8 “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Smyrna, write: ‘Here is the message from the First and the Last, who died and came alive again: 9 “I know how you are suffering and how poor you are (though in fact you are rich!), and I know the insults of those who call themselves Jews but aren’t — on the contrary, they are a synagogue of the Adversary. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Adversary is going to have some of you thrown in prison, in order to put you to the test; and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful, even to the point of death; and I will give you life as your crown. 11 Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who wins the victory will not be hurt at all by the second death.”’ 📚 Revelation 2:8-11 CJB We're continuing our series on prophecy with a mini series on The 7 Churches of Asia Minor. The second church in this group is Smyrna, so let's talk about Smyrna! Show Notes: TBA Website: www.psalmstogod.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstogod Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

"21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the [c]elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together." 📚Matthew 24:21-28 NKJV How should we go about discerning truth--by the Spirit? by the Word? by both? In this episode we're talking about the conundrum that of how we get and use discernment.

"But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person." 📚 1 Corinthians 5:11 We've all been to a church that wasn't right for us, but as I struggle to find a church home I find myself asking what are acceptable reasons for not returning to a church and what are minor quibbles?At what point does a church go from "not perfect" to "not even a church"? Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/where-do-we-draw-the-line Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

Material Covered: Revelation 2:1-7 In this episode we're talking about the letter to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation! There are three ways people interpret the passages on the 7 Churches of Asia Minor (spiritually, literally, and prophetically) so we're going to talk about all 3. Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/ephesus Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

I promise I didn't forgot about the podcast! I've been working hard at work and struggling to balance this series with the YouTube series and general life. Highlights: - I'm still studying the church of Ephesus - Don't wait on me, I encourage you dive deep in to prophecy now more than ever

" Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." -Revelation 1:3 KJV Revelation 1 has a ton of information in it. I'm sure I skipped some. Nonetheless, this podcast episode is going through the chapter discussing symbols and key points. More information and sources can be found on the website below. Notes and references: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/ Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/revelation-1-setting-the-stage

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." Daniel 9:24 KJV In this episode we're talking about the fact that Christians don't actually agree on how to interpret Revelation. This episode is a brief overview of four schools of thought: Futurism, Preterism, Historicism, and Idealism. (I tried to leave my biases at home...let me know if you guess which way I lean) Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/major-schools-of-thought-on-interpreting-prophecy Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

It's a bonus episode y'all!! We're chatting about life and reflecting on distractions and fellowship. Shout out to the Perry's for a 🔥 podcast episode about distractions, which inspired this episode. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

I know it's a weird place to start, but trust me. Exodus and prophecy have a lot in common. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/Repetition-in-Prophecy-The-Plagues-From-Exodus Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

“But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” 📚Leviticus 19:34 KJV With the war in Israel/Palestine intensifying, my original episode kept getting overwritten with the question of wether the formation of ancient Israel was a colonizer story and how I felt about what happened then vs. what is happening now. This is a sensitive and nuanced topic so I did my best to articulate the thoughts that have been going in my head this month. If you get nothing else from this episode: I am angry that Christians and believers in the Most High have relegated real human lives, terror, and destruction to "is it prophetic?" without any regard to the real humans suffering right now. Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/was-the-exodus-a-colonizer-story Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

“When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies.” 📚 Numbers 10:9 CSB A lot of people are scared to talk about prophecy, but as believers prophecy should be good news to us. This season we're going to explore the beauty of prophecy; we're leaving fear-mongering and anxiety behind. In this episode I mention the Feast Days: Check out my previous episodes on the feast days for more... --> https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/lets-have-a-feast --> https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/lets-have-a-feast-pt-2 --> https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/lets-have-a-feast-pt-3 Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/lets-talk-about-whats-going-to-happen-next Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"8 But Dani’el resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or the wine he drank, so he asked the chief officer to be excused from defiling himself. 12 “Please! Try an experiment on your servants — for ten days have them give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink." 📚 Daniel 1:8,12 CJB There's so much more I need to say about the Daniel Fast! So, here we are for part 2 of a conversation I started back in Season 1. To catch up on the first episode: https://soundcloud.com/psalmstogod/123-the-daniel-fast Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/the-daniel-fast-pt-2 Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"Adonai said, “Look, the people are united, they all have a single language, and see what they’re starting to do! At this rate, nothing they set out to accomplish will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse their language, so that they won’t understand each other’s speech.”" 📚 Genesis 11:6-7 CJB What is a whole season discussing communication without discussing the Tower of Babel? In this episode we're diving in to Genesis 11 and talking about how the confusion of language affects us today. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/the-tower-of-babel Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"You are not to repeat false rumors; do not join hands with the wicked by offering perjured testimony." 📚 Exodus 23:1 CJB Have you ever been the topic of a rumor? It doesn't feel good. But if we're honest, we've also all been spreaders of rumors too. It's a vicious cycle where no one wins. Since we're talking about communication this week, we have to talk about gossip too. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/the-gossiping-christian Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!" 📚 Matthew 7:5 NASB Did you know the reason Jonah avoided Nineveh was because he didn't want them to be forgiven? Jonah ends up throwing a temper tantrum after finding out God has forgiven the people of Nineveh who have repented from their ways at Jonah's behest. Shouldn't he have been happy? Believers today aren't that different -_- Show Notes: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/jonah-4-the-unmerciful-believer Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;" -- James 1:19 NKJV How we listen in a conversation may be more important than what we say... Show Notes: Coming soon Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"9 Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; 10 Then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine." -Proverbs 3:9-10 NASB What does modesty even mean? Let's talk about our responsibility as believers when it comes to finances. Show Notes: Coming soon Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." -John 2:14-17 NASB How do you communicate your faith? Sharing the Gospel with people is a lot more than just speaking words or passing out tracts. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/communicating-your-faith Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

How should we prepare for the looming debt crisis? TL;DL? Faith. Tune in as we talk about the similarities between end time prophecy and the Exodus, and verses discussing preparation (such as Joseph preparing Egypt, Noah and the Ark, the Parable of the 10 Virgins, and the rich man who stored up food) "25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, *as to* what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, *as to* what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather *crops* into barns, and *yet* your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin *thread for cloth*, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is *alive* today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, *will He* not much more *clothe* you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. **33** But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 📚 Matthew 6:25-34 Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/the-debt-ceiling Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod # References and Footnotes 1. Bodie Hodge. “[How Long Did It Take Noah To Build The Ark](https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/how-long-did-it-take-for-noah-to-build-the-ark/)”. ******************Answers in Genesis******************. June 2010; visited May 2023 2. Much of this is due to the traditional stance of Christianity as it relates to the LGBT+ community, however a large chunk is also due to a counterfeit version of Christianity that is burdened with hypocrisy (among other things). 3. Emma Nelson. “[Failing to pay water bill can get your house condemned in St. Paul](https://www.startribune.com/failing-to-pay-water-bills-can-get-your-house-condemned/509165902/)”. ************Star Tribune************. April 27, 2019 4. 2 Timothy 1:7 5. Robert H Lustig. “[Ultraprocessed Food: Addictive, Toxic, and Ready for Regulation](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7694501/)”. *********Nutrients*********. November 2020 6. “[Why Are Certain Foods so Addictive?](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-are-certain-foods-so-addictive/)”. Cleveland Clinic. March 4, 2021 7. “[4 Sneakily Addictive Everyday Substances”](https://www.renaissancerecoverycenter.com/4-sneakily-addictive-everyday-substances/#:~:text=The%20glutamate%20in%20MSG%20activates,of%20on%20a%20daily%20basis). ***************************Renaissance Recovery Center***************************; visited May 2023 8. [Dasani’s FAQ page](https://www.dasani.com/faq#:~:text=After%20our%20water%20goes%20through,taste%20you%20know%20and%20love) confirms that they do have “negligible” salt in their water due to the process they use 🤷🏾‍♀️ I also confirmed that while salt is not listed as an addictive substance it does have addictive properties from a peer reviewed article: “[Salt addiction: a different kind of addiction](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16790320/)” by Yalcin Tekol.

"8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!” 9 In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of *these* collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body. 13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, *is*: fear God and keep His commandments, because this *applies to* every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." 📚 Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 NASB Perspective can change how we view reality. Understanding different perspectives helps us achieve balance, in conversation, in thought, in life in general. In this episode we're going to pick apart how two people can see the same thing and get two totally different but equally valid conclusions. Show Notes and References: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/balance 1. Cinema Therapy. “[Therapist Reacts to SOUL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_nka_Nkli8)”. *******YouTube*******. April 3, 2021; visited May 2023 2. Little Light Studios. “[SOUL New Age Agenda EXPOSE | LED lite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N94oSt2tCeE)”. *******YouTube*******. February 4, 2021; visited May 2023 3. Apologies about the sound quality. The A/C in my apartment is very loud unfortunately Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB Love is the most important aspect of our life. It's the most important thing to communicate. A lot of people say it's simple, but it's actually pretty hard. Let's talk about how to be better at communicating love. Show Notes and References: coming soon Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

Just a life update on why I haven't uploaded podcast episodes in a while. I should be back to the regularly scheduled program in a week or so. Thanks for your patience! <3

"Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?" -Proverbs 25:8 NASB Have you ever heard some one talking about a conversation you were both in and realized you heard totally different things? That's because we're making up a good chunk of the conversation in our heads. If you can control your own mind, you're more likely to have better control of the conversation too! Show Notes and References: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/controlling-the-narrative-in-your-mind Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." -Ephesians 4:29 NKJV Some times we say stupid things we don't mean. Sometimes we say things because we're ignorant. We all have said something we regret, but we've all also had something said to us that we regret. Leveraging both sides of that experience may be the key to forgiving those who wronged us as well as motivating us to be more careful about what we say. Important Verses and Afterthoughts: 1. Psalm 141:3 2. James 3 3. Matthew 12:34 4. Key point that I may not have expressed as well as I would have likedl; if we *know* we’ve said something hurtful and offensive it is our responsibility to atone for that. (Matthew 5:23-24) Show Notes and References: www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/regret Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 NASB Sometimes we assume people know things they don't; that can make for a confusing conversation. Sometimes we assume people *don't* know things that they do; that can make for an annoying conversation. This gets even worse when you add spirituality to it. How we handle these misfires is a really important ingredient in healthy, productive conversations. So today we're talking about assumptions... Show Notes and References: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/assumptions Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: @psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"15 Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits." -Matthew 7:15-20 NASB We're kicking off our discussion on how to disagree and hot-button topics in the faith with the question "who do you consider a Christian?" To answer this question, you first have to answer the question "what is a Christian" and that's a lot more controversial than it sounds. Show Notes and References: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/who-can-rightfully-call-themself-christian Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

"Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." -Colossians 4:6 NASB It's hard to disagree politely, and with so many different opinions just *within* the faith--there's a lot to disagree about. We're bound to encounter people we disagree with within the body of Christ. Hurling insults, straw man attacks, and pouting is neither productive nor a good look. We must be able to speak about the things we feel passionately about with grace if we really want to emulate our Father and Messiah. Show Notes and References: https://www.psalmstogod.com/podcasts/a-crucial-conversation Poll: https://forms.gle/m7ZLB6mGtfFfLvdA8 Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

Growth + Announcements by Ree Hughes

Poetic justice is the thing we all love to see, let's discover why its so satisfying and how it's used in the Word of God Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/psalmstodgod

There are tons of Allegories in the Bible. By far, my favorite is the entire book of Esther! Allegory definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allegory Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2022/03/allegory-in-bible.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalmstogod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/psalmstogod

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." -1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV the Bible is FULL of literary devices like Symbolism, Allegory, Metaphors, and more. When I started picking up on these techniques, it helped me identify themes I'd missed in previous readings and it made it all the more interesting to read! So, despite my preference for numbers, we're going to spend some time looking at the Bible as a piece of literature! First, let's be clear that the Bible is an anthology. Anthology definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anthology Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalmstogod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod

"15 “Beware of the false prophets! They come to you wearing sheep’s clothing, but underneath they are hungry wolves! 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. 19 Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! 20 So you will recognize them by their fruit." -Matthew 17:15-20 CJB Do you identify yourself as Christian? What does it mean to you? Better yet, what does it mean to others? Let's talk about it. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2022/02/are-you-christian.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalmstogod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/psalmstogod

Kicking off another year of the podcast, but there are going to be a few changes this year. Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/psalmstogod

"He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 NASB Truth is, I'm not super motivated to find a local church. In this video I'm talking about 4 (and sort of 5) reasons why I haven't been particularly motivated to find a church here in TX. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/11/lack-of-motivation-in-finding-new-local.htm Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/psalmstogod

Sometimes you have to take a step back and admit your limits, because life happens.

"Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and they shall serve as signs and for seasons, and for days and years; ” -Genesis 1:145 NASB Most people are familiar with Western astrology, some know about the Chinese zodiac, but did you know almost every culture has some kind of Zodiac tradition? Caution: the Bible warns against worshiping the stars or believing the stars are controlling events, buuuuutttt the Bible also says that they are for signs (and seasons). ----- References: https://astrology.com.au/blog/astrology-in-different-cultures https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_astrological_traditions,_types,_and_systems https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac --- Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/09/astrology-zodiac.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​

Following God's commandments are important. Discerning truth is important. Understanding history and prophecy is important. However if we can give a detailed history of paganism in the church (with a little c), lies told, signs of the times, linguistics, and prophecy, but can't show up with that same energy to help our neighbors, we missed the point. (See also: Matthew 7:15-23) 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [i]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” -Matthew 25:31-46 NASB Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." -Revelation 21:1 KJV The ocean is one of the most mysterious places on earth, and every culture seems to think there's something magical beneath the waves. From Leviathan to Atlantis to Mermaids...let's talk about what everyone seems to know about life in the deep blue sea. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/09/powerful-water-creatures.html References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid https://www.britannica.com/topic/mermaid https://www.britannica.com/topic/Leviathan-Middle-Eastern-mythology https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75471/9-mermaid-legends-around-world Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

" For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; there is no longer any reward for them, because all memory of them is lost." -Ecclesiastes 9:5 CJB For as far back as we can find, people have had ceremonies for burying the dad and some kind of belief in a hereafter. Every culture seems to understand that there has to be more to our existence than what we experience here on Earth. Why do you think that is? Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/08/the-afterlife.html References: https://www.britannica.com/topic/afterlife-religion https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/how-major-religions-view-afterlife Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." -Proverbs 15:28 NASB Communication is hard. Being on the same page with some people is hard. Controlling your tongue is even harder. Every culture struggles with this. Today we're talking about how easy it is for things to get misconstrued and some tips about taming the tongue. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/08/too-much-talking.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children." -Hosea 4:6 NASB This episode goes over some tips for studying the Bible. Some tips are for those just starting out and others are for those who are looking to take their studying up to the next level. Note: the most important tip I can give is to *pray* before you read/study the Word. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/08/how-to-study-bible.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

"She considers a field, then buys it, and from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She gathers her strength around her and throws herself into her work. She sees that her business affairs go well; her lamp stays lit at night." -Proverbs 31:16-18 CJB Clearly someone agitated me with this topic. In this episode, I wanted to separate the things I hear both men and women complaining about from what is real vs. random ideology mankind made up. The first half is on points of Feminism that can be problematic; the second half is on Bible verses proving that the way we define gender roles is not Biblical. I apologize for the length of the episode; feel free to take your time, pause and come back. If you don't make it to the end please read the following Bible verses and keep in mind that a woman being smart, successful, or capable, does not preclude a man from doing exactly the same. Bible Verses: Genesis 2:18 -- Look up the word translated to "help" or "helper" and see how it is used elsewhere in the Bible Genesis 3 Romans 5:12 1 Timothy 2:14 Genesis 24 --- Who made sure the house was prepared? Genesis 25:27-34. -- Who cooked the stew? Genesis 27:1-10. -- Who was asked to cook? Who actually cooked? Proverbs 31:11-31 This is only a few of the Bible verses: please vote here if you would like me to do a series on all the verses talking about women (I promise those episodes will be shorter since I won't be cramming everything into one episode!): https://forms.gle/AMnWeLJwM2ABhxCB7 Show Notes: Coming soon Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

"However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God." -1 Corinthians 11:11-12 NASB I've actually heard a lot of Christian men (and women!) bashing feminism, and generally if they open up about what they're complaining about it's usually a subset of feminism or their perception of what feminism is. So before we start talking about how religion views women, I thought we should spend some time talking about feminism. In this episode we'll briefly touch on the history of women and some ideas that sprang up in the various feminist movements. This is by no means an exhaustive coverage of feminism or the nuances within feminism. This is simply a pre-conversation to get us on the same page for the next. Official Definition "belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests" --Merriam Webster Dictionary A Few Facts: -The first women's rights conference was held in 1848 -The conference was mostly organized by Quakers, in fact one woman was a Quaker preacher -In England, the Matrimonial Causes Act (passed in 1878), is what gave women the right to leave abusive husbands[6] -It wasn't until 1920 that all US states considered it illegal for a husband to beat his wife[4] -Rape within a marriage didn't become illegal until 1993 (even though I talked about it mostly during the beginning)[5] A Few References: [1] Elinor Burkett and Laura Burell. "Feminism". Encyclopedia Britannica. March 24, 2021 [2] "Feminism". Merriam Webster; visited July 2021 [3] "Women in Computer Science: Getting Involved in STEM". ComputerScience.org. May 5, 2021 [4] Cheryl Hanna. "Domestic Violence". Encyclopedia. May 29, 2018 [5] "This Woman Fought To End Minnesota's 'Marital Rape' Exception, And Won". NPR. May 4, 2019 [6] Matrimonial Causes Act of 1878 [7] "Women in Computer Science: Getting Involved in STEM". ComputerScience.org. May 5, 2021 Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/07/feminism-religion-pt-1.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

It sounds crazy but, the things I learned in Marching Band had a profound effect on who I am today *and* how I approach Christianity. God's truth is eternal. When Christ said there are sheep of a different fold that hear His voice, I think He was referencing the fact that if your ear is searching for truth you will find God's truth in places you'd least expect. I've previously shared a few things I learned from Greek life that I thought I should have learned from Church. Today, I'm sharing what I learned from middle/high school band. "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd." -John 10:16 NASB *I forgot to elaborate on why I told you the story of not being able to make a sound of the flute. From that experienced I learned two things: when a problem occurs, don't be afraid to take in all the evidence and look at the problem from a different angle; also, just because you can't do something the same way someone else does, doesn't mean you can't do it--take a different path Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/07/life-lessons-from-band-geek.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​

Many religions have standards about what can and can't be consumed. Collectively, the world knows that there something important about what eat. In this episode, we're going to explore that. "16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not [o]eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”" -Genesis 2:16-17 NASB 27 Health problems that can be caused by diet: 1 Hypertension (high blood pressure) 2 Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia 3 Coronary Heart Disease 4 Stroke 5 Gall Bladder Disease 6 Osteoarthritis 7 Sleep Apnea 8 Respiratory Problems 9 Endometrial Cancer 10 Breast Cancer 11 Prostate Cancer 12 Colon Cancer 13 Dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of lipids, or fat, in the blood) 14 Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (liver inflammation caused by a buildup of fat in the liver) 15 Insulin Resistance 16 Asthma 17 Hyperuricemia (an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood) 18 Reproductive Hormone Abnormalities 19 Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) 20 Impaired Fertility 21 Adult Onset Diabetes (Type 2) 22 Depression 23 Anxiety 24 Low energy levels/fatigue 25 Tooth decay 26 Acne 27 Digestive health issues Further Study: https://www.ahchealthenews.com/2017/10/24/27-medical-problems-caused-poor-diet/ https://www.independentnurse.co.uk/clinical-article/religion-and-dietary-choices/145719/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/for-rastas--eating-from-the-earth-is-a-sacred-duty https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/07/food-and-health.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

All around the world, people know there was a flood. Practically every culture has a story about it. In some ways they're very different and in some ways, they're very similar. Today we're going to talk about them! "Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation." -Genesis 7:1 CSB Revelation 14:20 talks about blood running so deep it reaches the horses' bridles Further Study: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/a-flood-of-myths-and-stories/ Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/07/the-great-flood.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/psalmstogod

Blood is physical, its spiritual... Blood is our life force. Today, we're talking about how views on the blood have evolved and how they tie in with the gospel! "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." -Genesis 9:4 NASB Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/06/the-life-is-in-blood.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: www.youtube.com/PSALMStoGod

Do you know the difference between condemnation, correction, and conviction? How about where they fit in our journey as Christians and how the interplay with one another? Let's talk about these 3 important C's "7 One who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And one who rebukes a wicked person gets [a]insults for himself. 8 Do not rebuke a scoffer, or he will hate you; Rebuke a wise person and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise person and he will become still wiser; Teach a righteous person and he will increase his insight." -Proverbs 9:7-9 NASB Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/06/condemnation-correction-conviction.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: https://youtu.be/uh9rBAJpvCU

The first Century church, as described in Acts, did life together. They didn't just see each other on Sabbath for a few hours; they ate meals together, laughed together, cried together, sold their belongs to support each other, and most importantly, worshiped together. Luckily, I've had friends like this my whole life, which I credit as part of the reason I've been able to develop such a strong relationship with God. In my teenage years, the spiritual aspect of these friendships was spearheaded by adults. So while my friends and I maintained a relationship similar to the first century church, we weren't actively cultivating our relationship with God. It wasn't until recently that I met a group of people I could truly live this experience with. It was life changing, and I wish every Christian could have that opportunity. “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." -Acts 2:42 Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/06/how-real-church-should-look.html References: Adorned by Adanna - https://adornedbyadanna.com Styled by Jah - https://www.instagram.com/styledbyjah Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ Youtube: https://youtu.be/W3s2hrSTHX4

The Word of God places the responsibility of the Earth in our hands, so why don't churches talk about environmental issues? Why aren't we mobilizing against the pollution of our planet the way we mobilize against other issues? "26 Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” "-Genesis 1:26-28 NASB Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/06/climate-change-christianity.html References: The Devil We Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cCkADnhRqk A Plastic Ocean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrn4-FfbXw On DuPont: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html On Plastics in the Ocean: https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: https://youtu.be/uh9rBAJpvCU

Starting last year, I shocked myself wanting to return to a segregated church. A few weeks ago, I finally was given clarity as to why I was feeling this and in this episode, I want to discuss this. In short, God always has a message for the one that is hurting. “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost?" -Matthew 18:12 Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/05/why-i-miss-segregated-church.html References: On Black Homeowners #1: https://abc7news.com/black-homeowner-problems-sf-bay-area-housing-discrimination-minority-homeownership-anti-black-policy/10331076/ On Black Homeowners #2: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/realestate/blacks-minorities-appraisals-discrimination.html The Sermon that Inspire Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6B_Iu9Nnn4 Website: www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: https://youtu.be/k9PZjCHIE-Q

I'm taking a temporary break to digest all that's happened in the last 8 months. Talk to you guys soon :)

Jesus was not and is not a white man--neither were most of the people discussed in the Bible. In this episode, I'm going to present Biblical evidence of this and discuss the topic of race in the Bible. Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/02/whitewashing-bible.html References: Strong's Concordance (root of Adam): https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H119&t=KJV Defining Whitewashed: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whitewash Biblical Leprosy: https://answersingenesis.org/biology/disease/biblical-leprosy-shedding-light-on-the-disease-that-shuns/ Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com​​​ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​​ YouTube: https://youtu.be/43BxEXo4K9k

“But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.“ —Ezekiel 2:7 NASB This is a bit of a deviation from this season's theme, but the Holy Spirit put this topic on my heart. Today we're discussing our responsibility to uphold truth and speak out when we see people who say they are in covenant with God but are not behaving as though they are in covenant with God. Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/02/the-responsibility-of-truth.html References: the Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/user/jointhebibleproject Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com​​ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god​​ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7​​ Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod​​

In this episode, we’re going to explore different viewpoints on the demigods--beings that are more powerful than humans but less powerful than YHWH (or other gods). Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/02/demigods-and-nephilim.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 YouTube: https://youtu.be/WyOb2btWCzw

In this episode we're exploring different legends about the serpent (or dragon). In Christianity the serpent is Satan. Across the world, there are many legends about serpent like deities, entities, or races. Some include: Naga, Apep/Apophis, Quetzalcoatl, and Jormungandr. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/01/the-serpentdragon.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7W_ZtA7gvpLO82D26uSHA

In this episode, we’re going to explore different viewpoints on the end of the world—otherwise known as the apocalypse. “1)But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2)For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3)unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4)treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5)holding to a form of [b]godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.“ —2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB Patterns Observed: While we do not agree on the details, the common thread is that most religions acknowledge we are currently in a state of moral decay and trying to get back to an Eden-like state. Full Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/01/how-will-it-end.html Disclaimer: I believe that all religions and cultures trace their origin back to Adam and Eve. While I believe the Bible to be the true and preserved Word of God, I believe that we can find bits of truth in other religions and cultures. The purpose of this series is to examine the themes that remained universal to highlight universal knowledge--in this case, the pattern of moving from a time of morality and spiritual goodness into sin and immorality, then back to morality. References: https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/09/world/gallery/believer-end-of-world-prophecies/index.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/12/27/this-is-how-wed-all-die-instantly-if-the-sun-suddenly-went-supernova/?sh=bcf3fec502c0 https://phys.org/news/2016-05-earth-survive-sun-red-giant.html" https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/316690-nasa-asteroid-could-still-hit-earth-in-2068 https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4006520/jewish/Does-Judaism-Believe-in-the-Apocalypse.htm https://www.history.com/topics/religion/religions-on-the-end-of-the-world https://humanoriginproject.com/the-yuga-cycles-yogic-astronomy-what-are-the-four-yugas/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avasarpiṇī https://www.britannica.com/event/Ragnarok https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803133541558 Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 Podcast: http://www.soundcloud.com/psalmstogod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7W_ZtA7gvpLO82D26uSHA

Each season of the podcast there's a theme. This year it's common knowledge, so let's take a little time to define common knowledge and talk about why I decided to make that theme for this season! "This is the third time that I am coming to you. On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed." ---2 Corinthians 13:1 NASB Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2021/01/common-knowledge.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com YouTube: https://youtu.be/19yUJ5LzVLk Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

The final episode of the season is here! In this episode we talk about participation in the Church body and leaving apostate churches ( Revelation 18:4) Be sure to check out the new YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7W_ZtA7gvpLO82D26uSHA Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/10/i-actually-learned-lot-about-what.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7

I actually learned a lot about what Christianity should look like from my experiences in a sorority. One of those things was about image and acceptance. In this episode, we're going to contrast views about image and acceptance between Greek Life councils and talk about what Christianity could learn from each of these views. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/10/christianity-vs-greek-life-pt-2.html Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7W_ZtA7gvpLO82D26uSHA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Did you know that the Reformation is quietly mentioned in prophecy? This episode is diving in to the history and formation of the Catholic and Protestant Churches. Please see the show notes for additional information. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/10/the-reformation-prophecy.html Website: https://www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe7W_ZtA7gvpLO82D26uSHA Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7

What is legalism? Join me and San in a conversation about the struggle to be true to God's Word without becoming legalistic. Main Bible verse: Ephesians 2:8-9 San is a devout student of The Word; and although she was not looking to become a pastor, she completed a degree in theology at Knox Seminary. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/10/legalism-feat-san.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

How does greed tie in with 666 and the prosperity gospel? That's what we're talking about in this episode. Bible verses to reference: Matthew 6:24-34; Matthew 19:23-24; 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/09/greed-prosperity-gospel-666.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

I'm sick of people saying they are Republican because they're Christian. So I decided to do a little study on what the Bible says about government and leaders. This episode is just the tip of the iceberg, but it's a start. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/09/christianity-government.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Did you know God actually laid out the best diet for us in the Bible? How often do you think about what God told us to eat or not eat? In 2010 I started asking the question, when did God give us permission to eat unclean meat? That question led me on journey that changed my life. Show notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/09/you-are-what-you-eat.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Church hurt turns a lot of people away from God when it's actually us that are the problem. In this episode, I want to talk about how "Christians" have turned people away from Christ because we don't follow the words of Christ. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/09/church-hurt.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

I've always been a fan of the fantasy genre, but it seems to always include things that go against God's Word. Then I really confused myself because really, what's the difference between turning your staff into a snake and magic? So today we're diving into the topic of magic vs. miracles. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/09/christian-fantasy-magic-vs-miracles.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

2020 is a disaster. It is important that we don't let fear make decisions for us! When people are afraid, we make decisions we ordinarily wouldn't. Our decisions should come from a rational (and Spiritual) place, even in times of uncertainty. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/08/this-year-2020.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Last we talked about "why" I keep the Sabbath but most of the questions I receive deal with "how" I keep the Sabbath. This week I want to talk about the beauty of the Sabbath. Yes there are things I don't do, but the Sabbath isn't about do's and don'ts, its about worship and the original state of peace the LORD created for mankind. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/08/how-i-keep-sabbath.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

The Sabbath is a reminder of who God is. Believe it or not, it is also heavily tied to prophecy. This episode is a survey on the hallowed day: what the gospels say about it and how it ties into prophecy. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/08/why-do-i-keep-sabbath.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Christ said no one is good but the Father in Heaven. So, what does it mean to be good? Am I really not a good person? What does that mean for my relationship with God and my fellow humans? Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/08/i-am-not-good-person.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

I'm taking a little break. New episodes will resume on Aug. 5

After the first century, the Church continued to have disagreements. When the Constantine declared he was a Christian, the Church became mainstream. With that change, there was an influx of people into the Church that may or may not have been truly converted--Christianity was now "hip." The creeds and councils from this era are what shaped modern Christianity for better or for worse (heavy on the worse). Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/07/councils-creeds.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Acts 15 gives us an inside looks at two disagreements within the church: one personal and one involving the whole body. It sets a foundation for how we should handle conflict, and surprisingly it doesn't always turn out the way many people would have you believe. Spoiler alert: neither Paul nor Barnabas backed down from their point. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/06/the-jerusalem-council.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/PsalmsToGod7

Who was Lucius of Cyrene? Who was Simeon called Niger? What did church leadership look like and what should our focus be? Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/06/church-leadership.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Acts 12 can be boiled down to the topics of pride, morality, and hope. We see these traits manifested in Herod, Peter, and Rhoda. In this episode we're going to talk about how these traits manifest in each of us. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/06/pride-morality-and-hope.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

The US was built on division. This idea permeates through every fiber of our being. Despite being victims of oppression, assimilation, and injustice, we take these same ideals and inflict them on others (as well as ourselves). We are fighting a war as an army of one when we could be fighting as a united front. There is a history of minority groups being pitted against each other and it's time that we educate ourselves on the way white supremacy is propagated and inflicted between minority groups. It’s time #BlackLivesMatter to everyone. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/06/an-army-of-one.html Instagram: psalms_to_god

Saul went from killing Christians to being an Apostle--the one who wrote a large majority of the New Testament in fact. How the Church dealt with his conversion says a lot about how we should be functioning today and is revealing of how The Spirit works. We need a whole lot of improvement in this area. Website: http://www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/05/the-conversion-of-paul.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7

A major transition happened in the course of Christianity after the stoning of Stephen--the Word began to be preached to the Gentiles! In this episode we cover: Acts 6-7: The Stoning of Stephen Acts 8: Philip Preaches to the Samaritans & an Ethiopian Acts 10-11: Preaching to the Gentiles We'll get back to the conversion of Paul in Acts 9 next week! Also, what exactly does it mean to be a Gentile? Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/05/acts-6-8-10-11-transition.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god Facebook: www.facebook.com/psalmstogod7

Is it weird that we never talk about the Church's origin story? How did the disciples go from the Jerusalem to spreading Christianity around the world? What did their church families look like and how closely does it resemble what we have/do today? Today we're talking about how often they met, how much the shared, and the gift of tongues. Follow along in Acts 1-5. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/05/the-beginning-of-church.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Why do we call it "the Bible?" How many books are included in Scripture? Well, that depends on if you ask a Protestant, a Catholic, or a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Yet this never seems to come up in Church conversations... Let's bring it up now. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/05/what-is-bible.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/psalms_to_god

Why did God need a chosen nation? In this episode we talk about the reason God set a part a specific nation and why we all should be glad He did. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/04/the-purpose-of-israel.html Instagram www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The difference between "can't", "won't", and "don't" makes a world of difference in our perspective. It's important to think about what we mean we say we "can't" do something because of God and think through the implications of how we perceive this. Let's talk about it... Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/04/cant-wont-or-dont.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

What does the Bible actually say about tithing and offering? I'll give you a hint, Malachi 3:8-10 is often quoted out of context. Spoiler alert: you are NOT cursed if you aren't giving 10% of your income to a man made institution. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/04/tithes-offering.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shireehughes

The final episode on the feasts of the LORD, this time we're talking about the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) [Sukkot], Purim, and Hanukkah. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/lets-have-feast-pt-3.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

This week we're continuing the discussion on the Feasts of the LORD, focusing on Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/lets-have-feast-part-2.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Feast, Cookout, BBQ, whatever you want to call it, God knew that His people would enjoy a good festival. He proclaimed 7 of them (and they acquired 2 more). Each of these feasts has relevance to how the Israelites became a nation, but they're also prophetic and speak to how He gave us salvation. It this first part of a three part series, we're looking at Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Festival of the First Fruits. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/lets-have-feast.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The corona virus has people panicked, but the Church should not be panicked. Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV) "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Romans 12:2 (NKJV) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Matthew 10:39 (NKJV) "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." Other verses to ponder: Deuteronomy 14:2 Acts 2:42-47 Mathew 18:20 Revelation 9:4 1 John 4:4-5 1 Peter 2:9 Revelation 18:4 Matthew 16:25-26 2 Timothy 1:7 Website: www.pslamstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/church-is-cancelled.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The Israelites formalized their religion after Moses talked to God on Mt. Sinai. Some of the modern concepts of Judaism spring from this, but it's not an exact match. How this religion was shaped is very important to how Christianity is shaped, so let's dive in. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/the-religion-of-israelites.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

This episode is about the importance of how we talk about people (and ourselves. When I was in graduate school, I was appalled to see caregivers constantly tell small children how "bad" they were--especially when the kids were not doing anything outside of normal child behavior. In the Bible, patriarchs of families took the time to speak prophecies of greatness (or disaster) over their children and each of these prophecies came true. These parents understood the power of the tongue and wielded it to lift up the children they saw potential in and tear down those they saw on a path of destruction. I see a lot of the latter in our society today, but not as much as the first. Sam and I discussed the general apathy people have for what they're saying and have come to the conclusion that we should be much more precise in how we speak about others. We may have divided into a slew of other topics too, including the flaws of the Law of Attraction. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/03/speak-life.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: shiree.hughes + samm_wamm

We don't talk about what worship looked like before Israel was established, but it's important to think about what worship looked like in the very beginning. There was clearly an established way to worship before God set His law in stone. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/the-beginning.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Before I just dive into the topics, I wanted to lay out a map. A lot of things people call Christian, are not Christian. This season we're going to get precise about this and dig into the history of Christianity (fun fact, that was the original name of my blog). Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/stolen-ideas.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The origin of Valentine's day is a pagan festival called Lupercalia. Between that and Cupid, I think it's time we talk about the origins of this holiday, and what it means for us as Christians. Reference the following Bible verses on why we should be set apart: Deuteronomy 14:2; Revelation 18:4; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-16; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/what-is-valentines-day.html Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

We're going back to basics, and discovering the basics aren't so basic. Genesis 3 tells the story of how mankind chose sin over God, but it tells so much more. Michael joins me to discuss some of the details we often overlook. About Michael: Michael is heavily involved in his church, where he also serves as a deacon. Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/the-fall-of-man-feat-michael.html

One of those lessons I learned from Greek life. This episode is based on Matthew 5:21-26 and Matthew 18:15, focusing on misunderstandings and reconciling friendships. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/misunderstandings.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

This season, the theme is precision of language. We're starting off talking about the word "god" and identifying *which* god it is that you serve as you communicate with people. Website: www.psalmstogod.com Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/02/which-god-do-you-serve.html Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

I thought I would share with everyone some of the testimonies I've been sharing on Instagram each week.

It's the final episode of the Fruit of the Spirit Series! We often think about the benefits we reap from having the fruit of the spirit, but it's just as important to remember how these fruit benefit the world around us. The Word tells us that we will know God's people by the fruit they bear. Remember not only does a good tree bear good fruit, but good that fruit nourishes those around it and is able to be planted to create other trees that bear good fruit. Our role as an ambassador to the Kingdom of God requires that we bear good fruit, not for ourselves but for those we encounter. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/ambassador Season 1 Survey: https://forms.gle/tSzxnqjXKr1ryMot9 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

When we talk about guarding our minds, we should talk about the science too! In this episode we're going to touch on the effect of music on our emotion, neuroplasticity, and mirror neurons. Show notes: www.psalmstogod.com/scienceofthemind Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

There's so much more to this concept than I could fit in to this episode. From studies showing that our brains react the same when we see an action as it would if we were to perform the action, to how difficult it is to create new "pathways" (re: behaviors) in our brain. I kept it simple in this episode, but you can expect a follow up with all the science-y stuff next week. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/guardyourmind Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The Bible doesn't mention any of our modern sports--it might not mention sports at all, but that doesn't mean there weren't athletic people in Biblical times. The more I read the story of Samson, the more I see Samson in the athletes of today. I found myself having more sympathy for him. Let's talk about vulnerability, strength, and compassion. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/athletic Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Did you know many of God's people experienced depression? I was reading Jeremiah this week and he said something that really stuck with me...mainly because many of us have said it before: "Why did I come out of the womb to see only struggle and sorrow?" Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/youarenotalone Instagram: shiree.hughes

Is it odd that the only thing in life we can control is our self, but that's one of the toughest things to do? The final Fruit of the Spirit is Self Control (or Temperance). I called up published author and finance blogger GirlTalkWithFo to talk about this fruit. About Fo: Fo has written two books ("They That Wait" and "Dump Debt & Build Bank: The Everyday Chick’s Guide to Money") and has her own podcast, GirlTalkWithFo. She's also one of the first people I met in college. I've learned a lot about self control from her so it only seemed right to have her here for this episode. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/selfcontrol Instagram: shiree.hughes + girltalkwithfo

We all know that person who seemed to overachieve at everything (maybe we ever were/are that person). For some reason, these people tend to get under our skin, which makes the story of Joseph that much more relatable. Let's talk about both sides of Joseph's story and see what we can learn about ourselves. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/overachiever Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Countless people try to force the love of God on people they meet, but love isn't something that's forced. It's something given freely, an offer that can accepted or rejected. The damage we cause by trying to force people into a relationship with God is deadly, so let's talk about it. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/forcedlove Instagram: www.pslamstogod.com/shiree.hughes

Is it true that you should never be "alone" in your walk as a Christian? Several people have suggested just that, but I think it's a lot more nuanced than that. In fact I think at times you have to stand alone to grow your faith. Let's talk about how alone time builds your relationship with God and the Biblical basis for it.

Just when I think there's no way out, God always provides a way. He's been doing that for His people since the very beginning, which is why one of His names is Jehovah Jireh, the LORD will Provide. Let's talk about why this name is so important. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/thelordwillprovide Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Betrayal is always unexpected, and it always hurts. The Bible has many instances of betrayal, from sibling rivalries to Judas betraying Jesus. We spend a lot of time talking about the person who was betrayed and vilifying the betrayer, but what happens when we realize we have plenty in common the betrayer? The root cause of betrayal is always selfishness and we all fall prey to the temptation of selfishness. In this episode, let's talk about how we can avoid the pitfalls that lead to betrayal. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/betrayal Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

What does it mean to be meek? It’s a word we pass around but rarely define or dive into. Matthew 5:5 tells us the meek will inherit the earth, which means we should probably know what it means. DJ joined me as we tried to make sense of this Fruit of the Spirit and apply it to life. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/meekness Instagram: shiree.hughes + iamdaprince_

We're talking about the Proverbs 31 Woman. Super impressive, great at everything, the definition of #goals... Oh, and an insanely overwhelming standard that seems to come up at the most inopportune times. Let's talk about it. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/superwoman Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The Pharisees stayed trying to "catch" Jesus. They were against Him, in favor of their own traditions and the status quo (which gave them power). The were so engrossed in trying to harm Jesus, they erred close to the *only* unforgivable sin. Following in their footsteps is a guaranteed way to get us into trouble. Let's look at how their actions look in our modern world and talk about the dangers of calling good evil and evil good. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/trouble Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

My Testimony Tuesday was too long for an instagram video, so I decided to make it into a podcast episode. When I need God to straighten out my finances, He came through with a quickness. At the end of the day though, it's not just about God filling up my cup, it's about what I do with what He's giving me. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/ask Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Hebrews 11 is a perfect description of faith, but faith is something that you have to grow into--it's personal. Since faith comes from experience and wisdom, I asked my grandfather to join me in discussing this important Fruit of the Spirit. About my grandfather: My grandfather is a retired musician and a minister in the United Methodist Church. He serves as a chaplain in various organizations and preaches from time to time. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/faithfulness Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

We've become desensitized to the world around us, and Matthew 24:12 already told us that would happen. It's been weighing on my heart in the aftermath of the most recent shootings, so I need to share how I noticed my own indifference creeping in.

Is it proper for a woman to "shoot her shot"? My friends and I have been talking about dating almost nonstop for the past week and while I wish I'd just recorded our conversation, I had to let some of that conversation bleed over in to the podcast. So let's talk about Ruth basically asking Boaz to marry her... Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/shootyourshot Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

I went on my first mission trip! In this episode I wanted to dispel some of the beliefs about mission trips I encountered before I left *and* I wanted to share with you some of the miracles I experienced there. In the episode I share 6 miracles I saw throughout the week, and those are just the ones I know about! One thing is for certain, if you let God take the reigns, He'll show you Who He is. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/belize Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Can you imagine eating something bland like oatmeal or grits, for days on end? Some times we have to give up the comforts of home to accomplish God's mission. How we handle giving up our favorite foods can indicate our willingness to turn away from sin. The Israelites thought it was better to be in bondage with great food, than free with a temporarily "bland" diet (Numbers 11:4-6). When God is delivering you from a situation, what will you say? Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/youarewhatyoueat Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

This is the last episode in the Black Israel series; it ties together everything we’ve been talking about. In this episode I ask the question, does it matter? And is it relevant to today? Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/blackisrael3 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

What does "goodness" mean. God said everything He created was good; the Messiah said only God is good. Maryam and I sat down to talk about how we've been defining good and how our respective religions and cultures have shaped that perception. About Maryam: Maryam and I have known each other for about 4 years. We met in graduate school and ended up with the privilege of working together. Maryam is a devout Muslim and we often have conversations about religion and culture. Show Notes/Transcript: http://www.psalmstogod.com/goodness Instagram: shiree.hughes + maryameneim

TL;DL The Black Israel series is not a justification for the Black Hebrew Israelites, who typically use this theory to assert superiority and spout hate. Hate is not of God and we are neither Greek nor Jew in Christ (Galatians 3:28). The purpose of the series is merely to point out interesting points from Deuteronomy 28. Also, work has me tied up with overtime and I'm leaving the country for a little while, so for the next month only one of the scheduled Monday episodes will be released (July 1). Please subscribe so that you get notifications! Regularly scheduled Monday episodes will resume on July 22. Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The Bible says that the people of Israel would be taken to a land they didn’t know, their children would be taken from them, their wives would be raped, their bodies left for the birds to eat. Sound like the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and American slavery? (The person/name I was trying to think of in the episode is Sara Baartman/the Hottentot Venus.) Transcript/Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/blackisrael2 Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Three years ago I read Deuteronomy 28 and was shocked at how much it parallels the experience of Blacks in the Americas. Before I ever read those verses, however, I knew something was missing. I kept asking the question: Why do they hate us so much? This episode is the beginning of a series to talk about race, the Bible, and who the Israelites where and are. Show Notes/Transcript: www.psalmstogod.com/BlackIsrael Blog: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Gentleness is something we typically associate with being kind, soft, and meek. Based on this description, no one in my family knows anything about gentleness. Luckily, the Bible has a lot more to say on gentleness than the connotation that most of us have. About Val: Val has served my life in many capacities: she is my cousin, was my elementary school keyboarding teacher, and was over youth ministry and the youth Bible Study at the church I where I grew up. She is now a pastor and continues to work with youth. Despite not fitting the expected definition of gentle, Val has a gentle spirit that comes out subconsciously. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/gentleness Instagram: shiree.hughes

If you can't control yourself with food, how can you control anything else in life? Fasting is an integral part of our walk with Christ, and an opportunity to grow. People don't usually associate fasting with Christianity, but Jesus expects us to fast! I tried out the Daniel Fast, so I wanted to share with you my experience with this fast. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/thedanielfast Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

The questions isn't should a woman be able to abort her child, the question is why she would want to. Before we get to the end result, we have work through all the paths that led us there in the first place. Rape, lack of access to medical care, toxic environments... Let's talk about what we should be doing better. Show Notes: www.psalmstogod.com/RoeVWade Website: www.psalmstogod.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

You mean to tell me I can’t just wake up more patient? Patience is like a six pack, you have to go to the gym, sweat a little, feel gross, and wake up in pain a few times before you can claim the honor. So maybe it takes two episodes to talk about, too. Show Notes @ www.psalmstogod.com/patience2 Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Many of us know we have a purpose, but most of us don't know what that purpose is. We've been taught so many different things about how to find our purpose--there are whole books on the subject. But sometimes it's all the other programming that has us confused. I may not know exactly what my purpose is, but I have a feeling I know what direction it's in. Show Notes -> www.psalmstogod.com/purpose PSALMS to God Website -> www.psalmstogod.com Instagram -> www.instagram.com/shiree.hughes

Any thing worth something is worth waiting for. That may mean fighting, or it may mean biding your time... Derrell shares how he went from dreaming of being a professional wrestler to actually being a professional wrestler. About Derrell: Derrell and I also met in college. He is a fellow graduate from the Mathematical Sciences department. We bonded over taboo and have been friends ever since. After college, Derrell set out to make his dream of being a wrestler come true. Last month, he signed a professional contract as a wrestler. So I figure, he knows a little something about college. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/patience Instagram: shiree.hughes + mr_twice_as_nice

Can you imagine giving up everything you know to stand by someone who's not a blood relative? Actually can you imagine doing the same for a blood relative? Would you give up your career? Friends? Way of living? Basically, how far would you go to have someone's back? Ruth left everything she knew behind and made a new life for herself to make sure her mother-in-law was alright. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/MostLikelyToHaveYourBack Instagram: shiree.hughes

Do you seek approval of the world before you do what God has called you for? Sometimes we ask everybody *except* God to tell us who we are. Let's talk about it. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/plans Instagram: shiree.hughes

Can you imagine the responsibility of being queen of a nation? Royals are groomed their whole life for this responsibility. So what happens when a commoner is elevated to that station? God placed us, commoners, in the heart of His kingdom, and we too are struggling to adapt in our new role. Esther's story is like something out of a fairy tale, plus all the drama of a Hallmark movie. We can learn a lot from her. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/hallmark Instagram: shiree.hughes

One of the names of God is "The LORD is Peace." It's such an obvious name, but it only occurs once in the Bible. Let's look at that instance and see how it applies to us today. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/thelordispeace Instagram: shiree.hughes

The Passover and it's connection to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity. So, why are we more concerned with "Easter" than Passover? How did we manage to get to the point where the only two holiday Christians are known for are actually pagan holidays? Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/PassoverAndResurrection Instagram: shiree.hughes

Would you risk your life to do the right thing? We often think this means grand gestures and big finales that are only seen on TV, but what if it's as simple as allowing yourself to be vulnerable and do something good for someone even if you fear a betrayal on their part. (Matthew 16:24-26) Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/TakeUpYourCross Instagram: shiree.hughes

Your instinct is telling you one thing, but your mind is trying to rationalize everything, so it's telling you the opposite. Can you ever trust your gut feeling if you don't truly believe in the power of Christ? Well, Hosea trusted God even though God told him to marry a prostitute! Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/stepOutOnFaith Instagram: shiree.hughes

Peace is hard to come by in a world of violence, but we're all seeking it anyway. Sarah and I talk about what we've learned about peace through the ups, downs, and zig-zags of life. About Sarah: Sarah and I met in college; she's my sorority sister. Sarah works as a nurse, which sounds like an epically stressful job to me, we've seen each other through the stressors of undergrad, grad school, and nursing school. Despite having known each other through all this stress and anxiety, we've never actually talked about peace. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/peace Instagram: shiree.hughes + sarahsmiles_21

What if your parents guaranteed you a reprieve, a loophole, from your punishment before they even told you what your punishment was. That's exactly what God did for us. (Genesis 3:14-15) Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/TheWomanAndTheSerpent Instagram: shiree.hughes

You'd think I would learn how to be a good Christian from the Church, but the major lessons the spark my growth as a young adult were actually taught to me by the ladies of my sorority. Now I'm sharing them with you so we can start sharing them as a Church. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/christianlife Instagram: shiree.hughes

How is it that I’ve been a follower of Christ for 18+ years, but I’m not baptized? Let’s talk about baptism; let’s talk about what it means, what it should mean, and why I take it so seriously. Also, as of recording this, my baptism date might be sooner than you think. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/bornagain Instagram: shiree.hughes

Why do I believe in God? Why do I believe in Christ? There are plenty of historical prophecies in the Bible, but something has to make you pick it up in the first place. The truth is, the initial steps to belief are always an invitation from the Holy Spirit. Let me testify about how the Holy Spirit invited me to bow before God. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/howifoundgod Instagram: shiree.hughes

Back in the day it was about popularity; now it's about being an "influencer." Which person from the Bible do you think embodies this, and what could we learn from him? David was a great leader, a great king, and a man after God's own heart--but he was far from perfect. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/mostpopularguy Instagram: shiree.hughes

Do you ever feel like telling people just how dumb you think they are? Maybe you don't understand what people are trying to tell you? Proverbs 17:27 + some life experience have taught me just how to handle these situations. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/unknown Instagram: shiree.hughes

Everyone could use some joy in their life, but what exactly is it? Is it better than happiness? How do we get it, and more importantly, how do we keep it? My parents are joining me to talk the Fruit of the Spirit known as joy. About Mom & Dad: Most people look to their parents for an example, and I'm no different. I took a little bit of each of their personalities--my mom is analytical and good with arts and crafts; my dad is a nature lover and tends to go with the flow. Since they are the people who instilled in me the ideas about what would make me happy, or what would make me joyful, I invited them to talk about joy. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/joy Instagram: shiree.hughes

We're all up for this award. There are no perfect followers of Christ. Moses didn't want to lead the people; Jonah ran away; David slept with another man's wife and had him kill; Paul was notorious for persecuting Christians. But over time, God changed them and He'll change us, too, if we let Him. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/mostimproved Instagram: shiree.hughes

El Olam means The Everlasting God. I made the mistake of thinking everlasting referred to His presence, but everlasting is God's essence. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/everlasting Instagram: shiree.hughes

The church has a responsibility for social justice issues. One person in particular shows us how to stand up for the rights of others, will we follow that lead? Let's look at how Nehemiah confronted injustice. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/revolutionary Instagram: shiree.hughes

God calls us to be generous and not be greedy. We are not to take everything for ourselves, but meant to give freely to those in need. #LoveYourNeighbor (Deuteronomy 24:19-21) Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/generosity Instagram: shiree.hughes

We couldn't talk about love without talking about dating! Devin is back--well, he never left--and we're talking about dating in 2019. About Devin: Devin and I went to college together. We met through a mutual friend and through Greek life. We've had so many conversations about failures and successes in love that it only seemed right to have him as the guest discussing love. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/loveanddating Instagram: shiree.hughes + devin.phd

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 isn't the only verse that commands us to love and respect those who are not like us, so why are so many so-called followers of God overtly and passively racist? Why are so many willing to ignore the plights of others? Why are so many anti-immigrant? #LoveYourNeighbor Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/liberty Instagram: shiree.hughes

God called us to love one another. It sounds simple, but it's a big ask. God is love, so it's only through knowing Him that we can understand love. Devin and I try to piece together what we've learned about love other the years. One things for certain, we're all still learning. About Devin: Devin and I went to college together. We met through a mutual friend and through Greek life. We've had so many conversations about failures and successes in love that it only seemed right to have him as the guest discussing love. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/love Instagram: shiree.hughes + devin.phd

Pioneers blaze the trail and work through hardships to do something no one else has done before. As Christians we are called to travel a road that isn't widely traveled, and often we may need to pioneer our own way. It's scary, but there is definitely someone in the Bible to learn this trick from. One of the major pioneers of the Bible is Noah. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/thepioneer Instagram: shiree.hughes

YHWH (or Jehovah) Rapha means the LORD who heals. I've seen Him heal, so I have good reason to call Him this. Has He healed you and do you know Him as YHWH Rapha? Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/jehovahrapha Instagram: shiree.hughes

God gives great revelation in the wee hours of the night. This weekend was one of those times. I don't know if words can relay an experience that Holy Spirit gives, but I'm gonna try to share with you the beautiful experience and message I received this weekend. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/afatherslove Instagram: shiree.hughes

Too blessed to be stressed? It has a nice ring to it, but sometimes the devil catches me slipping. This week, I had to step back and remind myself that God is the one making moves, not me. Proverbs 16:3 took me back to a time when I understood that very well and I want to keep that understanding alive. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/stressed Instagram: shiree.hughes

We're always ready to declare someone else's relationship #MarriageGoals, or we're ready to start wars over the internet about our favorite TV couples, but which Biblical couple captivates our attention and truly shows us #MarriageGoals? Let's talk about Mary & Joseph! Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/cutestcouple Instagram: shiree.hughes

Sometimes people try your last nerve! A friend once sent me 2 Timothy 2:24-26 to help me put my anger and lack of patience in perspective; it did wonders for me, so I want to pass that on to you. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/tempertemper Instagram: shiree.hughes

A book, and even a mini-series has been made about this Biblical person, but most people won’t recognize her name. Her story is brief, but powerful. It deserves all our attention, but like so many women, her story is rarely brought to the forefront. Today we're talking about 3 Biblical women who would stand for #MeToo and #TimesUp. Do you know who they are? Dinah, Tamar, and the Unnamed Concubine. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/forgotten Instagram: shiree.hughes

How many of the names of God do you know? Do you ever stop to think about them or what they mean? In this bonus episode, we're talking about the name El Elyon. Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/mosthigh Instagram: shiree.hughes

"God" is a generic word we often use when we specifically mean YHWH, but what exactly does "God" mean and how can we express this to others to see the similarities and dissimilarities of what we believe and who we worship. About Walt: I met Walt in college. We're the type of friends who know how to disagree without destroying the friendship. There's a lot we disagree on, and God is one of those things. Walt is an agnostic, who loves to read and debate. Whenever I want a point of view that almost opposite of mine, he's definitely the person who can give it, which is why we're sitting down to try to define what it means when someone says "God." Transcript/Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/defininggod Instagram: shiree.hughes

I'm excited to announce, the PSALMS to God podcast is finally here. Find out why I chose a bread metaphor, how that relates to my obsession with food, and what that's got to do with...well, anything. Show Notes: http://www.psalmstogod.com/foodislife Instagram: shiree.hughes