Rev. Michele Owes and Rev. Diana P. Cherry

Introduction

Welcome back to The Teachable Woman Podcast with Reverend Michele Owes and Reverend Diana P. Cherry—your faithful “Teachers of Good Things.” In this episode, our hosts dive deep into the spiritual condition of the heart. Building upon prior conversations about sin and righteousness, this episode calls us to examine what truly resides in our innermost being. Get ready for a rich conversation filled with biblical insight, transparency, and wisdom that speaks to both the head and the heart.

From Sin to Righteousness

Rev. Michele reminds listeners of the journey from studying sin to embracing righteousness—defined not by our own opinions or feelings, but by our alignment with God’s word and His ways.

God Wants the Heart, Not Just the Mind

The conversation emphasizes that our relationship with God begins in the heart. While we often offer God our intellect, He desires a deeper connection—a surrendered, unguarded heart.

Scriptural Foundations on the Heart

Several scriptures are shared, including Proverbs 3 and 4, and Deuteronomy 6, highlighting that the heart is where God’s commandments should be stored. These verses underline that the heart directs our life’s outcomes.

The Heart as the Core of Spiritual Life

Rev. Diana shares a teaching from 1992, explaining the Greek word cardia—the seat of thoughts, feelings, and spiritual life. She explains how, before salvation, the heart was the headquarters of sin, and after salvation, it becomes the home of righteousness and truth.

Cluttered, Hardened, and Bitter Hearts

Rev. Michele likens an unchecked heart to a hoarder's storage room—full of unforgiveness, hurt, and bitterness. She warns that over time, hearts can become hardened fortresses, resistant to both giving and receiving love—even from God.

Rot on the Inside—The Apple Analogy

Rev. Diana uses a powerful analogy of a beautiful apple that’s rotten inside to explain how defilement begins in the heart before it manifests externally. She cautions listeners not to let internal rot fester to the point of visible spiritual decay.

Thoughts Are Devices—Guard Your Mind

Quoting her late husband, Rev. Diana stresses that “a thought is a device designed to manipulate your intellect.” Listeners are reminded to guard their thoughts, as they originate from the heart and can either align with God's will or pull us away from it.

• Proverbs 3:1
• Proverbs 4:23
• Deuteronomy 6:5
• Jeremiah 17:9
• Psalm 51:10

This heartfelt episode calls us to do deep spiritual maintenance. Rev. Michele and Rev. Diana challenge us to not just look good on the outside, but to cleanse and care for the inner life where God does His greatest work. With wisdom, humor, and grace, the Teachers of Good Things remind us that a clean heart and right spirit are essential to a thriving relationship with God—and we must be intentional to guard, examine, and purify our hearts regularly.

Assignment Reminder:

Think about what you're thinking about. Examine your thoughts—because they reflect what's in your heart.

Get ready to learn, laugh, and live! In this exciting update, Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry share all the details about the Second Annual Teachable Woman Retreat, happening July 17–19, 2025, with an optional stay through July 20th.

This year’s retreat promises powerful workshops, dynamic sessions on the transformative power of prayer, insightful discussions on women’s health and financial wellness, and an unforgettable dose of faith-filled laughter with a Christian comedian called and anointed by God.

Whether you're coming solo or bringing your husband along for the weekend (yes, husbands are welcome too!), you'll leave refreshed, equipped, and spiritually renewed.

And yes—it’s also Rev. Cherry’s 82nd birthday! 🎉 But as she and Rev. Owes humbly remind us, the true star of this retreat is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

• Dates: July 17–19 (Stay over July 20 if you like!)
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Kickoff: Thursday, July 17 @ 7 PM with dinner & reception

Workshops & Sessions:

• The Power and Practice of Prayer
• Women's Health with a Medical Expert
• Financial Wisdom from a Specialist
• Laughter & the Word with a Christian Comedian

Live Podcast Recording

• Special Session with Husbands + Prayer Send-Off

Five Meals Included (Thursday Dinner through Saturday Lunch)

• Dinner is on your own
• Evenings Free for You & Your Spouse

• Retreat Registration: [Insert Retreat Registration Link]
• Hotel Booking: Use our special hotel link to receive the discounted rate (Separate from retreat registration)

We are so grateful for those of you who have already registered! Keep spreading the word—don’t decide for someone else whether this is for them. Share the retreat, share the podcast, and let’s grow together in faith and sisterhood.

See you in July! Get ready, get set—GO!

Episode Title: "Why Should I Be Righteous?"

Hosted by: Rev. Michele Owes & Rev. Diana P. Cherry

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Teachable Woman Podcast, Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry dive deep into the topic of righteousness—not self-righteousness, but the true righteousness that aligns us with the will and word of God. This dynamic duo, affectionately known as “teachers of good things,” invite listeners into a soul-searching conversation that challenges, encourages, and equips women to walk upright before the Lord.

Coming off a series on sin, Rev. Michele and Rev. Diana turn the focus toward the redemptive and empowering path of righteousness. Through biblical teaching, personal testimony, and spiritual encouragement, they discuss what it really means to live right with God. This episode isn’t just theory—it includes a practical assignment for listeners and a call to action that extends beyond Sunday sermons.

1. Righteousness Is More Than a Concept—It’s a Calling
2. Rev. Michele emphasizes that the teachings shared on the podcast are meant to have a tangible, beneficial impact on listeners' lives. Righteousness isn't just a church word—it’s a way of life aligned with God’s heart.
3. Your Zeal Needs Knowledge
4. Drawing from Romans 10, the hosts explain how many have a zeal for God but lack biblical understanding. True righteousness requires submitting to God’s righteousness, not defining our own.
5. Assignment: Seek Scripture on Righteousness
6. Rev. Diana gives a new spiritual assignment—search for scriptures on righteousness during personal Bible study. This exercise is meant to deepen understanding and personal accountability.
7. Beware of Self-Righteousness

The episode addresses the difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. True righteousness is not about looking holy—it’s about being aligned with God's word and led by His Spirit.

Righteousness Is a Moment-by-Moment Choice

Rev. Michele shares a powerful story about choosing peace and silence over pride in a conflict situation, illustrating how righteousness often looks like self-restraint in real-time.

Be Do Right Christians: Thinking Right Leads to Living Right. Rev. Diana reminds listeners that thoughts precede actions. To be right, do right, and speak right, you must think right. Monitor your thoughts to guard your spiritual direction.

Be a 'Do-Right' Christian - With warmth and wisdom, Rev. Diana encourages listeners to be what she calls a “do-right Christian”—someone who consistently strives to live upright before God in a world that’s always changing, even though God never does.

Righteousness is not perfection, but it is a pursuit. In this episode, Rev. Michele and Rev. Diana challenge listeners to grow deeper in their relationship with God through obedience, spiritual discipline, and the daily decision to walk in truth. As Rev. Michele says, "The word of God is nourishment for our souls."