Rinse and Repeat with Carol Eskaros

The Bible says that as a man THINKS, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, we ARE what we THINK. Think anxious thoughts, and become an anxious person. Think hateful thoughts, become a hateful person. Today on Rinse and Repeat, we revisit a message about putting our thoughts on trial. Using Philippians 4:8 as your guide, ask yourself questions like, "this this thought true?  Is it honest/h...

Today we turn to explore the faith of the extraordinary mother of the Hebrew faith, Sarah! Hebrews 11:11 says, " By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and shebore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." Sarah wasn't perfect in her walk of faith, but God commends her faith based not on its perfection, but HIS!! Sa...

Abraham is the central character of the book of Genesis, and likewise the focal point of Hebrews 11, as he was the father of the Hebrew faith. Hebrews 11:8-10 tells us, " By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, d...

Even before a drop of rain had ever fallen on the earth, Noah was moved by godly fear to obey God and build an ark by faith. Noah's faith serves as a remarkable example to us about faith that moves to life-saving action. Turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 11:7 as we explore faith that saved the entire world, today on Rinse and Repeat! (RAR2025EP27)

As we begin delving into the characters of the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11, we turn to some of the earliest men of faith in Scripture, exploring the stories of Abel and Enoch. As we study the lives of these men of God, we glean critical lessons for growth today, including lessons about coming to God by faith and what it means to walk with God. This week we also look at the key verse of...

Today, we embark on a brand new series on Rinse and Repeat, where we explore one of the most famous chapters in all of Scripture - Hebrews chapter 11, known as the "Hall of Faith." Here we will learn about 17 named men and women who had great faith in their great God, but more than that, we will learn why faith is so important to God. Today, we lay the critical foundation - and here is a hint - it...

Have you ever faced a tough decision when you just had no idea what to do? Did you find yourself taking charge of the situation, coming up with plans, and worst-case-scenario strategies? Or were you more paralyzed by fear or indecision? Or were you angry at even having to make the decision in the first place? We often find ourselves facing hard choices and vacillating between one or more of these...

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free... These words, spoken by Jesus in John 8:32, may be some of His most quoted, even among secular audiences. And yet, so often, I wonder if we truly understand freedom as the Bible describes it. Do we know what it means to be truly, fully, and deeply FREE? On today's lagniappe edition, I explore Galatians 5:1, "Stand fast therefore in the l...

In the final program in the series on suffering, we glean an incredibly encouraging message: that we can count it all joy when we suffer, because our suffering makes us ever more like Christ. James 1:2-4 says, " My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perf...

When something bad happens, we naturally want to find someone to blame. The disciples even did this, when they saw a man born blind, and asked Jesus, " “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answers them, saying, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him" ( John 9:1-3) While some forms of suffering come as a d...

It can be the question that absolutely paralyzes us. What is God's will for me? What does He want me to do in this situation? At this time in my life? Or WITH my life? On today's special edition of Rinse and Repeat, I address how God's Word says we are to go about discerning God's will. In particular, I define three specific aspects of God's will, which work together at all times in the life of a...

I didn't have an inch on my legs that wasn't covered with mosquito bites. An insect had burrowed into my arm, died, and stained the interior of my skin, leaving this alien-like scarring. It was over 100 degrees, full humidity as we hiked to minister to leper colonies in the heart of the Amazon. I likely contracted my latent tuberculosis in that colony, but I also had the opportunity to lea...

I have this fascination with the engineering of lighthouses. How for them to withstand hundreds of years of saltwater, sun, waves, and storms of all kinds, lighthouse foundations must go way, WAY down deep into the depths of the sea floor. What's more, the foundation of each lighthouse is often screwed down, not simply poured down, into the depths of the ocean to guarantee that the lighthouse...

Even after the resurrection, the disciples experienced a fair amount of confusion. Despite Jesus' predictions that He would be crucified, buried, and on the third day He would rise again, His own men found it very hard to believe that they were actually seeing the truly risen, flesh-and-blood Savior. In the last of a three-part lagniappe series looking at moments of betrayal and questioning am...

Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something so seriously wrong, something you never considered yourself even capable of doing? And worse, have you ever experienced deep shame over that stumble? Peter, of course, endured such a well-known mistake, which Jesus predicted in Luke 22:31-34: 31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 B...

Has someone betrayed you? Has a spouse turned their back on your marriage? Or has a friend recently lied and just changed, seemingly out of nowhere? Jesus felt the pain of betrayal deeply in the days leading up to the cross. As I explored this subject of betrayal in preparing this lagniappe episode, God showed me so much about myself, how I worship God, and what I understand of Him, even as I expl...

C.S. Lewis, in his book The Problem of Pain, wrote, " Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say 'My tooth is aching' than to say 'My heart is broken.'" Why can it be so hard for us to be open about our pain? Why do we so quickly an...

When you see you are about to be hit, either by a car, a person, or an object, what is your first reaction? Usually, you tend to brace yourself - clench your muscles, close your eyes, and prepare for the worst! Our tendency is to react in this way not only to physical suffering but also to all kinds of pain. We can tend to fear, clench, and expect the worst because suffering hurts! And yet, Jesus,...

"I suggest to you that it is because God loves us that he gives us the gift of suffering. Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world. You see, we are like blocks of stone out of which the Sculptor carves the forms of men. The blows of his chisel, which hurt us so much are what make us perfect." C.S. Lewis' thoughts on the purpose of suffering are incredibly true, and still, naturally, we want t...

In our series Strong in the Lord, we have learned all the parts of the armor - the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes with the Gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Having learned all the parts of the armor - the question now is - how do we put it ON, and how do we put it to WORK? Today as we conclude our series on the ar...

We get news of a loved one's tragic passing. We face chronic illness or relationship strains or job losses. In each situation, we long to actually FEEL God's presence. We long for His help. For a touch of His hand. As I recently meditated on these things, God gave me His Word so clearly in Psalm 139:7-10, this beautiful picture of comfort, 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I...

In the Roman soldier's armor, the sword was not what we may typically envision as a sword - long with a hilt. Rather, it was a short sword, more like a dagger in a scabbard, designed for close hand-to-hand combat. This is particularly significant when we understand that the Word of God is referred to as the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17. In other words, the enemy plans to attack us in ways...

Discouragement and Deception. Two of the most effective tools of the wicked one. Discouragement is especially effective, because it can arise from within and can take hold of us from any one of a variety of sources. And deception has been the enemy's weapon from the very beginning, in Genesis 3. To combat both discouragement and deception, we require that our minds be protected - that we have...

"I believe in God, so why am I not seeing Him at work in my life?" "I know I am saved, but I really don't FEEL anything!" Have you ever heard those questions? Ever ASK those questions? Surprisingly, not all faith - even all faith in Jesus - is the same. Different types of faith will completely change what your Christian walk looks like, and especially how well prepared you...

I recently received a heartfelt letter from a listener asking about dating advice for her daughter. Having been asked so many similar questions about dating by parents and young people, I thought it was time to share a lagniappe episode on the topic of dating. Our text is 2 Corinthians 6:11-18, and we will explore various aspects of dating, what to look for in a future spouse, and so much more. Pl...