Episodios

  • Seeking Clarity: Distinguishing Between God - Reddit Replies

    Seeking Clarity: Distinguishing Between God - Reddit Replies
    Jul 10 2024

    Ever wonder if that nagging feeling or booming voice is God speaking, or just your own thoughts?

    You're not alone! In this episode of Reddit Replies, Rico dives into deciphering the difference between divine messages and your inner monologue.

    We explore a real Reddit post where someone struggles to tell if their anxieties are God's voice or their own. Rico shares his personal experiences, including a time he questioned a seemingly prophetic message, and how he uses scripture and prayer to navigate these situations.

    Learn practical steps to discern God's voice:

    • Scripture Check: Does the message align with the Bible?
    • Seek Guidance: Talk to trusted mentors and leaders in your faith.
    • Prayer and Reflection: Give yourself time to pray, fast, and truly listen.

    This episode equips you to:

    • Recognize God's unique ways of communicating.
    • Avoid mistaking your own thoughts for divine messages.
    • Gain confidence in discerning God's will for your life.

    Don't miss out! Like, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone seeking clarity on hearing from God. For even more content, check out Reddit Replies on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms!
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    16 m
  • Finding Hope After Loss: Did My Son Go to Heaven?

    Finding Hope After Loss: Did My Son Go to Heaven?
    May 14 2024
    Rico Lane [00:00:00]: Hey. How y'all doing? I'm Rico, and this is another episode of Reddit Replies. I want you to do me a favor. Imagine the person you love the most, someone you truly care about, whether that's a parent, a child, just a loved one. Right? They're caught up in a fatal mistake or should I say a sin that cost them their life. Now as a Christian, you can't help but wonder what happens to them after they pass away. Right? You can't help but wonder that if God's gonna judge them, are they in heaven or hell because the last thing they did was a sin that caused them to die? Right? And it's not a theoretical question either. It's a real story that comes from a grieving mother. Rico Lane [00:00:43]: And so as I dive into this particular topic, like I said, I'm gonna operate with a little bit of grace. I'm gonna operate with a little bit of compassion. And I will ask that if you decide to comment in the comment section to do the same. But here's the story that is shared with us. Reddit User [00:01:00]: My 17 year old passed away 6 months ago. He was a very spiritual child and spent so much of his time in church, deeply worshiping Jesus. Not just because others were doing it. But because he truly loved Jesus and wanted to please him. He struggled with drugs and alcohol and had constant guilt and shame because of it. It tore him in 2 and deeply afflicted him that even though he wanted to do good, he kept messing up. He was doing so good after a rough year, he had a job, car, great relationships with his family and was a great big brother to his 2 siblings. Unfortunately, a friend gave him a pill and told him it was a Percocet. Reddit User [00:01:49]: He Googled it and clearly debated it the night of his death. We hung out in the kitchen laughing and joking. He hugged me and told me he loved me. We went to bed. But before he got into his bed, he had apparently tried a piece of that pill, leaving the rest on his dresser. He covered up and laid there the way he slept every night. His soul left his body that night. What I need to know is, did my son go to heaven? Did he go to hell because he was old enough to decide good versus evil? Was believing in Jesus and wanting to please him enough, given that he died in sin? It's tearing my soul apart. Reddit User [00:02:36]: He and I were closer that anyone. He was truly my best friend and my soul feels lost in this universe wondering what happened when he left his body. Did he go to heaven because he was 17? Can somebody tell me something? Rico Lane [00:02:53]: Man, I'm not gonna lie. This post kinda break my heart, man. I just can't even imagine what this mom is going through. Losing a loved one, especially a child, is a sorrow that words cannot describe right. And there's so much going on in here. So much I want to comment on. She has, you know, many difficult questions about what happened to her son after his soul left his body. It brings up questions about what happens when we leave this side of eternity. Rico Lane [00:03:22]: Right? And what does that judgment look like? She even asked that his belief in Jesus, was that enough? Because he died in sin Reddit ultimately shapes the way we look at sin. It ultimately shapes the way what we actually believe and what Christ did. Do we believe that Christ's sacrifice was enough for us? Do we believe that it's a gift that that that we can only accept, that we cannot earn? And so does one sin that happens right before you die, erase what Jesus did? These are all valid questions. And I can tell you too that, this is kind of the kind of stuff we wanna be thinking about as Christians before our loved ones pass away. This is why it's important to share the gospel. But, again, I wanna take this opportunity to, hopefully, help out by giving some words of truth from god's word. Because in situations like this, we got we can't really lean on our own understanding. We can't lean on our emotions because our emotions gonna veer us away. Rico Lane [00:04:27]: You know, we gotta go on what the word of God says and that's all we can go off of. So first, I wanna go to first John chapter 1 verse 9. Right? That particular passage assures us that if we confess our sins that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. That's from all wickedness. Now just because somebody's going through certain things doesn't invalidate this. Right? You see, your son's love for Jesus, his worship, and his struggles show a heart that knew his savior and wanted to please his savior. I actually heard a pastor say something like, know, God forgives our sins but he blesses obedience. Right? And also too when you think about that atonement and what Jesus' blood did, they say it makes it like it never happened. Rico Lane [00:05:23]: So when God judges us, he judges us on what Jesus did and not what we did. Right? The mistakes he made, the battles he fought, they don't erase his faith or God's grace. Right? Making ...
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    13 m
  • I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pray for my enemies!

    I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pray for my enemies!
    Apr 18 2024
    Rico Lane [00:00:00]: What's happening everybody? It's your boy, Rico, coming at you with another episode of Reddit Replies. Today, we're gonna be diving into a topic that touches the heart of our faith right as Christians. That is praying for those who may be the hardest people to pray for And I'm talking about our enemies. So I'm gonna roll right into the post that's shared with us today from this believer who's actually wrestling with this very challenge. Let's see what they got to say. Reddit User [00:00:26]: I don't think I'll ever be able to pray for my enemies. Does that make me a fake Christian? People are awful. I do not want these people in heaven with us. Does this make me a fake Christian or just a weak imperfect human? Thanks. Praise King Jesus. Rico Lane [00:00:41]: Does it make you a fake Christian or a weak and perfect person? Well, first off, the fact that you are either asking this question, the fact that you're dealing with this shows that you take your Christian walk serious. Right? It shows that, this is not something you're taking lightly, and I gotta commend you for being completely honest about it. But the reality of it is is being a Christian is not about being perfect. It's about following Christ's example. It's about believing in our hearts that he died for our sins. It's about accepting him as our lord and savior. And so as our lord, we're willing to do his will even when it's tough. So I wanna unpack what you got going on here with a little bit of guidance and help from the word. Rico Lane [00:01:20]: So first off, I wanna go to Romans chapter 10 verse 9. It tells us straight up, if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. So if you have done that, then you're not a fake Christian. I it's not up for me to determine whether you're a fake Christian or not. Only God can judge your heart. Right? And it's all about believing in your heart. And if you're wrestling with these feelings towards your enemies, it's honestly a sign of something going on in your heart. Right? And you probably need to dig a little deeper on what it means to believe in your heart. Rico Lane [00:01:58]: And see, for me, believing in your heart is accepting that Christ's way is better than your way, accepting that he knows more than what you know, accepting that you're gonna follow his will. And that includes for us to love and pray for our enemies. Pray for those that we'd rather not pray for. Right? And so then I want to go to 1st John chapter 4 verse 20, right? It says, if someone says I love God but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar. For if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command. Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. Now check this out. If your enemy, somebody you don't like, somebody you feel are bad, right, they if they accepted Christ, then now they're your brother and sister. Rico Lane [00:02:46]: And that may be a tough pill to swallow, but that's just the truth. And we are called to love them. We are called to pray for them. We are called to, let them know when they're doing wrong with grace and truth. That's what we're called to do. It is not up to us to determine who gets to go to heaven and who doesn't or who deserve heaven and who doesn't because if that's the case, none of us deserve it. And I'll be honest with you, not to be harsh, but you sound like the story of the unforgiving debtor. So in Matthew 18 verse 21, right, it's about this guy who got his massive debt wiped clean by the king because he begged and pleaded with the king and the king had mercy on him and the king forgave him of his debt. Rico Lane [00:03:26]: But then he turned around and choked out this dude who owed him way less money. And the king finds out this and he's like, you should have had mercy just like I did for you. Right? And see, in this parable, we we often read that and be like, how could this guy not forgive this person with a little debt when he literally just got forgiven of a huge debt? And that's what we do every day with God. God has forgiven us a debt that we could have never ever paid back. So then who are we to not forgive other people? Who are we not to want to pray for other people? Who are we to determine who should go to heaven and who shouldn't? Right? I mean, a lot of times people will spend 1,000 of dollars on weddings, right? And honeymoons and get married and then they'll say something like, well, if this person did this, fill in the blank, then I'm done. It's over. When the marriage is supposed to be forever, right? And or if this person did this, I can't forgive them or whatever the case may be. And if that whatever that thing is, whatever that line is, if so and so did x, well, then God should have to forgive me. Rico Lane [00:04:29]: You need to be questioning your heart in that situation. See, this parable that Jesus ...
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    8 m
  • Seeing Beyond School Stress! How to balance faith, responsibilities, and school burnout! Reddit Replies

    Seeing Beyond School Stress! How to balance faith, responsibilities, and school burnout! Reddit Replies
    Apr 3 2024
    Rico Lane: Hey. What's going on everybody? I am Rico bringing you another heartfelt edition of Reddit Replies. Man, today we're touching on the topic that I don't care who you are. I know it's gonna hit home for you. I'm talking stress. I'm talking dealing with school, a bunch of different tasks, balancing life and trying to keep the faith in the mix of all the things that are thrown at us. We got a story from a young soul out there who's feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders y'all. So let's go ahead and lean in, listen, and share your comments in the comment section. Rico Lane: Holler back at your boy and we're gonna see if we can shed some light at the end of the tunnel for this young lady. Let's go ahead and check out her Reddit post. Reddit User: School is so draining right now. I'm doing math homework and I'm crying because not only do I not know how to do it, but I have an essay to do, research, and so much more homework. I can't handle it. It's too much for me. I can never get a break and I always feel stressed. How am I supposed to do my best when I can't even find the energy to pray or read my bible? School is always gonna be here and it's not like I can just be like, nah, I'm just gonna quit school. I can't do that. But it's like, why do I have to do this? Why do I have to do all this work? Why do I have to keep going? I don't want to. Reddit User: I really, truly don't. I don't see any end to this because guess what? I have to do this for my senior year and then when I go to college. I don't wanna study and stress out until I die. I don't wanna live a life like this. I really do try to balance it but I just can't. How can I pray, read my bible, get enough sleep, and do all my homework all in one day? I know god knows my future but am I just to not try? I don't even know what I wanna be when I graduate. I don't know anything. I'm just doing stuff that everyone else is doing to seem impressive to colleges. Reddit User: I want God to help me because I can't do this anymore. The work never stops coming. I listen to Christian music when I get on my bus to school, but it doesn't calm me down or take away my emptiness, dread, and terrible fear that I'll never be someone. Rico Lane: Man, sister, first off, you gotta breathe, man. You're feeling they're valid. Don't get me wrong. And that amount of stress you're feeling, it is real. Right? But it's also temporary. Nothing lasts forever. What you're sowing right now are those seas of hard work, of discipline. And trust me, they're gonna bloom into something beyond what you can see at this moment. Rico Lane: I get it. I've been there. School can be stressful. Life can be stressful. Trust me. It doesn't get that much easier when you get older, but you learn how to deal with it. You You learn how to overcome. It's just a test. Rico Lane: It's only a chapter in your bigger story. Nothing lasts forever. It is a temper rarely season. Trust me. Matter of fact, Galatians chapter 6 verses 7 through 9 tell us, don't be misled. You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. Rico Lane: But those who live to please the spirit will harvest everlasting life from the spirit. You see right now your flesh wants you to quit. Your flesh wants you to give in. Your flesh wants you to stop believing in God and trusting that God gonna take care of you. But he got you. You got a responsibility right now to complete school. That's what you should be stewarding over, right? You're learning lessons that's going to help prepare you to be more successful in life. That is currently your role and that's what God has for you. Rico Lane: And no matter what, you need to do it as if you're doing it for the Lord. Because ultimately that's your master and that's who you're doing it for. So go hard at it. Crush it. Trust me. You got this. No matter what, don't get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, you will reap a harvest of blessing if if you don't give up. Rico Lane: Now right now, it might seem like all you plant are tears and frustration, but trust me, you're also planting resilience. You're planting knowledge. You're planting, dedication. You're planting faith, and the harvest is coming soon. Right? All the dedication you putting in, all the studying, all the late nights, all preparing you for a future filled with success, stability, and satisfaction. If you do what is hard now, your life will be easy. But if you do what is easy now, later on your life's gonna be hard. I believe that was Les Brown who said that you just gotta give your seeds time to grow, sister. Rico Lane: In fact, you can actually, learn a lesson from the apostle Paul. Now if anybody, if anybody had the right to be stressed and want to give up, it was Paul. This brother was beaten. He was ran out of city. He was put in prison and he still said the ...
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    11 m
  • Wild Salon Story: Client From Hell and Navigating Professionalism with Grace

    Wild Salon Story: Client From Hell and Navigating Professionalism with Grace
    Apr 3 2024

    Welcome to another captivating episode of "Reddit Replies" with your host, Rico Lane, where we unravel the threads of human experience, available on both YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. Today's narrative is a rollercoaster ride through work drama, life's unexpected turns, and the resilience we summon in the face of adversity.

    Picture this: a salon chair becomes the stage for a tale brimming with twists and turns, shared by a stylist navigating through a client's whirlwind of demands and revelations.

    As our stylist embarks on a routine haircut turned color dilemma, they uncover a tangled web of deceit, with their client entangled in a secret affair. Despite the mounting frustration, our protagonist maintains their composure, displaying a commendable level of professionalism amidst the chaos.

    But amidst the drama lies a poignant reminder: we never truly know the battles others are fighting. While the client's actions may raise eyebrows, it prompts reflection on empathy and understanding.

    Drawing from biblical wisdom, we're reminded of the importance of honoring commitments and choosing our words with care. Through grace and forgiveness, our stylist embodies a powerful lesson in resilience and compassion.

    Life's curveballs are inevitable, but it's our response that defines us. Join the conversation as we explore moments of resilience and grace in the face of adversity. Share your own stories and insights in the comments below, and let's learn from each other's experiences.

    Don't miss out on future episodes of "Reddit Replies" for more thought-provoking discussions and inspiring tales. Hit that like, share, and subscribe button to stay connected. Until next time, Peace!
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    9 m
  • Workplace Drama! I lost my scholarship for leaving 40 minutes early! Reddit Replies

    Workplace Drama! I lost my scholarship for leaving 40 minutes early! Reddit Replies
    Mar 18 2024

    Welcome back to ‘Reddit Replies’ with Rico Lane, your guide through the intricacies of personal development and authentic living, available both on YouTube and as a podcast. In today’s episode, we delve into Du Commercial 499’s compelling narrative at Wegmans, a journey marked by determination, pivotal decisions, and the pursuit of genuine self-expression. We navigate from their high school days to their collegiate growth, touching on themes of integrity, hard choices, and the essence of personal evolution that resonates deeply with us all.

    Join the dialogue! Have you faced moments that tested your resolve or made you question your path? Share your stories and wisdom in the comments. Your contributions foster a richer, more supportive community.

    If Du Commercial 499’s journey strikes a chord with you, please support our mission of sharing authentic stories by liking, sharing, and subscribing. Follow ‘Reddit Replies’ for more episodes that inspire, challenge, and connect us, whether you prefer YouTube visuals or the podcast experience.
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    7 m
  • CHRISTIANITY OR CULT? A TEEN'S STRUGGLE WITH STRICT PARENTAL RULES

    CHRISTIANITY OR CULT? A TEEN'S STRUGGLE WITH STRICT PARENTAL RULES
    Mar 13 2024

    Welcome back to ‘Reddit Replies’ with your host, Rico Lane—available both on YouTube and as a podcast. Today, we're diving into a story that navigates the delicate balance between family expectations, personal beliefs, and the quest for freedom. We spotlight a Reddit user's journey, wrestling with their family's strong faith while seeking their own identity. With Rico’s blend of empathy and spiritual insights, we unpack these complex emotions, shining a light of hope.

    Join the conversation! Ever grappled with the clash between your family's beliefs and your own path? Share your experiences and insights in the comments. Your input is invaluable, enriching our community with support and understanding.

    If this episode resonates with you, please show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing. Remember, you can follow ‘Reddit Replies’ on YouTube or tune into our podcast.

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    10 m
  • Parenting Dilemma: Should I Punish My Son for Hospitalizing a Racist Bully?

    Parenting Dilemma: Should I Punish My Son for Hospitalizing a Racist Bully?
    Mar 4 2024

    Explore This Moral Dilemma on 'Reddit Replies'

    Step into a world of moral dilemmas with 'Reddit Replies,' an audio journey that brings to the forefront the intricate balance between justice, faith, and the battle against racism. This compelling episode navigates through a school incident that spirals into profound consequences, offering listeners a chance to reflect on the complexities of responding to hate. With guidance from Christian scriptures and Rico Lane's thoughtful insights, this isn't just another recounting of events—it's an in-depth exploration into the essence of justice and faith in today's society.

    Join the Conversation

    Your voice is crucial as we delve into these challenging topics, discussing the fine line between standing up for what's right and adhering to our faith principles. Share your thoughts and perspectives, and become a vital part of this important dialogue.

    Engage and Subscribe

    Engage with us by sharing your insights, subscribing to our podcast, and becoming part of a community dedicated to understanding and addressing societal issues with empathy and compassion.

    Visual Experience on YouTube

    For those who prefer a visual experience, this episode is also available on the Blessedtimony YouTube Channel. Dive deeper into 'Reddit Replies' for a journey filled with insight and understanding.
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    7 m