Latest / Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast / 350 Hope For the Weary Soul

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350 Hope For the Weary Soul · Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

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  Speaker 1: Life Audio.
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  Speaker 2: Christmas is often called the most wonderful time of the year,
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  Speaker 2: yet for many, it's also one of the most exhausting
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  Speaker 2: times of the year. Between the polity to do list,
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  Speaker 2: family obligations, and the weight of expectations both hours and others,
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  Speaker 2: this season can leave us physically weary, emotionally drained, and
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  Speaker 2: even spiritually depleted. If you're feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone.
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  Speaker 2: Today we're talking about how to release those expectations, embrace
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  Speaker 2: true trust in Christ, and find renewal in Him. If
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  Speaker 2: your soul feels weary, this conversation is especially for you. Today.
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  Speaker 2: We're going to be talking about hope for the weary soul.
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  Speaker 2: Welcome back to your hope filled perspective, where it's always
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  Speaker 2: our goal to restore hope, renew minds, and empower our
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  Speaker 2: listeners to live in your God given identity. We strive
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  Speaker 2: to equip you with hope, help and encouragement based on
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  Speaker 2: God's truth. I'm your host, doctor Michelle Bankson, and I'm
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  Speaker 2: so glad you're joining us today. Let's start today's conversation
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  Speaker 2: by recognizing the source of our weariness. It's no surprise
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  Speaker 2: that Christmas can leave us feeling depleted, we put pressure
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  Speaker 2: on ourselves to create the perfect holiday, perfect gifts, perfect decor,
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  Speaker 2: perfect meals in table settings, and perfect gatherings. Social media
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  Speaker 2: only adds to this burden, making it seem like everyone
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  Speaker 2: else has it all together. But the truth is, exhaustion
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  Speaker 2: isn't just about being physically tired. It's about the weight
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  Speaker 2: that we carry in our hearts, disappointment, grief, unmet expectations,
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  Speaker 2: and the struggle to meet everyone's needs, often while neglecting
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  Speaker 2: our own. Jesus new we would experience this. That's why
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  Speaker 2: in Matthew eleven twenty eight, he says, come to me
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  Speaker 2: all who are weary and burdened, and I will give
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  Speaker 2: you rest. He invites us to exchange our striving for
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  Speaker 2: his peace. But that requires that we let go of
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  Speaker 2: what we were never meant to carry in the first place.
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  Speaker 2: You know, I think of the Christmas Carol line that says,
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  Speaker 2: the weary world rejoices my friend. I know that frequently
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  Speaker 2: when we get to that place where we're feeling weary,
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  Speaker 2: it's hard to rejoice. Sometimes we lose our joy. If
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  Speaker 2: you are feeling weary, I encourage you to take a
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  Speaker 2: moment and ask yourself. What am I holding on to
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  Speaker 2: that God never asked me to carry. Maybe it's the
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  Speaker 2: expectation of making everyone else happy. Maybe it's the guilt
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  Speaker 2: over what you can't do. Maybe it's the grief of
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  Speaker 2: a loved one who isn't here this Christmas. Whatever it is,
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  Speaker 2: the first step towards rest is recognizing what it is
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  Speaker 2: that's making us weary and laying it at Jesus's feet.
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  Speaker 2: We're going to take a brief break for our word
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  Speaker 2: from our sponsor who allows you to hear programs like this.
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  Speaker 2: When we return, we'll talk about releasing expectations and embracing rest. Yes,
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  Speaker 2: even on Christmas. We'll be right back. Welcome back to
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  Speaker 2: your hope field perspective, where today we are talking about
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  Speaker 2: hope for the weary soul. I want to turn our
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  Speaker 2: conversation to talking about how do we release expectations and
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  Speaker 2: embrace rest. Christmas is a really busy time with annual
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  Speaker 2: traditions and expectations. Others have expectations of us, We have
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  Speaker 2: expectations of others, and we have expectations of ourselves. As
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  Speaker 2: a result, sadly, it's a recipe for failure. Part of
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  Speaker 2: the problem with expectations is that it's impossible to meet
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  Speaker 2: unvoiced expectations and buy and large expectations are largely unvoiced.
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  Speaker 2: Everyone's picture of the holiday varies. Some celebrate with family
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  Speaker 2: on Christmas Eve, others celebrate on Christmas Day. Some families
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  Speaker 2: draw names for gifts and possibly sent a monetary limit,
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  Speaker 2: while other families give gifts to everyone. Some families only
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  Speaker 2: want to focus on homemade gifts, where other families focus
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  Speaker 2: on buying the perfect gift. Some families get up early
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  Speaker 2: while others sleep late. So you see, Really, what I'm
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  Speaker 2: getting at is that there's so much variability to the who, what, when,
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  Speaker 2: and where of the celebration. There's so much variability as
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  Speaker 2: there are are people celebrating. So how do we actually
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  Speaker 2: release those expectations. It starts with shifting our perspective. The
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  Speaker 2: world tells us Christmas is about performance, about how much
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  Speaker 2: we do, how beautiful we make it, how much we give.
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  Speaker 2: But God's word tells us something different. Christmas is about receiving,
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  Speaker 2: receiving the greatest gift of all Jesus christ Luke ten
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  Speaker 2: verses thirty eight to forty two tells the story of
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  Speaker 2: two sisters, Mary and Martha, it goes like this. Now.
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  Speaker 2: As they were traveling along, he entered a village and
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  Speaker 2: a woman named Martha welcomed him, meaning Jesus, into her home.
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  Speaker 2: She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at
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  Speaker 2: the Lord's feed, listening to his every word. But Martha
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  Speaker 2: was distracted with all the preparations some translations say all
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  Speaker 2: she had to do. And she came up to him
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  Speaker 2: and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister
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  Speaker 2: has left me to do all the serving alone? Then
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  Speaker 2: tell her to help me. But the Lord answered and
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  Speaker 2: said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered
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  Speaker 2: about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.
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  Speaker 2: For Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not
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  Speaker 2: be taken away from her. Now. Someone that when they
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  Speaker 2: talk about this story, they imagine really Jesus chastising Martha.
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  Speaker 2: But I think he said it with love and combation.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus knew Martha's heart, and yet he also wanted to
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  Speaker 2: teach her what was best. Martha was distracted by all
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  Speaker 2: the preparations, while Mary sat at Jesus's feet simply being
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  Speaker 2: with him. And what did Jesus say, Martha, Martha, you
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  Speaker 2: are anxious and troubled by many things, but only one
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  Speaker 2: thing is necessary. Does that ever sound like you? Because
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  Speaker 2: I've certainly been guilty this season. Instead of being like Martha,
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  Speaker 2: running from one thing to the next, trying to make
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  Speaker 2: everything perfect and trying to meet a list of unspoken expectations,
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  Speaker 2: what if we chose to be like Mary. What if
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  Speaker 2: we sat at his feet, even in the middle of
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  Speaker 2: the chaos, and let his presence be enough. One practical
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  Speaker 2: way to do this is by setting boundaries. Say no
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  Speaker 2: to the things that drain you, say yes to the
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  Speaker 2: things that nourish your soul. You don't have to attend
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  Speaker 2: every event, bake every type of cookie, or even create
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  Speaker 2: a pinterest worthy Christmas. Choose rest, Choose Jesus, if this
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  Speaker 2: is speaking to you today, I want to challenge you,
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  Speaker 2: what is one expectation and you can let go of
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  Speaker 2: this Christmas? Write it down, pray over it, and ask
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  Speaker 2: God to help you. Just surrender it to him. We're
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  Speaker 2: going to take a brief break for a word from
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  Speaker 2: our sponsor, but when we'll return, we'll talk about finding
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: hope and renewal in Christ. We'll be right back. Welcome
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: back to your hope field perspective. Where Today we're talking
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: about hope for the weary soul, and now I want
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: to turn our conversation to finding renewal in Christ. Before
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  Speaker 2: the break, we talked about the importance of releasing expectations.
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  Speaker 2: But releasing expectations is only part of the equation. True
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  Speaker 2: renewal comes when we replace striving with abiding. John fifteen,
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  Speaker 2: verse four says abide in me and I in you.
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  Speaker 2: When we stay connected to Jesus, he renews our stream.
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  Speaker 2: One way to abide in Him this Christmas is by
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  Speaker 2: spending time in His word, even if it's just a
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  Speaker 2: few minutes a day. Let scripture be your source of renewal,
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  Speaker 2: as they have forty. Verse thirty one reminds us those
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  Speaker 2: who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They
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  Speaker 2: will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and
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  Speaker 2: not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. When
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  Speaker 2: we take time to be with God, he refreshes our
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  Speaker 2: weary souls. You might also consider reading through the Christmas
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  Speaker 2: Story from Matthew one or Luke chapters one and two.
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  Speaker 2: Maybe read it by candlelight or sitting under the lights
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  Speaker 2: of the Christmas tree, but soak it in as you
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  Speaker 2: remember why we're celebrating this season. Another way is through worship.
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  Speaker 2: Play worship music. Why you wrap presence or cook dinner.
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  Speaker 2: Let praise shift your focus from stress to surrender. Remember, friend,
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  Speaker 2: Christmas isn't about what we do. It's about what's all
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  Speaker 2: already been done for us through Christ. I want to
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  Speaker 2: encourage you. No matter how much is on your plate,
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  Speaker 2: you don't have to carry it alone. Jesus came to
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  Speaker 2: bring us peace, not pressure. So this Christmas, let's step
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  Speaker 2: out of striving and step into his rest. If today's
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  Speaker 2: episode encouraged you, would you take a moment and share
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  Speaker 2: it with a friend. And if you haven't already, be
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  Speaker 2: sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode of
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  Speaker 2: your hope filled perspective. Let me pray for you, Heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 2: we come before you, weary. We know that you are
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  Speaker 2: a source of strength. Help us release the burdens we
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  Speaker 2: were never meant to carry and rest in your peace.
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  Speaker 2: Teach us to abidon you to embrace your presence above
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  Speaker 2: all else, and to find renewal in your love. Thank
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  Speaker 2: you for the gift of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
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  Speaker 2: In his name, we pray, Amen, Friend, It's my prayer
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  Speaker 2: for you, that you have a hope filled Christmas, that
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  Speaker 2: you experience His peace, his joy, his comfort, and that
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  Speaker 2: as you lean on him he will give you strength
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  Speaker 2: in place for your weariness. I'm looking forward to being
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  Speaker 2: with you again next week for another biblically based hope
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  Speaker 2: filled perspective, But until then, may you walk in His
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  Speaker 2: peace and live with His hope. My prayer for you
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  Speaker 2: is that you have a hope filled.
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  Speaker 1: Weak Depression is now a worldwide epidemic. One in four
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  Speaker 1: adults will struggle at some point in their lifetime. If
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: you haven't struggled through the pitif depression, you know someone
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  Speaker 1: who has. Very Few biblically based resources exist which are
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: written from a doctor's clinical expertise, Biblical knowledge, and personal experience,
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  Speaker 1: but now there does. Doctor Bankson has written the award
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  Speaker 1: winning Hope Prevails fible study, Insights from a doctor's personal
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  Speaker 1: journey through depression. This study serves either as a standalone
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: study that can be used either by d viduals or
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: in a smaller group format, or it makes a perfect
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: compliment to doctor Benkson's award winning book Who Prevails, Insights
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  Speaker 1: from a doctor's personal journey through depression. Take this journey
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: through the author's experience in scripture to learn you are
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: not alone. Depression is common and it is not shameful.
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: Discover chemical, genetic, secondary, reactionary, and spiritual contributors to depression.
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: Realized depression does not determine your worth, dictate your destiny,
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: or separate you from the love of God. And fight
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: back against the enemy's tactics that would steal your joy
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  Speaker 1: and peace. In this Bible study, doctor Bankson's personal experiences
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: are interwoven with questions for reflection, key thoughts, music playlists, suggestions, resources,
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: plus a leader's guide. One reader said, the Hope Prevails
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: Bible Study provides authentic connections, raw insights, and powerful truths.
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: It is a great resource for individuals that would be
• 12:59
  Speaker 1: highly beneficial for both church and counseling groups. The Hope
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  Speaker 1: Prevail's Bible Study is available on doctor Bankson's website, Amazon,
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: or wherever books are sold. Thank you for joining doctor
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: Bankson for your hope build perspective. We hope you are
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: encouraged by her authenticity, vulnerability, and biblical truths. If you
• 13:26
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• 13:55
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• 14:00
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• 14:03
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• 14:07
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• 14:11
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• 14:13
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• 14:16
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