S2 Ep. 1: “It’s Not About Me?” — Dying to Self Without Losing Yourself

Allen and Stacy Jo explore the biblical call to die to self while still embracing the unique personality God designed in you. Surrendering to God’s plan isn’t about erasing your identity—it’s about aligning it with His purpose. Through personal stories, Scripture, and a touch of humor, they unpack how to serve from love instead of ego.

✅ In This Episode You’ll Discover:
✅ Why walking in the Spirit is more life-giving than living by the flesh (Romans 8:6, Galatians 2:20)
✅ How to set healthy boundaries like Jesus—saying “no” without guilt
✅ Ways to avoid the ditches of selfishness and burnout by rooting your identity in Christ
✅ How to serve from overflow rather than obligation
✅ The secret to letting love lead—no bragging, arrogance, or scorekeeping (1 Corinthians 13)

📖 Key Scriptures: Romans 8:6 • Galatians 2:20 • 1 Corinthians 13 • Matthew 16:24 • John 13:14–15

✨ Practical Takeaways:
✨ Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily schedule and decisions
✨ Check your motives—serve from a place of love, not performance
✨ Keep your boundaries firm, your heart soft, and your eyes fixed on Jesus

The truth is simple: dying to self doesn’t erase who you are—it makes you a clearer reflection of Christ to the world.

Transcript

0:01

Are you ready to build a life, business and legacy that truly lasts? Welcome to Faithfully Invested with Allen and Stacy Jo Thorne, where Faith meets real talk. Biblical wisdom meets everyday life and leadership meets laughter. Together we will uncover God's blueprint for leadership, marriage, and mission, helping faith-driven leaders invest in what matters most. Each episode, we explore biblical wisdom, have real conversations, and of course, have some fun along the way because let's be real. Walking in faith is an adventure. It sure is. So pull up a seat, grab your coffee or your sweet tea, and join us as we steward our callings with intention, because when we invest in his kingdom, he brings the increase. Hey, great day friends, and welcome back to Faithfully Invested. I am Allen. And I'm Stacy Jo And today we're diving into something that, once again might step on a few toes, but in the best way possible. Right? I'm gonna, I'm gonna put that disclaimer in there. In the best way possible. In the best way possible. This one, we're calling, it's not about me. Mm. Dying to self. Without losing yourself. Yeah. Uh, emphasis on the question mark. It's not about me. Right. As if to say, what do you mean it's not about me. Anyway, we're called, as Christians, we're called to, to die or die to self. Right. And so, yeah. Anyway, we, you know, if we're honest. We are. Yeah. If we, we are. I find it funny that some, sometimes people start with that. Well, if I'm honest, I was like, well, I, I certainly hope so, you know, but seriously, if we're, if we're honest. If we're honest, and if, if you're honest, we've all had moments where we've been serving, but secretly keeping score, uh, seriously. And our, and our flesh, it's easy. To get bound up in the nonsensical, look what I can do thing. Uhhuh. How about like, you know, like maybe blessing or doing something nice for someone and then. Blessing them again and again and again by reminding them 14 times about what you did. I mean, we've either all been that person or known that person, right? Oh man. I mean, man, can you think of a situation? I can't, I'm trying to get away from that person because that's not annoying or nothing, right? Yeah. Right. It's, uh, but uh. But that's definitely not how, uh, who we're called to be as his kingdom servant. No. So let's talk about what it means to, to serve like Jesus without losing who God made you to be. Yeah. Okay. But I. I wanna just set the, the story, the record, straight first. Okay. Dying. She's good at doing that. I, I am. Because dying to self doesn't mean erasing your God-given personality though. No, no, no it doesn't. But it is, it is biblical.'cause we, we walk and, uh, what? To really simplify it, uh, Paul writes in, in Romans eight, to, to live by the flesh, which is mm-hmm. Is living by the world's ways, living by our flesh, living outside of Christ. To live by the flesh is death, but to, to walk in the spirit. To live in the spirit is life in peace. Right. So, and that's a, and that, and along that way to live by the spirit, to be convicted by the spirit, to be in Christ and know that there's no condemnation where, uh, in Jesus. Uh, uh, earlier in the go in the gospel account says, if any of you are to follow me, if you want to follow me, you must deny yourself. Right. Pick up your cross and follow me. Yeah. Yeah. So that's, so it's, it's a, it's a process. Yeah. But it causes some serious consideration on how the world around us has skewed our God intended personality and identity, and. How we get back to his intended center point so that our servant's heart can. Literally emulate humility in Christ rather than pompous, self inflated pride. Right? You gotta be, you gotta watch out for that pompous, self-inflating pride thing. You could call that arrogance as well. Arrogance, yeah. Yeah. I mean, Galatians two 20 says, like you said, I've been crucified. Uh, I guess you didn't say that one yet. I didn't hit Yeah, but you didn't get there yet. But I've been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Right. And that's about surrender, not self erasure. Yeah. If that's a word. I don't know. I guess it's a word. It's definitely a word. It's good, you know, self erasure. Self erasure, yeah. Word. But it may be about giving something up that you may really enjoy. Yeah. But isn't necessarily the season that you're in and. Uh, for me, I just recently realized this because as I was performing on the weekends with a local band for many years mm-hmm. I really loved doing it. Right. I loved it, but God showed me that it was time to put it down because he had something else for me. Right. And I struggled with that. I struggled with that for a while before I actually surrendered it. Yeah. To him and gave into his plan because, you know, we talked in last season, in the very last episode about, you know, his plan and I had to surrender that to his plan. I knew he was telling me that that season was over and it was time to move on, and it was hard. Yeah, I had to give it up and it wasn't that I necessarily wanted to, but I wasn't finding the joy in it anymore. Right. Either he was he He was closing the door. He was because he was opening Yeah. A different door. It was time. Yeah. It was time to move on. And I have, um. I believe that the, the largest part of, of dying yourself is, is not just being more interested in God's master plan, but submitting right to his plan over my own. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. You know, he, uh, he told us all through Isaiah that his thoughts and his ways are higher and greater than our own. Um, so why. This. And, uh, this is not a hypothetical question, why, as believers would we not want to submit to his higher and greater plan for us? Yeah, that's good. And, and it's not about becoming a robotic servant with no need for boundaries. I mean, absolutely not Jesus washed feet. Yeah. I mean, he is the best example of a servant leader to ever walk this earth. Hmm. But. He also snuck away for naps and time with his Heavenly Father in prayer. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I know what you're thinking about right now. Ah, yeah. Naps. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Hey, you know, naps are, I like naps. I know you do. You know, uh, I know you do. You know when the, the best time for prayer is and when? Right before a nice nap. That's true, true story. I like what one, and I mentioned this last episode as well. I like what one of my favorite preachers said some time ago that, uh, he said that sometimes the most Christian thing that, that I can do is get away and take a nap, a prayerful nap. Increase mood and productivity. Naps is good, baby. All right. I'm telling you, naps is good. Well, you're digressing. I, yeah, I do. I, I I like naps. What? It's okay. Anyway, I digress. And, uh, yes. Uh, proper boundaries are, are biblical. Jesus, Jesus said no to some. You know, he, uh, he knew his identity and he knew his mission, uh, was only to do what the father said. And, uh, we see just one example in John six I. When he fed well over, uh, 5,000, the, the text says 5,000 men and mm-hmm. But there was, there was women and children there too. Mm-hmm. So well over, uh, 5,000, uh, uh, he fed over, well, five with some kids. Sack lunch, man. He had, uh, five loaves and two fishes. His mom was like, I said that for you. Can I, I've often thought,'cause you know, I've, I listened to other podcasts and, and, uh, and I watched, we, we, we really appreciate what Dallas has done with the chosen and, uh, but I often wonder, uh, I what this kid thought when, when the disciples come up to her and said, Hey man. Gimme your lunch. I need that lunch. The savior needs your lunch. But, uh, the, I mean, the kid didn't even get an honorable mention. Right. But anyway, you know, but, uh, so the, but the people, this, this was an ama. Uh, I mean all, all laughter aside, all, all joking aside, all, uh, the people were amazed and, and the word says that, uh. They were amazed at what Jesus had done here with, with such a small thing. He fed'em and they had, they had food left over and the people were amazed and it said that Jesus perceived that the people intended to take him by force and make him a king. Mm. But he knew that that wasn't his mission, right? Yeah. He, he, he, he knew that his mission was spiritual, not political. Mm. Uh, and so he withdrew to the mountain again to be alone by himself. Um. In doing so, he was saying no to the people. His, he, sometimes you gotta say no. Uh, when we know our calling, when we understand our identity, and we were able to say no. So, but Jesus was doing this. He was saying no to the people as he kept the Father's plan. He stayed in step with the Father's plan. Uh, and you know, it doesn't say so in, in John's text, but um, but when Jesus went up to the mountain, I bet that he prayed. And then I think you might have taken a nap. What do you think about that, Ben? You're back to the naps. Hey, I think you need to go take a nap. But I mean, for sure he prayed and, and I don't know, maybe he ma, he napped too. I don't maybe know for sure not mentioned. But you said that Jesus, I wanna go back to you said that Jesus said No, and that's so good because I just want you all to know that No. Is a complete sentence. It is. If it's not part of God's plan for you, yeah, it is definitely okay to say no. Yeah. Even when you're being pressured, it's okay to step away, draw that boundary line and say, no, this is not what God has for me at this time. Yeah. It's not easy in the moment, like I already said. It took me a while to get to that point, but I assure you that it will be totally worth it. Yeah. Because what the Lord has done with me since, uh, and it's been a year, it's been a year over a year, a year and a half now. Yeah. Well, since I walked away from that. Yeah. And what the Lord has done is. Incredible. So I can assure you it's worth it. Say no if you need to say no. Right, right. It's uh, our. Our, his plan is fulfilled through us by obedience. Right. We mentioned that last, and we, and we just mentioned it now, it's worth, worth mentioning. He, he definitely blesses our obedience. Yeah. And he's certainly blessed, blessed yours. When, when he closes one door and we're obedient to that, he will, he will mm-hmm. Kick open the next door with both feet. Yeah, he will. Yeah. So. So, all right. Uh, so we gotta, we gotta find a secure center point between two dangerous ditches. Mm-hmm. One is selfishness. Whew. Living from the flesh or shining the light on. Me, me, me. Right. It's all about me. Well, that's what we're saying here. It's, it's not mm-hmm. It's not all about me. Uh, and the other is, is losing yourself to the point that you're, you're just. Becoming a burned out people pleaser, right? Uh, with a fake smile and an absence of real love. Four people in the mission. Yeah. So we gotta, first and foremost, we gotta, we gotta follow his plan, we gotta lead in love. Mm-hmm. If, if we're, if we're losing love along the way, then that's probably not his plan. And, and, or we might, or we might need to, um, to check ourselves and our, or check ourselves with them in our quiet time and ask them, you know, where, where's that? Why am I not able to lead and love in this area? Where, where's what's, what's the wound in that? There's, there's a conversation for another time. Right. So, and we'll, and we'll get to it. We'll come back to that, um, in later episodes. Yeah. I'm just picturing that, that smile that says I'm fine. Yeah. But inside you're like, fine. One, one laundry load away from having a full blown breakdown because you know, I'm fine actually means. I have feelings inside needing expressed. Yeah. So men take note when your wife says, oh, I'm fine. She may actually need to talk, or maybe she needs a hug. There's just a little free bonus for you today. Or she needs some space. I'm just saying maybe she needs some space. That could be too. Yeah. A yeah. That's a great. Tip, babe. Yeah, yeah. Gotta We, we, it's, it's important to understand, to, to be able to work with each other there. Yeah. Uh, fine isn't always good. In fact, uh, I've learned through experience of fine is rarely good. Um, but let's keep moving. I've, I've heard other acronyms for that. Uh, and anyway, like I said, we're, we're gonna keep, they all basically go back to the same thing. Yeah. We're gonna keep moving on that. So, so how, how do we. Get centered and, and get centered, stay centered and keep out of the ditches. Uh, one word. What's that? Identity? Yes. When you know who you are in Christ, you can serve from overflow, not obligation. You nailed it. And that's where that is. And it that to serve from, from overflow. Remember in last episode, I said, I wanna be so full that I don't even have to bend. Right. I just want it to pour out. Right? Yeah. Because when I'm serving from obligation. Yeah, I'm, I'm doing it out without really wanting to. Yeah. Yeah. You nailed that one, babe. That's good. Identity serves from overflow, not obligation. And that comes from knowing who you are in Christ, which is your true identity. That's it, man. The, the key to finding and staying, uh, at a center point, staying inside the Lord's well, is, is consistently. Seeking our identity in him. Mm-hmm. Uh, it's, I mean, if you've, if you've been in the church for a while or, or if you're even, you may have heard, you know, identity in Christ. Identity in Christ. Yeah. But it's not cliche.'cause we got our, our, our calling is found inside our identity in Christ. And we talk about that a lot. And the reviving recovery. Mm-hmm. Unbound content. Yeah. Um. Uh, the al the alternative when, uh, usually results in an endless downward spiral of unnecessary obligations that are most always I. Always tangled up and what John recognizes as, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. Mm. And that's what we're to die to. Yeah. The, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. That's what, that's what we. Seek in the world as we're operating from the flesh. Mm-hmm. These three challenges are at the forefront of what we must die to as we, as we're called in Christ to, to die to self. This is what our flesh wants and, and what the world defines as the good stuff. Right. And, and, and I'll admit, you know, uh, that I pursued this stuff for the majority of my life. The, the, the first. Mm-hmm. I would say almost 40 years of my life, I pursued what the world called. The good stuff. The, yeah. The uh, the sex, the drugs, the rock and roll. Yeah. Uh, and, uh, but you know, as I've become a, a, uh, a true believer in Christ, I've, I've done, I've done well to heed through, uh, Paul's warning, uh, to the Romans that is to, to live by the flesh is death. Mm-hmm. To live by the flesh is death, but. Romans eight, six to live by the spirit is life and peace. So, uh, that's a pretty good deal for dying to self, you know? Right. We get to, we get to live by the spirit. Uh, as, as we grow in the spirit and we get life in peace. So what do you want? Do you want death or do you want life in peace? Mm, I I'm at this point, you know, I'll take life in peace. Please. I'm, I'm going for life in peace. Yeah. Um, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. Yep, I, amen. Life and peace. Number one answer. Yeah. Tell'em what, tell'em what they want. You've won Life in Peace. Uh, but, uh, I, so I'm definitely in on life in peace. Mm-hmm. So when we operate in the spirit, we, we bear more fruitful responses, uh, instead of potentially we some performances, uh, conducted in vain.'cause if we're operating, uh, and we've discovered this from experience, if we're operating outside his, his will then. Our efforts are in vain, right? So, uh, and I, I, I'll. In full transparency. You know, the, the spirits still refining me on this one, you know,'cause you know, there's, there's no perfection here. But, you know, common, common slogan around here is it is all about progress, not perfection. Right. You know? Well, well, we're all works in progress for sure. All of us works in progress and, and I'm still being refined in this area. No. Yeah. True story. Believe it. Believe it. True story. Hashtag true story. Yeah. But. I can all too easily get caught up in what the world considers the good stuff as you put it. Yeah. And I too was, you know, for many years was caught up in the good stuff. Yeah. You know, the alcohol, the drugs, the, the promiscuity, you know, you name it. Right. I, I did it. I'm in full transparency here, but just even going to back to my point earlier about how it took me so long and more recent to give up the performance part of my life. Yeah, because it felt good. Yeah. Just like living in the world can feel good. Yeah. But it doesn't. It isn't good for us. It doesn't really fulfill, does it? No, it sure doesn't. At the end of the day it, it's empty. Right? But when God find, when God really spoke to me, or maybe it was more when I really listened,'cause I'm sure he was speaking to me earlier, but when I really listened to what he was saying, that it's not about performance, it's about worship. It was time to give up the stage. Yeah. And it was time to step onto a platform of presence. Yeah. And worship him and praise presence and Yeah. Presence and praise. Yeah. And worship. Absolutely. Yeah. The stage I, I love, I, I learned a long time ago that the stage is for performance and a platform is for worship. Yep. And so I love that he has called me out of the performance. Yeah. Platform or performance stage. Yeah. And has. Moved me to a place of presence and worship with him. Right. That's an upgrade. I would definitely say it's definitely an upgrade. I would definitely say that's an upgrade. And I, and I've, I've seen you in, in both on the stage and on the platform, and I, I'd take the platform, I, I'd take, I'd watch you all day long on a platform. Oh, thanks babe. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, you might be a little biased on that, but, well, I, I dunno, but thank you. Alright. As your husband, my opinion matters. It does. It definitely does. So, but what about score keeping? Oh boy. Score keeping. Oh no. Gotta go there. Mm-hmm. Track and performance kind of sounds like the boastful pride of life. Uh, and aren't we supposed to steer clear of that kind of nonsense? Sense. So correct me if I'm wrong here, but, but when, when we're guided by the spirit and, and we're seeking to find our true identity in Christ, shouldn't love be at the forefront of, of his plans for us, you would think? Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, I hope that Paul and, and, uh, first Corinthians, uh, the, the first Corinthians, uh. 13. It's, it's common. You've, you've probably heard it at, at many weddings. Yeah. And, uh, so, but I hope that Paul's first Corinthians, uh, 13 passage convicts you as much as it does me, as we're reminded, uh, that love doesn't brag. Hmm. And it's not arrogant. Arrogant is, is pride overboard? Way overboard. Um. So love doesn't brag. Love isn't arrogant. Uh, likewise. It's, it's love is patient, kind and not jealous, right? Uh, love doesn't act unbecomingly, uh, which is means that, you know, love doesn't act like a jerk. Love, love doesn't shine, shine the light on themselves, right? I think that would come back to arrogance. Yeah. Um, and it doesn't seek its own, uh, love isn't provoked. And it takes no account of wrong suffered, right. Wow. Blemo. Mm-hmm. Blemo. Right? Consider that, you know, we've heard it many times, but have we actually considered it? But because,'cause love is the great commandment. Mm-hmm. Love, uh, I mean, we're called to, to love the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Uh, love the Lord and love our neighbors as ourselves. And that's a call to love ourselves. You know? So, but, and this is what love is. So have, we've heard it. But have we considered it? Have we, do we, do we love God that way? Do we love ourselves that way? And do, uh, do we love, uh, others that way? Yeah. So when, when we really take time to read it slowly. And, and I would encourage you, and I love what our pastor says, uh, he's read the word slowly. Yeah. I remember the first time I, I, I heard that. And I, and I. Started reading the word slowly and I, I was able to pick up, able to pick up much more. So when we take time to read the word slowly. Mm-hmm. Uh, conviction hits pretty hard then. Yeah. When we're reading the word slowly, love, love has no place for score keeping. Yeah. There's no place for scorekeeping in love, so excuse me while I repent quietly. Uh, good lord. What's Sege my dear? Lovely wife. Uh, well, yeah, sadly, um, I have to say that I've done that many times. Yeah. I didn't go as far as to make up a tally chart and post it on the fridge or anything, but although the thought did cross my mind Yeah. Well, but just so you and the kids could be reminded of, of all that I've done. Right. Especially when I feel like I'm being, I'm. Been overlooked, you know? Right. And, and my dad and I seem to have a scorecard going right now about who is calling who and when. Right. And if you're listening, dad, I'm trying to get better at that, but, but you know, he'll call me and he'll say, Hey, remember who I am? And I'll be like, oh yeah. Do you remember who I am? Because it's been a week since you've called me. Oh, there that is. Do you know how many times I've tried to call you? And this is how many times you've called me. So yeah, I know all about this. Score keeping thing. But you're right. I think, I think maybe you might want, I need to work on that a little more. And I, I think need to, you might have to learn how to play Rummy cube. You might need to learn how to play Rummy cube. Yes. Yeah. But I've, uh, but my dad plays a lot of Rummy Cube. That's what he's referring to, right? Yeah, he is. Uh, I, not that this, not that we're keeping score here, but I, I think I've done worse. You have, you have done worse. You know, I'm trying, I'm not trying to one up you, but I think I, I think I can go a little below you, but, uh, I have, uh, I bust out a bunch of chores. Uh, I bust out a workout or prep food for the week. I, I bathe the pups, feed the cat, unload the dishwasher, and after I forwarded the laundry twice. Uh, and Oh my gosh. Yeah. And why isn't everybody really impressed with me? Why? What? Look at all I've done and then I get nothing. Nothing but crickets from anybody because, you know, you gotta be careful. It is just one thing I learned, uh, or early in recovery from my brother Steve, and he, he said, careful with those expectations, bro. Careful, careful. Yeah. Your expectations of other people let you down every time. So I, but I gotta ask myself. I'm doing all this stuff and I'm, and I'm looking for, for praise. I'm looking for a man. I'm looking for the attaboy man. Man, you really crushed it, dude. Um, and it didn't get this, so, so I gotta ask myself, me. Uh, did, did you do all that for recognition or did you do it because that's what love does in our family's home. Yeah. That's what love does. Did I do it for recognition or did I do it for love? You know, as a Christ follower, I aim at the, I aim at the ladder, I aim at, uh, doing it outta love. Uh, and I'm doing my best to move away from sort of doing it for recognition. Yeah. In the meantime, I. I gotta write an episode called the The Anointed and Silently appreciated. I'll do that one all on my own. You can put that in season three. Yeah. That could be all on you. Yeah. Oh my goodness. Really anointed and silently appreciated. Silently appreciated. Well, clearly. Clearly we know that, uh, words of affirmation must be your love language. Well, you know, they're in there somewhere, but, all right. Acts of service maybe too. Yes, yes. Hey fam, here are three takeaways that you can actually walk out this week. Yeah. Do you wanna start us off with the first one? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Number one and only three this week. Yeah. So the first one is invite the Holy Spirit into your daily. Mm-hmm. That's a big deal. Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily schedule. Ask him, what do you, who do you want me? What do you want me to do today? Who do you want me to serve today? And how should I do that? Yeah. And then check your motives. Are you loving from overflow or are you hoping for applause? Right? And if it's applause, you know, maybe join Allen in praying over for a few moments. You may forwarded the laundry twice, but, but seriously, you know, ask yourself, are you loving from overflow or hoping for applause? Because checking your motives and your heart. Yeah. Is what we have to do. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. And number three, uh, don't erase your personality just to look holy. Mm. Don't no self erasure. Don't be that person. Don't, don't try to be holy. Just, just, you know. Yeah. Yeah. We, if we gotta try to be holy, then we probably need to sit with the Lord. We gotta increase our intimacy. Yeah. Uh, with the Lord. We gotta sit in and we got that secret space that we've talked about several times, uh, through this season, um, last season. But, uh, but we don't wanna erase our personality No. To look holy, no. All right. So, servants should never be, uh, from a fake identity. Remember, our identity should always be found in Christ.'cause our identity in Christ, inside that identity is our purpose. Yes. As we aim to serve, as we've been served. Our service is entirely relational. Absolutely. It's, it's not about religion. Mm-hmm. It's not about looking holy, it's about being relational. Yeah. It's about love. It's about forgiveness, it's about relation. Mm-hmm. So, so be yourself and, and use your God-given talents to serve others as you're led by the spirit. Yes. And also set healthy boundaries. Yeah. I mean, Jesus did. If someone drains you every time you're around them. It's okay to love them with a little distance. You know who that person is and a lot just popped in your head. Right. Right. You know who that person is, you know who it is, but set that boundary. Yeah. If, if they're draining, you love them from a distance, pray for them. Pray for lot. Pray with them. And pray for yourself, uh, from a distance for as long as it takes. Yes, absolutely. So, well, let's wrap this up, babe. Yeah. We're gonna wrap it up. Uh. So here's the truth, when we die to ourselves, uh, and that's, that's a journey. Mm-hmm. You know, that's a, uh, the, the word calls it sanctification. We don't want to get into big religious words, but sanctification. That's our, our journey of being, uh, sanctified and, and gaining the fruit. Uh, of the spirit along the way, you know, and, uh, and finding, uh, discovering our identity in Christ. But so what, but all that to say, when we die to ourselves, we don't disappear. Mm. Lemme say that again. When we die to ourselves, we don't disappear. No. But he makes us more transparent so that Jesus' light can shine through us. You don't have to lose your humor, your story, or your voice. You just have to let Jesus drive it all forward. Don't, don't drive it yourself. Let him give Jesus the wheel. Right. Isn't that how the song goes? Absolutely. Jesus. Take the wheel. So give him the wheel. Yeah. It's a, and it's important to remember, uh, but, and it is important to remember anything that Paul wrote, but go, uh, right now it comes to mind. Galatians two 20. Uh. You're not living life alone. You're right. Uh, remember, we're not alone. None of us are ever alone by his Holy Spirit. Christ lives in you. Yes. Yeah. I. Just take a and and sit in that. Yeah. None of us are by his spirit. Christ lives in us. And that means that your purpose, your peace, and your personality are all being made new in Christ. Yes. I love that. And we love y'all, so keep your heart soft. Keep your boundaries firm. Yeah. And of course, keep your coffee strong. Absolutely. Keep your coffee strong. Oh, keep your coffee strong. We love strong coffee around here. We do. We do. And if you're secretly, uh, and if you, uh, secretly are tallying how many times you served this week, you know, get rid of that. How many times you called your dad this week? Let it go, right? Yeah. Let it go. Uh, so there's no need to rip up that scorecard, let it go.'cause, and know that Jesus sees the Lord, sees what you're doing. Mm-hmm. And, and, and like the word says as as. As you sit with him, uh, he hears your prayers. Yeah. He sees your service and, and he will reward you what, what you've done. And secretly he will reward you. Absolutely. Not that we do it for a reward. No, but I mean, man, that would be out of obligation. That would be out of obligation. And that's, you know, not the window, not what we're talking about out the window. That's right. Overflow. But understand he sees you. Yeah. You know, I got to, um, I wanna, uh. I, I met this kid yesterday and, uh, I was at a shopping center and, and I, uh, just, he just, the lord really spotlighted him. And I got in my truck and, and I, I heard, where are you going? Mm. And so I went back. In fact, he was out in the. He was getting the carts and that, and he just looked sad, just looked sad. And he was quiet and he, and, but I, but so I went back, I made a circle and, and I went back and, and, uh, and I asked him, you know, Hey, hey, hey, how you doing man? You know, and uh, I was like, this might sound weird, you know, uh, strange, strange white guy coming up to you, talk to you about Jesus. And I was like, but where do you, where do you stand with Jesus, man? Mm-hmm. And, uh, and. He was, uh, and it wa I did this because the Lord said, go back and mm-hmm. And, you know, he was, uh, he was like, I know Jesus. Yeah. And, uh, and I wouldn't have expected to hear that, but he goes, he goes, I don't, I don't really go to church right now, but you know, I, uh, uh, I sometimes I just like to sit and talk with them. Mm. And I was like, cool man. And it's, uh, and that's. And that wasn't, and I didn't do that because, you know, I thought, you know, I, I did that'cause the Lord said, go talk to this kid. Yeah. And, and he, and, and I was like, well, and what the Lord told me to say is that I see you. I. Mm. I was like, Jesus says that he sees you and, and he loves you where you're at. And, and you should have seen this kid's. Aw, this kid's countenance change. Yeah. And he thanked me several times. And it's not about me. I'm not, I'm not blowing myself up here'cause I, I didn't do it for me. And I, I would've never done that of myself, but, right. But. But the, the point is that, that Jesus sees us, the our Lord, our our creator. God sees everything, and I would encourage you as, as, as you walk with him and as he prompts you to do such a thing. When he does that, don't miss that opportunity to, to let some'cause this. This might have been. It could have changed the, the point of this guy, this guy's day. Yeah. Because he was, he was, but he was lifted up by that. Yeah. That someone would come back. That someone would, that that, that the Lord would, uh, and that the, that the Lord would say that he sees, yeah. Me. He sees you. And, um, so rock on Thomas. The Lord sees you, man. All right. And he loves you and he sees every one of you as well. Yeah. So next week we are talking about leading from the low place, having humility over hype. Yeah. And this too, you know, we might step on a few toes here too. We seem to be, uh, stepping on some toes in a world that that celebrates self-promotion and platforms and curated influencer lifestyles, but. We'll dive into some s scriptural scriptures that will make us think twice about that. Yeah, I know. My ti I'm getting tongue tied. It's alright. Scriptures, but we can't wait, uh, until we come back and talk to you about leading from the low place. So until then, stay faithfully invested.'cause when you are faithfully invested, God brings the increase. Yes, he does. God bless every one of you and we will talk to you next week. Have a great week. Talk with you next week. Absolutely. We never wanna talk at you. God bless. Bye-bye. Thanks for joining us on Faithfully Invested with Allen and Stacy Jo. If today's conversation encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you see your calling more clearly, don't keep it to yourself. That's right. Share it with a friend. Leave a five star review and keep leaning into God's blueprint for your life, your leadership, and your legacy. So until next time, remember, when you invest in his kingdom, he brings the increase.