The Sinner and The Saint Melissa Bell & Allison Cain

Friends -each of us has a unique calling on our lives from God - It's what we are created for.

When we step into the calling God has place on our lives we will receive a lot of negativity and "smack talk". 

But have no fear - the Bible has a solution for that.

Join us thus week as discuss 3 places we receive criticism and how to persevere in the midst of your haters!

Scripture Reference : 1 Samuel 17

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
    a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart
    and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
    I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
    not as they pretend to be.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10

What happens when we realize we can't trust our hearts or figure them out - it's only God who can sort the puzzle and make it clear?
How do we move from a posture of self-preservation and protection to more of a reliance on God's protection? 

Today, we discuss these topics and talk about the importance of asking ourselves:
- What is worthy of my attention in this moment, this day, and this week?
- What am I feeling today and what can these emotions tell me about what I should be letting go of?

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24

Instead of sitting with God and acting on what we hear from Him about the condition of our hearts, we tend to:
1 - Cover
2- Criticize
3- Clean 

Listen for more on how we use each of these defense mechanisms to ignore the warning signs and skip out on extreme personal growth. 

We have woven three powerful sections of scripture into this one episode. It's packed and takes you on a journey from wearing love, how to wear it, splash it on everyone, and stay away from self-righteous judgment. 

Colossians 3:12-15  . . . . And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13  . . .  and may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you. 

Luke 6:37-38 . . . . Don't pick on people; jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless of course, you want the same treatment. 

A look at the difference between testing and temptation - the role we play and the role God plays in each and how  Adam & Eve and the temptation of Jesus in the desert give us insight.

Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. James 1:13-15 (MSG)