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Filled With Messages

Filled With Messages

By Ruth Farrell

Life is filled with messages. At best, most of them are forgettable. Plenty of them are confusing and anxiety-inducing. Filled With Messages are the sermons of Ruth Farrell, the lead pastor of a church in Chicagoland. If you want to fill your life with encouraging, transforming messages, listen in.
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The Kintsugi Master

Filled With MessagesApr 24, 2021

00:00
15:56
Jesus Suffered

Jesus Suffered

Just like us, Jesus had good days and bad days. The ways Jesus approached the hard days can help us better navigate them when they come our way.
Mar 27, 202414:38
Jesus Got Hangry

Jesus Got Hangry

Just like many of us, at times Jesus struggled with self-care. In looking at his example we are reminded of the importance of taking care of ourselves.
Mar 20, 202412:57
Jesus Had Boundaries

Jesus Had Boundaries

Boundaries are important parts of healthy relationships, but they can be tricky to manage. Jesus modeled healthy boundaries. Following his example can help us navigate their complexities.
Mar 13, 202415:21
Jesus Got Thirsty

Jesus Got Thirsty

Most of us are thirsty for genuine and meaningful connection. How can Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan Woman help us build useful skills for connecting well with others?
Mar 06, 202415:52
Jesus Took Naps. Be Like Jesus.

Jesus Took Naps. Be Like Jesus.

When life’s storms are upon us, it can be hard to let go and have faith. But Jesus modeled napping in the midst of life’s storms. He encouraged us to trust God to take care of us while we get some much needed rest.
Feb 28, 202410:53
Growing in Mind, Body, and Heart

Growing in Mind, Body, and Heart

Growing older isn’t always fun. There are stages and seasons of life when the aging process is a challenge. Following Jesus’ example can help us weather these storms, maturing gracefully in mind, body, and heart throughout our days
Feb 21, 202413:40
Finding Our Way to Life

Finding Our Way to Life

Many days we feel like zombies wandering thoughtlessly and aimlessly through life. But God wants more and better for us. How can we follow Jesus to a full life, an abundant life?
Feb 14, 202408:20
Balance

Balance

We live in a multitasking, juggle it all world. But balance is essential to our wellbeing. Perhaps Jesus’ example can show us some steps can we take to make sure our priorities don’t get lost in all the demands we face.
Feb 07, 202413:42
A Time to Speak Harshly?

A Time to Speak Harshly?

Most of us know the importance of using our words gently and kindly. But there are times in life when a stern word is necessary. How do we know when it’s appropriate to speak a stern word? Today’s scripture text offers us some insight.
Jan 31, 202412:31
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

It’s easy to judge people by what we see on the surface. Jesus invites us to a different way, a way of seeing beyond the masks most of us wear. A way of witnessing the beauty and truth of ourselves and each other.
Jan 24, 202414:36
Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Gourd

God is always placing signs in our lives that lead us to grace, peace, healing, love. How do we tune into those signs so that we can be closer to God every day?
Jan 17, 202412:42
Singing Hope

Singing Hope

There’s so much that wants to rob us of hope, but God is always bringing light into our darkness. So when we do have hope, it’s important for us to sing it loud and clear for all to hear.
Dec 28, 202312:41
Bad Moms

Bad Moms

Many of us are stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, wearied by all life throws at us. God calls us to lay aside the pressures of life for awhile by finding joy and peace when we connect with others.
Dec 13, 202315:37
Weariness

Weariness

Weariness is such a familiar feeling to many of us that when God tries to gift us with hope and joy we completely miss it. How can we acknowledge our weariness while at the same time open ourselves to God’s goodness to us?
Dec 06, 202314:48
Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

Don’t Forget to Say Thank You

We all know that being thankful is important. Yet it’s easy to forget to give thanks. Why? What gets in our way of being grateful, especially to God? Listen in to hear more.
Nov 20, 202314:15
Making Peace

Making Peace

Some days the violence and destruction in our world can feel overwhelming and hopeless. How does God invite us to bring peace to this broken world of ours?
Nov 15, 202312:37
Old Habits Die Hard

Old Habits Die Hard

Most of us have habits, behaviors, patterns we would like to change so that we can experience and share more of God’s freedom, joy, peace. But doing so can be very hard. How can we work together with God to free ourselves of no longer helpful habits?
Nov 07, 202313:59
You Feel Like Home

You Feel Like Home

Having safe homes (both physical and relational) is so important to our wellbeing. Scripture teaches God is one of our safe homes. But what does that mean? Listen in to learn more.
Nov 02, 202312:30
Reaching for Forgiveness

Reaching for Forgiveness

Forgiveness is essential to our wellbeing. It’s also a cornerstone of our faith. But it can be so hard. How can following God’s example help us learn to forgive?
Oct 25, 202311:51
My Yoke Is Scopions

My Yoke Is Scopions

Life is so often filled with pain and burdens. How can we follow Jesus’ lead and lighten the loads others bear.
Oct 18, 202313:11
All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small

Scripture tells us that animals have things to teach us. More specifically, they have wisdom to share with us about the ways God cares for them and us. Listen in to hear more.
Oct 10, 202310:59
Wholly Loving God

Wholly Loving God

Scripture calls us to love God with our whole beings. But how do we do that? What might it look like in practical terms? Listen in to hear more.
Oct 04, 202311:02
Go and Be a Blessing

Go and Be a Blessing

God often calls us to go, to move, to shift our locations, our attitudes, our beliefs so that more people can experience God’s blessings. But going and changing is hard for many of us and we will face difficulties along the way. Listen in to hear a scripture story that will build our faith that God is always with us along the way.
Sep 20, 202314:12
New Beginnings

New Beginnings

All of us face new beginnings from time to time. How does God approach new beginnings and how might following God’s lead help us when we are in these situations?
Sep 16, 202312:37
Yellowstone

Yellowstone

How do we keep trusting God, believing in God’s faithfulness even when life is full of pain and suffering?
Aug 16, 202313:21
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

God asked Joshua to be strong and courageous as he led the Israelites through a season of exponential change. Listen in to hear more about how we can be strong and courageous when we are experiencing change.
Aug 09, 202312:21
Assateague

Assateague

Our words have incredible power to do both harm and good. How can we learn to harness them to bring Christ’s light and healing into the world?
Jul 19, 202313:52
Yosemite

Yosemite

Sometimes life seems like one long downward spiral to death. But along the way, God invites us to find joy in the good stuff of life.
Jul 05, 202313:54
Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Scripture employs metaphors to help us understand God better. In today’s text, the author speaks of God being like a Mama Bear defending and protecting her cubs. Listen in to learn more.
Jun 29, 202312:38
Travel Surprises

Travel Surprises

Along our life’s journeys, we encounter surprises. Some are good, others less so. Learning to lean into the surprises helps us be more agile, more gracious, more open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.
May 31, 202312:07
Strangers into Friends

Strangers into Friends

It’s easier than ever to isolate ourselves from new people, but God’s call is to open ourselves to others so that everyone can receive God’s grace and love and hope.
May 24, 202314:31
Leaving Home

Leaving Home

At times we have to leave the people, places, and things that feel like home. Learning to trust God always goes with us helps us make it through the anxiety and fear when we have to do so.
May 17, 202312:13
Don’t Stop Believing

Don’t Stop Believing

Some days it’s really hard to believe Jesus was raised from the dead or that his resurrection matters today. On those days, how do we keep trusting God?
Apr 19, 202311:47
Towers of Hope

Towers of Hope

We often expect God to show up with trumpet fanfare, in miracles, in the equivalent of Easter Sunday mornings. But more often God shows up disguised as our everyday lives.
Apr 12, 202314:41
An Anxious Week

An Anxious Week

All of us struggle with worries and anxiety at times. Jesus did, too. Listen in to hear more about the healthy coping mechanisms Jesus employed in the most anxious week of his life.
Apr 03, 202314:38
Can These Bones Live?

Can These Bones Live?

Some days it’s easy to have hope and trust God’s presence in our lives. Other days, it’s a struggle just to get out of bed. No matter what we’re experiencing, God had good news for each and all of us.
Mar 29, 202315:34
Why Did You Ask That?

Why Did You Ask That?

So often our questions are ladened with assumptions about others. Jesus invites us to consider why we ask the questions we ask and to have compassion and empathy for others.
Mar 22, 202313:06
What Are You Thirsty For?

What Are You Thirsty For?

Our emotions are gifts from God which help us understand our deepest needs, but sometimes we struggle to listen to what they’re really saying. God invites us to look plumb the depths of our emotions and share what we find with others and with God.
Mar 15, 202313:08
How Do We Begin Again?

How Do We Begin Again?

Change is part of life, yet we often fight it. How can we learn to listen and lean into change when it comes? How can we learn to trust God is with us and will bless us through the change?
Mar 08, 202314:32
Who Will You Listen To?

Who Will You Listen To?

There are so many people, places, and things clamoring for our attention. How do we discern to whom we should listen?
Mar 01, 202318:27
Tween in the Temple

Tween in the Temple

Sometimes God asks us to obey and at other times we are called to disobey. Learning to discern the Holy Spirit’s leading can help us know which way to go.
Feb 22, 202312:04
Changing Our Ancestors Ways

Changing Our Ancestors Ways

Sometimes God shows us that the ways of our ancestors were wrong and invites us to new ways. Making the change is hard work, but God will be with us every step of the way.
Feb 19, 202315:13
The Faith of a Child

The Faith of a Child

God sometimes sends us hope and healing in very surprising ways. Can we open ourselves to receive God’s love and care from wherever it comes?
Feb 15, 202316:06
Encouraging Talents

Encouraging Talents

God has given us each so many talents. Will we follow a child’s lead and use them to bless others, especially children?
Feb 08, 202314:52
The Courage to Speak Up

The Courage to Speak Up

We tend to think of courageous people as those on the frontlines or those who run into burning buildings. Certainly they are. But God calls all of us - even little children - to live with courage every day.
Feb 02, 202314:60
Choose A Better Way

Choose A Better Way

When Joseph decided to divorce Mary, he was making an acceptable choice. But God had a better way and invited Joseph to choose it instead.
Dec 20, 202215:25
Let It Be

Let It Be

Sometimes fear is overwhelming and anxiety weighs so heavily. In those time, God invites us to let our fear be what it is and also to rest in his presence with us.
Dec 15, 202216:20
A Chosen Family Tree

A Chosen Family Tree

There are a lot of genealogies in the Bible and often skip over them. However, some of them (in particular, Jesus’ family trees) contain good news and grace for us. Listen in to hear more.
Dec 05, 202217:51
Mama Cockroach, I Love You

Mama Cockroach, I Love You

Jesus often invites us to see the world through new lenses. In Luke 6, he even goes so far as to asks us to love our enemies.
Nov 07, 202213:11
The Zacchaeus Illusion

The Zacchaeus Illusion

We all know the adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet many of us do judge others based on their outward appearances. God invites us to look at peoples’ hearts instead.
Nov 03, 202213:02