THIS IS THE LIFE PODCAST

Things I’ve Learned Along the Journey

1 Corinthians 15:57-58
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

When I look back over the years of ministry, I realize that some of life’s greatest lessons were never learned behind a pulpit. They were learned in quiet mornings with an open Bible, through unanswered questions, unexpected disappointments, and coun...

You Can Be Forgiven

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9

There are few verses in Scripture that bring as much hope as 1 John 1:9. It is one of God’s greatest promises to those who belong to Him. It reminds us that failure is never the end of our story.
God’s desire is not to leave us burdened by guilt, but to restore us to fellowship with Him.

Notice how complete His promise is. He doesn’t si...

What Is Your Heart Thinking?

Proverbs 23:7
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

Our thoughts shape our lives.
Long before our actions are seen by others, they have already been formed in the heart. Proverbs reminds us that a person can say all the right things on the outside while their heart tells a completely different story. Their words may sound kind, their actions may appear generous, but if the heart is not in agreement, something is miss

WHEN GOD CALLS A MEETING

Scripture: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” — Isaiah 1:18

There are few invitations in Scripture more remarkable than these words from the Lord: “Come now, and let us reason together.”

The phrase “reason together” carries the idea of settling a matter, examining it honestly, and coming to the truthful conclusion.
It is not an invitation for man to try God or argue that His...

The Miracle In The Mirror

2 Corinthians 3:18
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Most every morning we stand before a mirror. We straighten our hair, adjust our clothing, and prepare for the day. The mirror faithfully reflects what is on the outside, but it can never reveal what God sees on the inside.

Many believers spend their lives looking into the wrong mirror. Only seeing the imag...

The Miracle of Remaining Faithful

There are times in life when we expect God to call us to do something new. But often, He simply calls us to stay faithful where we already are.
Instead of always chasing the next big thing, God may be speaking to you to just remain faithful to what He has already given you.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” — Galatians 6:9

So as we gather with the the Lord this morning,
Are you growing weary...

The Confidence of Our Prayers

Scripture: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
— 1 John 5:14-15

As we conclude this week of praying for our families, these verses remind us of something that should transform the way we pray. Prayer is not about persuading God to do what we want. It is about drawing our hearts into agreem...

Part of The Answer To Prayer

Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

There is something very powerful about praying for our families. Every prayer we offer places those we love into the hands of a faithful God. But as we pray, the Lord also calls us to become part of the answer to those prayers.

Sometimes we ask God to draw our children closer to Him while forgetting that they are watching how closely we walk with...

Praying That God Will Work All Things Together For Good

Scripture: Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When we pray for our families, there will be times when we do not understand what God is doing. We see struggles, disappointments, setbacks, broken dreams, difficult seasons, and unanswered questions. We watch people we love walk through valleys that we would gladly walk for them if we could.
In those moments, prayer becomes more than a requ...

Praying for Our Family’s Health & Protection

Psalms 103:2-4
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

One of the greatest comforts a believer can have is knowing that God watches over His children. We can’t always be everywhere our family members are, nor can we anticipate every challenge they may face.
But God sees every step they take and every situation they enco...

Praying for Our Family’s Salvation

Scripture: Acts 16:29-31
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.


There is no greater prayer we can pray for our family than the prayer of salvation. We naturally desire good things for those we love. We want them to be healthy, successful, protected, an...

Six Years of Purpose

This month marks six years of This Is The Life Podcast.
As I reflect on this journey, one verse continually comes to mind:

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” — Proverbs 8:17

While this verse certainly speaks of seeking the Lord early in the day, it also reminds us of the importance of seeking Him early in every season of life, before the distractions, disappointments, and demands of the world begin pulling us in different directions.

Over the past six years...

The Fingerprints of God – Part 4

The Hand That Leads Us Home

John 14:2-3
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Throughout this series, we have explored the fingerprints of God through His hands. We have seen the hand that guides us, the hand that provides for us, and...

The Fingerprints of God – Part 3

The Hand That Provides For Us

Philippians 4:19
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

When we think about God’s provision, our minds often go straight to finances. Or some other material possession.
While God certainly provides for our material needs, His provision reaches much deeper than that.
The fingerprints of God can be found everywhere we look when we begin to recognize all the ways He cares for His children.

The Fingerprints of God – Part 2

The Hand That Guides Us

Supporting Scripture

Isaiah 48:17
“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”

When we think about the fingerprints of God on our lives, one of the greatest places we see them is in His guidance. God never intended for us to wander through life alone. From the very beginning, He has been leading, directing, and gently drawing people toward...

The Fingerprints of God – Day 1

The Hand That Created Us

Scripture
Isaiah 64:8
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

There is something unique about a fingerprint. No two people have ever shared the exact same fingerprint. It is one of the many reminders that God never creates duplicates. Every life is a unique work of His hands.

When we look at the world around us, we can see the fingerprints of God everyw...

HELPING OTHERS TO TRUST GOD
One of the greatest blessings in the Christian life is not only learning to trust the Lord with our own burdens, but helping others discover how to do the same. Many people carry heavy hearts. They wrestle with worries, regrets, fears about the future, and questions they cannot answer. Often they are not sure how to give those things to God. They have heard the words before — “Trust the Lord,” or “Give it to God” — but no one has ever really shown them what that looks like in everyday life.

Scripture reminds us that help...

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

One of the saddest thoughts is that many people leave this earth without ever discovering what God placed inside of them. They lived, worked, raised families, and carried on with daily life, yet never fully stepped into the purpose, gifts, and calling that God had prepared for them.

The Lord did not create any of us by accident. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are His workmanship. The...

The Sound Of Home

John 10:27
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

To Me There is something special about the sounds of home. Long before we see the house, we often recognize the sounds that belong there. It may be the creak of a familiar porch swing, or the laughter of family gathered in the next room, the birds outside the window singing a familiar tune, or the voice of someone we love calling our name. Those sounds bring comfort because they are familiar.
They remind us where we b...

The Way You Walk

Galatians 5:25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Have you ever noticed how much you can learn about a person just by watching them walk?
Some people have a walk that reminds you of their father or mother. You can see the family resemblance, not just in their face, but in the way they carry themselves. Others may have a walk that reveals an old injury. A limp, a favoring of one side, or a slower pace tells a story of something they have expe...

Follow The Journey

Psalm 16:11
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

God reminds us that Life is a journey, and every journey has a destination.
Too often we spend our days wondering what might go wrong down the road, always preparing for the unexpected, while God invites us to look ahead with faith and expectation.
Psalm 16:11 reminds us that the Lord not only shows us the path of life, but He also reveals what awaits those who...

BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS - PT. 5
A Time of Praise

Psalm 100:4
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

As we come to the end of our morning devotion time this week, there is one final step that is often overlooked but it’s incredibly important: Praise.

Many of us begin our prayer and devotion time by bringing our burdens, concerns, needs, and requests before the Lord. There is certainly nothing wrong with that. God invites us to cast our cares...

Receiving Instructions

Once the heart is guarded and the mind is cleared through God’s presence and His Word, something beautiful begins to happen, the Lord is able to speak direction into our lives.
Many times we ask God for guidance while our heart is distracted or filled with things that hinder us, and our thoughts are overwhelmed and out of focus.
But when we quiet ourselves before Him, we create room to hear what He is trying to say.

God never desires to be silent toward His children.

Psalm 32:8
“I will...

Time To Refocus Your Mind

Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Let’s face it, we live in a noisy world. Every day our minds are pulled in a so many different directions by worries, responsibilities, opinions , and endless thoughts that never seem to slow down, and seldom seem to amount to very much.
Do you ever wake up tired before the day even begins because your mind never truly rested the night before.

That is why refocusing the mind i...

Guarding Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Before another day begins, one of the most important things we can do is examine the condition of our hearts.
Most people focus on schedules, responsibilities, and constant outward preparation, but Scripture reminds us that the real direction of our life flows from the inside out.

The heart influences far more than emotions. It affects our attitude, our motives, our reactions, our words, and even the way we see other people.
For inst...

Before The Day Begins Part. 1
Day 1 — Give God The First Part Of Your Day

Psalm 5:3
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

There is something powerful about beginning the day by looking upward before you start looking outward.
Before the noise of the world fills your mind, before responsibilities begin pulling at your attention, and before worries try to settle into our hearts, we just need a quiet moment with the Lord.

Before Another Week Begins

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28

As week come to the end of this week, let’s take time to stop and think for a moment.
There are some weeks that leave us feeling accomplished productive and thankful.
Other weeks leave us tired mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Sometimes we carry things all week long that nobody else ever sees.
Quiet burdens. Silent worries. Unanswered prayers. Battles in the mind. Concerns about family. Questions about the future.<...

THE UNKNOWN OBSTACLE

Romans 14:13
“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

Most of us think of a stumblingblock as something obvious like sinful behavior, a bad attitude, or a poor testimony before others.
And certainly those things matter. But the word “stumblingblock” carries a much broader meaning. It can mean a barrier, hurdle, obstacle, or hindrance. Sometimes the greatest obstacle in another person’s life is not something we are doing wrong… but something...

SHARPENING SOMEONE’S LIFE

Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Have you ever had moments in life when a single conversation changed the entire direction of your life or maybe someone else’s day.
A kind word, a reminder of God’s truth, a quiet prayer, or simply listening to someone with compassion can become the very thing God uses to strengthen them.
Proverbs 27:17 reminds us this morning that none of us were ever meant to walk through life alone.
God often uses people to help shape...

What The Bible Has Done For Me

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

There are many reasons I believe the Bible is truly the Word of God, but the greatest evidence has always been what it has personally done in my own life. The Bible is not just a collection of pages, stories, or historical writings to me. It is alive. It spea...

Day by day I now can see,
There’s so much peace in Living Free.
Not bound by who I used to be,
Just grace and truth surrounding me.
Each breath a gift, each step a key,
To all that comes with Living Free.

SONG: LIVING FREE - Written and Composed By - Eddie B. Woodard
Copyright 2026 - All Rights Reserved

WHEN WE LOSE CONTROL

One of the hardest things for us to do is let go of control. We want answers. We want direction. We want to know how things are going to turn out before we ever take the next step. But life has a way of bringing us into seasons where we realize we were never truly in control to begin with.

Sometimes it happens through loss. Sometimes through fear, sickness, disappointment, or simply watching things unfold that we cannot fix ourselves. Those moments can leave us feeling helpless and overwhelmed.
But many...

Finally Home

Luke 15:24
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

A few years ago while studying Luke 15, I wondered what the prodigal son must have felt the morning after he returned home.

The celebration was over. The music had faded into the quiet of the night. The robe still rested on his shoulders, and somewhere nearby sat the sandals his father had placed on his feet only hours before. Everything had changed so quickly. Just days earlier, he had...

When Grace Is Enough

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

There are seasons in life when we pray with...

The Reason You Survived

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble…”

There are moments in life when we look back and honestly wonder how we made it through some things.
Seasons where the weight felt so heavy, the nights were long, and the road seemed so uncertain. Times when it felt like everything around you was about to col...

What’s Next For Me – Part 5

“Live Like You’re Restored”

Galatians 5:25
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

As we come to the final part of this series, maybe the biggest lesson we’ve learned is this: God never restores us just so we can go back to living the same way we always have. He restores us so we can live differently.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME – Part 4
“Guarding What God Restored”

One of the most important lessons we learn in our walk with the the Lord is this:
Not everything that is restored automatically stays strong.

Some things must be guarded.
The someone returns they find mercy, restoration, identity, and peace again.
But there always comes a season where they must learn how to protect what God has rebuilt inside them.

Because the enemy will always try to pull you back toward the very things God delivered you from.
That’s why Prov...

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME – Part 3
“Embrace Your Identity”

One of the hardest things for many people to do after returning to the Lord is learning to stop seeing yourself through the eyes of your past.

Many people come home to God, they’re able to remain faithful, but still carry the mindset of the far country or the life they left behind. But if you still see yourself like that then you really haven’t left it all the way behind.

Many still see failure before they see grace.
Still see shame before...