Death to Life podcast
A podcast that tells the stories of people that used to be one way, and now are completely different, and the thing that happened in between was Jesus.
Death to Life podcast
#198 New Beginnings: Embracing Abundance and Hope in 2025 With Beez
The episode explores the themes of renewal and transformation as Richard and Jean Bernard reflect on the significance of the New Year. They emphasize the importance of embracing one's new identity in Christ, moving beyond past burdens, and celebrating the potential for growth in the year ahead.
• Reflecting on personal New Year’s experiences and celebrations
• The emotional weight of Auld Lang Syne and other traditions
• Understanding the concept of being a new creation in Christ
• The impact of biblical teachings on personal transformation
• Emphasizing the importance of practical steps to live from renewal
• Encouragement to embrace the new identity in 2025
Revisit your identity in Christ, and step boldly into the new year!
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Yo, welcome to the Death to Life podcast. My name is Richard Young and we will be getting back to a normal kind of podcast vibe here next week. But it is New Year's and I brought my brother, jean Bernard, to talk a little bit about newness of life New Year's Eve. What does a typical New Year's eve look like for you bees?
Speaker 2:typically. Well, it's no longer typical because little ones here and yeah, we're gonna see what it looks like now, right? Yeah, but before it was a house party man like I'd either meet up with friends, um. But over the last couple of years, with me and karen, we've been going into the city. We've been going into, like, uh, watching fireworks. Uh, really, really fun. New years is when we go to lunar park. Now, lunar park is, uh, I guess, an amusement park in sydney oh yeah we've got tickets there.
Speaker 2:There's like music on the like, djs on the strip, um, and then there's all the rides are free until like midnight and stuff like that and so oh wow yeah, did you guys go like even last year, like last year you were still living this.
Speaker 1:We're going to the amusement park. It's new year's eve, kind of life you know.
Speaker 2:To be honest with you. Uh, I don't know if it's sleep deprivation. I don't remember what I did last year because I think there's like ebbs and flows.
Speaker 1:I used to go to all these parties and then I had the kids and so I'm just at home, posted up, and so for the last few years, um, I've been going to bed at like 10 and not even. And you guys, you're the first big city in the world to experience the new year. Yeah, yeah, I have not stayed up, but this year Nola is turning 12 and John John's going to be turning nine, and so I told Natalie I'm like we're going to be staying up and what I like to do, what I've been doing with Nola, is I love to watch, like feely movies like movies that have all the feels, because on New Year's Eve, I'm just thinking about oh man, you know, I'm just.
Speaker 1:I read something about ADHD the other day and it said that people with ADHD don't have feelings. They are feelings. And I was like, yeah, that's me, I don't have feelings are feelings. And I was like, yeah, that's me, I don't have feelings, I am a feeling. And so, uh, we're gonna be watching cast away, because cast away I don't know if you've seen that one it has all the feelings and then yeah, tom hanks yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And then casablanca, which I love it, and nola watches it with me. My wife won't watch it with me and we'll watch that and then we'll ring in the new year together. But I was thinking about New Year's Eve. I don't even know if this is a Christmas song or a New Year's. Auld Lang Syne, the song that they sing right when the ball drops. That song gives me all the feels and I just want to listen to it, like in a. It's a wonderful life when they, when they go from angels we have heard on I or I forget what song they sing into all Lang Syne. I'm always like let's go. Every time a bell rings and angel gets his wings, I'm super pumped. Do you feel that way about new year's happy, or you're? It's just fun for you?
Speaker 2:yeah, like, oh, man, I always. It seems like as soon as, like that countdown hits, I get a lump in my throat and I just start reflecting on, like the year, looking like. I'm looking everywhere. I'm looking back on the year that's happened, I'm looking forward to the year ahead, I'm looking up to God with a heart of gratitude and just thinking about it. Now I'm getting teary. Right, you're getting choked up now, yeah, and there's a movie that I watched as well and it's one of those. It was like one of those Valentine's, new Year's, but it was like a New Year's movie.
Speaker 1:And it was like a new year's movie and it's like an all-star cast and I think ashton kutcher's in there and, like, um, robert, is it called?
Speaker 2:new year's eve. I'm pretty sure it is. I think that's probably called. I've not seen it, but I know that song old, old anxiety when he sings that. That that really gets in the fields as well, because like there's different people from different where different places, um, and experiencing life differently, and when I watch that movie that's a good movie to watch as well, oh man, anytime I hear Auld Lang Syne it's like a dog whistle for me.
Speaker 1:I'm just like what? Someone's singing my song, what, what's up. But probably here in America the probably most famous New Year's Eve movie that has like this New Year's Eve scene is when Harry met Sally and the whole movie. They're actually talking about the movie Casablanca and they're they're they're watching it together. But it gets to this New Year's Eve party at the end and Harry meets Sally and he says this line to her and I was thinking about that in regards to what we're about to talk about. He says I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. New year's eve, new year's day, you know, if you're, if you have a membership to a gym, new year's january one, two and three, you're not going to be able to find a spot at a machine like it's going to be crazy.
Speaker 1:New year, new me. Everyone's got these new year's resolutions and I'm not mad at them, you know. For me I'm like keep you know, make it all the way through january, let's go um, keep going um. But it's this time to just kind of hey, there's a good chance to start over, and sure you can do that on December 29. You can do that on December 28. But there's just a feeling of man, new us, new year, new us, knew us. When you think about that in light of what scripture says about those in Christ that you want that life to start right away.
Speaker 2:How does that hit you, man? Oh man, it gives me hope, like that anticipated hope. The reason why is I'm going to say personally for me, there's a Bible passage that kind of speaks to me, especially like it's Romans 12, 2. It says don't conform to the patterns of these worlds, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and then you will know God's will for your life. He's good, pleasing and perfect will. Right, and what I like about the word renewing is like it's not your carrying baggage, like you know, because a lot of the times when it's New Year's for me, it's like well, what is the stuff that I need to carry into now, 2025? What is the baggage that I need, what are the burdens that I need to carry?
Speaker 2:Renewing means like for me I understand it as I understand that it's there it's not like I'm the same person but I have been changed. I have been. I'm not the same person in the same situation. I can change and be renewed into 2025. I'm not buckled down or I'm not locked in to having the same and introducing, like you know, having, like you know, the whole idea of closing one chapter, opening up another like that brings new perspective. For me personally, it brings a new perspective. It brings new attitude. It brings a new lens to see the world in, and that gives me hope. Does that make sense?
Speaker 1:For sure man Before Freedom. Was 2 Corinthians 5 a big chapter for you? I don't think I knew it existed. Was it big for you?
Speaker 2:It wasn't. It wasn't big, and even if I read it, I would have skimmed over it because it would have been one of those things where it's oh, that's nice, or that must be nice, you know, but it's not something I could live in and that's not truth for me and that's not really my circumstances. So let's just brush over that one. We'll read something else.
Speaker 1:We'll read Romans 7 and misinterpret that one. And now, bro, like I can't hardly get through a Bible study or an internet church without quoting it, I probably quote that verse more, or or verse 17 through 21, more than even Romans 6 or Romans 5. And as I'm thinking about it tonight, it says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, Behold, the new has come.
Speaker 1:So, as you're considering this new year, coming up to the listener, what Paul is talking about is the old you, the flesh, the one who was a slave to sin, like your sinful nature, All of these things. That's what he's talking about that that has died and the new has come. He's imploring us to believe this. And then the verse you're talking about renewing our mind to that. One thing that God can't really do is he can't change our mind for us. He does this thing, presents it to us, and he's like this is what's happened. We actually have to change our mind to start thinking in the new man and stop thinking in the way we used to think when we were trapped in sin. Right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, 100%. And I think that's what is exciting for me, because I've been a product of what I've been, my environment or what I've been conditioned to believe, meaning, well, if this circumstance in your life presents itself, this is how you have to deal with it, right? But, man, just the last couple of months and I'm so glad that I'm I'm I've been journeying it in the last couple of months, because it's like a springboard into 2025. And it's just really celebrating the idea that I'm a citizen of the kingdom. There's Bible passages that are just bringing to life the idea that I don't have to be bogged down or a slave to my circumstances and allowing those circumstances to dictate how I feel. Because that's like you know, you said you know, um, people with adhd, they are feelings.
Speaker 2:I, I don't, I don't believe I have adhd no, no, no, no, no way, no way but, um, I feel I got my heart on my sleeve, my heart's everywhere, like I'm just, like I'm constantly feeling right. But I noticed that old bees used to live at the mercy of circumstance, of other people. But this year, the way that I'm seeing it, it's like God is saying I've pulled you out of the circumstance and I've taken you and I've seated you in heavenly places. It's like Ephesians 2.6, and it says we are seated in heavenly places because we are united with Christ. It's so beautiful because now God has lifted me out of my circumstance and he said where heavenly places are? Because the kingdom of god is here.
Speaker 2:Your attitude is new, like your heart is new. Everything, the way that you um, the way that you approach the circumstance can also be new. You're not a slave to the conditioning of how it used to be bees, you are new. So the way that you work it, the way that you deal with it, the way that you um celebrate Christ in it is brand new and that's such a hopeful thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is where we get real practical with this stuff how you live as a new person like you put off the old, which pretty much means stop operating the way you used to operate, like if feelings used to be Lord. Jesus is Lord, so let Jesus be Lord. So the way you used to operate, by either feelings or by sin leading the way, or your body leading the way, whatever your body wanted, we put off the old and then we put on the new. And what is the new? The new is well, jesus is actually Lord, and I'll give you an example today.
Speaker 1:Today, my wife asked me to do something and I got all like like annoyed to annoy me. Jesus is not actually Lord. She is actually Lord. She is determining how I feel, she. And so, in real time, as I was experiencing the annoyance, I was like, oh man, she's Lord right now. No, jesus is Lord. Jesus determines how I act, jesus determines how I live. Jesus, like the purpose of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a clean conscience. Jesus is lord. And I just stopped myself and I was like, yo, my bad, I don't need to be getting annoyed right now, my bad. And she was like, oh yeah, you're good, and so that's like practical. Putting off the old and putting on the new is really letting jesus be Lord of your life. He determines how you act.
Speaker 2:It's funny because I'm taking a new approach to circumstances, because another thing because I have a beating heart. I'm also. I would call a lot of people when I was growing up I was like, beez, why are you so sensitive man? And so I would be triggered easy, I'd get offended easy, right. And so what I love this is the passage that's found in Colossians, chapter two, verse nine to 11, right when it says the fullness of the deity was made man and we have been united with him. Right, like we are full, we lack nothing, and that's the thing that I believe that I was. That would set me off where it's like something has happened to me that makes me think or feel that I'm lacking something or I'm living in a deficit, whether it's, um, I need, I feel, um, I feel misunderstood. So I need you to understand me, because then I will feel validated, right, I need you to validate me, and if you don't, I'll take offense to that and I'll feel that you're not an ally, you're actually what's the opposite to ally An enemy.
Speaker 1:An opposition. Yeah, Exactly.
Speaker 2:But then it won't be about that person, it will be about me and what I'm lacking. But if God is saying, hey, I've made you full, you are enough. Actually you're living in the abundance. And in John 4, I think it's 14 to 17, god explains to the woman of the world that it's like in you, you will be in a well that springs over and bubbles over. And if I truly believe that I'm united with Christ and I'm living not only in the satisfactory or the enough, but I'm living in the overflow, then in all areas of my life I don't need to believe that I'm in lack and so in the little things, right, I'm going to give you an example and hopefully you can make some sense of this.
Speaker 2:But, like a lot of times in my journey, when circumstances would come, I would take God and try and fit Him in the box of the circumstance and my prayers and the way that I would approach God, the way that I would approach scripture, would be, in a way to say God, help me in this space, right?
Speaker 2:But now God is saying bees and I would say, in regards to newness, god has given me a new approach to live life. And he said bees, don't take me out of heaven and try and fit me in this kind of worldly circumstance. Because I've empowered you to come out of the worldly circumstance, because you're seated in heaven and because he's empowered me with that, by the power of the spirit, I'm allowed to look at myself different. I'm allowed to look at the situation different. I'm allowed to claim you know the Bible passage where it says we no longer consider anyone according to the flesh. I can actually claim that as truth, because now I know I'm enough, god, I'm living in the abundance, because I'm united with Christ. Right, I am more than enough. He's given me more than enough so I can approach the situation knowing that no one has taken anything from me.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, man, that's a powerful thought. I guess I'll say this as we wrap this up man, if you had one or two thoughts for people listening to this going into the new year, what's your encouragement to them, as there's this kind of new start, a break in the calendar we're starting over, what would you offer them? And then I'll say what I would want to offer them.
Speaker 2:I would, oh man. My word of encouragement for them is to believe when God says that you are new, that you are new and live in agreement to that. Celebrate that, and the more you discover that and live in accordance to that, the more you will see that you're living in abundance, the more that you will see that you're not living in lack, the more you will see that you can celebrate everything God has blessed you with in the heavenly realms. He seated you in the heavenly realms. You can live there right, and so he's empowered you to live from that position where you're not in lack, that you don't need to live in fear. You don't have to live in worry. You don't have to live in doubt. You don't have to live in shame, you don't have to live in guilt, because you are united with Christ. You live in love and, yeah, be encouraged by that.
Speaker 2:When he says, you know he's put to death everything, leave that in 2024. Step boldly into 2025, knowing that Galatians 2, verse 20, I've been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, in the life that I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me Walk boldly into 2024 with that.
Speaker 1:Man, the whole time you were talking, I was just thinking Galatians 2.20. That's the verse, man. And so, yeah, I guess that my offer, my encouragement to them, is pretty much the same thing. I am in Christ. Old me is dead. New me is here. Risen with him. Let not sin. Therefore, reign in my mortal body to make me obey its passions. Don't present my members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present myself to God as one who's gone from death to life. So, if you're within the sound of my voice, you're hearing this thing. Just say out loud right now, I'm new. Old me is dead. Right now I'm new. Old me is dead. I've been crucified with Christ. It's no longer I who live, and we just go into 2025.
Speaker 1:Can you believe we're in the middle of this decade? It's kind of crazy. It started with the worldwide pandemic and now we're right here in the middle. But it's good news. And 2025 is going to be more love, more gospel, more lives changed and uh, whoever's listening, you're going to be a part of it. You are his hands and feet. People are going to see your good works and glorify your father in heaven how's that sound?
Speaker 2:is that fair enough beast? Hey, man, I'll tell you, like being in Australia, we're living in the future, right, and living in the newness. The future looks good, man, it looks good. We're already there and, yeah, it looks good.
Speaker 1:Man, I can't wait. I can't wait to catch up to where you guys are at. Hey B's, thanks for coming on. You're a blessing to us. 2024 had blessings for you. 2025 is going to be that much more right. Amen, amen, man, amen, all right. Y'all Love, y'all, appreciate y'all. We'll be back to our regular scheduled programming next week. Until then, bye, happy New Year, bye.