As For Me And My House

Its true what they say: You're either in the middle of a big decision, about to to make a bid decision, or just made a big decision. Whichever you fall under, we want to ask some questions that we think would be helpful to consider together as you move towards understanding God's will and your desire better. The Bible says God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). It's our hope and prayer you meet every challenging decision with Scripture to guide you along the journey of life. Blessings! 

WHAT'S UP Y'ALL?!  We've missed you dearly and are so excited to be back behind the mics!  We've been settling into our new home and just soaking up all the blessings God has allowed us to experience.  This episode gives a closer look at how we are adjusting to life in a new place, as well as some of the weighty issues we've dealt with by being active on social media.  May you be blessed today!

Welcome to season 2 of As For Me And My House!!!! We're so glad you're here. If you're enjoying this episode, take a screenshoot and share it to your Instagram and tag @asformeandmyhousepodcast for a chance to win a cup of coffee on us

Hey y'all!  You are in for a treat on this episode.  We sat down with Jordan's cousin Steffen and his wife, Celeste to share some fun stories and dialogue on the culture today amongst young people and the next generation coming up behind Millennials.  Steffen has a decade of experience as a youth pastor in both South Florida and Washington D.C., and Celeste has been faithfully serving alongside him in ministry for years.  These two bring so much joy and nourishment to our lives, and we hope you are refreshed by their company on this episode!

We had an incredible getaway last week, and we are so grateful for all that God showed us along the journey.  If we can encourage you to do anything from this week's episode, it would be to retreat from the chaos and day to day stressors (just as Jesus did several times) and connect with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word.  In a world where we all run on empty so often, it is more important now than ever to hit the "pause" button and commune with the Lord in peace.  We pray for each of you listening to encounter the Lord in amazing ways as you seek to honor him with your time and habits.

We all know vacations are essential to resting, recharging, and relaxing from the grind of work--but even vacationing can bring stress and anxiety with so many things to plan and places to go.  On this episode, we are talking about a trip we are taking as a family (dogs included!) around the beautiful state of Michigan.  Partially because we only get about 3 months of nice weather during the year, but mostly because we are taking a sabbatical (or spiritual retreat) to get away for a bit and hear from God on what his will is for us in the weeks and months ahead.  If you are contemplating some major life shifts--whether it be a job change, moving across the country, or stepping into a new role as a spouse or parent--we highly recommend retreating for at least a couple days to get away and clear your head for God to bring you truth from his word.  We will be sharing some of the insights we learn on next week's episode, so stay tuned!

In this episode, we focus on two tendencies we all have as people:  There are those who are "doers" (Martha) and those who are "be-ers" (Mary).  Think to yourself what you would do if Jesus told you he was coming over for dinner tonight.  What would be your first thought?  Would you scrub every inch of your house?  Put away the monster pile of laundry in your room?  Prepare the most scrumptious feast anyone has ever had?... Or would you simply leave all that on hold and just spend time with the Lord? Jesus makes it clear in Luke 10:38-42 which response brings him delight.  Mary chose to sit at the Lord's feet and spend quality time with him.  Martha was "distracted...anxious, and troubled about many things."  Serving absolutely has it's place in the life of the Christian, but if it's done with the wrong heart and motives, it is no good at all.  The simple act of being present in the moment and enjoying fellowship with people is what matters most.  Worry less about doing, and focus more on being.

Hey guys!  We are SO excited to have Melanie join us on this episode to share a little about where we've been in our past and where God has brought us since.  Your past is not who you are--and if you are in Christ, you are completely forgiven for everything.  If you or someone you know has ever struggled to believe God can truly change a heart and make a new creation out of us, even in spite of all the wrong we've done, this episode is for you.

If you're like us, you often regret a lot of the things you say.  Whether it be unkind or hurtful words, we all struggle to get control of our tongues.  The Apostle James gives us clarity and instruction on how we as Christians ought to submit to the Holy Spirit so that we are able to speak gently and lovingly to others.  Also, stay tuned as we announce some new things happening on this podcast in the future!  Prayers welcomed!

Guys.  This is probably the most transparent episode we've done because we are in the midst of going through a slump currently.  I'm sure you'd agree its far better to be open and honest about life when you go through certain seasons instead of putting on a mask pretending everything is okay, because the more we let our walls down, the more God can use our situation to be a testimony of his goodness.  James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for each other so that we may be healed.  If you're in the midst of a valley/slump/rut in life, know that you are not alone--the Lord will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).  Trust in him and seek him in the trials.  He will bring you peace in spite of the chaos.

Real Life versus Fiction "Nothing is so beautiful and wonderful, nothing is so continually fresh and surprising, so full of sweet and perpetual ecstacy, as the good. No desert is so dreary, monotonous, and boring as evil. This is the truth about authentic good and evil. With fictional good and evil it is the other way round. Fictional good is boring and flat, while fictional evil is varied and intriguing, attractive, profound, and full of charm." Simone WeilIn On Science, Necessity, and the Love of God Oxford University Press, 1968  

As new parents ourselves, we are constantly seeking wisdom and advice from those who have been discipling and parenting their children much longer than us. It just so happens that our church is in the middle of a series on relationships, and this past week was all about parents and children! We utilized our sermon notes from the message preached by Pastor Brad Powell, because we thought what he said was too good not to share. Whether you’re a new parent like us, been a parent for a long time, or are even in a position of authority and influence over younger people, this message is for you. We also encourage you to listen to Brad’s entire message because he does such a great job communicating the truth of the Bible as it applies to parenting. Here’s the link to the full message:  http://northridgechurch.com/experience/talks/parenting-101/317/ 

We asked and you answered... In this week’s episode, we take a look at some of the science and evidence supporting the case for Creation and the Genesis account. For the most part, society seems to accept the notion of macro-evolution because that is what the scientific community at large is promoting. Is there an agenda to all this? Is the evidence really there to support kinds changing into other kinds? Our youth today are naturally skeptical and tend to question everything. I mean, can you blame them? We live in a world of “fake news” and Face Tune; Photoshop and Instagram filters. It is GOOD to question what you’re taught and never just simply take someone’s word for it (Acts 17:11).Also, back by popular demand is our dear friend and mentor, Darry Nagel. Tune in as we take somewhat of a cursory tour of some of the questions evolution can not answer—such as, “How does something come from nothing?” and “How does life come from non-life (abiogenesis)?” These cannot be explained by natural means—but the Bible has provided answers to these questions and more (that are backed up and confirmed by science) all along.

***CRINGE WARNING*** Our first date story was nothing short of awkward with a little fun and silliness mixed in, so pretty much exactly what you'd expect.  Even though it's been nearly 7 years, we both remember the day like it was yesterday.  It's crazy how vivid memories can be when a significant life event happens.  If you're dating or actively seeking a potential mate, we hope this episode encourages you that there are still people out there who are committed to serving the Lord while in a dating relationship.  Don't settle or compromise your God-honoring convictions for any human relationship!  Examine the Faith, Family, and Physical Appearance (least important but still valid) of the other person and see how it aligns with what you seek in a God-fearing spouse.

If you're like every other follower of Jesus, you've felt unqualified to share the gospel with your friends, family, or even strangers at some point in your life.  We hope this episode serves to give you some insight and practical tools to equip you to be bold in sharing the truth of Jesus Christ.  Whether you are a new Christian or have been walking with Jesus for decades, the Bible calls us to preach the good news to all the world and to do so with boldness.  Your personality type and head-knowledge have nothing to do with being obedient to what God has called you to do.  Trust Him when he prompts you to be bold in your witness.