If Not For God with Mike Zwick

What if Thanksgiving wasn't just one day a year, but a way of life? On this episode of If Not For God with Mike Zwick, Mike sits down with Stu Epperson Jr., owner of the Truth Network and author of the book Thanks Living, to discuss the biblical power of gratitude and why Christians should make thankfulness a daily practice. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you," Stu explains how gratitude can transform our attitudes, strengthen our faith, and help us find hope even during life's most difficult circumstances. In this powerful and encouraging conversation, you'll discover: Why gratitude is more than simply saying thank you. How focusing on God's blessings can change your outlook on life. The connection between grace and gratitude. Why it's important to thank the people who have invested in your life. How to develop a daily habit of thanksgiving. How remembering what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross gives us every reason to be thankful. Practical ways to turn biblical truth into everyday living. Stu also shares the personal story of a Sunday school teacher who has sent him a birthday card and prayed for him for more than 40 years! Whether you're struggling with discouragement, dealing with difficult circumstances, or simply looking to grow closer to God, this conversation will remind you that there is always a reason to give thanks. The message is simple: Don't just celebrate Thanksgiving. Start Thanks Living! 📖  Get Stu Epperson Jr.'s book, Thanks Living, and learn more: https://mythanksliving.com Thank you for watching and listening to If Not For God with Mike Zwick. If this episode encourages you, please like, subscribe, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and remember to hit the notification bell. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 #IfNotForGod #MikeZwick #StuEpperson #ThanksLiving #Gratitude #Thanksgiving #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalEncouragement #Faith #JesusChrist

What happens when you step out in faith and experience the supernatural power of Jesus Christ? On this episode of If Not For God with Mike Zwick, we're joined by Pastor Todd Felk of Christ Freedom Fellowship in North Carolina, and Jason Hamlet, who ministers in prayer, healing, and deliverance. These men share powerful personal testimonies of how God transformed their lives and called them into a ministry of healing, deliverance, and setting people free through the name of Jesus. Pastor Todd shares how the Lord radically changed his understanding of ministry, leading him to break free from religious traditions and pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jason shares his incredible testimony of overcoming a 20-year drug addiction and discovering the authority believers have through Jesus Christ. He also discusses how his past struggles have become an opportunity to help others find freedom.

What does it look like to live out your faith in the workplace while serving others and protecting the people you love? In this episode of If Not for God with Mike Zwick, Mike sits down with Jeff and Whitney Sutton of Capital Fire to discuss faith, family, business, and the importance of being prepared for life's unexpected emergencies. Jeff and Whitney share how they approach their fire safety business as more than just a way to make a living. For them, it's an opportunity to serve their neighbors, show the love of Jesus, and make a meaningful difference in people's lives. They discuss the importance of working with integrity, treating customers fairly, and allowing God to use everyday interactions to bring hope and encouragement to others. The conversation also highlights the importance of protecting your home and family through working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency escape plans, and proper fire safety training. Through personal stories of kitchen fires, a close call involving fireplace ashes, and real-life experiences, the Suttons explain why preparation matters before an emergency happens

What happens when addiction threatens to destroy your life, and just when you think you've found your footing, your family faces one of its greatest trials? On this episode of If Not For God with Mike Zwick, Mike sits down with Jeff and Whitney Sutton from Capital Fire to share their powerful story of redemption, faith, and God's sustaining love through life's darkest seasons. Jeff opens up about his decade-long struggle with addiction and how, in 2007, he found a path toward recovery and spiritual growth through Dunkin Memorial Church, a Christian recovery ministry in Florida. His journey didn't end with overcoming addiction. It became a foundation for serving others, sharing the Gospel, and helping people discover the transforming love of Jesus Christ. Jeff and Whitney also share one of the most difficult chapters of their lives: their daughter Ellie's diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021, when she was just five years old. They discuss the emotional and spiritual challenges of navigating cancer treatment, the importance of forgiveness, the strain trauma can place on relationships, and how their faith was tested and strengthened throughout the journey. Their story is a powerful reminder that faith doesn't mean life will be easy. Sometimes, God's presence becomes most real when we have exhausted our own strength. Through addiction, family trials, unanswered questions, and seasons of depression, Jeff and Whitney discovered the importance of trusting God, loving others with compassion, and persevering through the storms of life.

What happens when you put your faith in God, take a leap of faith, and trust Him to guide your future? On this episode of If Not For God with Mike Zwick, Mike sits down with entrepreneur, restaurateur, and fellow Christian Troy Boane to discuss faith, overcoming life's challenges, and discovering how God can use ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference. Troy shares his journey from serving in the United States Air Force to spending more than 30 years in the restaurant industry before taking the risk of opening his own restaurants in East Tennessee. He discusses the challenges of launching Americana Steakhouse during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of perseverance, and why serving others is at the heart of running a successful business. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Troy opens up about life's valleys, brokenness, second chances, and how God can bring blessings when we least expect them. Mike and Troy discuss the power of prayer and praise, overcoming regret, accepting God's forgiveness, and trusting that God can use our mistakes and imperfect lives for His glory. Troy also shares his vision for bringing Christian music and live concerts to downtown Jonesborough, Tennessee, including a special upcoming concert featuring 10th Avenue North at the historic Jackson Theater.

In this powerful episode of If Not For God, Mike Zwick challenges listeners to stop saying what they're going to do and simply do it. Faith isn't just about words, Christian language, or what we say we believe. As James reminds us, faith without works is dead. Mike shares humorous stories, powerful illustrations, and challenging biblical truths about being unashamed of Jesus Christ, putting our faith into action, turning away from sin, seeking God's approval instead of man's, and building our treasure in heaven rather than on earth. From the story of a mother's scarred hands to a powerful reminder about counting the cost of following Christ, this episode asks an important question: If you say you're a Christian, are you actually living like one? You don't have to change everything overnight. Start small. Read the Bible for 15 minutes. Pray for 15 minutes. Share Jesus with one person. Take what you've heard and just do it. Most importantly, Mike reminds us that this world is not our final home. Our ultimate goal isn't the approval of people—it's to hear the words of Jesus and faithfully follow Him. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." — Romans 1:16 If this episode encourages or challenges you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Mike Zwick continues his discussion about stewardship with David Belk.

In this episode of If Not For God, Mike Zwick sits down with David Belk, a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Kingdom Advisor, and Certified Exit Planner, to discuss biblical stewardship in the marketplace. Stewardship isn't just about how we handle our money. It includes how we approach our work, relationships, time, finances, employees, and opportunities. David explains why Christians should view their jobs not simply as employment, but as an opportunity to serve the Lord through excellence, integrity, generosity, and a Christ-centered attitude.

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n this episode of If Not For God with Mike Zwick, Mike sits down with Robbie Dillmore, the "Christian Car Guy," for a powerful conversation about pressing on toward the mark and pursuing God's higher calling. Mike and Robbie talk about the importance of making the most of every moment rather than dwelling on the past. From door-to-door sales and the pain of rejection to lessons from Scripture, sports, and the lives of faithful Christians, they explore what it means to keep moving forward when life gets difficult. They discuss Philippians 3 and Paul's challenge to "press on toward the mark," Psalm 90's reminder to number our days, and Psalm 150's call to let everything that has breath praise the Lord. The conversation also highlights the incredible impact one person can have through discipleship and obedience. Robbie shares the story of Ted Burton, a man who came to Christ later in life and spent his remaining years discipling others—leaving a legacy that continues through generations. Mike and Robbie also discuss the importance of putting faith into action, the difference between knowing God's Word and actually living it, and the opportunities each of us has to participate in God's work. You may not be able to change yesterday, and you don't know what tomorrow holds—but you can choose what you do with today. Keep pressing forward. Keep pursuing the Lord. And make your life count for eternity.