Podcasts about father god

Since before the world was created, God has had a master plan to deliver people from evil. He cared for us so much that He was willing to endure pain to redeem us. In Acts 14:20, we read about Jesus and the disciples preaching in a city called Derbe. It says that, “Jesus then was busy strengthening the souls of his disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.” God wants us to know that the journey we are on ends with a destination, and along the journey, we must be prepared to endure hardship for his sake. His compassion for the whole world is summed in maybe the most famous verse in all Scripture, John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” And that's it. That's the whole point of living this Christian life. It isn't complicated in terms of understanding, but it can be hard to live out. There are currently 7.4 billion people on the planet, and most have not received Christ. Many have not even heard Him yet, hard as that is to believe. There's still a lot of work to be done. 700 years before Jesus, the prophet Isaiah saw God's throne in a vision. And the Lord said there, “Who can we send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah eagerly said, “Here I am. Send me.” This is the willing heart God is looking for. We live in this world with all its misery and beauty, chaos and harmony. We are to share the Good News of Jesus. And if we do that from a willing heart, God is faithful to use our efforts to advance His kingdom. And that is our purpose. Would you pray with me?Father God, your great plan from the beginning is right on schedule. It's always on schedule. We love you. Nothing, and no one, stops you from accomplishing your will. See us through to the end, Lord, that we can accomplish your will for our lives. 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.

When you get together with a good friend, have you ever noticed how your conversation changes? There are different ways you communicate with that friend. We do the same with Father God.  We often give these different ways we communicate with God different titles. In this podcast, I am going to talk about a few of the different types of prayer found in the bible. All of these different types of prayer are invitations from a loving Father God to “Come and talk with Me!” To learn more about the ministry of Restoring the Foundations International, please visit www.restoringthefoundations.org.

Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”SectionsOur EnemyOur GameplanOUR ENEMYName - Orchestrator of DeathName - Counterfeiter  Isaiah 40:31 ESV,”But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”“Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” “We want cattle who can finally become food; [the enemy] wants servants who can finally become sons.” - Screwtape Letters; CS Lewis3. Name - Pride Manifest“In God you come up against something which in every respect is immeasurably superior to yourself.” “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people.” - Screwtape Letters; CS Lewis1 Peter 5:8 ESV,”Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”4. Name - Father of LiesEphesians 2:4-7 ESV,”But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” - Screwtape Letters; CS Lewis - We fight through focus.OUR GAMEPLANFocus on Jesus' VictoryColossians 2:15 (ESV) “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Focus on Father God's loveFocus on the work of the spirit. “Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.”1 Timothy 4:7-10 NASB2020  mission + intentionality “I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we are imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 NASB2020“The remembrance of all important things is impossible, but the remembering of the most important thing is essential.”Reflection:Where do you feel you wrestle the most right now? (school, friends, phone, anxiety, lust, pride, anger, loneliness)Which enemy tactic shows up there most?LiePride Counterfeit comfortIsolationEtc.What is one way you will wrestle this week?Talk to God throughout my dayRead one Psalm a dayStart a Bible reading plan with a friendAsk someone to pray with you Remove one distraction (social media, youtube, etc.)

By Mary Lindow   I welcome you all to this podcast and it's going to be a very tender and special podcast. Especially during this time right now where the world is in upheaval and so many things are going on in the church, with so many further exposures of deviant acts, monetary gambling as it were, and just inappropriate and criminal activity, and then it being covered up. It can be a lot to have to just navigate… … and of course to process.   We're going to look at something more precious and tender, which is the fact that the Lord “Sees us”. He wants you to know he sees YOU individually as his unique and beautiful creation.   So! I want to bring up the subject, “What Is A Sparrow?” The scripture talks about that the Heavenly Father even cares about the sparrows even though they're really pretty common and a little non-descriptive. They're not bright little birds. They're just kind of dull in color, kind of a dove gray.   But you know what? THE SPARROW IS A CLEVER LITTLE BIRD In Psalm 84 David describes his longing to be with the people of God and in the actual moment that he wrote this, he was a wanderer. He was a fugitive. He was not able to be in a place where he could have fellowship with God or other people, and this is when he wrote Psalm 84. It says, 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.   Have you ever felt this way or longed for fellowship like David wrote about with the Lord? His word so clearly expresses what it meant to David. Then, he remembered one of his bird watching experiences. He remembered how at one time when he was in the house of God, he looked up toward the altar and he noticed some movement. When he looked closer, he found a sparrow building her nest, so he wrote in verse 3: “Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may have her young—a place near your altar.”   “Lord Almighty, my King and my God!” he said. “I wish I could be like that sparrow. I wish I could be like that swallow that is able to build its nest at the very altar of God.”   What David is saying here is, “Can you think of anything better than to have your home in the altar of God in the sanctuary?” This is something so very precious to me because I am always so tremendously interested in nurturing and loving my family and my grandchildren, that I cannot pass this over. Did you notice this swallow chose the altar of God to build a nest for her family?  She could have chosen any place to build a nest, but she chose the altar of God. Yes! The sparrow is a clever bird.   BUILDING YOUR NEST IN THE SANCTUARY OF GOD I believe that things are put here for a reason and for instruction, so I am going to suggest that if you want your family to be all that God wants it to be, build your nest, (metaphorically speaking), at the altar. Build your nest in the sanctuary because in the sanctuary, is the answer to every question that you have. And I hope that you understand that I am not talking about a church building! I am talking about your fellowship with God. There must also, always be room in your nest to include those with broken wings, or who have been abandoned or left as orphans.   A SPARROW IS VALUABLE! One more lovely thing about the sparrow. The sparrow is a valuable bird. I am sure that some people might question this statement! But it is a valuable bird, indeed. Some may say, “But not to man”!  It is Valuable to God though!   I am sure the Lord did some bird watching as he travelled to places with his dear friends, but this particular instance that He records is in the temple. As He went into the temple one day, He saw a whole bunch of sparrows, (remember that we are talking about a small bird) with their legs tied together, and they were being sold for a sacrifice in the temple. In Matthew, chapter 10 notice what Jesus has to say about sparrows. As He looked at those sparrows, He said, in verse 29: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?”   That was the least expensive offering that anybody could make! If we were to stop there, we would say what we ordinarily say, “What is a sparrow? They are not worth anything at all,” but the Lord said, in the last part of verse 29: …And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father knowing about it.   That is how valuable they are. Not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing about it.   WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SEE A DEAD SPARROW? Do you just kick it out of the way and go on?   Often we see someone much like the little dead sparrow, wounded or suffering from the cruelty of others too busy to really care about a “broken wing” or perhaps a broken heart. So many are busy licking their own wounds and getting on with their own lives, that they are unaware of the “sparrows” that God has placed in their midst. Those who need to be invited into a place of “Sanctuary”! Do you treat your employees like this or a friend who has been through a season of sorrow or loss? Do you find yourself simply walking past the Wounded or “dead Sparrow”? That would be a normal reaction, but evidently when the Lord saw the sparrow that fell, he felt very differently.   He said, “MY FATHER KNOWS ABOUT THAT SPARROW… …And my Father cares about it.”   Then notice what He says: Matthew 10:30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.   A SPARROW IS SO IMPORTANT TO GOD, …that it doesn't fall to the ground without God knowing about it, and you and those whom He has placed around you to radiate truth and hope to, are of more value than many sparrows. In Matthew, chapter 6, I think that Lord has done some bird watching and might want us to do some as well! Because… …He said: Matthew 6:26-34 26 "Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 I clothe the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even surer that I will clothe you. Don't have so little faith! 31 Don't worry and say, ‘What will we eat?' or ‘What will we drink?' or ‘What will we wear?' 32 The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. 33 Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. 34 So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own."   That last part of verse 26…. …It asks such a beautiful and piercing question. “And do you not know that you are worth much more than the birds?”   Or in another translation is asks, “Are you not of more value than they?    In other words, if God cares this much about a sparrow, about a bird, how much more then does He care about you?    Think about it:  We are the Crown Jewel of His creation.  We are made in His image!  We see what He has made in nature alone and then think, “Wow, even mankind is elevated above all of that.  God you really are amazing.  God you really do love us!”  If our response is not adoration and praise, we need to check our hearts and see God once again for Who He is.    A very well spoken and eloquent preacher said one time, “There is never a sparrow that dies but that God goes to its funeral.”   This really touched my heart and impressed me. Not a sparrow dies, but that God.. … goes to its funeral.   THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU SEE A SPARROW… …Remember that God is paying attention to that little sparrow. God is interested in you and He is interested and concerned about me as well! Remember that God cares about you so much more than even that sparrow, and that He wants to draw you closely into a safe place of Sanctuary with Him!  A place of safety and peace, where you can rest and learn about His love for you, for your family and those dear close friends and perhaps a few lost or weary lonely souls that He has sent to you.   In such vulnerable moments we need to take heart to the words of 2 Chronicles 16:9 It says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro (or back and forth) throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” King David tenderly expressed this reality when he wrote, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye [that means, the pupil or center of your vision]; hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 17:8).   Truly, we need to know we are not alone. I hope you will never again look at a sparrow in quite the same way. We're even told in Psalm 84:3-4 that sparrows and swallows find a home and nest at the altars of the Lord, at the tabernacle, at temple of God, and how much more so should we! Here's a little observation assignment for you: Watch a little bird. And when you do, stay focused for a while. Yes, focus, and realize that God is looking at you, even more intently in that very same moment. After all, people are like sparrows in being noticed and cared for by God, yet in an even greater way.   But mark this difference in your observing: You will move on in a world that doesn't stop, but God never takes His eyes off of you. God deeply cares for you as spoken in 1 Peter 5:7. It says, “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, For He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”     It's All Part of An Amazing Love Story —of a love affair started by Him and is highlighted by the invitation from God's Son to “Follow Him.” This invitation is constant and runs over like a cool glass of water, with an incredible promise to us who, like the sparrow, are not neglected or forgotten.   While the world values power, status, and outward appearance… … God values the lowly and unseen.   Sparrows were considered little worth in ancient marketplaces, yet Jesus said not one falls without the Father knowing. This is not a message about birds alone, but about you and me.   If God cares for the sparrow, how much more does He care for you, His beloved child? In moments when we feel overlooked or forgotten, the image of the sparrow reminds us that God's eyes never turn away. He knows your fears. He sees your needs, and He is, Always near. This truth helps to free us to live without fear and to trust in His daily provision and protection.   I REALLY LIKE THIS SOFT, HONEST AND SIMPLE PRAYER BY ANABELLE THOMPSON WHO IS A MISSIONARY. Father God, thank You for showing me how deeply You care for every living thing through the sparrow. Even when I feel small or unnoticed, help me remember that Your eyes are always on me. Teach me to trust in Your daily care and to rest in the knowledge that I am never forgotten. Help me to live with faith that sees Your hand in every detail, just as You provide for the birds of the air. May I always find peace in knowing You are near. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.   Dear Listener! The Heavenly Father HAS MUCH TO TELL YOU REGARDING ALL OF THE PLANS THAT HE HAS FOR YOU! “Settle into the nest… …And Rest!” God is waiting to speak and meet with you!   Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright  2026 "THE ADVOCATE OF HOPE " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com PODCAST    If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website and podcast costs,  or  desire to bless her service in ministry with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support: Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:  ► Personal Checks ► Business Checks ► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks To:  His Beloved Ministries Inc.  PO Box 1253 Denver, Colorado 80614 USA    Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with Pay Pal   paypal.me/mlindow  Under the name of - Mary Lindow His Beloved Ministries Inc.    ALL gifts are tax-deductible under His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.   We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since 1985.  THANK YOU!'  

We live in a world that is telling us how we live and what we are capable of. This world is not designed for our growth, but rather for our willful agreement to become enslaved by the shackles of the mental prison the Matrix has built. We serve only one... our Father God. He is a God of possible, of miracles, of yes. Embrace the gift of life and the infinite that is put before us. Focus on being in His presence, walking with Him and sharing every moment with Him. Let the distractions of the world fall away and the quiet voice of God emerge.  #BardsFM_Morning #ChaosIsTheCurrency #Stillness  Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

January Replay Series: This replay episode ranked #3 among listener favorites in 2025.Feeling pulled in a million directions? You're not alone, friend. But what if true peace isn't found in doing more—but in receiving the rest that Father God has already given you? In this episode of Faith Food Fellowship, we're exploring the beautiful invitation to abide in His presence and embrace rest as a form of spiritual self-care. Writer and speaker Hannah Rowen Fry joins me for a heartfelt conversation. Together, we dive into what it means to abide, why rest isn't something you earn but a gift you receive, and how stepping away from the pressure of constantly doing more can transform your daily life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed or struggled to balance life's demands, this conversation is for you. Tune in and discover how to create a rhythm of rest!Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer and speaker passionate about helping people live out their God-purpose. Through her thoughtful reflections on Scripture, she encourages the overwhelmed to slow down, choose simplicity, and experience greater joy in the present moment. You can connect with Hannah and explore more of her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeDense Bean SaladScriptures ReferencedJohn 15:4Romans 8:1Exodus 20:8-11Want to savor more goodness?I'm so excited you're here! Let's make the most of it with these special opportunities:Join the P31Virtues Community: If you're ready to find balance, peace, and a little extra inspiration each week, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. Plus, get the weekly recipe delivered straight to your inbox! Find the support you need to thrive at ⁠⁠community.p31virtues.com⁠.Put Your Faith into Action Daily: Experience the harmony and satisfaction you deserve. Grab your copy of ⁠Cultivate Calm: The Weekly Devotional Study For Multifaceted Christian Women⁠ and start embracing a life of peace and balance.Elevate Your Well-Being: Access the ⁠Journey to Holistic Wellness Bundle⁠ for lifetime access to wisdom from 30 experts, including Shanna Pyzer's Break the Habit of Overeating. Start your holistic health transformation ⁠now⁠!Let's Connect:Email: ⁠hello@p31virtues.com⁠Note: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

Daily Dose of Hope January 8, 2026   Scripture: Galatians 4   Prayer:  Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are in our first week of our new reading plan, Journey into the Letters of Paul, during which we will walk through Paul's letters chronologically.  We are currently in Galatians, Paul's first letter.   Our chapter for today is Galatians 4. Boy, is Paul frustrated with the Galatians or what?  He doesn't mince words.  But he continues to make his point. Paul contrasts humanity's condition under the law versus in Christ. Under the law, people were heirs to a promise that God made with Abraham, but really they were no better than slaves, for they were still in bondage to the law. Under Christ, however, there is true freedom.  People aren't merely heirs to a promise.  They are children of the one true God.    Paul talks about the Galatians before the false teachers entered the picture.  They were open to Paul's teaching.  Paul alludes to an illness he had when he was with them initially.  They cared for him as if he was Christ.  Their hospitality and love was extravagant.  He was blessed by them immensely.  But now, Paul appears to be personally wounded by their rejection of him.  How quickly things changed.   They moved from reliance on grace to reliance on the law.  Paul is heartbroken.    Our salvation has nothing to do with the law. Rather, our salvation rests in the work of Christ. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we are saved, God puts his Holy Spirit within us. There is an intimacy there. Now, we call out "Abba, Father" which effectively means "Daddy." We aren't slave children. We are truly God's children whom he loves. We can rest in the love of our father. We don't have to be fearful or timid. We can spend time with our Father God, sit in his lap, and soak up the love he has for us.   I'll close today with Romans 8:15-16, So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.    Do you consider God your daddy?  Do you clearly understand your relationship as a child of the one true King?  If you still have questions about this, or doubts, spend some time today and write them down.  Pray about them.  Let's see if over the course of this reading plan, God begins to speak to you regarding your list. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Humans were built for language and communication. It's one of the bits of creative genius God used when He formed His highest creation. And apart from regular communication, whether it's the written word or verbal, we have a great gift from a loving God: prayer.Prayer is an intensely personal way to communicate with our Creator, the One who knows everything about us.Jeremiah 29:12 says, “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you.”All through scripture, we see that God is available to us all the time. No regular hours or standing meetings. We can talk to Him anytime we want. There are 650 recorded prayers in the Bible, and we read about people praying while sitting, standing, kneeling, with faces to the ground or hands lifted up.By the way, amen means “let it be,” or “so be it.”The word appears for the first time in Numbers 5:22.Since prayer is human communication with God, we see that the first prayers were way back in Genesis 3 and 4 when Adam and Eve, and later Cain, talked with God. In the second exchange, even though Cain was angry and had just killed his brother, he was having a conversation with God.Jesus famously modeled prayer in Luke 11, and notice that He was talking to God the Father.It can be a fine line when thinking about how prayer is initiated. Often, thoughts come to our minds, or we're reminded to pray for someone. However, there's an indication that God prompts us to talk with Him.Galatians 4:6, that from our hearts we cry out, “Abba Father,” and that the indwelling spirit of the Lord prompts this in us. Of all the great gifts God has given us, prayer is one of the most special. It's how our spirits commune with the One who loves us with perfect love. And He's always ready and waiting to hear from us.Let's pray.Father God, we worship you for who you are. We love you, and thank you for loving us. Thank you for making a way for us to talk with you about the things that lie hidden in our hearts. 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.

As children of God, we are called to partner with the Spirit of God—to hear His voice and be led by Him in every area of our lives. Father God desires to fill us with Himself and to continue Jesus' ministry through us! We will see His promises fulfilled as we pursue Him with an earnest heart.Notes & Scriptures for this message are available in the Notes section of the Giving Light App.Visit our website at www.givinglight.org.Download the Giving Light App available for free on iOS and Android.

Please follow along with our YouVersion Bible app event here: http://bible.com/events/49537204Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus Comments are closed but we do invite you to email us at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or via our Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of our website at: http://bcc.life/

Beryl Markham could have given up on her aviation dreams after crash-landing in Nova Scotia. But she didn't.Instead, this determined woman became the first person to fly from England to North America. She later said that in order to move forward, we can't stay in the past. In fact, she said, “Leave it the fastest way you can!”This pioneer knew that staying stuck was not inevitable—that we must choose to keep our eyes on what it is we are yet to accomplish in life.Ephesians 4:31–32 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”Maybe you're letting some past hurts keep you from your destiny. Don't waste another moment! Your future is waiting on you to turn your eyes to it, and stop staring at a past failure.Leave those past hurts as fast as you can!Let's pray.Father God, we are grateful that you make a way for us to forge ahead and not be limited by the things of the past. Walk with us, always, Father, and bless our efforts. 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.

Colossians 1:19-20  “For God in all his fullness  was pleased to live in Christ,  and through him God reconciled  everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth  by means to Christ's blood on the cross.“  What an amazing thought, the God of the universe, in all his fullness and completeness, was pleased to live as a human. And he did it all to reconcile everything; the word reconcile comes from the Latin root words (re) - back and (conciliar) - bring together. Bring back together. As intended. Made right.  The almighty, powerful creator - God, the same one that hung the moon and the stars and created everything, lowered himself, became a human, again, here's the amazing thing - was happy to do it because he wanted to make everything right. To bring everything back together as originally intended. Whole and complete.   And as a result, He brings you and I peace, shalom, which also means completeness and wholeness. All is right; every debt paid, every mistake and failure is forgotten. We can experience peace, being inseparably connected to the God of the universe, with all the power, and love, and grace, and mercy that goes with that, because of what happened. Jesus was born, Jesus lived, Jesus died, Jesus rose again to make peace with everything in heaven and on earth.  The most profound eternal problem you will ever face, separation from your Father God and his Love, Power, and grace, has already been reconciled for you. There is nothing you can do or not do to change that.  PRAY: Lord Jesus, we celebrate that holy moment when Your coming as man renewed our hearts. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself. Peace that only You can bring. Immanuel, God with us. Amen 

Welcome tothis Christmas Day, 25th December 2025 service aswe rejoice in the birth of Jesus! Pleasefollow along with our YouVersion Bible app event here:https://bible.com/events/49537199Clickhttp://bcc.life/whats-onto find out about all our events and activities. Clickhttp://bcc.life/giveto access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God,bring an offering or make a donation! Ifyou ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life andcome home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray: "LordJesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for beingseparated from you and from other people. I receive into you my lifeas Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believethat you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose againon the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept youinto my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your giftof eternal life for now and for ever. Amen." Ifyou prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decisionyou can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Letus know in the chat session of the livestream, email us atadmin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesusCommentsare closed on all of our YouTube videos but we do invite you to emailus at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or viaour Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of ourwebsite at: http://bcc.life/

In the spirit of celebrating my first Christmas as a Christian, this week is the perfect time to share a delightful conversation I had with Chris Legg. As both a licensed professional counselor and the lead pastor of a church, Chris has a rare combination of expertise he describes as being "a bit of a unicorn." Chris is also the founding owner and clinical director of Alethia Family Counseling Center, which now operates six locations across Texas with thirty therapists on staff.We explore the intersection of faith and psychology, discussing how secular therapy approaches to self-esteem fall short without a spiritual foundation. Chris challenges the contemporary affirmation-based therapy model, arguing that true humility comes from an accurate understanding of who we are in light of who God says we are. We discuss the persistent human tendency toward self-deception, examining why building identity solely on ourselves is fundamentally delusional—and what happens when we recognize ourselves as treasure through God's eyes instead.Our conversation ventures into controversial territory, including the relationship between Christianity and psychedelics, where Chris explains his measured "five out of ten" stance. He shares clinical examples of clients whose severe addictions were transformed through professional psychedelic-assisted treatment, while also emphasizing the need for Christian voices to remain engaged in this conversation rather than retreating into reflexive rejection. We discuss the theology of the Father, father wounds, and how childhood experiences shape our intuition of God. We examine prayer through the lens of the persistent widow and the friend at midnight, exploring what it means to approach God boldly as his children rather than with practiced piety. Chris shares insights on marriage, sacrifice, and how his son co-authored their book "Sex and Marriage" after witnessing the congruence between his father's theology and his treatment of his mother. Finally, we touch on near-death experiences, spiritual integration, and the beautiful, ongoing process of faith deconstruction and reconstruction that characterizes a lifetime of spiritual growth.Pastor Chris Legg, LPCs, and his wife Ginger have been living out the parable of God's love for His people since 1993 and have been blessed with five great kids. He is the Lead Pastor at South Spring Baptist Church in Tyler, TX and is also the founding owner and clinical director of Alethia Family Counseling Center, which offers training, counseling, speaking and business consulting in several locations in Texas. He and his son, Mark, are the authors of the book Sex and Marriage, which is intended to restore to marriages the power God intended. He also writes on Substack and hosts the Reconstructed Faith podcast.Books Mentioned in This Episode:Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan ManningAbba's Child by Brennan ManningLion and Lamb by Brennan ManningImagine Heaven by John BurkeImagine the God of Heaven by John BurkeThe Great Divorce by C.S. LewisNarnia Series by C.S. LewisSex and Marriage by Chris Legg and Mark LeggBreaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza[00:00:00] Start[00:01:09] Meet Chris Legg: Pastor and Therapist[00:11:54] The Father Wound and Our Intuition of God[00:18:45] Bold Prayer: Keep Hounding God[00:32:35] The Problem with Self-Esteem[00:40:00] Affirmation-Only Therapy Will Be Replaced by AI[00:43:15] Psychedelics and Christianity[01:05:00] Paul on Intention and What's Truly Forbidden[01:16:10] Chris's Vulnerability on Lifelong Addiction[01:32:30] Chris's Book: Sex and MarriageROGD REPAIR Course + Community gives concerned parents instant access to over 120 lessons providing the psychological insights and communication tools you need to get through to your kid. Now featuring 24/7 personalized AI support implementing the tools with RepairBot! Use code SOMETHERAPIST2025 to take 50% off your first month.PODCOURSES: use code SOMETHERAPIST at LisaMustard.com/PodCoursesTALK TO ME: book a meeting.PRODUCTION: Looking for your own podcast producer? Visit PodsByNick.com and mention my podcast for 20% off your initial services.SUPPORT THE SHOW: subscribe, like, comment, & share or donate.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order.MUSIC: Thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude & permission.ALL OTHER LINKS HERE. To support this show, please leave a rating & review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe, like, comment & share via my YouTube channel. Or recommend this to a friend!Learn more about Do No Harm.Take $200 off your EightSleep Pod Pro Cover with code SOMETHERAPIST at EightSleep.com.Take 20% off all superfood beverages with code SOMETHERAPIST at Organifi.Check out my shop for book recommendations + wellness products.Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @a...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Andrew-Ryan Profaci, we pick up right where things get extra bananas: the “quantum hoax,” the moment he pulled back the curtain on Love Has Won's manufactured enemies, fake spiritual threats, and collective delusion. Andrew-Ryan realized the whole thing was a miniature version of the way abusive systems run in the wider world. We walk through how he went from compliant “Father God” to sabotaging the belief system from the inside, confronting Amy's contradictions, and trying to protect vulnerable newcomers like Bill, a 55-year-old who liquidated his house and retirement for the group and died with nothing left. He shares the heartbreaking endgame—Amy's denied medical care, her mummified body found in a shrine, zero accountability for the remaining members—and how he rebuilt his life, survived stage 4 cancer, and distilled it all into a core message about authenticity, belonging, and why cults are a magnified version of dynamics most of us already live in.Be sure to read Andrew-Ryan's book, The War on Love, and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of medical neglect leading to death.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A warm welcome to BCC!Guest Speaker Dr John Andrews shares a message titled “The Gift That Keeps Giving”Please follow along with our YouVersion Bible app event here: http://bible.com/events/49533557Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus Comments are closed on all of channels but we do invite you to email us at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or via our Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of our website at: http://bcc.life/

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. In the first of this two-part episode, we finally go inside Love Has Won with someone who was actually there, and who tried to stop it from the inside out. We talk with Andrew-Ryan Profaci about how a lonely, spiritually curious guy dealing with addiction recovery, job loss, and a rabbit hole of conspiracies became “Father God–adjacent” in a group led by Amy Carlson, a woman who believed she was Mother God, destined to usher Earth into a new 5D age. Andrew walks us through the 10-day slide from chatroom seeker to walking into a trashed Colorado house at dawn, facing a drunk, drooling “deity,” and still deciding to stay because of intense, inexplicable experiences he couldn't ignore. We dig into the daily grind, the alcohol-soaked nights, the Father God proposition, and the mind-bending “quantum hoax” that exposed just how far an insider would go to stay in the group—and with Mother God herself.Be sure to read Andrew-Ryan's book, The War on Love, and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, X, or TikTok.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of alcohol addiction.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This December, start a new tradition by taking care of you. Our listeners get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/culty.Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CULTY at Monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year.For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames—named number 1 by Wirecutter—by using promo code CULTY at checkout. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The road ahead is increasingly being shaped for us, not with us. The Ai engines are being unleashed to run the world and become our overlords. That future is being painted in a way that tells us we have no choice. The choice is always ours but we have to be willing to choose the paths that leave the world we are behind. This is Exodus 2.0. The path of freedom lies in our willingness to forsake everything, embrace hunger and pain to ultimately find freedom and the true connection with our Father God. #BardsFM_Morning #PainAndHunger #NotOfThisWorld Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Join Emma Stark, prophet Matt Johnson, and first-time guest prophet Taylor McFarlane for a breathtakingly honest conversation about childhood trauma, father wounds, trust issues, prodigal seasons, healing, and discovering the tenderness of Father God.Taylor and Matt open their personal stories with unprecedented transparency—sexual abuse, childhood chaos, foster care, murder, abandonment, trauma in adulthood, and the long road to trusting God as Father. Their stories are devastating, redemptive, and full of miraculous turnaround.This episode is a prophetic lifeline for anyone navigating trauma, deconstruction, prodigal seasons, spiritual distrust, or the long slow healing of the heart.

In our humanness, we struggle at times to achieve peace.World War 1 ended 100 years ago, and all sides joined together as a League of Nations to make that conflict the “War to end all wars.”And then World War 2 happened.Our history is littered with noble attempts to make things right, but only God can bring peace to nations and to individuals. He has promised both! One day, He will make everything new, forever. While we wait for that great day, He also grants us peace in our daily lives.2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”We only have to ask Him for it. Jesus, as He said in Matthew 11:28, gives us peace even in our greatest trials and when we are exhausted. Then, peace comes to refresh us and give us all the strength we need.If you don't have peace in your life, simply ask God for it. He will provide.Let's pray.Father God, let your peace wash over people everywhere in this hurting world. Make them aware of your spirit of peace. 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.

The final part of the dietary laws are birds of prey. Our discussion today digs into their deeper meaning and explores the spiritual meaning of blood. Blood can represent both life and death. Father God is life. The perversion of the dietary laws leads us down dark paths that transform out lives and lead us astray. The power of life is not in the sword of steal but in the sword of the spirit. The root is love and forgiveness.  #BardsFM_DiggingIntoTheWord #BirdsOfPrey #SwordOfTheSpirit Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%:www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

I greet you in Jesus precious name! It is Friday morning, the 12th of December, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Leviticus 12:8:”So the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' ” What does that mean? “Make atonement” - I looked up the Oxford Dictionary and the literal meaning of the word “atonement” is “reconciliation of God and man.” Father God did it once and for all, for you and for me. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, down to earth from heaven as a sacrifice, an ultimate sacrifice for all of our sins.Now that, my dear friend, is real love - Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice for our sin! If you read in Leviticus, you will see that the Israelites had to keep going up to the Temple to offer sacrifices for their sins. They took bulls, they took rams, they took goats, they took turtledoves to pay for their continual sins but eventually it wasn't enough, so Father God sent His own Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for your sin and for my sin. John 15:13 says: ”Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” That is what Jesus did for us. Do you remember that novel written by Charles Dickens, the famous writer? It was called “The Tale of Two Cities, and basically, it is the story of a friend dying for his friend. These were two identical men, and the one went to the guillotine in France in place of his friend, and the famous line in that whole story, that novel, goes like this, ”It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”I want to say to you today, we too must be prepared to die to self so that Jesus can live through us.Have a wonderful day, God bless you and goodbye.

PEACE.Peace, I give unto you. My peace. Not as the world gives. Mine is perfect peace. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid!The words of the BABE OF BETHLEHEM. The most reassuring words, the words, the promises, which this world needs now so desperately. All humankind craves peace now more than ever, and that peace is more elusive than ever.In the end times, so say scriptures, there will be wars, rumors of wars, and physical brutality. Hatred among mankind will replace love. Jealousy, suspicion, lawlessness, and evil conduct will be how the world is. The peace of God in the person of Jesus Christ, THAT PERFECT PEACE, will be nowhere to be found, NOWHERE!Israel battles Hamas, the proxy of the brutal land and its rulers, Iran. There is enmity between the seeds, Arab and Jew, so says the scripture. That enmity is nowhere more evident than what now happens in The Holy Land, The Promised Land. The very land where the Babe of Bethlehem was born, the Christmas ambassador of peace has really never known that peace now more than ever. We are admonished as Christians to:PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.We pray, and pray more, and earnestly so, but that peace eludes in every way. It should be obvious to all that only the Messiah, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ himself the Messiah, can bring that peace. That will come only WHEN HE COMES.War goes on. Hatred increases between Arabs and Jews, between Israel and Hamas. War goes on between Russia and Ukraine, war fostered by the evil dictator Vladimir Putin and civilians die, thousands upon thousands of innocent men and women, the elderly and children. They die without cause, craving peace, begging for it, praying for it, but it eludes them as the war-like hatred, the Christ-less hatred of mankind prevails. More of this will come. China will become a serious war monger and so will North Korea, and Iran, governed by men who dictate war, hatred, and killing, with no concern for human loss but only human destruction and more of it. The conduct of this world indicates clearly signs of:THE END TIMES.There would be nothing left of this world if those days were not shortened and the only one who can do that, THE PRINCE OF PEACE returns to take charge.When He does, swords will be ground into plowshares. The prince of Peace will make certain there will be no more wars, NO MORE! But, only the Babe of Bethlehem, whose birthday we celebrate soon, can bring that peace, can change whole nations and bring them to the Holy City of Jerusalem, to learn how to cooperate, work together, and foster peace under His rule of love. Only HE can make that happen, no one else.So, we who believe, believe in Him, His salvation message of love, healing, and PEACE. You should not worry or be afraid. Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, has admonished us:LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLEDNEITHER LET IT BE AFRAIDBELIEVE IN ME! Believe in my promises. Believe that I come again and I, He says, will bring the peace, the eternal peace which all humankind craves. I PROMISE I WILL DO THAT. So again, don't be troubled. Don't let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe in Me and that promise. BELIEVE! I will bring the PEACE OF JERUSALEM and I will bring (Shalom) peace to the whole world.So, don't worry. If God be for us, who can be against us? No one or nothing can. PEACE-SHALOM I give unto you, so let not your heart be troubled. Rather, praise God for His unspeakable gift, the gift of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth:THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM.So, like the Angels of old, as they made that unbelievable announcement to the Shepherds about this divine birth, let us say with those Angels:GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHESTAND ON EARTHPEACE AND GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MANKINDAnd let us praise our God for that gift.And let us worship Him as the angels do, those of us especially who believe in that Salvation message which came from Bethlehem of old.And let us be thankful unto our God for his unspeakable gift. We cannot describe in human words the wonder, the magnitude, the depth of the love of that gift but we can now and evermore give thanks, and praise, and worship, and GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST! All the while we pray for that promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward all mankind, and for the soon return, THE SOON RETURN of the MESSIAH:THE PRINCE OF PEACE.3So, we thank you, Father God, I thank you for our Savior, your precious son:OUR LORD JESUS CHRISTTHE PRECIOUS BABE OF BETHLEHEM!

A warm welcome to BCC!Pastor Glen shares a message titled “The Road To Christmas”As some have noticed our YouVersion event has been without speakers notes for some weeks now. This will remain the case for the time being, but please feel free to still collate your personal notes in the YouVersion event using the blank note boxes provided. Sorry for all of those who have been missing this! You can still access the event here: https://bible.com/events/49530055Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus Comments are closed but we do invite you to email us at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or via our Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of our website at: http://bcc.life/

As the second week of Advent approaches, it's time to reclaim the peace that can feel out of reach in a busy, overstimulating season. In this episode, we explore five common habits that quietly drain your Advent peace and offer simple, biblical replacements that fit naturally into your multifaceted, real-life routine. No lengthy rituals, no pressure, no guilt, just practical biblical self-care you can actually use on your busiest days.These small, grounding shifts help you reduce stress, calm your mind, and reconnect with Father God when you're feeling overwhelmed. If you've been searching for how to find peace, how to feel less anxious, or how to stay grounded during Advent, this episode will meet you right where you are.Listen in and discover how these gentle, actionable changes can help you respond from God's truth rather than anxiety, allowing you to cultivate a steady sense of mental/emotional self-care and experience the peace of God.Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeSweet Heat Maple Glazed ChickenScriptures ReferencedPsalm 46:10Want to savor more goodness in your busy life? You're in the right place!Connect with like-minded women: If you're ready to find balance and peace, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. ⁠⁠Join the community!⁠⁠Step into a calmer holiday rhythm: The Calm Christmas Workshop gives you space to pause, reflect, and shape the kind of Christmas you actually want to experience; Christ-centered, joy-filled, and free of overwhelm. ⁠⁠Enter the workshop today!Deepen your relationship with Christ before Christmas day: Get The Gift of Christ Advent Calendar Devotional and study the Gospel of Luke.Walk through the holiday season getting to know Christ the Man and wake up Christmas morning feeling peaceful and prepared. Get the devotional here!Let's Connect:Email: ⁠hello@p31virtues.com⁠Note: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

In the Gospel of John, Jesusused the word “Father” 126 times when He spoke of His relationship withGod. The last of the seven spiritual realities that Paul speaks of, that is theground of our unity, is “one God and Father of all who isabove all and through all and in you all” (v. 6). Nowinteresting Paul basically said the same thing to the church at  Corinth in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6: “... yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are allthings, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things,and through whom we live”. Paul often used this word Father when he referredto God. (Over 46 times in his epistles). Many times, Paul said, “God theFather”. He also said, “God and Father”. Then Paul would often say “Godour Father”.  “Godour Father”.That the God of the universe, the God who created all things. In a sense, theFather of everything that is in this world came and emanated from our CreatorGod. Yet, that truth doesn't make every one of us today one of His children.Because, as you know, we're told in Ephesians 2, that we are born “childrenof wrath, children of disobedience”. That means we are under the control ofour old nature, of Satan himself in a sense. We are alienated in our minds ourby our wicked works against a holy God (Colossians 1:21).  ButGod loves us so much (John 3:16). He wants us to be in His family. That's whyJohn 1:12 says, "But as many as receive Him, to them He gives thepower, the authority to become the children of God." Then in the bookof 1 John 3:1-2, John again reminds us of this awesome relationship we can havewith God with these words: “Behold what manner of love the Father hasbestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! … Beloved, now we arechildren of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we knowthat when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”.Wow! What love and what a great promise!!!! This is the truth of thespiritual reality that anyone, anywhere, can experience when they believe andtrust the Lord Jesus Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior! Paulin Romans 8:14-17, puts it this way: “For as many as are led by the Spiritof God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondageagain to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit thatwe are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and jointheirs with Christ…”  Inour despair and pain we can “cry Abba Father, dear Father, daddy Father”. Weare close to Him. He is a Father who cares for us, who loves us, who draws usnear to His bosom, who holds us close. “He is Father of mercies and the God ofall comfort," (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).Oh, what an awesome Father God that you and I have who cares for us so deeplythat He would send His Son, His only Son. He's the Father of our Lord JesusChrist in the trinity. He is Father of us as we trust Him to be our Lord andSavior. Oh my friend, you can call Him, “my Father”. The Lord's prayerteaches us to pray “Our Father who art in heaven”. Why? Because againit's speaking of the unity of believers.  So,in these seven spiritual realities that Paul points out, we have the purity ofour doctrine. Oh my friend, that's who weneed to worship. The true, the living God, the God who sent His Son, JesusChrist. Be encouraged today if you're a believer. Despite what else ishappening around you, what's going on that might be bad or tragic in your life,God can be your Father today. He loves you. He cares for you. He yearns for youto come to Him with all your needs, with all your hurts, with all your pain.He's ready to heal them through His Holy Spirit and through the blood of JesusChrist He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Would you come to Himtoday? He's waiting for you just as the father waited for the prodigal sonthere in Luke 15.

Psychologists and self-help gurus will all tell us that a grateful heart and a positive outlook will do wonders for health and relationships. A person with a heart of gratitude will be seen by others who will want to follow and see what he has going for him.Such a person is a magnet for sharing the Gospel, and the greatest source of wisdom has much to say on the subject. Dozens of times in the Bible, we read about the value of gratitude. Paul mentions it several times, including in the account of Elisha healing a woman's sick son.We read in 2 Kings 4:37, “She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.”To be overwhelmed with gratitude is an emotional reaction to kindness.Lamentations 3:22–24 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”This is especially interesting because to lament means a person is sorrowful about something. In this case, it's the prophet, Jeremiah. But notice, even in his grief, he focuses on God's love and care for him. He is grateful in his circumstance. In modern language, Jeremiah was being intentional about his gratitude.The Bible tells us there are many variations of gratitude. In Second Corinthians, Paul even expressed his deep gratefulness to God for allowing him to participate in sharing the Gospel. You see, a truly grateful heart transitions from selfishness to concern for others. And we can do the same thing today. When we focus on others, gratitude follows.In Philippians 4, Paul also passes along a profound life lesson. Here, he says that we can learn to be grateful in all circumstances. Think about that. Grateful — whether in distress or good times. Abundance, or poverty.A few years ago, a youth missions group was repairing homes damaged by storms in Louisiana. A girl entered a house that was missing part of its roof, and she found an elderly woman rocking in a chair in a bedroom. “Oh, I'm just so happy to have a dry place to sit,” the woman said. She literally had no other dry areas in her home to be until help could arrive. Yet she didn't complain about her circumstances. Instead, she gave thanks to the Lord, and in so doing — inspired that 16-year-old girl.Gratitude is a perpetual gift, to us, and to others.Let's pray.Father God, you are good. You're good to us every day, and we are thankful for that. We're grateful that you didn't leave us in our sins, but you sent Jesus. We're grateful that you sustain us always, in body and in spirit. 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.

You don't need to fix yourself up before you come back home to your Father God.

Send me a Text Message!Sometimes we make prayer so complicated! And yes, there are depths to prayer that I may never fully explore or understand, because there are depths to God that will ever be mysterious to me. But at the same time, there is meant to be a simplicity and an ease to prayer that is the ease of a son or daughter coming to their Father, their Papa God.  Stop trying to earn it.  You can't anyway, but we don't come into His presence because we earn it.  We come in because He loves us. We come in because it's home.Call out to him today. It may be that your prayer is nothing more than, "Daddy come here! But listen for His voice deep in your heart, He wants to be with you. Just let Father God love you.

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to today's restoration process. Let us be restored, filled with love, peace, and the assurance that Father God is listening to us. He is in our arms, our father, and he is hearing our prayers, songs, and hearts. Be sure to sing hallelujah! It's a lie from the enemy. You are in God's hands, and he loves you. He will hold you and fix you up. Amen. Just relax, you are saved and you won't go anywhere. There's nothing you can do. It's all about Jesus Christ to finish the work, and he has done it for us. We are in it to win it. Amen.

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to today's restoration process. Let us be restored, filled with love, peace, and the assurance that Father God is listening to us. He is in our arms, our father, and he is hearing our prayers, songs, and hearts. Be sure to sing hallelujah! It's a lie from the enemy. You are in God's hands, and he loves you. He will hold you and fix you up. Amen. Just relax, you are saved and you won't go anywhere. There's nothing you can do. It's all about Jesus Christ to finish the work, and he has done it for us. We are in it to win it. Amen.

Today, we set aside an entire podcast to speak the Father's words over your life.  With such warfare over our purpose and destiny, we must know how Father God views us, so today we share that portion just to encourage. you.  

From breakdown to breakthrough: Shelley Timmer reveals how forgiveness rituals, Christ consciousness, and daily practice turned crisis into calling—and why she's building “Journey Illuminated” for the newly awakened. Practical tools, real stories, zero fluff. #spiritualawakening #consciousness #healing About Shelley Timmer: Shelley Sandbulte Timmer is the Founder and CEO of PlayOff Sports LLC and the visionary behind a new venture, Your Journey Illuminated – Helping Others Find Their Path, a coaching and healing service devoted to guiding souls of all ages. She is a seasoned entrepreneur, certified mental health coach, science educator, yoga and meditation instructor, and Notary Public—a true bridge between the worlds of science, spirit, and service. With a rich professional tapestry that includes editing national science curricula, serving as lead chemist for Diamond Vogel Paints in award-winning national projects, and receiving accolades such as the George Washington Carver Scholarship, All-American Academic Team nomination, and Excellence Award from ETS Praxis, Shelley embodies lifelong learning and excellence across disciplines. Raised on a dairy farm in Northwest Iowa as the tenth of twelve children, Shelley's roots are steeped in hard work, connection to nature, reverence for life's cycles, and deep spiritual grounding. Her upbringing taught her the sacredness of both service and the earth—experiencing firsthand the rhythms of birth and death, communion with animals, and the importance of faith. A lifelong athlete, she continues to enjoy biking, hiking, climbing, swimming, running, and yoga, and once led a championship-winning women's softball team and coached youth sports for many years. A devoted mother of four and grandmother to twelve beloved grandchildren, Shelley finds joy and inspiration in family and in the divine mysteries that shape our journeys. Her spiritual mission is to bring revelation and light to others—through the Living Word, Christ Consciousness, Gaia, the Universe, and the presence of Mother and Father God. Shelley's first book, The Upper Room: Taking the Higher Road, is forthcoming through Page Publishing and marks the beginning of her public offerings to a wider audience of seekers, leaders, and light-bearers. The Portal To Ascension platform is a resource for awakening to the truth of our existence while exploring the nature of reality and the cosmos. Our efforts are aimed at manifesting full disclosure of: • Humanity's ancient origins • The truth of the Extraterrestrial presence • The release of advanced technology • Transparency within business and global economic affairs • An understanding beyond our third dimensional perception Official website: https://portaltoascension.org/ Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PortalToAscension/ Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/portaltoascension Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/p2ascension Official Telegram Chat Room: https://t.me/portaltoascension Join Our Rapidly Growing Mailing List: https://portaltoascension.org/sign-up/ Portal To Ascension Conferences: In Person: https://ascensionconference.com Online: https://portaltoascension.org/upcoming-events/ Also Find Us On : Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3uolCCJknWQV9I3i07OZtC Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/portal-to-ascension-radio/id1544194663f

Are you in the "messy middle" of a challenge, tempted to give up when things get tough? Join Dr. Roger Patterson as he preaches from Exodus Chapter 14 on the essential nature of having a "Faith That Finishes." Drawing on the story of the Israelites facing Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea, Dr. Patterson explores the crucial difference between the Voice of Fear and the Voice of Faith. Just as the Texas A&M football team mounted an improbable comeback after being down significantly at halftime, you can press ahead and see God's victory. Key Takeaways: Understanding Bondage: We are often tempted to return to "bondage" (old habits/addictions) because of its false comfort, but living free is always better. The Voice of Fear (The Four C's): Learn to recognize the signs of fear in your life—when you are Caught by it, when your prayer is a quick Cry-out, when you Complain, and when you Contrast the past with the present. The Voice of Faith (The Four Declarations): Be encouraged by Moses' command: Fear Not, Stand Firm, Look Up (see the salvation of the Lord), and Be Confident (the enemy is done).   The Voice of the Father: God challenges your thinking, encourages you to use what's in your hand (your identity, income, influence) , and commands you to Go Forward even when you don't see the way.   The Voice of Finishing Faith: The story moves from Thus (what God has done) to Then (the people's response of singing and exalting the Lord). Don't quit on your marriage, children, or mission—keep moving to experience God's ultimate victory.   Scriptures Covered: Exodus 7:1-5 , Exodus 12:35-36 , Exodus 13:18 , Exodus 13:21-22 , Exodus 14:1-17 , and Exodus 14:30-15:2. Preached by Dr. Roger Patterson on November 16, 2025.

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Today, we continue our series on healthy relationships, and we're talking about managing difficult relationships. There's a wonderful scene in the classic film To Kill a Mockingbird, when the attorney Atticus Finch is confronted by the father of a girl who has accused a black man of rape, the father, enraged walks up to Finch, played perfectly by Gregory Peck. He spits in Finch's face as the attorneys' children watch. You can see the anger in Finch's face, but he slowly and calmly maintains his composure. He simply walks past the man, who now looks pretty small in everyone's eyes. God has given us the power over difficult people. It's called not letting them set the rules. 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.” Not always easy, definitely, but we're capable of it. Remember that. This life is very much about winning and losing. Determine that a difficult person in your life is not going to win by controlling you and getting under your skin. In wrestling terms, don't let that person pin you. Is that obnoxious person in your life really all that obnoxious, or are you a grouch, letting yourself get caught in what is really only a difference in personalities? Go home from work one evening and think about that. Make your mind up to start out the next day by being nice to that person. You'll be surprised how that can change the equation. And that's what Colossians 4:6 is talking about when it says, “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” Or maybe you're a man frustrated with the relationship between your wife and your mother. This is always a potentially difficult situation. Maybe you think your wife should be more adaptable, but you've forgotten what God told the man in Genesis 2:24. It says, “This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife. And they become one flesh.” Your responsibility in that situation is to your wife, not to making sure your parents' feelings come first in all situations. So, you see, often that difficult person you're dealing with is you, or at the very least a different perspective will help you see where the fault really lies. Finally, in 1 Corinthians 5, we read that Paul advises for really difficult people, a cooling-off period is legitimate. For example, the person who is causing real strife in a church should not be allowed to go on like that indefinitely; bad behavior sometimes must be confronted for the good of the community. And even for the good of the offended person, this is sound advice. So, if we stick to what the Lord has already told us and our tried and true methods for dealing with difficult people, we can get to a better place. Let's pray.Father God, a person who is angry or a troublemaker creates chaos for everyone. Help us analyze each of these situations as unique so that we know how to handle them from your Word. And most especially help us make it a habit to pray for those who are difficult so that we might see their lives changed and brought into harmony and unity. 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.

In this episode of the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, host Diana Winkler interviews Pastor Mark Sowersby, who shares his powerful testimony of overcoming childhood abuse and finding forgiveness and healing through faith. Mark recounts his early life filled with abuse, meeting Jesus at 16, and wrestling with his identity as a victim. Through the love of his church community and personal determination, he not only found freedom but also pursued education and ministry. He also speaks about reconnecting with his birth father and how the loss of his mother catalyzed the launch of his ministry, 'Forgiving the Nightmare'. The episode serves as an inspiring account of transformation, resilience, and the power of unconditional God's love. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:47 Welcome to the Podcast 01:25 Introducing Pastor Mark Sowersby 01:40 Technical Difficulties and Apologies 02:17 Pastor Mark's Testimony 05:49 Childhood and Abuse 07:10 Finding Faith and Forgiveness 18:06 Weight Loss Journey and Healing 23:08 Dyslexia and Education Struggles 24:42 Writing a Book and Ministry 28:14 Reading the Bible: Audio vs. Written 28:27 A Life-Changing Christmas Story 29:20 Overcoming Illiteracy with Help 30:14 A Love Story Blossoms 30:56 College Journey and Divine Guidance 32:49 Answering the Call to Ministry 33:13 Struggles with Self-Worth 35:15 Finding Confidence in God 35:56 Weight Loss and Self-Love 40:01 Victim to Victor: A Personal Transformation 45:00 Reuniting with Birth Father 48:20 Launching Forgiving the Nightmare Ministry 54:40 Final Thoughts and Prayer   website: www.forgivingthenightmare.com email: mark@forgivingthenightmare.com    Bio:  Reverend Mark Sowersby has been married to his wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and is the father of four children. Mark has been an ordained minister with Assembly of God for over 25 years and is currently the Pastor of Christian Assembly of Schuyler in beautiful upstate New York. Pastor Mark holds a BA in theology from Zion Bible College/Northpoint Bible College. In 2019 Pastor Mark went through a time of great healing. He began speaking about the experiences of his past and God's grace and the transformational work of forgiveness in his life. He now speaks about his story through his ministry, Forgiving The Nightmare. When he isn't serving his congregation and his community through ministry, teaching, and support, you can find him on all the trails and lakes in Upstate New York, spending time with his family.   Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/ Transcript: [00:00:00] Special thanks to 7 5 3 Academy for sponsoring this episode. No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, they've got you covered. They specialize in helping you exceed your health and fitness goals, whether that is losing body fat, gaining muscle, or nutritional coaching to match your fitness levels. They do it all with a written guarantee for results so you don't waste time and money on a program that doesn't exceed your goals. There are martial arts programs. Specialize in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. They take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Sign up for your free class now. It's 7 5 3 academy.com. Find the link in the show notes. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, [00:01:00] Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Welcome back. You made it well. I have a great guest for you today. I told you about him last week. Pastor Mark Sowersby and he has knocked this interview out of the park, and we had an amazing time. We did not have an amazing time with the Zoom platform. I could not hear him, but he could hear me, and it was a half an hour of back and forth trying to get it to work. So I wound up having to record this episode on our phones with the earbuds. So I don't normally do [00:02:00] that. I usually have my $300 studio microphone. So if it doesn't sound as good, I apologize. But this content is so great that I think you'll forgive me, but I'll try to do some, post-production, to make it sound better. So without further ado. Here is Pastor Mark. Yeah. Nice. Nice to meet you. Yes, nice to meet you also. And I saw your wife there too, so, and I think you saw my husband's beard anyway. Yes. And my wife is the strength and the brains of this operation around us. I'm blessed. I'm a blessed man there. Amen. Thank you. Yes. So we got the, um, the technical, uh, demons outta the way. Well, I appreciate that. We tried two computers and my Apple phone. And I have to tell you, I am a novice at computers at best, so Yeah, me too. So we're kindred spirits for sure. Amen. Amen. And I read your testimony about your [00:03:00] website and your faith and your podcast and everything. What a beautiful testimony you have. Oh, thank you so much. So you, you're in Arizona, is that correct? Yes. Wow. Wow. Well, I have to tell you of one of my bucket lists because I'm a northeast guy. I'm a New England, New York. We have snow. It's freezing. They're saying we could have a possible blizzard tomorrow. Uh, I love that. Go to the Grand Canyon. That's my, on my bucket list. My, my family. Hear me speak about that all the time. I've never seen it. But I long to, let me tell you, it's more breathtaking than you can imagine. The pictures don't do it justice. I've been there many, many times, of course. And yes, you should come as soon as you're allowed to travel. I would be over here. Yeah. There's so much more to see. We long to go. We really want to see it. You know, if somebody said, you really see the significance when you look at that great canyon and you see how [00:04:00] small you are, it humbles you and reminds you of what a great big God we serve. So, you know, we just, uh, amen. Thank you for hearing my story and my testimony, and it's an honor to be here with you and celebrate the victories that we have in Christ. Amen, brother. We're gonna get to know you a bit here for my listeners. So why don't you tell the, listeners a little bit about yourself. My name is Mark Sowerby. I'm a husband, a father, a friend. I'm a sports fan. I eat too much. I talk too much, but I'm a pastor and a servant of Jesus Christ. I was looking at all your pictures and stuff, and I saw your progression of your weight loss. That is so amazing. Thank you. Thank you. And my weight loss journey is really just a symptom. Or result of the greater healing that's taken place in my life. Uh, I'm very proud of it. It's something [00:05:00] I have to work hard for and be very disciplined in. So yes, there's a work towards it, but really it's the sub to the main plot. The main plot is what Jesus did in my heart to help me forgive and help me heal the abuses and the pains. And as that began to fill my life, this weight loss journey with the discipline and that burning good habits and exercising, and I'm up to running, uh, six miles a day on the treadmill. So, wow. Six miles. Yeah. So well, remember, we're not in Arizona heat, so it's not hot, well, I have a treadmill. That's usually what I exercise on. I have an exercise room, I don't run unless somebody's chasing me or the laxative has started working. Those are good reasons to run. so let's start at the beginning. So what was your childhood like? Well, unfortunately I have a story of brokenness, pain, and sorrow. I was born from an affair. Uh, so my [00:06:00] father never really had a relationship with him. I am assuming that as soon as he, uh, got the news, he, he left. So I was raised by my mom. I have two siblings that my mom had from a prior marriage. So the three of us kind of lived together at my grandmother's house, and that's what I knew. That was what life was. I was seven years old. A young man came into our family, and that young man eventually married my mom 20 years, her younger, and when he came into our home, he brought abuse and pain. He brought death and destruction. He brought lies and poison. And as any abuser, those abusers have touched many people. And as not only did he abuse my mom in a and. With just vulgarness and pain, but he also abused me and with sexual abuse and physical abuse and emotional abuse. And it was just a very difficult time in my life. So from seven to 14, that's kind of the world I knew. Not only did he abuse my body, not only did he steal from [00:07:00] me, my dignity, my value. Not only did he try to control me, but he also sold me for other men to abuse me. Mm-hmm. Other men to take my body. He stabbed me and beat me and burnt me. And at 16, I was invited to church, I ran into a youth group. And, uh, there's a whole story in that. But let me tell you, I ran into youth group and I ran into Jesus. Jesus was Amen loving. Amen. Jesus's loving arms. He wrapped him around me and started me on the journey, journey of forgiveness. And it's been a journey up. I just turned 50. We just lost my mom earlier this year. Wow. They say a flu. Some say COVID, but we lost her earlier this year and it was really kind of a season for me to walk through some even deeper, deeper healing. We have a lot in common. 'cause I just lost my brother this week. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for your loss. Yeah. So we both have losses today. Yes. Yes. I'm so [00:08:00] sorry for your loss. You as well. Thank you. Your mother was a believer? She was at the end of her life. As we say, the 11th hour of Thief on the cross remember me. Mm-hmm. My mom did have one of those kind of conversions. Unfortunately, she never, the last few years of her life, she came to understand Jesus, but she never forgave herself or forgave. Her pain. She lived with the regrets and the shames and the guilt of her pains. She knew the love of Christ, and I believe that when she closed her eyes on this earth, she opened her eyes there because of what Christ did for her. But she carried this burden of shame and guilt and hurt. But I forgave her, not because I'm special, not because I'm better. I forgave her because Christ forgave me. And in that journey of learning with to forgive people say to me, how could you forgive such a great thing? I just forgave what was in front of me. That's it. Step by step, precept by precept. That's how I forgave. I [00:09:00] couldn't think about the whole journey all at it was too hard. What's in front of you? Well, we'll definitely get into, your process of forgiveness. Would it be okay to, circle back to your stepfather coming into your life? Now it sounded like it was a very violent to way he treated you. Did he do any grooming of you to start the abuse or was it violent right away? I believe there was grooming, again, being so young and, uh, being so, uh, naive. I probably didn't recognize it, but I'm sure there was grooming you know, there was this natural longing. From a child without a father to find a father figure. Mm-hmm. Um, being so young, not understanding the process of that, and any person that would gimme attention, I would run to them to try to find somebody who would govern me or lead me or [00:10:00] guide me or accept me. So I'm sure there was some manipulation in that, as I became more groomed or broken or became more pliable, if you would, because of my young immaturity. He began to have more of his way on it, just so you know. And I always refer to him as my mother's husband. Never as my stepfather? Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Oh, no, you didn't offend. No, I have forgiven him. I think in forgiveness, it's okay to have, uh, some boundaries. Sure. I think that, to have some healthy boundaries, I've forgiven him. I've put him in the hands of God, and I pray the grace of God will meet him and his pain and his sorrow, and only God can reach him. Uh, but again, there's some healthy boundaries around my life and my families. So what was your relationship with God when you were going through all this abuse? We grew up in a very religious home. I was a New England Protestant, so most of New England are [00:11:00] Irish Catholic, Italian Catholic, Polish Catholic, French Catholic. But I was the rare Protestant. And I remember saying to my grandfather one day, I asked him, I said I, well, let me back up and say, I always knew what I wasn't. I knew I wasn't a Catholic, but I didn't know what I was. So, grandpa used to tell us we weren't Catholic. He announced that pretty clearly. But one day I asked him, I said, then if we're not Catholic, what religion are we? And all he said was, go ask your mother. So, you know, we didn't really grow up in any kind of. Formal faith-based community, uh, you know, sometimes went to Christmas Eve service, you know, those kind of what we call Sea Easter and Christmas. The CE. The CE crowd. That's right. But it really wasn't, a church was not a part of my life. We knew God was there, be good and you go to heaven, be nice to people, you go to heaven. But there really wasn't a faith-based situation. I'll be honest with you, uh, the [00:12:00] only religion I got, or the only faith I got was the one album that was played in our home. It's not a Christian album, it was Jesus Christ Superstar. I'm a kid of the seventies. Yes, I'm very familiar with that. Yeah. And but God's name is so powerful now as a Bible college graduate, as a pastor, I could see all the holes of the theology in that and how it was really written, dragged down the gospel. They say Jesus Christ, and as a child, that name is so powerful. So, I mean, I didn't know anything. So here I was, I, I remember seven years old with a big headset on sitting in front of the speakers and listening to Jesus Christ Superstar. And, and now I realize what a mockery it was. But then just the name has power. Yeah, there was no resurrection in that movie. No, no, no. You know, when you have Mary Magdalene sing to, to him and say, you're just a man, [00:13:00] only a man. I mean, it's such a mockery. But again, at eight years old, 10 years old, I thank God that all truth belongs to God. Amen. And his name is so, amen, powerful. Amen. That every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And as that name, Jesus was smoking, it pierced my darkness. Now, I didn't know about crying out. I didn't know about prayer, but God was preparing me for such a time. And at 16 the lifeguard at the apartment complex invited me to church. She was a pretty girl, and I didn't wanna say no. Uh, she invited she invited me and picked me up with her boyfriend. Oops. We went, yeah, we went to church that night and there began my journey into meeting Christ, knowing his mercy and grace into my faith walk and it's been a journey ever since. So is that when you, met the Lord for real [00:14:00] and got saved? Exactly, I was 16 years old. It was the early part of the summer and I went to that youth group and everybody told me that. To throw away my rock and roll music and to cut my hair and take my earring out. And everybody wanted to hug me and I didn't wanna be hugged by anybody. It's an evangelical Pentecostal church. And I was like, I don't, yeah. But come to find out, the youth pastor lived in the same apartment complex I did. I had a ride to church anytime it was open. So, later on that summer, mid-August, I remember a man inviting me, a young man from the youth group. It was raining. He was giving me a ride home. We got into his car and he asked me right there, uh, mark, do you wanna ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior? And we prayed right there the sinner's prayer. And I recognized the grace of God and the mercy of God and the Spirit of God. And at 16 years old, I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord. And I thank him that he was calling me at such a time. So, and then I [00:15:00] had to grow up. Wow. And then I had to grow. I was still 16 with a messed up background and, still was spilling life all over myself. But that church loved me. They hugged me and kicked me in the can at the same time. Now were you out of your mom's house? Away from your abuser? Well. When the abuse first became, and I don't wanna say public, but when it became outside of the family when I meant the first person I confessed it to or, or shared it with, was my uncle. And I think that people have to remember my abuse happened from 19 7 7 to 1984. And the awareness and the advocacy that's out there today wasn't there then. And things like this happen behind closed doors. And I think culturally, not everybody, but culturally in most families said, we keep that stuff behind closed doors. We don't share it. We handle it as families. I told my uncle at [00:16:00] 14 years old. He was the first person I confessed to, and I ended up living with my uncle for about a year. He became my defender. So from about 14 to about 15 and a half, I lived with my uncle, and about 15 and a half I moved back with my mom. And yes, her husband was still there. But he, uh, he was very sickly at this time. So, he wasn't able to hurt me physically anymore. And I was strong enough to not allow anybody to hurt me anymore. So Now you said the word confess. Well, you didn't do anything wrong. Thank you. I, yeah, I just meant, I told. You shared your story, your abuse, uh, your victimization. So yeah. You don't have to apologize for anything. Amen. Thank you. That's right. It was probably a poor choice of words. I was just reading. I announced to my uncle, or I, I shared out, I took it out. I took it outta that simple family unit that I would tell my mom, [00:17:00] my mom having so much hurt and pain in her life, didn't know how to handle that. And just would say, well, he promises not to do it again. And he promised not to do it. And of course, so in a lot of ways I felt like my mom was a victim. And, and. Even though I've had to learn to forgive my mom because of what she allowed to happen, but in some ways, not that I justify it, but I've begun to understand it. Because she was abused by her first husband who broke her heart because, uh, just pain who had many affairs on her, and she was so broken down, so hurting and she did not understand love. I think she, um, interpreted love in a very, uh, trying to think of the word here you know, an enabling way. My mom was more of an enabler and I think she interpreted her love in enabling. So she enabled people. I mean, it sounds like [00:18:00] codependency. Was that the word you're looking for? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So you struggled with your weight for years. Was that a symptom of your. Abuse your childhood? I, I think it was, you know, I'm, I'm not a psychologist or, a social worker. I'm a preacher, but you know, I think what I was trying to find in food was comfort, friendship. It always accepted me, uh, it comforted me when I was having a bad day and it rewarded me when I was having a good one. But like any drug, if you would, it lies to you. And it says, Hey, is everything will be okay. Just have a little bit more, have a little bit more, and, it just is. So for me, food became my drug of choice. Mm-hmm. Uh, it became where I found comfort, found peace, found acceptance. I punished myself with it. Boy, I'm no good. I'm going to eat ice cream. Oh, I'm having a great day. I'm gonna eat [00:19:00] ice cream. So, you know, it was one of those things. Uh, what I tell people is that I wish I could say to you that, that God has taken away all the hurt, all the pain, all the sorrow. It's still there in my life. It's still a familiar. Familiar pain that continues to call to me. But what God did is he became bigger. He became bigger than the pain. He became bigger than the shame. He became bigger than the hurt. So is it still there? Sure. And the flesh wants to run to it. And the psyche wants to run to it because I know it, it's comfortable. I, I know my role there. I, I understand what my protection and my manipulation that I can find there. But God became bigger. God became bigger. You know, I was telling a friend today, and I climbed a mountain after I lost about 50 pounds. I climbed a mountain. And it was about a half a mile long. And to me it was Everest. It was the biggest mountain in the world. And it took me hours [00:20:00] to go up and I had blisters on my feet and bruises on my toe. I was very proud that I climbed it. But after I lost about a hundred pounds, I climbed the biggest mountain in the state of New York called Mount Marcy. And what was the difference between those two mountains? One was bigger and I think that's the same thing. What happened to me is that even though that sometimes the enemy wants to try to bring me back to those familiar pains, those familiar insecurities, those familiar foes, God became bigger. His word, his spirit his love all became bigger. And I have to hold onto that and I have to claim, not claim it, but I have to run into it. You know, I have to run into that every day. So. Oh, you would love the mountains here. We have so many mountains to climb. So yeah. If you come to Phoenix, then we'll have to go hiking together. Yes. I wanna see that Grand Canyon. I wanna come to Phoenix. I am a New Englander, but it's cold [00:21:00] all the time here. But I hear that you guys leave for the summer and go back in the winter. We leave for the winter to warm places because it's so hot in Phoenix in the summer. Yeah. We're not snowbirds. We are here all year. Now we get to 110 every year. That's, that's normal. It gets to 120 here every summer. But this year it was 55 days of 110 degrees. Wow. Which, um, that killed all my plants and, uh, two of my trees, so Wow. Yeah, it's 70 degrees outside now, but in the summertime it's brutal. Wow. Don't come in the summer. Come in the winter. Okay. I, um, I did get to do a mission chip for Juarez, Mexico, which is obviously south of you guys and a little east, but at the same time, I got a touch of hot weather and I have done a lot of missions trips to Central America and the Caribbean, but they do have a different climate because of the sea and the water. So it's not that dry heat. [00:22:00] It's, definitely that, more moist, heat. Yeah, I think you'll do fine. Like I said, I looked forward to it. We were just in Israel in, November November, 2019, and it was 85 degrees. In Jerusalem and I roasted, I had such a hard time because the elevation was different and the humidity from the from the sea. Yeah. I don't know if you've been to Israel, I have not. Another, another bucket list, yeah yes, definitely recommend that for sure. Thank you. My wife and I, we love to travel. You know, we, we have four children, so right now our kids are in the ages of 15 to seven, so we are right in the midst of it. You know, we're, we're mom and dad, taxi and, and we homeschool. So my wife is going a hundred miles an hour all the time. Pastor wife. Homeschool mom and she's taking care of [00:23:00] me. So, I mean, this is, God bless her. If there's a hero in this story, it's my wife. Your wife's a homeschooler. Um, you had said in your story that you had dyslexia growing up. What was that like? Well, you know, I think that I still have it. Uh, God hasn't, hasn't healed me from it. So what happens is, is I tell people when the way I was raised, I survived my childhood. I wasn't raised, you know, I didn't have parents that, that looked out for me. I didn't have somebody who wanted to govern my experiences or, or was an advocate for me. So I, I really just kind of survived my childhood and one of the casualties of that. Was my education. Uh, it was the early seventies, so I think there was a lot going on with sight reading and some different kind of philosophies of teaching. So here I was in a broken home with a learning disability. I [00:24:00] was being bullied at school because the way I felt about myself and, you know, so yeah, reading has always been a chore for me. It still is a chore today. But again, the lord, he helps and he, he brings me through and he gave me a brilliant wife. Uh, she is a, a teacher by education. And my children love to read. My son will walk into walls. He reads books this thick. I mean, and I remember holding him the moment he was born, praying, Lord, give him just a heart for reading. And he does. I mean, my son 15 says, dad, can we go to the library? Love the library. Oh, he, yeah, we're friends with the librarian. Uh, if they need somebody to help him out, move books and they call him. But yes, reading has always been a chore and I, believe it or not, I'm in the midst of writing a book. Oh, I was just gonna ask that if you had a book out or not. We are just started to speak to a publisher, it's self-publishing company. Uh, so we're definitely in [00:25:00] conversations. We have written, just kind of let it pour out of me. It's been there for 50 years, so just kind of. And, uh, now we've kind of put it in front of people who really know what they're doing. I tell everybody, I wrote it my ways, I handed it to my wife and she interpreted it and made it legible. And, uh, we have some local friends who have done some basic editing, so they're kind of editing for us, and now we're sending it to the publisher who knows how to edit in a professional way. So, so, you know, the Lord told me years ago that this testimony would be written down. I remember I chuckled when he told me that because I said, Lord, I can barely read or write. And I remember saying to the Lord, Lord, if you want this written down, what am I gonna call it? He said, you'll call it Forgiving the Nightmare. So that's why the name of the ministry, the name of the book, the name of the website is called Forgiving the Nightmare. I think everybody uh, regardless of [00:26:00] how one came, you know, yours and I came in by probably hands of other people's, but sometimes nightmares come in by all different ways. Loss, regrets pains, hurts. And we all have to kind of say, Lord, how do we go through that? And I know as Christians, we want it instant, you know, we wanna stand on the word, we wanna claim it, we wanna save. Lord, give it to me. But I think sometimes we have to, uh, go through the process. I think of Jacob and how he wrestled with God, or he wrestled with the angel and they wrestled all night long. And, and God, the angel touched his hip and then he said, what do you want? And Jacob said, I want a new. And he became Israel, the promise. Mm-hmm. So he left deceiver, as you know, and he became Israel promise. And I think sometimes in that journey of forgiveness as much as Christians and people, we want it and we want it so true and so earnestly, [00:27:00] but sometimes we have to wrestle. We have to wrestle with the past. We have to wrestle with ourselves, we have to wrestle with the fears, and wrestling doesn't make us bad, doesn't make us sinners, doesn't mean God has left us. I think God's working with us, the process as a pastor, I've seen so many people who are unwilling to go through the process. And they get stuck. They get stuck in the cycle, in the the hurts and the pains of life. Just kind of build up on them. And I know God wants to set 'em free, but again, it, you have to learn to die to self crucify the old man, you know, tame the tongue. And it's hard. It's hard, especially when everything in the, especially when everything in the world tells you you're okay to have that. It's okay for you to hate. It's okay for you to be angry. It's okay for you to, when God says, for us to let him go first, let Him lead us. And God is, if we forgive those who trespass against us, he'll be faithful and just to forgive us. [00:28:00] And that scripture boy haunted me for a long time because I said, Lord, I'm not ready to begin. I'm sorry I'm preaching. No, you're awesome. I'm enjoying this. Um, I'm curious how you read your Bible. Do you use an audio bible or do you, um, do use an actual written Bible? Well, I do read Bible. I like the ESV, I like the NIV, I like those verses. I do read it. I do listen to audio at times. What happened was, is about 20, I was in my early twenties and a woman at church asked me to read the Christmas story out of Luke in front of the youth group. Now, when I say youth group, we had about a hundred youth in our youth group, maybe even 150. It was a large youth group and she was the kind of woman who would not take no for an answer. You know, the church lady? Yeah. I think every church has one of those. Yeah. And you know, I tried to give her every excuse in the [00:29:00] book, I lost my glasses. I was too embarrassed to say that I couldn't read. So I got up in front of the youth group and I read out of Luke chapter two and I. Stumbled over my words and I read slowly and I read broken up. And people were very kind to me that day. The youth pastor and the youth group, they were not cruel. And after service, that woman came back to me and said that she homeschooled her children and she would like to homeschool me if I'd want to. Now I was, I was a grownup. I was 23 and I went back to her house and there I sat with her 6-year-old, five-year old as she was teaching her 5-year-old, 6-year-old how to read. She was also teaching me phonics. I never learned phonics. I tell everybody, when I learned TION and Sean and not ion, it changed my life. Unbeknownst to me that church lady had an older daughter [00:30:00] and that older daughter watched me. Watch me struggle over my words, watch me go to the house and sit with her five-year-old sister and learn ae IOU and learn the rules of bowels and phonics. Well, years later, that older daughter would become my wife. Oh. Oh. So, yep. So, you know, she told me that she fell in love with me and she watched me there. And so that, that's a little bit of our love story. But yeah, she watched me from afar and, and now today we have four kids together and she still helps me read. So I do read. I a much stronger reader than I ever was. Uh mm-hmm. So I, I can read a much better than I could then. Well, I certainly can see looking back that you had so many people in your corner to that God sent to help you, and what a blessing. Now, did you go to college? I did. I [00:31:00] graduated from what's now called North Point Bible College. At the time, it was called Zion Bible College. It was in Barrington, Rhode Island. It was a very focused school for ministry only. Uh, so I did go there. I didn't wanna go there. I'm a New Englander. I knew about the school. It was in my backyard. I wanted to go to Southeastern to Florida. I wanted to go to pennsylvania and go to Valley Forge. Uh, those doors were not open to me. I remember saying, the Lord, I'm done. Lord, I've tried. Everybody's rejecting me because of my education. And he said, go to Zion. I went in and I met with the Dean of students. In that meeting, the dean of students said to me, mark, do you have a call? I said, yes, I believe I do have a call. He got up from his desk and he went to a big picture window, a woman who was walking in front of his picture window, and he tapped onto the window and he called this woman in. As she came [00:32:00] into his office, he introduced me to a woman named Jan Kruger. He let me know that Jan was led by God to go to school, to go to Zion the week earlier than me to start a learning center. And Jan and I became our first student in the learning center and we worked hard. The first year, most of my, classes were uncredited 'cause I had to learn how to be a student. I didn't know what a syllabi was. I didn't know how to take tests. Uh, we sat in that learning center. I cried, I complained. She was a mom. She hugged me sometimes and she told me to. To suck it up sometimes. And, uh, that was the best advice I could get. So yeah, i'm a proud graduate of Zion Bible College, and I'm ordained with the Assembly of God. So when did you get called into the ministry? Well, pretty much after, it was about my 17th year, 16 years old, I got saved and 17 years old, I was [00:33:00] at a Youth convention, and I pretty much felt like the Lord called me then. Now, I ran from that call for a long time because of my insecurities, my fears, my inabilities. See, when I walked into the room, I always felt like I was junk. Like I was dirt. Like I could offer nobody, nothing. And I was, no, you know, I, that's how I felt about myself. So who would let me be that pastor? What do I have to offer? I could barely read. Look what happened to me. So. For many years I wrestled with it and about 24, 25 years old, I had a brand new truck, little S 10 pickup truck. They called it Bernie because it was purple. I was listening to Petra, remember a Petra? I love Petra. And I was, I was listening to Petra from the seventies not the nineties. Petra and I remember I was listening to Petra and the Holy Spirit filled with the cab of that car and that truck I had to [00:34:00] pull over. I was on old post road. I'll never forget tears coming down my face. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, mark, choose this day whom you'll serve. I've called you and I will equip you. And I said, God, I want you. That's when the journey of. Colleges, and I wish I could tell you it was all roses and cherries after that. It wasn't, you know, there's still a lot of growing up and a lot of overcoming, and a lot of dying to self. And, and there still is. But yeah, that's how I got called and I went to that school and they loved me. They were honest to me. You sound like you had a lot , in coming with Moses with his speech impediment. He was, exiled to be a goat and a sheep herder. They're not gonna listen to me, Lord. You know? Did you feel like that? Oh, sure. I sure did. Like I said, I, for most of my life, I felt like what can I offer? So what I did is I put a facade on myself or I, I lived up to the role that I [00:35:00] thought people wanted from me, or a role to, to find acceptance or protection. So, if I had to be the clown, I was the clown. If I had to be the fool, I was the fool. If I had to be the weak, I was the weak because I felt those things about me. Recently in this weight loss journey and this giving, God has given me confidence. And I say that with much humility because I know it's not my confidence, it's confidence in him. But I've never had confidence before. I feel like a carpenter with a new tool. I feel like, you know, a businessman with a new suit that I've never had confidence before. Now again, it's not confidence in what I have. Because I'm still weak, but it's a confidence going, my Abba father makes a way for me. My Abba father heals me and, and goes before me. So it's, it's a kind of a new season for me to be confident and say, you know what? I can live a healthy life. People ask me why I lost the weight. [00:36:00] And I remember I was reading the scripture, and you're probably familiar with it, is when the Pharisee comes to the Lord or it says to him, Lord, how does one enter the kingdom of heaven? And the Lord says, well, what is written? He says, Lord, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, and with all your spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself. I've read that a million times. I've preached on it. I've studied it. One day I was reading it, he said, Lord, I know you love me, mark, but you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love yourself, so you can't love your neighbor. And I realized because I didn't love myself, I wasn't taking care of myself. I love my children. I love my wife. I wanna take care of 'em. They don't need me. I wife can, but I want to. I wanna do things for, I wanna take care of 'em. I wanna help 'em be better and stronger and smarter and wiser, and love the Lord. And I realized I didn't love myself. So the weight loss journey, forgiving the nightmare, forgiving my mom, forgiving the abusers, forgiving those [00:37:00] who betrayed me as a child, helped me begin to love myself again. No visions of grander. I'm still a just a normal guy saved by grace. Uh, I still put my big foot in my mouth, my wife can come in and tell you all the stories, but, uh, but you know, I started to love myself and. It sounds like, you found your self worth in the Lord Jesus because Jesus sees you as his child. You are a child of God, and that's where your worth is. So it sounds like your healing journey brought you to that place. Yeah. It's not self-confidence like the world says it is. It's how God sees you. You're precious and you're loved. Amen. And you're valuable. He died for you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You're gonna get me going now. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, hallelujah. I want others to [00:38:00] experience this. You know, I, my whole ministry, I've been surrounded by hurting people and hurting churches. I've worked with people that have had major traumas in their life. Not that I ever sought it. I can't. I think the Lord just led me to it. And as I've worked with people, people say that I've been able to bring comfort. I'm easy to talk to. I thought, well, okay, Lord. And I want people to find that freedom that I have. I understand being shackled to pain in the past. I understand allowing those things to form the way you think about and believe about yourself, and never truly being set free. Waking up with that numbing feeling of brokenness all the time. All the time, just constantly. But God truly set me free. He set me free. And because he set me free, I'm nobody special. And being a pastor, I see so many people that have a [00:39:00] form of this and they don't. They haven't gone through it. So they're still living with a confession in Christ, but still the hurts of the past. Blame them. I don't, I'm not putting fingers, I'm not taking the log out on my own eye before I take the twig from their eye. But I'm saying the freedom that God has for his people. Uh, and again, do we still stumble? Yeah. Do we still need refining? Sure. Are we still the clay? And he's still the potter of court, but there's a freedom that we find as a pastor. I've just met so many people who will say, pastor, I'm killed. I'm delivered. And you realize it's, it's only an inch deep. It's, you know, as soon as they get tested, as soon as they get, get bothered, it just spills out. It pulls out of them in, in a defense or in, in a rejection or in a way they, they have a self view of the world or of themselves. Now God's consent is free. God can set [00:40:00] us free. So, what's the difference between being a victim and being victorious? Hallelujah. Well, in my humble opinion, a victim is somebody who always sees themselves broken, sees themselves in a way that, that that allows them to stay in their victimhood. For a long time, my victimhood became my identity. I remember one day when the Lord brought me to the altar and he said those words to me. He said, mark, I want you to give this up. And I literally said, in an audible voice, Lord, if I'm not a victim, then what am I? Because all I knew was the, the role of being a victim. Oh, my victimhood was good. I could manipulate with it. I could win every argument with it. Oh, when I was 16 years old, my mom, who was a single mom with not much money she bought me a car. I had a phone in my room. I had cable on my own [00:41:00] tv. She made me breakfast in bed. Why she owed that to me. Why? Because I was a victim. And I got to see how I could win every argument at school. I could put my head down and I could lift up my head and go, well, who here else was molested? I was, and no one would say anything. And the Lord rebuked me at that and said, said, yeah, that's what victims do. At least that's what I did. He said, I wanna make you victorious. And I remember him saying, me saying to the Lord, if I'm not a victim, what am I? And he said, you're victorious in me. I had to learn what it meant to be victorious. Amen. I had to learn to let that facade go. Let that personality go, let that old man die and let the new man of Christ rise up inside him. That is awesome. I just love that. I've never heard anybody describe it like that. Now, I prefer the, word survivor instead of victim. But I think you took [00:42:00] it up another notch. We are, victorious in the Lord. Well, my victimhood, you know, as much as I was a victim, but I used it for my own gain. Mm-hmm. Which made me just as not guilty of what happened to me, but made me not a healthy place. It put me in a Right. But it's all I knew, you know, I could manipulate, I could win the argument. Right. I was the guy. Who else here was stabbed and burnt and abused? I could show you my scars where they stabbed me. I could show you the burn marks. I was prostituted for other men to abuse me. Boy, you know, I could really win the, the argument. But that was wrong. Yeah, it was wrong. It was wrong to put that on my mother, it's wrong to put that on my family. It was wrong to put that on others. And the Lord had to rebuke me and, uh, wow. And he did, because he loves, he rebukes the ones he loves, so he rebuked you. I just so appreciate your raw [00:43:00] and honest, telling of your story. Because, you've heard stories where they just put the fluff or they put the stuff that's gonna, bring up the ratings or whatever. But you really, kept it real. And I think you're a great pastor because people see that you're a real person. You're not some fake up there that can't relate to your congregation's problems, do you feel that way? Oh, definitely. You know, my congregation, as you know, like we talked earlier, I wrestle with dyslexia and every once in a while I'll stumble over a word while I'm reading the Bible and in front of my congregation. And, and that really bothered me for a long time. My Lord, I'm a pastor. How can I not read this and now. When I stumble over a word, my congregation yells it up to me. So I'll be on the platform. And you know what? They'll see me stumbling and you know, they'll yell it up to me and it's just a term of endearment. [00:44:00] It's not been one of rejection or shame, and I say, you know what? I'm doing that just to make sure you're in the Bible. That's what I tell 'em. But I'll be reading the scripture and, and my dyslexia kick in, or, or the word will be all scrambled. And, and they're the kind voices. Oh, pastor, that's, that means this. And, and it's kind of a nice direction. I tell people the church I pastor is a real church with real people serving a real God. Wow. So, wow. Fancy fluff. Church don't come to us because, you know, we're real and we cry together, we do life together. We step on each other's toes. We don't always agree, but we always love God. That is so awesome. Pastor of Christian is Alia Scott. That's right. I didn't announce your church name. I wanted to ask you to tell another story about. You said that you met your birth father at one point. What happened during that reunion Union? [00:45:00] Well, I was 45 years old and I wanted to reach, I wanted to know, I tell people my birth father and I met at the right place in life. I think if I would've met him younger, I would've still been angry. Rejected Kyle, but I was 45. I was the father of four. I've made my own mistakes, my own problems. I learned to mature a little bit. To be really frank, my father's wife passed on, so he was more ready to meet me. So his wife that he had the affair on to si me, if you would, she passed. So he was more open to meet me and uh, I just didn't meet him, but the whole family met him together. We met in a restaurant, we met in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the family came in and the kids instantly. Started to call him grandpa. I thought, I don't know if I'm okay with that. And he never rejected it. So the last few years of [00:46:00] life, we just lost him. I, I had him for about four years. It wasn't warm and fuzzy, daddy and son, but it was something, we had a relationship. We'd talk about sports, we'd talk about life. He was a snowbird from Massachusetts to Florida and he just kind of let me know. So I'm very thankful for the four years I had. Again, it wasn't, Hey buddy, I'm proud of you kind of moment, but I got to find out a little bit about. Who my dad was and who some of my relatives are on my father's side. I got to learn about some of the health conditions of, of my father. And you know, he said he was pretty, he made it to 84. He liked to drink and he liked ladies, I like Jesus, I like one lady, Wow. That's an incredible story. I tell people it was the right time. Again, if I would've met him at 25, I would've been angry. I would've said, you know, why did you abandon me? 45 was a good time because. You know what, by that [00:47:00] time I, I stepped in enough life of my own to, to not, to be slow to judge, oh, God does have the perfect timing. I haven't spoken much about my story at all on here, but my husband and I talk about, boy, I wish that we had met, long time ago, you know, and skipped all the pain because we were both victims of abuse from our previous spouses. I'm sorry. And, um, but we thought about it and we thought we were different people. If we met at that time, I don't think I would've been interested in you and you wouldn't have been interested in me. And, I think that God brought us together this time of our life. No, we've been married 11 years. Congratulations. Thank you. So, God brought us together at our time of life because that was the perfect time and Sure. We're best friends. We never even have had a real fight. We didn't disagree, of course, but now you should write a book [00:48:00] about that. Okay. I mean, we disagree and, um, get on each other's nerves, but the Lord has just, you're normal. Just blessed us. Yeah, we're definitely normal. Um, especially during pandemic. It's like you learn about your spouse when you're stuck with them 24 7. Right? That's true. That's true. Yeah, we had to make some adjustments. Amen. And, um, we still love each other, and that it's great when you're talking about times of life, you know, for such a time as this, and I think for me, the Lord spoke to me years ago about forgiving the nightmare ministry. He actually spoke to me when I was in college about this. I didn't know it was gonna, uh, blossom or what it was gonna look like, but he spoke to me years ago about writing it down and it was always inside me. And I kept, my wife knew about it. We would always think, how's the, what's the Lord gonna do with this? Is it distant inside me to guide me through life? Is it more for others? Is it, Lord, how's it, how's it [00:49:00] gonna? Blossom if you would manifest. And we lost my mom and I have to tell you that, not immediately, but pretty quick. After losing my mom, I felt like this ministry could just launch. And it has launched. God has brought, brought a web designer into our life. He's brought some, um, producers into our life to help me tell the story. We're talking with a, an editor and a publisher. All this has happened fairly quickly. And I think, Lord, why now? And I think, to be honest with you, and this is just my opinion, I, I don't know if I have chapter and verse to back this up, but my mom was so embarrassed. She was so full of shame because of my upbringing every time for the last 20 years of my life, every time me and my mom were alone together, she would just apologize. And I don't just mean say, sorry. She would grovel and I would say, mom, I forgive you. I forgive you, [00:50:00] Marky. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. And if my mom knew that I was speaking to podcasts or writing a book, she would've been so, so embarrassed. So she may, it would've just troubled her so much. So I think outta the grace of God, and again, don't have chapter and verse, but I think upon her passing released me to be able to share this story, to be able to bring others into it, to just think God was being merciful to my mom on her journey. And again, it was almost pretty instant after her, uh, her own passing that I remember being on the treadmill one morning and the Lord just kind of. Just impressing upon me by giving the nightmare. Remember those words? I spoke to you. This is where it's gonna take place. And since then, we've made a couple videos, uh, we've launched a website. I'm talking to wonderful people like yourself and just trying to get the [00:51:00] story out of forgiving the Nightmare and trying to say to people whatever that nightmare was. Was it physical and sexual abuse like mine? Was it a tragedy in your life? Is it regrets? Is it fears? Is it the loss of a child or a loved one? Whatever that pain is that your nightmare. I want you to know that God can help you forgive it and overcome it and break the shackles so we don't have to be the man or the person. The hurt tried to make us. We no longer have to be Jacob. We can become Israel. Your mom would be so proud of you. And I think that, thank you. If, the Lord's probably told her, you know, the good things that have come out of a terrible situation, she said she had, you said she had some shame. Oh. I think if she was looking down at you now that, that shame would be gone. [00:52:00] That shame is no longer there. Look how God's using my son, my, my wonderful son to spread the gospel and to help people. And so Well, thank you. I'm so thankful for you, brother. Thank you for saying those words, sister. It's very kind of you. I used to say to my mom, even up to her last days, I would say, mom, who's your favorite? And she would say, I love you all, all the same. And I'd say, mom, stop lying to my siblings. I'm the youngest of three. My older brother and my older sister never made me feel like a step or a half brother. Uh, we just kind of always lived in the same house. We got real family problems and just life, but they've never left, never met me, felt, never let me feel like I was less than even to today. So I'm very thankful. My oldest sister, who is, a second mom to me, my oldest sister, she is my second mom and I'm thankful for her. So. Wow. Well, we [00:53:00] just had just a great time tonight. When your book comes out, please contact me. I would love to have you on the show again, to promote your book because obviously you, your story is so powerful and we wanna get it out to as many people as we can. So, tell the folks how to connect with you. Well, the best way to connect with me is@forgivingthenightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com. Forgiving the nightmare.com is the best way to connect with me. If you go there, you'll find a email, it's called mark@forgivingthenightmare.com. That comes directly to me, right on my phone. So that's the best way to connect with me. Also you can go to our Facebook page called, forgiving the Nightmare. For giving Nightmare Facebook page. I try to put up pictures and little devotions there and stories there. So that's the two. Best way through Facebook, after Giving the Nightmare, after giving the Nightmare do [00:54:00] com, those are the best ways to connect with me. And I hope to get so Arizona someday. You have an open invitation. Wow. I'll be a tour guide for you. I know that Arizona like the back of my hand. Wow. Wow. Now my children could hear you in the background, so they're gonna be pretty excited about that invitation. There's so much stuff for, for their Edge group as well. So, we will hook you guys up. So thanks for being patient with the tech stuff and I'm glad we pushed through and didn't let the devil get the victory tonight. We found a way to get you on here. That's right. May I pray for you as we close. Oh yes, please. Thank you. Father God, we just come to you tonight and we thank you again for your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, we thank you for the sacrifice that he gave to us upon the cross, Lord. And we pay the price we could not pray, Lord. And we thank you for the gift of life [00:55:00] and life more abundant. Lord, we thank you for the promises. It says in this life there will be many troubles, but fear not because you are with us always. And Lord, tonight I pray for my sister. Father, I thank you that you're using her Lord. To spread the gospel to share, hope to be a light and a dark place. But Father, now, I pray that you come beside her father as she's shared that she's lost her brother this week, Lord. And I pray you comfort her. Lord, you said you had to go so the comforter could come. I pray, the comfort of the Holy Spirit will come beside my sister and be with her and her family as they grieve their loved one, their family member, their friend, Lord. So Lord I pray peace upon my sister. I pray Lord that you use her, continue to bless her. I thank you for the testimony of her and her husband, 11 years that you've brought together for such a time as this. I pray, Lord God, that they grow closer to you so they can grow closer to each other. And Lord, we thank you tonight [00:56:00] that Lord, we're no longer Jacob. You've made us Israel Father, no longer do we have to be shaped by our past, but now we can hold on to the promises. Lord, no longer does, we have to be shackled by somebody else's abuse, and we can be set free by your word. So, Lord, I pray that you fill us. You lead us, and may we be the light and may we be the salt, and may we lift up your name. We pray for a unity across our nation. We pray for a healing across our land, and we pray, Lord, for a revival of your salvation to come to our our country again, in Jesus name, amen. Thank you so much, brother. God bless, sister. Thank you. Take care yourself. Bye now. Bye. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at [00:57:00] DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

The Official Corporate Podcast of Antioch, The Apostolic Church

Send me a Text Message!If we look at Jesus' example we would have to say that of all his names, Father is God's favorite.  In the Old Testament God was called Father, only 7x.  Jesus refers to God as Father 17x in the Sermon on the Mount alone! The gospels record over 200x's that Jesus called God Father. God's our Father. In Jesus day, those words were  revolutionary. Never before had that been the primary way of viewing God, but it shaped everything Jesus said and did, especially his prayer life.  And then this amazing thing happens, he passes it on to us. "Not only my Father," Jesus says, "your Father. He's your Abba, Papa, Daddy God." Prayer may at times be more than, but it will never be less than an on-going and on-growing personal relationship with your Father God. So climb up on his lap and pray!

We know that a consistent heart of gratitude keeps us in harmony in our relationship with God, but in a practical sense, how do we maintain it, and how can we be intentional? A first clue is the example of Paul. Philippians 4:12–13 says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Notice that the famous preacher trained his mind and heart to be always grateful. This meant a conscious, daily, hourly focus on the good things God has brought him. And sometimes we're down to basics on this: life, food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter. That's all many people have, and it's easy—living in the U.S. especially, to forget that our basic needs are met. But choosing gratitude is key. The actor Will Arnett does this. He says, “I'm happy because I'm grateful, and I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.” Another way to maintain a grateful heart is being very mindful every day of what God has gifted us with. Music icon Willie Nelson understands the value of such an attitude. He says, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Take stock every day, and actually list the things you're grateful for. Soon enough, it'll be part of your daily routine. A third way to maintain a grateful heart is to choose to focus on the positive. There's enough junk in the world. What you choose to focus on will in large part define you. It's sort of like a natural law. If you do an act of kindness for someone, or sit for 20 minutes watching a gorgeous sunset, instead of scrolling through the news on your phone, you'll find that joy and a grateful heart become your reality. God loves you. Start your journey toward gratitude with that.  Let's pray. Father God, no one can stop us from thanking you for your love and grace. That's our first step toward having a grateful heart. From breathing clean air to enjoying a holiday with family and friends. We commit ourselves to a life of gratitude. 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.

What does freedom cost when you've escaped a cult but the trauma follows you out? In this Part Two episode, we continue Andrew-Ryan Profaci's journey beyond Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God. After breaking free from his role as the groomed "Father God," Andrew faced the daunting task of rebuilding his identity, processing his trauma, and finding purpose in the aftermath. Throughout his recovery, Andrew transformed his darkest chapter into a mission: helping others recognize the warning signs of manipulation and coercive control before it's too late. His memoir, The War on Love, chronicles not just his survival—but his path to reclaiming his life and protecting others from similar fates.   Episode Highlights: 02:10 The Role and Struggles in the Cult 05:24 The Collapse of Love Has Won 06:46 Andrew's Mission Today 09:09 Recognizing Cult Patterns 17:01 Amy's Messiah Complex 22:28 Andrew's Memoir: The War on Love 24:22 Advice for Those in Manipulative Groups 28:35 How to Connect with Andrew-Ryan Profaci Show Links:  TheWarOnLove.com Andrew-Ryan's Book Andrew-Ryan's Public Speaking Info Email: AndrewRyanMedia@gmail.com

Continuing our week solely focused on worship, today we will experience Psalm 34.Be present. Be all in on this moment. No distractions. Listen with your ears and your heart. Let's experience His Word and our worship together.Psalm 34‚ NLTI will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!Turn away from evil and do good.  Search for peace, and work to maintain it.The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.He rescues them from all their troubles.The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.… the Lord will redeem those who serve him.Just as David did here, when was the last time you bragged on God?When was the last time you shared with someone what He has done for you?Listen again to the final words of this passage as I personalize David's words for us.The Lord hears me when I call to him for help.He rescues me from all my troubles.The Lord is close to me when my heart is broken; he rescues me when my spirit is crushed.I may face many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.Let's pray just as we have worshipped: “Father God, thank You for being our guard who surrounds and defends. Thank You that You watch over us and hear us. Thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted and though we face troubles, You will rescue like the good Father You are. As above, so below.”

808 No One Is Able To Snatch Them Out Of The Father's Hand, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 10:26-30 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation NASB 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” KJV 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and my Father are one. Reflection on Scripture: Many things came to mind reading this passage. It has so much meaning. It deals with questions that have been questioned in Christianity for a huge amount of time. Its also a bit nerve wrecking. If we are not God's sheep it seems there is no hope for us. With that said what is the distinguishing factor on wether we are His sheep? That we hear His voice and follow Him. Yet with that said it seems to miss an incredibly important element of Grace if we feel that we save ourselves through our choice of following God. That feels off. The only reason we are even able to be considered His sheep is because the Father gave the Son us as sheep. When I sat pondering what devotional message we could pull out of this, perhaps the best thing that we could focus on is gratitude.  What profound gratitude we should feel to the loving God we have who offers redemption. I am so very grateful for that! When you ponder the offer that He gives it should fill you with gratitude. He offers eternal salvation and forgiveness from a profound grace in the face of our moral failure. Whatever fear you feel for not being considered one of God's speed, you should feel equally encouraged by the profound Love that God offers. In that gratitude embrace faith in Jesus. Not a faith that he arbitrarily goes around saving people, but a faith that what He says will happen. That faith is us hearing His voice.  Nobody will be able to pluck you out of His hand. There is no secret angry Father God behind the scenes who wants to destroy you but Jesus makes that God reluctantly forgive you. There is one perspective of God, one where you are loved and he wants you to live forever in heaven. Reject fear and move toward a kind of faith that aligns with believing in Jesus but also believing him enough do follow what He says.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

https://tinyurl.com/frcmed-ofg-transcript

Send me a Text Message!Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will resemble their Father in heaven. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will remind people of their big brother Jesus. Are you a peacemaker? Is the family resemblance growing? Take a moment and think of a hard relationship; someone who has hurt you, disappointed you. Do you look like Jesus to them? Will a point come when they can say to you...this is what I want to hear people say to me: "I see Father God's face in you. I see Jesus' heart in you. I see the fullness of the Spirit in you."I mean, is there anything the world needs more than peacemakers in this moment?

JOHN 8:31-59 - BEFORE ABRAHAM I AM - BRIAN SUMNER - 2025"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free'?”34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.37 “I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.”Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going[p] through the midst of them, and so passed by.”To support this channel and partner with Brian in Ministryhttps://www.briansumner.net/support/For more on Brianhttp://www.briansumner.nethttps://www.instagram.com/BRIANSUMNER/https://www.facebook.com/BRIANSUMNEROFFICIALTo listen to Brians Podcast, click below.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Purchase Brians Marriage book at https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fails-Da...Brian is a full tiSupport the showSUPPORT THE SHOW

In this conversation, Reagan Kramer and Attorney Melissa Coleman discuss the profound themes of mercy, forgiveness, and the spiritual battles we face in times of grief and tragedy. They reflect on the recent events that have shaken our world and emphasize the importance of trusting God, extending mercy to others, and staying on mission despite the challenges. Melissa shares her personal journey of faith and the process of becoming unoffendable through Christ, highlighting the significance of using Jesus' mercy to heal and forgive. The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of living free from shame and condemnation, and the practical steps one can take to navigate emotional trials and extend mercy to others. They also touch on the concept of spiritual deliverance and the legal grounds that the enemy may have in our lives, advocating for a life of authenticity and transparency in our relationship with God and others.The conversation encourages listeners to acknowledge injustices, fight for the freedom of others, and love their enemies, reminding us that we are all called to extend the same mercy that we have received from God. They discuss the importance of addressing past traumas and injustices, establishing strong emotional borders, and the transformative power of mercy in healing relationships. More from the Revelations Podcast hosted by Reagan Kramer: Website | Instagram | Apple Podcast | YoutubeMelissa Coleman: mcoleman@colemanlaw.us.comBecome Part of Our Mission! Support The Revelations Podcast:Your support fuels our mission to share transformative messages of hope and faith. Click here to learn how you can contribute and be part of this growing community!Resources This Episode is brought to you by Advanced Medicine AlternativesGet back to the active life you love through natural & regenerative musculoskeletal healing: https://www.georgekramermd.com/ 00:00The Mission of Mercy in a Divided World12:54Choosing Mercy Over Offense16:32The Process of Forgiveness20:15The Power of Jesus' Mercy26:04Breaking Free from Bondage31:38Living Without Condemnation35:10Establishing Strong Borders in Our Lives55:20Understanding Mercy and Trials57:18Practical Steps for a Speedy Trial01:01:10The Power of Naming Injustices01:07:01Extending Mercy and Breaking Chains01:10:12Living Authentically in the Light01:15:53Deliverance Through Mercy01:20:02Closing Prayer and EncouragementSample Prayers to Use In the Courts of HeavenReleasing mercy over theperpetrators in my lifeLoving Father and Righteous Judge, I summons ______ (name) to the heavenly courts. ________(name), I charge you with: 1)_______ (offense #1); 2)_______ (offense #2); and 3) _______ (offense #3). You are guilty of these charges and you deserve to be punished. HOWEVER, because Jesus chose to give mercy to me for a debt I could never repay, I choose to give Jesus' mercy to you for your offenses against me. Jesus, I ask that you not count _____'s (name) sins against him/her. I relinquish my claim on every injustice _____ (name) committed against me, and I transfer jurisdiction of these matters to Jesus. ____ (name), you owe me nothing. I hereby break the power of condemnation off of you, _____(name), and I declare you acquitted, forgiven and free. I also hereby break every tie I have had with the accuser against _____ (name). Enemy, you no longer have power over me and no legal right to torment me. I will not be lured back in by you or commit double jeopardy. I break off my relationship with you now against ____ (name) for good. Father God, I trust you to restore to me all that was stolen, and I now choose to partner with You for ____ (name), and I ask that you bless him/her with every heavenly blessing. (Get specific as you pray for them with a clean heart!).  

Theologian Dr. Christa McKirland joins Kaitlyn to answer a question on the podcast that she has already answered before bedtime from one of her own children: why do we call each other brothers and sisters? Dr. McKirland gives us a picture of the people of God as a family, shows us what Scripture says about our relationship to each other as siblings, and points us back to our true identity as children of our Father God.   0:00 - Sponsor - For the Good of the Public Summit - CCPL's annual summit in Washington, DC to act on important public issues. Go to https://www.ccpubliclife.org/summit and use code HOLYPOST for 20% off!   1:06 - Show Start   2:08 - Theme Song   2:58 - Why Do We Call Each Other Brothers and Sisters?   9:31 - Closeness of Siblings   15:30 - Sponsor - SelectQuote - Go to https://www.selectquote.com/kaitlyn to get started on your new life insurance policy   17:20 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   18:28 - Not Chosen Family   25:13 - Baggage with Family   32:28 - How'd you explain it to a kid?   35:03 - End Credits

Parenting is holy work—but also hard, messy, exhausting, and humbling. In this heartfelt devotional and prayer, Peyton Garland draws an unexpected connection between plant care and child-rearing, sharing how becoming a “plant lady” during pregnancy gave her new eyes to see how growth, nurture, and resilience apply to raising kids. Whether you’re parenting toddlers, teens, or navigating young adulthood, Peyton encourages you to plant flowers in the trenches. That means practicing vulnerability, modeling God’s grace, and creating an atmosphere of love, humility, and honesty within your home. Even when the days feel muddy or the nights are sleepless, God is with you in the thick of it. As Isaiah promises, the Lord will guide and strengthen you, turning your weary places into flourishing gardens. Today's Bible Verse: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)