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Amber Albee Swenson, one of our Time of Grace writers and bloggers, will help you navigate through some of life’s challenges and struggles by using Scripture and her own experiences of being a mom, wife, speaker, teacher, and forgiven child of God ... Because in God's kingdom, the little things ARE the big things.
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How fast do you have to have "IT"? Our culture tells us to find a microwave to speed up the process. C.L. Whiteside, a man who sees and hears multiple perspectives through his life of coaching sports, serving in education, and attempting to conform to Christ, searches for the nonmicrowaved truth. C.L. gets that what’s cool and acceptable now, may not be cool and acceptable tomorrow—and most importantly, may not be what’s best.
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The Bible can be intimidating, right? There are 66 different books, more than 700,000 words, and all of it was written over a period of 1,600 years by dozens of different authors. How do we make sense of it all, and what does it mean for our lives? Amazingly, the Bible is incredibly interconnected with “threads” that run through it from beginning to end. In this podcast, Bible scholar and author Dr. Bruce Becker will uncover these threads, help you dig deeper into God’s truth, and inspire yo ...
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Time of Grace is for people who want more growth and less struggle in their spiritual walk. We connect people to God’s grace so they know they are loved and forgiven and so they can start living in the freedom they’ve always wanted. In addition to podcasts, our ministry delivers the timeless truth of God’s Word through television, print, and digital media with millions of content engagements each month. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support, p ...
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Unwind from a long day with Pastor Jeremy's evening devotions, bringing you comfort and perspective.
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Jesus' Growth Plan for Me: What Are the Threats to My Faith?, Part 2 (radio edit)
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God’s Word doesn't always seem to work in our lives. We share it, read it, and hear it, but it doesn’t seem to change us spiritually. That's because the Word of God, Jesus said, is like a seed—it's packed with potential, but it is also small and vulnerable. How vulnerable? Pastor Mike identifies these everyday threats to God's Word that can stop us…
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Jesus' Growth Plan for Me: What Are the Threats to My Faith?, Part 1 (radio edit)
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God’s Word doesn't always seem to work in our lives. We share it, read it, and hear it, but it doesn’t seem to change us spiritually. That's because the Word of God, Jesus said, is like a seed—it's packed with potential, but it is also small and vulnerable. How vulnerable? Pastor Mike identifies these everyday threats to God's Word that can stop us…
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Behind the Series: Jesus' Growth Plan for Me
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Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson give us a preview of the next TV message series, "Jesus' Growth Plan for Me." While discussing Jesus' parables, which this series is based on, they also tell of the "mustard seed moments" that changed both Mike's and Amber's lives (both involve their moms), what Amber has in common with Dwight Shrute, and that on…
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How to Deal: With Shame, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Shame is the unshakable feeling that we don’t belong, tempting us to run away from God and his people. Shame can be tied to something done to us, something we have done, or something we have continued to do. As hard as it is to open up about shame, it's even harder to address in the church. Pastor Mike dares us to cross that line and show what can …
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How to Deal: With Shame, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Shame is the unshakable feeling that we don’t belong, tempting us to run away from God and his people. Shame can be tied to something done to us, something we have done, or something we have continued to do. As hard as it is to open up about shame, it's even harder to address in the church. Pastor Mike dares us to cross that line and show what can …
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Can people truly change? In this episode, we will reflect on how we often perceive others based on outdated impressions and challenge whether these perceptions are accurate reflections of who they are now. The discussion will revolve around the factors that contribute to both positive and negative changes in individuals, emphasizing the role of fai…
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How to Deal: With Anxiety, Part 2 (radio edit)
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One in five adults deals with anxiety, caught in a snowballing avalanche of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. As we enter another year of uncertainty and alarming headlines, it seems that, more than ever, people are being overcome by anxiety. There isn't a quick solution. But Pastor Mike says actively doing these four things, with the work of the …
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Hannah: Eli's Sons and the Cost of Disobedience
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In the seventh episode of this eight-part series, we'll look at the consequences to Eli and his family because of his sons' sins. What does disobedience cost us? Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite podcast app. – The Non…
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How to Deal: With Anxiety, Part 1 (radio edit)
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One in five adults deals with anxiety, caught in a snowballing avalanche of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. As we enter another year of uncertainty and alarming headlines, it seems that, more than ever, people are being overcome by anxiety. There isn't a quick solution. But Pastor Mike says actively doing these four things, with the work of the …
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Freedom in Forgiveness: You Must Forgive EVERY Day, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Where do you start the journey of forgiveness? Is forgiveness a "one and done"? Or is it a process we need to deal with daily? What the Bible has to say about forgiveness is not only helpful and powerful; it's shockingly offensive. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: What's a Go-to Spot to Explain Christianity? ** Program note: This is the radio e…
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Freedom in Forgiveness: You Must Forgive EVERY Day, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Where do you start the journey of forgiveness? Is forgiveness a "one and done"? Or is it a process we need to deal with daily? What the Bible has to say about forgiveness is not only helpful and powerful; it's shockingly offensive. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Is pornography considered adultery? What solutions can you offer to fight pornogr…
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Lying isn't all that serious, is it? In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to a war zone involving Ananias, Sapphira, the apostle Peter, and Satan. This is the third war zone in this series where we see Satan influencing human hearts. Satan tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie about something that was initially good and right. Sadly, we hear ab…
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How to Deal: With People, Part 2 (radio edit)
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The people in our lives can lead us in different directions, good and bad. There are fools, the wise, and everyone in between. So how do we deal with people? How do we find our people? How do we know whom to trust? And whom to avoid? With the guidance of the wisest man in the ancient world, Pastor Mike gives us biblical insight on how to deal with …
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That Ain't Love: Wrestling With Culture, Scripture, and Compassion
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It is a major struggle to balance personal beliefs with societal expectations, particularly regarding “love is love.” This episode challenges the notion of accepting behaviors that contradict biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of standing firm in one's faith and adhering to the commandments of God. Followers of Christ have to question t…
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How to Deal: With People, Part 1 (radio edit)
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The people in our lives can lead us in different directions, good and bad. There are fools, the wise, and everyone in between. So how do we deal with people? How do we find our people? How do we know whom to trust? And whom to avoid? With the guidance of the wisest man in the ancient world, Pastor Mike gives us biblical insight on how to deal with …
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In the sixth episode of this eight-part series, we'll look at Hannah's life after she gave Samuel to the Lord. What can we learn about a mom's sacrifice and the blessings that await? Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our other podcasts! Search for these on your favorite p…
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How to Deal: With Yourself, Part 2 (radio edit)
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"Be who you are." "You do you." That's what the world tells us. But what does Jesus say? When you're dealing with all the ups and downs of life, all your strengths and weaknesses, and all the complicating details of your life story, Jesus says the exact opposite: Don't be you. Pastor Mike helps us understand what Jesus means as we learn how to deal…
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How to Deal: With Yourself, Part 1 (radio edit)
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"Be who you are." "You do you." That's what the world tells us. But what does Jesus say? When you're dealing with all the ups and downs of life, all your strengths and weaknesses, and all the complicating details of your life story, Jesus says the exact opposite: Don't be you. Pastor Mike helps us understand what Jesus means as we learn how to deal…
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Special Episode: Lessons From a Friend Who Is With Jesus
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In the week following a close friend's death, I reflected on the lessons she taught me over the course of our friendship. Those lessons were good reminders for me. Perhaps they will be good reminders, or new lessons, for you too. Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our othe…
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Less Me: Christianity WILL Cost You, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Jesus didn't sugarcoat it: following him comes at a great cost because you have to put him first. So why even follow Jesus? Because the reward, Pastor Mike says, is even greater. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: Why Do We Still Feel Guilty After Repenting? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program! On April 29, "Time of Grace With…
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Less Me: Christianity WILL Cost You, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Jesus didn't sugarcoat it: following him comes at a great cost because you have to put him first. So why even follow Jesus? Because the reward, Pastor Mike says, is even greater. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: Why Pray if God Is All-Knowing? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program! On April 29, "Time of Grace With Mike Novotny…
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Satan Doesn't Make You Bad, but the Spirit Makes You Good
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On a scale of 1 to 100, 100 being the best, how would you rate yourself in goodness? The phrase "He/she is such a good person" is pretty common, and there is usually a common understanding when it is said about someone. But what makes someone "good" in God's eyes? Sometimes we blame the devil for tempting us into not being good when we should be lo…
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Less Me: More Me Makes a Mess, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Pride isn't always thinking too much of ourselves; sometimes it's just thinking of ourselves too much. And that self-focus often leads to a mess. So how do we humble ourselves? Where do we start? Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: How to Talk About Jesus When My Friend's Parents Aren't in Heaven? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our pr…
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In the fifth episode of this eight-part series, we look at what God tells us about Eli's sons. Spoiler alert: it's not good. God wants us to know him and to follow him. We'll explore what that means. Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our other podcasts! Search for these o…
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Less Me: More Me Makes a Mess, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Pride isn't always thinking too much of ourselves; sometimes it's just thinking of ourselves too much. And that self-focus often leads to a mess. So how do we humble ourselves? Where do we start? Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: How can we express the importance of marriage to the younger generation when our culture doesn’t respect biblical vi…
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Dirty Bible Words: H-E-L-L, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Hell is a relic from a fear-based, fire-and-brimstone age, a cruel tool used by church authorities to maintain power and control. So why did Jesus himself mention it so much? Why is he the number-one user of the word “hell” in the entire Bible? Why was he unembarrassed to talk about fire, darkness, and eternal death? Modern Christians need to know …
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Dirty Bible Words: H-E-L-L, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Hell is a relic from a fear-based, fire-and-brimstone age, a cruel tool used by church authorities to maintain power and control. So why did Jesus himself mention it so much? Why is he the number-one user of the word “hell” in the entire Bible? Why was he unembarrassed to talk about fire, darkness, and eternal death? Modern Christians need to know …
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The devil is like a skilled boxer. He has a one-two punch. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Becker takes us to Jerusalem during what we know as Holy Week. During that week, "Satan entered Judas" on two different occasions to influence Judas to betray Jesus. Dr. Becker will explain what that refers to and how it is different from the many examples in the …
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Dirty Bible Words: The D-Word, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Say “damn” in mixed company and few will blink. Say “doctrine” and most will stare. According to contemporary culture, doctrine is something archaic, oppressive, and unhealthy for our souls. But Pastor Mike pushes us today to think about doctrine more critically as we ask ourselves, "What do I believe, and why do I believe it?" while we examine whe…
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God's Old Testament people, the Israelites, chose to create an idol in the form of a golden calf and worship it. This may sound stupid to us, but at times we are just like the Israelites. History repeats itself all too often. Our culture has made an idol out of having fun and getting lit; the Israelites could relate. Is getting lit the new golden c…
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Dirty Bible Words: The D-Word, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Say “damn” in mixed company and few will blink. Say “doctrine” and most will stare. According to contemporary culture, doctrine is something archaic, oppressive, and unhealthy for our souls. But Pastor Mike pushes us today to think about doctrine more critically as we ask ourselves, "What do I believe, and why do I believe it?" while we examine whe…
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In the fourth episode of this eight-part series we'll examine the song Hannah's sang after giving her child to the Lord. This amazing woman of faith has a lot to teach us about who God is and how we look at the world. Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our other podcasts! …
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Dirty Bible Words: The S-Word, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Asking us to submit is seen as the most offensive idea of our day. To submit to political power, the "head of the household," or organized religion betrays America's strongest and highest value of "my truth." But the God of love, law, and order disagrees. He calls us to submit to him, to governing authorities, to church leaders, and to husbands. Pa…
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Dirty Bible Words: The S-Word, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Asking us to submit is seen as the most offensive idea of our day. To submit to political power, the "head of the household," or organized religion betrays America's strongest and highest value of "my truth." But the God of love, law, and order disagrees. He calls us to submit to him, to governing authorities, to church leaders, and to husbands. Pa…
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"Dirty words" in the Bible? Yes, and you may be surprised what the words are. Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson discuss Pastor Mike's new upcoming sermon series, "Dirty Bible Words." They also work into the conversation how Amber may be running for president, how Pastor Mike's love of peach rings relates to this topic, and an update on Pastor Mik…
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Dirty Bible Words: The F-Word, Part 2 (radio edit)
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"Forgiveness" might not seem like an offensive word until we think about what it actually means: giving grace to people who deserve only punishment. Culture would prefer to cancel, label, and dismiss the guilty, but God’s f-word interrupts our system of justice and offers the grace of sending sins away. Part 2 of 2 Today's Tough Questions: What if …
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Dirty Bible Words: The F-Word, Part 1 (radio edit)
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"Forgiveness" might not seem like an offensive word until we think about what it actually means: giving grace to people who deserve only punishment. Culture would prefer to cancel, label, and dismiss the guilty, but God’s f-word interrupts our system of justice and offers the grace of sending sins away. Part 1 of 2 Today's Tough Questions: Is It Ba…
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People are told to be self-aware of their thoughts and feelings. There is an even deeper self-analyzation that can take place though: self-analyzing one's spirit. Never underestimate the importance of regular self-examination, questioning one's motives, sins, and being real on where your relationship with God is. Through Scripture and personal refl…
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Pray Like a Pro: But My Prayers Are Unanswered, Part 2 (radio edit)
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When life seems unfair and we're crying out to God in prayer, why does he take so long to bring about justice? Why do we need to keep knocking and keep praying? Pastor Mike says there is a reason why Jesus makes us wait. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: How Can the Harsh OT God Be the Loving NT God? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of o…
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In the third episode of this eight-part series, we learn that the desire of Hannah's heart was to have a son. But when she had a son, she gave him to God. What are the desires of your heart? How do they glorify God? Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Check out our other podcasts! Se…
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Pray Like a Pro: But My Prayers Are Unanswered, Part 1 (radio edit)
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When life seems unfair and we're crying out to God in prayer, why does he take so long to bring about justice? Why do we need to keep knocking and keep praying? Pastor Mike says there is a reason why Jesus makes us wait. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: What Does God Say About Asexuality? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program!…
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Pray Like a Pro: How to Avoid Pretensions and Babbling, Part 2 (radio edit)
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Prayer should be simple, right? You talk; God listens. But it's not always that easy because there are two big dangers that happen when you try to pray. How do you avoid them? Fortunately for us, Jesus pointed out these problems and then gave brilliant solutions like only he could. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: — Is It a Sin to Wear Legging…
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Pray Like a Pro: How to Avoid Pretensions and Babbling, Part 1 (radio edit)
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Prayer should be simple, right? You talk; God listens. But it's not always that easy because there are two big dangers that happen when you try to pray. How do you avoid them? Fortunately for us, Jesus pointed out these problems and then gave brilliant solutions like only he could. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: — How Do We Push Through Unce…
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Pray Like a Pro: Be Like a Helpless Child, Part 2 (radio edit)
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If you had to grade your prayer life, what would you give yourself? If there's room to improve, what can you do? There's a simple truth, Pastor Mike says, that will bring you one step closer to the prayer life so many of us crave. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: What Can I Do if My Adult Kids No Longer Believe? ** Program note: This is the ra…
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What’s the deepest connection that can be forged that can unite us across cultures and continents? Let’s challenge the narratives of division perpetuated by the media and society. In a world seemingly torn apart by race, gender, geographical boundaries, and superficial affiliations, this episode explores the profound unity that can be found through…
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Pray Like a Pro: Be Like a Helpless Child, Part 1 (radio edit)
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If you had to grade your prayer life, what would you give yourself? If there's room to improve, what can you do? There's a simple truth, Pastor Mike says, that will bring you one step closer to the prayer life so many of us crave. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: Are We Responsible for Others' Sins? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of o…
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In the second episode of this eight-part series on Hannah, Amber looks at an impossible situation and a capable God. We'll see a marked difference in Hannah prior to prayer and after. Because prayer not only changes the situation; it changes us. Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org Ch…
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Am I Strong Enough? I Feel Stuck, Part 2 (radio edit)
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You're not the best, the strongest, the fastest, the most patient, or the most loving. But God isn't waiting for that day or that year when you finally start winning a few victories. It's when you feel stuck and at your weakest when you see God's glory. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: - When Do My Thoughts Cross the Line to Lust and Sin? - Wh…
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Am I Strong Enough? I Feel Stuck, Part 1 (radio edit)
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You're not the best, the strongest, the fastest, the most patient, or the most loving. But God isn't waiting for that day or that year when you finally start winning a few victories. It's when you feel stuck and at your weakest when you see God's glory. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: How Do We Know Who's a True Christian? ** Program note: Thi…
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Am I Strong Enough? How God Fights for You, Part 2 (radio edit)
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"Let my people go," God said 3,500 years ago to the king of Egypt who enslaved God's people. God fought to set his people free. And though he no longer uses frogs or flies like he did back then, God still fights for us today. Pastor Mike shares two of those ways in today's message. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Women aren't allowed to hold h…
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