FacebookInstagramShop
IT IS GOD MINISTRIES
WordFed Life podcast cover
WordFed Life Podcast

Where words come alive

New episodes every week.

"Your words were found, and I ate them." — Jeremiah 15:16

Spotify ↗RSS feed
Latest episode
All episodes
Episode 18

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Psalms 92:13-1414 min 16s

In episode 18 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the idea of blooming where you are planted, learning to flourish right where God has placed you. Anchored in Psalms 92:13-14, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be fat and flourishing," this episode emphasizes the importance of being rooted before flourishing. Have you ever found yourself wishing you were somewhere else? Perhaps you've thought, if I had a different job, more resources, or a better opportunity, then I could fulfill my calling. But what if your current season isn't holding you back? What if it's preparing you? Today's episode is about trusting God's timing and placement. The beautiful thing about flowers is that they don't choose where they are planted. They simply bloom in the appointed season. Being planted comes before flourishing. Notice the order, planted first, flourishing second. We often want fruit without roots, influence without stability. But God's order never changes. Everything healthy develops from deep roots. Being planted doesn't mean you are trapped. It means you are established. God grows us before he moves us. Preparation is never wasted time. God isn't simply getting your destination ready. He's getting you ready for your destination. Comparison blinds us to God's unique work in our own lives. Your journey is unique. Your assignment is unique. Faithfulness in little things prepares us for greater things. Flourishing begins on the inside. Peace is found only in Christ. You can flourish during uncertainty, waiting, and after disappointment. When your roots go deep into his word, his promises become stronger than your problems. Every season is producing something. Perhaps that's where you are today. God specializes in hidden work. And hidden work always produces visible fruit in his perfect time. Let me leave you with four practical thoughts:

Stay connected to Christ. Feed your roots daily. Stop comparing. Embrace your season.

God never places an expiration date on fruitfulness. As long as you're rooted in him, your life can continue producing hope, wisdom, encouragement, love, and purpose. You are never too young to begin flourishing. You are never too old to keep flourishing. Keep trusting God. Keep believing. Keep serving. Keep growing because God planted you on purpose and in his perfect time, he will cause you to bloom exactly where he planted you. "Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive."

Read full transcript
Episode 18 Bloom where you are planted. Psalms 92 verses 13 and 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. They shall be fat and flourishing. Have you ever found yourself wishing you were somewhere else? Maybe you have said, if I had a different job, a different ministry, more resources, a different opportunity, then I could really do what God has called me to do. I think we have all been there. Sometimes we become so focused on where we want to be that we fail to appreciate where God has us today. But what if your current season isn't holding you back? What if it's preparing you? What if the place you have been questioning is actually the place God has chosen to grow you? Today's episode is called Bloom where you are planted. It's about learning to flourish right where God has placed you. Trusting that he knows exactly what he's doing. The beautiful thing about flowers is that they don't choose where they are planted. They simply receive what they have been given, reach towards the light, send their roots deeper, and bloom in the appointed season. I believe that's exactly what God is calling us to do. Let's grow together. Being planted comes before flourishing. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish. Notice the order, planted first, flourishing second. We often want the flourishing without the planting. We want fruit without roots. We want influence without stability. We want the harvest without the hidden wood beneath the surface. But God's order never changes. Everything healthy develops from deep roots. The tallest trees aren't strong because of what you see above the ground. They are strong because of what you don't see beneath it. The same is true about spirituality. The deeper we are rooted in Christ, the stronger we'll stand when life storms come. Being planted doesn't mean you are trapped. It means you are established. It means you're allowing God to build something lasting in your life. God grows us before he moves us. When we study scripture, we discover that God really moves people immediately into their purpose. He develops them first. Joseph had dreams, but before the palace came the pit, slavery, and prison. David was anointed king, but he spent years tending sheep and later hiding in caves. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before leading Israel. Even Jesus spent 30 years in preparation before three years of public ministry. None of those years were wasted. Neither are yours. Sometimes you may take preparation for a delay, but preparation is never wasted time. God isn't simply getting your destination ready. He's getting you ready for your destination. If he gave us tomorrow's assignment before today's growth, we might gain the opportunity, but lose the purpose. God always prepares the person before the platform. So don't despise small beginnings. One of the greatest enemies of contentment is comparison. We compare our lives with someone else's highlight reel. We compare ministries, families, businesses, opportunities, and before long, we begin questioning God's wisdom. But comparison blinds us to God's unique work in our own lives. Imagine a rose wishing it were a sunflower, or an old tree wishing it was a cedar. God never intended his creation to compete. He designed it to complement. Your journey is unique. Your assignment is unique. Your timing is unique. What God is doing in someone else's life doesn't diminish what he's doing in yours. Don't overlook today's assignment because you're waiting for tomorrow's opportunity. Faithfulness in little things prepares us for greater things. Bloom where you are planted. Serve where you are. Love where you are. Grow where you are. God knows your address. Flourishing begins on the inside. Real flourishing doesn't begin with favorable circumstances. It begins with an anchored heart. People often think, if my circumstances changed, I'd finally have peace. But peace isn't found in perfect circumstances. Peace is found only in Christ. Joy isn't found in having everything go in your way. Joy is found in knowing the one who never changes. You can flourish during uncertainty. You can flourish during waiting. You can flourish after disappointment because flourishing isn't determined by what's happening around you. It's determined by who is living within you. Christ in you changes everything. When your roots go deep into his word, his promises become stronger than your problems. His peace becomes louder than your fears. His purpose become greater than your frustration. That's flourishing. Every season is producing something. We all enjoy seasons of visible growth, but some of the greatest growth happens where nobody can see it. A seed spends a long time on the ground before anyone notices it. Yet, while nothing appears to be happening above the surface, tremendous growth is taking place below it. Roots are expanding, strength is developing, life is forming. Perhaps that's where you are today. Maybe it feels like nothing is happening. Maybe you have prayed and waited. Maybe you have served faithfully without recognition. Maybe you have wondered whether God has forgotten you. He hasn't. He sees every unseen act of obedience. He hears every quiet prayer. He notices every faithful step. Just because people don't see your growth doesn't mean heaven doesn't. God specializes in hidden work. And hidden work always produces visible fruit in his perfect time. So how do we bloom where we are planted? Let me leave you with four practical thoughts. First, stay connected to Christ. A branch only bears fruit when it remains connected to the vine. Jesus is your source, not people, not circumstances, not opportunities. Stay connected. Second, feed your roots daily. Spend time in God's word. Prayer isn't a religious duty. It's how we draw strength from our father. Healthy roots produce healthy fruit. And third, stop comparing. Celebrate others without questioning your own journey. God has written your story with wisdom and purpose. Trust him. Finally, embrace your season. Every season teaches something. Don't rush through today's lesson. Try to arrive, trying to arrive at tomorrow. Receive what God is teaching you now. One day you'll realize this season prepared you for everything that followed. Again, those who are planted in the Lord don't merely survive. They flourish. And then it says something that I absolutely love. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. Think about that. God never places an expiration date on fruitfulness. As long as you're rooted in him, your life can continue producing hope, wisdom, encouragement, love, and purpose. You are never too young to begin flourishing. You are never too old to keep flourishing. If you are breathing, God is still growing something beautiful in your life. So don't uproot yourself because the season feels difficult. Don't abandon the process because growth feels slow. Don't quit because you can't see the bloom. Keep trusting God. Keep believing. Keep serving. Keep growing because God planted you on purpose and in his perfect time, he will cause you to bloom exactly where he planted you. I'm Filding Cromwell. Thank you for joining me today for another episode on Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 17

Words That Heal

Proverbs 12:1814 min 38s

In episode 17 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound impact of words on our lives and the lives of those around us. Anchored in Proverbs 12:18, "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing," this episode draws a powerful contrast between words that wound and words that heal. Words carry immense power. They linger, shaping confidence and identity, influencing faith. God created the world with words, and though we cannot create like God, our words influence the atmosphere around us. Proverbs paints a vivid picture: careless words are like sword thrusts, leaving wounds and scars. Many carry wounds from words spoken long ago: criticism, rejection, mockery. Yet, the tongue of the wise brings healing. Our words can become medicine: - An encouraging conversation restores hope. - A sincere apology rebuilds trust. - A prayer strengthens a discouraged heart. - A kind word changes someone's day. Jesus always spoke life. He spoke grace, acceptance, restoration, and peace. Even in correction, his purpose was restoration, not humiliation. Before speaking, ask: Will these words build up or tear down? Will they point someone closer to Christ? Will they leave hope or hurt? The heart directs the tongue. Jesus teaches that our mouths reveal our hearts. Changing vocabulary isn't enough; God transforms our hearts. Filled with his word, conversations change: from complaining to giving thanks, from criticizing to encouraging, from speaking fear to speaking faith. Speak healing at home. Those closest to us often need our healing words the most. Imagine starting each day with life-giving words: "I believe in you. I'm thankful for you. God has a purpose for your life. I love you." Speak healing to yourself. Your self-talk matters. Are your private words filled with faith or defeat? Speak God's truth over your life: you are loved, forgiven, chosen, a masterpiece, more than a conqueror through Christ. Questions for reflection: 1. What kinds of words am I planting in others' lives? 2. What do my words reveal about my heart? 3. What would change if I intentionally became someone whose tongue brings healing? "Let's choose words that reflect the heart of Christ. Let's become people whose conversations leave others stronger than when we found them." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
EpWordFed Live Podcast, Episode 17, Words That Heal. Our key scripture is Proverbs Chapter 12, Verse 18. In our last episode 16, we talked about being rooted beyond the season. We discovered that God is more interested in our roots than our fruit. A tree survives drought because its roots are connected to a constant source of life. Today, we are taking the next step in that journey. How do we know what we are rooted in? Jesus gives us the answer. In Luke Chapter 6, Verse 45, he says, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. In other words, our words reveal our roots. If our hearts are rooted in fear, fear will come out of our mouths. If our hearts are rooted in anger, anger will eventually be heard. But when our hearts are rooted in Christ, our words become life-giving. Today, message is called, Words That Heal. Our foundation scripture comes from Proverbs Chapter 12, Verse 18. There is one whose rash words are like sword truss, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. What a powerful contrast. One tongue wounds, another tongue heals. The difference is in the tongue. The difference is the heart directing it. Words carry power. Have you ever noticed that you can forget a conversation, but remember one sentence someone spoke years ago? You see, some words stay with us for a lifetime. Maybe someone once told you, you will never amount to anything. Perhaps someone said, I'm proud of you. Or maybe someone whispered, I am praying for you. You see, words linger. They shape confidence. They influence identity. They strengthen or weaken faith. God understands the power of words because he created the world with words. Genesis tells us, and God said. Let, and God said. Let. God said, light came. When he said let, there'd be light. Light came. Life came. Order came. God spoke creation into existence. Since we are created in his image, our words also carry influence. So we cannot create, we cannot create words like God, but we can certainly influence the atmosphere around us. The sword or the surgeon. Proverbs gives us a remarkable picture. It compares careless words to the trust of a sword. Think about that. A sword cuts quickly. It leaves wounds. Sometimes scars remain long after the battle is over. Many people carry wounds that were never caused by fist. They are caused by words. Words like criticism, rejection, mockery, harshness, unforgiveness. Some people are still trying to recover from words spoken over them decades ago. But proverbs doesn't stop there. It says, the tongue of the wise brings healing. That means our words can become medicine. One encouraging conversation can restore hope. One sincere apology can rebuild trust. One prayer can strengthen a discouraged heart. One kind word can change the direction of someone's entire day. Jesus always spoke life. When I study the life of Jesus, I'm amazed at how he used words. To the woman caught in adultery, he spoke grace. To Zacchaeus, he spoke acceptance. To blind Bartimaeus, he spoke restoration. To frightened disciples, he spoke peace. Even when Jesus corrected people, his purpose was restoration, not humiliation. Truth without love becomes harsh. Love without truth becomes compromise. Jesus demonstrated both. As followers of Christ, our words should reflect his character. Before we speak, perhaps we should ask ourselves, will these words build up or tear down? Will they point someone closer to Christ? Will they leave hope or leave hurt? The heart behind the words, sometimes we say, I didn't mean that. But Jesus teaches that our mouths reveal what is stored in our hearts. That's why changing our vocabulary isn't enough. God wants to transform our hearts. When our hearts are filled with his word, our conversations begin to change. Instead of complaining, we begin to give thanks. Instead of criticizing, we begin to encourage. Instead of speaking fear, we begin speaking faith. The tongue follows the heart. That's why daily time with God matters so much. The more we sit with Christ, the more we begin to sound like Christ. Speak healing at home. Sometimes the people who need our healing words the most are the people closest to us. Our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, our church family. It's easy to be kind to strangers. The real test is how we speak to those we see every day. Imagine what would happen if every morning we intentionally spoke life. I believe in you. I'm thankful for you. God has a purpose for your life. I love you. Those simple words become seeds over time. But over time, those seeds produce a harvest. Speak healing to yourself. This may surprise you, but one of the most important conversations you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. Are your private words filled with faith? Or are they filled with defeat? Many people speak over themselves in ways they would never speak to someone else. I'm not good enough. I always fail. I'll never change. Those words don't agree with what God says about you. God says you are loved. You are forgiven. You are chosen. You are his masterpiece. You are more than a conqueror through Christ. Agree with God's word. Speak his truth over your life. Questions for reflection. Before we close today, I want to leave you with three questions. One. Number one. What kinds of words am I planting? You're asking yourself this question. What kind of words am I planting in the lives of others? Second one. What do my words reveal about the condition of my heart? And the third one. What would change this week if I intentionally became a person whose tongue brings healing? Remember this. People may forget your sermon. They may forget your accomplishments. But they will rarely forget how your words made them feel. Let's choose words that reflect the heart of Christ. Let's become people whose conversations leave others stronger than when we found them. We can say, Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of words. Help me to choose carefully or allow my words not to wound anyone. Thank you for giving me a heart like yours. You already have your heart. So our words will reflect your love, your truth, and your grace. Fill our mouths with encouragement. Help me to speak life into my family, my brothers and sisters, the believers, our community, and even into my own heart. May our words always point people towards Jesus, the living word. Thank you for spending this time with me on the Word Fed Live podcast. If today's message encouraged you, I invite you to share it with someone who may need healing through God's word. Remember, your words are never ordinary. Every conversation is an opportunity to bring hope, strengthen faith, and reflect the heart of Christ. Until next time, I'm Virlene Cromwell. Stay rooted, give words life, and keep living a Word Fed Life. God bless you.
Episode 16

Rooted Beyond the Season

Jeremiah 17:7-812 min 39s

In episode 16 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores what it means to be rooted beyond the season by trusting in God's unchanging presence. Anchored in Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit," this episode paints a vivid picture of steadfast faith: faith that remains fruitful through every season. God never promised there would be no heat or drought. Instead, He promised that those who trust Him would remain fruitful. That changes everything. The blessing is not the absence of hardship. The blessing is the presence of God. Roots grow where no one sees. God is more interested in your roots than your fruit. We often pray for visible results, but God begins on the ground. Roots develop in hidden places. Prayer grows roots. Time in God's Word grows roots. Obedience grows roots. Trust grows roots. Many people want fruit without first developing roots. The purpose of the heat, Jeremiah says, is to test us. Every believer will experience seasons of testing, but the rooted believer does not fear. Their source is the living water. Three things healthy roots do: Roots provide stability. Storms may shake the branches, but roots keep the tree standing. Roots provide nourishment. Spiritually, we draw strength through prayer, worship, God's word, and the Holy Spirit. Roots provide endurance. The tree continues to bear fruit even during drought. Your season does not determine your fruitfulness. Your connection to Christ does. We have to stay connected to Christ, to the vine. Paul gives us another beautiful picture in Colossians 2:6-7. He says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him. Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith." Notice the order. Rooted first. Built up second. A personal reflection. Some of the hardest seasons of my life were when my roots grew the deepest. God was strengthening my roots. Sometimes, the season you are trying to escape is the very season God is using to establish you. Some questions to consider: Where are your roots planted? Are you rooted in God's promises or in your circumstances? Are your roots reaching towards fear or towards faith? Are you spending enough time in God's presence to sustain you when difficult seasons come? Because whatever your roots are connected to will determine the fruit your life produces. Let this declaration guide you: "My faith is rooted beyond the season. I will not be shaken by life's storms. My roots draw strength from the living water. I will bear fruit in every season, because God is my source." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
WordFed Live, Episode 16, Rooted Beyond the Season. Have you ever noticed that some people seem to remain steady on matter, on matter, what life throws at them, no matter what life throws at them? They experience loss, disappointment, delays, and unexpected changes, yet somehow they continue to trust God. They don't seem shaken by every storm. Why? Because they are rooted. Today's episode is called Rooted Beyond the Season. Our key scripture comes from Jeremiah Chapter 17, verses 7 and 8. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. What a beautiful picture. Notice something. God never promised there would be no heat. He never promised there would be no drought. He never promised there would be no difficult seasons. Instead, He promised that those who trust Him would remain fruitful through every season. That changes everything. The blessing is not the absence of hardship. The blessing is the presence of God. Roots grow where no one sees. One thing I've learned is this. God is more interested in your roots than your fruit. We often pay attention and we pray for visible results. We ask God to bless our ministry, our family, our business, our finances, and our health. But God begins on the ground. You see, roots develop in hidden places. No one applauds the roots. No one celebrates the roots. Yet, everything above the ground depends on what is happening beneath the surface. Prayer grows roots. Time in God's Word grows roots. Obedience grows roots. Trust grows roots. Many people want fruit without first developing roots. The purpose of the heat, Jeremiah says, it does not fare when heat comes. Notice, he didn't say if the heat comes. He said when heat is coming. Every believer will experience seasons of testing. Everyone. There will be disappointments. There will be unanswered questions. There will be waiting seasons. There will be moments when life doesn't make sense. Yet, God says the rooted believers does not fare. Why? Because their source isn't the weather. Their source is the living water. Their source isn't circumstances. Their source is Christ. Three things healthy roots do. First, roots provide stability. Storms may shake the branches, but roots keep the tree standing. When we are rooted in Christ, we may bend, but we won't break. Second, roots provide nourishment. Roots continually draw life from the source. Spiritually, we draw strength through prayer, worship, God's word, and the Holy Spirit. Even when we don't feel strong, God continues to sustain us. Third, roots provide endurance. Jeremiah says the tree continues to bear fruit even during drought. Think about that. Not after the drought, but during the drought. That means your season does not determine your fruitfulness. I like that. Your connection to Christ does. So we have to stay connected to Christ, to the vine. A New Testament picture. Paul gives us another beautiful picture in Colossians 2, verses 6 and 7. He says, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him. Listen to this part. Rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith. Notice the order. Rooted first. Built up second. God roots us before He raises us. Many of us want promotion before preparation. Influence before intimacy. And fruit before fruitfulness. But God always develops depth before He develops visibility. A personal reflection. As I reflect on my own journey, I realize that some of the hardest seasons of my life were always the seasons when my roots grew the deepest. There were seasons of waiting. There were seasons of grief. There were seasons when I had to trust God without seeing the whole picture. Looking back now, I understand that God wasn't absent. He was strengthening my roots. Had everything always been easy, my roots might never have reached the living water. Sometimes, the season you are trying to escape is the very season God is using to establish you. Some questions to consider. Today, I want to leave you with a few questions. 1. Where are your roots planted? 2. Are you rooted in God's promises or in your circumstances? 3. Are your roots reaching towards fear or towards faith? 4. Are you spending enough time in God's presence to sustain you when difficult seasons come? Because whatever your roots are connected to will determine the fruit your life produces. Pray this prayer with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for being our constant source. Thank you that you never leave us during seasons of drought, disappointments, or uncertainty. Teach us to trust you more deeply. Strengthen our roots through your will. Help us remain planted beside the living water, so that even when life's heat comes, we will continue to flourish. May our lives bear fruit that brings glory to you. In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank you so very much for joining me today on the Word Fed Live podcast. I pray this message has encouraged your heart and reminded you that when your roots are planted in Christ, every season has purpose. If today's episode blessed you, share it with someone who needs encouragement. Until next time, I'm Verlean Cromwell. Stay rooted and give words life. And again, keep living a Word Fed life. God bless you.
Episode 15

Let Your Words Be Seasoned

Colossians 4:614 min 24s

In episode 15 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the transformative power of words and how they can be seasoned with grace to bring life and healing. Anchored in Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man," this episode reveals a profound truth about our words: they are seeds planted in the hearts of those who hear them. Words are not just sounds; they carry influence. They can uplift or tear down, inspire or discourage, heal or harm. God calls us to speak with grace, ensuring our words leave people better than we found them. Consider the impact of seasoning in food. Without it, food may satisfy hunger but lacks delight. Likewise, words without grace may convey truth but can be harsh and difficult to receive. Paul instructs us to let our speech be seasoned with grace, enhancing the truth we share. Grace does not diminish truth; it amplifies it, making it easier to accept. Jesus exemplified this by speaking truth with compassion, correcting without humiliating, and restoring with love. Our words should reflect this pattern. When seasoned with grace, our words can: - Bring healing to wounded hearts. - Offer wisdom and direction. - Inspire faith and hope. - Spread peace and encouragement. Before speaking, ask yourself: Will these words build someone up? Will they honor Christ? Will they plant seeds of life? Words are seeds, and every conversation plants something. Let your words be worthy of the harvest you desire.

Point one. Season your words with grace. Gracious words strengthen relationships and leave lasting impressions.

Point number two. Season your words with wisdom. Wisdom guides us in knowing what to say and when to say it.

Point number three. Season your words with healing. God can use our words to bring restoration and hope.

Point number four. Season your words with life. Speak words that align with God's truth and produce a harvest of righteousness.

Let this declaration guide you: "I declare that my mouth belongs to God. My speech is seasoned with grace. My words are guided by wisdom. My words bring healing. My words bring life. I will not speak carelessly. I will not plant fear, bitterness, or discouragement. I will speak words that build. I will speak words that encourage. I will speak words that strengthen. The Holy Spirit governs my tongue. The word of God fills my heart. And my words will produce a harvest that glorifies Jesus Christ." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Okay, this is our second season, and this is episode 15, Let Your Words Be Seasoned. Episode 15 of Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Let Your Words Be Seasoned. Today's episode is built around one simple but powerful truth, words are seeds. Every word we speak is planted somewhere. It is planted in our hearts, in our homes, in our relationships, and in the lives of those who hear us. Every seed eventually produces a harvest. Today we are learning how to use sure, how to make sure the seeds we plant are filled with grace and truth. Colossians chapter 4 verse 6 says, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how you ought to answer every man. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 29 tells us, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Have you ever eaten food without seasoning? I have. It fills your stomach, but it has very little flavor. It may satisfy your hunger, but it is not enjoyable. Add the right seasoning, however, and the same meal becomes inviting, satisfying, and The seasoning changes the entire experience. Our words are very much the same. We may speak the truth, but if our words are not seasoned with grace, they can sound harsh, cold, and difficult to receive. God never told us simply to speak. He told us to speak with grace. Our words should leave people better than we found them. That is why Paul says, Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Reflection. Words carry influence. Every conversation leaves something behind. Sometimes people remember a conversation for years, not because of the topic, but because of how the words made them feel. Some words leave wounds, others leave hope, some words discourage, others inspire, some words destroy confidence, others awaken faith. That is why God pays attention to our speech. Our mouth should never become instruments that spread fear, bitterness, criticism, or hopelessness. Instead, our mouths should become instruments that spread grace and peace. Seasoning does not change the identity of the food. It enhances it. Grace works the same way. Grace does not remove truth. Grace makes truth easier to receive. Jesus always spoke truth, but he spoke it with compassion. He corrected people without humiliating them. He challenged people without rejecting them. He restored people while revealing God's heart. That is the pattern for every believer. When our words are seasoned with grace, people hear the love of Christ. When our words are seasoned with wisdom, people receive direction. When our words are seasoned with kindness, people experience healing. Our speech should never be controlled by anger, frustration, pride, or emotion. It should be governed by the Holy Spirit. Before speaking, pause and ask yourself, will these words build someone? Will these words honor Christ? Will these words plant life? Remember, words are seeds. Every conversation is planting something. So let every seed you plant be worthy of the harvest you desire. Point one. Season your words with grace. Grace should be the first flavor people experience when they hear us speak. Gracious words do not weaken truth. They strengthen relationships. People may forget many things we say, but they rarely forget how we made them feel. Let your words reflect the grace that God has shown you. Grace makes our words life-giving. Point number two. Season your words with wisdom. A good cook knows exactly how much seasoning a meal needs. Too much ruins it. Too little leaves it bland. Wisdom teaches us what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. Not every thought needs to become a sentence. Not every opinion needs to be spoken. Wisdom knows when silence is more powerful than speech. Wisdom helps us plant the right seed at the right time. Point number three. Season your words with healing. Many people carry wounds caused by careless words. But God can use our mouths to bring healing instead of hurt. A kind word can restore hope. A gentle word can calm fear. An encouraging word can strengthen someone who feels ready to quit. Ask the Lord to make your mouth a source of healing. Healing words nourish weary hearts. Point number four. Season your words with life. Jesus said, Our speech should sound different because Christ lives in us. Speak faith instead of fear. Speak hope instead of despair. Speak blessing instead of cursing. Speak life instead of debt. When our words agree with God's word, they become seeds that produce a harvest of righteousness, peace, and joy. Life-filled words produce a life-filled harvest. Words are seeds. What we continually plant with our mouths will eventually appear in our lives. Words are seeds. Therefore, let every word be seasoned with grace, guided by wisdom, filled with healing, and overflowing with the life of Christ. Words of declaration. I declare that my mouth belongs to God. My speech is seasoned with grace. My words are guided by wisdom. My words bring healing. My words bring life. I will not speak carelessly. I will not plant fear, bitterness, or discouragement. I will speak words that build. I will speak words that encourage. I will speak words that strengthen. The Holy Spirit governs my tongue. The word of God fills my heart. And my words will produce a harvest that glorifies Jesus Christ. Closing thought. The next time you prepare a meal, remember today's lesson. Food without seasoning may satisfy hunger. But seasoned food brings delight. In the same way, let your words be seasoned. May every conversation reflect the grace of Christ. May every answer be guided by wisdom. May every word bring healing. May every sentence point someone closer to Jesus. Because every word you speak is planting something. Choose to plant life. Thank you for joining me on Word for Life, where words come alive. I'm your host, Vilene Cromwell. If today's episode encouraged you, take a moment today to listen carefully to your own words. Ask the Holy Spirit to season your speech with grace, wisdom, healing, and life. Join me next time as we continue our series, Words that Bear Fruit, with episode 60, God Deceives You Speak. Until then, keep feeding on God's word and give words life.
Episode 14

Spring is Here: New Life

Isaiah 43:1916 min 43s

In episode 14 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the theme of new beginnings and spiritual renewal as spring arrives, symbolizing the new life God brings forth. Anchored in Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?" this episode reveals a profound truth about God's work in our lives: even when we cannot see it, God is preparing something new.

Spring is not just a change in the weather. Spring is a message. It announces that what looked dead is not dead. What was hidden was still alive. What was buried was still growing. What was silent was still being prepared.

This is often how our lives look as believers. There are seasons when it feels like nothing is moving. But spring teaches us that just because we cannot see movements does not mean God is not working. God does some of his deepest work beneath the surface.

• Spring reminds us that hidden life is still life. Just because something is hidden does not mean it is dead. • Spring reminds us that winter is not permanent. Winter has a purpose but winter is not forever. • Spring reminds us that what God planted will spring forth. God's word will not return void.

The life of God within us is greater than the season around us. God is able to bring life out of what looked barren. He can bring fresh faith, peace, strength, love, and purpose.

"I believe that God is doing a new thing in my life. What he has planted in me shall spring forth. I will not judge my life by a winter season. I will not call hidden growth dead. I will be careful how I hear because the word I receive becomes the life I carry. The word of God is alive in me. Faith is rising. Hope is blooming. Strength is returning. Vision is awakening."

Read full transcript
14. Spring is here. New life is springing forth. This season, truth is in bloom. The main scripture is taken from Isaiah chapter 43 verse 19. Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? In episode 13, we talked about being careful how you hear. We learned that hearing is not just something we do with our ears. Hearing is something that affects the heart. The way we hear determines what we receive. What we receive determines what takes root. And what takes root will eventually show up in our lives. Jesus said in Luke chapter 8 verse 18, take heed therefore how ye hear. That means every believer must pay attention to the condition of the heart when the word is being heard. The word of God is seed and the heart is a soil. If the heart is distracted, hardened, offended, fearful, or crowded with cares, the word can be choked before it produces. But when the heart is honest, humble, and open before God, the word begins to take root. Now we move into episode 14 with a beautiful picture. Springtime. Spring is not just a change in the weather. Spring is a message. Spring announces that what looked dead is not dead. What was hidden was still alive. What was buried was still growing. What was silent was still being prepared. And that is how God works in the believer. Spring is a powerful reminder that life can be present even when it is not yet visible. During winter, the ground may look empty. The trees may look bare. The branches may look lifeless. The flowers may be nowhere in sight. But beneath the surface, something is happening. Roots are being strengthened. Seeds are being protected. Life is being preserved in a hidden place until the appointed season. This is often how our lives look as believers. There are seasons when it feels like nothing is moving. You may be praying, believing, hearing the word, obeying God, and still not seeing visible results. You may wonder, Lord, is anything happening? Is anything changing? Is anything growing? But spring teaches us that just because we cannot see movements does not mean God is not working. God does some of his deepest work beneath the surface. Before fruit appears, root must grow. Before flowers bloom, seeds must break open. Before new life springs forth, something must happen in the hidden place. That hidden place is not wasted. It is where God strengthens our faith, purifies our motives, deepens our trust, and teaches us how to live by his word and not by what we see. This connects directly to hearing. If we are not careful how we hear, we may judge our season wrongly. We may look at a winter season and call it death. When God calls it preparation, we may look at silence and call it absence. When God calls it development, we may look at delay and call it denial. When God is really working something deeper in us. That is why the believer must hear from the spirit and not just from circumstances. Spring says, look again. Spring says life is still here. Spring says what God planted is not lost. Spring says the cold season did not have the final say. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 19 says, behold, it means see, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? God does not only do new things around us. He does new things within us. He renews the mind. He revives the spirit. He restores hope. He awakens faith. He brings fresh understanding, fresh strength, fresh obedience, and fresh vision. But notice the phrase, shall ye not know it? That means we must be spiritually aware. We must be able to recognize when God is causing something to spring forth. Sometimes we are waiting for God to move in a big outward way, but he is already moving inwardly. He is changing how we hear. He is changing how we think. He is changing how we respond. He is changing what we desire. He is causing his word to come alive in us. That is spring in the believer's life. Spring is when the word you heard in one lesson or one season begins to rise in another season. Spring is when the scripture you kept repeating starts giving you strength. Spring is when the prayer you prayed with tears begins to produce peace. Spring is when the obedience nobody saw begins to bear fruit. Spring is when what God planted in private begins to show evidence in public. As believers, we carry resurrection life. The same Christ who rose from the dead lives in us. That means winter cannot define us, dryness cannot own us, delay cannot bury us, disappointment cannot cancel us. The life of God within us is greater than the season around us. So when spring comes, it reminds us of a spiritual truth. God is able to bring life out of what looked barren. He can bring fresh faith where there was fear. He can bring fresh peace where there was anxiety. He can bring fresh strength where there was weariness. He can bring fresh love where there was disappointment. He can bring fresh purpose where there was confusion. He can bring fresh hunger for his word where there was spiritual dryness. Spring is not just flowers blooming outside. Spring is the word blooming inside the believer. Let's look at three strong springing points. Point number one. Spring reminds us that hidden life is still life. Just because something is hidden does not mean it is dead. A seed in the ground is hidden but it is not lifeless. It is carrying potential. It is carrying design. It is carrying purpose. It only needs the right season to break forth. In the same way, there are things God has placed in you that may still be hidden. The word you have been hearing, the faith you have been building, the prayers you have been praying, the lessons you have been hearing and learning, none of it is wasted. God knows how to protect what he planted until it is ready to spring forth. The second spring point. Spring reminds us that winter is not permanent. Winter has a purpose but winter is not forever. A hard season may slow things down but it cannot stop the life of God. A dry season may test your faith but it cannot destroy the that God has planted in an honest heart. The believer does not live by seasons alone. The believer lives by the life of Christ within. That means even when the outside looks cold, the inside can still be alive with faith. Winter may be a season but resurrection is our reality. Our third spring point. Spring reminds us that what God planted will spring forth. Isaiah chapter 55 verse 11 tells us that God's word will not return void. When God sends his word, that word carries power to accomplish what he sent it to do. So when the word of God is planted in the heart, it carries life. It carries direction. It carries healing. It carries resurrection. It carries strength. It carries fruit. The word may be hidden for a season but it is still working and in God's timing what he planted will spring forth. Let's do this decoration together. I believe that God is doing a new thing in my life. What he has planted in me shall spring forth. I will not judge my life by a winter season. I will not call hidden growth debt. I will be careful how I hear because the word I receive becomes the life I carry. The word of God is alive in me. Faith is rising. Hope is blooming. Strength is returning. Vision is awakening. Spring is here and new life is springing forth in me. Springtime is God's reminder that life can rise again. What looked dry can bloom. What looked buried can break forth. What looked silent can speak again. And for the believer, spring is more than a season on the calendar. It is a picture of the life of Christ within us. Spring is here and the word of God is blooming in me. I'm your host, Valene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 13

Be Careful How You Hear

Luke 8:1843 min 14s

In episode 13 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the importance of not just what we hear, but how we hear. Anchored in Luke 8:18, "Take heed therefore how ye hear," this episode delves into the active and intentional posture required for hearing God's word.

Jesus emphasized that hearing is not merely a passive activity. It involves the condition of our hearts, and how we hear determines the impact of the word within us.

Many hear the same message, yet walk away with different results. Some are strengthened, others unchanged. Some believe, others doubt. This episode challenges us to consider: Am I hearing with faith and expectation, or casually and distractedly?

Hearing is a doorway into the heart. It shapes belief, which in turn shapes speech and life. Romans 10:17 reminds us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith rises when the word is received and allowed to take root.

Jesus' parable of the sower illustrates this truth. The seed, God's word, is good, but the condition of the ground—our hearts—determines its fruitfulness.

Practical ways to ensure careful hearing include: - Hearing with hunger: approaching the word with a desire to be fed. - Hearing with faith: believing God's word above circumstances or past disappointments. - Hearing with humility: allowing the word to correct and guide us. - Hearing with obedience: translating hearing into action.

Read full transcript
Episode 13. Be careful how you hear. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell. Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In today's episode, we are talking about something very important, how we hear. Not just what we hear, but how we hear. Because two people can hear the same word, sit in the same room, listen to the same message, hear the same scripture, and still walk away differently. One person can hear and be strengthened. Another can hear and remain the same. One person can hear and believe. Another person can hear and doubt. One person can hear and obey. Another person can hear and say, that was nice, good word, but never allow the word to take root. So today, we are not only asking, what am I hearing? We are asking, how am I hearing? Am I hearing with faith? Am I hearing with a heart ready to receive? Am I hearing with expectation? Am I hearing to obey? Or, am I hearing casually? Distracted? Doubtful? Or, already made up my mind? Because how you hear, will determine what you receive. The scripture we are looking at, is Luke chapter 8 verse 18a. It says, Take heed, therefore, how you hear. Take heed, therefore, how you hear. Jesus did not only say, Be careful what you hear. He said, Take heed, therefore, how you hear. That means, hearing is not passive. Hearing has a posture. Hearing has a condition. Hearing has a heart behind it. You can hear with your ears, but reject with your heart. You can hear the word, but not mix it with faith. You can hear truth, but allow fear to answer louder. You can hear instruction, but not obey it. You can hear correction, but become offended instead of changed. That is why Jesus said, Take heed. In other words, pay attention. Be careful. Be watchful. Do not be careless with how you hear. Because how you hear the word determines how the word works in you. Hearing is a doorway into the heart. When I say heart, remember it's not the organ in our chest. That organ is just to pump the blood through the veins to keep us alive. I'm talking about the core of who you are. Your spirit is what makes you a person. Because without a spirit, we are dead. So what you hear again and again can begin to shape what you believe. And what you believe begins to shape what you speak. And what you speak begins to shape how you live. That is why this subject is so important for word-fed life. Because words are not just songs. Words carry life or death. Words carry faith or fear. Words carry truth or deception. Words carry direction. And when the word of God comes to us, we must be careful not only to let it enter our ears, but to let it enter our hearts, our spirit. Romans chapter 10, verse 17 says, So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So faith comes only one way. Faith comes by hearing and hearing again and hearing the word of God. That means if I want faith to rise, I must give my hearing to the word. It's important to hear the word of God. But I must also be careful how I hear the word. Because faith does not rise just because song entered my ears. Faith rises when the word is received, and allowed to take root. A heart that hears with hunger receives differently from a heart that hears with destruction. A heart that hears with humility receives differently from a heart that hears with pride. A heart that hears to obey receives differently from a heart that hears only to be entertained. So the question becomes, what kind of hearing am I bringing to the word? The same word, but different results. Jesus taught about this in the parable of the sower. The seed was the same, but the ground was different. The word went forth, but every heart, that's the soil, the ground, did not respond the same way. Some seed fell by the wayside. Some fell on rocky ground. Some fell among thorns. Some fell on good ground, good soil. The problem was not the seed. The seed was good. The word was good. The difference was the condition of the ground. And when you say the ground, the condition of the heart. And that is a powerful picture of how we hear. The word can be powerful, but if the heart is closed, shallow, or crowded with other things, the word may not produce what it was sent to produce. So when Jesus said, take heed, therefore, how ye hear, he was showing us that we must pay attention to the condition of our hearts when the word comes. Because the word can come, but the heart must receive. The word can speak, but the heart must believe. The words can instruct, but the heart must obey. The word can correct, but the heart must yield. Sometimes we say, I heard that already, but did it take root? Sometimes we say, I know that scripture, but is it working in us? Sometimes we say, I listened to that message, but did we allow it to change how we think, speak, and live? Because hearing is not complete until the heart receives and responds. Be careful not to hear casually. One way we must be careful is this. Do not hear casually. Casually hears, sees. That song's good, real good, but does nothing with it. Casual hearing listens, but does not value. Casual hearing is present, but not engaged. Casual hearing enjoys the message, but does not apply the word. And we must be careful because we can become so familiar with scripture that we stop receiving it with reverence or with open hearts. We can hear, the Lord is my shepherd. And because we have heard it so many times, we miss the life in it. We can hear, I can do all things through Christ. And because it is familiar, we do not let it strengthen us. We can hear by his stripes, I am healed. And because we know the words, we assume the word is already rooted. But when you are familiar, it is not the same as faith. You might say, I'm familiar with the word, but it is not the same as faith. Knowing the words is not the same as carrying the revelation. Hearing the scripture is not the same as allowing the scripture to govern your life. So we must come back to the word with a fresh heart, with an open heart to receive it. Lord, let me not hear casually. Let me not hear like I already know everything. Let me not hear just to check it off. Let me hear as one who needs your life. Let me hear as one who is ready to receive. Because the word of God is living. It is not dry. It is not empty. It is not ordinary. Every time the word comes, life is being released. The question is, how am I hearing? Be careful not to hear through offense. Another way we must be careful is this. Do not hear through offense. Offense can block revelation. Sometimes God is trying to correct us, but because we hear through offense, we reject what could have helped us. A person can hear a word of correction and say, why are they talking about me? Instead of saying, Lord, is this something you are showing me? A person can hear truth and become defensive instead of becoming transformed. A person can hear instruction and feel attacked instead of feeling guided. But the word of God is not sent to destroy us. The word is sent to correct, cleanse, build, strengthen, and bring us into alignment with God. Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 12 tells us that the word of God is quick and powerful. It reaches deep. It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. So when the word touches a place in us, we must not run from it. We must let it work. Sometimes the word will comfort you. Sometimes the word will correct you. Sometimes the word will encourage you. Sometimes the word will challenge you. But all of it is for life. So if I hear through offense, I may reject the very thing God is using to grow me. That is why we must hear with humility. Lord, if this word is for me, help me receive it. If this word is correcting me, help me to yield. If this word is exposing something, help me not to hide. If this word is calling me higher, help me to obey. A humble hearer receives more. Be careful not to hear through fear. We must also be careful not to hear through fear. Fear can twist what we hear. Fear can hear a challenge and call it impossible. Fear can hear a promise and say, but what if it does not happen? Fear can hear instruction and say, I am not able. Fear can hear opportunity and say, what if I fail? That is why we must not allow fear to interpret the word for us. Faith must interpret the word. When God speaks, fear will often try to answer. God says, step out. Fear says, you will sink. God says, speak. Fear says, they will reject you. God says, believe me. Fear says, what if nothing changes? God says, I am with you. Fear says, but look at my situation. And if we are not careful, we can hear God's word, but allow fear to have the final response in our hearts. But Romans chapter 10 verse 17 says, faith comes only one way, by hearing the word of God. So when the word comes, I must hear it with faith, not with panic, not with doubt, not with all disappointment, not with what happened last time. I must hear the word as truth. Because God is not asking fear for permission to perform his word. Be careful not to hear without obedience. Another important part of hearing is obedience. True hearing responds. In the kingdom of God, hearing is connected to doing, or I would say to being. James chapter one verse 22 says, but be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. So when you hear, you got to take action. That means if I hear but never respond, I can deceive myself into thinking I am growing just because I am listening. Be careful how you hear. But spiritual growth is not measured by how many messages I heard. It is measured by how much of the word I allow to transform me. One, did I obey what I heard? The second one, did I forgive when the word told me to forgive? Number three, did I speak life when the word told me to speak life? Number four, did I trust God when the word told me to believe? Five, did I surrender when the word called me to yield? And six, did I guard my heart when the word instructed me to keep it? Because hearing without obedience becomes information without transformation. God does not only want us informed, he wants us transformed. So I must hear with a heart that says, Lord, show me how to live this. Not just that was a good message, but Lord, how do I walk in this world? How do I speak differently because of this world? How do I think differently because of this world? How do I respond differently because of this world? How do I believe differently because of this world? That is careful hearing. Be careful whose voice you allow to explain your life. When Jesus said, take heed therefore how you hear, he was also teaching us to pay attention to the voices we allow to shape us. Because every voice is not assigned to your faith. Some voices magnify fear. Some voices magnify pain. Some voices magnify weakness. Some voices magnify the past. Some voices magnify the problem. But the voice of God magnifies truth. Jesus said in John chapter 10 verse 27, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. So there is a voice that belongs to the shepherd and his voice brings life. His voice brings peace. His voice brings correction. His voice brings direction. His voice brings restoration. The more we hear his voice, the more we recognize what does not sound like him. The voice of the shepherd will not feed you fear. The voice of the shepherd will not bury you in shame. The voice of the shepherd will not leave you hopeless. The voice of the shepherd will not contradict his word. So we must ask ourselves, who have I allowed to explain my life to me? Have I allowed fear to explain my future? Have I allowed failure to explain my identity? Have I allowed rejection to explain my worth? Have I allowed people's opinions to explain my purpose? Have I allowed a past season to explain my whole life? Because if I hear through the wrong voice, I may begin to believe the wrong things. But when I hear through the word of God, I begin to see differently. God's word says I am his. God's word says I am loved. God's word says I am chosen in Christ. God's word says I am more than a conqueror through him that loved me. God's word says he who began a good work in me will perform it. God's word says Christ in me is the hope of glory. So I must be careful how I hear. I must not hear my life through the voice of fear. I must not hear my purpose through the voice of insecurity. I must not hear my future through the voice of yesterday. I must hear through the voice of my shepherd. How you hear will shape what takes root. This is why hearing is so important. What you hear can become what you carry. What you carry can become what you speak. What you speak can become what you live. If I hear the word with faith, faith takes root. If I hear the word with anger, revelation takes root. Oh man, with hunger. Not anger, but with hunger. If I hear the word with hunger, revelation takes root. If I hear the word with humility, correction takes root. If I hear the word with obedience, transformation takes root. But if I hear carelessly, the word may sit on the surface and never take root. That is why Jesus used the picture of seed and soil. The seed must enter the ground, that's our heart. It must go beneath the surface. It must be protected. It must be watered. It must be allowed to grow. In the same way, the word must enter the heart. Do not let the word sit on the surface of your life. Let it go deep. Let it go deep. Let it get into your thinking. Let it get into your believing. Let it get into your speaking. Let it get into your decisions. Let it get into your reactions. Let it get into your expectations. Because when the word takes root, fruit begins to show. And one of the first places fruit will show is in your mouth. You will begin to speak differently. You will stop repeating everything fear says. You will stop agreeing with defeat. You will stop declaring the worst over your life. You will stop rehearsing what God is trying to heal. And you will begin to speak from what the word has rooted in your heart. You will say, I believe God. You will say, the Lord is with me. You will say, I will not fear. You will say, God is working in me. You will say, my steps are ordered by the Lord. You will say, I hear the voice of my shepherd. You will say, the word of God is alive in me. Four ways to be careful how you hear. Let me give you four simple ways to practice careful hearing. First, hear with hunger. Come to the word hungry. Do not come like you already know it all. Do not come like the word is ordinary. Come saying, Lord, feed me. Lord, speak to me. Lord, open my understanding. Lord, let your word become life in me. A hungry heart receives more. When you are hungry for the word, you do not just hear songs. You receive life. Second, hear with faith. When the word comes, believe it. Do not let fear talk you out of what God is saying. Do not let circumstances become louder than scripture. Do not let all disappointment become the interpreter of a new word. Hear with faith. Say, Lord, I believe your word. Even before I see it, I believe it. Even before I feel it, I believe it. Even before the situation changes, Lord, I agree with you. Faith receives what fear rejects. Thirdly, hear with humility. Let the word correct you. Let the word adjust you. Let the word show you what needs to change. Do not hear only for someone else. Hear for yourself. Sometimes we hear a message and think, I know who needs to hear this. Be careful hearing says, Lord, what are you saying to me? That is humility. And a humble heart is good ground. Fourth, hear with obedience. Ask the Lord, Lord, what do you want me to do with what I heard? Because hearing becomes fruitful when it turns into obedience. If God tells you to forgive, forgive. If God tells you to speak life, speak life. If God tells you to stop agreeing with fear, stop agreeing with fear. If God tells you to meditate on his word, meditate on his word. If God tells you to guard your heart, guard your heart. Do not only admire the word, apply the word. That is how hearing becomes transformation. My closing encouragement to you. So today, I want to encourage you, be careful how you hear. Do not hear casually. Do not hear through offense. Do not hear through fear. Do not hear with a closed heart. Do not hear just to be entertained. But hear with hunger. Hear with faith. Hear with humility. Hear with obedience. Because the word of God is not just for information. The word of God is life. The word of God brings transformation. And when you hear the word rightly, it begins to work in you deeply. It begins to change what you believe. It begins to change what you carry. It begins to change what you speak. It begins to change how you live. So the next time the word comes to you, do not say, I already heard that. Ask, Lord, has this word taken root in me? The next time correction comes, do not become offended. Ask, Lord, are you growing me? The next time fear tries to answer God's promise, do not let fear have the final word. Say, I hear the word of the Lord and I believe God. Because how you hear will determine what you receive. And what you receive will determine what you carry. And what you carry will eventually come out of your mouth. In closing, today you can declare with me, I choose to carefully hear God. I hear the word of God with hunger. I hear the word of God with faith. I hear the word of God with humility. I hear the word of God with obedience. I reject every voice that does not agree with truth. I will not allow fear to interpret God's word for me. I will not hear casually. I will not hear carelessly. The word of God is taking root in my heart. Faith is rising up in me. Life is flowing from me. I hear the voice of my shepherd and I follow him. Thank you for joining me on Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm your host, Vildene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 12

What You Say Shapes How You See

Hebrews 11:115 min 59s

In episode 12 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores how our words shape our vision and influence our expectations. Anchored in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," this episode reveals a transformative truth about faith: faith gives us a way to see before we see. Faith is not empty hope. It has substance, and that substance is rooted in God himself. God is the substance of our hope, and his word is the evidence we stand on. Many times, we speak only from what we can see. We describe the situation, repeat the report, and reinforce the problem. But faith teaches us to speak from something deeper than natural sight. Faith provides evidence before manifestation. It offers substance before the outcome appears. When we speak from faith, we are not just repeating what we see with our natural eyes. We are speaking from what we believe in our spirit. Your words train your focus. They influence what you notice and shape what you expect. Over time, what you keep saying begins to affect what you keep seeing. This episode also highlights the importance of repeated language: Repeated words become repeated focus. Repeated focus becomes the lens through which we see life. If you keep saying nothing is changing, that becomes what you look for. If you keep saying there is no way out, that becomes what your eyes expect. Faith sees differently. It looks at what is not yet visible and still says, "I have evidence," not because the natural eyes have seen it, but because God has spoken. This episode explores practical ways this principle shows up in everyday life: When you say God is still working, you begin to look for movement instead of defeat. When you say there will be a way out, your vision opens towards possibility. When you say God is my helper, you see yourself standing with help, not alone. The question becomes: What have your words been training you to see? Because faith does not deny the facts. Faith simply refuses to let facts become the final say. Let this declaration guide you: "My words align with truth. I speak from faith, not fear. God is the substance of my hope. The word, his word, is the evidence I stand on. My words are shaping how I see. And I choose to see through the eyes of faith, truth." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Episode 12, What You Say Shapes How You See. I'm your host Verlene Cromwell and welcome to Word for Life, Where Words Come Alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we talked about what you're carrying within. Because what's inside eventually comes out through your words. Now we are taking this one step further. Because what comes out of your mouth does not only reveal what you carry. It begins to shape how you see. What you say shapes how you see. That may sound simple, but it is powerful. Because your words train your focus. They influence what you notice. They shape what you expect. And over time, what you keep saying begins to affect what you keep seeing. The Bible says in Hebrews 11, verse 1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith gives us a way to see before we see. Faith is not empty hope. Faith has substance. And that substance is rooted in God himself. God is the substance of my hope. And his word is the evidence I stand on. This is important because many times we only speak from what we can see. We say what the situation looks like. We say what the report says. We say what the problem looks like. But faith teaches us to speak from something deeper than natural sight. Faith gives us evidence before manifestation. Faith gives us substance before the outcome appears. So when we speak from faith, we are not just repeating what we see with our natural eyes. We are speaking from what we believe in our spirit. What you say shapes how you see. Repeat that with me. What I say shapes what I see. Your words are not just leaving your mouth. They are speaking back to your heart. And when I say your heart, I'm not speaking about that organ in your chest that pumps the blood through your veins. I'm speaking about the core of who you are, your spirit. They are training your mind. They are shaping your expectation. That is why we must be careful with repeated language. Because repeated words become repeated focus. And repeated focus becomes the lens we see life through. If you keep on saying nothing is changing, that becomes what you look for. If you keep saying there is no way out, that becomes what your eyes expect. If you keep saying this will never work, then even when small progress appears, you may miss it. Because your words have trained your vision. Faith sees differently. Faith sees differently. Faith looks at what is not yet visible and still says, I have evidence. Not because the natural eyes have seen it yet. But because God has spoken. That is why we can say, God is the substance of my hope. And his word is the evidence I stand on. Let's repeat this again. God is the substance of my hope. And his word is the evidence I stand on. When God's word becomes your evidence, your speech begins to change. You stop speaking only from what you see. And you start speaking from what God has said. Let's look at real life scenarios. One. When you keep saying nothing is happening, you may miss the small signs of progress. You may miss the little changes. You may miss the quiet movement of God. But when you say God is still working, something is shifting. Because this is not the end. Now, your eyes begin to look for movement instead of defeat. The second point. When you keep saying, I don't see a way out, you begin to expect blockage. You begin to focus on what is missing. But when you say, there will be a way out of this, God will make a way somehow. My steps are ordered by the Lord. Now your vision begins to open towards possibility. Number three. When you keep saying, I can't handle this, you begin to see yourself as weak. You begin to feel smaller than the situation. But when you say, God is my helper. His strength is working in me. I will get through this. Because this too shall pass away. Now you begin to see yourself standing with help. Not standing alone. Because you know that God is with you. Truth connection. This does not mean we ignore what is real. It means we stop letting what is real become the only thing we see. You see, facts may report what is happening. But only truth reveals what God says. And when we speak truth, our eyes begin to look through truth. Faith does not deny the facts. Faith simply refuses to let facts become the final say. Because facts can always change. But truth remains firm. Truth is eternal. So this is the question. What have your words been training you to see? Have they been training you to see defeat? Or hope? Limitation or possibility? Fear or faith? Because what you keep saying will begin shaping what you keep seeing. Your words become a lens. And if that lens is filled with fear, you will see through fear. But if that lens is filled with truth, you will begin to see through the eyes of faith. Take a moment and think about this. What phrase have you been repeating lately? What have you been saying over your life? Let that sink in. What have you been saying over your future? What have you been saying over your situation? And how has that been shaping your vision? Because what you keep speaking, you begin to look for. And what you keep looking for, you begin to expect. Let's say this together. My words align with truth. The next. I speak from faith, not fear. Here's another one. God is the substance of my hope. This word, which is his word, is the evidence I stand on. My words are shaping how I see. And I choose to see through the eyes of faith, truth. Again, my words align with truth. Next. I speak from faith, not fear. God is the substance of my hope. The word, his word, is the evidence I stand on. My words are shaping how I see. And I choose to see through the eyes of faith, truth. I'm your host, Vilene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. Bye.
Episode 11

What's Inside You Will Spill Out

Luke 6:4511 min 47s

In episode 11 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound truth that what you carry within will eventually spill out through your words. Anchored in Luke 6:45, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh," this episode delves into the connection between the heart and the mouth. Your mouth does not speak by itself. It releases what your heart has been carrying. What fills you will flow from you. What is stored in you will speak through you. The question is not only, what am I saying? The deeper question is, what am I carrying? Because when pressure comes, what is inside will spill out. When life squeezes you, what is in the heart rises to the surface. Sometimes we do not know what we have been feeding on until a situation reveals it. We must guard what we allow to settle in our hearts. If fear settles there, fear will speak. If offense settles there, offense will speak. If unbelief settles there, unbelief will speak. But when the word of God settles there, faith speaks. Peace will speak. Life will speak. We must be honest with ourselves. Sometimes we try to fix the words coming out of our mouth without dealing with what is sitting in the heart. Jesus went straight to the root. He said, the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. Let this truth become greater than what you feel, see, and have been through. The heart is like a container. Whatever you keep pouring into it will eventually overflow. You cannot keep feeding your heart fear and expect faith to come out. You cannot keep feeding your heart worry and expect peace to come out. You cannot keep feeding your heart defeat and expect victory to come out. But when you feed on the word, something begins to happen inside. The word starts shaping thoughts, correcting belief, giving language to faith. And before you know it, you are speaking from a place of life. Words are not just memorized; they become alive in you. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." When the word of Christ dwells in you richly, it does not stay silent. It shapes your thinking, strengthens your faith, and seasons what comes out of your mouth. Pay attention to what spills out under pressure. Not to condemn, but to locate what needs to be filled again with the word of God. Pressure reveals what has been stored inside. The good news is you can be refilled, renewed, and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. You can choose what you carry, meditate on, and allow to take root in you. When Jesus is dwelling in you, you are not empty. You carry life, peace, wisdom, and the spirit of God. Let your mouth release what Christ has placed within you. When sickness speaks, let healing spill out. When fear speaks, let faith spill out. When pressure comes, let peace spill out. When lack speaks, let provision spill out. When the mountain stands in front of you, let the word of God spill out of your mouth. Because what's inside you will spill out. Keep feeding your inner man with the word daily, consistently, intentionally. The more the word fills your heart, the more life fills your mouth. "Today, I choose to carry the word of God within me. I choose to let Christ fill my heart. I choose to speak from life, not fear. I choose to release faith, not defeat. What's inside me will spill out. And what is inside me is Christ." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Episode 11, What's Inside You Will Spill Out. I'm your host, Phyllene Cromwell. Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In today's episode, we are talking about what you are carrying within. Because what lives on the inside will eventually come out of your mouth. Jesus said in Luke 6, verse 45, That means your mouth does not speak by itself. Your mouth releases what your heart has been carrying. What fills you will flow from you. What is stored in you will speak through you. So the question is not only, what am I saying? The deeper question is, what am I carrying? Because when pressure comes, what is inside will spill out. When life squeezes you, what is in the heart rises to the surface. Sometimes we do not know what we have been feeding on until a situation reveals it. That is why we must guard what we allow to settle in our hearts. And when I say hearts, I'm not talking about the organ in our chest that pumps the blood through our veins. I'm talking about the core of who we are, our spirit man. If fear settles there, fear will speak. If offense settles there, offense will speak. If unbelief settles there, unbelief will speak. But when the word of God settles there, faith speaks. Peace will speak. Life will speak. And this is where we must be honest with ourselves. Sometimes we try to fix the words coming out our mouth with our dealing with what is sitting in the heart. But Jesus gave us this to dwell on. He went straight to the root. He said, the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. So if I want my words to change, if you want your words to change, you and I must allow God's word to fill our heart. I must let this truth become greater than what I feel. Greater than what I see. And greater than what I have been through. The heart is like a container. Whatever you keep pouring into it will eventually overflow. So I cannot keep feeding my heart fear and expect faith to come out. I cannot keep feeding my heart worry and expect peace to come out. I cannot keep feeding my heart defeat and expect victory to come out. But when I feed on the word, something begins to happen inside me. The word starts shaping my thoughts. The word starts correcting my belief. The word starts giving language to my faith. And before I know it, I am not just repeating scriptures. I am speaking from a place of life. That is what makes our words powerful. They are not just words we memorize. They are words that have become alive in us. This is why Colossians chapter 3 verse 16 says, When you hear let, it means release. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. When the word of Christ dwells in you richly, it does not stay silent. It cannot stay silent. It begins to shape your thinking, strengthen your faith, and season what comes out of your mouth. So this evening, pay attention to what spills out when you are under pressure. Not to condemn yourself, but to locate what needs to be filled again with the word of God. Because sometimes the pressure is not the problem. The pressure is revealing what has been stored inside. And here is the good news. You can be refilled. You can be renewed. You can let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. You can choose what you carry. You can choose what you meditate on. You can choose what you allow to take root in you. When Jesus is dwelling in you, you are not empty. You are carrying life. You are carrying peace. You are carrying wisdom. You are carrying the spirit of God. So do not let your mouth only repeat the problem. Let your mouth release what Christ has placed within you. When sickness speaks, let healing spill out. When fear speaks, let faith spill out. When pressure comes, let peace spill out. When lack speaks, let provision spill out. When the mountain stands in front of you, let the word of God spill out of your mouth. Because what's inside you will spill out. And that is why we must keep feeding our inner man with the word. Not just once in a while, but daily, consistently, intentionally. The more the word fills your heart, the more life fills your mouth. Repeat this with me. Today, I choose to carry the word of God within me. Next, I choose to let Christ fill my heart. Another, I choose to speak from life, not fear. Yet another one, I choose to release faith, not defeat. What's inside me will spill out. And what is inside me is Christ. Thank you for joining me on Word for Life, where words come alive. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. WordForLife.org
Episode 10

Your Tongue Sets Direction

James 3:4-513 min 11s

In episode 10 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound impact of our words in setting the course of our lives. Anchored in James 3:4-5, "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things," this episode reveals a powerful truth about words: they are not merely expressive, they are directional. Your tongue may be small, but it is not insignificant. It sets direction. It helps steer the course of your life. That means every time you speak, you are not just reacting. You are steering. You are helping direct your perspective, expectation, and steps. This is why careless words are dangerous. They can quietly steer you in the wrong direction. But when you speak with intention, your words align with truth and set a godly direction. Let's bring this into real life: When frustration rises, you may feel like saying, 'I'm done with this.' But those words are steering you. Instead, say, 'I will stay steady. God is helping me through this.' When fear tries to lead, fear may want you to say, 'This is going to fall apart.' But those words steer you toward defeat. Instead, say, 'I will not be led by fear. God is directing me.' When life feels uncertain, uncertainty may cause you to say, 'I don't know what's next.' But those words steer you into instability. Instead, say, 'My steps are ordered by the Lord. I am being led by Him.' A ship is not directed by its size, but by its rudder. Your life will not be shaped only by the size of what you face, but also by the words that are steering you through it. This means you cannot let pressure do all your talking. You cannot let emotion seize the wheel. You cannot let frustration take over your language. Because once frustration takes over your speech, it starts trying to take over your direction. So this is not just about speaking better. This is about steering well. You may not control every wind that hits your life, but you can be mindful of the words that are steering you through it. That's why speaking truth matters. Truth steadies direction. Truth keeps your heart aligned. Truth keeps you from drifting. If you want a different direction, pay attention to what your tongue is steering. Let this declaration guide you: "My tongue will not lead me into fear. My words will align with truth. I speak with wisdom. And my words are setting a godly direction." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Episode 10 Your Tongue Sets Direction James chapter 3 verse 4 and 5 I'm your host Verlene Cromwell and welcome to Word Fed Life where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak and how we live. Here's what we need to understand. Your words are not only revealing where you are, they are helping direct where you are going. James says in James 3, 4 and 5, Behold also the ship, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce wind, yet they turn about with a very small helm, wheresoever the governed listed, even so the tongue is a little member, and boasted great things. That is powerful. A ship can be huge, the winds can be strong, the waters can be rough, but a small rudder still helps determine the direction. And James says your tongue works the same way. That means your tongue may be small, but it is not insignificant. It sets direction. It helps steer the course of your life. Now that is powerful and that's very important because many people think words are only expressive. They think words only tell us how we feel, but scripture shows we sometimes use them. And they are something deeper. Words are directional. They don't just reveal where you are internally. They help direct where you move next. Your tongue may be small, but it is setting direction. Let that sink in. Your tongue, again, may be small, but it is setting direction. Think about a rudder. It does not look impressive. It is not the largest part of the ship. It is not the loudest part of the ship, but it matters because even in strong winds, that small rudder keeps influencing where the ship goes. And James says your tongue is like that. So even if the pressure is strong, even if the storm is real, even if the winds are fierce, your words still matter. Your speech is still helping set direction. That means every time you speak, you are not just reacting. You are steering. You are helping direct your perspective. You are helping direct your expectation. You are helping direct your steps. This is why careless words are dangerous because careless words can quietly steer you in the wrong direction. Let's bring this into real life. When frustration rises, you may feel frustrated and say, I'm done with this. I can't take this anymore. This is going nowhere. That may feel small in the moment, but those words are steering you. They are setting direction. But what if instead you said, I will stay steady. God is helping me through this. I will not be driven by frustration. Now your words are steering you differently. When fear tries to lead, fear may want you to say, this is going to fall apart. I already know this won't work. But those words begin steering you toward defeat before anything has even happened. But what if you said, I will not be led by fear. God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I will move with wisdom. God is directing me. Now your words are helping set a different course. Number three, when life feels uncertain, sometimes uncertainty makes people speak confusion. I don't know where I'm going. I'm all over the place. I have no idea what's next. But let me remind you, words like that keep steering the heart deeper into instability. What if instead you said, my steps are ordered by the Lord. I am being led by him. I may not see everything yet, but I am not without direction. Now your words are steering you toward peace. A ship is not directed by its size. It is directed by its rudder. And your life will not be shaped only by the size of what you face, but also by the words that are steering you through it. This means you cannot let pressure do all your talking. You cannot let emotion seize the wheel. You cannot let frustration take over your language. Because once frustration takes over your speech, it starts trying to take over your direction. So this is not just about something better. This is about steering well. You may not control every wind that hits your life, but you can be mindful of the words that are steering you through it. That's why speaking truth matters. Truth steadies direction. Truth keeps your heart aligned. Truth keeps you from drifting. If you want a different direction, pay attention to what your tongue is steering. So let me ask you this. What direction have your words been setting daily or lately? What have you been steering toward with your speech? Is it peace or panic? Is it clarity or confusion? Is it faith or fear? Because your tongue may be small, but it is setting your direction. Let's say this together. My tongue will not lead me into fear. My words will align with truth. I speak with wisdom. And my words are setting a godly direction. Again, my tongue will not lead me into fear. My words will align with truth. I speak with wisdom. And my words are setting a godly direction. I'm your host, Ferdine Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 9

Truth vs. Facts

John 17:1711 min 28s

In episode 9 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the powerful distinction between truth and facts, and how aligning with God's truth can transform our perspective and our lives. Anchored in John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth," this episode illuminates a profound reality: truth is not a mere concept or statement; truth is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. While facts present what we see, hear, and experience, truth reveals what God has declared. Facts may feel overwhelming and final, but they do not hold the ultimate authority. Truth does. Jesus made it clear that truth is not just information. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). This means that truth is relational, personal, and eternal. Every day, we encounter facts that seem immovable: Situations that appear unchangeable. Circumstances that seem to dictate outcomes. Reports that speak of impossibility. But faith does not ignore these facts. Instead, it chooses to align with the truth of God's Word. This episode offers practical ways to apply this principle: When faced with serious situations, declare that God is your present help and working for your good. When delays seem endless, affirm that God is orchestrating something good, even if unseen. When uncertainty clouds your path, proclaim that your steps are ordered by the Lord and you are moving forward. The challenge is to examine what we are agreeing with: facts or truth? Because agreement gives power and life to what we speak. Let this declaration guide you: "I align my words with truth. I will not be ruled by what I see. I speak what God says. I will not miss my step. For I am led by God's spirit." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Episode nine, truth versus facts. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word for Life, where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. Let me say this. There are moments in life where what you are seeing feels very real. It looks real, it feels real, and sometimes it even sounds real, and it sounds final. But it's not, because everything that is real is not necessarily final. Jesus said in John chapter 17, verse 17, thy word is truth. And that's important, because truth is not just a statement. Truth is not just a concept. Truth is not just something we read. Truth is a person. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. John chapter 14, verse six. So when we talk about truth, we are not just talking about information. We are talking about him, Jesus. Now here's where it gets real, because we deal with facts every day. Facts are what we see. Facts are what we hear. Facts are what's happening right now. And facts can be strong. They can feel overwhelming. They can even tell you how things are going to end. But facts don't get the final say. Truth does. Facts report what is. Truth reveals what God says. So you can have a situation where everything around you is saying one thing, but God is saying something else. And now you have a decision to make. Which one am I going to agree with? Am I going to agree with truth or facts? Because here's the reality. Facts can say, this is serious. This is not working. This isn't going to change. But truth says, God will work this out somehow. This is not the end. Something will shift. What may be factual can always change. But what God is doing, that's the reality. And this is where people miss it. Because they think faith means pretending facts don't exist. That's not faith. Faith sees the facts, but refuses to be ruled by them. You cannot knowledge what's happening without agreeing that it's final. That's the difference. We live in a world with a lot of facts. And every day we experience these factual stuff in our lives. But facts doesn't have the final say. Truth does. Jesus, that's the difference. Let's bring this into real life. When something feels serious, when something seems overwhelming, you hear the report, you see the situation. And everything in you wants to react. But instead of saying, this is too much, you say, God is my very present help in times of trouble. God is with me. God is working this out for my good and for his glory. When things feel delayed, it feels like nothing is moving. Nothing is changing. But instead of saying, this isn't working, you say, something is happening. I may not see it yet, but something good is on its way. When you feel uncertain, you don't see the way forward. You don't know what's next. But instead of saying, I'm stuck, you say, there is a way forward. Delay is over. I'm going forward. What is stuck will be cleared away. I am not without direction. I am moving forward in Jesus' name. My steps are ordained by God. My steps are ordered by the Lord. I will not miss my step. For I am led by God's spirit. So let me ask you this. What have you been agreeing with? What have your words been lining up with? Facts or truth? Because whatever you agree with, you give it life, you give it strength. And whatever you consistently speak, you begin to believe. The more you speak it, the deeper you believe it. Let's say this together. I align my words with truth. I will not be ruled by what I see. I speak what God says. I will not miss my step. For I am led by God's spirit. I align my words with truth. I'm going to repeat it again. I will not be ruled by what I see. I speak what God says. I will not miss my step. For I am led by the spirit of God. I'm your host, Virlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 8

Faith Spoke Before the Battle

1 Samuel 17:377 min 45s

In episode 8 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the concept of faith speaking before the battle by examining David's encounter with Goliath. Anchored in 1 Samuel 17:37, "The Lord will deliver me," this episode reveals a powerful truth about faith: fear describes the problem, but faith declares the outcome. Goliath stood daily, speaking fear. He described his strength and power, declaring defeat over Israel. Israel agreed by staying silent. But there was a shift in that moment. Then David arrives, same giant, different voice. Before anything changed, David spoke the outcome. The Lord will deliver me. David didn't wait for victory. Faith spoke before the battle. Let's look at truth versus facts. Facts, Goliath is bigger. He is a giant. Truth, God is greater than any giant. Facts report what is. Truth reveals what God says. David's word came from memory of God. Lion, God delivered. Bear, God delivered. Delivered David from the lion and from the bear. So his faith said, God will do it again. This episode explores practical ways this principle shows up in everyday life: Facing something overwhelming. Fear, this is too big. That's what fear will say. Faith says nothing is too hard for God. This situation will shift because God is in charge. Under pressure. Fear says, I don't know what to do with this. Faith says, I am not without direction. God is guiding me through this. Facing uncertainty. Fear says, there is no way out of this. Faith says, there will be a way out of this because God always makes a way where there seem to be no way. Faith speaks before the victory appears. What are you saying about your giant? Because faith will always speak what God says. Let this declaration guide you: "My faith speaks before the battle. God is greater than what I face. The situation will shift because God will see me through." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode 8, Faith Spoke Before the Battle. I am your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we talked about calling things that are not as though they were. Today, we are going to see what that looks like in action. Let's go to 1 Samuel, chapter 17. Goliath stood daily, speaking fear. He described his strength. He described his power. He declared defeat over Israel. And Israel agreed by staying silent. But there was a shift in that moment. Then David arrives, same giant, different voice. The scripture says, the Lord will deliver me, 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verse 37. Before anything changed, David spoke the outcome. The Lord will deliver me. David didn't wait for victory. Faith spoke before the battle. Fear describes the problem. Faith declares the outcome. Let's look at truth versus facts. Facts, Goliath is bigger. He is a giant. Truth, God is greater than any giant. Facts report what is. Truth reveals what God says. Let's do a deeper insight. David's word came from memory of God. Lion, God delivered. Bear, God delivered. Delivered David from the lion and from the bear. So his faith said, David's faith, God will do it again. Let's look at real life scenarios. Facing something overwhelming. Fear, this is too big. That's what fear will say. Faith says nothing is too hard for God. This situation will shift because God is in charge. Next, under pressure. Fear says, I don't know what to do with this. Faith says, I am not without direction. God is guiding me through this. Facing uncertainty. Fear says, there is no way out of this. Faith says, there will be a way out of this because God always makes a way where there seem to be no way. Faith speaks before the victory appears. What are you saying about your giant? My faith speaks before the battle. Let's declare this truth. My faith speaks before the battle. God is greater than what I face. Or you can say God is greater than any giant I face. The situation will shift because God will see me through. God will see me through. So, faith will always speak what God says. Faith is not afraid. Thank you for joining me on Word Fed Life. I'm your host Phyllene Cromwell. Until next time, get words life. I am expressing your glory throughout the earth. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Lord, I magnify your name. And I glorify your name. What a wonder, what a wonder you are. You say I must rise and shine.
Episode 7

Calling Things That Are Not As Though They Are

Romans 4:1710 min 42s

In episode 7 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores how faith speaks forward, aligning our words with what God has promised. Anchored in Romans 4:17, "As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were," this episode reveals a profound aspect of God's nature: God calls things that do not yet exist as though they already do. To understand this principle, we look at how God created the world. Genesis 1:3 says, "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light." Notice something important. God did not describe the darkness. He spoke light. The world itself was formed through the spoken word of God. Again and again, in Genesis, we see the same pattern. God said, and it was so. Creation responded to the word. This shows us something powerful. God speaks what he intends to bring forth. He does not reinforce darkness. He releases light himself. Faith-filled speech follows the same pattern. Faith does not deny reality. But faith aligns with the promise of God, instead of the limitation of the moment. That is exactly what Abraham did. God called Abraham the father of many nations before he had even one child. And Abraham believed what God said. His belief aligned with God's promise. Calling things that are not does not mean pretending something exists when it doesn't. It means aligning our words with God's truth and promise. Instead of reinforcing fear, lack, or defeat, faith chooses to speak hope and possibility. Faith-filled words move the heart from doubt towards trust. They align our speech with what God is able to do. Let's look at some real-life scenarios: - Speaking hope in uncertainty. When someone faces an uncertain future, they may say, I don't see how this will work. But faith may say, I may not see the answer yet, but I trust God will open a way. - Speaking growth when progress seems slow. Sometimes growth is happening quietly. Instead of saying nothing is changing, faith may say progress is happening even if I cannot see it yet. - Speaking trust in the middle of waiting. Waiting seasons can be difficult, don't they? Instead of saying things will never change, Faith may say, I believe the right time and opportunity will come. God is never late. He is always on time. Think about the words you speak about your life and your future. Are they describing only what you see? Or are they aligning with what God has promised? Because faith sometimes speaks forward before the result appears. Let this declaration guide you: "I align my words with truth. I speak faith over my life. My words agree with God's promises." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode 7, Calling Things That Are Not As Though They Are. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we talked about speaking to the mountain, addressing situations with faith-filled words. Today, we are going one step further. We are going to explore how faith speaks forward, aligning our words with what God has promised. Let's begin with Romans chapter 4, verse 17. As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were. This verse reveals something about the nature of God. God calls things that do not yet exist as though they already do. To understand this principle, we need to look at how God created the world. Genesis chapter 1, verse 3 says, And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Notice something important. God did not describe the darkness. He spoke light. The world itself was formed through the spoken word of God. Again and again, in Genesis, we see the same pattern. God said, and it was so. Creation responded to the word. This shows us something powerful. God speaks what he intends to bring forth. He does not reinforce darkness. He releases light himself. Faith-filled speech follows the same pattern. Faith does not deny reality. But faith aligns with the promise of God, instead of the limitation of the moment. That is exactly what Abraham did. God called Abraham the father of many nations before he had even one child. And Abraham believed what God said. His belief aligned with God's promise. Calling things that are not does not mean pretending something exists when it doesn't. It means aligning our words with God's truth and promise. Instead of reinforcing fear, lack, or defeat, faith chooses to speak hope and possibility. Faith-filled words move the heart from doubt towards trust. They align our speech with what God is able to do. Let's look at some real-life scenarios. Speaking hope in uncertainty. When someone faces an uncertain future, they may say, I don't see how this will work. But faith may say, I may not see the answer yet, but I trust God will open a way. Speaking growth when progress seems slow. Sometimes growth is happening quietly. Instead of saying nothing is changing, faith may say progress is happening even if I cannot see it yet. Speaking trust in the middle of waiting. Waiting seasons can be difficult, don't they? Instead of saying things will never change, Faith may say, I believe the right time and opportunity will come. God is never late. He is always on time. Think about the words you speak about your life and your future. Are they describing only what you see? Or are they aligning with what God has promised? Because faith sometimes speaks forward before the result appears. Let's declare this together. I align my words with truth. I speak faith over my life. My words agree with God's promises. Again. I align my words with truth. I speak faith over my life. My words agree with God's promises. Thank you for joining me in Word Fed Life. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. I am praising from your glory. I am expressing your glory throughout the earth. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Lord, I magnify your name. And I glorify your name. What a wonder, what a wonder you are. You say I must rise and shine.
Episode 6

Speak to the Mountain

Mark 11:2317 min

In episode 6 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores what it means to speak to the mountain by addressing life's obstacles with faith-filled words. Anchored in Mark 11:23, "Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart, but believe that what they say will happen, it will be done for them," this episode reveals a powerful truth about faith: faith does not only observe obstacles, it speaks to them. Jesus makes an important distinction in this passage. He did not say to talk about the mountain. He said to speak to it. That shows us that faith-filled words are not passive. They are directed. They confront fear, pressure, uncertainty, and impossibility with the truth of God's Word. Many times, people remain stuck because they keep repeating what they see. They rehearse the difficulty, describe the problem, and reinforce the obstacle. But Jesus points us toward another way. Faith has a voice, and faith speaks. This kind of speaking is not empty repetition. It is connected to belief. Jesus said not to doubt in the heart, but to believe. That means the heart and the mouth must come into agreement. When belief and speech align, faith begins to move from inward trust to outward expression. This episode also draws a clear distinction between facts and truth. Facts may report what is happening, but truth reveals what God has said. Facts may say the situation is impossible, but truth says that with God all things are possible. Facts may say there is no way forward, but truth declares that God will make a way. Mountains in our lives can take many forms: Fear that tries to paralyze. Pressure that feels overwhelming. Lack that seems unchanging. Uncertainty that clouds the future. Faith does not ignore these realities, but it refuses to let them have the final word. Instead, it speaks with confidence in what God is able to do. This episode explores practical ways this principle shows up in everyday life: Speaking in difficult situations. When circumstances seem impossible, faith declares that nothing is too hard for God. Speaking under pressure. When everything feels unstable, faith declares peace and confidence that the moment will pass. Speaking when fear rises. Instead of surrendering to fear, faith moves forward one step at a time with assurance that God is present. The question becomes: Are you only talking about the mountain, or are you speaking to it? Because faith does not simply repeat facts. Faith responds with truth. Let this declaration guide you: "My faith speaks to the mountain. I will not be ruled by fear. My words align with truth and confidence. The situation will shift, because God will see me through." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Episode 6, Speak to the Mountain. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word for Life, where words come alive. Here, we explore the power of God's Word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we spoke about calling those things that are not as though they were. We talked about how faith does not wait for the natural eye to see first, before it speaks. Faith speaks from what God has already said. Faith agrees with heaven before earth changes. And today, we are going deeper. Because there comes a moment when you can no longer sit silently in front of mountains that have been talking back to your life. Some of you have been staring at mountains of fear, mountains of delay, mountains of sickness, mountains of financial pressure, mountains of disappointment. And after a while, if you are not careful, the mountain will start speaking louder than the Word of God inside of you. But today, we are shifting the atmosphere. Today, we are talking about speak to the mountain. Our main scripture is taken from Mark chapter 11, verse 23. Truly, I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt in their heart, but believe that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Notice something powerful in the scripture. Jesus did not say, talk about a mountain. He said, speak to the mountain. Many believers spend years talking about the problem, describing the problem, rehearsing the problem, feeding the problem, magnifying the problem, but never speaking directly to it. But mountains have ears. Jesus spoke to a fig tree and the fig tree obeyed. This tells us that that fig tree had ears to hear. The wind heard him. The sea heard him. Demons heard him. Death heard him, because they all have ears. Everything responds to the voice of faith. Everything. And sometimes we forget that God placed authority in our mouths. I come by this evening to tell you that faith has a voice. Faith is never silent. Fear speaks. Doubt speaks. Anxiety speaks. Complaining speaks. But faith speaks too. And when faith speaks, it speaks from conviction, not from feelings, not from appearances. Not from emotions. Faith speaks from truth. Some people are waiting until things change before they open their mouths. But faith speaks while the mountain is still standing. That is what Abraham did. He called himself the father of many nations before Isaac was born. That is what David did. He declared victory before Goliath fell. That is what Jesus did. He spoke resurrection before Lazarus came out of the grave. Faith always speaks ahead of manifestation. Your mountains have been talking too long. Some mountains have been preaching to you every day. Here is what the mountain says. You will never recover. You will never come out. You are too old. You are not qualified. You will always struggle. You will always be broken. And after hearing those voices long enough, many people start repeating what the mountain says instead of what God says. But there comes a time when you must answer back with the word. You cannot afford to let the mountain become your meditation. Because whatever you continually hear will eventually shape what you believe. And what you believe will eventually shape what you speak. And what you speak repeatedly can begin shaping the direction of your life. Speak what God said. God never told us to create truth. Truth is already established. Our responsibility is to agree with it. So when sickness says one thing, faith says, by his stripes I am healed. When fear says one thing, faith says, God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. When lack speaks loudly, faith says, and my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians chapter 4 verse 19 Facts may exist, but truth has greater authority. Facts can change, truth remains. And when you continue speaking truth long enough, truth begins overruling facts. Don't speak from panic. One of the greatest battles believers face is speaking from panic instead of speaking from peace. When pressure rises, many people begin speaking dead over situations without realizing it. I can't do this. This will never work. Everything is falling apart. But when we carry our words, when we speak words of life, many times we are watering the very mountain we are praying against. Many times we are watering the very mountains we are praying against. This is why we must guard our mouths. Because your mouth reveals what has been growing inside your heart. And when I say heart, I'm not talking about that organ in our chest. I'm talking about the core of who we are. I'm talking about our inner spirit man. This is why we must guard our mouths. Because your mouth reveals what has been growing inside your heart, your spirit. Because out of the abundance of our hearts, our spirit, our mouth speaks. But when the word is planted deeply in our hearts, the word will eventually speak through you. The word in you must become a voice. There is a difference between quoting scripture and believing scripture. Some people repeat verses with no conviction. But when the word becomes rooted inside of you, it comes out with authority, with power, with clarity. Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Whatever fills you will eventually flow from you. And this is why we must continue hearing the word. Feeding on the word. Meditating on the word. Because the word inside of you becomes strength in difficult moments. When pressure comes, what is inside will come out. And when the word is alive inside of you, your mouth will begin releasing life instead of defeat. Don't bow to the mountain. Some mountains are not moved immediately. And that is where many people become discouraged. But faith does not quit speaking because results delay. Faith remains steady. The mountain may still be standing today, but continue speaking. Don't quit. Continue believing. Don't stop. Continue agreeing with God. Trust Him. Because mountains do move. Strongholds do break. Doors do open. Healing does come. Peace does return. God is faithful. He never changes and He never fails. Today, I want to encourage you. Stop rehearsing the mountain. Stop magnifying the obstacle. Stop feeding the fear. Speak what God said. Even if your voice shakes, speak. Even if the mountain still looks large, speak. Even if you do not yet see movement, speak. Because faith has a voice. And when your voice aligns with God's word, heaven backs what truth says. Heaven backs up what truth says. The mountain is not greater than the God who lives inside of you. Again, I will repeat that. The mountain is not greater than the God who lives inside of you. Thank you for joining me on Word Fed Life. Words come alive. I'm your host, Vilene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 5

I Believe, Therefore I Speak

2 Corinthians 4:1312 min 10s

In episode 5 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound connection between belief and speech, and how faith gives voice to our words. Anchored in 2 Corinthians 4:13, "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak," this episode uncovers the truth that faith is not silent: it speaks. Belief is the foundation of our words, shaping them and giving them life. Words are not only shaped by the heart. They are also shaped by belief. What we truly believe eventually shows up in what we say. If someone believes they are defeated, their speech will reflect defeat. If someone believes God is faithful, their speech will reflect hope. Belief becomes the foundation of speech. This is why scripture calls it the spirit of faith. Faith is not silent. Faith speaks. When faith fills the heart, words of faith begin to flow from the mouth. And when words of faith are spoken consistently, they strengthen the heart even more. Faith and speech begin to work together. This episode explores practical scenarios illustrating how belief shapes speech: Facing a challenge. One person says, "This will never work for me." Another says, "This may be difficult, but I believe God will make a way for me somehow." Encouraging someone else. A person who believes in others will say, "I know you can do it." Their words give courage and confidence. Speaking faith during uncertainty. When someone faces uncertainty, they may feel fear. But when they believe God is faithful, they begin to say, "I trust that God will guide me through this." Speaking healing. Sometimes a person is dealing with pain, weakness, or a troubling report. They may say, "I'm getting worse," but faith speaks differently: "God is at work in me. The life of Christ is flowing through me." Speaking provision. In tight financial moments, fear may say, "There will never be enough." But the voice of faith says, "My God is my source. He will provide what is needed." Take a moment to consider this. What do your words reveal about what you believe? Do they reflect faith? Do they reflect hope? Because belief eventually finds its voice. Let this declaration guide you: "I believe truth. My words reflect faith. The words I speak strengthen my heart and my life." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode 5, I Believe, Therefore I Speak. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here, we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we talked about how words can carry spirit and life. Today, we are looking at the source behind powerful words, because words that bring life begin with belief. Let's begin with 2 Corinthians 4, verse 13. We having the same spirit of faith, that's the spirit of Jesus, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken. We also believe, and therefore speak. This verse reveals something powerful. Faith has a voice. Faith speaks. Belief gives voice to our words. Words are not only shaped by the heart. They are also shaped by belief. What we truly believe eventually shows up in what we say. If someone believes they are defeated, their speech will reflect defeat. If someone believes God is faithful, their speech will reflect hope. Belief becomes the foundation of speech. This is why scripture calls it the spirit of faith. Faith is not silent. Faith speaks. When faith fills the heart, words of faith begin to flow from the mouth. And when words of faith are spoken consistently, they strengthen the heart even more. Faith and speech begin to work together. Let's look at some real-life scenarios. Here are some simple examples of how belief shapes speech. The first one facing a challenge. Let's see. One person says, this will never work for me. This will never work. Another says, this may be difficult, but I believe God will make a way for me somehow. Belief changes the language. The next, encouraging someone else. A person who believes in others will say, I know you can do it. Their words give courage and confidence. You see, belief produces encouragement. This one, another one, speaking faith during uncertainty. When someone faces uncertainty, they may feel fear. But when they believe God is faithful, they begin to say, I trust that God will guide me through this. Belief shapes speech. Speaking healing. Sometimes a person is dealing with pain, weakness, or a troubling report. And the first temptation is to speak fear. They may want to say, I'm getting worse, or I don't know how this will turn out. But faith speaks differently. A person filled with truth may say, God is at work in me. The life of Christ is flowing through me. I receive his peace, his strength, and his healing. Those words don't deny the challenge. Those words don't deny the facts. They align the heart and the mouth with truth. The facts can always change, but truth always prevails. Speaking provision. There are times when finances feel tight and needs feel overwhelming. In those moments, fear may say, there will never be enough money to take care of those bills. I don't know how this need will be met. But the voice of faith speaks from trust. A person who believes God is faithful may say, my God is my source. He will provide what is needed. I will not be ruled by lack, because God is faithful. Those words bring the heart into agreement with provision instead of panic. Take a moment to consider this. What do your words reveal about what you believe? Do they reflect faith? Do they reflect hope? Because belief eventually finds its voice. Let's declare this together. I believe truth. My words reflect faith. The words I speak strengthen my heart and my life. Again. I believe truth. The words I speak strengthen my heart and my life. Thank you for joining me in Word Fed Life. I'm your host, Ferlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. Thank you for watching Word Fed Life.
Episode 4

The Words I Speak are Spirit and Life

John 6:639 min 18s

In episode 4 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound truth that the words we speak are spirit and life. Anchored in John 6:63, "It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life," this episode uncovers the spiritual substance that words carry and their power to influence the world around us. When Jesus spoke these words, he revealed something powerful. His words were not empty. They carried spirit. They carried life. Words are more than communication. They carry influence. When Jesus spoke, his words carried life because they came from his spirit. And when we fill our hearts with God's word, our speech begins to reflect that same life. Words filled with truth strengthen people. Words filled with encouragement bring hope. Words filled with peace calm the troubled heart. You can feel the difference between words spoken from frustration and words spoken from peace. Words create atmosphere. They influence the emotional and spiritual environment around us. That's why scripture places so much importance on our speech because words have the power to release life. Think about a moment when someone spoke words that encouraged you. Maybe they told you they believed in you. Maybe they reminded you of truth when you felt discouraged. Those words stayed with you. Why? Because words carry life. But the opposite is true also. Negative words can wear down someone's heart. They can shape how people see themselves. This is why we must choose our words carefully. When our hearts are filled with God's truth, our words begin to release life into the world around us. Take a moment to consider this. What kind of spirit do your words carry? Do your words bring peace? Do they bring encouragement? Do they release life? Because when our speech aligns with truth, our words become life-giving. Let this declaration guide you: "My words carry life. My heart is filled with truth. The words I speak bring encouragement and peace. Again, my words carry life. My heart is filled with truth. The words I speak bring encouragement and peace." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode 4, The Words I Speak are Spirit and Life. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here, we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In our previous episodes, we talked about guarding the heart and how our words function like seeds that produce fruit. Today, we are going even deeper. We are going to see that words are not just songs. They carry spiritual substance. Let's begin with John chapter 6, verse 63. It is the spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. When Jesus spoke these words, he revealed something powerful. His words were not empty. They carried spirit. They carried life. Words are more than communication. They carry influence. When Jesus spoke, his words carried life because they came from his spirit. And when we fill our hearts with God's word, our speech begins to reflect that same life. Words filled with truth strengthens people. Words filled with encouragement bring hope. Words filled with peace calms the troubled heart. You can feel the difference between words spoken from frustration and words spoken from peace. Words create atmosphere. They influence the emotional and spiritual environment around us. That's why scripture places so much importance on our speech because words have the power to release life. Think about a moment when someone spoke words that encouraged you. Maybe they told you they believed in you. Maybe they reminded you of truth when you felt discouraged. Those words stayed with you. Why? Because words carry life. But the opposite is true also. Negative words can wear down someone's heart. They can shape how people see themselves. This is why we must choose our words carefully. When our hearts are filled with God's truth, our words begin to release life into the world around us. Take a moment to consider this. What kind of spirit do your words carry? Do your words bring peace? Do they bring encouragement? Do they release life? Because when our speech aligns with truth, our words become life-giving. Let's declare this together. My words carry life. My heart is filled with truth. The words I speak bring encouragement and peace. Again, my words carry life. My heart is filled with truth. The words I speak bring encouragement and peace. Thank you for joining me in Word Fed Life. I'm your host, Ferlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. I am praising from your glory. I am expressing your glory throughout the earth. Oh glory, glory, glory to you. Oh glory, glory, glory to you. Lord, I magnify your name and I glorify your name. What a wonder, what a wonder you are. You say I must rise and shine.
Episode 3

Death and Life Are in the Power of the Tongue

Proverbs 18:2110 min 50s

In episode 3 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the profound impact of our words and how they shape the reality we experience. Anchored in Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof," this episode uncovers the transformative potential of our speech. Our words are not merely sounds; they are seeds that grow into the fabric of our lives. This scripture highlights a crucial truth: our words produce outcomes. Just like seeds planted in soil, words planted in our hearts eventually bear fruit. The results may not be immediate, but over time, our speech shapes our lives. Verlene shares four ways words function like seeds: Words plant beliefs. Repeated words of doubt grow into insecurity, while truth plants faith. What we hear and speak becomes what we believe. Words shape direction. Just as seeds grow over time, words influence our life's path. Words of hope propel us forward, while words of limitation hold us back. Words influence atmosphere. Seeds affect their environment, and words do the same. Encouraging words can instantly bring peace and create a positive atmosphere. Words produce fruit over time. Seeds don't bear fruit overnight, and neither do words. Faith-filled words yield confidence and hope, while negative words lead to discouragement and limitation. The question to consider is: If words are seeds, what kind of seeds are you planting with your speech every day? Because eventually, we eat the fruit of the seeds we plant. Let this declaration guide you: "My words plant seeds of life. I speak with wisdom. The words I release will produce good fruit in my life." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode three. Debt and life are in the power of the tongue. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell. And welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here, we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In the last episode, we talked about how the mouth reveals what fills the heart. Today, we are going one step further to understand just how powerful our words really are. Let's begin with Proverbs chapter 18, verse 21. "'Debt and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. What a profound statement! It doesn't say there's just power in the tongue. It says, debt and life are in the power of the tongue. And it also says, we will eat the fruit of what we speak. That means our words produce something. Words are seeds. Just like seeds planted in a soil, eventually it grows. Words planted in the heart eventually produce fruit. We may not see the results immediately, but over time, the seeds we plant through our speech begin to shape our lives. Let me share four ways words function like seeds. Words plant beliefs. Words plant beliefs in the heart. If someone repeatedly hears words of doubt, that seed grows into insecurity. But when truth is spoken, it plants faith. What we repeatedly hear and say is truth. What we hear and speak eventually becomes what we believe. Words shape direction. Seeds grow into something over time. In the same way, words influence the direction of our lives. Words of hope move people forward. Words of limitation can hold people back. Speech quietly guides the direction we walk. Words influence atmosphere. Seeds affect the environment where we live. Words influence the environment where they grow. Words do the same. Encouraging words can bring peace to a person. Instantly. Our speech helps create the atmosphere around us. Words produce fruit over time. Seeds don't produce fruit overnight. They grow slowly. Words work the same way. The words we repeat day after day eventually produce results. Faith-filled words produce confidence and hope. Negative words often produce discouragement. And limitation. That's why Proverbs says, We will eat the fruit of what we speak. So here is a question to consider. If words are seeds, what kind of seeds are you planting with your speech every day? Are your words planting life or reinforcing limitation? Because eventually we eat the fruit of the seeds we plant. Let's declare this together. My words plant seeds of life. I speak with wisdom. The words I release will produce good fruit in my life. Again. My words plant seeds of life. I speak with wisdom. The words I release will produce good fruit in my life. Thank you for joining me on Wordfed Live. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life.
Episode 2

Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks

Luke 6:458 min 55s

In episode 2 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores how the condition of the heart reveals itself through our words. Anchored in Luke 6:45, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh," this episode uncovers the truth about our speech: it is an overflow of the heart. The mouth reveals what fills the heart. Speech is overflow. Jesus teaches us that words are not accidental, but they come from what fills the heart. If the heart is filled with peace, peaceful words flow. If the heart is filled with fear, fearful words follow. If the heart is filled with faith, faith-filled words follow. The heart is a treasure. Every thought, belief, and truth we meditate on becomes part of what is stored within us. When pressure comes, what is stored inside begins to flow out. That's why guarding the heart is so important. The heart becomes the source of our speech. Consider a moment when you were under pressure. You may have said things you didn't plan to say. Pressure reveals what is stored inside. Spiritual growth is not just about controlling the tongue. It's about filling the heart with truth. When truth fills the heart, truth fills the mouth. If someone listened to your words throughout the day, what would they hear most often? Faith or worries? Peace or frustration? Hope or disappointment? Your words reveal what fills your heart. Let this declaration guide you: "My heart is filled with truth. My words reflect life. What fills my heart will produce good fruit in my life." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
Welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell, and I'm so glad you are here. Word Fed Life is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Episode 2, Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks. I'm your host, Verlene Cromwell, and welcome to Word Fed Life, where words come alive. Here, we explore the power of God's word to shape what we believe, what we speak, and how we live. In our last episode, we talked about guarding the heart because life flows from within. Today, we are taking that one step deeper. We are looking at how the condition of the heart reveals itself through our words. Let's begin with Luke chapter 6, verse 45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bring it forth, that which is good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, bring it forth, that which is evil. For of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh. In other words, the mouth reveals what fills the heart. Speech is overflow. Sometimes, we think our words just slip out. But according to Jesus, our words are not accidental. They come from what fills the heart. If the heart is filled with peace, peaceful words flow. If the heart is filled with fear, fearful words follow. If the heart is filled with faith, faith-filled words follow. The mouth simply reveals what has been stored inside. Jesus described the heart as a treasure. That means every thought we entertain, every belief we hold, every truth we meditate on becomes part of what is stored within us. And when pressure comes, whatever is stored inside begins to flow out. That is why guarding the heart is so important. Because the heart becomes the source of our speech. Think about a moment when you were under pressure. Sometimes, in those moments, we say things we didn't plan to say. Why? Because pressure reveals what is stored inside. It brings to the surface what has been filling the heart. That's why spiritual growth is not just about controlling the tongue. It's about filling the heart with truth. When truth fills the heart, truth eventually fills the mouth. So take a moment to consider this. If someone listened to your words throughout the day, what would they hear most often? Faith or worries? Peace or frustration? Hope or disappointment? Your words reveal what fills your heart. Let's declare this together. My heart is filled with truth. My words reflect life. What fills my heart will produce good fruit in my life. Again. My heart is filled with truth. My words reflect life. What fills my heart will produce good fruit in my life. Thank you for joining me in Word Fed Life. I'm your host Ferlene Cromwell. Until next time, give words life. I am praising from your glory. I am expressing your glory throughout the earth. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Oh, glory, glory, glory to you. Lord, I magnify your name. And I glorify your name. What a wonder, what a wonder you are. You say I must rise and shine.
Episode 1

The Power of the Spoken Word

Proverbs 4:237 min 10s

In episode 1 of WordFed Life, Verlene Cromwell explores the foundational truth of the power of the spoken word. Anchored in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life," this episode delves into the profound connection between the heart and the words we speak. Life flows from the heart, not from circumstances, not from pressure, not other people. Life flows from the heart. Before a word leaves your mouth, it is shaped in your heart. Speech is overflow. You don't speak randomly, you speak from what fills you. If fear fills the heart, fearful language follows. If faith fills the heart, faith-filled words follow. If frustration fills the heart, sharp speech follows. The issue is not just the tongue. The issue is the heart. We often try to change our language without guarding what fills us. But scripture says, guard the heart, because that's where life begins. Your words are carriers. They carry belief, they carry agreement, they carry expectation. And what you consistently speak shapes what you align with. Not because words are magic, but because words reveal agreement. When your heart agrees with truth, your mouth releases life. And when your mouth consistently releases life, your life begins to align with that truth. So the real question is not, what am I saying? The real question is, what is filling my heart? Take a moment and consider this. What has been filling your heart lately? Is it peace? Is it anxiety? Is it faith? Is it frustration? And what have your words been producing? Have they been building or breaking? Have they been aligning with truth or reacting to pressure? Because what fills you will flow from you. If you want to change your speech, guard your heart. If you want to change your life, guard your heart. Let's declare this together: "I guard my heart. I align my voice with truth. I release words that produce life." Welcome to WordFed Life — where words come alive.

Read full transcript
The Power of the Spoken Word Welcome to WordFed Live where words come alive. I'm Verlene Cromwell and I'm so glad you are here. WordFed Live is a faith-centered podcast about the power of words and how what fills the heart shapes the life we experience. Because scripture teaches us something profound, life flows from within. This podcast exists to help you guard your heart, align your voice with truth, and release words that produce life. Today, in our very first episode, we are starting with the foundation, the power of the spoken word. Let's begin with Proverbs 4, verse 23. Let me read that again. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Life flows from the heart, not from circumstances, not from pressure, not other people. Life flows from the heart. Before a word leaves your mouth, it is shaped in your heart. Speech is overflow. You don't speak randomly, you speak from what fills you. If fear fills the heart, fearful language follows. If faith fills the heart, faith-filled words follow. If frustration fills the heart, sharp speech follows. The issue is not just the tongue. The issue is the heart. We often try to change our language without guarding what fills us. But scripture says, guard the heart, because that's where life begins. Your words are carriers. They carry belief, they carry agreement, they carry expectation. And what you consistently speak shapes what you align with. Not because words are magic, but because words reveal agreement. When your heart agrees with truth, your mouth releases life. And when your mouth consistently releases life, your life begins to align with that truth. So the real question is not, what am I saying? The real question is, what is filling my heart? Take a moment and consider this. What has been filling your heart lately? Is it peace? Is it anxiety? Is it faith? Is it frustration? And what have your words been producing? Have they been building or breaking? Have they been aligning with truth or reacting to pressure? Because what fills you will flow from you. If you want to change your speech, guard your heart. If you want to change your life, guard your heart. Let's declare this together. I guard my heart. I align my voice with truth. I release words that produce life. Again, I guard my heart. I align my voice with truth. I release words that produce life. This has been Word Fed Life, where words come alive. And I want you to remember something. Your words matter. They matter in your home. They matter in your relationships. They matter in the quiet moments when no one else is listening. What fills your heart will eventually shape your life. So be intentional. Guard your heart gently. Align your voice with truth. And allow every word you release to carry life. First to yourself, and then to the world around you. Thank you for spending this time with me. Until the next time. Live the word, and give words life. Stay tuned for our next episode.
Ministry Declaration

We declare that we are a new creation in Christ. We abide in Him and He in us. As we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so we walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him. We are being transformed into His image from glory to glory. Christ in us, the hope of glory.

2 Cor 5:17 · John 15:4–5 · Col 2:6–7 · 2 Cor 3:18 · Col 1:27
Scripture · KJV unless noted. WordFed Life is devotional content, not a substitute for professional medical, mental-health, legal, or financial counsel.