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Eternity Is For Everyone!

Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com. I’m so glad you’re here.

Ready to experience what’s waiting ahead?

What thoughts come to mind about eternity?

The lyrics in I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe pierce our awaiting souls as Bart, the lead singer, creates an image of what we may experience face-to-face with God.

I. Can. Only. Imagine.

We read in 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, not the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him—”

My heart races with excitement in anticipation of my eternal home. Yet the question lingers— am I only to experience this heightened relational connection with God once I’m face-to-face with Him?

The answer is no.

For those who love the Lord, kingdom living is here. Right. Now.

“—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:10 ESV

Though we can only imagine eternity, we live today with the reality of Christ in us via the Holy Spirit. This experience is not imagined… it is purposed.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 ESV

The Holy Spirit now prepares our hearts, empowering us from the inside to share Jesus’s truth.

His word guides our daily steps now.

His voice speaks truth into every situation now.

His touch is intimate right now.

Consider this: Though no one can conceive what life in God’s presence will be like as a brother or sister in Christ, we can experience the hope, love, and joy of God’s promise every day—right now, no matter our circumstances.

How are you experiencing kingdom living now?

Let’s journey together.

Abba, touch the heart of your child.
Draw me ever close. Open my eyes to see your glory here —now.
Calm my spirit as I seek to serve You daily.
Open doors, and give me clarity as I seek Your will.
Allow me to dance before You today, to shout hallelujah and fall to my knees as I worship You.
To You alone, I pledge my obedience, trust, and life.
In Jesus alone, I can experience Your kingdom living today. Praise Him. Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.

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Is our knowing enough?

When I work on manuscripts, I desperately want to include everything my reader will need to make wise choices about using their voice or whatever the topic is. And I’m reminded that when we know more about what we ‘know,’ it's difficult to return to how we were before.

This is true about so many facets of our lives. Relationships and faith are two areas for sure. The more I know about God, His truth, and my friends and loved ones, the more I want to know. I become enthusiastic about knowing more.

Early Christ-followers devoted themselves to knowing more.

As modern-day Christians, we should also hunger to know the Lord, know His word, know one another more, and be in prayer.

To know the Lord is to commune with Him. Communion is a spiritual connection with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, moving us from a mental understanding to a supernatural relationship.

Discovering His backstory is similar to knowing Him. The more we know God, the more He shows up in every area of our lives. Not that He wasn’t there already, but knowing Him helps us recognize Him.

Our knowing grows deeper when we are still, listening for His voice, and ready to receive His truth. I hear His voice in my spirit, and through His word, and from wise counsel.

To know the Bible, we must read it, listen to it, and discuss what we learn with friends.

Daily intake of the written word of God is a powerful antidepressant.

• The Word reveals Christ. Christ is Truth. The Truth of Christ sets us free.

Knowing one another is part of gathering together. When we learn each other’s backstory, we develop a deeper relationship. Truthfully, we don’t have the time or means to know everyone’s backstory. Yet, the Holy Spirit reveals two or three friends He wants us to have an intentional relationship with. When He does, let’s be enthusiastic about the knowing.

Prayer is a most fabulous way to communicate with God. We tell Him what we know about Him;

• He is our Strong Tower. All Knowing. All Powerful. Loving. Our Provider.

We confess to Him, sharing the sins we need forgiveness for because none of us are perfect. We all sin and fall short of His glory daily.

We thank Him specifically for all He does in our life, "Thank You, Lord, for the food on our table. Thank You for the money to make our car payment. Thank You for the roof over our heads."

We ask Him to guide us, comfort us, and provide for our current needs, and we do so according to His will, His way, and His timing. We come to Father without an agenda, just a desire to know Him more. How about you? Is your knowing enough?

Let’s journey together.

Precious Abba, I come before You this day to thank You, praise You, and honor You. Your word is a lamp unto my feet. You set my feet on the solid rock of Truth. You draw me to new relationships so that I may know You and others better, hallelujah. You caution me when I am moving away from Your path and affirm me when I am walking strong in my faith. Guide my thoughts and actions. Help me to know You more. To You be all glory and honor. Hallelujah.

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Is the fear of rejection ruining your relationships?

Linda's interview with Gail Porter was live at the Christian Product Expo in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Today's guest - Gail Porter, is an author and speaker. Her journey of letting go of the fear of rejection and finding the freedom to be authentic led to a desire to help others. Living on the Path of Freedom: Leaving Fear of Rejection Behind presents ten stories of people who released their fears to live the authentic life God intended.

Gail Porter's Newest book, Living on the Path of Freedom: Leaving Fear of Rejection Behind
Available on her website, Redemption Press website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
other Christian bookstores.

Today's Thought Consideration - Let go of the past. God is making a new thing.

Links

Gail Porter

Gail Porter on Facebook

Gail Porter the Author

Fear of Rejection Quiz

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Self Controlled Living

Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com. I’m so glad you’re here.

Are we living “self” controlled lives?

• "No worries, I've got this."
• "I can take care of this myself, thank you."
• "I'm perfectly capable of doing this on my own."

Many times, our pride, arrogance, or need for self-recognition move us to make declarative statements that render our minds over to destructive measures. This is especially true for my personality type. Oh, the restless nights spent trying to figure it all out alone.

Once we declare, "I'm doing this my way," we wind up with "self" controlled outcomes. This road can become lonely, unfulfilling, and, in some cases, dangerous.

How, then, does self-control prove to be of the Spirit, as we read in Galatians 5:22? But the fruit of the Spirit is self-control...

Spirit-driven self-control occurs when we let go of self and release control over to God.

His will must take top priority in our words, walks, and willingness to serve Him.

Once we seek the will of Christ, new doors open that were never visible before.

We find a new depth and understanding of self-control that doesn't require us to hold back but rather step forward into His control.

It is then that we experience peace flowing through our souls.

Calmness. Restfulness. Ease of pace.

This intentional slowing down and giving over control leaves us more productive and less stressed.

How about you? If you seek less stress, release “self” control to the Holy Spirit.

He knows our hearts, and He’s ready to show us His.

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the fruit of the Spirit is available to produce —love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; the true markings of a life living for God.

Let’s journey together.

O Lord, I desire to walk out my life filled by Your Spirit.

You are amazing, God. Your peace is what I seek.

Your Spirit gives me all I need.

Please help me recognize Your nudges and corrections.

Guide my heart to receive Your word and to act accordingly.

I kneel before You, humbled by You, ready to do Your will. Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.

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God is Personal

Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com. I’m so glad you’re here.

Are you asking why, how, or where?

We can certainly look on the mountaintops for answers, yet it's the Creator of the mountains who has them.

We can certainly seek out an expert to help us in a situation, yet it's the One who gave the expert their knowledge who can guide our steps.

With a word, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob spoke life into the darkness, and it became all things—including you and me.

He's that personal.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33

All that YHWH is, all that He created, and all of His knowledge and wisdom are available to us.

As we seek God earnestly, He will make Himself known to us.

The enemy seeks to turn us away from the One who has counted every hair on our heads.

Look around, it's happening now.

Father against son, daughter against mother, brothers against sisters —families split, moral-compass askew, truth replaced by political correctness, the destruction of innocence.

Oh, my heart aches at the extensive list of corruption in our society.

What are we to do?

• Fall—to our knees before Father.
• Cling—to the truth Who is Christ.
• Listen—to the Holy Spirit.
• Stand—for faith, family, and our future.
• Pray—in all situations.

To YHWH be the glory.

Let’s journey together.

Abba Daddy, my heart is hurting. I witness sadness and brokenness in the home. Lives are shattered.

The hope in man’s eyes is fleeting.

Give me the words, Lord.

Increase my compassion for others.

Give me the courage to reach out and fill the needs of others.

Let my joy in You be the light that draws others to You.

Let my words help others feel safe.

Praise You, O God, for You are merciful, and Your grace abounds.

Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.

Staying Real Just Got Easier!
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Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com. I’m so glad you’re here.

What do you think when you hear the word mercy?

On several occasions as a kid, while wrestling, playing thumb wars, or engaging in other physically competitive activities, I cried out, “Mercy!”

All I wanted was a reprieve, a moment of rest, time to recoup, before we went at it again.

Today, cries for mercy are heard across the world for completely different reasons.

A defendant stands before a judge and begs for —mercy. He pleads his case, asking for leniency from the court.

A child stands before her parents, asking for forgiveness for taking the car out after curfew. She cries out for another chance.

A couple quarrels over unfaithfulness. A trembling wife stands with her back turned, arms crossed, tears streaming down her cheeks, listening. Her husband, on his knees, cries out, “It will never happen again. Please, please...”

My heart aches.
Yet, there is a mercy that transcends all forms of forgiveness.

Mercy is given not because we deserve it, promise to be better, or fear the outcome.

This mercy is the amazing, unmatchable love we read about in Lamentations.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV

God’s love.
My heart flutters in anticipation of experiencing the newness of the Lord and His mercies every morning.

How about you? How are you experiencing God’s mercy?

Take time today and cry out to God.
Thank Him for all He gives you, for all He protects you from, for all He guides you to. His mercy is great.

Let’s journey together.

O Lord! I come before you on bended knee.

Show me Your way.

Open my eyes to Your will.

Bring to my remembrance the joy of my salvation.

Renew in me a spirit of love for Your children.

Guide me to those who need Your precious mercy.

Give me the words to share—stories to tell.

Help me share the hope found in Your truth.

To Your glory, honor, and praise.

Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.

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Live from CPE in Fort Wayne, Indiana - this interview is slightly different.

Welcome to Staying Real About Faith & Family. If you’re looking for a community where you can get real about life without resistance, you’re in the right place. I’m Linda Goldfarb. Each week, my co-host Heather Greer and I, along with our guests, offer personal insight to encourage transparent living from a biblical viewpoint with practical applications. Staying Real with the Holy Spirit’s leading is what we’re all about. We pray today’s episode blesses you.

Linda is hosting solo today. Her guest, Julia Fikse, loves Jesus and is a trained, certified, and experienced health coach specializing in weight loss, mental health, and emotional eating. She has personally struggled with and overcome a life of obesity.

How we see ourselves matters to God.
Mood Tracker PDF


LINKS
Julia Fikse, FMCHC, NBC-HWC

www.onesteptowellness.com

Get Dear Food Workbook 1: https://a.co/d/6FDoQXc

Get Dear Food Workbook 2: https://amzn.to/3OfalX2

Get Dear Food Workbook 3: https://a.co/d/gezoGfA

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dearfoodstudy/

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/juliafikse/

YouTube videos, podcast, and FREE chapter videos

https://www.youtube.com/@dearfoodstudy/videos

Twitter (X) - https://twitter.com/dearfoodstudy

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliafikse/

Subscribe to the newsletter:

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Get Julia’s Award-Winning Book Dear Food, I Love You. I Hate You. Don’t Leave Me!

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Trusting God Has a Cost

Let’s Journey Together and spend a Moment with Father.

I’m Linda Goldfarb, and I want to encourage and inspire your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, please visit LindaGoldfarb.com. I’m so glad you’re here.

What does trusting God look like?

Noah was asked to do the impossible. Build an ark to hold multiples of every creature.
Is this what trust looks like?

God told Noah that rains were coming and that water would cover the whole earth. It had never rained before. Up to this point, water came from the ground, never from the sky.
Is this trust?

Noah was ridiculed by his neighbors and family. Others questioned how this could ever happen and laughed at Noah's belief.

Noah chose to trust God.

He built the ark and was saved from the flood.
The laughing and ridicule of men stopped.

“Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22 NKJV).

Sam and I are experiencing moments of trusting God.

Should we keep our property on the market or take it off? After all, if the house sells, where would we go? With property prices going through the roof, it is impossible to find a forever home we can afford.

When people ask, “Where will you move?” We say, “God knows.” Occasionally, you may hear us mention Abraham as we look at each other and smile. We’ll go wherever God leads.

We realize our thinking isn’t logical.
Yet. We trust God in this and all situations.
Easy? No.

Trust, for us, is only possible when we lean deeply into the Lord. Stay in His word, and pray. Pray. Pray.

What is God asking you to trust Him with?

What does trust in God look like for you?

Oh, my friend, remember the size of our God. No one and nothing compares to our Lord.

In these times, our trust in Father, Son, and Spirit will get us through everything.

Trusting God strengthens and renews our faith. He is trustworthy.

Let’s journey together.

Precious Father, help my unbelief. Wipe away any doubt that traps me in the darkness hidden from the light of Your truth. You, O God, are mighty. You are the Creator of all things. You purpose the winds and control the tides. All of my trust must be in You, yet —I struggle in this area. Open wide, Your arms that I may lean deeper into the understanding of You. Drive away the clouds of discouragement that comes from others. Help me to discern Your will and to trust Your timing no matter my understanding. In Jesus' Name. Hallelujah.

Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves; do what it says. James 1:22

May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in all you do. Until next time, this is Linda Goldfarb, and I’m so glad we are on this journey together with Father.

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