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Introduction: Introduction: What Should I Do If I'm Not Content? (1 Corinthians 7:17-24) I should recognize THAT MY CALLING IS A GIFT. (1 Cor 7:17) 1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain, I should resolve to OBEY NO MATTER WHAT. (1 Cor 7:18-19) John 14:23-24 - Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. I should remember WHO I AM IN CHRIST. (1 Cor 7:20-23) Philippians 4:11-13 - Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. I should rejoice THAT GOD IS WITH ME. (1 Cor 7:24) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! AUDIO TRANSCRIPT 00:36-00:40Please open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.00:41-00:451 Corinthians chapter 7, verses 17 through 24.00:47-00:53Have you ever stopped to consider how much of your life is beyond your control?00:55-00:57And some of you are thinking, no, because that sounds very depressing.00:57-01:00It doesn't sound very fun at all.01:00-01:02And I get that, but just go with me for a second.01:03-01:07Did you have any control over when you came into this world?01:08-01:17You had no say on who your parents were, how much money they had, what hospital you were born at, what doctors delivered you.01:18-01:21Did you have any control over your genetic makeup and DNA?01:23-01:32You had zero input into what you would look like, what inherent talents you would possess, and what natural personality you would receive.01:33-01:35Are you able to control the weather?01:36-01:39Are you able to keep snow storms and frigid temperatures away?01:41-01:44If you're able to do that, you have failed us these past two months.01:44-01:47What have you been doing if you're able to control those things?01:47-01:48Where were you last night?01:50-01:54Are you able to control every single situation that pops up in your life?01:55-01:59Are you able to keep all forms of pain and suffering away?02:00-02:06I assume not because if you're able to do that, you'd be a billionaire right now because you sold your secret methods to others.02:08-02:11So much of your life is beyond your control.02:13-02:18Discontentment comes when you fail to acknowledge and submit to this basic truth.02:19-02:27And at its core, dissatisfaction, discontentment, is you not being happy with what God has given to you.02:28-02:34you being dissatisfied with who the Lord is and the life he has entrusted to you.02:36-02:41So many of your problems come from trying to control the uncontrollable.02:42-02:50Guys in the room like me who are under six feet tall, I'm sorry, those exercises, those stretches will not add any inches to your height.02:50-02:52Those height-boosting shoes aren't fooling anybody.02:54-02:56We're just gonna have to enjoy the view from down here.02:58-03:03So many of your frustrations find their root in trying to stop the inevitable.03:05-03:09Ladies, I'm sorry to say it, please don't pelt me with tomatoes and other produce.03:11-03:15You're going to get older, and there is going to be signs of aging.03:16-03:19Okay, good. (laughs) No produce, phew.03:20-03:22It's impossible to avoid.03:23-03:29Instead of resisting this, accept that your meaning is not bound up what you look like on the outside.03:30-03:32What truly matters is what you look like on the inside.03:34-03:39So many of your disappointments come from an unwillingness to accept your limitations.03:40-03:50And I'm sorry to burst your bubble, I'm sorry to ruin all the lessons you learned from Disney movies growing up, but you cannot be whoever you wanna be and do whatever you wanna do.03:52-03:54I see some of you not agreeing with me internally.03:55-05:21I'm sorry, but it's not every boy's future athlete. It's not in every girl's future to be a famous celebrity or singer. There are things that you are good at and you should work on honing those natural talents and abilities. But there are other things that you stink at and no matter how hard you try you'll never rise above mediocrity when it comes to those activities. At this point you may be thinking, "Taylor, this is my favorite sermon so far. Are you saying that I have no control over my life at all? I'm actually not saying that. You do have some control over your life, but you do not have as much control as you would like. You cannot control the life you receive from the Lord, but you can't control what you do with the life you receive from the Lord. You cannot control the calling that you are given from the hand of God, but you can control if you are discontent or content with the calling you have received from the hand of God. Which best describes you in this season of life? Discontent or content? Dissatisfied or satisfied? Unfulfilled or or fulfilled.05:23-05:28I don't think it would take much introspection for some of you to realize that you are not content right now.05:29-05:31That you lack true joy.05:33-05:37That you wake up with a sense of dread that you have to be you.05:38-05:40And that you have to deal with what's in front of you.05:42-05:44You feel like your life is stuck in limbo.05:44-05:47You feel like things will never get better.05:47-05:50feel like things will never improve.05:52-05:55You may be wondering, what should I do if I'm not content?05:56-05:59What should I do if I'm not content?06:01-06:11We're towards the beginning of the Q and A section of 1 Corinthians and that is the exact question that the Apostle Paul answers for us in 1 Corinthians chapter seven, verses 17 through 24.06:12-06:25And just like the Corinthians, you need to be reminded that true contentment is not found in your circumstances, which are always changing, true contentment is found in Jesus Christ, who never changes.06:28-06:30Let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask for His help.06:30-06:37Please pray for me, that I'll faithfully proclaim God's word, and I will pray for you, that you will faithfully receive God's word.06:41-06:49Father, we thank you for yet another opportunity to worship you together, sit under your word together as your people.06:49-06:52Lord, this is a subject that touches every single one of us.06:53-06:58There isn't a single person in this room who isn't struggling with a sense of discontentment on some level.06:59-07:02I pray you'd use your word to comfort us.07:03-07:06You would use your word to challenge us.07:07-07:10You would use your word to point us to Christ.07:11-07:14We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.07:16-07:21The first Corinthians 7 is mainly about marriage and singleness.07:21-07:29Two weeks ago, Pastor Jeff preached on two gifts, the gift of sex and marriage and the gift of contentment and singleness.07:30-07:34And last week, you heard four sermons for the price of one.07:36-07:41If you are single and you want to stay single and remain single.07:42-07:46If you are single and do not want to remain single, get married.07:47-07:50If you are a Christian couple, stay married.07:52-07:56If you are married to an unbeliever while you are a believer, stay in that marriage.07:57-08:01Do not cut and run once you become a Christian.08:01-08:06God may use you to save your unbelieving spouse.08:07-08:11You can only control yourself in that situation.08:12-08:14You can control if you stay.08:14-08:19If that unbelieving spouse chooses to leave you, that is on him or her.08:20-08:22You cannot control what they do.08:22-08:25You can only control what you do.08:26-08:28And this kind of marital situation is hard.08:28-08:29I don't wanna sugarcoat it.08:29-08:32It's not easy or simple on any level.08:32-08:37It's painful, but according to this text, that will be used by God for his purposes.08:38-08:43No matter your relational status, it is not your job to figure out what God is up to.08:44-08:49It's your job to submit to the life that God has given to you.08:50-08:56It's your job to play the cards you've been dealt instead of throwing them down and walking away from the table.08:57-09:02This principle for marriage and singleness applies to every other area of life as well.09:02-09:08your social status, your family, your finances, your career, and the list goes on and on.09:09-09:18In verses 17 through 24, Paul jumps off the main highway of marriage and singleness to explore a much needed detour.09:19-09:23So let's return to our main question for this morning that sums up this detour.09:23-09:26What should I do if I'm not content?09:27-09:30What should I do if I'm not content?09:31-09:35Firstly, I should recognize that my calling is a gift.09:36-09:39I should recognize that my calling is a gift.09:44-09:47Let's read chapter seven, verse 17.09:47-09:55The apostle Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life "the Lord has assigned to him "and to which God has called him.09:56-10:02"This is my rule in all the churches." Do you have house rules in your family?10:04-10:07Do you have expectations that are to be followed?10:08-10:19No Nerf gun bullets to the face, no running with scissors, bedtime is at 8 p.m. sharp, only kind and respectful words will be spoken in this family.10:20-10:27In this verse, the Apostle Paul makes it crystal clear that he has a house rule for the Corinthian church and every other church as well.10:28-10:32He establishes an expectation as for each person in all the churches.10:34-10:36Are you a person in the church?10:37-10:38Then this verse applies to you.10:39-10:43Paul gives no wiggle room, he gives you no excuse, he gives you no hall pass.10:44-10:49If you were a Christian, you were expected to obey what the apostle Paul has to say.10:50-10:51And what does he have to say?10:53-10:55Be faithful where God has placed you.10:56-11:00Be faithful where God has placed you.11:01-11:06Instead of constantly daydreaming about what's next, focus on what's in front of you.11:08-11:10Is that hard for anybody else besides me?11:12-11:16It's so tempting for life to become a series of what's next.11:17-11:20You and I can think, oh man, this current season of life stinks.11:20-11:23I can't wait for the next thing 'cause it's gonna be so much better.11:25-11:28When you're in middle school, what are you looking forward to?11:30-11:35High school, you're excited to get out of those years of early puberty and Axe body spray.11:36-11:37You can't wait.11:39-11:41When you're in high school, what are you anxious for?11:42-11:45Getting out of high school and going to the workforce or college.11:45-11:49Once you're in the workforce or college, what are you looking forward to?11:51-11:53Meeting that special someone?11:56-11:59And then once you meet that special someone, what are you anxious for?12:01-12:02Marriage and children.12:03-12:17And then once you're married and you have kids, or one kid, two kids, three kids, four kids, five kids for even some of you, when you're in the midst of the hardship of parenting, what are you anxious for?12:19-12:20Getting them out of the house.12:21-12:21Thank you, Andrew.12:22-12:23You're very excited to say that.12:25-12:29For your kids to mature, to get older, and to get out of the house, as Andrew Colburn would say.12:30-12:33You're excited for the house to be quiet.12:35-12:37But once the house is quiet, what are you anxious for?12:39-12:45For the loud noises to come back in the form of grandkids, to finally reach that retirement you've been working so hard for.12:45-12:47You don't want to set your alarm anymore.12:48-12:52But then once you're retired, you're thinking, What's next?12:52-12:54What is going to be my final chapter?12:56-12:59So much of my life can be spent on wishing it away.13:00-13:05And so much of your life can be spent on wishing it away.13:06-13:12Instead of being present in the moment, you and I can be fixated, I'm pressing the fast forward button so we can just get on with it already.13:14-13:17Because satisfaction must come when you climb that next ladder.13:18-13:19But then it doesn't.13:20-13:23So you keep climbing and you keep being disappointed.13:24-13:28The grass must be greener once you ascend that next hill, but then it isn't.13:29-13:34You keep walking up and down each hill, hoping for what won't be there.13:36-13:41The next thing has to be more fulfilling than this current season of life.13:42-13:49It won't be, because if you're not content with what you have right now, you will not be content with what you have then.13:51-13:58It's never been more challenging in the history of the world to be fully present than it is in 2026.13:59-14:06You and I have a device in our pockets that are gateways to discontentment and thanklessness.14:08-14:14You're constantly bombarded with videos and images of people's lives that seem better than your own.14:15-14:18"Oh, if only I could have that SUV or that minivan.14:18-14:20If only I could have a house that nice.14:21-14:24If only I could have that remodeled kitchen or bathroom.14:25-14:28If only I could afford that dream vacation.14:29-14:32If only my husband was as handy as that guy on that reel.14:34-14:38If only my wife was as supportive as that woman on that account.14:40-14:43If only my kids were that well behaved.14:44-14:49If only I didn't live in a place that was gray and overcast and snowy for what seems six months of the year.14:50-14:53If only, if only, if only, if only.14:55-14:56If only is a thief of joy.14:57-15:00If only is a recipe for discontentment.15:01-15:07If only obscures the reality that your life and the calling given to you from God are precious gifts.15:10-15:15To be clear, I'm not saying that it's wrong to consider the future, that it's wrong to plan ahead.15:15-15:20It's wise to think over, pray over, and make career moves.15:21-15:26It's a good thing to save for retirement and wanna leave something for your kids and grandkids.15:27-15:30It's not a bad thing to move or want a bigger space for your family.15:31-15:41Godly ambition can be a good thing, but there is a very thin line between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.15:43-15:46Godly ambition and ungodly discontentment.15:48-15:49What's the difference?15:50-15:52Godly ambition looks like this.15:52-15:55God, thank you for all the good gifts that you've given to me.15:55-16:03Help me to invest my talents, my resources, my efforts into your kingdom for the sake of my family and for the sake of your glory.16:05-16:08Well, ungodly discontentment looks like this.16:09-16:12God, what you've given me is not good enough.16:12-16:14I need more.16:16-16:21Godly ambition is a life of open-handedness to the Lord.16:22-16:27Everything that you have belongs to Him, and everything you do is for His sake.16:28-16:33While ungodly discontentment is a life of pointing the finger of blame at God.16:34-16:39Everything that you have is yours, and everything you do is for your sake.16:39-16:40Do you see the difference?16:42-16:52In this verse, Paul is telling you enough of ungodly discontentment, enough of bitterness and resentment, enough of being thankless.16:52-16:55Stop being faithless and start being faithful.16:56-17:01No matter your circumstance, no matter your station in life, you can honor Christ.17:03-17:06What life has the Lord assigned to you?17:08-17:12What calling has God given you in this season of life?17:13-17:19Are you a teenager or a college student who's tired of taking tests, writing papers, and sitting in a classroom?17:21-17:24Recognize that your calling as a student is a gift from God.17:26-17:33Give your studies 100% of your effort because you are not working for your parents, you're not working for your teachers or your professors.17:33-17:34Who are you working for?17:36-17:37You are working for Christ.17:38-17:40You're working for the Lord himself.17:42-17:45Are you a mom whose life feels like Groundhog's Day?17:46-17:52Every single day feels the exact same, it's just the same thing over and over and over again.17:54-17:58Recognize that your calling as a mother is a gift from God.17:59-18:05Be faithful and pour into your children, point them to Jesus Christ every single chance that you get.18:05-18:13you'll never be able to press the rewind button and see your kids at the age they are now, even though you'll desperately want to.18:14-18:17Be faithful with this opportunity that God has given to you.18:19-18:21Are you in a job that you hate?18:23-18:27Are you in a job that is thankless and unfulfilling?18:28-18:34Recognize that that calling is a gift from God, even when it seems like a curse.18:35-18:37Don't be lazy, don't just skate by.18:38-18:45Outwork every single person at work, at the office, until that next opportunity arises.18:46-18:51Share the gospel, be faithful in showing your coworkers who Jesus Christ is.18:52-19:02I wish I had the time and ability to address all of your specific circumstances, but I don't really need to, because this principle from Paul applies to every single one of you.19:03-19:09Whatever you do and wherever you are, recognize your calling is a gift from God.19:10-19:13Be content, be thankful, be faithful.19:15-19:21Because Paul says elsewhere, godliness with contentment is great gain.19:23-19:30Discontentment always leads to loss, while contentment always leads to gain.19:32-19:33What should I do if I'm not content?19:34-19:37Secondly, I should resolve to obey no matter what.19:38-19:40I should resolve to obey no matter what.19:46-19:54After Paul commands the Corinthians to be faithful and content, he provides a real life example of what it looks like to be faithful and content.19:55-19:56Let's read verse 18.19:57-20:00Was anyone at the time of his call circumcised?20:00-20:03Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.20:03-20:06Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised?20:07-20:09Let him not seek circumcision.20:10-20:11I know what you're thinking.20:12-20:15Oh dear, this is not the direction I expected this passage to take.20:15-20:17How is Pastor Taylor gonna apply this to my life?20:18-20:19How is he gonna explain this?20:19-20:25Well, I'm gonna take a page out of Pastor Jeff's book and not be explicit, but be straightforward.20:26-20:30In Paul's day, circumcision was not a medical issue.20:31-20:34It was a societal and religious issue.20:35-20:40Under the old covenant, the Israelites were commanded to circumcise their baby boys on the eighth day.20:41-20:51And circumcision was an outward sign that these boys were to be set apart for God and different than the pagan nations surrounding them.20:52-20:54And this outward sign is no longer needed.20:54-21:01this side of the cross and the empty tomb and the new covenant, we are not expected or commanded to carry out circumcision.21:03-21:12In this verse, Paul is addressing two sets of men in Corinth, those who are already circumcised and those who are not circumcised.21:13-21:16He has a very similar message for both groups.21:16-21:22If you're circumcised, don't try to remove the marks of your circumcision to blend in with the Gentiles.21:24-21:28I have no desire to get into the details of what that exactly means.21:28-21:38Let me just say that 2,000 years ago, Jewish Christian men had the option to have a surgery to undo what was done to them as infants.21:39-21:42And you may be thinking, why in the world would they wanna do that?21:42-21:43That sounds horrible.21:44-21:47We have to remember that Corinth was a Roman city.21:48-21:52It was filled with anti-Semitism, with hatred of Jews.21:52-21:57So Christian men would be tempted to make this change to blend in.21:58-22:08To use a modern day example, this would be like moving to Cleveland and to add insult to injury, you trade in all of your Steeler stuff for Cleveland Browns memorabilia.22:10-22:11Why do you do that?22:12-22:13'Cause you don't wanna be ridiculed.22:13-22:14You don't wanna be made fun of.22:14-22:17You wanna blend in in this new place that you live.22:18-22:21You make an external change to please other people.22:22-22:27And that was the temptation for Jewish Christians in Corinth.22:28-22:34On the other hand, Paul calls those who were uncircumcised to not seek circumcision because that would be pointless.22:35-22:42Back then there was a group called the Judaizers who believed that you had to be circumcised as a man to be saved.22:42-22:46But that totally goes against the message of Paul and the other apostles.22:47-22:52Paul is saying in this verse, if you were a Jewish Christian, Don't try to be like a Gentile Christian.22:53-22:56If you're a Gentile Christian, don't try to be Jewish.22:56-22:59That's a waste of time because you're both on equal footing.22:59-23:01You're both one in Christ.23:04-23:06And Paul explains this in even more detail in verse 19.23:07-23:21He says, "For neither circumcision counts for anything "nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." that you're faithful.23:22-23:26An uncircumcision does not prove that you're unfaithful.23:27-23:32What matters, according to this text, heartfelt obedience to the Lord's commands.23:34-23:38God isn't after external religious rituals that cannot change you.23:38-23:42He is after an inward change that leads to an outward change.23:42-23:47God doesn't want you just to look the part and pretend that you have true faith.23:47-23:50He wants you to act the part and live out your faith.23:51-23:58And the test of true faith is that you are willing to obey God no matter what.23:58-24:09You are willing to obey Him even when life is hard, even when life isn't going the way you want it to, even when the world is telling you to do the exact opposite.24:10-24:16The Roman world pressured Jewish Christians to blend in while God commanded them to stand out.24:17-24:45The Judaizers pressured Gentile Christians to follow the ceremonial law that they could blend in with them while God called them to a deeper level of obedience and submission. Who should the Jewish Christians obey? The Romans and Corinth or God? God. Who should the Gentile Christians obey? The Judaizers or God?24:46-24:47You guys can do a lot better.24:47-24:49I'm giving you one more chance for this third one.24:50-24:54Who should you obey, this sinful culture or God?24:55-24:56Much better.24:58-24:59Here's the thing.24:59-25:04It's so challenging to obey God and his word when you are discontent.25:06-25:06Why is that?25:08-25:14When you are discontent, you can believe that God isn't holding up his end of the bargain, so why should you?25:16-25:20You can view your relationship with God as an exchange of goods and services.25:21-25:33God gives you material wealth, he gives you good health, he gives you easy weeks with the least amount of road bumps possible, and in exchange, you obey him with joy in your heart and a smile on your face.25:36-25:54But when your health takes a bad turn, when you get a pay decrease, when you receive a pink slip, when you experience the hardest week of your life, you feel betrayed by the Lord, and you no longer wanna give Him what He has owed.25:55-26:02You feel like Charlie Brown, when he went to kick the football at the last minute, it's pulled away by Lucy, and he has a somersault into his back.26:02-26:08You just feel totally dejected, totally betrayed.26:11-26:13You just want to take your ball and go home.26:16-26:23But friends, it is in those moments when you come face to face with the real motivation for your obedience to the Lord.26:24-26:28Do you obey Him because of who He is?26:30-26:32Or do you obey Him for what you can get from Him?26:33-26:37Do you listen to Him because you desire to twist His arm into giving you what you want?26:38-26:43Or do you listen to Him no matter what.26:45-26:48Do you follow his instructions because you love him?26:50-26:52Or do you follow his instructions to use him?26:55-26:57The Lord sees right through your exterior.26:58-27:03He sees right through the polished outside you can have, and he sees your motivations.27:06-27:08Like the Corinthians, you can focus on the wrong thing.27:10-27:18You can focus on the outside instead of the heart, instead of the obedience that God is calling you to.27:19-27:26You can come to church, you can participate in small group but still live in blatant disobedience behind closed doors.27:27-27:29You can say the right things but not do the right things.27:30-27:32You can talk the talk but not walk the walk.27:33-27:34Is that you today?27:36-27:37Am I describing you at all?27:38-27:40If I am, it's time to stop faking.27:41-27:42It's time to own up to your sin.27:42-27:49It's time to come to grips with your discontentment and your warped rationale for obeying or disobeying the Lord.27:50-27:55It's time to keep God's commandments no matter what, no matter what life throws your way.27:57-27:58This isn't my opinion.27:58-28:00This is God's authoritative word.28:01-28:05Listen to what Jesus says about this in John 14, 23 through 24.28:06-28:10He says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.28:11-28:17Whoever does not love me does not keep my word." Could it be any clearer than that?28:21-28:37The apostle John ups the ante in 1 John 5, 3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome." Your love for God is not proven by checking all the Christian boxes.28:38-28:43Your love for God is not proven by having all the correct theological answers.28:44-28:47Your love for God is not proven by your feelings.28:48-28:51Your love for God is proven by your obedience.28:53-28:54It's an objective test.28:55-28:59And obedience, no matter what, is hard, but it's rewarding.29:00-29:08Obedience no matter what will take everything that you have, but it will give you more than you could possibly imagine.29:10-29:13Obedience no matter what is costly, but it's not impossible.29:16-29:18What should I do if I'm not content?29:19-29:22Number three, I should remember who I am in Christ.29:22-29:26I should remember who I am in Christ.29:30-29:35So, Paul gives another practical example of faithfulness and contentment in action.29:36-29:44He moves on from a controversial and uncomfortable topic to an even more controversial and uncomfortable topic, slavery.29:45-29:47Let's read verses 20 through 21.29:48-29:50Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.29:51-29:52Were you a bond servant when called?29:53-29:54Don't be concerned about it.29:55-29:59But if you gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.30:00-30:11I could spend half this sermon talking to you about how slavery 2,000 years ago looked a lot different than it did in America, and how it looks across the world today.30:11-30:27I could deliver a long and boring lecture about indentured servitude, which is the truth that in the first century, many people willingly sold themselves into slavery to pay off debts, to manage households, to have a successful business.30:30-30:37I can tell you that 50% of the Roman Empire were slaves, and most of the time manual labor was not a part of the deal.30:38-30:44I keep going and going and going, but I'm not going to preach my homework because it doesn't affect the meaning of this text.30:44-30:51Paul is in no way trying to celebrate or endorse slavery in this passage or anywhere else in his letters at all.30:52-30:55Paul is not a fan of slavery on any level.30:56-30:57Is that clear to everyone?30:58-30:58Okay, good.30:59-31:04In fact, Paul even says, if you have an opportunity to gain your freedom, take it.31:05-31:06Grab a hold of it.31:06-31:07Enjoy your freedom.31:09-31:17But he also offers a very blunt reality to those Corinthian Christians who are slaves but will not receive their freedom anytime soon.31:18-31:20He says, don't worry about it.31:22-31:23Don't be concerned about it.31:24-31:25Remain where you are.31:27-31:29How could Paul say something like that?31:29-31:31It sounds so cold and unfeeling.31:34-31:34Well, not really.31:36-31:41Paul was never willing to call people to something that he wasn't willing to do himself.31:43-31:48Sure, Paul wasn't a slave, but he was a prisoner for a decent chunk of his life.31:48-31:51Did Paul resist that God-given assignment?31:52-31:56Did he waste his time complaining and hatching elaborate escape plans?31:57-32:02No, he remained in the position that God called him to with humility and contentment.32:04-32:04I'll prove it to you.32:04-32:11Listen to Philippians 4, 11 through 13, the most out of context taken passage in the history of the Bible.32:12-32:13And most people totally do not understand.32:14-32:17Paul wrote this while he was a prisoner.32:17-32:22I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.32:23-32:28I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance.32:28-32:33I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need.32:34-32:35What's the secret, Paul?32:36-32:40I can do all things through him who strengthens me.32:41-32:44I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.32:46-32:48Paul practiced what he preached.32:48-32:50He led by example.32:50-32:57He learned through experience that Jesus was all he needed because there were many times when Jesus was all that he had.33:01-33:04If that doesn't convince you, check out Paul's rationale for remaining as a slave.33:04-33:11In verses 22 through 23, he says, "For he who was called to the Lord as a bondservant is a freed man of the Lord.33:12-33:47Likewise, he who was free when called a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price. Do not become bondservants of men. So what's Paul's rationale here for remaining as a slave? If you are a Christian slave, remember that you are free in Christ. Because of Christ's death on the cross, this victorious resurrection, you have been forgiven, you have been redeemed, you have been ransomed from the slave market of sin, you've been set free from the power and penalty of sin.33:47-33:52Your sinful debt has been paid in full and you owe nothing.33:56-34:06And if you're a Christian who is not enslaved to an earthly master, don't look down on your Christian brother or sister who is enslaved to an earthly master.34:07-34:13Because even though you may not have a earthly master in this life, you have a heavenly master that you are enslaved to.34:13-34:16You are enslaved to Jesus Christ.34:17-34:21Your life is to be in service of him and what he has called you to do.34:21-34:24So don't be high and mighty because you are a slave.34:27-34:30He says to both groups, you were bought with a price.34:31-34:34You were bought with the precious blood of Jesus.34:36-34:40You have immense value because God says that you do.34:41-34:47God would not spend the most valuable resource in existence on that which is worthless in his eyes.34:49-34:51Again, you have worth because God says that you do.34:53-34:58In light of this, Paul commands the Corinthians to not become bondservants of men.34:59-34:59What does that mean?35:00-35:05Don't become enshackled to the thoughts and opinions of others.35:05-35:10How other people view you has no bearing on how God views you.35:10-35:17Your man-given identity in the world does not affect your God-given identity in Christ.35:17-35:24The opinion of others matters very little in comparison to the authoritative opinion of the creator of the universe.35:27-35:30Maybe you feel down about yourself right now.35:31-35:35You feel like your contribution to this church is negligible.35:36-35:40You're envious of those who seem to have a lot of talents 'cause you don't think you're good at anything.35:42-35:46You're envious of those who have a lot of confidence because you have no confidence.35:48-35:50You're embarrassed to tell people what you do for a living.35:51-35:54You're even embarrassed to invite people over to your small house.35:56-35:58Or maybe you're on the other side of the spectrum.35:59-36:00You have a very high view of yourself.36:01-36:04You feed on the praise and affirmation of others.36:04-36:06You're buying into your own press.36:08-36:12Do you know who can both lift you up and bring you back down to earth at the same time?36:14-36:14Dogs.36:17-36:18Some of you were surprised by that.36:18-36:20Brian thought something different I was gonna say.36:21-36:23If you have a dog, you know exactly what I mean.36:24-36:27My dog Murdoch has no regard for my appearance.36:28-36:31He couldn't care less if I'm skinny or overweight.36:32-36:34He couldn't care less if I'm up 20 pounds or down 30 pounds.36:36-36:39Murdoch has no regard for the money in my account.36:41-36:46If I were to list my many successes to him, he wouldn't be impressed at all.36:47-36:52If I were to list my many, many, many more failures, he wouldn't judge me or look down on me.36:54-36:59Whether this sermon tanks or succeeds, Murdoch will treat me the same exact way when I get home.37:00-37:06He'll run up to me with that goofy grin on his face, with his tail wagging and pawing at me for attention.37:07-37:09Murdoch's love for me has not changed from day to day.37:10-37:12His love is firm and fixed.37:13-37:16Murdoch shows no partiality or preferential treatment.37:18-37:22Do you know who else doesn't show partiality or preferential treatment?37:23-37:23The Lord.37:24-37:27God does not play favorites with his children.37:28-37:34He loves low-status Christians just as much as believers who are viewed as successful and accomplished.37:34-37:39He cherishes women who cannot have biological children just as much as women who can.37:41-37:49God's view of you does not depend upon your status and popularity, God's view of you depends upon His Son and what He has done for you.37:52-37:57If you don't feel content right now, stop looking at your circumstances.37:57-38:05Start looking at the cross of Christ where God's love for you was displayed in the most graphic and conclusive way possible.38:08-38:11Stop thinking about who you are in the eyes of the world.38:11-38:13Think about who you are in the eyes of God.38:14-38:25Consider who you are in Christ, loved, cherished, adopted, free from the power of sin forever and bound to Jesus Christ forever.38:28-38:29What should I do if I'm not content?38:30-38:34Finally, I should rejoice that God is with me.38:35-38:37I should rejoice that God is with me.38:42-38:47Paul makes one final appeal, to be faithful where God has placed you.38:47-38:48Let's read verse 24.38:50-38:58So brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there, let him remain with God.39:00-39:03What's the motivation for remaining where you are?39:03-39:07What's the motivation for being faithful where God has placed you?39:08-39:12That same God is with you wherever you go.39:12-39:16No matter what job you have, God is with you.39:16-39:19No matter your financial struggles, God is with you.39:20-39:24No matter your relational status, God is with you there.39:25-39:28And he will never leave you or forsake you.39:30-39:33Have you ever had to go on a walk with a fast walker?39:34-39:37Or go on a hike with someone that you cannot keep up with?39:37-39:46No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you lengthen your stride, there is always way ahead of you and you are lagging so far behind.39:49-39:52So often that's how we feel when it comes to our relationship with the Lord.39:53-39:57Like he's an infinite amount of steps in front of us and we'll never be able to catch up.39:57-39:58It just feels hopeless.39:59-40:00He's always gonna feel so distant.40:00-40:03He's always gonna feel so far away.40:05-40:06Is that actually true?40:08-40:11God is in step with you the entire time.40:11-40:19He is right there with you, comforting you, encouraging you, calling you to keep it up instead of giving up.40:20-40:22Do you feel discontent?40:24-40:26Do you feel alone?40:27-40:29Do you feel like no one cares about you?40:29-40:31No one sees the struggles that you're going through?40:33-40:38It's my hope this morning that you will believe in God's nearness like never before.40:39-40:45It is my prayer that you will believe in God's presence even when he feels far away.40:48-40:53You may be discontent this morning because the content of your life is so shallow.40:54-41:00You are discontent because you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.41:01-41:09You are trusting in the provision of this world, which never satisfies, instead the provision of Christ, which eternally satisfies.41:10-41:22You will never experience true and lasting fulfillment until you turn from your sin and and you turn to Jesus Christ, who will satisfy you both now and forever.41:24-41:29He won't give you all that you want, but he will give you all that you need.41:31-41:35On the other hand, you may know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but you're still discontent.41:37-41:38And why is that?41:40-41:44Because you were expecting what God never promised in the first place.41:45-41:55You're forgetting that Jesus Christ didn't come to this earth to suffer, die, and rise again to give you more of the stuff of this world that will just be taken away from you when you die.41:56-42:07Jesus Christ came and did all those things to give you that which can never be taken away from you, to give you that which will be even more satisfying and enjoyable when you stand in his presence.42:09-42:20Until that day, be faithful, no matter your location, no matter your calling, no matter your limitations, live the life that God has assigned to you.42:20-42:26Enjoy every single moment he gives you as a precious gift.42:27-42:33God didn't save you from your sins so you could lead a successful life in the eyes of the world.42:34-42:42God saved you so that you would faithfully do what he's called you to do in every single season of life.42:43-42:44Let's pray.42:47-43:00Father, we come to you as your people and we admit that we can be discontent, that we grumble, we complain both internally and externally, we grumble in our minds and we grumble with our mouths.43:01-43:12Lord, help us to remember how truly blessed we are in Christ that we have been forgiven, we have been redeemed, we have been adopted into your family and we are bound for heaven.43:13-43:19And when life is hard, help us to remember that it's through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.43:19-43:22It shouldn't be a surprising thing that we go through fiery trials.43:24-43:27Lord, it should be a constant reminder of how much we need you.43:29-43:32It should be a constant reminder that we can't live this life on our own.43:34-43:37I'll lift up those who do not know you this morning.43:38-43:44May they not be able to leave this room until they place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.43:45-43:53And for those of us who do know and love you, but are struggling with discontentment, Father, help us not to leave this room until we talk to someone else about this.43:54-43:57Until we ask someone else for prayer, we ask someone else for encouragement.43:57-44:05Help us to be the body of Christ this morning, not just individuals coming and then leaving, but a family who is here for one another.44:06-44:09We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 7:17-24What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is the difference between godly ambition and ungodly discontentment?What are you the most discontent with right now? How can you take steps to address this dissatisfaction in your heart?What is your calling and assignment from the Lord in this season of life? How can you be faithful where He has placed you?BreakoutPray for one another.

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary TimeMark 8:14-21The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod."

+ Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 8: 14-21The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod."They concluded among themselves thatit was because they had no bread.When he became aware of this he said to them,"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?Do you not yet understand or comprehend?Are your hearts hardened?Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?And do you not remember,when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"They answered him, "Twelve.""When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"They answered him, "Seven."He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"The Gospel of the Lord

Mk 8:14-21The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod." They concluded among themselves thatit was because they had no bread.When he became aware of this he said to them,"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?Do you not yet understand or comprehend?Are your hearts hardened?Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?And do you not remember,when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"They answered him, "Twelve.""When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"They answered him, "Seven."He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

MUSICRIP: Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, whose songwriting and rhythm guitar playing influenced generations of musicians, has died at the age of 78. Seeing Britney Spears perform live is going to bust your budget . . . because it'll include the cost of international travel. In a recent Instagram post, Britney revealed that she will NEVER perform in the U.S. again. Why? Because of, quote, "extremely sensitive reasons." Whatever that means. https://deadline.com/2026/01/britney-spears-will-never-perform-us-again-1236678552/ TVThe 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards crowned the year's best in film, television and podcasts on January 11th, with Hamnet winning Best Motion Picture – Drama and One Battle After Another taking Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.The Pitt, The Studio and Adolescence took top honors in the TV categories.Host Nikki Glaser set the tone early with roast-style jabs at Hollywood reboots, streaming “content fatigue” and awards-season politics, earning the loudest laughs of the night for a riff about “cinematic universes that now require a syllabus.”Nikki Glaser hosted the Golden Globes again last night in Los Angeles. She kicked her monologue off with some current events.The 83rd Annual Golden Globes - Nikki Glaser jokes about hosting the Golden Globes for the second year in a row. OC:... to Julia Roberts. :21The 83rd Annual Golden Globes - Nikki Glaser jokes about the new CBS News. OC:... see BS news. :13The 83rd Annual Golden Globes - Amy Poehler accepts the award for Best Podcast on behalf of Good Hang With Amy Poehler. OC:... makes sense. :14WINNERS LIST:Best Motion Picture – Drama: HamnetBest Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: One Battle After AnotherBest Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherBest Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Jessie Buckley, HamnetBest Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)Best Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeBest Female Actor — Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick YouBest Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor, One Battle After AnotherBest Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental ValueBest Non-English Language Film: The Secret AgentBest Animated Film: KPop Demon HuntersBest Original Score: Sinners (Ludwig Göransson)Best Original Song: “Golden,” KPop Demon HuntersTelevisionBest Drama Series: The PittBest Comedy/Musical Series: The StudioBest Limited Series or TV Movie: AdolescenceBest Actor - Drama: Noah Wyle, The PittBest Actress - Drama: Rhea Seehorn, PluribusBest Actress – Comedy: Jean Smart, HacksBest Actor – Comedy: Seth Rogen, The StudioBest Actor – Limited Series/TV Movie: Stephen Graham, AdolescenceBest Actress – Limited Series/TV Movie: Michelle Williams, Dying for SexBest Supporting Actress – TV: Erin Doherty, AdolescenceBest Supporting Actor – TV: Owen Cooper, AdolescenceOther HonorsBest Podcast: Good Hang with Amy PoehlerBest performance in Stand-up Comedy on Television: Ricky Gervais (Ricky Gervais: Mortality) MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:Timothy Busfield (is known for his work on The West Wing and Thirtysomething), is facing charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse related to an incident on the set of The Cleaning Lady. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/01/11/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse/88131756007/ Daniel Stern . . . you know, Wet Bandit Harry from "Home Alone" . . . was cited by police for soliciting prostitution. He was caught at a hotel in Camarillo, California trying to hire an escort on December 10th. Daniel wasn't arrested, he was only given a ticket. https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/09/home-alone-daniel-stern-busted-prostitution/ RIP: Actor T.K. Carter has died. He was 69. His credits include John Carpenter's "The Thing", "Punky Brewster", "Space Jam", and "Doctor Detroit". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tk-carter-dead-the-thing-the-way-back-1236469274/AND FINALLYAdam Sandler was honored with a Career Achievement Award at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Saturday night and he shared his 10 Reasons Why He Knows He's "[Effing]" OLD. https://people.com/adam-sandler-reflects-on-aging-gives-10-reasons-why-he-is-old-aarp-awards-11883106AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!Follow The Rizzuto Show → https://linktr.ee/rizzshowConnect with The Rizzuto Show Comedy Podcast → https://1057thepoint.com/RizzShowHear The Rizz Show daily on 105.7 The Point | Hubbard Radio in St. Louis, MO. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, The Octave Day of the Nativity of the LordLuke 2:16-21The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,  and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this,  they made known the message  that had been told them about this child.All who heard it were amazed  by what had been told them by the shepherds.

Lk 2:16-21The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,  and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this,  they made known the message  that had been told them about this child.All who heard it were amazed  by what had been told them by the shepherds.And Mary kept all these things,  reflecting on them in her heart.Then the shepherds returned,  glorifying and praising God  for all they had heard and seen,  just as it had been told to them.  When eight days were completed for his circumcision,  he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel  before he was conceived in the womb.

LEVITICUS 8 — THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTHOOD (PART 2)“Cleansing, Order, Authority, and Covenant Service”Teachers: Kerry & Karen BattleAhava ~ Love AssemblyThis is Part Two of our Leviticus 8 teaching series.In Part One, we covered:The Summoning of the Congregation (Lev 8:1–4)The Washing of the Called (Lev 8:5–6)The Garments of Order and Responsibility (Lev 8:7–9)The Oil of Authorization (Lev 8:10–12)In this lesson, we pick back up at Section 5 and move deeper into the cost of consecration, the role of blood, sacrifice, endurance, and covenant participation.This is not ceremony.This is covenant authorization.This is how Yahuah establishes His priesthood.---WHAT WE COVER IN PART TWO5. The Sin Offering: Inner AlignmentLeviticus 8:14–17Before serving others, the inner condition must be addressed.Leadership magnifies what is hidden within.Atonement restores alignment before responsibility.---6. The Burnt Offering: Total SurrenderLeviticus 8:18–21The burnt offering represents complete surrender.Partial obedience is rejected.Consecration touches every area of life.---7. Blood on Ear, Hand, and FootLeviticus 8:22–24Hearing, doing, and walking are sanctified.What Israel hears, how she serves, and where she walks must align with Torah.---8. Offerings in Their Hands: Covenant ParticipationLeviticus 8:25–29No one appears before Yahuah empty.Participation reveals covenant loyalty.Giving reflects alignment, not coercion.---9. Seven Days at the Door: Endurance in ObedienceLeviticus 8:30–36Consecration requires remaining until Yahuah completes the charge.Leaving early disrupts covenant order.Faithfulness is proven over time.---WHY PART TWO MATTERSHoliness is testedObedience is provenEndurance is requiredAuthority is revealedCovenant order is enforcedLeviticus 8 shows that calling without discipline is dangerous, and authority without obedience is unstable.---SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR STUDYLev 8 • Ex 28–30 • Ex 29 • Lev 16 • Num 3 • Num 18Ps 24 • Ps 132 • Isa 61 • Ezek 44 • John 15 • Rom 12 • Heb 5Every section is taught precept upon precept.---

Shorter Catechism Q & A 21The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever

“Cleansing, Order, Authority, and Covenant Service”Teachers: Kerry & Karen BattleAhava ~ Love AssemblyWelcome to Leviticus 8. This chapter records the public consecration of the priesthood and establishes the covenant process by which Yahuah sets men apart for service at His altar.This is not ceremony.This is covenant authorization.This is how Yahuah preserves holiness, leadership, and order in Israel.---WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TODAY1. The Summoning of the CongregationLeviticus 8:1–4Consecration begins with obedience to Yahuah's command to gather.A scattered people cannot be ordered.Covenant formation requires presence, submission, and public accountability.---2. The Washing of the CalledLeviticus 8:5–6Cleansing precedes authority.Yahuah addresses inner purity before public function.Hidden sin is exposed before holy service begins.---3. The Garments of Order and ResponsibilityLeviticus 8:7–9Garments represent covenant responsibility, not status.Public roles require public accountability.Order protects the camp and preserves reverence.---4. The Oil of AuthorizationLeviticus 8:10–12Anointing confirms Yahuahah's authorization.Oil follows obedience, not ambition.Authority is proven by fruit, discipline, and faithfulness.---5. The Sin Offering: Inner AlignmentLeviticus 8:14–17Before serving others, the inner condition must be addressed.Leadership magnifies what is hidden within.Atonement restores alignment before responsibility.sin offering explained, Torah atonement, priesthood repentance, Leviticus sacrifices, holiness teaching---6. The Burnt Offering: Total SurrenderLeviticus 8:18–21The burnt offering represents complete surrender.Partial obedience is rejected.Consecration touches every area of life.---7. Blood on Ear, Hand, and FootLeviticus 8:22–24Hearing, doing, and walking are sanctified.What Israel hears, how she serves, and where she walks must align with Torah.blood consecration, Leviticus priesthood, Torah obedience, covenant walk, Israelite holiness---8. Offerings in Their Hands: Covenant ParticipationLeviticus 8:25–29No one appears before Yahuah empty.Participation reveals covenant loyalty.Giving reflects alignment, not coercion.Torah giving, priestly portions, covenant participation, Leviticus offerings, Israelite economy---9. Seven Days at the Door: Endurance in ObedienceLeviticus 8:30–36Consecration requires remaining until Yahuah completes the charge.Leaving early disrupts covenant order.Faithfulness is proven over time.waiting on Yahuah, covenant endurance, Leviticus obedience, priesthood faithfulness---WHY LEVITICUS 8 MATTERS TODAYHoliness is preservedLeadership is orderedAuthority is testedPurity is requiredEndurance is enforcedLeviticus 8 reveals how Yahuah establishes and protects His priesthood.---SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR STUDYLev 8 • Ex 28–30 • Ex 29 • Lev 16 • Num 3 • Num 18Ps 24 • Ps 132 • Isa 61 • Ezek 44 • John 15 • Rom 12 • Heb 5Every section is taught precept upon precept.---

Proverbs 11 wisdom, faith principles, and life-changing Inchstones come together in this powerful episode that shows exactly why “God's got you” is more than a comforting phrase—it's a roadmap to peace, integrity, and real-life transformation. If you've ever doubted whether God is working behind the scenes, this breakdown of Proverbs 11 will strengthen your trust, steady your heart, and help you walk in daily wisdom.My Pops used to say it all the time: “God's got you!”Truthfully? I didn't always believe it. But Proverbs 11 reminds us—over and over—that truth doesn't lose power just because we're stubborn. It just delays our peace.Today's Inchstones (grab the book here: https://a.co/d/4CYg4vG) walk through every major theme of Proverbs 11 and how it actually plays out in your everyday life:

Part 3 of 3: John 6:15-21The final summary and anaylisis of all the evidence, and it looks like alot of the "Experts" have several things wrong about this account!  Come and see!  ;()   Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment! If you want to email me to ask any questions, you can do so at the email address below! If you are blessed by today's episode, and you would like to offer part of your tithes to my Bible Study efforts, you can do so by going to PayPal and donating at my PayPal address which is: ReneHoladay@gmail.com  Just go to "PayPal.com" sign in, and then enter my email address above and it will send your donation to me! You can donate anything from $5, on up, and if you want to, you can also make it recurring each month, which would be a huge help to me! ;() Thank you for watching and God Bless you all! ;()

Big Idea: Trees thrive together… and so do you.1 Corinthians 16:15-24I. Submit for harmony.1 Corinthians 16:15-18Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore recognize such people.II. Serve from the heart. 1 Corinthians 16:19-21The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home. All the brothers and sisters send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.III. Stand with hope.1 Corinthians 16:22-24This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.Next Steps: Believe: Today, I surrender to Jesus.Become: I will strengthen someone who is struggling this week. Be Sent: I will show Jesus's love this week.Discussion Questions: Has this book grown your faith?  If so, how?In what ways can you actively demonstrate love and support to someone far from Jesus this week?Who can you encourage to grow stronger in the Lord this week?How does Stephanas inspire you to serve our church and community?What practical steps can you take to ensure that our church community embodies unity and love?How can you prepare your heart and mind to live out the urgency of Christ's return tomorrow?Pray for the opportunity to serve someone in need this week. 

Paul makes more contradictory demands.Jesus tells us about wasted opportunities.PASSAGE OF THE DAY 12 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."John 14: 21The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story https://share.google/zv6gvgP6YB5VJie8p

Lk 2:16-21The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,  and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this,  they made known the message  that had been told them about this child.All who heard it were amazed  by what had been told them by the shepherds.And Mary kept all these things,  reflecting on them in her heart.Then the shepherds returned,  glorifying and praising God  for all they had heard and seen,  just as it had been told to them.  When eight days were completed for his circumcision,  he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel  before he was conceived in the womb.

Lk 8:19-21The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to himbut were unable to join him because of the crowd.He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outsideand they wish to see you."He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothersare those who hear the word of God and act on it."

Read OnlineThe mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Luke 8:19–21The term “brothers” in this passage is obviously not to be understood that Jesus had blood brothers. It is a dogma of our faith that Jesus was the only Child of Mary. At that time, it was common practice to refer to one's extended family as “brothers.” This would have especially applied to Jesus' cousins and perhaps even those who were unrelated by blood but were from the same village.As these relatives of Jesus stood outside and announced their presence, what did they expect Jesus to do? His “brothers” might have been there to try to talk some sense into Him. We know from other passages in the Gospels that some of Jesus' extended family thought He was out of His mind. Therefore, it is possible that these brothers were there to resolve an extended family conflict that was erupting as Jesus began His public ministry.Jesus' response was not a rude response. This is clear from the fact that Jesus lived the perfection of charity. But true charity is always grounded in the truth. Jesus spoke a truth that cut through the merely human ties and conflicts that were driving these brothers. By saying, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it,” Jesus was challenging His brothers to stop looking at Him only in an earthly way. Everyone, including His relatives, needed to learn to see Jesus as the Son of the Father in Heaven. It was the act of accepting Jesus' divine identity and submitting in obedience to the will of the Father that established a much deeper bond with Him. That is the relationship that Jesus desired with His earthly brothers.The mother of Jesus, on the other hand, was also perfect in every way. She was free from the disorder of sin and even her mind was clear, being filled with perfect wisdom and understanding. Therefore, when it was reported to her what Jesus said, she would have understood and believed.Saint Bede says that when we hear the word of God and obey it, we become Jesus' “mother” by bringing Him forth into the world through our words and actions. This also makes us Jesus' “brothers” because our obedience makes us all children of the Father in Heaven.By the gift of the fullness of grace, our Blessed Mother would have fully understood that her unity with her Son was primarily the result of their shared obedience to the Father's will. She not only experienced the Son of God being conceived within her womb, she also had the profound experience of conceiving Him in her heart through her obedience to the will of the Father. That “conception” of Jesus within her Immaculate Heart would have been unmistakably clear to her and the cause of her greatest joy. For that reason, she would have treasured this spiritual motherhood of her Son as the greatest gift of all, even more than the gift of natural motherhood. Reflect, today, upon the fact that you are also invited to be the “mother” and the “brother” of Jesus. You share in these holy callings through obedience to the will of the Father. The more clearly you hear God speak and the more fully you obey all that He says will determine the depth of spiritual union you have with Him. Our natural selves must give way to the supernatural life of grace. Make the choice, with our Blessed Mother, to pursue the glorious life of grace so that you will conceive the Son of God in your heart, become a true child of the Father in Heaven, and become a spiritual brother or sister of our Lord. My divine Lord, Your love for Your earthly mother was perfect in every way. That earthly bond was transformed and elevated by Your spiritual union with her on account of Your mutual obedience to the will of the Father. Please draw me into Your divine Family by helping me to listen to and to obey all that the Father speaks. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Psalm 94 WorksheetNKJV Heading – God the refuge of the righteous.God is the righteous ____________________ who will have the last word V. 1-2Notice in verse 1 He ___________________ the thought – “You heard me right, God is a God of righteous judgment! Lament over the wicked's arrogant words ____________________ God V. 3-7“How long?” – the cry of saints in both testaments when they see _______________________ in the world.Deuteronomy 21:1-9 The Proverbs 31 man James 1 – pure religion The wicked are so arrogant they say Israel's God either doesn't exist, doesn't care, or is _________________ to do anything to stop them. God knows the wicked are __________________ Him V. 8-11In verse 8 the Psalmist challenges the ignorant and/or wicked to ‘__________________ up' before the patient God of vengeance deals with them in judgment. Verse 11 has another reference to God's omniscience – His _________________ knowledge of all things.God will eventually right things for His people who _________________ Him V. 12-21The word blessed in verse 12 is a ‘call back' to Psalm ___________ – Delight in God's law, apply it obediently, and you will be okay in the coming day of reversals. Verse 14 reminds us that even though earthly rulers now _____________________ us, there will be days of righteousness coming for God's people (Acts 3:19-21)Verse 18 reminds us of Deuteronomy 32:5, the verse used when Jonathan Edwards preached the Great Awakening. Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them. -Deuteronomy 32:35We often speak of the imminence of the Second Coming of Jesus. By that we mean that it ‘___________________________' what happens on earth now, promising a time when God will square all accounts before people live on either the new earth or lake of fire. But notice what the Psalmist who trusted in God preaches to himself in verse 18 – Your mercy (Hesed) will hold me up, so I won't slide down to Hell. Hesed is God's steadfast love. The word (H2617) occurs 240 times in the Old Testament; 139 of those are in the poetic books; 127 are in the Psalms. The word occurs in ________________ Psalms (0ver 1/3rd!). Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 37:4! Verses 20-21 remind us that wicked politicians are _____________________ when they claim to know God but legislate immorality. God is the righteous judge who will have the last word V. 22-23Verse 1 started the Psalm with double emphasis on God's vengeance; Verse 23 ends the Psalm with double emphasis on the wicked being cut off! Note clearly that the call is not to take matters into our own hands but ________________________ by faith in God to have the final word. Psalm 37Job 19:23-27Psalm 37 helps us understand the hope of Old Testament saints – not being forever with God on a cloud, but being forever with God on a ____________________ earth that the wicked don't get to inhabit any more. The book of Jonah shows God graciously extending his ‘Hesed' to the wicked Ninevites when they repented. Even as we warn the wicked, hold out the gospel of __________________ to those who repent!

September 15-21The material we talk about today gives us specifics about a dramatic, heart-rending series of events from the 19 th  century, but is also so relevant for our times, as if the story was written just for us. It simply could not be more to the point.

He Will Not Forsake His SaintsOf David.1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;be not envious of wrongdoers!2For they will soon fade like the grassand wither like the green herb.3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.4 Delight yourself in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart.5 Commit your way to the Lord;trust in him, and he will act.6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,and your justice as the noonday.7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,over the man who carries out evil devices!8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.11But the meek shall inherit the landand delight themselves in abundant peace.12The wicked plots against the righteousand gnashes his teeth at him,13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,for he sees that his day is coming.14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bowsto bring down the poor and needy,to slay those whose way is upright;15their sword shall enter their own heart,and their bows shall be broken.16 Better is the little that the righteous hasthan the abundance of many wicked.17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,but the Lord upholds the righteous.18The Lord knows the days of the blameless,and their heritage will remain forever;19they are not put to shame in evil times;in the days of famine they have abundance.20But the wicked will perish;the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.21The wicked borrows but does not pay back,but the righteous is generous and gives;22for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,but those cursed by him shall be cut off.23The steps of a man are established by the Lord,when he delights in his way;24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,for the Lord upholds his hand.25I have been young, and now am old,yet I have not seen the righteous forsakenor his children begging for bread.26He is ever lending generously,and his children become a blessing.27 Turn away from evil and do good;so shall you dwell forever.28For the Lord loves justice;he will not forsake his saints.They are preserved forever,but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.29The righteous shall inherit the landand dwell upon it forever.30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,and his tongue speaks justice.31 The law of his God is in his heart;his steps do not slip.32The wicked watches for the righteousand seeks to put him to death.33The Lord will not abandon him to his poweror let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,and he will exalt you to inherit the land;you will look on when the wicked are cut off.35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,spreading himself like a green laurel tree.36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;though I sought him, he could not be found.37Mark the blameless and behold the upright,for there is a future for the man of peace.38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;the future of the wicked shall be cut off.39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.40The Lord helps them and delivers them;he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,because they take refuge in him.

Vic Henley, Dan Soder, Mark Normand, Rich Vos, Bob Kelly 3/21The final year of my radio journey holds a special place in my heart, made even more poignant by the loss of my cherished friends, Carl Ruiz and Vic Henley. Reflecting on that time, I rediscovered the pure passion and exhilaration that drew me to radio in the first place. Amidst the chaos and challenges, we found endless moments of hilarity and camaraderie. Alongside Carl, Vic, and Sherrod Small, we shared unforgettable experiences both on and off the airwaves, our tight-knit bond shining through every episode. That year also marked Carl Ruiz's meteoric rise to stardom, inspiring me to launch the Opie Radio podcast with him. I'm immensely grateful to Erock, Clubsoda Kenny, Paul, and Louis for joining us on this wild ride. Get ready to dive into the rollercoaster of emotions—the highs, the lows, and the laugh-out-loud moments—that defined my last year in radio.

Send us a textSermons on the wrath of God and the final judgment and hell are missing today. This has been true for several decades. But we avoid the message at our own peril and of those who most need to hear God's summons to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Revelation 6 contains the vision of the six seals of Revelation. The fifth seal is that of the martyrs calling for vindication and the sixth seal is the response.Consider the wrath to come from the holy God against all who do not know him and do not obey the gospel by belief in the Son. He who is the Lamb of God that bore the sins of his people and took their punishment is also the One to whom judgment is given. "the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:22fPeter preached to Cornelius that God appointed Christ to be the judge of the world. “[Christ] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead” by his resurrection from the dead.(Acts 10:42). Paul declare the same truth to the Athenians:“[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:21The only refuge from the judgment of the Lamb is personal faith in the Lamb. Psalm 2:11b    Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

The conclusion of the Ephesians’ series focuses on spiritual warfare and how to combat the evil we are faced with. As we put on the whole armor of God, we can stand against the wiles of the devil. 2 Corinthians 4:4   Spiritual warfare Matthew 13:19 – The wicked one; Mark 4:15 – Satan; Luke 8:12 – The devil 1 Peter 5:8 – Adversary; 1 Thessalonians 3:4 – Tempter; Revelation 12:10 – Accuser Ephesians 2:1-3   Three fronts 1. The world, 2. Demons, 3. Lust of our flesh   Air is unseen by influential Ephesians 6:11-13   Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. He functions undercover, cleverly camouflaged in secrecy. People end up as puppets Ephesians 1:18-23   Jesus already won the battle. 14 – 4:17-23   This is now your lie; 1:1-14 your truth now 14 – 4:21-24   Righteousness is the new you. Live right, 15 – Peace 1:2; 6:23; 2:14-17; 4:3 16 – Faith 2:8-9; 3:12, 17 – Faith is a full realization of your own inability and absolute confidence in God's ability. 17 – Helmet of salvation – 1:13 -14, 2:7, 3: 9-11 17 – The sword of the spirit; the Word of God 18 – Pray – Matthew 6:9-13: 1:15-23; 3:14-21The post Ephesians Part 12: Dress for Battle first appeared on Living Hope.

Oregon State Representative Jeff Helfrich, a former police sergeant and U.S. Air Force veteran, brings a unique perspective to state leadership—drawing from decades of frontline experience in law enforcement and public service. In this episode, he reflects on the evolution of policing, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and what it will take to support the next generation of officers.-----00:00:00:00 - 00:01:14:12Teaser00:01:14:12 - 00:01:51:07Intro00:01:51:07 - 00:10:56:04Jeff's background00:10:56:04 - 00:14:28:00Taking care of yourself00:14:28:00 - 00:17:32:21The changing path to a career in law enforcement00:17:32:21 - 00:20:14:02Working in law enforcement in Portland, OR00:20:14:02 - 00:28:19:13The new school of policing00:28:19:13 - 00:32:03:06Feeling supported & recruitment issues00:32:03:06 - 00:34:56:18The impact of self-interest on law enforcement00:34:56:18 - 00:41:32:08The criminalization of drugs00:41:32:08 - 00:47:14:01The steady collapse of law and order00:47:14:01 - 00:54:07:20Higher salaries versus better working conditions00:54:07:20 - 00:57:31:09Recruitment versus retention00:57:31:09 - 01:14:27:24Setting officers up for success01:14:27:24 - 01:15:24:18Outro

1 Timothy 6:20-21The glorious Gospel has been entrusted to us; we must guard it against Godless contradictions.

San Diego Police Sergeant Anthony Elliot recounts his remarkable story of being shot in the head, surviving, and recovering. He also shares his thoughts on working patrol, the culture conflict within law enforcement, and the difficulty of policing from state to state.-----00:00:00:00 - 00:01:26:12Teaser00:01:26:12 - 00:02:53:09Intro00:02:53:09 - 00:24:38:08Anthony's near-death headshot00:24:38:08 - 00:34:28:08The varied view of law enforcement state by state00:34:28:08 - 00:34:52:11Midroll00:34:52:11 - 00:41:29:01The difficulty of policing varies state by state00:41:29:01 - 00:54:49:22The culture conflict within law enforcement00:54:49:22 - 01:06:46:21The importance of field training & the thrill of patrol01:06:46:21 - 01:13:14:03The dangers of complacency01:13:14:03 - 01:20:07:21Dennis' eBook & the reality of law enforcement01:20:07:21 - 01:20:37:06Outro

The Vision of Jesus5 G Living:Do everything you do for the Glory of GodDo everything you do for the Good of your fellow manDo everything you do for the Growth of your fellow believers in ChristDo everything you do to get the Gospel to unbelieversDo everything you do with a grateful heartMatthew 14:13-21The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. - Moses in Deut. 29:29Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Shlomo (Solomon) in Proverbs 3:5-6The compassionate vision of Jesus - V. 13-14May it be said of us that we saw, we had compassion, we acted to help meet physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs – just like Jesus.The creative envisioning of Jesus - V. 15-18What the disciples said about sending the people away made common sense and fit conventional wisdom, but Jesus often challenges what makes common sense and what fits conventional wisdom!The word envision means “to picture something in your mind.” They could not envision meeting the crowd's needs – they only saw what they lacked. They forgot that Jesus was with them, and He can do anything!When a faithful follower of Jesus devotes 100% of themselves and their resources to Jesus, He multiplies their little into enough. Of course He can do it without us, but He loves to include us in what He's doing!The miraculous provision of Jesus - V. 19-21Here we read of Jesus doing by far the greatest food miracle in the Bible. You might object about the time Moses gave the people manna. But Moses didn't give the people Manna, God did (John 6:32)!Elisha took 20 barley loaves and fed 100 men, with some left (a miraculous fivefold increase). Jesus took 5 barley loaves and fed 5,000 men, with enough left over to feed the 100 men Elisha fed (a miraculous thousandfold increase). It was truly a miracle worthy of Immanuel.

Genesis 50:15-21The ground of a gracious life is faith in the God of Grace! We are called to radical grace with each other in response to God's radical grace for us. 

John Nixon - Sun 11th May 25false00:42:21The request of James and John

Kevin Kelly has spent more time thinking about the future than almost anyone else.From VR in the 1980s to the blockchain in the 2000s—and now generative AI—Kevin has spent a lifetime journeying to the frontiers of technology, only to return with rich stories about what's next.Today, as Wired's senior maverick, his project for 2025 is to outline what the next century looks like in a world shaped by new technologies like AI and genetic engineering. He's a personal hero of mine—not to mention a fellow Annie Dillard fan—and it was a privilege to have him on the show. We get into:How you can predict the future. According to Kevin, the draw of new frontiers—from the first edition of Burning Man and remote corners of Asia, to the early days of the internet and AI—isn't staying at the edge forever; it's returning with a story to tell.Why history is so important to help you understand the future To stay grounded while exploring what's new, Kevin balances the thrill of the future with the wisdom of the past. He pairs AI research with reading about history, and playing with an AI tool by retreating to his workshop to make something with his hands.From 1,000 true fans to an audience of one. Rather than creating for an audience, Kevin has been using LLMs to explore his own imagination. After realizing that da Vinci, Martin Luther, and Columbus were alive at the same time, he asked ChatGPT to imagine them snowed in at a hotel together, and the prompt spiraled into an epic saga, co-written with AI. But he has no plans to publish it because the joy was in creating something just for himself.What the history of electricity can teach us about AI. Kevin draws a parallel between AI and the early days of electricity. We could produce electric sparks long before we understood the forces that created them, and now we're building intelligent machines without really understanding what intelligence is.Why Kevin sees intelligence as a mosaic—not a monolith. Kevin believes intelligence isn't a single force, but a compound of many cognitive elements. He draws from Marvin Minsky's “society of mind”—the theory that the mind is made up of smaller agents working together—and sees echoes of this in the Mixture of Experts architecture used in some models today.Your competitive advantage is being yourself. Don't aim to be the best—aim to be the only. Kevin realized the stories no one else at Wired wanted to write were often the ones he was suited for, and trusting that instinct led to some of his best work.This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to make sense of AI through the lens of history, learn how to spot the future before it arrives, or grew up reading Wired.If you found this episode interesting, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! To hear more from Dan:Subscribe to Every: https://every.to/subscribe Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/danshipper SponsorsVanta: Get $1,000 off of Vanta at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.vanta.com/every⁠⁠⁠ and automate up to 90% of the work for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and more.Attio: Go to⁠ https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠attio.com/every⁠⁠ and get 15% off your first year on your AI-powered CRM.Timestamps:Introduction: 00:00:50Why Kevin and I love Annie Dillard: 00:01:10Learn how to predict the future like Kevin: 00:12:50What the history of electricity can teach us about AI: 00:16:08How Kevin thinks about the nature of intelligence: 00:20:11Kevin's advice on discovering your competitive advantage: 00:27:21The story of how Kevin assembled a bench of star writers for Wired: 00:31:07How Kevin used ChatGPT to co-create a book: 00:36:17Using AI as a mirror for your mind: 00:40:45What Kevin learned from betting on VR in the 1980s: 00:45:16Links to resources mentioned:Kevin Kelly: @kevin2kellyKelly's books: https://kk.org/books Annie Dillard books that Kelly and Dan discuss: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Teaching a Stone to Talk, Holy the Firm, The Writing LifeDillard's account of the total eclipse: "Total Eclipse"

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21When Jesus said those words, He wasn't just giving us a lesson on giving or saving. He was getting to the root of something much deeper: our hearts.At Faith & Finance, we often say that money touches every part of life, but the most important part is our spiritual life. Our financial decisions, priorities, and fears don't just reflect our budgets—they reflect our beliefs, values, and, ultimately, our worship.Let's explore how our money issues are really heart issues—and what that means for how we live and give.More Than Just a ToolMany people see money as a neutral resource—a tool to earn, spend, save, or give. But Scripture reveals that money has much more influence than we realize. It can:Shape our desiresTest our trustReveal what we truly worshipThat's why issues like debt, greed, anxiety, or even generosity aren't primarily financial—they're spiritual. When we overspend to maintain a lifestyle, is it because our identity is tied to our possessions? When we obsess over savings or investments, is it because we trust our bank account more than we trust God? When we hesitate to give, are we being ruled by fear of not having enough?In this way, money becomes a spiritual thermometer—measuring our faith and showing us where our hearts truly rest.The Rich Young Ruler: A Heart ExposedOne of the clearest biblical examples of this dynamic is the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17–22. Eager to inherit eternal life, this man claimed to have kept all the commandments. But Jesus knew his heart.“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” — Mark 10:21The man walked away, sorrowful. His wealth had a stronger grip on his heart than his desire to follow Jesus. His struggle wasn't with budgeting—it was with idolatry.As John Calvin famously said, “The human heart is an idol factory.” We all have things we cling to—things we're tempted to trust more than God. The rich young ruler's story invites us to ask: What would make us walk away from Jesus?If the answer is money, then our issue isn't financial—it's spiritual.When Money Reveals Fear, Not Just GreedOf course, not everyone struggles with greed. Some struggle with fear. Jesus spoke to this often.In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus tells us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing. If God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, how much more will He care for His children?Financial anxiety reveals something crucial: a lack of trust in God's provision. When we believe our well-being depends entirely on our ability to earn, save, or invest, we carry a weight God never intended us to bear.This doesn't mean we shouldn't plan wisely—but it does mean that financial stress often signals a deeper spiritual need to trust God's character and promises.Generosity: A Window Into the SoulIf money is a heart issue, then our generosity—or lack of it—speaks volumes.The early church in Acts was known for radical generosity. Believers sold possessions and shared what they had to meet each other's needs. Why? Because the gospel had transformed their hearts. Their giving flowed not from guilt but from grace.C.S. Lewis once wrote,“Every faculty you have…is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already.”True generosity doesn't come from obligation—it comes from a heart that knows everything belongs to God.So ask yourself: Do I see money as mine to control or God's to steward? Do I give joyfully—or do I give reluctantly, out of fear?Transforming Our Financial HeartsSince money problems are ultimately heart problems, the solution goes beyond budgeting tools and interest rates (as helpful as those are). What we need most is heart transformation.Here are four truths to guide your financial discipleship:1. Recognize That Money Is a Test of TrustDo you really believe God will provide? If not, fear will drive your financial choices more than faith.2. Practice GratitudeDiscontentment fuels anxiety, but gratitude shifts our focus to what God has already given.3. Give GenerouslyGiving breaks the power of money over your heart. It's a spiritual exercise that redirects your trust toward God.4. Seek First the KingdomJesus promised that if we seek God's kingdom first, all these things—our needs—will be provided (Matthew 6:33). Prioritize Him, and let peace replace worry.What Do You Treasure Most?In the end, how we handle money reveals what we treasure. May we be people who treasure Christ above all—because only then will our hearts be truly free.Let's make sure our treasure—and our trust—are in the right place.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I retired in 2021 with a good income and 401(k), but now I've depleted my debt, and I'm struggling to pay bills. Am I required to pay tithes out of my Social Security income?Our church has outgrown its old, falling-apart building. We need about a million dollars to build a new one. What would be the best financial institution for us to use?I was given $2,000 for my daughter, who is a part-time student. How can I invest this money so it grows? Also, what do you think about Quicken Will? Is it a good app for creating a will, trust, or power of attorney?How can I verify or investigate an investment opportunity where I would invest $10,000 and supposedly get 250% back?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineChristian Community Credit UnionTrustandWill.com | Quicken Willmaker & TrustSchwab Intelligent PortfoliosWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

The Sower the Seed and the SoilWhen the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God-Warren WiersbeEvery one of the seeds in the pack I gave you can become the flower it was meant to be if it finds receptive soil as it is planted. In today's passage we see Jesus tell a little story about the different responses there will be to His gospel during the church age we now find ourselves in.Matthew 13:1-23 Introducing the parables of the Kingdom - V. 1-3, 10-17But Matthew 13 features the first occurrence of the word parable(s) in the New Testament, and the most occurrences of the word in the Bible. The word Parable(s) occurs 48 times in the Bible, 12 in this chapter alone.The 35 Parables that Jesus told in the New Testament are little stories with big meaning comparing God's activity in the present age to everyday matters we can relate to. Jesus' parables often paint a picture of a wrong response from His critics and a right response by His followers.In the 7 parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13, Jesus for the first time reveals the secret (the mysterion) of the spiritual kingdom that will grow between His first coming and His return to set up a physical kingdom. The secret includes the church age we are now in where local churches become spiritual ‘embassies' of the coming Kingdom.The word for secret is the Greek word musterion (G3466-27x); it means that which is known to the ‘initiated' (mustos). That which was not fully revealed to O.T. saints has now been revealed to Jesus' followers.Matthew 13:13-17 uses the Hebrew poetry device of chiastic structure, where the first and last points echo each other and so on toward the big point in the middle.Jesus explains the parable of the Sower - V. 3b-9,18-23The 4 different responses to the gospel:The Not-now response (rejection) - V. 19The Shallow response (belief without repentance) - V. 20-21The double-minded response (distraction) - V. 22The Devil got the wayside folk, the flesh took care of the rocky-ground folk, but the world chokes out the word for the thorny ground folk.” - J. Vernon McGeeThe fruit-bearing response (this one understands) - V. 23The Jewish poetic device of chiastic structure in Matthew 13:13-17:

A.W. Tozer once wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our understanding of God influences everything—including how we handle what He has entrusted to us.In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus tells a story that reveals how our perception of God directly affects our stewardship. Three servants are given different amounts of money while their master is away. Two invest what they receive and are rewarded for their faithfulness. The third, however, buries his portion out of fear. His failure wasn't just financial—it was a failure of understanding his master's character.A Misunderstanding That Led to FearAt first glance, the punishment of the third servant might seem extreme. After all, he didn't lose the money—he simply didn't invest it. But Jesus' parable isn't just about financial stewardship; it's about how we see God.The third servant viewed his master as “a hard man” (Matthew 25:24), someone to be feared rather than trusted. His words reveal the issue of his heart:“Master, I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground.” - Matthew 25:24-25His fear of failure led him to inaction. Instead of seeing an opportunity, he saw a trap. Instead of seeing generosity, he saw harshness. And because of that, he did nothing.This is the danger of a wrong view of God. When we perceive Him as an unrelenting taskmaster, we shrink back—afraid to fail, hesitant to step out, reluctant to engage with what He has given us. We bury our talents—whether our time, resources, or gifts—assuming He is more interested in punishment than partnership. But Scripture reminds us:“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” - 1 John 4:18Faith and Trust Lead to FruitfulnessIn contrast, the first two servants acted in faith. They saw their master as someone worth serving, embracing their responsibility with joy. They took risks, multiplied what they had been given, and were met with their master's praise:“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” - Matthew 25:21The master's reward wasn't just about productivity—it was an invitation into deeper joy. Their faithfulness wasn't about money; it was about trust. They trusted their master's goodness and acted boldly.Many struggle with obedience because they see it as a burden rather than an opportunity. But the faithful servants understood something key: what they had been given actually belonged to their master, and stewarding it well was a privilege.Jesus invites us to partner with Him in His work, not because He needs us, but because He delights in working through us. Paul describes this beautifully:“For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.” - 1 Corinthians 3:9We are not slaves cowering under a harsh master—we are co-laborers in His kingdom. When we understand this, our perspective on obedience changes. Giving, serving, and using our gifts for His glory are no longer seen as obligations but as privileges.Living as Faithful StewardsThe real tragedy of the third servant is that he never truly knew his master. His false perception led to his inaction, and his master's response is sobering:“Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” - Matthew 25:30This warning isn't just about stewardship—it's about our hearts. If we live in fear and refuse to trust God, we will miss out on the joy of His kingdom. In fact, I would venture to say that when some meet Jesus, they may not hear, “I never knew you,” but rather, “You never knew Me.”But if we truly know Him, we will step forward in faith, eager to invest our lives in His work.God invites us to see Him as He truly is—loving, generous, and trustworthy. When we do, we won't shrink back in fear—we will step forward in faith. Like the faithful servants in the parable, we will hear His words of joy:“Well done, good and faithful servant.”Let's live as stewards who know our Master—trusting in His goodness and investing in His kingdom with boldness and joy.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My daughter has $20,000 in credit card debt across five cards. With her husband incarcerated, she's struggling to make the $800 monthly minimum payments. I'm looking for a way to help her consolidate the debt and get a lower interest rate so she can start paying it down.We've been offered a good price to sell our 14-year-old business, but I'm concerned about the capital gains taxes we'll owe. Besides investing in our IRAs, are there any other strategies we can use to reduce the taxes we'll have to pay on the sale?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineThe Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A.W. TozerCross InternationalChristian Credit CounselorsNational Christian Foundation (NCF)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Leonard Stock, creator of the Grappler Police Bumper, shares his experiences as a successful entrepreneur—from the device's conception, to its distribution, to the tribulations of owning a business.------00:00:00:00 - 00:01:10:29Teaser00:01:10:29 - 00:01:52:03Intro00:01:52:03 - 00:18:52:10Leonard's background & his groundbreaking invention: the Grappler Police Bumper00:18:52:10 - 00:22:16:29The risk factor00:22:16:29 - 00:26:15:14The purchasing and installation process of the Grappler00:26:15:14 - 00:26:39:22Midroll00:26:39:22 - 00:30:26:21The entrepreneurial process00:30:26:21 - 00:41:27:26The importance of customer service00:41:27:26 - 01:01:12:15How does Leonard train Law Enforcement Officers to use to Grappler?01:01:12:15 - 01:15:42:10The joys and pains of owning a business01:15:42:10 - 01:16:50:03Outro

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary TimeMk 8:14-21The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod.”

AN EMBARRASSMENT - Combating Satan with Repentance and Forgiveness - It's Your Divine Destiny It's Your Divine Destiny Radio Show on KXXT1010AM Arizona Family Values Radio. Original Air Date on KXXT: 2/13/2025 Thank you for visiting It’s Your Divine Destiny - Bringing you words of wisdom straight from the heart of our Father! ..Let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'. If you say yes, then let your actions follow suit. Because you have labeled yourself as mine. And when you tell someone you will do XYZ and you neglect that promise, you are embarrassing me and my holy Kingdom. Therefore repent... Hebrews 10:30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” Psalm 37:20-21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. 1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing. We invite you to join Janet Mata on KXXT1010am every Thursday at 4:15PM and Sunday at 9:45AM Arizona time online or on radio, or join the program on SoundCloud or OmnyStudio on demand anytime worldwide. Radio Host: Janet MataAnnouncer: Ramon BonillaTo shop: www.BeautyforAshesBoutique.comYouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCicoJYPshd4Qec4Pv_pQMSASoundCloud Broadcast: @its-your-devine-destinyOmny Studio Broadcast: omny.fm/shows/it-s-your-divine-destinyKXXT1010 Broadcast: familyvaluesradio1010.com/radioshow/it…vine-destinyIts Your Divine Destiny Website: www.ItsYourDivineDestiny.comPDF download of the word, "An Embarrassment" for sharing: Coming Soon Background music by Kimberly and Alberto Rivera and is available at: www.beautyforashesboutique.com/gekialrisowo.htmlSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!' But the people were completely silent.” – 1 Kings 18:21The book of 1 Kings marks the transition from the reign of King David to the reign of Solomon. The nation of Israel is now firmly in the age of monarchy and Solomon is ready to not just take over his father's mantle but also to build the temple his father had wanted to build. However, as is usually the case, things do not go smoothly and Solomon's reign ends up being a rollercoaster ride. 1 Kings also introduces us to Elijah, one of the most fascinating prophets in the Bible. This book, full of accounts of Solomon's wisdom, Solomon's palace, the ark of the covenant, the Queen of Sheba, Elijah's miracles and his defeat of the prophets of Baal, this full and robust book, is at its heart a book about God – who the one true God is. To help us navigate the book of 1 Kings is Dr. Iain Provan, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Regent College and author of the Understanding the Bible Commentary on 1 & 2 Kings. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Understanding-Bible-Commentary-ebook/dp/B008DVSWHGSubscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: 2 Samuel - https://youtu.be/ZbpafGgOW7cNavigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMYNavigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaMNavigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textFamily is beautiful, frustrating, glorious, embarrassing, and diverse—even Christ's family line includes some characters and heroes. Christy Nockels' song " Amaryllis" inspired me to explore a few of the people in Christ's lineage. It seemed appropriate at this time of year when many of us have just made another year of Christmas memories with family and friends.Whether your family is on the glorious side, the tragic, or somewhere in between, we see God weave all kinds of people into the lineage of the Savior of the world…so surely there's hope for us!In this episode, I discuss:Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Follow cross-referencesConsider the historical context - the article I found on the "silent period" between Micah and MatthewEpisode GuideConsidering the context of your birthHow the Old Testament ends on a note of expectation - Micah 4:4-6Exploring the lineage of Christ - Matthew 1:17Learning more about "Grandpa" Perez in Genesis 38King Hezekiah and his good start - 2 Chronicles 29:1-3The influence Hezekiah had on his nation - 2 Chronicles 30:6-10A portion of Hezekiah's legacy - 2 Chronicles 31:20-21The "rest of the story" of Hezekiah's life - Isaiah 36-39Zerubbabel and his role in the rebuilding of the altar and the temple - Ezra 3-6Additional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayBehind the song "Amaryllis" by Christy Nockels - New Release Today ArticleThe Song Story of "Amaryllis" - YouTube VideoLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeFollow my lead and learn about Judah, Tamar, and Perez in Genesis 38. 2 Chronicles 29-31 tells much of the life of Hezekiah, but Isaiah 36-39 tells the "rest of the story." Zerubabbel, son of Shealtiel, has a major role in the rebuilding of the altar and the temple after the Babylonian deportation, and you can read all about it in chapters 3-6 of Ezra. All of these are in the lineage of Christ. It's an interesting network of people, some with sordid pasts and questionable choices, but woven into the family of Christ nonetheless. Our song says, "Through a fragile people, the Light of Life will come." He continues to use fragile people in HIS story today.Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

El Nacimiento de Jesus implica el perdon de los pecados. En estos tiempos no olvidemos la verdadera razon porque celebrar, El nacimiento de Jesus que trajo salvacion a nuestros corazones. Mensaje basado en Mateo 1:21The birth of Jesus implies forgiveness of our Sins. In these times we should not forget the real reason for celebration, the birth of Jesus who brought salvation to our hearts.Message based on Matthew 1:21To discover more messages of hope go to tallowood.org/sermons/.Follow us on Instagram, X, and YouTube @tallowoodbc.Follow us on FaceBook @tallowoodbaptist

Release Date: 07-26-21The invention of competition raccoon hunting or nite hunts, as they are commonly referred to, is the most impactful facet of the Houndsman lifestyle. Any and every hound that is being hunted today has been impacted in some way by the competition coonhunting game. Dale and Clel Lee hunted hounds from Elbert Vaughn and Berton Oney. Who hasn't heard of Dave Dean and his Hammer line of Blueticks? Nance bred hounds, Lipper, Albert bred Black and Tans from Gene Hicks and Warren Haslour and his Smokey River hounds are or were all coonhunters. Even the all American bred Plott hound has been influenced by competition coonhunting.In this episode of the Houndsman XP Podcast Chris is joined by Josh Micahelis of Big Show Hunting Productions and a well known competition coonhunter. Josh recently published a top ten list of things every coonhunter should know. That list took social media by storm. Chris and Josh discuss each point in depth. After this discussion the excuses are over. This is straight talk about competing with our hounds.This is a must listen for every coonhunter that has entered a competition coonhound event, those that aspires to and the big game Houndsman that needs to know what is affecting and influencing the hounds we all enjoy. ►Get Your Houndsman XP Info, Gear & More Here!www.HoundsmanXP.com►Become a Patron of Houndsman XP! Check out our Tailgate Talks.|

1The plans of the heart belong to man,butthe answer of the tongue is from theLord.2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,but theLordweighs the spirit.[a]3Commit your work to theLord,and your plans will be established.4TheLordhas made everything for its purpose,eventhe wicked for the day of trouble.5Everyone who is arrogant in heart isan abomination to theLord;be assured, he will not go unpunished.6Bysteadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,and bythe fear of theLordoneturns away from evil.7When a man's ways please theLord,he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.8Better is a little with righteousnessthan great revenues with injustice.9The heart of man plans his way,buttheLordestablishes his steps.10An oracle is on the lips of a king;his mouth does not sin in judgment.11A just balance and scales are theLord's;all the weights in the bag are his work.12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,forthe throne is established by righteousness.13Righteous lips are the delight of a king,and he loves him who speaks what is right.14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,and a wise man willappease it.15In the light of a king's face there is life,and hisfavor is likethe clouds that bring the spring rain.16How much better to get wisdom thangold!To get understanding is to be chosen rather thansilver.17The highway of the uprightturns aside from evil;whoever guards his way preserves his life.18Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poorthan todivide the spoil with the proud.20Whoever gives thought to the word[b]will discover good,and blessed is hewho trusts in theLord.21The wise of heart is called discerning,and sweetness of speechincreases persuasiveness.22Good sense isa fountain of life to him who has it,but the instruction of fools is folly.23The heart of the wise makes his speech judiciousand adds persuasiveness to his lips.24Gracious words are likea honeycomb,sweetness to the soul andhealth to the body.25There is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way to death.[c]26A worker's appetite works for him;hismouth urges him on.27A worthless man plots evil,and his speech[d]is likea scorching fire.28A dishonest man spreads strife,anda whispererseparates close friends.29A man of violenceentices his neighborand leads him in a way that is not good.30Whoever winks his eyes plans[e]dishonest things;he whopurses his lips brings evil to pass.31Gray hair isa crown of glory;itis gained in a righteous life.32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.33The lot is cast into the lap,but its every decision isfrom theLord.

1The plans of the heart belong to man,butthe answer of the tongue is from theLord.2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,but theLordweighs the spirit.[a]3Commit your work to theLord,and your plans will be established.4TheLordhas made everything for its purpose,eventhe wicked for the day of trouble.5Everyone who is arrogant in heart isan abomination to theLord;be assured, he will not go unpunished.6Bysteadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,and bythe fear of theLordoneturns away from evil.7When a man's ways please theLord,he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.8Better is a little with righteousnessthan great revenues with injustice.9The heart of man plans his way,buttheLordestablishes his steps.10An oracle is on the lips of a king;his mouth does not sin in judgment.11A just balance and scales are theLord's;all the weights in the bag are his work.12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,forthe throne is established by righteousness.13Righteous lips are the delight of a king,and he loves him who speaks what is right.14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,and a wise man willappease it.15In the light of a king's face there is life,and hisfavor is likethe clouds that bring the spring rain.16How much better to get wisdom thangold!To get understanding is to be chosen rather thansilver.17The highway of the uprightturns aside from evil;whoever guards his way preserves his life.18Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poorthan todivide the spoil with the proud.20Whoever gives thought to the word[b]will discover good,and blessed is hewho trusts in theLord.21The wise of heart is called discerning,and sweetness of speechincreases persuasiveness.22Good sense isa fountain of life to him who has it,but the instruction of fools is folly.23The heart of the wise makes his speech judiciousand adds persuasiveness to his lips.24Gracious words are likea honeycomb,sweetness to the soul andhealth to the body.25There is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way to death.[c]26A worker's appetite works for him;hismouth urges him on.27A worthless man plots evil,and his speech[d]is likea scorching fire.28A dishonest man spreads strife,anda whispererseparates close friends.29A man of violenceentices his neighborand leads him in a way that is not good.30Whoever winks his eyes plans[e]dishonest things;he whopurses his lips brings evil to pass.31Gray hair isa crown of glory;itis gained in a righteous life.32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.33The lot is cast into the lap,but its every decision isfrom theLord.

Read OnlineThe mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Luke 8:19–21The term “brothers” in this passage is obviously not to be understood that Jesus had blood brothers. It is a dogma of our faith that Jesus was the only Child of Mary. At that time, it was common practice to refer to one's extended family as “brothers.” This would have especially applied to Jesus' cousins and perhaps even those who were unrelated by blood but were from the same village.As these relatives of Jesus stood outside and announced their presence, what did they expect Jesus to do? His “brothers” might have been there to try to talk some sense into Him. We know from other passages in the Gospels that some of Jesus' extended family thought He was out of His mind. Therefore, it is possible that these brothers were there to resolve an extended family conflict that was erupting as Jesus began His public ministry.Jesus' response was not a rude response. This is clear from the fact that Jesus lived the perfection of charity. But true charity is always grounded in the truth. Jesus spoke a truth that cut through the merely human ties and conflicts that were driving these brothers. By saying, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it,” Jesus was challenging His brothers to stop looking at Him only in an earthly way. Everyone, including His relatives, needed to learn to see Jesus as the Son of the Father in Heaven. It was the act of accepting Jesus' divine identity and submitting in obedience to the will of the Father that established a much deeper bond with Him. That is the relationship that Jesus desired with His earthly brothers.The mother of Jesus, on the other hand, was also perfect in every way. She was free from the disorder of sin and even her mind was clear, being filled with perfect wisdom and understanding. Therefore, when it was reported to her what Jesus said, she would have understood and believed.Saint Bede says that when we hear the word of God and obey it, we become Jesus' “mother” by bringing Him forth into the world through our words and actions. This also makes us Jesus' “brothers” because our obedience makes us all children of the Father in Heaven.By the gift of the fullness of grace, our Blessed Mother would have fully understood that her unity with her Son was primarily the result of their shared obedience to the Father's will. She not only experienced the Son of God being conceived within her womb, she also had the profound experience of conceiving Him in her heart through her obedience to the will of the Father. That “conception” of Jesus within her Immaculate Heart would have been unmistakably clear to her and the cause of her greatest joy. For that reason, she would have treasured this spiritual motherhood of her Son as the greatest gift of all, even more than the gift of natural motherhood. Reflect, today, upon the fact that you are also invited to be the “mother” and the “brother” of Jesus. You share in these holy callings through obedience to the will of the Father. The more clearly you hear God speak and the more fully you obey all that He says will determine the depth of spiritual union you have with Him. Our natural selves must give way to the supernatural life of grace. Make the choice, with our Blessed Mother, to pursue the glorious life of grace so that you will conceive the Son of God in your heart, become a true child of the Father in Heaven, and become a spiritual brother or sister of our Lord.My divine Lord, Your love for Your earthly mother was perfect in every way. That earthly bond was transformed and elevated by Your spiritual union with her on account of Your mutual obedience to the will of the Father. Please draw me into Your divine Family by helping me to listen to and to obey all that the Father speaks. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In this episode, I sit down with Naturopathic Doctor Garrett Smith to dive into the complex world of Psoriasis and explore a surprising potential factor behind the condition—vitamin A. We discuss how this essential nutrient, often hailed for its health benefits, may actually play a role in triggering not just Psoriasis but a range of other health issues as well. Dr. Smith breaks down the science, challenges conventional wisdom, and offers insights into how diet and lifestyle changes could alleviate symptoms for those suffering from these conditions. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that may change how you view vitamin A and its impact on your health!We discussed:2:08Garrett's background and an introduction to Vitamin A Toxicity 23:38Why Vitamin A Toxicity can Lead to Skin and other health conditions. 36:21The difference between normal and psoriatic skin. 54:45Slowing of Cholestasis – Vegan versus Carnivore diets versus Dry Fasting.1:12:40Vitamin A excretion from the body per day 1:17:52Dietary recommendations to reduce psoriasis 1:25:00The Connection Between Skin Conditions and Diet You can find Dr Garrett @:Love Your Liver Program: https://members.nutritiondetective.comWeb: https://NutritionDetective.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/NutriDetectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNutritionDetectiveInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiondetectiveworldwide/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nutritiondetectiveiTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nutrition-detective-podcast/id1681129279Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nutritiondetectiveSend us a textSupport the showDon't forget to leave a Rating for the podcast!You can find Leigh @:Leigh website - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/Leigh's books - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/books/ Eliminate Adult Acne Programme - https://eliminateadultacne.com/Radical Health Rebel YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@radicalhealthrebelpodcast

Trae Watch: 14:21The follow-up: 47:09Gaming News: 1:10:45Terminator:Zero: 1:18:18The Saturn Studs Podcast is a banter driven wild ride through the nerd culture entertainment landscape. Each week your hosts Kurt, Peter, and Jake engage in entertaining discussions about the latest trailers, box office winners and losers, the latest happenings in the world of video games, and whatever off-topic nonsense pops into their heads Support the show by donating: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/902676cb-9b03-4021-9042-cf79635436f9/donations. Visit Saturnstuds.com for links to all of your Saturn Studs side projects,social media, and more. Join the Saturn Studs discord server at https://discord.gg/kgdnhJd. Follow @StudsSaturn on twitter or visit facebook.com/saturnstuds to stay up to date on the latest news episode releases and audio highlights from each show.

EPHESIANS 3:14-21The love of power can drive people to do all sorts of things that are destructive & harmful. But the power of love can fuel people who feel weak to do powerful things, or powerful people to do foolish and vulnerable things. The invitation today is to consider if there is more powerful love available to us now.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Radical Health Rebel!  Today, I'm thrilled to sit down with a remarkable guest, Jill Robinson, the owner of The Organic Pilates Studio in North-East England. Jill is a specialist in women's health and has recently released an insightful new book, “The Embodied Core: A Women's Guide to Easing Back and Pelvic Pain Naturally.” In this episode, we delve into the unique aspects of women's back and pelvic pain and how they differ from those experienced by men. Jill shares her expertise and practical tips to help women find natural relief and improve their overall well-being. Tune in for this this enlightening conversation. We discussed:2:36Jill's background7:59Jill's motivation to write her book16:21The main drivers of female back and pelvic pain25:04Hormonal treatment and HRT29:05Differences between male and female back pain35:21Other causal factors of back pain47:09How women benefit from Jill's bookYou can find Jill @:https://organicpilates.co.uk/Jill's book "The Embodied Core"Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.Don't forget to leave a Rating for the podcast!You can find Leigh @:Leigh website - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/Leigh's books - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/books/ Eliminate Adult Acne Programme - https://eliminateadultacne.com/Radical Health Rebel YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@radicalhealthrebelpodcast

A good coach or mentor is someone who gives helpful advice, good direction, and sound correction when necessary. Maybe you've had a person like that in your life. In this program, Chip Ingram explains that in the Bible, that person would be called a shepherd. So, as we continue our series Jesus Is, we'll learn how Christ is our Good Shepherd, as Chip describes what that means from John chapter 10.Main PointsEvery sheep needs a shepherdJesus is the good Shepherd. - John 10:1-6The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. - John 10:11-21The good Shepherd reveals His identity as Savior and God. - John 10:28-42Jesus wants to be your good ShepherdTo meet your deepest needs. - Psalm 23:1To restore your soul. - Psalm 23:2-3aTo guide and direct your life. - Psalm 23:3bTo protect you from evil. - Psalm 23:4To fill your life with Joy. - Psalm 23:5-6aTo give you eternal life. - Psalm 23:6b Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsGospel of John Truth CardsAbout Chip IngramChip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways.About Living on the EdgeLiving on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus.Connect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

We all know the verse “The Lord is my shepherd” from Psalm 23. And those words probably conjure up an image of a mild-mannered Jesus gently holding a little lamb. But is that it? Are those ideas accurate to who Jesus really is? In this program, Chip will clarify this name for us as he picks up his study in the Gospel of John. Discover the ways Jesus cares for, protects, and guides us as our Good Shepherd.Main PointsEvery sheep needs a shepherdJesus is the good Shepherd. - John 10:1-6The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. - John 10:11-21The good Shepherd reveals His identity as Savior and God. - John 10:28-42Jesus wants to be your good ShepherdTo meet your deepest needs. - Psalm 23:1To restore your soul. - Psalm 23:2-3aTo guide and direct your life. - Psalm 23:3bTo protect you from evil. - Psalm 23:4To fill your life with Joy. - Psalm 23:5-6aTo give you eternal life. - Psalm 23:6b Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3 Message Notes Additional Resource MentionsGospel of John Truth Cards About Chip IngramChip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways.About Living on the EdgeLiving on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus.Connect888-333-6003 Website Chip Ingram App Instagram Facebook Twitter Partner With Us Donate Online 888-333-6003

A good coach or mentor is someone who gives helpful advice, good direction, and sound correction when necessary. Maybe you've had a person like that in your life. In this program, Chip Ingram explains that in the Bible, that person would be called a shepherd. So, as we continue our series Jesus Is, we'll learn how Christ is our Good Shepherd, as Chip describes what that means from John chapter 10.Main PointsEvery sheep needs a shepherdJesus is the good Shepherd. - John 10:1-6The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. - John 10:11-21The good Shepherd reveals His identity as Savior and God. - John 10:28-42Jesus wants to be your good ShepherdTo meet your deepest needs. - Psalm 23:1To restore your soul. - Psalm 23:2-3aTo guide and direct your life. - Psalm 23:3bTo protect you from evil. - Psalm 23:4To fill your life with Joy. - Psalm 23:5-6aTo give you eternal life. - Psalm 23:6b Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource MentionsGospel of John Truth CardsAbout Chip IngramChip Ingram’s passion is helping Christians really live like Christians. As a pastor, author, and teacher for more than three decades, Chip has helped believers around the world move from spiritual spectators to healthy, authentic disciples of Jesus by living out God’s truth in their lives and relationships in transformational ways.About Living on the EdgeLiving on the Edge exists to help Christians live like Christians. Established in 1995 as the radio ministry of pastor and author Chip Ingram, God has since grown it into a global discipleship ministry. Living on the Edge provides Biblical teaching and discipleship resources that challenge and equip spiritually hungry Christians all over the world to become mature disciples of Jesus.Connect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003