Podcasts about deuteronomy

Psalm 4 Psalm 134 Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

Do you feel like you’re running on empty—physically, emotionally, or spiritually? Life’s challenges can leave us depleted, but God’s love is designed to carry us through every season. In Deuteronomy 1:31, Moses reminds the Israelites that God carried them through the wilderness “as a man carries his son.” This isn’t a fleeting support—it’s a lifelong, sustaining love that holds us steady when we can’t hold ourselves. Intersecting Faith & Life Are there areas of your life where you’ve been trying to carry burdens alone? How might you invite God to carry what has been too heavy for you? Take a moment to rest in the assurance that Christ holds the details of your life, sustaining you with His love. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: The Kind of Love That Carries YouBy Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place. - Deuteronomy 1:31 (CSB) My car flashed the empty light. I was almost out of gas. My heart sighed. The to-do list for the day felt never-ending. Life was really hard for our family. During seasons of busyness, I find myself running like a car on an empty tank of gas. Hardships faced everyone. Maybe you are facing sickness, loneliness, grief, fear, or even depression today. How do we continue to hold everything together when we run out of energy? The beautiful truth of the Bible is that we do not keep running and running by ourselves. Spiritually, emotionally, and even physically, we are not asked to endure everything on our own. We are not alone. God’s love comes with a promise. In the Book of Deuteronomy, we read some of Moses’ last words to the people. Before recounting the laws and telling them how to live, Moses reminded them of God’s love for them: “And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place” (Deuteronomy 1:31 CSB). Good fathers carry their sons because of their love for them. Sometimes human fathers fail. Maybe you didn’t have a good father. Friend, if you are a Christian, God is your Father. This imagery is woven throughout the entire Bible. A good father will care for and love his son. I can remember my husband carrying each of our children up the stairs to bed every night when they were young. This type of carrying we see here is one of deep and lasting love. Notice that God carried the people in the wilderness, along a very uncertain road. No matter what they faced, famine, thirst, and enemies, God carried them each and every step. You and I have the comfort that God, as our Father, will carry us through life. God isn’t just there for guidance; He lifts us up and bears the weight of this life with us. When life gets too heavy, God carries us like a Father. Not only does God’s love carry us now, it also does so throughout our entire lives. The prophet Isaiah warns the people against running to their idols for safety. He says: I [God] will be the same until your old age,and I will bear you up when you turn gray.I have made you, and I will carry you;I will bear and rescue you. - Isaiah 46:4 (CSB) Notice the time span. From birth… to old age… to gray hairs. The older I get, the more I realize that my strength from twenty years ago just isn’t the same now that I’m in my forties. It doesn’t matter what our physical bodies are capable of; God’s love is a love that lasts throughout our whole life! God tells the Israelites, “I have made you and carried you.” No matter what happens, God will bear us up and rescue us. God’s love is not seasonal or situational. It does not withdraw as we age. It never weakens or changes. The one who created us commits Himself to carry us all the way through our lives. The idea of God carrying us is not just in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we see this repeated as well. One of the most powerful examples of this is found in the book of Colossians. Paul says that Christ is not just our Savior, but our sustainer: “For in him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17 CSB). Notice the phrase, “in him all things hold together.” Jesus Christ is the reason the universe is still running! Christ is beside God on the throne in Heaven, keeping our world going. He carries all of creation, but that also means you and me! All things include you, me, and the details of our lives. The power Christ has to sustain us is beyond our ability to understand. We can rest, you and I, today, that God’s love carries us personally, patiently, and powerfully! Intersecting Faith & Life: Where might you have been trying to carry burdens God never intended you to bear alone? I want to encourage you today that God’s love does not demand strength from us; it supplies it. You are not held together by your own effort - but by Christ! Further Reading:Psalm 68:19Psalm 55:22Matthew 11:28-30Hebrews 13:5 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 126), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, stressing that truth is the core of God, the soul, and Jewish destiny in exile. Key teachings:Prolonged exile due to sins — Current long exile stems from Jewish sins; we must separate from worldly vanities and cling to Hashem's seal—truth.Sanctify through truth — Abstain even from permissible things to avoid any trace of falsehood (97% truth = 100% false); never lie or mislead Jew or Gentile in any matter.Exile for converts — Hashem scattered Jews among nations to add gerim (converts); honest dealings inspire non-Jews to join (Midrash: “I will sow her for Myself in the land” = exile brings converts).Return stolen items — Stories of Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach returning a precious stone in a donkey purchase, and sages returning money found in wheat—Gentiles proclaimed “Blessed is the God of the Jews.” Sanctification of God's Name through honesty.Reward of truth — Truth sprouts from earth; righteousness looks down from heaven (Psalms 85:12). Truthful living glorifies Hashem and draws divine favor.Wicked rewarded in this world — Hashem pays wicked for minor merits now to destroy them eternally (Deuteronomy); better for righteous to suffer briefly here and receive eternal reward in Olam Haba.Practical application — Cling to truth in all dealings; exile teaches separation from falsehood and reliance on Hashem alone.The rabbi reflects on modern parallels (antisemitism, unity in crises like Nachshon Waxman) and urges living truthfully to hasten redemption—Moshiach comes when truth prevails. Ends previewing next trait: flattery (chanufa)._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 15, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Exile, #Converts, #KiddushHashem ★ Support this podcast ★

In this final class about self control in anger is a deep dive in to accepting ourselves. In light of the fact that we may be wrong and accepting others in light of the fact that we may be right. We are introduced to the Ego-Meter a wonderful little inventive idea in how to calculate our self awareness and self esteem in situations that we are threatened by others. Enjoy!

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 30:11–20. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-joy-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 126), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, stressing that truth is the core of God, the soul, and Jewish destiny in exile. Key teachings:Prolonged exile due to sins — Current long exile stems from Jewish sins; we must separate from worldly vanities and cling to Hashem's seal—truth.Sanctify through truth — Abstain even from permissible things to avoid any trace of falsehood (97% truth = 100% false); never lie or mislead Jew or Gentile in any matter.Exile for converts — Hashem scattered Jews among nations to add gerim (converts); honest dealings inspire non-Jews to join (Midrash: “I will sow her for Myself in the land” = exile brings converts).Return stolen items — Stories of Rabbi Shimon ben Shetach returning a precious stone in a donkey purchase, and sages returning money found in wheat—Gentiles proclaimed “Blessed is the God of the Jews.” Sanctification of God's Name through honesty.Reward of truth — Truth sprouts from earth; righteousness looks down from heaven (Psalms 85:12). Truthful living glorifies Hashem and draws divine favor.Wicked rewarded in this world — Hashem pays wicked for minor merits now to destroy them eternally (Deuteronomy); better for righteous to suffer briefly here and receive eternal reward in Olam Haba.Practical application — Cling to truth in all dealings; exile teaches separation from falsehood and reliance on Hashem alone.The rabbi reflects on modern parallels (antisemitism, unity in crises like Nachshon Waxman) and urges living truthfully to hasten redemption—Moshiach comes when truth prevails. Ends previewing next trait: flattery (chanufa)._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 15, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Exile, #Converts, #KiddushHashem ★ Support this podcast ★

Today’s Bible Verse: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” — Deuteronomy 6:5 Deuteronomy 6:5 calls us to a faith that is not divided. God doesn’t ask for a portion of our lives—He invites our whole heart, soul, and strength. This command reaches beyond feelings into daily choices, priorities, and actions. Meet Today’s Host: Reverend Jessica Van Roekel

Episode Summary: Does it ever seem like God loves other people more than he loves you? Maybe it looks like everything goes their way. Or their families are put together, not a prodigal in sight, and everyone enjoys each other. We, however, see our lives at a hot mess, unanswered prayers everywhere, and trouble after trouble. When we equate blessing and favor with love, we can begin to feel rejected and abandoned by God when we don’t feel blessed or favored by him. In this episode, my co-host, Rev. Jessica Van Roekel and I talk about Overcoming Rejection and Abandonment with God’s Love. Almost all of us carry rejection and abandonment because most of us have experienced someone walking away, excluding us, or making us feel like we don’t belong. Those wounds run deep. They are not just “hurt feelings.” They can shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we imagine God sees us. Today we want to walk into the truth that Christ’s love actually heals these hurt places. Quotables from the episode: Rejection isn’t just a moment. It’s a story our hearts can start telling us, and often on repeat. It says, “See? You’re not enough.” “See? People always leave.” “See? You’re not worth choosing.” The rejection narrative comes from the oldest human experiences: a parent who wasn’t present, a spouse who checked out emotionally, a friend group that stopped inviting us, a church that didn’t know what to do with our pain. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and they’re not mine, my value or lack thereof in someone else’s eyes doesn’t determine my worth. Even those who know me the most, only know a small piece of me, but God knows me completely. It’s that time of year when love seems to be commercialized, but Christ’s love isn’t for sale. It’s offered freely… If you’ve ever felt unwanted, unseen, or left—Jesus understands. You are not alone. That’s why Romans 12:2 is so powerful. It says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our minds are powerful and what we tell ourselves matters. Your brain listens to your thoughts. When you think something like “I can’t handle this” or “I am loved”, your brain treats that thought as important information. It begins to adjust your mood, your energy, and even your physical reactions based on what you’re saying to yourself. 5 practical ways Jesus Christ’s love heals the wounds from rejection and abandonment. We can’t heal what we hide. Every rejection writes a script in our minds. Healing doesn’t begin with convincing ourselves people won’t leave. Healing begins when we realize Jesus Christ’s love stays. Scripture References: Jeremiah 31:3 NIV “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” Isaiah 53:3 says, “He was despised and rejected by humanity by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” John 15:9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” Ephesians 1:4 “In love, he destined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” Isaiah 43:1b “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook Connect with Dr. Bengtson: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 125), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, emphasizing relentless commitment to truth in thought, word, and action. Key teachings:Always place truth before you — King Solomon (the “wise one”) teaches to set emes (truth) as your constant guide in all dealings. Make reminders/signs to avoid lying; write down commitments and review them before transactions (business, study, daily life) so truth is fixed in your heart and you don't forget or contradict yourself.Truth in heart & mind — Truth must be implanted and solidified in the heart (not just spoken). Early pious sages sold items at the price fixed in their hearts—even refusing higher offers. If thoughts/commitments risk violation (forgetting), write them down or seek a sage to nullify if needed.Reward of truth — “You decree a word, and it will be fulfilled for you” (Job 22:28)—truthful people's words/thoughts manifest; their dealings (business, lending) reflect unwavering honesty. Hashem fulfills decrees of the truthful.Accept truth from anyone — Don't be embarrassed to accept truth from any person—even small, young, or despised. A precious pearl remains precious regardless of who holds it.Critique & truth — Wise people love truthful critique—it's free self-improvement. Moshe rebuked gently; accept correction without ego. Truth from any source elevates.Modern application — Politicians often flip positions—truth isn't negotiable. We must verify everything against Torah sources (no anonymous claims). Truth stands forever; falsehood collapses. Live congruently: heart, mouth, and actions aligned with emes.The rabbi ties this to daily life: in a world of contradictions (politics, news), prioritize truth over comfort or convenience. Truth connects us to Hashem (Emet); falsehood separates us from our godly soul._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 12, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #TruthfulLiving, #Accept, #Critique ★ Support this podcast ★

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 32:39. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-strength-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 26. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-joy-hcj/. Browse other resources from Mary Beth McGreevy. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

After Eden, the flood, Babel, Abraham, Sinai, kings, and exile… the story reaches its turning point. God didn't abandon His plan for a human family. He didn't surrender the nations to darkness. And He didn't scrap creation when rebellion kept repeating itself. Instead, He stepped in. In this episode, we trace the arc from Israel's failure to the Incarnation—why God chose to become a man, how the crucifixion blindsided the powers of darkness, and what Paul meant when he said that if the rulers of this age had understood what was happening, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. We also look at Pentecost through a different lens. Those 3,000 believers weren't just converts—they were God's first wave of reclaiming the nations. Scattered among the Gentile world, they became embedded witnesses in territory long held by other gods. The Great Commission wasn't a church program. It was a cosmic invasion. And it's still unfolding. The story isn't over—and neither is your part in it. Scriptures referenced include: Genesis 6; Deuteronomy 32:8–9; Psalm 82; Exodus 19; 1 Corinthians 2:8; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:10; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2. This series follows the broad theological framework popularized by Dr. Michael Heiser in What Does God Want? and Supernatural. For listeners who want to explore these themes more deeply, those books are an excellent place to start.

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.

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 30:19–20. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-strength-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Pastor Alan R. Knapp discusses the topic of "EVERYMAN" in his series entitled "SHORT SERMONS" This is Short Sermon 16 and it focuses on the following verses: Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; 2 Corinthians 5:14 cp. 2 Timothy 2:11; Galatians 3:13 cp. Deuteronomy 21:23

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 11. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-joy-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Pastor Justin Karl preaches on Deuteronomy 5-6

Greetings, My Friends.When your vision gets challenged or tested, your first instinct might be to fix everything fast. I am sharing a new response because I've been there—and in this conversation, I walk through a counterintuitive path that steadies the heart and clarifies the next step: pause, practice God's presence, and proclaim His promises before you move. That shift—from reacting to responding—turns obstacles into places of renewal and moves your goals forward with quiet strength.I am sharing a recent moment when panic knocked, and how stillness opened the door to a better response. From Hebrews 10:36, I gained a clear insight: patience often sits between obedience and fulfillment. We also unpack the Three P's—patience, perseverance, and practice—and show how they work together in real life. Practice means withdrawing to a quiet place, remembering God's faithfulness, and speaking truth out loud over your goals and vision. Perseverance means steady motion in the strength God provides, especially when fatigue or spiritual resistance pushes back. Patience becomes active expectancy, like a skilled server—attentive, ready, and responsive at the right time.If you're facing setbacks or challenges, a seeming delay in your promise from God, you'll learn simple steps to regain confidence: be still, worship, recall past provision, and declare promises such as Deuteronomy 28:8 over the work of your hands. We talk about shifting focus from the problem to God's presence, understanding the true nature of resistance, and refusing to throw away your confidence because it has a great reward. By the end, you'll have a practical rhythm for navigating hard days and keeping moving toward a God-given vision with peace, clarity, and resolve.If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more listeners find messages like this. What promise will you proclaim this week?Let's stay connected. https://www.seldicompany.comSend Tony a Texthttps://www.seldicompany.com/

In this episode, Rabbi Cohen and I, explore a powerful framework for understanding spiritual growth when effort feels slow, incentives disappear, or life stops following the system we thought we understood. If you've ever wondered why progress sometimes feels incremental and other times requires a complete inner shift, this conversation offers clarity and reassurance. You'll gain perspective on how humility, persistence, and asking for help each play a role in becoming who you're meant to be, and why both steady growth and sudden transformation are part of Hashem's design. This episode provides language for navigating setbacks, loss of momentum, and seasons of uncertainty—while strengthening trust that every stage of the journey has purpose.Join the Conversation! Be part of our growing community—join the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed WhatsApp group to share feedback, discuss episodes, and suggest future topics. Click here to sign up.Connect with Rabbi Michael CohenReach out to Rabbi Michael Cohen to learn more about his one-on-one coaching work, where he applies the teachings of Strive for Truth to help individuals untangle inner confusion, clarify priorities, and live more grounded, self-expressed lives. To inquire or connect, email him at mailto:rabbicohen@msn.com.

G-d has just promised Abraham children and a land to inherit. And then Abraham has the audacity to ask G-d: "How will I know that I will inherit it?" How could he ask that? He fears that his descendants will do something to lose everything. Abraham wants to ensure this doesn't happen.G-d answers with a covenant. He tells Abraham to bring specific animals and cut them in half, placing the pieces opposite each other. This was how treaties were made in the ancient world.Then, as the sun sets, a deep sleep falls on Abraham. Along with it comes dread, darkness, and great darkness. Four states for four exiles. G-d shows Abraham what's coming. All of it. Every exile, every persecution, every tragedy his descendants will endure. And then G-d presents a choice. The first choice: a comfortable life in this world, but no guarantee beyond it. The other one: suffering, trials, exile, but a lock on eternity. Abraham sees the full weight of what the second choice means. He sees it all. And he chooses the world to come.This is where the Jewish people become the Jewish people. Not through an easy promise, but through a covenant sealed in blood and fire. G-d promises the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. When Joshua leads the people into Israel centuries later, they conquer seven nations. The other three? Those are waiting for the messianic era.This episode walks through the Covenant Between the Pieces, the moment everything changed, and what Abraham's choice means for every generation that follows.

The Everyday Judaism podcast's "Ask Away" series, episode 30, hosted by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH in Houston, features live audience questions on practical Jewish life, ethics, and halacha. Rabbi Wolbe addresses concerns like dealing with someone who studies Torah mockingly (advocating kindness, caution in associations, and seeking exemplary teachers who live their teachings), dignified eating habits (avoiding oversized bites for modesty, per halachic guidelines), clarifying biblical details from Egypt (Egyptians' gifts post-plagues), and antisemitism as a divine wake-up call to embrace Judaism and await Moshiach for restored favor among nations.Other topics include Argentina's Chief Rabbi's reaffirmation of a century-old ban on local conversions (requiring them to be performed in Israel for validity, rooted in historical takanah to prevent insincere or intermarriage-driven cases), intermarriage scenarios (halacha prioritizes authentic commitment to mitzvot over "love," with rare exceptions where conversion strengthens observance), ethical business dilemmas (avoid or exit unscrupulous environments to protect one's integrity), and practical halachot like changing "Magdil" to "Migdal" in bentching on Shabbat/Musaf days, sipping wine slowly (not gulping, except at the Seder where it's paced), geniza burial for sacred items with Hashem's name, and teaching children with heartfelt love (linking "lev" in Shema to emotional education).Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes introspection over blame amid global challenges, the power of mitzvot to build character (e.g., overcoming urges), and the warmth of community Torah study even in freezing Houston weather. The episode ends with gratitude for participants and a call to sponsor more content via torchweb.org.Please submit your questions at askaway@torchweb.org_____________The Everyday Judaism Podcast is dedicated to learning, understanding and appreciating the greatness of Jewish heritage and the Torah through the simplified, concise study of Halacha, Jewish Law, thereby enhancing our understanding of how Hashem wants us to live our daily lives in a Jewish way._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Marshall & Doreen LernerDownload & Print the Everyday Judaism Halacha Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RL-PideM42B_LFn6pbrk8MMU5-zqlLG5This episode of the Everyday Judaism Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe of TORCH is dedicated to my dearest friends, Marshall & Doreen Lerner! May Hashem bless you and always lovingly accept your prayer for good health, success and true happiness!!!Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Levin Family Studio (B) to a live audience on January 25, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 11, 2026_____________Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Everyday Judaism PodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-judaism-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1600622789Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AXCNcyKSVsaOLsLQsCN1CShare your questions at askaway@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#AskAway, #Torah, #Halacha, #Q&A, #Jewish, #Halacha, #dignity, #Exodus, #wakeup, #geniza, #burial ★ Support this podcast ★

What is a miracle? Can believers perform miracles today? How can we speak boldly about Jesus like Peter? In this extended episode, Emma Dotter illustrates what the temple would have looked like and highlightsgenerosity in the early church. Then, Watermark's Director of Equipping, Chris Sherrod, joins to answer controversial questions about miracles and unpack Acts 3:1-7. After that, Emma and Watermark's Director of Re|Engage, Matt Farlow, have a conversation about how the same Spirit who emboldened Peter emboldens us, and they provide practical advice on how to keep in step with the Spirit. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: John 20: 30-31; Mark 1: 40-42; Revelation 21: 4; Deuteronomy 4: 9; Galatians 5: 25; John 15: 26  // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  In Defense of Miracles edited by Doug Geivett and Gary Habermas: https://a.co/d/eF78vq5 GotQuestions article on miracles: https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-miracle.html // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  S4:264 – Acts 3-4 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-264-acts-3-4/id1600151923?i=1000735193276 // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

Wanting your kids to grow up loving Jesus can feel like one of the most meaningful—and heaviest—desires you carry as a Christian mom. When you're balancing work, family, and faith, it's easy to wonder if your busyness is getting in the way of your children's spiritual growth. In this episode of Faith Led Working Moms, we're having an honest, grace-filled conversation about what it really looks like to raise kids who want to follow the Lord—without pressure, perfection, or burnout. If you're a working Christian mom who worries about “messing this up,” this episode will help you breathe easier and trust that God is already at work in your home. In this episode, we talk about: Why wanting your kids to love Jesus can feel both beautiful and overwhelming The freeing truth that your kids are God's kids first Why you are not responsible for controlling your children's faith outcomes How God works through ordinary, everyday moments in busy family life Practical, realistic ways to model faith without adding more to your plate How conversation matters more than curriculum when it comes to spiritual growth Why small, consistent faithfulness matters more than perfect routines Simple faith practices for busy Christian moms: Letting your kids see your faith in real life—not polished or performative Using everyday conversations to point your kids back to God Releasing guilt and trusting God with what you can't control Showing up with presence, honesty, and grace in hard moments Encouragement for working moms: You are not behind. You are not failing. And you are not raising your kids' faith alone. God is faithful, and He is already at work in your home—even in the middle of long workdays, rushed mornings, and exhausted evenings. Resources mentioned in this episode: Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – A reminder that faith is lived out in everyday moments Conversation starters for kids: “Where did you see God today?” “What was hard today?” “How can we pray together?”  

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 124), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, exploring truth as the essence of God, prayer, and the heart. Key points:Calling upon Hashem in truth (Psalms 145:18) — Free the heart from worldly distractions; cleave intellect and mind solely to Hashem with constant yearning. In crisis, the first thought is “Hashem, help me”—aligning fully with God.Hisbodedus (seclusion) — Pious people seclude themselves (e.g., in a room) to connect deeply with Hashem, avoiding worldly bonds except for necessities. Avoid prayer focused only on personal needs/money/honor—that's not true avodah (service).Daily prayer for truth — Recite “V'taher libeinu l'avdecha be'emes” (purify our hearts to serve You in truth)—ensure all service is authentic, not for people, money, or ego.Return to Hashem — “Im tashuv ad Shakai tivaneh” (Job 22:23): Return without foreign thoughts separating you from God—rebuild strongly in the radiance of Shechinah.King David's truth — “Hashem, who dwells on Your holy mountain? He who walks perfectly, acts righteously, and speaks truth in his heart” (Psalms 15:1–2)—truth must be implanted in the heart, not just spoken.Early pious sages — Sold items at the heart-fixed price, refusing higher offers; write down commitments to avoid forgetting/violating inner truth.Truth's reward — “You decree a word, and it will be fulfilled for you” (Job 22:28)—truthful people's words/thoughts manifest; their dealings (business, lending) reflect unwavering honesty.The rabbi stresses: in a materialistic world, seclude daily (e.g., 10–30 minutes without devices) for true dveikut (cleaving to God). Prayer is face-to-face with Hashem—prepare with 60 seconds of contemplation. Truth in heart ensures fulfilled words and divine closeness._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on July 21, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 9, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Hisbodedus, #TruePrayer, #Dveikut ★ Support this podcast ★

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 26:16–19. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-strength-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 9:1–12. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-joy-hcj/. Browse other resources from Jenny Salt. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Deuteronomy 11:12 (KJV) - A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.

Let go of your sins today. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Caleb unpacks the importance of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and what it means to love God with all our heart, soul & strength. February 2026, 1st Sunday Communion Message.

On the final day of the 40-day fast, Overseer Azizah Morrison taught from Deuteronomy 8:2–10, drawing a powerful parallel between Israel's wilderness journey and the consecration completed through this fast. This teaching explored why God leads His people through seasons of testing, humility, and dependence—and what those seasons are meant to produce.Listeners were reminded that the wilderness is not punishment, but preparation; not loss, but formation. As Israel emerged preserved and prepared to enter a good land, this session affirmed that those who completed this fast are stepping out of testing and into promise—moving from daily provision into prepared abundance and stewardship.The teaching concluded with a fresh, faith-filled prayer marking this moment as a transition, honoring what the wilderness produced, and committing to walk forward with humility, obedience, and trust as God establishes what comes next.

Special Patreon Release: Emotionally Healthy Familial Relationships with Cherilyn Orr   "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4b (KJV)   *Transcription Below*   Cherilyn Orr is passionate about helping parents, teachers, and guardians raise emotionally healthy and resilient children. She has worked with families and educators in North America, Europe, and Africa to help them build safe schools, homes, and communities where children can flourish. The Stoplight Approach that she developed was born out of her experiences as an educator, a foster mom, and a mom to seven through birth and adoption, and it combines biblical truths with the latest brain science. Connect with her on her Website, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.   Topics and Questions We Cover: What are a few helpful tips for us to understand brain science 101? How can we repair the relationship when we don't disciple and discipline from our Green zone? Within the stoplight approach, can you provide some examples of how we can calm a red-rooted misbehavior?   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   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: (0:09 - 2:07) 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.   I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria and Savvy Sauce Charities.   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 Chick-fil-A.com/EastPeoria.   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.   Cherilyn Orr is my guest today. She is kind and humble and a woman who's passionate about helping parents, teachers, and guardians raise emotionally healthy and resilient children. She's going to share how she combines biblical truths with the latest brain science to build healthy relationships in the family. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Cherilyn.   Cherilyn Orr: (2:07 - 2:08) Thank you. I'm really happy to join you today.   Laura Dugger: (2:08 - 2:10) And will you start by just giving us a snapshot of your life right now?   Cherilyn Orr: (2:08 - 3:11) Yes, I am actually talking to you from Athens, Greece. That is where our family resides right now. And we've been here for the last few years. And before that, we lived in Uganda and Africa.   I have seven children and my oldest is now a mom herself. And she just gave birth a couple months ago to a preemie little baby. And I am so excited because now I have entered the world of grandparenthood.   But I'm also in the throes of life with a 12-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 17-year-old. And I have a university student living at home. My next son is 21, and he's also living at home, going to university. So those are my four at home.   I have one in Canada, working there. And I have two that are married. One that lives in Africa with his wife, and they're working there. And another one with my grandbaby that's living here in Greece, working with the church here.   Laura Dugger: (3:12 - 3:19) That is quite a full family and a global family. What has taken you to the different parts of the world?   Cherilyn Orr: (3:20 - 3:44) Well, we are a missional family. But we believe that everybody's called to be a missional and to serve God. And God happens to have taken us to different places.   I've been working with The Stoplight Approach now for a few years now. My husband does leadership training as well. So that's kind of what's taken us around the world. Now that we're in Greece, I'm also involved with refugees as well here.   Laura Dugger: (3:45 - 4:06) Well, we are fortunate to live in a time with access to scientific knowledge about the brain. And it all points back to our brilliant Creator, God. But you make this brain science so simple to comprehend. So, can you just share a few helpful tips for us so that we can understand kind of brain science 101?   Cherilyn Orr: (4:08 - 6:40) Yes, I think for me, it's been a journey. But it came when after we adopted a child and she was having an all-out meltdown. And it would have taken me an hour or so to regroup her.   And it was just amazing. I was with a friend and she is a behavioral consultant. And she said, “Let me.” And this was after we had had her for at least a couple of years at this point. And she just said, “Let me.”   And she got down on the ground where my child was screaming hysterically. And she was able to get her back sitting on her seat, doing what she was supposed to in less than, I don't know, 10 minutes.   And I was shocked because here I am an educator. I have a master's degree. I'm a special needs teacher. I have been working for years with children in different settings around the world. And here I was looking at her doing something that I just didn't know how to do.   It was a huge paradigm shift for me when she said afterwards, I said, “What did you do?”   And she said, “It's by understanding the brain. The brain is like three parts. It's like a stoplight.”   So, she said, if you can think of it that way, as there's that bottom part of your brain, which is that fight, flight, freeze. When you are just only using 50% of your capacity and you just can't hear anybody's perspective.   And then there's that middle part of your brain, which is the limbic system. And she said, you know, that's when you're using 75% or so of your brain capacity. And that's when you're stressed, you're worried, you're anxious, and you're just not at your best.   And then there's your top part of your brain, which is your neocortex, which you are just ready to learn. And you can problem solve and you can think and you are the best version of yourself at that moment.   And she talked to me a little bit about that. And she's just said, this is what's happening in your brain. For me, that was a wow, you know, because it's like understanding the brain is so opposite than anything that I had ever done. And as an educator, I've been trained to control children. I've taken courses on behavior management. And this was just like changing the equation. When you understand the brain, then it changes how you can relate to the child in your care.   Laura Dugger: (6:41 - 7:05) And also, I will just sprinkle in a few little things that I found fascinating in your book. One of your conclusions was that relationships are the biggest factor in brain development and for it to develop in a healthy way. So, is that what you found true throughout the years of our life, that relationships are vital?   Cherilyn Orr: (7:05 - 8:02) It's for everybody. And it needs to start with that relationship. And that relationship has what I would say three pillars, which is safety, which is your red brain. In order to come out of that fight, flight or freeze, you have to feel safe.   And in order to come out of yellow brain, which is your limbic system, you need to feel connected and you need to feel respected. And respect means to be seen, heard and valued. And when you're in that yellow brain state, you don't feel connected. You feel disconnected.   So, in order to get people to green brain, you need to make them feel seen, heard and valued. So, if we want healthy relationships and we want green home, then we need to be able to help our children get to that green brain state. But it starts by making them feel safe and making them feel connected. So, relationship is foundational.   Laura Dugger: (8:02 - 8:24) And you've combined your knowledge of the Bible and all of this brain science to write a book entitled Signals: How Brain Science and the Bible Help Parents Raise Resilient Children. So, will you elaborate now on that Stoplight Approach that you teach and write about?   Cherilyn Orr: (8:27 - 11:10) Well, yes, I am so excited because we just looked at, you know, those three elements, safety, respect and being connected, and then we could teach it. And when we look at the Bible and we say, “How does God view me and how does He work with me?”   I go back to the fact is when God sees me in my mess ups and He sees my anger or my gossip or my addictions or whatever I'm struggling with. He looks at me and He says, “Come to me. I am your safety. I am your refuge.”   He wants us to bring Him our messes. He says, “Come to me just as you are, not as you want to be, not as you should be and not as you could be.” And in that context, He says, “I delight in you. I know you. I know every hair on your head. I know you. I know your name and I love you. You are in the palm of my hand and I delight in you.”   And Zephaniah talks about and He sings over us, not because we've done something, not because we're worthy, because He knows that unless we feel safe and unless we are in that connection and can relationship with them, then He cannot help us to train us and to walk with us and guide us through the process of growing and becoming that healthy person that He desires for us to be.   So, I was so excited when I looked at who God is and how it matches with what brain science is teaching us about red, yellow, green and how we can't teach anybody. It takes 12 to 15 times to teach a child a new skill when they are in green. That same child, that same skill when he's there in red will take 350 to 400 times because that is not the part of the brain where you can do problem solving or critical thinking or even to have empathy for anybody else. That part of the brain can only do rote learning. So, it will take you so long to teach a child when they're in that part of the brain.   And I love it because that obedience is an outflowing of a relationship with us, with God. And when we look at our child, that's what we want is we don't want them to obey us because they fear us, but we want them to obey us because they are connected to us. Just like God wants us to obey Him in that relationship, not because it's the rule and that's what we need to do.   So, I'm so excited to see how that brain science is catching up to who God is.   Laura Dugger: (11:11 - 12:07) Oh, my goodness. That is amazing to also just think of the Lord as obviously our parent and we want to model after Him. Some of this is reminding me there was a previous episode with Dr. Josh and Christy Straub where they were looking at research findings about parenting. And one of them was that it was so important for us to be self-regulated when we're responding to our children. And there's a connection.   So, in your book, I'm just going to read this one quote from page 56. You wrote, “One of the most shocking things I realized as I learned about brain science was that it is impossible to make a child feel loved when the parent is in yellow or red. They feel our stress. They feel our disapproval.” And so, would you like to elaborate on that as well?   Cherilyn Orr: (12:09 - 13:41) Well, we have this thing that we talk a lot about in The Stoplight Approach. We talk about the stoplight starts with me. You cannot give what you don't have.   So many parents will say, “I love my child,” but the child does not feel loved. And when I was doing seminars and training throughout North America, you know, often people say, “We are a yellow society.” And that broke my heart.   We are a yellow society. We're running our kids at five in the morning to this program, to hockey or this or programs late at night. And we're just running.   And I feel like if we are yellow and we are stressed, then there is automatically a disconnect. There's almost like a gate that says, do not enter. You can't go through it unless you are in green.   You're in red, then your whole house turns to red. Mama's in red, everybody's in red. Or if you're in yellow, you'll start to see the children in your care are in yellow.   And I find that in my house. When I start to see my house going to that yellow space, I start to have to do like, what color am I in? If I'm in yellow, then they're going to be in yellow. And you start to see them fighting amongst themselves or bickering or just not cooperating. And there's that tension that comes because they're picking up my yellowness and my stress.   Laura Dugger: (13:42 - 14:04) And so, let's go a little bit further with that scenario. If parents are in a very stressful season and there are quite a few to-do's that have to get done on top of the daily things. If that parent identifies they are in the yellow, maybe in the red, how can they get back to green even in the midst of a crazy time of life?   Cherilyn Orr: (14:06 - 16:26) Well, you know, you don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be a perfect parent. But what science is showing us and it's what God wants from us is that sense of repair. We need to look at how do we repair because that's what our child needs because life is not perfect and we are not perfect. And I am certainly far from being a perfect parent. But how do I repair the damage and how do I connect?   So, we call it fix it, treasure it and change it. So, fix it is: Yes, I am sorry. Mommy yelled at you. I am so sorry I did that. I was in yellow and I was really stressed. Would you forgive me? I love you and you did not deserve me to yell at you. I care about you and I did not handle that appropriately.   And I want you to help me. This is what I've said to my children. I want you to help me when I'm going to red or I'm going to yellow. Just remind me and say, “Mom, you're going to yellow.” And then that can help me to make some changes right then and create that gap so that I'm not reacting. Or maybe I could take a walk or maybe I could get myself back to green.   When I react in that yellow or red brain state, it's not safe for you. It's not safe for others. So, let's work together on this.   And then we can talk about maybe what was happening in our house at that time as well. And maybe how they can help things to go smoother in our house. So that they could take some responsibility in helping because Mommy didn't feel seen, heard and valued. You know, I had asked you five times to do that. So how do we work together to make this house run smoother?   So being red and yellow are not bad things. It's not like you are horrible because you went to red and yellow. It's warning. It's like an alarm going off to say, be careful, be careful.   It's an opportunity to reflect and say, what's not working here? What's the deeper issue here? Yes, maybe I was overtired and maybe I did this. But what else is going on? And I may need to look back on things that maybe are triggering me that are deeper. And maybe things that relate back to my own childhood or how I was raised.   Laura Dugger: (16:26 - 16:52) That makes a lot of sense, that reflection. Because I studied psychology and marriage and family therapy. And we were always taught, name it to tame it. And sometimes that really does help when we can pinpoint and identify and name. What is that trigger? It helps to tame it. And I think the biblical concept is when you share it with somebody else, when you bring it into the light, it does lose a lot of its power.   Cherilyn Orr: (16:53 - 17:46) Definitely. Because if I can say I'm in red, it helps me know what I need to do to get myself back to green. So, if I can start to recognize when my body is starting to get tense, when I'm starting to get stressed, I can say, oh, this is my warning. I need to do this. I need to have a shower. I need to go for a walk. I need to regroup myself so that I'm not reacting to my children in my red brain state. I can get myself back to green first. So, I can create that gap.   So, naming it, that's what I think the success of Stoplight is. It's the common language that says how do we help each other when we are moving to yellow and we are moving to red so that everybody in the family knows that red is not bad, but how do we help that person in their red to get back to green?   Laura Dugger: (17:48 - 17:52) What is the Stoplight Approach to discipline and boundaries?   Cherilyn Orr: (17:54 - 22:32) Well, sometimes people think, oh, is The Stoplight Approach permissive? You know, we just let kids do what they want and let them be in green. If anybody has multiple children, you know that if one child is being self-centered and they're in their own world, it's going to create chaos for the rest of the family.   And so, Stoplight is not about permissiveness. And I think we need to be looking at the word discipline comes from the word disciple, which means to train. If you can kind of get that word discipline, because so often we've mixed that word discipline with punishment. So, it's all about punishing a child, whereas actually discipline is not about punishing. It's about training a child.   And everybody, every child needs boundaries. Boundaries help to keep us safe. They help to keep our family safe. It helps to keep that relationships in a healthy way.   So, we often use that word to look at how do we as parents, we've always got boundaries. Don't run in the road. We want to keep you safe. Don't touch the hot stove because you'll burn yourself. So, we look for ways to keep our child safe, and we look for ways to help them be safe in relationships. Yes, you want that ball, but you don't hit the other child to get the ball. So, what could we do differently?   Proverbs 13:24 is a common phrase that I grew up hearing. It was kind of like the parenting theology of my generation. “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but who loves him diligently disciplines him.”   So that was a verse that I heard a lot in my life. But then as I was studying and looking at brain science and really studying about who is God. And I had to look at what is my image of God? Is He this harsh judge up there that maybe subconsciously I believed? Or is He that loving father like the prodigal son that's waiting for his son? Not to punish him, but to love him and to connect with him. And it says in the New Testament, Jesus says, if you've seen him, you've seen the Father. So, He's a good, good father.   So, then I started to dissect this. What is the rod used for? And it talks about the rod being a comfort and a rod being a sense of protection. And we often hear it used in relationships to sheep. You know, if we're going to keep sheep safe, then we need the rod. That shepherd used a rod to protect his sheep from wild animals. So, as we look at that word rod, it's a protection tool.   So, we take apart that and then hates his son. I think, wow, a parent that does not protect their child or teaches their child to be aware of the dangers in this world. So, as a young child, you're protecting them and teaching them to make safe choices. And then as they get older, you still have to continually, continually teach them that. And so, when I look at that word rod and hates his son, that would be a neglectful. In my words, a parent who is neglectful to teach.   The second verse talks about diligently. And that reminds me in Deuteronomy, when we're told to teach our children all through the day, when we're walking, when we're sitting, when we're at mealtimes. We should be using our days to continually teach our children and to discipline them, which would be to train them in the way that they should go.   And I look at God as our creator of our brain. And He loves us so very, very much. And He wants the very best for us. And we know that children and human beings do better when they feel better. So how do we connect with our child? How do we protect our children? And how do we take that opportunity to be present with our child?   Those are hard things for a lot of parents these days to be present, to be engaged with them and to look for ways to continually be working with them and protecting them and keeping them safe.   Laura Dugger: (22:33 - 22:58) Wow. And I just want to share one of my favorite takeaways from page 143, where you write “Green rooted misbehavior needs coaching. Yellow roots need connection. And red roots need calming.” So, can you provide some examples with that last one of how we can calm a red rooted misbehavior?   Cherilyn Orr: (23:00 - 27:00) Yes, I certainly can. So, all three of these are so important because we often miss it. I'm going to say that red root, it needs us to speak the red language, speak red brain. And to speak red brain means to stop talking about the problem.   That child does not have capacity to hear you when they are in a red brain state. They need me to be calm. They need me to be in green. And they need me to stop talking. And maybe to only use words that feel safe. You're safe. I'm here. You're safe. I'm here. There's no point in talking to anybody in red brain because they have no capacity to hear.   And then also to be able to go for a walk with your child. Repetitive patterning activities are really helpful. Like for my children, each of my children have, they have a green plan. It's like, what do I do when I'm starting to go to red?   So maybe for one of my children, we have a hammock outside. So, she goes there. These are planned ahead of time when they are in green. These are discussed ahead of time. So, another child will, you know, might listen to music, have a shower, go for a walk. Every single one of us, whether it be an adult or child, should look at what do I need to do to get back to green.   As a parent, when we're looking at green rooted misbehaviors, red rooted misbehaviors and yellow roots misbehaviors, you could have the same issue like two kids fighting. You come around the corner and there you see your two siblings fighting. As a parent, often we go to red immediately. Our brain state goes because it feels threatening. It feels fearful to us. And then we react.   So, I have to take a deep breath myself and I have to say, OK, what brain state is this child in? And sometimes we don't know. So, we can call the children and say, what's going on? Just stopping and asking the question will give us the opportunity to hear what brain state our child is in.   If they happily look it up and say, we were playing Pirates of the Caribbean or something that they had seen on a TV show, then you can say, OK, well, what you're doing is unsafe and somebody is going to get hurt. But they're just acting.   And then if it's a yellow brain state, it's like he pushed me, he touched me. And they're just kind of bickering at each other. They're not really all out fighting. But, you know, you can look at them and say, let's stop and let's make each other feel seen, heard and valued. So, you can work with that child because that child at that point is in yellow brain. And then we can speak yellow brain, which is people don't feel that they're being heard. They don't feel respected. And that's when you can talk about what other things that they could do instead.   And then, of course, we have red brain when these children are all out to hurt each other. They are mad. So that's when we can go into that red brain and say, OK, both of you need to get back to green. We're not going to talk about this right now. I want you to use your green plan and get yourselves back to green. And then we will talk.   Some children can do that independently and some children need you to do it with them. And sometimes it might be that you just take those two children out and say, we're going to run around the block together.” And it's how do you connect with your child at that particular time and keep them safe and get them moving and get their brain state back up to green before you talk with them.   Laura Dugger: (27:01 - 32:37) 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. College courses are fully transferable both in and out of this program. This could even be a great option to complete your general education courses and then transfer to the college of your choice and save money in the process.   So, if you're looking for an affordable college option while simultaneously gaining valuable work experience and earning an income, Chick-fil-A East Peoria is the place for you. You don't have to go into debt to get a great education. To apply today, please go to Chick-fil-A.com/EastPeoria and click on the careers tab. You can also call the restaurant at 309-694-1044 to find out more. And if you aren't located near Chick-fil-A East Peoria, make sure you check with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant to see if they also participate in the Elevate program with Point University. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Are you utilizing Savvy Sauce Charities to full capacity? Other than our special Patreon release episodes, our content is now available in video form in addition to our audio only. And we have written transcriptions for every episode. Visit our website today, TheSavvySauce.com, to access all these forms of interviews. And while you're there, make sure you sign up for our email list to receive encouragement, questions, and recommended resources about once a month to promote your own practical chats for intentional living.   I also want to remind you about the financial side of Savvy Sauce Charities. As you know, we recently became a non-profit, which means all your financial support is now tax deductible. There are multiple ways to give, and we would be so honored if you would share your financial support with us so that we can continue producing free content that is accessible to the general public. Your money will go to support creatively getting the gospel message of Jesus Christ to the nations as we continue to share the good news on every episode. And I say this is reaching the nations because The Savvy Sauce podcast is downloaded in all 50 United States, as well as over 100 countries around the world. Your financial support also supports practical needs, such as aiding our team to continue producing helpful content that is practical and uplifting and always pointing to Jesus. Your financial support, furthermore, will help us continue to expand our reach and secure future projects we have planned for this ministry.   If your ears are hearing this message right now, I am specifically asking you to give. We are so grateful for any amount, and our team will continue to seek to be good stewards of the gifts offered to us. So, if you want to write a check or set up an ongoing payment with your bank that delivers a check to us each month, this is the most beneficial way to give because no percentages are taken out for processing fees. You can make your checkout to Savvy Sauce Charities at P.O. Box 101, Roanoke, Illinois, 61561.   Additionally, with our new website, we now have a donate button. There are processing fees that we cover for these donations, but we wanted to offer listeners a seamless way to share their finances with us when we share our content with them. So just visit TheSavvySauce.com and find the donate page under the tab support. Another way to find it is simply type in donate to the search bar on our website and just click the first picture shown.   We are all about sharing around here, sharing resources, sharing joy, and sharing the good news about Jesus Christ. We ask that you also will share by sharing financially, sharing the Savvy Sauce podcast episodes, and sharing a five-star rating and review. You can also share any of our social media posts on Instagram or Facebook. We are grateful for all of it, and we just love partnering together with you.   Now, back to the show. And then on our side, I love how you also bring in the repair piece. So how can we practically repair the relationship when we don't disciple and discipline from our green zone as the parent?   Cherilyn Orr: (32:38 - 34:39) Yes, I feel like that is, it's really hard to ask your child to do anything that you're not doing because they're not going to actually be able to take that to heart. And if you say to a child, “I want you to say sorry to your sibling,” they're just going to look and go, “Sorry,” and have no meaning whatsoever.   And that's why we've done a lot of apology notes in my home over the years, because it's an opportunity to really sit down and reflect and talk. And we talk about how the card needs to be beautiful because we need to treasure that person. And so, they need to apologize for what they did. They need to talk about why on earth are they even writing this apology note? Why is that person of value? Because they're our sister or they're our brother or they're our friend or they're the teacher or the coach. And they are a part of our community and our family. So, we need to write that apology note to value that person.   And then we talk about what are we going to do next time. So those three points go into every single apology note my kids write: fix it, treasure it, change it. But you cannot do that when the child is in red. You cannot do it when they're in yellow. You need to have them back to green and then we can talk through it. And then they can go and deliver that to that person and then talk about how they can reconcile the situation. But I find that that's a really good reflective piece that I've used over the years.   But as a parent, it's hard to say sorry to your kid. It's easier to jump in and just treasure the child. You know, let's go to the park. Let's do this and just value the child. But then you end up having an insecure relationship because you've never acknowledged the problem. Therefore, you cannot change it. So therefore, you cannot have a healthy reconciliation.   Laura Dugger: (34:40 - 34:57) And how have you seen this Stoplight Approach work across the world? So many different settings with different countries and cultures or families who foster and adapt or even ones raising children with special needs?   Cherilyn Orr: (34:59 - 36:53) Well, the great thing about science is it doesn't change based on where you are in the world and what culture you're in. Every human has a brain, and all human brains function the same way. And all human brains need safety, connection and coaching.   So that's been the exciting part about understanding brain science. So, you know, even when I work in Africa, I'll say to people when I get malaria, do they give me a different medication because I'm from Canada or do they give me the same as you? And everybody says, of course, malaria is malaria. You know, it's because of science.   And I love that whole element of science that our brains are made the same. It doesn't matter what culture you're in and it doesn't matter what special needs you have. If I see a child and they're under the table and they're holding their ears, I might not know that child at all. But I know that that child is in red brain. I don't have to know if they're special needs. I don't have to know anything else. I can immediately diagnose what brain state that child is in. And then I can work at creating safety for that child. And connecting with that child. And then we can find out how do we move that child and work with that child, whatever their needs are.   And I have four adopted children, and I have fostered many children. In the process of doing that, I have recognized that every child needs to feel safe, connected, and then we can train them. So, it's like changing the equation for how we work with the children. But it works for all people. So, I don't have to have a different philosophy of parenting for my adopted child or my foster child or my biological children. Does that make sense?   Laura Dugger: (36:53 - 37:03) Yes, absolutely. And to personalize it, how has The Stoplight Approach then worked in your life and with you and your husband raising your own children?   Cherilyn Orr: (37:05 - 41:32) I just love the fact that it's a common language. So, I can give you an example of one day there was company coming and I was really stressed. And it seemed like everywhere I looked; every room was a disaster. You know, I had teenagers who were cooking and making themselves food and it was a mess. I had children that had used the bathroom and made a mess all through the bathroom. And then I had toys everywhere and sheets being made into forts. And I had company showing up.   And so, I was going into to Red Brain and I started going, “Who did this? What did you do? Who left this here? Who made this mess?” And one of my kids went and says, “Dad, mom's going to Red.” And that wasn't a judgment. That was like, this is a fact. We need your help here.   And so, dad comes along and he says, he puts his hand on my shoulder and he says, “You're going to Red.” He says, “Why don't you go for a walk? I'll do zone cleanup with the kids because I'm in green. And you can come back in 20 minutes and then you can do all the final tidy up before the kids come. And then that we could greet the company and green.”   So, it just becomes that common language of understanding. And he knew my need at that time. I was feeling unsafe because the house was a disaster. And my brain just was it's a brain issue, right? It's not a behavior issue. But then it was like, how do we support mom in this moment? And then I came back 20 minutes later and did the final little cleanups, and we were able to greet the company in green.   So, there's an example of using the common language as a way to help others in our family know what brain state you're in to support one another. And to be able to identify and connect.   I mean, I could give you tons of examples, even from the smallest child. They start to understand. “He made me go to red” or “I'm in red now.” So, then it's like, OK, so what do we need to do? How do we do this?   I mean, there's been days when all of a sudden I hear everybody kind of not doing too great. And I get them all to sit at the table. And I said, “So what color is our home right now?” And somebody say red. Somebody else says yellow. Then you're saying, “OK, but what kind of home do we want to have?” And they'll say green. So, what do we need to do to get it to green?   So, I think there's there's many, many different ways. But I think it's that common language that even the small child that's two and three can start to learn when they're in red or we can start to use it to teach empathy. When you did that to your sibling, what color did we make him? He didn't feel seen, heard and valued.   Just a few weeks ago, my daughter. Here's here's a recent example. We've had a refugee staying with us for a couple of years, a little girl, and she was about three. All of a sudden there was this blood curdling screaming, you know, just screaming. And I come around the corner going, “What's going on?” And my 12-year-old, very responsible, is holding scissors. She's running with scissors.   And so, my 12-year-old here was a chance to talk. And I said, “OK, so when you took her scissors away, she did not feel seen, heard and valued. Because when you took them away from her, you didn't actually speak to her. So, you need to get down on your knees, and you need to look at her and say, what did you want the scissors for? And we need to teach her. Where do we have scissors? How do we use them?”   So, she was being responsible to keep her safe. But she didn't make her feel seen, heard and valued and listen to her and say, “Oh, you want to cut your hair. Oh, only mommy cuts hair. You can't cut your hair, but we could use our scissors at the table.” So, using red, yellow and green helps to give incredible opportunities to teach empathy and to look at themselves, self-awareness and how to grow and take responsibility.   Laura Dugger: (41:34 - 42:06) And I love how you talk about this common language in such a proactive way with our children, with our families. So that when we are in red, we've got a path and a plan to get back to green. And we've got some tips for repair.   So, when we go to the proactive side and kind of tie this back into the beginning, when we talked about relationships are the foundation for brain health and development. What are some ways to securely attach with our children during different ages and stages?   Cherilyn Orr: (42:08 - 45:54) I think it comes back to being intentional. I often think of it as the 5-10-5 rule. Five minutes in the morning, five minutes in the evening and five minutes before they go to bed at night. It's that opportunity to stop what you're doing and to just focus in intentionally connecting with my child.   It's not easy. It's not easy. But it's how do I connect first thing in the morning when that child has been disconnected from me all night long? How do I connect with them first thing in the morning before they start their day? And then how do I connect with them like after school, before dinner? And how do I hear about what they want to tell me about their day? What part was red? What part was yellow? What kind of day they had?   One of my kids goes, “It was lime green.” And I'm like, “Okay, so how did that happen?”   “Well, I was in green and then I lost my backpack. So, I went to yellow, but then the teacher helped me find it. So, then I went back to green.” So that's how she described her day.   And then you have that connecting before they go to bed at night. That's just like, I see you, I know you, I hear you.   And so that can look differently according to different ages and stages of life. But I think holding that 5-10-5 is a good principle. And there are so many of my children that that 5-10-5 happens in hours and hours. Because they are children that demand my attention. And they are there and they are wanting that continual attention. So, some kids it happens more naturally too.   And then there are some children, and especially as they start getting older, it's a lot more challenging to be able to find that 5-10-5. And that doesn't mean in the busyness of the dinner table or in chore times. But it's about trying to connect with them and say, “I hear you. Tell me about your life. And where are you at?” Or just really just having fun with them. And just connecting to them and laughing with them and playing a game with them as well. Or going for a walk. We do a lot of that.   And with teenagers, and especially boys, it was all about the food. I would show up in their room with a milkshake or something else. Or call them out of their rooms to connect with them at different times. So, you have to be creative. It's not about my schedule sometimes. It's about looking at when they are open as well. Especially as you start getting into teenagers.   And I found that one of my teenagers, she'd always like to come and sit on my bed. Just at 11 o'clock at night. Just as I feel like I'm down for the night. And you know that baby is going to start waking up at 6 or 7. And you're just dying to go to sleep. But you know that this is important. She's ready to talk. And so, I need to be available.   Which isn't easy. But also, I think, how do we do that with seven children? Because that's a lot of kids. But my husband and I, we look at dividing and conquering. And then we look at special times. Like daddy time. Or going out with mom. Where I'll take one child to do a chore. Or go shopping. And I think that is really important to think about. How am I intentionally connecting with my child? So, I took a child to Canada recently. And I often will take a different child on different trips that I'm going on.   Laura Dugger: (45:55 - 46:15) Okay, so five minutes right in the morning. Greeting each other. Five minutes before bed. And finding ten minutes of intentional time to connect. Is that one-on-one throughout the day?   Cherilyn Orr: Yes.   Laura Dugger: You've given us so many helpful tips to apply. Is there any other encouragement that you want to make sure that we don't miss out on?   Cherilyn Orr: (46:16 - 47:52) I think when you hear a lot of these stories. First of all, I want you to know that I am not perfect. As a mom, it's a journey. And I don't want you to go away feeling like, I could never do all this. It's a journey one baby step at a time. And I encourage you to get the book. Listen to podcasts. And be able to join that journey. But don't be hard on yourself. And don't feel that sense of guilt and shame. That says, oh my, I messed up. That's okay.   Being able to recognize you messed up is a good thing. And also recognize that you think, oh man, I messed up on my kids. I did all the wrong things. I want to tell you that we all do the best we can with the knowledge that we have. And that's really, really important to know. It's like, this is a journey. And you are doing the best.   I learned all about behavior management. How do I control my child's behavior? And that was how I parented when I started this journey. And it has been a journey to shift into brain science. And to learn as much as I can about the brain science. And how it impacts my child. And to grow and be the parent that God wants me to be. But don't be hard on yourself in that way. That would be my biggest thing is. And to take one baby step. To decide one baby step that you take.   Laura Dugger: (47:52 - 47:57) And where can people find and learn more from you online?   Cherilyn Orr: (47:58 - 48:14) Well, look at the StoplightApproach.org. So that is our website. And you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And you can preorder and sign up for your book (Signals: How Brain Science and the Bible Help Parents Raise Resilient Children). You can get that on Amazon.   Laura Dugger: (48:15 - 48:32) Wonderful. We will add those links to the show notes for today's episode. And Cherilyn, you may know we are called The Savvy Sauce. Because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so is my final question for you today. What is your Savvy Sauce?   Cherilyn Orr: (48:33 - 48:55) I would say that it's not about controlling behavior. It's about connecting with my child. Relationship first rather than behavior first. It's like changing the equation. Relationship is the key. And everything else will flow out of that. And then if you can think of change the brain. Then you'll be able to change the behavior.   Laura Dugger: (48:56 – 49:20) Oh, I love that. That is memorable. And I really appreciate your emphasis on relationship. And it's so helpful to hear your stories of how this has played out over time. And cultures. And how we can now take this common language into our own homes. So, Cherilyn, thank you so much for sharing this research. And your book with us. And thank you for being my guest today.   Cherilyn Orr: (49:21 – 49:23) Thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (49:24 – 53:06) 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's 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, 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're 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 and 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.

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon is joined again by Jeremy Manacuchi for a searching exploration of the Book of Lamentations, one of Scripture's most haunting and least-studied books. Beginning with the stark poetry of Jerusalem's fall, they situate Lamentations within its historical context: the Babylonian siege, exile, and the covenantal judgment foretold in Deuteronomy. The discussion traces why the book is so emotionally and theologically difficult: its graphic imagery, its honest depiction of divine wrath, and its profound sense of abandonment, while also arguing for its enduring pastoral value. Far from being marginal, Lamentations confronts suffering head-on as the just response to sin, spoken from within the lived experience of God's people. At the heart of the conversation is Lamentations 3, the structural and theological center of the book. Jeremy presents a compelling Christological reading in which “the man who has seen affliction” bears the full weight of God's wrath, descends into the pit, and yet emerges with renewed hope grounded in the steadfast love of the Lord. Read as a carefully crafted whole, Lamentations moves from darkness to a single, blazing moment of hope, one that ultimately points beyond Jerusalem's ruin to Christ himself. In that light, Lamentations is not merely a book of grief, but a profound witness to God's covenant faithfulness, offering hope to sinners and sufferers alike through the one who was forsaken so that God might once again say to his people, “Do not fear.”

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 123), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe begins the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, emphasizing that truth is the essence of God and the soul. Key teachings:The soul's divine origin — Created from the place of the Holy Spirit (ruach hakodesh) and the celestial radiance of Hashem's throne (Genesis 2:7: “He breathed into his nostrils a living soul”). Above (in the Holy of Holies), there is no falsehood—only truth. “Hashem Elokeinu Emet” (Hashem our God is truth, Jeremiah 10:10).Ehyeh asher Ehyeh — “I will be what I will be” (Exodus 3:14). The word “Ehyeh” (21) appears 21 times in Tanach; 21 × 21 = 441 = gematria of emet (truth). God is absolute truth.Man's purpose — Created straight/upright (yashar) to reflect truth. God's “seal” is truth (Shabbat 55a). Falsehood cannot attach to truth; a truthful person has Hashem's throne suspended above him, protecting him.Practical implications — When one lives in truth, all creation acknowledges Hashem as Creator (Psalms 146: “He guards truth forever”). Falsehood contradicts the godly soul within us—lying creates inner conflict and separation from God.Hashem responds to truth — “Hashem is close to all who call upon Him—in truth” (Psalms 145:18). Only authentic, truthful prayer connects deeply.Modern application — Truth stands forever (emet has legs on aleph, mem, tav—beginning, middle, end); falsehood collapses (sheker has one leg). Purge rationalizations and traits that justify lies to live in alignment with the soul's divine source.The rabbi ties this to daily life: every mitzvah, word, and action should reflect truth, as we carry a piece of God's truth within us._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on July 21, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 9, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #Hashem, #Soul ★ Support this podcast ★

Witness the awe-inspiring miracle of Dorcas' resurrection, as Peter, through the power of Jesus, brings life and hope back to a mourning community.In this episode, the Apostle Peter performs a miraculous healing, raising Dorcas from the dead and restoring hope to the grieving believers in Joppa. Her resurrection becomes a powerful testimony of God's love and power, strengthening the faith of those who witnessed it.Today's Bible verse is Deuteronomy 10:21, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 11:26–28. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-strength-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 7. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-joy-hcj/. Browse other resources from Nancy Guthrie. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

Send us a textWe've come to the end of the Deuteronomy and the entire Torah.  We've walked with Moses from before his birth right until his death.  We've seen his high points and low points.  We've seen his wide range of emotions for his people.  What lessons do these final chapters have in store?  Where does this leave Israel as they stand on the threshold of a new journey? Our website is The Context and Color of the BibleWe are on Facebook - The Context and Color of the Bible | FacebookWe are on Instagram - @contextandcolorofthebibleWe are on YouTube - The Context and Color of the Bible - YouTubeMusic: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

After the Sermon: Deuteronomy 4:1-40 by West Hills Church

As we settle in for Moses's retelling of God's Law in chapters 5-26 of Deuteronomy (lit. “second law”), we need to be aware of how prone we are to reduce the Law to just a list of “Do”s and “Don't”s. But in his preface in chapter 4, Moses reminds us why the Law is so important and so personal: because of whose Law it is. Before we can fully appreciate God's Law, we must first learn to appreciate the God of the Law.

Joash is a lesser known king with an important lesson for us today. Under the mentorship of the priest Jehoiada, Joash accomplished great things. But after Jehoiada’s death, Joash was quickly led astray. Joash's life serves as a warning about the limits of spiritual mentorship. While mentorship is good, it cannot replace one's own personal relationship with God. 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 – When the wicked Queen Athaliah (daughter of Jezebel) massacred children of the royal household, God worked through Princess Jehosheba to save the life of a baby boy named Joash. 2 Chronicles 23:1-15 – Joash was hidden in the Temple for 6 years. Under the leadership of Priest Jehoiada, Athaliah was overthrown and Joash became king. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – Jehoiada gave Joash the Law of God. God instructed kings to make a copy of the Law, stay humble, and diligently study. 2 Chronicles 23:16-24:14 – Under Jehoiada's mentorship, Joash repaired the Temple, removed idols, and did building projects. 2 Chronicles 24:15-26 – After Jehoiada died, Joash was led astray and brought back idolatry. When God sent the prophet Zechariah to warn Joash, Joash killed him in the Temple. God removed his hand of protection over Judah, allowing invaders to pillage the land. Joash failed to study God's Law for himself, relying instead on a mentor. Joash's heart for God was motivated by a desire to please another man. He went through the motions of godliness when his mentor was watching. 1 Timothy 4:6-16 – Paul mentored Timothy. Mentorship is good, but cannot replace a personal relationship with God. Do you go to church out of love for God, or are you going to make somebody else happy? Do you study the Bible, or take your pastor's word for it? Do you have your own prayer life, or do you rely on the mentorship of someone who does? The post Forgotten Kings: Joash first appeared on Living Hope.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Jeremiah: God's Call to Repentance 3:1—4:4 Introduction: “Repentance,” how often do you think about it? The whole concept probably does not cross our minds very often. However, repentance is one of those commands that should be an ongoing, regular part of our lives. If we ask God for forgiveness every day, repentance should be on our minds. Possibly our major problem with the concept of repentance is that we think it means being sorry for something we did. We could only wish it was that easy! It is not. Repentance is changing the very core of who we are, and change is not easy.  This section of Jeremiah calls upon God's people to change. But their challenge comes from the fact that they have been practicing their lifestyle for generations. Mom and dad lived this way and so did grandma and grandpa. Day to day life is embedded in who they are, and their culture continues to reinforce their failures.  Nothing has changed. Everyone of us has faults, flaws, weaknesses and habits that are not in favor with God. And we ignore these things within us, even nurture them and protect them.  God's Call to Repentance: Overview God gives no doubt as to the message of this section. The key Hebrew word used 17 times in this section in different forms is sub (pronounced ‘shoove'). Depending on context, the word means to “turn or return.” Used negatively it is Israel “turning away” from God. It is also translated “faithless.” For example, 3:22 read more literally, “Turn, you turning away sons, and I will heal your turnings.”  Used positively, the word is translated “return,” as in repentance. Israel had turned away, but now they are called upon to “turn back.” 4:1 gives an example of this turning, “If you return, O Israel…to me you should return.” You can see God's point. Israel had a tendency to “turn” in this way and that, from one idol to another and from one nation to another for help. God's plea is, if you are going to turn, turn to me! God Exposes Israel's Turning Away, 3:1-20 1-5 The Lord quotes from Deuteronomy 24:1-4. This law was given to stop the misuse of wives trading them back and forth to other men and then bringing them back. It was considered an abomination. This was the way Israel was treating God: “you have played the whore with many lovers and would you return to me?” (3:1). Did this mean it was impossible for them to return to God? Obviously not because this is God's plea. But their return must be with their whole heart 3:10, and not in pretense. Oh how this is still done today! How can we even think of paying homage to God, pretending to be thankful in the eating of his body and the drinking of his blood, but then giving ourselves to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and then in the pride of our hearts act as if God is accepting us!  2-5 describes the lustfulness of the nation toward their idols. They have been a brazen prostitute, sitting alone like in a wilderness, willing to be ravished by anyone who passed by. They have the “forehead of a whore,” indicating their boldness in their sins and refusal to be ashamed.  And yet they are so brazen that they will speak to God with words of love as if their harlotry has been a minor issue and that God's anger should not endure. 3:5b indicates how God is appalled at their words, “Behold you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” We would say, “You are a joke, Israel!”  6-14 Notice how God refers to Israel as “faithless one,” that is, “Turning away” one. God had hoped that after she had her fill of her whoredoms that she would “return” to me.” But not only did she not turn back to God, her sister Judah saw what she did, and in spite of God divorcing Israel by sending her away, Judah followed in the path of Israel's harlotry. Judah became so bad that she was worse than Israel. So much worse that God even calls Israel to “return, faithless (turning)” Israel. God would happily have her back if she would “acknowledge her guilt.” 15-20 The Lord looks ahead to speak of future blessings if his people will truly repent. This section obviously sees God's blessings in the Messiah and his kingdom. God will provide good shepherds who will feed them with spiritual knowledge and understanding.  God will multiply them and they will be fruitful (clearly and evangelistic blessing).  The loss of the ark of the covenant will no longer be a care because the new Jerusalem will be the throne of God (not the throne of a physical, temporary king).  When this happens, the nations will be gathered to the Lord in the new Jerusalem.  The people's hearts will be changed. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil heart.  They will be united as one nation; no longer a divided kingdom. 19-20 The previous blessings remind God of what he had originally planned for the nation. They would be his sons and daughters and they will call him Father, and they would not “turn” from following him. But instead they had been as a treacherous wife who left her husband. True Repentance Defined: 3:21—4:4 This section is either the hopefulness of Jeremiah or the future picture of the restoration of Israel as seen in the Messiah's disciples. I favor the latter view because there are similar pictures given by Isaiah and Ezekiel.  Notice the ingredients of true repentance: 21: “weeping and pleading” is the result of two signs of a changed heart.  (1) The realization that to be accepted back would be completely undeserved. As in the parable of the prodigal, he would have been thrilled just to be considered his father's servant.  (2) Weeping and pleading is evidence of a heart that despises and loathes self for the sins committed. There is no ambivalence that is typical in a half-hearted repentance in which sin is grudgingly given up but the deep desire to continue the sin is still present. (Israel in the wilderness) 22: Their desire to return to God, to repent, is because he is the Lord our God and only in the Lord our God “is the salvation of Israel (23b). As Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” A sure way to “lose life” is to try to live life for ourselves. 23: Repentance requires the recognition that all sin is but a delusion—a deception or lie. In other words, sin promises life, but its wages are misery and death. There is no fulfillment or satisfaction. There is only greater misery and despair.  24: Illustrates the deception & confession of sin. All that they have has been devoured. The result of their sins have been shame and dishonor. 4:1-4 God's call to an active repentance: This section plainly illustrates that repentance is not simply sorrow for sin. There must be an active pursuit of getting right with God.  1: “If you return, O Israel, to me you should return.” Make sure your change is truly a return to God. Stopping former sins will be short-lived unless the return is actually to God. Repentance is not just stopping sin. It is a passionate turn to God.  2: Our words of allegiance to God must be lived out in truth, justice and righteousness. 3-4: Start sowing good seed to produce fruit in your life. Get rid of the thorns—those things that hinder the process and choke out the word. Further, get your heart right! This is not something that happens instantly, but progresses as you pray and study regularly so that your heart can be transformed (Rom. 12:1). In the beginning, your heart will not “feel” like changing, but God repeatedly emphasizes a principle that always succeeds: “circumcise your hearts” is just another way of saying, act yourself into a new way of feeling. Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 3:1–4:4 God’s Call to Repentance appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Send a textIn this episode, Pastor Dom teaches us about the enemy of increase in our lives. Psalm 115:13-1513 He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great. 14 May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.3 John 2 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.Deuteronomy 28:1313 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.Exodus 20:33 “You shall have no other gods before Me.Ephesians 4:2727 and do not give the devil an opportunity.2 Corinthians 10:55 …bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,John 10:1010 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.John 8:4444 …for he is a liar and the father of it.Jeremiah 1:55 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;2 Corinthians 5:1717 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Romans 8:3131 …If God is for us, who can be against us?2 Corinthians 10:55 …bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 1 Peter 5:88 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.Hebrews 12:22 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,John 3:3030 He must increase, but I must decrease.Psalm 34:10 …But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

“Why are you crying?” The question was asked by a volunteer for a Christian relief ministry helping those whose homes had been destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The woman (who had burst into tears in the previous moment) replied, “I’m not crying because I lost everything. I’m crying because love just showed up.” God’s heart shows itself in His desire that we help those in need. When Moses gave the people of Israel God’s instructions before they entered the land He’d promised them, he told them, “Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted” toward the poor. “Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). Their hearts toward the poor were to reflect God’s own: “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart” (15:10). Whether in disaster situations or everyday life, when we give to those in need out of the blessings God has kindly given us, we make evident the love of His Son, who came “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In fact, God promises He “will bless” those who share His unselfishness with others (Deuteronomy 15:10), both in this life and the next (see Luke 14:14). We can’t see God yet, but others may catch a glimpse of Him when we emulate His compassion for them. May His love show up as kindness through us today.

We want to live wisely, but that can seem impossible at times. Discover what the Bible means when it says that wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord.”Receive What does it look like for you to grow in wisdom? Scripture invites you to begin by fearing the Lord—by learning to revere Him for who He truly is and letting that reverence shape your daily choices.  Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you?  Isaiah 10:13  Psalm 107:27  Exodus 28:3  Deuteronomy 34:9  1 Kings 5  Psalm 37:30  Deuteronomy 4:6-7  Proverbs 1:1, 7-8  Proverbs 21:23 Proverbs 3:18 Proverbs 16:7 Proverbs 15:32-33 Proverbs 10:1, 27 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 9:10  Proverbs 14:27  Proverbs 19:23  Proverbs 22:4 Proverbs 2:1-5 When you hear Proverbs 1:7 say that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” what stands out to you personally? How does that shape the way you think about wisdom and learning? As you reflect on Scripture, what kinds of good fruit or growth does the Bible connect with fearing the Lord? Where have you seen any of these take shape in your own life? How does it encourage or comfort you to remember that the benefits of fearing the Lord are meant to guide how we live, rather than serve as promises to hang on to?  Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) Jesus, help me to truly revere You—not out of fear that pushes me away, but out of awe that draws me closer. Grow me in wisdom as I learn to trust who You are and submit my heart to You. Show me, day by day, what it looks like to honor You in my thoughts, my choices, and my relationships. Help me recognize how walking in reverence shapes the way I respond to others. May Your wisdom guide me so I can live with a heart that reflects You. Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Our Daily Bread Publishing Listen: Proverbial Wisdom  A Life of Wisdom and the Proverbs 31 Woman  Read: Reverent Fear  Understanding the Bible: The Wisdom Books  Watch: Mount Arbel - Sermon on the Mount and the Great Commission

Pastor Ken continues teaching through the book of Deuteronomy.

As we walk through Israel's shift from theocracy to monarchy, Samuel's story is brought into the picture. Through an exploration into 1 Samuel and Deuteronomy, we gain a better perspective as to why the nation of Israel longs for an earthly king and continues to reject God. Speaker: Brad Bell

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today's Bible reading is Deuteronomy 9:6. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional at https://www.crossway.org/books/daily-strength-hcj/. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter

The Epstein files spark a sobering conversation about corruption, secrecy, and the cost of unchecked power. The guys examine why evil operating in darkness should never shock us, and how history, Scripture, and human nature all point to the same outcome when desire goes unrestrained. Jase shares a harrowing travel story that turns into a reminder of how quickly our illusion of control can disappear. In this episode: Deuteronomy 17, verses 16–17; 1 John 2, verse 16; John 8, verse 44; Romans 2, verses 6–11; James 4, verse 16; James 5, verse 16 “Unashamed” Episode 1263 is sponsored by: https://helixsleep.com/unashamed — Get 27% off sitewide and make sure you enter our show name after checkout so they know we sent you! https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! https://chministries.org/unashamed — See why Christians are ditching health insurance for good. Get a simpler alternative at half the cost! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00 – Late start and a chaotic travel day 07:40 – Jase accidentally tells an offensive joke 10:30 – The one-engine plane and the red button 16:00 – Fog, ice, and a near-aborted landing 22:30 – Stranded in El Dorado after midnight 28:40 – A deer dodge and a midnight rescue 33:45 – Why powerful people doing evil shouldn't shock us 37:20 – Epstein, money, sex, and power 43:30 – Darkness, secrecy, and bringing sin into the light 50:30 – Why this evil exists at all — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices