Podcasts about 15i

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Best podcasts about 15i

Latest podcast episodes about 15i

FBC Douglas Sermons
"A Nation in Crisis: Blinded By Jealousy" 05/04/2025 - AM

FBC Douglas Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 41:27


Sunday AM ServiceJudges 12:1-15I. Jealousy toward JephthahII. Judgeships following JephthahSupport the show

2 Cities Church Podcast
1 Corinthians: Dad's Love is Different / Jeff Struecker

2 Cities Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 36:07


Big Idea: Dad's love is different.1 Corinthians 4:14-21I. He challenges you out of your comfort zone.1 Corinthians 4:14-15I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.II. He corrects you when you get off track.1 Corinthians 4:16-17Therefore I urge you to imitate me. This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.III. He calls out your sass.1 Corinthians 4:18-21Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?Next Steps: Believe: I surrender my heart to God the Father today. Become: I want to show God's heart to someone this week.Be Sent: I will invite someone to sit with me next Sunday.Discussion Questions: What do you most remember about your dad?  How has your dad's guidance shaped your faith?What specific teachings did your dad instill in you that impact your worldview today?In what ways did your dad's actions reflect his faith, and how did that influence you?Can you recall a moment when your dad's support helped you through a spiritual challenge?Do you see your dad's influence on how you live out your faith today?Pray for the Holy Spirit to allow us to demonstrate humility this week. 

Sound Mind Set
Thursday, April 3, 2025

Sound Mind Set

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 9:46


Psalm 77:11-15I will remember the deeds of the Lord;    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.I will consider all your works    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”Your ways, God, are holy.    What god is as great as our God?You are the God who performs miracles;    you display your power among the peoples.With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.There is a Hebrew word that shows up often in the Bible; the word is  ZAKAR, meaning remember. Often when God had provided a way through or a victory, people who witnessed it would stop what they were doing, and build an altar to celebrate the faithfulness of God. Jesus, on his last night with his disciples before his crucifixion, told us all to do this very thing. To take the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. There's more to this practice than just calling back to mind something that has happened. It is ruminating on the faithfulness of God that anchors us. Can you think of a situation where you didn't see a way through, where you had come to the end of yourself, but God came through? Take a moment and put yourself back in that situation of desperation, feel the doubt, feel the fear, and now remember what it felt like when you realized things were going to be OK... when you saw God come through. Ruminate on what it felt like for God to deliver, and know that that same power is available to you right now, whatever you are facingLet's pray together: “Father, help me to commit myself to the act of remembrance. To remember Your faithful power that I have seen at work in my life. Help me to hold on to that awareness when I come into situations where I don't know what to do. As above, so below”

Covenant Reformed Church Pella
2-16-25 AM "The Vanity of the Retribution of Evil"

Covenant Reformed Church Pella

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2025 39:03


2-16-25 AM "The Vanity of the Retribution of Evil"Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 8:10-15I. The Dilemma of the Vanity A. The Reversal of Destiny B. The Delay of JusticeII. The Remedy to the Vanity A. A Knowledge of the Fear of God B. A Knowledge of the Judgment of GodIII. The Encouragement given the Vanity A. A Life of Practical Joy B. A Life of Perpetual JoyRev. Greg Lubbers

Media - FBC Huntingdon
The Christian and Prayer - Matthew 6:5-15

Media - FBC Huntingdon

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 35:50


“The Christian and Prayer”Matthew 6:5-15I. OUR PROMISE IN PRAYERII. OUR POSITION IN PRAYERIII. OUR PRIORITIES IN PRAYERIV. OUR PETITIONS IN PRAYER

Common Prayer Daily
Wednesday in the First Week After Epiphany

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 18:53


For Daily Prayers and more become a Member on PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office LectionaryOpening Words:I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.Isaiah 49:6b Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Psalm 95:1-7The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me. BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word. GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsIsa. 41:1-16A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;        let the peoples renew their strength;    let them approach, then let them speak;        let us together draw near for judgment.            Who stirred up one from the east        whom victory meets at every step?    He gives up nations before him,        so that he tramples kings underfoot;    he makes them like dust with his sword,        like driven stubble with his bow.    He pursues them and passes on safely,        by paths his feet have not trod.    Who has performed and done this,        calling the generations from the beginning?    I, the Lord, the first,        and with the last; I am he.            The coastlands have seen and are afraid;        the ends of the earth tremble;        they have drawn near and come.    Everyone helps his neighbor        and says to his brother, “Be strong!”    The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,        and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,    saying of the soldering, “It is good”;        and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.            But you, Israel, my servant,        Jacob, whom I have chosen,        the offspring of Abraham, my friend;    you whom I took from the ends of the earth,        and called from its farthest corners,    saying to you, “You are my servant,        I have chosen you and not cast you off”;    fear not, for I am with you;        be not dismayed, for I am your God;    I will strengthen you, I will help you,        I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.            Behold, all who are incensed against you        shall be put to shame and confounded;    those who strive against you        shall be as nothing and shall perish.    You shall seek those who contend with you,        but you shall not find them;    those who war against you        shall be as nothing at all.    For I, the Lord your God,        hold your right hand;    it is I who say to you, “Fear not,        I am the one who helps you.”            Fear not, you worm Jacob,        you men of Israel!    I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;        your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.    Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,        new, sharp, and having teeth;    you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,        and you shall make the hills like chaff;    you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,        and the tempest shall scatter them.    And you shall rejoice in the Lord;        in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you; You are the Lord: we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Eph. 2:1-10A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Mark 1:29-45A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.  That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.  And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages BV. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.V. Day by day we bless you;R. We praise your name for ever.V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;R. For we put our trust in you.V. In you, Lord, is our hope;R. And we shall never hope in vain. The CollectsCollect of the DayFather in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Sweet On Leadership
Harold Horsefall - Balancing Material Success and Personal Fulfillment

Sweet On Leadership

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 39:36


Tim Sweet chats with Harold Horsefall, an Indigenous issues strategist from the Pasqua First Nation, about his inspiring path from firefighter to cultural leader. Harold shares his journey rooted deeply in traditional values and leadership principles. Harold highlights the importance of preserving language, place names, and cultural landmarks and how they shape the understanding of the land. He also opens up about the impact of his family's residential school history, which fuels his dedication to truth, reconciliation, and advancing Indigenous relations through meaningful projects like managing a memorial for residential schools.Harold offers insights into the progress and challenges in Indigenous relations, noting increased federal investments since 2015 and advocating for greater support in areas like education. He emphasizes continuous self-improvement and aligning work with personal values, drawing parallels between traditional practices like the sweat lodge ceremony and the process of reconciliation. Harold reflects on the balance of material success and personal fulfillment, encouraging listeners to pursue work that contributes to growth and happiness. Tune in to learn more about Harold's inspiring story, his current projects, and his vision for the future of Indigenous relations.About Harold HorsefallHarold Horsefall is an experienced Indigenous Relations Strategist who is focused on creating meaningful relationships between Municipal Government, the Treaty 7 Nations, the Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3, Inuit, and urban Indigenous Calgarians.Harold has a demonstrated track record of attaining results and is skilled in advancing Truth & Reconciliation to build mutually beneficial outcomes. He is a strategic thinker who aims to co-create with Indigenous Stakeholders. Harold is a well-rounded professional and has a Master of Global Management (International Business) from Royal Roads University. Resources discussed in this episode:Mount Yamnuska - WikipediaElbow River - WikipediaA History of the Indian Trust Fund videoThe Confluence - Calgary--Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence: WebsiteLinkedIn: Tim SweetInstagramLinkedin: Team Work ExcellenceContact Harold Horsefall: Website: The ConfluenceLinkedin: HaroldHorsefall--TranscriptHarold  00:01There was a high school in Calgary. It was great. And I'm very thankful I got to go there. It's called the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School. And so in there, like, I got exposed to a lot of traditional values that I otherwise wouldn't have. And so even like pow wow singing, like I did, pow wow singing 10, 20, and 30. And so there's some traditional values that I was focused on. So like to be a leader, you had to be a person who risked your life for your people, for the people, and you did so selflessly. That was the big draw. To be a firefighter, to be able to say that I did that, and I did for seven years. And seven is, of course, if you didn't know, it's a very significant number to Indigenous people. Tim  00:39I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action? Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all about and all for you. I'm Tim sweet. Welcome to Episode 48 of the sweet on leadership podcast. Tim  01:10Welcome to Sweet on Leadership. Thanks again for joining us. Today we have the privilege of speaking to Harold Horsefall. You are an Indigenous Issues Strategist. You are a person that I met when I was helping a team with a team building day and a strategy day, and you had me thinking for days after that with your presentation, which I really am grateful for. And luckily enough, one of the people there was was willing to put us in touch. And so here you are today, and I'm really excited for you to be on the show help our audience have a brand new perspective on a number of things, and I think it's going to be fantastic. So Harold Horsefall, thanks for joining me. Harold  01:55Oh, thank you for having me. The honor is, the honor's mine. The Privilege is mine. Tim  01:58I really appreciate it. So as we get going, here, you and I've had some conversations leading up to this point, and I'd like you to tell us, how do you see yourself? How would you describe Harold the person? Harold  02:11Sure, no problem. I guess to start, though, first I'll introduce myself and a name. My name is Harold Horsefall. I'm originally from the Pasqua First Nation, so it's on Treaty 4, just northeast Regina, the Qu'Appelle River Valley. So you know, if you jump in the Bow River, we're in Calgary here, you jump in the Bow River on my on a paddle board, I could get there eventually, but I'm born and raised in Calgary, Alberta here. So I just wanted to say that, and just say hello to any Indigenous listeners out there. Oki, Tân'si, Aaniin, and Dzīnísī Gújā. Harold  02:41Oh, thank you so much. Harold  02:42And Âba wathtech, sorry, Âba wathtech. I forgot that one. Tim  02:46Great. So people are aware, what were those languages you were speaking in? What was your? Harold  02:49Aaniin is Ojibwe, or so I'm Cree and Saulteaux, so the Pasqua First Nation is Cree and Saulteaux. Saulteaux is like plains Ojibwe, if you will. And then, Oki, is Blackfoot. Dzīnísī Gújā is Tsuut'ina, Âba wathtech is Stoney Nakoda, and Tân'si, or Tân'si is Cree. But also the Michif, their language, the Métis  language, it tends to be, on average, that the verbs are Cree, sometimes Ojibwe, and then the nouns are French. Tim  03:20That is a great way for us to actually take a moment and although we didn't talk about this, but I mean, acknowledge that we are on this land as we record this today. I live just a hop, skip and a jump from the Tsuut'ina right there, like over a street I'm on. What is their land right now. I'm really thankful that we can just all be here and live in harmony together, and I think that it's great that it's such a vibrant part of our community here in Calgary. I remember on that day, when I came home, I was talking to my wife about how you were talking about the Elbow River, and that it was this confluence, and that everyone in North America knew that location, this this elbow, this trading area, was important. I had never appreciated you said you could get in a paddle board and end up where you needed to go, that that was the origin of that, that that word had so much meaning, that it was a that it was a fixed place in the mind of so many people. And that was one of the things that blew my mind that day. As we walked outside, we we looked around so. Harold  04:28Perfect. Well, I have another one for you if you want.Tim  04:29Please shoot.  Harold  04:30Okay, so everybody, well, for most Calgarians, go out to the mountains occasionally, or maybe some more than others, and they go past Mount Yamnuska. Yamnuska is so this is a little bit like, how did Indigenous people really know the land really good? And if you read any of the history, you know that was typically because that wasn't always, there was a lot of conflict. The Indigenous people in a certain area always knew their land better than than whoever was coming in. But how? There was no. Google, and there weren't any maps. A lot of it was, was is buried in the language, place names, especially so Yamnuska would be one of those. And my boss used to be Dr. Terry Poucette. She's a she's now a professor at the University of Calgary, and I think she was, she also a professor at University of Victoria. But anyway, she she, she was sharing with us that Yamnuska, if you say that to a Stoney person, that means messy hair. So that would be mount messy hair, which is a mistranslation, because then she said the correct way to say it is "e-yam-nuthka". So that's mount Îyâmnathka, and that means flat faced mountain. So then in the Indigenous languages, like with the confluence in Blackfoot, they say, Moh-kins-tsis. In Stoney they say, Wincheesh-pah. In Tsuut'ina they say, Kootsisáw, the Michif or the Metis called it Otos-kwunee. And they all mean elbow, the confluence of those rivers, yeah. And that would be and so there's all that language, all that variety, and the languages are very different, but they would tap their elbow because, yeah, the way that people would trade there was a sign language, and that sign language tended to be more uniform amongst the various speakers of different languages. Tim  06:15Was there a sign for Yamnuska? Harold  06:17I don't know that one. I'd have to ask Terry. Tim  06:20I should have a flatter face, but, you know, it's probably something. I'll put a I'll put a link for our listeners that are joining us internationally. I'll put a link to a couple of Wiki pages or something so they can actually see these areas and appreciate them later when we go out. I'll tell you a story about how I got trapped in behind Yamnuska, and I had to avoid a bear, and ended up there's a slough back there. And I crossed over, crossed over a creek, which then filled with water, and I had to hike all the way down to the highway, and I came out along Highway, what is it, 1-A, and there's the there's the lodge there, and then hitchhike back to my car, but it's long story so much younger days great. So if we were to think about, well, actually, this is a great opportunity for us to bring up a little tradition here, which is we have a question come from a previous guest. So, your question comes from Melanie Potro in London, who is a professional business and political stylist for women, and very concerned about women's place in leadership. So I'll go ahead and let her ask you a question. Melanie Potro  07:32 What was the trigger for that person, that made him or her go into that path? Harold  07:41I used to work in oil and gas, and I worked in accounting, and I was going to get an accounting designation. But always in my in my heart, I really wanted to be a fireman, actually, actually, I wanted to be a police officer, but my father-in-law talked me out of he said, being a firefighter is better. And so, so eventually, it's the path I went on. And then, so, while I was a firefighter, a friend of mine was, he was finishing his master's at the University of Calgary, and I was a fireman. So, then I took that career path. One of the benefits definitely was the work-life balance. And it was more like a life-work balance. I had a lot more free time, right? And I used to think, you know, you get you get time, or you get money. So I thought, You know what I want time because, like, that's you can't always just get that. So that was one of the main reasons why I chose being a fireman. At any rate, my friend was working on his master's degree and a side job. He worked hosting an Indigenous relations course that the University of Calgary still offers. It's called the Indigenous relations leadership course. He was leaving the job because he was finishing his program, he asked me if I wanted to do it. So I was like, sure, I'd love to. So I was a fireman. And then I was, I was hosting the Indigenous relations course at the University of Calgary. And then so it was great, because I would sit in on this course for four days. It was offered four days, three, four times a year, and I was sitting on this course. And so it was these professors would come in, and some of them were professors that I had when I did my undergraduate degree at the UofC. And then so they would come in, I started really picking up all the material, and I could, I could really go in depth with this. I was like, hey, you know what? I want to work in this field. And so then I got my own master's degree, global management from Royal Roads University. And then I started to hit the streets. I was like, Okay, I'm going to consult in this area. And I ended up meeting somebody at the City of Calgary, and they said, Well, I can't hire you because you're already an employee, because I was a firefighter. And then so then I was seconded into the, into my into that role that I have in my day job. Tim  09:38And that, of course, has led you to where you are today, and I really liked how you described how you see your position and how you see your own profession. So could you give us a little bit of that? Harold  09:48Sure, yeah, I guess I'll start though, is that my day job or the profession in which I'm in is more a deeper expression of myself. Because my mother went to the Lebret Indian residential school, and then so, as a result, we had in my family, my grandparents, there were very significant cultural, prominent people in our community. You know, they were healers, and all that information was lost. So they, like my mom was that the 12th youngest, and so she by the time she went through the residential school system, they just, I don't know the whole story. I didn't get to meet my grandparents. They passed away before I was born, but I just assumed that, you know, they learned that it was just much easier on the child if they didn't teach them as much, or really anything, especially in terms of the Indigenous language, my mom can hear it, and, like, if she hears it, she understands it, but she doesn't speak. So, a lot of those values kind of were, like, they kind of just went poof, right, which is a whole nother long story. And on my own time, I have a grant going forward. I'm hoping, crossing my fingers, I get it, and I'm going to dive deep on that story. Tim  11:10Can I just ask, when you say that they thought it would be kinder on the child, does that mean that the lessons and the language and everything, if they had passed it along, could have been a liability or could have been a risk for that, for that child. Harold  11:23Yea, 100%.  Tim  11:28Because the more they related to that, the more in danger they were. Harold  11:31Yeah, and literally, they would get beatings and worse, the beatings would be the easy part. Tim  11:38So, to protect the protect the child, you have to protect them from their history or from their legacy. Harold  11:45Yeah, because the goal of those schools was to eliminate the Indian in the child. Sometimes, yeah, and we won't go too dark, but sometimes it went further than that. Tim  11:54So well, it is a history that is really painful and shameful, and it's something that everybody, I would say, around the world, like so many other atrocities that that human beings have managed to inflict on one another, they need to be appreciated, and they need to be brought into the light, right? And so people can see how we've evolved and why. It's not all pretty, that is for sure. But to sum that up. You had said that you consider yourself a practitioner, and I really, really love that term. So, could you just introduce us to that? Harold  12:27Sure, yeah, as a practitioner of truth and reconciliation, you know what I do is to advance truth and reconciliation. So, one of the projects that I'm currently managing is a memorial for Indian residential school to create an environment of a reconciliatory environment between Indigenous and non Indigenous people. And part of it is getting this kind of information out there. That is a huge part of it, actually. Another part is to actually give a physical place that people can go for this kind of information. Tim  12:57And, and that will be at that at that confluence. Harold 12:57At the Elbow, yes. At the confluence, that's correct.   Tim  13:00And, and so, you know, in a sense, that's really, I mean, I'm just thinking about this now, I kind of getting goosebumps a little bit. But it's like, if you think about trading the most important things, then trading in that story and that knowledge and that ability, what a place to do it right? Because people who come from around the world to actually trade in that knowledge, and… Harold  13:27That's what I'm hoping. Tim  13:30Oh, man, that didn't hit me until sort of just now. So that's a whole different level. I love the word practitioner, because when we think about leaders and people who are really, they're really moving thought forward, and they're helping people embrace things, and helping people become, you know, their own, powerful individuals, people that that can express themselves in the world. You know, a practitioner, in my mind, is somebody that you don't, that doesn't just talk like they do. They, you're seeing them practice whatever they are. They're espousing. It's so much more powerful than somebody who is simply theoretical. I think that's such a great word, and I think that's where we're going to be heading today. So, before we get too much into that. I also want to just ask you this, if we were to see Harold Horsefall on any given day, what are we going to see? What is, what is? What is Harold Horsefall, the person, engage in, day in, day out? Harold  14:33Day in, day out. I guess, like I've started volunteering in an effort to really get out there. So, I volunteer for the University of Calgary Alumni Board. So, so I've been, you know, making my best to go to as many networking functions as possible, just to really get in there with people. I'm part of a meditation group, and I think that that's really helpful. And I have four children, so that's definitely above average, more than the average Canadian. So, yeah, I'm but my youngest is fourteen now. Tim  15:04You're a practitioner of sorts there. Harold  15:08Oh, yeah, almost accomplished. I'm almost like, on the verge of being an empty nest, empty nester. But my youngest is 14, so maybe three, four more years, and then he'll go to university then, and then, that's a whole nother, you know, it seems it's so expensive for the kids out there, right? Because I have a daughter who's at the UofC now, and she's still at home with us. Yeah, it's just so expensive out there. Tim  15:29It is, yeah, it's, it's something that just learning how to, how to exist in this world is such a wake up. My kids are going through the same thing right now. Harold  15:39So, then I'm like, the comma rents, you know, the pa-rents, free rent. Tim  15:44Yeah, there you go. Pa-rent. When we think about you meditating, and you and I talked about, you know, really making sure that we take time to develop ourselves and whatnot. How do you see people that are out in the workforce, when you see them managing their own lives and going through things and, you know, besides just your children, but people that you work with in, day in, day out, the community members we've got around us. What do, how do you see their relationship with time? Again, you talked about trading time for money that you would take time over that. What do you see out there in the in the world? Harold  16:27Oh, geez, a lot of people, you know, and I'm, I live in a material world, and you know, I prefer to have, you know, good, solid look good. Good, solid goods. And, you know, even clothing that makes me look good, right? But that said, like, definitely, I see, I see many people just chasing, like, this carrot, and you know, that's fine. It's good an all. But why? What does it do for you? Because I even got to speak with some, through the alumni, not through the Alumni Board, this is before I was on the Alumni Board, but through Career Services, because that university and the Indigenous relations course was through Career Services. And so I did speak to some alumni, some graduates, some new graduates, and as part of a panel, and I was like, Well, you know, like, you should really focus too on the things that make you happy, because even if you make a whole bunch of money, like, eventually the, I hope this doesn't get dark for people, but it's like 100% the one thing that we are sure of is that we will pay taxes and we will die. And so, it's like, so say you make, like, a billion dollars. You can't take it with you, not that I know of, right? So, so it's like, really, like, for your own self, like, and this was my, my message to new grads, right? And I don't know how it was received, but I felt that maybe it wasn't received as popular as some of the other people, because one person was, like a new they had a position with the Royal Bank of Canada, and it was like a director or something. And so that was the person, oooh we gotta like, you know, go around that person, and I'm just like, well, you know, you got to really focus on your life and what makes you happy as well. Doing well materially is good, but also making sure, hitting that it's like a Venn diagram, hitting that intersection between what's personally satisfying, I think, is also important. Tim  18:15I think that's a very interesting reaction to notice. I've seen the same with young leaders and even some accomplished leaders, that when you offer them a perspective that causes them any sort of doubt, when they're in a blind pursuit of something, you know, when they're heading towards something and they've either omitted facts or they've biased themselves towards things to overcome questions or fears or whatever they're doing, so that they can charge ahead in a certain area. And if one of those things is, you know, hustle culture, so it's like, no, you got to work hard, and you work hard young so that you can be rich later and get what you want or whatever. Anything that questions that, it's like it erodes the bedrock of what they or would actually say, erodes the house of cards that they're building themselves up upon. And it can get really scary for people that they will reject that thought outright, like, let's just not go there, because playing in that area is just it carries a lot more risk than we might realize for that person, because they're, they're built up on that. That's, you know, and I think it's, it's an, also an interesting thing, that when you meet people down the road in their careers, when they realize that they've built their approach on really shaky ground, and it'll last for a while, until the universe demands the truth. And then guess what? They're kicking in the water. They're thrashing around pretty good. So the earlier that we can get to truth, the earlier that we can get to facing these hard facts and really questioning what our assumptions, I think is a is a is an important point. I hope I took that in the right direction there. Harold  20:07Oh yeah, yeah, for sure, yes. Great conversation. Tim  20:09So when you think about the reaction of people to wanting to be around the person that emulates what they want to be, they want to be around that bank executive or whatnot. Tell me a little bit about that. What does that mean to a person besides, you know, potentially being an expression of we can see where their priorities are. But what's the hazard that comes out of that? Harold  20:34Oh, geez, I'm not sure. I've never really thought about that from somebody else's perspective, because, like, I wrestled with that, whereas, like, wanting to pursue a career that's gonna make me a lot of money and whatnot and high powered career, but for me, like, internally, I just couldn't there was this, like, a it was, like, it was a force field or something that I just couldn't get past. And because, like, for me, it was just, I really needed to, personally be able to be 100% invested in what I did. For example, it's the real old school traditional value on the plains. The best way to say that, I say I'm a Plains Indian. There was a high school in Calgary. It was great, and I'm very thankful I got to go there. It's called the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School picks and so in there, like, I got exposed to a lot of traditional values that I otherwise wouldn't have. And so even, like, pow wow singing, like I did, pow wow singing 10, 20, and 30. So, you know, like, it was great. And so there was some traditional values that I was focused on. So like, Crowfoot. Hugh Dempsey wrote a book on Crowfoot. And so it was, it was done really good and huge. Dempsey is a local southern Alberta historian, or was before he passed to be a leader for me as a plains from the plains culture, where we had teepees and we buffalo hunted, so that, like some people say, they who are Indigenous people, and that's what they'll think of teepees and buffalo culture, but that's the plains culture. Whereas in like out east, they lived in houses, and they were farmers. And same with out west. They were they lived in houses, long houses, and they also farmed and they fished and they traded. But for me, that's, that's what it was. And to be a leader. You had to be a person who risked your life for your people, for the people, and you did so selflessly. That was the big draw. To be a firefighter, to be able to say that I did that, and I did for seven years. And seven is, of course, if you didn't know, it's a very significant number to Indigenous people. There are seven brothers in the sky, so the Big Dipper stars. And other than that, that's some, actually part of the grant that I've got forward and crossing my fingers that I'm going to explore many of those issues. But four is also another one. And I do know more reason about why four is significant. There are four seasons. There are numbers that we tend to see in nature. So then there are four seasons. And then, accordingly, you could even break up your day to be like the four seasons. You wake up in the morning, and then you have your afternoon, and then your late afternoon into the evening, and it's almost like a mini cycle. So you're in a mini cycle on a bigger cycle inside of a bigger cycle. So four seems to be the number that is most associated with cycles. Tim  23:06There's so much there that we could unpack, but it immediately makes my mind go to my friend Julie Friedman Smith, who's a parent and coach here in town, and she's part of our association here, helping our clients out. And she said something that was very similar at one point to me. And she said, you know, people will often, they'll say whether or not their day was a success. And she said, it's much better if you if you can develop the language where, you know, well, the morning wasn't a success, or this last hour wasn't a success, but the next one can be. And you chunk things down into that sort of seasonal thinking, where it allows us to be a little more gentle on ourselves, and refocus and rebase and kind of have these cycles within our life. But as you were speaking there, I was thinking back to you saying that you're a practitioner of truth and reconciliation. Now, truth and reconciliation in Canada has a very specific meaning, which I think is important, but more broadly, the pursuit of truth. What's the truth of who we are and where we're sitting, and then reconciling with that? And I often think of that like doing the math right, like getting to the facts doing the math, and say, We have to reconcile ourselves with the facts of what just happened, and that takes some work right to get through it. And so the importance of that as a program can't be understated. The importance of that as an approach to life is also something that's fairly important, is getting down to that, where am I actually, and how do I feel about that, actually? And what does it mean for me, actually? Where are we actually? What's the truth of that? So if I can have you sort of expand on that a little bit. Could you tell me where you think we are in that journey? Harold  24:57So I guess I would say first that in. General, the atmosphere in Canada is is quite good, in the sense that if you use the idea of like Pareto improving, it's been a while since I since I've done economics. Tim  25:1080-20 rule. Harold  25:11Yeah, exactly. But just if you take like each day, or even each hour, and like and to the person that you mentioned. So if you took yesterday or even 20 years ago. And if you looked at the status quo of what it meant to be Indigenous in Canada, and then you look at it today, there's improvements. And so some of those improvements are definitely like, so I went to the University of Calgary, and if we look back into the 1980s if you go to the, it's called the Writing on Symbols Lodge now, it used to be called the Native Student Center when I went there, so I'm dating myself, but there's a graduate list on the wall. And in the 80s, there was like one, and then the next year, like 1985 or something, and then the next year there'd be like two or three, and then it's kind of went up, like a logarithmic scale. And then it's like, okay, that's awesome. So whatever it is that the environment is definitely there. And so even then, you know, a lot more people are respectful. And even just that, the way that we opened on this podcast, I think that was, that was excellent, and I'm finding a lot more people are much more open. It's still a long journey. And so my approach as a practitioner is always like so when I was young, I managed to reclaim a good chunk of my culture, and I did that personally while I was a teenager, so, you know, and I still did live a teenage life, but I also did do a life where I went to a lot of ceremonies, especially sweat lodges. They were very important. I was very blessed and fortunate. And you know, I would get myself to these sweats when I was, like 16. And a sweat lodge, for those who don't know, is, is, it's like a cleanliness ceremony, it's a spa and it's a sauna, but then it's dark, and we sing songs, and you do a lot of prayer or focusing like, I guess you could find it in like Bhuddist culture, they call that single point focus. So you do a lot of focus on that thing that that you are concentrating upon to live a good life, was the one that was general for me. But the thing with a sweat lodge is that when you go in and it symbolizes rebirth, in a sense, but when you go in say that you're taking in a whole bunch of negative kind of crap that kind of lingers in you through this process, you sweat it out. And the idea is that all of your impurities go with that sweat, and it cleans you out both like physically and spiritually, in addition to other areas. So it's more holistic in that sense. And so you have to sit in that initial if, say, you go in and you have a lot of negative energy and you're sitting in there, it's painful in the sense that it hurts, it's uncomfortable, and it's in the dark and it's somewhat crowded, so a lot of fears are already triggered for many people. So then you just have to learn to sit still through all of that. It's uncomfortable. You sit through it, and then eventually, when you come out, then I would say that reconcile. So that's like, kind of my model for truth and reconciliation. It's like sitting in a sweat. It's uncomfortable, but you sit there and you do it. Sometimes you'd even come out and you know, you'd be pretty red, bright red, almost like a little bird sometimes, but you know, and that's the thing, is, like, if it gets hot, you can't once the door is closed, you have to wait until the door is open, or you could go run out screaming. But it's generally, it's not advised and it's frowned upon. So you have to sit still. And that's the thing, when it gets really hot, if you like, start thrashing around and panicking, it just escalates on the top of itself, and you end up in a mess, right? So you have to really sit still, and you have to sit quiet, and you can't move, especially when it's really hot. That's one of the things I learned, and actually came in really handy, is when I was a firefighter working in really hot environments, because in, like, physically hot, because you don't move too fast. You have to stay composed, and you have to actually move very slow, and you have to be very purposeful with each movement. Tim  28:47So quite literally, you're sitting there having to face all of those things that are are weighing on you, moving you forward or holding you back. You have to take some deep, honest reflection and emerge with some increased amount of fluency about who you are and where you're going. Harold  29:09But that's the magic, because, like, you surrender to it, and then you when you do get out, you definitely are better than when you went in. And if you keep doing that repeatedly over time, then that's when you see the benefits. Tim  29:22I think that's cool too, because you haven't said anything really, although you're sweating it out. It's not like these things, these things remain. They're part of you, in a sense, right? But your relationship with them is different, and you can process it differently. You can handle it differently. When I go back to that thinking of those young people at the university that are new in their career and their and their orienting around about wealth and who they want to be. And we also talked about openness being so key to this, and then the societal openness may be open at one point, but then be getting more closed in other ways. Often, you know, we think of things in a static place that it's either open or it's closed, we're open or we're closed. The society around us is getting more open or more closed, but it's like this pendulum that kind of swings and seeing things in that cycle pattern, as you said before, where we have to be observant about that and whatnot. Do you think that it's getting better right now, or is it getting worse? Or are we on a pendulum, or is it, you know, where are we at this? Harold  30:31It's definitely getting better. A colleague of mine did send me email that in terms of finances, and it says, since 2015 This is taken from the Fraser Institute.org, and it says Since 2015 the federal government has significantly increased spending on Indigenous peoples from roughly 11 billion to more than 32 billion. You know, that sounds like that could sound like taxpayer money, but I don't. I would be more curious to dive into that. That's a whole process unto itself. But there is a large trust fund that is held on behalf of Indigenous people, and that's where many Indigenous things, like in education, which was negotiated during the treaties. In essence, I've done Indigenous relations courses for various organizations, corporate organizations. And one item that I like to always point out to, and I don't have it handy on a presentation, but if you look at annual GDP of Canada, and then you can, you can even look at areas like from natural resources, and you look at that value on an annual basis, and then you compare it to what the treaty rights are. So I get $5 a year, and I get education, maybe, maybe I get education. That in itself, is a whole episode. Probably do really investigating that, but it is pennies to billions of dollars. So then you think like, that's really where it is. So a lot of those funds, though, do come from a National Indian Trust account. And I encourage you to google it. I could probably even just throw in a link to a short video. Tim  32:10We'll put that link in the show notes for you. Harold  32:11Sure. Yeah, and it's put together by the Yellow Head Institute, and it's a really good video to watch. And it's just a short video, two and a half minutes, I think maybe two and a half to it's under five minutes. Tim  32:18Yeah, I think that's that's a really important thing too, for people to for Canadians to appreciate. Because there's a lot of myth and a lot of, I would say, bias and hearsay that goes into exactly proportionally. How do we support our native communities? How do we make good on the on the Treaty and the agreements that were promised? And it's pretty shocking when you see, you know what it actually means on an annualized basis. And then, oh, on the flip side, I'm optimistic with what you've said in terms of this exponential growth in education and whatnot. Because as I follow Indigenous creators, and I've got a few, as I was telling you before, people that I'm really, I'm really enjoying, kind of having in my life, and following their journeys, and, you know, appropriately consuming their content. There's a positivity that's out there, and there is an optimism that's out there, and there is a and there's an energy that's out there, which I think is just fantastic. And so although the totals may not be appropriate, and there's definitely room to move there. What people are doing with the time and the opportunities they've got is so inspiring. So that, to me, means that there's a new energy, there's a new confidence, there's a new identity that's coming out, and I think it's a steam roller. I think it's unstoppable. You know, you think of that, that Jim Collins example of the flywheel, if you've ever heard this, where you have this massive flywheel, and it's the size of a city, and one person could go up against it, and they could smack it one way or the other, and the thing wouldn't even move. It would be like a monolith that wouldn't even move. And often we have communities that are all smack it in different directions, and so the thing couldn't start to move even if it wanted to. But if we get enough people slapping that thing in the right direction, it starts to shudder, and then it starts to spin, and then it spins faster and faster, and pretty soon, that thing, which we thought was immovable, is under its own energy. And it's, you know, it's unstoppable, so that any one unreasonable and logical dissenting voice can't, can't stop it. So that's, that's what, what I hope for, is that unstoppable momentum. Harold  34:39Sure, I definitely I would get on board with that. Tim  34:43We'll be smacking that flywheel. Yes. Cool. So as we sort of head towards the end, what would you like us to focus on? Was there somewhere we didn't get that you would like us to get? Harold  34:56Really like for me, these are like questions in my own. Mind that I just can't something in me always brings it back to the service. Hey, I need to focus on this and so, like, continuous improvement would be one of those things in that focusing myself, like, what do I want from my careers? And that was the thing I do have a question for the next guest. Tim  35:17I love that you're unprompted, go for it. Harold  35:22What do you get from your career? And how does your work fill your bucket? Because those are things that I always ask myself. And so what am I getting from this? What am I doing for this? How does this work for me? Yes, I get to pay the bills. Maybe I get to get to I have a thing for boots. My wife will tell you, I buy too many boots. She's probably right. So like, in addition to me getting a new pair of boots, but what does it do for me personally, like, as a person? How's it, uh, advanced my own journey, my own destination? People, quote, like, Crazy Horse. If they don't know who Crazy Horse was, from the American point of view, they say, well, he's like, hoka hey, it's a good day to die. Like, he's gonna charge out there on the battlefield and but that's not what it was. That's only like half of the quote, because… Tim  36:03I think [who?] from Star Trek, said that. But what did Crazy Horse actually say? Harold  36:10He said, hoka hey, today is a good day to die, because all is well with the world. And the Stoney Nakoda, because they're, they're, they're Nakoda Sioux, they say Âba wathtech , and that's their greeting, and it means hello, today is a good day. I think it's implied all is well with the world. So what that means is, like for you inside, is everything well, in the sense that, if you were to die, would you feel that there are unresolved issues? And so really, then your attention, for me, that exercise brings me to like, okay, what are those unresolved issues and I gotta address those. Sometimes they're scary, sometimes they're hard, but it's just like sitting in that sweat, right? And so, so for me, that's what I would leave. And the question I'd post to the next guest. Tim  36:53How is what you're doing? How is it filling your bucket that is something that I can relate to, I'm really passionate about. You know, often when I'm working with executives, etc, you know, one of the things when we're we're looking at career, when we're looking at where they are, is to have them focus on, from a career perspective, what is the best day of the last year you're ever going to work look like? And are you heading towards that as a reality? And then more generally, are you in balance in your life? Right? Like, are you are do you feel like you're where you belong? And do you feel like that you've got this beautiful flow going on that you have enough sense of control or stability and you still have the right types of excitement and anxiety and those things, I feel like we've just scratched the surface here, Harold. So one thing I want us to do is is stay up to date on your grant and your research project, and want to make sure that when that gets rolling, you come back and we and we talk about that. Harold  37:59Perfect. Sounds great. Tim  38:00Yeah, I think that would be great. And in the meantime, if people wanted to reach out to you, if they wanted to, if they wanted to experience what I experienced, or if they were interested in the confluence, where can they find they you? Harold  38:14They can go to the confluences the website, and I think it's www.theconfluence.ca or something, or just Google “the confluence Calgary”. Tim  38:23Sure, we'll put that link up in the show notes. Harold  38:25Yeah,if you want to get in touch with me, please reach out on LinkedIn: Harold Horsefall. Tim  38:29right on, lots of exciting things coming up for you. Thank you very much for dropping the question for our next guest. Harold Horsfall, it was just an absolute treat to have you on. Harold  38:39Thank you, Tim. Tim  38:29I can't wait till we can meet at that conference together. I'm really itching to get there. Harold  38:45Sounds great. Tim  38:46Thank you so much for listening to Sweet on Leadership. If you found today's podcast valuable, consider visiting our website and signing up for the companion newsletter. You can find the link in the show notes. If like us, you think it important to bring new ideas and skills into the practice of leadership, please give us a positive rating and review on Apple podcasts. This helps us spread the word to other committed leaders, and you can spread the word too by sharing this with your friends, teams, and colleagues. Thanks again for listening, and be sure to tune in in two weeks time for another episode of Sweet on Leadership. In the meantime, I'm your host. Tim Sweet encouraging you to keep on leading.

Common Prayer Daily
The Second Sunday After Christmas

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2025 17:29


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.John 1:14 Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Jubilate (Psalm 100)Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia.Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *serve the Lord with gladnessand come before his presence with a song.Know this: The Lord himself is God; *he himself has made us, and we are his;we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.Enter his gates with thanksgiving;go into his courts with praise; *give thanks to him and call upon his Name.For the Lord is good;his mercy is everlasting; *and his faithfulness endures from age to age.Alleluia. To us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 661Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Psalm 671May God be merciful to us and bless us, *show us the light of his countenance and come to us.2Let your ways be known upon earth, *your saving health among all nations.3Let the peoples praise you, O God; *let all the peoples praise you.4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *for you judge the peoples with equityand guide all the nations upon earth.5Let the peoples praise you, O God; *let all the peoples praise you.6The earth has brought forth her increase; *may God, our own God, give us his blessing.7May God give us his blessing, *and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEcclus. 3:3-9,14-17 (NRSV)A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.Those who honour their father atone for sins,   and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.Those who honour their father will have joy in their own children,   and when they pray they will be heard.Those who respect their father will have long life,   and those who honour their mother obey the Lord;   they will serve their parents as their masters.Honour your father by word and deed,   that his blessing may come upon you.For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children,   but a mother's curse uproots their foundations.For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,   and will be credited to you against your sins;in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favour;   like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,   and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord. My child, perform your tasks with humility;   then you will be loved by those whom God accepts. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. 1 John 2:12-17A Reading from the First Letter of John.I am writing to you, little children,        because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.    I am writing to you, fathers,        because you know him who is from the beginning.    I am writing to you, young men,        because you have overcome the evil one.    I write to you, children,        because you know the Father.    I write to you, fathers,        because you know him who is from the beginning.    I write to you, young men,        because you are strong,        and the word of God abides in you,        and you have overcome the evil one.              Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. John 6:41-47A Reading from the Gospel According to John.So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsCollect of the DayO God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Reflections
Wednesday of the Second Week in Advent

Reflections

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 4:25


December 11, 2024Today's Reading: 1 John 5:1-21Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 28:14-29; 1 John 5:1-21; 2 John 1-13, 3 John 1-15I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the closing words of St. John's first epistle, he makes it clear why he has written: he wants all who believe in Jesus to know they have eternal life. What great words of encouragement! He also assures Christians that eternal life through Jesus is the Gift of God and that all who believe have been born of God. The action is from Him to us. Salvation is not something we accomplish or deserve. God gives it freely because He wants us to share in the eternal life won for us by Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world. Alleluia!With bold and beautiful words, John says: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” While every Christian happily agrees with the first part of that statement, a lot of people chafe at the second part. “Too exclusive,” they say. “That might offend people.” Indeed, it will. It always has.A lot of people today don't like this kind of talk. It bothers them to think that some people will not have life. “How can John say that people who do not have Jesus do not have life? What fault is it of theirs that they don't know Jesus?” They would accuse Christians of being intolerant. But John is not writing to offend; he is merely stating a fact.Think of it this way (and this analogy is not original): Suppose the building you are in is engulfed in flames, and your life is in imminent danger. Fortunately, you know the way to the front door, so you call out to everyone else, “Follow me! I know how to get out of here.” To this, someone responds, “You go ahead; I'm going out the back door.” But you just came from that way, and you know that no one can get out the back. So you insist, “Please! We don't have much time. We've got to make it to the front!” In that situation, you are not insisting on your way because you are arrogant; you are insisting because you know the other people are in trouble and you want to help. Jesus is the only way to the Father. By God's grace, you have Him as your Savior. By man's stubbornness, some resist Him and insist on another way even though God wants them to be saved. Those who resist need our prayers and our loving concern. They do not need an unclear message that says one way is as good as another. Jesus is still the only way. Thank God we have been given life in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.You are the way, the truth, the life; Grant us that way to know, That truth to keep, that life to win Whose joys eternal flow. (LSB 526:4)-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.

Common Prayer Daily
Wednesday - Proper 23

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 16:56


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsJonah 1:17-2:10English Standard Version17  And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.2 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,    and he answered me;out of the belly of Sheol I cried,    and you heard my voice.3 For you cast me into the deep,    into the heart of the seas,    and the flood surrounded me;all your waves and your billows    passed over me.4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away    from your sight;yet I shall again look    upon your holy temple.'5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;    the deep surrounded me;weeds were wrapped about my head6     at the roots of the mountains.I went down to the land    whose bars closed upon me forever;yet you brought up my life from the pit,    O Lord my God.7 When my life was fainting away,    I remembered the Lord,and my prayer came to you,    into your holy temple.8 Those who pay regard to vain idols    forsake their hope of steadfast love.9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving    will sacrifice to you;what I have vowed I will pay.    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting.Acts 27:9-26English Standard Version9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages AV. Show us your mercy, O Lord;R. And grant us your salvation.V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; R. Let your people sing with joy.V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;R. For only in you can we live in safety. V. Lord, keep this nation under your care;R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth.V. Let your way be known upon earth;R. Your saving health among all nations.V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.V. Create in us clean hearts, O God;R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.   The CollectsProper 23Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Empowering Single Moms
Breaking Free And Bringing Negative Thoughts Into Captivity

Empowering Single Moms

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 35:08


1. The first step is to be aware of your struggles. Acknowledge we all have struggles and that you are not alone. That the enemy wants us to believe his lie. We let pride get in the way and then we suffer in silence walking around with a mask. Fake to be okay when we really are not okay but that's where the enemy wants us to be. Romans 12:1-2Father, I present my body to You as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to You, which is my spiritual service of worship. I will not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what the will of God is.I Corinthians 2:16I have the mind of Christ; therefore I can know the thoughts of my Lord that He may instruct me.Ephesians 4:23-24I am renewed in the spirit of my mind and I put on the new self, which in the likeness of God, has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.II Timothy 1:7Father, I thank You that I do not have a spirit of fear, but I have a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of a sound, strong, firm, safe, stable and disciplined mind which produces Godly thoughts.I Corinthians 13:7I set my mind to believe, bear, hope, and endure all things.Colossians 3:2I set my mind on things above, not on things on the earth.Joshua 1:5-9I am strong and courageous, I will not fear or tremble or be dismayed. God's Word will never stop being spoken out of my mouth, for I meditate on the Word of God day and night and I am careful to do all that God commands, therefore success and prosperity are mine now!Isaiah 54:14, 17I am established in righteousness. I am far from oppression in my mind; and fear and terror will not come near me to control me. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that accuses me in judgment shall be shown to be in the wrong.Colossians 3:15I let the peace of God rule in my heart and mind and I am thankful to God in all things.Philippians 4:7-8Father, I thank You that the peace of God, which surpasses all knowledge, is guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I command my mind to dwell only on that which is true, honorable, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise.I Corinthians 2:16I have the mind of Christ.

Audacity Works
Episode 85: The Birthday Episode- More thoughts on Aging

Audacity Works

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 21:43


I turned 42!  So I thought it was a good time to respond to a request episode from my girl Rachel on the gram' about aging, birthday rituals, and midlife crises!  Hooray!  :)What you'll hear:What my experience of turning 40 was like 5:25My thoughts on midlife crises 6:40What to do when 20 year olds complain about being scared about being old 8:00What I'm noticing about aging in myself 11:00The most challenging aspects of aging from where I'm sitting 12:55A birthday ritual that you can do (and you can do it at any time)  17:15I would LOVE to hear from you about what you might want to learn from me as a tiny birthday ask:  https://forms.gle/oin5NLdG2bYE8gaUADon't go back to sleep.xoRachelSign up here for monthly blasts and functional wooFind me on InstagramSupport this podcast on Patreon

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons
Friends with God - 5.5.24 The Rev. Andrew Walmisley, Ph.D.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 17:40


Sixth Sunday of Easter The Collect: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. First Lesson: Acts 10:44-48 44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days. Psalm: Psalm 98 1 Sing to the Lord a new song, *        for he has done marvelous things. 2 With his right hand and his holy arm *        has he won for himself the victory. 3 The Lord has made known his victory; *        his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations. 4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *        and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 5 Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *        lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing. 6 Sing to the Lord with the harp, *        with the harp and the voice of song. 7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn *        shout with joy before the King, the Lord. 8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *        the lands and those who dwell therein. 9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *        and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,        when he comes to judge the earth. 10 In righteousness shall he judge the world *        and the peoples with equity. Epistle: 1 John 5:1-6 1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. Gospel: John 15:9-17 9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you.15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons
Mothering Energy - 5.12.24 Mother's of St. Columba's

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 19:38


Seventh Sunday of Easter The Collect: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. First Lesson: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16“Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—17for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. Psalm: Psalm 1 1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *        nor lingered in the way of sinners,        nor sat in the seats of the scornful! 2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *        and they meditate on his law day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,    bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *        everything they do shall prosper. 4 It is not so with the wicked; *        they are like chaff which the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *        nor the sinner in the council of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *        but the way of the wicked is doomed. Epistle: 1 John 5:9-13 9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Gospel: John 17:6-19 6”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons
God in the Hands of an Angry Sinner - 6.9.24 The Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, Ph.D.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 23:09


Third Sunday after Pentecost Feast of St. Columba's The Collect:  O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 8:4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15) 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to the Lord, 7and the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. 9Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” 10So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; [12and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers.] 15He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. 16He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work. 17He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”19But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us, 20so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.” [14Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.” 15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal. There they sacrificed offerings of well-being before the Lord, and there Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.] Psalm: Psalm 138 1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *        before the gods I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple    and praise your Name, *        because of your love and faithfulness; 3 For you have glorified your Name *        and your word above all things. 4 When I called, you answered me; *        you increased my strength within me. 5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *        when they have heard the words of your mouth. 6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *        that great is the glory of the Lord. 7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *        he perceives the haughty from afar. 8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *        you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;        your right hand shall save me. 9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *        O Lord, your love endures for ever;        do not abandon the works of your hands. Old Testament: Genesis 3:8-15 8They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”10He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Psalm: Psalm 130 1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;    Lord, hear my voice; *        let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication. 2 If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *        O Lord, who could stand? 3 For there is forgiveness with you; *        therefore you shall be feared. 4 I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *        in his word is my hope. 5 My soul waits for the Lord,    more than watchmen for the morning, *        more than watchmen for the morning. 6 O Israel, wait for the Lord, *        for with the Lord there is mercy; 7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *        and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 13But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke” —we also believe, and so we speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.15Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. 28“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” 31Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” 33And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Battle4Freedom
Battle4Freedom-20240529 - doing Torah time VI - Everything has Consequences

Battle4Freedom

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 60:00


doing Torah time VI - Everything has ConsequencesWebsite: http://www.battle4freedom.com/studio/?dtt-allconsequencesNetwork: https://www.mojo50.comStreaming: https://www.rumble.com/Battle4FreedomConfronting the Temptershttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+12%3A14&version=CJBEcclesiastes 12:14For G_d will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A14&version=CJBGenesis 3:14Adonai, G_d, said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A15&version=CJBGenesis 3:15I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A16&version=CJBGenesis 3:16aTo the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A16&version=CJBGenesis 3:16bYour desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you."Confronting the Leadershttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A17&version=CJBGenesis 3:17To Adam he said, "Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, 'You are not to eat from it,' https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A17-19&version=CJBGenesis 3:17-19the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground — for you were taken out of it: you are dust, and you will return to dust."https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A20&version=CJBGenesis 3:20The man called his wife Havah [life], because she was the mother of all living.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A21&version=CJBGenesis 3:21Adonai, G_d, made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.Protecting Humanityhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A22-24&version=CJBGenesis 3:22-24Adonai, G_d, said, "See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, to prevent his putting out his hand and taking also from the tree of life, eating, and living forever — " therefore Adonai, G_d, sent him out of the garden of 'Eden to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So he drove the man out, and he placed at the east of the garden of 'Eden the k'ruvim and a flaming sword which turned in every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Common Prayer Daily
Third Friday of Easter

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 19:22


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________EasterIf then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Christ our PassoverPascha Nostrum - BCP p. 83Alleluia.Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia. Psalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsExod. 24:1-18Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance. Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him." Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do." And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel. He sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed oxen as offerings of well-being to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, "See the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. God did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction." So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them." Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 21. You are GodTe Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord; we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory,the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us freeyou did not shun the Virgin's womb.You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people,bought with the price of your own blood,and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Col 2:8-23See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 16. The Song of ZechariahBenedictus Dominus Deus - Luke 1: 68-79Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old,that he would save us from our enemies, *from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers *and to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,Free to worship him without fear, *holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,To give his people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Third Sunday in EasterO God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionLet us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.Ephesians 3:20,21

Common Prayer Daily
The Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent - Morning Prayer

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 17:27


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________LentJesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”Mark 8:34 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. LentThe Lord is full of compassion and mery: Come let us adore him.Venite Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord is full of compassion and mery: Come let us adore him. Psalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsExodus 3:1-15English Standard Version3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, ‘What is his name?' what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.'” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Penitence(Kyrie Pantokrator)O Lord and Ruler of the hosts of heaven, * God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,and of all their righteous offspring:You made the heavens and the earth, * with all their vast array.All things quake with fear at your presence; * they tremble because of your power.But your merciful promise is beyond all measure; * it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.O Lord, you are full of compassion, * long-suffering, and abounding in mercy.You hold back your hand; *you do not punish as we deserve.In your great goodness, Lord,you have promised forgiveness to sinners, * that they may repent of their sin and be saved.And now, O Lord, I bend the knee of my heart, * and make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, * and I know my wickedness only too well.Therefore I make this prayer to you: * Forgive me, Lord, forgive me.Do not let me perish in my sin, * nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, * and in me you will show forth your goodness.Unworthy as I am, you will save me, in accordance with your great mercy, * and I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life.For all the powers of heaven sing your praises, * and yours is the glory to ages of ages. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19English Standard Version12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Praise(Benedictus es, Domine Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34)Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; * you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; * on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; * in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Fifth Sunday in LentAlmighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Grace Christian Fellowship
5 Keys to Success in Ministry (& Life) | 1 Timothy 4:11-16

Grace Christian Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 34:54


Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: 5 Keys to Success in Ministry (& Life)Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:11-16 NIV Bottom line: “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Persevering in them will lead to success in ministry (and in life).Alt. Bottom Line: We succeed in ministry through Christlike character and competency.Competencies that include:The WordGifted nessDiligence, andBalanceINTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDINTRODUCTIONIllustration or storyLife-Changing Words by Nicky GumbelMy father wanted to go to Russia before he died. We went there on holiday as a family. At that time Bibles were strictly illegal there. I took with me some Russian Bibles. While I was there I went to churches and looked for people who seemed to be genuine Christians. (Church meetings were often infiltrated by the KGB.)On one occasion, I followed a man down the street after a service. I went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. There was nobody about. I took out one of my Bibles and handed it to him. For a moment, he had an expression of utmost disbelief. Then he took from his pocket a New Testament, which was probably 100 years old. The pages were so threadbare they were virtually transparent. When he realised that he had received a whole Bible, he was elated. He didn't speak any English and I didn't speak any Russian. But we hugged each other and he started to run up and down the street jumping for joy.CONTEXTTimothy seems to be where he doesn't really want to be right now.Church didn't call him.Elder leaders don't think he's seasoned enough.And yet Paul sends him to “Guard the treasure” for the sake of the Church's mission.In ministry and in life, we guard the treasure of the gospel (truth and godliness) successfully by growing in Christlike character and the following competencies:The wordGiftedness DiligenceBalanceBut it all starts with and is built on character. Rick Warren showed me this using his famous baseball diamond illustration. First base is fellowship (knowing Christ), second base is discipleship (growing in Christ) which is where character formation begins, third base is ministry (serving as the hands and feet of Christ), and home is mission (Sharing Christ). You'll notice that ministry or competency (third base) is built on the foundation of second base (character) which is built on knowing God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.Yeah, it all starts with Christlike character which is a fruit of the Spirit of God that we receive at salvation. SERMON OUTLINE (based on Hughes' outline):Successful Ministry requires us to grow in Christlike character and competency—Becoming and Doing like Christ:I. Successful ministry assumes that you are eating and exercising spiritually. A. Diet—word of God (1 Tim 4:78-)B. Exercise—training to remain/abide in Christ (cf. John 15:1-5)C. Note that in v. 11 Paul urges Timothy to “Command and teach these things.”II. Successful ministry happens through personal godliness/Christlike character. (V. 12) Note Paul's 5-fold godliness description:A. Through speechB. Through conductC. Through loveD. Through faithE. Through purity—John goes on to describe the completed church in heaven – their *purity* and their *power*. The two are connected. As Pastor Rick Warren has tweeted, ‘In ministry, *private purity* is the source of *public power*.'F. Note that he starts with the observable and moves to the inner life. G. Paul seems to understand that when we are challenged in our leadership our first impulse/response is to speak when we should listen and act when we should be still.III. Successful ministry happens through the Word (v. 13)A. Public reading of scripture“When a church ceases to be in touch with another world, she is no longer in touch with this one.” -someone, heard from J Vernon McGeeB. Preaching—exhortation to obey, imitate, or apply the Word to your lifeC. Teaching—explanation and doctrinal instruction More than devotional thoughtsMore like boundaries, wisdom and truths to base your faith on when you're tempted to doubt e.g. What is God like?IV. Successful ministry happens through personal giftedness. (V. 14)A. Not talking about talents or abilities here, though they are relevant. B. Talking about spiritual gifting that comes with the Holy Spirit when we are born again. When we are spiritually born, we get birthday gifts:New life/new creation or spiritual birthday where we are immersed (baptized) by the HSPresence of the Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing he'll finish what he's startedFruit of the Spirit (builds character)Gift(s) of the Spirit (points to our ministry or spiritual strengths)Everyone has at least oneNo one has them allSee Romans 12, 1 Cor 12, and Eph 4:11-12 for a partial list of spiritual giftsV. Successful ministry happens through diligence. (v. 15)A. DietB. Train hard. Hard work. VI. Successful ministry happens through balance. (V. 16)A. Note the balance in this verse. “Godly people are God-fearing people. They have experienced the Copernican revolution of Christian conversion from self-centeredness to God-centeredness..” -John StottLife (how you live) andDoctrine (what you believe) What you believe determines how you live and How you live demonstrates what you (really) believeI.e. Faith matters in life—not just in the afterlife.B. Note how this verse summarizes successful ministry: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”“Yourself” (character)“Teaching” (word & gifting)“Persevere in them” (diligence)Balance seen in summary formC. Find Your Balance by Nicky GumbelMy body is so inflexible. I was told once by a professional fitness trainer, who happened to notice the way I was walking, that I was one of the worst cases of stiffness he had ever come across. I am now trying to do more stretching! I had considered myself reasonably fit (for my age!), as a result of still playing squash and biking everywhere. But in other ways, I realised I am not. Physical fitness is a balance of strength, flexibility, aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Some people are exceptionally strong but cannot even run to catch a bus. Others are aerobically very fit (they could run a marathon), but are not very strong. However, spiritual fitness is far more important than physical fitness. It also involves balancing a number of areas of your life.CONCLUSIONSt. Patrick's Day. It's always been--and never been--a holiday for me. It hasn't been a holiday for me because I don't partake in the typical Irish revelry. No interest there. It has been a holiday for me in that I tend to wear green that day and engage in the silly banter around that tradition. But I've never really taken the holiday marking the death of St. Patrick seriously. But that's changing.The more I learn about this disciple-making saint, the more I like him. Like Joseph, son of Jacob, he was sold into slavery--this time to the Irish barbarians. After six years of servitude, he escaped eventually making it back to his British homeland. It's at age 48--my age this year--that he receives a "Macedonian call," similar to Paul in Acts, to go share the Gospel with the Irish. He gathers a team and does just that for the next thirty years. As a result, the Irish move from a pagan culture to a Christian one.He used methods that were controversial, to say the least, in the church in that day. He didn't focus on converts but on making disciple-makers. He emphasized holy-living while planting 200 churches. He used methods that focused on implanting Christ into the Irish culture instead of paving a Romanized Christ overtop of that culture. A movement was born, as a result.I pray that we'll see that as our missional mandate--to take Christ to our culture in a way that results in a movement that redeems that culture instead of destroying it. What a legacy St. Patrick has. I hope I leave a legacy like his. Bottom line: “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Persevering in them will lead to success in ministry (and in life).PrayNOTESLet's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. 5 keys to success in ministry (and life)Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. So that they'll examine their life Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Make adjustments and surrender to his way.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. So they'll stay true to Christ and carry out his mission.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Prayerfully examine their life and obey the word.OUTLINESOutline Bible (Willmington)SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (1 TIMOTHY 4)Paul contrasts two kinds of shepherds.1. GODLESS SHEPHERDS (4:1-5): Paul warns Timothy against false teachers.II. GODLY SHEPHERDS (4:6-16): Paul lists some dos and don'ts concerning Christian ministry.A. The don'ts (4:7a, 12a, 14)1. Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths (4:7a).2. Don't be intimidated because of your youth (4:12a).3. Don't neglect your spiritual gift (4:14).B. The dos (4:6, 7b-11, 12b-13, 15-16)1. Warn the church members concerning apostasy (4:6).2. Keep spiritually fit (4:7b-11).3. Be a godly role model in all you do (4:12b).4. Continue to publicly read, teach, and preach the Word of God (4:13).5. Give yourself wholly to the ministry (4:15).6. Keep close check on your own life (4:16).BKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. …C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Common Prayer Daily
The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Evening Prayer

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2024 16:31


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________LentLet my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141:2 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 116Dilexi, quoniam1I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.2The cords of death entangled me;the grip of the grave took hold of me; *I came to grief and sorrow.3Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”4Gracious is the Lord and righteous; *our God is full of compassion.5The Lord watches over the innocent; *I was brought very low, and he helped me.6Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *for the Lord has treated you well.7For you have rescued my life from death, *my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.8I will walk in the presence of the Lord *in the land of the living.9I believed, even when I said,“I have been brought very low.” *In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”10How shall I repay the Lord *for all the good things he has done for me?11I will lift up the cup of salvation *and call upon the Name of the Lord.12I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people.13Precious in the sight of the Lord *is the death of his servants.14O Lord, I am your servant; *I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;you have freed me from my bonds.15I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *and call upon the Name of the Lord.16I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people,17In the courts of the Lord's house, *in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.Hallelujah! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsIsaiah 55English Standard Version55 “Come, everyone who thirsts,    come to the waters;and he who has no money,    come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk    without money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,    and delight yourselves in rich food.3 Incline your ear, and come to me;    hear, that your soul may live;and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,    my steadfast, sure love for David.4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,    a leader and commander for the peoples.5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,    and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,    for he has glorified you.6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;    call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake his way,    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven    and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;    it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.12 “For you shall go out in joy    and be led forth in peace;the mountains and the hills before you    shall break forth into singing,    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;and it shall make a name for the Lord,    an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. John 6:41-51English Standard Version41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Fourth Sunday in LentGracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

Grace Christian Fellowship
How to Stay True to Christ | 1 Timothy 4:1-10

Grace Christian Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2024 43:21


Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: How to stay true to ChristScripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-10 NIV John 15:1-5 “train to remain”Bottom Line: We stay true to the faith by training to remain in Christ.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDINTRODUCTIONHow to Avoid the Titanic MistakeJames Cameron, director of the movie Titanic, describes the Titanic as a ‘metaphor' of life: ‘We are all living on… [the] Titanic.'When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared to be ‘unsinkable' because it was constructed using a new technology. The ship's hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still the ship would float.Tragically, the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 at 2.20 am. 1,513 people lost their lives. At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg.However, on 1 September 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship's hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest.Many people make the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different ‘compartments' and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom I have taken this illustration) says, ‘A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.'David prayed for ‘an undivided heart' (Psalm 86:11). He led the people with ‘integrity of heart' (78:72). Supremely, Jesus was a ‘man of integrity' (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14). How can you and I avoid the Titanic mistake and live lives of integrity?How do stay true to Christ (godliness) and overcome false teachings?Proper diet + exerciseCONTEXTFalse teachers are intentionally wreaking havoc on the Ephesians church. That's the context for this letter. There are issues in the church at Ephesus and Paul can't be there to straighten things out. So he sent Timothy in his place to straighten things out until he can get there. This letter represents his instructions to Timothy to help him do just that.“If I were preaching a sermon specifically on 1 Timothy 3:14-16, the main topic would likely revolve around the significance of the church as the guardian of truth and the mystery of godliness centered on Jesus Christ. I would focus on how these verses highlight the importance of understanding and upholding the core beliefs of Christianity while recognizing the profound nature of Christ's life, message, and exaltation.” -ChatGPT 3.5We guard the treasure of the gospel (truth and godliness) by:Sermon Outline (by Hughes):Remaining true to Christ and godliness requires:Diet for Godliness (6-7a)Reject bad doctrineDine on good teachingExercise for Godliness (7b-10)Called to exerciseBenefits of exerciseCONCLUSIONLife-Changing WordsNicky GumbelMy father wanted to go to Russia before he died. We went there on holiday as a family. At that time Bibles were strictly illegal there. I took with me some Russian Bibles. While I was there I went to churches and looked for people who seemed to be genuine Christians. (Church meetings were often infiltrated by the KGB.)On one occasion, I followed a man down the street after a service. I went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. There was nobody about. I took out one of my Bibles and handed it to him. For a moment, he had an expression of utmost disbelief. Then he took from his pocket a New Testament, which was probably 100 years old. The pages were so threadbare they were virtually transparent. When he realised that he had received a whole Bible, he was elated. He didn't speak any English and I didn't speak any Russian. But we hugged each other and he started to run up and down the street jumping for joy.The words of God are ‘more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb' (Psalm 19:10).Why are the words of God so precious? Jesus said: ‘People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4). The original expression means ‘is continually coming out of the mouth of God'; it is like a stream pouring forth and, like the stream of a fountain, it is never static. God is continually communicating with us. He does so, primarily, through the life-changing words of the Bible.Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 41 • DevotionalBottom Line: We stay true to the faith by training to remain in Christ.In conclusion, let's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. How to stay true to Christ.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because there are false teachers out there trying to derail our faith.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Train to remain in Christ.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. So they'll stay true to Christ.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Prayerfully read the Bible each day.PrayNOTESToo busy to pray and be in the word?This call is for all of us who know Christ—regardless of how busy we are or how demanding our occupation. Billy Graham has shared that his medical missionary father-in-law Nelson Bell (who ran a 400-bed hospital in China, often on his own) made it a point "to rise every morning at four-thirty and spend two to three hours in Bible reading. He didn't do his correspondence or any of his other work. He just read the Scriptures every morning, and he was a walking Bible encyclopedia. People wondered at the holiness and the greatness in his life." I asked a personal friend, Dr. Ken Gieser, who worked with Dr. Bell, about this, and he affirmed every word. Consider the example of Lt. General William K. Harrison who was the most decorated soldier in the 30th Infantry Division, rated by General Eisenhower as the number one infantry division in World War II. General Harrison was the first American to enter Belgium during that war, which he did at the head of the Allied forces. He received every decoration for valor except the Congressional Medal of Honor-being honored with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart he was one of the few generals to be wounded in action).When the Korean War began, he served as Chief of Staff in the United Nations Command and because of his character and calm self-control was ultimately President Eisenhower's choice to head the long and tedious negotiations to end the war.General Harrison was a soldier's soldier who led a busy, ultra-kinetic life, but he was also an amazing man of the Word. When he was a twenty-year-old West Point cadet, he began reading the Old Testament through once and the New Testament four times annually. General Harrison did this until the end of his life. Even in the thick of war he maintained his commitment by catching up during the two- and three-day respites for replacement and refitting that followed battles, so that when the war ended he was right on schedule. When at the age of ninety his failing eyesight no longer permitted this discipline, he had read the Old Testament seventy times and the New Testament 280 times! No wonder his godliness and wisdom were proverbial. It is no surprise that the Lord used him for eighteen fruitful years to lead Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF)."General Harrison's story tells us that it is possible, even for the busiest of us, to systematically train ourselves in God's Word. His life also remains a demonstration of the benefits of a godly mind's programming itself with Scripture. His closest associates say that every area of his life (domestic, spiri-wal, and professional) and each of the great problems he faced was informed by the Scriptures. People marveled at his godliness and his ability to bring the Word's light to every are marveleOUTLINESOutline Bible (Willmington)SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (1 TIMOTHY 4)Paul contrasts two kinds of shepherds.1. GODLESS SHEPHERDS (4:1-5): Paul warns Timothy against false teachers.A. Who they are (4:2): Hypocritical and lying religious leaders.B. What they will do (4:1b-1c, 3)1. Abandon the faith (4:1b)2. Follow teachings that come from lying spirits and demons (4:1 c)3. Forbid marriage and the eating of certain foods (4:3)C. When they will do it (4:1 a): In the "last times" before Jesus' coming.D. Why they are wrong (4:4-5)1. Everything God created is good and thus should not be rejected (4:4).2. Everything God created is made holy by God's Word and by prayer (4:5).II. GODLY SHEPHERDS (4:6-16): Paul lists some dos and don'ts concerning Christian ministry.A. The don'ts (4:7a, 12a, 14)1. Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths (4:7a).2. Don't be intimidated because of your youth (4:12a).3. Don't neglect your spiritual gift (4:14).B. The dos (4:6, 7b-11, 12b-13, 15-16)1. Warn the church members concerning apostasy (4:6).2. Keep spiritually fit (4:7b-11).3. Be a godly role model in all you do (4:12b).4. Continue to publicly read, teach, and preach the Word of God (4:13).5. Give yourself wholly to the ministry (4:15).6. Keep close check on your own life (4:16).BKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. The church and its truth (3:14–16)B. Predictions of apostasy (4:1–5)C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)1. In dress (2:9–10)2. In behavior (2:11–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13)1. Pastors (3:1–7)2. Deacons (3:8–13)D. Behaving believers (3:14–16)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons
Into the Desert - 2.18.24 The Rev. Andrew Walmisley, Ph.D.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2024 15:59


First Sunday in Lent The Collect: Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: Genesis 9:8-17 8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Psalm: Psalm 25:1-9 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;   my God, I put my trust in you; *        let me not be humiliated,        nor let my enemies triumph over me. 2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; *        let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. 3 Show me your ways, O Lord, *        and teach me your paths. 4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, *        for you are the God of my salvation;        in you have I trusted all the day long. 5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *        for they are from everlasting. 6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *        remember me according to your love        and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord. 7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; *        therefore he teaches sinners in his way. 8 He guides the humble in doing right *        and teaches his way to the lowly. 9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *        to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Epistle: 1 Peter 3:18-22 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Grace Christian Fellowship
Who Guards the Truth and How? | 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Grace Christian Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2024 36:49


Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: Who Guards the Truth & How?Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16 NIV Bottom Line: We guard the treasure by showing up living the truth, sharing the truth and exalting the Truth the rest of our lives.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDINTRODUCTIONSometimes my wife Anita sends me to the store to pick up something she needs to prepare dinner. If she just needs one or two things, I don't usually write it down. If it gets longer than three things, or if branding and size become an issue, I will write it down. My chance of getting back home with the correct thing is exponentially more likely if I write it down than if I don't. But being a man, I tend to want to not write it down. It's ironic, I think, that Paul wrote down instructions for Timothy to follow and actually believed that Timothy would follow his instructions. Especially considering that we men don't love to follow instructions. And, yet, we have the letter 1 Timothy, because a man wrote down the instructions for another man to follow. Isn't God good? CONTEXTAnd that's the context for this letter. There are issues in the church at Ephesus and Paul can't be there to straighten things out. So he sent Timothy in his place to straighten things out until he can get there. This letter represents his instructions to Timothy to help him do just that.“If I were preaching a sermon specifically on 1 Timothy 3:14-16, the main topic would likely revolve around the significance of the church as the guardian of truth and the mystery of godliness centered on Jesus Christ. I would focus on how these verses highlight the importance of understanding and upholding the core beliefs of Christianity while recognizing the profound nature of Christ's life, message, and exaltation.” -ChatGPT 3.5We guard the treasure of the gospel (truth and godliness) by:SERMON OUTLINE I. We are the church who guards the treasureThe household of GodThe church of the living GodThe pillar andFoundation of truth (the treasure)II. We guard the treasure/truth byShowing up and living the truthProclaiming the truthExalting the truthCONCLUSIONBottom Line: We guard the treasure by showing up living the truth, sharing the truth and exalting the Truth the rest of our lives.In conclusion, let's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. Who guards the truth in these last days?Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because it's us—we are guardians of the truth.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. 1. Guard the truth byShowing up and living the truthProclaiming the truthExalting the truthQ. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because that's our job as guardians of the truth.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. 1. Show up #incarnationShare #proclamationWorship/live 24/7 #glorification/exaltation PrayNOTESNoneOUTLINESBKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. The church and its truth (3:14–16)B. Predictions of apostasy (4:1–5)C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)1. In dress (2:9–10)2. In behavior (2:11–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13)1. Pastors (3:1–7)2. Deacons (3:8–13)D. Behaving believers (3:14–16)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Common Prayer Daily
The Thursday in the Second Week of Lent - Evening Prayer

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 16:22


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________LentLet my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.Psalm 141:2 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 66Jubilate Deo1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsJeremiah 5:20-31English Standard Version20 Declare this in the house of Jacob;    proclaim it in Judah:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people,    who have eyes, but see not,    who have ears, but hear not.22 Do you not fear me? declares the Lord.    Do you not tremble before me?I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea,    a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass;though the waves toss, they cannot prevail;    though they roar, they cannot pass over it.23 But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;    they have turned aside and gone away.24 They do not say in their hearts,    ‘Let us fear the Lord our God,who gives the rain in its season,    the autumn rain and the spring rain,and keeps for us    the weeks appointed for the harvest.'25 Your iniquities have turned these away,    and your sins have kept good from you.26 For wicked men are found among my people;    they lurk like fowlers lying in wait.They set a trap;    they catch men.27 Like a cage full of birds,    their houses are full of deceit;therefore they have become great and rich;28     they have grown fat and sleek.They know no bounds in deeds of evil;    they judge not with justicethe cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper,    and they do not defend the rights of the needy.29 Shall I not punish them for these things?declares the Lord,    and shall I not avenge myself    on a nation such as this?”30 An appalling and horrible thing    has happened in the land:31 the prophets prophesy falsely,    and the priests rule at their direction;my people love to have it so,    but what will you do when the end comes?Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. John 11:17-27English Standard Version17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Second Sunday in Lent (BCP 1979)O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

Grace Christian Fellowship
Who Leads the Church and How? | 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Grace Christian Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2024 47:23


Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: Who leads the Church & how?Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-13 NIV 1 Peter 5:1-3Acts 20:17-31Titus 1:5-9Acts 6:1-7Eph 4:11-12Luke 22:27Bottom Line: When we grow in Christ-like character and competency, we move towards being qualified to lead in the church.SERMON OUTLINENOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroduction“1 Timothy 3 (The Bible Exposition Commentary): As we noted before, even though the church is an organism, it must be organized or it will die. Leadership is a part of spiritual organization” -WWSeveral others I read said that everything rises and falls on leadership. We know this intuitively. We see it in the workplace. We see it in sports. We see it in politics. Great leaders lift everyone else up. And the great leaders aren't just great in competencies. They are great in character. So it should not surprise us that most of God's qualifications for his leaders are based on character. ContextOUTLINE (Based on Wiersbe & Platt)Key theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13) THIS WEEK STARTS HEREThe Bible identifies 2 primary leadership roles in the church:Pastors/elders, who are servant-leaders. (Aka overseers, bishops, shepherds)Presbyter or elder, referring to the person (mature)Pastor or shepherd, referring to their role. (Lead, feed, protect, model)Bishop or overseer, referring to their role. (Watch over, see Pastor) We do not see bishops over elders/pastors in the early church.1-3 are all interchangeable because their all referring to the same person/role.Minister or deacon, referring to those who support the pastor/elder.Deacons, who are leading servants.The Bible identifies 4 responsibilities of pastors/elders: (3:1-7; Acts 20:17-31)Lead under the authority of Christ. #LEADOur pastors/elders are accountable to the church members i.e. Matt 18:15-20Our pastors/elders are accountable to GodCare for the body of Christ. #PROTECT (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Peter 5:2) “be on guard” for “savage wolves” in sheep's clothingTeach the Word of Christ. #FEEDModel the character of Christ. Bottom line: What will happen if the church imitates this leader? #MODEL 3 Responsibilities of Deacons (3:8-13)Meet needs according to the Word.Support the ministry of the Word.Unify the body around the Word.Model the character of Christ is appropriate here to. 1. Pastors (3:1–7)Generally/summarily: “Above reproach” or “blameless” literally “nothing to take hold upon”; irreproachable observable conduct.“Faithful to his wife” literally “one woman man”Can mean one wife for life thus excluding divorced and/or remarried men (in every case though? No)What about the innocent party when the other was unfaithful?Paul allowed a new believer to let their unbelieving spouse leave the marriage Would not exclude widowers who remarry; Paul may not have ever married—wished for followers to be single like he; Paul encouraged young widows to remarryDoes not require marriage but seems to lean in that direction; this tends to take care of itself in that the typical pool of candidates is usually mostly married menPolygamy obviously not okMost likely meaning: Faithful to your current (some would say one and only) wife in every area of life. From porn to adultery, you are faithful. To not be is to be disqualified.Self-masteryTemperate—sober; clear-headedSelf-controlled—sensible; disciplinedRespectable—the outward expression of an inward self-control Hospitality—showing love to strangers (whether a traveling preacher or a needy church attender)Able to teach—specifically, the word of God. This is our authority and we must know it, believe it, and obey it. This is gifting and a skill.Drinking habits—While drinking is not forbidden by scripture, it is treated as the depressant that it is. A depressant that impairs about ability to make good judgments. This is why in the Old TestamentPriests weren't to drink while on dutyKings were discouraged from becoming drunkMagistrates were warned that they would more likely pervert justice under the influenceProphets would struggle to teach under the influenceSo it makes sense that Paul would discourage it to those who lead and teach in the churchTemper and temperamentGentle—humbly gracious and yielded or even submissiveNot violent—not a bully physically or verballyNot quarrelsome—patient with difficult people; not argumentativeAttitude to money—not a lover of money; greedyDomestic disciplineAnalogy between the family and the church family (Oikos = household)If you don't discipline at home well, you won't discipline the church well, if at allSpiritual maturity—not a new believer or pride may take him down; first called “elders” because they were senior in age and mature in faithOutside reputation—the non-Christian public2. Deacons (3:8–13)—these qualifications have a lot of overlap with elders including able to teach, at some levelSelf-masteryWorthy of respectSincere—genuine, authentic, honestNot indulging in much wineNot pursuing dishonest gainOrthodox convictionsThey must keep hold of the deep truths (mysteries or sum total of the revealed truths of the faith) of THE faith (not just any faith) with a clear conscience (as opposed to letting go of these truths like false teachers).Trusting & ObeyingTested and approved—period of probation where the congregation can assess your character, beliefs and gifts of the candidates.Irreproachable home lifeIf a woman deacon or wife of a deaconWorthy of respectNot malicious talkers (gossipers)TemperateTrustworthy in everythingDomestic disciplineFaithful to his wifeManages his household wellIf served well so far they receiveAn excellent standingGreat assurance in their faith in Jesus ChristD. Behaving believers (3:14–16) NEXT WEEK STARTS HEREThe servants of the Church (14-15) -WillmingtonThe Savior of the Church (16) -WillmingtonIII. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)ConclusionBottom Line: When we grow in Christ-like character and competency, we move towards being qualified to lead in the church.Questions to ask elder candidates:In his personal lifeIs he self-controlled?Is he wise?Is he peaceable?Is he gentle?Is he a sacrificial giver?Is he humble?Is he patient?Is he honest?Is he disciplined?In his family lifeIs he the elder/shepherd in his home?If he's single, is he self-controlled?If he's married, is he completely committed to his wife?If he has children, do they honor him?In his social/business lifeIs he kind?Is he hospitable?Is he a friend of strangers?Does he show favoritism?Does he have a blameless reputation (not perfect but above reproach)?In his spiritual lifeIs he making disciplines of all nations?Does he love the Word?Is he a man of prayer?Is he holy?Is he gracious?Questions to ask deacon candidates:Is this person honorable?Is this person genuine?Is this person self-controlled?Is this person a sacrificial giver?Is this person devoted to the Word?Is this person faithful? (Not perfect, but morally pure)Is this person honoring Christ in the home?If a woman, Is she worthy of respect?Is she a malicious talker?Is she temperate and trustworthy in everything?Is she faithful to her husband?In conclusion, let's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. The qualifications for pastors/elders and deacons.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because they are to select their leaders based on these qualifications.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. 1. Choose qualified leaders to lead your church.Become a qualified leader whether you are ever selected or not.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because this is what a true disciple of Jesus Christ looks like and what we're to become over time.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. 1. Take the test yourself. Go through the qualifications and grading yourself.Repent where appropriate and believe that God can transform you into a qualified leader.PrayNOTESElders in the New Testament are tasked with several key duties, including:1. **Spiritual Oversight:** Providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the church community.2. **Teaching and Doctrine:** Instructing and ensuring adherence to sound biblical doctrine.3. **Shepherding the Flock:** Caring for the well-being of the congregation, like a shepherd caring for a flock.4. **Modeling Character:** Demonstrating a godly and mature character for others to follow.5. **Prayer:** Engaging in prayer for the church and its members.6. **Protecting from False Teaching:** Guarding the congregation against false doctrines or teachings.These duties are outlined in passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-5 in the New Testament.OUTLINESBKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)A. Warnings against false teachers (1:3–11)B. Paul's experience of grace (1:12–17)C. Paul's charge to Timothy (1:18–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)A. Instructions concerning prayer (2:1–7)B. Instructions concerning men and women (2:8–15)C. Instructions concerning elders and deacons (3:1–13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. The church and its truth (3:14–16)B. Predictions of apostasy (4:1–5)C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)A. Teaching sound doctrine (1:1–11)B. Preaching a glorious Gospel (1:12–17)C. Defending the faith (1:18–20)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)1. In dress (2:9–10)2. In behavior (2:11–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13)1. Pastors (3:1–7)2. Deacons (3:8–13)D. Behaving believers (3:14–16)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Grace Christian Fellowship
Overcoming Obstacles to Fruitfulness in the Church | 1 Timothy 2:1-15

Grace Christian Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 38:58


Series: Guard the TreasureTitle: Overcoming obstacles to fruitfulness in the churchScripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-15 NIV (More below)Genesis 1:26-27; 2 & 3Bottom Line: We overcome these 3 obstacles to being a fruitful church through pure and peaceful prayer, good deeds, and submitting to God's design for leadership.SERMON OUTLINENOTESOUTLINESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroductionIt's probably not hard to imagine a church where there are men and/or women distorting God's word as they teach or lead their SS class or small group. Maybe you've seen this before.It's not hard to imagine a church where men are arguing over how to lead a church. Where men are not right on the inside and yet trying to lead their family and/or their church family. As a result, they become divisive undermining leadership. Have you experienced this in churches before?It's not hard to imagine women being a distraction in church through immodest, distracting, or even seductive dress. Women who are about drawing attention to themselves. Women who are distracting everyone from the one they came to worship. It's not hard to imagine a church being tempted to change their beliefs, doctrines, and practices because of the pressures of the culture at large. Pressures to change how to lead a church and the roles of men and women. ContextAll of these are being addressed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1-2. Paul is coaching Timothy through how to handle these challenges in the church at Ephesus. My goal today is to help us see how to overcome 3 of these obstacles to fruitfulness in the church. The divisiveness of men, The distraction of women, and The distinct roles of leadership in the local church.My aim is to show how Paul teaches us how to overcome these obstacles to fruitfulness in church. He does so by exhorting us towards:Praying with a pure heart before God and at peace with each other, Adoring God with godliness instead of adorning ourselves as narcissists, andResting in God's design for leadership in the home and the church.OUTLINE (Based on Wiersbe & Platt)LAST WEEKI. The Church and Its Message (1)A. Teaching sound doctrine (1:1–11)B. Preaching a glorious Gospel (1:12–17)C. Defending the faith (1:18–20)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)THIS WEEKIII. To divisive men in the church (2:8)A. Pray with purity before God.B. Pray with peace before others.IV. To distracting women in the church (2:9-10)A. Adorn yourself with modest dress.Do not draw attention to physical beauty. Do not draw attention to worldly wealth.B. Adore God through a Christlike demeanor.V. On the distinctive roles of men and women in the church (2:11-15)A. Two principles:The principle of harmony: We interpret each scripture in light of all scripture.Ex. The Trinity. Bible says that God the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. Yet nowhere does it outright state that. A thorough study of the Bible shows that God is one and that at the same time God relates as 3 persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We use all of scripture to interpret each scripture. There are no contradictions—just apparent contradictions. God is the author of scripture. (2 Tim 3:16)Therefore, it all must be true and not contradict.The principle of history: God has revealed scriptural truth in the context of specific historical and cultural settings.B. Two reminders:God created men and women with equal dignity.God created men and women with complementary roles.For ex. God and Jesus are both God. Therefore, equal.Yet, they have different roles. Father directsSon submitsIn the same way, men and women are equal in value but having differing (complementary) roles in the church.We see this in the home as well. (Eph 5:22-32; Gen 1-3)C. Two prohibitionsWomen should not teach as elders/pastors/overseers in the church.Women should not lead as elders/pastor/overseers in the church.The way elders lead with authority in the church is through humbly, faithfully teaching the church how to obey scripture.When gladly submitted to the elders, women are encouraged to lead out in all other areas of the church. Are there other positions that women should not lead in? Consider 2 questions when wrestling with this:D. Two questionsAs a women teaches/leads, is she reflecting God's pattern in scripture?As a woman teaches/leads, is she reinforcing God's priorities in the home?E. Two reasonsGod's design in Creation: God gives authority to man.Satan's distortion of creation: man abdicates authority to woman.F. Two things we don't know for sureIs 1 Tim 2:15 talking about salvation through the offspring of Eve?Is 2 Tim 2:15 talking about the significance of women nurturing children?G. Two things we know for sureWomen are sanctified as they glorify God in the distinct roles and responsibilities He has entrusted to them.Women are saved not through the birth of a child but through the death of Christ, who died to make us the men and women God created us to be.ApplicationOnly qualified men are to be pastors/elders in the church. Pastors/elders are who regularly teach and preach to the entire church. P/E are who exercises authority in the church regarding church discipline.Some conclude that women should not teach at all. But that is not what this passage nor the NT says. Women are instructed to teach younger women. (Titus 2)Women are instructed along with men and young people to teach others to obey everything that Jesus commanded (Matt 28).Women are able to pray and prophecy in the church service (1 Cor 11 & 14). Women are able to lead and teach in every ministry in the church as long as it does not require her to function as an elder or pastor.Ex. Women should not preach at a church every week. However, I do think that she can, under the authority of the elders/pastors, on occasion. I would say the same about a SS class or home group. It wouldn't be that she would lead her own coed SS class or home group. However, I have no problem with her leading one of those as needed, again, under the authority of the elders/pastors. ConclusionBottom Line: We overcome these 3 obstacles to being a fruitful church through pure and peaceful prayer, good deeds, and submitting to God's design for leadership.In conclusion, let's ask some summary questions:Q. What do I want them to know?A. 3 obstacles to fruitful, godly, holy, true, disciple-making livesQ. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because they are prevalent in our churches today.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Overcome these obstacles to fruitfulness in family and church byPraying with a pure heart before God and at peace with each other, Adoring God with godliness instead of adorning ourselves as narcissists, andResting in God's design for leadership in the home and the church.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. This will lead our homes and churches towards fruitfulness: godly, holy, truth-saturated disciple-making.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. By asking God for the grace to live out this passage each day. PrayNOTESWomen are made after men, out of men, and for men.Other versesGen 1:27 both men and women are made equal in value and in the image of GodGen 2 Woman was created AFTER man, FROM man, and FOR man (helper)Gen 3:1-15 Fall of Adam and Eve; curses; hopeMatthew 28:8-10 First evangelist was Mary MagdaleneMatthew 28:19-20 every disciple is called to “teach them to obey all that I have commanded” by JesusActs 2:17-18 Daughters and women prophesying and dreaming; Peter's explanation after the women in the 120 are preaching the gospel throughout the temple grounds leading 3,000 to faithActs 18:26 Priscilla and Aquila teamed up to teach Apollos to better understand the gospel 1 Cor 11:2-16 Man is the head of woman, Christ is the head of man, God is the head of Christ; men and women pray and prophesy in church; neither is independent from the other1 Cor 14:26 Whenever the church comes together, everyone comes bringing something to offer (men & women)Gal 3:28 both made equal in value and in the image of GodCol 3:16 “Teach and admonish one another” whenever you gather for churchEph 5:21-34 Submission in marriage and in the kingdom 2 Tim 1:5; 3:14 Timothy received instruction from mom and grandmotherTitus 2:3 Older women should teach younger women. (Sounds like women's ministry to me)Heb 5:12 “by this time you ought to be teachers”Don't forget about PriscillaPhoebeJunias Timothy's mother and grandmotherOlder women teaching younger women in Titus 2Church order is consistently founded on family order. Why else would the world be so hostile towards 2 parent families when the studies all back up this wisdom?Elders in the New Testament are tasked with several key duties, including:1. **Spiritual Oversight:** Providing spiritual guidance and leadership to the church community.2. **Teaching and Doctrine:** Instructing and ensuring adherence to sound biblical doctrine.3. **Shepherding the Flock:** Caring for the well-being of the congregation, like a shepherd caring for a flock.4. **Modeling Character:** Demonstrating a godly and mature character for others to follow.5. **Prayer:** Engaging in prayer for the church and its members.6. **Protecting from False Teaching:** Guarding the congregation against false doctrines or teachings.These duties are outlined in passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:1-5 in the New Testament.OUTLINESOUTLINE Bible (1 TIMOTHY 2) — Paul writes about proper worship of God.I. THE WORSHIP OF GOD (2:1-2, 8): Paul discusses the subject of prayer.A. For whom we should pray (2:1-2a)1. For those in authority (2:2a)2. For everyone (2:1)B. Why we should pray (2:2b): "So that we can live in peace and quietness."C. How we should pray (2:8): "With holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy."II. THE WILL OF GOD (2:3-7)A. The mission (2:3-4): "God . .. wants everyone to be saved."B. The mediator (2:5): Jesus Christ stands between God and people.C. The method (2:6): Salvation was effected by the death of Christ.D. The messenger (2:7): Paul has been chosen by God to serve as a missionary to the Gentiles.III. THE WOMAN OF GOD (2:9-15)A. Her responsibilities (2:9-11)1. In matters of apparel (2:9-10): She should dress modestly as one who professes to worship God.2. In matters of attitude (2:11): She should listen and learn quietly and humbly.B. Her restrictions (2:12-14)1. The rule (2:12): The woman is not permitted to teach or have authority over a man.2. The reason (2:13-14): Two factors are given.a. The factor of the original creation (2:13): Adam was created before Eve.b. The factor of the original corruption (2:14): Adam was not deceived by Satan as was the woman.C. Her redemption (2:15): She will be "saved" through childbearing and by living in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.BKC OutlineI. The Salutation (1:1–2)II. Instructions concerning False Teachers (1:3–20)A. Warnings against false teachers (1:3–11)B. Paul's experience of grace (1:12–17)C. Paul's charge to Timothy (1:18–20)III. Instructions concerning Conduct in the Church (2:1–3:13)A. Instructions concerning prayer (2:1–7)B. Instructions concerning men and women (2:8–15)C. Instructions concerning elders and deacons (3:1–13)IV. Instructions concerning Guarding the Truth in the Church (3:14–4:16)A. The church and its truth (3:14–16)B. Predictions of apostasy (4:1–5)C. Responsibilities of a good minister of Christ (4:6–16)V. Instructions concerning Various Groups in the Church (5:1–6:10)A. Concerning various age-groups (5:1–2)B. Concerning widows (5:3–16)C. Concerning elders (5:17–25)D. Concerning slaves and masters (6:1–2)E. Concerning the heretical and greedy (6:3–10)VI. Final Charge to Timothy (6:11–21)A. Exhortation to godliness (6:11–16)B. Instructions for the rich (6:17–19)C. Exhortations to remain faithful (6:20–21)W Wiersbe sermon outlineKey theme: How to manage the ministry of the local churchKey verse: 1 Timothy 3:15I. The Church and Its Message (1)A. Teaching sound doctrine (1:1–11)B. Preaching a glorious Gospel (1:12–17)C. Defending the faith (1:18–20)II. The Church and Its Members (2–3)A. Praying men (2:1–8)1. For rulers (2:1–3)2. For sinners (2:4–8)B. Modest women (2:9–15)1. In dress (2:9–10)2. In behavior (2:11–15)C. Dedicated officers (3:1–13)1. Pastors (3:1–7)2. Deacons (3:8–13)D. Behaving believers (3:14–16)III. The Church and Its Minister (4)A. A good minister (4:1–6)B. A godly minister (4:7–12)C. A growing minister (4:13–16)IV. The Church and Its Ministry (5–6)A. To older saints (5:1–2)B. To widows (5:3–16)C. To church leaders (5:17–25)D. To servants (slaves) (6:1–2)E. To trouble-makers (6:3–5)F. To the rich (6:6–19)G. To the “educated” (6:20–21)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)Final Questions (index cards optional)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Timothy” by John StottExalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Common Prayer Daily
The Tenth Day of Christmas - Morning

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024 17:00


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________ChristmastideAnd the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.Luke 2:10-11 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. ChristmasAlleluia! Unto us a Child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. Venite Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Psalm 66 Jubilate Deo1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsIsaiah 64:4-12 English Standard Version4 From of old no one has heard    or perceived by the ear,no eye has seen a God besides you,    who acts for those who wait for him.5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,    those who remember you in your ways.Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;    in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?6 We have all become like one who is unclean,    and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.We all fade like a leaf,    and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.7 There is no one who calls upon your name,    who rouses himself to take hold of you;for you have hidden your face from us,    and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;    we are the clay, and you are our potter;    we are all the work of your hand.9 Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,    and remember not iniquity forever.    Behold, please look, we are all your people.10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness;    Zion has become a wilderness,    Jerusalem a desolation.11 Our holy and beautiful house,    where our fathers praised you,has been burned by fire,    and all our pleasant places have become ruins.12 Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord?    Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. You are God(Te Deum laudamus)You are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. 1 John 3:13-24 English Standard Version13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Praise(Benedictus es, Domine Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34)Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; * you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; * on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; * in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. ChristmastideAlmighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Common Prayer Daily
Advent Week 2 - Thursday Evening

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 17:26


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________The Second Week of AdventThe glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.Isaiah 40:5 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. O Gracious Light Phos hilaronO gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life,and to be glorified through all the worlds. Psalm 66 Jubilate Deo1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsIsaiah 13:6-15 English Standard VersionWail, for the day of the Lord is near;    as destruction from the Almighty it will come!Therefore all hands will be feeble,    and every human heart will melt.They will be dismayed:    pangs and agony will seize them;    they will be in anguish like a woman in labor.They will look aghast at one another;    their faces will be aflame.Behold, the day of the Lord comes,    cruel, with wrath and fierce anger,to make the land a desolation    and to destroy its sinners from it.For the stars of the heavens and their constellations    will not give their light;the sun will be dark at its rising,    and the moon will not shed its light.I will punish the world for its evil,    and the wicked for their iniquity;I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,    and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.I will make people more rare than fine gold,    and mankind than the gold of Ophir.Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,    and the earth will be shaken out of its place,at the wrath of the Lord of hosts    in the day of his fierce anger.And like a hunted gazelle,    or like sheep with none to gather them,each will turn to his own people,    and each will flee to his own land.Whoever is found will be thrust through,    and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Mary - MagnificatMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed: * the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him * in every generation.He has shown the strength of his arm, * he has scattered the proud in their conceit.He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, * and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * to Abraham and his children for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as It was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Revelation 14:1-13 English Standard VersionThen I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. The Song of Simeon - Nunc dimittisLord, you now have set your servant free * to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, * whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, * and the glory of your people Israel.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesThat this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful, We entreat you, O Lord.That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses, We entreat you, O Lord.That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may depart this life in your faith and fear, and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit in the communion of all your saints, entrusting one another and all our life to Christ, We entreat you, O Lord.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. The Second Week of AdventBlessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceMost holy God, the source of all good desires, all right judgments, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on the doing of your will, and that we, being delivered from the fear of all enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the mercies of Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen.A Collect for Aid against PerilsBe our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.For MissionKeep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionMay the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. - Romans 15:13

Living On Mission
Episode 83: Simple Ways to Serve as a Family This Christmas Season

Living On Mission

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 14:20


Celebrating the Christmas season while discipling our young ones is such a blessed thing!  In this episode I share a few ideas that are simple, low cost but HIGH impact for those you get to serve! Scripture mentioned: Hebrews 10:15I am always love to connect with you!Don't hesitate to reach out!Personal Instagram: @racheljmitchellPodcast Instagram: @livingonmissionpodEmail: rachel@racheljmitchell.com

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons
The God Who Stoops - 11.26.23 The Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, Ph.D.

St. Columba's Episcopal Church Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 17:18


Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 11For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 20Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. Psalm: Psalm 100 1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *        serve the Lord with gladness        and come before his presence with a song. 2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; *        he himself has made us, and we are his;        we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;   go into his courts with praise; *        give thanks to him and call upon his Name. 4 For the Lord is good;   his mercy is everlasting; *        and his faithfulness endures from age to age. Old Testament: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 11For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 20Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. Psalm: Psalm 95:1-7a 1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *        let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *        and raise a loud shout to him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is a great God, *        and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *        and the heights of the hills are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, *        and his hands have molded the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *        and kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For he is our God,        and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Epistle: Ephesians 1:15-23 15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Vine Community Church Sermon Podcast

14TheLordGod said to the serpent, Because you have done this,cursed are you above all livestockand above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go,anddust you shall eatall the days of your life.15I will put enmity between you and the woman,and between your offspring[a]andher offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel. 16To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be contrary to[b]your husband,but he shallrule over you. 17And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wifeand have eaten of the treeof which I commanded you,You shall not eat of it,cursed is the ground because of you;in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;and you shall eat the plants of the field.19By the sweat of your faceyou shall eat bread,till you return to the ground,for out of it you were taken;for you are dust,andto dust you shall return. 20The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[c]21And theLordGod made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22Then theLordGod said,Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his handand take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever23therefore theLordGod sent him out from the garden of Edento work the ground from which he was taken.24He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed thecherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Soul Medicine
(1320) Ecclesiastes 4:13 - 16

Soul Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 4:54


Are You Striving For Yourself Or Your God? Ecclesiastes 4:13 - 16 Advancement Is Meaningless 13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. 16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Black Conservatives of America
God Is Forcing Us to Choose A Side

Black Conservatives of America

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 29:23


God Is Forcing Us to Choose A Side, but not just in regards to Israel and Hamas, in regards to all the issues facing the world today. Christ said: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.” Luke 12:51 Christ warned us that in the last days we would be divided amongst ourselves. There is no more middle ground, no longer are you safe as a "Independent." In these last days you have to choose a side: “15I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16So because you are lukewarm— neither hot nor cold— I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! “ Revelation 3:15-16 I made this message with the intentions on explaining to you, just how you are to go about choosing a side, but of course in normal "Leo Dunson Fashion," I went on many rants. Nonetheless, I intended tell convey that we are to examine every issue and situation under the lens of Gods laws. For the bible says that Gods Laws, his statutes and commandments are "The Truth:" ""Thy law is the truth." Psalm 119:142 The bible explains to us that many in these last days are under strong delusion and will perish because they refuse to adhere too "The Truth:" “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 In regards to the daily hot topics and controversies examine them under the microscope of Gods Laws. Then you will know if you are following after the truth or the lies and evil wicked patterns of this world. Send a Tithe, Donation, and/or Offerings at: https://leodunson.com/donate/Cash App $LeoDunson - https://Cash.App/$LeoDunsonBecome a Member! - https://ministries.leodunson.com/checkout/subscribe “Gods Laws, Commandments, & Statutes” (Book): https://tinyurl.com/33j95pbc“Precept Upon Precept” (Book) on Amazon at: https://tinyurl.com/z2uu46ez Subscribe to support Leo Dunson Ministries to gain access to "Exclusive Content" & Early Release videos: https://ministries.leodunson.com/checkout/subscribe Connect with Leo on https://www.facebook.com/LeoDunsonjrConnect with Leo on https://www.instagram.com/LeoDunsonConnect with Leo on https://tiktok.com/LeoDunson #LukeWarm #HotorCold #TruthorLie #Bible #Israelites #LeoDunson

Soul Medicine
(1282) Revelation 3:15 - 16

Soul Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2023 3:50


Are You Lukewarm? Heed The Warning John Wrote! Revelation 3:15 - 16 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Staples Mill Road Baptist Church

14Therefore, my beloved,flee from idolatry.15I speakas to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?17Because there is one bread, we who are many areone body, for we all partake of the one bread.18Considerthe people of Israel:[a]are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or thatan idol is anything?20No, I imply that what pagans sacrificethey offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord andthe cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord andthe table of demons.22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy?Are we stronger than he? Do All to the Glory of God 23All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.26Forthe earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.27If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go,eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.28But if someone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience29I do not meanyour conscience, but his. Forwhy should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of thatfor which I give thanks? 31So, whether you eat or drink, orwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God.32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or tothe church of God,33just asI try to please everyone in everything I do,not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Common Prayer Daily
Thursday - Proper 20

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 17:50


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 116Dilexi, quoniam1I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.2The cords of death entangled me;the grip of the grave took hold of me; *I came to grief and sorrow.3Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”4Gracious is the Lord and righteous; *our God is full of compassion.5The Lord watches over the innocent; *I was brought very low, and he helped me.6Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *for the Lord has treated you well.7For you have rescued my life from death, *my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.8I will walk in the presence of the Lord *in the land of the living.9I believed, even when I said,“I have been brought very low.” *In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”10How shall I repay the Lord *for all the good things he has done for me?11I will lift up the cup of salvation *and call upon the Name of the Lord.12I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people.13Precious in the sight of the Lord *is the death of his servants.14O Lord, I am your servant; *I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;you have freed me from my bonds.15I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *and call upon the Name of the Lord.16I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people,17In the courts of the Lord's house, *in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.Hallelujah!Psalm 117Laudate Dominum1Praise the Lord, all you nations; *laud him, all you peoples.2For his loving-kindness toward us is great, *and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.Hallelujah! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons2 Kings 9:1-16English Standard Version9 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger.”4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, “I have a word for you, O commander.” And Jehu said, “To which of us all?” And he said, “To you, O commander.” 6 So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. 7 And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.11 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” 12 And they said, “That is not true; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.'” 13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”14 Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria, 15 but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, “If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.1 Corinthians 6:12-20English Standard Version12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 20Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Common Prayer Daily
Holy Cross Day

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 15:22


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 66Jubilate Deo1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsNumbers 21:4-9English Standard Version4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.John 3:11-17English Standard Version11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsHoly CrossAlmighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Common Prayer Daily
Wednesday - Proper 16

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 18:27


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons1 Kings 3:1-15English Standard Version3 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.Acts 27:9-26English Standard Version9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 16Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church
August 20, 2023 - John 15:9-15 - By: Pastor Beth Ann Stone

Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 17:00


HOLY GOSPEL:  John 15:9-15  [Jesus said,] 9”As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” 

Soul Medicine
(1220) Psalm 66:13 - 15

Soul Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 4:39


Remember What Was Promised And Follow Through With Praise. Psalm 66:13 - 15 13I will enter Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows 14that my lips promised and my mouth spoke during my distress. 15I will offer You fattened sheep as burnt offerings, with the fragrant smoke of rams; I will sacrifice oxen with goats. Selah

Thought For Today
Unanswered Questions

Thought For Today

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2023 3:12


I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 29th of July, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of John 13:7: “Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Maybe today you have woken up, and there is something in your life and you just don't understand it. “Lord, I love that person so much and have heard they have gone home to be with you. Why did You take them when they were still so young?” You just don't understand why it happened. Well, the preacher, J.R. MacDuff, told a beautiful story about the wonderful cedars of Lebanon. They are all over the Bible. You see accounts of these beautiful trees that sheltered animals from the storms, gave the shepherd rest in the heat of the day, and yet the timber man came with his big, sharp axe and cut those trees down. What a tragedy! Those huge logs were floated down to the old port of Joppa, then transported to Jerusalem, where they were formed into beautiful beams and put in the Temple of the Lord, and there they gave glory to God.We don't know and don't often understand why things happen or why you are going through such a rough time. Maybe the Lord is fashioning you and me, perfecting us for home time when we eventually go to the City of God in Heaven, where we will be with the Lord forever. I want to encourage you today not to ask too many questions and not to be afraid to say to someone, “I don't know the answer, but when I get to Heaven, God will tell me, and then I will understand fully, but until then, I will continue to serve Him, just like the old farmer, Job said, “Even though He slay me, yet will I still trust Him.” Job 13:15I want to tell you today that I have many unanswered questions, but I know one thing: on the great and wonderful day when I meet the Lord, face to face, He will answer every single question. In fact, I won't even have to ask Him any questions because the answers will be straightforward and waiting for us. So today, if you are going through a time of hardship and there is a fashioning taking place in your life - maybe you have lost a loved one and you are feeling lonely, and you are thinking, “Lord, why did you do that?” Well, I want to tell you that it was time for that loved one to meet the Master and to be part of His eternal plan, but in the meantime, He will give you the strength to take one day at a time, waiting for the wonderful day when we will be together forever in Paradise.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

Common Prayer Daily
Saint Mary Magdalene

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2023 15:50


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 116Dilexi, quoniam1I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.2The cords of death entangled me;the grip of the grave took hold of me; *I came to grief and sorrow.3Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”4Gracious is the Lord and righteous; *our God is full of compassion.5The Lord watches over the innocent; *I was brought very low, and he helped me.6Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *for the Lord has treated you well.7For you have rescued my life from death, *my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.8I will walk in the presence of the Lord *in the land of the living.9I believed, even when I said,“I have been brought very low.” *In my distress I said, “No one can be trusted.”10How shall I repay the Lord *for all the good things he has done for me?11I will lift up the cup of salvation *and call upon the Name of the Lord.12I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people.13Precious in the sight of the Lord *is the death of his servants.14O Lord, I am your servant; *I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;you have freed me from my bonds.15I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *and call upon the Name of the Lord.16I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people,17In the courts of the Lord's house, *in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.Hallelujah! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsZephaniah 3:14-20English Standard Version14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;    shout, O Israel!Rejoice and exult with all your heart,    O daughter of Jerusalem!15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;    he has cleared away your enemies.The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;    you shall never again fear evil.16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:“Fear not, O Zion;    let not your hands grow weak.17 The Lord your God is in your midst,    a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;    he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.19 Behold, at that time I will deal    with all your oppressors.And I will save the lame    and gather the outcast,and I will change their shame into praise    and renown in all the earth.20 At that time I will bring you in,    at the time when I gather you together;for I will make you renowned and praised    among all the peoples of the earth,when I restore your fortunes    before your eyes,” says the Lord. Mark 15:47-16:7English Standard Version47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsSt. Mary MagdaleneAlmighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Common Prayer Daily
Wednesday - Proper 9

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 17:43


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Wednesday - Proper 9Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me.BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word.GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons1 Samuel 16:1-13English Standard Version16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. Acts 10:1-16English Standard Version10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 9O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Petra Church International Ministries
Summer 2023: Kingdom Partnership

Petra Church International Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2023 48:12


John 15:15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Summer 2023 - Growing deeper, wider, and higher  Personal Relationship vs. Kingdom Partnership  Our Participation in Kingdom Partnership      1. Praying for the gospel ministry      2. Producing the disciples of Christ  Our Attitudes Toward Kingdom Partnership      1. Being passionate about the gospel      2. Being proactive for the gospel      3. Being protective of the gospel  

Common Prayer Daily
Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 16:42


Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Saint Peter and Saint Paul, ApostlesOpening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 66Jubilate Deo1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *sing the glory of his Name;sing the glory of his praise.2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.3All the earth bows down before you, *sings to you, sings out your Name.”4Come now and see the works of God, *how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.5He turned the sea into dry land,so that they went through the water on foot, *and there we rejoiced in him.6In his might he rules for ever;his eyes keep watch over the nations; *let no rebel rise up against him.7Bless our God, you peoples; *make the voice of his praise to be heard;8Who holds our souls in life, *and will not allow our feet to slip.9For you, O God, have proved us; *you have tried us just as silver is tried.10You brought us into the snare; *you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.11You let enemies ride over our heads;we went through fire and water; *but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.12I will enter your house with burnt-offeringsand will pay you my vows, *which I promised with my lipsand spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beastswith the smoke of rams; *I will give you oxen and goats.14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *and I will tell you what he has done for me.15I called out to him with my mouth, *and his praise was on my tongue.16If I had found evil in my heart, *the Lord would not have heard me;17But in truth God has heard me; *he has attended to the voice of my prayer.18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *nor withheld his love from me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzekiel 2:1-7English Standard Version2 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.' 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house. Acts 11:1-18English Standard Version11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.' 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsSt Peter & St PaulAlmighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Go(o)d Mornings with CurlyNikki
You already have the gift. God will create the opportunity.

Go(o)d Mornings with CurlyNikki

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 5:23


You already have the Gift.The Talent.The Message. It's already right (t)here, in that House, for you to use,to pour.And God will create the opportunity,you just have to keep feeling the Light,and feeling the Light,and giving the Light,and giving the Light,until you're finally being the Light,no longer under a bushel. I can see You, now. The whole world will see you. "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."-Matthew 5:15I love you, Niknikki@curlynikki.comSupport the show!▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings Today's Quotes:The Widow's Olive Oil4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”-2 Kings 4"You already have the gift. God will create the opportunity. "-@Realtalkkim via iG"If we keep holding on to God, there is nothing to fear."-Amma"Misfortune occurs where the Lord is not remembered in meditation.But There are millions of joys, where the Praises of the Lord are sung."-Guru Arian Dev Ji: SGGSJI: 197"O God, give me light in my heart, ... light in my eye, ... light in my flesh, light in my bones, light before me and light behind me, light at my right hand, light at my left hand, light above, light beneath me.O God, augment my light and give me light and procure me light."-Abu Talib 1:6, Book of the Dove, BD p. loxxvii"To see we must forget the name of the thing we're lookin at."-Claude Monet"Pray: God, give me the strength to keep remembering You."-Amma Support the show

Common Prayer Daily
The Third Sunday After Pentecost

Common Prayer Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2023 13:38


The Third Sunday After PentecostWritten By Michael LivingstonOpening Words:“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”Rev 4:8 (ESV) Confession:*Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Almighty and most merciful Father,we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done;and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.O Lord, have mercy upon us.Spare all those who confess their faults.Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryO Lord, open our lips,and our mouths shall show forth your praise. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cast us not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from us. O give us the comfort of your help again, and sustain us with your willing Spirit.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Psalm of the DayPsalm 116Dilexi, quoniam1I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.10How shall I repay the Lord *for all the good things he has done for me?11I will lift up the cup of salvation *and call upon the Name of the Lord.12I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people.13Precious in the sight of the Lord *is the death of his servants.14O Lord, I am your servant; *I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;you have freed me from my bonds.15I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *and call upon the Name of the Lord.16I will fulfill my vows to the Lord *in the presence of all his people,17In the courts of the Lord's house, *in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.Hallelujah! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. The LessonsGenesis 18:1-15English Standard Version18 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”21:1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Romans 5:1-8English Standard Version5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Matthew 9:35-10:23English Standard Version35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. IntercessionTake a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 6Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Latte and Laundry: A home for Catholic women, moms, and hearts
122. Standing in Truth with Nancy Bandzuch

Latte and Laundry: A home for Catholic women, moms, and hearts

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 30:12


 "Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." ~ Ephesians 6:15I chatted with the lovely Nancy Bandzuch from Catholic Sprouts this week about standing in truth. How do we share the truth of the Gospel with our children when the world often says something different? We must not be afraid to armor up, to shepherd our children in LOVE, which is truth itself, and to be guardians of their hearts. Nancy and I discuss the new book that Catholic Sprouts has produced, called "Catholic Social Teaching for Youth." It incorporates the Catechism, the Gospel, and the Saints to provide us with a resource and tool we can use to share some of God's important truths with our children. Resources: Catholic Sprouts: https://catholicsprouts.com/Catholic Social Teaching for Youth Book: https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/products/catholic-social-teaching-for-youth If this episode blessed you, I would be so honored if you shared it with a friend, rated it, or left us a review! I always love to connect :suzanne @latteandlaundry.com

Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast
Ep 24: Epidemics of Shame: How to Thrive with ADHD in the Healthcare Field

Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 75:27


Okay, so today we're getting real. Recently, a coworker shared with me how her friend has long struggled with working as a nurse while also having ADHD. This friend was lucky enough to find a position at a hospital that truly supports and embraces her, but many are not as lucky. And although ADHD is commonplace in the healthcare space, its challenges are often stigmatized and swept under the rug - creating an epidemic of shame that can feel isolating and overwhelming. After all, imagine what it feels like to constantly help others when you yourself are struggling everyday? To help shed light on this subject, we reached out to an Executive Function coach of ours, Beth Malvino, who coaches two social workers, Lina and Cassie. Together, they bravely shared their stories about the difficulties they've faced in managing their own executive dysfunction while supporting others' mental wellbeing. Their stories are powerful and filled with important wisdom around the unique challenges that healthcare workers with ADHD encounter and what can be done to overcome them. We explore self-care, the limitations for neurodiverse people within the systems in which we work and live, and combating that negative narrative that runs through the heads of many people with ADHD. I am sure that anyone listening who has Executive function challenges and works in healthcare spaces will really relate to much of what you'll hear on this episode. NOTE: There is some very light swearing in this episode. If you've got any young kids with you who happen to be super interested in the impact of ADHD on healthcare workers, you might want to give them a heads up.Finally, I also wanted to share that we have a podcast email now! You can reach out to me at podcast@beyondbooksmart.com. Send me your episode topic ideas! I'd love to hear from you.In the meantime, here are the show notes from today's episode: Tips For Nurses Managing Their Attention Deficit Disorder:https://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/tips-for-nurses-managing-their-attention-deficit-disorderA Day in the Life of a Healthcare Professional with Executive Function Challenges:https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-healthcare-professional-with-executive-function-challenges8 Tips For How To Thrive As A Nurse With ADHD | NurseJournal:https://nursejournal.org/articles/how-to-thrive-as-a-nurse-with-adhd/ADHD - Workplace Issues:https://chadd.org/for-adults/workplace-issues/Contact us!Reach out to us at podcast@beyondbooksmart.comIG/FB/TikTok @beyondbooksmartcoachingTranscriptHannah Choi 00:04Hi everyone and welcome to Focus Forward, an executive function Podcast where we explore the challenges and celebrate the wins you'll experience as you change your life by working on improving your executive function skills. I'm your host, Hannah Choi. Hannah Choi 00:18Before I tell you about today's episode, I wanted to share that we have a podcast email now! You can reach out to me at podcast at beyondbooksmart.com Send me your episode topic ideas. I'd love to hear from you. Hannah Choi 00:33Okay, so today we're getting real, not like we haven't been real in the past. Talking about EF challenges is very real. But we're getting extra real today. Recently, our podcast team was having a conversation about how having ADHD impacts people at work. And someone shared that a friend of theirs is a nurse who has ADHD. And she had finally found a position at a hospital that truly supports and embraces her ADHD and all. We wanted to explore the idea of holding a job where you're constantly giving, giving, giving, and often supporting people with EF challenges. While also managing your own EF challenges. We reached out to a coach of ours Beth Malvino, who works as a coach for two social workers, Lina and Cassie. They joined me and Beth to share their stories about the difficulties they face in managing their own executive dysfunction, while supporting others. They'll provide insights into the unique challenges that healthcare workers with ADHD encounter and the work they do to overcome them. You'll hear Beth offer her valuable and rather touching perspective on Lina and Cassie's EF journeys. All three of them share the tools and strategies that Lina and Cassie have found helpful in supporting their executive function challenges. In addition, we explore self care, the limitations for neurodiverse people within the systems in which we work and live and combating that negative narrative that runs through the heads of many people with ADHD. I am sure that anyone listening today who has EF challenges and works in healthcare spaces will really relate to much of what you'll hear today. Hannah Choi 02:29And just to note that there is some light swearing in this episode. If you've got any young kids with you who happened to be super interested in the impact of ADHD on health care workers, you might want to give them a heads up. Okay, now on to the show. Hannah Choi 02:46Hi, y'all. I learned that from Lina. Lina and Cassie and Beth are joining me today to talk about executive function challenges for people who work in healthcare spaces. And Lina is from originally from Texas. And so we were talking about y'all, so I thought I'd try that out today. So, would you guys, would you like to introduce yourselves? Lina, do you want to start? Lina 03:13Sure. Um, hi, I'm Lina. As Hannah said, I'm originally from Texas, but I currently live in Chicago. I work in social work on getting my master's in social work with the concentration in mental health. But I have some background in public administration and policy work, particularly within criminal justice spaces, or like to say the criminal system of injustice just because that's what we have right now. And it's, uh, you know, I work within the realm of mental health and people who've been impacted by that system. So yeah, it's really great to be here with all of you. I'm excited to chat.Hannah Choi 04:01Thank you, and Cassie.Cassie 04:05Hello. My name is Cassie. I am a school social worker slash guidance guidance adjustment counselor. And I don't work at a typical school. I work at a therapeutic day school. So my kiddos have they range our youngest right now is seven. Our oldest is 20. And they range from all kinds of mental health diagnoses trauma backgrounds, emotional behavioral disabilities. So it's funny thinking about kind of our our topic of today is you know, having EF concerns while working in in healthcare but it's like I have EF concerns and I'm surrounded by children who also are very dysfunctional when it comes to EF and also kind of in general. Um, so that was kind of funny to think about that that juxtaposition. Hannah Choi 05:04So yeah, and I really want to get into that today because that is you two are not the only people out there who work in that work and also have executive function challenges. So I'm sure that there are other people who will hear this conversation and be really be able to resonate with or relate to relate with what you have to say. And last, we have Beth, who is, well, Beth, you explain how you know Lina and Cassie, and what your role is in, in the world? Beth Malvino 05:40Sure, sure. So hi, I'm Beth. I've been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 20 years, I have worked in lots of different healthcare settings, mostly hospitals, with different populations of people. I've been in psychiatry, medicine, hospice oncology, I had my own private practice for a while, I ran virtual support groups for grief and divorce during the pandemic. And now I am an executive function coach at Beyond BookSmart. I currently work with Lina and Cassie, they've been my clients for some time now. And so I'm really going to enjoy talking to them today, because they've had such an amazing journey. So I'm looking forward to sharing that and hearing their perspectives from that.Hannah Choi 06:32Yeah, great. I can't wait to hear this too. And Lina, and Cassie, why did you seek out executive function coaching?Lina 06:43Yeah, so I sought out executive function coaching, because I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult in 2021. So it was like a year after the pandemic had started. And I didn't start coaching until last year 2022, like I had waited a while. Just because you know, when you're an adult, and you get diagnosed with something that you've had your whole life and things didn't make sense. And you finally got that, I like to think of it as like the lens that you can see through your life and look at all the pieces that didn't fit together. And now you have this lens of information, that you could see more clearly, all of the challenges and triumphs and really weird stuff in your life. It, you know, it can take a while to kind of like, figure out what you need and unmask yourself. And so I started coaching last year, because I really, you know, I read all the books about ADHD and what it's like, but to put things into practice is what really was hard for me identifying how my brain worked and trying out different things, I didn't even know where to start to do that. And so that's why I sought out coaching just because, you know, putting, like, you can rationally in your head know, all these things, you know, read all the books, but it's a whole other thing to put what you've learned into practice. And that's why I sought out coaching. And it's, you know, greatly improved my mental health to even though it's not a mental health service. You know, it's, you know, just being able to put things in practice and learn more and get more information has improved my anxiety a lot just because I know I have different tools and different strategies than I did before. And so yeah, it's it's worked in conjunction with therapy already. That has improved a lot of things in my life and has helped make my work. You know, both in and out of school and in and out of social work a lot better for me.Cassie 09:10So I went, I think I think we started in winter, like December 2021. I think, recently, I'm like, Oh, well, I have a different insurance. Like, let's see if there is a psychiatrist nearby that can like assess me and like, take over my meds and whatnot. So I'm actually hopefully going to be starting that soon. Which would be great. Because there's a number of things, not just the attention and focus and whatnot. But there's other things that I'm like, Oh, I think I want somebody who knows stuff about this to help me figure things out. And that's kind of the same thinking that got me here as well. I sought out coaching because I was miserable. I was As I felt like I was drowning in work. And I couldn't kind of wrap my head around it because I have always been a smart kid, I've never had to work too hard at school. And even like college was mostly fine grad school was mostly fine. But when I started my first big girl salary job with my MSW, I couldn't manage it. Like I knew how to do the tasks that I was supposed to do. That's, that wasn't the issue, the issue was actually just getting them done, starting them and finishing them. So I was always behind on things, I was staying really late at work. I had already gone to my supervisor who is amazing. And she, you know, had given me some suggestions for what works for her and, you know, tried to get me a new planner, and we're like, move my schedule around to see if that helped. And so it's probably been a good more than six months that I'd been like, really aware of the fact that I was just very unhappy at work. And then I finally was like, a kind of, I had to bite the bullet because again, like, I'm used to just coasting through things. I'm used to just being successful with not a lot of effort. And to be like, Okay, no, like, I need help. I'm struggling really, really bad. It got to the point where I was like waking up in the morning and hoping that I would get a text message that say that there was an actual gas leak on campus. And so I didn't have to go in like, because I worked at a residential campus. And so there were no, like, there were no days off. Like it was Monday through Friday, no matter what, no matter if there was a blizzard, no matter if it was a national holiday, like we, we went in. So yeah, so I was I was very, very unhappy and was like, alright, like, it's not, it's not a matter of not knowing how to do it. It's just actually getting my work done. It's not not not knowing how to do it, it's being able to make it happen. So that's why Yeah, and Lina, you said that it's not a it's not a mental health service. But like, honestly, right now, I feel like I have three different therapists in some way, because I have my actual individual therapist that I speak with, like once or twice a month. And then I have my supervisor at work, who is amazing, and supportive and wonderful. And then I also have Beth, and it's like, it's Yeah, I feel like having all of these supports in my quarter has been like, really, really helpful. Lina 12:36So yeah, I, I want to affirm that, like, I know, you know, they're supposed to be different difference between coaching and therapy. But there have been several times where Beth and I and I'm sure it's the same way for you Cassie word, the coaching session does kind of turn intoCassie 12:54Oh, yeah. Therapy. For five sessions, I was just like, crying to her. Like, I don't know why I do this. I'm Yeah. This is hard to like, why is it so hard to just type words into my computer,Lina 13:12Or even like, when the big feelings show up, because you have some big feelings about something and you're just crying about it, you're just like, I don't know how to emotionally regulate.Hannah Choi 13:22It shows you how closely connected our emotions are with our executive functions, and how it is you cannot separate them. And, and so it's really great that you're that you're working with a therapist as well, because then you're able to take things that you learn in each and, and bring them together. And it was also recommend that to my clients, who aren't seeing therapists already.Cassie 13:50It was also really important to me as I was in the process of like, signing up that like, you know, I am, I am a, an MSW, I, you know, I have my license, I like I want to work with somebody who has similar training, because like, I feel like, you know, I kind of like I've seen behind the curtain, like, I know, like, you know, I'm aware of the different theories and whatever and, and, like, I wanted to work with somebody else who also had that same background.Beth Malvino 14:23I have to say that, I think, and I was thinking about this last night when I was sort of preparing for this podcast today, you know, what, what has been really important in in the coaching relationship with with both of you, and I think there's been an element of relatability that I maybe didn't realize how important that was until we all started working together. Because I'm a social worker. I mean, there's there's that capacity to understand even though we We've all done different things like I've never done any of the types of roles that you both are in. But yet I can still empathize because I know what it's like to have to chart, you know, 50 notes in a week and have to, you know, feel to feel like there's 1000 emails that haven't been responded to, and just the whole concept of giving so much of yourself, because that's what we do, you know, we're helpers, we're healers, and feeling as if there's just nothing left, at the end of the day. And when you throw in things like executive font dysfunction and time distortion on top of that, it's just I can only imagine how difficult that must be. Because I know that I have felt that way, in lots of work settings, and I don't have executive dysfunction. And so I can only imagine how difficult that must have been. So I think there's definitely the the idea of being empathetic to that I think, has really helped us to bond as coach and client. And that's been an important part of the process.Hannah Choi 16:12Can we explore that a little, the idea of what you just said about how you have to give yourself all day to people who really, really, really need you. And also, you're giving yourself as a person who is struggling with executive function. And you're likely supporting someone who is also struggling with exec executive function. So how do you like what does that look like? For you? What is? What is? Is that a struggle? And when what does it look like?Cassie 16:47For me, it looks like being transparent, to some degree with my students, there have been so many times where, because in my role, I go into our classrooms, and I lead like group counseling. So we right now we're working on the zones of regulation. But what it looks like, sometimes for me is, like, kind of being explicit, and like, oh, like, that's a really good question, kiddo. But like, I you note, you know, that I want to hang out and chat with you about anything under the sun, but like, right now, I need to focus on finishing this lesson. Or like a kiddo will ask them like, Hey, Miss, can you know, can you come check in with me later? Or can we work on this thing? And like just being very explicit, like, Yes, I will try to remember or I will write it down. But like, like, just kind of like being honest about like, I this is important, and I want to do it, but like, if an emergency comes up, or if whatever, you know, it may not happen, and asking the kids like, hey, help me remember that next time we have group I want to do XYZ? Or, if you see me in the hallway, ask me about this, and then I can let you know when I find out the answer. So it's kind of in some ways, it's it's being honest, and kind of modeling for the kids. And then and then it's also working with my colleagues. Kind of in a more intentional way, also, one of the big benefits that I've noticed and started coaching is just the change in my kind of thinking patterns or my habits. Right now, I am very lucky that I have an awesome clinical intern who is working on her MSW as well. And so oftentimes, what we'll do is, she'll get there in the morning, and I'll be you know, answering emails or whatever. And we'll kind of sit down and like have like a kind of a planning session. We're like, Alright, so today for group, we're going to work on this thing. I don't think Anthony class has finished their worksheet, so we'll finish that up for them. But Dubois class, they didn't finish. So we're gonna move on to this one, we were kind of just like, make a plan for the day. And then we also were like, Alright, so after groups, like what's our priority, like, we really need to finish this assessment, we really need to finish planning for the next two groups. Like it's been really helpful for me to have that conversation with somebody else. until like, right, these are our priorities for the day. That's been something that's been really helpful for me because it's, you know, I can have that conversation with myself in my head, but it's just it there's no external accountability, which was another thing that I really gained benefit from. So it's, what it looks like is modeling it for the kids and then practicing myself, even when I'm not with the kids.Hannah Choi 19:42That's awesome. And then building in the accountability of having a partner and advocating for yourself that you need that partner and that you you know this like that. building that relationship with her I'm sure is invaluable for both of you. Yeah, what about you, Lina?Lina 20:00Um, so there's a few components for how I deal with it in my work. So right now I am working in substance use just to give some background, I work with adults in the west side of Chicago, who, you know, for various reasons, have used substances to cope with their life and their realities and their pain. And, you know, when I work with a bunch of people like this, especially people who are, you know, mandated to treatment by the justice system, or the criminal system of injustice, system, I, you know, struggle a lot with and just not even that, you know, I don't know how many people are aware of how recovery spaces are, but they're pretty rigid, you know, if you're in recovery homes, there's very, like I work with a lot of patients who are in recovery homes, and the rigidity of certain recovery homes just gives no flexibility for a client to have autonomy in their life and in their treatment, and in their program. And I take a harm reduction approach, where, you know, we look at recovery, and look at how do we manage reducing unnecessary harm without trying to eradicate the issue? Right? Because we know it's going to exist, we know it's going to, you know, it has existed for centuries, you know, people have been using substances for centuries, but how do we reduce unnecessary harm that can come from doing that. And what that also means is defining recovery, and however, the individual defines it, right. And sometimes, if a person comes in with a very rigid idea of what recovery can be, and trying to fit themselves into a box, that doesn't necessarily work for them. I resonate with that, because I tried to do that, my whole life, right, with having undiagnosed ADHD, I was just coping all the time and trying to fit myself into boxes that didn't necessarily fit for me, but I was working so hard. And so yeah, I was just working so hard for so long, in spaces that were never meant to fit me. Right. And so a lot of what I've done with clients, and with patients is just like a lot of validation of being like, yeah, this it's hard. There's no rulebook to how life could be. But we have all these expectations within these systems that we're in to meet, unfortunately, and I'm a very systems based person, I always have been, because I've always noticed, that's like one of my ADHD superpowers, I would say is, I've always noticed how systems really suck. And they don't allow people to have choice and autonomy, to do things that is actually better for them, you know what I mean? And so that's how I see it a lot with my clients and with my patients. And even for me, I have to, you know, I'm still in graduate school, I have all these expectations to meet for school, I have all these expectations to meet within my clinical internship, which is doing the substance use work. And one of the things that Beth and I did was, we broke down all the things that I had to do, like we literally wrote it out, being like, you have to do, CSRS T PRs, individual sessions, group therapy sessions, individual notes, group notes, case management, notes, housing notes, all these things. And when you really break it down, it's like, all these expectations, and for what, right? And for what, it's just so exhausting. And so I, you know, I even started doing that with my patients being like, alright, let's look at your recovery program and being like, look at all these expectations, and you're exhausted, like, there are hard things that add to your life, and there's hard things that don't. And then there's hard things that are a little bit of both, and how do we recognize those things that do add to our life? And try to minimize the things that don't and start making things that work better for you. So it's, yeah, I do it, you know, a lot of validation at my work and my job, especially with the clients who were within the criminal system of injustice, because those expectations are just out of pocket. I'm just like, Why does this have to exist this way, especially for this person that already has so many different systems working against them. And in a lot of ways, we as people with executive functioning challenges, work within systems that are working against us too. And that's really challenging and really hard. Yeah.Hannah Choi 24:56And something that I do I just this talk about systems is so interesting because as a person who has executive function challenges, I mean, all people need to build systems for themselves that they can rely on. And when you are a person with executive function challenges, your system is probably going to look really different, and not fit in well, to the existing systems that are already there, which I think is pretty much what you were just saying Lina. And, and it's, I don't know, it's just interesting that, that, that systems can be critical for success. And they can be really limiting when there is no flexibility. And there's no consideration for the variety of needs, that that people have. And that's what's so beautiful about taking the time and, and, and taking the time. That's what's so beautiful about discovering the aspects of yourselves that are strong, and that you can rely on, and how you can use those to support the areas that are that are more challenging for you, and how you're taking, taking the time to really think about it and to really say like, what do I need? And how can I create that for myself. And when you are spending your whole day, supporting other people and giving and giving and giving and giving? It's probably pretty difficult to stop and just really wait, why do I need? And how do I support myself in this time? So do you what do you do for yourself to recover from a really difficult day or manage executive function? I mean, other than, like what you shared already, like is there maybe self care that you do to, you know, to alleviate some of that pressure that I'm sure that you feel, trying to fit into these systems that that are there.Cassie 27:15Something that I have been doing, that my whole family has been doing, ever since the pandemic started. My, my mom, my dad, and my older sister, and I, just the four of us in my immediate nuclear family. We have weekly family video calls. And that actually evolved from way back when the pandemic very first started, my sister reached out to us and was like, I'm really worried about the state of the world can we just do a video call just to check in with each other. And then we really enjoyed it. So we did again, the next night, and the next night, and the next night. So we we I talked to my parents and my sister every single day for, I don't know, four or five months of the pandemic. And then, you know, once I finished grad school, and once I moved out here for my first big girl salary job, we did cut it down to twice a week. And now we're down to once a week. But because we had that kind of foundation of updating each other on every part of our days, because we talked every single day, we just have a much, I think a much stronger relationship and much more open and comfortable relationship just has a whole family unit. And so we talk about a lot of things like we are much more open about our mental health, about our needs. You know, sometimes my sister will talk about how she, you know, I'm feeling really down today, like my depression is pretty bad. Or, you know, we'll joke with mom about how like mom, like, you have undiagnosed ADHD, even though it's sometimes in a joking way, we're much more open about our own struggles and mental health needs and everything. And I think that's been instrumental. For me, I think it's been really, really helpful, just personally, but I also think that it's improved all of our lives just to have that regular communication and that comfort. So for me, family is a really big part of my self care. I know that that's not the case for everyone. For other for some people, like family creates stress, and that's totally valid. But for me, family time has been a really big part of my self care.Hannah Choi 29:33And hopefully for people that sort of their chosen family can step in, and Lina What about you? What do you do to take care of yourself?29:40Man, we're trying to figure that out to be honest. One of the things that my ADHD loves to do is not let me recognize certain bodily cues like eating because I get so hyper focused during the day am my work that I forget to eat, I legitimately don't get those cues to eat. And then it isn't until like three, maybe sometimes two o'clock to three in the afternoon and I'm like, why can't I focus? Oh, you haven't eaten since seven this morning. Like, like I like, it's those things that, you know, really begin to challenge. So lately, self care has been trying to eat more. And just trying to, you know, find certain foods or certain things that I will eat during the day or have access to or that is easier to manage and sort of time myself. That's been hounding me to set an alarm for lunch. And so yeah, like, that's sort of what comes to mind immediately. But, you know, I think for me, too, lately, I've been recognizing how I can't just push through certain tedious tasks anymore. Like I have to, like, in order for me to do the really hard thing that my brain really don't want to do, I got to do something fun before I do it, you know, so I gotta like, read a chapter of the book that I'm reading, or watch a stupid YouTube video or, you know, do something that I actually like doing before I get into this thing, or use the thing that I really like doing as the reward for doing the really hard thing. So I been trying to give myself space to have more fun. And to have more rest and play, and silliness and laughter and being with people that, you know, make me laugh and understand my humor, because as social workers, we got to very wild spectrums of humor. When you're with people who get that humor, it is the best, it's like wild, you would think work notes or need to go be hospitalized or something. But it's like really a good time being with the people that get it and understand the type of work that we're dealing with all day, every day, because it gets really hard. Like, I'm not going to sugarcoat and say that our jobs are easy, because they're not. And it's very, you know, we're in a profession that is severely undervalued. So we have to be very intentional about taking care of ourselves to deal with said systems. And I'm trying to be a lot better about that I will work working on it. It's always a work in progress, but it's a lot better than what it used to be.Hannah Choi 32:49So we're all work in progress, it works in progress. I just, I just had a wonderful experience. On the other night, I got to go to a presentation by a clinical psychologists called Dr. Allison Roy, and she's out in New Hampshire. And she she works she works in with from a perspective of trauma informed care. And she did a presentation on the brain which I'm a total nerd about so I was just like on the edge of my seat the whole night. And she talked about about how we can get out of our the fear center part of our brain like the you know, like the the fight and flight and freeze part and up into our prefrontal cortex where all of our executive function skills are so our thinking brain so we can use that. And she was talking about how this idea of flocking and how flocking is when you you have a flock you have you spend time with people who get you who understand you, you have social connection and and when you do that you're able to nourish the and support your limbic system the emotional part of your brain which really allows you to access your your prefrontal cortex and your thinking part. And she was just talking about there is so much value in finding a flock and so whatever your flock is, like you said, Cassie, your family is your flock and you get so much value from that and Lina, your you know, your fellow social workers who really get you and get where you're coming from. And so I'm just so glad to hear that you both put that in as an value that as part of your self care because according to the brain research, it's really what you do need to do so. And the other thing that she talked about Lina and I'm so glad you mentioned this was the idea of play. And she said it is so important. Why do we stop playing why do we stop having fun and, and and play is a huge component of As our mental health and of just feeling better about ourselves and, and enjoying our lives, and in staying out of that, like the the kind of like, primal part of our brain, and we're able to stay up higher in the in the thinking part. And so it's just glad to hear that you're too you're doing that too.Beth Malvino 35:22I wanted to just piggyback on what what you just said, because it really resonated with me that, you know, we get so what, regardless of whether or not you have any kind of diagnosable executive function challenges, I think we all get bogged down with things that we think we have to plan, you know, we have work and or, you know, parenting responsibilities or things that we have to do in life that we feel like we have to plan these things. And I think for a lot of us, we forget to plan fun. And sort of bringing that to the to the conscious and really, scheduling fun, I think is so important. And I talk about that a lot with with clients, because I find that they get very wrapped up as we all do and the things that they have to do, and not necessarily the things that they like to do.Hannah Choi 36:25Yeah, and I just I did that a few years ago to it all started where I, my sister in law wanted to go in the water and it was so cold. And I was like I don't want to go in the water is too cold. And she's like, come on just fun. Like, yeah, I need to have more fun. So I decided to try to be a lot more intentional about that. And I and I have noticed a big difference. My kids think I'm crazy. But grownups should not be having that much fun. But I think it really helps. That's a big part of my self care.36:57So I I mean, Lina and I talked about our self care. But I want to hear about from from you and Beth as well.Hannah Choi 37:05That's you want to go first? Oh, wow.Beth Malvino 37:08Self. Yeah, I mean, self care, is something that does have to be intentional for me, I have to remember to do it. Because just, you know, like everyone else, I have things that I have to do. And I try to get those things done. And there are days that go by where I haven't done any self like true self care. And I kind of get mad at myself, like, why didn't I you know, take a moment. And so I do try to be more intentional about the kind of self care that I do. So, recently, we took a trip to Florida, and that we were in Orlando, and they have these electric scooters that you can just kind of, you know, zip around town on and I've never done anything like that. And my kids who are you know, they're teenagers. And so there used to scootering around on different types of machinery. They were all just like jumping on and whizzing down the block. And I was almost like, oh, that I can't do that. Like that's not for me. That's that's not like, that's not okay, why why would I do that I'm not a kid. And then I kind of, I kind of forced myself to do it. The best? Yeah, I had the wind in my hair. And I was flying down the sidewalk and like ringing the bell. And people were stuck on the side. And I felt like a kid again. And that was a very intentional choice that I made to do that. And I'm glad I did it. Now I have those memories too. And now maybe I'm more likely to try that again in a different settings. So I really do try to try to make it an intent, like an intentional decision. Like today, I'm going to do something it doesn't even have to be big enough to be going to a spa like I'm not going to do. But it might be it's a really beautiful day. I'm going for a walk today. I'm just going to make sure that I get some sunshine in today. And I do try to make that intentional kind of schedule that around the other things that I had to plan for that day.Hannah Choi 39:30Yeah, that what I do for myself, though, sort of like main Self Care Act is similar in that I, I practice the strategies that I that I know work for me when I'm in a moment where I'm really having a hard time. So like I have some anxiety so I I make myself practice breathing when I'm not in an anxious state. So that when I am in that state, it's much easier for me to access that and I also Have, I'm working really hard on my negative self talk and, and so I try very hard to talk positively to myself when I'm just doing regular stuff. Like, like celebrating these like super small wins, it doesn't have to be anything big, but just practicing that, that more supportive talk to myself really helps so that when I have made a decision that I'm not happy with or something happens, that didn't go as I expected, it does come a little bit more easily to me to say something nice to myself instead of saying something mean. So that's the practice of it when I don't need it is is a huge thing for me. And then also, spending time with other people is absolutely number like probably like other than the practice, that's the most important thing for me. And exercise to I need to exercise if I don't exercise I always like why do I feel like crap this week? Oh, because I did not prioritize that. So yeah. Thank you for asking Cassie. It's a it's a it's a conversation that more people should have. Because in, I think because in having those conversations, you can really learn a lot from what other people do for their self care. And it doesn't always look like going and getting a massage. Like if I go get a massage, I feel guilty that I went and got a massage. And so now I don't feel good at all. It's yeah, it doesn't always look like bubble baths or whatever. So yeah.41:27Yeah, like I just wanted to piggyback off of that is just like, lately, I've been trying to intentionally remember that I can do things because I can like, and not because I have to justify it. Like, that's been really, you know, I've always felt like I've had to justify everything I do, like justify a feeling or justify needing to do this or just doing that. And I'm just like, No, I can go get an ice cream cake. Because I can I'm an adult, I could make that decision if I wanted to. Like if I want to, and I don't need to justify it, if I want a massage, I don't need to justify getting a massage. If I want to do this, I don't have to, I could do it because I can and not because I have to justify it. So I've been trying really hard to do that more often. And like, you know, if I want to make a nice meal for myself, I can do that and not feel like oh, you have to do it. Because you have to have a reason like, No, I don't have to have a reason all the time to do the thing I want to doHannah Choi 42:31just giving yourself permission to just do it.Beth Malvino 42:35Because you deserve it. Yeah. And that's part of42:40that's another hard part to get your wrap your head around. Because, you know, when you're diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you know, you were invalidated a lot as a child for things that, you know, you needed. But, you know, by, you know, oh, you're just too sensitive, or Oh, you're just too much or, or you're just this or just that and like, you know, going through this process of like, No, you do deserve good things you do deserve the things you need to play, it gets okay to have your needs met. That's, that's been a big part of this whole journey, I would say,Beth Malvino 43:17Yeah, we talk about that a lot. I think when you're diagnosed, as an adult, it kind of brings another layer of challenges. Because you have, you have to fight some negative narratives. And Hannah, you were just talking about, you know, the negative talk that goes through your head, you have to fight that, you know, sometimes you have to fight years of that, whether it was heard, you know, from other people, or whether it's things that you're saying to yourself. That's, that's really hard, it's hard to change habits, when what's going on in your head is still, you know, that negative loop of I can't or I'm not good enough, or I don't deserve or I'm broken. And so, you know, we talked about coaching versus therapy, sometimes there is that overlap of you know, how do I how do I get past? How do I change that negative loop in my head so that I can, you know, work with the brain that I have and Cassie we weave cast came up with one of the best I don't know if it's a metaphor, or just the best Phrases She came up with one of one of the best phrases and I still use it today with with all my clients is your, you know, part of coaching is rewriting the manual for your brain. And that act just really spoke to me when when she said that and I i still repeat it all the time because it's so true. It's not about fixing what's wrong. It's about working with But you have Yes. And so I think that, you know, it takes an awful lot of courage to ask for help. Yeah, yeah. So, you know, I really give a lot of credit to both Lina and Cassie for reaching out, because it's not easy. And we're, you know, they're both extremely emotionally intelligent women who, you know who work in the field, I think it's, I think that in some ways makes it harder, you know, people in social work, and maybe even in healthcare in general, we're there to help other people, and we're good at it, and maybe not so good at kind of looking back at ourselves or looking at ourselves in the mirror and saying, Well, what do I need help with. So I just want to acknowledge that it really takes an awful lot of courage to do what they've done, and to be on this journey, and to have to have been open to this journey, which both of them really are.Lina 46:07Yeah, I want to say something, too you know, because within the realm of, I don't know how many people know how the intricacies of healthcare works. But, you know, there's this thing called evidence-based practice. And sometimes evidence-based practice can be at odds with us people with executive functioning challenges, because a lot of times the evidence that they're basing their stuff off of doesn't include people like us in the research. So I have a hard time navigating, especially in mental health spaces, that rely on evidence based practices. But we're working with populations that were never included in the research for, you know, and I, as a person with ADHD, and you have challenges working with a lot of people with ADHD and you have challenges that have either gone overlooked, undiagnosed or invalidated. I'm struggle a lot, by even my own peers within the social work and mental health field, because not only do we have to navigate the challenges of working with our patients, but we also have to navigate the challenges of working with peers that don't see that. And just because our approach is different, doesn't mean that it's wrong. And just because it's, yeah, and just because it's, you know, you may not understand it doesn't mean that we are wrong in approaching our work differently in that way. So there's a lot of, there's a lot of complexities with that,Hannah Choi 47:55and you're doing all of that navigating, while managing your executive function challenges. You're not doing that in this vacuum, where you know, where you're just like, skipping around, remembering everything, and not finding anything stressful. So it's, it's a lot, and I commend you, all, all three of you for you know, the work that you've done and continue to do. And it's, it's, I'm just so glad that you are here today and talking about this. And, and, and I really hope that lots of people hear this and are able to really relate and hopefully feel validated, that validation is huge. And it's, it's, it's a right, Lina, I can imagine that maybe if you if someone validated your perspective, and validated where you're coming from, it would probably feel a lot better than Lina 48:57I probably would have gotten diagnosed as a kid instead of an adult. You know, yeah, I probably would have been heard. You know. So there's, you know, there's a lot of challenges and complexities within that. And I don't want to sound like a Negative Nelly, because I do think evidence based practices has its times in place, but, you know, that's where the creativity of meeting patients and clients where they're at, and truly validating their experiences in their life and having that relational approach rather than just purely scientific, purely medical, purely. Whatever bullshit they like to throw up.Hannah Choi 49:48The systems that that exist, exist, partially because there's not enough funding, and there's not enough people and there's not enough attention. There's not enough support. There's not had enough research, there's not enough validation of the troubles that there are out there. And so it is difficult to provide individual support when you are not supported yourself byLina 50:13Oh, yeah. And that's, Hannah Choi 50:15I know we could talk about that for days. Lina 50:17Yeah, as a systems based person, you know, we have the resources to do those things, we just choose as a system not to do it. You know, and that's, you know, I know, I say, I'm in social work, but my first master's was in public administration, and, you know, we have a bunch of the resources to do it, it's just we, politically and power wise choose not to, and that's really, and we're working within that system all the time. I'm sure Cassie see's just how, you know, funding schools and funding children's programs affects her and her job and what she's limited and doing. And I know, I struggle a lot with I work with a lot of people who are on Medicaid, you know, like, it's, and that's, that's severely limiting to what they need, and they have a lot of my needs. So it's, you know, it's a system thing too, and we have to constantly navigate those complexities.Hannah Choi 51:13Yeah, that's a lot. And the people that you work with, I'm sure are so grateful that you have made the choice in your life to do the work that you're doing. And, and that you I'm sure your your work has been so positively impacted by that effort that you have put in, to reach out for help for yourself, and to do the work that you've been doing and will continue to do to support yourself, which just improves the support that you're able to give the people that you work with. So let's explore that a bit. I would love to hear from you, Beth, about your experience working with Cassie and Lina,Beth Malvino 51:53I feel so honored to have been part of Cassie and Lina's journey journeys. And just to me, they're they're huge executive function success stories. They blow me away with how they manage and navigate their lives, their work. And I wanted them to shine. And so I'm glad that I'm here to kind of hear to hear them talk about these things. Because it also validates the fact that they they've done so much work. I mean, I love talking about people's journey, especially when they when they come to the end. And this is by no means the end of a journey, not like they're still on the journey. But just having beared witness to it has been really, really wonderful for me, and I I just, I'm so glad that I could be here to, to hear them to, you know, to talk about it. And I don't know if it's okay with them, I'd love to share some of the things that I've seen just in terms of their coaching journey. Oh my goodness, I mean when I first started working with Cassie, I'll just start there. She She was really struggling, she was emotionally spent. She doesn't didn't understand why she why she was leaving late every day she couldn't plan or prioritize. I think structuring her unstructured time was one of the biggest hurdles she she was experiencing there was a lot of procrastinationCassie 53:57My own brain would distract me, I'd be in the middle of a task of like, oh, I wanted to do this other thing. And then I would do that other thing, and then not finish the original task.Beth Malvino 54:06So there was a lot of that going on. Transitions were also really hard and just getting distracted, doing one thing and being distracted by another. Even just simple things. And you know, this goes back to what Lina was saying about remembering to eat lunch, just basic needs, sleep, food, hygiene, you know, those kinds of things. I think sometimes people forget that without that your executive functioning kind of falls apart. And so you have to kind of go back to basics and say, you know, what do I need right now Why am I feeling this way? Could it be because you haven't had lunch or you didn't sleep well or you stayed up on your phone till three in the morning? Just Doom scrolling, you know, is there. There's there are reasons that these things happen. So It just in terms of Cassie's journey, you know, I've watched I watched her go from sort of this almost despondent person who was really not happy in her role in her life and felt just things were very much out of her control. And then she kind of shifted, she changed jobs. And that shift made a huge difference for her in everything, her demeanor her affect her mood, I mean, it was such a big change, because I saw her finally doing something that she really truly loved. And from that came so many other amazing changes for her. She she was, for a while she had been using a thought collector, you remember the thought collector. So the thought collector was like a is basically a notebook and just a sort of list, a running list of things that she had to write stream of consciousCassie 56:09or even consciousness, it could because like I said, when I would be like, Alright, I need to write this note, I need to summarize a 45 minute individual therapy session, go. But then as I was having like, oh, yeah, my kiddo asked me to reach out to her mom, or my, you know, I have to send this email. And so in the middle of this hard job that I didn't want to do, I would remember a quicker, easier job. And then I was like, Oh, let me just do that real quick. And then I would get distracted by looking for a worksheet related to this topic. And then I would get, so my thought collector was kind of like a brain dump of like, okay, I know, this is important. I don't want to forget it. I'm gonna write it down. And then I'm gonna keep doing I don't want to do.Hannah Choi 56:45Yeah, that's great.Beth Malvino 56:47And a lot of that. I remember even during the early sessions that we had, it was kind of almost reactive, you would look at the thought collector and say, Okay, what, what have I not done, that I should have done this week. And let me get that done first. And so it was very sort of reactive in that in nature. Like, let me let me finish what I haven't done that needs to get done. And then after a while, things kind of shifted where you were, you could take a more proactive stance, and begin to plan ahead and begin to prioritize. So instead of looking back at what you hadn't done, you were able to look forward and look at the thought collector and say, What do I need to do? Going forward? What do I need to do this week? That was a big shift, the way you document and your notes even changed. And it was not a big change. But there was something that you had tweaked, that made it easier to document for yourself. It was the way that you were copying and pasting. Yes, some of your notes and just a small change, like that made a huge difference. Yes.Cassie 57:53Micro optimization. Yes.Hannah Choi 57:56Yeah. And I think that people don't recognize the, the, how that huge, that tiny, tiny, tiny little change can have such a huge impact. It's like, have you guys read Atomic Habits by James clear, he talks a lot about how like, if you just make like 1%, like a boat, if there's a ship, and it's going in this one direction, it makes a 1% change turn or one degree turn, I mean, then it's actually going to end up in like a really huge, different place. But if you never make that change, you'll just keep on going straight. And so that giving value to those small changes that can make a really big difference.Beth Malvino 58:34Absolutely. Yeah, I think just I've also just been really amazed at Cassie's ability, ability to self-regulate, when she because she works with a population that is really not regulated. And so I asked her all the time, I mean, she gets physically assaulted at work. And then she'll come to session and be like, oh, you know, I got hit today. And it's kind of like, just, it's almost like it's not, it doesn't affect her or she doesn't take it in. And she's still able to, to cope and do the things that she wants to do that day, and it doesn't get under her skin. And I've always been amazed by that. Because self regulation is one of the hardest executive function skills to master and especially if you're working with people who are not, not regulated, that can be a really big challenge. So she just has that amazing ability to do that.Hannah Choi 59:38That's great. So tell me all about LinaBeth Malvino 59:40and Lina, Oh my gosh. We, Lina says she's a verbal processor. I struggle because our sessions typically go way over and I did and I'm complete Part of that because, you know, I'm because I love talking to her. And because we end up talking about things that you know, are so relatable. And so it's not uncommon for us to go over our time limit. You know, I think, Lina we have, we have spent a lot of time talking about the inner narrative. Lina, I think I said this before that, you know, she was diagnosed as an adult. And so she, she brought with her some of those negative inner loops that tend to go through your head. And so we do spend a lot of time on that, which does bring a therapeutic component to coaching, but we're always able to relate it back to executive functioning. And so, but that that's all part of it, you know, we only have one brain, right, and the the toll that executive dysfunction takes on a person emotionally, has to be acknowledged, it can't be compartmentalized, you can't just talk about my challenges with EF skills, and also talk about the fact that I'm anxious, depressed and sad, they go together. And so there's a lot of overlap. And so we do talk about that a lot. And one of the things that I think she mentioned it, you know, remembering to eat, for example, it's just a basic need, right? We, I think a lot of us just take it for granted, like, Okay, you could skip lunch and feel fine. But when you have executive function, challenges, skipping lunch, could mean not functioning at all later in the day, and maybe not realizing how much of an impact that that has on you. So we do talk about that a lot. And remembering to put those things into her like scheduling fun, like, I need her to schedule lunch. I tell her, it's as important as breathing as if think of it as you know, medication, or insulin or something that you need. It's not just a nice thing to have, like you're not optional, to fulfill yourself and replenish yourself. So we talk about that a lot. And I'm also blown away by Lina 's ability to self-regulate, because she's working with some people who are seriously traumatized, and have, you know, dual diagnosis and a lot, a lot of stuff going on in their lives. And I'm in all of the fact that she is able to give so much of herself. To them, despite having challenges with with some of those same things like self regulation is is very hard, you know, big feelings are hard to navigate. And as a social worker, it's so much easier to navigate that with other people. Yeah. But not with yourself. And so it's, it's what it's a balance. And so we talk about that a lot, just being mindful of how she's feeling. Because it's very easy to distract yourself with how somebody else is feeling. One of the things that Lina has done in coaching, which is just incredible is she has utilized workspace sessions in a very unique way. And for those of you don't know workspace is one of the it's it's kind of, it's a website that Beyond BookSmart runs, where if you have something to do, and it doesn't matter what it is you sign up for a session and you have a person there, who is there to help pull you through it and to monitor how things are going and to be your cheerleader. And to give you some tips. And it sounds kind of simplistic, but it really does work. Having that external accountability of having another person there is very helpful. And so one of the things that Lina has done and I've talked to other clients about this because it's worked so well for her is she was able to literally master task initiate by scheduling sessions very carefully during her week. So on Sunday, she would use a workspace session to tackle chores or get all her cooking done. Can I talk about Mount Lina, is that okay?Lina 1:04:48I figured it was gonna come up. Yeah, okay, so we'll talk about Mount Lina. Yeah, you want to tell everyone what that lien is? Mount Lina is this corner of my bedroom. Where am I dresser is and you couldn't see the top of the dresser for months, because it's just a mountain of doom. Like just a mountain of doom lay like that's the best I can describe it just of clothes of random things that somehow made its way to the top of my dresser and I couldn't see my dresser for since I moved into this apartment, which was in 2021, up until earlier this year. Hannah Choi 1:05:37Congratulations! Lina 1:05:39Yeah. So Workspace helped me tackle Mount Lena. And it only took like, a day. And I was just like, Why? Why am I like this,Hannah Choi 1:05:48I had a client who, who had the same, she also had a mountain. And it was a desk at the bottom of her stairs in her living room. And so we did that I just sat with her during an entire session, and she cleaned it off. And she did it. And so that's the idea of body doubling, which, which Beth you didn't name but the body doubling is a super effective strategy for task initiation, especially for people with ADHD. And there's, there's like YouTube, you can go on YouTube, and just search for bodily to ebbeling. And they'll be like someone cleaning your closet out.Beth Malvino 1:06:23You know, one of the things with Lina that I've, I've really seen, because a lot of our sessions have been focused on that internet, you know, negative narrative that's been running through her head, is her ability to take risks. And to you know, for example, looking, thinking about relocating and going on job interviews, and just, I mean, it's, it's terrifying to think about moving from one city to another. And that can often be an obstacle to task initiation is fear. And she's really, really pushed past that. And she's, she's doing it,Lina 1:07:05you know, it sucks, having to really examine the things around you, and yourself, and your internal narrative to be like, Oh, this is what I've had. And this is what I know. And it's comfortable, but it's not working anymore, and having to do things differently, and having to really be like, No, this is what I really need. And that being at odds which with what you thought you needed. And there's a grief in that there's a sadness in that. And there's a lot of yeah, just because it's good to make these changes doesn't mean that it doesn't feel shitty, while you're doing it. So it's, there's been a lot of that, tooHannah Choi 1:07:51And, and it can, it can, I know, like for myself, like it can, making doesn't matter the size of the change, just recognizing like, this, this thing that I've the way that I've been doing, it has not been working, whether it's like, I don't know, I used to keep a grocery list on a piece of paper. And now I use any list. Like just recognizing like this system that I that I've been using for so long. It's actually not that great. And admitting that and not beating yourself up over it and saying, Okay, let me be open to something new, and then trying the new thing. Can really that's difficult work to do whatever the size, whatever the size is.Lina 1:08:32Yeah, yeah, like there have been definite things like, I was furious when I discovered that the dictate speech to text tool exists in Microsoft Word this whole time, that could have made my life so much easier if I had just known about it. Now, if I had known that I was a verbal processor, you know, I could have just spoken and wrote all my papers that way. But no, I didn't know that. Or, you know, I am so happy I have a Google Home assistant now because that thing helps me out so much. When it comes to like needing to verbally process I can just say hey, I won't say it now. But I can add this to this list, like when I remember it, and then I have it in my phone because it recorded it like my Costco list or Trader Joe list, my regular grocery list or my Home Depot list or this or that, you know, we're Amazon list like I can just remember. Like, I can just say it, it'll record it and then I don't have to remember it anymore. And I don't have to feel like I you know, because once it's out of the mouth, it just goes poof in the brain. Like it's just gone.Cassie 1:09:41Like, like your Google Assistant is like a digital version of my thought collector.Lina 1:09:46Yes. Yes.Cassie 1:09:50I use my Alexa more often for alarms and time-awareness. Yes, I do that to like, hey, in 30 minutes, remind me to take the stuff out of the washer or I do do that too times so that I can actually go and take the trash out before midnight, you know, thatLina 1:10:05Or remind me to put the wash or the laundry that's in the washer and the dryer so that I don't have to rewash it again, because I forgot. Because yeah, like I, I have to tell myself to do that, or, you know, it helps a lot with you know, I sleep with brown noise at night nowCassie 1:10:24Me too! Brown noise is better than white noiseLina 1:10:28It's so much better. And I it's so much more soothing to me. And so I listen to brown noise and that helps me out a lot. And, you know, I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I am not a morning person, I I've come to accept this fact about myself after years of trying to become a morning person. But what helps me wake up in the morning is turning on lights, like I'm very light sensitive. And so I tell my Google to turn on my bedroom lights at a certain time in the morning, like, Hey, turn on the bedroom lamp at such and such time, like at 6:30. And it'll do that and I'll turn the lights on before I put my alarm so that it's sort of like a wake, go Yeah, like a gradual thing. So it's not as terrible as the way I was waking myself up before getting a really loud alarm clock, putting it in my kitchen. And it it literally sounded like one of those loud school bells, like old 1950s school bells. And it was the worst way to wake up because it was just so abrasive, and it made me get out of bed, which I didn't want to do. And yeah, just like being more gentle with how you do things. Because all the harsh ways that I was doing number four just weren't working.Beth Malvino 1:11:40You know, what you're you're both of you are kind of capturing is that it's sort of the essence of what we try to do. And in coaching to in which both of you have really just navigated beautifully is the idea that it's not about trying harder. It's about trying differently. And I know I say that a lot. I still say that to both of you at times. But I say that just in general, that's sort of like a mantra that I have. Because that's really what it's about. It's, you know, the systems and the tools that you were using or didn't have before. You know, it's it's not about just working harder or putting in more efforts. It's about learning new strategies and new tools and finding what works for you and what works for you may not work for someone else. But that's okay. And to kind of become comfortable with that idea that I just need. I just haven't yet figured out what tools work for me. And both of you have worked so hard over the course of your journey in coaching to figure those things out, which has just been phenomenal and so amazing for me to witness.Hannah Choi 1:12:57Well, I could literally talk about this all day, but I actually have a client 12:30, speaking of being able to eat thank you so much for joining me and having this really really really important conversation. And it was really lovely for me to listen to hear to listen to your stories, and, and I appreciate your honesty and your openness. And I know that, that our listeners will really appreciate that too. And, and Beth, thank you so much for joining us. And then providing the coach perspective. And also social worker perspective. It's, it's been it was really, really enrich the conversation. So thank you so much. Beth Malvino 1:13:40My pleasure. Lina 1:13:40Thank you. Hannah Choi 1:13:44And that's our show for today. I really hope you enjoyed our conversation. As we talked about in this episode validation is a huge part of feeling better about the challenges we face. And we really, really hope that someone out there feels validated after hearing these shared struggles. You are not alone. Listen to what Lina shared about why she wanted to be on the podcast and why she became a social worker.Lina 1:14:11You know, I think it comes down to because I love people and I love creating spaces and holding space for people who don't feel like they belong or who don't ever feel validated just because I think most of my life, I felt that way. And yeah, it's, you know, it's really important, even if it's in the smallest of ways, or in ways that seem insignificant. Nothing is ever insignificant, I think.Hannah Choi 1:14:44If you know anyone who might really relate to Lina's and Cassie's stories, please share this episode with them. Thank you

Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast
Ep 20: Screen Time Sanity: Finding Balance in a Digital World (ft. Dr. Clifford Sussman)

Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 47:05


Have you ever wondered if you're spending too much time on your phone or computer? Well, then you're certainly not alone. Screen use behaviors are top of mind for so many people these days - and for good reason. Over the last few years, our world has fully transformed itself around this technology to a point where spending a majority of our day looking at a screen has become the norm in much of our society. And although screen overuse was a problem pre-pandemic, the issue has accelerated exponentially over the last few years, bringing with it an array of crisis-level challenges for so many people. So what can we do to achieve screen time sanity in today's digital world? To help answer this question, I reached out to Dr. Clifford Sussman, a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Washington, DC area, who supports kids and their families who are at the extreme end of struggling with finding balance in their screen use - and I say balance because, well let's face it... screens are an avoidable part of life in today's world and its future. As a remote-working parent with a tween who loves video games and a teen who loves her phone, I find it very challenging to find a healthy balance, not feel like a hypocrite, and just feel OKAY about my own screen use decisions. However, I learned from my conversation with Dr. Sussman that there are practical things we can all do to find that balance for ourselves and those in our lives we care about. Listen in to our conversation and learn some practical strategies you can use to achieve screen time sanity and find your own balance in our modern digital world.Here are some links to more information about Dr. Sussman and this episode's topic.Learn More About Dr. SussmanDr. Sussman's Website on TrainingsThe Ross Center - Assessment and Treatment of Digital Use DisordersDr. Sussman's YouTube ChannelThe Ross CenterScreen Use & Executive Function SkillsBeyond BookSmart's collaboration with Dr. SussmanScreenagers by Delaney RustonContact us!Reach out to us at podcast@beyondbooksmart.comIG/FB/TikTok @beyondbooksmartcoachingTranscriptHannah Choi 00:00Hi everyone and welcome to Focus Forward, an executive function podcast where we explore the challenges and celebrate the wins you'll experience as you change your life by working on improving your executive function skills. I'm your host, Hannah Choi. Hannah Choi 00:00Okay, confession time. Are you listening to me but also looking at something on your phone? It's okay if you are, we can't help it. Instagram, tick tock games, even news websites are created in ways that make you want it. Need it, even when you're doing something else. Our screen use behaviors are top of mind for many people these days. Before the pandemic, it was a problem. Now, for some it's a crisis. Hannah Choi 00:00I reached out to Dr. Clifford Sussman, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in the Washington, DC area, who supports kids and their families who are at the extreme end of struggling with finding balance and their screen use. And notice I said balance. What I learned from Dr. Susman is that balance is the key screens are a part of life, they're not going anywhere. We all know that they have many, many benefits. And when used in a healthy way, we can learn some pretty great skills that apply to other areas of our lives. As a parent of a tween who loves video games, and a teen who loves her phone. And as someone who works remotely from home on a computer for much of the day, married to a partner who also works remotely from home and is literally on a computer all day, I find it very challenging to find a healthy balance and not feel like a hypocrite and just feel okay about my own screen use decisions. I learned from Dr. Sussman that there are practical things that we can do to find that balance for ourselves, and connect with our kids to help them find it. And notice that I didn't say they're easy things we can do. It's definitely not easy. But there is some hope in there that with some focused and thoughtful effort, we can hopefully find that balance and feel better about our own screen use. And if we have kids, there's too. Okay, onto the show. Hannah Choi 00:00Hi, Cliff. Thanks so much for joining me on my podcast.Dr. Cliff Sussman 02:17Thanks for having me.Hannah Choi 02:18Um, would you like to introduce yourselves to our listeners?Dr. Cliff Sussman 02:21Sure, sure. My name is Dr. Clifford Sussman. I'm a child and adolescent psychiatrist. And I actually specialize in treating internet and video game use disorders. So all of my patients pretty much have some form of problems with excessive screen use.Hannah Choi 02:42Yeah, and that is a hot topic, especially after coming out of that, after having gone through the pandemic and even before, so how did you? How did you get into that? Why is that? How did it become such an important issue for you?Dr. Cliff Sussman 02:57Well, I guess it started, or, you know, early in childhood, discovering I love computers, myself, and I love screens myself. And I was I was always on video games when I was younger, or trying to design them myself. And then eventually learned to code and, and, you know, got really into all that stuff. And then when I became a psychiatrist, and went into private practice, specializing in mostly teenagers, parents were coming in from the day I started about 15 years ago, and telling me that their kids were addicted to video games. So this is long before the pandemic. And I would evaluate these kids because oftentimes, the parents had been that had been dismissed by by the providers they'd seen before me. And so but I would evaluate these kids and I find out that, you know, look, they, they, they have a lot of the same problems that the people I'm seeing, that I saw in my addiction rotations during residency had, you know, the seeking the, the constantly lying, the stealing, the aggression, the defensiveness, the, you know, all sorts of problems with, with, with, with the family, in the family. So, I decided to really do some research, you know, just do a lot of read a lot of studies about how the brain was affected by excessive screen use and comparing those studies to how the brain was accessed was affected by use of other substances. And, you know, started finding a lot of similarities. And eventually I decided that this problem was becoming so big and these people really needed help. That I just I decided that I really could just just work on that. And yeah, and so that there was a lot more demand than supply and providers for this problem and So, you know, and I would collaborate with a few other colleagues who are recognizing this too. You know, when we compare notes on how, you know, what was working and what wasn't. And I would base a lot of my treatments on treatments that had been effective for drug addiction, such as motivational interviewing, motivational interviewing, which is a type of psychotherapy, that's like a mix of cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. And, you know, and it just sort of took off from there. And then, after the pandemic, the problem got to be so huge, even during the pandemic, but especially when people started returning to schools and having more demands placed on them. That, you know, I decided that there was no way that I could handle all the cases, you know, and my and a few of my colleagues who are who are recognizing this. And so, I decided to start putting a lot of focus and doing things like this, where I can educate the community, and I even have a lot of stuff now, where I'm training other providers, a lot of doing courses for other providers online, and things like that.Hannah Choi 06:16That's great. I would love to talk with you more about that later on. I do have a question for you about the brain. You mentioned the brain, what? What happens in the brain? And I know that there's dopamine involved, but maybe for our listeners, you can explain what happens in the brain when, you know, when someone really feels like they need to be on a screen.Dr. Cliff Sussman 06:43Yeah, yeah, that's, I mean, that that is it is related to dopamine. And so So dopamine is the neurotransmitter that we release, it's thought of as the pleasure neurotransmitter. So people think we just release it when we get pleasure. But it's a little more nuanced than that we release dopamine when we get exactly what we want, when we want. So I think people people think of if you got pleasure, but it was very delayed, you know, you wouldn't release as much dopamine as if you got the same pleasure right away. So that's why things like cigarettes, which don't get you nearly as high as other drugs, but get you that buzz right away, because you smoke it, and the smoke goes right into your bloodstream, they release a lot of dopamine, and our, you know, easily as addictive as much more intoxicating drugs that have more delayed. So, you know, it was a real survival, a real survival neurotransmitter. Because, you know, when you're, let's say, a caveman, you, you need something right away, it helps you survive if you get it right away. Right, right, you know, so you know, you want to satisfy those needs immediately. Before you get eaten by a saber toothed Tiger.Hannah Choi 08:14We don't want that to happen.Dr. Cliff Sussman 08:16So yeah, so what happens in the brain when, when, when we're on anything that gives us instant gratification. And in particular screens, because that gives us not just instant gratification, but continuous instant gratification, is it the brain releases lots of dopamine. And you know, there's nothing wrong with that, what's the problem is when you keep doing it, and when the brain keeps releasing dopamine for hours and hours on end, right, like cavemen never got what they wanted for that long at a time. I mean, so the brain wasn't designed to handle that much of getting what you want for that long time. And so what happens is you become desensitized to dopamine, the receptors in the brain for dopamine, they, they go through a process called downregulation. And that and a bunch of other more complicated processes, basically result in you needing to work even harder to get instant gratification. And, and getting the same amount of dopamine that you did before won't feel as good. So you need even more. And so that's why that's one of the reasons why it's just so hard to get off screen. When you've been on it for a really long time. You know, when when you get off and stop getting that dopamine. Now you you actually feel worse than before you start.Hannah Choi 09:43Right. So you want to get back on to avoid that feeling.Dr. Cliff Sussman 09:49 Yeah, and that's really basically the process in all addictions.Hannah Choi 09:52Yeah, right, right. Yeah.Dr. Cliff Sussman 09:54So it's like it's like too much of a good thing. You know, I don't and I like it. said I enjoy gaming, you know, so I don't I don't think that that using a video game for a half an hour or an hour is such a terrible thing. I think it can be a great experience. And there's lots of even educational opportunities or, you know, opportunities to solve puzzles are make friends or do all sorts of great things, right? Yeah. But it's the hours and hours and hours on end. And when people during the pandemic, we're living in the virtual world instead of the real world, it really got to be a big problem.Hannah Choi 10:31Yeah, right. So I had a personal experience with this. A couple of weeks ago, my son and I both had COVID at the same time, so he and I were all like, we're Yeah, it was, yeah, it was not fun. And, and so we were both isolated, we're both the same room, and I had work I had to do, and he did not feel great. So I let him use his, like, play Minecraft and do screens like, kind of all day. And I, I felt so guilty because I know!Dr. Cliff Sussman 11:03And that was the first time you'd done that? Because most parents I've worked with have found that out, have crossed that a long time ago, you knowHannah Choi 11:11Yeah, I mean, I guess I had done it. But it hadn't been in a while. And it hadn't been for so many days. And I did notice afterwards, he had a hard time, like thinking of something else to do. And, and I didn't feel great. So I had a hard time motivating myself to encourage him to do something different. So I can see how...Dr. Cliff Sussman 11:36Everything else starts to pale in comparison. Yeah, you know, it can turn an, you know, I like to divide activities into what I call high dopamine activities. I use HDA for short and long dopamine activities, or LDA. And I call you know, the, there's a lot of low dopamine activities that are enjoyable, meaning activities that just require more patience that have more delay in their gratification, but they're still gratifying. Right? So you know, so we're not just talking about homework and exercise, we're also talking about things like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, you know, painting a picture, learning to play an instrument. These things, you know, those are the types of things that your son might really enjoy doing, until they've, you know, gotten a taste of a high dopamine activity for a very long time. You know, and then all of a sudden, those other things, just, you know, well, the thing you heard all the time during the pandemic was I'm bored. There's nothing to do.Hannah Choi 12:39Yeah, there's nothing right. Yeah, yeah. It's funny that you say play an instrument. So my son plays piano, and I, I'm thinking about it, like I did notice when we came out of isolation, and we were back in the real world, it was harder for him to like, sit down and play the piano, but I am noticing over the past few days, he's, he's kind of getting back into it now. So that's not permanent.Dr. Cliff Sussman 13:04And you don't want to forget that. I played the piano when I was a kid for a couple years. And I think I said to my mom, you know, look, for my seventh birthday, can I just quit piano because the processing is really boring, and I don't want to have to learn all the skills. And she's like, okay, you know, and, and then a couple years later, I guess when I became a teenager, I was like, I really wish I knew how to play an instrument. Mom, why did you let me I took up guitar instead. Okay, so that's good. But yeah, it's important when kids get bored with their instruments, not to like, Forget everything they know, and just come away from it to try and just pick it up every now and then keep it a little fresh.Hannah Choi 13:48Right, right. So that makes me think of like, how can this might be jumping ahead a little bit, but how can people balance? How can people find a nice balance between those LDAs and HDA active, activities?Dr. Cliff Sussman 14:04Well, you're hitting the nail on the head. I mean, to me, that's the real key is finding a balance, right? Because you're definitely let's face it in this world, you're not going to have abstinence from the digital world. You know, and it's impossible. Yeah. And and, you know, you wouldn't function very well if you did, to be honest. So it really is about finding balance. And so I have a lot of suggestions for how to do that on my website that you were referring to earlier at CliffordSussmanmd.com. But I can try to highlight some of the main ones. So I think the some of the biggest keys are having a lot of structure in your schedule. You know, having and keeping a schedule, you know, keeping a routine that was so important during the pandemic, when you know, prior to the pandemic, a big ratio of my patients were first year college dropouts, because they went from the highly structured setting of high school to the unstructured setting of college. And so that allows for hours and hours of binging. Well, during the pandemic, it basically like every high school kid became a college kid, because they were at home with like, very little structure. And so, you know, so structure is really key to balance. Having something to do at a certain time until a certain time, you know, getting your kids involved in daily repeating activities, like sports, or music, or joining a chorus or something like that Robotics Club. So that's important. I would also say that setting some some time limits, consistent time limits to how long you can be on a screen, but also, how long you need to be off a screen or at least doing a low dopamine activity, if it is on a screen until you can get on again, it's really important for balance. But the number one thing is, as I already alluded to, is not binging you know, so. So if you're, if you're keeping each screen block to a consistent length of time, that's, let's say, an hour or less, depending on the age of the child, and waiting at least that amount of time before you get on again, you know, especially during unstructured time, then then I think you're going to be way ahead of the game for most families. And that's how I'd answer that.Hannah Choi 16:47Yeah, those are really great suggestions. And, and I like that there is so much balance built into all of those suggestions. So it really does show that that is the key. So it's something that we had talked about earlier, and I had never I had never thought about this before. But you, you talked about how people use the word addiction, like screen addiction, casually, like "Oh, I'm so addicted to my screen". But that's not technically true. Right? Can you explain to the listeners, what the difference is between addiction and what you said was functional dependence?Dr. Cliff Sussman 17:25Yeah, well, so. So what addiction really means is that you're you can't get off of something, despite the problems it's causing for you. So it's, it's the inability to control an activity. Combined with it having causing dysfunction in your life. And the level of addiction is measured by not how many hours you're on a screen, or how much of a drug you're taking, but how much it's negatively affecting your life. So, and I do think people think of addiction as kind of an all or nothing thing, but it really is, to me, it's more of a continuum, like you can be really addicted to something. If you're you've like dropped out of school, and you still earn 1000s of dollars, and you know, your life is completely in shambles. Or you can be a little addicted to something if you know, dropped your grades from an A to a B minus, you know, so. But I mean, I think kids generally when they say this game is so addictive, what they mean is that they can't stop playing. And so they're not completely wrong, you know, because it is designed that way to make it so they can't stop playing. As far as like, being dependent on something that just means you know what it sounds like, like you need it, like you can't function without it. And so, you know, you can be the you can be dependent on something without being addicted to it if you still can manage your life and live a good life that's successful, where you're getting what you need out of it. And so, yeah, I mean, I think, I mean, think of a diabetic dependent on insulin, right? I mean, they can't live without it. But that doesn't mean that it's dysfunctional to take right, you know, and so a lot of us really need our screens. We need them like right now we're on screens, you know, that that doesn't make us addicted, right. We're using it in a functional way now. Yeah. So yeah, that's, that's, does that answer your question?Hannah Choi 19:36Yeah. Yeah, it does. And what you just said reminds me of going back to when my son and I were isolating together in during the time of COVID I was on my I felt guilty because I was on my screen. So I felt a little bit like I was being, you know, hypocritical, because I was saying, like, you need to get off and here I am, you know, typing away on my screen. And, but I didn't want to be on, I had to be on there.Dr. Cliff Sussman 20:04You were doing low dopamine screen actors,Dr. Cliff Sussman 20:06Yeah, it was very low-dopamine!Dr. Cliff Sussman 20:08You were setting a good example. But what I do see a lot of parents doing is, you know, they're on a cell phone, let's say, going down all these rabbit holes of social media, you know, saying to their kid to get off a video game that doesn't play very, you know, and there's definitely a lot of parents I work with who are who are sort of like, struggling themselves to get off their screens. And, you know, so and let's face it, like with all drug use, and all substances, with all behavioral addictions, like it runs in families, right, it's, there's a genetic component. So yeah, and by the way, you you mentioned this, this episode of, of you and your son being sick. And, you know, one of the problems with that is that you're trapped in the house, you know, you can't like go outside to do low dopamine activities, where there's probably a lot more dopamine activities, you know, so, but that also is a reason I emphasize, because people had to stay injuring COVID, you know, during for quarantine purposes, as well. So, I emphasized a lot of environmental cues, like being aware of environmental cues as as a big part of achieving balance. So if you're, if an alcoholic is avoids going in the bar, it's much harder, it's much easier to avoid having a drink, right? It's much harder when you're in the bar. Because you have all the cues of the bar, you have the sights, sounds and smells, you know, the, you see a row of bottles, you see the bartender, it's like, it's very hard to drink water in a bar. And so, so what I try to help parents do, and this is kind of a extended answer to your question about how to, you know, how do you get balance, because I try to help them have like low dopamine and high dopamine zones in the house. So you start to associate cues of like what activity you should be doing. So in other words, when we were, you know, before COVID, and since since the quarantines ended, when kids do their learning, they're in a classroom, right. And so they're sitting at a desk, they've got a teacher, they got a whiteboard, they've got hopefully other kids around, like, maybe some of them at least paying attention to the teacher. And, you know, so they've got the cues around them that, hey, it's time to learn, you know, but when they were, when they were taking class during COVID, they were on the same screen, they were playing Minecraft on all day. And usually, they had another screen open with Discord on it. So like, good luck, you know, that that's really trying to drink water in a bar. So that's why I emphasize a lot, like look at what your home looks like, you know, do you have a separate area for where they do their gaming? And for where they do their studying? You know, and they're sleeping, you know, are they just do they have a cell phone and three other devices next to their bed all the time or next to where they're doing their work? Because if so, good luck, you know, they're getting the wrong cues. You know, so I tried to emphasize having a zone in the house put aside kind of like an arcade room, where, when it's time for kids to have their high dopamine activities, they can go into that sort of arcade room. And, you know, all the devices will be in there. But the catch is that when that hour or whatever is up, maybe half an hour, if they're a little kid, the devices stay in there, and they leave. And they go back into the low dopamine zone. Yeah, a little zone, because so, so that way, you know what, what happens is, you don't have to rip a device out of the kid's hand, you just have to get them to go from one location to another.Hannah Choi 24:02Right, right. Yeah. And so then if it like, say, you don't have a separate place, could you just say, like, you always have to sit? Like if you're going to be using your game, your whatever, you have to sit at this table or something?Dr. Cliff Sussman 24:16Yeah. Although although usually if it's a teenager and you say you have to do something, they'll do the opposite. So yeah. You know, kind of work on how you how you discuss it with them, but that could be the rules that you agree on, you know, and, and, you know, and if you make rules like that, you can also clarify what the sort of natural or logical consequence of breaking those rules are, because they're going to, you know, so Right. Yeah. So like if for example, if they stay in the in the high dopamine room for longer than they're supposed to, you could agree on something like okay, you were in there five minutes too long. So you lose three times five, which is 15 minutes off the next lock in there. You And then you don't need a power struggle, you know? Yeah. Right. You can even reward them for getting off on their own in time. Just not with extra screen time. Yeah.Hannah Choi 25:10Yeah, you get half an hour more.Dr. Cliff Sussman 25:14Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, I that's a system that's worked for a lot of my parents.Hannah Choi 25:19And do would you say, in general, kids are open to talking with their parents about their screen use and in screen use behavior? And, and kind of discussing what it's like for them?Dr. Cliff Sussman 25:35Well, it depends on the kid, you know, and it depends on their age. And, you know, I mean, for so so that's a complicated question. You know, if you have a kid who's like really addicted to screens and kids, and really struggling with it, they may be in denial, which and so they may be get very defensive when parents tried to talk to them about it. But then at the same time, there's, there's like, it's a normal teenage thing to not want to discuss everything with your parents, and not necessarily want to share all your feelings with them, especially when you're in that early teenage, those early teenage years, like 12-13, because you're trying to like, sort out your, your identity among your peers, and you're trying to sort of push a cast aside the previous generation and join your peers. So, you know, so So I don't think parents should take it too, personally, if their kids don't want to talk about it. But you know, kids do like when their parents care about what they're interested in, you know, and if you, you know, can validate that they really enjoy their games, and that they really enjoy their computer and that they're not, you know, that, that it can be really tough for them to stop. You know, what you don't want to do as a parent and see, like I just, you know, you don't want to say to your kid, like, like that, you know, I don't understand why that's fun for you. That's, you know, that's not important. You shouldn't be doing because to them, it's very important. You know, it's, it's, you know, it's, it may be how they're socializing. It may be how, I mean, they may care a lot about how a lot more about how well they do in a video game than other things. And, you know, you may not agree with that, but you got to meet them where they are good luck reaching them,Hannah Choi 27:24you know, yeah, yeah, you can't reach them unless you validate them.Dr. Cliff Sussman 27:27Yeah. And validating a behavior is not the same as enabling it. You know, I think that's important for parents, just because you're acknowledging that a kid loves their video game, or that they're really upset about having to stop playing it. You know, rather than pretending they're not upset, you know, that that's not the same thing as saying, Oh, you can have all the games you want, you know?Hannah Choi 27:50Yeah, that's such an important point to remember.Dr. Cliff Sussman 27:55You can set limits, but then validate how, you know, the effect it's having on them, trying to abide by those limits.Hannah Choi 28:02Right. And then also, I imagine sharing your own experience with having challenges regulating your own screen use. And, you know, sharing Yeah, like, I get that, because I feel that way about whatever. And so. So for parents, those, those cues for the kids can also be the parents behavior, and just being a good role model. Right?Dr. Cliff Sussman 28:31Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, kids are much more likely to do what we do than what we say. So, you know, I think the most effective way to really influence our kids being self regulated and balanced is to be that way ourselves and to work on that ourselves as parents and actually model that behavior. You know, and maybe even like, let let your child know, look, I you know, I set a timer, and I stopped when the timer went off, and it wasn't easy for me to do I want to keep doing it, but I have to get back to work, you know. So, you know, your, your basic your being a good influence on that type of behavior.Hannah Choi 29:14Yeah. Just thinking about my own house and how, how we do things. Yeah. And it's hard. I mean, it's it's really hard. You're right, they do. They the the makers of all these things, every website, every every social media app, every game, they make it so you want it. You want it bad, it's hard. Yeah, yeah. If you're just reading the news, you just pull down and then you got a whole new news article to read.Dr. Cliff Sussman 29:42Yeah, well, there's endless scrolling. It's all you know, it's all sort of designed and coded the way they know we'll get people to stay on the longest. So you know, and even they even have AI that does that. So, and you know, and they understand like the basic psychological concepts concepts of things like gambling, that, you know, if you, if you give people a different reward every time, and sometimes no reward at all. It's the whatever, whatever it is, they're going to do a lot more of than if you just reward them the same way each time. So that's called variable ratio reinforcement. And that's why, you know, when you're scrolling down, you know, sometimes it's like, for example, you may think, Okay, well, this AI isn't very good, because they keep showing me things in my feed that I'm not interested in at all right. And occasionally, I'll like one, and I'll click on it, you know, or occasionally, I'll find something that's interesting, you know, but I have to keep scrolling and scrolling until I actually find something. Well, guess what, that's what they want. They don't want you to like everything. I mean, for one thing, they can't get any information about you, if you like everything, but for another thing, you know, that it's not as addictive if you like everything. You know, it's actually more addictive, if you're disappointed sometimes. And if there's like, maybe I'll like the next one better, right? That's why you see people in the casinos just pulling those levers over and over again, on the slot machine.Hannah Choi 31:11Yeah, right, that same action. Dr. Cliff Sussman 31:14Like mice. Hannah Choi 31:17We're all just a bunch of mice. Don't those don't the makers of like the people that that apply that psychology? Don't they have some? Gosh, some guilt or something like, oh, they have to be, uhhh, I don't get it.Dr. Cliff Sussman 31:33Ethics and money don't always go together? But, you knowHannah Choi 31:35No, no.Dr. Cliff Sussman 31:36I mean, that's the world we're in. You know, I mean, I have very little control over the tech industry, I have a lot more say, I think and you know, what messages I can send to parents and kids about the way to cope with this type of, you know, just how to play the cards were dealt the best, you know, how to really, you know, maybe that was a bad analogy.Hannah Choi 32:02Bringing us back to gambling!Dr. Cliff Sussman 32:03Yeah, bringing us back to gambling. But yeah, I mean, just how to how to deal with this challenge that we're always faced with, you know, I mean, there's always, there's always struggles and challenges for humans to survive. And this is the one we have right now.Hannah Choi 32:19This is the one we have right now. Yeah, yep. Yeah. No more saber toothed tigers. That's good.Dr. Cliff Sussman 32:26Yeah, that's right. I mean, yeah, I guess we're doing a little better.Hannah Choi 32:32So what do you like, what about, are there any trends or things? You know, speaking of now that it's just it is just part of life? Is there anything that's really important for people to know about? About this? Like, is there any additional message that you would like to share with our listeners?Dr. Cliff Sussman 32:53Well, um, a lot of parents asked me about parental control software. I, again, I think if you have the boundaries, clear on things like, you know, low dopamine and high dopamine areas, you don't need as much of that, you know, I like direct parental engagement, I think that's a good healthy thing. And I think sometimes parents rely too much on computers to do it for them. And so like parental control software, and things like that. So it goes beyond just the fact that kids can hack around it, that I that I, you know, tell parents to not completely rely on parental control software, that it's important to have clear rules laid out and consequences and to be able to interact with your kids concerning those consequences. Without having major power struggles and being able to really, again, try to meet them where they are, but also, you know, set some limits. And, you know, and find a balance as a parent between setting limits, and allowing your kids to self regulate, and, and not to micromanage them too much, and let them learn from their own natural consequences.Hannah Choi 34:14Yeah, and if you don't provide them the opportunities to do that, when they do go off to college, or go move out of the house and move on to their own, then they're not going to have any experience to draw from, or resources to draw from. Exactly. Yeah. And it is difficult because there are so many resources out there and a lot of parents not resources, but a lot of those parental control apps or programs. And also, they may be their friends or using them to feel like oh, like maybe I should use this. You're my kid and it's harder to just like rely on your own your Yeah, relationship with your child.Dr. Cliff Sussman 35:02And, and, and even if other parents are using them. They may be, like, we don't know exactly how they're using them, ya know. So if even if you get the software, you know, it's, and you find that it helps for some things you don't want, it's just that you don't want to depend on it too much, you know, you don't want to over rely on it. Like, for example, I think that like screen time, the screen time app on iPhones, for example, is a good way to just track what your kids are doing online. Like it tells you what apps they're on, but it also tells you how much time they were on their phone. Yeah. You know, to some extent, and, you know, sometimes it can, it can misread things, but but the point is that it's a good way to just have feedback on what your kids are doing. But it's not doing the policing for you. It's not, like cutting them off, it's just giving you the information, it's just giving you the information. So it helps you monitor as the parent. And that's pretty useful. You know, if you don't want to be looking over their shoulder all the time, but at the same time, I think sometimes it's good to like actually go in the room where they're studying.Hannah Choi 35:14Yeah, whatcha doing? Yeah.Dr. Cliff Sussman 36:15I mean, if every time you go in while they're doing homework, they're like minimizing, you know, an app like, you know, something's you know, the homeworks not getting done.Hannah Choi 36:25Yeah, yeah. It's also beneficial for the kid to learn how many hours they're spending on it. I think that we don't realize how quickly time flies while we're on that. I had, I had a client who I had, he had never looked at his he was in college, and he had never looked at his screen time use. And so I just encouraged him to, and oh, my god, I just, my heart broke for him, I'll never in my life forget the way that his face, his jaw just dropped. He had no idea he wouldn't tell me the time.Dr. Cliff Sussman 36:58Yeah, it's called time distortion, you know, track of real world time. And it certainly happens to me when I play video games, which is why I set a timer. You know, it's like surprised by how soon it goes off.Hannah Choi 37:11I am not really I'm not into video games, and I'm not, I'm very much a like practical person when it comes to my phone. Like I'm on it a lot, but it's just because I'm like texting or researching something. But recently, I did look at my time totals, and I realized my Instagram was kind of out of control. Yeah, so I put a time limit on there. And it really has helped. Yeah. But but that's just me. And that's, you know, that's how I am. And I know, like for my son, it's a lot harder. He's and my husband to it's they're just different. They're very different for me with how they use their phones.Dr. Cliff Sussman 37:49Yeah, and social media is a big time suck. But, you know, look, I think that there's two skills that we need to have to be able to have use our devices in a healthy way. Like, we need to be able to delay our gratification, which means we can't be like checking our Instagrams every five minutes, you know, and, and then we need to be able to put on the brakes, like we need to be able to stop when it's time to stop, you know, when the timer does go off, we have to stop and move on. And transition. And those are two skills that we wouldn't really develop at all if we were just abstinent. You know, so it's like, it's actually. So I see screentime as an opportunity to work on those skills, you know, and, and so I'll present it to kids is kind of a challenge for them. You know, you, you know, if, if they were seeing me for cocaine, they I wouldn't be saying to them, Well, you know, you could try to wait before you use your cocaine and stop using in the middle. But you can you actually have that opportunity with screens? Yeah, you know, to work on those skills. And their skills, not just for screening is there. Yeah,Hannah Choi 39:01that's what I was. Right? I was just gonna say that. Yeah. Yep. So how can we, as you know, like me as an executive function coach and protect other practitioners who might not know about handling, screen, excessive screen use or screen addiction? How can we support our clients that might be struggling that with that,Dr. Cliff Sussman 39:28Right, so there is more education out there now on the nature of this problem, and also suggestions for how to how to manage it. So you could, I have a course for example, on the Ross Center website, it's and it provides CE credits for some practitioners. But for others, it's if you're not getting the credits, and you're just taking the course it's less expensive, so and it's a very inexpensive course to begin with so, so you can get the link for that at my website or just go to the Ross Center's website. Yeah, I mean, also, I think that there's, there's a, there's a lot of good resources, I was the technical editor for Overcoming Internet Addiction for Dummies. And I think that book came out nice. That was my colleague, David Greenfield. So, there's a lot of good stuff in there. You know, I think I think clinicians have to just be aware of it and start recognizing it, and they should also know, sort of the red flags to look for. And if they're, if they don't specialize in it, when they see those red flags, they should be able to, you know, maybe refer to somebody who's an expert in that. So just, you know, know, the signs of addiction. And, you know, I'll, of course look for things like kids. You know, mental health professionals know, for example, the screen for suicide, but that you should screen for, you know, is a kid threatening to kill themselves, particularly when the parents are taking the screen away. You know, I like they're there. So there's red flags that are more directly related to screen problems, you know?Hannah Choi 41:21And then I guess a related question would be, how can at what point should parents seek help outside of the, you know, tips and ideas that we've already talked about today?Dr. Cliff Sussman 41:34Well, parents should be aware of some red flags to just like clinicians should and then that, and that's definitely when to go for help. So things like, you know, excessive lying about screen use, stealing money to use screens, and the kids I work with aren't just, like, using their hacking skills to steal their parents credit card information on the computer, they're literally going into the wallets and removing the credit cards, like, That's how desperate they are to get on as fast as possible. There. Yeah. So also things like aggression, when you try to separate the kid from their screen. You know, just a lot of irritability, when they're not on their screen. You know, a lot of a lot of parents, if they can't get help immediately, and they really suspect there's a big problem, they may want to try just having like a, say, a three to seven day screen detox, you know, like, try going on a camping trip, or going on vacation somewhere and just getting your kids disconnected from the internetHannah Choi 42:47With a natural limitation on theDr. Cliff Sussman 42:49Yeah, with a lot of structure in the environment. And, you know, you will see, a lot of parents will see huge changes just from really after, I'd say the second day, they can start seeing kids, like their personalities completely changed. And a lot of those red flags like, seemingly gone, which doesn't mean that your problem is gone, it probably just proves you have the problem that you know, me because as soon as they get their screens back, you know, those those problems will come back. So that's when you have to learn the balance. But starting out with a detox is often a good approach.Hannah Choi 43:29Yeah. And I like how you suggested like, on like going camping or something where so it's not, it's not you as the parent saying, we can't. It's the nature nature is saying you can't. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great. Is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners that is?Dr. Cliff Sussman 43:51Well, just emphasize that that, like what you said at the beginning, that there's a lot of more information they can get on my website. So CliffordSussmanmd.com.Hannah Choi 44:06Yeah, you have to check out i'll put the link in the show notes. Cliff's website is just packed full of really, really, like useful actionable tips and ideas. And, and I have to say, looking through it made me feel better about my concerns about my own kids screen use and how that there are a lot of like, really good things that we can do. And there's a lot of support and information out there. Dr. Cliff Sussman 44:39Yeah, we need more though. We're going to and we're going to work on that we're going to work on getting a lot more support for parents struggling with this and, you know, cuz cuz more and more of us are becoming aware of how huge a crisis this is, and we're not ignoring the elephant in the room, you know.Hannah Choi 44:56Right. Yeah, it is time to tackle that elephant and to take control. Great. Well, thank you so much for joining me. It was really interesting. And, and there is some hope in there as you know, as, as we were saying we are really surrounded by it. And it is really difficult to, yeah, like you said, you can't practice abstinence. It's just not possible. But there are a lot of really great strategies that and also opportunities to learn and opportunities to connect with your kids, which are never not a good use of your time. Yeah, that's right. Great. All right. Well, thanks again for joining me. And, yes, listeners, please check out the show notes because you'll, you'll just be really glad to see all this information there. All right. Okay. Thanks. Dr. Cliff Sussman 45:48Thank you. Bye, bye.Hannah Choi 45:50And that's our show for today. You can now get back to what you were doing before I so rudely called you out on it. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. You can do whatever you want. And I sure won't judge you for it because I am over here trying to find my own screen use balance. But if you've got the time, be sure to check out those show notes for links to learn more about Dr. Sussman and the excellent work he's doing. If you're a provider of support for people who may be dealing with screen addiction, I recommend taking a look at his training materials. There are some excellent resources in there. Thank you for taking time out of your day to listen. Help us help others learn about executive function skills. 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