Podcasts about almighty god

The Attributes of God - Because God is the Almighty God, He is powerful to save you; to save others; send you into His service, and; to solve your problems.

"The One enthroned in Heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath!" Psalm 2:4-5 "The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming." Psalm 37:13 Scripture rarely speaks of God laughing, and when it does, it is never with levity or mirth. God's laughter in Scripture is always solemn, judicial, and scornful—a holy response to the arrogance and rebellion of sinners. There is no record of Jesus laughing in the Gospels. His ministry was marked by sorrow, compassion, and holy seriousness. There is no sound more dreadful to a guilty soul, than the laughter of Almighty God. In reality, it is His holy derision against the insolence of sinners who defy their Maker. When He laughs, it is not a careless chuckle, but a thunderous proclamation that their sin will not go unpunished. God's laugh is the prelude to His eternal wrath. Men may mock at their sin, boast in their rebellion, and strut upon the stage of life as though they were gods. They may ridicule God, His Word, and His people. They may defy His warnings, and scoff at the flames of Hell. But God laughs in contempt at them, because their pride is absurd, their plans are futile, and their doom is certain. God laughs to see men's folly—to see poor, helpless clay, strive with the Almighty Potter. But let the wicked remember that God is never more angry with them—than when He laughs. After His laughing, then He shall speak to them in His wrath. The Lord has appointed their day of judgment. Every beat of the lost sinner's heart moves him one step closer to eternal ruin. And though the wicked flourish for a season—though they build their towers to he

Blessings of the Fear of God (1) (audio) David Eells 7/9/25 Psa 111:10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth forever. The fear of the Lord is a teaching that is all over the Bible. We all need a proper reverence and awe of God, which is the beginning of true knowledge and wisdom. Without a proper respect for God's Word, we won't gain true knowledge or wisdom. When we have a holy fear of God, we get understanding, contentment, confidence, blessings, and a desire to walk in obedience to Him. It causes us to desire a right relationship with God. The fear of the Lord is not about being paralyzed by terror, but about a deep respect and submission to the Almighty God, Who is holy, righteous, merciful, but is also the author of all chastening for His children. We also need to know that the wrath of God comes to those who continue in sin and rebellion against Him. The prophets of old show us to have a deep, humble respect for God and His Words. His judgment upon willful sin and His wrath on the wicked in this world should humble us to His will. Knowing of His sovereignty in all things helps us to read the signs of His opinion of man's works. Having a holy fear of the Lord will cause us to stay within His boundaries and make good choices. Let's look at some scriptures today to help us all get a better understanding of the fear of the Lord and what it means. When I began my study of the sovereignty of God, I gained an understanding and then experience of His sovereignty, which has borne much fruit in my life in the area of rest, peace, faith, and respect for Him. It has sharpened my fear of God and removed my fear of man's conspiracies by the devil. It has given me a strong sense of the awesomeness of God. Others have shared similar stories with me. It says in (Dan.4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Nobody can push God's hand away and say, “What are you doing?” Nobody can stop Him from doing what He wants to do. This should give us faith, rest, and the fear of God. It is important to God that we know He is sovereign. Without this knowledge, we will not have the peace, rest, and the fear of God that we need in the midst of trials. We will always be wrestling with people and circumstances and trusting in our own strength, instead of seeing God's hand in it and trusting in His strength. Isa 43:13 Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it? Many have deceptive doctrines that appease their selfish desires such as doctrines of materialistic prosperity rather than bearing our cross, unconditional eternal security so that they may live after the flesh without fear of God's warnings, rapture without sanctification through trial, eternal life without discipleship and holiness, etc. God's people have justified just about anything to appease their flesh such as unscriptural divorces, abortion, drunkenness, drugs, lying, stealing, etc. Peace for the flesh is deception. Satan and his ministers are anxious to tell us what our flesh wants to hear. We are told in 2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God would not tell us to do something that we cannot do by faith in Him. He wants us to be sanctified in truth. Let me share a testimony with you.   The Fear of The Lord Anonymous A few months ago, I was looking around online for some books by Watchman Nee and I ran across your website. Being brought up by what I now know to be the apostate church, when I saw “America's Last Days”, that's something you don't want to hear about because it is never taught. I entered the site (sovereignly) and began looking at the Sovereign God book. I read one line that changed my life, doctrine, and everything I had been taught – ‘that God is in control of the evil, as well as the good.' I thought some things just happened and the devil did some things. Right then the fear of God came on me and has not left. Although I have been saved for several years, I never knew what the fear of God was until I experienced it that day. Once saved, always saved, right? Wrong. I knew then that if God had not intervened, I might be in for a surprise, should I have died in that state. God had something better for me. I walk more cautiously before the Lord and want to obey Him; I've seen what He can do. Fear of man and fear of Satan are out of the question compared to what God can do. Thanks for submitting to God and allowing the word of knowledge and wisdom to flow through you. Revelations are keys and He's given us the "Keys of David" (Eells) to unlock the treasures of God. The Name of the Lord is to be feared. When Moses asked God to see His glory Exo 33:18-23 And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live. 21 and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: 22 and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by: 23 and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen. Exo 34:5-7 And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah. 6 And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth; 7 keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. Meaning the sins of the fathers are inherited through the blood and association by the children. Deu 10:17 For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. Psa 47:2 For Jehovah Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. Psa 99:3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he. Psa 66:3-5 Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 4 All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah. 5 Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. Psa 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name. Psa 102:15 So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. They saw what God did for Israel at the Red Sea and feared them. Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth. 1Ki 8:41-43 Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name's sake 42 (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thine outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house; 43 hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name. Luk 1:49-50 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. Deu 7:21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a great God and a terrible. We need to learn the fear of God so we do not sin. It says in Exo 20:19-20 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. God gave His people the Commandments and the Law and showed the curse of breaking the law so that they would fear Him. In Deu 31:11 when all Israel is come to appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; 13 and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it. Deu 6:1-2 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it; 2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. (The fear of the Lord's commandments prolongs life and prosperity.) Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; and him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; 15 for Jehovah thy God in the midst of thee is a jealous God; lest the anger of Jehovah thy God be kindled against thee, and he destroy thee from off the face of the earth. (The “other gods” we are told are demons and they rule over the lusts of the flesh. Those who fear God will not follow their lusts.) Psa 119:9-11 BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee. Pro 2:1-8 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee; 2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding: 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity; 8 That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints. (Seeking wisdom and understanding brings the fear of the Lord.) Pro 1:7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. Psa 2:11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Psa 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. Psa 66:16 Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul. Psa 19:9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether Psa 96:9 Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: Tremble before him, all the earth. Psa 99:1 Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth above the cherubim; let the earth be moved. Pro 8:13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. Pro 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. Pro 1:24-30 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah: 30 They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof. Pro 23:17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. 8-9 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. 9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Scriptural humility is to humble ourselves to the Word and will of God. Do you want to be honored of the Lord, the angels, and man? Humility needs to come first before we can receive the blessings of God, all those great promises we are believing Him for. Pro 15:33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility. And Pro 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life. How many people have lost their lives, spiritual or physical or both, because they didn't humble themselves to God's Word? Isa 66:2 For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. Eph 5:15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (We are told His will is to walk in sanctification) 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. (I.e., Humility to one another.) Blessings come with the fear of God. Isa 33:6 And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure. Psa 25:12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose. Psa 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men! 20 In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psa 34:9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, That glory may dwell in our land. Psa 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him. 17 But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them. Psa 112:1-3 Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth forever. Psa 115:9-13 O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 11 Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 12 Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great. Psa 128:1-6 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah. 5 Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, see thou thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel. Psa 145:18-20 Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them. 20 Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy. Psa 147:11 Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness. Pro 10:27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Pro 19:23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life, And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: 8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. Pro 14:26-27 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death. (You can escape death.) Mal 3:16-18 Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts, even mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Ecc 8:12 Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: 13 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. Judgment/Wrath of God Throughout the Scriptures, God gathered the nations against His people when they were in apostasy, and it was for the purpose of bringing a crucifixion and death to the old man. God is in absolute control; there's nothing left to chance down here concerning His children. We know the judgments that are coming upon the world will restore the fear of the Lord, and many will depart from evil. They will run to Zion, which is a place of safety, but Zion is a place of holiness, too, a place of separation from the world. When the Man-child comes as the white horse rider in Revelation 6, he will come with the latter rain anointing and the judgments of God. We see Jesus in the Man-child in Isa 11:2-3 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; Isa 50:10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. Hag 1:12-13 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah. 13 Then spake Haggai Jehovah's messenger in Jehovah's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah. Isa 8:13 Jehovah of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Jer 5:21-26 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. 23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. 24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. 25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. Psa 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. Jer 10:10 But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation. Mic 7:17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places; they shall come with fear unto Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee. Mal 1:6 A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 6 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep. 7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8 Thou didst cause sentence to be heard from heaven; The earth feared, and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee. 11 Vow, and pay unto Jehovah your God: Let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth. Mat 10:28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Heb 10:30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Dan 6:26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Heb 12:28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Paul's instruction to Timothy in 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. And our example of how fear came on everyone in Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. Rom 13:1-4 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 1Pe 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Rev 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand? Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. Rev 14:10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.   Truth Poured Forth from My Anointed Is Bringing the Dead to Life Debbie Fenske 6/29/23 I want to share a word Jesus shared with me early this morning as I was sitting before Him, praying, and just waiting on Him. I heard Him speak a couple of thoughts to me. After writing down the second thought, Jesus just kept speaking this encouraging word. “Many, so many who have, in the past, been a part of UBM, are beginning now to understand the evil, and the dangers of faction. The truth that they are receiving from Me is instilling a holy fear within them. This is why I rise up in David, My servant, moving within him to keep talking and warning about this. It has been imperative for him to do so, for faction is a disease killing many. So many who have not understood this are now finally listening, and repenting, and many will return to My ministry of UBM to receive truth once again. For they are aware of the great deadness of their spiritual womb. My truth, and a holy fear of Me will produce life in them once again.” “My servant, David, must not stop speaking about these things, for I will have My way, which is revealing to all I have chosen, the true condition of their hearts. My truth will break out again like a wildfire through the mouth of My servant, for My anointing will not leave him. And My anointed chosen will soon be revealed, and many, many blind eyes will be opened, and the deaf ears will hear. Hearts will be healed, and they will rush under the presence of My anointing, and will grow, and will with much Joy, and spiritual vigor, produce much fruit which will come forth from My life within them.” “My provision, in every way, will flow once again. Press in, and I will give abundant blessings. Receive them now, as you press into Me, that I may make them manifest to you. For My Spirit is moving, stirring hearts to come back to Me, and My anointing. They are coming back to the truth. Trust Me, and wait on Me, and you will see, soon, the outpouring of My Spirit, and My great supply of provision for my people, as the unleavened bread continues to go forth from My anointed, and spoken forth from all who have received, and believe, and are walking the unleavened walk.” “The time is set for My Life received to pour forth from you, a flowing stream of Life. Remain faithful, humble, and pure. I have not, and will not fail of any of My good promises to My unleavened bread ministry.” Before I got on the Zoom meeting this morning, I prayed that God would somehow, someway, confirm this word. And I believe that He did that through some verses that were shared this morning. Deb Horton's scripture she shared was Jeremiah 32:6-15. The confirming verse is the second part of verse 8. “Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.” I also felt confirmation was received in verse 15 of her scripture verses. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. Houses, and fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” Shay shared Philippians 4:19-23. Verses 19-20: “And my God will supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God, and Father glory forever and ever. Amen.” Amen! Yes, Lord. All glory belongs to You! Thank You, faithful Father, for delivering and rescuing those who You will from the evil faction, and opening the eyes of those who just could not see to receive the awful truth about faction, and so gave up and set aside Your truth. Thank You for Your blessings now, and those You are about to abundantly bestow upon UBM, and for Your faithfulness to all, all over the world, who are faithful to You in giving out the unleavened truth of Your Word. Amen!

Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God's Blessing Today's readings centers on the tension between the old and the new, . . . . . . especially in the spiritual life. Using Jesus' parables about wineskins and unshrunk cloth, the message underscores that the Gospel cannot be contained or constrained by old patterns, structures, or attitudes. Jesus brings something fundamentally new . . . the joy of the Bridegroom's presence . . . which cannot simply “patch up” what is old but requires full transformation. The Homily draws a parallel with the Virgin Mary, who was created as the perfect vessel . . . the “new wineskin” . . . to receive Jesus Christ. Similarly, we must allow our hearts to be made new to receive the grace and power of the Gospel. Mary Spiritually Clothes Us The Homily also brings in the story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate this renewal through Mary's intercession. Just as Rebecca clothed Jacob in Esau's garments to receive his father's blessing, Mary spiritually clothes us in the virtues of Christ so we can be pleasing to God the Father. The message ends by challenging us to ask whether our old, tired hearts are ready to receive Christ fully and encourages us to rely on Mary's help to be transformed . . . so we may truly become new vessels fit to receive and share the new wine of salvation. Listen more to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Clothed in Christ: How Our Lady Shapes Us for God's Blessing ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily The more we draw near to Our Lady, the more our hearts are open in love and trust to her, the more she begins to clothe us in the virtues of Jesus. Those things that are so very pleasing to Almighty God the Father, the more we draw near to her, the more we come to resemble that one whom the father loves. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Virgin Lamb: French Painter: William Adolphe Bouguereau: 1903 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 9: 14-17 First Reading: Genesis 27: 1-5, 15-29

Read OnlineJesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35–36Jesus was quite zealous for souls. Zeal is an energy, a passion and a drive to accomplish some task. The task that Jesus was zealous for was the conversion of every heart that He encountered. As He walked from town to town, encountering person after person, Jesus could see into their hearts. He saw that so many people were “troubled and abandoned.” He could see they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” And this moved Him to compassion with a zeal to become their Shepherd, to remove the trouble from their hearts and to let them know they were invited to belong to His new Kingdom.The image of Jesus encountering numerous people who were troubled and abandoned is a good image to ponder. The reason is that this is us. Each one of us has our own interior troubles. We can feel alone, confused, uncertain and lost at times. The person who doesn't feel this way is either a perfect saint or is not being honest. Deep holiness and union with God does, of course, cure this interior struggle that many have. In that case, the person clearly knows they belong to the family of God, understands himself or herself as a son or daughter of God, and finds deep peace in this truth. But for those who struggle, this Scripture passage is especially for you.First of all, to be “troubled” could be caused by many things. For some, they struggle with memories of the past, broken relationships, a lack of direction, serious sin, anger and the like. So the first question to honestly ponder is whether or not you have a troubled heart. Even the greatest of saints will find some areas they struggle with. So what is that for you?Secondly, feeling “abandoned” is a heavy cross. The reason Jesus came was to enable us to belong to His family. That is accomplished by the gift of eternal salvation which must begin now. By receiving the forgiveness of sins and growing in a life of prayer, we come to know God in a very intimate and personal way. Yes, He is the Almighty God and Creator of all. But He is also deeply personal and intimate, and He wants to form a real relationship of love with you.If you struggle with either of these, being troubled and/or abandoned, then consider the zeal that Jesus has for you. His tireless and extensive travels, by foot, while He was engaging in His public ministry, should be seen as a sign to you of His zeal to come to you, personally, to become your Shepherd. He wants to lift every burden and clear the way for you to discover your place in His family. The “Gospel of the Kingdom” that Jesus preached was one that invited everyone to become a member of that Kingdom. As He comes to you, know that His heart is filled with compassion for you, just as it was when He traveled the countryside so long ago. He sees you, gazes at your heart with love, and never takes His eyes off of you in your need, weakness and sin.Reflect, today, upon the zeal that Jesus has for your own eternal salvation and holiness of life. You cannot make it through this world without Him. Let Jesus seek you out, come to you, speak to you and invite you to allow Him to shepherd you. He wants to do so with every fiber of His being; let Jesus fulfill His mission in you.My divine Shepherd, You seek out all people with the greatest of zeal and compassion. You see every hurting and broken heart, and You desire to heal each one. Thank You for coming to me, dear Lord, for being my Shepherd and Guide. Help me to see You as You gaze at me in my weakness and pain. And help me to open my heart to You now and throughout my life. I love You, my Lord. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Who controls a person? That is arguably the most important question there is. As Jews we are trained to adopt the Almighty God as our Master. With the Creator governing our life via His Torah, we are on the correct path to fulfill our life's duty. But the Talmud reveals that there is an impostor […]

Noahic Covenant G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 4 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Reading from Genesis 9v1-17: Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. "And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person's life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth." Then God told Noah and his sons, "I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you-the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals-every living creature on earth. Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth." Then God said, "I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." Then God said to Noah, "Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth." This, the Noahic Covenant, is the third covenant between God and man given after the flood had wiped out earth's population, apart from Noah and his family. The increase of humanity's wickedness and disobedience against God, was so great that God repented of His decision to create humanity. Genesis 6v6 "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart." As a result of humanity's sin, the whole earth was to be destroyed! But, one man and his family was found to be in fellowship with God - Noah! Because they are in fellowship with each other (Genesis 6v9), God gives Noah a plan of rescue! After the rain and flood, God makes another covenant with humanity and also all note, all living creatures of the earth - through Noah! Wow! The terms of the Noahic covenant are Populate the earth is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v1). Subjection of the animals to humans is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v2). Humans are allowed to eat animal flesh but are to refrain from drinking/eating the blood (Genesis 9vv3, 4) Human life's sanctity is established. (Genesis 9vv5, 6). God promises to never to destroy the earth again by flood (Genesis 9v11). The covenant is a binding Covenant for all time (9v12) and with all creatures on earth! The rainbow is given as a symbol of this covenant and its existence (Genesis 9v12-17) God will sustain all life on earth(Genesis 9v17) Here again, God gives humanity the opportunity to live rightly with Him. Whereas before, there was the hint of the sacrifice, about which Martin Luther, commenting on this story, wrote: Here there is mentioned for the first time the burnt offering of Noah, which he made according to the example of his pious ancestors So even before Noah, there must have been some type of sacrifice made to God although we don't know what kind they were! Sacrifices, in order to somehow appease God, who had received painful hurt inflicted by human disobedience. But this story, and the Covenant, while telling about God's rightful rule of Judge also shows his desire for intimacy with humanity. The Almighty God wants to have fellowship with humanity, but it has to be on God's terms. God has never broken His promise or covenant with humanity, but both times so far, humanity has contravened the covenant by actively disobeying God and therefore breaking the Covenant made - whether the Edenic or Adamic! God in saving Noah, shows also hints of a God of grace! What God wants humanity to do, He will provide the means in which for them to do it! He is concerned for every aspect of humanity's life, from birth to death and the food they eat. As a symbol of this covenant, there are to be rainbows! This covenant as we have seen is a binding contract between humanity and God! But the story doesn't end there - it continues tomorrow with God revealing just a bit more of those things we have seen glimpses of: true fellowship between God and humanity being restored through grace and sacrifice. Right mouse click or tap here to download as a MP3 audio file

Entrance Hymn #473 Lift High the CrossSequence Hymn #697 My God Accept My Heart This DayOffertory Anthem God Is Our Refuge (Pote)Communion Anthem Come, O Fount of Every Blessing (arr. Young)Post-Communion Hymn #625 Ye Holy Angels BrightTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYAlmighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14Reader A reading from the Second Book of Kings.When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water...

Matthew 1:21, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins!" The essence of Christ's mission: To Save from Sin This verse is a glorious declaration of the very heart of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not salvation from suffering. Not salvation from political oppression. Not salvation from earthly poverty. But salvation from their SIN--that which separates man from God, damns the soul, and defiles every part of life. He did not come to be a moral teacher, a political reformer, or a cultural icon. He came to save from sin. Sin is not a light matter. It is the rebellion of the creature against the Creator, the transgression of God's holy Word, and the corruption of human nature. Sin stains every thought, word, and deed. Sin places every sinner under the righteous wrath of Almighty God. Therefore, the greatest need of every human soul, is not self-improvement or religious reformation, but divine salvation. Jesus did not come merely to forgive sin, but to save from sin. That means He delivers . . . from sin's guilt by His atoning death, from sin's power by His Spirit's indwelling presence, and soon from sin's presence altogether in eternal glory. He came not only to justify, but to sanctify. Any gospel that offers pardon without purification, or Heaven without holiness--is a false gospel. Jesus saves entirely--from the penalty, power, and pollution of sin. The objects of Christ's mission: His People WHO are the recipients of this glorious salvation? The text is unmistakably clear: "His people." Not all mankind indiscriminately, but those whom the Father gave to Him from eternity pas

Delivered by Gladys from the Parish of Saint Gabriel from the Diocese of Bandung, Indonesia. Genesis 21: 5.8-20; Rs psalm 34: 7-8.10-11.12-13; Matthew 8: 28-34.JUSTICEFLOWS LIKE A RIVER Ourmeditation today is entitled: Justice Flows Like a River. In a particularkingdom, the king, staff and officials, and all its peoplelived in fairness and prosperity. This kingdom was prosperous because it had abundant wealth to sustain every family. The king made justice as the principle rule to be observed by every one. Justice aimed to maintain the prosperity and happinessof everyone in the entire kingdom. Themost important dutyto maintain justice is the law andregulation to be alwaysenforced as best as the power holder can do. This is the same to what the king ofthat kingdom had practiced which was to make justiceflowing its way like a river. The way of the river must not beblocked so that the water will not stopflowing. Justice must continue to go its way inorder to keep protecting sense of security, comfort, prosperity,and unity as the one citizenship of a nation from which every one lives in happiness and peace. If the good king and his kingdom were able to make such a life in the world so peaceful and prosperous, how much more a kind of justice that the Almighty God provides for us. God's justice must be far more powerful and cannot be competed by anyone's justice or whatever justice exists in the world. The Lord our God had had established justice and taught it to Abraham on how to treat his offspring, that according to God would be abundant.Abraham believedin that teaching and he indeed guidedhis family based on thewill of God. Nowthere is a simple question to raise here is this: What is the most suitable, most effective and easiest way to create justice in our lives? The answer should be in a negative way,namely by eliminating all forms of injustice and opression. Abraham and Sarah saw the potentialfor injustice to happen iftheir ownson Isaac and the child from Abraham's slave wife would live and share their lives together. Then a solution was taken by Abraham and his wife Sarah that eventually givingthose two sons of Abraham each ownplace and opportunityto be followed. Each person mustbe able to respond tohis own life that isaccording to his calling. TheLord Jesus had madeit very clear to uphold justice from God, by silencing and expelling the evil power who tortured and destroyed human life. It is so unfair if our life possessed and oppressed by the devil. If the evil spirit and all his influences remain in power and leading our life, there will be no way for us to have a true relationship with God. The evil spiritsin our world today manifest themselves in materialism and all kinds of world allurement. This destructivespirit must be first removed from our midst so that we can create a just and peaceful evironment. Through this way, the Holy Spirit will fill us with anew life-giving spirit. Peace is obtained by the creation and perseverance in justice. Everyone of us iscalled to create justice. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O God Almighty, cleanse our lives from all evilinfluences from this world, so that we can fully lead our hearts to you. Our Father who art in heaven ... inthe name of the Father ...

Among the various religions in the world, Christ is the only one who claims to be the only way to salvation. No one can make such a claim. Jesus did not come to show the way; it was His way! It is His way, because it is only through Him that we enter heaven. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. No man is able to see God, but when Jesus Christ lived on this earthly world, men could see Jesus Christ. Christ is not only the image of God, but also the true and true incarnation of God, and He is the Almighty God who came to earth. He is God Himself. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, and He has dominion and authority over all things, both in heaven and on earth. I am the life. Jesus not only gives life and life, but He is life itself. In Him was life. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

June 29, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard. Amen. “Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made… The post “Hope Is A Song In A Weary Throat” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

WOW!!!

Mother Hilda reflects on her enjoyment of murder mysteries. These stories highlight how much pain lies beneath the surface, and the importance of facing and handing over that pain to God for healing and transformation. Mother Hilda poses a powerful question: do you believe that Almighty God can make all things new in your life too?

Sensing the Supreme Holiness of the Almighty God; Isaiah 6:1-13; David Harl. Scripture read by Roderick Vaughn.

June 24, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 1:57-80Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 30:1-9, 18-33; John 20:19-31“And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.” (Luke 1:64)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Zechariah's troubling visitation has been resolved. A birth of Abrahamic proportions has occurred. Elizabeth, who was once barren, has now given birth to John. Zechariah obeys the words preached to Him by the angel, and with his mouth opened, he praises God.John isn't your typical child. I mean, he was born like any other child and raised like the other children around him. John was different, though; Zechariah tells us as much. God has made Elizabeth's barrenness bear the forerunner of Christ. God has visited His people. John's birth and the opening of Luke's Gospel are grand, but they are about to be overshadowed.The song of Zechariah gives thanks for his son, John the Baptist, and tells us how God will use John. More to the point of John's life, though, it tells us who John the Baptist is setting up.John is the voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord, calling God's people to repentance, and unmasking the vipers of the religious elite. Zechariah boldly proclaims that God has visited His people. The one who will follow His son, John, is the one who will redeem them. He is of the house of His servant David, who will bring salvation and show God's mercy, which was promised to their fathers. John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Most High, prepared the way for His Lord, calling sinners to repent and believe in the one who comes after Him: Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.John the Baptist wasn't just a miracle child or just a wild man in the wilderness. He was God's prophet, pointing God's people to where their sins would be forgiven, where their salvation would be secure, and where God's mercy would be revealed.God is still doing this work for you through His preachers so that you might know that God has visited His people and redeemed them through the One John the Baptist points to and the One of whom Zechariah sings. Thanks be to God for John the Baptist, the forerunner, who prepared the way for our Lord to be the Lamb of God who brings salvation and righteousness to all who believe in Him.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, through John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, You once proclaimed salvation. Now grant that we may know this salvation and serve You in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.- Justin Chester is a seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.In Clarifying the Great Commission, Rev. Daniel Christian Voth identifies common omissions from our collective understanding of Jesus' farewell discourse—omissions that turn Christ's promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation into a legalistic command. Come and discover a richer understanding of The Great Commission.

To BELIEVE in Jesus is to BE a Christian. What I mean by believe is not agreeing that the Bible is true and Jesus is who He claimed to be. What I mean by believe is that you are all in on what the Bible teaches and who and what Jesus claimed to be and do. Genuine belief begins with your intellect, but it does not stop there. Genuine belief affects your daily actions and life choices. So, to believe in Jesus is to live in a state of being as a Christian. To BE is to EXIST. You can believe certain things that do not affect your state of existence. An example of this is how I view the reality of math. I believe that math is both real and good, but my belief goes no further than my intellect. It is possible to BELIEVE in Jesus and not BE a Christian. If you are a Christian, your Christianity is more than a religion or something you believe, but who you now are. Think about what the apostle Paul wrote: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world.... But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ... (Eph. 2:1, 4-5). If you are a Christian, you were once dead, but now you are alive with Jesus. Because you are now alive with Jesus, Paul continued in Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. To go from death to life requires a change in your DNA. By the time Jesus arrived at Lazarus grave, he was dead and in his tomb for four days (John 11:17). What that means is that decomposition had already started, his body was bloated, his bodily fluids were already seeping out of the orifices of his body, his internal organs were already breaking down, and because of the breakdown of the tissues of his body there was already an overwhelming stench that was present in the tomb. When Jesus asked for the stone of the tomb to be removed, Lazarus sister, Martha, said to Jesus: Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days (v. 39). For a dead Lazarus to become a living Lazarus, his body would have to go through a complete DNA change, and that is exactly what happened when Jesus raised him from the dead when He shouted: Lazarus, come out (v. 43)! Lazarus body experienced an immediate DNA change, he then got up, and then he walked out of the tomb. Christian, you experienced spiritually what Lazarus experienced physically the day you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed. This is why Paul was compelled to remind the Ephesian Christians who they were with these words: I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3). So, how do you do that? Paul tells us: So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:1516). Okay, but what does that look like in the home? It looks like husbands loving their wives in the same what Jesus loved His church and gave Himself up for her (Eph. 5:25-33). It also looks like wives, subjecting themselves under the headship of their husbands (vv. 5:22-24). Oh... but how does one walk in a manner worthy of our calling in the way we parent our children or in the way we respond to our parents? I struggled if I should address parents and children in the reverse order than how the apostle Paul did it but decided to follow in the same order he chose. Responding to Our Parents in a Manner Worthy of Our Calling Paul addresses children by reminding us of the fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you (Exod. 20:12). For some parents, this commandment is abused; for some children, this commandment is ignored. For a lot of people in the church, I suspect that the fifth commandment is confusing. Just so you know, the first four commandments concern our relationship with God; the last six commandments concern our relationship with people. The first commandment states: You are to have no other gods before Me (Exod. 20:3). How you yield your mind, life, and heart to the first commandment will affect how your respond to idols, how you use the name of the Lord in what you say and do, and what kind of time you spend with the Lord in worship. Concerning the final six commandments, I suggest to you that how you yield your mind, life, and heart to the fifth commandment will affect how value your neighbors wife/husband, that which does not belong to you, your integrity, and what you think you need or do not need. It all begins with what kind of relationship you have with God. Show me how a young man or woman treats their mother or father, and I will show you what kind of husband or wife that person will most likely be. If you cannot honor the person who is responsible for sheltering you, providing food, clothing, and an education for you... then when it comes to the other people in your life... you probably will not be a very honorable person (unless something changes, such as a spiritual DNA change). Now, for the big question many of you may be asking: At what age does the fifth command expire? When you are eighteen? Twenty? How about when you are on your own? How about after you are married and have a family of your own? The commandment doesnt even indicate an age, but the word the apostle Paul uses is Ephesians 6:1 is children. The Greek word for children is teknon and it means exactly the way every English translation translates the word, and that is children. The point Paul is making is that if you are a child, then you have a command from God to obey, and that is to give your parents honor. Notice the order Paul address regarding the family. He begins with wives, then moves on to husbands, then children before he addresses fathers. Why? Because if you are alive today, then you are a child of someone. Not everyone is a parent, but everyone is a child. In the context of Ephesians 6:1, Paul is speaking to non-adults, and the way they are to honor their parents is by obeying them. However, this does not exempt every person who has a parent from honoring their parent(s). So there are two things going on with Ephesians 6:1-3. First, for every non-adult in the room, if you are unwilling to obey your parents, then you are not walking in a manner worthy of your calling as a Christian. Second, if you are a son or a daughter with a living parent, you are not walking in a manner worthy of your calling if you are not giving them honor. Let me help you understand what exactly is being said in these verses. Walking in a manner worthy of your calling as a Christian as a non-adult means that you honor your parent(s) by obeying them so long as what is asked of you does not violate your primary obligation to obey Christ. If a father or mother askes their Christ-following child to sin, then that child is obligated to respectfully disobey. Honoring your parents by obeying them does not mean that you must endure sexual or physical abuse, nor require you to lie, cheat, or steal because your father or mother told you to do something immoral or wrong. But when it comes to the things your parent(s) ask you do such as the rules of the house you live in, you are to honor your mother and father by obeying and respecting them. Non-adult children, listen to me. Paul states that the fifth commandment has a promise tied to it: Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth. Obeying your parents who want you to thrive and succeed will help protect you from the kind of friends and habits that could ruin or shorten your life. The other way it will turn out well for non-adult children who honor their parents through obedience and respect for them, is that you will most likely develop honorable and healthy character traits. So, how old until you do not have to obey all the rules of the home your parents pay for? Until you can pay rent and/or move out on your own. However, when you do move out of the home of your parent(s), to does not mean you are no longer obligated to honor your parents. So, what about those of us who are adults? The fifth command does not state obey although throughout the Bible, non-adult children are expected to be obedient. The fifth commandment is also a principle to live by. Notice what the commandment does not say. It does not say Love, admire, agree with, trust, or drop everything that you are doing for your parents. No, what the fifth commandment states is to Honor your father and mother. The relationship I had with my sons when they were toddlers was very different then, than it is today. How I relate to my 24-year-old son is very different than how I relate to my 14-year-old son. If the day comes that they should ever get married, my relationship with them will be very different than it is today. So what does it mean to honor my father and mother as an adult? I am commanded to honor them no matter where they live, how old they are, what physical condition they are in, or how they feel about me. Tim Keller provides a clear answer that honors the tone of all of scripture when it comes to our parents: Honor is a decision to treat your parents with dignity and with courtesy, and its also a decision to provide long-term loyalty to their best interests.[1] To walk in a manner worthy of my calling as a son or daughter must include seeing my father and mother as individuals created in the image of Almighty God, and that He entrusted my life into their care, and regardless of their sins and faults, I am to honor them by treating them with dignity and to do all that I am able to do to make sure that their best interests are provided for in a way that glorifies God and serves them well. Parenting Children in a Manner Worthy of Our Calling Now to the parents in the room. Paul is addressing dads, but moms are not exempt. The word that Paul uses for discipline is the Greek word, paideia and it also includes instruction, teaching, and training. The other word that is used is instruction which can also mean admonishing, warning, or even counseling. To discipline your children is to enforce boundaries and to provide instruction is to bring your child along guiding and persuading into a person of character because you love them. To be honest with you, parenting is difficult! It is especially difficult in the culture and day that we find ourselves in. To raise your child in a way that protects them from the idols of both our culture and their own hearts is hard work and if it is done poorly or in a way that is heavy on law and light on grace... or heavy on grace and light on law... the consequences can be devastating to watch and experience as a parent. The danger in striving to raise your child well with rules is to be overbearing where truth and the rules of the house leave little room to experience love and grace for your child. This is how you can provoke your children to anger... If you want to raise a resentful, frustrated, and angry child, make sure you leave little to no room for your child to experience the love that you have for him or her. Creating rules and enforcing them is easy and important, but to do that and at the same time making space and time to pay attention to your childs heart, to listen to your child, to be safe enough so that your child feels free to speak to you, to respect the way God put your child together in terms of their personality... takes time and energy. Your children do not only need you be their parent, but they need you be present in their life. However, Paul does not end with his charge to fathers not provoking their children to anger. Our responsibility as parents is to, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If you want to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in which you have been called, then you must bring up your child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. What does it look like to bring up your child, and what does it involve? Check out what God instructed His people to do in order to pass on the faith of the parents to their children: Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. (Deut. 6:48) This passage in Deuteronomy is known as the Shema, and it was recited often as a prayer. Orthodox Jews take the Shema literally in the sense that they literally tie the word of God onto their arms and their foreheads. The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus time did the same thing, what they wore on their foreheads and arms were called phylacteries, and they made sure they were big enough so that everyone could see how religious they were. Listen to what Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees: The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on peoples shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. (Matt. 23:35) Some of you grew up in homes with parents like this. The scribes and Pharisees missed the entire point of the Shema! The point is not to look and act religious, but that what you say you believe in and your relationship to God is actually who you really are. If you are really a Christian, then it should be who you really are when no one is looking, and especially in your home with those who know you better than anyone else. So, when you are walking, when you are shopping, when you are mowing the lawn, and when it comes to the culture of your home... you really are who you say you are. When it comes to the rules in your home and the time you share with your child, and how you interact with the members of your family, consider what it means to love: Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:47) When it comes to the culture of your home, consider what the fruits of the Spirit are in the life of a Christian: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Gal 5:2223). What does it look like to, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? It is the kind of disciple-making Jesus commanded us to be about, and it must begin in the home out of a love for God and a love for the closest neighbors you will ever have, namely the members of your own family. [1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

Kids learn early on the playground that if a bully is bigger than them, it’s good to have a friend who’s bigger than the bully. A bully who’s met his match is no longer a threat. Well as Pastor Greg just said, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Our adversary is no match for our Almighty God. We stand in victory when we stand with the Lord. A good lesson on that today on A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg continues his series: Joshua: Living in the Land of Promises. Listen on harvest.org --- Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids learn early on the playground that if a bully is bigger than them, it’s good to have a friend who’s bigger than the bully. A bully who’s met his match is no longer a threat. Well as Pastor Greg just said, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Our adversary is no match for our Almighty God. We stand in victory when we stand with the Lord. A good lesson on that today on A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg continues his series: Joshua: Living in the Land of Promises. Listen on harvest.org --- Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mother and Member: Mary and the Birth of the Church Today's Readings explore the profound mystery and significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary . . . . . . as both Mother of God and Mother of the Church, whose motherhood is unlike any other. Mary is presented by God as the answer to the fall of Eve . . . a woman who, through divine grace, gives birth to life rather than death. While Eve's disobedience ushered in sin, exile, and mortality, Mary's faithful “yes” to God ushers in the Savior and a new family of redeemed sons and daughters. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus entrusts the beloved disciple to Mary, symbolically extending her motherhood to all believers. She is the City of God, the dwelling place where God's people find spiritual refuge. Through her, by the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are adopted into divine life and the Church is born. Mary's motherhood, then, is not only physical but deeply spiritual and universal . . . she is both Mother and Member of the Church, nurturing believers toward eternal life. Listen to: Mother and Member: Mary and the Birth of the Church ------------------------------------------------------------------ A Quote from the Homily To understand Our Lady, one must be willing to pause a moment and consider a pair of impossibilities because the essence of her person, the essence of how the church celebrates her, hinges on our ability to recognize that the impossible by the working of God does in fact become possible. And one of the privileged places where that happens is the life of the blessed mother. She is mother and she is virgin. She gives birth and remains a virgin. She is perpetually virgin and yet she is gloriously mother. She is a creature and yet she bears within her womb, her creator, and brings him to human birth. A creature giving birth to her creator. A mother. And a virgin, and then mysteriously as well. Our Lady is a mother of the church. The mother of the church, and yet she's also a member of the church. Virgin and mother. Mother and member, a creature who gives birth. To her creator. Note how mysteriously wonderful. All of this is possible only because of the divine agency of Almighty God, and it is these things that are enclosed within the readings that are presented to us today on the feast day of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of The Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Pentecost: Stain Glass: The Church of St. Therese of Lisieux – Roman Catholic Parish in Montauk, New York ------------------------------------------------------------------ Gospel Reading: John 19: 25-34 First Reading: Genesis 3: 9-15, 20

When Our Lord was in the middle of preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount, He took some time to instruct the people on how to pray.He said to them, “When you pray, go into your room, and closing your door, pray to your Father in secret: and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. But in praying, do not multiply words, as the Gentiles do; for they think that by saying a great deal they will be heard. So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. In this manner therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” (Matt. 6:6-9)What is interesting about this passage is that Our Lord speaks of God as our Father four times in a short space. He is not referring to the First Person of the Trinity so much as God in Three Persons.Almighty God is our Father in Heaven. He created us. He takes care of us. He is the source of everything for us. He wants us to join Him in Heaven. He is my Father because He created me. He is our Father because He created all of us.There are so many things that follow from this fact that God is our Father. But today, I want to highlight three of them.

The most patriotic day for America is July 4th when we celebrate the country's birthday commemorating the Founding Fathers' signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But the month of June that precedes it is filled with three commemorative days also steeped in faith and patriotism, made possible because of what happened at the Second Continental Congress as America woke up to its power as a free Republic, and its even greater responsibility to bow down to Divine Providence. Flag Day, Father's Day, and Juneteenth. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, historian, best-selling author and speaker William Federer explains how all three of these special days exist only because of the authority the signers gave to the vital importance of faith in an Almighty God, and the value of the family. Hear how Father's Day began because of the worst coal mining explosion in the nation's history; how the American flag stands as a standard that should unite all Americans; and how Juneteenth celebrates the day the last slaves were told they were free from bondage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introduction: Watch Out... (Matthew 6:1–4) Because your MOTIVES MATTER. (Matt 6:1a) Wrong Motive – TO GLORIFY YOURSELF. Right Motive – TO GLORIFY GOD. Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Because your REWARD IS AT RISK. (Matt 6:1b–4) Worldly Reward – THE RECOGNITION OF OTHERS. James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction… James 2:15–16 – If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 – The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart... Eternal Reward – THE RECOGNITION OF GOD. Matthew 25:23 – “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:1-4What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why do your motives matter so much to the Lord?In what ways do you see yourself struggling with self-glorification? How can you fight against this sinful trend?Why isn't the worldly reward of human praise worth pursuing after?Why does the Lord want you to be motivated by eternal rewards? Explain why this motivation isn't legalistic or self-centered.BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6 verses 1 through 4. Matthew chapter 6verses 1 through 4. You know 12 years ago my friends and I took a road trip downto the middle of nowhere Tennessee. My one friend promised us a free stay in aspacious cabin that his dad built right next to a scenic lake. Only one of thoseguarantees end up being true. This day was free but it was free for a reason. Itwas not a spacious cabin it was a glorified shack. It turns out we weren'teven allowed to sleep in the beds we had to sleep on the floor because his daddidn't want us to mess up the beds. We were also not right next to the lake itwas a mile walk through hilly woods and once you got to the beach this is thesite that greeted you. Warning dangerous water because nothing says come on in thewater is fine like a do not swim here sign in the foreground and a nuclearpower plant in the background. You can't really see it but there was a fenced offarea where dozens and dozens of people were swimming and splish plashingaround without a care in the world. I kept thinking to myself what are youpeople doing don't you see the sign I mean can you even miss this sign is thateven possible? It is unmissable. I guess people saw this sign but they justdidn't care. They thought it was a harmless joke and not a serious warning.You know how you respond to warnings says a lot about who you are as a person.The waitress brings you your food and says hey be careful the plate is hot. Whatdo you do in that moment? Do you believe your nice waitress or do you touch it tosee if she's telling the truth? I don't know what's in it for her to lie to youabout the hot plate or you pass by a wet paint sign and you think to yourself isthis actually wet? You decide to touch it right? Or here's a new one I learnedthis week. Did you know in bold letters on the Q-tip box it says do not insertinto ear canal. I was blown away. I've been doing it wrong for all these years.Now that you know are you gonna keep exploring your ear like it's a cave orare you gonna stop doing it? Or you come to a red light at the top of the redlight says no turn on red. But you look both ways and there's no one coming soyou go anyway. Let's move beyond these somewhat funny examples of somethingmuch more important. God's Word is filled with hundreds and hundreds ofwarnings that you can either ignore or take very seriously. This is the firstweek in a new section of our study of the Sermon on the Mount, the heart ofreligion. In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus gives a three-part warning of how youshould and should not approach the spiritual disciplines of giving, praying,and fasting. According to Jesus these disciplines are not just external thingsthat you can check off your to-do list. They are internal indicators of who youreally are and who you are really worshiping. Because Jesus cares how yougive. Jesus cares how you pray. Jesus cares how you fast. The how of thesedisciplines reveal if you are a religious phony or a religious follower ofChrist who is faithful from the heart. This morning we're gonna dig intoMatthew chapter 6 verses 1 through 4 and focus on the warning of our Lord whenit comes to giving of our time, talents, and treasures. Before we get started Iwant to plead with you to not ignore this warning from Christ. Take it veryseriously. Be on guard. Watch out for what he is cautioning you against. Do notclose your eyes to your own sin. Do not think you have it all figured outbecause Jesus has a not-so-secret secret to share with you this morning that youoften lose sight of. The secret to giving is giving in secret. So before wecontinue any further let's go to the Lord and ask for His help. Please pray for meand I will pray for you.Father we come to once again a very challenging and convicting passage inyour word. We're once again we are being exposed not just on the outside but onthe inside. I pray for every single person in this room including myself Lord maywe truly listen to what your word has to say and take this warning with the utmostseriousness. We thank you in advance what you are going to do and we ask allthese things in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. Alright so watch outnumber one because your motives matter. Watch out because your motives matter.Let's read the first half of chapter 6 verse 1. Jesus says beware watch out ofpracticing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.It's important to note that Jesus doesn't say it's bad for other people tonotice you practicing your righteousness or doing the right thing in public. Whatdoes he say? Watch out for practicing your righteousness and doing the rightthing in public in order to be seen by others. In the original Greek that phrasein order to be seen it comes from the word for theater. You're putting on ashow. You're pretending to be someone that you are not. You are putting on aninsincere performance. So once again Jesus zeros in on the on the internal. Hefocuses on your heart's greatest desire. It's all about your motive. So let's checkout the wrong motive first. So what is the wrong motive? To glorify yourself. Toglorify yourself. I'm not proud of this but in the past I've done chores aroundthe house in the hopes that my wife will notice my hard work. Is anyone elseguilty of this kind of behavior? Jonathan Trent thank you so much. I am soappreciative. It's just you and me buddy. To be fair all the guys should have theirhands raised as high as humanly possible whenever asked that kind of question.This is so lame to admit but I've done the dishes. Taken out the garbage. Laydown mulch. Cut the grass. Done long past due house projects hoping that mywife will see it and award me husband points. And husband points are a formof currency in marriage that aren't worth as much as you would hope and go asbad as quickly as unrefrigerated fish. All the husbands in the room knowexactly what I'm talking about. In those moments my motive was not to honor mywife but to glorify myself. To show off how great of a husband I am. And whenKate didn't notice what I had done I began to pout and feel disappointed.I only felt that way because I had a bad motive. I wouldn't have felt that way ifI had the right motive which is to be a loving husband who tookresponsibility for his own home. And this proves an important principle.Self-interest and self-glory always lead to self-deception and self-defeat. Withoutfail the most miserable person in every room is the most selfish person in thatroom. The more you make life about you the more unhappy you will find yourself.Maybe that is why you feel so depressed this morning. Maybe that's why you feelso empty right now. You want to be the son at the center of your solar systembut the problem is nobody else cares about your desired position. No one wantsto orbit around your preferences. And you may be wondering how can I tell if I amthis kind of self-glorifying person or not. Well first of all you are this kindof person to some degree and so am I. This problem does exist within your heartat some level. You have to figure out how serious and far-reaching the problemactually is. Here are some things to be on watch for. Do you check out what otherpeople share about their problems? Do you have a hard time being happy for someoneelse when they achieve a goal that you've always wanted to accomplish? When theyreceive a blessing that you've always wanted? Do you always try to one uppeople and have a better story than someone else? Do you always bring thetopic of conversation back to you? What you've done in the past? What you're doingright now? And what you plan to do in the future? Do you get annoyed and evensulky when you don't get your way? Do you push away opportunities to serve andhelp if you don't see what's in it for you? Even though there are tell-talesigns it can be extremely difficult to spot your own narcissism because you areoften blind to it. But other people around you are not. It would be a goodexercise to check in with your family and your friends after church today to askif they see any of these tendencies and how you speak and how you talk and howyou act. And if you ask that question please shut your mouth and open yourears. Stop inserting your opinion. Stop justifying yourself. You will not grow ifyou are more interested in defending yourself than dying to yourself. Startdealing with your problem because I guarantee you that you do have a problem.Stop glorifying yourself because you are not worthy of this act of self-worship.So that's the wrong motive. To glorify yourself. What's the right motive? Toglorify God. To glorify God. So Jesus provides the right motive for doing theright thing earlier in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen to what he has to say inMatthew 5.16. "Let your light shine before others that they may see your good worksand give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Compare that to chapter 6 verse1. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen bythem." Do you see the difference? Instead of shining the spotlight onto yourselfyou shine on to the only one who is actually worthy of it, the Lord and Himalone. Because this is the reason for which you were created. You exist tohonor God and show a watching world how awesome He truly is. This must be the goalof your marriage. This must be the goal of your parenting. This must be the goal ofyour job. This must be the goal of everything that you do. In 1 Corinthians1031 Paul says this, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to theglory of God. Because any worldly glory that you collect for yourself will besnuffed out when you pass on from this life. But the glory of God is an unendingfire that can never ever be put out." In 100 to 200 years from now you're gonna belong forgotten. No one is gonna be thinking about you. But the name of JesusChrist will stand the test of time. His name will be forever high and lifted up.I'm not a betting man but I can guarantee you with a hundred percentcertainty that you will be rewarded for throwing your chips in with the victoryof God's name and reputation. That is the only motivation that will truly fuelyou. That is the only motivation that will get you across the finish line oflife. So watch out because your motives matter. Secondly, watch out because yourreward is at risk. Because your reward is at risk.Jesus lays out the consequence for doing the right thing for the wrong reasonat the end of verse 1. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before otherpeople in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from yourFather who is in heaven." If you were dominated by the desire to rob God ofhis glory as you do good deeds, you will receive a loud and clear message fromGod. It is the same message that Willy Wonka gave the Charlie and his grandpa atthe end of the Chocolate Factory tour. You get nothing. You lose. Good day, sir.That may seem extreme, but that's what the text says. That may seem harsh, but it'seven better than what you deserve. With that in mind, Jesus continues on with hiswarning in verse 2, "By revealing the emptiness of the worldly reward that youoften settle for. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you,as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praisedby others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. The worldly rewardthat is most tempting to seek after is the recognition of others. Therecognition of others. And notice that Jesus doesn't say, "If you give to theneedy," he says, "when you give the needy." And he says that again in verse 3,"which means that you are expected to help those in need with your time, withyour talents, and your treasures. You are expected by God to care for the orphanand the widow." James 1.27, "A religion that is pure and undefiled before God isthis, to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. You are expected by Godto not ignore the poor, especially those within the body of Christ." Once again,let's read what James has to say. James 2.15 through 16, "If a brother or sisteris poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go inpeace, be warmed and filled without giving them the things needed for the body,what good is that? It is worthless.'" You're expected by God to be generous withthe money in your account, and not hoard it for yourself. 2nd Corinthians 9 verses 6through 7, the point is this, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, andwhoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he hasdecided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves acheerful giver." Harvest, you are expected to make these kinds of sacrifices. But asyou make these expected sacrifices, you are also expected to not sound a trumpetbefore you, like the scribes and Pharisees did 2,000 years ago. Now, theydidn't literally sound a physical trumpet. They didn't pull a Miles Davis andblast a physical trumpet whenever they did a nice thing or made a donation.Jesus is using an over-the-top and funny illustration to prove a simple point. Donot be an obnoxious jerk who draws attention to himself or herself wheneveryou do the right thing. You know, while you were doing whatever you were doingover the past week, I was racking my brain to think of a modern-day example ofsounding a trumpet before you. And I came up short. So I'm going to ask you guys tosilently brainstorm, because I actually have something I need to do in the meantime,okay? So just be using your brains to think about an example.Alright, don't mind me guys.[laughter]You know what? I don't want to interrupt your brainstorming time, but you know what?This sermon is going really well. And you guys are all just laughing at mystories. I guess really tell that you're dialed into my spot on teaching. I reallythink Facebook needs to know about this. Oh, by the way, have you guys had any luckwith your brainstorming? Wait a minute. Maybe I did stumble upon the 21st centuryversion of sounding a trumpet before you. What do you guys think? Alright, I guessI'll put this away then. You know, seeking after the affirmation and praise ofothers is the heartbeat of the virtual world. People put on a manufacturedversion of themselves. They put their best foot forward. You can post about yourbest day to accumulate the affirmation and adulation of others. Maybe you post astatus on Facebook, a picture on Instagram or real on the TikToks as Pastor Jeffcalls it, that highlights a mission strip, a service project or a charitableevent that you took part in. Now, you can certainly do this in a godly way withgodly intentions, but you can also do it in an ungodly way with ungodlyintentions. You just bask in the glory of the likes and the comments and the heartemojis as human praise begins to pour in. You make a sizable contribution to aGoFundMe page. And instead of remaining anonymous, you put your name right nextto the amount that you donated. And you don't do that to show support. You do itto show off. You want others to be amazed by your big hearted generosity. Some ofyou are feeling pretty safe and sound right now because you don't leave muchof a digital footprint. You don't post anything anywhere. Well, let's movebeyond the bounds of social media because I don't want to leave you out of all thefun. Maybe you can seal a prideful remark of something kind you did as a praiseat a prayer service or at small group. Maybe you accidentally slip in orreference something nice you did while in conversation with someone else. Andyou inwardly hope that they'll take the bait. They'll ask a follow-up question soyou can get the at a boy or at a girl that you are so desperate for. Maybe youlike to brag about your family's accomplishments in the yearly Christmasletter. That's right. I went there. Because some of you may do that. You say that youwant to keep everyone informed about your life, but you actually want to keepeveryone impressed with your life. All of these examples are sounding a trumpet,pulling out the selfie stick so that everyone will notice you because youwant to be the recipient of admiration. You know, whenever I was a full-timeyouth pastor for eight years, I went to a countless number of musicals, trackmeets, games, graduation ceremonies, graduation parties, and before, during, orafter the event, I would track down my student and their parents to let themknow that I was there. Because how could I bless them with my presence if theywere totally unaware of my presence? It's kind of weird to admit, but if Ididn't make myself known or receive credit, it didn't really seem to count.Does that make sense? Does that seem reasonable? But you often feel a verysimilar way when it comes to your acts of good works. To your acts of service. Ifothers don't recognize what you did, it doesn't really seem to count, right? Itmay even seem like a complete waste of time if you do not receive immediatepraise. Jesus says you can blow that trumpet, you can pull out that selfiestick if you want to, knock yourself out. If you do, you will receive the reward ofhuman praise, but that's all you'll get and nothing more. You will get nothingfrom your Father in heaven because you know what? You don't really care aboutwhat He has to give you. What other mere human beings have to offer seems muchmore appealing. But that is so short-sighted because compliments, thank-yous, and awardsfeel good for about 15 minutes. And then you're just jones in for the next dose,right? Praise leaves almost as quickly as it arrives. And you so quickly forgethow little it satisfies you the next time you desire it. In verses 3 through 4,Jesus warns you to long for that which truly lasts. He cautions you to walk thepath of delayed gratification so that you can receive the eternal reward of therecognition of God Himself. So that is the eternal reward, the recognition of God.Let's read verses 3 through 4. "But when you give to the needy," there it is again,"not if, when, when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know whatyour right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Fatherwho sees you in secret will reward you." As I said earlier, the secret to givingis giving in secret. Jesus says, "not even let your left hand know what your righthand is doing." I just want to give a warning up front. I don't want to offendall the left-handed people in the room with this explanation of theillustration. I love all of you just as much as the normal people in the room.Okay, so don't be offended.Moving on, about 90% of Americans are right-handed, not left-handed. Again, don'thate me, it's just the facts, which means that the majority of people use theirright hand way more than their left hand. So just go with this over-the-top funnyillustration from Jesus. Imagine that your hands can actually speak to eachother. In that scenario, your right hand shouldn't constantly brag about all thethings that it was used to do over the course of the day to the left hand.Instead, it should be quiet. It should be satisfied that it was used instead ofbroadcasting how it was used. Jesus is calling us to a very serious type ofself-denial here. He is saying, "serve me, serve others, and then do your best toforget all about it." Don't keep track. Don't keep score. Don't manage your ownpersonal scoreboard. Don't comb through your mental file of successes and think,"Yeah, I'm doing pretty good compared to most people at church, compared to mostpeople in my small group." That is a complete waste of time and energy. It isnot your job to keep score because you cannot accurately evaluate yourself.Only God can do that. But this kind of self-forgetfulness is so counterintuitiveto us because we all live in a culture that tries to ram self-worth down ourthroats every single chance that it gets. Oh, your self-esteem matters more thananything else. If you don't put yourself first, other people will put you last.Don't forget to love yourself. Give yourself pep talks and tell yourselfhow awesome you are. Is any of that biblical? Why do we often fall for it? TheBible doesn't teach you to have high self-esteem. The Bible also doesn'tteach you to have low self-esteem either. The Bible says to have noesteem, which means that you're not focused on your self-image. You're notobsessed with what other people think and say about you. Instead, you focus onwhat God thinks and says about you because his authoritative opinion mattersthe most. Listen, it does not matter if other people recognize and acknowledgeyour faithfulness. Let me say that again because I really need to hear it. It doesnot matter if other people recognize and acknowledge your faithfulness. Whatmatters is you hear these words from the Lord when you stand before Him one day.Well done, good, and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master. That isthe reward you should long and live for. Jesus says that if you give in secret,your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Jesus isn't saying that youcan earn right standing before God or work your way to heaven. That's notpossible. Salvation is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ andnowhere else. Forgiveness of sin and eternal life are gifts to be receivedby faith, not earned by works. Scripture is so clear on that. But scripture isequally clear that rewards in heaven are diligently earned, not automaticallyreceived. If you honor God in this life, He will honor you in eternity. If youreject temporary rewards that you cannot take out of this world, you will be giveneternal rewards that can never be stolen away from you in heaven. What a promise.That is a heavenly check that will never bounce and it will clear every singletime. So let God keep score because He will reward you. What are these heavenlyrewards? I wish I could tell you but the Bible doesn't give us specificdetails. But I can tell you this, God has never given you a lame gift in the pastand He will not give you a lame gift in the future. If God promises it,trust me, you want it and you will love it. Right now you may be thinking, okay,what do I do when someone else does praise me? This is going to happen at somepoint. Do you just shut them down and say, whoa, whoa, I didn't do this to bepraised by you. You're going to make me lose my eternal reward. Is that what youshould do? That'd be super weird and awkward for the other person. So pleasedon't do that. You should humbly accept this person's compliment and thenredirect their praise to the source and supply of your good works. The love ofChrist and the power of the Holy Spirit. Point the complimenter to God Himself.And this kind of redirect will not lead to a forfeiture of heavenly reward. Ifanything, it will lead to even greater reward because you have rightly handledpraise and you have put it in the place where it truly belongs, which is thehands of Almighty God. You know, compared to some of the weighty topics we'vecovered during the Sermon on the Mount, this passage may seem kind of light andinconsequential to you. But I can assure you that it's not because you're givingand serving in public speaks volumes of who you are in private. This is seriousbusiness. You have received a personal warning from Jesus Himself. He has warnedyou to watch out for the motive of glorifying yourself. To watch out forthe worldly desire to receive worldly rewards. And there are only two responsesto this kind of warning. Indifference or humility. Maybe you don't see any problemwith your motives right now. You don't see any issue for the reward you're livingfor. So you just want to move on with your day. Well, you're free to make thatchoice if you want to, but it is the wrong choice. Because until the day you dieand are in the presence of Christ, your motives will always be tinged withselfishness. Even as I stand before you to preach this sermon, there is selfishnessin my heart. Your motives will never be 100% pure. And you will desire the wrongreward. So please do not choose ignorance because too much is at stake. And maybe youdo see major problems with your motives and the reward you are living for. Youknow that you have to make a change, but you don't know how to make that change.Well, I have good news and bad news for you. Let's start with the bad news. Youcannot change your motives and desires. Are you ready for the good news? God canchange your motives and desires, but this will only happen if you humbleyourself before Him. Admit that you need His help. Submit to the master motivatorand the richest rewarder in the entire universe. Go to the Lord in prayer and dothat right now. Spend some time in prayer.Father, we come to you to lay our motives before you. To lay down the worldlyrewards that we are living for. What help us to remember the only thing that willtruly last is your glory and your name. What help us to live for these rewardsthat last forever and not these worldly rewards that fade away so quickly. AndLord, there's anyone in this room who is not a follower of you and is just stuckin this cycle of glorifying themselves and living for themselves. May they forthe first time submit to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That they canfulfill the purpose for which you've given them, which is to make much of you.And for the rest of us Lord, help us to remember that biblical goal. To rememberwho we are living for. To remember why we exist. And we ask all these things inJesus' name. Amen.

A Sermon for Trinity Sunday St. John 3:1-17 by William Klock Everywhere Jesus went the crowds followed him.  Everyone had a problem.  Some were deaf, some blind; some were sick, some dying; some were demon-possessed, some were weighed down by sin.  They knew that this is not how the world is supposed to be.  Everyone knew it then.  Everyone knows it now.  And that's why everyone longs for the day when the world is set to rights and the tears are wiped away.  And that's why the people flocked to Jesus.  Wherever he went, there was a little bubble of the world as it should be.  Wherever Jesus went, there was a little bubble of God's future in the present.  Wherever Jesus went, there was a little bubble where the tears were wiped away. And this man named Nicodemus—John says he was a prominent Pharisee and ruler of the Jews—Nicodemus watched from a distance—in the streets, in the temple court.  And as he watched, he saw the hopes of Isreal being fulfilled.  He saw that little bubble of God's future wherever Jesus went.  And he believed.  It's just that he wasn't quite sure exactly what he was believing.  Have you ever felt that way?  You see God at work.  There's no question about it.  But it's not something you ever expected.  And so you believe, but you don't really understand.  That's where Nicodemus was at.  He wasn't one of the simple people who just needed some physical manifestation of the kingdom like the blind and the deaf and the demon-possessed.  He knew the scriptures.  He knew how the God of Israel was supposed to fulfil his prophecies.  And Nicodemus could see that Jesus was fulfilling them.  But Jesus wasn't doing it the way people expected.  So Nicodemus went to Jesus in the night, after the crowds were gone, when Jesus was alone with his disciples.  Knock!  Knock!  Knock! And Peter—or John or James or whoever—opened the door and was totally surprised to see him there.  Everyone knew who Nicodemus was and he was the last person the disciples expected to be knocking at the door.  But here he was, probably with at least a servant or two.  You didn't close the door on someone like Nicodemus, so pretty soon he was inside and seated with Jesus and the questions began.  Nicodemus wanted to understand. “Rabbi,” he said to Jesus, “we know that you're a teacher who has come from God.  Nobody can do these signs that you're doing, unless God is with him.”   If you listen carefully, you can hear the unspoken question in Nicodemus' affirmation.  It's the theologian's equivalent of “Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”  It was like this for everyone.  The disciples saw, they heard, they believed, but when Jesus pressed them with questions, they still gave the wrong answers.  Peter knew with absolute certainty that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God.  But when push came to shove, he drew his sword and was ready to usher in the kingdom with violence.  Despite three years with Jesus, the disciples were still full of all the wrong ideas the Jews had about the Messiah and his kingdom.  Nicodemus was no different.  It's just that he knew he was missing something and he was here to sort it out with Jesus.  But Jesus doesn't give him the answer he wanted—because Jesus knew that no matter how clearly he connected the dots for Nicodemus, that wouldn't solve the problem.  Nicodemus needed something more.  And so Jesus answers Nicodemus' question with those words so familiar to us, but so perplexing to him: “Let me tell you the solemn truth.  Unless someone has been born from above, he won't be able to see God's kingdom.”   This is John 3.  The beginning.  Jesus gives the answer to all the questions.  And consider how the disciples had three years to mull it over.  And as we've heard in our Gospels all through Easter- and Ascensiontide they still couldn't wrap their heads around it.  Jesus told them he had to leave so that something better could come and they were confused and upset and afraid.  Jesus was a walking manifestation, a walking bubble of the kingdom.  How could anything possibly be better than that?—apart from the kingdom filling the whole world—but how's that going to happen if Jesus is gone?  They had to be born from above, too.  But that's just it.  In being born from above, they themselves would become walking bubbles of God's future in the present.  That's what we celebrated last Sunday at Pentecost.  The God of Israel sent his Spirit to indwell his people.  They were born from above—and suddenly, when that happened, it all made sense.  Peter preached that great Pentecost sermon—something that would have been impossible the day before—and from there the disciples went out to make God's kingdom known to the world. Incidentally, this is why the story of Nicodemus' visit to Jesus is our Gospel today.  Long before there was a Trinity Sunday, this was the Sunday after Pentecost and today's Gospel was chosen to explain the events we read about last Sunday.  When Trinity Sunday came along there was no reason to change the lesson, because here we see the Trinity revealed: the Son reveals that the Father must send the Spirit to give life to and to renew his people. But back to Jesus and Nicodemus: “The central truth you're missing is that you've got to be born from above,” Jesus says to the Pharisee.  Nicodemus understood so much.  He knew the world is not as it should be.  He knew that the Lord had chosen and called his people to be a light to the world.  And he knew that his people had failed—over and over and over.  That's why the Pharisees were so zealous for God's law.  If everyone in Israel would just shape up.  If they'd just remember all the wonderful things God had graciously and mercifully done for them and love him return by keeping his law.  If they would be faithful.  Then God would return and set everything right.  The Pharisees were an “on earth as in heaven” people.  And Nicodemus saw God at work in Jesus, but he was struggling to reconcile what he saw in Jesus with what he expected of God.  Jesus knew this and so he says that what's missing—not just what Nicodemus is missing, but what all Israel is missing—is this new birth.  And, Brothers and Sisters, it's really important that we understand that as much as Jesus is saying, “You, Nicodemus, must be born again—which is how the ears of modern Christians have been trained to hear this in individualistic terms—Jesus' stress is on Israel, on the whole people: “All y'all must be born again,” as they might say in Texas.  In verse 7 he says, “Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.'”  Israel as a people had been born the first time when they passed through the waters of the Red Sea and Jesus is saying that now Israel has to be born a second time.  This is why John was out in the wilderness calling people to repentance and baptising them in the Jordan, but still stressing that water wasn't enough.  Israel had been baptised with water before.  What Israel needed now was water and the Spirit.  Jesus walking around a little bubble of God's future in the present—that's what Israel was always supposed to be—so that the nations could see them and know the goodness of God.  And what Jesus is saying is that it's the Spirit who will finally make the people what God had intended them to be all along.  As Jesus has said over and over in various ways: he, Jesus, was sent by the Father, but that it would be the Spirit—the “Helper”—who would come after, who would testify to them about this truth, and then that through them this Spirit would testify to the rest of Israel and even to the nations.  This would fulfil what the prophets had spoken: a new people, a new Israel through whom the Lord would fulfil the mission he'd begun with Abraham—a mission to fill the world with knowledge of his glory as the waters cover the sea.  This new Israel, full of God's Spirit, would finally be that bubble of the kingdom, the manifestation of God's new creation here in the midst of the old, so that the nations will flock to the God of Israel to give him glory. But Nicodemus just sat there looking puzzled.  Ditto for the disciples.  Because the Spirit hadn't yet come to testify about Jesus.  So Nicodemus asks, “How can someone possibly be born when he's old?  You're not telling me he can go back a second time into his mother's womb and be born, are you?”  And as Jesus answers him, this is where he switches from saying things like “Unless one is born again” to “Unless all y'all are born again”.  Because it's not such much about one person being born again or even about a whole bunch of individuals being born again.  It's about Israel as a people being born again so that she could be put back on track to fulfil her mission to reveal God to the nations.  Now, this idea of new birth would have resonated with Nicodemus, because to be a Jew was all about being born as part of Abraham's family.  Other things like circumcision and sabbath and diet were really important—especially to a Pharisee—but those things were important because they were the markers of Abraham's family.  They drew a clear line between those who were in the family and all the uncircumcised, unclean gentiles who were most definitely not—the one's people like Nicodemus expected God to destroy with fire and brimstone when he came to set the world to rights. And what Jesus is now saying is that being born into Abraham's family the way the Jews thought of it wasn't enough.  In fact—and this really comes out in Paul's letters—it never had been enough.  And Nicodemus should have known this.  For two thousand years people were born into Abraham's family and the kingdom still hadn't come.  For two thousand years people were born into Abraham's family and still the gentiles hadn't experienced the Lord's blessing through them on the huge scale envisioned by the scriptures.  Just the opposite, in fact.  The Prophet Zechariah spoke of a day when the gentiles would be grabbing hold of Jews by their coattails and pleading with them, “Take us with you, because we hear that God is with you!”  But because of the way most of Abraham's children were living, the nations mocked them and taunted them saying, “Where's your God?”  It takes more than bring born of the flesh of Abraham.  It even takes more than being born of water, as Isreal had been in the Red Sea.  As a Pharisee devoted to exhorting his fellow Jews to be better keepers of the law, Nicodemus should have known that it wasn't working—that the people needed something more.  He, of all people, should have been looking forward to the day when the law would no longer be written on tablets of stone, but engraved on the very hearts of the people by the Holy Spirit. So Jesus says to Nicodemus, “I'm telling you the solemn truth.  Unless someone is born from water and the Spirit, he can't enter the kingdom of God.  Flesh is born from flesh, but spirit is born from Spirit.”  This is what John the Baptist was getting at out in the desert.  God was about to lead his people in a new exodus.  As Israel had been led through the waters of the Red Sea to become a covenant family, so John was calling people to pass through the waters of the Jordan—a step of repentance and faith—and into a new covenant.  They all needed a baptism of repentance.  They need to turn aside, not just from their disobedience, but from their misguided expectations of the kingdom and of the Messiah.  But remember what John promised.  When people asked him if he was the Messiah, he said that he was only the forerunner.  “I baptise you with water,” he said, “but he will plunge you into the Holy Spirit.”  And that's just what Jesus does.  As we remembered last Sunday at Pentecost, Jesus takes those who have repented, who have turned aside from every false god and from every false king and from every false “ism”, he takes those who have instead grabbed hold of him in faith by passing through the waters of baptism, and he plunges them—us—into the Holy Spirit.  And the Spirit transforms and renews and regenerates us.  He takes our old, dead wood and grafts us into Jesus the vine and new life courses into us to bear fruit.  The Spirit makes us those walking bubbles of God's new creation—what God's people were always supposed to be.  That's what it means to be born again or born from above. Brothers and Sisters, think of your baptism as something like Israel at the Red Sea.  There was the parted water and God calling Israel to pass through to freedom and new life on the other side.  There was no receiving the law in Egypt; they had to cross to the other side of the sea to find covenant, to find relationship with the Lord.  And so we stand at the waters of baptism today.  In them Jesus gives his promise: Repent, turn aside from every false way, trust me, follow me in faith and you will find forgiveness of sins and new life through the Spirit.  To pass through the waters of baptism is to take hold of Jesus' promise and to be born again of water and the Spirit—and to be made part of this new covenant people ready and equipped to live and to proclaim his kingdom. But, again, this didn't fit what Nicodemus knew.  “How can this be so?” he asks.  And Jesus asks a bit incredulously, “How can you not know this?  You're one of the teachers of Israel!”  Nicodemus knew the story.  He understood how Israel had so miserably failed in her mission.  As a Pharisee he was abundantly aware of this problem.  Jesus tells Nicodemus: God has heard your cries and is visiting his people and he's doing it in me.  I'm the son of man, the one spoken of by Daniel all those years ago.  I can tell you reliably the things of heaven because I'm the one who has come down from heaven.  Nicodemus is pretty incredulous.  He came wanting to know, but he's not liking what he's hearing and so Jesus is basically telling him, “You have to trust me.”  That's what it's all about.  Sometimes this faith stuff doesn't make sense, but keep trust Jesus and the Spirit will eventually make sense of it.  And in keeping with that Jesus reminds him of the time the Israelites grumbled against Moses—which was really just veiled grumbling against the Lord.  And so the Lord sent poisonous snakes into the camp.  The snakes bit people and many of those who were bit died.  But the Lord also gave Moses the remedy.  He told Moses to cast a snake out of bronze and to mount it on a pole.  Anyone who would look up to the bronze snake would be healed.  It didn't make sense.  How would a bronze snake on a pole heal anyone?  But it did—by faith. So Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, in the same way the son of man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may share in the life of God's new age.”  Jesus is pointing to his own crucifixion.  As the snake was the affliction of the people lifted up for them to look at, so Jesus would take the affliction of Israel on himself—he would suffer the punishment for their sins—and be lifted up on the cross.  He would be lifted up for everyone to look upon—to see the horror and the gravity of their sin, to see that the wages of sin is death.  But they would also see Jesus taking it all on himself and in that, the horror and ugliness of his being raised up would become an act by which he is ultimately glorified.  In the cross we see the love of God made manifest in Jesus.  And Jesus says in the familiar words we all know, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Jesus corrects the central error in the thinking of Israel in his day.  They were hoping and praying for the day when the Lord would come, not just to vindicate his people, but to judge their enemies—to rain down fire and brimstone on the Romans and all the other gentiles.  But instead Jesus tells Nicodemus that he's come not to condemn, but to save all who will look to him.  All.  The Jews thought the Lord, when he came, would vindicate them for their faithfulness, but Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Even the most righteous of you need this new birth, this salvation if you want to know God's vindication.  And it's not just for you.”  The Jews looked forward to the condemnation he would bring, but Jesus says he's come not to condemn, but to save.  And this is where the part about being born again of water and the Spirit comes into play.  Being born of water and the Spirit supersedes biology and genealogy.  In Jesus God opens his arms to welcome Jew and Gentile alike.  It was the Jews first, because if the Lord is faithful—and he is—he had to first fulfil his promises to his own people, but most importantly, in that act of faithfulness, the nations would take note of the God of Israel.  In Jesus, the nations would see that the God of Israel is not like the puny, selfish, fickle, and powerless gods they have known, and they would then flock to this God who is truly good and faithful.  This is what God's future looks like, not just Israel set to rights and everyone else set on fire.  God's future is for everyone who sees Jesus and his people wiping away the tears and forgiving sin, who believes, and who becomes part of it—whether born of Abraham by the flesh or born of Abraham by faith—all born in God's Spirit. Abraham's family is integral to the story and the plan, but Jesus reminds us that genes and DNA were never really what made anyone part of Abraham's family; it was about faith.  It was faith for Abraham himself and it was faith in God's promises for all who followed after: for Isaac and Jacob, for Joseph and Moses and Joshua, for gentiles like Rahab and Ruth, and even for the great kings like David and Solomon.  And God's promise was that through his covenant people, through these people who knew him in faith and were reconciled to him by faith, he would bless the nations.  It happened here and there in the Old Testament.  Rahab and Ruth are two of many small-scale testimonies to that, but here we finally see the Lord's promise coming to full fruit.  It's what we celebrated last week on Pentecost as Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on these men of Israel gathered from around the world.  They had heard Peter preach about Jesus and what he'd come to do.  They rallied to Jesus in faith and in response Jesus poured his Spirit into them.  Finally, through Jesus, Israel became the source of blessing she was intended to be—not by flesh, but by the Spirit—as these men and women took the good news to the nations: Jesus is Lord.  He has conquered sin and death.  In him is the forgiveness of sin, in him is life, in him God has returned to his creation as King.  And in him—the incarnate Word—God makes himself known.  In Jesus, God incarnate, we have the restoration and fellowship with our Creator that he has been working towards ever since the day we rebelled and were cast out of his presence.  In Jesus, God's kingdom—his new creation—has been inaugurated, in us and through us in the world.  Brothers and Sisters, we are that people the God of Israel was working to create and to make new all those millennia.  Jesus and the Spirit have finally made us that bubble of God's future in the present, the bubble where the world is set to rights and where the tears are wiped away, the bubble that shows the world the faithfulness and goodness of God.  May we be that people—God's future in the present, the heralds of his new creation—may we be faithful in being this Spirit-renewed gospel people who make known God's glory to the world. Let us pray: Almighty God we praise you this morning for the grace you have shown us.  Even as we rebelled against you, our good Creator, you were setting in motion our redemption: Father sending, calling, electing; Son speaking, coming, dying, rising; and Spirit uniting, renewing, regenerating, empowering.  In the redemption of the world we see the glory of the Trinity and the majesty of the Unity and in gratitude we fall before you with the angels to sing, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God almighty.”  By your grace, keep us strong in faith, O Lord, but keep us also faithful in our witness and our ministry to make your redeeming love known to the world.  We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns together with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

After the darkness of centuries, Malachi promises a Messiah would come to will heal the hurts of His people - 'the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings'. In "A New Dawn", we see some of the heart-warming parallels between the natural Sun and the Son of God, the Saviour and healer of humanity. May your horizon be shifted as you listen to this message; may your darkness be dispelled and may you take shelter underneath the wings of Almighty God. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format...

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today! Are you tired of being spiritually weary? You've come to the right place! Join us for a time of prayer, reflection and meditation. Leave the baggage of your day behind you and come away refreshed, renewed, and reconnected to God. In this 12-minute meditation on Psalm 21, we are reminded of the victory that is already ours. We discuss the power of claiming spiritual territory, the tension between claiming what is ours but still unseen, and praying with humility and deference to the Almighty God. Discover More: Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com. Connect with Us: Stay updated and engage with our community: On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Peter in his second chapter exhorts his listeners to crave God's word just as newborns cry incessantly for their mother's milk. He encourages us to become' living stones' founded upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the only true foundation laid in Zion (Isaiah 28:16). We must be built up into a holy temple in the Lord. We, like the hearers of the first century, must submit to authority and demonstrate through holy lives that we are of the same faithfulness as our shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. We shall faithfully adhere to our Father's requirements as we await the time of blessed release, which will come with the coming of our Saviour: Christ our Lord. Peter continues the theme that closed chapter 1 ie human flesh is temporary and worthless and the hope of eternal life is that the Word of God can develop within us a character that our Father will choose to perpetuate. Verses 1-10 describe the building of an edifice to the Almighty God from stones He has chosen and enlivened by His satisfying Word which when consumed produces an intense thirst and desire. The foundation stone on which the house is built is our Lord Jesus Christ – Paul elaborates on this same theme in1 Corinthians 3verses 10-17 (note the similar introduction of Paul to Peter's thoughts ie compare the beginning verses of 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Peter 2) and Ephesians 2verses 19-22. Peter shows that the Father's purpose in making faith in His Son our Lord Jesus Christ was always the LORD's plane by citing Isaiah 8 verses 14-18; and Isaiah 28:16. Our Lord Jesus Christ also quoted these words to prove that believe in him would be the basis of salvation, whereas rejecting Jesus as God's appointed means of saving can only lead to certain and total destruction. In verses 9-10 the Apostle Peter expresses his confidence that his readers have been chosen to show the praise of their Father. In verses 11-12 the Apostle urges his readers to live lives consistent with their profession of faith. From verse 13 to the end of chapter 2 Peter expresses God's requirement for believers to endure persecution for Christ's sake following his example of submission to rulers who cruelly took his life. The argument in verses 13-14 is that the authorities are in power because the Almighty has allowed this – compare Romans 13verses 1-7. Peter's readers would find submission difficult as Rome was persecuting believers. In verses 17-20 the Apostle says that exemplary and faithful obedience even in the face of testing circumstances would demonstrate that believers were truly God's children. History tells us that such behaviour led to the acceptance of the truth by many of the pagans of that era. God will reward faithfulness which showed believers knew and understood the example that the Lord Jesus Christ had shown them in the laying down of his life for his saints – verses 21-25. Peter quotes Isaiah 53 which illustrates that our Lord was silent in his suffering that he might bring us to God. Now our Lord Jesus is overseeing and shepherding us as we walk in trust towards our Father's kingdom.

June 11, 2025Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13Daily Lectionary: Numbers 23:4-28; Luke 22:47-71“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jesus sends the Twelve out to preach and cast out demons. They only get to take a staff. They stay where someone will put them up; if not, it's dust from their boots. They healed the sick and cast out demons. But when I look at this, for the life of me all I can think about is what they didn't have. No money, no clothes, no safety net. Maybe it's because I have a lot of junk, but really, it's because I can't imagine life that close to the brink. I want extra. All I can see are the wolves. The pitfalls. The problems. That fear has been the shift in missions. For so many congregations, it's ceased to be about getting other people's help and turned into making sure we survive. All we can see is what we don't have. Not enough people. Volunteers. Money. Programs. Kids. We paint a picture of a church on the brink of extension, complain about it, and then act shocked nobody else wants to join.  This is who Christ sends the Twelve out to. Sinners who don't trust God enough. Sinners assaulted by demons. Sinners who are sick and suffering. He's still sending. We're still more focused on what we don't have than what we do. And repentance and forgiveness of sins are still being preached. There is real peace. Real healing.  Some will not hear it. Some will not receive it with joy. The kingdom of God is still manifest in the voices of the preachers—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God still uses the church to spread His word, which does not return empty. This is not what this church doesn't have. It's about what it does have. Peace. Jesus for sinners. The cross for you. What we have is precious. Worth praising. There's peace here. There's Christ here. Really here for you when everything else falls apart. When everything else is devoured, Christ will feed you, too. Everything the world is desperate for, we give away for free. And Christ is the one still doing the sending. The church grows by the power of the Holy Spirit. We couldn't stop it by our fear any more than we could stop it by our sin. Christ forgives both. And the church endures. It will stand unto the last, ever calling out mercy. We'll abide in a land of not enough because Christ speaks peace to us here. And that's enough.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, chose Barnabas to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.- Rev. Harrison Goodman, Higher Things Executive Director of Mission and Theology.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.In Clarifying the Great Commission, Rev. Daniel Christian Voth identifies common omissions from our collective understanding of Jesus' farewell discourse—omissions that turn Christ's promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation into a legalistic command. Come and discover a richer understanding of The Great Commission.

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Get access to Daily Prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV)Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him.The PsalterPsalm 56Miserere mei, Deus1Have mercy on me, O God,for my enemies are hounding me; *all day long they assault and oppress me.2They hound me all the day long; *truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.3Whenever I am afraid, *I will put my trust in you.4In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can flesh do to me?5All day long they damage my cause; *their only thought is to do me evil.6They band together; they lie in wait; *they spy upon my footsteps;because they seek my life.7Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.8You have noted my lamentation;put my tears into your bottle; *are they not recorded in your book?9Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *this I know, for God is on my side.10In God the Lord, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid, *for what can mortals do to me?11I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *I will present to you thank-offerings;12For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, *that I may walk before God in the light of the living.Psalm 57Miserere mei, Deus1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,for I have taken refuge in you; *in the shadow of your wings will I take refugeuntil this time of trouble has gone by.2I will call upon the Most High God, *the God who maintains my cause.3He will send from heaven and save me;he will confound those who trample upon me; *God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.4I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *their teeth are spears and arrows,their tongue a sharp sword.5They have laid a net for my feet,and I am bowed low; *they have dug a pit before me,but have fallen into it themselves.6Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.7My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *I will sing and make melody.8Wake up, my spirit;awake, lute and harp; *I myself will waken the dawn.9I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *I will sing praise to you among the nations.10For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.11Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *and your glory over all the earth.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.LessonsDeuteronomy 30:1-1030 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, 2 and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 And the Lord your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. 8 And you shall again obey the voice of the Lord and keep all his commandments that I command you today. 9 The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.2 Corinthians 1010 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God.Luke 18:31-4331 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God.Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.The CollectsProper 5O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*

Throughout history, leaders have claimed their positions in a variety of ways: military conquests, electoral mandates, revolutionary uprisings, and more. But probably the most common and certainly the furthest from modern democratic sensibilities is the divine right of kings. While it is present in a variety of religious and social traditions, most audiences today are familiar with the Judeo-Christian concept that originates from both the Old and New Testaments. Using the words of Jesus Himself -- "Render unto Caesar that which is his" -- and those of His apostles Peter and Paul, Christian rulers from Late Antiquity to the Enlightenment proclaimed themselves beyond criticism because their thrones had come from Almighty God.___Join us as we explore the idea of the divine right of kings and how two nations, England and France, took different paths in their political cultures--to very different ends.

Welcome to Day 2647 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2647 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 69:34-36 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2647 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2647 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In today's Wisdom Nugget, we reach the glorious crescendo, the triumphant conclusion of our long and deeply moving trek through Psalm 69 in the New Living Translation. We began this journey immersed in the psalmist's raw agony, feeling overwhelmed by literal and metaphorical floods, bearing the burden of unjust accusations, and suffering the bitter sting of mockery for his heartfelt devotion to God. We witnessed his persistent cry for God's unfailing love and justice, even amidst the cruelest abandonment. Then, a turning point: a resolute commitment to praise God despite his pain, a declaration that heartfelt worship pleases God more than any sacrifice, and a confident assurance that God hears the needy. Now, in these final three verses, the focus expands dramatically. The psalmist moves beyond his personal deliverance to a sweeping, universal vision of praise and a powerful prophecy of God's ultimate restoration of Zion and the enduring blessing of His people for generations to come. This is a common and powerful way many lament psalms conclude – transforming personal anguish into cosmic hope, reminding us that individual suffering is often woven into God's grand redemptive tapestry. Let's lift our gaze and our hearts as we read the final verses of Psalm 69, verses 34 through 36: (Reads Psalm 69:34-36 NLT) Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will rescue Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will settle there and take possession of it. The descendants of his servants will inherit the land, and those who love his name will live there in safety. Guthrie Chamberlain: What a magnificent, awe-inspiring declaration! The psalmist's personal cry for help culminates in a universal call to worship: “Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.” This is a vision of cosmic praise, encompassing all of creation. It's as if the relief and joy of anticipated deliverance are so immense that the psalmist cannot contain it, and he calls upon the entire created order to join him in praising the Almighty God. In the ancient Israelite worldview, the cosmos was a unified whole, and creation itself was often seen as testifying to the glory of its Creator. The “heavens” declared God's glory (Psalm 19:1), and the “seas” were often depicted as powerful, chaotic forces subject only to God's command. For all these elements – from the vastness of the cosmos to the teeming life within the oceans – to praise God signifies the absolute universality of His reign and the recognition of His ultimate triumph. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the call for “all the earth” to praise God that we saw in Psalm 66. It means that God's glory will be so undeniable that His praise will resonate throughout every corner of existence. The reason for this universal praise is then revealed:

Luke Looks Back Part 6 Luke 4:31-5:26 - The Authority of the Messiah This passage has been carefully structured by Luke around the idea of authority. It starts off with 2 episodes in which Jesus shows his authority by first driving out an evil spirit and then healing many people. It ends with 2 episodes in which Jesus heals a man of leprosy, a symbol of evil, and heals a paralysed man. In between these 2 pairs of episodes Jesus shows his authority by proving that he, a carpenter, can catch more fish than the fishermen can. This middle story is the most important because it shows the authority Jesus had most clearly. First we read Luke 4: 31 - 44 Question 1: Twice in these episodes, when the man with an evil demon calls him 'the Holy One of God' and when the demons call him 'the Son of God', Jesus was more accurately identified by demonic powers than by ordinary people. Why was that? What are our modern day equivalents? That is a hard question to answer. Perhaps the otherworldly powers were more sensitive to the power of Jesus than ordinary people were. Are we as sensitive to the things of the Lord as we should be? Question 2: Why does Luke tell us that Simon's mother-in-law went straight back to the housework. Luke tells us how complete and natural the healing was. Simon's mother-in-law was able to go back into the kitchen and work. In the ordinary way she would have needed time to recover from the fever. The healing by Jesus was very special. In the same way when he heals us of our problems, physical, mental or spiritual, he often heals us instantly. The story of Luke 5: 1 - 11 is clearly the most important part of this passage. Fishing with nets in the Sea of Galilee was done when the fish rose to feed on the surface at night. There could only possibly have been a shoal near the surface in the daylight if a new fresh water spring had opened up in the seabed. (This is an area of volcanic activity). Jesus knew something nobody else did. We read these verses now. 5: 1 - 11 Question 3: What might Simon and John have said to each other when they thought Jesus could not hear when he, a carpenter, told them to go fishing in broad daylight! "Who does he think he is?" "Telling us where and when to fish indeed." "What does he know about it?" "He's only a carpenter." "Thinking because he is a prophet he knows where to fish. What rubbish!" And so on. A boat of those days has been dug up. It was 8m long and 2m wide. So it would have needed a crew of rowers and would have held a lot of fish before it began to sink! So this was a very big catch meaning enough money for many weeks for the families concerned. Question 4: What did Peter do which he must have done so that nobody else was able to share their good fortune (listen again to v 7)? Signalling instead of shouting would have stopped other fisherman realising what had happened and joining in the big catch. Question 5: What does this episode teach us about the relationship between money and spiritual commitment? Practical rewards do sometimes follow devotion of time and energy to spiritual matters as they did in this case. But they do not always do so. We must be prepared to sacrifice things for the sake of the Kingdom. Question 6: Peter wanted to distance himself from Jesus when he 'fell at Jesus' knees and said "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man"' because he thought the unclean contaminated the clean and he was unclean. How did Jesus view this? What is the implication for us? Peter was following the teaching of the OT. Leviticus 10: 10 says, 'distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean'. These teachings were mainly about ceremonial cleanliness. Jesus ignored such things. He taught that the things that matter are love God and loving our neighbour. Ceremony is not important in the Kingdom of God. Question 7: Peter recognised the authority of Jesus over him as a result of the events on the lake. How do we know Jesus has authority over us? The disciples had seen a great miracle. But so do we when the Almighty God calls us to follow him and we respond. He then forgives our sins, promises us final salvation at the end of the ages and gives us his Holy Spirit to guide us until then. If we do not recognize his authority we are poor judges of what is good and great and what is of great advantage for us! Read Luke 5: 12 - 26. "Leprosy" in the Bible may not have been what we call leprosy these days but any of many skin diseases. Question 8: Jesus said "I am willing" and touched the man. What does that tell us about Jesus? Jesus entered fully into human life. He related easily to the outcast, leper man and touched him. That made him, Jesus, unclean under Jewish law but Jesus ignored that. He was interested in the realities of life not the details of religious practice. Question 9: The paralysed man's sins were forgiven not because of his faith but of 'their faith'. Do you think one person's faith can work to heal someone else today? If faith cannot work like that there is not much point in praying for anyone else - which we all do. It is lovely the way Jesus says 'I am willing' to heal someone and calls the guy on the stretcher 'friend' even although his friends have just made a mess of the roof of what was probably his, Jesus' , house. Click here to download as an audio mp3

This episode discusses the universality of sin and the deadly danger of the wrath of Almighty God against the suppression of truth, practical atheism, and thanklessness. The post Romans Episode 2 | The Wrath of God Revealed – Part 1 appeared first on Two Journeys.

This episode features a full length Bible study taught by Pastor Jack Abeelen of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.If today you prayed with Pastor Jack to receive the Lord, we'd love to hear about it and get you started on the right foot. Visit us online at: https://morningstarcc.org/born-again/To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.

If God is really in control, why do bad things happen to Godly people? How can an Almighty God who is good, allow so much suffering in the lives of those He loves? Why does it often feel like evil is winning, darkness is prevailing, and God isn't answering our desperate prayers for rescue. What could we possibly learn from all this? This is a Study of God's Sovereignty, People's Suffering, and the Salvation of the Redeemed.

Colossians 1:17, "He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together!" It is a glorious truth that God not only created all things, but that He also governs and sustains them. Scripture assures us that He upholds all things moment by moment. His hand has never once lifted from the universe that He brought into being. The same voice that spoke the worlds into existence, still commands the rising of the sun, the falling of the rain, and the beating of every heart. Nothing is random. Nothing is left to chance. The entire cosmos is maintained and upheld by the power and wisdom of God. How staggering is His power! He does not merely uphold the visible things, but also the unseen: the bonds between atoms, and the orbits of galaxies. If God were to withdraw His sustaining power for a moment, the universe would dissolve in an instant. Every breath we take, every step we walk--is upheld by the power of Almighty God. Yet this is not a cold or mechanical support--it is governed by His wisdom. The Lord reigns with care, and purpose, and perfect understanding. He rules over the affairs of men, the paths of nations, the timing of seasons. He opens His hand and satisfies the needs of every living thing. He is not only infinite in power, but flawless in judgment. His governance is never hasty, never unjust, and never in error. For the believer, this truth brings deep comfort. We are not at the mercy of chance or chaos. The One who numbers the stars, also numbers our days. He who upholds His universe, also upholds His people. Even in trials and storms--His hand is steady, and His purpose is good. What He governs, He governs well. What He sustains, He sustains perfectly. L

Get access to Daily Prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Friday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 85Benedixisti, Domine1You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *and blotted out all their sins.3You have withdrawn all your fury *and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.4Restore us then, O God our Savior; *let your anger depart from us.5Will you be displeased with us for ever? *will you prolong your anger from age to age?6Will you not give us life again, *that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your mercy, O Lord, *and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *for he is speaking peace to his faithful peopleand to those who turn their hearts to him.9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *that his glory may dwell in our land.10Mercy and truth have met together; *righteousness and peace have kissed each other.11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *and righteousness shall look down from heaven.12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *and our land will yield its increase.13Righteousness shall go before him, *and peace shall be a pathway for his feet. Psalm 86Inclina, Domine1Bow down your ear, O Lord, and answer me, *for I am poor and in misery.2Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; *save your servant who puts his trust in you.3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; *I call upon you all the day long.4Gladden the soul of your servant, *for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, *and great is your love toward all who call upon you.6Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer, *and attend to the voice of my supplications.7In the time of my trouble I will call upon you, *for you will answer me.8Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord, *nor anything like your works.9All nations you have made will come and worship you, O Lord, *and glorify your Name.10For you are great;you do wondrous things; *and you alone are God.11Teach me your way, O Lord,and I will walk in your truth; *knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *and glorify your Name for evermore.13For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.14The arrogant rise up against me, O God,and a band of violent men seeks my life; *they have not set you before their eyes.15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.16Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *give your strength to your servant;and save the child of your handmaid.17Show me a sign of your favor,so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsEzekiel 1:28-3:328 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.2 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.' 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. Hebrews 4:14-5:614 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.5 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,“You are my Son,    today I have begotten you”;6 as he says also in another place,“You are a priest forever,    after the order of Melchizedek.” The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsAscension DayAlmighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Get access to daily prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Wednesday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 119:97-12097Oh, how I love your law! *all the day long it is in my mind.98Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, *and it is always with me.99I have more understanding than all my teachers, *for your decrees are my study.100I am wiser than the elders, *because I observe your commandments.101I restrain my feet from every evil way, *that I may keep your word.102I do not shrink from your judgments, *because you yourself have taught me.103How sweet are your words to my taste! *they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.104Through your commandments I gain understanding; *therefore I hate every lying way. 105Your word is a lantern to my feet *and a light upon my path.106I have sworn and am determined *to keep your righteous judgments.107I am deeply troubled; *preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.108Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, *and teach me your judgments.109My life is always in my hand, *yet I do not forget your law.110The wicked have set a trap for me, *but I have not strayed from your commandments.111Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; *truly, they are the joy of my heart.112I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes *for ever and to the end. 113I hate those who have a divided heart, *but your law do I love.114You are my refuge and shield; *my hope is in your word.115Away from me, you wicked! *I will keep the commandments of my God.116Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, *and let me not be disappointed in my hope.117Hold me up, and I shall be safe, *and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.118You spurn all who stray from your statutes; *their deceitfulness is in vain.119In your sight all the wicked of the earth are but dross; *therefore I love your decrees.120My flesh trembles with dread of you; *I am afraid of your judgments. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsBaruch 3:24-37New Revised Standard Version24 O Israel, how great is the house of God,    how vast the territory that he possesses!25 It is great and has no bounds;    it is high and immeasurable.26 The giants were born there, who were famous of old,    great in stature, expert in war.27 God did not choose them,    or give them the way to knowledge;28 so they perished because they had no wisdom,    they perished through their folly.29 Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her,    and brought her down from the clouds?30 Who has gone over the sea, and found her,    and will buy her for pure gold?31 No one knows the way to her,    or is concerned about the path to her.32 But the one who knows all things knows her,    he found her by his understanding.The one who prepared the earth for all time    filled it with four-footed creatures;33 the one who sends forth the light, and it goes;    he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;    he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”    They shone with gladness for him who made them.35 This is our God;    no other can be compared to him.36 He found the whole way to knowledge,    and gave her to his servant Jacob    and to Israel, whom he loved.37 Afterward she appeared on earth    and lived with humankind. James 5:13-1813 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. Luke 12:22-3122 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsThe Sixth Week of EasterO God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

Wouldn't you like to be an effective tool in the hands of Almighty God in these last days? You can be, and the Prophet Daniel shows us how! Daniel was completely sold out to the Lord, and kept his eyes focused on what God called him to do, no matter what people thought of him or what came against him. That's the sort of men and women we should be. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Live the Adventure", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan. Today's podcast is gonna be a bit different from most of my podcasts. This is the story behind the final installment of the music from my fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Bren: Book One: Captured. The collection of songs is called “Captured: Songs for the Journey.”  This week's episode is the story behind the last song in the series. That song is called, “Live the Adventure.” “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller I love that quote. It almost captures my heart for this series of books. Almost. I have adapted a  personal version that has influenced the writing of these stories of and from the land of Bren. “Life is either a grand, daring adventure or it is nothing at all.” Dennis Jernigan My love of writing and my love of hearing great stories of people who have overcome impossible circumstances has led me to write…in spite of whether those writings are ever considered great or not. The reason I wrote The Chronicles of Bren series and The Bairns of Bren series is simple. I wanted to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren for generations to come. As a part of that legacy, I endeavored to write stories which depict the realities of life. Life is not easy. Life is full of sorrow. Life brings times of wounding of both body and soul. Life brings times of disappointment and even betrayal.  My goal is to leave my family a legacy that explains how life, even with its many hurtful episodes, is meant to be lived with joy. And just how does one do that? I personally believe that if one sees life and its circumstances - both good and bad - from the Lord's point of view, insurmountable mountains become molehills. Impassable rivers become rites of passage. Unbearable grief becomes an opportunity to receive comfort. Fear is replaced with love. Rather than being something to somehow endure, life becomes the most grand adventure because a life lived with the Lord ever-present at one's side sands away the bitterness of life revealing a many-faceted treasure of great worth.  Forgiveness and humility replace bitterness with the heroic heart of a benevolent conqueror. My desire, as a dad and granddad, is that my heirs would come to see themselves as overcomers. I believe Almighty God created the human imagination as a means of revealing His nature to mankind and as a means of helping the human mind understand and begin to unravel the wonderful mystery of Who God is. The gift of imagination has helped me see how even things that are meant to hurt me can be seen from a different point of view - and perspective is everything. Why write in the fantasy genre? Simple. God used fantasy to rescue my heart and mind when I was just a young boy. I felt trapped in what I now call stinkin' thinkin' concerning my identity. I felt I was being held captive in my own mind but God did something amazing during my boyhood that carried me through to the day He set me free.  From the time I was a little boy and all the way into my marriage and adult life, God has used fantasy, mythology, and imagination to rescue and save me. Just a quick case in point. When I was a boy, I felt constantly bullied and that my father could not possibly love me and that there was no escape and no one to rescue me…but each night as I fell  asleep, I was suddenly on the USS Enterprise. My dad was none other than Captain James Tiberius Kirk and my mother was Doris Day. Each dream I was captured by aliens and just as they were about to end me, my dad, Captain Kirk, would materialize and blast them with his phaser, not set to stun but set to destroy. My mom was always there singing Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be…Just a cool memory of how my mother used to comfort me. I believe the Lord used that recurring dream to keep me hanging on…to make me feel someone or something good was pursuing me. When it dawned on me that this was the case, I began to understand the role of imagination in the way I viewed the world and the massive creativity and divine order God set in motion by His own imagination. What does any of that have to do with living the adventure? A simple example from my own life. When I was about 30 years old, I asked myself this question: When you get to the age of 65, what is something that you would look back on and regret not even having tried? For me that was writing and recording music and authoring books. In college I was not allowed to major in song writing because they told me they saw no potential in me. I nearly gave it all up…but something deep inside of me kept nudging me to step out and see life as a grand adventure…so I did. And Father God has seen fit to spread my music literally all over the world. I also wanted a large family, but many told me we needed to wait until we had enough money to start a family before we should even consider it. If I had taken that advice I would not have had the privilege of raising 9 of the most amazing men and women I know of on this planet. I worked hard to provide for my family, but set aside personal time to be with them a lot, and I also carved out time to write each and every day. But had I not dared to believe what the Lord was putting in my heart, I never would have taken one step toward any of my dreams.  Even if you're 65, it's not too late to begin living out the adventure of things you have dreamed of doing. If you're breathing, there is hope…and if you take that first step in the journey, your adventure has begun. What is your heart telling you right now?  [Pro 13:12 NIV] 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. SONG [Joel 2:28 NIV] 28 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” I certainly enjoyed writing the three book series, The Chronicles of Bren. They honestly helped me get a better grip on Father God's point of view of my life. My hope is that you would discover joy and solace within the pages of the books and the melodies of the songs. May they serve as uplifting companions, guiding you to encounter Jesus even amidst life's toughest trials.  Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about my journey, music, and more, visit dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and explore my music on various streaming platforms. If you're keen on joining my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan. Your support means the world to me! The book "Captured" is now available on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions. Once you have finished reading captured, I invite you to read the next two books in the series. Book Two is called “Sacrifice” and Book Three is called “Generations”. All are available on Amazon.  Soon, I hope to introduce you to the songs from book 2, but that will be at sometime in the near future. In the meantime, I encourage you to delve into "Captured" and then enjoy the songs inspired by its characters, all available for FREE. Simply head to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ to download the complete collection at no cost. Thank you once more for being a part of today's podcast. Remember, you are deeply loved by God and by me. Dare to see life as a grand adventure - in spite of your circumstances - and dare to live that adventure with fullness of joy. Now go and be who your heavenly Father says you are. Live The Adventure WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan October 2012 Verse Life is best lived with a sense of adventure! You can wonder what flying is like Or you can take to the sky! Life is the best lived in wonder and splendor! Even when you're knocked down Just get back up and dare to believe! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! Verse  Life is best lived with a sense of pure wonder!  Even storms that we face can be seen From a new point of view! Life is best lived with a sense of pure wonder! Dare to see far beyond What most human eyes dare to conceive! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! Chorus Live the adventure!  Conquer the wind! To the ends of the earth And right back again! Live the adventure!  Dare but to dream! Around every corner new sights to be seen! But you'll never fly if you never try To conquer the wind! Live the adventure!  Dare to believe Knowing he cannot fly Who won't spread his wings! Live the adventure!  Knight, take your horse! Ride to the horizon, Eyes fixed on the course! But you'll never see what you don't believe! And you'll never live what you never dare to be! You, dare to be!

Get access to daily prayer: Become a Patron on Patreon----------------------Monday - Easter Week 6Opening Words:“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”Colossians 3:1 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed:Come let us adore him. Alleluia. The PsalterPsalm 77Voce mea ad Dominum1I will cry aloud to God; *I will cry aloud, and he will hear me.2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; *my hands were stretched out by night and did not tire;I refused to be comforted.3I think of God, I am restless, *I ponder, and my spirit faints.4You will not let my eyelids close; *I am troubled and I cannot speak.5I consider the days of old; *I remember the years long past;6I commune with my heart in the night; *I ponder and search my mind.7Will the Lord cast me off for ever? *will he no more show his favor?8Has his loving-kindness come to an end for ever? *has his promise failed for evermore?9Has God forgotten to be gracious? *has he, in his anger, withheld his compassion?10And I said, “My grief is this: *the right hand of the Most High has lost its power.”11I will remember the works of the Lord, *and call to mind your wonders of old time.12I will meditate on all your acts *and ponder your mighty deeds.13Your way, O God, is holy; *who is so great a god as our God?14You are the God who works wonders *and have declared your power among the peoples.15By your strength you have redeemed your people, *the children of Jacob and Joseph.16The waters saw you, O God;the waters saw you and trembled; *the very depths were shaken.17The clouds poured out water;the skies thundered; *your arrows flashed to and fro;18The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;your lightnings lit up the world; *the earth trembled and shook.19Your way was in the sea,and your paths in the great waters, *yet your footsteps were not seen.20You led your people like a flock *by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsDeuteronomy 8:1-108 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. James 1:1-151 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings.2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *the Lord has become my Savior.This is my God and I will praise him, *the God of my people and I will exalt him.The Lord is a mighty warrior; *Yahweh is his Name.The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *they sank into the depths like a stone.Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *who is like you, glorious in holiness,awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?You stretched forth your right hand; *the earth swallowed them up.With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.You will bring them in and plant them *on the mount of your possession,The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.The Lord shall reign *for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsThe Sixth Week of EasterO God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen*.* Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Psalms taken from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by the Episcopal Church.The reading plan based is based on the 1979 Daily Office Lectionary Year A

If God is really in control, why do bad things happen to Godly people? How can anAlmighty God who is good, allow so much suffering in the lives of those He loves? Why does it often feel like evil is winning, darkness is prevailing, and God isn't answering our desperate prayers for rescue. What could we possibly learn from all this? This is a Study of God's Sovereignty, People's Suffering, and the Salvation of the Redeemed.

The greatest authority and power available to any person is a relationship with Almighty God. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson reminds us that true authority comes from God, and He requires us to submit to His will. Using Jesus as the ultimate model, Pastor Allen highlights Christ's obedience and humility—even unto death—as the foundation of His divine authority. We live in a culture that resists authority, and rejecting God's authority will continue to invite judgment and diminish the Church's influence in the world. But when Christ-followers choose to recognize God as the ultimate Boss and decide to follow Him, lives are changed—including our own!    To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, visit this link: allenjackson.com/podcastdonate

If God is really in control, why do bad things happen to Godly people? How can an Almighty God who is good, allow so much suffering in the lives of those He loves? Why does it often feel like evil is winning, darkness is prevailing, and God isn't answering our desperate prayers for rescue. What could we possibly learn from all this? This is a Study of God's Sovereignty, People's Suffering, and the Salvation of the Redeemed.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 119: ZayinRemember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments. Psalm 119: HethYou only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes. Psalm 119: TethO Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is dearer to me *Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 4:16-5:8The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous. For they will see the end of the wise, and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, and for what he kept them safe. The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this they will become dishonored corpses, and an outrage among the dead forever; because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and shake them from the foundations; they will be left utterly dry and barren, and they will suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish. They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face. Then the righteous will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have oppressed them and those who make light of their labors. When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous. They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, "These are persons whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach-- fools that we were! We thought that their lives were madness and that their end was without honor. Why have they been numbered among the children of God? And why is their lot among the saints? So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, and the sun did not rise upon us. We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and we journeyed through trackless deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has our arrogance profited us? And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?------Colossians 1:24-2:7English Standard Version24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:27-38English Standard Version27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 119: ZayinRemember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope.This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life.The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law.When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort.I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law.Your statutes have been like songs to me *wherever I have lived as a stranger.I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *and dwell upon your law.This is how it has been with me, *because I have kept your commandments. Psalm 119: HethYou only are my portion, O Lord; *I have promised to keep your words.I entreat you with all my heart, *be merciful to me according to your promise.I have considered my ways *and turned my feet toward your decrees.I hasten and do not tarry *to keep your commandments.Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *I do not forget your law.At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *because of your righteous judgments.I am a companion of all who fear you *and of those who keep your commandments.The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *instruct me in your statutes. Psalm 119: TethO Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *according to your word.Teach me discernment and knowledge, *for I have believed in your commandments.Before I was afflicted I went astray, *but now I keep your word.You are good and you bring forth good; *instruct me in your statutes.The proud have smeared me with lies, *but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.Their heart is gross and fat, *but my delight is in your law.It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *that I might learn your statutes.The law of your mouth is dearer to me *than thousands in gold and silver.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 4:16-5:8The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living, and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous. For they will see the end of the wise, and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them, and for what he kept them safe. The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them, but the Lord will laugh them to scorn. After this they will become dishonored corpses, and an outrage among the dead forever; because he will dash them speechless to the ground, and shake them from the foundations; they will be left utterly dry and barren, and they will suffer anguish, and the memory of them will perish. They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up, and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face. Then the righteous will stand with great confidence in the presence of those who have oppressed them and those who make light of their labors. When the unrighteous see them, they will be shaken with dreadful fear, and they will be amazed at the unexpected salvation of the righteous. They will speak to one another in repentance, and in anguish of spirit they will groan, and say, "These are persons whom we once held in derision and made a byword of reproach-- fools that we were! We thought that their lives were madness and that their end was without honor. Why have they been numbered among the children of God? And why is their lot among the saints? So it was we who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us, and the sun did not rise upon us. We took our fill of the paths of lawlessness and destruction, and we journeyed through trackless deserts, but the way of the Lord we have not known. What has our arrogance profited us? And what good has our boasted wealth brought us?------Colossians 1:24-2:7English Standard Version24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:27-38English Standard Version27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Special Patreon Re-Release: Wholehearted Quiet Time with Naomi Vacaro   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.    "So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things." Mark 6:32-34 (NIV)   **Transcription Below**   Questions and Topics We Discuss: How did your life with secret sin impact your connection with Jesus and what were some of those faulty beliefs you internalized that Christ later redeemed? How would you describe quiet time and its purpose? How does quiet time ripple out to effect everyone around us?   Naomi Vacaro is first and foremost a wholehearted follower of Jesus. She grew up as a daughter to missionaries in Outer Mongolia and then moved to Florida at the age of 18 to pursue a college degree. After graduating with a degree in graphic design, she worked as a wedding photographer and soon after felt led to create a journal called the Quiet Time Companion, along with an online ministry that would help Christians develop a daily habit of seeking Jesus. She now spends her time running the Wholehearted community and being a stay-at-home mom. She and her husband live in Florida with their son. Visit her online at wholeheartedquiettime.com or on Instagram.   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.    Quiet by Naomi Vacaro   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   Other Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: 150 Brain Science and Spiritual Abundance with Ken Baugh 259 God Speaks to His Kids . . . Here's How with Chris Allen   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   **Transcription**   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:51) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.    Are you interested in a free college education for you or someone you know? Stay tuned for details coming later in this episode from today's sponsor, Chick-fil-A East Peoria. You can also visit their website today at chickfila.com/East Peoria.    If you've been with us long, you know this podcast is only one piece of our nonprofit, which is the Savvy Sauce Charities. Don't miss out on our other resources.   We have questions and content to inspire you to have your own practical chats for intentional living. And I also hope you don't miss out on the opportunity to financially support us through your tax-deductible donations. All this information can be found on our recently updated website, thesavvysauce.com.   My guest for today is Naomi Vaccaro, and she has wisdom beyond her years that she articulates beautifully in her faith journey. She's humbly going to share some highs and lows, and she's able to pull out ways that the Lord has called her to live in the light. And she has practical suggestions for ways we can do the same.   Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Naomi.   Naomi Vaccaro: (1:53 - 2:01) Hi, Laura. Thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited to be here and just can't wait to dive into all this amazing conversation.   Laura Dugger: (2:02 - 2:10) Well, likewise, I feel the same. And will you start us off by just giving us a glimpse of your journey to becoming a Christ follower?   Naomi Vaccaro: (2:11 - 4:04) Yeah, absolutely. So, my story is probably very similar to many other believers who grew up in Christian homes. I know I'm not the only one who probably has a similar testimony.   But I was showed the gospel a thousand times in a hundred different ways over the course of many, many years. So, my coming to faith was definitely a slow blossoming over a long period of time. My first really memorable encounter with the Lord was when I was about seven years old.   I remember I was walking in the backyard of our home in Mongolia, which is where I grew up as a missionary kid. And during that evening, there was just this particularly beautiful sunset. And I just remember looking at the clouds in the sky and just seeing that sun dip below the horizon.   And I just knew my seven-year-old heart knew that God was real and that he was present and he saw me and he just loved me. And that was the first time I remember actually acknowledging him personally and really just wanting to be in a relationship with him. So, I would say that was when my journey of faith really started.   That's when it took root in my own heart, this longing for eternity. And then my understanding of the gospel was definitely limited to what a seven year old could grasp at the time. So, my relationship with Christ and the way I understood his grace, it deepened and it strengthened over time.   But I do believe that it was in that moment that I became committed to start the journey. And then it was just slow growth from there.   Laura Dugger: (4:05 - 4:48) I love it. Everybody's story is so personal to them, and it never gets old hearing how Christ has wooed people to himself. But in your new book, you write on page 15, I'm going to quote you saying, “My mom and dad took their role as parents even more seriously than their calling as missionaries.”   If there was one thing they persistently taught us as kids, it was that spending time with Jesus was a necessary part of everyday life. And so Naomi, as a mom myself with a similar conviction to create a spiritually vibrant home atmosphere, I would love to learn, how did your parents actually do that?   Naomi Vaccaro: (4:49 - 8:11) Yeah, that's a great question. I'm a mom myself now, and ever since becoming a mom, this is the question I just revisited over and over. And I'm just so grateful to have had the example that my parents gave to me.   And that's really what they did. So, my parents, first and foremost, they taught by example. Every morning without fail, my mom and dad would be the first ones up and they would each spend time with the Lord in their own routine, their own unique rhythm.   And so, it's funny, because for many years, I really thought that every other adult Christian had Bible time in the morning, just like my parents did. I thought it was just the thing adults did. And it wasn't until later in life that I realized how rare and special it was to have parents who sought the Lord so diligently and consistently.   They weren't just missionaries on the outside, you know, pastor on the outside. They had a private devotion to the Lord that was so vibrant and so real. And there was just no hypocrisy there.   Also, on the more practical side of things, I just also had the good fortune of being homeschooled, which allowed my parents a lot of flexibility and creativity with our education. So, one thing that my mom would do is every morning at around eight o'clock after we had all had breakfast, we would gather in the living room together. We would break open hymnals and sing some songs.   We would learn from a passage in scripture, and my mom would lead that time. Sometimes my dad would. And then we would pray together.   And then my mom would read a book out loud to all of us for about 30 minutes or so. And so that daily time, I just remember that being one of the most special parts of my childhood. And it was so enjoyable.   And I really think that it took the concept of a quiet time or seeking the Lord as one of the first things you did every day. It just made that rhythm really normal in my mind. So even now, it seems weird not to start my day with some kind of routine that welcomes the Lord into my day.   And I really attribute that to my mom and my dad and the way they educated us. So, my parents, they taught by example, and they integrated these beautiful rhythms into our lives at a very young age. So, if you are a parent and you really want that to become a reality in your home, just start first by creating this rhythm in your personal life.   Kids practice what we do, not just what we teach. They can sense hypocrisy very, very easily. And so, you first just need to make sure that you are devoting yourself to the Lord privately.   And they will see that and it will impact them. And then some of the ways you can bring your kids into your quiet time rhythm with you is you could have them sit next to you and have them read their own children's Bible as you read your Bible. And set aside a few minutes to pray with them every morning.   There are so many ways that we can start cultivating this culture in our home. But I really do believe that it all starts with our own sincere private devotion.   Laura Dugger: (8:12 - 9:01) That's really helpful to hear. And I like that progression of it begins with us and our commitment to our relationship with the Lord and growing there. But that's also helpful to see it play out that they kind of fed you through the hymns and through the Bible reading, but then also transferred that responsibility on to you to pursue that as well as you got older.   Something that really stood out when I read your book was your humility and vulnerability. So, I'm wondering if you can share a little bit more of your journey now. And specifically, how did your life with secret sin impact your connection with Jesus?   And what were some of those faulty beliefs that you internalized and Christ later redeemed?   Naomi Vaccaro: (9:03 - 14:43) Yeah. So, first of all, I just want to say, you know, this is where life happens. This is where things get real when we uncover our own failure, our own shame, when we bring it into the light.   This is just this is where God works. He works with humility. And that's why we should not be afraid to deal with these topics.   And so, I'm so excited to share my own story right now because I hope it will encourage someone else who might be listening. And it's something that I think we do need to talk about more in the Christian community. So basically, when I was eight years old, I was so young.   When I was eight years old, I was first exposed to pornography and erotica. And after that encounter, a secret sin of sexual fantasizing and seeking out more erotic content developed in my life. And this sin, the secret sin, did major damage to my walk with Jesus for a long time.   First of all, that's really what sin does, right? It separates us from God when we walk in a way that goes against his design, his good, good design for us. It destroys, it separates, it hurts.   And that's what it did for me for a long time. However, because of the grace of Christ, sin can only separate us from God if we let it. And so, I, at the time, I really did let my failure separate me from the grace of Jesus because I didn't really understand that the gospel applied to me as an already born-again Christian who struggled with sexual temptation.   I thought that you became a Christian because of the gospel, Jesus on the cross, the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, etc., etc. But deep down, I also really thought that once I was through the door of the gospel, that the Christian walk became up to me. So, every time I stumbled and fell into any kind of sin, but especially lust, because that was what I was so, so ashamed of, I would feel absolutely devastated.   And this was more than just a righteous conviction because it's good to feel devastated over our sin. This was a fear that I had somehow lost God's favor, lost his love, and particularly lost my salvation. I questioned my identity in Christ every time I stumbled in this way.   So, every time I would seek out this content and just give in to this inner sexual fantasizing, I would avoid having a quiet time for a few days because I really felt like I somehow had to do a penance, that I had to prove to God just how sorry I was. And so, this secret sin and the guilt that it gave me, it really did drive me away from Jesus, which I'm sure it just broke his heart because that is the last thing you want to do when you fall into sin is run away from God. And what's so sad is that I kept this in a secret for years.   I was eight when it started, and I was 13 when I finally got up the nerve to confess to my mother. I had prayed many times and confessed this sin to the Lord many times, but I wasn't seeing progress. I was still struggling, and I knew, I knew for years he was telling me, Naomi, you need to confess this to someone else.   You need to confess this to your mom. And I was so afraid of telling her that I was sinning in this way. I felt so dirty.   I felt so trapped and so terrified of losing her good opinion and the good opinion of anyone who would find out because I often equated the good opinion of others to love, especially as someone who's just a natural born people pleaser. But that morning when I finally confessed as a 13-year-old, the love and the grace that my mother showed me, it was the greatest reflection of the gospel I had ever experienced in my life up to that point. My sin didn't drive her away from me.   It actually drew her in closer, and that was the last thing that I expected. She embraced me. She came alongside me, and she made it clear that I was not the first or the last Christian to struggle with the sin of lust.   And she made me understand that I was not alone. And so, her reaction, it really did show me this fundamental truth, that our sin is what makes us absolutely irresistible to the compassionate heart of Christ. He hates sin because our sin is killing us.   But instead of casting us aside and pushing us away, he draws near in order to heal us. Jesus rushes to the side of a repentant sinner every single time. And that is what I learned through that journey of secret sin, wrestling inwardly, and then finally confessing in obedience to the Lord, confessing that sin to my mom.   Laura Dugger: (14:44 - 15:05) Wow. Thank you for bravely sharing that journey. That is such an encouragement.   And if someone is relating to your story, or maybe they're in the midst of their own experience of harboring some other form of secret sin right now, and it's creating distance between them and God, what encouragement would you like to offer them?   Naomi Vaccaro: (15:07 - 17:00) Yeah, so just run to Jesus. It all starts there. Just don't wait another moment.   Pause this episode if you need to. Hit your knees. Cry out to God.   Sin, it kills. It destroys. It separates us.   And the way we overcome sin is not by muscling our way through in our own strength. I've tried that. It doesn't work.   We have to combat sin by taking up the sword of surrender. We surrender ourselves to God, and then it becomes his strength that carries us through, that sets us free. So don't wait to confess.   Confess every single failure that's weighing on your soul. It doesn't define you in Christ. You are set free from his work.   So don't carry that garbage around anymore. Just don't do it. Jesus is so ready to embrace you, and it really is a lie that your sin makes you too dirty to approach him.   Jesus took care of that once and for all on the cross. So just like you embraced the gospel when you first became a Christian, now just cling to the gospel as you battle sin as a Christian. And then you can just ask yourself, you know, is there someone else that the Lord wants to bring alongside you in this struggle?   There's a reason why we are a body. There's a reason why we don't do the Christian walk alone, and that's because sin can't survive in the light, which is Christian accountability and confession. So, you will just be amazed at what God can do when you confess your sin to him and you make it known to other believers.   Just walk in that humility and trust that God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.   Laura Dugger: (17:01 - 19:50) And now a brief message from our sponsor. Did you know you can go to college tuition free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right.   Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University. Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia.   This online self-paced program includes 13 associates degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees and two master's programs, including an MBA. 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And so, I think you're just laying out such a biblical view of how to walk in freedom and intimacy with God and others by confessing and saying out loud what we're struggling with. And I know that the enemy will try whispering to us and lying and twisting things saying that this will lead to something worse or lead to more bondage.   And yet your story reveals the truth that it actually sets us free. As we continue to walk through your journey, you next experienced euphoria from having a clear conscience. And you channeled your newfound energy into a spiritual discipline that you said you most wanted to improve, which was your quiet time.   So how would you describe quiet time and its purpose?   Naomi Vaccaro: (19:51 - 21:24) Yeah, so quiet time refers to the activities of Bible reading and prayer. And its purpose really is wonderfully simple and yet deeply profound. Simply put, having a quiet time is relating to God.   In any relationship, there needs to be back and forth communication, right? Listening and talking, receiving and sharing. So, when you become a follower of Christ, you are entering into a relationship with the Almighty God.   That is what Christianity is all about. So, reading the Bible is essentially listening to God share His heart with you. That's how you are getting to know the other being, the other person on the other side of this relationship.   And prayer is how you share your heart with God. God wants you to share about yourself. He wants to know you.   And just because He's God and He already knows everything doesn't mean He doesn't enjoy that intimacy with us. He wants to relate to us just like we would relate to anybody else. So of course, there are many other good reasons to read the Bible and pray.   But this really is the foundation of what having a quiet time is all about. It's how we cultivate and nurture our relationship with God Himself.   Laura Dugger: (21:25 - 21:31) And what would you say to someone who feels like their quiet time has become stale or boring?   Naomi Vaccaro: (21:32 - 23:20) So first, don't be alarmed. I get so alarmed when my quiet time becomes boring and I start second-guessing everything. But over time I've learned that this happens to everyone, and it doesn't mean you're no longer a Christian.   So just don't worry. Search your heart definitely and try to find the reason behind this season. There could be something more serious going on.   For instance, when I was walking through sin for many years, that was a huge issue that kept me from experiencing a lot of genuine delight with the Lord. So, there could be something like that that is causing trouble. Or it could just be that you are in a season that is draining your joy.   You could be walking through suffering, a significant suffering. And that should not be surprising to us that our circumstances and our suffering affect how we relate to God and the feelings we experience there. So, no matter what the reason is, the answer is the same.   Keep coming back to Christ. Even when it feels boring, I promise you the feelings will follow in time. And there are also some practical things that you can do to shake things up and make your quiet time a little more interesting if it's really just that simple.   For instance, you can bring worship music into your routine. I love worship music and that always sparks a lot of joy and just praise. You can also go on a prayer walk around your neighborhood.   You can start a new Bible study or a book. Just don't take your own lack of feeling too seriously. And just trust me that as you remain faithful in the discipline, the delight will follow in time.   Laura Dugger: (23:21 - 23:58) And I think that even ties into what you were saying earlier about confessing or just bringing things into the light. It's such a joy to get to do this in community. So maybe even sharing with your spouse, if that applies to you, or a friend or a loved one, if this is a struggle.   And I think they can also help shed light on what's going on. But you mentioned the word season. And so, let's take this from a proactive stance then.   If someone has a big life change coming up, like a move or a wedding or a new child, how can they prepare to adapt their quiet time to a new season?   Naomi Vaccaro: (23:59 - 26:10) Oh man, the seasons that you mentioned, each one of those have always affected my quiet time. Especially becoming a mom. Just shout out to all the moms out there.   So, I would just say, spend a good amount of time. If you see the season that is ahead of you, just spend a good amount of time praying over that season before it even arrives. Just trust that the Lord, He will give you the grace you need to transition into your new role.   And prepare your heart before the Lord to receive this sanctification, because that's what transition does. It reveals weakness in us. It reveals where we've maybe placed a lot of our hope and confidence in places other than Christ.   And so, walk into that sanctification confidently that the Lord is with you. And then just do your best when that season comes. Do your best to maintain your quiet time routine.   But don't worry too much if things get lost for a little while. It really does take time to regain our footing after a big transition. The main thing is to just not give up the habit altogether.   Just keep fighting for pieces of it as much as you can. And then overtime it will get easier. For me, it took me about six months to relearn my quiet time routine after I got married.   And after I had a baby, it took me a solid year before I became consistent again. It was really, really hard. And even now as a working mom, I still really struggle to find consistency.   So don't freak out. Don't linger on any kind of sense of failure. Just return to the Lord in whatever moments He provides.   And just know that His mercies are new every single morning. And just because you're struggling to have a quiet time in a new season of life doesn't mean that Jesus is not with you, that He's not walking with you and making you into more of His likeness. He is.   He still delights in you. He loves you. He has not left you.   He is still right there.   Laura Dugger: (26:11 - 26:24) I think that's such a real picture because it is a fight and it's worth the fight. And Naomi, how have you seen quiet time ripple out to affect everyone around us?   Naomi Vaccaro: (26:25 - 28:38) Oh man, I feel like I could talk about this one question for a long time because it really does affect everyone. It affects everything. Because when you think of what having a quiet time is, it is connecting us with the God of the universe.   And not only that, it is welcoming Him into our lives and making us more like Christ. So, when we do that regularly, consistently, there literally isn't anyone in our proximity who will not be positively affected by that. The more we are absorbing Scripture and engaging with the Lord in prayer about what's going on in our lives, the people in our lives, the things that weigh us down or lift us up, the more we do this and reflect Christ to the world around us, the more people will be impacted.   So, our marriages, we'll just start there. They will become so much sweeter as we lean on the love of Christ. Trust me, your spouse cannot be your ultimate fulfillment.   And when we look to our spouse to fulfill every single one of our needs, marriage becomes really hard. But the more we lean on our true source of joy and satisfaction, marriage actually becomes really, really wonderful. So, for the sake of your marriage, have a quiet time.   And the same is true for our kids. They are not meant to be the center of our universe. And they will feel so much more happy and secure as we find our joy in the Lord.   They cannot bear the weight of our worship. And so if you want kids who are just full of joy, then spend time with the Lord and trust him to take care of them. And then obviously just our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, our relatives, everyone we encounter will feel the ripple effect of our own private devotion to God.   I truly do believe that one person who is faithful to seek the Lord on a regular basis will have an impact that resounds throughout eternity itself. I really, really do.   Laura Dugger: (28:39 - 28:49) And do you think it's ever possible to selfishly prioritize our allegiance to these spiritual disciplines above other priorities?   Naomi Vaccaro: (28:50 - 31:30) Yes. Absolutely. And this is something I do talk about in my book, and I share some content there that really impacted me when I was learning about flexibility in our spiritual disciplines.   So, I think it's really important to realize that having a daily quiet time is not a command in Scripture. It's not a sin issue if you don't have a quiet time. It's a relationship issue.   So, the actual function of Bible reading and prayer is not some kind of non-negotiable ritual that we perform. Ultimately, the Christian walk is about loving the Lord, our God, with all we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves. God will never ask us to compromise on either one of those.   He will never ask us to sacrifice one for the other. So loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength will also always look like loving our neighbor as ourselves. Sometimes it looks like changing a diaper instead of opening up that Bible study we're just dying to get into.   And sometimes it looks like running out the door to help someone in an emergency rather than having our regularly scheduled prayer time. Our spiritual disciplines need to be flexible enough to be interrupted. Otherwise, we are making the routine itself too important.   And I really believe the best example of this is Christ himself. There are multiple instances in Scripture where Jesus allows his prayer time with the Father or even his journey down the road to be interrupted by the needs of others. Jesus was always ready to stop and serve, even if that meant shifting his other plans.   Now we all have our own capacity, so that doesn't mean you always have to be rushing to this person and that person. It just means that you need to be willing to let go of your routines in place of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Wherever he wants us to go to love God and love others, that's what we need to remember.   And then just remember that quiet time is not the end goal in itself. That is not the ultimate end of the Christian life. Love for God and love for others really does go beyond daily Bible reading and prayer.   Sometimes our quiet time will need to be changed or postponed in order for us to love others the way God wants us to.   Laura Dugger: (31:31 - 32:42) I love scenarios that are both and, and you're laying that out for us, that quiet time both is important and its worthy of being prioritized and flexibility is important and Christ-like as well.    Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips, and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy! Another part of your book just made me smile when you were talking about whether you believe prayer and Scripture reading are non-negotiables, but you also invite readers to journal for a variety of reasons. And I love journaling as well.   But from your standpoint, will you elaborate on some convincing reasons to give journaling a try?   Naomi Vaccaro: (32:44 - 35:36) Absolutely. So, I am also an avid journaler. I have been journaling since I was about eight years old.   And over time, I really have just seen so many amazing benefits to journaling. Like you said, it's not a non-negotiable element to a quiet time. It's not absolutely necessary to journal.   Whereas I would say Bible reading and prayer are necessary because they are our modes of communication to the Lord. So, journaling really is more of a bonus element. But keeping a diary will always be something I recommend for several reasons.   So here are my main reasons why I recommend journaling. So, first of all, journaling really does help us process our emotions. We've got a lot of feelings rolling around inside of us.   And sometimes it is so good to just wrestle those feelings onto a page so that we can look them over, analyze them, process them, submit them to the Lord, and maybe understand why we are feeling a certain way and then what next steps we should take to address those emotions. So that's my first reason. Journaling really helps us process our emotions.   Also, I think most people understand that this is a huge benefit of journaling. But journaling really is a wonderful way to preserve our memories. There are so many stories I would never have remembered if I didn't write them down years ago.   And I just absolutely love, it gives me so much joy to go back through my old journals and read about events and what I thought about certain events that happened years ago. And at the time, those things seemed so big and important. But now they are just the sweetest memories that I get to pass down to my children, hopefully, and hopefully their children.   So yes, journaling also helps us preserve our memories. And then finally, I think the most compelling reason to journal is the way it helps us keep a record of God's faithfulness in our lives. So how many times do you and I pray over something super specific, something we are super worried about, and then that problem is solved.   The Lord provides, and the need is met. And then the next day, we kind of forgot all about it. We just move right along to the next worry.   I know that I do this all the time, and journaling has really helped me in this area. I get so caught up with now that I forget about all the dozens and hundreds of times that God has been faithful to provide and protect and comfort me in the past. So journaling is just such a good, practical way to deepen our faith as we record and remember how good God has been to us over time.   Laura Dugger: (35:36 - 35:56) And I even think the Bible encourages this in different ways when it's talking about writing this down or passing this on to your children. Or one of my favorites in the last part of Proverbs 3.21 says, preserve sound judgment and discernment. Do not let them out of your sight.   And so, I just echo all that you're saying.   Naomi Vaccaro: (35:57 - 35:58) Yes.   Laura Dugger: (35:58 - 36:08) When we consider the Holy Spirit's impactful role in our lives, how can we discern when we're being spirit-led versus flesh-led?   Naomi Vaccaro: (36:09 - 38:20) You know, what's so amazing about being a Christian is that we have been given the gift of the Helper, with a capital H, you know, the Holy Spirit who now dwells within those who belong to Christ. It's so amazing. So, if you look at yourself in the mirror right now, you can just know the Holy Spirit is looking right back at you.   It's pretty amazing. We get to walk every day hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit. And the more we listen to Him and let Him guide us in our lives, the easier it will be to hear Him again.   And that's what we want. We want to be spirit-led people. So how do we do that?   The age-old question. So, one thing that we can always be certain of is that the Holy Spirit will never contradict the revealed will of God in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is a part of the Trinity.   They are all so connected in their purpose. They are one. And yes, the Spirit, He can work in our emotions, and He often does.   But the problem is, our feelings can be so tricky. And we always want to measure them against the Holy Word of God because that is where our source of truth is found. So, this really is the truest test for the leading of the Holy Spirit versus the leading of our flesh.   Our flesh will always be self-centered. And the Holy Spirit will always be Christ-centered. The Holy Spirit exists to magnify Christ, right?   So, as we look at Christ and adore Christ, then the Holy Spirit will grow stronger and stronger inside of us. So that's what I would encourage you to do. If you want to discern the difference between the Holy Spirit's leading and your flesh's leading, then really just start with studying God's Word.   Bring it into your home, your soul, your day-to-day life, and you will begin to discern the difference in no time.   Laura Dugger: (38:22 - 38:28) And how can we spur one another on to love and good deeds, especially in community?   Naomi Vaccaro: (38:29 - 40:15) So first, you need to be in community in order to spur one another on to love and good deeds, right? So, we really do need to start there because we're living in a time, especially in our country, I think around the world, where there is just a pandemic of loneliness and people are not living in community. So start by finding that community.   Find a local body of believers in Christ to do life with. And I don't just mean a Sunday morning service. Find people that you can see multiple times a week and start to get vulnerable and involved in each other's lives.   Start a prayer group together. Gather your kids and have a regular play date. Do game nights with the whole family.   Just think outside the box of Sunday morning. And after that, I just really believe that in order to love one another well, we need to bring it back to the whole topic of this conversation. We need to start with our own private relationship with God.   If this vertical relationship between God and us is out of whack, then our horizontal relationships with others will really just start to disintegrate. So, we need to begin with our own relationship with Christ and begin by praying for the people in your community as you spend time talking with Him. He will be the one to fill you with the love you need to then go and pour it out to the other members of your community.   And that is what spurs Christians on to love and good deeds. And it always has been.   Laura Dugger: (40:16 - 40:29) Well, Naomi, I'm enjoying this conversation. And if anybody wants to continue the conversation, where would you direct us online to find you and begin implementing these rhythms that you've taught us today?   Naomi Vaccaro: (40:30 - 41:09) Thank you, Laura. I've had such a great time talking with you, too. And I would just love to chat with anyone else who wants to come and start a conversation.   You can find me on Instagram at Naomi Vaccaro. And you can find my ministry, Wholehearted, where we focus on discipling Christians to have a daily quiet time. You can find that ministry on Instagram at WholeheartedQuietTime.   Also, our website is WholeheartedQuietTime.com. And that's where we have our blog and our online shop and a lot of free resources. So please come on by.   I would love to meet you.   Laura Dugger: (41:09 - 41:28) Wonderful. We will link to that in the show notes for today's episode. And you may be aware we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight.   And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Naomi Vaccaro: (41:28 - 41:51) Yeah, I love this. Savvy Sauce. There's a lot of things I could say, but when it comes down to it, my savvy sauce really is getting a good night's sleep.   I become a monster if I don't sleep enough. So, I need to get my rest. I cannot recommend it highly enough, people.   Get yourselves eight hours every night. Amen to that.   Laura Dugger: (41:51 - 42:17) That is wonderful savvy sauce. And maybe that's part of the reason and more so your connection with the Lord. But I just experience you as such a peaceful and kind and gentle person.   And I can hear all of the passion about this coming from you. So, thank you for the work that you're faithfully doing with Wholehearted. And thank you for being my guest today.   Naomi Vaccaro: (42:18 - 42:34) Thank you, Laura. I just feel so encouraged and so, so loved by God through this conversation. And I cannot wait to see what he is going to do in His people through your work, your podcast, and Lord willing, my book.   So may His will be done.   Laura Dugger: (42:35 - 46:36) Thank you so much, Naomi.    One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

patreon.com/commonprayerdaily------Opening Words:Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1 (ESV)------Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.------The Invitatory & Psalter:Lord, open our lips. And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.Pascha Nostrum (Christ our Passover)Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him.Alleluia.------The Psalms & LessonsPsalm 41Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive,so that they may be happy in the land; *he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.The Lord sustains them on their sickbed *and ministers to them in their illness.I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; *heal me, for I have sinned against you.”My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *“When will he die, and his name perish?”Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *their heart collects false rumors;they go outside and spread them.All my enemies whisper together about me *and devise evil against me.“A deadly thing,” they say, “has fastened on him; *he has taken to his bed and will never get up again.”Even my best friend, whom I trusted,who broke bread with me, *has lifted up his heel and turned against me.But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, *and I shall repay them.By this I know you are pleased with me, *that my enemy does not triumph over me.In my integrity you hold me fast, *and shall set me before your face for ever.Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *from age to age. Amen. Amen.Psalm 52You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *against the godly all day long?You plot ruin;your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *O worker of deception.You love evil more than good *and lying more than speaking the truth.You love all words that hurt, *O you deceitful tongue.Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,and root you out of the land of the living!The righteous shall see and tremble, *and they shall laugh at him, saying,“This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *but trusted in great wealthand relied upon wickedness.”But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.I will give you thanks for what you have done *and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.------Wisdom 1:16-2:11,21-24But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death; considering him a friend, they pined away and made a covenant with him, because they are fit to belong to his company. For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. For we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been, for the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts; when it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. Our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. "Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass us by. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. Let none of us fail to share in our revelry; everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this our lot. Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow or regard the gray hairs of the aged. But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls; for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it. ------Colossians 1:1-14English Standard Version1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:Grace to you and peace from God our Father.3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Luke 6:1-11English Standard Version6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.The Word of the Lord. Thanks Be To God.------Cantemus Domino (The Song of Moses)Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted;  the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge;  the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him,  the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior;  Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea.The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them;  they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might;  your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods?  who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand;  the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed;  with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them  on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord,  the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign  for ever and for ever.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.------The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.------The PrayersLord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us; And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern us And lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousness And let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your people And bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O Lord And defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God And take not your Holy Spirit from us.Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others.------The CollectsSpecial Collects:The Fourth Week of EasterO God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for Grace O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for Mission Almighty and everlasting God, who alone works great marvels: Send down upon our clergy and the congregations committed to their charge the life-giving Spirit of your grace, shower them with the continual dew of your blessing, and ignite in them a zealous love of your Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.------General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.------DismissalLet us bless the Lord Thanks be to God!BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.