To listen tune in to KCRO AM660, Monday-Friday at 5:30 & 9:45AM & 10:15PM or go to our website, www.spotlightgoodnews.com/spotlight-storiesTara's interview.
Showing posts with label Audio Scripture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Audio Scripture. Show all posts
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Spot Light Good News Interviews Tara Rye
Monday, December 19, 2022
God has a plan
Have you ever been in need, but not been able to find a person or place that could help? It feels so discouraging. It makes you feel unseen. It is a scary place when we feel we have no one to help us.
In today's Christmas story, Joseph and Mary have traveled a long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census. It was time for the baby to be born, but there was no place for them to stay. I cannot imagine how scary and lonely that felt even though the heard clearly from God.
But God was orchestrating His plan. His son would not enter the world in a nice hospital or fancy birthing center. Simplicity started early for the Son of God.
I don't know about you, but my experience in driving to the hospital was full of great aniticipation and anxiety even though I knew I had a full hospital staff waiting to help with the process. Lol. Greg and I knew where we were going to get help. Mary and Joseph did not. Oh my! Maybe this made it easier for them to keep their trust in God and not people or circumstances.
In the end even though there was no "inn" for baby Jesus to be born in Mary ended up holding all that happened as dear in her heart.
Jesus was born and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and placed Him in a manger. This was a sign declared by the prophets long ago. God was on the move even when people could not see it.
Some journeys must take us to the place where the only person we can trust to help us is God. We may not feel He is orchestrating His plan, but He is and once we make it through we, too, can be like Mary and hold all things dear in our hearts.
Christmas Story: Baby Jesus is born
In the end even though there was no "inn" for baby Jesus to be born in Mary ended
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Obedience Builds Hope
Maybe you are in a situation right now that requires obedience and it is not easy. Ask God to help you take the steps of obedience that will build hope.
It may not be easy but taking courage and moving forward like Joseph did in marrying Mary is what gave us the Hope of the world.
Who will grow in hope today because of your obedience? Do not be afraid. Take your steps of faith in o evidence knowing God has plans that we may never see but will give hope to many.
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Suga's Story Continues
My husband and I met with her and her husband regularly for them to train us in story-centric discipleship. Story-centric discipleship means to know God through His sacred stories by listening, sharing, and teaching others His sacred stories so that we can know how to be in relationship with Him. I would like to come and tell you more sacred stories so that you can listen to them, then share them, and teach them to others as well.”
The elder’s wife said, “We would love this very much. We had a Jesus follower come to our village about 15 years ago and he shared Jesus stories with us, but we haven’t had a Jesus follower in our village since then.”
Senda said, “We will try to come and visit your village four times a year. If I come, will you be willing to gather groups of women and tell them the Bible stories, too?”
We all said, “Yes! Of course!”
Senda went on to say, “In my village on Saturday nights, I gather women from five different villages. I share the sacred story with them, and we practice until each of us can tell it accurately. Sometimes, I might need to tell it five times before everyone in the group can tell it accurately. I then ask them to go back to their villages and gather a group of women to do the same thing. They will gather the women, tell the story until everyone can tell it accurately and then they go share it at their village.
Each week when we listen to the story, we will take the time to ask at least these three questions: 1. What do you learn about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit? 2. What do you learn about the people both good and bad? 3. What should you do based on what you have learned? The women love it when we ask the questions because it gives them time to discover deep truths that God reveals to them in the stories.
Without thinking, I raised my hand slightly. Senda looked at me and said, “Yes?” It just came out of my mouth, “I can’t believe you are trusting us with these sacred stories?”
Senda smiled sweetly said, “It is not me that trusts you. It is God!”
I couldn’t believe it! God trusts me with His sacred story! I determined in my heart that I would gather women to tell His sacred stories every time Senda came and shared them with us.
Just then the men walked up to the courtyard and motioned that it was time for Senda to leave us. I didn’t want her to leave. I wasn’t ready because I wanted to know more sacred stories. We quickly hugged her goodbye and then she was gone. My heart felt joy as I thought of God’s sacred stories, but I also felt sadness because we didn’t know when Senda would return, but I started thinking of who I would invite to come and hear the sacred stories.
The next week I had invited five women from my village along with my sisters to hear the stories. I did exactly what Senda said she did with her women in her village. I welcomed them and then told them I wanted to share the sacred story of Jesus, the Son of the Most High God with them. I told them the sacred story several times until they were comfortable retelling it to each other. I then asked them to go out and tell it to a group of women they would gather and to do it the way I did it. I reminded them to tell it several times and have them practice it so they can tell it well. Then encourage them to go do the same.
My sister Praga loved listening to the stories too. She shared with me that wanted to tell the stories, too. This surprised me because Praga is a practicing Hindu. But the next week when we gathered together Praga shared that she invited five friends over and she also told them the sacred story of the Most High God sending Jesus to be born as a baby to Mary. Praga shared that the women in her gathering all agreed to go and tell the sacred stories to their friends the same way.
I couldn’t wait until Senda showed up again to share more sacred stories with us.
After about six months the white van drove up with the dust cloud swirling around it. This time all of the women that heard the van drive up rushed out to greet Senda. We were so excited to share with her that we were faithful in sharing the sacred stories. We encircled our arms around her arms, and we rushed over to our courtyard so Senda could share more stories with us. As we sat down to sip our tea and catch-up Senda asked us how it has been in our village. Normally, we would chatter about the happenings of each family, but not today. I couldn’t wait!
“Oh Senda, the Most High God makes us feel so valued. We stand taller because we have been trusted with His sacred stories. We can’t wait to hear more sacred stories about the Most High God and His Son Jesus! What story will you tell us today?”
Senda looked at each woman that gathered. There must have been well over thirty women this time waiting to hear the sacred story.
Senda pulled out a little black box and pushed a button and we heard a man’s voice say, “In Matthew 1, we are told this true story…” We sat mesmerized as we listened to the man’s voice tell us the generations that led up to the birth of Jesus. After listening for a while Senda shared with us that Audio Scripture Ministries provided these solar power devices for them to bring out to our village. Senda said, “The sun can charge it up for you so you can listen. Sit it out so that this side faces the sun, and the sun will give it energy to power it up.”
I wanted it so bad, but Senda gave it to the elder’s wife to be used in the village. Senda asked, “When will you gather so you all can listen to hear the Most High God’s sacred stories?”
We chose a day and agreed to gather, pray, listen, share, and then go teach it to others. Senda suggested that we listen to one chapter at a time and to play it as many times as necessary so that we can retell it accurately.
Then one of the women said, “Senda will you tell us a sacred story, too?”
Senda smiled and said, “Of course!” Senda bowed her head in prayer and then began to say, “In today’s sacred story, we will hear about how Jesus invited people to be His disciple. A disciple is someone that follows someone and does what they do. When you listen today, I want you to ponder if you are willing to be a disciple of Jesus, the Son of the Most High God. In this sacred story Jesus is called the Word.
Everything in the Bible is true. In John 1 we are told, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…”
***This is a fictional account that is based upon a composite of stories taken from a team of storytellers. The names have been changed to protect the storytellers. Every scene is based on a true story that has been told of what is happening on the field.
Suga's Story
***This is a fictional account that is based upon a composite of stories taken from a team of storytellers. The names have been changed to protect the storytellers. Every scene is based on a true story that has been told of what is happening on the field.
I heard a car humming in the distance, so I got up from the fire where I was cooking to go see what was causing the noise. A small white van was approaching our village as the dust was kicking up and swirling in a dust storm behind it. When it pulled to a stop several of the village elders walked out to greet the family as they climbed out of the van. It was a husband, wife, and five children. It isn’t typical for us to have someone come to our village because it usually takes two to three hours to reach us from where the city people live.
I paused and watched as the head elder listened to the man speak as he motioned to his wife. The elder motioned for one of the women to come over to him and they introduced the women. The women walked away to our gathering area, so I hurriedly wiped off my hands and rushed over to see what was happening. At first, I stood at the edge of the gathering space in the courtyard waiting and hoping that I might be welcomed to come join them.
The women were seated on a grass mat and the elder’s wife was pouring tea from the pot for the women. It is our custom to offer tea when someone visits. It is very offensive to not accept the tea, but if the tea is accepted this means that the person accepts your hospitality. The visitor reached out and accepted the small cup of tea being offered to her. She cupped it in her hands as she sipped it nodding with pleasure at the soothing comfort it brings to the dry throat.
My friend looked over at me, “Suga, the woman has come to tell us stories. Please help me gather the other women so we can listen together.”
I was so excited! I hurried to get my mother and sisters to come! I said, “Mom, hurry! There is a visitor, and she wants to share some stories with us!” My mom and my sisters looked up with curiosity and got up to follow me. By the time we gathered around in the courtyard there were about four other women already there. The woman stood up front with a beautiful shalwar kameez in bright yellow with silver sequence on it. The sun made it sparkle as she moved around. She was so elegant and a bright contrast to the mud walls behind her.
She said, “Hi, my name is Senda. Thank you for welcoming me so kindly in your village today. I would love to share with you some sacred stories.”
We all sat up a little taller when she said they were sacred stories. We wanted to bring honor to our guest as she told them. In our tradition, it was our custom to gather and listen to sacred stories being told.
Senda said, “This is the sacred story of Jesus, the Son of the Most High God. It is told in the Sacred book called the Bible. In the Bible we are told this true story.
One day an angel spoke to a young maiden named Mary who was engaged to be married to Joseph. They lived in the land of Nazareth near Galilee. The angel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, favored one of God, the LORD is with you! You will give birth to a son, and you will call him, Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The LORD will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign forever. His kingdom will know no end.
Mary asked, “How can this be? I am still a virgin.”
The angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The child you will give birth to will be called holy—the Son of God. Even now your cousin Elizabeth in her old age will give birth to a son. She is six months pregnant even though she had been barren. For nothing is impossible with God.”
Mary responded to the angel by saying, “I am the LORD’s servant. Let it be as you have said.”
Then the angel departed from her.
I wondered at the story Senda was sharing with us. I wondered, why was this young maiden was so important? Why was her baby called the Son of God? How can I know more about this Son of God? He sounds so wonderful and powerful. Why have we never heard of this Son of God before? How can I learn more? As these questions were rolling around in my head Senda asked us a question.
“Would you like to hear the story again?” Everyone in the group nodded in agreement. So, Senda told us the true sacred story again. This time I listened with anticipation expecting the angel to tell the young maiden to not be afraid. It was if I was seeing the story unfold in my mind’s eye as she told the story. I was no longer there with our small group, but in the village with the young maiden called Mary as the angel talked to her.
When Senda finished telling the story she said, “May God honor the telling of His sacred story.”
Senda then asked, “What do you learn about God in this passage?”
At first, we all just sat there and looked at her. No one responded. We were not accustomed to someone asking us our thoughts when someone shared. We just listened. So, Senda coaxed us and said, “It is okay. I would love to hear what you think and what you have to say about the story. By answering it will help all of us discover truths together.
She asked again, “What do you learn about God in this passage?
I thought in my mind, “You said the baby was God’s Son!”
One of the women in the group said, “God sent an angel to talk to the young girl.”
Senda responded by saying, “Yes, God sent a messenger to the young girl. That was good. What else?”
Another woman said, “God was the Most High God!”
Senda responded, “Yes! God is the Most High God. There are no other gods like Him. What do you learn about His Son?”
“He would reign forever, and His kingdom will have no end!” my sister cried excitedly from the back of the group.
“You are so right! Very good! So, we have discovered that the Most High God sent His Son to earth to be born as a baby and that as He grows up His kingdom will last forever. What else do we learn about the Most High God?”
I whispered it aloud, “Nothing is impossible for Him.”
It took me by surprise when Senda said, “Yes! That is right! Nothing is impossible for the Most High God!” As she straightened her head covering that was slipping off her head she then asked as she made quiet eye contact with each of us, “What about Mary? What do we learn about Mary?”
One of the women raised her hand to get Senda’s attention and when Senda nodded acknowledgment she said, “Well, she was young and engaged.”
That hit me for a moment. Mary wasn’t married and she was told she would become pregnant with a child. This would bring shame upon her, shame upon her family, and shame upon her village. Why would God ask her to do that? I was too afraid to voice what I was thinking. I didn’t want to shame Senda by questioning her. But, I really wanted to understand.
My thoughts were interrupted by one of the women saying, “She was willing to listen to the angel and ask him questions.”
WOW! I hadn’t caught that either time Senda told the story. Mary questioned God’s angel! We don’t even sit in the same area as the men in our village much less talk to them. We would never consider asking them questions in response. What kind of God allows a woman to ask His angel questions? The more I thought about Senda’s sacred story the more I started to ask questions in my heart about the Most High God. It seems like He honored women, and He was willing to let women talk to His angels. He didn’t shame Mary. He lifted Mary up by blessing her. What kind of God gives women such honor? What kind of God gives women such freedom to speak? How can I know this Most Hight God?
“Yes! Good! These are great answers,” said Senda. “What do you learn about her response to the angel of the Most High God?”
One of the women whispered, “She said she was the Most High God’s servant and agreed that it should be as the angel suggested.”
I thought to myself, “That is what I want, too! I want to be the servant of the Most High God and do as He asks!”
“Yes! That is right! Mary said she was willing to be the LORD’s servant. She was willing to do as the LORD asks. I would like to share with you a little bit about my story and why I am here.”
I leaned in because I wanted to know everything about why Senda came to our village this day!
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Solar Powered Bible
They can be uploaded by our team leader Jonathan to hold the Bible, Leadership lessons, discipleship training, evangelism training, music, etc. in different languages. The larger device even has a flash light that has four levels of brightness that is 3x's better than an IPhone.
How might you use these?
In the US....
With the elderly that need to just listen.
With someone in crisis that is having difficulty focusing so they can just listen.
With the blind.
With someone in the hospital.
With children.
With someone wanting to learn English.
With anyone that prefers to listen and not read.
For refugee empowerment.
For inner city encouragement.
Keep one in your car in case you drive in an area where you don't get radio reception.
Teams traveling over seas can take these as gifts to give out in the heart language of the people. Whether you are visiting family, going on a business trip, or going as a church team.
Over seas...
Teams can do distributions of devices in the language of the people.
Teams can leave behind with extra training content so that teaching can continue when they leave.
We have a friend on our prayer team that always carries a device with him here in the US. He prays and sees who God wants him to give it to. He finds ways to be generous with God's Word through solar devices.
They come in different colors.
How might God be encouraging you to distribute God's Word through a solar device today?
Contact info@audioscripture.org to order 1 or 100 or 1,000!
Please share this post!
Thursday, August 19, 2021
The Sinful Woman
As I shared the story of the sinful woman with a friend she said to me, "I love that HE saw her!" The best hospitality happens when we take the time to see the person!
Every culture has certain expectations for hospitality. Taking time to honor these lets the person know you see them!
Sometimes, we can think we are above the norm. In today's Heaven's Hospitality story, we discover that even religious leaders are not above the norm. They need to take time to see the person and serve the person.
As you listen, do you see that Jesus kindly pointed out that Simon didn't even take time to see Him, the teacher, and offer him the basics of hospitality?
If Simon wasn't willing to honor the Rabbi and show Him that he sees Him as a guest worthy of hospitality, what makes you think he would even see a known sinful woman?
Hospitality sees! It doesn't look at the past. It looks at the person! And does what brings honor.
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Heaven's Hospitality: John 3:1-21 Jesus and Nicodemus
This is also true spiritually.
The story of Nicodemus has a contrast between light and darkness. Listen to today's Bible story and listen to how Nicodemus moved from darkness to light spiritually.
It is key to understand that Nicodemus was a religious leader that was living in the darkness spiritually. As he moved closer to Jesus and knowing Him, he was moving closer to the light. When we first move from darkness to light it is hard for us to see, but as we remain in the light our eyes will begin to adjust. This is true with our spiritual understanding as well.
How might God be asking you to move from darkness to light?
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Audio Scripture Year End Donation
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