SeedTime with Bob and Linda Lotich

The day Jesus fed five thousand people from almost nothing — he was also grieving the violent death of his best friend and cousin. He'd tried to get away to be alone. The crowds followed him anyway. And instead of sending them home, the Bible says "he had compassion on them." Out of his grief. Out of his exhaustion.
In this episode, Linda and I walk through Matthew 14 and what was actually happening to Jesus during this wild 24-hour stretch — the grief, the exhaustion, the interrupted attempt at solitude, and the back-to-back miracles that came out of it. We also talk about what Linda walked through after her mom died last year, and why the moments when you feel least able are sometimes the moments God does his most visible work.
If you enjoyed this, we'd love to send you a free copy of our book — you just cover shipping. It has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Grab it at seedtime.com/free.
 
WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE
Here's a little of what we cover in this episode:
Why the feeding of the 5,000 hits completely differently when you know what Jesus was going through that day
What it means that Jesus "had compassion on them" right after learning his cousin was killed
How grief and exhaustion didn't disqualify Jesus from doing miracles — they may have been the condition for them
What Linda experienced leading and speaking through the grief of losing her mom last year
Why your weakest moments might be the ones where God gets the most visible credit
What it actually looks like when you show up empty and God shows up anyway
The three o'clock in the morning detail — and why the story doesn't end after the feeding
 
BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED
Matthew 14:13
Matthew 14:14
Matthew 14:23
Matthew 14:25
 
DISCLAIMER
Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting.
Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

She prayed for seven years for a breakthrough. The more she prayed, the worse things got. And she ended up on the bathroom floor saying she didn't want to be alive anymore. What the Holy Spirit showed her in that moment — about control, about fear disguised as faith, about the difference between begging and believing — is something I haven't been able to stop thinking about.
In this episode, Linda and I sit down with Alex Seeley — author of The Divine Counselor — for one of the most honest conversations we've had on this show.
Alex shares how a 20-year eating disorder rooted in unforgiveness, a $23 last-dollar miracle when she and her husband gave everything to move to America, and a word from a stranger about a "tissue box" that just keeps refilling shaped her understanding of what it actually means to walk with the Holy Spirit.
We also talk about why Linda used to go shopping when things got tight financially — and what the Holy Spirit revealed was really going on underneath that.
 
WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE
Here's a little of what we cover in this episode:
The difference between praying from fear and praying from faith (they can look identical from the outside)
How a 20-year eating disorder rooted in unforgiveness was never going to "just work itself out"
Why there's a 24/7 counselor available to you right now who's better than any therapist you could book an appointment with
The $23 miracle: what happened when Alex and Henry gave their last dollars before moving to America
Linda's confession about going shopping whenever money was tight — and what the Holy Spirit revealed about why
The difference between conviction and condemnation (this reframes a lot)
What it looks like when your seed goes into the next season — not just into an offering bucket
 
BIBLE VERSES MENTIONED
Acts 1:8
Isaiah 1
John 14:16
Romans 8:28
1 Peter 5:7
Philippians 4:13
 
DISCLAIMER
Obligatory legal disclaimer: I'm a financial educator, not your financial advisor, investment advisor, tax pro, or lawyer. This channel is for general education, not personalized advice, and nothing here should be taken as a recommendation to buy, sell, or use any specific investment, account, or financial product. I'm just sharing what I'm doing, what I'm learning, and what I find interesting.
Markets can be humbling. Investing involves risk, including the risk of losing money, and my results are personal, may not be typical, and are not guaranteed. Do your own research, use wisdom, and talk with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Some links are to our resources and some are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That helps keep the lights on around here, so thanks for the support.

Have you ever wondered why financial breakthrough feels so close yet so far? Bob and Linda Lotich reveal that God is constantly testing us with money—and most of us don't even realize it's happening.
 
In this eye-opening conversation, they break down the three distinct money tests every believer faces, how to identify which one you're in right now, and what God is trying to teach you through it.
 
 
What You'll Learn:
The Three Tests -
The Struggling Test - When you have less than you think you need

The Surplus Test - When extra money comes your way

The Stable Test - When nothing has changed for years

 
Key Insights:
Why the habits you build in struggle carry you into surplus

The George Mueller story that will transform how you pray about provision

How to know if you're in a "rest season" or need to take action

Why stability might be the sneakiest test of all

The practical "50/50 rule" for handling raises and windfalls

How to create your own "stack of stones" to remember God's faithfulness


Powerful Quotes:
"The habits that we build in the struggle are the habits that carry us into the surplus time." - Bob
"We've just been through this too many times." - Bob (during a financial crisis moment)
"What do I need to do the job that God's asked me to do? And then the rest of it can just go." - Linda
"It's an open book test and you have the teacher who wants to give you the answers." - Bob

Biblical Foundations:
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

The Rich Fool (Luke 12)

George Mueller's radical faith

Israelites and the manna

James 1:2-5 on trials and wisdom


Action Steps:
Identify which test you're in right now - Are you struggling, experiencing surplus, or in a stable season?

Create your modern "stack of stones" - Write down a timeline of how God has provided for you in the past

Do a self-evaluation - How are you handling your current test?

Ask God for wisdom - Is this a season to rest or a season to take action?

Set up structures for surplus - Consider implementing the "50/50 rule" for future raises


The Bottom Line:
You don't have to pass these tests perfectly—none of us do. But God is using money to teach you to trust Him more deeply, steward more faithfully, and expand your belief in what He can do.
 
The question isn't whether you're being tested. The question is: Do you recognize the test?
 
Scripture References:
Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents)

Luke 12 (The Rich Fool)

James 1:2-5 (Consider it all joy)

Proverbs (multiple references to saving and wisdom)

Genesis 8:22 (Seedtime and harvest)


Resources Mentioned:
Simple Money, Rich Life by Bob Lotich - seedtime.com/smrl

George Mueller's autobiography - https://www.georgemuller.org/uploads/4/8/6/5/48652749/the-autobiography-of-george-muller.pdf

True Financial Freedom course - seedtime.com/tff

Mission-Driven Millionaire program - seedtime.com/mdm

 
Ready to grow what God's given you? Get your free copy of Simple Money, Rich Life at seedtime.com/podcast
 
Have a question about which test you're in? Share it in the comments below or email us at [email protected]
 
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/sMnrFh6o2Ls)!
 
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

In all of Scripture, there are only a handful of times when God explicitly tells us to "remember" something. Each time, it's attached to something vital—communion, Christ's resurrection, where we've fallen. But there's one verse where God commands us to remember a principle that much of the church seems to have forgotten entirely.
 
In this episode, Bob and Linda explore 2 Corinthians 9:6: "Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop, but the one who plants generously will get a generous crop."
 
 
 
Key Topics Discussed:
Why This Verse Matters
How God uses the word "remember" throughout Scripture for critical truths

The context of 2 Corinthians 8-9 and its focus on generous giving

Why this principle of sowing and reaping has been pushed aside by many believers

 
The Enemy's Strategy
How biblical principles get twisted and weaponized

The 1980s prosperity gospel backlash and its lasting impact

Two ditches to avoid: manipulation on one side, scarcity mindset on the other

 
Getting Your Heart Right
The crucial difference between giving to people versus giving to the Lord

How to avoid being manipulated while still embracing biblical generosity

Why you can love your church and still have questions

 
The Multiplication Principle
From Genesis to today: God's design for abundance

The apple seed illustration that proves God's multiplication DNA

How one butterfly's wings can literally change the world

Why quiet faithfulness often shapes culture more than loud voices

 
What Happens When We Forget
Generosity becomes optional instead of formative

Fear replaces faith

We settle for what we can maintain in our own strength

Our expectations of God begin to shrink

 
Quotable Moments:
"God doesn't command that we remember something that is trivial."
"When you give to the Lord, that's when you can see the harvest. When you are giving to a person, they can't give you a harvest."
"It's easy to be a voice... but there are so many people quietly shaping the culture of their nation."
"The butterfly can flap its wings here in Tennessee and literally over in Australia there can be a hurricane—that is how God created things."
 
 
Challenge:
Don't let the enemy's twisting of Scripture cause you to forget what God told you to remember. Sowing and reaping isn't just about farming or fundraising—it's about how God designed His entire creation to multiply. Every smile at the coffee shop, every dollar given in faith, every child raised in love has exponential Kingdom impact.
 
 
The question isn't whether God's multiplication principle is real. The question is: are you partnering with it or have you forgotten it entirely?
 
 
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/ls_6kLhS2rY)!
 
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

Is our money system actually working against faithful stewardship?
 
In this episode, Bob and Linda tackle a conversation almost no one in the church is having—but one every Christian steward needs to understand.
 
Bob opens with a shocking reality: $100 in 1971 now buys about $12 worth of stuff. Same number. Far less value. So what happened?
 
From there, the conversation zooms out to explore inflation, fiat currency, and why Scripture repeatedly condemns unequal weights and measures. Is our modern money system quietly violating biblical principles—and if so, what should believers do about it?
 
This isn't about fear, conspiracy theories, or predicting the end of the dollar. It's about wisdom, stewardship, and preserving the value of what God has entrusted to us so we can live generously and faithfully over the long term.
 
 
In this episode, we cover:
Why saving money can feel like running on a treadmill

What changed in 1971—and why it matters to your everyday life

The biblical problem with "unequal weights and measures" (Proverbs & Amos)

Why fiat currency quietly erodes purchasing power over time

How money worked in the Bible: weight, scarcity, and real value

Why Bob views gold as a store of value, not an "investment"

How Bitcoin compares to gold (and why Bob separates it from other crypto)

The hidden danger of keeping all your savings in cash

How volatility differs from slow, invisible loss

Why this conversation is ultimately about generosity and kingdom impact

 
Key Scriptures (NLT):
Proverbs 11:1 – "The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales…"

Proverbs 20:10 – "False weights and unequal measures… are detestable to the Lord."

Amos 8:5–6 – God rebukes those who manipulate money for gain

Genesis 23:16 – Abraham pays with weighted silver

Exodus 30:13 – Money measured by the sanctuary shekel

Genesis 2:11–12 – Gold appears early in creation—and God calls it good

 
Go deeper:
If you want a deeper, step-by-step breakdown of how Bob thinks through gold, Bitcoin, and long-term investing from a Christian perspective, check out the 10x Investing Course mentioned at the end of the episode (https://seedtime.com/10x).
 
The heart of this episode
This isn't about gold or Bitcoin being a "savior." God is our provider—always. But wisdom matters. If money quietly loses value every year, that affects families, retirees, and our ability to give generously.
 
As Bob explains, better stewardship today can mean greater generosity tomorrow.
Action step for the week:
Take 30 minutes to review where your savings are currently stored. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5), and ask this simple question:
 
"Is all of our money sitting in something that loses value over time?"
 
 
No pressure to act—just awareness, prayer, and learning.
Important note: This episode is for education and biblical reflection—not personalized financial advice. Always pray and seek wise counsel before making financial decisions.
 
 
 
 
Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/euzv8IC40R0)!
 
If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life (https://seedtime.com/smrl/), we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 1,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and is best described as "a money book for people who don't read money books." 
You can take it for a test drive for FREE at https://SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.