A Hot Second with Raven: Recent Episodes
Raven J. Stone
Sharing my faith and journey as a single mom, a writer, a small business owner and all things lifestyle related!
I’m transparent when it comes to my faith and personal testimonies because I no longer allow my PAST to have me live in shame. My prayer and hope is that you are blessed by the words spoken and they resonate in a powerful way that pushes you closer to GOD!
I’m wrapping up season 2 of my podcast with this episode! If you’d like to be a guest speaker or have a testimony you’d like to share on my blog writingsforthesoul.com, email me at raej@writingsforthesoul.com! 💛
Are you still hurting? Have you fully healed from past relationships, from friendships that have ended, from the pain and betrayal of a family member? If you haven't fully healed, STOP subjecting yourself to what hurt you and be aware of your triggers! STOP going to their Social Media pages! Forgiveness is all a part of us healing and that's what I'm talking about in today's episode.
"For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.
~Matthew 6:15-15
Are you a mom, wife, husband or father that has forgotten about YOU? Have you put your dreams and goals or even self-care on the back-burner for the sake of your loved ones? On today's episode I talk about getting excited about YOU again because GOD already plans for you before you were formed in the womb!
"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet in the nations--that's what I had in mind for you."
~Jeremiah 1:5 MSG Translation
Sometimes history is all we have with a person. Are you going to allow that history to destroy or hinder your future?
On today's podcast, I talk more on God WANTING to do a NEW THING in our lives but the history we have with a person, place or thing can cause a hinderance in our growth. We can hold on to things that God wants us to let go of but we feel indebted because of the long history we have with it.
"Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in desert.
~Isaiah 43:18-19
Have you felt silly talking to GOD about the “small” matters concerning your life? e.i. Birthday look, what to eat for dinner, getting to work on time? Those SMALL things concerning YOU, GOD cares about! Today I talk about GOD caring about EVERY aspect concerning our lives.
“casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”
~1 Peter 5:7 AMP
To all my SINGLE FATHERS, this is for YOU!! GOD has not forgot about you! There is strength and peace in HIM as you journey down this road of single fatherhood! Listen and be encouraged today and know that GOD will provide for you and your children because HE cares about you!!
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ~Matthew 6:30
Has God presented you with something different but you're afraid to trust it because it's NEW and unfamiliar to you? On today's episode, I talk about letting go of the former things so we can receive that NEW thing God wants to do in us and through us!
"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert." ~Isaiah 43:18-19
Do you struggle with holding on to people? Have you fully submitted to God what He's given you and what He's called you to do? Today I talk about being okay with blessing and releasing people at the same time.
"Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heat And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straights and smooth."
~Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP
In today's episode, I'm free-flowing and I land on the topic of my journey as a work-from-home single mother. I share my testimony of my son and Grandmother's journey that led me to step out on HUGE faith!
Has GOD been pulling on your heart to step out in a HUGE way but you're too comfortable or feel "secure"? I pray that in sharing my story, you allow GOD to write your story and trust in HIM completely because HE knows the outcome anyway. BE ENCOURAGED IN the LORD!
"But God has selected [for HIs purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for HIs purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].
~1 Corinthians 1:27
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”
~1 Samuel 1:27
Have you ever prayed for something specifically and GOD answered you in a way that was completely opposite?? That's what I'm sharing today on my first episode of Season 2 - a prayer blessing that I didn't pray for! Yep...you read that right. GOD used the sin I was in for HIS glory and my unexpected prayer blessing helped me get back in RIGHT relationship with GOD!
GOD didn't condone my sin but instead, used it for a GREATER purpose!! I pray that the fire GOD brings through me has you giving your life over to HIM with a repented heart or running back to HIM as a prodigal child. Xoxo
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].” ~Matthew 11:28 AMP THANK YOU to everyone that’s subscribed to my podcast and shared my episodes! I’ve had so much fun doing this and will be ending my first season. I pray the Lord allow me to return back in November or December. My messages are always to me FIRST and I’ve definitely been blessed and encouraged IN THE LORD and that’s my hope for you as well! Be safe and rest IN HIM!! HE has your back!
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
~Genesis 2:24
If you're a single mother or a single father and desire to get married, are your kids a package deal? Would you not date someone new if your child or children didn't get along with them? If you're already married, are you and your spouse a package deal or do you put your kids before your mate?
"Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Ephesians 6:2-3 KJV
"Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy life on the earth."
Ephesians 6:2-3 NIV
I remember when Lindsey Lohan was a train wreck, people were saying she was going to probably die young or commit suicide. My spiritual dad told me he was praying for her and pointed out the things we speak. What are YOU speaking over your life and the lives of others? Are you releasing curses or blessings??
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”
Proverbs 18:21 AMP
“Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].”
James 3:10 AMP
This is more of an introduction episode. I talk about what led me to start my podcast and the goals I have for it! I’d love to hear some topic ideas you’d like to hear me cover and if you’d like to be a guest, let’s do it!!
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”
~2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God's precepts], and not merely listeners who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
~James 1:22 AMP
These streets don't care about us. These streets don't care about our families. We need to use godly wisdom when deciding to place ourselves in certain circumstances. We can't go to every event just because everyone else is going. I'd rather be alive and talked about because I don't partake in certain things, rather than gone and talked about in the past tense. Proverbs 14:12-13 "There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again--it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak."
In the book of Proverbs, chapter 14, verse 29, it says: "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. But he who is impulsive exalts folly."
The enemy knows which buttons to push to get an instant reaction from us. Our job is to not give him any power by responding to his tactics! He will use anyone or any situation to catch us slipping! KNOW God's Word to SPEAK HIS promises when the devil tries to taunt you! When you feel discouraged and hopeless, SPEAK God's promises over your life and your situation!
Can God trust you? Can you be trusted with personal information concerning those closest to you? Can you trust the people in UR circle when it comes to sensitive information concerning your life?
In the book of James, Chapter 1, verse 19, it says: “Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];” James 1:19 AMP
Be slow to speak when it comes to personal information that someone confides in you. Your integrity truly makes a difference and matters!
This pandemic has forced many of us to look at life in a completely different way. When the shut-in happened, many of us were forced to think! Many of us thought about things we suppressed...things we never allowed ourselves to grieve about. The Bible says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
Do you have that one single friend that's always giving you MARRIAGE advice?? Take heed - he or she just may know what they're talking about! Protect & HONOR your spouse in the things you say and do and be MINDFUL of what you allow to enter into your UNION! The enemy will use ANYONE or ANYTHING to bring division so you need to be on guard at all times! The smallest opening is all it takes for him to enter.... "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." ~Mark 10:9
God has already qualified you! You have to walk in your purpose and not worry about your lack of experience or education. Whatever God has purposed for you to do, know that He's chosen you because you're QUALIFIED!!