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God Doesn't Call The Qualified, He Qualifies The Called · SOLID START

• 0:03
  SPEAKER_02: Welcome back to another episode of Solid Start, a podcast designed to get your week off to a solid start by focusing on life from God's perspective.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Greg Reed, life coach at Merrill Bros, up in uh Kokomo, Indiana, the tropical paradise of the Midwest, joined by my ever-popular co-host, Brian Herzog.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_02: Brian, good morning.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_02: Good morning.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_02: What's like?
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_02: How uh how you doing?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: Doing well?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_02: Anything exciting going on in your wonderful world?
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: Getting ready to travel up to Wisconsin for a trade show this evening.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: Up in Wisconsin, right?
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_01: At the Harley Davidson Museum of all places.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_01: You know I'm a big Harley guy.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_02: I see those leather chaps all the time.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm thinking what you can get those.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_02: You probably shouldn't wear those to work, Brian.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: I can't help it.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_02: I know.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_02: I know.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_01: So we're sponsoring the or is this a good thing.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we have it's the Midwest Biosolids uh third annual conference.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: And so it's our whole area.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: We are involved in in a lot of what they do, and so we help sponsor this trade show.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_01: So we're excited to go be a part of it.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: Great.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_02: Well we'll uh we'll miss you while you're gone and uh hope you have a fabulous uh week.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_02: Summer's been good for you so far.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, started training with girls' soccer again, so um sore.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but it's all good.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, all good.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_02: Great.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_02: Well, hey, we have a returning guest today that's uh certainly familiar to our podcast audience, so why don't you go ahead and introduce him and we'll talk.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: Marcus is joining us again with his really cool voice.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: I wish I had voice.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: No, that is the first time I've ever heard that I have a cool voice.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, right?
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: It's one of those things when you hear your voice, you're like, I wish I didn't sound like that, but what are you gonna do?
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: That's not I can't fix it.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_02: I can't change it.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: God, why did you do that?
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_02: Why don't I have a British accent?
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_02: Those guys can read the phone book and I'm mesmerrant.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're not kidding.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: You're not kidding.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um but uh no, good morning, everybody.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: And just great up great opportunity.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: Glad to be back with you again.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So uh appreciate that introduction, Brian.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: I now I'm literally going to listen to every word that I say and realize how much I don't like my voice.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: So thank you.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: You're welcome.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: May not speak at all.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_02: It's a gift that keeps on giving.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_02: We uh constantly have good news.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Good luck with this podcast because I'm I'm just gonna sit here and be silent now.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_02: Well, no, we are so grateful that uh you're willing to jump in today.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: You've been uh along the way kind of going in, bringing leadership uh segments to us because that's a part of your role here, in addition to uh being on the executive team and providing legal direction for us.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_02: So thanks so much for being willing to do that.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_02: So, how's it feel to come back on the podcast today?
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, uh, I'm gonna be honest with you.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: It um and and we discussed this before, and I will I will share from a perspective of vulnerability and a little bit of self-reflection that uh not gonna there's some anxiety that that comes with with joining you on this on this podcast.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_02: And um Is it Brian's chaps that make you nervous or something other than that?
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: I've gotten used to those.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: But it's the the six it's the six earrings in his in his nose that I'm struggling with a little bit.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_02: But trying not to be judgmental, but we're doing our match.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: And that that seems crazy to even to even say, but um I can recall uh the the blessing the first time that you asked me to to share and to get in front of the the the team and you know and speak you know speak the gospel and and the the only you know my anxiety to do that was only outweighed by the the honor that I felt.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: And I kind of have a question, you know, for you in that because today as we tie in kind of some leadership, when you you know you asked me to to share uh this morning, uh I'm not gonna lie, I that that sense of anxiety creeped in again because you're a hard when it comes to you're a hard act to follow when it comes to speaking you know the word and and and sharing based on your experience and and there are times I And dashing good looks.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: I that was number one on my list.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: Brian was gonna mention that, but he didn't, yeah.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_02: So I thought I'd I thought I'd better say it.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you yeah, I appreciate you speaking about your own good looks.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um humility was right on there somewhere too.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's maybe even maybe even higher than my good looks.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, I think it's uh you know from an coming from the perspective of being authentic, um I I just want to I want to ask you as we as we start this discussion, if if when you ask others, myself and Brian and and others on the team to either fill in for you or or or you know come up and share their story, do you have uh, you know, do you have an expectation of us?
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: And and is there ever a time, even though I know I feel like boy, I'm not I'm not worthy of doing this.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: I don't there what can I possibly share?
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: Is is there ever a time that you're ever concerned that that we won't meet your expectation?
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I think in whether it was asking somebody to preach on my behalf or somebody to be a part of this podcast or do a devotional, I think knowing your heart.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: We had lunch together early on, and one of the reasons I do that, and Brian and I have had s several times that we've been able to be together outside of just you know the devotional or the podcast, and knowing Brian's heart and your heart, then I had no reservation whatsoever.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, you're gonna do it differently than me, and that's great.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, I'm thankful that uh that most people don't have to uh to do it like I do.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_02: And so I think that uh I was very confident knowing that however you present it, it's going to come out as Brian or it's gonna come out as Marcus, not Greg.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_02: We don't need don't need another Greg.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_02: My wife reminds me of that multiple times.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_02: And my kids, Dad, we there only needs to be one of you.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_02: So so I think that's what gives me great confidence knowing, and I just am so confident in the Holy Spirit, who I know lives inside of you and Brian.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm just always confident you guys are gonna do a great job because I know your heart.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_02: Um so no, I don't ever have any any question.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um so Brian, I'm curious, am I am I alone and feeling that way when I know I know you get out and you do such an incredible job when you you know when you're asked to to fill in or to share?
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_00: Is that something that I'm just no?
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_01: When he asked me, I smile, I'm like, yeah, I'd be glad to do that, Greg.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_01: You always tell me that.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: I know but I know here's what I know that I will I will pray about it that week.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but I won't have anything until Sunday night around nine o'clock.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, okay.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_01: And we we have to wake up early and get here Monday morning.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: 6 30 is really early.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: And that's that's where my anxiety comes from because I'm like, what do I what do I talk about?
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: What do I say?
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, Lord, just give me something.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah um I always feel like you're prepared a week before.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: Like, here's what we're gonna talk about next Monday morning.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_01: I already got it.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, uh I I don't operate that way.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't, I mean, I know in general, it's kind of like in in preaching.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_02: I would know when we did a series, I knew kind of where if we were in a book of the Bible, okay, here's what's next, here's you know, first chapter, second chapter.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_02: But um often for me it was uh it it was later in the week.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um so yeah, I'm with you on that.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: And then there's the anxiety of like, I just want to relate to these guys that that are in this room.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um most of them are very different than me.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like these these are chiseled guys, you know, like hard workers, just you know, going out in the fields and truck drivers, and that intimidates me when I'm when I'm staring at them like, yeah, I sit behind a computer all day.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_01: You know, like come see me sometime behind my computer.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um you're a handyman.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_01: I know.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you build a lot of computer.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: I do build, I build stuff, but you know, these guys don't know that.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_01: And so for me, that's where my anxiety comes from.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_01: Like I feel like I like I'm a part of this group, and maybe they don't feel that way at all, but but I do have anxiety about that when I'm when I'm speaking to them and um just sharing what God has put on my heart.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: So that I'm just praying the night before all week, just like God help me relate, help me something that you know that that can reach some of these folks sitting in front of me.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, definitely there's anxiety there.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: When I thought about that, and and and this was you know, again, you know, when when Greg uh asked for me to speak, I thought, okay.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: It was it it was almost immediate.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: Uh what what came to my heart is okay, let's talk about this anxiety.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I I there's this thing, and I don't know how new it is.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: It's you know, this imposter syndrome idea where we feel like, okay, uh, if people really knew you know how much I do or don't know about what I'm talking about, and they could see through that, they're not gonna listen to a word that I say, right?
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: And it's and it it's amazing.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: There's the psychology of that.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: There are some experts out there that feel like they still have sure imposter syndrome because in their minds they still don't know enough.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: When in reality they know so much more than than we do.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um and and I went to the scripture and one of the uh 2 Corinthians 12 9 stuck out to me and it uh it reads, But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: And that what that said to me, and I know we and we all interpret, that said to me, Hey, own the fact that you don't that you're not a you know religious the you know theologian, own the fact that you haven't pastored for years.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: But not only own it, but be proud of the fact that you know you can share your weakness, but still be authentic enough to stand in front of people and talk about your love for God and and what and the relationship that that you have.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: What do you think about that scripture, Greg?
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: Did that does that speak to to you as well?
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_02: You know, that's the context is Paul's thorn in the flesh, and he says three times he's asked God, could you please deal with this?
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_02: And God basically says to him that the way that, you know, if if it's me being strong, then people just look at me.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_02: But if it's in my weakness, they say, Where'd that come from?
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_02: That had to come from someplace else, other than Greg or Brian or Marcus.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_02: And so I think it's in our weakness that people connect with us most and not in our strength.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, they don't necessarily want to tell me great, you know, sometimes my wife and I talk about that, you know, saying, Hey, how do you tell people you have a great marriage and you love life when their life's falling apart?
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_02: They don't necessarily want to hear that.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_02: And so it's hard.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_02: You have to kind of have a certain audience that uh you get to share that with.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: But yes, I think it's it's when we're weak that the Holy Spirit proves himself to be strong.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: So and I went to and and and I you know did some research on some examples, you know, of those that we that may have shared some or or told God that, hey, I'm not worthy to do what you're asking me to do.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: Why are you why can you please go ask somebody else to do this?
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: And it and Moses came to mind.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: And Moses said, I'm God, I'm slow to s I'm slow to speak.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_00: Why, you know, and you know, in Gideon, you know, I'm I'm the least in my family.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Why are you can you why are you coming to me with this?
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, went to you know to to David, and you know, again, when when just of all of the brothers that could have, you know, he was maybe considered the least.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: And yet I I just think it's that you know, and God's response to them was I'm gonna be with you.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_00: I've chosen you right and I'm going to be with you.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: And it love the fact that they acknowledge their weaknesses, but God said, You you will find strength in in me.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_02: You know, one of the phrases that people use a lot is that God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_02: And so He He takes those weaknesses and uses those to connect with other people.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: Because everybody in the room on Monday, everybody on this podcast, we all come to this with weaknesses.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_02: And so when we recognize, hey, there are other people that are talking, they're not, you know, they're not a finished product.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_02: We're all we're all in process.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: So I just think that's what will help people.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_02: And why I'm excited when you and Brian do it, because I think they connect better with you guys than me, because they kind of see me as you know, some because of the pastor word, which I don't try to ever use.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_02: But I just think that they're good that they connect with you really well.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so that's what's exciting for me to watch that.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: And I'd be interested from you guys.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, I I tell everybody that you know, I I I set in church and I and I follow along, but I think some of my best conversations with God is when I'm on the treadmill or on the lawnmower.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, and I think people can identify with that.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: I know we have a lot of guys out there spend a lot of time on the road, and and I just encourage you at, you know, to have, you know, what a great time to have those personal conversations.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_00: And if I, you know, if I was somebody that ha felt like I had the opportunity to share, but you know, this this kind of these thoughts of this weakness and imposter syndrome was setting in on me and it kept me from what are what are some ways that you guys would recommend for me to to get past that and actually just start talking to somebody about you know about my relationship.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_00: Do you guys have any advice on on maybe a a way to motivate myself just to s just to take that first step?
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Greg, do you have any advice?
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_01: Hey Brian, what would you like to say?
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: You know, in in real life, right?
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_01: Day-to-day conversations, like I get nervous all the time.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_01: I just found out last night that some friends of ours lost their mother.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm sitting there like, what do I say?
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: What do I say to them?
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_01: I didn't know what to say.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_01: You know, um I'm getting ready to text them, like, is texting the right thing to do?
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_01: Should I call them?
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I didn't know what to do, and I'm like, God, how do I respond?
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_01: What do I say?
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: I don't want to I don't wanna be insensitive, I don't want to, you know, bother them.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: All of those things go through your head, and then I say, God, just help me in what I need to say or what I need to text this person, um, let me say or type the right thing.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't, you know, I I feel that he he gives me those things to say and the things to type most of the time.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: Um but it takes me taking that first step, that action step.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_02: I found that it's not really about the words we say.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_02: We get all hung up about, you know, what am I gonna say, how am I gonna do and it's really that that we're present and that we care.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_02: And so even a text, hey, I just want you to know that I care about you.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I've done hundreds of funerals, and I promise you, as uh incredible as I was and as eloquent as I was at every one of those funerals, not they don't ever remember what I said.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_02: But I promise you they remember that I love them and that I cared about the person who died, and I cared about them.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, when my dad had cancer a number of years back, uh sometimes people just avoided us because they didn't know what to say.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_02: And I learned a lot, and I learned a huge lesson from that.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: It was like, just be there.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and so whether it's a waitress, whether it's somebody we sit by, uh, it's just really trying to demonstrate, hey, I care about your family and um tell me a little bit about your family.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_02: Tell me a little bit about where you're headed if it's on an airplane.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and and I just think God, as I pray for supernatural conversations every day, then God opens that up.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_02: And rarely are they going to ask, they don't know enough to ask you a hard question.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, and even if they ask you a question, you say, you know, that's a great question.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_02: I I'll be glad to find that out and I'll get back with you.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's that kind of a thing.
• 17:39
  SPEAKER_02: So I think we sometimes are thinking that we need to have the right answer, and we don't.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_02: We just need to be the right kind of person that says, Man, I care, I care about what you're going through.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_02: That has to really be hard.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_02: I've never experienced that, but that must really be hard.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_02: Um, so yeah.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_02: Just being authentic.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_02: That's it.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_02: Being real, just yeah, being vulnerable.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_02: And maybe a lot of times rather than texting something, it's maybe just, you know, showing up and saying, Man, I just I just want to give you a hug because this has to really be hard.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know what I'd be, I'd probably be a mess if I was going through this.
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_00: No, I I appreciate that.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I once heard that you know, people don't need a flawless messenger, they need a genuine one.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_00: And I and I will, you know, continue to do my best, and I know Brian will as well, and I know you will as well to continue to just be genuine, you know, in and for our team, and and hopefully they understand that w we're all on the same walk.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: We are.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_02: We're all broken people that are uh looking to Jesus for uh for transformation and for change.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_02: So is there something in particular, Marcus, that you say, hey, this is kind of this is our practice assignment, this is our take home.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_02: Is there something that that you think would be great for us to focus on, the people that are listening to this podcast, uh, wherever they are, how uh how could we drive this home for them?
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I I think what I've what I learned in preparing for this morning and and and you know talking to you guys is that you know when I if you feel like you know an imposter, and just take it as an invitation to lean on God rather than your own experiences and performance.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, let him provide you with the words and the action.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_00: Don't consume yourself with feeling like you know there's nothing I have that I'm worthy to say to the point where you don't say anything.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: Just lean on God and He'll provide.
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_02: We sometimes think we're not enough, and on our own, we're not, but because God's spirit lives inside of us, we're more than enough.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_02: We're more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_02: Um so, in one way, we're we're all impostors in that we've not arrived, but we're on the journey.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and that's the exciting part.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_02: We get to be on the journey together, we're all at different stages, and that's that's great.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_02: So we just get to walk alongside of other people who are at a different stage than we are, and that's that's part of the joy of the journey, isn't it?
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, it is.
• 20:23
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I think it would be good for us to uh to pray.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um and so uh Brian, we've got uh you mentioned about the trade show, so that'd be great to uh have you uh pray about that.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_02: I want to pray for the people that are traveling.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe some of you listen to this podcast have family vacation plans.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe it's going to be stressful, maybe it's going to be wonderful, uh, but we want to pray that uh God will give you safety and that you'll just really be able to enjoy being with the people you love.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_02: And then Marcus, we'll we'll have you pray for uh when I know we're doing some uh integration inside the company to get all of our different departments connected together in a way that we can see what each other's doing, learn from each other.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_02: So uh we'll have you uh pray for all that because that's a big deal.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_02: Uh that's gonna take us a year or two, right, to integrate all of that stuff together.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: It is, and it's you know, the the shorter it takes, it's only because of the the fact that we try harder and and and we work harder.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: So uh love love that standard.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, great.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well let's uh let's pray.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_02: Brian, why don't you lead us off?
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_01: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for how you provide.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh just pray for this conference that I'm getting ready to head out to here in a little bit and pray for safe travel for all those who are uh heading to Wisconsin.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_01: And I just thank you for the opportunity to meet with people that um do the things that we do uh together.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: Biosolids is an issue um around the country, um because we're because of multiple factors, God, so I'm just praying.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: That uh we would be able to uh just attend this conference and to be with people who want to solve problems like we do, uh, who want to manage biosolids well, want to be environmentally conscious, want to give back um and and just help those cities in need.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I pray, God, that you would uh just uh help guide our conversations while we're there.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um just as we just got finished talking about in this podcast, God, we're gonna meet a lot of people and uh it'll be great opportunities for conversations um centered around you.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_01: And uh pray that you would help us be bold and uh just calm that anxiety and and um help us just to have those conversations.
• 22:48
  SPEAKER_01: But again, thank you, God, for just the opportunity uh to work for a company who cares about biosolids and um wants to make a difference.
• 22:58
  SPEAKER_01: And so just uh guide and lead us as we head up there today.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_02: Eternal God, we're grateful for the seasons of life that you bring those consistently as evidence of your creative power and your divine providence.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_02: So thanks for this summer and thanks for the opportunity to be able to spend time with our families and do things a little bit differently because of kids being out of school and be able to spend more time together.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_02: And we just pray this will be a rich time, that this will be the best summer that our families have ever had, and that they will enjoy time together, that they will you'll provide resources to be able to do things that are enjoyable, uh lots of great conversations, and that you'll keep our team very safe.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_02: So we're so grateful for this summer season that's uh that's ahead of us.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, we've been working through this ERP, this enterprise resource planning, and for all of those uh that are listening to my voice, that's just basically some integration of systems that'll that'll help us be more efficient, give us some real-time data, and and God, you've granted the wisdom and the energy to some incredible folks here at Merrill Brothers to withstand and absorb all of the information that's coming to them.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, as we start our second week of prototype testing, Lord, just have you know ask that you continue to grant uh continued energy and attention uh to the detail that goes into this and just thankful, Lord, for the opportunity uh to advance your company and the incredible people that you have working on this project, Lord.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_00: Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me exactly as I am.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_00: Forgive me for relying on my own strength and fearing that I'm not good enough to share your love.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, I ask that you help me to see that my weakness is an opportunity for your grace to shine through me.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, remind me that I'm I'm a witness, not a scholar.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Lord, I ask that you fill me with the strength and the courage to speak my truth genuinely uh with a with an honest and open heart.
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_00: And it's in your name that I pray.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 25:20
  SPEAKER_02: Brian, if somebody wants to get a hold of us and they connected to this podcast, they say, Man, I need I just need somebody to help me take a next step.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_02: How do they do that?
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_01: Just go to Merylbrose.com, click on the prayer tab at the top of the page, fill out that little contact uh form, and we will get in touch with you.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, great.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks so much.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_02: Well, have a great summer.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for listening, and we'll uh look forward to uh checking back with you next week.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_02: Take care.