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Do you realize that every time you unlock your phone, you’re stepping onto a battlefield. Whether we realize it or not, we’re constantly being shaped by the voices, ideas, and images competing for our attention. This week we’re talking about the unseen battle of influence and why it’s so important for Christians to recognize it. Our Big Fat Word of the Week isn’t INFLUENCER but it is the Greek word peismonē, a helpful word that helps us understand the power of persuasion surrounding us every day. In Do You Understand What You’re Reading? we’re continuing through Ephesians 6… putting on the armor of God and learning how to stand firm in the midst of a world that is always trying to shape our thinking. Then, in our main conversation, we ask some challenging questions… What is influencing you? Who or what is shaping your loves, desires, and decisions? And just as importantly, how are you influencing the people around you for good or for bad? Join us as we learn how to recognize the battle, guard our hearts, and become faithful influences who point others to Christ rather than the world.

In this Episode Cyndi and Jen return after a long hiatus to discuss how we want to motivate you to GET IN THERE!  We recap what we've been up to and then explore some Greek and an old English Work "Ingather" for the Big Fat Word of the Week.  For "Do you understand what you're reading" Jen gets us discussing the Sacred Secret from Ephesians 3 and then we spend some time discussing the beauty and wisdom of God in giving us the church and all He has to do through us in it!  We finish, as always, with some High Thoughts of God to send you off so you can go on and get in there!

In our 50th episode, WE'RE 50!!! Jen and Cyndi spend some time talking about encouragement.  You might be surprised to learn all that goes into Encouragement.  Our Big Fat Word of the Week is Encouragement because we need a full orbed view of this important duty we have to one another and this grace God has made provision for to get us to the end.  In Do You Understand What You're Reading Jen fleshes out some of the encouragement that Paul gives to the Thessalonians.  In our discussion we talk through the ways we get encouragement from others and how seeing others believe and live out the promises of God can encourage us.  We pray you are encouraged and also pray you'll get busy encouraging others!

In this episode of Friends in the Word, Jen Pam and Cyndi Weeks discuss approachability! Or saying no, to the "no face." As Christians we desire to be people that show we care and are approachable to others, what are some ways we can do that and what are some traps we fall into.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is Aseity of God We spend some time in Titus 3 for Do You Understand What You Are Reading? And we hope to give you some practical helps for saying no to the "no face" and learning to become more approachable because of how Christ was willing to approach us!

In this episode of Friends in the Word, Jen Pam and Cyndi Weeks discuss what it means to dress like a woman who professes godliness...  (please forgive Cyndi's sound issues as she's recording in the remote hills of Tennessee in a 5th wheel trailer like a hillbilly) We also explain where we've been for the last 9 months as well as the Big Fat Word of the Week, vainglory... it packs a big punch!  We also spend some time in 1st Tim. 2 addressing the passage on women's dress and how we are to present ourselves.  If you're anything like Cyndi, you need this episode, there are lots of wows and woahs... as we get into a clearly needed topic that so many women in the church struggle with.  We hope this episode will be a starting point for looking into the ways we express our attitudes through our dress and pray for all of us that we would bring glory to God in even this area of our lives!  Thanks for joining us... Read Yo Bible!

In this episode of Friends in the Word, Cyndi Weeks and Jen Pam discuss creating a culture of evangelism in your church and in your circle of friends.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is : Effectual Call  Jen explains the difference between the outward call we give in preaching the gospel and the inward call God gives to those whom He calls to Himself.  In Do You Understand What You are Reading we cover Psalm 126:6 and some of Spurgeon's great insights on this passage.  Then we spend some time breaking down what it means to sow in tears but come back rejoicing with a harvest. It was such an encouraging conversation for us, we pray it will be for you also!

In this episode of Friends in the Word, Jen and Cyndi discuss ways we need to adjust our expectations as we are seeing the moral decline of society laid out in Romans 1 before our eyes.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is Worship- We know most of you know it's meaning but its always great it deepen our understanding of even basic words, especially ones as important as worship! For Do You Understand What You are Reading Jen helps ground us in reality... she gives us 12 truths found in Romans 1 that will help you understand better the chaos we are seeing.  And then we get into a practical discussion for ways we can make adjustments to our thinking and behaviors. God has given us an unshakable kingdom  and yes society is changing, but our hope and mission has not! We pray this episode is super helpful, we are praying for you!

In this episode Cyndi and Jen discuss why the Christian can and should have fun... it's in the Bible ;)  We spend sometime discussing the word Jollification for The Big Fat Word of the Week and discuss Ecclesiastes 3 for Do You Understand What You are Reading as well as quite a few other passages that discuss our general enjoyment of life  and where we see the principle of fun in the scriptures.  Let's follow the sunbeam up to the Son together and as we grow in our disciplines include fun and merry making!  This is a fun episode and we pray you are blessed as you include a ministry of bringing glory to God by enjoying His good gifts to us!

In this episode of Friends in the Word Jen and Cyndi discuss... well we discuss... uhhhhh... sin.  This should be our most popular episode to date. BUT we actually hope it's up there, because the better we understand sin and it's weight, the more we can appreciate the beauty and absolute lavish mercy of God!  Jen does Depravity for the Big Fat Word of the Week and we spend some time in Gal. 5 for Do You Understand What You are Reading  hoping to help us expand our understanding of our battle against sin and the flesh.  Then we get into a discussion on misunderstandings around sin, it's euphemisms, it's lies and the general bad it brings into the world.  We also learn that Cyndi doesn't know the meaning of Zero Sum Game ;P  We hope you'll enjoy and share this episode so we can all better appreciate the grace and forgiveness extended to us at the cross.

In this episode of Friends in the Word Jen and Cyndi discuss what is looks like to have a truly big heart.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is Munificence - make sure to add this one to your vocabulary list, it's a great one!  We spend some time discussing widening our hearts from 2nd Cor. 6 for Do You Understand What You're Reading And we spend some time breaking down ways we need to examine our lives and hearts to see if we are living in a way that people would say we are generous in our spirits and big hearted in our approach to others.  Sorry about the construction noise half way thru, it finally stopped raining in NZ... what can I say... Thanks for joining us and read yo Bible!

In this episode of Friends in the Word Cyndi Weeks and Jen Pam break down the guilt and shame the world and sometimes we as Christians walk around with. We hope we can be part of removing the burden of that guilt by pointing you and each other to the cross.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is Expiation... cool fact, it removes your guilt.  Jen spends some time in Ephesians for Do You Understand What You Are Reading  And we spend a good chunk of time breaking down the world's messaging and it's hopeless message of guilt and condemnation... Drive an SUV, guilty... Eat non organic Chicken Fingers, guilty... And all of these messages offer no hope. But we as Christians have the greatest news that our guilt can be dealt with at the cross.  We hope you are encouraged and keep reading your Bible!

In this episode Cyndi and Jen discuss how we can be busy as women building the ark rather than hunkering down in our bomb shelters just waiting for the end!  Jen unpacks Deconstructionism for The Big Fat Word of the Week and we spend some time talking about 2nd Peter 3 for Do You Understand What You're Reading. It's such a helpful text to direct us in our purpose for living in crazy times, knowing that God will come soon to right every wrong, but for now is patient wanting many to be saved.  We hope this conversation will encourage you in the ways you can build the arky arky in your home, your church and in the world around you!  Make sure you stay till the end for one of the best of Spurgeon's High Thoughts of God. Let's encourage each other to get busy participating as He is building His kingdom! Read Yo Bible!

In this episode of Friends in the Word Cyndi Weeks and Jennifer Pam discuss the ways we get caught up "livin' for likes" and also the way God desires us to live for His approval and the biggest piece of this puzzle is that in Christ we already have it!  For the Big Fat Word of the Week we discuss the concept of Oneism and Twoism from Peter Jones. Then Jen spends some time helping us to better understand Isaiah 2:12-21 for Do You Understand What You're Reading...  Join our discussion of our own personal hang ups with livin' for likes and some of the areas we have experienced overcoming this all day every day struggle and pursuit!  Finally Jen finishes us off with some great High Thoughts of God.  We pray you will be encouraged to live out of the approval purchased for you at the cross! Read yo Bible.

Hey friends!  Jen and Cyndi are so happy to return to the podcast after a much needed hiatus with returning to  homeschooling for Cyndi and degree finishing for Jen.  In this episode we talk about what it looks like to live a productive life to the glory of God.  The Big Fat Word of the Week is - Cruciformity We spend a bit of time breaking down Ephesians 2:10 for Do You Understand What You're Reading?  And then delve into a discussion about how we examine the priorities of our lives and work towards bringing glory to God in our life and work.  We've missed you and are so happy to be back encouraging one another to get in the Word and order our lives according to it!

In this episode Jen and Cyndi discuss all things Christmas... We delve into the incarnation and spend some time covering the meta-narrative of Christ's coming to earth. We also have some fun sharing favorite memories and traditions we've done over the years. It's a fun one and our last episode for the year. Thank you so much for joining this year us and we'll see you in 2022!