Have you ever felt the stirring of unfulfilled potential or pondered the intricate weave of your life's purpose? We're embarking on a soul-searching journey with Shanda Fulbright, who joins us to illuminate the path to discovering our true purpose in Christ. Our lively conversation uncovers how the gifts God has graced us with are not just mere talents but the very tools designed to serve Him and our community, surpassing the narrow view of greatness as defined by society.
A join us on this episode of Faithfully Living for an enriching dialogue that will challenge and inspire you to live with conviction and purpose.
To connect with Shanda
www.shandafulbright.com
IG @shandafulbright
Listen to her podcast Her Faith Inspires
Shanda Fulbright is a wife, mom to three boys, and the host of the Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and tackles them with biblical truth. She is the co-author of Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God with Dr. Frank Turek, as well as Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic and Baseline Apologetics. She is the author and creator of Baseline Apologetics, a curriculum for adults who want to learn apologetics and the Bible. She teaches students of all ages the basics of Christian apologetics, and stresses the importance of biblical literacy as the path to a biblical worldview.
Do you want to learn how to study the Bible? Check out the YouTube channel Faithfullyliven youtube.com/@faithfullyliven
Do you want to read about how to live faithfully? Check out the blog http://lyfe102.org
Get a free Road Map to get started learning how to study the Bible https://mailchi.mp/88f9c9405da0/bible-study-road-map
Have you ever felt the stirring of unfulfilled potential or pondered the intricate weave of your life's purpose? We're embarking on a soul-searching journey with Shanda Fulbright, who joins us to illuminate the path to discovering our true purpose in Christ. Our lively conversation uncovers how the gifts God has graced us with are not just mere talents but the very tools designed to serve Him and our community, surpassing the narrow view of greatness as defined by society.
A join us on this episode of Faithfully Living for an enriching dialogue that will challenge and inspire you to live with conviction and purpose.
To connect with Shanda
www.shandafulbright.com
IG @shandafulbright
Listen to her podcast Her Faith Inspires
Shanda Fulbright is a wife, mom to three boys, and the host of the Her Faith Inspires podcast where she takes cultural issues and tackles them with biblical truth. She is the co-author of Let’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God with Dr. Frank Turek, as well as Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic and Baseline Apologetics. She is the author and creator of Baseline Apologetics, a curriculum for adults who want to learn apologetics and the Bible. She teaches students of all ages the basics of Christian apologetics, and stresses the importance of biblical literacy as the path to a biblical worldview.
Do you want to learn how to study the Bible? Check out the YouTube channel Faithfullyliven youtube.com/@faithfullyliven
Do you want to read about how to live faithfully? Check out the blog http://lyfe102.org
Get a free Road Map to get started learning how to study the Bible https://mailchi.mp/88f9c9405da0/bible-study-road-map
Welcome to Faithfully Living, the Podcast where we learn how to live for Christ in our daily lives. I am Dwan, your host, and I would like to invite you on a journey with me to explore and learn how to be a faithful follower of Christ. Hi everyone, welcome to Faithfully Living, the podcast where we encourage you to live for Christ faithfully by offering guidance on how to study the Bible, how to understand the Bible better and how to remain faithful to historic Christianity in a contemporary society. So have you ever struggled with finding your purpose? You know we live in a world with many distractions and finding our purpose in life seems like an elusive pursuit. But as believers, we have a purpose because we are created and redeemed by God. In this episode, I talk with Shanda Fulbright about finding our purpose. So stay tuned for this conversation about finding our purpose. So stay tuned for this conversation.
Speaker 1:Before we start this conversation that I had with shanna, let me tell you a little bit about shanna. Shanna forbride is a wife, mother to three boys and the host of her faith inspires podcast, where she takes cultural issues and tackles them with biblical truth. She's the co-author of let's Get Real Examining the Evidence for God with Dr Frank Turek, as well as Train your Brain, an Introduction to Logic and Baseline Apologetics. She is the author and creator of Baseline Apologetics, a curriculum for adults who want to learn apologetics and the Bible. She teaches students of all ages the basis of Christian apologetics and stresses the importance of biblical literacy as the path to a biblical worldview. All right, let's dive into this episode. Hi Shanda, welcome to the show.
Speaker 1:Hi, thanks for having me All right so before we dive into our topic, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 2:Yes, so currently I have my own podcast called Her Faith Inspires. I also teach apologetics Christian apologetics online to as young as middle school, all the way through to adult. I am a wife and a mom of three boys. Two of them are already out of high school, one of them's in middle school, and so I'm busy with them, so yeah, and I also speak at conferences and different retreats and things, so I'm busy with them. So, yeah, I'm, and I also speak at conferences and different retreats and things, so I'm busy, but I try to keep my self not going crazy busy, so, but I love to teach and that's basically what I do and what I am as a teacher.
Speaker 1:Okay, great. So let's kind of get into our topic about finding our purpose as a believer. You know, people often say I've heard, you know, we know when kids get out of high school they're trying to find, like what their, what their next step is, what their purpose is. But I've also also heard adults say, hey, I don't, I'm trying to find my purpose. What is my purpose? So what does it mean to find your purpose as a believer in Christ, and why?
Speaker 2:You know you're. That's a good question, because what? What many people don't realize is that question is a worldview question. Basically, it's what am I here for? So everybody, everybody asks it, no matter what they are Christian, atheist, you name it whatever worldview they're coming from they're going to always ask what am I here for? And that implies purpose. And so for Christians, we know that there is no purpose without God, because the meaning to life, if you ask why, why am I here? What am I here for? That's the next question. How did I get here? Is probably the first. What am I here for? Is the second. What am I going to do? What does God want me to do?
Speaker 2:If you're a Christian, right, and so I think there's a twofold meaning. As Christians, our purpose is to know God and make him known, but then, individually, god has given us talents and gifts that are not all the same. Some people are very artistic and creative, or they have a great singing voice, or these talents which I can't identify with, that I wish I could, but I don't sing well. Well, you know, for me I'm like that. That's not my talent or gift that God has given to me.
Speaker 2:And I think sometimes, when you have these personality tests. People try to find their purpose through taking this test and if this, if I take this test, this test is going to tell me what I'm good at, what I'm interested in. It's going to kind of lead me down this path, and I have boys right now that are asking the same question what am I going to do? And one of them, who's 18, said I just want to make sure the thing that I choose is what God wants me to do. I want to do something bigger than just go into, like construction or you know.
Speaker 2:I don't know whatever other career paths are out there. And so my thing, my answer to him, is what I guess I would say to everybody else Don't overthink it in the sense of what am I here for? I got to be here for something greater. I think we all are. But what we define as great is probably going to be the most important aspect of that question. Like, what seems great to one person, or actually even to the standards of the world, is not going to be what God looks at as greatness. You know, god looks at the foolish and the unwise things of the world and he uses those things, things that people wouldn't choose.
Speaker 2:And so I always look at and appreciate the fact that God, when he gives us purpose and he uses people, and I say I guess, if you say God uses you for what To know Him and make Him known If God's going to use you for a greater purpose, it's going to be to make him known, it's not going to be so you can stand on a stage and make yourself known.
Speaker 2:So the whole mission, the underlying theme of the entire mission of your purpose, is so that one, you know God, that vertical relationship, and that you make him known, that horizontal relationship, regardless of if you're at home or if you're working at a corporation or if you're working on a construction site or a classroom. So that's the underlying theme of everybody's purpose. My purpose is to know God and make him known. So I would say, when you go to choose something to do in life, you have to ask yourself what's the purpose of my choice. Is it to make myself known and to do something quote, unquote great? Or is it to make God known and am I going to allow God to use me through this situation or environment?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's important to let it be something, of course, something that you like also, but something that allows you something of course, something that you like also, but something that that allows you to help others. Know God. You know as a personal relationship with him and in you know, make disciples. You know God Jesus told his disciples you know, go into the world and make disciples of other people so you can do that.
Speaker 1:You know, whether you're an electrician, you're a plumber, you're a doctor, you're a lawyer, you know you're going to come and come back with people. So you have to make the most of that time that you have with people to point people in the right direction Right, exactly, exactly. So I guess that kind of helps you choose your purpose when you say don't dwell on it being so specific as far as that was, my next question is how do we find that purpose? But you said don't, don't be so, I guess, hyper-focused on exactly what you do, as long as it's something that helped accomplish that ultimate goal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think sometimes people focus on the task, the thing, you know, the title maybe too, because again, we have to remember that the world has the culture, has its way of defining what great is in the eyes of the culture and what God looks at in the eyes of the culture and what God looks at as far as greatness is concerned. You know, I love that verse in Corinthians where Paul says God chose the foolish thing and foolish things of the world to astound the wise, and I feel like that's a great definition of me. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed when it even comes to apologetics. I'm not the smartest person in the room, Don't have a doctorate, not going to get one. So for me it's like we have to stop ourselves and say we're always focused on the thing, the job, the title, and in reality, what we should say is what has God put in front of me?
Speaker 2:And especially when you're young, I think, when you're, when you're 18 and you're trying to figure out I just graduated from high school, Now what do I do? Kids think they have to have it all figured out and you know it is like slow down a little bit, because I guarantee you, what you choose right now is probably going to change in two years, because you're growing and you're maturing, and then even when you're 30, I mean, I was in a classroom teaching kids fifth graders four years ago, whereas now I'm teaching kids online apologetics, and I never thought I would do that ever. You know, I never thought when I was getting my teaching credentials I wouldn't be in a classroom one day. And so I think sometimes, too, we have to give God the freedom to route us and sometimes reroute us, because I don't know how many people actually either want to stay in their career or stay in their career their entire life. Some of them do because they're invested. Right. I have to choose this thing. I chose it. I went to college for 10 years Now I got to stay here, but there's a lot of people that wish they could reroute or take that missions trip, you know, and go, you know, to another country or whatever, and I think we have to remember that it's not so much the thing that I'm called to do. I mean, I feel like I'm called to be a teacher, but not in one place, Like I. It wasn't in the classroom, it's in it's online, it's to adults and it's to young kids. So we have to be careful with boxing ourselves in to try to find purpose and still remember God has made me who I am, he's given me the gifts and talents that I have. But I think, instead of looking at the thing, we need to keep it open for God to have the freedom to route our paths.
Speaker 2:Because I don't know about you, Duana, but I would say I look back on my life a lot and say, wow, that didn't turn out how I thought it was going to do. Like, if I would have, I couldn't have wrote the script for myself, I couldn't have chosen, I would not have chosen that. I wouldn't even have chose my husband. To be honest with you, you know, if they were all lined up, I wouldn't have said that's the guy I'm going to marry. He's like almost six years younger than me and I knew him for a long time. You know, I never would have thought so for me. I'm thankful that you give God, that you make that space for God to route you, Because when God does it, it usually blows you away. And two, it's better than you could have picked for yourself. So that's my encouragement, I guess I would say is that.
Speaker 1:That's how you find it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because your main focus, you know, to make God known never change, it's just how you're doing it. That specific purpose that you have, right, you know God shifts us around to. You know, make that happen for His glory.
Speaker 2:And I think too. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off.
Speaker 2:No go ahead, go ahead. I think too, if you're like, say, you're working a nine to five job and you're like, I hate this, I hate this God, I don't like it. I know we're supposed to work as unto the Lord and be joyful in what we do, but this is wearing me down and the desire of my heart is to go out and to do something bigger, something greater. I truly believe. If you lay your face before the Lord, one of two things are going to happen Either God's going to open up a door and help you move out of that, or God's going to change your heart and your focus to say, okay, I'll endure this because this is where God wants me in the moment. And so, even in that, I don't think I don't know that. The broad answer for purpose know God and make God known. The narrow answer to purpose, where it's individual, you know, for each person. It's kind of like I don't know it's going to vary. God has his way of working in our lives and we keep moving forward.
Speaker 2:I told my son God, you're a man, right? Yes, what has God demanded of you as a man of God? Well, I'll have to provide for my family. I have to be the leader of my home. Yes, that's what you have to operate within as you become a man. But as far as picking a plumber or a doctor, I don't know that God necessarily cares about that, as long as you're doing what's required of you and then let God lead you and route you. So that's why I told my son don't get so focused, hyper-focused on the thing as much as you are the purpose, the overall purpose, and again, you're still going to do what you like. I don't know that God's going to be so mean to keep us in a place that we absolutely hate, you know, for our entire lives. I think if there's a time that we're at a job nine to five and we hate it, it's probably going to be something that God's doing within us to make us better for the next step.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, yeah. And whatever it is, I know he's going to provide the way to make that happen. Sure, if it's money, he'll provide the money, the opportunity, the people that you know to make those connections, he'll make it happen. Absolutely, absolutely If it's within his will Yep. If it's within his will, yep. So you know. I've heard the question. The person asked like knowing your why as related to your purpose. So why is knowing your why important?
Speaker 2:For me. I actually had a podcast. I think my first podcast was Knowing the why, and the best way I can explain this is if you have kids, or think back to when you were a kid. If the listener doesn't have kids, what is the number one question? We ask why? Why is the sky blue? Why is this? Why is that?
Speaker 2:And when you look at as a Christian, people are going to ask why you believe what you do. Why do you trust that the Bible is the infallible word of God? Why do you think that Bible is inspired by God? Why do you choose Christianity over all of these other religions? And so when we have to answer the why behind what we believe, we have to answer the why behind the reason we do what we do, behind what we believe. We have to answer the why behind what we, the reason we do what we do. And so if that's related to purpose, again I would say you know, a lot of times people will be like oh, I want to podcast, why? Or I want to speak on a stage why? I would ask all the time why? And sometimes we again, we can glamorize even people speaking on a stage or doing a podcast, but you know as well as I do, to do a podcast requires a lot of time and a lot of effort behind the scenes. But the real reason has to be this is another way to know God and make Him known.
Speaker 2:And if we can't answer with I want to glorify God for the reason that I'm doing what I'm doing, then I think that that shows us a lot about our motivation. And we have to remember too, you know, I think, that there's a within human nature we're either going to push to put ourselves up or we're going to push to put God up. And Jesus says whoever lifts up the name of Jesus, he'll draw all men unto him. And so we're always going to war against that natural desire. I think at times, I don't know that for the Christian, you're always going to war against putting yourself up, because we know and we understand our purpose is to glorify Christ. But it doesn't mean that that part of our human nature won't rear its ugly head at times, even within our purpose. And so sometimes people can choose the thing that will bring them the most glory, and I don't know that that's the thing that's going to benefit them or their families in the long run.
Speaker 2:And so the why behind the what, when it comes to purpose, when it comes to what we believe and why we believe, it is all because it has to be, because we know God and we love Him and who he is, and I want to make Him known, in that it's all connected because it stems from the foundation of our worldview.
Speaker 2:If our worldview is a biblical worldview, where we know why we are here and who put this universe in the position that it's in, who created it, then we'll know that everything that we do flows from that. The knowledge of that, why, if that makes sense, in the position that it's in, who created it, then we'll know that everything that we do flows from that. The knowledge of that, why, if that makes sense so yeah, that's what I always think about why is still attached to your purpose, even if we don't think of it as a religious thing necessarily so I know you mentioned this earlier as far as your purpose being like your worldview, so how would you steer someone into like developing that worldview as far as their purpose and their why?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So worldview is developed very, very early on. And so I say worldview is just a fancy way to say discipleship. And people often think that discipleship is just a Christian term or a religious term Like oh, the Jews were. You know, jesus had 12 disciples, and so that must be a religious term. But disciple just means a follower of a leader or philosopher. So in that definition that's Google too, that's not even out of the Bible dictionary or anything. So out of that definition itself, it shows you that atheists can have disciples, islam will have make disciples, jews make disciples, buddhists have disciples and what they do is they just learn and follow the practices of that religion or belief system and they find purpose in that. Everybody wants to find purpose, everybody.
Speaker 2:Like I said, the worldview has five major questions Origin how did I get here? Identity why am I here? And purpose. And then theology, like what do we believe about God and how it all came to be? Uh, they have a source for why they believe what they do and they all think that their source is sacred and knows, has all the answers. And then another question is what's? What's wrong with the world? Even atheists answer that question like something's wrong. They don't call it sin, but they still say something's wrong with the world. Every worldview answers that. And then finally like what happens after I die? So when we say, how is purpose linked to our belief system? That's why, because it's embedded in the very foundation of what a worldview is, how a worldview is developed. It's developed when you're like before the age of 13, because, according to George Barna, everybody's worldview is developed by the time they're 13, which is a very, very short window of development. That's why they call it the foundational years.
Speaker 2:And then, when somebody is a teenager or in their 20s, they start to test that out with all the why questions. To test that out with all the why questions. Actually, one of my friends, her daughter, asked just about a month ago why do we believe the Bible when the Muslims think that the Quran is the sacred text? What makes the Bible different? And she's like I didn't know how to answer her. So that's when they start to test the worldview. Wait a second, mom, you told me Christianity is why we're here, that God exists and that I need to live for him purpose. But I need to know why, like I want to know. So they start to test it and by the time they're 30 and you know the rest of their lives. It's usually solidified.
Speaker 2:So people people don't realize, oh, I don't have a worldview. Yes, you do. Everybody has a worldview and it's developed through culture, through your environment, your upbringing, what you're exposed to. So the biggest worldview, the biggest worldview, reason for forming a worldview at the moment, is this the cell phone. This thing is going to shape your kids and likely, your worldview. Because, like I've told parents before, people you may not be thinking about what worldview is this coming from? When you're watching a reel or a YouTube video, that person who created that reel or that YouTube video has a worldview that they've embedded into that video and that now is going through your eyes, into your mind and whatever is filtered through the mind enters into the heart and that's what shapes your beliefs.
Speaker 2:And a lot of times people will be like I don't know why I believe what I do. I think I just, I just believe it. That's. That's not accurate either. Every belief can be traced back to a source, because worldview in America it's not taught T-A-U-G-H-T as much as it's caught by culture, and so that's why a lot of times people, even within the church, have a syncretized worldview which is like oh, I believe in karma and I believe in heaven. So it's like karma is an Eastern religious practice and belief, whereas it doesn't mingle with Christianity. We don't have that in the Bible. So they don't realize that they've actually taken two different worldviews and put them together and putting that into their minds as a syncretized worldview.
Speaker 2:So that's why purpose is a very important question to answer, because how you answer it will determine how you live the rest of your life and how you live life on this earth. The decisions that we make affects eternity, because every worldview has to answer what happens after we die. And we know atheists say nothing. There is nothing. So your body just turns to dust and you're eaten by worms and that's it, whereas, you know, hinduism says you're reincarnated and you don't remember the other lives that you've had. But if you live well on this earth, then you might have something more glorious to become, you know, be reincarnated to, and if not, maybe you'll just be a little frog or a worm or whatever. That's not, as you know, desirable. So they all have their ways to answer those questions and that's why we have to say too okay, fine, but we can respect all the different beliefs, but we also have to realize that they can't all be equally valid, because they contradict each other at its core.
Speaker 2:And so when you answer purpose, you have to consider answering according to your worldview to truly find out how to live a life that honors God and that helps you live the abundant life that Jesus talked about. Now I'm not talking about, you know, cars parked in your driveway and mansions that you live in, in a bank account that's filled with millions of dollars. But I am talking about when we live according to God's word and we live according to a biblical worldview, our relationships are better, our marriages are stronger and our career paths, even if I hate the job that I have, knowing that when I go to that job, god is the one who either closes doors or opens doors in my life. And if I work as unto the Lord, god sees that and will reward it according to His Word. So it gives you that hope and that encouragement to live in a broken world where everybody else wants to know why am I here, and we can live with the confidence that we know why and God will help us find favor in that.
Speaker 1:I think that's good that you mentioned that. As far as your worldview, it's going to affect how you live in this world. Like you said, it's going to affect your relationship, how you interact in the situation that you're in and just basically how you live your life to glorify God. Yes, so to wrap up, what encouragement can you offer believers to live faithfully for Christ?
Speaker 2:Well, in today's culture, I think we need a lot of encouragement to stand on the truth, and we have two things to help us with that. One God's word. It's special, what we call special revelation, god's direct message to us that shows us what is true. And then we have general revelation, where we look around at the world and we know that there is design in the world that we live in that points to a designer and there is a certain function and way that God has designed the world to where the truth is determined. The truth has already been, it's visible, it's observable and it matches reality, and so we can't rewrite that, we can't compromise on that. We have to stand on that, no matter what the culture says.
Speaker 2:In today's culture, I don't see our culture getting more, I would say, friendly towards Christianity. I see it becoming more hostile towards Christianity, even to the very core of you know, denying that God made the male and female. And so it's like those things. If we can't as Christians, if we can't stand on the basic fundamental truth that even biological reality shows, those are the only two options male and female.
Speaker 1:If we can't stand on that.
Speaker 2:We're in a dangerous place, and I think we have to be faithful because it comes down. It only comes down to one of two things the praises of men or the praises of God. Which one do we love the most? And so my encouragement would be to say this even if you feel like you're the only one standing for truth in your community, at your job or whatever, you're not the only one standing for the truth in the body of Christ. Everybody has to man their post, and so, wherever God has put you in this time, for this reason, know that you have the strength, through Christ, to just take that stand and say no, I'm not going to compromise. And whatever the consequence will be from that, trust the Lord in it. You know, trust the Lord in it, but know that you, even though it looks like you stand alone, you're not.
Speaker 2:There are other people, and I think when you look at somebody who takes a stand, when they're the only ones, it really ignites courage in others. I mean, I don't know about you, but I'll read articles sometimes where I see you know this group of people or this person, or you know a group of people, or this, this person, or you know, a couple people only will take a stand somewhere or they'll be like fighting for you know, at a student, a school council meeting or something, and I'm just sometimes I'm like I don't know if I could do it. I don't know if I can do that, you know, that's, that's, that's intimidating, but I'll watch it. I'm like they don't even know me, they don't know I'm reading this right now, but I'm like this is awesome and I wanted to send them an email or write them something and just say, hey, that is awesome that you would do that. Like you may not realize it, Nobody's screaming and shouting for you at that time. They're usually screaming and shouting at you to shut up and sit down, but I appreciate that you are standing up and standing for the truth, because we need that in this culture, and I just want people to realize that there's a lot of people who will stay silent and that's easy to do. It's easy to do. We have to be bolder than that. And here's one last example, because I could ramble on about it, I guess for a long time.
Speaker 2:But if you go back to Daniel 1, not Daniel 1, a couple of chapters into Daniel, and you'll see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and you hear the sound of the trumpets and everybody's supposed to bow right before this golden statue, and I can imagine. What we don't visualize and it doesn't tell us are the number of men that fall on their faces in this sea of people when they hear this, the trumpet sound. We only know the three men that are standing when that trumpet sounds, but we have to remember there was a lot more that were fall, that fell over. And when you look at a sea of people, just imagine crowds of people like at a concert or something, and they're all falling on their faces and there's three people out there in that crowd that are standing up. Those three people are going to stand out. And when you step outside of the crowd and you take a stand for God, God does something completely amazing. Their names become known to us and their names become known to us because they did something outside of the crowd. Because, if you look, even in the New Testament, the crowd itself is a character of the New Testament. You have Peter and James and John and Jesus, you have Mary and Mary and Mary, you have a couple of Marys, you have Pilate. You have all these people who you know their names. And then you see the crowd follow Jesus. The crowd deny Jesus. The crowd yelled Hosanna here comes in the name, he comes in the name of the Lord. The crowd is its own character because they moved with Jesus, they were fed, etc. Etc. But it wasn't until, like, Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd. Then you knew Zacchaeus' name and then when you see people come outside of the crowd or touch the hem of his garment, Jesus turns around and notices a woman there who has great faith.
Speaker 2:What I'm saying is, if you really want to do something great for the Lord, don't follow the crowd, Don't go with the easy, Don't go with the status quo, Don't love the praises of men, Because I believe and I've heard theologians still say this today that the book of Acts is still being written because it's the Acts of the church and it never actually has an end to Acts. It just kind of abruptly tells us Paul's, you know, on house arrest. And so they say that the book of Acts, the Acts of the church, is still written and I often wonder whose names are going to be in there. Whose names are going to be written in there, and it's going to be the people who step outside of that crowd. You know, when they step away from the crowd, then you're going to see their name pinned individually.
Speaker 2:And I'm not saying do something crazy just so you'll be known, but I am saying, when you do that, God looks at you and says that's the person that's going to be that great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews 11 that had that great faith. And I just think it's amazing that God does that. And so in those heated moments and those you know, those times when you're like, oh my gosh, my heart's beating fast, my hands are sweaty and I have to take a stand, or I'm not. But if you don't, you'll regret it later Take a stand and let God do what God's going to do and you'll be an encouragement to the body of Christ, I can guarantee.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, that's great encouragement yeah.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I'm glad. I'm glad because I was a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that is, you know, not not following the crowd. That's definitely, that's definitely hard to do, not following when it's easier. You know you don't want to be that stand. That person Say oh, you know, you know, why are you standing over there, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is hard, it's a challenge, but I think it's a, I think it's definitely. I think we don't even realize in the moment that that happens. We don't realize how it affects other people.
Speaker 2:I mean, I don't know that half the people in the Bible even I don't even think any of them knew that the accounts were being written about them and that 2000 years later we would be discussing them on these things called podcasts, that they're like, couldn't even imagine knowing anything about, and when you think of it like that, that 2000 years later, the Bible that was penned by these men which there wasn't a New Testament at that time either that was going to be preached in churches to the church of the 21st century, all because they were faithful, and so we even have, when we get to heaven, we have them to thank because all of the New Testament writers were beaten, tortured and killed for their testimony and they laid it all on the line. They didn't care about the praises of men, and so a lot of times when we look at purpose, knowing God and making Him known, I was actually telling the Lord the other day. I was like what's crazy, lord, is that all of the New Testament writers being beaten, tortured and killed, that makes their testimony that much more valid. Because they didn't. It wasn't like they lived to a ripe old age and had grandkids, and you know they were. They went to death for the testimony that no, christ is the Messiah, he is Lord, and God knew that.
Speaker 2:That was almost what needed to happen to verify the documents. But why did it happen for us? So we could look back and when we'd have textual criticism and we lay this book out against Islam, against the Quran, against the other books, against the Book of Mormon and against you know, not the Quran, against the other books, against the Book of Mormon and against, you know, not, the Jews, because they have the Old Testament and we believe that. But I'm saying like, if you're looking at it, against these other documents, you say they don't have the testimony eyewitness testimony that the Bible has. They do not have the fact that they were beaten, tortured and killed. Nothing stacks up against this Bible, and part of that is because those men took their testimony and stood against crowds and masses and governments and said no, I will die for this, because this is true.
Speaker 2:And if they would not have done it, we would be here wondering. I'm sure God would have maybe found somebody else. I don't know how that would have worked out, but my point is it wasn't just about them. God knew it was for the greater purpose of the church, and so when we look at purpose for ourselves, a lot of times it's not about us, it's about the other people that we're around or the people that it's going to affect, and we don't know where our ripples of influence travel or how far they travel beyond us. So that, hopefully, is also an encouragement, and purpose is. We always wonder what's my talent, what's this, what's that? God's going to take that into consideration. But also it's going to be because those other people that you're around need to hear what you have to say.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely so. Where can people find you're around? Need to hear what you have to say? Yeah, definitely so. Where can people find you on different places? Where can they hook you up?
Speaker 2:On social media. You can find me at Shanda Fulbright. That's one L in Fulbright and then I'm at Shanda Fulbrightcom with my podcast and just blog posts and other classes and things like that.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, thank you for being on the show, shanda. Yeah, thank you. I hope this episode helped you as we talk through how to find our purpose as believers. If you want to know more about Shanda, I will put her information into the show notes so you can look her up. Until next time, remember God is always good and he's always faithful. Thank you for listening to the podcast. Do me a favor by following the podcast and leaving a review to help spread the word. I look forward to hearing from you.