FRESH Official Podcast

Berni Dymet
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  • 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. 23h ago

    Discovering the Truth

    It's amazing how powerful relationships can be in shaping who we become. The best relationships help us discover the foundational truths of life "on the job" so to speak, amidst the realities, the pressures, the trials of life. Sophie Scholl was initially swept up in the nationalistic fervour of Nazi Germany. But her worldview began to change through heartfelt conversations with her brother, Hans, who'd begun to see through the propaganda. As their relationship deepened, they explored Scripture together, read Christian thinkers like Augustine and Kierkegaard, and came to see truth as something that had to be lived out—even at great cost. Their bond gave her the courage to join the resistance, ultimately leading to her execution at age 21. Sophie's discovery of truth was forged not in isolation, but in relationship—human and divine. Just after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, two disciples were walking along the road to Ameaus, discussing the traumatic events of the Passover festival. Though Jesus drew alongside them He was the last person they expected to meet, so they didn't recognise Him. But at dinner time ... Luke 24:30-32 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" ESV There's nothing - absolutely nothing! - like a personal encounter with Jesus along the road of life to make God's truth burn in your heart. Nothing. Jesus. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  2. 1d ago

    When Empires Fall

    It's all too easy to become so immersed in our social and economic systems, in the culture in which we live, that we end up believing that things have always been this way, and what's more, they always will be. Yet down through history, empires – indeed, whole civilizations – have come and gone. The most advanced, the most powerful … have disappeared leaving little more than ruins in their wake. In his great work "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Edward Gibbon writes: "The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight." Decadence leads to decline, decline to decay, and decay inevitably to destruction. Look around at the world today. What do you see? And to what extent have you convinced yourself that it'll always be this way? Writes John the Apostle … 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.  ESV God is eternal. The world is not. Everything that seems so alluring, so seductive today, is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  3. 2d ago

    An Unexpected Discovery

    Have you ever had that experience of discovering something amazing in a place you'd never have expected to find it? A jewel amidst the dross of life that changes everything? As the story goes, back in the 9th century AD an Ethiopian goat herder noticed that his goats became energetic after eating red berries from a particular shrub. Curious, he tried them himself and felt invigorated. Monks later used the berries to stay awake during long prayers—marking the beginning of coffee's journey from wild plant to global beverage. These days we take our coffee very much for granted, not giving a moment's thought to the fact that it was discovered by a bunch of goats! God often hides treasures—not to withhold them, but to allow them to be found by the seeking heart. One moment of discovery can change everything. Jesus put it like this: Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  ESV Where is the treasure of God's kingdom? Out in the open for everyone to see? No! It's hidden in a field. And so wondrous is that treasure that a person would sell everything just to have it. God loves a seeking heart. And His Word is full of wonders; wonders that change everything; wonders so wonderful that they render worthless the trinkets and baubles of this world. Perhaps that's why God seems so much closer when we have questions than when we think we have all the answers. Go! Go find the treasure! That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  4. 3d ago

    Joy is Infectious

    Have you ever noticed how when the person next to you yawns, you too break out in an involuntary yawn? Why is that? It's called social mirroring — our brains instinctively mimic the behaviours of others, especially those we're emotionally connected to. When you see someone yawn, mirror neurons in your brain fire as if you were yawning too. So, when your friend yawns, your brain says, "Me too!" — not out of tiredness, but connection. And the same is true of our emotions. A nasty word or a foul look from someone ruins the rest of your day. Conversely, when even a complete stranger shows you an unexpected kindness, flashes you a smile, it can light up an otherwise dull day. I happen to believe in Jesus. Not sure if you do, but I do. And one of the things He promises us is His joy. Knowing how much He loves us, what He's done for us, what eternity holds for us … man, why wouldn't you be full of joy?! Even, let me say, when the going's a tad on the tough side. Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." (ESV) The point God's making there is that the joy of what He's done for us rubs off on others. People notice when they see otherwise inexplicable joy in our countenance amidst the trials of life. Call me crazy, but I think that what this world needs is more joy-filled Christians. Because when they see the deep, abiding joy in you, they'll say to themselves … Wow! The Lord's done great things for that one. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  5. 4d ago

    Your Invitation to Grow

    Life has a rather annoying habit of taking unexpected turns. Just when you least expect it, whoompa! You find yourself in a hole; a place where, in a million years, you'd never have expected to find yourself. What if I told you that that could be the biggest opportunity God will ever hand you? Jacques Lusseyran was blinded at age seven in an accident. His world shifted overnight. But rather than retreat into despair, he developed extraordinary inner perception and resolve. During World War II, he became a leader in the French Resistance, organising one of the most effective underground newspapers against the Nazis. Arrested and sent to Buchenwald, he survived despite the brutal conditions. His blindness, rather than a limitation, became a spiritual lens that sharpened his insight, courage, and compassion. In his memoir "And There Was Light" he writes, "I was not silent in my heart, and I discovered that joy can exist in darkness." Romans 5:3-5 … we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (NRSV) When life shifts unexpectedly, right there you have God's invitation to grow. When through suffering you endure, it without doubt builds your character. You walk with Jesus through that hellhole and, let me tell you, He will fill you with a certain, rock-solid hope as He pours His love into your heart by His Spirit. Seriously, that place … is the greatest opportunity He'll ever hand you. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  6. 5d ago

    One Day

    Some things are black and white. Thou shalt not murder – obvious, right? Though shalt not commit adultery – obvious, yes, although these days you have to wonder. Other things … well, not so obvious. And those not-so-obvious things cause a lot of conflict. Question: Is euthanasia a compassionate choice to end suffering or a violation of the sanctity of life? Is artificial intelligence a wondrous innovation or does its unregulated development represent an existential threat to humanity? I'm sure you have views on those and many other so-called grey areas in our understanding of right and wrong. And to be sure, when evil is being perpetrated in the name of social advancement, it needs to be confronted. But as opinions become more polarised, as societies become more divided, as the rhetoric becomes more vitriolic, you have to ask yourself, what part am I playing in the erosion of civil debate and discourse? Why am I throwing stones at others rather than looking in the mirror at myself? Romans 14:11-12 Yes, the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'Everyone will bow before me; everyone will say that I am God.'" So each of us will have to explain to God about the things we do. That's about present humility and future accountability. While we're out there busy judging others, the truth is that God alone is the judge and one day we will all answer to Him. Humility and self-righteousness are mutually exclusive. So before you rip someone's head off in an argument, remember … each of us will have to explain to God about the things we do. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

    3 min

  7. 6d ago

    Be Strong and Brave

    Do you like change? No? Well, you're not alone. The truth is, very few people do. Picture this. Moses is preparing to die. Joshua's about to take over the leadership of Israel. They stand on the threshold of the Promised Land, with Moses giving his final instructions. They're facing powerful enemies, fortified cities, the uncertainty of a critical leadership transition. And in that moment, Moses entreats them not to be afraid, but to be strong and courageous. Well, yeah, that's easy for you to say, Moses … you're not the one crossing over the River Jordan. You're not the one having to fight battle after battle to take the Promised Land. And that's why Moses gives them the reason to be courageous: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and be brave. Don't be afraid of those people because the LORD your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Most of us don't like change. As much as we might hope for this to improve or that to resolve itself (whatever your this's and that's happen to be) when change comes along, even positive change, it's unsettling because we don't know how it'll turn out. And that's especially true when change comes at a time, as it did for Israel, when we're facing some serious challenges ahead. It's one thing to be told, be strong, be brave, don't be afraid. But that's not enough. What is enough - what's always more than enough - is the reason we have to be courageous, because the LORD your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you Because that's His Word. Fresh … for you … today

    3 min

  8. May 22

    When Your Foot is Slipping

    The pressures we face in life often creep up on us gradually, imperceptibly. You just live with them, until one day you find yourself at breaking point. I caught up recently with a man in his seventies, just finishing up a part-time job, wondering what God had for him next, in a bit of pain, facing knee replacement surgery, thinking about his finances, and the time he and his wife have left together on this earth. And as happy and positive a person that he is, I could see that with all this "stuff" swilling around in his head, he was under pressure. That's how it is in life. I'm sure you relate. The person who wrote this psalm was part of a community under pressure, where the good people were suffering at the hands of the wicked. So he prays to God: Psalm 94:18-19 When I thought, "My foot is slipping," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.  NRSV It's not a nice feeling, when under the load you're carrying it feels as though your foot's slipping, as though the cares that plague your heart are set to overwhelm you. Let's be honest - God doesn't always remove the cause of our distress. Instead, He comforts us – He upholds us through it all. So, that divine comfort isn't the absence of trouble but the presence of God amidst it, turning anxiety to joy, collapse to stability. Hang in there. You're not alone. 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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