Latest / Marriage Life and More and Bible Study / Unqualified - Life is Like an Onion, Pt 3 - 184

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Unqualified - Life is Like an Onion, Pt 3 - 184 · Marriage Life and More and Bible Study

• 0:09
  Daniel Moore: We often believe we know exactly who we are meant to be, creating an idealized version of ourselves in our minds.
• 0:15
  Daniel Moore: We exert great effort and offer desperate prayers to bring this image into reality.
• 0:20
  Daniel Moore: However, as I continue my personal journey with God and witness how he sometimes uses the most unlikely individuals, I become increasingly convinced that our understanding of our true selves is often incomplete.
• 0:34
  Daniel Moore: On this week's episode of Connecting the Gap, we're going to continue our study on feeling unqualified as we dig into part three of this series, and we'll be back with this week's episode of Connecting the Gap right after this.
• 0:46
  Daniel Moore: And a word from our sponsor.
• 0:48
  Daniel Moore: They say that it is darkest right before the dawn.
• 1:09
  Daniel Moore: So remember, no matter what battle you are facing, what war is raging, the dawn is coming.
• 1:43
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• 1:49
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• 1:54
  Daniel Moore: Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
• 1:57
  Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
• 1:58
  Daniel Moore: Thank you for joining me this week.
• 1:59
  Daniel Moore: If you're not familiar with our show, check out our website, wwwconnectingthegapnet.
• 2:04
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• 2:07
  Daniel Moore: Our YouTube and our Rumble links are there as well.
• 2:10
  Daniel Moore: We're also on the Christian podcasting app, edify.
• 2:12
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• 2:18
  Daniel Moore: If you're a fan of our show, please subscribe and feel free to leave a comment on our platforms, share us and give us a thumbs up or a five-star review on Apple Podcasts.
• 2:28
  Daniel Moore: We'd be eternally grateful to you for doing that, as that would be you helping us to help our ministry to grow here at Connecting the Gap.
• 2:36
  Daniel Moore: Well, over the last couple of weeks here, we've been digging into our new series on feeling unqualified, and this week is no exception.
• 2:46
  Daniel Moore: This week we're going to continue that study and we're going to be digging into part three of that series here on connecting the gap.
• 3:09
  Daniel Moore: Anytime you're processing your soul's deepest questions, there's only one source that guarantees answers, and of course that's the movie Shrek.
• 3:20
  Daniel Moore: One day, shrek found himself engaged in a conversation with his trusty sidekick, donkey.
• 3:26
  Daniel Moore: They lounged lazily by the swamp where the ogre called home.
• 3:34
  Daniel Moore: Donkey, known for his wit and lightheartedness, couldn't help but notice Shrek's grumpy expression and, always wanting to crack a joke, donkey said hey, shrek, why the long face?
• 3:41
  Daniel Moore: Did you step on a fairy's toe or something?
• 3:44
  Daniel Moore: Shrek, why the long face?
• 3:47
  Daniel Moore: Did you step on a fairy's toe or something?
• 3:48
  Daniel Moore: Shrek let out a heavy sigh and replied nah, donkey, I'm just a complicated guy, you know.
• 3:51
  Daniel Moore: Like an onion, donkey.
• 3:53
  Daniel Moore: Ogres are like onions.
• 3:56
  Daniel Moore: We have layers.
• 3:59
  Daniel Moore: Donkey raised an eyebrow and chuckled layers.
• 4:01
  Daniel Moore: Shrek, I've known you for a while now and I can confirm you don't smell like no onions Maybe swamp, but definitely not onions.
• 4:10
  Daniel Moore: Shrek rolled his eyes used to Donkey's playful banter and he said no, donkey, I'm talking about layers of complexity.
• 4:18
  Daniel Moore: You see, beneath this intimidating green exterior lies a whole assortment of emotions and complexities.
• 4:26
  Daniel Moore: Donkey scratched his furry chin, pretending to ponder deeply.
• 4:30
  Daniel Moore: So let me get this straight, shrek, you're saying that you're like an onion because you make people cry.
• 4:38
  Daniel Moore: Shrek couldn't help but chuckle.
• 4:40
  Daniel Moore: No, no, donkey.
• 4:41
  Daniel Moore: Well, maybe sometimes.
• 4:43
  Daniel Moore: But what I mean is that I, like many others, have layers to my personality.
• 4:48
  Daniel Moore: Just like an onion, you peel away one layer and there's another beneath it.
• 4:53
  Daniel Moore: Donkey nodded, grinning mischievously Ah, I get it now.
• 4:59
  Daniel Moore: So does that mean you have layers of sweetness and tenderness underneath all that gruff exterior?
• 5:04
  Daniel Moore: Are you secretly a sugary ogre?
• 5:04
  Daniel Moore: So does that mean you have layers of sweetness and tenderness underneath all that gruff exterior?
• 5:07
  Daniel Moore: Are you secretly a sugary ogre?
• 5:08
  Daniel Moore: Shrek playfully swatted Donkey with his tail.
• 5:10
  Daniel Moore: Donkey, don't get carried away.
• 5:12
  Daniel Moore: But yes, there's more to me than just meets the eye.
• 5:15
  Daniel Moore: Despite my ogre exterior, I have fears, insecurities and other softer emotions.
• 5:22
  Daniel Moore: I'm not just a big green, intimidating guy.
• 5:29
  Daniel Moore: Donkey's eyes twinkled with amusement.
• 5:32
  Daniel Moore: Well, shrek, I gotta admit I never thought I'd see the day when an ogre compared himself to an onion.
• 5:34
  Daniel Moore: But hey, it's all part of your lovable charm.
• 5:37
  Daniel Moore: Shrek smirked, realizing that Donkey had managed to bring some humor to his emotional state of mind.
• 5:43
  Daniel Moore: Donkey had managed to bring some humor to his emotional state of mind.
• 5:47
  Daniel Moore: Thanks, donkey.
• 5:48
  Daniel Moore: I guess being a complicated onion isn't so bad after all.
• 5:49
  Daniel Moore: It keeps life interesting, just like our adventures together.
• 5:54
  Daniel Moore: You know, shrek's comparison to an onion offers a valuable insight into human nature and the complexity of our emotions and persona.
• 6:02
  Daniel Moore: Just like Shrek, many of us are wrapped up in layers that often shield our true feelings and make us appear complicated beings.
• 6:10
  Daniel Moore: At the beginning of the story, shrek describes himself as an ogre with layers.
• 6:16
  Daniel Moore: Similarly, many people put on different facades or layers to protect themselves from vulnerability.
• 6:24
  Daniel Moore: We often build walls around us, afraid to showcase our true emotions, fears or insecurities, therefore creating a complex outer shell that others see.
• 6:35
  Daniel Moore: It's like a game of playing charades.
• 6:40
  Daniel Moore: Shrek's comparison to an onion implies that, just like the vegetable, our emotions and true selves are hidden beneath layers.
• 6:47
  Daniel Moore: We often hesitate to peel back those layers and reveal our authentic selves out of fear of judgment, rejection or getting hurt.
• 6:56
  Daniel Moore: We tend to hide our vulnerabilities and present a composed exterior, even though we may be going through internal struggles or deep-rooted emotions.
• 7:05
  Daniel Moore: Furthermore, schreck's acknowledgement of his complexities and layers implies that we, too, have multiple dimensions to our personalities.
• 7:14
  Daniel Moore: Our thoughts, emotions and actions can be influenced by various factors, including past experiences, societal expectations or personal beliefs.
• 7:25
  Daniel Moore: This multifaceted nature can result in inner conflicts and contradictions, making us seem like we're complicated beings.
• 7:33
  Daniel Moore: On top of that, we aren't static beings.
• 7:37
  Daniel Moore: We aren't finished products.
• 7:39
  Daniel Moore: We are constantly morphing, continually reinventing ourselves.
• 7:43
  Daniel Moore: So if you haven't figured yourself out yet, well, that's okay.
• 7:49
  Daniel Moore: Throughout history, numerous books have sought to classify and categorize the human race in various ways, from examining our leadership styles to diving into our thought processes and exploring our capacity for love.
• 8:02
  Daniel Moore: These books attempt to understand and quantify the complex influences that shape us.
• 8:08
  Daniel Moore: Authors and researchers have dissected into aspects such as ethnicity, culture, background, experience, education, brain chemistry, trauma, age, sexuality and more, all in an effort to comprehend the intricacies of human behavior.
• 8:25
  Daniel Moore: They hope that these classifications and categorizations can provide insights into how we relate to one another as spouses, parents, co-workers and friends.
• 8:35
  Daniel Moore: At a macro level, these attempts at classifications can be appreciated for their potential to offer guiding principles for understanding and fostering better relationships.
• 8:46
  Daniel Moore: They encourage us to recognize and appreciate the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.
• 8:52
  Daniel Moore: They provide frameworks for empathy and understanding, raising awareness about the unique circumstances that influence how individuals may approach various aspects of life.
• 9:03
  Daniel Moore: However, it is crucial to recognize that all these attempts at categorization eventually break down.
• 9:11
  Daniel Moore: Humans are far too multifaceted to fit into neat organizational schemes.
• 9:15
  Daniel Moore: We are unique individuals with our own thoughts, feelings and experiences.
• 9:21
  Daniel Moore: While broad assessments may provide some insights, they cannot capture the full complexity of our personal narratives.
• 9:27
  Daniel Moore: Embracing the complexity of human nature is pivotal.
• 9:32
  Daniel Moore: Being labeled and lumped together with millions of other people who share surface level similarities disregards our individuality and diminishes the richness of our unique stories.
• 9:42
  Daniel Moore: And diminishes the richness of our unique stories.
• 9:46
  Daniel Moore: Each person is a tapestry of different influences, experiences and traits that cannot be accurately captured by any broad classification system.
• 9:54
  Daniel Moore: I know people that can effortlessly quote results from the personality test.
• 9:58
  Daniel Moore: They swear by them as the master grid that predicts 90% of all human behavior, and I have taken some of those same tests, several of them.
• 10:08
  Daniel Moore: Actually, I couldn't tell you the results if I had a gun to my head.
• 10:11
  Daniel Moore: Somehow that stuff just doesn't register with me enough so that I remember it.
• 10:15
  Daniel Moore: When someone tries to explain it to me, all I hear is Charlie Brown's teacher.
• 10:22
  Daniel Moore: But there is something within each of us that tells us we are unique, special, original, that something comes from God.
• 10:30
  Daniel Moore: Psalm 139, chapter 13 through 14, speaks to the deep and intricate nature of our creation by God.
• 10:37
  Daniel Moore: It reads For you created my inmost being.
• 10:41
  Daniel Moore: You knit me together in my mother's womb.
• 10:44
  Daniel Moore: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
• 10:48
  Daniel Moore: These verses reveal the belief that God is our Creator, intentionally designed each of us with complexity and purpose.
• 11:00
  Daniel Moore: They remind us that there is something within us that tells us we are unique, special and original, and that this something is a reflection of God's divine craftsmanship.
• 11:12
  Daniel Moore: The language used in these verses emphasizes the intricate process of creation.
• 11:17
  Daniel Moore: This imagery of knitting together in the mother's womb evokes a sense of care, precision and intentionality.
• 11:24
  Daniel Moore: It suggests that God, with deep understanding and knowledge, has intricately woven together every aspect of our being.
• 11:32
  Daniel Moore: Furthermore, the passage speaks of being fearfully and wonderfully made.
• 11:36
  Daniel Moore: This does not imply fear in a sense of intimidation, but rather in the awe-inspiring veneration of God's creation.
• 11:43
  Daniel Moore: It acknowledges that the way God has formed us the awe-inspiring veneration of God's creation.
• 11:45
  Daniel Moore: It acknowledges that the way God has formed us is awe-inspiring, marvelous and beyond comprehension.
• 11:53
  Daniel Moore: In comparing our creation to anything else in existence, the psalmist describes the unique attention and the detail that God has given to human beings.
• 12:02
  Daniel Moore: While everything in creation has its beauty and purpose, we are uniquely layered with complexity, from our physical attributes to our intellectual, emotional and spiritual capacities.
• 12:15
  Daniel Moore: Each layer is intentionally crafted by God.
• 12:18
  Daniel Moore: When we study these verses, we can understand that God's creation of humanity is not a haphazard or random act.
• 12:25
  Daniel Moore: It is purposeful, intentional and extraordinary.
• 12:30
  Daniel Moore: We are not merely a sum of biological processes, but rather beings fused with the essence of divinely inspired creativity.
• 12:38
  Daniel Moore: This understanding affirms and strengthens our sense of uniqueness.
• 12:43
  Daniel Moore: It assures us that we have inherent worth and value originating from God's intentional design.
• 12:50
  Daniel Moore: It also encourages us to seek and embrace our individuality, recognizing and celebrating the diverse layers that make us who we are.
• 13:00
  Daniel Moore: The danger lies in our failure to recognize the intrinsic value present in our complexity, which can lead to unintended consequences when attempting to fix or alter what we perceive to be damaged.
• 13:11
  Daniel Moore: The story of Cecilia Gimenez's restoration attempt on a fresco of Jesus titled Ecce Homo serves as an illustrative example of this.
• 13:25
  Daniel Moore: Eccomo, a 19th century painting in a Spanish church, had suffered damage and wear over time.
• 13:30
  Daniel Moore: In an effort to restore the artwork, cecilia Jiménez, an elderly woman with good intentions, took it upon herself to make repairs.
• 13:38
  Daniel Moore: Unfortunately, her lack of expertise and understanding of the original artwork resulted in unintended consequences.
• 13:46
  Daniel Moore: Jimenez's restoration attempts dramatically altered the face of Jesus, transforming the artwork into a widely mocked and unintentionally comical portrayal.
• 13:57
  Daniel Moore: Though her actions were driven by a desire to restore and preserve the painting, the outcome had the opposite effect, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
• 14:08
  Daniel Moore: This illustration reveals the potential danger of not recognizing the value present in complexity.
• 14:15
  Daniel Moore: In this case, jimenez's lack of understanding and appreciation for the intricate details and original intent of the artwork led to an unintended degradation of its artistic and historical significance.
• 14:27
  Daniel Moore: What she lacked in talent, she made up for in paint.
• 14:33
  Daniel Moore: Similarly, when we fail to recognize the inherent value present in our complexities as human beings, we can inadvertently undermine our own sense of self-worth and authenticity.
• 14:43
  Daniel Moore: If we seek to quote-unquote fix what we perceive as flaws or inadequacy, without fully understanding and embracing our unique layers, we risk diminishing our true essence, sacrificing our authenticity for societal standards or external expectations.
• 14:59
  Daniel Moore: This illustration of Cecilia Geminis' restoration attempt serves as a reminder that our attempts to fix ourselves or others without proper understanding and compassion can backfire.
• 15:12
  Daniel Moore: When we view our complexities solely through the lens of perceived flaws or inadequacies, we risk damaging the very core of who we are.
• 15:21
  Daniel Moore: In the name of fixing ourselves, we can end up making things worse.
• 15:26
  Daniel Moore: We don't mean to any more than a misguided, overzealous octogenarian meant to turn a fresco into a fiasco.
• 15:35
  Daniel Moore: When it comes to our self-perception, we often fall into the trap of making simplistic judgments about what is good or bad and right or wrong.
• 15:43
  Daniel Moore: Bad and right or wrong.
• 15:48
  Daniel Moore: We look at ourselves in the mirror, comparing our current state to an idealized version of who we think we should be, and become eager to make drastic changes.
• 15:53
  Daniel Moore: However, it is essential to recognize that God is a restorer, sees our true identity and has a different approach.
• 16:00
  Daniel Moore: God is not in the business of simply bleaching and sandblasting our identities to conform to society or external expectations.
• 16:09
  Daniel Moore: Instead, god's restorative nature reminds us that he is a creator and a recreator.
• 16:16
  Daniel Moore: He looks beyond the superficial layers of grit and grime that accumulate on our souls and seeks to bring out the subtle hues and deep tones within us souls, and seeks to bring out the subtle hues and deep tones within us, those aspects of ourselves that are hidden beneath the weight of hardships, past mistakes and negative self-perception.
• 16:34
  Daniel Moore: The restoration process carried out by God is not instantaneous, but rather a nuanced and intentional endeavor.
• 16:41
  Daniel Moore: It requires time, skill and effort to gently unveil the beauty and uniqueness that lies within us.
• 16:49
  Daniel Moore: God's restorative work involves healing our wounds, exposing our true colors and bringing forth the authentic essence that has been obscured by the challenges and the trials of life.
• 17:00
  Daniel Moore: Through this restoration journey, god guides us towards self-acceptance, inviting us to embrace the complex layers that makes us who we are, instead of hastily slapping paint around or trying to conform to society.
• 17:15
  Daniel Moore: We are encouraged to trust in God's restorative process and allow Him to work through us.
• 17:21
  Daniel Moore: God's restoration is not about erasing our identities or forcing us into a mold.
• 17:27
  Daniel Moore: It is about uncovering and celebrating the intricacies that exist within us, acknowledging our brokenness while recognizing our inherent worth and potential.
• 17:37
  Daniel Moore: We first need to take a close look at who God made us to be.
• 17:41
  Daniel Moore: That's going to require honesty, humility and diligence.
• 17:45
  Daniel Moore: It's going to mean listening to the one that created us in the first place.
• 17:51
  Daniel Moore: In Jeremiah, chapter 17, verse 9 through 10, it says the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick.
• 17:58
  Daniel Moore: Who can understand it?
• 18:00
  Daniel Moore: I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
• 18:08
  Daniel Moore: This passage explains the inherent deceitfulness and brokenness of the human heart.
• 18:14
  Daniel Moore: It acknowledges that our hearts can be misguided, clouded by our own desires and prone to deception.
• 18:21
  Daniel Moore: However, it reveals that, despite the incomprehensibility of the human heart, only God possesses the ability to truly understand it.
• 18:32
  Daniel Moore: God not only knows the depths of our hearts, but also examines our minds, thoughts and intentions.
• 18:37
  Daniel Moore: In Psalm 139, verses 1 and 2, it further emphasizes God's knowledge of humanity by saying O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
• 18:46
  Daniel Moore: You know when I sit down and when I rise up.
• 18:49
  Daniel Moore: God's knowledge of humanity, by saying these verses depict God's all-compassing awareness of our lives.
• 18:57
  Daniel Moore: God knows our every move, even the most mundane aspects of our daily routines.
• 19:03
  Daniel Moore: Moreover, god discerns our thoughts even when they are far from spoken.
• 19:09
  Daniel Moore: His knowledge extends beyond the visible surface into the depths of our being, encompassing the hidden aspects of our hearts and minds.
• 19:18
  Daniel Moore: Combining these two passages, we can understand that God alone has the ability to fully comprehend the human heart, that God alone has the ability to fully comprehend the human heart.
• 19:29
  Daniel Moore: Our hearts may deceive us, leading us astray, but God sees through the murkiness and knows our true motives and intentions.
• 19:35
  Daniel Moore: He examines not only our external actions but also the condition of our hearts.
• 19:39
  Daniel Moore: Therefore, god knows us more intimately and accurately than we know ourselves.
• 19:44
  Daniel Moore: God knows everything about you, including the ugly parts, the broken parts and the dysfunctional parts.
• 19:51
  Daniel Moore: Yet he still believes in you.
• 19:54
  Daniel Moore: He still has a future and a hope for you.
• 19:57
  Daniel Moore: We're going to take a break here for a moment.
• 20:00
  Daniel Moore: When we come back, we're going to continue and close up here on Episode 3 of Feeling Unqualified, and we'll be back with that right after this.
• 20:18
  chataboutjesus.com: With a tornado bearing down on their little Illinois town, some people ran to what they thought would be a safe place, the basement of a century-old tavern.
• 20:27
  chataboutjesus.com: However, the foundation was made of sandstone and couldn't withstand the storm.
• 20:31
  chataboutjesus.com: Eight of those ended up dying there.
• 20:34
  chataboutjesus.com: It's like so many people in our world who think they've found a safe place in a relationship, a family, a good income, a religion.
• 20:42
  chataboutjesus.com: But will it survive the storm of a breakup, a disease, a divorce or a layoff?
• 20:48
  chataboutjesus.com: The Bible says that there is only one kind of person who is eternally safe.
• 20:53
  chataboutjesus.com: It is that one who calls on the name of the Lord to be saved.
• 20:56
  chataboutjesus.com: That means that grabbing Jesus Christ is your only hope of having your sins forgiven and going to heaven.
• 21:02
  chataboutjesus.com: Jesus said I will never leave you.
• 21:05
  chataboutjesus.com: He is the only safe place that you will never lose.
• 21:09
  chataboutjesus.com: If you want to belong to him, call us at 1-888-NEED-HIM or chat with us at chataboutjesuscom.
• 21:31
  Daniel Moore: Welcome back to this week's episode of Connecting the Gap.
• 21:34
  Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore, your host.
• 21:35
  Daniel Moore: Thank you, guys for taking the time out of your week to check out this episode.
• 21:39
  Daniel Moore: We're in part three of our extensive series on feeling unqualified and we're going to go ahead and continue that and wrap up this week's episode here on Connecting the Gap.
• 21:50
  Daniel Moore: You know, there's something that I know about my wife that perfectly sums up what God would say to each of us.
• 21:56
  Daniel Moore: That is, quote unquote I love everything there is to know about you.
• 22:01
  Daniel Moore: I'm not here to analyze her or criticize her.
• 22:05
  Daniel Moore: I'm not here to make judgments about her or even who I think she should become.
• 22:09
  Daniel Moore: That's my wife's journey.
• 22:11
  Daniel Moore: All of our hope should be that we get the most out of our journey, that somehow we can get unstuck.
• 22:18
  Daniel Moore: If our third words are spinning us out, it's to encourage us to embrace and maybe in some cases even appreciate many of the quirks and flaws that often drive us crazy.
• 22:29
  Daniel Moore: We need to cheer each other on as we allow God to bring out the real us, whatever that looks like.
• 22:37
  Daniel Moore: Our third words affect every facet of our lives, but many of us fail to seek God's guidance in determining the significance and accuracy of our third words, which can have a huge impact on all aspects of our lives.
• 22:50
  Daniel Moore: We often believe we know exactly who we are meant to be, creating an idealized version of ourselves in our minds.
• 22:57
  Daniel Moore: We exert great effort and offer desperate prayers to bring this image into reality.
• 23:03
  Daniel Moore: However, as I continue my personal journey with God and witness how he sometimes uses the most unlikely individuals, I become increasingly convinced that our understanding of our true selves is often incomplete.
• 23:17
  Daniel Moore: Before launching on well-intentioned but novice attempts to restore ourselves, it is crucial to allow God to reveal our genuine identities and the potential within us.
• 23:27
  Daniel Moore: Some of the aspects we perceive as flaws or imperfections may actually be integral components of our being.
• 23:35
  Daniel Moore: Although they currently trouble us, god intends to employ them for our benefit, making them indispensable to our true nature.
• 23:43
  Daniel Moore: Eliminating these aspects would be an enormous mistake.
• 23:48
  Daniel Moore: Conversely, certain areas we desperately seek to improve may not align with our authentic identities at all.
• 23:55
  Daniel Moore: We yearn for them to be significant because we have been influenced by others' misguided expectations or our own unhealthy comparisons.
• 24:03
  Daniel Moore: The frustration arises from our inability to make progress in these areas.
• 24:08
  Daniel Moore: Yet it is impossible to amplify what God did not originally provide.
• 24:13
  Daniel Moore: Instead, we should redirect our focus towards what God has already entrusted us with.
• 24:19
  Daniel Moore: It's easy to notice that many of us have a severe tendency to put too much emphasis on our one or two-third words.
• 24:26
  Daniel Moore: Usually we tend to elevate the negative ones.
• 24:30
  Daniel Moore: We get discouraged, distracted and derailed by our pessimistic I Ams, our gloomy self-perceptions and our cynical self-definitions.
• 24:41
  Daniel Moore: In Psalm 139, 16-18, it says your eyes saw my unformed body.
• 24:46
  Daniel Moore: All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
• 24:50
  Daniel Moore: How precious to me are your thoughts, god.
• 24:53
  Daniel Moore: How vast is the sum of them?
• 24:55
  Daniel Moore: Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of the sand.
• 24:59
  Daniel Moore: When I awake, I am still with you.
• 25:04
  Daniel Moore: In these verses we see that God sees us with a deep level of care, attention and purpose.
• 25:15
  Daniel Moore: First, it mentions that God saw our unformed bodies.
• 25:16
  Daniel Moore: This demonstrates that even before our physical existence, god's thoughts were already upon us.
• 25:19
  Daniel Moore: Our lives have a divine intention and significance.
• 25:23
  Daniel Moore: The passage also emphasizes that all our days were written in God's book before one of them came to be.
• 25:29
  Daniel Moore: This highlights God's foreknowledge and sovereignty over our lives.
• 25:34
  Daniel Moore: It means that every moment of our existence has been purposefully determined by God.
• 25:39
  Daniel Moore: We are not defined by the negative aspects we dwell on, but rather by the divine plan and purpose intricately woven into our being.
• 25:47
  Daniel Moore: Furthermore, the psalmist expresses awe and gratitude towards God, recognizing the immense value and vastness of God's thoughts towards us.
• 25:57
  Daniel Moore: The comparison of God's thoughts to the grains of sand reveals the immeasurable depth and abundance of God's care and concern for our lives.
• 26:05
  Daniel Moore: Reveals the immeasurable depth and abundance of God's care and concern for our lives.
• 26:07
  Daniel Moore: We can find comfort and reassurance in knowing that God's thoughts towards us are filled with love, compassion and a desire for our well-being.
• 26:14
  Daniel Moore: This passage of Scripture portrays how God sees us in a different light.
• 26:19
  Daniel Moore: It reflects God's intimate knowledge of our existence, his purposeful planning of our days and His immeasurable care and love for us.
• 26:29
  Daniel Moore: Instead of getting distracted or discouraged by our negative self-perceptions, we can draw strength and confidence from knowing that we are seen by God with a deep level of purpose and value.
• 26:39
  Daniel Moore: Embracing this perspective can help us overcome the tendency to oversimplify and generalize ourselves, leading us to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives.
• 26:52
  Daniel Moore: It is a common tendency for us to simplify our identities by summing up ourselves in negative phrases.
• 26:58
  Daniel Moore: We look at ourselves in the metaphorical mirror and quickly label ourselves as failures, alcoholics, dumb or hopeless.
• 27:06
  Daniel Moore: However, this practice is absurd and demissive of our true potential.
• 27:11
  Daniel Moore: God, who created us, does not reduce us to a single phrase or image.
• 27:15
  Daniel Moore: He understands that we are complex, living and constantly evolving individuals.
• 27:21
  Daniel Moore: God refuses to merge our layers and level of existence into a two-dimensional image.
• 27:27
  Daniel Moore: He sees us as multi-dimensional beings with unique qualities and unlimited possibilities.
• 27:33
  Daniel Moore: We shouldn't hastily label ourselves with broad and simplistic descriptions.
• 27:39
  Daniel Moore: Instead, we need to recognize that God is our Restorer and he takes time to transform us in the right way.
• 27:46
  Daniel Moore: That God is our Restorer and he takes time to transform us in the right way.
• 27:48
  Daniel Moore: I am not suggesting that we completely stop using such phrases or third words altogether.
• 27:52
  Daniel Moore: They are a part of life and, when used correctly, they can be empowering.
• 27:58
  Daniel Moore: However, we should avoid using labels and lids that limit us and overlook our true potential.
• 28:03
  Daniel Moore: We must break free from the negative self-perceptions and have faith in God's transformative power.
• 28:10
  Daniel Moore: He sees us beyond our flaws, mistakes and failures.
• 28:15
  Daniel Moore: His desire is to restore, heal and bring out the best in us.
• 28:19
  Daniel Moore: We need to refrain from reducing ourselves to single-word descriptions.
• 28:24
  Daniel Moore: Instead, we need to embrace the understanding that we are constantly growing and changing.
• 28:30
  Daniel Moore: With God as our guide, we have the opportunity to uncover our true identity, purpose and our worth.
• 28:37
  Daniel Moore: Embracing this perspective allows us to live with hope, freedom and a deep sense of purpose.
• 28:43
  Daniel Moore: Freedom and a deep sense of purpose.
• 28:51
  Daniel Moore: So ask yourself who am I?
• 28:51
  Daniel Moore: Take a moment to think about that.
• 28:52
  Daniel Moore: The complexity of the answer might surprise you.
• 28:54
  Daniel Moore: Here are a few categories to get you thinking, along with a handful of examples under each one.
• 29:00
  Daniel Moore: I have added some negative words to this as well, not because that's the way it should be, but because those are the ones that tend to shout at us the loudest and affect us the most.
• 29:11
  Daniel Moore: You have third words in every single category.
• 29:15
  Daniel Moore: I'm going to give you whether if you have ever stopped to verbalize them or not, you have layers upon layers of identity.
• 29:23
  Daniel Moore: So let's see how pervasive and how important your I am statements really are.
• 29:28
  Daniel Moore: First of all, there's personality.
• 29:31
  Daniel Moore: Under that you could say I am shy, I am loud, I am a people pleaser or I am driven.
• 29:38
  Daniel Moore: You also have character.
• 29:41
  Daniel Moore: Under that you could say I am honest or I am lazy, I am mean, I am trustworthy or I am selfish.
• 29:51
  Daniel Moore: Another category conditions or circumstances.
• 29:54
  Daniel Moore: You say I am exhausted, I am healed, I am blessed or I am broke On your ability.
• 30:03
  Daniel Moore: You can say I am stupid, I am musical, I am athletic, or I am weak.
• 30:08
  Daniel Moore: For your emotions you could be saying I am scared, I am conflicted, I am overwhelmed, I am hurting.
• 30:18
  Daniel Moore: For physical traits I am slow, I am tall, I am out of shape.
• 30:26
  Daniel Moore: Education I am a dropout, I am a straight-8 student, I am a college graduate.
• 30:33
  Daniel Moore: For family, you could say I am single, I am a parent, I am divorced, or I am a widow.
• 30:52
  Daniel Moore: For ethnicity or culture, your words could be I am American, I am Caucasian, I am Hispanic, I am small town or I am big city.
• 30:56
  Daniel Moore: For your sexuality, people call themselves straight, or they call themselves gay or lesbian, bisexual, or they're unsure.
• 31:01
  Daniel Moore: For occupation, some people say they're an engineer.
• 31:06
  Daniel Moore: They could say I'm a homemaker, I am unemployed, or I am an entrepreneur.
• 31:11
  Daniel Moore: For spirituality, they could say I'm Catholic, I am atheist, I am agnostic, or I am a Christian.
• 31:20
  Daniel Moore: So are you getting the picture here?
• 31:22
  Daniel Moore: You have layers, and that's something to celebrate, but it's also something to understand.
• 31:28
  Daniel Moore: And why is that?
• 31:30
  Daniel Moore: Because most of the time, third words and phrases have baggage.
• 31:34
  Daniel Moore: They have emotional and psychological implications that resonate throughout our lives.
• 31:40
  Daniel Moore: Layers we all have them.
• 31:43
  Daniel Moore: Some of them reflect the nuances of our personality, our life or maybe even our soul.
• 31:48
  Daniel Moore: Others are just extra baggage.
• 31:51
  Daniel Moore: They may have been useful at one point, but now they're just weighing us down.
• 31:56
  Daniel Moore: Now I've been thinking a lot about layers as I dive into the next level of redesigning my life.
• 32:03
  Daniel Moore: More layers need to be removed in order to fully get to what I really want to do and how I really want my life to look, not what I think I can do or should do.
• 32:14
  Daniel Moore: It takes a while to get to the real thing of what is truly quote-unquote us when we've spent years, maybe even decades, doing what we think we can or should do, and it can be challenging to split out those can and should things from what we really want to do, because this way of thinking is just so ingrained in our brains.
• 32:35
  Daniel Moore: We are conditioned from a young age to think okay, this is what I want, but I'm sure I can't really have that because of you can fill in the blank there.
• 32:45
  Daniel Moore: So my best compromise is to do this other thing instead.
• 32:49
  Daniel Moore: It will at least channel some of that passion or make me some money and I'll be able to pay my bills or etc.
• 32:56
  Daniel Moore: Then, before we know it, years of heading in that direction have gone by, when we realize it's not giving us the fulfilling feeling we had hoped for.
• 33:05
  Daniel Moore: Now, to be clear, these experiences are often quite valuable and can be great fun for a while, and can result in great learning or creative work or new friendships and experiences.
• 33:16
  Daniel Moore: My gratitude for all of those things and more is very real.
• 33:22
  Daniel Moore: The trick, though, is to realize when it's time to step back and take a clear-eyed look at what we're doing with our life and our time and see what layers can be peeled back or even removed.
• 33:32
  Daniel Moore: What do we want more or less of in our life?
• 33:36
  Daniel Moore: What work is helping us create the life that we want and what work is not doing so?
• 33:41
  Daniel Moore: What have we been neglecting?
• 33:44
  Daniel Moore: What passion do we have that is not being fed or expressed?
• 33:48
  Daniel Moore: Having that core, that foundation of things that makes us come alive, is the most healthy starting point.
• 33:55
  Daniel Moore: The things we love should not just be an extra, not something we get to do.
• 34:00
  Daniel Moore: If we have time after work or other responsibilities, we are much more likely to head down the right work path, or switch gears sooner, when needed, if we are living from the foundation of who we truly are and what we love.
• 34:13
  Daniel Moore: Pilling back and discarding layers that are no longer needed can help us see that foundation more clearly.
• 34:20
  Daniel Moore: The urge to de-layer can arise at any time, but there's usually a clear prompt.
• 34:26
  Daniel Moore: It could be the stress level at work reaching an all-time high, or perhaps we experience a health crisis.
• 34:32
  Daniel Moore: That sheds new light on what's most important to us.
• 34:34
  Daniel Moore: That reminds us and calls to us.
• 34:38
  Daniel Moore: Some of our third words are accurate, of course, but many are not.
• 34:42
  Daniel Moore: You have a great deal of control over them, but in order to control them, you must first recognize them.
• 34:48
  Daniel Moore: In Psalm 139, 23-24, david shows his recognition of God's perfect knowledge of our identities and his desire to seek God's help in understanding himself.
• 34:59
  Daniel Moore: These verses state Search me, god, and know my heart.
• 35:04
  Daniel Moore: Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
• 35:06
  Daniel Moore: See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.
• 35:11
  Daniel Moore: See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting.
• 35:15
  Daniel Moore: In these verses, david demonstrates humility and a willingness to invite God to examine and know the depths of his heart.
• 35:19
  Daniel Moore: He acknowledges that God has the ability to truly understand him, even better than he understands himself.
• 35:26
  Daniel Moore: David recognizes that God knows his thoughts, fears and struggles, and he invites God to test and examine his innermost being.
• 35:34
  Daniel Moore: By asking God to search and know his heart, david shows his trust in God's insight and wisdom.
• 35:41
  Daniel Moore: He recognizes that God's knowledge of his true self is far more accurate and comprehensive than his own self-perception.
• 35:48
  Daniel Moore: Than his own self-perception, david seeks God's guidance in identifying any offensive ways or negative aspects within him that may hinder his relationship with God and others.
• 35:59
  Daniel Moore: David asks God to lead him in the way everlasting.
• 36:03
  Daniel Moore: This reveals his desire for God to guide him towards a path that aligns with God's eternal plan and purpose.
• 36:10
  Daniel Moore: And David recognizes that God's guidance and understanding of his identity are crucial for him to live a life that is meaningful, righteous and aligned with God's will.
• 36:20
  Daniel Moore: David's plea to God in these scriptures showcases his humility and acknowledgement of God's perfect knowledge of our identities.
• 36:28
  Daniel Moore: He seeks God's examination of his heart, recognizing that God understands him far better than he understands himself.
• 36:36
  Daniel Moore: David invites God to reveal any offensive ways within him and to lead him in the way that is everlasting.
• 36:44
  Daniel Moore: This passage emphasizes the importance of seeking God's insight and guidance in understanding our own identities and aligning our lives with His purpose.
• 36:55
  Daniel Moore: There is a statement that really explains it all Life is like an onion.
• 37:00
  Daniel Moore: You peel it off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.
• 37:05
  Daniel Moore: Life is like an onion.
• 37:07
  Daniel Moore: You peel off layer after layer and then you find there's nothing in it.
• 37:12
  Daniel Moore: You have so many layers that you can peel away a few, and everyone's so shocked or impressed that you're baring your soul, while to you it's nothing because you know you've got 20 more layers to go.
• 37:27
  Daniel Moore: Maybe the journey isn't so much about being anything.
• 37:29
  Daniel Moore: Maybe it's about unbecoming everything that isn't really you.
• 37:33
  Daniel Moore: So you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.
• 37:37
  Daniel Moore: Yes, we are complicated.
• 37:40
  Daniel Moore: We'll never understand every thread, knot and tangle in the tapestry of our identity, but the more you grow to know God, the more you will grow to know and enjoy yourself.
• 37:51
  Daniel Moore: I can't promise that the journey of self-discovery will be easy.
• 37:56
  Daniel Moore: You might even have a few closets to clean out.
• 37:59
  Daniel Moore: There might be some secrets hidden under the floorboards, but if you learn to recognize and value the real you, you'll find freedom and peace unlike anything that you've ever experienced.
• 38:10
  Daniel Moore: So who are you really?
• 38:16
  Daniel Moore: Well, that's going to wrap up this week's episode of Connecting the Gap.
• 38:18
  Daniel Moore: We're going to pick up here next week with the next episode, our next section of our study here on feeling unqualified, and hopefully you guys will be able to join me next week.
• 38:30
  Daniel Moore: I'm Daniel Moore.
• 38:31
  Daniel Moore: Thank you so much for listening.
• 38:33
  Daniel Moore: This show really wouldn't be possible without you.
• 38:35
  Daniel Moore: If you're a fan of the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and please subscribe to us on your favorite platform.
• 38:41
  Daniel Moore: The links are in the show notes below.
• 38:44
  Daniel Moore: That's all for this week, and don't forget as we go, we believe that God's Word never fails us.
• 38:49
  Daniel Moore: God's word has stood the test of time and through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
• 38:56
  Aria: You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast.
• 38:58
  Aria: In this world, there are many disconnects that cause chaos in our lives.
• 39:02
  Aria: This podcast is birthed from the desire to share hope and restoration of the power of the gospel by being transparent and open in our biblical walk with God.
• 39:10
  Aria: Each week, we take a few moments as we navigate God's Word and peer into other people's testimonies and encourage each other to connect the gap.
• 39:17
  Aria: We upload a new audio podcast every Thursday and a video version of it on YouTube and Rumble.
• 39:22
  Aria: We are also on the Christian podcasting app Edify.
• 39:24
  Aria: You can subscribe to our podcast on many of the available podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcast, spotify, amazon Music, iheart Radio, tunein Radio and more.
• 39:35
  Aria: We are also available on your Alexa-enabled devices.
• 39:37
  Aria: If you would like to contact our ministry for any reason, visit our contact page and send us a message.
• 39:43
  Aria: We hope you are blessed by this ministry.
• 39:45
  Aria: This is a production of Connecting the Gap Ministries.