The 320 Podcast

If you've listened to the past few podcasts you already know I've been reading through the book of Jeremiah. While pouring my heart out before the Lord in regards to some of the passages, He asked me a most tender question. I actually wasn't expecting it but it was so clear I couldn't miss it. Maybe you need to hear what I heard so you can also have peace in your trying moments wit...

Personally, God had to walk this out with me lately. Very lately. I felt I should share this snare with you so you can also have help as you navigate seasons with Christ. Often we do not realize we think we are "all in" but we really are not. Let's talk about it:)

Sometimes we enter into a "thing" with an expectation of what it might look like. When all the while the assignment has more to do with something else entirely. This came into my heart while driving this past weekend. We must learn to hold all things loosely with Christ so that when we find ourselves in the middle of an unexpected "work" we will be able to surrender fully to it...

Today we're going to talk about the importance of being focused and staying focused for the Kingdom work entrusted to us.

After last week's message, Take the Step, the Lord put His finger in my own heart to "take my own medicine." He reminded me of a passage in Joshua He has been ever so quietly whispering to me for months. However, I know it will be for some of you as well. I hope it brings you confirmations, as well as encouragement.

In prayer today the Lord brought back to my mind a writing He gave me called, With Every Step. As I broke open the scriptures I began to consider the lepers who were healed. Digging into it a bit more left me with such an unction to share what I felt God might want to say to us. I pray it offers breakthrough to some and encourages you to trust Him in the next step.

It is such a wonderful adventure to study a matter out in the scriptures. You begin to see how often the Lord is making a thing important to Him. Embedded in the scriptures were not just plenty on the fear of the Lord but I began to see that there were also many benefits noted that perhaps we might have missed in our reading. God's Word is a deep treasure to be found friends:)

One of our ladies brought us a message in our Equipped class orchestrated by the Lord that linked to the fear of the Lord. It led us into a very deep and transparent discussion. The next day God confirmed His message to many of us over and over again so I decided to begin studying the scriptures on the fear of the Lord. Today I'm looking through Proverbs 1-3. We believe God is serious about th...

I wanted to continue the discussion on the writing the Lord gave me regarding "Sudden Endings." You'll have to forgive me because I was sick and recording this from bed last week. You'll also get a good look into my week with a blooper I just decided not to edit out. Welcome to my world:) In all seriousness, take a listen because I think this episode is going to encourage some of you who have also...

This past weekend I had a dream that utterly troubled me. I woke up with a heavy heart and a deep grief. I knew it was a warning dream. However, in God's kindness He warns. I called a friend to share it with her and she said to me, "Shelly, every believer needs to hear this dream." I believe God is trying to awaken us from our slumber so, today, I'm just sharing the prophetic dream that He gave me...

As I'm still reading through the book of Acts I came across the story of the slave girl who was following Paul around. As I was pondering the story God brought to my mind two other examples of hidden deception that are also recorded in the scriptures. It is so wise for us to study the enemy. When you're in a battle it is a matter of wisdom to watch carefully, discern what spirit is at work...

I walked into my ministry building today sad over the state of the church. Sad over needless arguments. Sad over sin. Sad over deception. Just sad. But as I began to stare at a picture a dear friend gifted me at Christmas, Christ began to stir inside of me as He reminded me who He was. Maybe this will encourage you too. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

I’ve been asked by several my thoughts on Jesus and women. I’ve also been asked lately if I’d write an article regarding women in leading roles within the church and my thoughts on the highly publicized vote regarding women in my former denomination, SBC. My simplified response is, “This is a matter of gifting not gender. You can’t remove the shepherding gift from a woman any more than you can rem...

I had decided to read through the book of Acts again. As I began to look into Acts 3 I found an encouraging message embedded in the meaning of the words in the gate called Beautiful. It lined up so well with our recent studies on Ecclesiastes 3 and how God has been speaking so much to us here about "seasons." Maybe it will encourage you also:)

Psalm 84:5-7 has been so beautiful to me for some time. Yet, Christ seems to bring it back up this past week. The hidden pearls of this passage fall right in line with what we're learning about Eccl 3, Hosea 2:14-15, and other passages that seem to be His heart ministering to those in valley or wilderness seasons. There are some hidden treasures within this passage that should keep giving us h...

This past week a dear friend and spiritual mom went home to be with Jesus. I've been reflecting on how God placed her in my life exactly at the right time to walk with me through a valley, to pull out of me the gifts I didn't know I had, and to help me become who I was formed to be. I pray that as I share how her calling helped prepare me for mine, you will see that you, too, can leave thi...

The last few weeks have been precious with Christ. It seems like He is moving swiftly in this season. Each day has held the most beautiful moments as I've watched Him touch the lives of many hearts in unique ways. I simply want to share some small moments that have blessed my own heart so much over the last few weeks so you, too, can learn to keep in step with the spirit of God. This life in t...

I had spent some time off last week leaning into the Lord. As I was watching a movie they began to speak Ecclesiastes 3. My ears perked up so I went to look again at this passage. I have felt the Lord stir regarding a shift of seasons yet I was able to ponder my various seasons in light of this passage. Looking within these precious words I could see each verse that has played out in various seaso...

We discussed last night in our Equipped meeting that God always answers an honest cry. We had a beautiful time of Him breaking walls that had been made in our own hearts from one reason or another. Today I heard the Lord continue in the discussion in my own heart with the phrase, "The Walls My Heart Builds." He is wanting to help us drop our walls with Him. Some of our past experiences and even re...

There were times in my walk with God that I was always discontent. Sometimes it still tries to happen. The heart is so stubborn. God dealt with me on missing the "here and now" always looking at things I didn't have, or what He was doing in someone else, or just always looking to some other place I thought I should be. Then I learned that there is no other place you and I want to be...

Our last equipped meeting was shifted to this message. However, it seems I needed to circle back around a bit and perhaps say some things I didn't during our meeting. We all go through suffering seasons. However, God wants to focus us on that which is learned in that valley place. We will be looking at a passage about Christ in Hebrews that points to obedience learned in suffering. This will g...

Self-Control is likely one of the most needed fruits of the Spirit in the body of Christ today. While the Holy Spirit gives lovely gifts of the Spirit and also our individual personalities, mannerisms, etc...sometimes we need to learn to "control yo-self" So, let's talk about it:)

Today we read together and talk through Job Chapters 1 and 2. There are so many treasures in this book. Some we seem to love while others seem to confuse us. The Lord led me to read through this book with you for the next few podcasts. So, lets see what He might show us together. Feel free to send me your thoughts and what you feel the Holy Spirit spoke to you. I would love to hear about them.

I heard the Lord speak the words, "Song in the Night," after I had been rehearsing a song I had written in a dark season. Pulling out the lyrics again I could see God was not just loving on me with that song but speaking to me a prophetic word that today I am living out. We will also see the same phrase mentioned in the scriptures. Let's talk about it and begin to watch as God sends us songs in th...

I've just decided, as many others have, enough is enough and it's time to lift a voice to it. Instead of blaming and shaming people for leaving our churches, using fear tactics and unbiblical memes to guilt people perhaps we are the problem. It's past time we consider the possibility. Let's talk about what, or who, the church really is according to the scriptures. Let's also ta...