jehovah, jehovah Nisi
fights my battles.
Jehovah Jireh meets my needs.
Jehovah, jehovah Nisi fights mybattles.
Jehovah Jireh meets my needs.
(28:22):
Jehovah Rapha heals my body.
Jehovah Shalom is my peace.
Like you can spend a lot oftime just with those four names
right there, yeah.
Kim McIntire (28:30):
Holy is His name.
Worthy of our praise, withoutexception.
Worthy of our praise.
Chalee Brown (28:38):
Anyone else?
Yeah, without exception worthyof our praise.
Anyone else?
Yeah, I know verse 5 for me.
Who satisfies you with good sothat your youth is renewed like
the eagles, he gives me what'sgood for me, truly good.
His ways and thoughts arehigher than mine.
I'm just so thankful that Hisways are higher than mine, that
even when it's painful, evenwhen it's hard, he knows me
(29:00):
better than myself.
He knows what I need to gothrough to accomplish what he
needs to in me and he doesn'tcare.
You know what I think, or maybeI'm pushing for that.
You know that's the that wouldbenefit myself, or maybe that
would be more fleshly.
He guides me with eternity inmind.
I'm so thankful for that, sothat I really am truly refreshed
(29:21):
and renewed.
Charity DeGonia (29:23):
Yeah, that's good man.
So much of this chapter speaksto me.
So I'm like well, do I go thisdirection?
But I want to go to verse 2,because when you're talking
about blessing the Lord and thenat the end of verse 2, it says
do not forget all His benefitsand we don't come to him just
because of all of his benefits,but we have to know that there's
(29:45):
a part of us that was made forhim and I think that a lot of
times that verse for me says Iwas made for him.
Don't forget that you were madefor him, so his benefits are
because of him.
You know, like, if we don'trest on those and know those and
know that he's there for us,know that he's good, know that
(30:06):
he's holy, know that we havethat knowledge of who he is,
then we know ourselves Becausethat's what we were made for.
Chalee Brown (30:15):
Yeah, that's so good.
Wow, that's what we were madefor.
Yeah, that's so good.
Kim McIntire (30:19):
Wow, Well for me, I call this one of my life
verses, verse 4.
Who redeems my life from?
Music (30:37):
the pit and crowns me with love and compassion.
Kim McIntire (30:39):
He's the only one that could go to the darkest
place.
Nobody, nobody not my husband,as much as he loves me, not my
mom, as wonderful as she is, notmy daughter she's my best
friend.
Not any of you, my amazingsisters in Christ, could go to
(31:06):
the pit and redeem me.
No one.
And sometimes I think we viewother people as rescuers.
Yeah, I recognize when I lookback how often I was depending
(31:29):
on other people to rescue orcomfort or deliver or satisfy.
And I look at these six versesand I'm like Father, there is no
one like you.
There is truly no one like you.
(31:51):
And my testimony is the darkestpit that I've ever been in in my
life was an abortion clinic at17 years old, and I remember
sitting there thinking I had noother options, and I don't speak
this as condemnation againstanyone who has made that
(32:17):
decision to have an abortion.
Let me say, with God, there isgrace, mercy and forgiveness for
every person who brings that tothe cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
He is mercy and grace andforgiveness.
But I can tell you, the firsttime I heard the voice of God
(32:43):
was in the deepest pit, thedarkest place I'd ever been.
Where will he not go?
Where will he not go?
Listeners, what pit are you in?
Because I promise you, nomatter how dark and isolating it
(33:04):
is, it is not a place that Godis unwilling to go.
So every time I read this psalm, I just praise Him that he
redeemed my life from the pitand he crowned me with love and
compassion, not because Ideserved it, not because I was
good enough, just because heloved me.
(33:25):
He's worthy of my praise.
So who is he To me?
He's my Redeemer, so that's mypraise.
God you redeem, it's who youare, but this is the amazing
thing it's also what he does.
So sometimes God's name is notjust who he is, does.
(33:49):
So sometimes god's name is notjust who he is, but it's what he
does.
Yeah, right, yeah.
So our encouragement is gothrough psalm 103 in these next
couple of weeks, asking the lord.
Lord, show me what to thank youfor, show me what to praise you
for.
It may be things right now, inthe present, it may be things
from the past that you haven'teven really thought about, but
(34:14):
he is so worthy of the praise.
And I want to just say mydaughter, alex.
She just turned 36 years old.
So 36 years ago, january 8th.
She was born 36 years ago,january 8th, and the best gift
(34:37):
other than my salvation is thatprecious now young woman of God,
and it's because he went to thedarkest place.
So any other thoughts aboutPsalm 103?
, shaili?
Chalee Brown (34:52):
go ahead.
You know I'm just going topiggyback.
That's exactly my praise wasexactly that verse that he
redeems my life from the pit,and when I was looking at it you
know he's a Redeemer myfavorite definition of redeem.
There's lots of different kindof breakoffs of that to make
necessary payment, to pay off adebt, and I'm just so grateful
(35:13):
for a perfect Savior who issteadfast and long-suffering,
who chose what was best overwhat was easy in his life on the
cross and it's just such anencouragement to me to, in those
moments like let's look atthings in light of eternity.
(35:34):
Amen.
Just like Christ did, amen.
He didn't choose the easy road.
Laurel Wike (35:38):
Yeah, yeah, if I can just tie a few things
together here, please do thatword satisfy that you talked
about in verse 5.
Yeah, and you're talking aboutthe cross.
Isaiah 53, of course, is thesuffering servant.
And in Isaiah 53, 11, it sayswhen he sees all that is
(35:59):
accomplished by his anguish, hewill be satisfied.
Well, that's good, and it'seasy to be satisfied when things
are good, yeah, and when we cansee those things that are
satisfactory in our lives.
That's true, but the promise ofscripture is that when we see
(36:19):
all that is accomplished by ouranguish, we will also be
satisfied.
Kim McIntire (36:25):
Yeah, so true, that's really good.
Charity DeGonia (36:28):
So true, I just wanted to piggyback off
something you said too, becauseyou were talking about how we go
to other people who want to.
You know, we want them tosatisfy parts of us, and that
part that he crowns us withfaithful love and compassion is
what mine says Like, and lateron in this chapter, god really
(36:49):
spoke to me and what that meantmore, and I hope that the
listeners and others can getthere too.
But this faithful love meansthat no matter where we are, he
loves us.
He's not just there, but heloves us and he has a compassion
, knowing so much about us, andI just praise God that, like,
we're never too far gone awayfrom His love.
(37:09):
It doesn't matter how manymistakes I've met.
He's covered them all, and notonly does he love us and he's
covered them, but he hascompassion for us.
He's like man I get it, you'rehuman Like we can come to Him
with those questions and hestill is there for us and
understands us.
We're not going throughanything Jesus didn't go through
.
Isn't that amazing to you?
(37:31):
I mean, sometimes I'm like manthat compassion comes from a
place of suffering that he wentthrough, not just on the cross,
but the denial, all the thingsthat he felt here on earth from
people that were supposed to behis friends, you know.
But God always satisfied thatfor him and always had that
compassion that he has for us,and I just thank him for that.
Kim McIntire (37:55):
I thank him for that.
Charity DeGonia (37:56):
Thank you God.
Kim McIntire (37:58):
Thank you, jesus.
Any other thoughts before we gointo our prayer practice?
What beautiful truths sharedtoday and we hope that there's
been a lot of encouragement inthat, and we just again would
encourage you to finish readingPsalm 103, asking the Lord Lord,
(38:19):
what can I thank you forthrough this passage or this
chapter?
What can I praise you forthrough this chapter of Psalm
103?
We're going to just transitioninto our prayer practice and
it's pretty simple.
It's just gratitude prayers andbeing very intentional and
(38:39):
purposeful about thanking theLord and praising Him and making
that a really integral part ofyour prayer life.
I try every single day to spendtime just thanking and praising
God and it will really turn yourheart toward Him and away from
(39:03):
the troubles of the world if youintentionally praise and thank
Him.
And it's a weapon, let me tellyou, it's a weapon.
So we're going to invitelisteners as we are just lifting
our gratitude to the Lord, aswe're lifting our praises to the
Lord, would you just join us,wherever you are, as you're
(39:23):
listening, just join us andallow Him to wash over you just
an undeniable peace, hope andjoy, because that's what he does
.
That's what he does.
Father God, we just thank youfor the opportunity to thank you
(39:44):
and praise you.
We are so grateful for yourword, the truth of your word.
I thank you, god, specificallyfor giving us a love letter just
for us.
It's so personal.
Thank you, lord, for your holyword.
Chalee Brown (40:12):
I give you praise.
Thank you, Lord, that I cancome into your presence.
Lord, that I can approach youand that I can spend time with
you.
Lord, that I can be filled upto overflowing, because that's
the kind of God that you are.
Laurel Wike (40:29):
Amen, father.
I thank you for a sisterhood ofbelievers that we can gather
together.
God, burning together at thesame spiritual temperature,
father, not just pursuing youindividually, but pursuing you
together, god not just learningwhat you speak through your word
and by your spirit, god, butwhat you are speaking to one
another, god, and learning andgrowing from the revelations
(40:52):
imparted to each other as well,god, we are so thankful.
Charity DeGonia (40:55):
God, thank you for the encouragement, thank you
for the compassion that youhave on each of us and where we
are.
No matter where we are, godthat you love us.
Laurel Wike (41:04):
Lord.
Charity DeGonia (41:05):
I just give thanks that you have rescued us
and redeemed us.
You've set us on high, god,amen For your glory.
Laurel Wike (41:13):
Thank you, lord.
God, we praise you that you areour advocate.
And God, you say littlechildren do not sin.
But if you do sin, you have anadvocate before the Father,
jesus Christ the righteous onewho is interceding on your
behalf?
God, we praise you.
Chalee Brown (41:30):
Lord, I thank you for allowing me to have a seat
at this table.
Lord, for allowing me to comeinto places where your word is
spoken in depth and in truth,and that you fill us up.
Lord, god, I thank you foropportunity after opportunity to
(41:51):
grow and learn under you Lord.
To sit at your feet and to havethis intimacy.
I thank you, lord, god, thankyou Jesus.
Charity DeGonia (42:03):
God, we thank you for the power of the Holy
Spirit and how we can rely on it, god, and we can walk in it,
god, and we can walk boldly andwith a holy confidence in who
you are, god, and how you pourinto us.
Lord, god, thank you that wecan so desperately come to your
feet, lord Jesus, witheverything, and that you will
(42:23):
satisfy our every need.
Lord Jesus, with everything,and that you will satisfy our
every need.
Kim McIntire (42:29):
Thank you, lord, thank you, father, that you are
the Redeemer.
You are our strength.
You are the one who renews us.
You are the one who crowns uswith love and compassion.
You are the one that satisfiesus with all good things.
Thank you, lord, that you renewour strength like an eagle.
(42:50):
Thank you, lord, thank you,lord, you are worthy of our
highest praise.
We give you all praise and allthanks in the mighty name of
Jesus.
Chalee Brown (43:05):
All thanks in the mighty name of Jesus, Heavenly
Father.
Lord, we thank you so much forthis time in your word.
Yes.
Lord and as we go out this week,lord, I just pray over the
listeners and I pray over us, usladies, lord, that you would
just go before us and that youwould prepare a way.
(43:26):
Lord, as we are digging into therest of Psalm 103.
Lord, I pray that you wouldilluminate the truth and the
light of your scriptures, lord,that your word does not return
void.
Your scripture says that.
Lord, I thank you that yourword is living and active and
that it is going to speakpersonally and directly to every
(43:49):
single listener as they dig in.
Lord, we just thank you inadvance for all that you're
going to do through thescripture.
I just pray a blessing and ananointing over all of the
listeners this week, lord, god,listeners this week, lord, god,
I pray that as they dig into theWord, lord, that they would
feel your tangible presence,lord, that you would wrap them
(44:10):
up in your goodness and yourgraciousness.
Lord, that your sweet, sweetpresence would just wrap your
arms around every single personlistening and you would be real
to them.
We thank you and praise you forall your goodness and all that
you are In Jesus' name, amen.
Kim McIntire (44:31):
Amen.
Ladies, thank you so much forbeing here with me for class
three.
It's been such a blessing to myheart to hear all of you share.
We just want to thank ourlisteners for being with us
today.
Be sure to check us out on ourwebsite at itstimetoriseuporg,
our Facebook page or Instagramat the official underscore rise,
(44:55):
underscore up.
May God's grace and peace bewith you in Jesus' mighty name.
Hey everyone, welcome to the it's Time to Rise
Up podcast.
I'm your host, Kim McIntyre.
We know there are so manythings you can do with your time
, so thank you for choosing tospend your time listening today.
We pray you're encouraged bywhat is shared.
If you're not familiar with ourshow, please check out our
website at itstimetoriseuporg.
There you will find our socialmedia links and for our podcast
(00:32):
platforms you'll find us onYouTube, apple Podcasts, spotify
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We would humbly ask you tosubscribe, leave a comment, a
thumbs up or, even better, afive-star review on Apple
Podcast.
Thank you again for joining ustoday.
We're going to jump right intothis episode.
(00:53):
I'm honored to welcome threeprevious guests to the podcast
today Chaley Brown, laurel Weickand Charity Degonia.
Welcome, friends.
Thanks.
We're glad you're back.
Today we are walking throughClass 3 of Abide, but before we
do that, we're going to do somereview from Philippians 2.
(01:15):
I hope the listeners have hadtime over the past couple of
weeks to put into practice thetwo key words confess and
declare.
Confessing just asking God,lord, what in this passage is
revealing a sin in my life thatI need to confess and repent
(01:36):
before you and then declare God.
What truths are there in thispassage that you want me
declaring over my life and myfamily?
So what we're going to do rightnow is we're just going to go
ahead and finish readingPhilippians 2, not the entire
chapter, but verse 12 through 24.
And then we're going to shareour responses to the word.
(01:58):
The key words confess anddeclare.
Laurel, do you want to readthat aloud for us?
Laurel Wike (02:03):
Sure, dearest friends, you were always so
careful to follow myinstructions when I was with you
.
Laurel, do you want to to obeyhim and the power to do what
pleases him In everything you do?
(02:32):
Stay away from complaining andarguing so that no one can speak
a word of blame against you.
You are to live clean, innocentlives as children of God in a
dark world full of crooked andperverse people.
Let your lives shine brightlybefore them.
Hold tightly to the word oflife so that when Christ returns
, I will be proud that I did notlose the race and that my work
was not useless.
But even if my life is to bepoured out like a drink offering
(02:56):
to complete the sacrifice ofyour faithful service, that is,
if I am to die for you, I willrejoice and I want to share my
joy with all of you, and youshould be happy about this and
rejoice with me.
If the Lord Jesus is willing, Ihope, to send Timothy to you
soon.
Then when he comes back he cancheer me up by telling me how
(03:16):
you are getting along.
I have no one else like Timothywho genuinely cares about your
welfare.
All the others came only forthemselves and not for what
matters to Jesus Christ.
But you know how Timothy hasproved himself Like a son with
his father.
He has helped me in preachingthe good news.
I hope to send him to you justas soon as I find out what is
(03:38):
going to happen to me here, andI have confidence from the Lord
that I myself will come to seeyou soon.
Kim McIntire (03:47):
What a good word.
Let's share who has something aresponse from the keyword
confess.
Chalee Brown (03:55):
Well, I know that verse 16 for me really jumped
out there Holding fast to theword of life so that in the day
of Christ I may be proud that Idid not run in vain or labor in
vain.
And when I read that thatholding fast I kind of got two
(04:22):
things from that.
Actually, when you hold fast tosomething, I got that I would
run to God first and I wouldhang on to Him last.
When I think about holding fastto something, I think about
hanging on to it to the end.
But for some reason God alsotook me to the other part.
So I think that I haven't alwayshad God as my first choice.
Even serving the Lord,sometimes I can put Him on the
(04:43):
back burner and reach to Him asa first choice.
You know, even serving the Lord, you know, sometimes I can put
Him on the back burner and reachto Him as a last resort.
Maybe in my own wisdom I wantto approach something or go my
own way.
And then on the hang on to lastpart, you know, I think about
the word that is this classabide, you actually abide, you
stay with Him, and my husbandcould definitely attest to this.
(05:04):
And this is where convictioncame in for me is that I am that
person.
I'm ready to start somethingnew, right, I'm excited.
I like to pump people up, youknow, but finishing strong, you
know, is a weakness of mine.
And so God really pulled thatout for me, and he brought to
mind Philippians 1.6, right,yeah, and I'm confident of this,
(05:26):
that he who began a good workin you will carry it on to
completion into the day ofChrist Jesus.
So that's really what jumpedout for me, so good.
Kim McIntire (05:35):
Thank you.
Charity DeGonia (05:36):
Anyone else.
Yeah, the whole 19 through 24that talks about Timothy.
For some reason God just kindof stuck me there and I was
trying to just dive in and seewhy and I was looking at this
man he uses.
He talks about Timothy and he'slike, hey, I want to send him
to you and I'm thinking, well,that's great, you know he's
sharing, you know the ministry.
(05:57):
But really, if we look at whathe's saying about Timothy, he's
saying Timothy has a passion forothers.
About Timothy, he's sayingTimothy has a passion for others
, he's selfless, which he'scalled us, you know, in
Philippians 2, 5 through 11,he's already calling us to be
selfless.
You know he's like die toyourself.
So now he's like here's Timothy, he's already doing that.
(06:17):
He's already died to self, he'salready selfless.
And he talks about Timothy'sreputation because he's been
with him.
You know, right, and that stuckwith me.
Like God says hey, watch whoyou're with, because your
reputation carries it and I wantto be known, as you know that
people were with charity orwhatever.
You know, not because I'manything, but because we carry
(06:39):
Christ with us and that it be apositive thing.
Sure, you know the reputationof being with the right people
and carrying God's, you know,the Holy Spirit with me in a way
that I'm not.
I mean, I'm not comparingmyself to Timothy, by any means,
but, you know, just having thatas a model of I want to be
selfless, I want to carry thatpassion for others and know that
(07:02):
it carries with me you knowthat other people understand
that selflessness that I'mtrying, I'm seeking in my
passion for others.
That's good.
Laurel Wike (07:11):
We do see that in you Charity, amen.
Well, I'll share as well.
I think for me it was as far asconfess verse 14, where it says
and everything you do, stayaway from grumbling or, in this
translation, complaining andarguing or grumbling and
disputing.
And we live in a culture, justa culture of complaining, and I
(07:32):
know raising kids in thisculture.
You know it's so easy for themto slip into it, and then I find
myself in correcting them thatI can slip into grumbling and
complaining about theirgrumbling and complaining right.
Right.
So, and you know, I have afriend who is a counselor and
(07:57):
she talks about how our biggestjob in parenting is, when our
kids get on the roller coasterof emotions, that our job is to
stay on the platform.
And so, just as I think aboutthat so often, because it's just
a daily thought, dailyexperience, but to stay on the
platform and that myresponsibility, more than to
(08:19):
correct them when they grumbleand complain, is to model for
them what grumbling andcomplaining a life that isn't
marked by that, looks like andthat's the best way to teach
them.
Kim McIntire (08:31):
Yeah, it's good, powerful Confession really has
its place.
God knew what he was talkingabout.
Charity DeGonia (08:38):
Well, and the more I do the confess and
declare, I feel like it reallycan go hand in hand.
As I'm confessing this, it'sjust a flip into.
I'm declaring that I'm going tobe opposite of whatever you
know, but God's reallyconvicting me to work on that.
And, man, when you say I'm goingto work on that, God's going to
put you to the test too, youknow.
Is this a moment that you'regoing to be selfless?
Is this a moment that you'regoing to complain?
(08:59):
Because I feel what you'resaying, Laurel.
I get home from work and I'mlike, oh, these kids need so
much.
And God says, but that's whereyou're supposed to serve and
that's where you're supposed tobe selfless.
Laurel Wike (09:08):
Beautiful.
Well, and I think the versethat stood out to me for that
was just right next to verse 13and 14, where it says oh, no,
going back to verse 13.
For God is working in you,giving you the desire to obey
him and the power to do whatpleases him.
So, first and foremost, ifwe're thinking about grumbling,
(09:31):
just as an example, first hechanges my desire inside of me,
because our natural desire is ifit doesn't go my way, I'm going
to grumble, yeah, but hechanges that desire in me, and
then he also gives me the powerto fulfill that desire to stop
(09:51):
complaining, yeah, and that'syou know.
Even in doing school with kids,you know like, hey, god's going
to, whether it's homework orhomeschooling, or god, god can
give you the desire to do thiswork that you don't want to do,
because right now it's the rightthing for you to do and then he
can also give you the power toaccomplish it.
I mean, the applications areendless.
Chalee Brown (10:10):
So true and that's so good too, because you know,
I think that you know, when thescripture talks about like he
doesn't just call us tosomething, it's kind of like
what Charity was saying you know, he doesn't just call us to
something and have us confess itand leave us.
You know and I think about thatscripture that talks about like
he has given us everything weneed for godliness.
(10:31):
You know he has fully preparedus.
I actually it was 12 and 13,that kind of stuck out to me as
well on the declare.
But this scripture has alwaysbeen a little bit, you know,
iffy for me.
I've always, I've never, beencomfortable with the scripture.
Work out your own salvation withfear and trembling you know,
(10:52):
and I think that it's awesomethat God works in me to will and
work for His good pleasure.
But, like I said, it used tomake me uneasy.
But my declaration with this isI can hold him in the right
place of honor and respect andawe, because he's the lion and
the lamb.
He's the God of justice andmercy.
(11:14):
You know, he's not just the onethat calls us to confess, he
actually gives us the power todo it.
He's rooting for me,strengthening me, Come on, and
through his Holy Spirit, he'sinfilling me and changing my
desires and my vision and myfocus to be more like Him.
And so I hold Him in a holyplace of awe and he's that same
God that I hold in that place ofawe, and he's personal and
(11:37):
intimate, helping me through theprocess.
Charity DeGonia (11:41):
So I feel like because those verses that you
guys are talking about isdefinitely a place that God
stopped me, each time too.
But God kept saying that thisis what happens when we meet
with him, when we get into hispresence, and that's like that
important part, because we canread through things, but until
we actually hear from him andhear exactly where he's going to
work on us, that's where thatpower comes from that you're
(12:02):
talking about on us.
That's where that power comesfrom that you're talking about,
and not only that, but that'swhere my passion and my
excitement and my hunger formore.
It draws those things out, youknow.
It draws me to that power, andthen I just want more of what
God has for me, so good,no-transcript.
Kim McIntire (12:44):
This is my second time on the podcast.
That book has radically changedmy view of what the fear of the
Lord really is, because I wasoff track with my understanding
of the fear of the Lord.
So if you, I, was a person whoreally struggled with this verse
as well Like what in the worlddoes that mean that I'm working
(13:09):
out my salvation with fear andtrembling?
But the fear of the Lord bringsall of that into alignment and
really clears the perspective ofwhat that means.
So it's a great book.
It's a 42-day read, a few pagesa day, 42 days.
I promise you will understandwhat it means to walk in the
(13:31):
fear of the Lord, and I know youall have read it with me
because we're all in thistogether.
Right Abide in the awe of God.
Laurel Wike (13:38):
They go hand in hand.
Kim McIntire (13:41):
You guys, thank you so much.
What good insights from simplytwo words that prompt our
responses to Scripture.
So never underestimate thepower of what one word can do as
you approach Scripture.
Oh, you guys, that just was ablessing to my heart.
(14:02):
You make this job so easy forme.
Oh, that was good.
So we're going to go ahead andconclude our time in Philippians
, chapter 2.
, and we are going to move intolesson 3.
And the text is Psalm 103.
Sharing that with the listeners, we're going to settle
(14:26):
ourselves before the Lord, we'regoing to get ready to go into
worship and we would invite youto worship along with us.
Invite you to worship alongwith us.
This song is Gratitude.
It's very well known.
Music (15:02):
Sing it with your whole heart.
I got nothing new.
How could I express All mygratitude?
I could sing these songs, as Ioften do, but every song must
end, and you never knew.
(15:25):
So I throw up my hands andpraise you again and again,
cause all that I have is ahallelujah, hallelujah, and I
(15:47):
know it's not much, but I'venothing else fit for a king,
except for hearts singinghallelujah, hallelujah.
I've got lonely spots, I've gotjust one move, with my arms
(16:20):
stretched wide.
I will worship you and I'llthrow up my hands and praise you
again and again, cause all thatI have is a hallelujah,
hallelujah, and I know it's notmuch, but I've nothing else to
(16:50):
thank for again, except for aheart singing hallelujah,
hallelujah.
Oh, come on, my soul, oh, don'tyou get shy on me and lift up
(17:15):
your song, because you've got alion inside of those lungs.
Get up and praise the Lord.
Come on, my soul, oh, don't youget shy on me.
Lift up your song, cause you'vegot a lion inside of those
(17:39):
lungs.
Get up and praise the Lord.
So I'll throw up my hands andpraise you again and again,
cause all that I have is aHallelujah, hallelujah.
(18:00):
All that I have is a hallelujahhallelujah, and I know it's not
much, but I've nothing else fitfor a king except for a heart
singing hallelujah, hallelujah,hallelujah.
Kim McIntire (18:41):
And with that we are going to go into the two
keywords that we're going to beusing through Psalm 103.
Charity DeGonia (18:57):
But before we do that, Charity will you open
us up in prayer.
Thank you, father.
God, we just come to you rightnow, god, and I just pray over
our listeners that you wouldmeet them right where they are,
god, that this would be anencouragement to them, god, that
they would be able to feel thepower of their hearts, coming to
you with gratitude andthanksgiving, and all that it
will do that you will do intheir hearts and minds.
(19:17):
Through this, god, we thank youfor how this is going to change
lives of the listeners that areon today, god, and we praise
you for all that you are, god,and how you love us in your name
, amen.
Kim McIntire (19:29):
Amen, amen.
So our two key words for Psalm103 are well, this is a phrase
give thanks and then praise.
We're going to talk a littlebit about the difference between
those two words.
So, as we look at Psalm 103,we're looking for ways to give
thanks to the Lord, and when wethank God, we're acknowledging
(19:52):
what he's done or what he'sdoing or what he has yet to do.
And it's important, when weread the Word, to respond to God
with thanks, and I'll admitthere have been times I haven't
been as good at doing that as inother times.
When you look at Psalm 103,verse 3, it says he forgives all
(20:13):
my sins and heals all mydiseases.
So with that I would say thankyou, lord, you saved me and you
healed me.
Very simple, very profound.
I say that a lot.
Praise is the other key word.
When we praise God, we'reacknowledging who he is, so it's
not as much about what he'sdoing for us, it's just he is
(20:34):
God and he's worthy of ourpraise because of who he is.
So we see His characterthroughout this text.
We also see the acts that hedoes toward His people.
So we're really wanting to bepurposeful about giving thanks
and praising God when weapproach His Word.
Psalm 103 is just a psalm thathas really taught me to praise
(20:58):
and give thanks with all myheart, and that's why it's in
the Abide class.
So we're going to go ahead andread that text, shaley.
Actually, I think you're goingto read that for us, psalm 103.
And we're going to just talkabout the first six verses in
today's class.
Go ahead, shaley.
Awesome.
Chalee Brown (21:20):
Bless the Lord, o my soul and all that is within
me.
Bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, o my soul, andforget not all His benefits, who
forgives all your iniquity, whoheals all your diseases, who
redeems your life from the pit,who crowns you with steadfast
love and mercy who satisfies youwith good, so that your youth
(21:44):
is renewed like the eagles.
Amen.
Kim McIntire (21:47):
What a good word.
Yeah, and I think there are acouple of testimonies here.
Why don't we talk about those?
Just how giving thanks andpraising God has impacted, I
know, charity.
You had a testimony you wantedto share.
Let's do that before we talkabout our responses.
Charity DeGonia (22:02):
Yeah, well, this did transform the way I was
looking at God in a lot ofdifferent ways, just because,
you know, a lot of times we lookto Him as a Savior when we need
something, all the time, and sothis shifted the way I was
looking at the Bible, like whenI was reading it it and where I
would look for answers to thingsall the time Okay.
(22:23):
Lord, I'm going through this.
What answer do you have for me?
And you know, as I've gonethrough Abide, it's taught me
how to listen.
And he does give us answers,and he gives us, he challenges
us, for sure.
This is where it reallytransformed me, from this is my
problem to my God.
It changed everything.
So now my God is bigger than myproblem every time, because I
(22:47):
can go to Him and get on myknees and I'm listening to
something and I'm like, okay,I'm going to give thanks for
whatever is in this chapter oranother chapter, or just not
even in the Bible, but like,what can I give Him thanks and
praise for?
And it shifts my mind focus, ormy focus completely to His
character.
And His character always meetsus, amen, right, he always fills
(23:12):
us and gives us what we need,and sometimes that's
encouragement.
But I can tell you this it hasbuilt my trust in Him.
Amen, because now I know thathe has everything I need.
Yeah, and when we recognize allthe things that he has for us,
then we go.
Well, why would I not trust Him?
Yeah, and that's where itchanged me.
Kim McIntire (23:30):
Yeah.
Charity DeGonia (23:30):
Yeah, yeah.
Kim McIntire (23:31):
That's good, that's awesome.
Shaili, did you have somethingas well?
Chalee Brown (23:35):
Yeah, you Did you have something as well.
Yeah, you know, I think, justfor me, you know, I've known the
Lord.
I've known the Lord for a long,long time and I think it just
we all know that there is alwaysmore to know about the Lord,
right?
Sure, he has so many layers ofwho he is that we can discover,
(23:55):
and I think it just reallydeepened my gratitude for who
God is right.
And what kind of came to mindwas I'm grateful for His
consistencies and Hisdifferences, and that's like
well, okay, what does that mean?
Well, I think when I thinkabout the praise, his character,
it is consistent, it isunchanging, forever, right, it
doesn't matter to whom, it isthe same.
(24:17):
But then, on the thanks side, Ithink that really speaks to how
God meets me personally.
Kim McIntire (24:24):
Kind, of like what Charity?
Chalee Brown (24:25):
was speaking to, sure, and what I need in.
Whatever I'm going through, solike I think about as a parent
with my boys, I'll always behonest with both of them.
Right, that's just my character, that's not going to change.
But I deal with themdifferently.
(24:46):
In circumstances where one kidI might treat in a certain way
because he needs that extrasupport, maybe another kid would
feel smothered by that, youknow.
So it just really deepened mygratitude for who God is and how
, on one hand, he's soconsistent in His character and
on the other hand, he is bigenough to be personal for me you
(25:07):
know, so good, so rich.
Kim McIntire (25:10):
Thank you for sharing those testimonies,
ladies.
Oh, I'm so excited to hear theresponses from these first six
verses.
Laurel, why don't you start usout?
Laurel Wike (25:22):
Sounds good, I'll just start right in verse one.
I always seem to get stuck injust one verse for a little
while.
Kim McIntire (25:28):
Yeah, me too, me too.
Laurel Wike (25:32):
I love the translation.
Chaley read Bless the Lord, Omy soul and all that's within me
.
And I have New LivingTranslation.
Praise the Lord, I tell myselfall that's within me and I have
new living translation.
Praise the Lord, I tell myselfwith my whole heart I will
praise his holy name.
And I kind of, while I wasstudying, was going back and
forth between those two and Ilove and I am thankful for the
(25:52):
fact that I can command my soulto praise amen not just that, I
can command my soul to praise,and not just that I can command
my soul to praise, but that Ican command my soul to praise
wholeheartedly.
And you know back to the awe ofGod that you were talking about
with John Bevere at the end ofthe verse.
You know His holy name, wepraise Him for His holy name.
(26:13):
And actually as I was studyingI was thinking about that so
much because that book has alsoshifted my.
I mean, I feel like on onelevel I had a pretty good
intellectual understanding ofwhat the fear of the Lord was.
I actually had someone sittingin a Bible study with me once
and they read Fear of God andthey assumed, because they were
(26:35):
relatively young in faith, thatit was a negative thing.
And I remember always thinkingabout that, like young in faith,
that it was a negative thing.
And I remember always thinkingabout that like wow, they
thought that was a negativething, like I know that's a
positive thing, right, but thisbook has opened up so much more
depth of understanding to that.
So you know we've talked abouthow reading this has brought
(26:59):
just a whole new focus on theholiness of God, even into our
prayer times.
Oh, yeah, but His holy name.
Like here, it uses the name ofGod singular.
But you know, throughoutScripture, of course, we see
hundreds of names of God and Ihave a poster on my wall at home
in the living room that says Iam, and it literally has 200
(27:20):
names of God listed around it.
And at the beginning of thisyear I just started studying
through that because the artistwho created it also provided
with it a sheet of all thebiblical references for these
names.
These names, and as I've beenjust studying through them and
(27:40):
putting them together andrecording the names of God, like
these are the names of God thatstart with A and that start
with B.
So the recording doesn't get toolong, right, and then I'll like
listen to it in the car and orwherever you know I have time,
and it is just bringing agreater depth of understanding
of you.
Know, we know the scripture thename of the Lord is a strong
tower.
(28:01):
The righteous will run to itand they will be saved, and
there is so much just in thatone word, like His name, that we
can praise Him for.
And you know, for someone whomay want the cliff notes, I
think of Elevation Worship'ssong Jehovah, jehovah Nisi
fights my battles.
Jehovah Jireh meets my needs.
Jehovah, jehovah Nisi fights mybattles.
Jehovah Jireh meets my needs.
(28:22):
Jehovah Rapha heals my body.
Jehovah Shalom is my peace.
Like you can spend a lot oftime just with those four names
right there, yeah.
Kim McIntire (28:30):
Holy is His name.
Worthy of our praise, withoutexception.
Worthy of our praise.
Chalee Brown (28:38):
Anyone else?
Yeah, without exception worthyof our praise.
Anyone else?
Yeah, I know verse 5 for me.
Who satisfies you with good sothat your youth is renewed like
the eagles, he gives me what'sgood for me, truly good.
His ways and thoughts arehigher than mine.
I'm just so thankful that Hisways are higher than mine, that
even when it's painful, evenwhen it's hard, he knows me
(29:00):
better than myself.
He knows what I need to gothrough to accomplish what he
needs to in me and he doesn'tcare.
You know what I think, or maybeI'm pushing for that.
You know that's the that wouldbenefit myself, or maybe that
would be more fleshly.
He guides me with eternity inmind.
I'm so thankful for that, sothat I really am truly refreshed
(29:21):
and renewed.
Charity DeGonia (29:23):
Yeah, that's good man.
So much of this chapter speaksto me.
So I'm like well, do I go thisdirection?
But I want to go to verse 2,because when you're talking
about blessing the Lord and thenat the end of verse 2, it says
do not forget all His benefitsand we don't come to him just
because of all of his benefits,but we have to know that there's
(29:45):
a part of us that was made forhim and I think that a lot of
times that verse for me says Iwas made for him.
Don't forget that you were madefor him, so his benefits are
because of him.
You know, like, if we don'trest on those and know those and
know that he's there for us,know that he's good, know that
(30:06):
he's holy, know that we havethat knowledge of who he is,
then we know ourselves Becausethat's what we were made for.
Chalee Brown (30:15):
Yeah, that's so good.
Wow, that's what we were madefor.
Yeah, that's so good.
Kim McIntire (30:19):
Wow, Well for me, I call this one of my life
verses, verse 4.
Who redeems my life from?
Music (30:37):
the pit and crowns me with love and compassion.
Kim McIntire (30:39):
He's the only one that could go to the darkest
place.
Nobody, nobody not my husband,as much as he loves me, not my
mom, as wonderful as she is, notmy daughter she's my best
friend.
Not any of you, my amazingsisters in Christ, could go to
(31:06):
the pit and redeem me.
No one.
And sometimes I think we viewother people as rescuers.
Yeah, I recognize when I lookback how often I was depending
(31:29):
on other people to rescue orcomfort or deliver or satisfy.
And I look at these six versesand I'm like Father, there is no
one like you.
There is truly no one like you.
(31:51):
And my testimony is the darkestpit that I've ever been in in my
life was an abortion clinic at17 years old, and I remember
sitting there thinking I had noother options, and I don't speak
this as condemnation againstanyone who has made that
(32:17):
decision to have an abortion.
Let me say, with God, there isgrace, mercy and forgiveness for
every person who brings that tothe cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
He is mercy and grace andforgiveness.
But I can tell you, the firsttime I heard the voice of God
(32:43):
was in the deepest pit, thedarkest place I'd ever been.
Where will he not go?
Where will he not go?
Listeners, what pit are you in?
Because I promise you, nomatter how dark and isolating it
(33:04):
is, it is not a place that Godis unwilling to go.
So every time I read this psalm, I just praise Him that he
redeemed my life from the pitand he crowned me with love and
compassion, not because Ideserved it, not because I was
good enough, just because heloved me.
(33:25):
He's worthy of my praise.
So who is he To me?
He's my Redeemer, so that's mypraise.
God you redeem, it's who youare, but this is the amazing
thing it's also what he does.
So sometimes God's name is notjust who he is, does.
(33:49):
So sometimes god's name is notjust who he is, but it's what he
does.
Yeah, right, yeah.
So our encouragement is gothrough psalm 103 in these next
couple of weeks, asking the lord.
Lord, show me what to thank youfor, show me what to praise you
for.
It may be things right now, inthe present, it may be things
from the past that you haven'teven really thought about, but
(34:14):
he is so worthy of the praise.
And I want to just say mydaughter, alex.
She just turned 36 years old.
So 36 years ago, january 8th.
She was born 36 years ago,january 8th, and the best gift
(34:37):
other than my salvation is thatprecious now young woman of God,
and it's because he went to thedarkest place.
So any other thoughts aboutPsalm 103?
, shaili?
Chalee Brown (34:52):
go ahead.
You know I'm just going topiggyback.
That's exactly my praise wasexactly that verse that he
redeems my life from the pit,and when I was looking at it you
know he's a Redeemer myfavorite definition of redeem.
There's lots of different kindof breakoffs of that to make
necessary payment, to pay off adebt, and I'm just so grateful
(35:13):
for a perfect Savior who issteadfast and long-suffering,
who chose what was best overwhat was easy in his life on the
cross and it's just such anencouragement to me to, in those
moments like let's look atthings in light of eternity.
(35:34):
Amen.
Just like Christ did, amen.
He didn't choose the easy road.
Laurel Wike (35:38):
Yeah, yeah, if I can just tie a few things
together here, please do thatword satisfy that you talked
about in verse 5.
Yeah, and you're talking aboutthe cross.
Isaiah 53, of course, is thesuffering servant.
And in Isaiah 53, 11, it sayswhen he sees all that is
(35:59):
accomplished by his anguish, hewill be satisfied.
Well, that's good, and it'seasy to be satisfied when things
are good, yeah, and when we cansee those things that are
satisfactory in our lives.
That's true, but the promise ofscripture is that when we see
(36:19):
all that is accomplished by ouranguish, we will also be
satisfied.
Kim McIntire (36:25):
Yeah, so true, that's really good.
Charity DeGonia (36:28):
So true, I just wanted to piggyback off
something you said too, becauseyou were talking about how we go
to other people who want to.
You know, we want them tosatisfy parts of us, and that
part that he crowns us withfaithful love and compassion is
what mine says Like, and lateron in this chapter, god really
(36:49):
spoke to me and what that meantmore, and I hope that the
listeners and others can getthere too.
But this faithful love meansthat no matter where we are, he
loves us.
He's not just there, but heloves us and he has a compassion
, knowing so much about us, andI just praise God that, like,
we're never too far gone awayfrom His love.
(37:09):
It doesn't matter how manymistakes I've met.
He's covered them all, and notonly does he love us and he's
covered them, but he hascompassion for us.
He's like man I get it, you'rehuman Like we can come to Him
with those questions and hestill is there for us and
understands us.
We're not going throughanything Jesus didn't go through
.
Isn't that amazing to you?
(37:31):
I mean, sometimes I'm like manthat compassion comes from a
place of suffering that he wentthrough, not just on the cross,
but the denial, all the thingsthat he felt here on earth from
people that were supposed to behis friends, you know.
But God always satisfied thatfor him and always had that
compassion that he has for us,and I just thank him for that.
Kim McIntire (37:55):
I thank him for that.
Charity DeGonia (37:56):
Thank you God.
Kim McIntire (37:58):
Thank you, jesus.
Any other thoughts before we gointo our prayer practice?
What beautiful truths sharedtoday and we hope that there's
been a lot of encouragement inthat, and we just again would
encourage you to finish readingPsalm 103, asking the Lord Lord,
(38:19):
what can I thank you forthrough this passage or this
chapter?
What can I praise you forthrough this chapter of Psalm
103?
We're going to just transitioninto our prayer practice and
it's pretty simple.
It's just gratitude prayers andbeing very intentional and
(38:39):
purposeful about thanking theLord and praising Him and making
that a really integral part ofyour prayer life.
I try every single day to spendtime just thanking and praising
God and it will really turn yourheart toward Him and away from
(39:03):
the troubles of the world if youintentionally praise and thank
Him.
And it's a weapon, let me tellyou, it's a weapon.
So we're going to invitelisteners as we are just lifting
our gratitude to the Lord, aswe're lifting our praises to the
Lord, would you just join us,wherever you are, as you're
(39:23):
listening, just join us andallow Him to wash over you just
an undeniable peace, hope andjoy, because that's what he does
.
That's what he does.
Father God, we just thank youfor the opportunity to thank you
(39:44):
and praise you.
We are so grateful for yourword, the truth of your word.
I thank you, god, specificallyfor giving us a love letter just
for us.
It's so personal.
Thank you, lord, for your holyword.
Chalee Brown (40:12):
I give you praise.
Thank you, Lord, that I cancome into your presence.
Lord, that I can approach youand that I can spend time with
you.
Lord, that I can be filled upto overflowing, because that's
the kind of God that you are.
Laurel Wike (40:29):
Amen, father.
I thank you for a sisterhood ofbelievers that we can gather
together.
God, burning together at thesame spiritual temperature,
father, not just pursuing youindividually, but pursuing you
together, god not just learningwhat you speak through your word
and by your spirit, god, butwhat you are speaking to one
another, god, and learning andgrowing from the revelations
(40:52):
imparted to each other as well,god, we are so thankful.
Charity DeGonia (40:55):
God, thank you for the encouragement, thank you
for the compassion that youhave on each of us and where we
are.
No matter where we are, godthat you love us.
Laurel Wike (41:04):
Lord.
Charity DeGonia (41:05):
I just give thanks that you have rescued us
and redeemed us.
You've set us on high, god,amen For your glory.
Laurel Wike (41:13):
Thank you, lord.
God, we praise you that you areour advocate.
And God, you say littlechildren do not sin.
But if you do sin, you have anadvocate before the Father,
jesus Christ the righteous onewho is interceding on your
behalf?
God, we praise you.
Chalee Brown (41:30):
Lord, I thank you for allowing me to have a seat
at this table.
Lord, for allowing me to comeinto places where your word is
spoken in depth and in truth,and that you fill us up.
Lord, god, I thank you foropportunity after opportunity to
(41:51):
grow and learn under you Lord.
To sit at your feet and to havethis intimacy.
I thank you, lord, god, thankyou Jesus.
Charity DeGonia (42:03):
God, we thank you for the power of the Holy
Spirit and how we can rely on it, god, and we can walk in it,
god, and we can walk boldly andwith a holy confidence in who
you are, god, and how you pourinto us.
Lord, god, thank you that wecan so desperately come to your
feet, lord Jesus, witheverything, and that you will
(42:23):
satisfy our every need.
Lord Jesus, with everything,and that you will satisfy our
every need.
Kim McIntire (42:29):
Thank you, lord, thank you, father, that you are
the Redeemer.
You are our strength.
You are the one who renews us.
You are the one who crowns uswith love and compassion.
You are the one that satisfiesus with all good things.
Thank you, lord, that you renewour strength like an eagle.
(42:50):
Thank you, lord, thank you,lord, you are worthy of our
highest praise.
We give you all praise and allthanks in the mighty name of
Jesus.
Chalee Brown (43:05):
All thanks in the mighty name of Jesus, Heavenly
Father.
Lord, we thank you so much forthis time in your word.
Yes.
Lord and as we go out this week,lord, I just pray over the
listeners and I pray over us, usladies, lord, that you would
just go before us and that youwould prepare a way.
(43:26):
Lord, as we are digging into therest of Psalm 103.
Lord, I pray that you wouldilluminate the truth and the
light of your scriptures, lord,that your word does not return
void.
Your scripture says that.
Lord, I thank you that yourword is living and active and
that it is going to speakpersonally and directly to every
(43:49):
single listener as they dig in.
Lord, we just thank you inadvance for all that you're
going to do through thescripture.
I just pray a blessing and ananointing over all of the
listeners this week, lord, god,listeners this week, lord, god,
I pray that as they dig into theWord, lord, that they would
feel your tangible presence,lord, that you would wrap them
(44:10):
up in your goodness and yourgraciousness.
Lord, that your sweet, sweetpresence would just wrap your
arms around every single personlistening and you would be real
to them.
We thank you and praise you forall your goodness and all that
you are In Jesus' name, amen.
Kim McIntire (44:31):
Amen.
Ladies, thank you so much forbeing here with me for class
three.
It's been such a blessing to myheart to hear all of you share.
We just want to thank ourlisteners for being with us
today.
Be sure to check us out on ourwebsite at itstimetoriseuporg,
our Facebook page or Instagramat the official underscore rise,
(44:55):
underscore up.
May God's grace and peace bewith you in Jesus' mighty name.
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