Susan: 0:08

Welcome to the One Yes At A Time Podcast where our goal is to both encourage and challenge you to find out for yourself that true freedom is what we experience when we make the decision to surrender all to Jesus. We hope that you'll join us each week as we talk about what it means to surrender our will to God's will and what it looks like to put that into practice in our everyday lives... One Yes At a Time. Let's get started! All right. For those of you who are listening today, my name is Susan Dies and I'm here with my co-host, Keidra Hobley, and you are listening to the very first episode of our brand new podcast, One Yes At a Time. Just to give you a little backstory, for those who don't know us, I've been leading and teaching and at times writing Bible studies for ladies for about 20 years now, and I love doing it just as much now as I did the very first time I ever stood in front of a group of ladies to open up God's word together in order to share with them the things that I was learning in my quiet time with God each morning, just as I read and studied his word. It had really only been about two years into me teaching Bible study though when you and I met, right?

Keidra: 1:16

Yes, yes.

Susan: 1:17

And Keidra had just moved to Shreveport and I was speaking at an event at my church and so I invited her to come and uh, that was actually the first time I'd ever been asked to be the main speaker at an event. I was also coming out of a really difficult time emotionally and spiritually in my life even though Kera did not know that. And to be honest with you, I was terrified to do this event. I had no idea how it was going to go, how I was gonna do. All I know is I thought I need to invite this girl to come to this event that my church is having. I told her that I would reserve a seat at my table mm-hmm. For her. Um, some of my family members were there. I think my mom and my aunt were there, but I actually never came to the table. Do you remember that?

Keidra: 2:00

I remember that.

Susan: 2:01

She was pretty much on her own. She was a great sport. But a friend of mine who was hosting the event, she was the women's ministry director at our church at the time, she had told me earlier that day that there would be about 400 ladies at this event... and that made me so nervous I decided to just stay completely in another part of the church until the praise and worship began. And when it was finally my time to come up to the platform, Keidra, you were one of the first people that I saw as I looked down at my table and I just saw this look of expectancy on your face.

Keidra: 2:33

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 2:33

And I just remember thinking, Oh Lord, please don't let it be obvious that I have never done this before.

Keidra: 2:38

Wow. I would've never known that.

Susan: 2:40

Yeah. So it turned out to be a great night of just fun and worship and a time in God's word. And I'm really so glad that you came because it started just what I think is one of those God friendships.

Keidra: 2:52

Absolute. Absolutely.

Susan: 2:52

Where God puts somebody in your life and you don't really know why. Yeah, and I think we talked about recently that we've known each other now almost two decades.

Keidra: 3:00

That's crazy to think about,

Susan: 3:01

But the amount of time we've actually spent together might fit into three days...

Keidra: 3:06

right?

Susan: 3:07

I don't know...

Keidra: 3:08

Altogether. Yes.

Susan: 3:08

But the Lord has just knit our hearts together and I'm just so appreciative. I was also thinking about that night, when I did that event, it was called Radiant Living. I don't know if you remember that, but the was about not pursuing the good life that the world offers, but to pursue instead the one who gives life.

Keidra: 3:28

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 3:29

Because a relationship with God is the key to radiant living. And that reminded me as I was thinking about this last night of the verse in Psalm 34: 5 that says, those who look to God are radiant and their faces are never covered with shame.

Keidra: 3:42

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 3:43

And I found that to be so true because it's through God's word that we look to him... that we get to know him. And we really can't know the God who makes our life radiant unless we spend time in His word. And I think part of the problem is people tell me, well, I don't like to read. Yeah. Sometimes people say I read God's word, or I try to, but I just can't get into it. Yeah. You know, I find it boring and I tell them, well that's because you start in Genesis, you get lost in Leviticus and Numbers, and then you never get back to it. But it gets so much better. If you just stick with it. And then some people just find the Bible difficult to understand. And I know that it can be, but I was so blessed, I think it was my late twenties, to sit under some really great teachers of God's word who knew how to make the Bible come to life when they taught it. Mm-hmm. And I've just been locked in ever since. And I was thinking about this, this old saying, it says a verse a day. Keeps the devil away.

Keidra: 4:38

Okay.

Susan: 4:38

But that has never been enough for me. One verse always leads to another, and another, and another. And I'll tell you why. It's because my life is a testimony to the truth that when someone applies the truth of God's word, not just hear it, but actually applies it, that it changes everything. And as I've applied the things I've learned from God's words in my life. God has used it not only to save me, but to change me, and to teach me, and to grow me up, and to mature me. His word has taught me how to love others.

Keidra: 5:07

Yeah.

Susan: 5:07

Even people who are difficult to love... sometimes I'm difficult to love.

Keidra: 5:11

Aren't we all?

Susan: 5:11

Um, yes. His word comforts me and it shows me how to be a comfort to others who are in need. His word gives me wisdom when I don't know what to do. It gives me insight when I need clarity. Uh this is a big one. It convicts me of my sin.

Keidra: 5:26

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 5:27

When I read it. I can see it, but it also promises me that he forgives me when I come to him with a sincere heart of repentance. And I think about the fact that his mercy is beyond comprehension. Uh, his compassion is unfailing. His grace is amazing. His love is completely overwhelming. He always keeps his promises and I could literally go on and on. That's the short list because he's all of these things. Yeah. As you know, and so much more. And the reason for this podcast really is I want so badly for everyone I know, and even everyone that I don't know to experience all that God offers to those who are willing to believe in him, to come to him, and just put their trust in him. And God's word is the means by which God reveals all of these things to us.

Keidra: 6:13

Yeah.

Susan: 6:14

His word is the story of how much he loves every person that he's ever created. And even to what links he's willing to go for us to experience true freedom, which is a desire that God has put into the heart of every human being who has ever lived. If you think about it, we fight for freedom.

Keidra: 6:32

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 6:32

People are willing to die for freedom. It is in our DNA to want to be free as human beings, but it's also in our spiritual DNA to want to be free in our soul. And God has made a way for us to experience that freedom. In fact, our very first episode, after this introduction, is entitled, the First Yes is The Most Important.

Keidra: 6:52

Yeah.

Susan: 6:52

And about how saying yes to God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life that He offers us in Jesus is the key to true freedom. Galatians 5: 1 says it this way,"It is for freedom...

Keidra: 7:03

Yeah.

Susan: 7:03

...that Christ has set us free" and so we wanna make sure that you join us when that episode drops in a few weeks. I guess at this point I've done most of the talking, but I want y'all to hear from Keidra. She is probably not gonna tell you that she is Dr. Keidra... not, I'm gonna go ahead and tell you that

Keidra: 7:20

she's not gonna tell you that you, uh, she's just an incredible lady who has accomplished all kinds of things. She's got all kind of letters behind her name. But she's a woman of many talents. But more importantly, she's just a wonderful, a friend to me who loves Jesus and who has taught me, by example, what it literally looks like to trust God for everything. Mm-hmm. In her life. So, Keidra, why don't you introduce yourself to our listeners. Tell them a little bit about yourself. What motivates you, what you love. Mm-hmm. What God's doing in your life. And maybe even why you said yes to doing this podcast with me. Wow! Well, I thought I was coming here to talk about Jesus and not about me, so I didn't prepare anything. Um, but I just, I, I mean, I think you've already said it. I just love the Lord. I kind of grew up this way. I'm grateful that the Lord brought me into a family where my mother knew Jesus. Amen. And she took us to church. She made sure we were there every Sunday. And so I, I, I joke around sometimes and say, I think she would've given birth to me in church if she could have, but I'm grateful for that'cause this is all I know. And so because of that, um, I've been fortunate to live a life in such a way that he's always been my everything.

Susan: 8:28

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 8:29

That, that blows my mind..

Susan: 8:32

Not everybody has that.

Keidra: 8:32

Not about, not everybody has that. So much so that I used to think I didn't have a testimony. Because I've, I've was raised this way.

Susan: 8:41

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 8:42

And so then, you know, you live a little life and then you start experiencing some things and then you realize, oh, wait a minute, Lord, I did have a testimony.

Susan: 8:48

Yes

Keidra: 8:48

I'm I'm good with the one I had. But I, I do love the Lord. Um, I like you, have been teaching his word for many years. Never really thought that's the direction he would have my life to go. But according to my mother, I've been teaching since I was five years old.

Susan: 9:03

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 9:03

So I was destined for this. I guess it's just in my blood. Um, and then once you live some life and you realize not just knowing about him.

Susan: 9:13

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 9:13

But you get to experience him, it's more than just teaching about him.

Susan: 9:17

That's right.

Keidra: 9:18

It's sharing his goodness out of your experience and so...

Susan: 9:21

Personal.

Keidra: 9:21

That's what I hope this podcast is. It is not just more of biblical teaching straight from the word that people could read for themselves, but to learn through our life experiences that this is real. This is not just something to hear... to know about God, but to truly know him through experience, to know him more than just a creator... but to know him as Jehovah Jireh your provider, to know him as Jehovah Rafa, to know him as, Jehovah Nissi, all the names of God.

Susan: 9:51

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 9:51

Like, to experience all the things. And so anyway, that's enough about me. Him.

Susan: 10:00

No, I think that's great. But talk about why you decided to do this podcast with me.

Keidra: 10:04

Uh, man, I, I'm just, one yes at a time is my life. Hmm. I mean, when, when, when that was thrown out as a potential title, if you, if that's what this is called.

Susan: 10:15

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 10:15

For the podcast. I knew that was it. It has my name written all over it because, uh, obedience is my life message.

Susan: 10:21

Hmm. Mine too.

Keidra: 10:22

And, and I know

Susan: 10:23

It's the only way life works.

Keidra: 10:23

It's the only way that it works right. Right?

Susan: 10:26

That's right.

Keidra: 10:26

And so, for me, this podcast is just yet, another Yes.

Susan: 10:31

Mm-hmm.

Keidra: 10:32

It's one. It's one additional, yes. And so I believe the fact that this is outside of both of our comfort zones is it is, in and of itself, an example of giving God a yes, even though your flesh would want to say no. So this is what surrender looks like. Surrender looks like doing a podcast when you're really quite reserved and don't wanna be recorded, but God said, and so you give him your yes, and I can't wait to see what he uses it for.

Susan: 11:00

You say that about us being reserved. Yeah. And I think most people would not look at us. Mm-hmm. And think that we are reserved, but both of us have that innate personality.

Keidra: 11:09

Yeah.

Susan: 11:09

And it's really just when we begin to talk about our love for Jesus, and everything that God has done for us through him, and what he's done in our lives, that really, we just come to life.

Keidra: 11:20

Yes.

Susan: 11:21

And uh, and I love that.

Keidra: 11:22

I do too.

Susan: 11:23

I love that. One thing I wanted to share with our listeners is that when this idea for the podcast first came to my mind, originally it was gonna just be a teaching podcast. Mm-hmm. It was just gonna be me. Uh, many of the ladies in my church and other people who have been in bible studies I've led over the years have asked me, you know, when do you plan to teach again? And I was trying to think of a way that I could use this desire that I have and the gift that he's given me to teach his word, in this busy season of my life when I feel like I'm out of town just as much as I'm in town.

Keidra: 11:55

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 11:55

As you know, my husband was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago so we were in and out of town, going back and forth to Baylor for treatments and really not knowing how things were gonna look. So I kind of stepped back from teaching when that happened. And thankfully, he's in remission now. He had a bone, bone, uh, bone. He had a stem cell transplant last summer. And he's doing really well. He is in full remission. Uh, but we're still kind of walking that out. Multiple myeloma is not something that is ever cured, but it is something that is manageable.

Keidra: 12:25

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 12:25

And so God has been so good to us through all of that. But in the middle of all that, we had our first grand baby. So I've gone back and forth to Fort Worth as much as I can, usually at least once a month to just be in her life and spend time with Jonathan and Kelly. And then of course, I have a daughter in med school and she's married to my son-in-law, wonderful son-in-law who, uh, is in seminary. And so I go back and forth a lot of times to try to help them with anything that I can, but it's just a busy season.

Keidra: 12:54

Yeah.

Susan: 12:54

And in this time, because of the way I study and prepare, I will spend 30 hours preparing for a one hour lesson. Wow. I'm gonna say it's like a job, but it's a wonderful job. It is. But I love teaching and I just can't wing it.

Keidra: 13:11

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 13:11

But interestingly, a podcast is kind of winging it.

Keidra: 13:14

I know it's so out of our comfort zone.

Susan: 13:16

So this is stretching me. But anyway, um, I, I shared the idea for a podcast with my daughter, and told her that, you know, I think this is a way that I could teach and I could kind of do it on my own time.

Keidra: 13:28

Mm-hmm.

Susan: 13:29

You know, just prepare the episodes and then drop'em at random. And she said, mom, she said a podcast is a conversation. Mm. And it's kind of like you told me recently when we were talking about this, if I wanted another lesson, church lesson, bible lesson, yeah. I would go to church. Right. I'm not probably going to listen to a podcast. Yeah. And so she said, you need it to be a conversation. So I began to think... who would I wanna do with this with? Mm. You know? So I began to pray about it, and think about it, and even though, we had not seen each other for several years. That's right. I can't even remember the last time, yep, I had seen you, talked to you, texted, maybe we texted once a year... Merry Christmas.

Keidra: 14:10

Maybe. I'm not sure. Maybe. I got a Christmas card. I was always special. Yeah.

Susan: 14:14

So anyway, um, but God put that, I believe in my mind, uh, to reach out to you through a text. And then I didn't hear anything back. Just crickets. And I began to think, you know, maybe I didn't hear from God. Maybe this is something I'm making up in my own mind. Maybe this isn't what God has for me. And then about a week later, you texted back and you said, I'd love to get together. Yes. And, uh, talk about it. Yes. So you didn't commit? No. You said we can talk about it. Yeah. And, that is why I was wondering, you know, what were you thinking when that text came across the screen and I was asking you to do this podcast? What was your very first thought, considering we haven't even talked in years?

Keidra: 14:55

I was thinking, oh my God. Podcast. No I mean, literally it is so not me. Mm-hmm. I, I, I, whatever you would describe a podcast to be are all the things I don't like.

Susan: 15:12

And, you know, over text, you could have just texted back. Yeah. I, I, no. Yeah, but no, it's easy to say no in a text, isn't it?

Keidra: 15:19

It is. It is much easier to say no in a text, but also, I, I could not say no because I had not asked the one who would have given me the answer. Right? I had to ask the Lord first, and so I didn't wanna give a quick response. I, I, I know that that's horrible as the young people say, being left on"read".

Susan: 15:38

Yeah. Whatever that means. I didn't know that's what it was called. But you left me hanging.

Keidra: 15:43

I did leave you hanging. Not intentionally, but life just happens. And anytime I click on that little. That blue dot goes away. I, I, yeah. So anyway. Um...

Susan: 15:53

But you know, the thing I've learned is when it's not God, you don't have to manipulate or force... mm-hmm, or beg, or coerce.

Keidra: 16:01

That's right.

Susan: 16:01

And if you had said no, I would've just accepted that and gone back to praying,"Lord, who can I do this with?"

Keidra: 16:07

Yes.

Susan: 16:07

But I'm so grateful that you said"yes," because there's no one that I would rather do this podcast with... aw, than you. You definitely push me to get outside of my comfort zone. You push me to rely more on the Holy Spirit to lead our conversations, um, because you know that after all these years of teaching, that the way I am wired is to have it almost word for word. Mm-hmm. Now, I may not go by word for word. I don't wanna sound like I'm reading a script. But I am at that age where my mind wanders. No, I might lose my train of thought. I'm pushing 60 now. Maybe I shouldn't have said that for younger listeners who might be listening to this right now, but we're young in heart, in spirit.

Keidra: 16:47

That's right. That's right.

Susan: 16:47

But anyway, a podcast is not scripted, and so I'm looking forward to the ways in which God is gonna stretch me, in the ways in which I'm gonna grow as I learn to just, as you prayed a moment ago, just let him fill my mouth. Yes. Let the overflow of my heart be what comes out of my mouth.

Keidra: 17:03

Yes.

Susan: 17:03

So I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for people in my life who've encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and into the world of teaching Bible studies and now podcasting because I would've never done it otherwise. It's just not how I'm wired. But I cannot wait to see how God uses it, not just in the lives of those who listen, but in your life... and in my life. Yeah. So we're coming to the end of our time together. Can you think of anything else that you wanna share with our listeners Any verses that may have come to you? Any thoughts that the Lord may have given you that you'd wanna share? Yeah, I just wanna encourage listeners to, um. Don't tune us out too quickly. Mm-hmm. I know we, there's a million podcasts out there. I know that you have 50 million different options. Mm-hmm. I just want to encourage you to stick around for a few episodes to see if this is something that the Lords wants, wants you to continue with. Because I think there, there are things... it is not gonna be for everybody. I, I, we can acknowledge that upfront, but if it's for you, I don't want you to miss out on what the Lord has for you. So give it a few episodes give it your full attention. Like I know podcasts are great for when you're driving, or for when you're going for your walk, or whatever the case may be... but even as you're doing those things, try to make sure that you give your ear to hear what the spirit of the Lord is saying. Good word. Mm-hmm. Good word. The last thing I wanna let our listeners know today is that we're gonna be releasing a new episode every two weeks for the first couple of months, just while we're trying to figure out all the ins and outs of podcasting, and editing, and all that goes into creating the content for our podcast... and at some point, we're hoping that we'll be able to release an episode once a week... but we wanna just give ourselves a little bit of buffer as we're getting started. In the meantime, you can go to one yes@atime.net for a transcript of our show, updates, anything else we might think of that we've left out. And don't forget to click subscribe on your favorite platform so that you can be notified when new episodes are out. So Keidra, I'm gonna get you... I'm putting you on the spot again...

Keidra: 19:06

Okay.

Susan: 19:06

I want you to pray for us, okay... as we go today. But thank you again for being with us today and celebrating the launch of our new podcast. And we hope that you're as excited about it as we are. Keidra... Father, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for every person who has chosen to listen to this podcast on this day. I know that it is not by accident or coincidence that they chose to tune in, I pray, dear Lord, that exactly what it is you need for them to hear, that they would have ears to hear, and hearts to receive. I pray, dear Lord, for peace that surpasses all understanding. For every person who's listening right now, I pray for freedom. For the captives, may they be set free. I pray for healed hearts in the name of Jesus and I lift up Susan and myself as we give you our yes to do this podcast. I pray that every person who listens will also choose to give you their yes. Not in full abundance, but just one yes at a time. And we thank you for that. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to the One Yes At A Time podcast. We know that surrender isn't easy, but we also know from our own experiences with God that whatever it is he's asking of you is only because he knows. That true freedom is on the other side of your Yes. Our hope is that you'll find out for yourself just how good and faithful our God is as you learn to trust him... one yes at a time.