All Episodes

May 25, 2025 12 mins
The sources collectively focus on themes related to faith, divine guidance, and the journey of following Christ1. They emphasize the power of faith and resilience as a source of inner strength to overcome challenges, fear, and adversity, assuring that with faith, one is never alone1.... A significant theme is seeking and clarifying God's vision and plan for one's life, which involves actively seeking guidance, rooting intentions in faith, and staying focused on the path God has laid out4.... The sources also highlight the principle of committing one's plans, goals, and dreams to the Lord, trusting Him to establish them and being open to divine correction4.... Maintaining a steadfast focus on God and His path is stressed, advocating for the removal of distractions and guarding one's heart, requiring discipline and courage7.... Lastly, one source offers a perspective on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, detailing his extraordinary nature, teachings of love and forgiveness, miracles, suffering, triumph over death, and the promise of his continued presence

Stay mindful, stay focused, and remember—every great change starts with a single step. Keep thriving, understanding that life happens for you, not to you, to live your purpose.Follow Lynn “Coach” Austin for more episodes, articles, and updates:
🌐 https://www.lynnfaustin.com

📩 Connect or share feedback: https://www.lynnfaustin.com/contact-us/
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this deep dive today. We're looking at a
really interesting set of materials. You sent over these inspirational
videos from the Rise and Shine inspiration channel.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Yeah, quite a mix. We have prayers about focus and
commitment Vision two, and there's that poem right, the.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
Poem and then that well, very different take on the
life of Jesus exactly.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
So our mission here really is to dig into these
and see what they tell us about, you know, maintaining hope,
keeping clarity, and just persevering.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
On your path, finding those key insights.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
That's the idea, extracting that wisdom from navigating things.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Okay, cool, and you know that poem you mentioned carry On,
that immediately seem like a good place to start. It
really speaks to how faith helps in well difficult.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Times it does. What's really compelling about carry On is
its imagery. How it paints a picture of resilience, Like
when it says the sun hides, yet hope shines through.
It taps into that feeling, doesn't it enduring even when
things seem dark, that kind of basic belief that light
will come back.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Yeah, contrast is powerful, and those lines build the ground trembles.
I stand firm it gives such a physical sense of stability, you.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Know it does. It suggests strength isn't about like zero turmoil,
but choosing to stay grounded anyway.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
But what makes that possible? Do you think that kind
of firmness?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
That's a great question. I think it points to well,
our own capacity for resilience, often boosted by believing in
something bigger than just us. Okay, when the poem says
faith keeps me steadfast, it shows how that belief system
can kind of frame how we handle uncertainty, and.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
The way it repeats carry on and be strong and
have faith. It's almost like a mantra, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Yeah, Like an internal reminder.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Reminding yourself that hope and strength aren't just states you achieve,
but things you have to like actively maintain.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Precisely, it's not passive wishing. It's actively drawing on inner resources,
and that line my heart beats with divine strength. It
suggests that this resource feels deeply personal, but maybe also
connected to some thing you know, bigger, a wider sense
of meaning, right.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
And that feeling of connection like in I'm Never alone,
That's all I know? That seems incredibly empowering.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
It really can be. It shifts your perspective from feeling
isolated in your struggles to feeling part of something larger.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
Which actually leads pretty smoothly into the next piece, the
powerful prayer for a clear vision. This one's based on
hablococ two point two. Ah.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yes, the instruction to write the vision, make it plain
on the tablets.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
It's so direct, like a real call to action for
your own goals.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Well, what's interesting there is the push to make something
abstract like a vision concrete. Writing it down forces you
to be clearer true, and the idea that this vision
is for the future it will come true. That brings
in patience and trust in how thing's unfold, like planting
a seed really yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
And trusting it'll grow. But there's also this sense of
personal action in lines like with this word, I'll make
my way and with your vision, I'll take flight. Definitely,
it's not just about getting a vision, but you know,
actually using it, using it like a map for what
you do next, makes you think how much more focused
our actions could be with a clear destination.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Exactly turns intention into actual direction. But crucially, the prayer
also includes patients, though it lingers I will wait your
perfect timing, never late.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
Right, acknowledging our timing isn't always the timing.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
Yeah, it requires trust, and while sticking.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
With it, I also noticed the active seeking of guidance,
like on the hill, I'll stand and see what you've
planned is meant for me, and asking directly clear my sight, Lord,
make it right.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
It's about engaging with the process, not just passively waiting.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
Wanting to understand your path.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
And that desire to have no more shadows. Noticeguise, lift
the veil before my eyes. That really speaks to a
basic human need for truth for understanding, doesn't it.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
It really goes.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Wanting to see clearly without things getting in the way
so you can navigate with more certainty. Makes you wonder
how often we operate with like only half the picture.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
That's a really powerful thought. Okay, so you have a vision.
The next logical step is making plans to get there,
and the prayer for committing plans based on Proverbs sixteen
point three seems to cover that.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yes, commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he
will establish your plans. It's about linking what we do
to a higher purpose.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
So connecting back to that clear vision we just talked
about exactly.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
Committing plans with faith becomes the sort of practical application
of the vision. You're infusing your everyday work with your
core beliefs and trusting the outcome to something beyond just
your own effort. The prayers desire for work to reflect
your will and for intentions to be rooted in faith
that really highlights this alignment.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
I found the line if my plans drift from your purpose,
lovingly correct me and realign my heart with yours really resonant.
It admits we might mess up, you.

Speaker 2 (04:51):
Know, acknowledges our fallibility right, that.

Speaker 1 (04:53):
Our own wants might lead us off track, but it
also shows a willingness to be guided back, like having
a co that sometimes needs adjusting.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
That speaks volumes about humility in our goals. I think
it's not about clinging rigidly to our plans, but being
open to guidance, recognizing there might be a bigger picture.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yeah, being open.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
And that final request to establish my steps and bless
the work of my hands. It's a beautiful way to
ask for support for our efforts, especially when they are
aligned with that bigger purpose.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
Okay, so vision committed plans, but then there's the challenge
of staying focused. Yeah, life throws so many distractions at Oh, definitely,
And the prayer for staying focused from Proverbs four point
twenty five twenty seven addresses this directly that instruction let
your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

(05:45):
Very clear.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
What strikes me there is the intentionality. It's a conscious
act of directing your attention. And the bit about do
not swerve to the right of the left. It highlights
being mindful of all the things that can pull you
off course, whether they're like temptations or just ups.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
And the part about keep your foot from evil suggests
focus isn't just about goals, but also about how you
get there right, the integrity of the journey.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Absolutely, it's a reminder that your value should guide you
and keep you from being sidetracked by negativity.

Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker 2 (06:13):
And the prayer wraps up by asking for help with
this Lord, help me to fix my eyes on you
and the path you've placed before me, and asking for
focused discipline and courage to walk straight ahead, trusting you
every step of the way.

Speaker 1 (06:26):
So it acknowledges that staying on track takes more than
just willpower sometimes right.

Speaker 2 (06:31):
It often requires inner strength and that deep trust in
the direction you've chosen.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
Okay, building on that inner strength idea, The next prayer,
prayer for strengthening faith and vision uses Joshua one point nine.
This one really ties together faith, vision and courage.

Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yes, and that opening line is quite striking. Courage rises
like the morning sun, fear retreats, and faith has begun.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
It almost suggests courage comes before faith, or maybe sparks it.

Speaker 2 (06:59):
That's a really interesting way to put it. It implies
that taking that first step, even when you're afraid, might
be where faith actually starts to you know, take root. Yeah,
and those commands be strong, be brave, don't turn away.
They're powerful nudges to overcome that fear and just move forward.

Speaker 1 (07:14):
And the reassurance that follows the Lord is with you
every day and the Lord, your God, is your guiding
light that provides the support. Doesn't it makes courage feel
less like you're all alone in it?

Speaker 2 (07:25):
Exactly? It provides a foundation. And what's particularly insightful, I
think is the idea that through the valleys and the
stormy skies, faith grows strong where doubt just dies.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
So challenges aren't just roadblocks, right.

Speaker 2 (07:39):
They're reframed as opportunities for faith to be tested and
hopefully strengthened. It suggests resiliences built in those tough times.

Speaker 1 (07:47):
I also like the call to lift your head and
trust his plan. He's your rock, your promised land. It's
about kind of surrendering to a bigger story and finding
security there even if the next step isn't totally clear.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
And the lines after that really reinforce the constant guidance
every step he lights the way through the night into
the day, and then hold on tight, don't let it fade.
His promises will never sway.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
It's a strong message of unwavering support throughout.

Speaker 2 (08:13):
Definitely, So we see these themes hope, vision, commitment, focus, courage,
all weaving together. They provide this sort of toolkit for
navigating life. Yeah, and now for a completely different angle,
we have the Donkey's Tale.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
Oh this one was so unexpected but really captivating. Hearing
about Jesus's life from the perspective of a donkey who
is there. It really does make you see familiar stories differently.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
What works so well is the simplicity of the narrator.
I think the donkey just recounts these huge moments the
star at the birth Jesus teaching the miracles with this
very direct, almost innocent wonder, like a ground level view
exactly focusing on the immediate impact the kindness he saw.

Speaker 1 (08:55):
And the emotional journey, even for the donkey, is surprisingly touching.
You feel the sadness around the betrayal and crucifixion, and
then that shift to joy and hope for the resurrection.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
Absolutely it reminds you of the raw emotion at the
heart of these events, and the donkey's take on Jesus's
teaching is about love, forgiveness, everyone having value. It's presented
so simply. It cuts through complex theology and gets to
the basic human principles.

Speaker 1 (09:20):
Makes you think how those messages might have landed with
people just around.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
Watching right, and the ending with the donkey's simple belief
in the message in kindness and love lasting, it ties
back beautifully to everything else we've discussed.

Speaker 1 (09:35):
Yeah, even from that humble view, faith and hope still
shine through.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
The Donkey's unwavering belief, even without maybe fully grasping everything.
It kind of mirrors the spirit and the prayers and
the poem.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
So looking back at all these sources.

Speaker 2 (09:48):
We see these core ideas popping up again and again,
just express differently, the need for hope when things get hard,
the power of having a clear vision, the strength you
find when you commit your plans with faith, why focus
is so vital, and how courage fuels both faith.

Speaker 1 (10:03):
And action, And even a donkey's perspective can shed light
on all that in a really meaningful way exactly which
leads us to a final thought for you listening, how
might consciously bringing these practices into your own life really
nurturing hope, defining your vision, clearly committing faithfully to what
you do, staying focused, embracing courage. How might that reshape

(10:25):
your own journey?

Speaker 2 (10:26):
M hmm. Just like the donkey saw extraordinary things from
an unexpected viewpoint, what new insights or maybe transformations could
you discover by intentionally applying these principles on your own path,
even in the everyday moments,
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage

Rewarded for bravery that goes above and beyond the call of duty, the Medal of Honor is the United States’ top military decoration. The stories we tell are about the heroes who have distinguished themselves by acts of heroism and courage that have saved lives. From Judith Resnik, the second woman in space, to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice, these are stories about those who have done the improbable and unexpected, who have sacrificed something in the name of something much bigger than themselves. Every Wednesday on Medal of Honor, uncover what their experiences tell us about the nature of sacrifice, why people put their lives in danger for others, and what happens after you’ve become a hero. Special thanks to series creator Dan McGinn, to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Adam Plumpton. Medal of Honor begins on May 28. Subscribe to Pushkin+ to hear ad-free episodes one week early. Find Pushkin+ on the Medal of Honor show page in Apple or at Pushkin.fm. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.