Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’

Go be a peacemaker. First, you gotta have peace yourself. God has made PEACE WITH ME. The least I can do is act like it.Then, there should be a PEACE DIVIDEND that is demonstrable to my fellow combatants. Listen 7 minutes toward peace.https://youtu.be/--JOea0upMA

The pure in heart get to see God. In the end, literally, to see God. That's right: face to face. When the people of God change their zip code to the same one as God, the scenery is going to change a bit. There's some stuff that won't be seen any more: death, pain, and mourning. But there are some new sights in the real estate and relational categories.Visualise for 7 minutes with me today: https://youtu.be/QFdsZLCuufE

We sometimes have "Hearts of Stone" in regards toward God.We sometimes require " Heart of Stone" surgery.We must not "harden our hearts" to the HEART-OF-STONE surgery that is offered for us. Listen 7 minutes to see how we can do it! Then subscribe and share: https://youtu.be/jnM9uWJRMpo

Being pure in heart doesn't happen by accident. A pure heart is a heart that is KNOWN. A pure heart is a heart that enjoys the affection of God.We do not wear an INVISIBILITY cloak before God, but an ACCEPTABILITY Cloak. A pure heart is one of borrowed purity. Find out how:https://youtu.be/3rSfRMZ_j-4

What is purity? It means Clean, without blemish. A pure object as used in Revelation is one ready to be of service. Blessed are the PURE in Heart, for they shall see God Mt.5:8Why be pure? God likes it, you'll like it, and others will like it. Being pure in heart doesn't happen by accident. Join me today to get started.https://youtu.be/IWWagStJjno

We are Living in MERCY-WORLD, at least for now.That is, we live in a mercy-world, yet we won't always live in a mercy-world.Our charge today is to do the right thing while we live in mercy-world. Namely: Repent while the repenting is still available Extend mercy to the knuckleheads you live with.Nothing better shows the mercy of God than the mercy of a fellow knucklehead. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. HURRY. This mercy-world will not last forever. Share. Like. Comment. It will be a mercy to me. https://youtu.be/ghMyDc_PTr0

What should I do with the worst person in my life? Ironically, they may play the largest role in who I become.I hope you have somebody in your life who doesn't deserve your mercy; maybe deserves your wrath. To do the right thing with mercy (blessed are the merciful...) you have to start with somebody hard; with someone who does not deserve it. Endeavor Give mercy to one who should be receiving JUSTICE, and watch the kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of MERCY, be extended.https://youtu.be/YVmSsbDDbgM

It is recommended, in living a beautiful life, to do so with a FISTFUL of MERCY. Certainly, a fistful of mercy has already been extended to you, and an appropriate response is to live with a fistful of mercy extended toward others. Then as you do so, even more mercy is extended to you. That is, by giving a fistful of mercy you get a fistful of mercy. Go find someone you'd like to wreak JUSTICE upon, and give them a fistful of mercy. See. Share. Subscribe. Send a comment: https://youtu.be/yVlUv76GxsE

Let's go with the inclination to be JUST; to be RIGHTEOUS. It is a godly and noble thing. How can I get there? What is the pathway and what is at the end of the search. Who is at the end of the search?What if I told you the search is FREE of cost? What if I told you the search would be of GREAT COST?Join me today in our search for JUSTICE.https://youtu.be/SHwjfH3U9ic

You've seen our hero, carrying the sign that illustrates our thought for the day: "We Want Justice!" He realizes that things are not quite right. God agrees with him. Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness.(Now) They will be satisfied.(Not quite now)Join me to hear the real source for this desire for Justice. Join me in our quest for justice.

It is particularly helpful to think about righteousness as being in right-standing before God. The problem is that every human has spoiled that standing. So how are we going to restore relationship? Well, we'll need a bit of help.To do it yourself will not end well because there is no such thing as self-righteousness that is not an offense to God.“Self-righteousness” is NO Righteousness at all!Share this with the most righteous person you know.https://youtu.be/QV5e5rHVhuM

An inheritance means resources and riches that were not sourced by you, are made available to you. Though it might be my first day in considering God, it is not God's first day. He has a storehouse ready.How do I get it? The road to this inheritance leads through the pesky concept of meekness. Short answer: the Lord LOVES meekness. He is biased toward the bowed-down person. Join me for 7 minutes and then SHARE.https://youtu.be/key5StbrRa4

Meekness takes a bad rap in our world today. No surprise, it is one of God's favorite characteristics. In fact, Jesus Himself describes His own heart as meek.If we have spiritual meekness aka gentleness, we are Settled, submissive, secure, solid and SATISFIED.As a bonus, God describes this character quality as PRECIOUS to Him. This is why it might be best to SEEK TO BE MEEK.https://youtu.be/UxADnm4n3sM

For all you Richard Scarry fans out there, this one's for you. Blessed are the MEEK. It means BENT. I couldn't help think of Scarry's best character of all time: Lowly Worm.Blessed are the Lowly Worms out there. Picture his skinny little earthworm shape, green hat with a little feather in it; blue skinny jacket, bowtie and my favorite part: the ONE sneaker.Open your Bible to Matt 5:5 and draw his little picture there. https://youtu.be/BycU7GkRweo

Perhaps you are discouraged. If so, turn with me to the beatitudes to look for a beautiful way of living.The road to encouragement often starts with grief. Disobedience towards the ways of God often leads to relational disaster. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."Mourning is Godly grief that goes somewhere. Mourning is a key to right relationship with God. The route towards encouragement often leads thru mourning. Join me for 7minutes and let's see if Jesus is right.https://youtu.be/Syg6x3jQl4I

If only “poor in spirit” would mean just "plain ol' poor"! Financially I mean. It would be a lot easier to achieve than what everyone is called to in the Beatitudes. Financial poverty is easier to achieve than spiritual poverty. It certainly would require less of me. This is worth figuring out, for the inheritance of a KINGDOM is at stake. As the Lord allows, I am here most every day. Will you join me?https://youtu.be/TXTqPykQg3U

Christians are to be the most repenty people on the planet. We have much to be broken over. We start, and often continue in a state of offense. The Lord loves such bent people. Why should I care? And care enough to be counted among the "POOR IN SPIRIT?" Well, there is a KINGDOM on offer; which is to say there is a King to have a relationship with. Listen if you are KINGDOM-READY. subscribe if you are NOT kingdom-ready.https://youtu.be/HIoR4Wwq66E

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...etc. etc.Does this sound good to you? Perhaps not.Join me today as we "dip our toe" into the beatitudes. The beatitudes are great, but perhaps we are not. We'll ask for help to be "Beatitude Ready" and even "Beatitude Eager." We might even RUN to the Beatitudes.One day just won't do it. You must subscribe and follow!https://youtu.be/gGF10_FENZ0

When Jesus came, He healed EVERYBODY in His little orbit.Does He still heal? If so HOW and What does He heal?Also, what might the attention of the Lord during my affliction look like? Write this down: We have the ATTENTION of the Lord during our AFFLICTIONS.You'll have one of the afflictions we'll talk about in these 7 minutes. I guarantee it. Share this, if I am right. https://youtu.be/Bcd0rST9XSo

What happens when Jesus calls me? What does it cost? Probably your profession, your possessions, and your preferences. (I think the preferences are the most precious, and therefore the most costly).What do I gain? Person of Jesus; the People of Jesus and the Payment of Jesus. This is payment for sin that you are incapable of ever paying. Give me 7 minutes, to help you count the cost of the call. https://youtu.be/8sClJMtcu60

I'm thinking today of the Original Episode IV A new hope were Obi-Wan Kenobi is on the desert planet tatooine. He plays an old “Jedi Mind Trick” on the stormtroopers and has this classic line:“These aren't the droids you're looking for”Don't we just want to call out to Jesus, as He picks His disciples:Are you SURE these are the guys you are looking for? Watch 6 minutes to hear His answer. Then follow, share and come back tomorrow as you make this a habit. https://youtu.be/ykCuec_aXmA

Right off the bat, repentance is brutal. Why wrestle with it?Well, a kingdom is at stake. A relationship, a citizenship with a kingdom is at stake. Perhaps more importantly, a relationship with a King is at stake.Join me for 7 minutes to see if it is worth it. If it is, follow me. https://youtu.be/YV71VOxr0vU

Think about what Jesus said about Capernaum: Sodom would have done better than you if it had the blessings that you've had.Sodom would do better than you.Get this: Sodom is used as the good example in the comparisonHere is a truth you won't hear probably in the history of Chrisendom: Sodom would have done better than you.So let's do at least as good as SODOM.Gotta listen to this crazy one: https://youtu.be/popLl0wGbq4

You have heard the expression:To Him who is given much, much is required. Capernaum is given, of all places in Israel, THE MOST. Will Capernaum be the epicenter of repentance? Will spiritual revival happen there?Will the PLACE that is given the MOST give back the most? Have you been given a lot? or at least ENOUGH to do the right thing with? Let's use Capernaum as an example for us in 7 short minutes.https://youtu.be/wZb2vrUqh-8

How hard was the temptation in the desert for Jesus? How do we know the "difficulty level" of those temptations?Well, angels show up. That's how we know. They show us to minister to Jesus's needs. Wait, why does Jesus have NEEDS? He has emptied some of His God-privileges all the way down to humanity. He has turned Himself into a worthy replacement for us. That is, Jesus is on His way to the cross. If you know all you wish to know about Jesus, don't subscribe. For the rest: https://youtu.be/YJAf_r4EGe0

Falling is a big deal. Falls can be life-changing, watershed moments. Further, WHAT YOU FALL for, the reason you fall is A BIG DEAL.Fall-down-worship is a big deal too. It is disruptive, unpretty, and may have permanent effects. True fall down worship often results with us not on our FACE, but on our BACKSIDE. When you TAKE A FALL in worship it will be disruptive, unpretty, upending, unplanned, and result with you on your spiritual Kiester.Here is an invitation to enjoy this type of thing tomorrow: https://youtu.be/6m8p7NP7Q9A

I'm sorry to say this, but Satan here teaches us how to worship better. Point one, of course, is to have nothing to do with him. Point #2: worship God alone and serve Him. Point #3 is bow down and hopefully for all of us, to “take a fall” in worship.Join me to see what sense we can gather in this encounter of Jesus and Satan.https://youtu.be/M55a7GP4-1M

A 15 story fall is particularly dangerous.So is misinterpreting the Scriptures. Satan goes head to head with Jesus, who wrote the Scriptures, about what they actually mean. It isn't a fair fight. Satan has a lot to learn. It sounds crazy, but we are supposed to be learning the same lessons, right along with him. Join me for a 7 minute attempt at not misinterpreting the Scriptures. Subscribe if I get it right. Run if I don't. https://youtu.be/qsSHI4bRbxk

Satan goes to "God-School" in the wilderness with Jesus. He learns a few things.Satan asks Jesus to short-cut this humanity-thing; this humbling of Himself; this being born in the likeness of men. It is an important feature of Jesus. Without this specific characteristic, there is no cross. This is an important lesson for Satan...and us. Listen 7 minutes about it then subscribe. https://youtu.be/Bo-lf1fpU_k

We'll take a close enough look at Satan to get the measure of him, and it is not pretty. We'll find a created being, so obsessed with his desire for worship, that he will tempt, lie and deceive at all costs.He doesn't fight fair with Jesus. He won't fight fair with you. Subscribe and Comment please.https://youtu.be/TGCJR4Hf4V4

We now interrupt this baptism for a party amongst the Trinity. They are approving, endorsing, agreeing, and delighting amongst each other. Yahoo. Oh and BTW, let's introduce the Holy Spirit in a new way. In so doing, we launch from a Baptism of repentance, to a Baptism of relationship. That's right, today we'll hear of a new relationship with an aspect of the Trinity that we have scarcely heard of before this moment in history. Listen as the Lord delights in us so much that He invites us to delight in Him. More Yahoo. Subscribe for more Yahoo tomorrow: https://youtu.be/DEjabFTDqcA

Jesus goes to particular trouble to meet people at "the baptism of repentance." It is not His place of repentance, but our place of repentance.Jesus comes to the “Baptism of repentance” not because He Himself Had sin But because WE have sin This is exactly the place of contact. It is as if Jesus is saying with this picture: "I will meet people in repentance. I will meet them at the waters of repentance"Therefore, if you are going to meet Jesus today, my guess is that it will involve some repentance. See if I am wrong.https://youtu.be/E9s4yokmV5E

A mighty Savior is coming. That's important, as He will need to do some powerful things.We should be humble. The greatest human ever to live wasn't worthy of comparison to Jesus.We should be ready to be THRESHED. That's when a farmer takes the Harvest and throws it into the air with a pitchfork. The lighter stalks and chaff blows away, and the heavier grain falls straight down, to be gathered and brought into the barn.Subscribe for more agricultural wisdom tomorrow ;-)https://youtu.be/cRM6P9gi0M0

If we had a brood of snakes released into a church on a Sunday morning, everybody would be pretty animated about it. So was John the Baptist when a bunch of Vipers showed up at his spiritual event.He calls a snake a snake. Join me for 7 minutes to find out why. As a bonus, you'll learn how not-to-be-a-snake.Subscribe for more reptilian wisdom tomorrow.https://youtu.be/3Kq8PEVHItU

If you want to find Jesus, you'll go thru repentance first.The pursuit of Jesus is intertwined with the pursuit of repentance.What is the last door that leads to Jesus? It is the door of repentanceRepentance is rare, but it POINTS TO JESUSRepentance is the last door that leads to Jesus. Prove me wrong. ;-)Watch and join.https://youtu.be/h0a1KTbgeEY

No resurrection=No ChristianityBut if it is true, everything else He said and did is true.This is why we celebrate on Easter Sunday and is why Easter is celebrated on all the other Sundays in Christianity.Every thing that Christianity stands FOR, stands UPON Easter.***Everything rises or falls on the death and resurrection of Jesus.We are not the most pitied, we are the most partied! Everything depends upon EASTER****Subscribe to celebrate again tomorrow.https://youtu.be/MYJpPT9snos

What if we have something better than the voice of angel?Joseph, our recent hero, has had four dreams in which angels have visited and told him directly to do something. Happily, he obeys immediately, time after time. I think if God sent an angel to us, we'd probably obey.But what if God sends something that is better than an angel for us? Listen 7 minutes to find out. Share, repost please.https://youtu.be/M6BhIvh68_k

The worst Friday of 30AD was detailed 600 years earlier in a prophesy by Isaiah. It describes, quite specifically, the events of what we now call "Good" Friday. What is depicted in Isaiah 53 is so powerful, it has actually launched the curious all the way to belief. Join me for a Good Friday meditation that is for anyone who has a heartbeat. Perhaps, like the Ethiopian eunuch, it will bring you to belief. https://youtu.be/3_N2tvBC7Us

Join me for 7 minutes as we look at a man who rages against God. Unfortunately, he then enacts his fury upon the innocent. In the end, his fury against God results in fury toward the innocent--newborns, infants, and toddlers.Herod could have stopped when he was merely troubled. Doesn't exposure to God trouble us all? Let's be careful what we do with the Lord's troubling. If you have ever raged against God, these 7 minutes are for you.https://youtu.be/P0wU-2OG46A

What does a King do when he hears about a NEW KING in town?Watch as the ruthless Herod makes some first steps in response. None of them are good.Though it is convenient to throw stones at evil Herod, the question also comes home to us. What will WE do, with our little kingdoms, when the NEW KING shows up? watch and repost. https://youtu.be/wPyR4SlG5fk

I guarantee this will be the best podcast you have ever watched about Frankincense.We'll throw in some thoughts on gold and Myrrh as well.They are all rare, precious and valuable.The Wise-guys use such things to WORSHIP. You might consider such wisdom.Subscribe: Not every podcast will be about frankincense. ;-)https://youtu.be/vSawuWA5zK8

If you are going to "worship like a wise-guy", like the Wise Men:you are going to need to gather with other believersyou are going to have to hang on tight to ScriptureYou are going to have to be ready when God "sends a star"you are going to have it cost you something.That is how you can worship wisely, just like the Wise-guys.To be further wise: subscribe and sharehttps://youtu.be/EtaZ-Hze4H8