Scripture to Strength and Cold Hearts

Transcript

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Coming up on Renewed Mindsets.

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Today, we're going to talk about the warmth of God's presence in the middle of the chill of winter and the coldness of our hearts.

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Let's discover the scriptures that bring warmth, comfort and the renewal of our minds in these cold seasons.

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Let's go boys.

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In these cold seasons, let's go boys.

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Hey, welcome to Renewed Mindsets, bringing you God's truth from a Gen X perspective, with a mix of humor and a dash of nostalgia.

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Remember when life was simpler and all we needed was a good mixtape?

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Well, we're here to make your spiritual playlist even better.

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Join us as we explore scripture, laugh a little and rediscover the power of a renewed mindset.

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Don't conform transform.

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Welcome back to Renewed Mindsets.

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I'm Rick and I'm so glad you're here.

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Today.

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We're jumping into a topic that's as chilling as the winter wind, cold weather and what scripture reveals about it.

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Now, whether you're literally wrapping up against the frost that's happening right now, or feeling a spiritual chill in your heart, this episode will provide you substantial warmth from God's word.

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Settle in, because we're going to have a lot to cover, from the physical cold that we're feeling right now to the spiritual implications it carries.

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So, in the Bible, the elements aren't merely part of our physical world, they serve profound spiritual lessons.

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Let's start with Job, chapter 37, where it says out of the south comes the storm and cold out of the north, but by the breath of God, ice is given and the broad waters are frozen.

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God's control over the natural world, including the bitter cold, shows his omnipotent power, a reminder that nothing happens outside his sovereign will.

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Now, along with that, you could jump to Proverbs, chapter 25.

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We see the reliability and the trustworthy messenger likened to the physical relief but spiritual refreshment.

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It's a metaphor for how God's word can cool the heart of our trials and tribulations.

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Now let's consider a real-life example.

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Farmers depend on the yearly snow to provide essential moisture for crops.

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Just like that, we depend on God's timely word to nourish our spirits.

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Just like that we depend on God's timely word to nourish our spirits.

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Another symbol is found in Psalms, where snow is seen as a purifier.

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In Psalm 51-7, david says Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean.

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Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

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No-transcript.

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Now, god's mastery over the cold is not just a display of power.

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It's a demonstration of his meticulous care for creation.

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Psalm 147, 16 and 17 tells us he gives snow like wool.

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He scatters the frost like ashes.

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He casts out his hail like morsels who can stand before the cold.

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These verses paint a picture of God as the grand artist of the universe, using weather like a painter, uses color.

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Each stroke is deliberate, each hue is placed with intention.

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Now this all brings us how God uses the cold to teach us about preparedness and resilience.

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Let's talk about an ant or the ant.

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Proverbs 6, 8 says go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise which, having no guide, overseer or ruler, and be wise which, having no guide, overseer or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest.

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The ant doesn't just survive, it prepares, it stores, it, plans ahead.

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These scriptures are a call for us to be prepared not just for the winter seasons of the year, but for the winters of our lives.

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Spiritual, emotional, financial, even Real life ties in here as well.

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Now think about societies and how they prepare for winter.

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Just like communities stockpile salt to melt snow and ice, we have to stockpile spiritual truth to melt away the hardness that can form in cold, challenging times.

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God's provision extends beyond physical needs.

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It's demonstrated when he protected the Israelites with a cloud of fire in the desert.

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Now, this dual provision of warmth at night and shade by the day that they talk about in Exodus emphasizes his care in all conditions.

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Now, as we turn our focus to spiritual coldness, we need to recognize how these scriptures are relevant in the end times that we're living in.

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Jesus told us in Matthew 24, 12, because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

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This isn't just a prophecy.

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It's a direct reflection of our times.

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Just look at it, watch the news, notice how people are when you go out to the store.

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The increasing lawlessness and moral decay make this warning so pertinent in our lives right now.

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Now, how do we maintain our spiritual warmth in these chilling times?

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Revelation, chapter 3, warns against lukewarm faith.

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I know your works.

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You are neither hot nor cold.

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Would you that you were either cold or hot?

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So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

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God calls us to be fervent, to stoke the fire of our faith through a closer relationship with him, fervent prayer and an engaged community of believers, acts of kindness and love.

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They're our spiritual firewood, and not only do they keep our hearts warm, but they also keep those around us warm, countering all the chilling indifference of the world with the heat of god's love.

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Look at the story of elijah confronting the prophets of baal in first king 18 his zeal, his fieryal.

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If we're talking about chilling, not just literal fire from heaven serves as a model for how we should combat spiritual coldness with the fire of true faith and on our personal lives, this might look like being proactive in our communities, offering warmth through acts of kindness, engaging more deeply in our local church, or just being vocal, just being a witness to God's truth in a world that often seems frozen in indifference.

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You may be off work because of the cold from all this arctic weather we've been having.

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As I come to the end of this today, I need you to focus on and reflect on both the literal and the spiritual cold.

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Let's commit to not just enduring the cold this year, in the cold seasons of life, but we need to thrive through them.

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By deepening our scripture study, engaging in prayer, active prayer and actively showing love, we can melt away any frost that tries to settle in our hearts.

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I want to thank you for spending this time with me on Renewed Mindsets.

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My prayer is that you carry the warmth of God's love out into the cold, and I pray that your faith is always fiery and fervent.

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Friends, stay warm in every way Until next week.

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Keep renewing your mind in Christ.

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Well, that's all for this week's show.

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You know, the name of this show speaks my hope for you.

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It's taken from the words of Romans 12, verse 2.

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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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If you enjoyed what you heard, do me a favor, please, and tell someone you know about it.

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Send them a link in a text you know.

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If it was valuable to you, it will be to them.

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Visit renewedmindsetscom to hear past episodes, read the blog and check out the new merch.

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And, as always, while you're there, send me a voicemail by clicking the button at the bottom right corner of the main page.

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Tell me what you think about this show.

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I just might play it on a future episode.

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Until next week, I'm rick.

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I love you, see ya.

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The intro and outro music for the Renewed Mindsets podcast is Are you Ready?

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By Floodgate From the album Are you Ready?

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Copyright 2002, offbeat Ministries Incorporated.

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Floodgate can be found on Apple Music and iTunes.

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Music used with permission.

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I'm Mr White Christmas.

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I'm Mr Snow.

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I'm Mr Icicle, I'm Mr Ten Below.

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Friends call me Snow Miser.

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Whatever I touch Turns to snow in my clutch.

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I'm too much.

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Ha Blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub.

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He's Mr White Christmas.

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He's.

Scripture to Strength and Cold Hearts

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