Leslie A Lamb/Sifted Wheat

Author: lesliealamb

  • The slow burn of infidelity

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    “How did I get here?”

    If you have found yourself in the midst of an extramarital affair, at some point you asked this question.

    We can’t leave a season on sexuality without opening up the closet of infidelity in a more personal space, especially since we have spent so much time highlighting the dangers of pornography. In this episode, I will shed some light on the following topics:

    1) Adultery starts with a lack of boundaries, and ruptured boundaries in childhood often create confusion around sexual engagements as adults.

    2) Grooming is the process of gaining trust and creating a narrative that provides more opportunity for sexual engagement.

    I am a firm believer that the more we know, the more we can protect ourselves from deception and manipulation of others or just the enemy of the soul. I am here to talk about hard topics and bring new perspectives to where boundaries and ruptures can create long-term relational impact.

    If you like what you hear, if you have gained any support or guidance or wisdom from engaging this episode, please drop a rating or review, and if you think others need the same insight, please share it with them!

    Follow me on social media @siftedwheatpodcast or my website lesliealamb.com for access to blog, other episodes, and my teen book series!

  • Why do I keep talking about sexuality?

    https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-x6rrk-192866f

    I believe that sex was meant to be good, but with the prospect of big money and ravenous appetites for pleasure in our culture, it’s looking more and more unsafe.

    Because of that, let’s take one more deep dive into the nuances of sexuality and the importance of using your voice to find healing. Jesus was protective of women and when He called out adultery and lust, it appeared to be with the function and heart of a loving Father or a concerned older brother. Where culture was taking advantage and objectifying women, He was pointing to our souls and to our value. But what if the culture objectifying women is in the church? Where do we go for safety then?

    🤝 Join me as we look at Matthew 5:28 from that lens – Where we discover the line of lust and idolatry and where we learn how to initiate more safety in our sexual experiences. We don’t have to obey the voice of an objectifying culture. We can lean into the heart of our Savior and find freedom for our souls.

    ⭐️ Feel free to leave a rating or review wherever you found this episode and share it with those who might need hope and support in this space of sexuality.

    🔎 You can find @siftedwheatpodcast on Instagram or at my blog lesliealamb.com or through emailing me at siftedwheatpodcast@gmail.com

     

    Catch you next season! Where we address how and where we are tempted to lose our identities. 

  • If sex is intended to be a gift, why does it feel like a weapon?

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    This episode is another invitation into the intellect and wisdom that is Tom Pryde’s brain. Tom is the High Conflict Coach through Banner Institute and an expert in the abuse dynamics in relationships. As a friend and someone who is equally as passionate about loving people safely, he did the hard thing of sitting with me in my struggles and questions and reminded me that both sexes have sensibilities.

    Because of that, this is a conversation for both men and women. I think if we could lean in and listen to what it actually is to be equal and how to “GIVE” to one another safely and with full permission, without pressure but with invitation, to create a language of intimacy with actions and words before it becomes a physical engagement, a lot of the confusion, shame and fear would leave this space, returning sex back to feeling like  a gift and not an intimidating weapon between partners.

    Scriptures referred to and discussed:

    Genesis 2:25

    Ephesians 5:20-21

    Philippians 2:3

    You can find Tom through Banner Institute to find out more about his work through the Psalm 82 Initiative and/or to inquire about getting support services.

    And, feel free to contact us at siftedwheatpodcast@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

    Or, follow us on social media:

    @siftedwheatpodcast or @bannerinstitute on Instagram

  • Shantray’s story – How to heal from divorce and gain back your identity

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    In this episode you will hear what can negatively inform our relationship choices: family dynamics, past trauma, fear of failure, emotional immaturity and a disconnected sense of identity.

    Shantray does a beautiful job of highlighting how each of these things led to choices that resulted in pain and suffering. She also shares about the “rescue” of God to call her back to life, how He met her in the dead of the night and required her to do the brave and hard thing, and how that act of obedience, repentance and faithfulness has strengthened her faith and empowered her to be a source of hope for others who are in healing from divorce. And if you haven’t gone through divorce, this is also a source for support in our role as friends and family and how to meet those we love in their struggle and grief as we hear how Shantray’s story can encourage our choices, too!

    Scriptures used and shared for hope and encouragement:

    Psalm 23:1-6

    Psalm 27:1, 13-14

    Psalm 116:1-9

    Isaiah 61:7

    Proverbs 13:12

    Colossians 2:6-8

    Mark 12:30-31

    Ephesians 6:16-21

    Ephesians 3:12

    You can reach Shantray for more information at the address below:

    kingdomlegacyc3.com

    Please leave a review or rating to keep seeing great content!

  • The conversation we NEED to have about same sex attraction

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    When I sat down to write this episode, I was hesitant. I knew it would be difficult to navigate without a clear direction and landed on education and exhortation. I think we need to hear about how the world has invaded our personhood, how the environment might lend to sexual interruptions, and mostly how attraction can be the line where we can stay in the space of temptation instead of moving into sin and lifestyle. Just the fact that we have to call it “sin” probably offends some, and I can’t help that. And, in sitting with this content, what makes it overwhelmingly difficult to release is not that we don’t know what the Bible says, but because we love people! We love those who struggle with it. We love those who have embraced it. We love those who whole-heartedly believe it is their identity. And so does God. Truly. Deeply.

    So instead of avoiding or blindly embracing what we don’t fully understand, let’s talk about it and discover more about that fine but significant line between temptation and sin.

    Scriptures referenced:

    1 Corinthians 6:18

    Deuteronomy 30:19

    Matthew 5:29-30

    Matthew 22:37-40

    James 1:14-15

    For more content, feel free to follow along on Instagram @siftedwheatpodcast

    or email us at siftedwheatpodcast@gmail.com

  • Behind Closed Doors: How pornography fuels abuse

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    This conversation might not be popular, but it is a powerful one to expose the hidden dangers of pornography and its effect to unravel and oppress marriages, especially in the church. Tom talks about the real hook of pornography and how that being exposed can lead to better choices within the marriage and not precipitate the engagement of pornographic scenarios which are abusive in nature.

    This conversation also discusses where the church has chosen to hide instead of confronting the messages of pornography that are eroding marriages and damaging the souls of women who have been taught to submit at all costs. My hope is that through this conversation, if will expose the lies and illuminate the truth, not to villainize men and women that find themselves struggling, but to release the captives of abusers and the minds of those that are being indoctrinated about sexuality in a way that will harm others.

    You can find Tom through Banner Institute and find out more about his work through the Psalm 82 Initiative and where he is making an impact on women and men all over the world.

    Feel free to contact us through siftedwheatpodcast@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

    Follow us on social media @siftedwheatpodcast and @bannerinstitute

  • How can a tree so big fall?


    That’s immediately what we thought when we got the picture from my mom. A tree that had been faithfully standing guard over their home for a century, was toppled by a strong gust of wind – not a storm, not a tornado, but the strength of a direct wind. 

    As I walked the wreckage, and thanked God for its fateful shift that missed the house by mere feet, I considered its substance. The trunk was massive, but as I inspected the roots, they weren’t as thick as I would have thought or as long as I would have expected. In fact, surprisingly, the hole left, though large, wasn’t as massive as the tree that was rooted there. Sure, there is some water to drain out, but in short time, earth will refill the spot left vacant by generations of occupation. 

    As I walked around the corpse of the tree, I noticed it had leaves and the evidence of life and death. In season it had flowered and bore fruit, but the source of its strength and stability had not reached its potential, subjecting it to upheaval. 

    I thought of myself, of my faith, of my identity as an “oak of righteousness.” Are my roots going deep, are they spreading beyond what I am producing? Is the only evidence of stability on the outside while deep down there is shallow depth and spindly faith? 

    In that moment of reflection, I remembered my dad telling me about Redwood trees – a beautiful reminder of his life in California before the great storm of his life shifted an 8 year old boy into a bread winner and man of the family. You see, redwoods are massive, fortified and towering for centuries. And they have a root system that is unparalleled in the plant kingdom – their roots don’t just go down deep, but they branch out and reach for the roots of the trees around them and intertwined to fortify their strength. There cannot be a lone redwood, they are always found in close proximity. They also have this fortified wood that though it is soft, is resistant to pests and corrosion and is ideal for construction. 

    I heard God whisper, “Be a redwood.” 

    “Go down deep in My love.

    Reach out for others and hold one another up.

    Stay connected to others like you.

    Grow tall and resilient. 

    Resist what seeks to attack and corrupt you. 

    Bring stability to others by what you produce. 

    Be soft where others are hard.”

    This is me reaching out, seeking the roots of those longing to endure. Entwining with those who have been sifted so we might remain and resist the winds of change and hold fast in the midst of adversity. 

    My mom’s oak will soon be cleaned up. Just an impression on the ground until time fills it in. And, it hasn’t been lost on me that all that is left will be used for firewood. 

  • The messy truth about divorce

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    What is our issue with divorce anyway? Are our arguments situated in the CONTEXTUAL truth of God’s Word? I find all too often that our position with divorce is very much taken from scriptures that are not interpreted in context, which just adds to the complication and why so many feel trapped in unloving and unkind marriages.

    This episode, we will look at the full context of the infamous verse “God hates divorce” so that it might be used as a source of compassion and healing (as intended) and not the battering ram or billy club it’s come to mean in some spiritual circles.

    We will also look at the FULL definition of adultery and learn why we can’t trust only what we see to bring correction but how to inquire more deeply about what is unseen but just as sinful. My hope is that this conversation can shift our judgment, and instead of using divorce as a means to choose sides or cast blame, our actions and thoughts about the people involved will be lead of the Spirit and entered into with humility and grace.

    For your own study, feel free to read the following scriptures:

    Malachi 2:16

    Ezra 10:19

    Matthew 19:8

    Feel free to follow us on Facebook, social media, or at the website linked below:

    https://www.instagram.com/siftedwheatpodcast

    lesliealamb.com

    Or email us at siftedwheatpodcast@gmail.com

  • Lexi’s Wrestle

    I’m honored to sit with Lexi Wooten as she shares her story about the impact of pornography and childhood sexual abuse.

    I believe her story can bring healing and hope to others in this same wrestle. Maybe that person is you?

    Listen in and follow along!
    Listen Here
    https://siftedwheatpodcast.podbean.com/e/lexis-wrestle-how-pornography-can-be-a-life-or-death-issue/?token=b9489907f2e6bfb94529fa0193d1a8cf

  • Back to the Boat

    Back to the Boat

    Commitment often requires a release of comfort.

    Peter found himself in that boat (literally and figuratively).

    See, he had just walked 3 years with an amazing man who he believed to be the incarnated Christ, the Messiah his people had heard about and awaited for generations upon generations, saw miracles the likes of which he never believed possible, and just prior to the day everything fell apart, had been commissioned to continue the work that He started.

    But then, his faith was tested. His promise felt a million miles away, and his hope looked less like a rock but rocky water, the water he had even walked upon, and so when we see Peter after the crucifixion and the resurrection, he has returned to the comfort of the boat. And this time, he wasn’t thinking about walking on the water, but simply staying afloat.

    boat

    Have you been there?

    I have.

    When all that I believed with my whole heart would happen and had faith to receive and even in some part witnessed its appearing, fell apart, and I was left with my guilt and my shame and the knowledge that I hadn’t done well under pressure, and like Peter, I had a choice to move forward in my commission, committed to the call or return to what I knew, what was comfortable.

    So, Peter witnesses the resurrection and hears again the voice of his Teacher and Leader but eventually finds himself apart from fishing men and back to simply fishing. Why? Because somewhere between the two gardens, he lost sight of the passion that recognized his purpose.

    Guilt has a way of stealing our resolve. Fear has a way of dissolving our confidence.

    But, Jesus knew something was yet to be done, and there was no question in His mind where He would find His disciple, so He meets him where He knows the truth must be revealed, on the shore of the sea, with a warm fire.

    The scene played out similar to the few years before when Jesus found them, only this time the men weren’t catching anything and Jesus shows up re positions them and they can’t contain their catch.  Then, He doesn’t question them, He invites them to a meal.

    Isn’t that like God?

    I’m not here to shame you. We both know that where you are isn’t where I sent you, but I want to show you something, grace, and from that place you will see that I am committed to you, first.

    And He did.

    “Do you love me, Peter?” 

    “Yes Lord, you know I do!”

    “Then feed My sheep.”

    That’s what happens, isn’t it? We get off track. We lose sight of truth and purpose for any number of reasons, and He doesn’t shame us or condemn us, He reminds us of relationship and beckons us to share that with others. In that very moment, Jesus was modeling for Peter what He saw in Peter. It might be bold of me to suggest that Jesus knew He disappointed Peter. He knew that the way things played out were completely contrary to the dreams and longings of His follower, and He knew that in order for Peter to move forward, He had to meet him with grace and remind him of love.

    If I may, here is what I read between the lines:

    “Peter, I’m sorry. I know that you got confused and frustrated and doubted Who I am, but I’m here and all the things I said to you are still true. I love you. I believe in you, and I am here to show you that by feeding you, again. Nothing has changed. And, Peter, just like I am offering this grace to you, I want you to go out and offer it to others – the ones that mocked me, the ones that crucified and hung me and even now gloat that they took care of Me once and for all – I want you to love them and share my love with them and teach them what I have taught you. I want you to know that I love you, and I called  you and I haven’t failed as you feared, but I have victory you can’t even fathom, and I still choose you.”

    Commitment was borne of that conversation. The one we don’t read, but the one we hear in our heart daily, “Trust me. I love you. I chose you. Come back. I believe in you and no matter where you find yourself today, tomorrow is another day where you can still walk out your purpose.”

    Grace has a way of restoring what we’ve lost and love has a way of building our confidence.

    Peter walked away from that fire, on fire, reminded of his purpose and empowered by the love of his Savior, and Jesus meets you and I with that same grace and love, no matter where we find ourselves, because our purpose is so much bigger than our fears and our convictions must fuel our commitment, regardless of our comfort.