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You grab a pair of jeans out of your son's closet and he puts them on, and suddenly they're up above his ankles, and you're thinking, Wait, didn't those just fit? Then you realize his shoes are too small and his sleeves are too short. And somehow, right in front of you, he's growing and changing. Well, that's life, right? Plans change, seasons change, relationships change, circumstances change. And sometimes something we thought was certain can change with one phone call. So, what do we build our lives on when so much around us keeps changing? Well, I have some comfort for you because we are going to talk about what God says. Welcome to God Says So, the scripture-rooted podcast created to help Christian moms just like you grow in God's word, strengthen your faith, live by what God says, and pass his truth on to the children you love. So the next generation grows up rooted in scripture. Hi, I'm Donna, and I hope that you'll feel right at home here. Together, we'll find encouragement and joy in what God says. You'll leave with one practical way to bring his truth into your everyday family life. So come join me. I can't wait to share today's message with you. Hey, friend, welcome back. I'm so glad you're here. Now, if you've been listening to the God Says So podcast, you know that every episode comes back to the same thing: God's word. One scripture passage, one prayer, and one practical step to help you live by what God says in your everyday life. Today we're talking about the scripture that is at the heart of God says so, Isaiah 48. Okay, but real quick, I want to share that today is an exciting day because the God says so shop officially opens its virtual doors. Whether it's this podcast, the shop, God says so kids, or any of the resources we create, the purpose behind all of it is the same. To keep pointing you back to God and the truth of his word, to help you know what he says, live by what he says, and pass his truth on to the children you love. Okay, so let's look at our scripture for today. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 48. Okay, so how often do we hear people say this? The one thing you can count on is change. And yes, life changes, but as believers, there is something we can count on that doesn't change. God. And his word stands forever. Isaiah 48 brings comfort to God's people. There's this beautiful contrast between what is temporary and what lasts. The grass withers, the flower fades, people and circumstances change. But what God has spoken, his word stands forever. And that matters because life changes. Sometimes slowly, and sometimes all at once. I mean, your children, boom, they're all grown up. Our circumstances change throughout our lives. A season you thought would last longer ends much sooner. And sometimes something you prayed for doesn't happen the way you expected. Just because our circumstances change, that does not change who God is or what he has said. That's huge. God does not become less faithful because our circumstances changed. His word does not become less true because we're afraid. His word does not change because the world around us does. And that is why God's word has to be the foundation we build our lives on. Now, not because knowing Scripture means that life will always be easy, it won't. Not because following Jesus means we'll never face disappointment, grief, uncertainty, or hard seasons, we will. But when life changes, we need somewhere steady to stand. When we don't know what to do, we need to know where to go for truth. When worry starts getting louder, we need to know what God says. And when we're raising children in a world that is constantly telling them what to believe, who they should be, and what is true, we need to know what God says. And that is really why this podcast exists. I don't want you to simply, like just to simply give you something positive to listen to once or twice a week. And I don't want this to like be encouragement just for the sake of making us feel better for a few minutes. I want us to keep coming back to God and His Word, to open your Bible, read scripture, to understand what it actually says, and then ask: what does living by God's word look like in my everyday real life? In the car, in my marriage, when I'm worried, when I'm tired, when my child has asked me the same question 700 times, when I'm waiting on God and I don't understand what He is doing, when I have a decision to make and I don't know what to do. Because God's word isn't meant to stay on the pages of our Bible while the rest of our lives happens somewhere else. It is meant to shape the way we live. That's why every episode comes back to one scripture passage, one prayer, and one practical step. Not so you can simply know another verse, but you can learn what God says and begin living by it. And that brings me to something I'm really excited about today. As I said before, the God Says So shop is officially open. But I want you to understand the heart behind it. A t-shirt cannot replace opening your Bible. A coffee mug cannot renew your mind. A tote bag cannot make you trust God. The product is simply a reminder. God's word is the truth, and we want to point you back to Him. Like maybe you put on a t-shirt in the morning that says trust in God. And later that day something happens that you didn't expect. You just happen to look down and see those words again. And maybe it reminds you, that's right, I'm going to trust Him. Maybe you're drinking coffee from a mug with a scripture-based message, and that truth is sitting right there on your kitchen counter while you're starting your day. Or maybe someone sees what you're wearing and asks you about it. And now there's this opportunity to talk about why that truth matters to you. That is the heart behind the shop. Faith you can wear, truth you can live. And I want you to know the scriptures behind the design. So we created a resource for you that will be available soon at godsaysso.com. This is so you can learn more about the scripture connected to the design, what it means, why it matters, and how that truth can begin showing up in your everyday life. Because the design is never supposed to become more important than the word behind it. The design is meant to point you back to God and the truth of his word. Okay, now this brings us to another part of this mission that is so very close to my heart. God says so, kids. So knowing God's word and learning to live by what he says is foundational to our faith. And we also want to pass his truth on to the children we love. Our children are growing up hearing messages from everywhere, and that isn't going to stop. So we want to plant seeds of faith while they are little. We want them to begin knowing who God is, what he says, what it means to follow Jesus, and what his word can look like in their everyday lives. That's the heart behind our upcoming God Says So kids book, I Can Be Kind Like Jesus. It isn't simply about telling a preschooler, be nice. It's about beginning to show that little heart what God says and what following Jesus can look like in the ordinary moments of their life. Because this mission is not only about us, it's about the kids we love and the next generation. And it all comes back to the foundation. And maybe now you can see why Isaiah 48 is so foundational to God says so. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. I mean, this podcast may change over time. The shop will grow. God says so, kids will grow. There may be more books, new resources, new teachings, new things God puts on our hearts. But none of those things are the foundation God is. My prayer is that everything we create keeps pointing you back to God and the truth of his word. Because when everything around you feels uncertain, you need to know where to turn. When the world around you changes, you need truth that doesn't. And when your child looks to you to understand what is true, you want to be able to point them to something stronger than your opinion. You point them to God and what He says. Okay, here's your one practical step for today. All right, today I want you to think about one area of your life that feels uncertain or is changing like right now. Okay, now before you begin, okay, before you go with what do I feel? What is everybody else saying? Uh, what am I afraid might happen? I want you to start here. Lord, what does your word say? Then open your Bible, go back to the truth God has already given you, and begin there because circumstances change, feelings change, seasons change, but the word of our God stands forever. Real quick before we pray, today is opening day for the God says so shop. The virtual doors are officially open at Godsays So.com, and I would love for you to come and take a look around. We're beginning with a select collection of scripture-inspired apparel and everyday products for women and kids. And we've only just begun. Each design has been created with the same heart behind God Says So, to keep pointing you back to God and the truth of his word, help you live by what he says, and pass his truth on. And to celebrate, you'll find special opening prices plus free US shipping for a limited time. So come visit us at GodsaysSo dot com and take a look around. Okay, let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are and thank you for your word. Thank you that while so much in our lives and in this world can change, your word stands forever. Help us build our lives on you. When our circumstances change, bring us back to your word. When our feelings become louder than truth, remind us of who you are. When we don't know what to do, give us a desire to seek you. Open our Bibles and follow your word. Help us not only know your truth, but live by what you say. And Lord, help us pass your truth on to the children you have placed in our lives. May they see us not only talking about your word, but building our lives on you and learning to live by what you say. And thank you for everything you have entrusted to us through God Says So. May every podcast episode, every resource, every product, every book, and everything that comes in the future point people back to you and the truth of your word. May you be glorified through all of it. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen. Okay, so come back on Thursday as we finish the fruit of the Spirit with self-control. And if you haven't already, please follow the God Says So podcast so you never miss an episode. Oh wait, one more thing. If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart while you were listening to this episode, would you please share this podcast with them? And together, we can reach more families, all for God's glory. Until next time, stay rooted in Scripture. Live by what God says, and pass it on.