Life Builders By Julie Hamilton | Encouragement | Faith

"Imagine yourself as a living house...." God is at work building foundations that are imperative to your future, even if you can't see the results yet!

Lean in and take some notes because today's episode with Pastor Tom Stonecipher is full of wisdom and healing for anyone who has been harmed by prophetic voices that got it wrong.  What should we do with them? Are they still trustworthy? How does God speak to us? If you hear a prophetic word, what should you do with it?  Tom lays the groundwork of a beautiful message for all who have been hurt by the recent events and finding our true identity -- in who we are, not what we do.  Follow Tom on  IG: @ranchopreacher FB: Tom Stonecipher or Rancho Christian Center Second Cup of Coffee on YouTube 

Two of my favorite people on the planet, Myles & Katharine Weiss, are in the hot seat this time as they answer questions about their own tips for marriage, heart for restoration, the One New Man, and ministry as they hold out hope for a brighter future.  Don't miss this restorative and inspiring interview. Follow them on Facebook at Myles & Katharine Weiss Subscribe to their newsletter at mkhop.org Subscribe to their podcast To Life! Hope Behind the Headlines Purchase their book "When Heaven Hits Home" 

"We are going about our everyday lives doing our everyday things and in the background, God is setting up everything we need." Transitions in life are TOUGH! But God showed me something fascinating about the way He is working in the background even in hard transitions.

~ Income generated from the child sex trafficking industry is greater than that of the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB combined. ~ 750,000 pedophiles per second online. ~ 48,000% increase in child porn ~ the only number going down is the age of the children. In Part 1, Amanda Florczykowski's told the story of her first encounter with a child sex trafficking ring as the stranger yanked Amanda's 3 yr old daughter away from her at the local grocery store.  In Part 2 we examine the aftermath, the unraveling, the consequences of her path into the world of anti-sex trafficking, learning to deal with the criticism and rejection that comes along with going viral and operating in leadership and what enables her to endure the suffering courageously to this day.  Hear the courageous story of one mom's fight to reconcile her multiple painful experiences with a good God, educate others about the horrors of human trafficking, face injustice from trusted authorities, survive going viral and walk closely with God & develop intima

"Saw bye-bye to mommy," the stranger mocked as she yanked Amanda's 3 yr old daughter away from her at the local grocery store. This was Amanda Florczykowski's first encounter with a child sex trafficking ring and it happened in their small town.  Hear the courageous story of one mom's fight to reconcile her multiple painful experiences with a good God, educate others about the horrors of human trafficking, face injustice from trusted authorities, survive going viral and walk closely with God & develop intimacy with Him through it all. Learn how to "mother fiercely in a world full of fears."  Resources mentioned:  "Unraveled" by Amanda Florczykowski (+ other resources)  Note: On the recording, I stated that Tim Ballard was on the Ben Shapiro Show, but I was incorrect. It was the Candance Owens Show.  See link below! Tim Ballard on Candance Owens Show   Operation Underground Railroad (WE EXIST TO RESCUE CHILDREN FROM SEX TRAFFICKING.)

The tales of the last missing chocolate chip cookie caper and thoughts about misplaced privilege.  This one word in the story of Luke 10 caught me off guard and reminded me of something super important that shifted my quiet meditation times this week! Also, I share how trying to stay undistracted in your quiet time just makes you more distracted! Here's a simple tip to deal with distractions. 

"God's picture of your life is greater, bigger, and more impactful than you could ever think." Today's chat with Will G of the "Free Will Talkin" podcast is all about exceeding expectations -whether it's looking back at our lives & what we expected to accomplish, how surrendering his family brought the desires of his heart back to him or even how we often underestimate the potential and value of others surrounding us. Will G shares how to stay on track to see the best days of our lives....better than we would ever expect! 

Like the tree in my neighborhood, things around us can look so dead, and yet there remains a little bit of life that makes its way to the surface. Taking things from appearances and situations of death to life is just what Jesus does over and over.  There is hope! 

This chat with Amie Stockstill was a year in the making so we made sure to cover everything under the sun! We did talk about charcuterie boards, why 2019 was Amie's worst year, why women are afraid of their public callings, Let's Echo, true discipleship and how isolating is self-sabotage. We were never meant to walk this road alone.  Also, you get to hear Amie laugh while I choke on an almond and we learn all about Embrace Grace! 

Wow, when I hit record two months ago while John Lynch and I were having a conversation about being blindsided, we hadn't heard a thing about COVID19 or the economy collapsing or American grinding to a halt.  But, the words and the prayer spoken at that time have never been more timely for today. As you listen to this podcast, may you be reminded that God is ever-present in the midst of the beauty and the rubble.  "The best life, the greatest life, is not the pristine life, the fully satiated life, the fixed life, the neatly ordered life. The best life is the real one with God receiving glory as you trust him, enjoy him and others amidst the beauty and the rubble." - John Lynch  Romans 8:28  God refashions all of the evil on this planet that hits all of us and employs it to give us an even better life than if it had never happened.

In Mark 10, we see a crowd that has two distinct parts? Which part would you be in -- future-oriented or fear-oriented? We have a choice. Also, I share 3 ways that we can keep our hearts towards the hope of the future, based on "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. 

During this time of social distancing and shelter at home, many who already live alone are feeling the burden in an especially heavy way. You can be literally alone or be in a crowd of hundreds and feel alone. Here's the most important thing to remember. 

"We ride the highs and lows," - Andy Grammar "Smoke Clears"  These days are full of highs and lows seemingly out of nowhere! But if we look at scripture, we notice a pattern--Jesus also goes from highest highs to lowest lows one after the other! Here are a few examples and how we recognize that we are in a typical cycle of life. Hang in there...highs will return again. 

What's been on my heart? Business owners like us who have lost all their income & jobs overnight due to COVID -19. Here are some simple ideas to reduce spending, but mostly just a prayer from my heart to yours. We are with you. God is with you. 

In this crazy time I know one thing, God is still speaking. Sometimes we just feel compelled to do certain things that might not make sense and we may never understand why. Let's take a look at 2 situations in the Bible where incredible gifts were on the other side of people's obedience. When those feelings come, the gut feelings, the urges, the Holy Spirit whispers, here's why it might be important to follow those feelings. 

Executive coaching expert Tracy Smith takes us behind the scenes into the deep dive that surrounds creating a great team with various personalities as well as personal emotional intelligence and strategic development. We talk about Meyers Briggs, DISC, the Enneagram AND the emotional intelligence quadrants! Let's go deep! 

LIE #20: "Jesus died for our sins" is the whole message of the cross."  What?? If you're ready to be challenged & fascinated today, check out this podcast with Dr. Andrew Farley and his gift of articulating how small nuances frame the big picture of our lives. He takes simple phrases that many have grown up believing like "Less of him and more of me" or "I die daily" and shows us how they are actually wrong.  His book, Twisted Scripture, uses the Bible to untangle 45 unexpected lies that Christians have been told.  Hear how to get free from analysis paralysis and why the goal of pleasing God can leave us feeling empty.  What did John the Baptist actually mean when he said "Less of him and more of me"? You'll find out in the next 23 minutes.  Other resources mentioned:  www.andrewfarley.org Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church God Without Religion: Can It Really Be This Simple? The Hurt and the Healer with Mercy Me

"God doesn’t write sad, boring stories. Oftentimes when we’re living out a sad, boring story it’s something that people have written for us. Our own decisions have written for us." In this episode, Jackie Dorman teaches us how to do the "heart work", not the hard work! She gives us shortcuts to healing from trauma and becoming who we really are underneath it all -- healed and whole and free.  Please buy her book "The Heart Work: The Secret to Becoming the Real You" and consider attending her online heart-healing workshop starting in Feb! Find out more at JackieDorman.com 

I've missed you all!!!! So glad to be back with you! Today is just straight preaching from me! Here is Part 2 of four beautiful gifts that we can find in the darkest seasons of our lives.