Podcasts about Devotion

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260921dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. Psalm 115:2-4 He Does Whatever Pleases Him “Where is your God?” Those who deny God’s existence may taunt Christians with that question. “If what you call sin is bad, why doesn’t God do something about it? If your God is real, why doesn’t he help you when you are hurting or in trouble?” Maybe we struggle with the same questions. The writer of our Bible reading today asks an important question: “Why do the nations say, ‘Where is your God?'” Isn’t it because we think too highly of ourselves? We think we know better than God about how things should be. And so, we criticize God for failing to act or for acting in ways that don’t seem right. How foolish and arrogant! Our God is not absent or powerless. He is not unjust or uncaring. He’s in heaven, far above everything else we might put our trust in. He wasn’t made by human hands or invented by human imagination. And he does whatever pleases him. He doesn’t need to answer to us. The good news is that what pleases God is to have a relationship with the people he created. When that relationship is broken by our selfish disobedience, what pleases him is to restore that relationship by sending his Son to suffer in our place. What pleases him is to demonstrate amazing grace by showing mercy to every sinner for the sake of his Son. If God were limited in any way, if God operated according to what we think is right, we could only fear him. But instead, he is pleased to love, forgive, and restore. And nothing can stand in his way. Prayer: Gracious God, in all of life’s circumstances, I know that you will do what pleases you and bless me by your amazing grace. Help me to trust your loving care. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260920dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion [Jesus said] “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16 God’s Unique Way I thought for sure I would be first. But I ended up being last. It happened some years ago at a wedding reception. I made a special effort to sit at a table very near the buffet line. I thought for sure my table would get to eat first after the bride and groom. In a cruel twist, our table ended up eating last. I wasn’t very happy. Some people think that they will certainly be the first to enjoy heaven. They smugly say to themselves, “I’m a pretty good person. Sure, I’m not perfect. But at least I haven't killed anyone or robbed a bank.” Oh, what a big surprise awaits them. Those who boast in themselves or who refuse in stubborn arrogance to repent of their sins and cling to Jesus’ cross as their only real way will be last. They will be completely shut out of God’s heaven. They won’t be happy, but that’s God’s unique way. Mindful of our utter sinfulness and the many sins that we have committed against a holy God, may we ever remain sorry for our wrongs and kneel humbly before him. May we daily confess, “Lord, I don’t ever deserve to enjoy the buffet line of your blessings and grace in heaven because I am the chief of sinners!” Let us remember and believe that through faith in Jesus, who lived perfectly, died innocently, and rose triumphantly, our sins are fully paid, and our guilt is forever removed. As sinners we are “last” in God’s eyes. But by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, we get to be “first” one day in heaven. Then we’ll be eternally happy, all because of God’s unique way! Prayer: Lord, thank you for your unique way! I admit that I am a terrible sinner which makes me “last” before you. But I believe that Jesus has died for all of my sins. I am forgiven, because you have told me so. By your great love for me in Jesus, I rejoice to know that I will be “first” one day in heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260919dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 God Guides All Things for Good A man named Joseph spoke the words in our Bible reading today. Many years earlier, his own brothers had plotted first to kill him, then instead had decided to sell him into slavery. Can you imagine how much that must have hurt? Have other people hurt you? I know I have been hurt by other people. The truth is, every one of us has been hurt by someone. Hurt as badly as Joseph? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Regardless, what was true for Joseph is also true for you and me. God has promised to rule all things for the good of his people. If you believe that Jesus is your Savior, then you’re one of God's people, and therefore, God is ruling all things with your best interests in mind. And so even when another person intends to harm you, even when they sin against you horribly, God’s promise is that he will use it, somehow, someway, to bring blessing to you. He did it with Joseph. After being sold into slavery in Egypt, God guided things so that Joseph ended up becoming the second most powerful person in the kingdom, and through Joseph, many lives were saved from starvation. He could see clearly how God had guided things for his good and for the good of other people. Perhaps we will not be able to see it so clearly. That is okay. It’s not that we can SEE that God is guiding things that matter. What matters is that God has promised to do it. And God NEVER fails to keep a promise! Prayer: Almighty God, you have promised to guide all things for my good. Fulfill that promise! Assure me that, even when others sin against me that you will use it for my good and for the good of your people. Use that truth to heal me when I hurt and to enable me to forgive those who have sinned against me, even as you have forgiven me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260918dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'” Matthew 18:32-33 Canceled Debt Jesus once told a story about a servant who owed a king an enormous amount of money. The debt was so large that the servant could never repay it. When the king demanded payment, the servant fell to his knees and begged for more time. Then the king did something surprising. He did not give the servant more time. He canceled the debt completely. The servant walked away owing nothing. Soon afterward, that same servant found another man who owed him a much smaller amount. Instead of showing mercy, he grabbed the man and demanded his money. When the man could not pay, the servant had him thrown into prison. When the king heard what happened, he was furious. The servant had received incredible mercy, but he refused to show mercy to someone else. Jesus told this story to teach us about forgiveness. When someone hurts us, it can be difficult to forgive. The pain may be real. The offense may be serious. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that what happened was okay. But Jesus wants us to remember how much God has forgiven us. Every time we disobey God, we add to a debt we could never repay. We fail to love God as we should. We fail to love other people as we should. We think, say, and do things that go against what God wants. But God does not tell us to work harder until we have paid him back. Jesus paid our debt for us. On the cross, Jesus took the punishment our sins deserved. Because of what Jesus did, God forgives us completely. Our debt is canceled. That changes the way we look at people who sin against us. We do not forgive because their sin was small. We forgive because God’s mercy toward us is so great. The more we remember how much we have been forgiven, the more ready we will be to forgive others. Prayer: Merciful Father, thank you for canceling my debt through Jesus. Help me remember your mercy and show that same mercy to others. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260917dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 No Keeping Score Three strikes and you’re out. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We all have limits for how often we will allow someone to offend us. We can understand and forgive one offense. Maybe even two. But if someone offends or hurts us three times? That’s it. So when Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him, he thought he was being generous by offering to forgive seven times. Jesus had just been teaching his disciples about forgiveness. Peter thought his question showed the lesson was sinking in. Jesus’ response showed Peter, and us, just how much we need to grow in our understanding of forgiveness. He turned Peter’s generous offer of seven into a fraction. “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a bigger number to keep track of. Imagine getting to offense number seventy-eight and saying, “Finally! Now I don't have to forgive you.” Jesus’ point was the opposite: stop keeping score. That is hard. When someone hurts us repeatedly, we remember. We keep a mental record. We can recall what they said, what they did, and how many times they have done it. Eventually, we decide they have used up their supply of forgiveness. Thankfully, that isn’t how Jesus treats us. How many times have you committed the same sin? How many times have you lost your temper, spoken selfishly, entertained the same sinful thought, or failed to love someone? Yet you have never reached the limit of Jesus' mercy. He carried every one of those sins to the cross and paid for them completely. Jesus doesn’t stand over you with a tally sheet. He stands before you with nail-scarred hands and says, “You are forgiven.” Because his forgiveness has no limits, we don’t need to put limits on ours. We can put down the scorecard and forgive again. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for forgiving me again and again. Help me stop keeping score and freely forgive others as you have forgiven me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  In this episode of our Goddess series, Kathleen Joan and I explore Mary Magdalene, the woman behind the stories, her place in early Christianity, and why her presence still matters so deeply today.    Mary Magdalene was a real woman who walked the earth. She was a devoted follower and the wife of Jesus, a spiritual leader in her own right, and a powerful presence in the resurrection story. And yet, over the centuries, her role was diminished, rewritten, and in many ways pushed to the edges.    So Kathleen and I ask a different question.    What happens when we bring Mary Magdalene back into the center of the story?    We explore the woman she was, the wisdom she carried, and how she has become such a powerful expression of the Divine Feminine for women who are hungry for a deeper, fuller understanding of the sacred.    My co-host for this series is Kathleen Joan, a priestess of Brigid devoted to the resurrection of the Divine Feminine in today's world, especially for women with Christian ancestry. Kathleen spent more than 15 years in ministry and holds a dual Master's degree in theology and ministry. Today, she brings that deep understanding of the Christian tradition into her work helping women reclaim the wild, sacred Feminine through Goddess teachings, channeling, energy healing, circles, and retreats.    Like Mary Magdalene, the Feminine has been erased, softened, and minimized in so many of our sacred stories.    But she was never truly gone. This conversation is an invitation to remember her, reclaim what was pushed aside, and make room again for the sacred Feminine wisdom that has been there all along.      Episode Highlights    00:00 — Introducing Mary Magdalene Knowing Mary Magdalene from three perspectives: the stories told about her, the historical person who lived, and the spiritual presence many people continue to connect with today.  02:27 — The Apostle to the Apostles Mary Magdalene is consistently named as the first witness to Jesus' resurrection. Her role as the person who carried that news forward gives her a foundational place in the Christian story.  06:28 — How Official Religious Narratives Were Shaped The episode examines how religious authorities established official teachings centuries after Jesus' death. Many writings associated with Mary and other women were excluded, hidden, destroyed, or lost, leaving gaps in the historical record.  08:39 — The First Message of Resurrection The central Christian message of life continuing after death was first brought to the community by Mary Magdalene. Her testimony was initially dismissed, revealing how women's spiritual authority was questioned even when they carried the core message of the faith.  11:48 — Why Her Teachings Were Threatening The idea that Jesus would teach a woman profound spiritual truths challenged emerging patriarchal leadership structures. Mary's experience was questioned because it did not fit the belief that divine knowledge should be controlled by male authorities.  12:43 — Connecting with the Divine Through the Heart Mary's message emphasizes that people can access the divine through their own hearts. Spiritual connection does not necessarily require an external institution to define or authorize the experience.  18:01 — Reclaiming the Feminine Story Mary's message focuses on correcting the narrative around her and restoring the feminine presence in sacred traditions.   20:23 — Seeing the Feminine in the Divine The divine is described as far more expansive than a solely male figure.   23:19 — Passion as Spiritual Power Passion, devotion, and deep feeling are described as spiritual powers that connect people with their loved ones, their souls, and the divine.  24:23 — The Divine Power of Devotion Love is framed as a force that lives within the body, heart, and whole human experience. Devotion can help keep wisdom and connection alive even through loss and separation.     Mentioned  Wild Wisdom Goddess Temple is Kathleen's online circle where Christian-rooted women reclaim their whole selves as sacred through the Divine Feminine. This 13-moon journey will help you return to honoring the Sacred She within as you meet Her in Her many names & forms, supported by a loving circle of sisterhood.  The Wealthy Witch Way is Julie's membership. Inside we weave together money work, magic, ritual, the Akashic Records, and feminine business wisdom to help you deepen your connection to Source, expand your receiving, and grow the work you're here to do profitably.    Connect with Kathleen Joan    Website: https://www.brigidsflame.org/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenjoanns   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brigidsflameministry   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brigidsflame-kj     Connect with Julie Foucht     Membership:  https://juliefoucht.com/wealthywitchway/  Website: https://juliefoucht.com/   Quiz: https://bit.ly/witchpreneur-quiz  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artoffemininebusiness/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieFouchtCoaching/   Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FeminineMarketingMagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JulieFoucht   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjulz/  Podcast: The Art of Feminine Business with Julie Foucht at https://juliefoucht.com/podcast/    

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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260917dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 No Keeping Score Three strikes and you’re out. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We all have limits for how often we will allow someone to offend us. We can understand and forgive one offense. Maybe even two. But if someone offends or hurts us three times? That’s it. So when Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him, he thought he was being generous by offering to forgive seven times. Jesus had just been teaching his disciples about forgiveness. Peter thought his question showed the lesson was sinking in. Jesus’ response showed Peter, and us, just how much we need to grow in our understanding of forgiveness. He turned Peter’s generous offer of seven into a fraction. “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a bigger number to keep track of. Imagine getting to offense number seventy-eight and saying, “Finally! Now I don't have to forgive you.” Jesus’ point was the opposite: stop keeping score. That is hard. When someone hurts us repeatedly, we remember. We keep a mental record. We can recall what they said, what they did, and how many times they have done it. Eventually, we decide they have used up their supply of forgiveness. Thankfully, that isn’t how Jesus treats us. How many times have you committed the same sin? How many times have you lost your temper, spoken selfishly, entertained the same sinful thought, or failed to love someone? Yet you have never reached the limit of Jesus' mercy. He carried every one of those sins to the cross and paid for them completely. Jesus doesn’t stand over you with a tally sheet. He stands before you with nail-scarred hands and says, “You are forgiven.” Because his forgiveness has no limits, we don’t need to put limits on ours. We can put down the scorecard and forgive again. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for forgiving me again and again. Help me stop keeping score and freely forgive others as you have forgiven me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Dr. Gene Getz, editor of the Life Essentials Study Bible, discusses the importance of steadfast devotion and remaining loyal to one another. http://bibleprinciples.org

This week's Alliance Q&A is one I think a lot of you will relate to, even if you've never said it out loud. A member named Eric brought a question on behalf of a close friend who's in a genuinely rough season with his marriage, arguments about a job, about help around the house, about who's doing enough for the kids. Rather than treat it as a surface-level scheduling problem, we spent this entire episode digging into what's actually happening underneath, because I've coached enough men to know the surface complaint is almost never the real issue. We get into the real needs driving most marital conflict, why a woman needs to feel seen, heard, and safe, and why a man needs respect, appreciation, and physical affection, and what happens when both partners stop meeting those needs and start reacting to each other instead. I introduce the concept of the emotional bank account, a term I credit to researcher John Gottman, and share a personal example of learning the hard way that not all acts of service are created equal. We also talk through "nice guy syndrome" and its unattractive cousin, people-pleasing, and I introduce a book that's helped me completely reframe how I show up for Jessica: G.S. Youngblood's three-part framework of responding instead of reacting, leading with structure, and always providing safety.   Timeline Summary [1:02] Introducing today's Alliance Q&A and the friend's marriage situation Eric is bringing forward [2:24] The staggering statistic: only about 12% of married couples have a genuinely thriving marriage [3:16] Eric lays out the surface-level arguments: the job, help around the house, time with the kids [6:19] Establishing the marriage timeline and when things started to unravel [8:16] Asking whether the job is really the issue, or just where the resentment gets pointed [8:38] Larry announces the first-ever Dad Edge Day with the Arizona Cardinals, November 15th [10:40] The real needs at play: seen, heard, and safe for her; respected, appreciated, and affection for him [12:14] Whether he's actually meeting those needs, and the common trap of guessing instead of asking [13:58] The reactive cycle: unmet needs on one side triggering unattractive behavior on the other [15:09] Introducing the five love languages and why they aren't one-size-fits-all [15:51] Introducing the emotional bank account and why not all acts of service move the needle [16:09] Larry's own car wash story, and the moment he learned what actually mattered to his wife [18:49] The question worth asking your spouse: what exactly is happening when you feel most loved [21:41] Naming "nice guy syndrome" and the pattern of doing things with a hidden expectation attached [23:22] Confirming he's a people pleaser, and why that trait is deeply unattractive to a woman [23:48] Introducing G.S. Youngblood's book and its three-part framework for masculine leadership [24:07] The first principle: respond, don't react [24:26] The second principle: lead with structure instead of asking open-ended questions [25:54] The third principle: always provide safety through calm, grounded tonality [26:20] Wrapping up and reflecting on how these ideas apply directly to Eric's friend [27:33] Reminders: Roommates to Soulmates starting September 16th, and the Business Boardroom Brotherhood preview   Five Key Takeaways Surface-level arguments, about a job, about chores, are rarely the real issue. Almost always, there's an unmet need underneath that both partners are struggling to name directly. A woman's core needs tend to center on feeling seen, heard, and safe. A man's core needs tend to center on respect, appreciation, and physical affection. When either side stops meeting those needs, both partners start reacting instead of connecting. Not all acts of service are created equal. The emotional bank account concept means some gestures barely register while others, often smaller and more specific, become huge needle-movers. Ask your spouse directly what actually makes them feel loved. "Nice guy syndrome" and people-pleasing are deeply unattractive traits, not because kindness is bad, but because doing things with a hidden expectation attached (do this, then maybe she'll be nice to me) isn't genuine generosity. A grounded, masculine approach to leadership in a relationship comes down to three things: responding instead of reacting, leading with structure instead of vague open-ended questions, and consistently providing emotional safety through your tone and presence.   Links & Resources The Masculine in Relationship: A Blueprint for Inspiring the Trust, Lust, and Devotion of a Strong Woman by G.S. Youngblood: https://www.amazon.com/Masculine-Relationship-Inspiring-Devotion-Woman/dp/1699443386 The Dad Edge Day at State Farm Stadium: https://thedadedge.com/nfl The Dad Edge Podcast: https://thedadedge.com/1528 The Dad Edge Boardroom Mastermind: https://thedadedge.com/guest   Closing If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: stop guessing at what your spouse needs and just ask. Eric's friend, like so many of us at some point, has been doing things with the hope that they'll move the needle, without ever finding out what actually would. Go ask your wife directly what she was doing, and what you were doing, the last time she felt most loved and connected to you, and then go do more of that. Go out and live legendary.  

On This Week at Charlestown Road, Carson and Jason revisit Sunday morning’s sermon, “A Sincere & Pure Devotion to Christ,” digging deeper into what it looks like to build that sort of relationship with Jesus.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260916dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 God Meant It for Good Joseph didn’t call evil good. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. Joseph described their actions honestly: “You intended to harm me.” But their evil intentions were not the only intentions at work. Joseph continued, “God intended it for good.” Through Joseph’s suffering, God placed him in Egypt. Through Joseph’s position in Egypt, God provided food during a severe famine. Through that food, God preserved Joseph’s family, including the family line through which the Savior would eventually come. The brothers intended harm. God accomplished salvation. That does not excuse what the brothers did. God did not approve of their sin. But their sin could not defeat his gracious plan. The same is true at the cross. Jesus’ enemies intended to silence him. Judas intended to betray him. Religious leaders intended to destroy him. Roman soldiers intended to execute him. Yet through their evil actions, God carried out his saving purpose. Jesus’ suffering became the means by which God rescued sinners. We cannot always see what God is accomplishing through the wrongs committed against us. We should not minimize evil or pretend that suffering is painless. But we can trust that evil never gets the final word. The God who turned Joseph's suffering into the saving of many lives turned Jesus’ death into the salvation of the world. He is still able to bend what others intend for harm toward his good and gracious purposes. Prayer: Lord God, when I cannot understand the evil and suffering around me, help me trust your saving wisdom and your gracious purposes in Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260916dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 God Meant It for Good Joseph didn’t call evil good. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him into slavery. Joseph described their actions honestly: “You intended to harm me.” But their evil intentions were not the only intentions at work. Joseph continued, “God intended it for good.” Through Joseph’s suffering, God placed him in Egypt. Through Joseph’s position in Egypt, God provided food during a severe famine. Through that food, God preserved Joseph’s family, including the family line through which the Savior would eventually come. The brothers intended harm. God accomplished salvation. That does not excuse what the brothers did. God did not approve of their sin. But their sin could not defeat his gracious plan. The same is true at the cross. Jesus’ enemies intended to silence him. Judas intended to betray him. Religious leaders intended to destroy him. Roman soldiers intended to execute him. Yet through their evil actions, God carried out his saving purpose. Jesus’ suffering became the means by which God rescued sinners. We cannot always see what God is accomplishing through the wrongs committed against us. We should not minimize evil or pretend that suffering is painless. But we can trust that evil never gets the final word. The God who turned Joseph's suffering into the saving of many lives turned Jesus’ death into the salvation of the world. He is still able to bend what others intend for harm toward his good and gracious purposes. Prayer: Lord God, when I cannot understand the evil and suffering around me, help me trust your saving wisdom and your gracious purposes in Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Episode 180 is here! And we're right back into Symphogear, with Symphogear GX! In this season our heroes fight a child... Okay, it's more complicated than that, but that's the core of it. And it's so freaking HYPE. Check it out on Crunchyroll. "Dimension" by Creo and "Devotion" by Jim Hall are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260915dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:19 In God’s Place Joseph had the power to make his brothers pay. He was a ruler in Egypt. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him as a slave. Because of them, Joseph had endured years of hardship, false accusations, and imprisonment. Now they stood helpless before him. Joseph could have acted as judge, jury, and executioner. Instead, he asked, “Am I in the place of God?” Joseph was not denying that his brothers had sinned. He was refusing to claim a position that belonged to God. Judgment and vengeance were the Lord's responsibility, not his. When someone hurts us, we often want to take God’s place. We replay the offense, pronounce the person guilty, and decide what punishment would be fair. We may refuse to speak to them, hope that they suffer, or look for an opportunity to hurt them back. But God has not called us to be his executioners. He calls us to forgive. That does not mean pretending that sin does not hurt. It does not always mean immediately restoring trust or removing appropriate consequences. It means releasing our personal claim to revenge. We place the matter into God’s hands. We can do that because God did not treat us as our sins deserved. Jesus stepped into our place and received our punishment. God’s undeserved forgiveness frees us to surrender our desire for revenge and show mercy to those who have wronged us. Prayer: Merciful God, keep me from taking your place as judge. Help me entrust justice to you and forgive others as you have forgiven me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Who are three people that you can pour into today who can bring the Light of Christ into their lives? In this episode, Jeff and Bill discuss: The value of work and making it work.Building your marital relationship to be better together than separate.Seeing yourself in the reflection of God.Building the Kingdom and transforming people through work and leadership. Key Takeaways: If you can make it work on paper, you can make it work. Just never forget, it is going to be work. You are enough in God. That Enough is a gift that you didn't earn. God has compassion on us no matter how short we come. Are we willing to give others that same compassion?Leadership development and discipleship are synonymous. Convince people you believe in them more than you believe in you, and everything will change. "We believe that our goal is to raise people up to the fullness of their God-given potential and introduce them to God in a way that it will forever transform who they are. If you do that, we win." — Bill Spencer Episode References: Praxis: https://www.praxis.co/ The Multiplication Effect by Mac Lake About Bill Spencer: As founder of Narrow Gate Foundation, Bill Spencer has spent over 20 years building more than a ministry—he's built a culture of transformation. With a background in entrepreneurship, marketplace leadership, and pastoral development, Bill brings a rare blend of real-world experience and spiritual authority, helping leaders not just lead better, but live differently.Through the launch of Narrow Gate Lodge and three artisan businesses—Narrow Gate Leather, Narrow Gate Coffee, and TN Box Beams—Bill has created a sustainable, Gospel-centered model where work and discipleship intersect. Rooted in Scripture and delivered with authenticity and clarity, his messages are practical, conversational, and deeply impactful, making him a compelling speaker for churches, pastoral teams, and kingdom-focused business leaders. Connect with Bill Spencer:Website: https://narrowgate.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billspencer-narrowgate/ Connect with Jeff Thomas: Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/ Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/ Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260915dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:19 In God’s Place Joseph had the power to make his brothers pay. He was a ruler in Egypt. His brothers had betrayed him and sold him as a slave. Because of them, Joseph had endured years of hardship, false accusations, and imprisonment. Now they stood helpless before him. Joseph could have acted as judge, jury, and executioner. Instead, he asked, “Am I in the place of God?” Joseph was not denying that his brothers had sinned. He was refusing to claim a position that belonged to God. Judgment and vengeance were the Lord's responsibility, not his. When someone hurts us, we often want to take God’s place. We replay the offense, pronounce the person guilty, and decide what punishment would be fair. We may refuse to speak to them, hope that they suffer, or look for an opportunity to hurt them back. But God has not called us to be his executioners. He calls us to forgive. That does not mean pretending that sin does not hurt. It does not always mean immediately restoring trust or removing appropriate consequences. It means releasing our personal claim to revenge. We place the matter into God’s hands. We can do that because God did not treat us as our sins deserved. Jesus stepped into our place and received our punishment. God’s undeserved forgiveness frees us to surrender our desire for revenge and show mercy to those who have wronged us. Prayer: Merciful God, keep me from taking your place as judge. Help me entrust justice to you and forgive others as you have forgiven me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Want to send a message to us? Click here!Support the showStart your morning with 5 minutes of wisdom and clarity from the Book of Proverbs.

Send us Fan MailThis is a reading of Dada Shamitanandaji's book titled Baba Unparalleled: 103 Stories. Stories 42-48From the back cover of the book:Dada Shamitananda's stories portray the sublime and the mundane with equal beauty, making this book a great read for anyone on a spiritual path.Most of the stories in this book come from a blissful two-year period in Dada's life, during which he massaged Baba several times a week. Through close contact with his guru, Dada experienced the delight of devotion, as well as the pain that comes with traversing the difficult path of Tantra. Dada also shares the teachings of his guru, who guided him through thick and thin.About the AuthorDada Shamitananda is a yogic monk and a devoted follower of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, the founder of Ananda Marga and affectionately known as Baba by His followers. Dada was ordained at the age of seventeen, not long after receiving Baba's call in his dreams.Support the show

The enemy uses convenience as a subtle strategy to pull us away from God's will by dulling our devotion and nurturing apathy rather than outright rebellion. We define something convenient as what saves time and effort; however, it becomes dangerous when it replaces surrender, participation, and obedience to God's mission. Examples like the rich young ruler, wandering disciples, Judas, Peter, Demas, and the church of Laodicea teach us that choosing what feels easier often costs us spiritual depth, courage, and relational trust in Jesus. Grace invites us to break away from self-preservation and challenges us to be willing to show up, face inconvenience, and release what God has placed on our lives for the sake of others. Embracing Jesus' invitation to rest in Him keeps us spiritually safe.   To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260914dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” Genesis 50:15 Forgive the Unforgivable Years had passed, but Joseph's brothers were still afraid. Long ago, they had been jealous of Joseph. Their jealousy turned into hatred, and their hatred led them to do something terrible. They sold their own brother into slavery and let their father believe Joseph was dead. But Joseph did not stay a slave. Through a remarkable series of events, God eventually placed Joseph in a position of great power in Egypt. Years later, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt looking for food during a famine. They were shocked to discover that their brother was alive and in such a position of power. Their father was thrilled to learn that his long-lost son was alive. All was well. But then their father died. The brothers were terrified. Maybe Joseph had only been kind to them in order to please their father. Maybe now he would finally get revenge. They could imagine punishment. They could imagine Joseph making them pay. What they could not imagine was forgiveness. Guilt can do the same thing to us. It reminds us of the worst things we have done. It tells us that some sins are too serious, too shameful, or too deliberate to be forgiven. We may believe that God forgives sins in general, yet still wonder, “But will he forgive this?” The answer is yes. God does not forgive reluctantly. He is not pretending to forgive while secretly planning to punish you later. Jesus already took the punishment your sins deserved. On the cross, he paid for every sin completely. Joseph did not take revenge on his brothers. He reassured them, cared for them, and spoke kindly to them. Your Savior does even more. When guilt tells you that God must still be angry, listen to Jesus instead. His cross says the punishment has been paid. His empty tomb says the payment was enough. What seems unforgivable to you is not beyond the forgiveness of Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when guilt makes me doubt your forgiveness, direct me to your cross and assure me that my sins have been paid for completely. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What if your dream life looks nothing like what you could plan or foresee in this exact moment? In this podcast episode with Intuitive Life Designer Coach Julie Reisler…you'll hear what helped her create a top ranked spiritual podcast with over 4 million views, as well as an Intuitive Life Coach Certification school that's been serving people for the past six years. Neither of which were on her vision board 10 years ago! If you're ready to stop trying to figure out what you should be doing with your life…and start creating a life devoted to what matters to you most moment to moment, this episode is for you!✨ Ready to explore what you're called to devote your vital life force energy to now?Join me for Devotion on 9/22! ❤️‍

How deeply are we pursuing God, and does prayer hold the central place in our lives that Christ desires? Through Jesus' declaration that His house should be “called the house of prayer” and the life of A.W. Tozer, we are reminded that true spiritual influence flows from communion with God. Tozer's ministry called believers away from shallow, entertainment-centered Christianity and back to a wholehearted devotion to Christ. As we seek the Lord personally through His Word and prayer, we are drawn into greater unity with one another and become the kind of people whose lives point others toward Jesus. May we pursue God with such sincerity that our churches become houses of prayer and our lives bear the simple testimony of men and women who truly belong to Him.

We don't drift into faithfulness by accident — we're formed by it, one small choice at a time. What catches our eye captures our heart; what captures our heart drives our body; and what drives our body shapes our whole experience of life. The goal was never to balance these pieces, but to let them become so woven together that this way of living simply feels normal. It starts with our default thoughts, which quietly set the patterns we'll follow. And obedience is the thread running through it all — doing what God wants until, over time, it becomes what we actually want.

The following sermon was chosen as a 'staff-pick' on SermonAudio: Title: Personal Devotion Speaker: Dr. Gary Reimers Broadcaster: Cornerstone Baptist Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 8/30/2026 Bible: Luke 9:21-26 Length: 43 min.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260914dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” Genesis 50:15 Forgive the Unforgivable Years had passed, but Joseph's brothers were still afraid. Long ago, they had been jealous of Joseph. Their jealousy turned into hatred, and their hatred led them to do something terrible. They sold their own brother into slavery and let their father believe Joseph was dead. But Joseph did not stay a slave. Through a remarkable series of events, God eventually placed Joseph in a position of great power in Egypt. Years later, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt looking for food during a famine. They were shocked to discover that their brother was alive and in such a position of power. Their father was thrilled to learn that his long-lost son was alive. All was well. But then their father died. The brothers were terrified. Maybe Joseph had only been kind to them in order to please their father. Maybe now he would finally get revenge. They could imagine punishment. They could imagine Joseph making them pay. What they could not imagine was forgiveness. Guilt can do the same thing to us. It reminds us of the worst things we have done. It tells us that some sins are too serious, too shameful, or too deliberate to be forgiven. We may believe that God forgives sins in general, yet still wonder, “But will he forgive this?” The answer is yes. God does not forgive reluctantly. He is not pretending to forgive while secretly planning to punish you later. Jesus already took the punishment your sins deserved. On the cross, he paid for every sin completely. Joseph did not take revenge on his brothers. He reassured them, cared for them, and spoke kindly to them. Your Savior does even more. When guilt tells you that God must still be angry, listen to Jesus instead. His cross says the punishment has been paid. His empty tomb says the payment was enough. What seems unforgivable to you is not beyond the forgiveness of Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when guilt makes me doubt your forgiveness, direct me to your cross and assure me that my sins have been paid for completely. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Want to send a message to us? Click here!Support the showStart your morning with 5 minutes of wisdom and clarity from the Book of Proverbs.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260913dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” Matthew 18:27 Forgiven How many times, just today, have you and I failed to love God with all our heart? Do you know? I don’t. Yet, every one of those failures was a sin. Or similarly, how many times, just today, have you and I failed to trust God completely? Do you know? Again, I don’t. Probably a whole bunch. Or again, how many times, just today, have you and I failed to focus our attention on God’s Word? Or failed to love our neighbor perfectly? Or failed to realize that someone needed a helping hand from us? Wow! How many sins have we piled up, just today? It’s probably quite a list. Hundreds? Thousands? More? Who knows? Well, God knows. And he knows not only about today, but about yesterday. And the day before that, and the day before that, and … well, you get the picture. And it isn’t pretty. What’s amazing is what God has done with all of those sins. He’s wiped them ALL away. Every single one of them. He placed all of them onto the back of his Son, Jesus, at the cross and paid for every single one of them. In doing so, Jesus canceled our debt because he paid for it in full. What a loving and gracious God we have! Prayer: Lord Jesus, to you I make confession of all my many sins. Thank you for paying the price for them at the cross. Help me live today in a way that reflects my gratitude for your great gift. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260913dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” Matthew 18:27 Forgiven How many times, just today, have you and I failed to love God with all our heart? Do you know? I don’t. Yet, every one of those failures was a sin. Or similarly, how many times, just today, have you and I failed to trust God completely? Do you know? Again, I don’t. Probably a whole bunch. Or again, how many times, just today, have you and I failed to focus our attention on God’s Word? Or failed to love our neighbor perfectly? Or failed to realize that someone needed a helping hand from us? Wow! How many sins have we piled up, just today? It’s probably quite a list. Hundreds? Thousands? More? Who knows? Well, God knows. And he knows not only about today, but about yesterday. And the day before that, and the day before that, and … well, you get the picture. And it isn’t pretty. What’s amazing is what God has done with all of those sins. He’s wiped them ALL away. Every single one of them. He placed all of them onto the back of his Son, Jesus, at the cross and paid for every single one of them. In doing so, Jesus canceled our debt because he paid for it in full. What a loving and gracious God we have! Prayer: Lord Jesus, to you I make confession of all my many sins. Thank you for paying the price for them at the cross. Help me live today in a way that reflects my gratitude for your great gift. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Sunday Morning, September 13, 2026 | S0680 SPEAKER: Jason Hardin DOWNLOAD: Interactive outline WATCH NOW: Livestream S0680

What we devote ourselves to shapes who we become. In Acts 2, the early church was more than a group of people who believed the same things—they were a community transformed by the Holy Spirit and deeply committed to following the way of Jesus together. Their devotion produced a church marked by unity, generosity, worship, prayer, and genuine care for one another. Rather than simply asking what the early church did, we're invited to consider what it would look like to live with that same kind of devotion today. Acts 2:42 gives us four practices at the heart of this life: devotion to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These aren't simply church programs or activities to add to an already busy schedule—they're practices that form us into the people God desires us to become. A life of devotion takes time, commitment, and sacrifice, calling us to move from consuming to contributing and from simply trying harder to intentionally training in the way of Jesus.

Want to send a message to us? Click here!Support the showStart your morning with 5 minutes of wisdom and clarity from the Book of Proverbs.

In a jaw-dropping television appearance, novice Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick offered a blistering defense of the administration's trade policies, rising energy prices, and Donald Trump's controversial promise of a $5,000 cash dividend. Beneath his theatrical delivery lies an unwavering, cult-like devotion to Donald Trump—a sycophancy that repeatedly forces Lutnick to choose political loyalty over economic reality. As the U.S. economy falters under trade friction, persistent cost-of-living pressures, rising inflation, and historic national debt, mainstream economists view Lutnick's boasts not as credible fiscal strategy, but as ideological posturing meant to insulate his boss from public accountability. Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is a MeidasTouch Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews Support Anthony on Substack https://theanthonydavis.substack.com You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The MeidasTouch Network, Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260912dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'” Ezekiel 33:11 What does God want from me? “What does God want from me?” We’ve probably heard it; perhaps we’ve thought about it. In our Bible verse today, God first tells us what he DOESN’T want. He doesn’t want to send us to hell. He doesn’t want to condemn us. Oh, it’s true, that's what we deserve, because of our sinfulness. And if we consistently, stubbornly rebel against God, refusing to believe in him, then God has no choice, and he will send us to hell. But truly this isn’t what God wants So, what DOES God want? In short, he wants us. He wants our heart, our affection, our trust. He wants us to spend eternity with him. He wants you and me so badly that he—Jesus—became one of us, dying on the cross to pay for our sins in full. God wanted you that badly; God loved you that dearly. And God wants you to have the benefits of Jesus’ work—forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and much more—for all eternity. That’s what God wants for you! Prayer: O Savior, thank you for claiming me as one of your children. Although I’d rebelled against you, you wanted me. What grace! Lead me to always turn to you, to focus on you, to live in a way that makes clear that I appreciate what you’ve done for me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260912dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'” Ezekiel 33:11 What does God want from me? “What does God want from me?” We’ve probably heard it; perhaps we’ve thought about it. In our Bible verse today, God first tells us what he DOESN’T want. He doesn’t want to send us to hell. He doesn’t want to condemn us. Oh, it’s true, that's what we deserve, because of our sinfulness. And if we consistently, stubbornly rebel against God, refusing to believe in him, then God has no choice, and he will send us to hell. But truly this isn’t what God wants So, what DOES God want? In short, he wants us. He wants our heart, our affection, our trust. He wants us to spend eternity with him. He wants you and me so badly that he—Jesus—became one of us, dying on the cross to pay for our sins in full. God wanted you that badly; God loved you that dearly. And God wants you to have the benefits of Jesus’ work—forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and much more—for all eternity. That’s what God wants for you! Prayer: O Savior, thank you for claiming me as one of your children. Although I’d rebelled against you, you wanted me. What grace! Lead me to always turn to you, to focus on you, to live in a way that makes clear that I appreciate what you’ve done for me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Want to send a message to us? Click here!Support the showStart your morning with 5 minutes of wisdom and clarity from the Book of Proverbs.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260911dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. . . “[We] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:11,16 Hard Conversations The apostle Paul had to have a hard conversation with Cephas, better known as the apostle Peter. You know the kind of conversation—the one that puts your stomach in knots and that you'd really rather avoid. Paul had to call Peter out in front of the whole church because Peter’s actions were damaging the church. As more and more Gentiles came to faith in Jesus, cultural questions naturally arose. Did these non-Jewish believers have to follow Jewish customs to belong to the Christian church? Did they have to live like Jews in order to be true Christians? The Bible’s answer is clear: of course not. Yet Peter had stopped eating with Gentile Christians and ate only with Jewish Christians. By his actions, he was sending the message that faith in Jesus was not enough. If you wanted to be a true believer, you needed faith in Christ and obedience to the Old Testament ceremonial laws. Paul saw what was happening and recognized the effect it was having on the other believers. Without hesitation, he confronted Peter. Paul was not concerned about fitting in, hurting feelings, or offending people. He was concerned for the spiritual welfare of the entire church. He recognized Peter’s actions for what they really were: a threat to the very message of forgiveness through faith in Jesus alone. So, Paul reminded them that we are justified—acquitted in God’s courtroom—not by what we do, how we act, or how we live, but solely by what Jesus has done for us. Jesus calls us to confront a brother or sister’s sin not only for that person’s sake, but also for the good of the whole church. When we refuse to have those difficult conversations, our silence can strengthen others in their sin as well. Confronting sin is never easy. Yet God gives his people the privilege and responsibility to have these hard conversations for the greater good of his people. Prayer: Lord Jesus, please keep me mindful of the importance of having hard conversations about sin. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What if caring for yourself wasn't another thing to accomplish…but an act of devotion?This week on the Vital Goddess Podcast, I'm joined by the magnificent Jenny Glick for a rich and delicious conversation about pleasure, nourishment, marriage, midlife—and the lost art of becoming deeply devoted to ourselves.Jenny has spent more than 25 years guiding women and couples toward richer, more resonant relationships and lives, drawing from her background in couples counseling, sex therapy, family systems, somatic healing, trauma therapies, and decades of spiritual and personal practice.And ohhh…the places we go.We explore the subtle ways so many women have been conditioned into urgency, performance, holding, and striving—and how underneath so much of that may be a longing to finally feel safe.Jenny offers a beautiful reframe: rather than making ourselves another project to fix or regulate, what if we became interested in nourishing ourselves?What if we learned to receive?What if our calendars became altars to what we are truly devoted to?We talk about pleasure as a natural blooming of safety, the initiation of menopause and midlife, becoming the authority of our own bodies, honoring each woman's unique “tone of truth,” and allowing our relationships themselves to become places of maturation and awakening.Jenny also shares intimately from her own midlife passage and how it invited her to slow down, listen differently, and reorganize her life around what truly matters.This conversation is an invitation to soften the clench.To come back into the body.To become deeply nourished.And perhaps to discover that self-devotion isn't something we have to add to our lives.It's a way of meeting the life we already have.In this conversation, we explore:

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260910dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 God Wants Sinners to Live It’s the middle of the night. Loud banging pounds on your front door. The doorbell rings without stopping. Small stones tap against your bedroom window. Then your phone starts ringing and doesn’t stop. The ruckus is anything but welcome. But when you look out the window, you discover your house is on fire, and your neighbor has been desperately trying to wake you up and save your life. Thank God he did! And wouldn’t you do the same for him? Wouldn’t you do whatever it took to rescue him from the flames? That is what God is talking about through the prophet Ezekiel. Warning fellow believers about the danger of sin is rarely appreciated at first. But just as a neighbor makes a racket to save someone from a burning house, God sounds the alarm because he loves us. Through Ezekiel, God made it clear that a warning about sin is not intended to be an unwanted disturbance. It's a message of life! God rings our doorbell, pounds on our door, and sends fellow Christians to get our attention. Maybe it is your parents. Maybe a Christian friend. Maybe your pastor. However the warning comes, it comes in love, because God wants sinners to live. How much does he want that? He chose the death of his own Son over the death of the wicked. Jesus’ death gives you forgiven life. Jesus’ resurrection gives you eternal life. And as surely as Jesus lives, he wants nothing more than for us to be alive with him, forever, in heaven. That is why God sounds the alarm. Not to knock sinners down, but to lift them up with the gospel. Not to condemn, but to call them to the Savior who forgives. So, whichever end of the warning you are on, remember God’s purpose. His goal is never your death. His goal is your life! Prayer: Sovereign Lord, thank you for turning me from my sin and giving me life in Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

There are some Goddesses who whisper.    Brigid arrives with fire.    In this second episode of our six-part Goddess: Expressions of the Divine She series, Kathleen and I step into the flame of Brigid, Goddess and Saint of fire, creativity, healing, spring, and sacred devotion. We explore who Brigid is, the ancient stories that surround her, and what happens when we begin to experience the Divine Feminine as something alive and present in our own lives.    How does She speak to us? How do we recognize Her guidance through our bodies, our joy, our desires, and those quiet inner nudges that keep asking us to pay attention? And what might Brigid be ready to ignite in you?    My co-host for this series is Kathleen Joan, a priestess of Brigid devoted to the resurrection of the Divine Feminine in today's world, especially for women with Christian ancestry.    Kathleen spent more than 15 years in ministry and holds a dual Master's degree in theology and ministry. Today, she brings that deep understanding of the Christian tradition into her work helping women reclaim the wild, sacred Feminine through Goddess teachings, channeling, energy healing, circles, and retreats.    This conversation is an invitation to come closer to the fire… To listen… To notice what lights you up…    And perhaps to discover that Brigid has been speaking to you all along.    Episode Highlights    00:45: Brigid as goddess of fire and transformation  Brigid is the Goddess of fire, healing, poetry, creativity, sacred wells, and the forge. Her energy is framed as both tender and powerful, especially during times of change.    03:06: Brigid's roots in Celtic tradition  Brigid is an Irish Celtic Goddess linked to fire, the sun, and the return of warmth after winter. Her name is connected to brightness and light; someone who brings renewal.    05:20: Releasing what no longer serves  The idea of sacred fire as a place where old vows, armor, and emotional weight can be remade. What once felt heavy or oppressive can be transformed into something powerful and symbolic.    07:17: Brigid as a Goddess and a Saint  The story of Brigid becoming Saint Brigid through the lens of religious continuity and cultural survival.     08:39: The sacred flame endures  A perpetual flame associated with Brigid is a symbol of ongoing devotion.     09:46: Brigid's relevance in chaotic times  Connecting Brigid's wisdom to a time of global instability and breakdown.     14:25: Hope through seasonal cycles  The message returns to the rhythm of winter, melting, spring, and rebirth. Even when the in-between phase feels messy or uncomfortable, there is reassurance that renewal is already on the way.    17:37: Devotion through joy  Brigid describes devotion not only as ritual, but as choosing joy in everyday life.    20:27: Balancing darkness and light  Acknowledging that this is a time when heavier spiritual energies are active. Brigid's message holds both the reality of descent and the need to remember joy, hope, and forward movement.    23:32: Joy as a tipping point  Remember that even a small increase in joy can have a ripple effect. Let's invite Brigid to remain part of the inner council as an ongoing source of flame and encouragement.      Mentioned  Wild Wisdom Goddess Temple is Kathleen's online circle where Christian-rooted women reclaim their whole selves as sacred through the Divine Feminine. This 13-moon journey will help you return to honoring the Sacred She within as you meet Her in Her many names & forms, supported by a loving circle of sisterhood.  The Wealthy Witch Way is Julie's membership. Inside we weave together money work, magic, ritual, the Akashic Records, and feminine business wisdom to help you deepen your connection to Source, expand your receiving, and grow the work you're here to do profitably.    Connect with Kathleen Joan    Website: https://www.brigidsflame.org/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenjoanns   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brigidsflameministry   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brigidsflame-kj     Connect with Julie Foucht     Membership:  https://juliefoucht.com/wealthywitchway/  Website: https://juliefoucht.com/   Quiz: https://bit.ly/witchpreneur-quiz  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artoffemininebusiness/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieFouchtCoaching/   Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FeminineMarketingMagic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JulieFoucht   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachjulz/  Podcast: The Art of Feminine Business with Julie Foucht at https://juliefoucht.com/podcast/    

When you're having a bad day, a run-in with an immensely cheerful person doesn't always turn that frown upside down. Does it? Commiserating with someone else, though—a word literally defined by two or more people wallowing in misery together—that can be a balm to an anxious and worried mind. Sometimes. The relief, though, is temporary. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” The apostle Paul was talking about more than mere cheerfulness in his letter to the Christian believers of Rome. Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord command us, ‘Thou shalt always be chipper,' but these wise words from Paul remind us to think—before we sink. No matter what hardships we face, our hope is found in Jesus Christ, and this hope is an infinite well of joy we can turn to in times of trouble. Paul also reminds believers to be patient no matter what befalls us. Paul was a respected missionary, even honored and admired by powerful officials of his day who didn't share his Christian beliefs. Despite his good standing, for a period of two years he was in prison—literally chained and under constant guard. And from this depth of experience, he's able to tell others to be patient in affliction. Whether our chains are literal or figurative in nature, the trials we face can mold our character and build our patience if we choose to let them. The most important part of Paul's message in this verse is the reminder to be faithful in prayer. God is worthy of all honor and praise, but He also knows us, understands our weaknesses, and loves us anyway. On the days life feels too difficult to approach the Lord with a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts, He still wants to hear from us. Prayer is not a sometimes thing; it's an all-the-time practice that grows our faith, strengthens our relationship with God, and changes our lives. So, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Let's pray. Lord, you are the source of all our hope, the teacher of patience, and the one who listens to every prayer. Help us to choose joy over despair, patience over exasperation, and to pray faithfully. Sometimes fear and frustration threaten to overwhelm us, but you are near, and we pray you will turn our hearts to you. In Jesus' name, amen.  Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Today, we are pleased to share an audio essay written and read by Sharonda Cooper entitled "5 Things We Lose When We Subtract Evangelism from the Christian Life" Sharonda Cooper serves as content coordinator of women's initiatives for the Gospel Coalition. She is also the author of 'Evangelism,' which is part of the Disciplines of Devotion series from Crossway. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the essay here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete this survey for a free audiobook by Kevin DeYoung!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Being faithful to the Lord may put us at odds with the world, but the reward of His delight is always worth it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God calls us to live from devotion rather than drifting into convenience, because anything convenient subtly dulls our passion for what truly matters. The enemy's strategies often operate quietly, using ease and comfort to pull us away from prayer, community, and spiritual maturity. Scripture reminds us that grace empowers participation, not passivity, and invites us to actively agree with what Jesus has already finished. God designed us to live connected lives where devotion shapes our habits, choices, and relationships. Resisting convenience and instead embracing devotion allows us to walk confidently in purpose, identity, and spiritual clarity.  To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org