Foreign s welcome to Fed by the Fruit, a podcast focused on nourishment for the mind, body and soul.

I'm kb, a spirit filled certified life and nutrition coach with a calling to disciple women who are hungry for more.

Each week we will learn who God is and what he wants for and from us through powerful testimonies, biblical truth, and so much more as we fuel our minds and bodies in ways that honor him.

Let's get fed.

Hello, friends.

Welcome to Fed by the Fruit.

Happy Monday.

I hope you're great.

I am doing well.

I'm so excited.

What are we on episode four, I believe a Fed by the fruit.

And it is just everything I hoped it would be and then some.

Today our episode is going to be on applying biblical principles to to your life.

And I brought on a very special guest.

My sweet little Britney.

That's what we just lovingly refer to her as.

She is my son Stellan's wife, my daughter in law, and she has been on before to share her testimony and it was just so nice to have her.

And so I invited her back.

So thanks for coming on.

Of course.

I'm so.

I'm a little nervous, but I'm excited to be here.

You've done it once, you've gone through it before and you're gonna get through it again, right?

Absolutely.

So we thought we could start out by, like, we'll do a little icebreaker for anyone out there who has a daughter in law or who has a mother in law.

I thought it'd be fun to talk about kind of where we started and where we are now because it's kind of a hilarious story to us.

So at some point we realized that both of us thought the other one did not like us.

So I remember it.

Yeah, I remember it as I was.

I was in Iowa.

We were walking circles around my aunt and uncle's car because I was trying to get steps and we were at their cabin and no one was there yet except for me and you.

And we just like somehow revealed to one another, like, you're like, I didn't think you liked me.

And I'm like, I didn't think you liked me.

And then.

So we found out that day.

Yeah.

Yeah, we found out that day that we like each other.

And it's just been bliss ever since.

But you came out here for the first time.

What did we say it was 20.

22.

22.

Yeah.

Okay.

So for Thanksgiving, 22.

I finally, Castellan had been asking if you could come, and I kept saying no.

And I just Used the excuse of.

And it wasn't.

It was real.

It was that correct.

I said, I don't like her.

She's.

No.

That's what I've heard.

That's what you heard.

That probably is what you heard.

It was that I get so little time with him that I.

I just, like, craved one week with Stellan, and I knew if you were here that it wouldn't be.

This is so selfish.

That really is what it was like.

I just wanted him all to myself because I just love him, and I just got so little time with him.

So you finally came.

And let's talk about kind of the disaster that that first trip was.

Well, I mean, for starters, I never traveled before, so it was the first time on a plane.

First time away from my mom and dad, which I never, ever, ever thought I would be, like, a homesick type of person.

But I.

When I got to Virginia, I was, like, in fight or flight.

Like, I couldn't eat.

That was half the battle.

I think I lost probably ten pounds.

I couldn't eat.

I was so.

I just felt so uncomfortable.

And at this point, I thought that you hated me, so.

Right.

This was before our realization.

Yeah.

So I also thought you hated me.

I remember it was like.

I don't.

I don't know why I was so.

I think I was just so afraid of being somewhere else, and it was so out of my normal.

Like, I never traveled, never been without my parents.

It was, like, a lot.

Right.

I think.

Yeah, it was like the perfect recipe for disaster, because you'd never been away from your parents.

You'd never been away from Iowa.

You'd never been on an airplane.

You're coming somewhere where you've.

You just are unfamiliar with.

It's not comfortable.

You think, I don't like you, which is just still so funny to me.

I think the truth is we just never had an opportunity to really get to know each other.

You were still very young, so you were, you know, living with your parents an hour away from Stellen, into where I would come and visit.

So seeing you was kind of few and far between, and I just.

It just.

It just cracks me up.

And so I remember back to that time, I'm just, like, taking you guys to all these restaurants, and, like, no matter where we went, you would not eat.

Like, what can I give this girl to.

To, like, make her eat?

And then I remember taking you to get our nails done, and we did that.

And then you had mentioned that you'd never have crumble.

I'm like, okay, let me take her to Crumble.

Maybe she'll eat a cookie.

I don't know what to do.

I remember someone used to be like, please just eat.

Please just eat something.

And I.

I just couldn't.

Like, I physically, like, food just did not sound.

Because you.

Because like you said, I think you really were.

You were just in fight or flight.

You were just trying to survive.

Your body's just, like, shutting down all functions.

Yeah, I mean, we tried.

Literally, I feel like we tried everything.

There was that first restaurant we went to, which was like a sub or whatever, the Italian place.

Tried French fries.

I mean, you can't go wrong with French fries.

And I mean, we did, like, you tried, like, Popeyes Crumble.

There are so many things.

And I just couldn't.

Could not.

I took you to that Greek restaurant, Katerina's.

I remember we went.

We went all over the place.

But, yeah, so that first trip was a bit of a disaster.

I don't even.

Well, again, we didn't know the other one thought we didn't like each other or whatever, but we both, like, felt it.

So I just think it's.

That was a part of our conversation was that I had talked to Stellan about how you didn't like me, and you were talking to Jonathan about how you thought I didn't.

Like, that was a part of the.

When we were taking our laps around the car.

Exactly.

And I, like, I literally couldn't love you more.

I.

I could not love you more.

I think that our relationship is actually so cool.

Like, I don't have a daughter, so to get to have you is.

Just makes me so happy.

And I.

I want so much to have a great relationship with you, mostly because I love Stellan so much.

Like, I want.

I always want to just, you know, I just want to love you the way that you deserve to be loved.

And I want to respect your.

Your marriage and, like, the boundaries that you guys have.

And so I think that we do that by just, like, communicating with each other, you know, like, we can just talk about stuff.

Yeah.

Yes.

We talk all the time.

We talk on Marco.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Just having just a close relationship.

Not just something where.

Oh, we're trying to plan something that involves Stellan.

Like, we have our own relationship, too.

I think that's super important.

Exactly.

And I think.

I mean, I definitely spend more time with you than I spend with Stellan, with his work schedule and all his, you know, commitments to his friends when I'm home.

But, yeah, we just.

We, like.

I get so excited to come home and spend time with you.

Like, we go for walks.

I.

I got to come to your Bible study this time.

We.

We go to the gym together.

We go get coffee.

It's like we have all these little traditions that are just you and me, and I love that.

I do, too.

They're perfect.

I.

I look forward to you and Asher coming back.

It's, like, my favorite.

Yeah.

Yes.

And I told you before we got there, like, Asher had said multiple times, like, I really hope Brittany has some free time to, like, spend with us.

And I think it's so funny because I said you're, like, this perfect age where, like, he thinks it's super fun to hang out with you and.

But I do, too.

Like, you're the best of both worlds.

Oh, gosh, that is so funny to look back on.

But I do think, too, we had.

We had this conversation where.

When I was at home this time, because so one of the things I did when I was home this time is that I just took a little time to give Caleb's house a little, like.

A little, like, facelift, because the last time I was there, I went to visit his house, and it just felt so cold and empty and sad to me because he doesn't have a.

You honestly.

Right.

Like, you're the reason why Stellan's in your home feel so.

Just, like, homey and warm and full of love, and Caleb is alone, and so his doesn't feel like that.

And so it was just on my heart from the time I left the last time that I wanted to just, like, give it a little woman's touch, make it a little, you know, just warmer in there.

Like, feel like someone lives in it and very.

Just welcoming so when he comes home, it.

It doesn't feel so cold and lonely.

And so I wanted to make sure that you understood like.

Or that you weren't feeling, like, oh, no, she's doing more for Caleb than she's doing for me and Stellan.

Not that you would ever feel that way, but I think just keeping the open lines of communication just keeps anything from, like, festering up where we're both, like, feeling something kind of like the beginning, we didn't say how we felt.

And then we're just, like.

Our stories that we're telling ourselves are just, like, running away and getting crazier and crazier.

Exactly.

No, I didn't.

I didn't ever feel like you were doing more or anything, but it was so refreshing to hear that you cared anyways.

Like, I wasn't thinking, oh, she's, you know, doing so much more for Caleb.

Like, why isn't she doing anything for me and Ellen?

But it was just refreshing to know that even crossed your mind to even consider us, because.

Right.

I mean, it.

Yeah.

I knew exactly where your heart was at, what you were doing.

We've also talked about you doing it before, so it was just like.

Right.

It's just so nice to know that that's what Caleb was getting as well, because everything deserves to be poured into.

Yeah.

Yes.

And I think, too, like, like I said, there'll be seasons where, like, during your wedding season, I was obviously doing more for you than I was doing for Caleb.

And then, like, during this season of life, Caleb needs, like, a little bit of extra from me.

And so, you know, it's not about, like, oh, if you do this for one, you got to do this for the other.

Like, that's exhausting.

Like, if you're just doing kind things out of the goodness of your heart, like, I think that, you know, obviously you can see that you're just a good human, but having the open communication, I think, is just so helpful.

Very.

I agree.

And I think.

I think it will go a long way, too, like, when you guys have kids, because I want to respect your boundaries and your way of raising your children and, like, the.

The things that you want to live by.

Like, I know.

You know, you have.

You have a lot of already, which I think is so cool.

You've had so many.

Like, you know, you guys have had so many conversations about the way you want to raise your children and, you know, like, with Christ at the center and you want to.

Likely you'll be homeschooling and just, like, you know how Stellan gets.

Like, so if you can't say, happy Easter, it's happy Resurrection Day.

And, like, I don't want to, you know, like, I can't come over with, like, Easter eggs for your babies because he.

That's not the way he wants to raise the children.

And so I think just, I really hope that I will continue to, like, be respectful.

I know that I will of just, like, your will, so that we can maintain a really good relationship, because I just would hate for that ever to be any different.

Right.

And it's also important for me to respect your will as well, because this is your little boy.

This is your baby.

And, like, as you said, you were so scared of me coming for a week, because that's your time.

Like, I still need to value, like, and just give you that time as well, you know what I'm saying, like, it's just as important for me to respect you.

You're so sweet.

I love you.

We got, I don't know, God, God bless our family with you.

Every single person in my family would say, I, I mean it's like a constant, like, man, Stellan's so blessed.

He got that Britney.

And I'm like, yeah, she's the best.

She's the best thing ever.

We love you.

All right, so today the topic that you and I decided to talk about, which I can think of so many actually that you and I would have fun talking about, I just feel like we get into so many conversations, like on these long walks and whatnot.

We go to church together when I'm home.

And I think there's a lot of things you and I could talk about.

But you hear a lot of people say like, I don't need to go to church to be a Christian or I, you don't need church.

Right.

Like people want to negate the importance of church.

And so I thought that that would be something that you and I could talk about because there might be people here listening who do love the Lord and have a relationship with Jesus, but they haven't seen the importance of attending a local church.

And so I thought that was something you and I could talk about because I think there's kind of a lot to unpack there.

We know that salvation is not dependent on church attendance.

You don't have to go to church in order to be saved.

Right.

You just have to believe that Jesus came and died for your sins.

Live a repentant life and you're saved.

Your salvation can't be taken from you because you missed a few weeks of church or because you believe it's not important.

But I would argue that church is very important in the life of a believer.

Yeah.

And I mean there's so much scripture that supports that.

It's the importance of church is being surrounded by Christ minded people.

Being around people that worship God and have the same perspectives and mindsets as you.

They're the people that are going to lift you up in a Christ like way and not feed your flesh.

When you're often fed by your flesh.

It's just a recipe for disaster.

That's right.

You got to be fed by the fruit.

Exactly.

Yes.

And a lot of people, they do rely on their just their own learning, which is so important.

It is so important to go home and fact check the sermon and do the own studying yourself.

But I feel like when you Rely so much on yourself.

It's opens a huge door of pride and arrogance.

Oh, that's good.

Yeah, I think that's really true.

I, I have on in my notes a person who says I don't need church is either arrogant or ignorant.

Because the church is so significant that Jesus literally died on the cross for it.

He gave his life for the church.

And the church can be defined as the body of Christ.

That is us.

We are the church and also the bride of Christ.

Right.

Like, we are the bride of Christ.

We are the most important thing.

The church is the most important thing.

And it's also a place.

It can be four walls of fellowship of believers.

And it can also be like, Brittany, you do a Bible study once a week and it is this the, the most precious thing I can imagine.

I, I enjoyed it so much.

That's church.

Like, church doesn't have to be just inside the four walls of the building down the street.

You know, like, if you don't have a spirit filled Christ centered building, you know, a place where people come to, to fellowship about Jesus and what he did for you, you can do it anywhere.

It doesn't have to be what you quote unquote, what, you know, what you think of as church.

Like the Methodist one down the way or the Catholic one around the corner.

Like that church can be a lot of different things.

Absolutely.

I was listening to your podcast yesterday about Adam and Eve and it reminds, like, it just reminded me that from the beginning God saw that we needed others, each other.

Yes.

And Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that iron sharpens iron, and that is why it is so important.

Like sometimes you will completely misinterpret something and it's not until someone fact checks you that you realize like you could have been living out a verse entirely wrong.

And that's so true.

That's a big thing to just be missing and living in.

Yeah, yeah, I think that.

Yeah, man.

Because like, you can pray for discernment, you can like, look into the word, but sometimes you just need another, maybe another person's perspective or you need wise counsel from a pastor or, you know, just someone who's further along in their faith journey than you.

I think that a church family sort of just like identifies us as a genuine believer.

Jesus said, your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

So how do we prove that we love one another without being in relationship and in fellowship with one another?

And we can do that at church.

Right.

I was, I was kind of thinking of, like, how to compare it to a more almost like if you're not a believer, a more, I don't know, known situation.

And I was thinking of like a sports team or like a sport just learning a sport.

You can learn all the basics, and you can hit a ball every single day a hundred times, or you can throw something a hundred times.

But it's not until you go and, like, either work with your team or almost like your coach.

Like, you have to listen to a coach, and they will teach you the things, the tips, the tricks.

And it ties along with testimonies like, God didn't create us to do everything, be everything, know everything.

So when you like my Bible study, I tell the girls, like, it is so important that each of us have walked different lives, because then we can pour into each other to either prevent mistakes or just boost each other past the mistake that they could make.

Exactly.

Yes, exactly.

So I was relating it in one of.

One of my notes to building spiritual muscle.

So participating in the full life of a local church builds your spiritual muscle.

So we need more than just the Bible in order to grow.

We need other believers.

We need the fellowship of other believers in order to grow.

God expects us to fulfill responsibilities of our family, our church family.

Like, loving each other, praying for each other, encouraging each other, greeting each other, serving each other, teaching each other, accepting each other, honoring each other, even, like, bearing each other's burdens during hard times, forgiving each other, submitting to each other and.

And just being devoted to each other.

And we do that through, again, a local fellowship.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I just.

Being newly married, it's been.

It's just been so beautiful to see God work in a marriage setting because you really do learn, like, what it means to fully, especially as a wife, to fully surrender to your husband's ways and his lead.

And, like, there's just a beauty in serving it.

It calls you out of your comfort, and it encourages you to be better than what your flesh wants.

Like, there's so many times where I'm like, oh, I do not want to clean something.

And then I'm like, but I'm not cleaning it just for myself.

I'm serving Stellan in this way.

And it's such a beautiful way.

And I've seen it shown on TikTok.

Like, it's a form of worship to serve other people.

Because that's God's children that you are.

Yes.

Serving your husband is thereby serving the Lord because marriage is his design.

Yes.

I think that's.

That's so good.

I'm just going to read through some of my notes because we're just like riffing here and I lost my spot, but.

So church teaches us how to get along with God's family.

Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other as we are to Jesus.

So, man, sometimes we can get really caught up and just like we love Jesus so much, but our whole calling on this earth is to love God and love others.

Like it's not, it's not either or, it's both.

And we are to do both of those things.

Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing.

We are members of his body and none of us can fulfill God's promises by ourselves.

I think that's prideful, like you said, to think that we, we can do it on our own.

We can't.

We need other people.

The Bible says that we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together.

And we'll.

We will be caught up together.

Meaning that God will rapture his church will be caught up in the air together with other believers before the tribulation happens.

In my humble opinion, in.

In Christ who are, who are many, form one body.

So right.

So each member belongs to all the others as the body of Christ, the church.

The body of Christ is the church.

Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole.

It's like if you were to sever a part of your own body from the rest of the body, it becomes.

It doesn't work anymore, right?

If you cut off your hand, your hand no longer can serve a purpose for your body.

And that is like us, to the body of Christ.

I think that is a good point to show the beauty of your individuality too.

Because I'm reading in Ephesians right now and it says that the one who descended also ascended.

And he put a calling onto some people in the one body.

Christ is the head and we are the body.

It says that some people are meant to be preachers, some people are meant to be teachers.

Some people are meant to do all these things.

Like you also are supposed to be individual.

He calls you to unity, not uniform.

We're not all supposed to fit into this one image.

And that's the beauty of going and studying on your own.

And that's the importance of studying on your own and living your experiences, but also the beauty of sharing it.

Amen.

That's so good.

Because the body of Christ needs all of us.

We each have a unique role in his family, and that is our ministry.

He gives each of us spiritual gifts.

Right.

And they're a means of helping the whole entire church.

It's not gifts he gives us to disciple ourselves.

Right.

It is to be given out as we love others, as he did.

It allows us to share in Christ's mission in the entire world.

We, we, we have to look at ourselves as we are, as the hands and feet and heart of Jesus in the world.

Right.

He's, he's within us as the Holy Spirit, but He himself, I mean, he is with us always, but we are doing the work of Jesus until He comes back.

Call us Christians.

The other thing I think is so important about church is kind of accountability.

Like your church family can keep you from backsliding.

I think we want to believe that we're just immune to sin and temptation, but the truth is that none of us are immune to temptation.

And under the right circumstances, any of us, even as much as you don't want to believe it, any of us are capable of any sin without the accountability and, you know, just love and encouragement of other believers.

Yeah, I, I put that in my notes too.

Just that accountability portion, like with my Bible study.

A lot of us go to the same church and we'll all like, be like, oh, who's coming?

You know, and it's, it's really a, it's a really hard thing to text people back like, I'm not coming.

And you don't, unless you have a legit excuse, you do not miss church.

And it's so beautiful that we have that relationship where like we will just, it's me and my cousins and then one of our friends and we will just call each other out like, what are you doing instead of church?

And it's like, it's that conviction that you get from other believers that you can talk yourself out of.

It's very easy to mask conviction by saying like, oh, well, I just, I was really tired, you know, and then you, you kind of just let yourself out of that and as soon as you break it, it becomes so much easier to continue not going to church as well.

Yep.

We went for years without a church home.

I've told the story before, but we had a church that I loved when I met Jonathan.

And then we moved and it, the church then was about 45 minute drive.

And I had made him promise me, like, if we move, we still have to go to this church because I love it.

But we both, it just became so easy to make excuses not to go because it was so.

It's like, oh, it's so far.

It like takes up our whole day.

By the time you go and you get back, and it's like, oh, my gosh, can you not offer Jesus God, who.

Who literally Jesus, who gave his life for you, a part of your Sunday, like, a part of one day?

And I don't want you to think that going to church is the whole picture, because I think we're kind of looking at it from the other way, like, where, oh, I have a relationship with Jesus.

I don't need church.

And there might be people out there who are like, I go to church, but I don't do anything else.

I don't spend time with Jesus.

I don't spend time in prayer.

I don't spend time in the Word.

And that is also.

I don't.

I don't want to say one's more important than the other.

I think you can't have one without the other.

Like, or you shouldn't want one without the other.

And if you don't have a conviction in your heart, if you do one and not the other, and you can talk yourself into believing that the other isn't important or that you do enough, then I think you really got to do a heart check.

Like, the fruit of having the Holy Spirit in you should.

Should come out in the way that you act and in the things that you want to do and in the ways that you're convicted.

Does that make sense?

Yeah.

Like, you should.

You should want to be a part of.

If you.

If you dig into the Bible and you love the Lord and you have a relationship, you should want to be a part of his family.

Yeah, that makes me think of, like, what you're talking about.

Like, some people are, like, the total opposite.

They just go to church.

It reminds me of that song.

It's called Monday Morning Faith.

Like, God just.

He doesn't just want to meet you on Sundays when it's convenient, when it's routine.

He wants your Mondays, your Tuesdays, your Wednesday, your Thursday, your Friday, your Saturday.

He wants all of you.

And to give him all of you one hour on a Sunday just isn't cutting it.

I agree.

And I agree.

Just really, they just.

It is a part of their routine.

And what.

I mean, I'm so grateful that that is a routine that some people have, but it's got to be more than just that.

Well, it's like, if you're looking at church as checking a box, like, okay, did the thing that I'm.

We're just.

You're supposed to do.

You're supposed to go to church, like, that really should make you question, like, where really is your heart?

Like, where are you with Jesus?

Where are you with your relationship?

Because going to church is not enough.

Like, I can't imagine if I didn't have my time with the Lord every single morning.

It's my favorite part of my day.

And the more you, the more time you spend with him, the more often you think of him throughout the day.

And like you can just get through any little thing.

Like you're in constant communication with the Lord.

Like we're called to pray without saying ceasing.

And I think that it seems really difficult to do that when he is just not at the forefront of your mind.

It's not if, if praying to God in Thanksgiving or when you need something or when something is hard or when something is amazing.

Like if, if it's the last thing you think of to do, you gotta question that, you know?

But when you, when you wake up thinking about the Lord, like, I literally opened my eyes.

I'm like, thank you for this day, Lord.

Like, thank you God that I woke up.

Thank you for this warm bed in this cool room and that great sleep.

And like I just immediately am in conversation with the Lord and I, I sit on my couch and drink my coffee and I thank him for the delicious cup of coffee and that I also just thank him a lot for like my desire to know him.

Because I, you know, there are times when God will feel further away from us.

And it's in those times that like we've developed because we've spent all this time with us, him, we have developed like this.

I don't even know what the word is, but we've, we just know he's there.

Even when you can't feel him, you just know you got to keep seeking Him.

Yeah, it's like those, I don't know if you've heard of them, but like a low maintenance friendship like my cousins Lexi and Addison, I can have so much fun and be doing a bunch of things with them, but I also can just enjoy sitting in their place presence.

And I think that's super important to build that with God because you'll have, I mean it'll be, I mean, I pray that it's months where you're like on fire.

It feels amazing every time you come to him, but there's sometimes where it just feels quiet.

And those are the times where you just, you have to just rest in the fact that you know it's not going to always be these big things happening.

But he's he's your father and you're his kid, and you get to just dwell in his presence.

And I think that is something that a lot of Christians almost get frustrated with because it's not always, go, go, go, go, go, but it's also dwelling.

And like you said, you build those routines, but that relationship where it's just like, okay, God, maybe I haven't heard from you in a while, but I know you're still here.

And I continue to seek you even when I don't feel you seeking me.

Even though we know God is with us always.

But there will be times of testing of our faith, whether that means we just aren't feeling God near to us or we're going through something that's extremely difficult.

And in those times, it's even more important.

It's actually more important to spend time with God and to, you know, you know, cry out to him and seek him when you're not feeling him close to you, because he will hear you, but to also know that whether or not you feel him, he is there always.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I was just going to say back to my.

Back to our point about church, like, it's in those times, too, where you're not feeling God close to you, at least you can have the fellowship of others and you can have a church family to remind you that he is near you always.

Yeah.

And also just it.

It takes that self, like the selfless and humble mind shift to also just.

Just love watching other people have blessings from God.

And there's always.

There's so many different people at church.

You can almost always count on someone just had an answered prayer and someone is feeling far from God.

And that's when, like, you really get to come together as a body and be like, look at what God's been doing in my life.

Life.

And you have to put your pride and your anger aside and be happy for the prayers that are being answered for them rather than yourself.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

So one of the things I had written down is that, because I think this is something we can get kind of stuck on too, is that the goal of going to church is not so that you feel some kind of way.

The goal of going to church is to praise and worship our Lord and Savior, and it is to give all the glory to him and not to get something for ourselves.

But he loves us so much that when we do that, the fruit of that is that we do feel something.

Like, we do feel filled up by him and protected by him and loved by Him.

But the goal or the reason we go to church.

Yes, it's fellowship with others.

It's all these things that we've said, but it's also to glorify God.

Like, that is why we're at church.

Like, a whole room of believers, you know, worshiping to the Lord.

Like, that's what we're gonna do in heaven one day.

We're gonna sing with the angels to.

To worship and glorify God.

Yeah.

I remember I sat in on a sermon, and I think it was just a guest at our home church.

And he, like, just looked at us, and I felt like he was literally looking at me.

But he was like, sometimes it's not about you.

Like, it's just not.

He was like, my kids get so caught up in, like, oh, what's the worship?

Like, what are they going to be talking about?

And then they'll be, like, completely uninterested.

And he's like, it's.

I had to tell my kids, it's not about you.

Someone needs that song.

Someone needs this message, and it's all for God's glory.

And one of the things that I also saw was that when you sing in church, like, you are singing to God and there's someone that's sitting in silence just listening to the music of God's children singing.

And that's why it's so important.

Important to also, like.

I mean, even if you don't have a good voice, you know, you could try and just sing, too.

And I just thought that was kind of.

I think that's just a cool, cool way to look at it.

Like, you're not just, you know, you might not feel it, but to also seeing, like, there could be someone that's on their knees that just need to hear it.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

That was something that.

Actually, what I just shared was something I had read about worship.

Because some people are like, oh, the worship wasn't that good.

I didn't really feel anything.

And it's like, whoa.

That's actually not what worship is about.

Worship, the purpose of worship is not for you to feel, like, warm and fuzzy on the insides.

That can be the.

That can be the result of it.

That can be the fruit of worshiping the Lord.

But worshiping the Lord is for the Lord.

Right?

Right.

I think we get caught up in that, too.

And interestingly, to your point about.

It's not all about you.

Sometimes you're going to sit in church and you're going to think there's a spotlight on your face because you're going to have A conviction.

And this has happened to us so much lately.

For me, our pastor always tends to talk about, like, the, the he kind of demonizes, I hate to say social media or, like, being an influencer.

And I always feel like this shiny light on my face that isn't actually there, and I'm like, oh, my gosh, like, he's targeting me.

And then I just have to look at that.

Like, oh, that's actually just something I need to look at in my life.

Am I looking at social media as a way to share Jesus with others?

I sure hope so.

If I'm looking at social media as a way to, like, you know, put myself on a pedestal, or how many likes did I get with this?

Or how many people commented on this, or how much did I sell from sharing this link?

Like, that is not, you know, a godly way to use the platform.

I do think there are definitely ways.

I've.

I've learned so much from social media, and my algorithm is so much.

I'm sure it's very similar to yours where it's just constantly telling me about the word of God or someone sharing a testimony or whatever.

But I think sometimes you will get these convictions.

And it's like, you just got to take a look last, Last week, Jonathan was at baseball, not at church, because his baseball game was during church.

And the pastor talked about, like, is Jesus in your ball club?

And, you know, parents should be saying to the coaches, like, we serve the Lord at 11 o' clock on Sundays.

We're not playing baseball at that time.

And Asher was just, like, elbowing me whole time, like, oh, he's talking about dad.

And I shared that with Jonathan.

I'm like, oh, that sermon was for you.

But those, those convictions are the Holy Spirit.

And, like, that's also a gift.

Like, that is just pro, you know, just makes you think.

And then you're able to repent of those things.

If, if you come to, like, realize like, oh, no, that is a sin in my life, then you can, you can repent of that.

And the, the high likelihood is that he wasn't speaking about anyone personally.

Right.

But sometimes when you can relate to the thing they're talking about, you're gonna have those Holy Spirit convictions.

And that's just a part of, you know, refining and pruning and the things that God does to make you more like him.

Right.

And also, like to take into consideration, like, your pastors are usually praying over what they're talking about.

And God can, you know, just be like, okay, okay, I Have someone that needs, is very stuck in their way or is just, you know, not using their talent or their gift to glorify me.

And it'll be put onto that pastor's heart.

So you have to realize like our God knows our heart.

He.

And you have to ask him to search your heart and he will find a way to call you out and convict you of what you're doing.

Yep, he sure will.

And there were probably so many people that were convicted by the very same message.

Right.

But you have.

We tend to think that it's all about us.

Right.

So I liked that you said, because sometimes it's not about you.

You're sitting there and it's, it's just, it's not about you.

It's still a good message.

It's still, there's something you can glean from every time you attend church.

But so it's just interesting.

Sometimes it's not about you at all, and sometimes it's all about you.

Right?

Absolutely.

Yeah.

So another thing I read as I was kind of just, you know, planning for this is we are not called to earn our salvation.

Right.

But reflect it.

So I thought that was really good.

We should be reflecting our salvation so that others can see it.

And it says to reflect one's salvation means to actively live out the transformed life that comes with accepting Jesus Christ as Savior.

It's not just a one time event or belief, but a continuing process of applying faith in daily life, allowing God's grace to shape your thoughts, actions and relationships.

And I think if you want to continue to reflect your salvation, you need to be fed.

And you do that by attending church and being in the fellowship of other believers and, and also not one, you know, not one or the other, but.

And being in the word of Christ, being in the word of God on your own every single day, like it should just be, be a part of your life.

Just like you, you know, you, what you do, what do you do every day?

You brush your teeth.

You should also spend time with the Lord.

You make time to like, take good care of your physical body.

Like I make sure to get my 10,000 steps in my workout now certainly I can find time to make, you know, Jesus also a priority in my life.

I think a lot of us get that real mixed up sometimes.

Yeah, I've, I've been seeing a lot of things about how you can put all this work into your body and into like just specific things that, you know, might connect to you personally.

But the only thing that you take to eternity is Your soul, you don't.

And other people you don't take.

Yes, exactly.

So that is why it is so important to one, work on yourself.

But as you said, other people, you have to pour in.

And I think a lot of people over complicate what ministry is.

And they think, oh, like, I didn't go overseas and help people, but ministry, I'm not qualified.

Yes, but ministry starts in your own family.

And oftentimes a lot of people neglect the people that are closest to them because they feel called to serve somewhere else.

They're like, oh, well, I could help over here, so I'm just going to try it.

While they neglect their home.

Right?

That's so true.

That's so true.

Or you think it has to be, like, big and shiny and, you know, whatever.

And when you just have, like, God has given you these precious people that you get to raise if they're children or that you get to spend your life with as your spouse.

And if you're not putting, you know, effort and energy into or just putting Christ at the center of those relationships, like, you're going to see the fruit of that as well, and it's not going to be good.

I think that it would be.

Go ahead.

I just was gonna say, sometimes as Christians, I feel like it's very easy to.

It's nice to see all the accomplishments you've done.

Like, oh, I helped here.

I served here.

I did this.

And that is more important to some people than my husband and my children are saved, or vice versa.

My wife and my kids are saved.

Yeah, that's a huge lesson that I've had to learn.

Like, I've been chasing success, like, it's the most important thing.

And like, how can I make money and how can I make a mark in the world?

And it's like, that's not my job.

My job is to love God, love others.

Like, you know, just do that, do that.

Really, really important.

But maybe almost like, oh, you don't get the awards or the accolades for just like discipling to your own family.

But what really matters is that you all end up in heaven together one day.

And that's.

I've realized that lately, too.

Like, in my prayers every day.

It's just like, I just pray for salvation for.

It's just usually just my children, like, all that.

All my children would be in heaven.

And, you know, sometimes just as a side note, there's people in your life that you love so much and you don't know it's not your job to judge Whether or not someone loves the Lord or has a relationship like you don't, you.

You might wonder, you might not know, you might think that they don't.

And sometimes the best thing you can do, all the time, the best thing you can do is pray for that person.

Definitely look for ways to, you know, bring up God in the conversation, but sometimes that can be also a deterrent.

And so sometimes you just have to take that to the Lord and let him do his work in them because he's the only one who can really do it.

Yeah, I just actually had a conversation with one of my girls about how at a certain point, you just have to take it into prayer and.

Yep.

And God will do the rest.

And I told her, you know, quit.

Don't try as hard to press it on them.

But yeah, allow them to see the fruit in your life instead.

Exactly.

And live out exactly a Christ like life.

And Amen.

And it's up to them if they want that for their lives as well.

Yep, yep.

And just keep inviting them to church.

Like, you've done such a wonderful job of that.

I think I've said on here before, like, and you've shared.

You shared.

Like, you spent a year driving to 35 minutes to a church, and you were sitting in a pew many times all by yourself.

You were so lonely in it, and you just kept showing up.

And now I am just so amazed to see, like, two, two, three pews of people that are there because you invited them to come to church.

And it's just like you're surrounded now by people that you love that now also love the Lord.

And, like, what an amazing thing to, you know, to get that crown in heaven one day because you brought these people to the Lord and you, You.

I mean, God gave them eternal life, but, I mean, you.

You planted the seed.

And, like, what a gift that is to those people.

And how cool to know that you get to bring people to heaven with you.

Mom and I were on a walk, and she said something about bringing people to heaven.

And I said, yeah, I'm just trying to catch up to Brittany.

You're doing such a good job.

So heartwarming.

Funny that you bring that up because I was literally trying to record a voice memo because tomorrow is my one year of hosting a Bible study.

And, yeah, I was just, like, reflecting, and I was like, I used to go to church by myself, and I would feel.

It was so.

I would feel so guilty because I would feel so lonely and sad on the way, and oftentimes I would cry on my way to church.

And then I'd be filled up by the message and then I'd leave and I'd realize I'm alone.

Which looking back, I know I'm never alone now, but.

But I cry on my way home.

I just, I wanted Stella to be going with me.

I wanted people to be going with me.

And when I moved up here prior I had a church community.

My little brother always went with me.

My.

My childhood friend always went with me.

Maya.

And I lost that and that there was a day where I was sitting down here in this basement and God was like, get up and start one yourself.

Get this community started.

And I was like, no, God, like I don't, I've only attended, I've never, I've never led a Bible.

I'm not, I'm not qualified.

Like the lie, Satan's lie.

Yes.

And he reassured me like, I will equip you to this calling.

And I remember I sat down here, I, I watched I think two sermons.

I watched a Bible project.

I read the script scripture.

I called my brother, I told him, please be praying for me.

I think I, I definitely told Brenda.

I might have actually even reached out to you.

I was like, please just be praying for me.

I'm starting this.

And just that is goes for having Christ minded people.

Like I was just like, hey, pray for me.

And I knew they were and right.

It's just been so beautiful that it's a year since God called me to this and yes, what he did with it, something I was so afraid of.

And like you said, I am now able to bring multiple which I don't bring them, I just encourage them to go.

And now like I said, they also encourage me.

They also are.

They pour into me.

And I was, at first, honestly the first few Bible studies, I was like, I'm not getting poured into.

And I feel like I might have talked to you about this.

We did.

I'm not getting poured into.

I don't know what I need to do.

And I almost gave up on this Bible study, honestly.

And God was like no, no.

And he.

I was like okay, God, I don't know what you're doing.

And I actually was encouraged by church, my church family.

And they were like, oh my gosh, this is amazing that you have a Bible study at your age pouring into girls that we are 30 minutes away from the nice churches and the non denominational churches.

And they just, they reminded me of how beautiful it is to be in that form of ministry.

And I got right back into it.

And here we are.

And yep, he doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

And I, that's where I feel like I've been with this podcast.

Like, I don't know all the things and I'm a sinner just like everyone else.

But he will do this with me.

He, you know, he gives me the ideas, I pray, I pray that too in my journal almost every day.

Like, please bless this podcast.

Bring the guests, bring the listeners, bring the exact person who needs to hear the message.

Like, speak through me, Lord.

Like, it's not, we're not doing this on our own.

It is not of our own volition that we're able to do these things.

It is because God has called us to do it.

And so he will then blessed, blessed us the entire way and he will give us the words that we need and he'll bring the people who need us.

And again, the other thing is, I just remind myself all the time there's someone out there who could hear this message for, from someone else, the same thing.

But for some reason, the way I say it or the way I deliver it can like, hit them in a way that it wouldn't have if it had been said by someone else.

Like, God is using me to be a vessel for someone else's hopefully salvation.

And that's like a, that's a big calling.

And so you just, you do it afraid and you, you figure it out as you go and you know, you just lean on his strength when you don't feel it on your own.

So, yeah, it's such a cool thing to watch.

And I don't know, we got a little far away from why you need to go to church.

But I think it all kind of came back to like, look, I've done these things and I was supported by my church family.

Like, these are the people that praying for me.

And this is why I've gotten to where I've gotten and this is why there's going to be more souls in heaven.

And it kind of all goes back to, you know, being in the Word of God daily, having a personal relationship with him and being in fellowship with others and just loving him and loving other people the way that he loved us.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

All right, well, I think that that was good.

I think also if you are in either of our areas, I'm in Northern Virginia, Brittany's in Northeast Iowa.

And if you're looking for a good Bible based, Christ centered, spirit filled church, we both have one and we would both love for you to Join us and, you know, reach out.

We could.

I could put you in contact with Brittany and I don't know, it's just kind of.

It's.

It's a really powerful thing to be able to walk into church with another person.

You know, it's kind of a scary thing to do on your own.

And I'm so proud of you, though, for doing it for all those, all that time.

And that's the other thing.

Like, you brought.

Stellan maybe was one of those people who thought, I have a relationship with the Lord.

I don't need to go to church.

Like, he didn't see the importance of it, and now he does.

And now it's such a strong foundation for the two of you.

You guys.

I don't have to say like, hey, will you guys go to church?

It's.

You're.

You guys are like, are you going to be at church on Sunday?

And I'm like, yeah, I'll be there.

And you're in the pew before I even am.

And it's such a.

I mean, it's so important for your marriage.

I think I read that you're 35% less likely to.

To get divorced if you attend church regularly.

Just that one little thing?

Yeah, just that one little thing.

I have to remind everyone this is the last week of June, so that means the last week of our June Bible memory verse.

So as a reminder, it is Galatians 5, 22 and 23, but the holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

There is no law against these things.

So that means next week there will be.

It'll be a new month, there'll be a new Bible verse.

The first episode of every month will be a powerful testimony.

And when I tell you next week's episode may be the most powerful testimony that I've ever heard and that may ever be shared on this podcast.

It is so powerful, it will change your life.

I really hope that you tune in.

I also hope that if you haven't yet, you'll sign up for my sub stack so that you can get my newsletter.

I try to put some energy and effort into sharing some good things in the newsletter and hopefully it'll just keep getting better.

But Brittany, thank you for being here and I love you all and I hope you have the most wonderful week.

Later.

If this podcast blessed you, please share it with a friend and hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

Leave a five star review on itunes and come hang out with me on Instagram, Edbythefruit.

I'd love to connect with you there.

And most importantly, I'll see you right here next week.

Come hungry, get fed.

Sam.