Opened Eyes : Recent Episodes
Amanda
Six years ago, something inside me was hinting at the fact that I was viewing God through a blurred and distorted lens. I knew there was more, but I simply didn't know what that was. Then through life events, circumstances, lessons, tests and people He so lovingly placed in my path, I began to see God in a whole different way. He opened my eyes to His Majesty, His Power, His Spirit, but most importantly, His overwhelming Love and Desire for relationship with each one of us. My hope is that by openly and honestly sharing with you my experiences, maybe your eyes can be opened too!
When Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24 that in order to be his disciples we must pick up our cross and follow him, he isn't describing a burden we must bear. He is simply asking us to think twice about our level of commitment to Him.
Are we willing to give up our self-centered desires and our own path in life? Are we willing to surrender absolutely every area of our life to God?
He reminds us in Matthew 16:25-26 that "whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
What are you willing to lose to follow Jesus? The reward is worth the price!
How many of you jump up and down and praise the Lord during a trial in your life? Not many of us do, but the Bible tells us that we should consider it joy whenever we face trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)
Storms may seem unexpected, but they serve a purpose in our spiritual growth. Instead of acting surprised, we should ask the Lord for the strength to get through and realize He is working it out for our good.
Heaven or Hell, it's just that simple. When you die you will go somewhere. Where are you going to end up? Why would you gamble with eternity? Accept the free gift of salvation today. Tomorrow might be too late.
Romans 10:9-10
"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
Acts 4:12
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
John 14:6
"Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
To call someone "Lord" is to acknowledge their authority in your life. Are you leading your own life or is Jesus leading it? Are you standing on a firm foundation or a foundation that may look good, but quickly collapses when the storms come? If you woke up this morning, God is giving you a chance to get it right. Build your foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ today!
Luke 6:46-49
The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
It's God's heart's desire to make himself known to us. That's why He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. This perfect sacrifice made a way for us to enter into His presence. He wants to spend eternity with us! He wants a relationship with us! Are you comfortable just having your salvation ticket punched or do you want to enter into real joy, real peace, and real love?
Scripture
Matthew 16:24-25"Then Jesus said to HIs disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword"
Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
How many people know EVERYTHING about you? Not just the polished presentable you, but the ugly dirty mess you try to keep hidden even from yourself. God sees it all, and yet, despite everything, He still chooses to love you with an unconditional love. In today's episode, Amanda talks about being fully known and fully loved by God. He's not more loving on one day and less on another. He loves us the same on our very best and very worst days. God's love is not conditional and there is nothing you can keep hidden from Him. Come to Him, just as you are today, and watch as His perfect love casts out all fear and enables you to live a victorious life.
Scripture:Psalm 139:1 "O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me."Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts."1 John 4:8 "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.John 4:18 "Perfect love casts out fear."
Why is prayer important? How does prayer draw us closer to God? How does God answer our prayers? In this episode, Amanda and Susan discuss these questions many of us wonder about and how prayer plays a key role in their own lives. An active prayer life is the foundation for closeness with God; it is the key that unlocks the gates of heaven on earth. Because God cares for us, he longs to be included in every detail of our lives, small and large. Prayer is God’s invitation to us to partner with Him so that His will is done on earth and His glory will be made known! The Lord is searching the earth for someone who is willing to talk to him and partner with him; someone who knows Him, fears Him, and obeys Him. How will you partner with God today in your life?
Scripture:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”2 Chronicles 7:14
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8
“I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be my people.” Leviticus 26:12
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6
Today’s special guest is Pastor Daphne Lewis. Pastor Daphne is a woman of deep, abiding faith and trust in the Lord. On today’s episode, she takes us back to the beginnings of her personal relationship with the Lord and shares how her love and trust in God deepened and grew over time, most often through trials and difficulties. Growing up in the church and having a grandmother who was strong in her faith helped to lay the foundation for who God was for Pastor Daphne. Yet, as a teenager found she had strayed from living a life that honored the Lord. She had her first of 6 children at the age of 15 as an unwed mother, faced rejection and criticism from within her church family, and found herself living alone with her children in the projects. Pastor Daphne shares how the Lord repeatedly showed up for her during her lowest and darkest times; her “Red Sea Moments” where only God could make the way. Her relationship with the Lord grew from one of friendship to one of total surrender to God. She was willing to die to self and what she wanted so that God’s will concerning her life could be done. Today she is a woman of radical faith who trusts the Lord to guide her every step!
“Untested faith may be a true faith, but it is sure to be a small faith-and it is likely to remain stunted as long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers as much as when all things are against it.” -Charles Spurgeon (Morning and Evening Devotional)
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” -Galatians 5:24
“Surrender yourself to the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” -Psalm 37:7
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:6
“So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” -1 Peter 1:7
What's To Come Ministry, 4800 N. Bailey Bridge Rd. Midlothian, VA 23112
The Thief of Comparison
On this episode of Opened Eyes, Amanda and Susan discuss the traps of comparison. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” When we focus on comparing our spiritual gifts, faith, and lives to others, we take our eyes off of God’s value, plan, and purpose for our own lives. The traps of comparison can lead to: 1. Inferiority: “Since I am not like you, I have no value.” 2. Superiority: “I have more value than you and I’m doing enough for God.” Either trap keeps us from fully living the abundant lives that God has for each one of us. We can be confident that when we are faithful where we are (like Joseph in the book of Genesis), God is sure to raise us up in due time, using our own unique stories for His glory!
Scripture:
“Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12
“Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.” Galatians 6:4-5
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
On today’s podcast, Amanda and Susan are joined by a very special guest, Liza, Susan’s 18-year old daughter! Liza shares her testimony of overcoming a very difficult season in her high school years. The culminating effects of two close friends moving away, starting a new (and very large high school), and almost 2 years of COVID isolation left Liza feeling anxious, lonely, and depressed. Standing on the promises of Jesus, the love of her family, the support of her Pastor and church, and a renewed relationship with the Lord, Liza was able to find hope, encouragement, and a new perspective on life! She shares her story so that other teens (and their parents) who may be experiencing the same feelings she did, will realize they are not alone. There is hope knowing that each of us is loved, adored, and cherished by our Creator and He works all things for our good and for His glory. We are God’s precious gems!
Scripture:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-9
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”James 4:7
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? What does it mean to fear the Lord? This week’s episode focuses on Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” When we are able to see and appreciate God as He really is-including all His moral attributes, His righteousness, holiness, sovereignty, and eternal nature- we develop a respect and reverence for Him, rather than actual fear. The fear of the Lord gives us the wisdom to live in continual submission and obedience to God’s will for our lives, which is more highly valued than all earthly treasure!
Scripture:
- Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise ensures forever.
2. Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.”
3. Job 28:28 “And to the man He said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.”
- Isiah 33:5-6 "The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
“Why Am I Experiencing a Spiritual Drought?”
What is a spiritual drought? Why do Believers experience spiritual droughts from time to time? What can we do when we feel like we are in the midst of spiritual dryness or feeling far from God to restore and renew our relationship with our Creator?
This week Amanda and Susan discuss their personal experiences with times of spiritual frustration, when their hearts felt heavy and burdened, and their souls were not happy or satisfied. Often the Lord can use times of spiritual drought to restore us to a right relationship with Him or to take us deeper into relationship with Him. We can unknowingly allow legalism, unchecked sin, or daily distractions and busyness to become stumbling blocks in our relationship with our Savior. Amanda and Susan share how The Lord has been faithful to restore their souls and help them to find joy and peace once again after times of spiritual dryness in their own lives.
Scripture:
Philippians 1:6, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3: 2-3, “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
Psalm 23:3, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names’ sake.”
Many times, as believers, we worry about the security of our salvation. We feel ashamed and guilty by our sin, which can cause anxiety about whether or not we are truly saved. However, in Romans 10:9-10 it says, "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." It's a heart change!
We are justified and freed from the penalty of sin immediately upon confession. However, that does not give us a free license to go around sinning. In fact, in 1 John 3:9 it says, "No one born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning because they have been born again." True believers in Jesus look for ways to please Him every day, not loopholes by which to take advantage of the gift of salvation. True faith results in a transformed life. As Christians, when we sin and fall short, we should feel convicted, which results in heartfelt repentance.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them (relationship), and they follow me (obedience). I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28
Our security is not in our ability to hold on to Christ's hand, but in His ability to hold us in His.
In Hebrews 2:1 it says, "We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."
Drifting means to be carried away SLOWLY by a current of water or air. Being carried away from something ALWAYS means you are being carried to something else. Are there areas in your life that are causing you to slowly drift away from God and your relationship with Him? Today, we talk about four reasons we might drift:
-
Comfort
-
Culture
-
Cloudy Vision
-
Course
This week, Amanda and Susan share the redeeming power of the love of Jesus and His faithfulness, grace, and mercy through the life and recent passing of Susan’s father. Susan shares how her father fully came to know Jesus through his battle with Lewy Body Dementia and how her father’s faith and salvation brought peace and joy to her family even in his death. Through her father’s life, disease, and passing, Susan learned 5 important truths about God that have strengthened her own faith and trust in the Lord.
Five truths of God:
- God is faithful because of His great love for each of us. He will pursue each one of us for his desire is that none shall be lost. (Romans 5: 8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
- God is forgiving. There is no shame or condemnation in Christ. (1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1)
- God works all things for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. God is always good! (Romans 8:28)
- God makes beauty from ashes. (Isaiah 6:13)
- God promises eternal life to those who receive His gift of salvation. (John 3:16, John 5:24, Romans 10:13, Luke 23:43, John 6:47)
“For now we see only a reflection in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13: 12-13
Praying in tongues is allowing the Holy Spirit, who resides inside of you, to pray through you. You can trust your spirit to pray the perfect will of God, regardless of the situation. It's an amazing gift from God and it's available to every believer! I'll be the first to admit that I thought it was completely strange and resisted it for a long time...too long! How thankful I am that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to this amazing gift. It literally saved my daughter's life!
Bible verses
"For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 14:2
"Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves," 1 Corinthians 14:4
"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding." 1 Corinthians 14: 14-15
This week Amanda and Susan answer the question “Why chose God?” Join in their discussion, as they reflect on how intentionally choosing God and pursuing a personal relationship with Him opened their eyes to the benefits of His peace, guidance, andlove in their everyday lives. Through personal testimony, they share how trusting in who God is and the promises He has spoken through His Word transforms how they view themselves and how they approach everyday life events and circumstances. From the impacts of the Covid vaccine, to canceled flights, and overcoming feelings of unworthiness, God shows up! You, too, can invite God into the details of your own life--both large and small–and let Him show up for you with renewed hope and encouragement!
Bible verses
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23
This week listen to how Amanda and Susan each encountered God in a real way and realized how much He wants a personal relationship with each one of us. God loves and desperately wants an invitation into each and every one of our lives. He wants to be the one to fill the void in our heart that can only be filled by Him. True peace comes from having a relationship with the one that spoke the Earth into existence. After trying everything else in the world, we gave God a try and He hasn't failed. From just knowing about God to truly knowing him, we have now found the greatest friend and Father and want him to be that for you as well. "Don't knock it till you try it!"
Bible verses
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3:20
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."Psalm 103:12
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."John 8:36
Do you go to church on Sunday but still feel like there is a lot about God that you don't know or understand? Do you want a closer relationship with your Creator, but you just aren't sure where to start? Are there stories in the Bible that seem crazy and far-fetched because you haven't experienced or seen anything like it in our world today? Have you met people who talk about God like they know Him personally, but wonder how that is even possible? I was you six years ago! Something inside me was hinting at the fact that I was viewing God through a blurred and distorted lens. I knew there was more, but I simply didn't know what that was. Then through life events, circumstances, lessons, tests and people He so lovingly placed in my path, I began to see God in a whole different way. He opened my eyes to His Majesty, His Power, His Spirit, but most importantly, His overwhelming Love and Desire for relationship with each one of us. My hope is that by openly and honestly sharing with you my experiences, maybe your eyes can be opened too!