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Are you who you say you are, even when no one is watching? In Part 1 of What Is Character?, I walk through our barn at feeding time and tell you how I spent years looking like a cowgirl. I had the buckle, the ropers, even the Miss Rodeo Tennessee title, until a Wyoming ranch showed me I wasn’t one yet. The Bible calls it an excellent spirit, the spirit that set Daniel apart. Merriam-Webster calls it moral firmness. We look at James 1 and the perfect law of liberty, how the Holy Spirit reminds us who we are in Christ, and why you can’t act out something that isn’t on the inside of you. We also talk honestly about legalism, hyper-grace, and why accountability is what grows our character. If you’re ready to become who God says you are, this series is for you. #WhatIsCharacter #ExcellentSpirit #ChristianLiving

What does it mean to love your life to death? Revelation 12:11 says believers overcame the enemy "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death," but most of us stop reading halfway through the verse. On a fall walk through the pines on our Northern California property, I share how my husband Heath quit caffeine after 45 years, even when he nearly fell asleep at the wheel, and I own up to my own Milk Duds habit. We get into why your brain turns repeated behavior into automatic habits, why cravings don't mean your body needs something, and how to answer the voice that says "you can't do this." If God is asking you to put something down, this message is for you. You can overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. #Revelation1211 #BreakingHabits #ChristianLivin

How To Know You're Actually Hearing God's Voice (Not Your Own) How do you know if what you're hearing in prayer is really God — or just your own wishful thinking? In this episode, I share a raw, personal story from a recent family emergency where my prayers and my mind weren't lining up — and what I learned about discerning truth from self-deception in that moment. Using James chapter 3, I unpack the unmistakable marks of true wisdom from above. Through a powerful modern-day parable and real biblical examples — David and Bathsheba, Jesus and the showbread, Gideon and the fleece — you'll learn why God's voice never forces, always brings peace, and leans toward mercy before sacrifice.

What if everything you know is actually working against you? In James 3:13, God doesn't just call us to be wise — He calls us to show that wisdom through meekness. But pride has a sneaky way of creeping in the moment we think we've got it all figured out. In this episode, I'm riding bareback on Moses — my 17-hand horse — to show you exactly what the meekness of wisdom looks like in real life. True wisdom isn't about how much you know. It's about how you act when you know a lot. If you've been frustrated by arrogant people — or wondered if you might be one — this message is for you. 📖 "Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." — James 3:13 Subscribe for weekly encouragement straight from God's Word. Jesus loves you. God bless.

Why do bad things keep happening — and why does it feel like you can't make it stop? In this episode of Water Wind Wine Ministries, we dig into James 3:16, one of the most overlooked yet powerful verses in Scripture: "For where envy and self-seeking exist, there is confusion and every evil work." The answer to life's chaos isn't random — it traces back to pride, strife, and self-seeking. And here's what's wild: even Jordan Peterson agrees. His research shows there's no neurological difference between self-centeredness and depression or anxiety. The Bible figured this out thousands of years ago. God doesn't cause evil — He uses it. But the key is knowing where the chaos starts. If confusion and drama keep following you, this episode is exactly what you need. Tune in and trace it back to the root. 📖 James 3:16 | Proverbs 13:10 | Isaiah 26:3 | 1 John 1:9 🎙️ Water Wind Wine Ministries

What if controlling your tongue is actually a horse problem? In this week's Water, Wind, Wine Ministries broadcast, we're digging into James Chapter 3 and one of Scripture's most powerful metaphors — the bit in a horse's mouth. Just as a small bit directs a powerful horse, God's Word directs your entire life when you willingly accept it. We head out to the pasture to demonstrate live with Moses and Melman — two very different horses with two very different responses to the bit — and what they reveal about human nature is striking. The horse that accepts the bit goes farther, moves easier, and gets blessed. The one that resists? Stiff-necked and stuck. Shawnee adds a powerful insight: sometimes accepting the bit just means taking a breath before you react. That pause is where God speaks. Watch and decide — which horse are you?

What does James 3:1 really mean when it says teachers face stricter judgment? In this episode, we take that question on horseback — literally. Join us as we ride Moses and Melman, an off-the-track thoroughbred who once flipped saddles and bared his teeth, through deep ravines to illustrate what it really means to preach what you practice. Teaching isn't about perfectly performing — it's about transparency. People don't just hear your words; they watch your life. If you say you can train a horse but your horse acts like an idiot, you'll be judged. The same goes for teaching the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is the real teacher — our job is to stay transparent enough to let His light shine through us without muddying the water with our character. Subscribe for outdoor faith devotionals that meet you right where life happens. #BibleStudy #James31 #ChristianLiving #Faith #HolySpirit #Devotional #HorsesOfFaith #TeachersInChurch #PracticeWhatYouPreach #Transparency

In James 2, the apostle delivers one of the most misunderstood truths in Scripture: faith without works is dead. This isn't about earning salvation through good behavior — Martin Luther was right that works cannot save you. But James is pointing to something deeper: if you say you believe something and your actions don't reflect it, you don't actually believe it yet. That's why it's not producing results in your life. Using the examples of Job's fear, the Pharisees' religion, a starving man refusing to eat, and a seed planted in the shade with no water, this teaching breaks down what living, active faith looks like practically — and how to begin walking in it. Whether you've been in the faith for decades or are just learning to hear God's voice, this one will challenge you. James 2 | Job 3:25 | Mark 11:23 | Proverbs 31

In this teaching from James chapter 2, we explore what the Bible says about favoritism, partiality, and honoring the rich over the poor. Using two very different horses as an illustration, this message reveals how easy it is to invest in people who seem impressive, influential, talented, or wealthy while neglecting those who appear weak, ordinary, or unable to benefit us. James warns believers not to treat people differently based on outward appearance or status. God values faith, humility, and love over worldly influence. Are we sharing the gospel because we genuinely love people, or because we hope to gain something in return? This teaching challenges the heart and calls believers to repentance, compassion, and true obedience to God’s Word. If you’ve ever struggled with favoritism or wondered what James 2 really means, this message will encourage and challenge you. Jesus loves both the rich and the poor equally.

Do you really know who you are in Christ? In this short teaching from Water, Wind, Wine Ministries, we look at Proverbs 12:5: “The thoughts of the righteous are right.” Many believers struggle with guilt when a bad or intrusive thought crosses their mind, but what if that thought is not truly yours? If you are the righteousness of God in Christ, your identity is not defined by every thought that tries to enter your mind. This message will help you examine what you believe about yourself, reject thoughts that do not line up with God’s Word, and stand firm in your true identity in Christ. Be encouraged: you are not condemned, you are loved, and you can learn to recognize what comes from God and what comes from the enemy. Jesus loves you and wants you free in your mind.

Is your religion actually working, or does James 1:26 say it may be useless? In this teaching, we look at James 1:26–27 and what it really means to bridle your tongue. The Bible says that if someone thinks they are religious but does not control their tongue, their religion is useless. But bridling your tongue does not mean staying silent forever. It means allowing the Word of God to direct your speech, just like a bridle directs a horse. We also look at pure religion in James 1:27: helping widows and orphans and keeping yourself unspotted from the world. If you have been going to church, reading the Bible, and doing religious activities but not seeing fruit, this message will help you examine your words and begin speaking in agreement with God’s Word. Subscribe for more practical Bible teaching.

What does it really mean to be a “doer of the word and not a hearer only”? In this teaching on James 1:22–25, we break down one of the most practical and challenging instructions in the Bible. Many believers hear God’s Word regularly—but why doesn’t life always reflect it? Using a powerful real-life illustration with a horse, this message shows the difference between hearing instructions and actually obeying them. Scripture tells us that when we only hear the Word without doing it, we deceive ourselves—but when we act on it, we are blessed in what we do. This teaching dives into everyday struggles like relationships, habits, and repeated life issues, helping you identify where you may be hearing but not doing. If you’ve ever wondered why things aren’t changing in your life, this message will challenge and encourage you to walk out your faith in a real, practical way.

What does James 1:21 really mean? In this message, we break down what it means to lay aside all filthiness, receive with meekness the implanted Word, and live like someone who has truly been saved. James 1:21-22 can sound confusing at first, especially when it says the implanted Word is able to save your souls. This teaching explains how that applies to believers, how your soul relates to your mind, will, and emotions, and why being a doer of the Word matters. Using a practical horse-training illustration, this message shows how old habits can remain even after salvation and how God’s spoken Word helps transform the way we live. If you’ve ever struggled with old patterns, sinful habits, or knowing how to actually apply Scripture in daily life, this Bible teaching will help. Watch, share, and be encouraged to receive God’s Word with meekness and walk it out immediately today.

What does it really mean to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath”? In this teaching from James 1:19–20, we break down how quickly reacting, speaking, or getting angry can actually lead us away from God’s righteousness. Using a powerful real-life illustration with a horse, this message shows how our natural tendency is often the opposite—quick to speak, quick to react, and slow to listen. But God calls us higher. This session will help you understand how to respond instead of react, how to listen for God’s voice, and why controlling your words and emotions matters so much. If you’ve ever struggled with anger, impatience, or speaking too quickly, this teaching will give you practical insight rooted in Scripture. Remember: the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God—and learning to slow down can change everything.

How do you know if something is really from God? In James 1:16–17 the Bible gives a clear principle: “Do not be deceived… every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights.” In this teaching we explore what that actually means and how it helps believers discern God’s work in their lives. Many people struggle wondering whether difficult circumstances, opportunities, or inner impressions are from God. James gives us a powerful filter: God’s nature does not change, and what He gives is good and perfect. This message breaks down how spiritual deception happens, why we sometimes misinterpret events in our lives, and how Scripture simplifies the process of discernment. If you’ve ever asked, “Is this from God?” this Bible study will help you understand how to evaluate things through the character of God revealed in James 1:16–17.