It's the Perry and Shawna podcast on the real life journey with you, reminding you that you are ABBA's beloved child and that Jesus has called you into his massive mission to heal the world.

It's the Perry and Shawna podcast on the real life journey with you, reminding you that you are ABBA's beloved child and that Jesus has called you into his massive mission to heal the world.

The storms of life change us. They just do. That's why one of my favorite films is twister. The first twister. I like the second one, but the first one is epic. When Joe's a little girl, an F5 tornado hits her farm and her dad dies. The tornado creates a father wound in her heart and she becomes obsessed with tornadoes. She becomes a tornado chaser not for the thrill, but to find out how they work so that people have more time to get to safety so that not one more little girl will have to lose her dad like she did. Her obsession wrecks her marriage. But it's not just her fault her husband Bill is clueless of the real pain in Joe's heart. So the story picks up with her husband, Bill, coming to get the divorce papers. But it's a day a massive tornado system is sweeping through Oklahoma, and Bill, who used to be the lead on the tornado chasing team, joins them one last day and the storms do their work.

The storms of life change us. They just do. That's why one of my favorite films is twister. The first twister. I like the second one, but the first one is epic. When Joe's a little girl, an F5 tornado hits her farm and her dad dies. The tornado creates a father wound in her heart and she becomes obsessed with tornadoes. She becomes a tornado chaser not for the thrill, but to find out how they work so that people have more time to get to safety so that not one more little girl will have to lose her dad like she did. Her obsession wrecks her marriage. But it's not just her fault her husband Bill is clueless of the real pain in Joe's heart. So the story picks up with her husband, Bill, coming to get the divorce papers. But it's a day a massive tornado system is sweeping through Oklahoma, and Bill, who used to be the lead on the tornado chasing team, joins them one last day and the storms do their work.

Joe, things go wrong. You can't explain it. You can't predict it. Killing yourself won't bring your dad back. Sorry. He died, but it was a long time ago. Gotta move on. Stop living in the past and look at what you got right in front of you. What are you saying, me, Joe?

Joe, things go wrong. You can't explain it. You can't predict it. Killing yourself won't bring your dad back. Sorry. He died, but it was a long time ago. Gotta move on. Stop living in the past and look at what you got right in front of you. What are you saying, me, Joe?

Oh. The romance.

Oh. The romance.

The storms that day do change. Bill and Joe. They realize how broken they are. They realize what's been coming between them. They realize they still love each other. They realize they were made for each other. It's really a story of the death of a relationship and the resurrection of a relationship. That's why I just love the film so much. Stephanie, our good friend, one of our most friendly listeners, really part of this team with us. And you've had a chance to sit under the teaching of Ray Vanderlaan, and he has some really cool insights about storms that God has written on your heart through Ray Vanderlaan.

The storms that day do change. Bill and Joe. They realize how broken they are. They realize what's been coming between them. They realize they still love each other. They realize they were made for each other. It's really a story of the death of a relationship and the resurrection of a relationship. That's why I just love the film so much. Stephanie, our good friend, one of our most friendly listeners, really part of this team with us. And you've had a chance to sit under the teaching of Ray Vanderlaan, and he has some really cool insights about storms that God has written on your heart through Ray Vanderlaan.

He said that every time there was a storm that Jesus came to them or was in the boat with them, and also that the boat didn't land where they intended to go. But the boat landed at the place that Jesus had for them to do ministry next.

He said that every time there was a storm that Jesus came to them or was in the boat with them, and also that the boat didn't land where they intended to go. But the boat landed at the place that Jesus had for them to do ministry next.

So the storms in Jesus ministry for his guys changed everything for them.

So the storms in Jesus ministry for his guys changed everything for them.

It did.

It did.

It changed where they thought they were going to go.

It changed where they thought they were going to go.

It did. But he had plans for them. He had good plans for them. They just didn't know it and they couldn't see it. But they were with him so they could trust him.

It did. But he had plans for them. He had good plans for them. They just didn't know it and they couldn't see it. But they were with him so they could trust him.

So would you say it was a better plan than what they had?

So would you say it was a better plan than what they had?

I'm sure it was, yeah.

I'm sure it was, yeah.

Wow. That hits home. That hits home. Because that's real life. Storms hit us and throw us off course to a place we didn't think we'd end up. But when Jesus is in the storm, then it's a better place. Cool. I was made for God to know him and love him forever. But I have needed the storms to show me that because I settle for less. As C.S. Lewis says, we are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We're like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum, because she cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Wow. That hits home. That hits home. Because that's real life. Storms hit us and throw us off course to a place we didn't think we'd end up. But when Jesus is in the storm, then it's a better place. Cool. I was made for God to know him and love him forever. But I have needed the storms to show me that because I settle for less. As C.S. Lewis says, we are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. We're like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum, because she cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

I have something to match as that. So we were at Dunton Park in Holland, having a picnic, and some people were there, and they were so excited that they were at the lake and at the beach and at Lake Michigan. It's Dutton Park, which is great, but it's not Lake Michigan. And so I had the opportunity to tell them, keep going down Ottawa Beach Road. You want to go all the way to Lake Michigan, all the way to the beach with the sand, and not just stay at Dutton Park because there's something so much better than what is right here. You're going to love it.

I have something to match as that. So we were at Dunton Park in Holland, having a picnic, and some people were there, and they were so excited that they were at the lake and at the beach and at Lake Michigan. It's Dutton Park, which is great, but it's not Lake Michigan. And so I had the opportunity to tell them, keep going down Ottawa Beach Road. You want to go all the way to Lake Michigan, all the way to the beach with the sand, and not just stay at Dutton Park because there's something so much better than what is right here. You're going to love it.

Yeah, we settle for less. That story right there shows how we settle when God has something way better for us. Jesus has sent me into storms to show me what I'm looking to for ultimate joy. That's not him. Jesus has sent me into storms to show me that I'm far too easily pleased. He has sent me into storms to strip away my counterfeit gods, and to show me that he is my ultimate joy. So Jesus, forgive me for looking for ultimate joy in mudpies in money, sex, power, fame, likes, career, Christian radio, family, ministry. I deserve justice for such unfaithfulness. But instead, Jesus, you were thrown into the storm of God's justice in my place to show me how much you love me in us. And Lord, to be loved that much is ultimate joy. So create in us afresh a clean heart that finds our ultimate joy in you today. You are in Christ, and Christ is in you. I was in my brother in law's boat a long way off shore of Holland State Park. It was probably May. The water temp was about 50, maybe lower, and I wanted to jump in. Why? I don't know. I wanted to jump in. I knew it would be freezing, but I just had this feeling. It would be awesome. Stephanie, our friend, is with us. And Stephanie, you're a swimmer. Have you ever jumped into freezing cold water?

Yeah, we settle for less. That story right there shows how we settle when God has something way better for us. Jesus has sent me into storms to show me what I'm looking to for ultimate joy. That's not him. Jesus has sent me into storms to show me that I'm far too easily pleased. He has sent me into storms to strip away my counterfeit gods, and to show me that he is my ultimate joy. So Jesus, forgive me for looking for ultimate joy in mudpies in money, sex, power, fame, likes, career, Christian radio, family, ministry. I deserve justice for such unfaithfulness. But instead, Jesus, you were thrown into the storm of God's justice in my place to show me how much you love me in us. And Lord, to be loved that much is ultimate joy. So create in us afresh a clean heart that finds our ultimate joy in you today. You are in Christ, and Christ is in you. I was in my brother in law's boat a long way off shore of Holland State Park. It was probably May. The water temp was about 50, maybe lower, and I wanted to jump in. Why? I don't know. I wanted to jump in. I knew it would be freezing, but I just had this feeling. It would be awesome. Stephanie, our friend, is with us. And Stephanie, you're a swimmer. Have you ever jumped into freezing cold water?

Every morning at 6 a.m.? When you jump on the water, it's cold for the first 25 at least.

Every morning at 6 a.m.? When you jump on the water, it's cold for the first 25 at least.

Does it? How does it feel when you first hit that coldness?

Does it? How does it feel when you first hit that coldness?

You just get going. Yeah, you just get going. And it feels very normal.

You just get going. Yeah, you just get going. And it feels very normal.

It wakes you up. Yeah? Yeah. Ben, you've jumped into freezing cold water, I have.

It wakes you up. Yeah? Yeah. Ben, you've jumped into freezing cold water, I have.

It's, uh. It takes your breath away.

It's, uh. It takes your breath away.

Is it a bad experience?

Is it a bad experience?

Uh, I think it feels bad for maybe half a second, but then everything goes numb and then it's fine.

Uh, I think it feels bad for maybe half a second, but then everything goes numb and then it's fine.

So my my cousin used to live up at Cedar Campus in the Upper Peninsula. Ministry of InterVarsity. And they had a sauna there. And in the winter they'd go in the sauna and, you know, people would visit there for times of refreshment and renewal in the Lord. So they'd go in the sauna, and then they'd go out of the sauna, off the dock, into the freezing cold water. And supposedly this is good for you. So that's something I've never gotten to do, supposedly.

So my my cousin used to live up at Cedar Campus in the Upper Peninsula. Ministry of InterVarsity. And they had a sauna there. And in the winter they'd go in the sauna and, you know, people would visit there for times of refreshment and renewal in the Lord. So they'd go in the sauna, and then they'd go out of the sauna, off the dock, into the freezing cold water. And supposedly this is good for you. So that's something I've never gotten to do, supposedly.

Good. Yeah, I'm not sure about it.

Good. Yeah, I'm not sure about it.

But I would. I would love to do that. So anyway, this water is maybe 50 degrees. I took the leap and as soon as I plunged under. Yeah, it was like that shock, that initial shock. Every part of my body, though, it seemed like every part of my body came to life. I was immersed, I felt immersed in life. And I think this gets at, if even a little bit, what it's like to be in Christ. And this is a truth that just really come alive to me in the last, I'd say, 3 or 4 months. Imagine the blood and water flowing from Jesus wounded side. It becomes this river of life, a river of life that flows into the ocean of God's unfailing love. When you give yourself to Jesus, you're plunged into this ocean. In Christ, you're completely immersed in the flawless obedience of Jesus, and you're breathing it in all. The virtue of Jesus surrounds you and is in you. You're also immersed in the freedom of total forgiveness. The judgment for your sins came down on Jesus never to come down again, on him or on you because you're in Christ. There's no judgment day waiting for you because you're completely enveloped in forgiveness, and you're breathing it in like air and you're plunged in the resurrection life of Jesus. You're submerged in the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and it's pulsing in your veins, giving you limitless power to live a new life. So here's what I'm thinking. How could we ever be separated from God's love, from his forgiveness, goodness, and favor? How could we ever be separated from the power to live a new life? How could we ever be separated from him when we are in him and He is in us? I ask you, Stephanie.

But I would. I would love to do that. So anyway, this water is maybe 50 degrees. I took the leap and as soon as I plunged under. Yeah, it was like that shock, that initial shock. Every part of my body, though, it seemed like every part of my body came to life. I was immersed, I felt immersed in life. And I think this gets at, if even a little bit, what it's like to be in Christ. And this is a truth that just really come alive to me in the last, I'd say, 3 or 4 months. Imagine the blood and water flowing from Jesus wounded side. It becomes this river of life, a river of life that flows into the ocean of God's unfailing love. When you give yourself to Jesus, you're plunged into this ocean. In Christ, you're completely immersed in the flawless obedience of Jesus, and you're breathing it in all. The virtue of Jesus surrounds you and is in you. You're also immersed in the freedom of total forgiveness. The judgment for your sins came down on Jesus never to come down again, on him or on you because you're in Christ. There's no judgment day waiting for you because you're completely enveloped in forgiveness, and you're breathing it in like air and you're plunged in the resurrection life of Jesus. You're submerged in the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and it's pulsing in your veins, giving you limitless power to live a new life. So here's what I'm thinking. How could we ever be separated from God's love, from his forgiveness, goodness, and favor? How could we ever be separated from the power to live a new life? How could we ever be separated from him when we are in him and He is in us? I ask you, Stephanie.

We can't just read Romans eight the end of it, like 31 to the end.

We can't just read Romans eight the end of it, like 31 to the end.

Yep. Romans 838 and 39. Ben, I ask you, how can we ever be separated from God's love when all these things are true?

Yep. Romans 838 and 39. Ben, I ask you, how can we ever be separated from God's love when all these things are true?

We cannot.

We cannot.

There you go. Good answer. These guys are just great, answerers. They're great prayers and they're great answers. You are in Christ Jesus. Listen to this. First Corinthians 130. You are in Christ Jesus who has become our righteousness, holiness, and eternal redemption. And Colossians 127 Christ in you, the hope of glory. Think of the thing in your life right now, in your life today that is causing you concern and anxiety. Think about that. Okay, you probably got something on your mind today. Dan Seaborn of winning at home. What can you say to me and our friend listening right now about how to deal with that struggle? It might be an illness. It might be a relationship struggle. It might be finances. There are a plethora of things that could be unsettling my day. How do we take Jesus steps into that?

There you go. Good answer. These guys are just great, answerers. They're great prayers and they're great answers. You are in Christ Jesus. Listen to this. First Corinthians 130. You are in Christ Jesus who has become our righteousness, holiness, and eternal redemption. And Colossians 127 Christ in you, the hope of glory. Think of the thing in your life right now, in your life today that is causing you concern and anxiety. Think about that. Okay, you probably got something on your mind today. Dan Seaborn of winning at home. What can you say to me and our friend listening right now about how to deal with that struggle? It might be an illness. It might be a relationship struggle. It might be finances. There are a plethora of things that could be unsettling my day. How do we take Jesus steps into that?

That's good. The first thing I'd say is, don't be so anxious about the fact that you have these kind of thoughts. You know, we can almost be like, oh no, I'm going to have that. It's okay. You're normal. You're a human being. Our phones at winning at home stay busy from people who are dealing with exactly what you're probably feeling today. So don't think you're alone. One of the things the enemy loves to do is make us think. Well, I don't want to share this. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to say anything. I'm the only one dealing with this. No you're not. No you're not. Probably the person driving next to you in the car right now is dealing with the same thing. And so I think first, accepting the fact that I am human, I'm not in heaven yet. And it's okay for me to sometimes have these inner struggles and turmoil. I think too often we beat ourselves up for that. That was one of the things I felt was revealed to me in my time on the beach. This year was just like, it's okay for you to feel that way, Dan.

That's good. The first thing I'd say is, don't be so anxious about the fact that you have these kind of thoughts. You know, we can almost be like, oh no, I'm going to have that. It's okay. You're normal. You're a human being. Our phones at winning at home stay busy from people who are dealing with exactly what you're probably feeling today. So don't think you're alone. One of the things the enemy loves to do is make us think. Well, I don't want to share this. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to say anything. I'm the only one dealing with this. No you're not. No you're not. Probably the person driving next to you in the car right now is dealing with the same thing. And so I think first, accepting the fact that I am human, I'm not in heaven yet. And it's okay for me to sometimes have these inner struggles and turmoil. I think too often we beat ourselves up for that. That was one of the things I felt was revealed to me in my time on the beach. This year was just like, it's okay for you to feel that way, Dan.

Yeah. You know, it's like as Christians, we are really self included. We are really uncomfortable being human. Why is that? Why do we feel like we've got to be all put together as Christians?

Yeah. You know, it's like as Christians, we are really self included. We are really uncomfortable being human. Why is that? Why do we feel like we've got to be all put together as Christians?

Part of it, I think, is because we almost grew up in the church. With that being told us all the time.

Part of it, I think, is because we almost grew up in the church. With that being told us all the time.

Yes.

Yes.

You got to not be human. You got to be Christ like, I'm trying, you know? But I'm not there yet.

You got to not be human. You got to be Christ like, I'm trying, you know? But I'm not there yet.

This is what I saw as a teenager. You know, I was trying to follow Jesus and just failing every single day. And nobody ever shared. I don't remember anyone ever sharing a, you know, a a robust Jesus follower. Never saw anyone or heard anybody say, you know what? I'm struggling. I'm having. I'm being tempted. I'm struggling with lust. I'm angry. I'm grieving. I never saw it. I never heard it right.

This is what I saw as a teenager. You know, I was trying to follow Jesus and just failing every single day. And nobody ever shared. I don't remember anyone ever sharing a, you know, a a robust Jesus follower. Never saw anyone or heard anybody say, you know what? I'm struggling. I'm having. I'm being tempted. I'm struggling with lust. I'm angry. I'm grieving. I never saw it. I never heard it right.

So it naturally creates anxiety in us. Audience. It does. It just. It's like it's always there. The big step I think we can take with that is after we acknowledge that I'm normal, I'm human, etc.. Um, first, before you hand it to anyone else, hand it to the Lord. It's easy to think I got to talk to somebody about it. And that's wise. That's good. That's what our counseling team does. But I tell our counselors, we ultimately aren't the final healers. We can give people good clinical guidance, but ultimately, Christ is the one who brings the healing. So start there. Just say Christ, I'm anxious today. You've told me in your word to come to you. I come to you again this morning and might need to come to you again in about five minutes. But I'm coming to you first because you've promised me you will never leave me. You are Jehovah Rapha. You are the healer. You know my heart, you know my mind. And I think it's really important for us to remember. God sees the heart. God sees today that Perry, you. You would do anything you could do to honor the Lord with your life. You would, I know you, I know you a small bit. And I know your heart. Just straight up loves the Lord. He sees that. He knows that. And sometimes I think we want to try to convince God. I really do love you. He's like, look, I got it. You love me. It'd be like if your kid came and said to you every day, every two minutes, I love you. I know you told me that a couple of minutes ago. I got it. And he sees our heart.

So it naturally creates anxiety in us. Audience. It does. It just. It's like it's always there. The big step I think we can take with that is after we acknowledge that I'm normal, I'm human, etc.. Um, first, before you hand it to anyone else, hand it to the Lord. It's easy to think I got to talk to somebody about it. And that's wise. That's good. That's what our counseling team does. But I tell our counselors, we ultimately aren't the final healers. We can give people good clinical guidance, but ultimately, Christ is the one who brings the healing. So start there. Just say Christ, I'm anxious today. You've told me in your word to come to you. I come to you again this morning and might need to come to you again in about five minutes. But I'm coming to you first because you've promised me you will never leave me. You are Jehovah Rapha. You are the healer. You know my heart, you know my mind. And I think it's really important for us to remember. God sees the heart. God sees today that Perry, you. You would do anything you could do to honor the Lord with your life. You would, I know you, I know you a small bit. And I know your heart. Just straight up loves the Lord. He sees that. He knows that. And sometimes I think we want to try to convince God. I really do love you. He's like, look, I got it. You love me. It'd be like if your kid came and said to you every day, every two minutes, I love you. I know you told me that a couple of minutes ago. I got it. And he sees our heart.

You're gonna make me come over there and give you a hug.

You're gonna make me come over there and give you a hug.

Well. It's good. That's what it's about. I hope somebody listening will stop fighting for this so much. It's there. It's for the taking. We. We in the church, those of us who have been in church for a while, we are really good at beating ourselves up. We're gifted at it, but we're not good at loving ourselves with a Christ like love. And that'd be a big step for somebody to take and realize, yeah, I deal with that, but it's okay. God is with me and is going to walk with me today.

Well. It's good. That's what it's about. I hope somebody listening will stop fighting for this so much. It's there. It's for the taking. We. We in the church, those of us who have been in church for a while, we are really good at beating ourselves up. We're gifted at it, but we're not good at loving ourselves with a Christ like love. And that'd be a big step for somebody to take and realize, yeah, I deal with that, but it's okay. God is with me and is going to walk with me today.

Yeah. And just to, I guess, piggyback on that, maybe this this is a footnote. To be kind. To be kind to ourselves. Jesus is so kind toward us and we're so hard on ourselves. Talk about the love of God in Christ that we don't deserve it. But he loves us.

Yeah. And just to, I guess, piggyback on that, maybe this this is a footnote. To be kind. To be kind to ourselves. Jesus is so kind toward us and we're so hard on ourselves. Talk about the love of God in Christ that we don't deserve it. But he loves us.

Yeah, well, I'm thinking when you said what you said, my mind went to Ephesians where it talks about a husband loving his wife like Christ loves the church. After all, no one ever hated their own body, etc.. Wow. Well, sometimes we actually do. We hate the way we think. We hate the way we behave. We hate the way we're anxious. And Christ's word is teaching us. No, no, no. You need to understand. I love you the way you are. I want you to grow in me. I want you to confess your sins. And once you've done that, he's faithful and just forgive us of our sins. Now we can move forward in our relationship with him. So I do think today, a great step for many of us would be to actually accept what we know the Lord has said to us and then begin to go, okay, how can I today determine that no matter what happens, no matter what texts I get, what call I get, I'm going to be fine. Yeah, I am, because I'm moving into more of a steady, solid piece.

Yeah, well, I'm thinking when you said what you said, my mind went to Ephesians where it talks about a husband loving his wife like Christ loves the church. After all, no one ever hated their own body, etc.. Wow. Well, sometimes we actually do. We hate the way we think. We hate the way we behave. We hate the way we're anxious. And Christ's word is teaching us. No, no, no. You need to understand. I love you the way you are. I want you to grow in me. I want you to confess your sins. And once you've done that, he's faithful and just forgive us of our sins. Now we can move forward in our relationship with him. So I do think today, a great step for many of us would be to actually accept what we know the Lord has said to us and then begin to go, okay, how can I today determine that no matter what happens, no matter what texts I get, what call I get, I'm going to be fine. Yeah, I am, because I'm moving into more of a steady, solid piece.

I don't know about you, but once in a while I have a God dream. It's rare, but I have a God dream. So we were in. We were in Venice and I had a dream. I know it was from the Lord. And my. My mom, who's now with Jesus, was in the dream. And I came out of that dream crying. And I went into the bathroom. I was still crying, but my dad was in the dream as well. And the really strange thing about the dad part of my dream is that my dad still with us and he's one of my best friends. But I dreamt that he was a young man and that he was fretting about his future. Just wondering, do I have a future? Sure. And I said to him, as the grown up me right now, I said to him, dad, God is going to do amazing things through your life. And of course, God has done amazing things through my dad's life. I don't know why I had that dream telling my dad what he could expect. I know this right now, that maybe you're in that place where you're wondering, do I have a hope and a future? And here it is. You're going to do great things for God. He has so many good things in store. And because of the resurrection and the new heavens and the new earth, the best is yet to come. Ultimate joy is ours. When Jesus is our greatest treasure. When Jesus is our greatest boast. In 2023, I released my song crashed Into Grace. I didn't know what to expect, but it did really well right out the gate. I got so much praise thanks to God, even from quote unquote really important people. I shared it with my friend, a former music producer in Nashville and a Grammy Award winning engineer, Andy Hunt, and I remember looking at his post on YouTube about my song Perry. Wow, this is amazing. And I realized that I had been longing for that kind of insider praise for my whole life. You know, from people on the inside in Nashville who are the really cool people. And it puffed up my heart, and I suddenly realized that something that I had set out to do for God, I had made about me. Ah, I hate it when that happens. It had become my boast instead of Jesus. And I know that it's just emptiness when we make anything but Jesus, our boast. But the Lord shows us the way to joy. And Paul lays it out in first Corinthians 130 and 31. It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, immersed in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. That is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. As it is written, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. First Corinthians 130 and 31. Paul's telling us that God has chosen us not because we're so good, but because he's so good, and God has shown us his goodness in Jesus Christ. Paul says that Jesus has become for us wisdom from God. In other words, God sent Jesus to show us how to walk with God in the cool of the day. How to be in a face to face relationship with him. How can a great sinner like me be in a friendship with a holy, holy, holy God? Through Jesus, the friend of sinners he has become? Paul says, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. So he's our righteousness. In Jesus, we are set right with God because of his performance. Set right. He's our holiness. Jesus has purified us from our filth and set us apart as his beloved son, his beloved daughter. He sings over us. And Jesus is our redemption. He's freed us from becoming swallowed up by our selfishness and greed and arrogance. And one day he'll bring us into his presence without fault and great joy. Just check out Jude verse 24. And then Paul quotes Jeremiah 924, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. Of course, knowing God, walking with him in the cool of the day, being light in our world, living forever with God is all of God and from God. How can I boast in myself when everything good in me comes from God and when everything bad in me? He's taken care of. He's washed it away. For you too. I must keep coming back to the gospel. To keep Christ as my treasure and my boast. So, as Tim Keller says, this is Tim Keller's way of coming back to the gospel. It's mine too. The gospel tells us that we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe. Yet at the same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. And it gets even better if you are in Christ, immersed in Christ, plunged into Christ, you are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. You are in plunged in the resurrected life of Jesus, and there's a power pulsing in your veins, enabling you and me to make Christ our only boast. And when Christ alone is our only boast, that's the sweet spot right there. Because that's where there's fullness of joy. So each day today, we just reset into you. Jesus, you're our boast. The way of Jesus is not climbing the ladder of success. It's going down to a cross. Teresa and I were in Rome for our trip of a lifetime, and we went to Mamertine Prison. Mamertine prison is likely where Paul and Peter were held before they were executed by Rome. And when I walked down into that prison, I mean, it's a dark, dank, claustrophobic dungeon. And it was like Paul was speaking to me and saying, this is our glory, Perry, as the people of God, this is our glory to not only share in Christ's sufferings, but to share in his death, because we know that God's going to raise us from the dead. And in a culture that says race for the top, that prison spoke to me. Paul said to me through that prison, it's not a race to the top. I did that. Been there, done that. It's empty. Take up the cross and follow Jesus. That's what Paul was saying to me from that prison cell. It's the Jesus way. Hey, it's Perry and Ben with you. And special guest star Stephanie Walters is with us as well. Stephanie is such a great friend of Perry and Shawna mornings. Just a really close friend with Shawna because you guys get together for coffee and such. We do. And that's going to continue. And you've just been an amazing. You and Kevin have been amazing supporters of Moody Radio. And so we're just grateful for you and your friendship and the Starbucks coffee and and the almond bars and all the stuff you brought through the years. And if you don't know, I hope you know, because I don't like to be the one to to bring the sad news. Perry and Shawn on mornings is landing, I like to say landing coming in for landing. That means that Perry and Sean are going to take off into something else. But yeah, the show is coming to an end. Our leadership has prayed, has sought counsel, and they just believe the Lord is leading Moody to go to a national morning show. Cast and crew. All that said, I know that if you love Perry and Shauna mornings, this is sad. So my son, the therapist and the wise Jedi would say, and my daughter would say, don't stuff those feelings. You know, you have to feel those feelings, right? And I know, Stephanie, you're you're feeling it.

I don't know about you, but once in a while I have a God dream. It's rare, but I have a God dream. So we were in. We were in Venice and I had a dream. I know it was from the Lord. And my. My mom, who's now with Jesus, was in the dream. And I came out of that dream crying. And I went into the bathroom. I was still crying, but my dad was in the dream as well. And the really strange thing about the dad part of my dream is that my dad still with us and he's one of my best friends. But I dreamt that he was a young man and that he was fretting about his future. Just wondering, do I have a future? Sure. And I said to him, as the grown up me right now, I said to him, dad, God is going to do amazing things through your life. And of course, God has done amazing things through my dad's life. I don't know why I had that dream telling my dad what he could expect. I know this right now, that maybe you're in that place where you're wondering, do I have a hope and a future? And here it is. You're going to do great things for God. He has so many good things in store. And because of the resurrection and the new heavens and the new earth, the best is yet to come. Ultimate joy is ours. When Jesus is our greatest treasure. When Jesus is our greatest boast. In 2023, I released my song crashed Into Grace. I didn't know what to expect, but it did really well right out the gate. I got so much praise thanks to God, even from quote unquote really important people. I shared it with my friend, a former music producer in Nashville and a Grammy Award winning engineer, Andy Hunt, and I remember looking at his post on YouTube about my song Perry. Wow, this is amazing. And I realized that I had been longing for that kind of insider praise for my whole life. You know, from people on the inside in Nashville who are the really cool people. And it puffed up my heart, and I suddenly realized that something that I had set out to do for God, I had made about me. Ah, I hate it when that happens. It had become my boast instead of Jesus. And I know that it's just emptiness when we make anything but Jesus, our boast. But the Lord shows us the way to joy. And Paul lays it out in first Corinthians 130 and 31. It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, immersed in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. That is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. As it is written, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. First Corinthians 130 and 31. Paul's telling us that God has chosen us not because we're so good, but because he's so good, and God has shown us his goodness in Jesus Christ. Paul says that Jesus has become for us wisdom from God. In other words, God sent Jesus to show us how to walk with God in the cool of the day. How to be in a face to face relationship with him. How can a great sinner like me be in a friendship with a holy, holy, holy God? Through Jesus, the friend of sinners he has become? Paul says, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. So he's our righteousness. In Jesus, we are set right with God because of his performance. Set right. He's our holiness. Jesus has purified us from our filth and set us apart as his beloved son, his beloved daughter. He sings over us. And Jesus is our redemption. He's freed us from becoming swallowed up by our selfishness and greed and arrogance. And one day he'll bring us into his presence without fault and great joy. Just check out Jude verse 24. And then Paul quotes Jeremiah 924, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. Of course, knowing God, walking with him in the cool of the day, being light in our world, living forever with God is all of God and from God. How can I boast in myself when everything good in me comes from God and when everything bad in me? He's taken care of. He's washed it away. For you too. I must keep coming back to the gospel. To keep Christ as my treasure and my boast. So, as Tim Keller says, this is Tim Keller's way of coming back to the gospel. It's mine too. The gospel tells us that we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe. Yet at the same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. And it gets even better if you are in Christ, immersed in Christ, plunged into Christ, you are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. You are in plunged in the resurrected life of Jesus, and there's a power pulsing in your veins, enabling you and me to make Christ our only boast. And when Christ alone is our only boast, that's the sweet spot right there. Because that's where there's fullness of joy. So each day today, we just reset into you. Jesus, you're our boast. The way of Jesus is not climbing the ladder of success. It's going down to a cross. Teresa and I were in Rome for our trip of a lifetime, and we went to Mamertine Prison. Mamertine prison is likely where Paul and Peter were held before they were executed by Rome. And when I walked down into that prison, I mean, it's a dark, dank, claustrophobic dungeon. And it was like Paul was speaking to me and saying, this is our glory, Perry, as the people of God, this is our glory to not only share in Christ's sufferings, but to share in his death, because we know that God's going to raise us from the dead. And in a culture that says race for the top, that prison spoke to me. Paul said to me through that prison, it's not a race to the top. I did that. Been there, done that. It's empty. Take up the cross and follow Jesus. That's what Paul was saying to me from that prison cell. It's the Jesus way. Hey, it's Perry and Ben with you. And special guest star Stephanie Walters is with us as well. Stephanie is such a great friend of Perry and Shawna mornings. Just a really close friend with Shawna because you guys get together for coffee and such. We do. And that's going to continue. And you've just been an amazing. You and Kevin have been amazing supporters of Moody Radio. And so we're just grateful for you and your friendship and the Starbucks coffee and and the almond bars and all the stuff you brought through the years. And if you don't know, I hope you know, because I don't like to be the one to to bring the sad news. Perry and Shawn on mornings is landing, I like to say landing coming in for landing. That means that Perry and Sean are going to take off into something else. But yeah, the show is coming to an end. Our leadership has prayed, has sought counsel, and they just believe the Lord is leading Moody to go to a national morning show. Cast and crew. All that said, I know that if you love Perry and Shauna mornings, this is sad. So my son, the therapist and the wise Jedi would say, and my daughter would say, don't stuff those feelings. You know, you have to feel those feelings, right? And I know, Stephanie, you're you're feeling it.

I am feeling it.

I am feeling it.

So anyway, we got this text this morning from Stephanie and Stephanie said, can I come in and pray? And I thought, wow, Stephanie is a great Christian. Great follower of Jesus. She loves the Lord. I'm sure she knows how to pray. So why not have her come in and pray? Seeing as how all of that is true, it's even on her resume. Prayer warrior. Anyway, so yes, you can pray and go ahead and do that because we are honored.

So anyway, we got this text this morning from Stephanie and Stephanie said, can I come in and pray? And I thought, wow, Stephanie is a great Christian. Great follower of Jesus. She loves the Lord. I'm sure she knows how to pray. So why not have her come in and pray? Seeing as how all of that is true, it's even on her resume. Prayer warrior. Anyway, so yes, you can pray and go ahead and do that because we are honored.

Thanks, Perry. Father God, you are so, so, so good to us. Your goodness follows us all the days of our lives. But this last eight days has been really hard. As we learned that Perry and Shawna Mornings is coming to an end tomorrow, you have collected our many tears about this sad news. Thank you for holding us in your loving hands while we grieve the loss of this treasure called Perry and Mornings. Father, you have used Perry and Shawna in their guests to love us well and make us more like you. Thank you for the laughter, the speakers, the authors, the prayers, the texting, and the friendship you have given to us for the past six and a half years. It has been such a special, sweet season of life. Lord, we don't understand, but we trust your timing. Fill all of us with your grace to trust you more and more in adverse circumstances. We trust you that you will make all things right as we surrender to you. We trust that you have a good plan for each one of us when we can't see it. Lord, I lift up Perry. Shawna, Ben Dodd, and others who are walking this difficult road right now. Hold their hands and lead them where you want them to go. Carry them through this hard season. Prince of peace. Fill them with your peace that passes all understanding. Thank you for the plans. You have to prosper. Perry. Shawna, Ben and Todd. Going forward, we pray for Perry and Theresa as they become grandparents. We ask you, Jesus, for two healthy moms and two healthy babies in due time. We pray for Shawna in her new position with Moody. Please fill her with your strength, your courage, wisdom, grace and peace in her transition time. We pray for Ben and the plans you have for him in the future. May Ben's hope be in you all day long. Thank you for God's leadership over the past year. May dad's eyes be ever on you and what you have next for him. Jesus. Today is Ascension Day, the day we remember you going up to heaven. Today you are sitting on the throne wearing your robe that says King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you for dying for each one of us once for all, so we could be made holy and be with you forever. Jesus, you are so faithful. You are faithful through the hard things. You will return one day and make all things new. We look forward to that day. Thank you for being with each of us each moment that we walk on this earth. Thank you for sending Your Spirit to fill us with your love and power to do your work on the earth until you return or you call us home. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For your honor and your glory in the beautiful, wonderful, powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Thanks, Perry. Father God, you are so, so, so good to us. Your goodness follows us all the days of our lives. But this last eight days has been really hard. As we learned that Perry and Shawna Mornings is coming to an end tomorrow, you have collected our many tears about this sad news. Thank you for holding us in your loving hands while we grieve the loss of this treasure called Perry and Mornings. Father, you have used Perry and Shawna in their guests to love us well and make us more like you. Thank you for the laughter, the speakers, the authors, the prayers, the texting, and the friendship you have given to us for the past six and a half years. It has been such a special, sweet season of life. Lord, we don't understand, but we trust your timing. Fill all of us with your grace to trust you more and more in adverse circumstances. We trust you that you will make all things right as we surrender to you. We trust that you have a good plan for each one of us when we can't see it. Lord, I lift up Perry. Shawna, Ben Dodd, and others who are walking this difficult road right now. Hold their hands and lead them where you want them to go. Carry them through this hard season. Prince of peace. Fill them with your peace that passes all understanding. Thank you for the plans. You have to prosper. Perry. Shawna, Ben and Todd. Going forward, we pray for Perry and Theresa as they become grandparents. We ask you, Jesus, for two healthy moms and two healthy babies in due time. We pray for Shawna in her new position with Moody. Please fill her with your strength, your courage, wisdom, grace and peace in her transition time. We pray for Ben and the plans you have for him in the future. May Ben's hope be in you all day long. Thank you for God's leadership over the past year. May dad's eyes be ever on you and what you have next for him. Jesus. Today is Ascension Day, the day we remember you going up to heaven. Today you are sitting on the throne wearing your robe that says King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you for dying for each one of us once for all, so we could be made holy and be with you forever. Jesus, you are so faithful. You are faithful through the hard things. You will return one day and make all things new. We look forward to that day. Thank you for being with each of us each moment that we walk on this earth. Thank you for sending Your Spirit to fill us with your love and power to do your work on the earth until you return or you call us home. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For your honor and your glory in the beautiful, wonderful, powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Thanks for letting Barry and Shawna walk the real life journey with you. The content from the podcast comes from their live show. Barry and Shawna. Mornings on 89.3 Moody Radio, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reach out to us by texting 800 968 8930 and please subscribe.

Thanks for letting Barry and Shawna walk the real life journey with you. The content from the podcast comes from their live show. Barry and Shawna. Mornings on 89.3 Moody Radio, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reach out to us by texting 800 968 8930 and please subscribe.