All of that is not that coincidence it is God
ordained and when you start seeing your conversations
as ordained by the Lord with Everyone you come
in contact with you will look at those conversations
differently You will be more intentional and
more present and who you're talking to it Hey
there, welcome to the gods goodness podcast We
are your host Josh and Shelly Hankins and we're
here to share real stories of God's power stories
of hope, healing, and miracles that will strengthen
your faith. No matter what you're walking through,
we want to remind you that God is good and he's
still moving today. Let's dive in. Today's episode
is a divine continuation of a powerful story.
When Michael Price first joined us back in March,
he opened up about his MS diagnosis with boldness
and faith. After we wrapped up that conversation,
I felt prompted to share something I believed
could help, LifeWave's X39 patches. Since then,
Michael has experienced real, tangible breakthroughs,
sleeping through the night again, walking long
distances without a cane, and stepping into God
-orchestrated opportunities that no man could
create. But today, we're not just welcoming Michael
back, we're honored to be joined by his incredible
wife, Elise. Together, they're sharing how God
has been moving in their lives, guiding their
steps, and showing up in miraculous ways. This
is a testimony of healing, obedience, and divine
alignment, and we're so excited to share it with
you. Let's welcome back Michael Price, and for
the first time, Elise Price. Hey, glad to be
back. Good morning. So before we get started,
Elise, will you? Start us off with an opening
prayer and then we'll get into it. Yes. Thank
you. Father, Lord, we just thank you, Father,
for all the things that you do for us. We praise
you and we worship you because you're the God
of our hearts who loves us and seeks us out.
Lord, we just give this time to you now. We thank
you for what you're going to do. Be with us and
we just pray, Father, that we would bring you
honor and glory and praise. It's in your precious,
holy name that we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you,
Elise. Mm -hmm. Sure. So life has taken some
turns, twists and turns for the good. And so
where would you like to start that off, Michael?
So I think this is where we'll start. I'm gonna
tell a little story because, you know, the last
time, you know, we talked a lot about adversities.
We talked a little bit about the victories. You
know, we talked about miracles, of course. But
I think the demeanor of this show is gonna be
a little different. I'll start it out this way.
So the last time after you sent over the recording,
I had Elise listen to it, and there was some
tears shed in that recording. You know, I was
very emotional, you know, and talking about some
of the things that are going on in my past. And
I'm sitting there one night at the recording,
and I looked over, and Lisa's listening to it,
and she's laughing. And I said, wow, I'm not
sure what I said to make her laugh, because I'm
pretty sure I cried during that recording. It's
very disconcerting. So I stopped her and I said,
I just want to know what you were listening to.
And she said, well, you had just mentioned that
you had your second heart attack and you had
been experiencing the pain all day long. And
you decided not to call EMS until one o 'clock
in the morning. And Josh said, we want to thank
you for that because we like being up all day
long and then getting called when we go to bed.
It never fails. And it's always like three days
later. Yeah. This show's going to be a little
different. I do want to talk about the victories.
You mentioned in the opening there that, you
know, I opened up a lot about my MS and some
of the struggles I was having for the last couple
years, really the last 12 years, but really the
last couple years because I've been diagnosed.
And pain, pain was one of those. would have a
lot of pain at the end of every night and just
would not be able to get comfortable. I was walking
each day because when you have MS, unfortunately,
you just say moving, but it was difficult. Anything
over, you know, I just said it a quarter mile,
I was using a cane. I was using a walking stick.
And after we completed recording the last show
I was on, so Josh and Shelley and I had a conversation
and we brought Elise into it. And I was introduced
to the X -39 patch from Lifeway. So I went out
and ordered it, and that very day, and it came
in a couple days later, and I will tell you,
I started wearing the patch, and I'm probably
one of the biggest skeptics out there, but on
the fourth day, we were sitting like we always
do in our upstairs living room, and I looked
over the lease and I said, you know what's strange?
I said, I don't have any pain right now. You
know, I'd forgotten for a moment that I was wearing
the patch. And she looked at me and, you know,
she didn't give me that look, but she gave me
a happy look, a joyful look. And I said, you
know, it's really, there's no pain. And I remember
I was wearing the patch. So we went on for a
couple more days, and here we are two months
later, two and a half months later, however long
it's been since we recorded that last show, there's
no pain. I was able to stop using the cane, so
the balance issues are gone. My memory, my recall
is much better than it was. I have tons of energy.
I sleep at night. I was only sleeping two to
three hours a night for the longest time. Now
I sleep. I had to have an alarm wake me up and
I sleep throughout the night. So I mean, it's
the turnaround has been just, I mean, it's all
God, you know, in the tool he's used is the patch,
the S39 from LifeWave, you know, that was created
by a Christian focused organization. That I was
introduced through a podcast I was doing from
for Shelly and Josh. None of this is coincidence
All god links. No, no, absolutely not. I actually
distinctly remember at the end of that podcast
Whether it was part of the podcast or or if it
was us offline praying for you and saying that
I knew that you would be Relieved of this that
this would be gone I remember that Yep, and here
we are talking about that release talking about
a victory. Yeah, first of these that i've been
doing So what kinds of changes have come about
from being more clear thinking and having better
sleep? I'm sure there's been other improvements
in your life because of your body doing what
it's supposed to do. Oh, my goodness. I would
at least speak to some of this, but I will tell
you that I'm a different person. I can tell you
I used to just I wasn't thriving. I was just
trying to survive and trying to just get by each
day. But now, I mean, I talk to every single
person I come in contact with. I'm very intentional
and present in every meeting that I'm in at work,
every time I have some type of interaction with
family members, friends. I'm just more focused
on what I'm doing. I have a lot of energy. And,
you know, I'm up at 5, 5 .30 each morning now.
You know getting my my print time my reading
time in preparing for the day And uh just you
know, I mean life has just changed so much more
for the positive Well, and you just spoke on
that too. I was gonna say I clearly see you have
more energy. I do see you're more focused and
not so confused and Not fatigued. I mean usually
during the day, even though he's standing on
his feet. I could just see him tired and fatigued,
but that's I see clear eyes and clear head. It's
just been amazing to change. What a blessing.
Elise, how hard was it? I know it was difficult
for Mike, but how hard was it for you? Not a
lot of people, I guess, consider the struggles
of the spouse who's going through the person
who has a horrible ailment. How hard was it for
you to cope with it, to live with it, to help
him with it, seeing the man that you saw as a
strong person succumbing to this illness? And
are you fearful at all that there might be signs
or symptoms of it coming back anytime soon? Well,
I'll say this. It has been an adjustment because,
you know, Michael handled everything, you know,
and when I ask him to do something or he just
takes charge or he just leads our family and
then one day he just doesn't or can't. It's a
wake up call. But to say I'm fearful, I'll share.
A while ago, probably back in 2009 or 10, we
had only been in Pinellas County for a short
time. I was already seeing the signs that he
was gonna, he's had high blood pressure, he had
high cholesterol. I just knew he was gonna have
a heart attack any time now. Didn't exercise
and I just laid there in bed one morning. Kind
of like 3 .30, 4 .30 in the morning, you're kind
of half awake, half asleep. I remember just saying,
Lord, what's going to be our future? I mean,
am I going to be a widow? And that didn't get
answered right away. But I'm like, what about
the kids in school? We wanted to send them to
a Christian school up to a, you know, I homeschooled
for them up till middle school. And we knew we
were going to send them to high school. I'm like,
what about their school tuition? And he said,
I got it. I'll take care of it. And then I was
like, well, what if something happens to them?
He said I got you. It'll be okay. Like what about
the house? What about the cars? What do I do?
He said I have it So that time on I wasn't fearful
because I knew my god would take care of me because
he loves me I guess, you know, I mean it's he
says unless you're like these little children
You can't inherit the kingdom of heaven and that's
what it's like to be a child is not knowing Where
your security is coming from specifically just
know who is the security bringer? Right. So I
take it all to him. I Initially it's like okay,
you know little inconveniences in the daily life
disrupts me big things and crises I'm like, okay
right away. I know God's got it Same I can get
derailed over the smallest thing but the biggest
things I'm like solid Yep So I know he's got
it I know he's got the answers and I know One
day we're all going to be in heaven, so I don't
really need to fear anything. Wonderful answer.
That's so true. Hey friends, real quick talk.
Not long ago, I had a brutal four -day headache.
My podcast coach, Genele Samuel, messaged, I
wish I could put one of these patches on you.
I asked, what patches? She sent me an episode
on LifeWaves X39, non -transdermal patches that
use light to support the body. No drugs, no chemicals,
just light. Wildly enough, chemical men once
prophesied healing would come through light.
Since trying them, I've had better sleep and
more energy. And Josh, he's even been pain free
when he wears them. And the stories we're hearing,
they truly sound like God moving. I'm not saying
patches replace faith, but if you've been praying
for breakthrough, maybe this is part of the answer.
Curious? Tap the LifeWave link in my About section.
Of course, they're not meant to treat or diagnose
anything. But wow, the testimonies are powerful.
Now, back to more of God's goodness on the show.
for what we get engaged in these days, because
we wanna add value to whatever, we feel like
whatever the Lord's gonna have us do is gonna
add value. It's gonna be for kingdom building.
So we're actually coaching. So we do some coaching
these days, mainly around leadership. I come
from the healthcare executive world. I'm leading
C -suite for Christ here locally in Charlotte,
working with a lot of business leaders and owners.
And I see them going through some of the same
issues and it's finished in some of the same
pitfalls that I did. So I try to, I give a lot
of unsolicited advice. If my kids ever listen
to this, they will know I love giving unsolicited
advice. And so I do that. The Lord's really emboldened
me and taking away any fear for what others may
say or things or whatever the case may be. So
we we do some coaching because there's some important
aspects that people need to consider when they're
out there and leading larger organizations or
their entrepreneurs starting their own business
or things of that nature and you know, there's
You know, we we call it, you know the well -being
of a leader and you need to make sure that your
mind body spirit Relationships are in order and
you focus on them. Mine mindset is key I mean
when I was struggling at my most and I couldn't,
the recall and the memory issues were at their
worst. I mean, my whole confidence was just,
was not where it needed to be. I mean, I was
severely struggling, not just physically, but
mentally. So mindset is key. And then your body,
you got to exercise, you got to eat right. You
know, so that's your mind, that's your body,
your spirit, your relationship with Christ. In
order to be a selfless or a servant leader, okay,
in order to be selfless or a servant leader,
You have to be selfish about your relationship
with Christ you have to Otherwise, you're no
good to anyone. Your cup is empty. You have nothing
left to pour out and then relationships Your
relationships have to be with people you trust
people that build you up that are positive in
your life And that hold you accountable that
you allow them to hold you accountable I mean,
so those are really four key areas in your life
mind body spirit relationships You have to focus
in on And you have to be selfish about these
areas. Otherwise, you can't be the selfish or
stubborn leader that you strive to be. Right.
You can't pour from an empty cup. You cannot.
But as we carry that a little further, we go
into what we call the four pillars of well -being.
They all begin with the letter R. I am a pastor,
you know, so we have to begin everything in the
same letter. Kind of make it easier for people.
Yes, right. Rest, refocus, recharge, or recommit,
okay? And rest does not sleep. Psalm 46 10 says,
be still and know that I am God. He wants us
to stop. He wants us to pause. You know, the
same way he told the Israelites when they were
standing at the Red Sea, he told Moses, tell
them to stand still, not to do anything, okay?
He wants us to stop. He wants us to be still.
And the society today just says, go, go, go.
You know, you have to drive through mentality.
you know we have to take moments for ourselves
to be able to stop and understand what's going
on hit that pause button not the snooze button
the pause button and listen to your body because
you're the only one that can hear what your body's
saying no one else can people may be able to
see it but they can't listen and hear what your
body's telling you believe it or not your body
will talk to you your body will tell you things
that caffeine's telling you something that quiver
in your fingers telling you something that headache
is saying something to you. Josh, you know what
I'm talking about. I do. Men specifically do
not listen to their bodies. I mean, we have so
many aches and pains from chores and doing manly
deeds like lifting lawn mowers up over walls
or whatever that we just ignore littler pains
because we experience so much in our life that
we don't take seriously enough, especially as
we get older, that there could be. Ramifications
behind those pains that we don't know anything
about because we just assume it's just a little
worse than what we had before It's just a little
indigestion and you know, we're getting older
so we dismiss it instead of seeing a primary
care physician We're very foolish that way Some
women are like that too. They have to keep going
because their families depend on them They've
always been the one that everyone relies on so
if they slow down, you know, it's like oh, you
know That's absolutely true. We just Keep going.
Someone's got to get it done. The next thing
to do, you just don't stop. And that's why the
devil doesn't like marriage is because when one
person is down, the other one can come in and
say, I got this, you know, teamwork. Yes. Yeah.
And we just celebrated our 26th anniversary a
couple of days ago. Congratulations. Congratulations.
Your picture was so cute on Facebook. They had
matching pink outfits. It was cute. That we did.
So yes, so rest we have to get we have to listen
to our bodies We have to listen to what the Lord
is telling us to do You know because you know,
it's just like our prayer life so many times
We'll sit down and we'll say thank you lord for
what what you've given us and we just move on
You have to stop you have to listen. You cannot
have a relationship if all you ever do is talk
You have to stop and listen. So that's the rest
focus the refocus is that mindset shift that
really ties into that spirit relationship that
we just talked about a minute ago, getting, you
know, really becoming selfish about your relationship
with the Lord. He desires to have that relationship
with us. Otherwise, in John, he would never have
called us friend. You know, he calls us child,
adopted children, but Jesus says, I call you
friend. You know, so he wants that relationship.
And our God is a jealous God. He wants a relationship
with us and we resist it so much. So you can't
have that mindset shift if you don't have that
focus on the Lord. If you're not selfish about
that relationship, getting up every morning,
giving him your first fruits, doing the reading,
having that prayer life, having that prayer life
without ceasing. You know, the word tells us
to pray without ceasing. And listen, we don't
have because we struggle in our fate, we doubt.
So getting your mindset shift right and refocusing,
you know, so there's a couple of, so I give examples
when I'm coaching to people. So on that rest,
the way I handle that rest is I literally will
remove myself or whatever that situation is that's
causing me that stress. For me here, we got a
lot of property, so I'd go outside. If I'm not
on my property, I'll find a way to get outside
and just be amongst nature, be amongst creation.
You know, and that gives me that moment to be
able to pause because I removed myself from the
situation. And the refocus is that mindset shift.
For some people, you know, it's a prayer, it's
meditation. For some people, it's reading. You
know, pick up the Bible and read. You know, it
may be just going for a short walk. You know,
find... whatever that refocus is for you so we
rest we refocus and then we recharge you know
and recharge and again we're not talking this
is so these four pillars are so simple but i
would ask the question why aren't you doing them
you know and it's because we live in a society
that is so fast paced and it's so selfish and
stubborn it wants everything for ourselves So
when we rest, we refocus, we start to recharge
and that recharge is Walt Reed hobbies, time
with your family, shopping, dining, coffee for
my lovely bride sitting beside me. It is her
choice of recharging. It's funny because she'll
use it to recharge, but she'll also use it to
drink just before she goes to bed. So it's really
weird for me. I just thought I would throw that
out there. So we recharge, but you need to figure
out what that recharge is for you. And then the
last R is recommitment. Something has to change.
Remember, rest, we removed ourself from that
situation. Okay, we're not talking about fleeing.
We refocus, we recharge. Your recommitment has
to involve some type of change before you put
yourself right back in the same situation. Otherwise,
you'll be back in the same place. You'll be back
to being stressed. For example, so many people
think, especially leaders, my calendar has to
be full. I can't have any white space on my calendar.
I can't put time on there for myself. I'm here
to tell you, your calendar will let you put time
on there for yourself. And if you don't have
time each day and each week, you're going to
have problems. The beginning of this year, really
right around the time we recorded the first podcast,
I sat down with Elise and I said, we need to
put lots of time on my calendar. So we have lots
of time on my calendar. Thursday is my only late
day. I'm not saying that I'm perfect in this,
but that's what I try to keep it to. If someone
wants to have a meeting out in California, I'm
going to say, well, Thursday is your day because
I can't work till 7 or 8 o 'clock because she's
spending time with her mom, you know, and she
spends time with her mom late on Thursday. So
we align our schedules. I try to put break times
each day. Now they'll differ because things will,
meetings will run over and things don't make
sure. But the point is, you're trying and you're
attempting to put time for yourself for your
own well -being and guess what guys you can take
lunch each day no matter what you think you can
take lunch and guess what you can also take vacations
every year i didn't take a vacation for 12 years
even though when we would be on vacations i wasn't
on vacation yeah and she'll she'll tell you right
now that i wasn't present yeah so hey friend
Sometimes all it takes is a good, honest conversation
to find clarity. That's why we're now offering
affordable, one -on -one coaching and mentorship
sessions. If you're a believer looking for breakthrough,
clarity, or spirit -led direction, these hour
-long calls are a space to process, pray, and
move forward. You can book your session now with
special listener pricing. Just head to the Lincoln
are about section. I'd love to connect with you.
I don't like vacations myself. I find myself
worrying about all these aspects of like, you
know, the dogs or, you know, keeping the family
safe or, you know, other drivers, what we're
going to check into. Like, it just, there's no
relaxation for me. And so like - Calling things
in and out of the car, taking the dogs out. Never
look forward to it. I was like, when do I relax?
And then Shelly has, you know, like agendas,
like this is what I want to do. Boom, boom, boom,
boom. And I'm like, well, I don't want to do
any of that. I want I just want to I just want
to somewhere else or or sit in and look over
a lake or something and just Sit and vegetate.
Yeah, we are not alike in what we think the kitchens
are That would be interesting Honestly, I mean
I could probably take a weekend by myself and
just go camping and I'd be okay I wouldn't need
a whole week. I wouldn't need a lot of things
but that's because you're not protecting anybody
Just me. Yeah, that's and I can trust God for
that So rest refocus recharge and recommitment
and as you were saying that things kept popping
in my head of what that looked like to me And
I think in rest, you know, what is it really
about? It's pretty much how much do you trust
God? Right. I can't rest unless I trust him.
I Can't relax unless I really trust him and it's
God saying hey don't do this How much do you
trust me to just be still? How much do you trust
me not to do this plan that you have and just
wait for me? And I'm thinking, you know, when
you refocus is God's asking you, who do you think
I am? You know, what do you believe is true about
me? If I think I have to do something that God's
telling me to be still, what am I not believing
about God that I need to refocus on? And recharging,
I just liken it to renewing your thinking so
that you can have correct alignment with what
God is telling you through these steps. And then
the recommitment is obviously walking the path
that is revealed to you by those previous three.
And as you were saying, I had to write it down
because it was just coming to me that way, and
I didn't want to forget it. And I think that's
a very powerful, very powerful R's to go with,
to think and ponder about. And you have to really
be disciplined with it. It's a discipline to
be learned. You have to keep practicing it for
it to be better and better. Just like soccer
players, dancers, they have to practice, practice,
practice. And sometimes being still before the
Lord, it was a discipline for me because my mind
goes a hundred miles each way all the time. That's
a good way for a collision. I write it down so
I can get it out of my head. Then I just keep
going. And it's gotten a lot easier. over the
years and i'm only probably 40 50 where i need
to be right now but i was at zero before so made
great strides but but just to your point i mean
it the point there is it looks different for
everyone but but only you can take the first
step you know it's the same thing the lord's
telling us to do in our relationship just take
that first step just accept the gift man i got
you You know, it's the same thing Elise was just
saying when you know back in 2009 2010 when she
was worried about my health and worried about
things that were going on my wife The Lord said
I I got you and that's that's literal. I mean
he literally does he has carried us Through these
past 26 years together and before that me, you
know for for years Because I can't do this on
my own and listen as we tied this back to leadership
If you're seeking or you're stating that you're
a servant leader, the only way I want you to,
I want you to hear me. The only way to be a servant
leader, a true servant leader is to have that
relationship with Christ. He was the first and
the greatest example of servant leadership, especially
how, you know, he, he led so many here, but he
really focused on those 12, you know, and there's
really five key areas that he focused on. You
know, he put others first above himself, you
know, Empowerment and development. He empowered
his disciples and he developed his disciples
And he shared the power in decision -making with
them He didn't say it's my way or the highway
even though he's the creator and he was God and
he is God He didn't say it's my way or the highway,
you know, he shared that power in that decision
-making He allowed them, you know, he was humble
in spirit in us and had that servants attitude
you know to serve it and Do we even need to talk
about behavior and integrity? I mean, we don't
have to mention that. But those are five key
areas. You know, you know, several leaders prioritize
the needs and well -being of their team members
and their stakeholders and their organization
and those around them. That's why it's so important
that you become selfish as a leader because you
put everyone else first. You have to become selfish
about your well -being and your relationship
with Christ in order to have that selfless attitude.
Mm -hmm. Otherwise you're going to fail. You
will not sustain it. It shows you said you can't
pour from an empty cup. You can't. There's a
reason why the Shema is written the way it is
to love the Lord your God with all your strength
mind soul and might and then the love your neighbor
as you love yourself. Yep. There's this particular
reason why you love God first and then it's love
your neighbor as yourself. And I think we might
have mentioned the last time that it's very hard
for people to love their neighbor, especially
in today's climate. primarily because they don't
have relationship with God, and secondarily,
they don't love themselves. Oh, yeah. We're seeing
the fruits of that ill labor in our country,
and other countries, in the news, in places,
that when we had more people grounded in Christianity
in this country, we did not see these things.
And now that we are drifted away from a Christ
-centered everything that we did, We're seeing
huge problems in places that we had not seen
before. I think of the laws of nature, which
of course God created. And nature abhors a vacuum.
So if you take God out of schools, what's going
to go into the school? You take good out of something,
what's going to replace it? And we're seeing
the fruit of that. We're seeing what happens
when people reject God all over the place. And
I'm so glad that we have people like you that
are. Speaking about the miracles that God is
still performing So that we can still keep people
focused that God has not abandoned us that we
are a people that has abandoned God Exactly Yeah,
I mean the miracles are not just in the Bible
the miracles happen around us every single day
The fact that I woke up this morning is a miracle
the fact that I have life in this body and breath
in these lungs is a miracle When you don't put
God first I mean and you try to do it on your
own. I mean you're on dangerous grounds I want
to read I want to read these verses real quick
because this just popped me in and These are
some of my favorite verses in all the Bible and
I love to tie them back to Psalm 23 But it's
John 10. I'll read from the NID where it says
very truly I tell you Pharisees anyone who does
not enter the sheep pen by the gate But climbs
in by some other way is a thief and a robber.
That's our enemy You know the one who enters
by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep the
gatekeeper opens the gate for him and the sheep
listen to his voice he calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out when he has brought out
all of his own he goes on ahead of them and his
sheep follow him because they know his voice
he's there's some keep there's so much you can
pull out of from there but but what i'll say
is he goes ahead of us he is out in front of
us leading us His sheep know his voice and they
will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will
run away from him because they do not recognize
a stranger's voice. We, without being selfish
and having that relationship, you will not know
his voice. So when he speaks to you, because
we have a very cunning enemy that wants to speak
the same way and use the same words and just
put small little tweaks on them. Just like he
did in the garden with Eve It's no different.
He's very cunning. He's very good at what he
does So we have to read we have to pray we have
to be selfish about that relationship and we
know his voice so then when you tie back and
you read Psalm 23 and he says and it says My
shepherd. I mean it becomes very personal to
you when you read those verses I love tying those
those chapters back and forth between each other
And we're so arrogant to think sometimes we don't
need them that we do for everything. Oh, yes
You know, I had heard a pastor a long time ago
He said something that I vehemently disagreed
with he was an internet pastor and he said that
Something to the effect that the devil is prowling
around like a lion seeking who's gonna confuse
or to consume But I can see his leash, right?
Because God's got a lot of leash and I thought
how foolish of you Right if he's on a 15 -foot
leash, you don't think the devil's pacing at
13 feet away and wearing a line in so you think
he's That's the limit to where he can get Like
why would you flirt with that? Why would you
tempt that? No rain Because if I was a clever
enemy, I would pull you in close as easy as I
could Yeah, well, you have to keep your mind
dwelling on the things of the lord. I mean just
recently I was you know, we're doing something
here at home and we're really excited about it
and get ready to do some stuff and My mind keeps
dwelling on how exciting and what it's gonna
look like and what we're gonna do and I'm then
I caught myself one day thinking Wow with that
same excitement and your mind is always dwelling
there I should be dwelling on the Lord the very
same way and Do I do that? Do I keep scripture
in my head? Do I keep my mind dwelling on him?
And sadly, I was convicted that I have to do
a better job with that. And that keeps us on
pace when we stay with the Lord. Yeah, I used
to think I didn't pray enough to him until he
revealed that because of my ADHD, I pray from
when I wake up till I go to bed and I just pick
it up in different places and continue the conversation
when I'm off of whatever distracted my focus.
You know, it's a continual prayer for the entire
day, but he has convicted me to read more. Yeah,
I'm with you on that one too. I always think
I don't pray enough either, but I do talk to
him throughout the whole day. Yeah, and that's
important. I mean, the Bible is very clear about
playing without ceasing. You know, I don't share
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I truly believe it could be someone's answer
to prayer now back to the show But you know as
um as we shift gears for a minute so so C -suite
for Christ, you know, we had just launched C
-suite for Christ whenever we recorded the first
episode we did and Since then, I mean we just
continue to make And I say we, when I say we,
I'm including what the Lord's doing. It's different,
not just me or Elise, but he has just, man, he
has just overwhelmed us with what an impact we're
going to be able to have in the Charlotte community
and beyond with C -Suite for Christ. You know,
our first monthly gathering or monthly worship
experience is coming up on May the 22nd. And,
you know, when I came into this, I knew that
you know we were going to have these gatherings
and my first thought is okay man how am i going
to find a place how we're going to you know we
serve breakfast who's going to be my speaker
i'm going to find a worship leader well i forget
sometimes so easily that the lord created the
earth and knows every single thing that's going
to happen and you know so we fast forward to
today and i just sent out a note to my leadership
team and i said hey i just want to confirm we
have a great speaker coming in on the 22nd We've
got a great worship leader. We have breakfast
already confirmed. We have a location that we've
confirmed. We have all the live stream equipment
purchase. We have someone that's running all
of that equipment for us. You know, we've got
31 people. Actually, I think it's closer to 40
now already confirmed to come. We sent out more
invitations, more people just registered today,
and it just continues to amaze me. The little
things that I was worried about. I need to learn
better that the Lord already has this. We're
continuing to make a big impact. We're working
with a lot of nonprofit organizations. We're
doing a lot of work with veterans. We're helping
with some nonprofits from a marketing perspective.
We've stood up pilot mentorship programs. Like
I said, we're helping veterans get jobs, transition
out of the military into civilian life. helping
them with homelessness and homes and the social
aspect of things they have to deal with post
-military. I mean, in eight weeks, it is amazing
the work that we're doing through C -suite for
Christ. You know, and when I originally came
into this, I said, okay, you know, I'll probably,
you know, I've got the leadership experience
from healthcare, and, you know, I'll be able
to use that. I'm also a pastor, and I didn't
think I would use the skills or the gifts the
Lord had given me through that. I will tell you,
The people that I'm encountering, these leaders,
that everybody looks at and says, wow, they got
it all in their control, they don't. They're
suffering walls just the same way you and I are
and everyone else around them are. They've lost
their parents, their loved ones, they're going
through divorce, they've lost jobs. I keep running
into people that are struggling with MS or their
family members are struggling with MS. They need
prayer. That's what I'm dealing with and that's
why we're here. We are here to cover the world
in Christ. We are here to partner with leaderships
out in the marketplace, but we are here to make
disciples. Matthew 20 and 19 make disciples.
You know, and we're doing it through the workplace
because the ripple effects can be so far reaching.
You work with these leaders and we have a marriage
ministry that we work with their marriage as
well, but the ripple effects. from what we can
influence them to do in their workplace, their
organization, their teams, their customers, their
community, is so far -reaching. So far -reaching.
Incredible. Sometimes we forget when God tasked
us to do something, we just have to be obedient
to walk with it, and He's going to supply all
the results and everything we need to go with
it. Yeah. Yeah, for some of us, He doesn't even
bother telling us or tasking us with things.
He just puts people in our way. that we get to
talk to. And I mean, that's just how he does
it for me. When he does it for Shelly, he knows
that I'm on board because I do whatever she wants
me to do. I like the podcast. He didn't reveal
that he wanted to do the podcast. And I mean,
at first, I didn't like it because I'm very introverted.
I hated the idea. I would tell guests that I'm
just doing it for my wife until she told me that
bothered her. And then I reflected on it and
I asked God about it, and he revealed to me that
we're married, right? Two flesh became one. That
he did tell me to do the podcast, but he just
told the part of me that wasn't going to listen
and do it. And as far as, you know, I get to,
I meet random strangers in the silliest places,
not just in their houses while they're sick,
but in the gas station picking up a drink. People
just open up and talk to me and tell me things.
It's wild how many people come up and talk to
me. How many weird people. I literally had somebody
in a Taco Bell the other night wearing a onesie
and a diaper. Probably a 25 -ish year old man
who just started talking to me and we started
a conversation. And I would never talk to this
person on my own. I'm a big fan of, hey, you
do you and I'll do me. You stay over there and
I'll stay over here. It's fine. But then he started
a conversation with me. And so, you know, while
I was waiting for food, which took way longer
than it should have, we had a really good discussion.
And this is things that God brings into my life.
And I think he gets a chuckle because he knows
I'm introverted and he knows that I don't like
it. And he knows that I won't tell him no when
I'm faced with it. And so I think he gets a good
chuckle out of that. Yeah. Isn't it that I love
that story, but isn't it amazing how we'll read
the stories of how And the Lord told Moses he
was going to speak to people. And Moses said,
well, I can't speak. You know, I don't have the
gift of speech. And the Lord said, well, I got
it. I'll take care of it. OK, here's your brother.
He's a great speaker. I'm going to give it. And
we look at that film. We say, oh, yes, but Moses
needs to get over it. When it comes to our own
lives, we're saying, no, I can't do that. Oh,
yeah, yeah. The Lord's saying, remember what
I did for Moses. Remember what I did for Noah.
Remember what I did for Paul and everyone that
we read about the Bible. We're no different.
We're in a different time, but we're no different.
If we allow the Lord to lead and guide us, He
will give us the gifts that we need at the right
time that we need them. I'm with you, Josh. I'm
an introvert by nature, but now, you know, the
Lord has put me out there on these podcasts and
all these meetings and meeting all these people.
I will tell you, yesterday I was sitting at a
table at a place that I should never be sitting.
Amongst people that everyone on this call would
know and listeners would know and I sat at this
table with these Leaders and these well -known
people and they were talking about You know struggles
and people that they are helping in the name
of Jesus You know and how how we can more color
better collaborate together to get the message
out better Not just in Charlotte, but all over
this country in this world And I love the fact
that and i'm just gonna say this because I know
we're probably coming to the end I love the fact
that we got on this podcast and some people may
think we have scripts and we're readings or something
We don't have scripts. This conversation is 100
led by the spirit and the conversation has gone
where the lord wants it to go So we're not reading
from anything, you know, and I love the fact
that that you know verses pop in our head We
say them, you know the conversation leads, you
know, we're going back and forth, you know And
we're not close together, you know, we're not
sick of the studio together We're just allowing
this conversation to float and we know that for
some of the listeners that are listening right
now or later or years from now Someone needs
to hear what we're saying today. Mm -hmm Yeah,
the only thing scripted here was the intro we
want to work in excellence And do it justice
God has amazing ways how he speaks through this
podcast and the connections because I'm able
to connect past guests. And it's just really
neat how he's working through everyone's life.
And it's all because when we share our needs
and our concerns, you know, there's somebody
You know that person you're speaking to can think
of and say hey You might be interested in this
or whatnot because then it could lead to miracles
like those patches You know, so when we do share
with others and do come out of ourselves, you
know You never know what god can do with that
Oh, it's amazing. I mean one of my closest friends
now i'm going to give a shout out to my brother
ben in He's a former guest on here And uh, we've
really connected And he writes all my daily devotions
now for all the members here in Charlotte for
C -Suite for Christ. They go out at 6 a .m. every
morning, and they are touching people's lives.
And he's heavily involved in the work we're doing
here. And that came out of me being obedient
to join C -Suite. You know, did he introduce
me to Shelly and Josh on here? And Ben and I
got closer. He had a tragedy a couple weeks ago
where a tree fell into his house. So Elise and
I, you know, sent some things to his kids to
make him feel better this weekend. He's he's
a keynote speaker and an event. I mean, so I
mean, all of that is not coincident. It is God
ordained. And when you start seeing your conversations
as ordained by the Lord with everyone you come
in contact with, you will look at those conversations
differently. You will be more intentional and
more present in who you're talking to. And I
think Elise had something to say. Well, no, I
was just I was thinking in my head at the same
time as we do like together too, you know things
happen like that catastrophe that he had but
We're also here for each other to lift each other
up as well because there's no telling you know
who we might encounter as a Fellow Christian
that's been down and we need to help lift them
up Yeah, sure. I've been saying that for Over
a decade that one of the greatest gifts that
God has given us is each other Yes, and the church
and some people just you know It's hard for them
to accept that that because they're so at odds
with each other. We need to be united We need
to have the same mind and we all need each other
For sure. Right. And it's about receiving the
gift that he gives us. And if people are a gift,
we need to receive that gift. We need to receive
that help. We can't be the man in the middle
of the night saying, no, this is nothing. I'm
not calling the hospital. Right. We need to say,
yeah, you know what? I will take this help. I
do need help. You know what? Maybe I can do this,
but I can do it faster with help. Right. And
the gift isn't yours until you take it. Correct.
Wow. That's powerful. Yeah, I think it's a thing
a lot of us have a hard time receiving and I
think most of it is because we don't love ourselves
And we don't believe that worth receiving gifts
and I think that is very limiting for believers
that have received Christ Because I feel that
they haven't fully received him, right? They
said yeah, I receive you and then they live their
life the way they do Without receiving any other
gifts from God because they don't think they're
worthy And I would just like to encourage you
right now that I would not send my son to die
for someone if they weren't worthy And so if
God being the supreme being would send his son
to die for us that you are worthy No matter how
wicked you were no matter how much you sin that
you are worthy of love you are worthy of redemption
You were worthy to be restored by the king of
glory Just ask him into your heart Exactly. That's
powerful words right there. And then you take
him wherever you go and let him be the first
thought of your mind every day. And then invite
him to every single activity you're a part of
that day and make sure he's there with you. Yeah,
I like to pray when I pray and invite him in
the space I'm in, even though I know he's there,
just so he knows that I know. And that he's invited,
that you can have a seat. Yeah, he's the gentleman.
Because sometimes we need to be reminded that
even just through the prayer. Mm -hmm Yeah, I
I like to When I start my prayer is to thank
him for allowing us to humbly come before his
throne because he doesn't have to know And we're
so unworthy So yeah, wow what a great conversation
yeah, I mean so as we sum this up, I mean The
Lord is still working miracles today. You know,
He is the same God today that you read about
in the Bible. He is very much alive, and He wants
to have that relationship with you. He doesn't
want you just to accept the gift there and go
out and try to do everything on your own. He
wants a relationship with you. He wants to be
right there with you. And remember, when we are
weak and we are weak vessels, His strength is
made perfect. Amen. I got to share something
before we wrap up. It's just been on my heart,
but I didn't know a good spot to put it. So we're
going to stick it at the end. And then just the
Holy Spirit can be at peace. And one of my favorite
verses the last couple of years. But seek first
the kingdom of God and His righteousness and
all these things shall be added to you. It's
Matthew 6 33 so seek God first and See what he
does Absolutely, that's the first step for sure
that ties in perfectly You know, I've mentioned
it in another podcast that oftentimes we don't
hear what God has to say to us because we've
already made up our minds of what he's going
to say And so I think, you know, our listeners
can take a step back and instead of knowing what
you have to do, listening to what God tells you
what you have to do, because what if you don't
know? You just think you know. So, you know,
rest, be still and know, and listen to what the
Word has to say. I want to thank you both, Elise
and Mike, for being on our show. Love repeat
guests and I love when you bring your wife on
and getting the unique perspective from her her
side of this the other bed, you know of your
suffering of your journeys of your Accomplishments
and that that they could not have been done without
her as well, right? I'm very thankful that you
guys are both God -fearing and that you love
him and that you are willing to share despite
your introverted beginnings. I'm very pleased
and touched to have you on the show. Well, thank
you. Thank you for having us. Yeah, and you know,
this podcast is helping people. It's bringing
people together, it's making connections, and
it's got the message that people need to hear
going out. So thank you for being obedient because
that is a word our society does not like. to
hear. No, yeah, absolutely not. Well, if this
has been a blessing to you, we ask that you pass
it along so that someone else can be blessed
and we will talk to you next week. Thanks for
tuning in to today's episode. Listen, let's stay
connected. Come follow us on all the socials
at God's Goodness Podcast where you can find
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Your heartfelt feedback always reminds us why
we do this. Until next time, remember God is
always working, miracles are real, and your breakthrough
could be just around the corner. Keep believing,
keep expecting, and don't forget to share this
with someone who needs hope today. We'll talk
to you next week. you