Followed By Mercy

Send us a text

Have you ever struggled to see yourself the way God sees you? In this opening episode of our Ephesians series, we explore Paul’s greeting to the believers at Ephesus and uncover life-changing truths about our identity in Christ.

Paul calls ordinary Christians “saints” and “faithful in Christ Jesus,” titles that don’t depend on performance but flow from our union with Christ. Just as a bride takes her husband’s name instantly at marriage, we receive a new name and identity at salvation.

We’ll see how grace always...

Send us a text

Have you ever felt far from God, like you’ve wandered too far to find your way back? In this episode, we step into David’s story in Psalm 23 and discover something beautiful: God hasn’t been waiting for us to return. He’s been chasing us all along with His goodness and mercy.

We’ll explore how David moved from spiritual drought to the deep confidence that he would dwell in God’s house forever. The Hebrew text reveals a breathtaking truth: when Scripture says, “goodness and mercy shall follow me,” it...

Send us a text

Have you ever considered that much of our approach to evangelism might be missing the point? In this episode, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield explore a life-giving perspective on missions that reshapes how and why we share the gospel.

At the center is a simple but powerful truth: we are not rescuing people from an angry God. God, who has already reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” That means evangelism is not an obligation we carr...

Send us a text

Our eyes reveal the condition of our hearts. When we measure ourselves against others, searching for someone “worse” to feel better about ourselves, we slip into what Jesus called an “evil eye.” This perspective is fueled by pride and fear, pride that elevates us above others and fear that, without comparison, we may not measure up.

In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield look at Jesus’ vivid illustration in Matthew 7:3-5 about removing a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the beam in our own. His exaggerated picture driv...

Send us a text

What shapes the way you see the world around you? In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield unpack the profound truth that what fills your heart determines what you notice and how you interpret life. Just like buying a Tesla suddenly makes you see them everywhere, your spiritual focus shapes your perception of reality.

Many believers struggle with a distorted view of God. Instead of seeing Him as the generous and loving Father He reveals Himself to be, they see Him as harsh, demanding, and quick to punish. That...

Send us a text

Jesus’ words about the eye being “the lamp of the body” in Matthew 6 have left many people puzzled. In this heartfelt conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield dive into one of Christ’s most often misunderstood teachings and show how it speaks directly to our spiritual priorities.

Jesus was not changing subjects when He spoke about eyes and light. He was deepening His call to treasure God above all else. The hosts explain how Jewish listeners would have understood the “evil eye” as greed, envy, and spiritual darkness. In...

Send us a text

When Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” He gave those words a depth that has changed lives for centuries. In this episode, we explore the beauty behind that declaration and why it still matters today.

We’ll see how the original language shows that Jesus isn’t just “morally good,” but noble, beautiful, and interesting, the Shepherd who draws us not out of duty, but out of delight. Rome did not murder him, nor did religious leaders, nor even our sins. He laid His life down willingly.

We’ll co...

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered what matters most in life? In this episode, we walk through Mark 12:28-34 and discover the freeing truth behind the greatest commandment. Jesus doesn’t give us another burden to carry. He shows us what naturally happens when His love fills our hearts.

The law says, “You must.” The gospel says, “This is what happens when Christ lives in you.”

We’ll discuss forgiveness as the ultimate test of love and how it becomes possible, not by trying harder, but by trusting more deeply. You’...

Send us a text

How do you move from the pit of depression to the pinnacle of blessing? From self-pity to divine joy? In this message from Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, I open Psalm 23 and walk through David’s remarkable journey. Hunted, hiding in a cave, overwhelmed by sorrow, yet he discovers that what is really pursuing him is not danger but God’s relentless goodness and mercy.

This message calls us out of performance-based religion and into the security of God’s love. We don’t chase Him down. He chases u...

Send us a text

Have you ever been so wronged that your heart burned for revenge? That desire feels like justice, but it’s not the same thing at all.

In this podcast, we explore the life-giving truth behind God’s words, “Vengeance is Mine.” Far from limiting us, this promise frees us from the exhausting burden of trying to make things right on our own. Through honest stories of hurt, grace, and healing, we examine how vengeance binds us to the past while God’s justice brings genuine restoration.

Forgiveness doesn’t say the wron...

Send us a text

What if following Jesus wasn’t about proving yourself, but simply learning from Him? In this heartfelt living room conversation with friends Chris, David, and Robert, we explore Jesus’ invitation to “come learn of me” and discover how it changes everything.

So many of us live under the exhausting pressure to earn God’s approval. But Jesus offers a radically different way—one where transformation flows from proximity, not performance. As David shares, “The longer we’re close to Jesus, the more we become like Him, meeker, more gentle, humble, accessible, kind, and loving...

Send us a text

What if rest wasn’t about doing less, but about being with the right Teacher? In Matthew 11, Jesus gives the only self-description of His heart in the whole Bible: “I am meek and lowly.” And in the same breath, He invites us to take His yoke and find rest for our souls.

In Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s “yoke” meant his interpretation of the law—a list of rules to follow. But Jesus offers something radically different. His yoke isn’t about religious performance but relationship. He doesn’t pile on more requirements...

Send us a text

Already Home. Dwelling in the Presence of God

Finding our true home in God’s presence changes everything about how we see our lives and our faith. In this final message on Psalm 23, we reflect on David’s profound declaration, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” and what it means for us today.

The Hebrew word for “dwell” means to sit down, abide, and remain permanently. This isn’t about occasional visits to God when life gets hard. It’s about living constantly in His presence. After...

Send us a text

Never Alone 

Discovering the Shepherd’s Presence in Psalm 23

The most profound truth about your life is that you are never alone. Today, we step back into Psalm 23, where David, facing some of his darkest moments, anchors his hope in the unshakable presence of the Shepherd.

David doesn’t boast about perfect circumstances or having everything he wants. Instead, he clings to the One who stays when everyone else leaves. From peace to danger, from abundance to scarcity, from life to death, the Shepherd’s prese...

Send us a text

Dwelling With God. The Heartbeat of Scripture

What if the central theme of the Bible isn’t rules, rituals, or religious performance, but God’s relentless desire to be with His people? In this final message on Psalm 23, we explore the breathtaking truth behind David’s words, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

From evening walks in Eden to the tabernacle in the wilderness, from Jesus “pitching His tent” among us to the Spirit living inside believers today, we trace the storyline of a God who keeps movi...

Send us a text

Episode Title: I Will Fear No Evil

Fear has a way of showing what we truly worship. Whether it’s bridges and airplanes or financial ruin and health scares, our deepest anxieties expose the authority we’ve given to our circumstances. In this episode, we explore Psalm 23:4 and discover that fear is more than an emotion; it’s actually misplaced reverence.

David’s bold words, “I will fear no evil,” weren’t written from a place of comfort. He was in “the valley of the shadow of death,” facing d...

Send us a text

Are you ready to transform your relationship with food, not just for a short time, but for good? Join us for an honest conversation with Katie, who discovered a new freedom through the carnivore diet after years of battling cravings and confusion.

This is not a diet fad or a one-size-fits-all promise. Katie’s journey is about letting go of food rules and learning what it means to feel truly satisfied and at peace with eating. She says it plainly: fat is your friend. For her, embracing fat was the key to...

Send us a text

Psalm 23 is poetry for people in dark places. In this episode, we step into David’s words, “my cup runs over,” and discover what it means to find God’s abundance right in the middle of pain, betrayal, and loss. David didn’t write from a palace. He wrote from a cave, surrounded by threats and uncertainty. Yet he still saw God’s goodness overflowing in his life.

What does it mean for your cup to overflow when everything around you feels empty? We’ll talk about how God’s presence chang...

Send us a text

“Sugar is delicious. You’re lying if you say it’s not,” Katie laughs, and she means it. But for two years now, she hasn’t touched the stuff. Not because of iron willpower, but because life on the carnivore diet has changed her from the inside out emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

For years, mood swings and low moments just felt like her “normal.” Irritability and emotional crashes were part of daily life. It wasn’t until her husband looked her in the eyes and said, “I don’t care what it costs...

Send us a text

Could eating only meat really change your life? For missionary mom Katie Gardner, the answer was a surprising yes.

After years of feeling unwell, exhausted, battling hormonal chaos, and hearing the phrase “your tests look normal” from doctors who had no real answers, Katie stumbled across a radical idea online: the carnivore diet. At first, it sounded ridiculous. But with nothing left to lose, she took the leap.

Those first three weeks weren’t easy. Doubts and withdrawal symptoms nearly sent her back to her old habits. But th...

Send us a text

Followed by Mercy: The Shepherd Who Never Lets Go

Do you realize that God has been pursuing you from the very start? In this episode, we dive into the final verse of Psalm 23, where David confidently declares, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This isn’t just the happy ending to a famous psalm. It’s the beautiful truth that our spiritual journey is, in fact, God’s pursuit of us from beginning to end.

It’s easy to believe that faith is about chasin...

Send us a text

Have you ever stopped to wonder if God’s goodness is actually chasing you down even when it feels like everything else is falling apart? In this episode, we dig deep into the words of Psalm 23:6 and discover that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me” means much more than just trailing behind. In the original Hebrew, “follow” describes a love that pursues you relentlessly, fiercely, the way an army hunts down a prize. It’s the same word used for tracking enemies, except here, it’s God’s kindness refusing to quit on you.

Da...

Send us a text

How could David write, "my cup runs over," when his life was falling apart or had already fallen apart? Let's take a look at Psalm 23 and the story behind it. David didn't write from a place of safety or celebration. He was running for his life, barefoot and heartbroken, surrounded by betrayal and loss. Yet somehow, in the shadows, he spoke of abundance.

What changed? It wasn't David's circumstances. It was where he put his focus. Instead of staring down his enemies, he looked to his Shepherd, the One who...

Send us a text

What if everything you believed about your spiritual worth was built on a misunderstanding? That inner critic telling you “you’re not enough” isn’t just mistaken, it’s denying the truth Christ has already spoken.

In this deeply personal episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner sits down with his son, David, a missionary who has spent twenty years in Peru, to discuss the surprising and relentless mercy of God. David shares powerful stories of God’s provision from unexpected vehicles to last-minute financial help during furlough, which have carried his family t...

Send us a text

Have you ever felt the crushing weight of shame? That heaviness that makes you want to keep your head down and hide from the world? “Thou anointest my head with oil,” those words from Psalm 23, offer a remedy that speaks to the heart of every person who’s ever felt unworthy.

David didn’t write this verse from the comfort of his palace. He wrote it on the run, stripped of everything, with his own son seeking his life. Yet, even in exile, he discovered something remarkable: the presence of his Shep...

Send us a text

Ever feel like you’re hanging on by a thread? Like David hiding in a cave, surrounded by trouble, wondering if you’ll ever see daylight again? That’s exactly where Psalm 23 comes alive, especially those simple words, “thou anointest my head with oil.”

This episode, “Followed by Mercy,” goes below the surface of Psalm 23 and digs deep into what it means to be anointed in the valley. Our Shepherd applying the oil wasn't just a nice touch; it was a healing, protective, and comforting gesture for the wounded sheep. For David, it...

Send us a text

What if the secret to peace isn't gaining more control, but surrendering it?

Do you ever feel like the world is spinning out of control, and it's up to you to hold everything together? In this episode, host Austin Gardner welcomes Robert Canfield, president of Taking the Light Ministries, for an honest conversation about a different way to find peace, one that doesn't depend on having all the answers.

Drawing from the ancient wisdom of Psalm 131, Robert and Austin explore David's gentle picture of a soul at...

Send us a text

Ever felt like God's love is something you have to earn? In today's episode, Austin Gardner sits down with Robert Canfield for a conversation that might breathe fresh hope into your weary soul.

Together, they pull back the curtain on the exhausting cycle of performance-based religion—a cycle that leaves so many believers tired, ashamed, and feeling like God's love is always just out of reach. Robert shares powerful stories from his ministry, "Taking the Light," where radio broadcasts in Burkina Faso and Peru are reaching people who would never set fo...

Send us a text

Ever feel like you’re alone in the storm? Like the darkness is closing in, and nobody sees what you’re going through? What if the valley you’re dreading is the place where God wants to show you just how close He really is?

Psalm 23 isn’t a song for the dead; it’s hope for the living. David wrote it while running for his life, betrayed by his own son. He wasn’t sitting by quiet waters. He was in deep trouble and heartbreak, yet he found a peace he cou...

Send us a text

When life unravels, when trust is broken, when loss or disappointment corners us, Psalm 23 calls us to something deeper than just survival. It offers a way of seeing the world that lifts our eyes from the storm to the unchanging presence of our Shepherd. 

David wasn’t a stranger to suffering. He knew what it meant to be pursued, misunderstood, and weighed down by regret. Yet in his darkest hours, David didn’t just wish for better days; he chose radical trust. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”...

Send us a text

When David said, “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,” he wasn’t talking about punishment; he was describing a Shepherd who stands between His sheep and danger, who guides and rescues, and who is always for us, even in the darkest valleys.

In today’s episode, we slow down with Psalm 23 to explore the real meaning behind the Shepherd’s rod and staff. These ancient tools aren’t about breaking sheep, but protecting them. The rod was a club to drive off predators, a symbol of God’s fierce protect...

Send us a text

What You See Is What You Get: The Power of Spiritual Vision

“What you see is what you get” isn’t just for computers or graphic design; it’s a profound spiritual truth that can shape the entire trajectory of your life. When all you see are your problems—your pain, the bills piling up, broken relationships, or dreams that feel out of reach—you get more of the same. But God offers us a different lens.

In this episode, you’ll discover how the giants you face don’t hav...

Send us a text

Shadows have a way of twisting reality. They make dangers look bigger than they are, and fears feel closer than they’ve ever been. The “valley of the shadow of death” isn’t just poetry. It’s the honest experience of walking through seasons so dark you can almost feel death breathing down your neck.

In this episode, we take a deep look at Psalm 23 and what it truly means to walk through the valley of shadows. The Hebrew concept of “shadow” encompasses more than just a hint of darkness. It’s a place o...

Send us a text

What if the most incredible spiritual truth you need right now is also the simplest? You are never alone.

David once celebrated that God was with him in the valley, but as followers of Jesus, we have something even more astonishing—Christ isn’t just beside us; He has moved in. The Holy Spirit hasn’t just stopped by for a visit or promised to stand close in times of hardship. He’s made His home in the middle of our mess, inside our very bodies, as our Comforter and constant...

Send us a text

Some valleys feel so dark you can barely see your hand in front of your face. Maybe you’ve walked through one—or maybe you’re in the middle of one right now. In this episode, we’re talking about the heart of Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”

When family lets you down, friends vanish, and you start to wonder if even God has left you behind—this truth remains: You are never, ever alone. Da...

Send us a text

Fear has a way of grabbing hold of our hearts and making shadows loom larger than the light that casts them. In this episode, we slow down with Psalm 23:4 and get honest about what it means to say, “I will fear no evil,” especially when you’re surrounded by darkness that feels impossible to shake.
Most of us think of fear as being scared or anxious, but in the language of the Bible, fear also means to stand in awe, to give reverence. 

The tragedy is that when we...

Send us a text

Have you ever noticed that David doesn’t run through his darkest valley? He walks. That’s not a throwaway detail. Psalm 23 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” David isn’t rushing, panicking, or looking for a way out. He’s steady, taking it one step at a time. Why? Because his Shepherd is right there with him.

Shadows have a way of making everything look worse than it really is. When all we see are the shadows, sickness, gr...

Send us a text

Have you ever found yourself walking through a valley so dark that you wondered if you’d ever make it out? Psalm 23:4 leaps from the page with its familiar promise: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” For many of us, these aren’t just words. They’re a lifeline.

In today’s episode, we discuss how what we focus on shapes everything about how we walk through life’s darke...

Send us a text

There’s a phrase in Psalm 23 that can turn the whole world right-side up again: “You are with me.” David didn’t write those words from a place of safety or comfort. He was running for his life, feeling the sting of betrayal, with every reason to think God had left him behind. But in the darkest valley, David makes a quiet turn. He stops talking about God and starts talking to Him. That’s not just a grammatical shift. It’s the heart waking up to the truth that changes everything.

David does...

Send us a text

Can true discipleship transform the way we mentor future church leaders? Discover the profound impact of life-on-life discipleship as we unpack what it means to genuinely mentor and disciple within the church. By emulating Jesus' methods and fostering deep, loving relationships, we shed light on moving beyond basic doctrine and engaging in ministry training that is personal and impactful. This episode promises to challenge conventional discipleship approaches and inspire you to invest in the spiritual growth of others with intentionality and care.

Join us as we explore the Apostolic approach to...