The Quiet Place with Sherri Youngward

Proverbs 14:30

A heart at peace gives life to the body,

but envy rots the bones.

It’s true, our emotions affect our physical condition. 

I didn’t realize envy was part of my recent lack of peace until a friend quoted, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” All at once, I realized I was searching for answers and overlooking what I already have. 

All this reminded me of lyrics to a bridge I wrote a long time ago:

"I was flipping through old photographs
Dusting off dead dreams

Funny how it seems
I’m always wanting more
Wouldn’t it be crazy 

Or would it just be sad
If everything I’m wanting 

I already have"

I’m grateful the Holy Spirit guides us to truth, or back to the truth as was the case for me. 

I’ll play you the song, “Back to the Beginning.”

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Praise to the God of All Comfort

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Guess what? Today the Quiet Place Podcast is 3 years old! 

Whether you've been listening since the beginning or just found this podcast, I'm so grateful you're here.

In celebration of this birthday, I will take you behind the scenes to what goes into these weekly episodes, from the inspiration (which is usually summed up by the verses above) to the little frogs and piano at the end of each episode. 

I will end with a home recording of "Amazing Grace," along with some guest musicians from outside my window.

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Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

Though we have hope in God, there are times I need the light at the end of the tunnel fanned to flame. 

Maybe you can see ways your own lamp of hope has stayed burning or was sparked back to flame by the help of someone else. That spark may have been as huge as the message of the Gospel or as subtle as a walk with a friend. 

Whenever hope is reignited, it is no small thing. It’s a tree of life. 

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John 21:25

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

If way back when John wrote this, the world could not contain all the books filled with stories of what Jesus had done, think about now. Think about all the stories since then. Think about your own life and the volumes it contains. 

I asked my friend Nikki what came to her mind when she thought of God showing up for her in an unmistakable way. Her mind went back to a time years ago. I will share her story here. 

Like Nikki, I was brought back to a time years ago, too. Sometimes we have a mothership of an experience. It’s our own personal Red Sea, where we stood at the edge and saw no way to cross. And now here we are, living on the other side. 

You will also learn what inspired the song, “All the Wonders,” which I will play for you here. 

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Psalm 74:16-17 

Both day and night belong to you;

you made the starlight and the sun.

You set the boundaries of the earth,

and you made both summer and winter.

Here's what I love about the verses above: God made all the weather. God made all the light in its varying strengths. He understands when the sun dips behind a cloud, and it's colder and harder to see.

In this episode, I will share how my inner weather system is often both sunshine and showers, and not just one or the other.

He understands the changes, even in one day. 

He understands you. God made both summer and winter. He made you too.

I will play the song, “His Eyes Never Close.” 

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When I listened back to last year’s Easter-time episode, it directed my heart to a good place, and I hoped it might do the same for you. So, I am revisiting episode 100 here. 

Matthew 11:29 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

In this episode, I share how trusting the core of Jesus changes the core of me. 

I will also sneak in the song, “Even the Grave.”

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Psalm 90:1-2

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

My friend Gina sent me a text with a poem her daughter Jordan wrote that morning. Her text came as I was still considering how our lives and work change over time, from last week’s episode. 

As Jordan’s life is about to dramatically change, she was reminded in the verses above where her true Dwelling Place is. Which reminded me also, so of course I’m reminding you too. 

I will read you Jordan’s poem which I am calling, “Dear Soul” and I’ll play you the song it brought to mind called, “Draw Me Near.”

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1 Corinthians 16:10

And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.

What is the work of the Lord?

Though it takes energy and effort, the work of the Lord has nothing to do with earning our way to God.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

In this episode, we will consider the works God prepared beforehand and placed in our human-sized hands. 

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Mark 6:48 

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o'clock in the morning he came to them, walking on the water. 

I highlighted two words when I read this chapter: “He saw.”

He saw they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and the waves.

He still sees. 

He still searches. 

He still sees the struggle, even at 3am. 

Our good Shepherd still keeps watch over His sheep, and if one strays, He searches until He finds them and brings them home. 

I will share the song, "Because You First Loved Me" written by Danny Donnelly.

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Psalm 25:1

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

What a gift that we can lift up our souls, not to a big, vast void, but to our loving God.

In this episode, I will share a definition I read years ago, and rediscovered in my old Bible. You will hear why the pages were well-worn with penciled in notes and yellow highlights.  

nāśā’: A verb meaning to lift, to carry, to take away.

You will also learn that someone got pretty creative with the name of America’s space program. 

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Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Last week, I shared about my friend, her husband, their five kids and their cat, and how they took a road trip in their RV. 

My friend Gina shared a story of when she looked out the front window at the frozen slushy, tense road conditions and saw the kids in the rearview mirror contentedly reading books and playing games.

In this episode, I will share my lingering thoughts on how to be content like the kids in the backseat, while also being the adult who sees the stressful stuff in front of me. 

You will also learn what tomorrow’s trouble-fire means and I will play the song “Peace.”

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Psalm 27:13-14

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Do you have ways, places, and perhaps people who help you see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living? Seeing carefree birds soar and hop on branches helps me. The kindness of people and children also helps me see the goodness of the Lord. 

Thinking of places, friends, and children gave me an idea, which resulted in receiving phone voice recordings and adding them to this episode. I hope you will find the same encouragement I did, and I wonder if you will agree with why I think Spurgeon would smile? 

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Philippians 4:6-9

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As a literal guard watches for suspicious behavior, we may see suspicious behavior in our own hearts and minds. This behavior may show up as fear or discouragement. Still, the peace of God has a way of meeting us as we thankfully present our requests to Him. 

Jennifer Holmes wrote:

"The peace that passes understanding is a peace that allows you to stand at the top of the mountain and wonder at beauty even when you're afraid of heights."

I will end with the song, “Be Anxious For Nothing.” It's the last of three songs I recorded while the rain poured outside my open window. 

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Matthew 12:7 

And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Do you remember old cartoons or commercials where there would be a little devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other shoulder? 

Some call that little devil “the critic.” It’s the voice that criticizes everything you do — you aren’t good enough, you don’t pray enough, you don’t read enough, and your clothes are dumb.

For me, that condemning voice is more like a Pharisee on my shoulder. The overdressed religious voice of perfection and law — which is completely devoid of God’s heart.  In this episode, I will read you the Scripture that silenced that little sucker. 

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Psalm 18:1-2 

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

I love you, LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

In this episode, I will share how the backstory of this Psalm and the way David listed out a bunch of things he loved about the Lord inspired me to write a song about my own bunch of things I love about the Lord.

The song is called, "I Love How."

As to why this episode is called a rain sandwich?

You’ll have to listen. 

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Genesis 16:13

Then she (Hagar) called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees;

Barnhouse wrote: 

“We must be triumphant exactly where we are. It is not a change of climate we need, but a change of heart.”

In this episode, we will look at how a mistreated servant, a woman at a well, a short man in a tree, a fisherman, and some lady in Northern California were transformed by a face-to-Face encounter with You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees. 

I will read to you from:

John 4:39-41

Luke 19:1-10

Luke 5:8-11

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Psalm 1:2-3

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

When I was new to faith in God, I joined a young adult’s group and learned Psalm 1 as a song. It was in the King James Version, word for word. I had heard about the benefits of memorizing Scripture, so I worked on knowing each word by heart. 

Whether in the shadows of the nighttime or the need of guidance in the daytime, these words were like medicine. The impact of having this Psalm memorized was what inspired me to write Scripture songs years later.

Speaking of Scripture songs, I will end with Psalm 1:1-3 as a song. 

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Psalm 139:3
You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

"And art acquainted with all my ways - All the paths that I tread; the whole course of my life. All that I do, in all places and at all times, is fully known to thee."
Barnes

As I reflected on the whole course of my life, I wanted to share the story of my second birthday, which happened when I was eighteen years old.

I discovered this was one of my most played and shared episodes and I am revisiting here on my birthday week. This may become a yearly tradition.

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2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Last week, we looked at God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ as an infant.

This week, we will move ahead to God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ as a grown-up.

I will share Scripture that gave me a literal sigh of relief.

And, if you are reading this in real time, Merry Christmastime!

I will read to you from:

Luke 4:14-21

Luke 8:42-48

Matthew 5:1-10

Matthew 11:28-30

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2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

What comes into your mind when you think of the face of Christ as an infant?

Who among us would choose to come into the world the way He did?

Even as an infant, He challenged the way of the world and the way of "me."

Right from the start, Jesus modeled humility, dependence and trust.

I will read to you from:

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Luke 2:7

Isaiah 9:2

Matthew 1:19-20

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1 Peter 5:7

-casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The word “care” means - anxiety, care that brings disruption to the personality and the mind. 

David Guzik wrote:

"At their best moments the religions of ancient Greek culture could imagine a God who was good. Yet they never came to the place where they believed in a God who cared. The God of the Bible - the God who is really there - is a God who cares for you."

Care in the verse above means two very different things and they are two different words in the Greek. In this episode, we will turn our attention to our caring God. 

I will read to you from:

1 Peter 5:6-9

Mark 4:35-41

John 10:11-14 

Matthew 11:28-30

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Psalm 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

While I recorded this episode, the rain began to fall, so I set the microphone by the window and captured the rain along with the brave birds still singing. This may be my favorite background music. We will look at how David reached for the mercy of the morning during a troubling time. 

I will read to you from: Psalm 143

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This week, we are revisiting a favorite episode. We hope you enjoy going back with us.

Matthew 5:14

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

"The believer is appointed to be a lighthouse to others, a cheering lamp, and a guiding star."

Sometimes light blazes like the sun and sometimes it is as delicate as starlight.

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

As we stay close to the Source, God knows just how to tend the flame within us.

I will read to you from:

Proverbs 4:18

Psalm 27:1

1 John 1:5

Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 6:19-22

Matthew 12:14-21

Numbers 6:24-26

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Hebrews 7:19b

but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Andrew Murray wrote:

"It is indeed possible for us to dwell all the day in the enjoyment of God's love and fellowship. It is a life-state He has entered into, has opened to us, and lives to keep us in."

In this episode, I will share what I’m learning from the book of Hebrews about the continuing ministry of Jesus.  

Spoiler alert - We need help outside of ourselves to draw near to God and Jesus is our help.

I will read to you from:

Lamentations 3:55-57

Psalm 73:28

Hebrews 4:12-16

Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews 13:5-6

Hebrews 7:25

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John 16:27

for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

The Greek word for love here is philéō. Philéō means warm affection or friendship.

It’s wonderful to know and learn of God's love. But there is something extra personal about knowing He likes us too. In this episode, I will share a recent example of how God used an injury and a verse to help me feel both loved and liked.

I will also share a secret song called, “Sanctuary” by Andrew Messenger. (Episode 129 explains why the song is secret)

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Psalm 104:12 

The birds nest beside the streams

and sing among the branches of the trees.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Psalm 104 is the nature-lover’s psalm. It is the psalm of nature viewed by the eye of faith, and he that learns to look rightly on seas and mountains, on beasts and birds, on sun and moon and stars sees God in all things."

In this episode, I will talk about the way God gives us moments in His presence, like drops from Heaven. Among the drops expressed here, I will share the way God knew His nature lover (me) needed reminders beyond what I could see, feel and touch. The birds outside my window helped. 

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Psalm 73:25-26

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

In this episode, I will share the true story of how the episode scheduled for last week ended up in podcast prison. It’s true, it was pulled by the “authorities” hours before it was to be released. I’ll tell you all about it.

I will also read a Psalm written by Asaph. Learning about him made these words even more meaningful to me. I hope the same for you.

I will read and sing from:

Psalm 73

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Psalm 61:3-4 

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

What do we do when things are out of our control? Whether health issues, finances, circumstances in the lives of those we love, or people who are hard to love, we all face things outside of our control.

And what do we do with what is happening in the world, with the violence, victims, and uncertainty? We grieve, we intercede, and still we trust. 

In this episode, we will look at the wingspan of God as a reminder of Who our trust is in through it all. 

"I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."

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Ephesians 1:3

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

I read this verse in multiple versions and three words stayed the same: “every spiritual blessing.”

In this episode, I will share a real-time quest to find spiritual blessings in the midst of a very loud morning here in my corner of earth. The crashing and scraping outside my window made the perfect metaphor for my often very loud thoughts, so I recorded it for you. You may be tempted to grab your hard hat. 

I will read to you from:

Psalm 19:1-14

Psalm 8:3-9

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 5:1

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Ephesians 3:18-19 

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

This is the last episode in the "We Take Our Turns" series. 

You can’t always trust the diagnosis, the twists and turns of health, or the health of loved ones. There will be rain when the forecast is sunny, and there will be sunshine when the forecast is cloudy.

If I can boil down the hope from these pages, thoughts and verses, it is that you would trust His Heart at every turn. All the way to the day when every tear will be wiped away. 

I will close this episode and series with a song called “Heaven” from Revelation 21:1-4.

Thank you for listening along! 

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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29  

In the last episode, I shared a real-life story of how I learned to come to the cross. There, even in the face of condemnation and shame, I found a place of refuge and acceptance.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized there was a backstory to this story.

In this episode, I’ll let you know part-one and how Pastor Jon Courson painted a verbal scene that made a thousand lights flip on for me. I am hoping those lights will spark for you too.

This verbal scene helped me see the Lamb of God in a new way. Still to this day, when I think of Jesus as the Lamb of God, my attention is arrested.

I will end with a song about the greatest Love your human heart will ever know. 

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There is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 

The voice of the accuser isn’t polite and shows no pity. Often the “evening wolves” visit when we are most vulnerable. 

In this episode, I will share a real-life story of how I was helped during nighttimes of ongoing condemnation and shame. The help I learned has stayed with me and is a weapon when fear, doubt, and shame try to invade — and they do try. 

What are evening wolves? You will have to listen. Charles Spurgeon gave me new language for these unwelcome beasts. 

Condemnation tricks us into thinking the remedy has to do with us. Good news awaits. 

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Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

We were created so the scent of a pine tree or the song of a bird can transport us back to a place, a truth or a feeling. 

Jesus said, “Look at the birds” so when we do, we might remember how much He values us. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” so when we see the bread and the cup, we would remember Him with affection. 

In this episode, you will hear how the scent of ripe blackberries connected my friend back to her mother’s beautiful heart. What a treasure God gave us, that sights, sounds and scents can remind us of those we love.

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A friend loves at all times.

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

He isn’t always in the quick rescue. 

Instead, like the deepest of friends, 

He gets soaked in the storm with you. 

In this episode, I will look at God as the Friend Who loves at all times.

He braves the storm with us. He draws near when our heart breaks. Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we can fear no evil. He is with us. 

He meets us in the hardest of times and quiets our fear. Yet, we will fear again and He will find us again, because He never left us in the first place. We still feel all the emotions, but deep inside we can trust He is there — at all times. 

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Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

LEAN: In its simplest meaning, it refers to leaning on things for support.

Matthew Henry wrote-

We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail.

It’s not so much that we fail, it’s that our own understanding fails us — like a broken reed can’t hold us up.

In this episode, I confess I leaned too hard on a thing (again) and fell right down with it. Don’t worry, I was also picked up (again). 

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Ephesians 3:17 TLB

And I pray that Christ will be 

more and more at home in your hearts, 

living within you as you trust in him. 

May your roots go down deep 

into the soil of God’s marvelous love

In this episode, I will continue some thoughts about Christ being at home in our hearts.

I was eighteen when I asked Jesus into my wreck of a heart. And He didn’t hesitate.

(I tell the story in episode 86, "Two Birthdays") 

He still doesn’t hesitate when we welcome Him into any part of our lives. Even the most messy parts. It glorifies Him when He does for us what we can’t do for ourselves. 

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Ephesians 3:17 TLB

And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, 

living within you as you trust in him. 

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love;

I would define “at home” as - welcome, invited, free to be yourself. 

Paul prayed the church would have their roots deep in God’s love so that nothing in this world would shake them.

What a beautiful thought knowing Christ was at home in Paul’s heart and Paul was at home in Christ’s heart, as he wrote this prayer from prison. 

May Christ be fully at home in our hearts. 

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Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart - In this episode, I will sing four Scriptures Songs. The theme through them all is “abide.” Even though the word abide doesn’t show up in any of these songs, it’s a state of heart and mind. It’s a deep sigh of trust. Psalm One - Psalm 1:1-3 Yet I Will Rejoice - Habakkuk 3:17-18 I Would Have Lost Heart - Psalm 27:13-14 Seek First - Matthew 6:33

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Matthew 26:52-54

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Scripture was the path He chose, writing our new life with every step. 

Though He could have rescued Himself from pain and betrayal, He chose a higher way and a deeper love. Jesus had laser focus as He carried out God’s plan for the world and all who would ever live in it.

He still has laser focus on this world and on you and me. He is right by our side with every step and nothing can separate us from His love. 

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Psalm 77:6

I call to remembrance my song in the night;

I meditate within my heart,

And my spirit makes diligent search.

In this episode, I shared an excerpt from a recent Mercy Room online gathering for women.

I will also revisit one of my favorite quotes:

Remember to store up an accurate remembrance of the way in which God comforts thee.

F.B. Meyer

Just like we store up emergency lights and candles in case the power goes out, it’s good to store up accurate remembrances of God’s goodness and comfort as our song in the night. 

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I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalm 61:4b NKJV

Before recording this episode, I took a walk in the heat of the day. Not the smartest move, but since I had just read of the shadow and shelter of God’s protecting wings, I noticed the protection from tall trees along the path. 

The breeze under their shelter was cool and kind. 

I chose the shade as much as possible while I walked. And if I had to stop and rest, I rested in the shade. 

Just as we look for shelter from unbearable heat, in faith we find shelter and protection in the covering of His wings. 

I begin this episode by reading Psalm 61:1-4 and end with the same verses sung in the song, “In the Shelter.”

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Isaiah 50:4 

The Lord GOD has given me

the tongue of those who are taught,

that I may know how to sustain with a word

him who is weary.

Isn’t it remarkable how a word, guided by God, can sustain us - even when circumstances don’t change? 

Some versions say, “...a word in season to him who is weary.”

Speaking of our human experience, a word for winter may be different than a word for spring.

May God guide our words, both those we take in and those we give out. 

And yes, it’s true, the order of seasons in the title came to mind from a song you might know. 

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Matthew 9:11-13

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The kindness and mercy of God draw me in every time. He came for the sick. Blessed are the poor. His grace is sufficient. 

In this episode, I will ask you an important question and I will sing you a song.

The song is “All the Wonders” and the question is in the episode. Don’t worry, I’ll give you time to answer. 

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2 Corinthians 1:3-4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

These verses continue finding their way to me. So, in this episode, they will find their way to you too.

There is great medicine and pure gold as we remember and stay near the Source of all comfort. 

I will also share what I learned from two little girls and their grandpa, as well as what I learned about the Greek definition for the word “all.”

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Psalm 23:6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

all the days of my life—

God has helped me do things I didn’t want to do or didn’t think I could do, all by His goodness and mercy. 

In this episode, I will let you in on a real-life, real-time story of how God used His goodness, mercy, and a Southern accent to lead me in a direction opposite of where I wanted to go. 

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2 Corinthians 4:7

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Some of the greatest treasure on earth 

is found in the most fragile of jars.

Does anyone come to your mind? 

I have faces in my mind right now as I think of my own friends who are fragile due to health issues, or the health issues of their loved ones, or whatever may afflict them - yet their great power is from God. Which doesn’t mean they are all sunshine and rainbows all the time. 

What it means to me is, still they persevere. Their “great power” is the grace to hold on — the great power to persevere.

I will also sneak in the song, "Oxygen."

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1 Peter 4:8 NKJV 

And above all things 

have fervent love for one another, 

for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”   

Cover: To envelop, wrap around as bark, skin, shell or plaster, to cover over.

Love covers.

We all see faults in each other. 

Especially those we know well. 

Like bark on a tree, 

love covers and protects vulnerable places.

In this episode, we will look at how fervent love covers. Jesus is the perfect example, both in His life on earth and His life with us now. 

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Psalm 23:2b He leads me beside still waters.

As indicated by the title of this episode, I’m interrupting the We Take Our Turns series this week.

Recently I hosted an online event called Shelter to Shelter and my friend Danny Donnelly joined us. I have had some health struggles recently and this time was so refreshing for me. When I sat back and listened to Danny sing and share, I could see on the faces of others that it was a refreshing time for all of us. 

It seemed a perfect example of the Lord our Shepherd leading us beside still waters. So, I decided I would add a portion of our gathering here on the podcast. 

If you want the audio replay of the whole event, just let us know through the contact page on my website and we’ll send it to you.  

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