FRESH Official Podcast

Berni Dymet
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity

FRESH is a Daily Devotional taking you deeper into God's Word + closer to Jesus. Each devotion will have a powerful Scripture verse, together with some words of inspiration, hope and encouragement. It's all about helping you hear from God so that you can live in a rich, dynamic, powerful relationship with Jesus. God's Word. Fresh, for you, each day.

  1. 18h ago

    The Joy Exchange

    Joy - deep, abiding joy - is simply the most wondrous thing. Not happiness. Happiness ebbs and flows depending on your circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, sticks with you through all your ups and downs. With all my heart, I know that God wants you to live in His deep, abiding joy … for every minute of every day for the rest of your life. And that joy isn't something you conjure up on your own; it's transferred into the deepest recesses of your being by Jesus Himself. If you've ever enjoyed cool air from an air conditioner on a sweltering hot day, you've benefited from the physics of heat exchange. Hot and cool fluids run through separate channels; heat passes through a thin wall so the hot side is cooled, and the cool side becomes refreshingly cold. That's how Jesus describes His joy transfer to His fearful followers on the night before His crucifixion: John 15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. (NRSV) He doesn't merely cheer us on from a distance — He transfers His own joy into us. His joy flows into our weary hearts, filling us with what He Himself carries, so that our joy too may be complete. Do you see the transfer, the exchange that He's describing? … my joy … in you … so that your joy … may be complete. But like a heat exchange, the joy exchange depends on proximity, on being close to Jesus, on abiding in Him, on listening to Him, on obeying Him. That's how the joy exchange happens - through closeness and intimacy. May Jesus' joy in you … be complete. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  2. 1d ago

    Let Joy Carry Your Burdens

    The burdens of life can, at times, be rather heavy. And the longer you carry them, the heavier they become; sapping you of your strength; robbing you of your joy. Is that really how you want to live? Humans have been using camels as beasts of burden for nearly three thousand years. There's a reason for that. A camel can carry around 450 kilograms or a thousand pounds across the desert — not because it's simply "strong," but because God designed it with special tendon-and-joint engineering that locks its legs when it kneels. So the weight of the load doesn't press directly on its muscles; rather, it's transferred through its skeletal frame. So the camel doesn't strain under its burden the way we would — its structure does the work. Hold that thought as we dive into this powerful Scripture, where God speaks to His people Israel through the prophet: Nehemiah 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (NIV) They were struggling under multiple heavy loads, those people. Sound familiar? Now, picture that camel's strength. In the same way, "the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Your strength amidst hardship isn't about gritting your teeth and pushing harder. It's about God's joy "re-engineering" how the weight falls on you. Instead of the burden crushing your spirit, His joy in you carries it, locking you into His strength, not your own. God's joy doesn't just lift your heart—it carries your load, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  3. 2d ago

    Joy Starts Here

    Life's journey has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster at midnight. Take a wrong turn … and you'll go hurtling off the rails. On average, we make around 500 conscious decisions a day. So in an average human lifetime, we'll make over 13 million conscious decisions. Let's assume that 95% of those are inconsequential, and although they can have a cumulative effect (I'm sure you'll agree that 10,000 decisions to eat junk food will have an impact) let's set them aside for a moment and go with the 5% – the 650,000 moderate to important decisions you'll make in your life. Now let's optimistically assume that you get 95% of them right and just 5% wrong – that's still 32,500 moderate to important mistakes, more than enough to ruin a life, which goes a long way to explaining why so many people experience so little joy. King David had more life-and-death twists and turns than we'll ever experience. Yet this is what he said to God: Psalm 16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (NRSV) Imagine that you draw so close to God, on such intimate speaking terms with Him that He shows you the path to take in each decision, at every twist and turn. What would that mean for you? David knew the answer: fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. God's joy begins in His Presence—it's complete, it's eternal, and it doesn't depend on your circumstances. Go on, draw close to Him and let Him fill you with His joy! That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  4. 3d ago

    Desire Without Discipline

    You know what they say: an overnight success generally takes around twenty years. I know, I know. We wish it weren't true, and yet we know that it is! In 1994, a complete nobody by the name of Jeff Bezos began with a small online bookstore in his garage, armed with a dream far bigger than he had any right to dream. While others looked for quick profits, he kept his eyes fixed on the horizon. He reinvested profits when critics demanded dividends; he experimented when others played it safe. Slowly, that garage-born dream stretched its reach across the globe. Amazon has become not just a retailer, but a marketplace, a Cloud pioneer, and a household name—all because one man valued endurance over easy victories. Refusing to let impatience steer his course, Bezos said, "Short-term wins are easy, short-term thinking is dangerous." Proverbs 13:4 Lazy people always want things but never get them. Those who work hard get plenty. Without meaning to shoot down your dreams, let's assume that you're unlikely to found another Amazon … although, I guess, who knows, right? But God created you, uniquely, to do something; to achieve something that will make this world a better place. And whilst hard work doesn't always guarantee the level of success we had in mind, let me tell you, laziness almost certainly guarantees failure. By all means, dream big dreams, as big as you like. But remember, dreams without discipline stay just that, dreams; it's hard work and diligence that turn them into reality. Lazy people always want things but never get them. Those who work hard get plenty. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  5. 4d ago

    When Whispers Kill

    Since the very beginning, whispering secrets and untruths about others has been one of the greatest temptations of humanity. That snake in the Garden of Eden kicked it off by twisting the truth about God to lead Adam and Eve into the first act of human rebellion against their Creator.   Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was targeted by courtiers and political rivals who resented her influence. Jealous whispers and slander—accusations of adultery, incest, and witchcraft—spread quickly. Though no credible evidence existed, it was used to build a case against her. In May 1536, she was beheaded at the Tower of London, not only ending her life but also destabilising alliances, altering the line of succession, and setting England on a volatile political course. How many people's careers, reputations, and lives have been ruined throughout the ages by idle or malicious gossip? Without doubt, millions. Something to think about next time you're tempted to partake in seemingly harmless gossip.  Proverbs 11:13 People who tell secrets about others cannot be trusted. Those who can be trusted keep quiet. How true! People may well gather around as you pass on a juicy piece of gossip. They may delight in learning a sordid secret. But know this: they'll never trust you again, because you've rightly earned the label of 'gossip'. Gossip may start as a whisper, but it carries the power to destroy lives and destinies. Gossip is the devil's radio; don't be his DJ. People who tell secrets about others cannot be trusted. Those who can be trusted keep quiet. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  6. 5d ago

    Living Large by Living Small

    You hear people talk about their calling, and it sounds oh-so noble. But a calling, inevitably, has a cost. It involves laying down your own desires in the service of others. And that is noble indeed. Some like to flaunt their works for all to see. Sir Nicholas Winton was not one of those. In 1938, he cancelled a ski holiday to help a friend working with refugees in Czechoslovakia. Seeing the Nazi threat, he organised the rescue of 669 Jewish children by arranging trains, securing visas, and finding foster homes in Britain. He kept quiet about it for 50 years, never seeking recognition. Living entirely for himself would have been much safer and easier, but Winton chose the harder road of service, valuing others above himself. Philippians 2:3-4 In whatever you do, don't let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honour others more than yourselves. Don't be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too. I think you'd agree that the sort of life Paul's talking about in that passage is the very definition of a noble calling. We don't have to achieve some great thing to attain that nobility. It's the little things we do along the way that impact people's lives. In a world where self-interest is the norm, it's never been more true that living for yourself alone is the lowest form of life. The richest life isn't measured by what you keep, but by how much of yourself you give away. Don't be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  7. 6d ago

    Small in My Hands, Mighty in His

    As crazy ideas go, Jesus' idea of feeding a crowd of five thousand with two small fish and five loaves of bread is right up there … wouldn't you agree? I mean … what was He thinking? Gladys Aylward had little formal education, almost no money, and so, was rejected by countless missionary societies. But with barely enough for a one-way train ticket she set out alone to China, trusting God to use what she had. Over the years, God multiplied her small "offering" into extraordinary influence: she established an inn to share the gospel, became a trusted advisor to a Chinese mandarin, reformed cruel prison practices, and during the Japanese invasion led over 100 orphaned children on a perilous hundred-mile journey to safety. What had begun with a handful of resources, in God's hands became a lifeline for countless lives. Confronted by Jesus' crazy idea of feeding the five thousand … John 6:7-9 Philip answered, "We would all have to work a month to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece!" Another follower there was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew said, "Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people." But Jesus blessed those meagre morsels … feeding the whole crowd, with twelve baskets of leftovers to spare. From that miracle onward, in the lives of countless of His followers – ordinary people like Gladys – God has made it clear: It's not your job to feed the five thousand. Your job is to bring the five loaves and two fish. When you give God what's in your hands, He can turn a ticket and a trembling heart into a miracle that echoes for generations. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  8. Jun 24

    Comfort or Courage?

    We each tend to have a somewhat malleable relationship with the notion of justice. When we're on the receiving end of an injustice, man, we want justice done! But what about when others suffer an injustice? Then how much do we really care? Many global industries, from fast fashion to electronics, are linked to forced labour, child exploitation, and trafficking. If we truly care about justice for others, then it's not only about avoiding their products but actively advocating for change—writing to companies, supporting ethical brands, raising awareness. The challenge is immense, overwhelming, inconvenient, costly. Choosing justice for those people means paying more, changing habits, risking backlash from those who prefer comfort over confrontation. As you ponder that, drink this in: Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Treat people fairly. Punish those who hurt others. Speak up for the widows and orphans. Argue their cases for them in court. German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who courageously opposed Hitler, paying with his life, once said: "Your 'yes' to God requires your 'no' to all injustice, to all evil, to all lies, to all oppression and violation of the weak and poor." Thinking about that from your position of relative safety and privilege, what do you, really? Because that sort of justice costs more than money—it costs comfort. But seriously, isn't this the price of walking in step with God's heart? Perhaps it's time for us to value justice for others as highly as we do for ourselves. Speak up for the widows and orphans. Argue their cases for them in court. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min
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About

FRESH is a Daily Devotional taking you deeper into God's Word + closer to Jesus. Each devotion will have a powerful Scripture verse, together with some words of inspiration, hope and encouragement. It's all about helping you hear from God so that you can live in a rich, dynamic, powerful relationship with Jesus. God's Word. Fresh, for you, each day.

Information

  • Creator
    Berni Dymet
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Christianityworks
  • Show Website
    FRESH Official Podcast

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