Second Stage Ministries Podcast

We get mad at God because He’s supposed to provide for us and He’s not giving us what need. Or is what we want? This is a good question to ask ourselves.

You are loved by Almighty God. In this episode, I want to look at how God shows us love better than anyone. Let’s start at the beginning. (This episode references Genesis 1-3 in a paraphrased form. Specific quoted Scripture will be noted. [2] Genesis 1:1, MSG [3] Genesis 1:27 + Genesis 2:7 [4] Read about the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 [5] Luke 22:42 [6] Romans 8:1 [7] Psalm 34:18 [8] reference 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬; 13:8 NIV)

Faith takes strength. God provided Abraham with the strength to take every step of that journey to the mountain. (Genesis 22 + Hebrews 11:17-19)

We all face circumstances that test our faith. Job loss. Divorce. Loss of a loved one. Medical diagnosis. Illness. Whatever circumstances can be put in this list. We all face circumstances. But we have to have faith through the circumstances like Abraham did. ((The Story of Abraham can be found in Genesis 11:26 - Genesis 25:8. Sections of his story referenced in this episode are from Genesis 12, 15, 16, 17, and 22.))

For the final episode of this series, I wanted to look a different kind of rattle. This is will have some similarities with the previous stories in this series, but I believe that there is some else to learn from this story. In this episode, I want to look at the story of Paul. [This episode references Acts 7-9.]

Continuing on in the RATTLE series, we are looking at one of the healing stories of Jesus. The song referenced in this episode is: Artist: Elevation Worship Song: Rattle! Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Steven Furtick / Chris Brown / Brandon Lake RATTLE! lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing

Continuing with the “RATTLE” series, let’s dive into a familiar story together. In Luke 19, we find the story of a “wee little man”. If you know the song you probably started singing it to yourself. The song referenced in this episode is Artist: Elevation Worship Song: Rattle! Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Steven Furtick / Chris Brown / Brandon Lake RATTLE! lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing

On this Easter morning, we remember an event unfold that sent a sound throughout the darkness of that morning. A sound that rattled the lives of people and the whole world. The sound that nothing is impossible for Jesus to overcome. Let’s look at this story together. Reference for this episode: The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, pages 191-192.

If there was any model of that uncomplicated love - it would be Jesus. This is the very thing that we remember on this day - Good Friday - we remember the uncomplicated love of Jesus.

When thinking of a way to close out this “How To Fight Your Battles” series, I could not think of a better song. In this post, we will be looking at the song “See A Victory” by Elevation Worship. This song came out in 2019 and served as a reminder to me about the victory I had seen in an area of my life. I want to share that story with you. “The weapon may be formed But it won't prosper When the darkness falls, it won't prevail 'Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph My God will never fail Oh, my God will never fail There's power in the mighty name of Jesus Every war he wages, He will win Oh, I'm not backing down from any giant 'Cause, I know how this story ends Yes, I know how this story ends I'm gonna see a victory I'm gonna see a victory For the battle belongs to you Lord You take what the enemy meant for evil And you turn it for good You turn it for good” [1] [1] Artist: Elevation Worship Song: See A Victory Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick /

The song we are looking at in this episode provides me with a reminder. I would say that this can be a battle song, but I feel it reminds me more of who God is. [1] Artist: Elevation Worship Song: Authority Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Brooke Ligertwood / Christopher Joel Brown / Scott Ligertwood / Steven Furtick Authority lyrics © Essential Music Publishing [2] Exodus 14 [3] Luke 5 [4] Mark 11:12-14 + 20-21, NLT [5] Mark 4:35-41, NLT [6] Genesis 2:16-17, NLT [7] Genesis 3

This series has been on my heart for just about a year. I always try to do a song/worship series from time to time as there is always new songs that come out and touch my heart in new ways. “I’m still amazed at the power of music. It’s fascinating because for so many of us.. it’s a really emotional experience. I want people to know that when they are listening to music and they’re moved by it that God is with them. When the music stirs you and moves you, makes you cry and makes you laugh somehow I really believe that God is with us in those moments. It’s a way that He’s saying ‘I feel it. I understand what life is.’ I think that’s what music was meant to do.” - Don Join me on the journey through some songs and hear what God says through them. [1] Exodus 14:15-21, NIV [2] Artist: The Fray Song: Be Still Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Benjamin Wysocki / Isaac Edward Slade / David Michael Welsh / Joseph A King Be Still lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Little Bike Music, Lincoln & Ollie Music

This series has been on my heart for just about a year. I always try to do a song/worship series from time to time as there is always new songs that come out and touch my heart in new ways. “I’m still amazed at the power of music. It’s fascinating because for so many of us.. it’s a really emotional experience. I want people to know that when they are listening to music and they’re moved by it that God is with them. When the music stirs you and moves you, makes you cry and makes you laugh somehow I really believe that God is with us in those moments. It’s a way that He’s saying ‘I feel it. I understand what life is.’ I think that’s what music was meant to do.” - Don Join me on the journey through some songs and hear what God says through them. [1] Exodus 14-17 [2] Song: Goodness of God Artist: Bethel Music and Jen Johnson Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Brian Johnson / Ed Cash / Ben Fielding / Jenn Johnson Source: Musixmatch This post references the lyrics of a song. The meaning of the lyrics and the song in

This series has been on my heart for just about a year. I always try to do a song/worship series from time to time as there is always new songs that come out and touch my heart in new ways. “I’m still amazed at the power of music. It’s fascinating because for so many of us.. it’s a really emotional experience. I want people to know that when they are listening to music and they’re moved by it that God is with them. When the music stirs you and moves you, makes you cry and makes you laugh somehow I really believe that God is with us in those moments. It’s a way that He’s saying ‘I feel it. I understand what life is.’ I think that’s what music was meant to do.” - Don  Join me on the journey through some songs and hear what God says through them. [1] Song: Who Am I Artist: NEEDTOBREATHE Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Nathaniel Rinehart / William Rinehart Who Am I lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing This post references the lyrics of a song. The meaning of the lyrics and the song in this post is my own i

This series has been on my heart for just about a year. I always try to do a song/worship series from time to time as there is always new songs that come out and touch my heart in new ways.  “I’m still amazed at the power of music. It’s fascinating because for so many of us.. it’s a really emotional experience. I want people to know that when they are listening to music and they’re moved by it that God is with them. When the music stirs you and moves you, makes you cry and makes you laugh somehow I really believe that God is with us in those moments. It’s a way that He’s saying ‘I feel it. I understand what life is.’ I think that’s what music was meant  to do.” - Don  Join me on the journey through some songs and hear what God says through them. [1] “Surrounded (Fight My Battles)” by Michael W. Smith, 2018 This post references the lyrics of a song. The meaning of the lyrics and the song in this post is my own interpretation This post references Exodus 14, please read for more details of the sto

Forgiveness can be very complicated. But what if I said that it doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Let’s see what we can learn about forgiveness from another conversation that Jesus has with one of his disciples – Peter.

Oh, the calendar. What an interesting part of life. The calendar can be a really good thing to have around, but it can also be a very stressful thing to have around. The resource for the "uncomplicated" series is Simplify by Bill Hybels. The Bible app information: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ [1] This post references 2 previous posts from The Focus Point pace - https://www.thepointoffocus.com/post/_pace that place - https://www.thepointoffocus.com/post/that-place [2] Simplify by Bill Hybels, 2014, chapter 2 [3] Luke 10:38-42

This is the start of a new year. A new year where God is STILL with us, God is STILL for us, and God STILL has good plans for us. Even though this year is starting much like the last one ended, however, we can have hope going into this year that things can only be better. In last week’s blog post, I introduced my word of the year which is uncomplicated. (If you have not checked out that blog post or podcast episode go and check it out.) We also looked at a story in Luke 10 about Mary and Martha and we will continue to check in with that story throughout this series. In the story, Mary and Martha are both handling a complicated situation, however, they are both handling the situation differently. So, I ask the question… how do you fill up your bucket? [1] Luke 10:38-42, NIV, NLT, MSG [2] Mark 6:30-34, NLT [3] Matthew 8, Matthew 14, Mark 4, Mark 6 Bill Gaultiere, Jesus’ Solitude and Silence, Soul Shepherding, https://www.soulshepherding.org/jesus-solitude-and-silence/

If you looked up the word complicated in the dictionary the definition would be 2020. What a mess this year has been! It has been so complicated. In this episode, I am going to share my word of the year for 2021. Luke 10:38-41, MSG and  Luke 10:39, NLT

Mary and Joseph face some complicated situations in this week's episode.