Podcasts about father who

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 – Jesus said to His disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father Who is hidden. And your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Ash Wednesday Bishop Sheen quote of the day

When the mountain doesn't move, it is because we are not within the parameters of the guidelines Jesus gives us. Mark 11:22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly]. 23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him. 24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]. 25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and [g]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings. CONNECT: https://www.visioneternity.org/ / vision-eternit. . SUPPORT: https://www.visioneternity.org/give

Preparing, for the Man-Child (1) (audio) David Eells 2/8/26   What's Hidden in the Barn of Our Life? Linda Smith - 11/16/2011 (David's notes in red) I had this dream, and after a few minutes, I got up and wrote it down while it was still fresh in my mind. My brother and I were putting some tools in my car. We were going somewhere to do some work. There were two hammers, some screwdrivers, saws, and some other tools in a small cardboard box. Then my brother handed me a new level and said, “Here, we might need this level”. Then a friend walked over to my brother and me and asked, “Do you really think you guys are going to need that level?” (The level is the standard of the world to build natural things on a plane with it; i.e., in agreement with it. However, Father is going beyond our worldly understanding to build hidden spiritual things that are on a plane with His Kingdom. (1Sa.16:7) ... man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.) We both agreed that it could be needed, so we would just take it along. Our friend hugged both of us and said, “I'm praying for you guys to be safe and hurry back”. We got in the car and drove off down the road. We had been driving for many miles and then drove up a big mountain. (The big mountain here represents the Kingdom of God and a place of far-reaching vision. Here they “leveled” out.) As we got to the top and leveled out, we could see some old, old buildings just up ahead on the right. (The sheep go to the right.) So my brother said to me, “Let's stop and look around, but we can't stay very long”. He pulled over and parked the car about 30 feet from an old barn and we got out. As we got to the opening of the barn, we could see eight new 6x6 beams, where someone had replaced the old beams. (The support of the barn is 6X6, representing our humanity and 8 represents Jesus, who is sown in and uses our humanity to bring forth fruit. Jesus' name in Greek equals 888 in gematria. It is fitting that Jesus would be the strength of the barn of our natural life to hold it up and together.) The roof of the barn seemed to be the original roof in fairly good condition. (The roof is the barn's “original” shield of faith, which protects it from the heat of the Sun and the storms of life.) As we entered the barn, there were some very old boards on the floor. They were two inches thick, and each board was 12 inches wide with a half-inch space between each board. It had to be the original old flooring. (Representing the “original” walk in the steps of Jesus at this head of the Kingdom.) There were a few cracks and some holes in some of them. Looking down through the cracks and holes, we could see parts of the foundation and it looked strong. We saw very large stones upon other very large stones (representing the foundation of the solid Rocks of the Word) with concrete holding them together. (Jesus, in Paul, laid such a foundation in the lives of the believers. (1Co.3:10) According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. He is the Word we must be founded on.) Now, looking all the way through the barn from where we were standing, there were other types of buildings and they reminded me of an old western town. There were eight buildings side by side with a long wooden-plank walkway in front connecting all the buildings together, but each building had its own roof. (These 8 buildings are the local Body of Jesus, which Linda belongs to. They are connected as one in Him, yet each with their own faith or roof. (Eph.2:19) So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (20) being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; (21) in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; (22) in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.) We had to walk on through the barn to get to those other buildings. When we walked out of the barn, there was a man standing outside (Jesus). My brother, not seeing the man, walked on, going to look at the other buildings. But the man standing outside spoke to me and said, “Well, you finally got here”, and he smiled. I asked him, “What do you mean, sir?” He replied, “You've come a long way. You are going to look at this barn I'm working on, aren't you?” “Well, sir, I already have, sir, but I do have some questions, if it would be ok to ask you, sir”. “Sure, go ahead and ask me”. “Well, sir, why did you leave all those old boards on the floor?” He smiled and said, “They hold the past history of the barn and I wanted to show the people who came by here, so they can see the hardships the barn has been through”. (The early saints suffered for righteousness' sake as will we.) “Yes, sir, but these old flooring boards have holes and missing pieces in the boards, leaving cracks and holes all through the floor”. “Yes, I know”, he said. “Even in your walk through your own life, there were good times and bad times, things and places you remember. And then there are those holes or missing pieces in your mind of places, things, and times that you don't remember, but they are all there in your mind stored away”. (And God can bring them to remembrance or just use them subconsciously in our daily walk.) “Yes, sir”, I smiled and said, “I guess you're right”. Then he said, “If we look, we can see through the holes in the floor and see some of the foundation. The owner of this barn has built on this strong, solid foundation”. (Our Father is the owner.) “Oh, yes, sir, I can see the foundation; but, sir, why is it dug out under the barn like a basement?” He smiled and said, “That is the root cellar where the owner can store and keep canned food, cheese, and grain for bread, provisions for winter times and hard times. (Spiritual food that is preserved in our hearts for God to use in tribulations. Good roots make a healthy plant.) It is kept down there, where it's always cool to support a healthy life and healthy bodies. Kept and stored each year for many years. It's just like when you read and study the word of God; the word will always be there to nourish your spirit, soul, and body, and to support you in your walk with the Lord”. “Yes, sir, I believe that”. He smiled and said, “Now, the owner of this barn has good soil here to build on and a strong foundation, making the whole barn strong”. (The barn, which is used for a harvest, is supported by the spiritual food of the Word, its roots.) Then I asked him, “What about all the new beams and the new lumber on the walls that you've put in? Won't that take away from the original old look of the barn, sir?” “Oh, no! The beams and the lumber are also barn wood that will quickly turn gray like the original wood. I used them to restore the barn for its future use. I have made this barn stronger and more usable to store and to keep the new wine in this barn (the new wine skin for the new wine of the life of Christ), for the one who owns this barn. (The Father, Who has “kept the best wine for last.” The time of the manifestation of the Sons of God.) I have restored and made this barn strong by my own will as it pleased me.” (This identifies Jesus as the carpenter of this barn. (Jas.1:18) Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ... (1Co.12:18) But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.) “Yes, sir, I believe you are the true craftsman, sir”. Now, as I was looking one more time at the inside of the barn, I saw for the first time that there was lots of detail work in his artwork; in all the woodwork, such beautiful craftsmanship all around. (Jesus is doing a good work in each of us. From the world's perspective, on the outside, it's a barn like any other barn, but from Father's perspective, on the inside, it's a temple.) There was light shining throughout the whole inside of the barn. (The light of the Word of life in man is Jesus. (Joh.1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.) The light was giving off a crisp, clean glow and there was a feeling of love, joy, and peace in this beautiful, peaceful environment. (The life of Jesus inside the barn.) Then, as we stepped out of the barn, I looked up at the outside of the barn, and it was just that natural, old gray barn. (According to Romans 8, the whole creation is awaiting the “revealing of the Sons of God,” and all the while they are hidden in plain old flesh, just like their prototype, Jesus, was. Joseph looked like the Egyptians on the outside to his brothers but inside he was a son of God.) Then my brother was back at the car, and he was calling out to me, “Come on. We need to be going on our way now.” I turned to the man with whom I had been talking and said to him, “Sir, it was so great talking with you, and thank you so very much, sir, for taking the time to show me and to explain to me all about your barn, sir”. And he smiled and said, “Oh! But this is your barn I'm working on”. (Joh.14:1) Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also... (1Co.2:9) but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.) I was so humbled by the words he spoke. I began crying and crying because the words he spoke were blessing me. And I woke up. My face was wet with tears and I was still weeping. Thank you, Lord, for this dream. (This is a great promise for Linda and others that the Lord is doing wondrous hidden things that we can't see or imagine in our lives. Many times, we just see the old barn from the outside and the holes in the floor. Keep on believing for the finished work of the hidden man of the heart and don't worry about what the natural man looks like. (1Pe.3:3) Whose [adorning] let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; (4) but [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible [apparel] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1Co.4:5) Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God. And Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:) Walk by faith and not by sight. The farmer doesn't dig up the plant every few days to make sure there is progress. The woman doesn't get an ultrasound every day to see if the fruit is still in the womb. Like the plant, the baby Jesus must mature in the unseen parts of us before He is manifested before men. (Mar 4:26-29) And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; (27) and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how. (28) The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. (29) But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come. (Jas.1:22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. (23) For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: (24) for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ... (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.   Barn of Our Life Charles Smith (Linda's brother) - 07/06/2012 (David's notes in red) In the dream, I was suddenly standing in a wooded area, on a narrow, smooth dirt road about 8-10 feet wide. (Our wilderness walk.) Straight before me was a much smaller dirt road about 4-5 feet wide, going through some woods. (The narrow road gets ever narrower to constrict us into the walk of Jesus.) The road was level and smooth, side to side, as it gradually went up to a small hill. As I walked up the narrow road, I saw through the trees a large structure or building. As I followed the narrow road around the trees, I saw that the building was a very old barn. (Like Linda's barn.) The way the barn was built, that is, its structure, was different from any barn I had seen before. I was looking at the left end and the back side of the barn. Walking around the left side of the barn, I was then facing the front side of the barn. I saw a large door opening, about 10 feet wide, with double doors opened to the outside. The barn was built with very large timbers and heavy beams. (Like Linda's barn, in which Jesus was the beams.) The outer walls were of wide planks, each plank being about 18 inches wide, standing upright. Suddenly, I thought, I hope no one is here; they may not want me looking around. Then, as I began looking at the surroundings, I saw tall, huge trees, some about six feet in circumference, and more than 120-150 feet tall. Not seeing anything like this before, I stopped and asked myself, Where am I? I realized that this place was somewhere else; it was very different. It was so tranquil, so very quiet, no distractions, no noise of any kind, except for an occasional songbird singing in the distance. No planes overhead, nothing -- totally quiet. I found myself being filled with great and total peace, total rest, and a sense of being totally safe here. Every fiber of my being (spirit, soul, body) was at peace and rest, something I had once experienced when I was “born again”. I thought to myself, I must tell Linda and we will come here and live. While looking at the barn and its surroundings, wondering who might live here, my head slowly turned to my left, and I saw a very old, fairly large two-story house a short way from the barn, maybe 150 feet away. The old house was very beautiful with its grounds, its huge, tall trees, and dark green tall grass about four inches tall. It was immaculate, very well kept. There was clearly a lot of thought and detail put into the architecture of this house. I had seen older homes somewhat similar to those from the Civil War years, but, friend, nothing I had ever seen could compare to this house. It was very different. Looking toward the front of the house, I saw that the house was built with wood lapboard about six inches wide running from side to side. The house also had a 12-pitch roof and a small front porch about 6x6 feet, with two steps coming off the porch down to a narrow dirt walkway or path that was maybe 12-14 inches wide. The walkway leaving the porch and crossing the yard in a straight path ended at the narrow road or driveway out front. Matthew 7:14 came to me: “Because narrow the gate, and straitened the way (like a walkway) that leadeth unto the life, and few are they that find it”. Also Luke 3:4-6: “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,... and the rough ways smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”. Read Isaiah 40:3-5, verse 5: “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it”. Also, the narrow path was not only straight, but it was like the narrow road was smooth. There is something else I would like to share about this house that stood out to me. It was the windows. The windows on this fairly large house were really narrow, about two feet wide by five or six feet tall. (To let out heat but let in light.) As I stood studying this house and its surroundings (I was still standing on the narrow road in front of the house), I saw a man coming from the barn, leading a horse. The man passed by in front of me, leading the horse down the narrow road. (The spiritual man leading the harnessed beast of flesh out of the barn of our life and down the narrow road of truth and righteousness.) I was waiting for the man to speak, but he did not; he just kept his eyes straight ahead and went on. I was standing there watching when my attention was drawn back to the house. The house was now the center of attention. From the house, I saw a young woman, perhaps mid-20s in age, coming off the front porch and down the dirt path walkway to the road where I was standing. She walked to my right and went on. What seemed to be about two minutes later, there came two young boys, maybe 11 or 12 years old, walking together on this narrow road. They walked past and in front of me and kept walking. No greeting or anything. I followed the boys with my eyes as they walked past me down the road. Two things caught my eye: 1) The boys each wore long-sleeve shirts with pants rolled up below the knees and were barefoot; 2) the boy on the far side, the right side of the road, had a small stick or pole about four feet long on his right shoulder with a pail hanging at the end of the pole or stick. I thought, Where are they going, this man leading the horse, the young woman, and the two boys; where have they gone? While standing in the same place, on the narrow road, for what seemed to be maybe two or three minutes, my attention again was drawn to the house. This time, I saw a young woman, young yet older than the first woman. She looked about mid-30s in age. Both women wore long dresses with long sleeves from the neck down to about two inches from the toes of their shoes. She came out of the house, stepped off the porch, and came down the small path to the narrow road where I was standing. She walked up to me, smiling and with a glow on her face, and nodding her head. She communicated with me, but not with her mouth. In fact, her mouth never moved, yet she spoke to me. We communicated! I asked the woman, “This house and barn, they are so old. Were they built during the time of the Civil War?” I asked her this because the house and barn were indeed very old but very beautiful. They had to have been around for a while. I had never seen structures like this before. So I told her they looked in some way as if they had come from this time period. The woman smiled and answered, “Oh, no. This house and barn were long before the Civil War”. I told the woman, “I have never seen buildings like these buildings; I have never seen a place like this place, full of beauty, so peaceful and at rest”. She just smiled. I asked the woman how much ground or land went with the house. Turning from me, the woman took me down the little, narrow road that we were standing on, in front of the house. She took me a good way, what seemed like a mile or more, in a second of time. From here we could see a great distance. She showed me a very large parcel of land. Some parts of the land had large fields or woods or a little of both, but all were beautiful. Then she pointed to another parcel of land. There were many acres before me. The woman said, “See that parcel of ground?” I answered, “Yes, I do”. She said at the time of the Civil War, all this land was lost; it was sold. She said the other owner of the land plowed this field, sowed his seed and brought forth their own crops. (As Jesus said the devil did in Matthew 13.) She said, “This part of the inheritance was sold (Esau sold his birthright by walking after the flesh), but this land, this possession, shall be redeemed and returned shortly”. (The latter rain will bring the renewal.) It will be brought back; it will again become part of the inheritance of this house. I asked the woman, “Did the Civil War, this rebellion, cause much bloodshed and even death here?” The woman answered, “Yes, to many”. (Unforgiveness, rebellion, hatred, anger, fighting, sells our birthright, our inheritance, our land. Also, there is a civil war in our day being spoken of: (Gal.5:17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. Many have lost ground in this civil war because of giving ground to the lusts of the flesh. Jesus redeemed all that was lost, and Joel said it would all be restored in the end.)   The Hidden Riches of Christ, the Word Matthew Stewart - 1/2/19 (David's notes in Red) In my dream, there was a dirt path leading to and around a barn. (A barn is a place for the farmers' creatures to abide. Abiding in the Word is provision for all things.) The barn was weathered-looking and old. There was a story about this barn, that there was lots of gold hidden in it somewhere, and lots of people had looked for it but couldn't find it. (Many are not patient or diligent enough to find the massive gold stashed in God's Word.) So, I went to find the treasure in the barn. I went to the front door and opened it, and right there in front of the door on the inside was a spot where you could tell that previous people had dug, looking for the treasure. So I started to dig there, too, but then noticed some people coming down the path, so I just hid the shovel and acted like I wasn't digging, because I knew this was a big tourist attraction. After they passed, I started digging again, and then some more people were coming, so I hid the shovel and again acted like I wasn't digging, but just looking around. Then they came, took a look inside, and continued on down the path. (Where the multitudes walk, you will not find the gold.) After they left, I continued digging. I was getting pretty deep when I noticed some more people were coming. Then I realized that this hole was really noticeable and that someone could fall in and hurt themselves, and I didn't want people to claim the treasure, either, so I filled in the hole. Then I went around back, and Anna was there. There was a ladder going up to the second story, so I climbed up, but Anna stayed down below. I got to the second story, and there were toolboxes full of old tools, axes, and saws lying around. (Our tools for building the house are the Word of God, which so many neglect.) As I was looking through the toolboxes, I heard a brother talking to Anna, and he said, “My grandparents left this place with a billion dollars, but they left a million dollars' worth of gold behind.” (Our forefathers found much gold in God's Word but there is much that is sealed up for us to find in these days. Gold represents the value of the nature of God given through the Word. (Col.2:3) in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. (Mat.13:44) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Luk.16:11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Rom.11:33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! (1Co.2:7) but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (2Ti.2:20) Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.  (1Pe.1:7) that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: (Rev.3:18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold  (by giving up your old life and time) refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.) The end of the dream.   We Can Enter The Inner Court Sandy Shaw, 12/28/18 (David's notes in red) This dream starts with me having my head down, and light curtains were moving with the breeze. All of a sudden, the Lord takes my hand. I walk with Him into the inner court. We bowed down and we were praying. He said, “Tell them when they pray, do not come short of entering My court.” We prayed a little more, and I opened my eyes. (The outer court is where the flesh is sacrificed. The inner court is the holy place where the incense representing prayer is offered. Then, behind the veil is the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of God's presence is. Jesus' sacrifice rent the veil, which represents His flesh, so we could be in God's presence through faith and prayer.) I was standing (She had lost a leg) in a meadow, and I heard Curt say, “Hi Sandy!” (I knew it was Curt and I could see through him) (He had passed on so he was spiritual.). I said, “Curt, how am I standing?” He said, “Because you're standing on the Word of God. Look over there!” And I saw my leg. Curt said, “There's your leg! Just a little while longer. Keep enduring in your fight. You are strong in Him.” The Lord said, “Tell David, he already knows!” (If the Lord is speaking of the time of revival and miracles, I believe it will come after Joel's northern Army is defeated by God, which we are seeing as the DS falls, and the Earthquakes come and the Holy Spirit is poured out in Joel 2. However, the satanists, who all later died, were casting witchcraft at her and her husband was an unbeliever who killed her with remdesivir and respirator like so many others died in the Covid scam.) He said, “Tell Michael Hare, he's on the right track. But he needs to wait for the Lord and let Him hold his hand.” (Hold my hand, too, Lord!) “Tell Brandy not to fret. For the Lord has heard him and everything he's prayed for will come to pass.” “Tell them all, very soon things will come to pass. And if what they pray for is good for them and lines up with the word, they shall have it.” End of dream. I asked for a word by faith at random and got: (2.Cor.4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake (Sacrifice of the flesh happens in the outer court. Then we enter the inner court where the altar of incense [prayer] is given before the veil, which is now opened by the sacrifice of Jesus. Here we can receive all grace to walk in His steps.), that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (Act.15:7) And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us.   John the Baptist Ministries Kendall Remmick - 02/07/2010 (David's notes in red) About three weeks ago, the Lord sent me a short dream. I figured that I shouldn't take any dreams from the Lord lightly and that I should share it. I was walking down an old, familiar street with a friend whom I never did see in the dream. I knew the person standing next to me was a friend, but I did not know who. This street is the one I used to walk home on every day from school when I was in first and second grade. (A revelation of the path of immaturity.) My friend and I walked by one house that had some low evergreen bushes in front of it, about two feet high. There was a woman sitting on a chair in the midst of the bushes. She was pregnant and had her hands on either side of her stomach, in anticipation of giving birth. In appearance, she was actually a silhouette of a woman, yet still three-dimensional. Inside the silhouette was black darkness like deep space, with no stars (outer darkness). Staring at her was like looking through a portal into darkness. (The apostate, immature church in whom is the absence of God's light.) As we walked past her, either my friend or I said, “She is about to give birth to Twins”. (The twins represent the end-time Jacobs and Esaus born to the immature church. Jacob is the father of the 12 patriarchs, like Jesus was the father of the patriarch-apostles to the end-time Church. Esau represents those who have sold their birthright. These two types will be separated at birth, and Esau will persecute Jacob the man-child.) At this point, we looked away and continued to walk forward a few steps. I then stopped and noticed I had a very small lawnmower in my right hand. The woman who was in the small hedge was behind us now, and the yard had gotten very big. The grass needed to be mowed, but it wasn't green; it was a golden, yellow-brown-like wheat, and I realized we were there to mow the lawn. (Peter said, “flesh is as grass”. The time of harvesting or cutting down the flesh of the church in repentance to prepare for the coming of the man-child ministry.) I looked down at the little lawnmower in my hand. The top side of it looked like a regular lawnmower, but the bottom side, where the blades were, looked like a house fan with a safety screen on it. (A corporate John the Baptist ministry will breathe out the winds of the Spirit to cut down the flesh of the apostate church before the birth of the man-child ministry.) I began to laugh and said, “I can't mow this lawn with this little thing! This lawn is huge!” (Meaning the flesh is abundant in the worldwide church.) My friend said, “Well, set it down on the grass and let's see how it does”. So we sat it down on the grass. (These ministries will be tested before the anointing.) Surprisingly, it cut well, but we realized that the lawnmower was too small, so we agreed we needed to go home and get a bigger lawnmower. Then I woke up. (When the anointing comes on the worldwide John the Baptist ministries from “home”, or heaven, the people will be prepared for the coming Man-child ministries. (Mat.11:10) This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.) When I was writing this, this verse came to me: (Amo.7:2) And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass (the beast will devour the grass, or flesh, of God's people, as Nebuchadnezzar did for seven years.) of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small (immature). The lawnmower is the ministry before the latter rain. (John the Baptist ministries will baptize for the death of the flesh before the Man-child brings the latter rain.) The dry grass is the saints who will die to their flesh, unlike the wild grapes, as a type of the sinners filled with the world. John the Baptist came in the anointing of Elijah and is also coming again in our time to fulfill this revelation: (Mat.17:10) And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? (11) And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: (meaning everything the Church has lost)(12) but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. (13) Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.   Apostates Will Bear Fruit G. C. - 11/26/2010 (David's notes in red) David and I had met a woman who was in charge of some property. The property that she oversaw was a place in the country that had become famous for sightings of Mary. She took us to the property and we pulled up to a gate and guard shack at the entrance; there was a man inside taking admission fees. (Those caught up in the false and empty religion of Babel, paying their tithes in a vain effort to see a glimpse of one who brought forth the fruit of Jesus.) As we entered the property, it was more developed than what I could see from the road: there were a few buildings on the lot and roads. There were a lot of people with campers alongside the road, inside the compound. Many others were in their cars. All of these people were desperately waiting to see an appearance of the Virgin Mary. Most of the crowd was older and tired-looking. I looked at some of the people's faces, and they looked desperate and lost, trying vainly to see this supernatural sight that I knew would never happen again. (The mother of all harlot “Christian” religions, among whom are some desperate to see fruit. Multitudes are in Maryolotry.) (I believe David wanted the land or to use the land. He wasn't interested in what the land was currently being used for; he had other plans for it.) (That we could sow the seed of God in the land, or the life of the people, so it would bear the fruit of Jesus and not fake religion. (Heb.6:7) For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: (8) but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. (9) But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.) The overseer/woman seemed like a Christian who was excited about the Lord, but she was off in a lot of areas. (There are so many among them who desperately need to be a part of the real virgin birth. They must be virgins in that they refuse the seed of man to receive the seed of God's Word and bring forth Jesus in their lives. Jesus said that he who does the will of the Father is my mother.) David noticed this in her and was kind to her. I remember David wanting to make some kind of deal with her, not sure what it was about, but he treated her as a sister, and we all prayed together. (Ignorance is not a sin in the New Testament, and these brothers and sisters need to be treated with respect. (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.) He wanted to show the land to his wife and kids and asked the lady if she would waive the admission fees for them to come and see it. He called the admission fees “tithes”, which caught me off guard, but she agreed to waive the fees. (The true children of the corporate mother church do not have to pay to bear fruit or see those who have.) After praying, we left. I had the feeling that David was not done with this lady or her property. (God will give us the fruit of the apostates' land. PTL! Many will come out from among them to serve the King and His Word.) I remember David or someone else in our group who traveled with us made the comment that the property was owned by the government -- the United States Air Force -- to be exact. He told us they had certain restrictions concerning what could be done there. He said there were two things that we would have trouble doing there because of the rules. (The 501(c)3 churches are under the authority of “the powers of the air” force through the beast government in what they teach and do. (Eph.2:2) wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; (3) among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.) This is a great promise to open doors to the apostate church for the real Gospel to bear the fruit of Jesus. Let's pray to that end.   Defending Yourself with the Word Bethany Mize - 07/30/2015 (David's notes in red) Last night in service, the Lord gave me a vision. In this vision, I saw myself standing in a deep valley, alone. The ground and sides of the valley were a clay-like substance, murky and cracked. As the shofar blew, the Lion of the tribe of Judah walked to the edge of the cliff and kept His gaze upon me. His eyes were so full of love. I was humbled and still in His presence. As I looked into His eyes, the tears began to roll down my face. I bowed my knees to Him. In doing so, the Word of God lay before me, and I began to devour it. Beneath the Word was rich, thick green grass, but nowhere else but where the Word of God lay. (Peter said, “All flesh is as grass.” Obeying the Word is health and life to our bodies. (Pro.4:20) My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh. When judgments are coming, we need a clear conscience and faith in His provision of protection.) (Bethany has a couple of meanings: “house of God” or “house of figs”, which have a very similar spiritual meaning: the true people of God.) As I digested the seed of the Word, small pieces of metal armor began to attach themselves to my shoulders, down my back, around my arms, until I was completely covered in armor. I knew I was in a time of preparation; it was not to be taken lightly. (Major judgments are coming and many are not prepared to escape for lack of the armor of God. We must pray for them now.) I stood to my feet, keeping my eyes on the Lion, with no words spoken, but just a knowing. He told me to wave my right arm across the ground. As I did, green grass began to grow wherever the shadow of my hand stretched above it. (With the armor of God's Word on, we have authority to protect this body.) In the natural, we began to sing in service, “Our sons and daughters shall prophecy.” As I sang this, my three-year-old daughter appeared to my left in the vision, fully armed. I was filled with joy that she rose from her knees, armed, as I was. (Children need to be taught this, too.) Then, in the last verse, we sang, “Let the rivers flow down.” In singing this, I knew it was time to stand firm. Then a large wave of moving water rushed toward us from the right. I grabbed my daughter's hand with my left hand and lifted up my right arm toward the water, like a shield. Then, as I bent my elbow back, the water went over us and crashed all around us, but never touched us. My armor (the Word of God) is what kept us in that secret place of the Most High. We were not fearful but full of boldness toward the oncoming water. It was a wonderful sight! (The Lord has had me move my hand in a sweeping motion like a knife to cut off the rain as it stopped immediately.) Later in the service, Jonathan spoke, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will raise up a standard.” Just wanted to encourage the brethren with what the Lord used to encourage me. The seed of God that goes into us is what will preserve us. The Lord is coming, manifested by Word and the latter rain, as He said in Hosea 6:1-3. He will be manifested in His Man-child ministry at the beginning of the tribulation. The story is in Ezekiel 34, where He will cut off the evil shepherds and will come to feed His flock with His David / Man-children. The Bible says of the Lord's coming in judgment that His recompense will be before Him at least twice. I received this text yesterday: (Isa.40:10) Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. (11) He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young. This is seen again in (Isa.62:11) Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. It appears the recompense is mentioned just below this concerning the Lord's judgment of Edom, the son of Abraham, who persecuted his brother Israel as a type of the Church. (Isa.63:1) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. (2) Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat? (3) I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. I want to share this revelation with you; from memory: Pam's three-year-old grandchild, Benjamin, just recently suddenly heard something and ran to the window and opened the curtains. He said, “Babbu, God is almost here”. She asked him, “Did you feel this or hear this”? He said, “Heard”. She asked, “Did someone say this to you?” “Yes”, he said, and on further questioning, it was from very big men outside. Later, he asked her, “When will God be here?” We have heard that the Lord will give a short warning to His disciples to get off the coast. This could come in dreams or in other ways. We have been sharing these warnings, so pray and get direction from Father. We have been hearing in our morning prayer time that we are to fast and pray and cry out for the elect in harm's way and those we have prayed for to know the Lord, and that we would be hidden in this time of judgment. Also, we need to pray for the spiritual Edomites that an elect will repent and return to the Lord. And for the church, which is about to go into captivity because of this judgment, whenever it comes. Some words I received at this time were: (Isa.22:12) And in that day did the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: (13) and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. (14) And Jehovah of hosts revealed himself in mine ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till ye die, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts. Also, Matthew 9:15, “then will they fast”, was received three times. (Jer.6:26) O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us. (Zep.2:3) Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger. Several people locally got confirmations to fast and pray. So fast and pray regularly, saints, for these things and those you know who are in spiritual need until this comes.   Jesus Is Coming in Flesh Again Bill Steenland - 12/10/2014 (David's notes in red) I just listened to a brother talk about a visitation of God to His people. There is an awesome type and shadow for the coming Man-child, as Joseph the Man-child held back who he was until a dramatic revealing. I dreamed I was in a white, slightly grayish room. In the dream, I thought it was an elevator. I knew it as the elevator room. (An elevator is like abiding in Christ and the Word. It is a place of being caught up into “heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.) (Eph.1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: (4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: (5) having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. (Notice that only abiding in Christ, the Word, can we be in heavenly places in order to manifest His holiness and sonship. Whitish gray is the color of the heavens many times, if you are under the first heaven with clouds and chemtrails. The higher you go, the clearer the heavens become, which is why they put telescopes in space.) I was sitting next to a man I work with named Ben. (Benjamin was Joseph's younger brother by Rachel, but he had not yet met Joseph. Joseph, as a type of Jesus and the Man-child body, was sold by his brethren into prison but came out to rule over all. Benjamin's eyes were opened to see Joseph, who first appeared dressed as an Egyptian. At first, Joseph's brothers did not know that Joseph, as a type of Jesus, was in that Egyptian-looking body, and so it will be today. (Gen.45:1) Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. (2) And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. (3) And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. (4) And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. (5) And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.) Ben was so excited and talking about meeting Jesus! He said, “Yeah, man, one day soon, we will be talking to Jesus, just like you and me are talking right now”. He was going on and on about talking to Jesus in person. He said, “Yeah, man, it's going to be so great! Oh, my God! Face to face, man, just like me and you are talking right now. Face to face with Jesus!” (Yeah, that makes me really excited, too. Many will talk face to face with Jesus in these days, but He will look different in flesh because He is coming to be manifested in His second corporate body, like He was in the early disciples when they were called Christians. (Luk.10:16) He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me. (Mat.10:40) He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (Luk.9:48) and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is great. (Joh.13:20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. We see in the last verse a perfect example that those who saw Jesus saw the Father Who was manifested in Him. The Father had taken on a body, just as Jesus is doing. (Joh.14:9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? The latter rain will empower many to manifest Jesus in their life.) Ben is not saved, as far as I know, and has even mocked me a little bit when a Christian brother and I were talking about the Lord. But Ben is a very funny guy and jokes about everything. So in the dream, I thought to myself, “Um ... Ben, maybe we should deal with some stuff first”. I was thinking along the lines of basic repentance. End of dream. (Yes, the John the Baptist ministry of repentance is first to prepare the lost to see Jesus in the Man-child and then the body. The lost will see Jesus before many Christians will.) The Lord encouraged me and reminded me of the dream last night as I was reading the final chapters of the Gospel of Luke. He put these scriptures of the chapter on my heart about the dream. I underlined the scriptures that specifically talk about His appearance to the disciples. (Luk.24:15) And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. (16) But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. Why were their eyes not able to see that He was Jesus? Could it be because He looked different, like He will in these days as He walks in His body, those in whom He is glorified through His Spirit and Word? (2Th.1:10) when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. As you can see, if we do not believe and walk in the Word, Jesus will not be manifested in us. (11) To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power; (12) that the name (Greek meaning “nature, character and authority) of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.) (17) And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. (18) And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? (19) And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. Because they knew Him not, they thought Him to be a son of Joseph, instead of the Son of God. The same mistake will be made by the apostates today. (21) But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. (22) Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; (23) and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. (24) And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. (25) And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? (“Christ in you the hope of Glory”) (27) And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (28) And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. (29) And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. (30) And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. (31) And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. He became known to them in the breaking of the Bread of Life, the Word. The One in whom the Word dwells is His body. (32) And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? (33) And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, (34) saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. (35) And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread. So it is today, we will know those in whom Jesus lives by becoming familiar with the Word that is an expression of Himself. He is the Word made flesh, and so should we be. (36) And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (37) But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. (38) And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? (39) See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having. (40) And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. His body will have the same signs of crucifixion in the hands, meaning works, and the feet, meaning walk. (41) And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat? (42) And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish. (43) And he took it, and ate before them. (44) And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. (45) Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; (46) and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; We are once again at the third day when Jesus will first be manifested in the Man-child who is going through crucifixion at the hands of His own brethren, just like Joseph and Jesus did. Then this will happen to the whole body of true Christians. (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. For this to happen, a much larger corporate body is needed -- Jesus in His Saints. It will begin at born-again Jerusalem because that is the Bride led by the Man-child. (48) Ye are witnesses of these things. (49) And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high. (50) And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (51) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. (52) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (53) and were continually in the temple, blessing God. This teaching of Jesus coming manifested in You can be found with much scripture in our book, Hidden Manna For the End Times. There, we can also see that Jesus is coming for His saints after this. Bill goes on with (2Co.5:16) Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. Very interesting parable about not knowing Christ by His flesh and by sight. Jesus was ministering the Word of God or spiritual food to them, as in verse 32, where their heart was burning as He opened the scriptures to them. We know that the love of God was being shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit before He vanished away. (The Holy Spirit's job is to manifest Jesus in us.) Making a point that the Spirit is the truth (John16:13) and reveals “all truth” (Who is Jesus). (2Co.3:17) Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. (This is the real Gospel, that Jesus lives in you by faith, and the Spirit will manifest this because of your faith.) (Joh.6:51) I am the living bread (the Word) which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh (the Word made flesh), for the life of the world. (52) The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (53) Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. (54) He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (55) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (56) He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. (Heb.5:13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (14) But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.  

We live uncertain lives with not many guarantees. There is a lot we don't know. But that doesn't shake us if we have faith in God. Rather, it gives us peace. We can never be sure about what returns we will get, or whether we will receive generosity in return for the love we show. We don't know the works of God, or how the simple facts and patterns of life work. It's not our business to know these things; and we should still be wise, generous, loving, and humble now, in the present. We don't need to know everything, because we have a heavenly Father Who cares for our needs so we don't have to worry. In light of all the uncertainties of life, we need to get up and do something. We must work and sow our seeds while the seed-time is still here -- it won't last forever. Don't let your life be ruined by worry, indecision, or procrastination. Make biblical, practical, wise decisions; and work in trust and faith in God, leaving the outcomes with Him. If we have faith in Christ, this is freedom. We can trust in our God Who loves us, cares for us, and has redeemed us. This makes us free to work wisely and love generously without being shackled by fear.

Subscribe to ‘And The Award Goes To…' hereIn this bonus episode, Giovanna appears on a brand new podcast, ‘And The Award Goes To….'. It's the awards show that's also a podcast, where guests dish out five awards across five categories created especially for herSo listen in, as Gi offers up her winners for a whole host of awards, including the Best Line From a Film, the Best Way to Keep The Kids Entertained and The Best Gift For a Father Who is Approaching Middle Age!On Spotify: link https://tinyurl.com/spotify-and-the-award-goes-to On Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/and-the-award-goes-to On Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/amazon-and-the-award-goes-to On TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/tiktok-and-the-award-goes-to On Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/Insta-And-The-Award-Goes-To On YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTube-And-The-Award-Goes-To Brand new episodes of ‘And The Award Goes To' drop every Friday. Brought to you by Argos and Acast Creative. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view or position of Argos or any of its group companies. Descriptions of the products mentioned in this podcast are accurate as at the time of recording. Check your local store or argos.co.uk for product availability, which may vary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Father Who's Taking On the Medical EstablishmentAt 57, former chartered accountant Robb Evans lost his daughter to an eating disorder. But what happened next will shock you.The medical professionals who should have helped him instead BLAMED him for his daughter's illness because he worked in health and fitness. "It's disgusting how you're judged by medical people that should know better," Robb reveals in this raw, unfiltered conversation.But Robb didn't just grieve. He got angry. He got active. And now he's leading a movement that's making social media companies nervous.

James writes this truth about God that every follower of Jesus should read every day. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Beloved, read that verse again prayerfully and slowly. Our Heavenly Father is The One Who blesses us with everything that is good and perfect. Brother James told us in verse 16 to not be deceived about that, because it is very easy to slip into the depths of despondency and despair whenever we get our eyes off of God and onto other things.Beloved, do not allow social media, news agencies, current events or negative, fault finding people dictate to you what the true character of God is like. David, the man after God's own heart was a man that suffered many trials and hardships in life, some being the result of his own doing, but through it all he wrote in Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.Maybe you are struggling today with health or relational issues. Perhaps your finances have taken a turn for the worse. Satan capitalizes on fear and will not waste any “opportunity” that we give him to speak ill of God. Do not listen to his lies. He is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10.10). He is the one who depresses and oppresses people (Acts 10.38). Trust in God and know that He is good.Yes, our circumstances may be difficult and indeed be gloomy, but it is when we are feeling low that we need to look up to heaven and look to The One from where our help comes from (Psalm 121). Psalm 118.1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. The very heaven are opened when the people of God lift up their hearts and voices to Him with praises (Psalm 22.3) and thanksgiving (Luke 17.15-19).If you are a child of God, all of your sins have been forgiven! Your eternal soul is destined to be your Lord Jesus forever. That alone is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. All that awaits us in glory stems from the loving heart of our Father Who sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and deliver us from this present evil world according to His will (Gal 1.4). May the love of God for you give you cause to worship The One Who declares in Mal 3.6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Heb 13.8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Handbook: A Manual on Performance, Process, and the Labor of Laundry presents an illuminating dialogue between the documentary arts, feminism, film, immigration, labor history, and theater. Throughout, a playwright and filmmaker contemplate how art-making can alter our understanding of the social structures of city life.Lynne Sachs is a filmmaker and poet. Her early works on Celluloid took a feminist approach to images and writing—a commitment which has grounded her ever since. With each project, Sachs investigates the connections between the body, the camera, and the materiality of film itself. Embracing archives, found images, letters, and journals, her work pursues a critical journey through reality and memory. In films such as The House of Science, Which Way Is East, Your Day Is My Night, and Film About a Father Who, Sachs uses a hybrid form and collaboration, incorporating documentary, performance, and collage.Lizzie Olesker has been creating theater and performance in New York City for several decades, exploring the politics and poetry of everyday experience. Her plays and solo performances exploring domestic work, personal memory, and quotidian gestures have been developed and presented in NYC at The Public, Cherry Lane Theatre, Clubbed Thumb, Dixon Place, New Georges, and the Ohio Theater. As an actor, she's worked with The Talking Band, appearing at La Mama and on an international tour.

Title: Light of the World Text: Acts 26:12-23 FCF: We often struggle responding from our hopelessness to God's sovereign redemptive plan. Prop: Because God is absolutely sovereign over his global redemption plan, we must be law abiding citizens of His Kingdom. [Slide 1] Scripture Intro: Turn in your bible to Acts 26. In a moment we'll begin reading starting in verse 12 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Last time we heard the beginning of Paul's defense… not of himself… but of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He pointed out that resurrection and revelation deniers cannot receive the gospel but he also confesses that even self-righteous religious zealots like himself couldn't receive the gospel either. Something prevented both groups from seeing the truth about Jesus of Nazareth. Today, we will see the dramatic conclusion of Paul's defense of the gospel before Festus and Agrippa. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Sovereign Lord, You are mighty to save. Just as we have seen and declared from the scriptures, there is nothing You purpose to do that man's will can prevent. If You purpose to save men, You will save them. Lord, in the last few months, we have discussed much of Your providence and Your orchestration of all things to accomplish the purposes of Your will. Help us now to see that even Your global redemptive plan is not something that You have left to chance or man's discretion or performance. Help us to see what Your scriptures teach so plainly and help us to receive it. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: We have much to get to today, so let's get to it. I.) God is absolutely sovereign over His global redemption plan, so we must repent and believe the gospel. (12-18) a. [Slide 2] 12 - While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 - at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. i. This is the third, final, and shortest account of the conversion of Saul in the book of Acts. ii. It is the second one given by himself before a hostile crowd – although this is easily the least hostile of the two. iii. As we compare the three accounts of Saul's conversion we notice some slight differences in their details. Most of these are easily explained by the target audience. We'll not take the time to trace through all the differences between the accounts today… but none of them are contradictory. iv. But let's unpack what Paul says this time. v. First, he, for a second time, mentions that he went to Damascus with the authority of and by commission of the chief priests to apprehend Christians in foreign cities. vi. Second, Paul mentions the setting of his conversion in slightly greater detail than has yet to be described. 1. He says it was midday - noontime in his previous testimony. 2. Then he says that he saw a light from heaven. A bright light that suddenly flashed brighter than the sun. a. Although he doesn't speak to the suddenness of this light in this context, in the previous two versions this was mentioned. b. Here though, he does compare it to the sun and mentions that it was brighter than the sun. 3. And everyone who journeyed with him saw the light. a. Not only did they see it, but it completely engulfed them. b. They were surrounded by pure light. c. No doubt this is part of the reason every single account calls this a light… from heaven. d. It is a supernatural brightness. A kind of light that cannot be explained by natural means. e. It cannot be a glare off a meteor or the flash of a dying star. At midday, the sun is high in the sky. To be completely engulfed by light at this time… it must be a light from heaven. f. Some suggest that this light was the reason that Paul went blind. But the fact that all of them not only saw but were engulfed by the light tells us that it wasn't the light that caused his blindness. It was something else. b. [Slide 3] 14 - And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, i. Next Paul relates a small detail that has been omitted from the previous two accounts. ii. The entire party fell to the ground – not just Paul. iii. We don't know whether they were thrown off their horses or merely put their face on the road and covered their eyes to escape the brightness of the light… but we do know that, most likely, the guards who accompanied him were not watching what comes next. iv. Paul records that a voice spoke to him in the Hebrew language. Which could mean either Hebrew or Aramaic – probably Aramaic. v. This could be the reason the guards did not understand what was said, but Paul doesn't actually draw that conclusion here. vi. He doesn't even mention that the guards didn't understand what was said. vii. Which begs the question, if Paul is not mentioning this detail to explain why the guards didn't understand what was said, what is it's significance? 1. As Paul stands before a primarily Gentile audience of pagans, and a Jew of convenience, Agrippa, the fact that he heard a voice from heaven would not have alarmed them in the least. 2. Although the spiritual view of the world was being attacked on all sides by Epicureans and Stoics, there still existed a general superstition of oracles and receiving visions and messages from the gods. 3. In fact, a good deal of weight would be given to whatever was said from a vision, particularly if whatever was said was obeyed and came to pass. 4. The world had not become pure materialists quite yet. 5. The only questions on their minds would be which god is speaking to Paul on the road to Damascus and what did that god say? a. By Paul mentioning that this voice spoke in the Hebrew language, it eliminates every single god… but one. b. Jews were Monotheists. If a voice from heaven, a god, speaks Aramaic or Hebrew – it must be Yahweh. 6. So, the only question that remains is what does Yahweh say to Paul? viii. Yahweh begins by calling him by name, twice. ix. There only seven examples in all of scripture where God calls to a person using their name twice. We can look more deeply into these on Thursday night if you want to join us… it is very easy to join the TEAMS meeting.

“God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” - C.S. Lewis.   Jackie Newell, from our community group in Tupelo, Mississippi, grew up in church and knew from an early age that Jesus was her Savior. However, it wasn't until she experienced devastating tragedy and loss that God became real to her as she immersed herself in Scripture and was faced with the fact that she either believed God's Word or she didn't. Jackie's unwavering faith in a Father Who shines brightest in our darkest places will encourage you to look for God's presence and see life from an eternal perspective.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: - It is important to remember in the darkest moments of life what you believed in the light. - In tragedy, you can either wallow in your loss or believe God has something for your future. - God did not give you a spirit of fear - He has called you to a life of freedom!   Links:   Listen to a similar story: Ep. 270- Lauren:  “Peeling My Shame Away”   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Jackie and our past storytellers.   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content.   Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered online on July 8th, 9:30-11:30 AM CST, and in-person on August 20th, 10:00-12:45 PM CST. Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series.   Check out all of our live speaking engagement opportunities on our website.   Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings

Jesus Delivered Us (audio) David Eells – 6/22/25 Father, fill us with faith as we discover what has been accomplished for us by the sacrifice of Jesus. How that he bound the strong man and delivered us from evil. Give us understanding that we be not ignorant of satan's devices. Help us to stand on Your Word and swing our sword of the Spirit which the fallen angels cannot resist. We ask for your grace and power to open up Your Word to our hearts and minds and make us all the spiritual warriors You have called us to be. The enemy fears those who know their rights. Saints, I'm going to talk to you today about what Jesus provided for us and our deliverance from the demonic hoards. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, He replied, (Luk.11:19) And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. (20) But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. (21) When the strong [man] (The word “man” is actually not in the original; it was added-in later. Jesus was calling the devil “the strong” when He was spoiling his kingdom.) fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So it actually reads, (Luk.11:21) When the strong fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace. These “goods” Jesus is talking about are the things that the devil, “the strong,” has been given authority over in this world, and the “court” here represents his kingdom where he, “the strong,” rules and reigns. (Luk.11:21) When the strong  fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (That was Jesus who overcame him!), he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted. Did you know that the devil has no armor? His kingdom has no armor. He and his demons have no armor if we believe it. They have no protection against the authority that God has given to us. The protection has all been taken away from them. His “whole armor” has been taken away since it is God in (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. And He gave us authority in (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. This is something that has already been accomplished; it isn't something that we have to accomplish. God has given us authority to partake of everything that Jesus did for us at the Cross. (Col.1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet (The Greek there is “made us competent or able.”) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Whatever a saint walking in light is entitled to, God made us able to partake of that, so if you think that you lack ability, you are just wrong and you need to study the Scriptures. For example it says in (Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God (So we have been given God's armor and the devil has none), that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (16) Withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. So, through faith in this Word we can cast down all of his weapons against us. We are invincible. And in (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. Jesus made us able to be a partaker in whatever we need. He made us able to plunder the devil's kingdom, and the devil's kingdom is wherever the devil rules or his curse reigns. Wherever the devil has ability, we now have the ability to take it away from him. The devil has no power if we believe this. Do you remember when Joshua and Caleb were seeking to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land? After spying out the land, these two said that their enemies' defense was removed from over them. We read this in (Num.14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. The demons and the people they use are the ones who should fear us. All that the other ten spies could see were the giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw that the enemy had no armor. That's the way we have to see the enemies of God's Kingdom. It makes no difference whether those enemies are the lusts of the flesh, works of darkness, demons, the devil, or whatever. Their defense is removed from over them. They have no power against the Word of God. Jesus was the “Stronger” Who came and took away their whole armor (Luke 11:22). Praise be to God! So Jesus has already divided the spoils for us. Those “spoils” of the devil's kingdom are all the places where he has taken advantage of your life or taken authority over the things or circumstances that God has put in your hands. All these add up to “spoils.” When Jesus went about doing good and “healing all who were oppressed of the devil” in (Acts 10:38), He was spoiling the devil's kingdom. If you are being oppressed of the devil, Jesus destroyed this oppression. He broke this power everywhere He went. Whether it was hunger, sickness, demonic possession, or mental need, it didn't make any difference; Jesus broke the oppression and He told us to do the same thing because (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. The devil's power over God's people rests in the fact that God's people don't know that his power has already been broken, and they don't know the authority that's been given to them. Although the Word speaks it plainly, it still has to be a revelation that you pick up and use like a sword. The Bible says of Jesus in (Col.2:15) Having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. He already made spoil of our eneies. “Triumphing” is not the victory. “Triumphing” is celebrating the victory that has already been won. Jesus triumphed over the devil and He rubbed the devil's nose in what He had accomplished on the Cross. The victory was at the Cross; what came after the Cross was the triumph, which is our responsibility. (2Co.2:14) But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. We are to simply celebrate His victory. Hallelujah! What we need to do is repeat what the Word says about our circumstances or situation, and we do that by stating what the Word says about our authority and righteousness. All we have to do is believe that. The devil wants us to look at ourselves and our failures and the curse around us, but we just need to remember that we have authority over that curse. We've been crucified with Christ and we're not alive anymore; now it's Christ Who lives in us. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. When we remember what the Word of God says about us and about our circumstances, we can celebrate the victory. When we are praising God for what He has done, this is triumphing over the devil; it's celebrating the victory! Praising God is not necessarily singing songs, and some songs that you sing in church don't really praise God. Many songs don't even confess the Word of God. They don't celebrate the victory, and as a matter of fact, a lot of them just confess the problem. We are not under the curse anymore because (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (He became accursed for us so that we could have Abraham's blessings.) So, how was Abraham blessed? (Gen.24:1) … And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gal.3:15) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. (16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (17) Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. (18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. So, now we are celebrating the victory that He has already accomplished. Jesus said in (Joh.16:33) … In the world ye have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And He said in (Joh.19:30) … It is finished… That's what we have to remember when we look around us and, instead, we see the very opposite. If we apply the Word to the problem, we are going to spoil the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible says when Jesus took away the devil's armor, He divided the spoil. (Isa.53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death… Jesus said in (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me… He's talking there about those who are dividing or plundering the spoils. If you are with Jesus, then you are going to do what He did, and what He did was plunder the devil. All of His physical life, He plundered the devil, and by His victory over the devil, He made it possible for us to plunder the devil's kingdom too. We should be spoiling the devil's kingdom; we should be destroying the curse around us. We should be bringing people into victory by putting faith in their hearts. We should be delivering those who are captive by casting out demons. And we should be delivering those who are oppressed of the devil by healing the sick. We should be doing everything our Lord Jesus did. Jesus went on to say, (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So you are either going to be “gathering” or you are going to be “scattering.” That means you are either going to be on the attack or you are going to be on the run. You're going to be doing one or the other, and sad to say, most Christians are on the run because they don't understand what Jesus did. They don't understand what the Word of God says. They don't understand what their position and calling is in this world. As believers, we are on the attack. We are going into the Promised Land to take this land for Jesus Christ, and not a man there can stand before us. The Lord said in (Jos.1:5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Most Christians don't understand that the victory has already been given to us. We are not supposed to go in there and lose people; we are supposed to go in there and conquer the enemy. It's been given to us to conquer the enemy. Jesus said in (Joh.20:21) … as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. God did not send Jesus to fail. He sent Him with the Word of God and He sends us with the Word of God too. He says in (Eph.6:17) And take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We have to take the Sword of the Spirit and we have to fight, because if we don't fight, we are going to lose. If we are not plundering, if we are not gathering the spoils, we're being scattered. The word “scattereth” there is from the Greek word skorpizo, and this is where we get the English word “scorpion.” It's from the same root as the Greek word skorpios, meaning “to penetrate and to put to flight.” When a scorpion stings with its tail, it penetrates and puts to flight because of the pain and misery it inflicts. Jesus spoke about scorpions. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. In the kingdom of the devil, scorpion spirits are tormentors. When a scorpion spirit stings you, just as with a real scorpion, it hardly ever kills, but it's very painful. Scorpion spirits can torment your body with sickness and pain, and they may also torment you with fear. (1Jn.4:18) …fear hath punishment… If you are not plundering, the devil is going to penetrate you with one of these spirits, causing you to flee. If you are not plundering, then your thinking is contrary to the Word of God and you are not going to stand up to the devil. (Luk.10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority… If your Bible says “power” instead of the word “authority,” then it has the wrong word because the Greek there is exousia, and it means “authority.” “Authority” is the “right to use power.” You have been given the right to use God's Power. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (Now that word is the Greek word dunamis, meaning, “power.”) of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you… This is talking about serpent and scorpion spirits. These are different kinds of spirits and they have different works. In the kingdom of the devil, the serpent spirits have authority. While the poison a scorpion inflicts is in its tail, the poison that the serpent inflicts is in its head, and as the saying goes, it's the head that wags the tail. The Bible says in (Deu.28:13) And the Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God… You are going to be above and not beneath; you are going to be the head and not the tail, just as Israel was supposed to be the head and not the tail. The tail reveals something about the head in most of God's creatures. For example, you can tell a dog's attitude when you look at its tail. If his tail is standing up in the air and wagging back and forth, you know that dog is happy and content, not fearful. But if his tail is tucked down between his legs, you can tell he's feeling guilty or fearful. You can read his mind by looking at his tail. The superior authority is always the head and not the tail. And the serpent's poison being in the head symbolizes that the serpent spirit poisons the mind. The job of the serpent spirit, mostly, is not to bring about torment, but to change your mind. Their job is to deceive, as the Bible says in (Gen.3:1) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. He was subtle. He was crafty. He was wise in an evil way. (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness (So the “serpent” is a beguiler.) your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Serpent spirits beguile. They are deluding spirits and deceiving spirits. They want to change your mind, just as the serpent changed Eve's mind, because he wanted to pervert her knowledge. He wanted her to partake of knowledge that was forbidden. (Gen.2:17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it… He wanted her to partake of knowledge that wasn't legal. Scripture tells us about different ways we can receive things through the spirit realm that are illegal. Let's go to (Deu.18:9) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. (10) There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, (11) or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (13) Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. (14) For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them that practise augury, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. (20) But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. (21) And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? (22) when a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him. You see, there is false or deceptive knowledge. Going to consult familiar spirits or deceiving spirits, even if they claim to be prophets, is illegal. Going to consult wizards or necromancers is not allowed. All these operate in forbidden knowledge. But the devil wants to give you forbidden knowledge because he wants to delude you. He can make the “tail” do whatever he wants if he can change your mind, if he can change the knowledge that God has given you. If he can do that, then he's got you. That's why these serpent spirits have been given authority in the devil's kingdom. They are higher spirits than scorpion spirits because their primary purpose is to deceive you. Some of these “serpents” are “seducing spirits” that operate by giving you false doctrine. (1Ti.4:1) But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. They seduce you by giving all kinds of flesh-pleasing reasons why it is advantageous for you to believe their doctrines. There are seducing spirits forbidding you to eat meats, or to marry (as in this context), and so on, because if you have a false doctrine, that head is going to wag that tail. The devil knows the rest of the body is going to follow. The most important thing for the devil is that you accept the spirits that work in your head; that's the way he can control the rest of your life.  Remember, we are not to receive forbidden knowledge. Instead, we're supposed to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. You'll win the battle if you start with the head, but if you have spirits of rejection, fear, anxiety, condemnation, or guilt, then the devil has a stronghold in you. If you have anything that he can use against you, then you've got a “spy in your camp”. And the devil has rights now, because one demonic spirit can open the door for other demonic spirits so that you won't be able to stand up against the devil, who is looking to destroy you. We read in (Mat.12:43) But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation. The devil's seducing spirits are “double agents.” They talk in your mind as if they are your friend and as if they belong to you, but whatever is speaking in your mind that's contrary to the Word of God is a stronghold of the enemy by which he can conquer you. You have the authority to cast it out. Get rid of it! Father, continue to grant us repentance as You bring to our attention where we have read or listened to things that are not according to Your Word and accepted those things we might have once believed as true that were not. Lord, help us to search our hearts and minds for any past church doctrines or religious beliefs that are not true. We only want what is True to be what we base our faith in. Father, help us to discern and destroy the strongholds we may have and get rid of them! Amen. Thank You Lord! The Bible says in (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth (That's speaking of Satan.): and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. (2) And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (3) And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (4) And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man. As we've learned, the tormenting spirits are scorpion spirits. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35, the Lord says that He will turn you over to the tormentors until you should pay what is due (Matthew 18:34), and those tormentors are these scorpion spirits. Nobody is ever going to see with their physical eyes the creatures described here from the bottomless pit, because they're coming to the second heaven. It's like the angel here in (Rev.14:6) And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven (The Greek word means “middle heaven.”), having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (7) and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. “Middle heaven” means the angel is in the second heaven. That means you don't see him, although the angel is right here with us in the devil's kingdom and he's preaching the Gospel. We can see what's in the first heaven, but the second heaven is a different realm, a “twilight zone,” if you will. And so this scorpion spirit of Revelation 9 has been given five months to torment those people who don't have the seal of God on their foreheads, but they are not able to see this spirit that came out of the bottomless pit. Satan has authority to loose these angels that the Bible says were held for the end of time, for a time and a season when God was going to judge the earth. (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.) (Rev.13-15) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. (15) And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.) Satan was given authority to loose them when he was cast out of heaven, and that's what is happening here. The Bible says, (Rev.14:11) And the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. As we read, both smoke and torment are also mentioned in Revelation 9. Out of the smoke came tormenting spirits that were like locusts and like scorpions, and we've seen that these are demons with the authority to penetrate and to put to flight. Other demons are mentioned often in the Scriptures. For instance, (Rev.16:13) And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: (14) for they are spirits of demons… People who have a gift of discerning of spirits have seen frogs in the spirit realm, and those frogs were evil spirits, just as the scorpion spirits are evil. You know, the devil always sends his “big guns” after you when you get into a deep trial, a heavy trial that will have a really terrible outcome if you lose it. The Bible says in (1Jn.4:18KJV) … Fear hath torment… During a battle or a trial, you may have suddenly felt a spirit of fear just come down on you. That's another one of the devil's “big guns,” and if you listen to it, if you give in to it, you are going to run from the devil. Now we are commanded in Ephesians 6 what we should do! (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. (13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  We should put up a shield of faith to quench those “fiery darts” of the wicked one. What does a fiery dart do? Just like the tail of the scorpion, it's made to penetrate and put to flight. It's made to conquer you, but with the shield of faith, you can quench rejection, fear, depression, anxiety, condemnation, or any other of these fiery darts, which are tormenting spirits that come against you, because they can only come against you if your mind isn't right. But if you have faith in your mind, how is it possible for fear to come into you? If you have faith in your heart, how is it possible for depression, or anxiety, or any of these other spirits that seek to take hold of you, to conquer you? Remember what the Scripture says about you. (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Don't ever think that whatever the spirit may be that's coming against you, is you. When these kinds of deceiving spirits speak into your mind, that's when you have to use the armor and put up your shield of faith. Don't accept those thoughts as yours. They're not coming from you, and they don't belong to you. There's a doctrine in the apostate church about the “holiness” of oppression, the “holiness” of sickness. They want you to believe that this martyr's syndrome is good for you, but you know if God promised you an “egg,” He's not going to give you a “serpent.” (Luk.11:11) And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? The serpent and scorpion represent doctrines of death, but an egg represents life. What some churches have is actually a doctrine of death because they think that God is going to send them a “scorpion” or some other curse. And as for sickness, they think they are going to have to put up with it but Jesus and the apostles didn't. They claim that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was sickness, but it never was, and Paul even said it wasn't sickness. (2Co.12:7) And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. I am not stating that there was a demon inside of Paul, but an angel of Satan was humbling him. The word “messenger” in the Scriptures, 181 of 183 times, is translated as “angel,” so an angel of Satan was sent to buffet him, and the word “buffet” means “to beat or strike repeatedly.” Paul was not talking here about an infirmity or sickness; only the KJV says that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was an “infirmity.” No Bible derived from the ancient manuscripts has this translation because that's not the word “infirmity”; it is the word “weakness.” Scripture says that Christ was crucified through weakness. (2Co.13:3) Seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to youward is not weak, but is powerful in you: (4) for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. This same Greek word asthenes translated as “weakness” in 2 Corinthians 13:3 by the King James, is what the King James in 2 Corinthians 12:9 claims is “infirmity.” Paul did not have an infirmity. The Bible says, (Psa.103:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases. God is not going to turn around and say, “No, Paul, you keep this disease. It's good for you.” This is not our God. Those churches claim that it was sickness in order to make a person who is going through sickness and suffering feel righteous, but most of the suffering that God's people go through is because they don't believe the Word. God promises an egg while the devil wants us to settle for a scorpion, and it's sadly true that for most people, what's ruling their life is a scorpion. If you listen to rejection, anxiety, fear, or guilt, you are being ruled by the devil. If you listen to shame or unbelief, you are being ruled by the devil. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? You can't listen to what God says and listen to what the devil says at the same time. (1Co.10:21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. You can't partake of the Lord's Table and the table of demons at the same time because everything demons will feed you is contrary to the Word of God. God promised us in (Exo.23:27) I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (28) I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. A hornet is like a scorpion, because it also penetrates and puts to flight. It's a little bitty thing, but it can move a great big man. So you see, God can make our enemies fear us, and they do fear us if we know our authority.  If we know what the Word of God says and we step out and swing that Word of God like a sword (Ephesians 6:17), they fear us. Our daughter had a dream once about five chickens that represented five evil spirits that were bothering my mother. Well, those chickens were “chicken,” because just as soon as we gave them the Word, they ran. Evil spirits do fear us, but they recognize whether or not we know the Word of God. And they know whether or not we're standing on the Word of God, but they'll try to bluff us as long as they can. The devil wants us to fear him, and he is constantly trying to make us fear the “fiery darts” of the curse that he administers. But we know the Word of God says we've been delivered from all that. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (14) in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. And the Bible tells us who we are in Christ. (Rom.6:11) Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. (18) And being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Now that's a sword. That Word is a sword for you to use against the devil's lies. The devil wants you to act on what he says, but the Lord wants you to know who you are in Christ and act on what He says about you. If you don't act on what the Lord says, you don't get anything, because (Jas.2:17) Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. The devil's kingdom operates the same way. He can come by and put a little thought in your mind, but if you don't accept or act on it, if you don't chew or meditate on it, you are not guilty. The devil can put these little thoughts in your mind but you can reject them, and if he gets a little stronger, you can get a little stronger. You can speak up and just rebuke him! You can throw the Word of God into his face as Jesus did! Our faith and understanding of what Jesus did for us make us free from being fearful of any weapon the devil has.  Remember, we read that Christ took away the devil's “whole armor” (Luke 11:22). He took away all of his power (Matthew 28:18). He delivered us out of the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). All of this is our shield, and you need to use this knowledge. You don't fear the devil when you know who you are and that you don't have to give in to him. However, many people do give in to the devil; they give in to the spirits he sends against them, because they don't believe they have any other choice. Well, there's a reason that the Gospel is called the “Good News.” We do have another choice; we have authority over the devil. He has to move when we say, “Move!” If we step out and exercise that authority over him, he has to move. Thank you Father! As we've seen, the word skorpizo, refers to scorpion spirits, and the devil comes to scatter. Jesus said in (Joh.16:32) Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered (That's the word, skorpizo.), every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Fear scattered the disciples when the men came for Jesus in the garden (Matthew 26:50-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47- 53; John 18:1-14). They were afraid the same thing was going to happen to them, but we know that (Joh.3:27) A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. The devil sent a spirit there to put fear in them so they would just abandon Jesus in his affliction. To be perfectly just, He had already told them that this is what He came for, so what could they do? The devil also comes to divide. There's another word used in the Scriptures, which is diaskorpizo, and it means “to scatter and separate.” A good example of that is, (Joh.11:52) And not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. That means not only are they scattered from their land, but they are separated from each other, and the devil did it through those scorpion spirits. They divided, they separated, and scattered the Body of Christ, just as God warned us through the apostle Paul. He said in (Act.20:29) I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. All of God's people are supposed to be coming out of the bondage they're in and back to this one land. Do you know what that means? It means that we are supposed to be one. Jesus said, (Joh.10:16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. This is what the Tribulation is going to do. God's people are going to become one Flock with One Shepherd, but for now they are diaskorpizo, they are “scattered abroad,” separated. They wanted to hang out at Jerusalem and have Church but the persecution scattered them to spread the gospel. Scorpion spirits separate the Body, separate the Flock, and they do this with false doctrine, false understanding, and false thinking. I've heard people say about our teachings, “Well, aren't you doing the same thing?” No, and when you look around us, you see people from all different backgrounds here. We all get along very well. We want the Flock to be one, but there is only one way the Flock is going to be one, and that's to give up sectarianism, because sectarianism is a work of the flesh. Let's read that in (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties (The three Greek words there mean “contentions,” “dissentions,” and “sects.”), (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Demon spirits come in to make you believe the lie that you are something great, or that you have everything you need without the rest of the Body, but the Bible tells us in (1Co.12:13) For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. The Body needs to be one, because the Body has different parts of God's knowledge and different parts of God's gifts. When all are put together, the Body is edified, it's “built up.” (Eph.4:15) But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; (16) from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. God wants His Flock to be one, and we want His Flock to be one, but the devil is warring against this unity. The devil knows that when God's Flock is one, it's going to be a powerhouse, and so we want to learn not to be separate from our brethren. We want to know what it is that has deceived our brethren to make them separate from us. Babel always seeks to be one but their motives were evil and God scattered them, most likely with scorpion spirits.. The mind-deceiving serpent spirits deceive different members of the Body in different ways to keep them from knowing the truth. Since the head wags the tail, the rest of that body, whether it's one person or a group of many people, is going to follow whichever way the head leads. That's the job of the serpent spirits, but other demon spirits do the same thing. They sow their seeds of fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, lust, and so on, and if you receive their seed, your flesh will take on their nature. Your flesh will take on the nature of these demonic “gods” of the lusts of the flesh. Now Jesus sows a Seed, too, and if we believe and act on and live on it, we take on His Nature. The Spirit of Christ is come in order to sow His Seed in our hearts so that our hearts take on His Image. What's an “image”? Well, it's an imagination. The Bible says, (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings… In other words, they “became vain in their imaginations.” So, what is a “vain” imagination? The Scriptural word for “vain” is mataioo, and it means “aimless, foolish, futile, without purpose.” A “vain” imagination is not doing what it's supposed to do; it's not working for God anymore. Your imagination was created to do something for you on this earth for God. If it's not fulfilling that purpose, then it's fulfilling another one, and it is vain. (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. If you become vain in your imagination, if you have the kind of imagination that, for instance, brought the Flood (Gen.6:5-7) And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.), then your senseless heart is being darkened, because those imaginations are evil; know that the gods of the lusts of the flesh are taking advantage of you through this ground that they've gained in you. We need to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is talking about re-taking the ground, these high places, that those spirits have taken from us. Anywhere you are being ruled by any lust, there's a demon around. He doesn't necessarily have to be on the inside; he might be on the outside, but he's still there. You can rebuke him, and when you rebuke him, he has to leave. If you know who you are in Christ, if you know the authority you have in Christ, and if you repent and believe it, when you rebuke the demon, he has to leave.  So whatever problem you may have or situation you may currently be dealing with, you don't have to keep it. You don't have to be ruled by it any longer. You can take the authority you have in the Name of Jesus, and it has to leave. Any stronghold in your thoughts, or evil imaginations that the devil has used against you, you bring them into the obedience of Christ and cast them all away. Amen. Now, I want to remind you that the most important thing is to submit yourselves unto God. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We do this by repenting and believing what the Word says about us. “Resist the devil, and he will flee” is a promise to us from the Word of God. If we submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee, but the devil's not going to tell us that. He's going to try to convince us that he doesn't have to leave. He's going to try to convince you that you're in bondage to this lust. No, we're not in bondage to this lust. We've been set free from that bondage because Jesus bound the strong man and then He plundered him. Jesus crippled the devil.  In the animal kingdom, when the mothers want to teach the babies how to hunt, the predator mother cripples the prey first. It may be a bird or a rabbit, and she sends the cub after it. She's teaching that cub how to be a predator. We need to understand that's what our Lord did for us. He went and crippled the devil. And not only that, He also took away his armor. Our Lord made it possible for us “little cubs” to run out there and jump on that old, mean devil. We can see a parable from God when we look at the animal kingdom. So now the devil is crippled, he has no armor and he's defenseless before us, but we have to know it and we have to believe it. We have to speak the Word of God; we have to swing the Sword!  Now I'd like to share with you the following testimonies:   God's Word Gave Faith for Deliverance From Ten Afflictions - Anonymous Wonderful things have taken place in our lives since reading “Sovereign God, For Us and Through Us.” We have been delivered of Asperger Syndrome (autism), bipolar disorder, asthma, sinus infections, food allergies, acid reflux, esophagitis, lacking a thyroid, broken toes, and smoking, over less than a five-month period through faith in the Word. My oldest son, at eleven years old, has been healed of Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, and bipolar disorder. Since my faith was awakened, I took courage in the promises of God and took him off of all his medication, which amounted to seven pills a day. He had been taking pills for five years to control behavioral problems. We were able to finish the school year with minimal problems, he had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms. By faith I called the school to tell them we were taking him off of all his meds because we had prayed and believed that God had healed him. It was a great opportunity for his teachers to see a miracle. Since then, we have had trials of our faith. The symptoms tried to come back. But I had already been through “hell on earth” from this demonic activity that we had earlier mistaken for mental illness. There was no way I was going to accept it back, once I knew the truth! The medications that he had been taking made him a zombie! They took away his personality and stunted his growth. Now he is happy, with an animated personality. He is able to eat and has gone through a big growth spurt! My middle son, aged five years, was healed from severe asthma! He was taking two inhalers twice a day, Singular pills, and Nasonex nasal spray for chronic sinus infections. In addition, he had to have nebulizer treatments. He has not had to take any of it since we stood on faith for his healing! We have had trials of our faith for him also. Twice it tried to come back, but I rejected it and cast it out again. He runs around and jumps on the trampoline and doesn't have problems breathing or being out of breath or with chronic sinus infections anymore! My youngest son, at age three years, has been healed from food allergies and severe acid reflux. He had been allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. Every time he would eat these foods he would have constant reflux and esophagitis so bad that he would almost lose his voice and would wake up crying all night. We stood on faith for this also. He has not had any problems with reflux or allergies to foods since. Again, when we were tested on this, we stood firm on God's promises. The symptoms left very quickly. My husband was healed from severe acid reflux disease and has not had to take Nexium for four months now! He can eat whatever he wants without any trouble. My son had also recently broken two toes on his right foot, so we prayed over them. They were completely healed within two days! He is able to fully bend them and move them now. He had injured the same foot years ago by dropping a weight on it and had not been able to bend those toes for years. But since God healed them, he has regained the motion in his toes on that foot!  God delivered me from smoking, too. The thing that seemed like such a mountain to me just six months ago is just a side thought now. I had tried to quit smoking once, but had done it with more of a white-knuckle approach. I mostly went about it through my own willpower. Satan would tempt me often to start again. I would be jealous when I saw others smoking because I still wasn't depending on God for strength. I needed my crutch back. I started smoking again. Later while reading Sovereign God, I knew I needed to forsake this idol for good. This time I prayed to God to take the desire away for smoking. If any part of my deliverance came from my flesh, it would be another struggle, and possible failure again. After I prayed to God to deliver me, I knew instantly that I was delivered. I still had some cigarettes that I finished up, but I realized that the desire to smoke had left me. When the last one was gone, I knew I would never again want another. (Note: It might have been better to throw that partial pack away, but, thank You, Lord, for my deliverance.) It has been that way ever since – like I've never smoked a cigarette in my life! Praise God!  These deliverances all happened simultaneously once I realized what Christ really did at the Cross. He still offers the same healing today that He did during His ministry on earth!  I have received a tremendous miracle. Ten years ago, I had my thyroid removed because of a cancerous tumor that had been growing in it. Since then I had taken total replacement hormone for my body systems to function. If I missed more than two or three days in a row of taking it, I would not be able to hear my alarm to wake up in the morning or to think clearly that day.  The doctors had told me that I could not live without this replacement hormone – the body cannot function without it indefinitely. All the body systems would shut down and I would eventually slip into a coma and die. About a year ago the doctors kept having to retake my thyroid blood levels and adjust my prescription dosage down. Every six weeks, when I would go in to have the blood level drawn again, it would still be too high! Because I didn't understand what was happening at the time, I was becoming frustrated at the lab and the doctor. After I read “Sovereign God,” I realized that God had been growing my thyroid back all this time in preparation for the coming wilderness time ahead! I reached up to my neck and felt around the scar. Sure enough, there was something there again!   I had wondered about this situation in a wilderness-type environment, with no access to meds or health care. Now I don't have to be concerned about it anymore because I have received a tremendous miracle. I have been off my thyroid replacement meds for three months now. I feel more energy now than while taking it. God is good! He truly will meet all our needs even before we ask or before we have come to fully know the truth! God has wonderful things for me to serve Him with in the near future. I won't leave this earth until He is finished with me. Thank You, Father, for Your gifts! Another testimony:   Set Free from Unforgiveness by A.L. I had unforgiveness in my heart toward someone. The Lord said it was time to be delivered, and He started working with me. This took about one year. It was rough at first. The enemy didn't want to leave, trying several times to keep me from forgiving. I put up a wall when this person was around. It was my way to keep from being hurt anymore. Some encounters were better than others, but the more I prayed, the better they got. Oftentimes, my memory would be flooded with all the hurtful things that I had buried inside. But I would cry out to the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for holding onto them and to please take them. He always did. There were times that I would be mad or aggravated with this person and would start ranting about what they had done. These rantings, the out-loud ones, were always to my mom. The rantings in my mind were to the Lord. He would always settle me down and take that memory so that it would be gone. My mom would very gently and lovingly look at me and tell me to let it go and remind me that I had to forgive this person. Most of the time it worked, but a few times I would fire back at her out of frustration and tell her, “I know. I'm working on it, but it doesn't go away overnight.” My mom prayed for me a lot, probably more than I realized.  During this time, the Lord had me listen to the audio of “The Curse of Unforgiveness” series. [This is also in book form and available at no charge from ubm1.org as a PDF.] I downloaded it to my iPod and would go for a walk and listen to it. I listened to it several times. The more I prayed and overcame, the more layers the Lord peeled off.  During the winter months, I like to stand or sit in front of the fire to pray. It's always quiet and peaceful. One night, the Lord put this person in my mind, so I started to pray. As I was praying, I asked the Lord to forgive me for having unforgiveness, anger, hurt, and bitterness in my heart. I asked Him, “Would You please take it?” As soon as I said those words, I felt it all come out of my chest. It was gone. I can't explain, but the feeling was great! I started praising the Lord with tears streaming down my face. I was free!  The next night I was in my same spot, praying. The Lord brought this person to my mind again, only this time, I had to ask for love. I told the Lord, “I don't love this person. Would You please forgive me and give me love for them?” As soon as I said those words, I felt the love of God go right in through my chest. This feeling is indescribable – a hundred times better than the night before. I stood with tears streaming down my face, praising the Lord for His grace to get me through to the end.  I love this person now and pray for them. I can be around them without it bothering me. There are no more buried memories. The Lord tilled up all of the roots so they could be plucked up and He could plant His Seed. Whenever I am delivered of something, I ask the Lord to fill that spot with something from Him. Thank You, Heavenly Father for Your grace to get me through to the end.  We learn that it is the Father Who turns people over to the tormentors. Scripture consistently tells us God uses demons for chastening (Matthew 18:34). When we want to take away a demon's authority, we need to make sure that the groundwork has been done first so that we have the legal right to take away his authority. We must forgive. Jesus tells a story of a master who had forgiven his servant a great debt, but this servant went out and would not forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt. Jesus said that His Father would turn that unforgiving servant over to the tormentors until he should pay what was due.  Let's read that parable. (Mat.18:21) Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. (23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. (24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. (25) But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  (26) The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27) And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (28) But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. (29) So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. (30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.  (31) So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. (32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The Lord said He will turn you over to the tormentors until you pay for what you have done because if you don't forgive, you are not forgiven. The devil knows when he has this right. He knows when you are not forgiven and he torments you, and his demons will continue to torment you, until you take that right away from him. This is necessary because you can't be saved while you are holding on to unforgiveness. If you don't forgive, you are not forgiven, which is the very foundation of salvation. If you want to take away the demons' rights over you, you need to forgive and you need to believe that Jesus delivered you from them at the Cross. That's the key. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us (it has already been done) out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.  Like this person's testimony, if you will be sure to forgive everyone and exercise your faith toward God's promises, you will be a new person who is free to love and to associate with good people. I say that because so many of these people don't feel comfortable around good people and don't associate with good people. When they're around good people, they feel convicted. In my experience most demonic torment and much sickness is based in unforgiveness. See - The Curse of Unforgiveness

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 - Jesus said to His disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father Who is hidden. And your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you.” 2, 3) A Catholic lawyer responds to the bishops about mass immigration https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/a-catholic-lawyer-responds-to-the-bishops-about-mass-immigration 3, 4) Trump spares farms, hotels, restaurants and meat-packing plants during ICE Raids https://cforc.com/2025/06/trump-spares-farms-hotels-restaurants-and-meat-packing-plants-during-ice-raids/

Happy Father's Day from The Gospel Jubilee   This week on the Gospel Jubilee Chip & Denny wil be playing song honoring both our earthly fathers as well as our Heavenly Father.   Join them this week as they pay tribute to fathers everywhere!   Here are all of the ways you can listen to the Gospel Jubilee On your Echo device say, Alexa, play the Gospel Jubilee on Apple podcast. For a direct download go to: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/66499106/download.mp3   Ocean Waves Radio ... every Wednesday at 5:00 PM Eastern time., www.OceanWavesRadio.com   Thursday afternoons at 4:00 PM and Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM  EST on Southern Branch Bluegrass Radio, www.sbbradio.org   Saturday evenings at 7:00 and Wednesday afternoons at 4:00 CST on Radio For Life, www.RadioForLife.org   Legend Oldies Radio. Our broadcast will be aired every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM CDT. https://www.legendoldies.com   Playlist:   Artists |Song Title | Album   01. Endless Highway - About the business - "Come Home"   02. Karen Peck & New River - Around the kitchen table - "Journey Of Joy"   03. Brothers Of The Heart - Daddy sang bass - "Brotherly Love"   04. Brian Free & Assurance - Outlive your life - "Meet Me At The Cross EP"   05. Jeff & Sheri Easter - The only way he knew how - "Treasure"   06. James & Jeff Easter - Like father like son - "Like Father Like Son"   07. Chosen Road - I want to be just like you - "It Never Gets Old"   08. The Petersens - Hey, grandpa - "Hey, Grandpa - Single"   09. Susan Whisnant, Karen Peck, & Kim Hopper - The Father knew - "Live Again"   10. The Carr Family - How deep the Father's love - "All Things New"   11. The Booth Brothers - This is my Father's world - "Hymns Volume 3"   12. Legacy Five - I've seen what He can do - "Something New"   13. The Phillips Family - How we were raised - "It is Written"   14. The Hyssongs - It doesn't get better than this - "Faith & Family"   15. The Hyssongs - As for me and my hous - "Faith & Family"   16. Sonya Isaacs Yeary - I have a Father Who can - "Sonya"   17. Zane & Donna King - When I get to where I'm going - "Beautiful Ever After"   18. Scotty Inman - Grow up slow - "Anywhere Jesus Is"   19. the Gaither Vocal Band - Two prayers (Father Dear) - "That's Gospel, Brother"   20 Tammy Jones Robinette - Mom & Dad Song - "I'm Blessed"   21. Gordan Mote - Faith like that - "All Things New"   22. The Kingsmen - Safe in my Father's arms - "The Past Is Past"   Outro – Vicki Ireland – Our God Reigns

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 14:21-26 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the one who loves Me. Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to Him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to Him, "Master, then what happened that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; yet the word you hear is not Mine but that of the Father Who sent Me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name-- He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV in Saint Peter's Square https://nypost.com/2025/05/18/world-news/pope-leo-xiv-formally-opens-his-pontificate-with-inaugural-mass-in-st-peters-square-before-tens-of-thousands/ 3) Catholics for Catholics CEO: Pope Leo XIV's record starts now https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/john-yep-hilary-franco-pope-leo-xiv/2025/05/08/id/1210189/ 4) Pope Leo XIV affirms the family is based upon the union between a man and a woman, and the unborn has inherent dignity https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-peace-abortion-f0678b67da0dc74b4bc7e6e10a77a23e

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 5:31-47 - Jesus said to the Jews: "If I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on My behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on My behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave Me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me. Moreover, the Father Who sent Me has testified on My behalf. But you have never heard His Voice nor seen His Form, and you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on My behalf. But you do not want to come to Me to have life. "I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the Name of My Father, but you do not accept Me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me, because he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" Bishop Sheen quote of the day Bishop Strickland joins Terry and Jesse to discuss the importance of spiritual warfare, Mar-a-Lago and the movie on Saint Frances Cabrini

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel - John 8:12-20 -Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to Him, "You testify on Your own behalf, so Your testimony cannot be verified." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father Who sent Me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on My behalf and so does the Father Who sent Me." So they said to Him, "Where is Your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come. Memorial of Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Priest Saint John, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 5:31-47 - Jesus said to the Jews: "If I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on My behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on My behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave Me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me. Moreover, the Father Who sent Me has testified on My behalf. But you have never heard His voice nor seen His form, and you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on My behalf. But you do not want to come to Me to have life. "I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the Name of My Father, but you do not accept Me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me, because he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) The Industrial Hymnal Complex, Pt. 2 https://www.lepantoin.org/wp/the-hymnal-industrial-complex/

Today's Topics: Gospel - John 5:17-30 - Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, because he not only broke the sabbath but He also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son the possession of life in Himself. And He gave Him power to exercise judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on My own; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the One Who sent Me." 1, 2, 3, 4) George Foster joins Terry to discuss his upbringing and how that led him to bring God's Saints to children through an animated series of short videos https://www.heavensheroesfilms.com/

Home is where the heart is. Jesus tells us the parable of a broken family. A younger son who has left home, an older son who is resentful, and a father who has a broken heart. In this story, we see that we have a Father Who gives all, a Father Who forgives all, and a Father who invites all. But, who do we reflect? Isaiah 12:1–6 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you. "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will repay you. "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father Who is hidden. And your Father Who sees what is hidden will repay you." Ash Wednesday Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Ash Wednesday https://www.returntoorder.org/2018/02/ash-wednesday-ashes/ 3) Lent, historically and practically https://www.returntoorder.org/2018/02/lent_historically_and_practically/ 4) God uses 40 days in Salvation History to change people and nations

Sources:  Andrew of Ceasarea: Commentary on the Apocalypse Bishop Averky, The Epistles and the Apocalypse, Commentary on the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament (Volume III) Fr. Lawrence R. Farley. The Apocalypse of St. John; A Revelation of Love and Power St. Bede.  Explanation of the Apocalypse; Letter of Bede to Eusebius Fr. Thomas Hopko: AFR podcast - A Walk Through the Apocalypse (three parts) Dr. Jeanie Constantinau: Search the Scriptures Live – Series Fr. Stephen De Young; The Whole Counsel of God; Series on Revolution   Oca.org (Rainbow Series) There was a certain hesitation on the part of the early Church to include the book of Revelation in the canonical scriptures of the New Testament. The reason for this was obviously the great difficulty of interpreting the apocalyptic symbols of the book. Nevertheless, since the document carried the name of the apostle John, and since it was inspired by the Holy Spirit for the instruction and edification of the Church, it came to be the last book listed in the Bible, although it is never read liturgically in the Orthodox Church. [Comment on historical reasons why!] It is indeed difficult to interpret the book of Revelation, especially if one is unfamiliar with the images and symbols of the apocalyptic writings of the Bible, that is the Old Testament, and of the Judeo-Christian Tradition. There exists, however, a traditional approach to the interpretation of the book within the Church which offers insight into its meaning for the faithful. The wrong method of interpreting the book of Revelation is to give some sort of exclusive meaning to its many visions, equating them with specific, concrete historical events and persons, and to fail to understand the symbolical significance of the many images which are used by the author following biblical and traditional sources. First of all, the letters to the seven churches have both a historical and a universal meaning. The messages are clear and remain relevant to situations which have always existed in the Church and which exist today. For example, many older churches in all ages of history can he identified with the Church of Ephesus. Those under persecution can be compared with the Church in Smyrna. And not a few—perhaps some in America right now—can be judged with the Church in Laodicea. The seven letters remain forever as “prototypical” of churches that will exist until Christ's kingdom comes. The visions and prophecies of the main body of the book of Revelation present great difficulties, but mostly to those interpreters who would attempt to apply them to one or another historical event or person. If the general vision and prophecy of the book is seen as revealing the correlation between events “in heaven” and events “on earth,” between God and man, between the powers of goodness and the powers of evil, then, though many difficulties obviously remain, some will also immediately disappear. In the book of Revelation, one comes to understand that the Kingdom of God is always over all and before all. One sees as well that the battle between the righteous and the evil is perpetually being waged. There are always the faithful who belong to the Lamb, being crowned and robed by Him for their victories. There are always the “beasts” and the “dragons” which need to be defeated. The “great harlot” and the “great Babylon” are forever to be destroyed. The “heavenly Jerusalem” is perpetually coming, and one day it will come and the final victory will be complete. One notices as well that there is a universality and finality about the symbols and images of the book of Revelation, a meaning to be applied to them which has already been revealed in the scriptures of the Old Testament. Thus, for example, the image of Babylon stands for every society which fights against God, every body of persons united in wickedness and fleshliness. The image of harlotry universally applies as well to all who are corrupted by their passions and lusts, unfaithful to God Who has made them and loves them. The symbolic numerology also remains constant, with the number 666 (13.18), for example, symbolizing total depravity, unlike 7 which is the symbol of fulness; and the number 144,000 (14.3) being the symbol of total completion and the full number of the saved, the result of the multiplication of 12 times 12—the number of the tribes of Israel and the apostles of Christ. Thus, through the images of the book of Revelation, a depth of penetration into universal spiritual realities is disclosed which is greater than any particular earthly reality. The insight into the meaning of the book depends on the inspiration of God and the purity of heart of those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and minds willing and able to understand. In the Orthodox Church, the book of Revelation has great liturgical significance. The worship of the Church has traditionally, quite consciously, been patterned after the divine and eternal realities revealed in this book. The prayer of the Church and its mystical celebration are one with the prayer and celebration of the kingdom of heaven. Thus, in Church, with the angels and saints, through Christ the Word and the Lamb, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the faithful believers of the assembly of the saved offer perpetual adoration to God the Father Almighty. The book of Revelation, although never read in the Orthodox Church, bears witness to the divine reality which is the Church's own very life. [Comment on other reasons!] The Spirit and the Bride [the Church] say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price. “Surely I am coming soon” [says Jesus, the Lord]. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (22.17, 20)   From: https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/new-testament/book-of-revelation  on 9/11/2024 The Last Judgment – The Experience of Prayer and Worship   St. Tikhon's Seminary, Orthodox Daily Prayers (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1982).   Morning Prayers: The Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed; but in the middle of the night we cry with fear: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us. 6th Prayer, by St. Basil the Great … Grant us to pass through the entire night of this present life with a watchful heart and a sober mind, awaiting the coming of the bright and manifest day of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, when the Judge of all will come with glory to reward each according to his deeds. May we not be found fallen and lazy, but alert and roused to action, prepared to enter into His joy and the divine chamber of His glory, where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and indescribable is the delight of those who behold the inexpressible beauty of Thy countenance. For Thou art the true Light which enlightens and sanctifies all, and all creation hymns Thee unto ages of ages. Amen. A Midnight Song to the Most Holy Theotokos I am tossed in the tempest of life: direct me to the path of repentance. Deliver me from the eternal flame, from the evil worm, and from hell. Make me not a joy for demons, though I am guilty of many sins. Compline O Christ, give rest to the souls of Thy servants with the saints, where there is no sickness, sorrow or sighing, but everlasting life. Resurrection Tropar, Tone 3 Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm! He has trampled down death by death! He has become the firstborn of the dead! He has delivered us from the depths of hell, and has granted the world great mercy! Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos Guard my wretched soul at the time of my death, driving away the dark forms of the evil demons. Deliver me from eternal torments at the Day of Judgment and reveal me an heir of the inexpressible glory of your Son and our God.   Evening Prayers 4th Prayer, of St. Macarius the Great … Covering me Thyself, protect me from every assault of the enemy through Thy divine Power, inexpressible Love for mankind and Strength. Cleanse, O God, cleanse the multitude of my sins. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the snares of the Evil One, and save my passionate soul. When Thou comest in glory, illumine me with the light of Thy countenance. May I fall uncondemned into a sleep free of apparitions. Keep the thoughts of Thy servant untroubled, and keep far from me every satanic activity. Enlighten the reason-endowed eyes of my heart, that I fall not into the sleep of death. Send to me an angel of peace, the guide and guardian of my soul and body, that he may deliver me from my enemies. Then, when I arise from my bed, I shall offer Thee prayers of thanksgiving…   For the Day Lord, exclude me not from Thy heavenly blessings. Lord, deliver me from eternal torments… Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the book of life, and grant me a good end.… Lord of Heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful, shameful and impure servant, in Thy Kingdom. …   8th Prayer, to our Lord Jesus Christ … Yea, O Lord my Creator, Who desirest not the death of the sinner, but that he should return to Thee and live: grant repentance to me, wretched and unworthy. Snatch me from the jaws of the consuming serpent, its mouth opened to devour me and take me down to hell alive. …   Canon of Repentance Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! When the thrones will be set up for the dread Judgment, the deeds of all men will be recalled. Alas for the sinners who will be sent to torment! Knowing this, my soul, repent of your evil deeds! Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! The righteous shall rejoice, but sinners shall lament. No one will be able to help us at that moment—our deeds will condemn us! Before the end comes, repent of your evil deeds! … Our present path is wide and conducive to pleasures, but bitter will the Last Day be when the soul will part from the body. O man, beware of those pleasures, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. … Contemplate, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the dread judgment of your Creator and God. Threatening angels will seize you, my soul, and lead you to eternal flames. Repent before your death, therefore, crying: O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner! … Put not your hope in corruptible wealth, my soul, nor in things unjustly gathered. You do not know to whom you will leave it all. Instead, cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy! Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! Remember, my soul, both the eternal life and the Heavenly Kingdom prepared for the saints and the outer darkness and divine wrath prepared for the wicked. Then cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy! Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! How can I not weep when I think of death? I have seen my brother lying in the tomb without glory and without form. What can I expect? What can I hope? Only grant me, Lord, repentance before the end. (twice) Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! I believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and that everyone will stand in his rank: the old and the young; masters and princes; virgins and priests. Where will I find myself? Therefore, I cry out: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end. … Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! I now turn to you, angels, archangels, and all the heavenly host who stand by the throne of God: pray to your Creator that He deliver my soul from eternal torments. Have mercy on me. O God, have mercy on me! I now weep before you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and hierarchs, and all the elect of Christ: help me at the Judgment, that my soul be saved from the strength of the Enemy. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! I now lift up my hands to you, holy martyrs, desert-dwellers, virgins, righteous ones, and all saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world: may He have mercy on me at the hour of my death. Most Holy Theotokos, save us! Help me, Mother of God, for I have great hope in you! Pray to your Son, that when He sits to judge the living and the dead, He may place me at His right hand, even though I am unworthy.   Canon to the Guardian Angel I think of the Dread Day and weep over my evil deeds. How shall I answer the immortal King? Or how shall a prodigal like me dare to look up at the judge? O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit: have mercy on me!   PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION 1st Prayer, of Saint Basil the Great O Lord Jesus Christ my God, may the communion of Thy most pure and life-creating mysteries not bring me into judgment, nor may I become weak in soul and body by partaking in an unworthy manner, but grant me to receive communion of Thy holy things without condemnation even to my very last breath, and by them to receive communion of the Holy Spirit, provision for the journey of eternal life, and an acceptable answer at Thy dread judgment seat; that I, together with all Thy chosen ones, may also be a partaker of the incorruptible blessings which Thou hast prepared for those who love thee, O Lord, in whom Thou art glorified forever. Amen. … 3rd Prayer, of St. Simeon Metaphrastes Through Thy glorious Ascension Thou didst deify the flesh which Thou didst assume, and placed it on the throne at the Father's right hand. Grant me to receive a place at the right hand with the saved through communion of Thy holy mysteries… Thou hast promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness. Grant that I may go to meet Thee in the clouds, my Judge and Creator, with all Thy saints; that I may glorify and praise Thee without end, together with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy most holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.   5th Prayer, of St. Basil the Great for the correction and grounding of my life, for the increase of virtue and perfection, for the fulfillment of Thy commandments, for the communion of the Holy Spirit, for the journey of eternal life, for a good and acceptable answer at Thy dread judgment, but not for judgment or condemnation. Amen. Troparia With love hast Thou drawn me, O Christ, and with Thy divine love hast Thou changed me. Burn away my sins with a spiritual fire and satisfy me with joy in Thee, that I may joyfully magnify Thy two comings, O Good One. How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the radiance of Thy saints? If I dare to enter the bridal-chamber, my garment accuses me, for it is not a wedding garment, and the angels will bind me and cast me out. Cleanse, O Lord, the filth of my soul and save me, for Thou lovest mankind. And this prayer: O Master Who lovest mankind! O Lord Jesus Christ my God! May these holy things not be to my condemnation, though I am unworthy of them. May they be for the cleansing and sanctification of my soul and body and a pledge of the life and Kingdom that are to come…   PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! … let them be for the healing of soul and body, the repelling of every adversary, the illumining of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, the fulfilling of wisdom, the observing of Thy commandments, the receiving of Thy Divine Grace, and the attaining of Thy Kingdom. Preserved by them in Thy holiness, may I always remember Thy Grace and live not for myself alone, but for Thee, our Master and Benefactor. May I pass from this life in the hope of eternal life, and so attain to the everlasting rest, where the voice of those who feast is unceasing, and the gladness of those who behold the goodness of Thy countenance is unending. For Thou art the true desire and the ineffable joy of those who love Thee, O Christ our God, and all creation sings of Thy praise forever. Amen.   Another Prayer O Lord Jesus Christ our God: let Thy holy Body be my eternal life; Thy precious Blood, my remission of sins. Let this Eucharist be my joy, health, and gladness. Make me, a sinner, worthy to stand on the right hand of Thy glory at Thine awesome second Coming, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints.   Sacraments Etc.   St. Tikhon's Monastery, trans., The Great Book of Needs: Expanded and Supplemented, vol. I.   Naming on the Eighth Day   …, and that he (she) may be perfected by the dread Mysteries of Thy Christ, so that, having lived according to Thy commandments, and having preserved the seal unbroken, he (she) may receive the blessedness of the Elect in Thy Kingdom: By the grace and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy Most-holy, Good and Lifegiving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. [1]   Making of a Catachemen Inscribe him (her) in Thy Book of Life, and unite him (her) to the flock of Thine inheritance Exorcism for He shall come, and shall not tarry, to judge all the earth; and He shall punish thee and thy cooperating host in the fiery Gehenna, consigning thee to outer darkness, where the worm ceases not and the fire is not quenched.   Baptism … that, being planted in the likeness of Thy death through Baptism, he (she) may become a partaker of resurrection; and, preserving the gift of Thy Holy Spirit, and increasing the deposit of grace, he (she) may receive the prize of his (her) high calling, and be numbered with the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.   Chrismation confirm him (her) in the Orthodox Faith; deliver him (her) from the evil one and all his devices; and preserve his (her) soul in purity and righteousness, through the saving fear of Thee, that, in every deed and word, being acceptable unto Thee, he (she) may become a son (daughter) and heir of Thy heavenly Kingdom.   After Prayer … Yes, for now he (she) that is illumined by the rays of grace through spiritual birth, has been given into your arms by me, a sinner: that he (she) that was in darkness, after rebirth, will stand before the Heavenly Father in another age, as pure as today, and, in soul, whiter than snow, from the bath of regeneration. Thus, undefiled and unblemished by the action of the serpent which comes from the flesh, he (she) shall stand before the sincere Judge, Who will render to each according to his deeds. And clearly today, through your lips the cursed satan was cast out and all his activities; and God the Creator of all adopted him (her), who by grace acquired spiritual birth, and was clothed as a member of the Church of Christ with the confession of the True Christian Faith. Thus, all the days of his (her) life let him (her) remain in the One Faith without parting from the Church, and in the grace of adoption by the immutable God. Let him (her) never turn aside to the works of the evil satan, and let him (her) ever stand opposed to him. And, with the help of God he (she) shall be revealed as a mighty destroyer of all his snares, as a soldier of Christ, strengthened by the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit in the war against him. And after such God-pleasing struggles, he (she) shall receive from the Originator and Judge of struggles labor in the Heavenly Kingdom—the great blessedness of life eternal.   Confession (this is not generally read, but is part of the teaching) …. But do not conceal even one sin, not even because of shame, for I also am a man subject to passions, able to fall into similar sins, and I have experience of the weakness of man. And when despising the shame which you shall expose to the One God, through me, you will not be accused of these sins before the Angels of God and before all men at the dread Judgement. But if you hide anything, before me, from the One God, then you will be accused before the universal assembly, and you shall not be delivered from eternal punishment…   Another exhortation for Confession … But abiding in continual repentance for sins, strive to increase good deeds, that, through repentance, you not only be delivered of eternal torment, but also that you may be counted worthy, by God, of unending life for your good work, from whom will always come assistance to you for all your good beginnings, for the performing of good deeds, and mercy and blessing all the days of your life, and that you may be counted worthy to receive in the future age the gift of eternal life.   Weddings/Crowning O God, our God, Who didst come to Cana of Galilee, and didst bless the marriage there: Do Thou bless also these Thy servants, who, by Thy providence, are joined together in the communion of marriage. Bless their comings in and their goings out, replenish their life with good things, and accept their crowns in Thy Kingdom, preserving them spotless, undefiled, and without reproach, unto the ages of ages.   The Office of Holy Oil/Annointing … For Thou didst not create man for destruction, but for the keeping of Thy commandments, and for the inheritance of life incorruptible, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Choir: Amen.   Funeral   St. Tikhon's Monastery, trans., The Great Book of Needs: Expanded and Supplemented, vol. III   BEFORE THE PARTING OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY  (comfort and protection against terror) The rending of the bonds, the sundering of the natural law that holds the whole fleshly composition together, causes me anguish and unbearable necessity. Glory.… Do thou translate me, O Sovereign Lady, in the sacred and precious arms of the holy Angels, that sheltered by their wings, I not see the impious, foul and dark form of the demons. Now and ever.… O All-pure Chamber of God, count me worthy of the heavenly, supersensual Chamber, and kindle thou my smoldering and dimming light with the holy oil of thy mercy. … Do thou count me worthy to escape the hordes of bodiless barbarians, and rise through the aerial depths and enter into Heaven, that I may glorify thee unto the ages, O holy Theotokos. O thou that gavest birth to the Lord Almighty, when I come to die, do thou banish far from me the commander of the bitter toll-gatherers and ruler of the earth, that I may glorify thee unto the ages, O holy Theotokos. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord. When the last great trumpet sounds at the fearful and dread resurrection of judgment unto all that shall arise, do thou remember me then, O holy Theotokos.   THE OFFICE AT THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL FROM THE BODY   [rest, forgiveness, bosom of Abraham, deliverance from death, eternal life, paradise vs hell]   We beseech Thee, O Unoriginate Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Cast not into the bottom of [Hell] the soul that was infected by the plague of the soul-corrupting world, and has passed over unto Thee, the Creator, O God, my Savior. With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Thy servant, where sickness is no more, neither sorrow nor sighing, but life everlasting.   In the nourishment of Paradise where the souls of the Righteous who served Thee abide [repeated often], do Thou, O Christ, join with them the soul of Thy servant who is singing: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.   … Deliver him (her) from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him (her) the participation and delight of Thine eternal good things prepared for them that love Thee...   Matins– rest, forgiveness, eternal life with the blessed   O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hast trampled down death and overthrown the devil, and given life unto Thy world: Do Thou Thyself, O Lord, give rest unto the soul of Thy departed servant, N., in a place of brightness, in a place of green pasture, in a place of repose, whence sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled away. As Thou art a good God and the Lover of Mankind, do Thou pardon every transgression that he (she) has committed, whether by word or deed or thought, for there is no man that lives yet does not sin. For Thou only art without sin; Thy righteousness is righteousness forever, and Thy word is truth.   I am an image of Thine ineffable glory, though I bear the wounds of sin. Take pity on Thy creature, O Master, and cleanse me by Thy loving-kindness. And grant me the desired fatherland, making me again a citizen of Paradise. Refrain:           Blessed art Thou, O Lord; teach me Thy statutes. O Thou Who of old didst fashion me out of nothingness and didst honor me with Thine Image divine, but when I transgressed Thy commandment, didst return me again unto the earth whence I was taken: Raise me up according to Thy Likeness, that I may be restored to my former beauty. Refrain:           Blessed art Thou, O Lord; teach me Thy statutes. Give rest, O God, to Thy servant and establish him (her) in Paradise, where the choirs of the Saints and the Righteous shine like the stars, O Lord. Give rest to Thy servant who has fallen asleep, overlooking all his (her) transgressions. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. (To the Holy Trinity) The threefold radiance of the one Godhead let us piously hymn, crying out: Holy art Thou, O Father Who hast no beginning, Co-unoriginate Son and Divine Spirit. Illumine us who serve Thee in faith, and snatch us from the fire eternal. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Theotokion) Rejoice, O pure One, who gavest birth to God in the flesh for the salvation of all, and through whom mankind has found salvation. Through thee may we find Paradise, O Theotokos pure and blessed.   In the dread day when Thou shalt come in Thine ineffable glory upon the clouds to judge the whole world, be Thou well-pleased, O Redeemer, that Thy faithful servant whom Thou hast received from the earth may meet thee with brightness.   May Christ give thee rest in the land of the living and open unto thee the gates of Paradise, and declare thee a citizen of the Kingdom. And may He grant thee forgiveness for those things wherein thou hast sinned in life, O thou who lovest Christ. … Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven. Let us give ear unto what the Almighty saith: Woe unto them that seek to behold the terrible day of the Lord! For it is darkness; for all things shall be tried with fire.   The First Epistle to the Thessalonians (Pericope 270—1 Thess. 4:13–17): Brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so will God bring with Him those also who die in Jesus. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord: that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have died. For the Lord Himself, with a shout of command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God, shall come down from Heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.   The Gospel according to John (Pericope 16—John 5:24–30): The Lord said to the Jews that came unto Him: “Verily, verily I say unto you, he that hears My Word and believes in Him that sent Me, has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation, but passes from death unto life. Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth—they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of Mine own Self do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, for I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father Who has sent Me.”   The Last Kiss. When the soul is about to be carried away from the body with violence by dread Angels, it forgets all kinsmen and acquaintances and is troubled concerning standing before the tribunal that is to come, that shall pass judgment upon vain things and much-toiling flesh. Then, entreating the Judge, let us all pray that the Lord will forgive him (her) the things that he (she) has done.   Save them that put their trust in thee, O Mother of the Sun that setteth not, O Begetter of God. With thy prayers entreat the Most-good God, we pray, that He will give rest unto him (her) that now has been taken away, where the souls of the Righteous repose. Show him (her) to be an heir of divine good things, in the courts of the Righteous, unto memory eternal, O all-undefiled One. Glory … (TONE 6): Beholding me voiceless and deprived of breath, weep for me, O brethren and friends, kinsmen and acquaintances. For yesterday I conversed with you, and suddenly the dread hour of death came upon me. But come, all you that love me, and kiss me with the last kiss. For no more will I walk with you or converse with you. For I depart unto the Judge with Whom there is no respect of persons. For slave and master stand together before Him, king and warrior, rich and poor, in equal worthiness; for each, according to his deeds, is glorified or put to shame. But I beg and entreat you all, that you pray without ceasing unto Christ God for me, that I not be brought down unto the place of torment according to my sins, but that He will appoint me to the place where is the light of life.   9th Hour (Final Prayer of St. Basil the Great) Rescue us from the hand of the adversary, and forgive us our sins, and mortify our carnal mind; that, putting aside the old man, we may be clad with the new, and live for Thee, our Master and Benefactor; and that, so following after Thy commandments, we may attain unto rest eternal, where is the abode of all who rejoice.   Great Vespers None – note that it does NOT include Octoechos and Menaion!   Orthros/Matins Does NOT include Octoechos and Menaion. Prayer of Light.  . Illumine in our hearts the true Sun of Your righteousness, enlighten our minds and guard all our senses, that, as in the day, walking nobly in the way of Your commandments, we may attain to life eternal, for with You is the fountain of life, and that we may be vouchsafed to come to the enjoyment of Your unapproachable light. Evlogetaria.  Blessed art Thou, O Lord; teach me Thy statutes. The company of the Angels was amazed, when they beheld Thee numbered among the dead, yet Thyself, O Savior, destroying the power of death, and with Thee raising up Adam and releasing all men from hades. Tropar after Psalm 50.  Jesus, having risen from the grave as He foretold, hath given unto us life eternal and Great Mercy.     Divine Liturgy Does NOT include Octoechos and Menaion Creed.  …I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come. Amen. Anaphora.  … Thou it was who didst bring us from non- existence into being and, when we had fallen away, didst raise us up again and didst not cease to do all things until thou hadst brought us up to heaven and hadst endowed us with thy kingdom which is to come… … Having in remembrance, therefore, this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us: the cross, the grave, the third-day resurrection, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand, and the second and glorious coming: Thine own of thine own… … That to those who shall partake thereof they may be unto vigilance of soul, unto forgiveness of sins, unto the communion of thy Holy Spirit, unto the fulfillment of the kingdom of heaven and unto boldness toward thee, not unto judgment nor unto condemnation… Before Lord's Prayer… Vouchsafe us to partake of thy heavenly and dread mysteries of this sacred and spiritual table, with a pure conscience, unto forgiveness of sins, unto pardon of transgressions, unto communion of the Holy Spirit, unto inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, unto boldness toward thee, and not unto judgment nor unto condemnation. Lord's Prayer.  ..thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven… Communion Prayer.  …unto forgiveness of sins and unto life everlasting…. [1] St. Tikhon's Monastery, trans., The Great Book of Needs: Expanded and Supplemented, vol. I (South Canaan, PA: St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 2000), 7–8.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21–23Happy Pentecost! Today, throughout the world, our Church celebrates the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' first followers and upon all of us. Why do we need the Holy Spirit in our lives? This is an important question to ponder. Today, as always, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work as One God. It is the Father Who wills that we be reconciled to Him; it was the Son Who made this reconciliation possible; and it is the Holy Spirit Who now accomplishes the completion of this act in our lives. At the heart of that gift of salvation is the remission of our sins. The passage above clearly reveals to us that Jesus bestowed a unique gift of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, His first bishops, entrusting them with the ability to forgive sins in His name and by His power.As we celebrate Pentecost, it is a good opportunity to prayerfully consider the action of the Holy Spirit in your life. One of the greatest ways that the Holy Spirit is potentially active in your life is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through that Sacrament, the Holy Spirit draws you to the Father and enables you to see and understand His perfect will, living more fully in union with the Son as a member of His Body. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are some of the other ways that the Holy Spirit helps us in our Christian walk. However, these gifts would be ineffective in our lives if we did not first receive the gift of forgiveness given through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. That is the first and most foundational action of the Holy Spirit and opens the door to every other gift. Perhaps that is why Jesus' first bestowal of the Holy Spirit focused upon the power given to His Apostles to forgive sins in His name.Once we are reconciled to the Father and begin to live in a state of grace, the Holy Spirit will continue to deepen His relationship with us and bestow His help upon us for our Christian journey. This especially happens through the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The gifts most affecting our intellect are the Gifts of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. Wisdom helps us to understand the inner life of the Trinity more clearly. Understanding helps us to make sense of our lives and mission in the light of the Gospel. Knowledge helps us make practical decisions in accord with God's will. The gifts of Fear of the Lord and Piety assist us in our love of God. Fear of the Lord helps us to see how our actions help or hinder our relationship with God, helping to motivate us to avoid all that harms this relationship and choose all that strengthens it. Piety helps us to see the great dignity and beauty of God and enables us to have a deep reverence for Him and for all of His people. Counsel and Fortitude are also given by the Holy Spirit and help us to firmly move forward in faith and love. Counsel especially helps us with love of neighbor, and Fortitude adds the strength we need to do all that we are called to do in love with unwavering commitment. As we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost, reflect, today, upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. If you want to be open to the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life and receive the many gifts you need for your journey of faith, then begin with the most fundamental gift. Begin with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Ponder the words Jesus spoke in our Gospel today and know that by entrusting the grace to forgive sins in His name to His first priests, Jesus was also calling you to embrace that gift. The Holy Spirit wants you to be cleansed of all sin. Allow Him to do so and you will be amazed at all the grace that follows. My glorious Lord, You promised to send the Holy Spirit upon us to lead us into all Truth and to reconcile us to the Father. You were faithful to that promise at Pentecost and now continuously bestow the Holy Spirit upon all who believe. Holy Spirit, please come upon me, especially by forgiving my sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and by filling me with Your sevenfold Gifts. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: Pentecost By Juan Bautista Maíno, via Wikimedia Commons

The fundamental and central tenet of modern Christianity essentially posits that the key to salvation is essentially the acceptance of Jesus Christ (as) into one's heart as their personal lord and savior, and that it is thus no longer necessary to follow the traditional Judaic Law. This idea then results in the belief that the criteria for both forgiveness and damnation are but the belief to which one subscribes, relegating one's deeds and actions to what generally becomes an inconsequential role in the eternal state of the human soul. In light of what is happening is currently happening in the world today (and in reality what has been happening for centuries), particularly with regards to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide in Palestine, as well as the myriad of other illegitimate wars and conflicts that have been perpetrated by the nominally "Christian" western world, I felt it was time to take a closer look at this basic belief upon which modern Christianity is based, as well as to point to the danger of an ideology the divorces deeds from piety by reducing salvation to but one's professed identity. In this post, I share a clear and unambiguous statement by Jesus (as) from the Gospel of Matthew in which he himself invalidates this specific idea, i.e. that those who simply claim to believe in him will be saved. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity Jesus (as), Matthew 7:21—23 I reiterate in this post that Islam does not require the conversion of Christians, but only that they actually live up to the principles they claim the faith is based upon, and thereby avoid the descent into hypocrisy that results when our deeds and actions are inconsistent with our professed and stated beliefs. In truth, the Holy Qur'an states clearly that they who do believe and do righteous works in reality from the People of the Book shall have their share of God's divine mercy and forgiveness in the hereafter. Verily, they who believe and they of the Jews and Christians and others who believe in God and the Last Day and who act righteously by doing good shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall be upon them nor shall they grieve. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:62 May Allah Almighty, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, guide us to goodness, to purity, to righteousness and to peace. Ameen. To your divine and eternal success.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 14:6-14 - Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, then you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father Who dwells in Me is doing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My Name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of Me in My Name, I will do it." Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles Saints Philip and James, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) TAN Books will be releasing: Manual of Prayers: For the Use of the Catholic Laity, Jason Gale joins Jesse to discuss this Manual produced by the Council of Baltimore https://tanbooks.com/products/books/a-manual-of-prayers-for-the-use-of-the-catholic-laity/ 4) The uniqueness of Jesus Christ, the King

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 14:21-26 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the one who loves Me. Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to Him, "Master, then what happened that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to Him and make our dwelling with Him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; yet the word you hear is not Mine but that of the Father Who sent Me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name -- He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Saint Catherine, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 12:44-50 - Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me believes not only in Me but also in the One Who sent Me, and whoever sees Me sees the One Who sent Me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in Me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects Me and does not accept My words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on My own, but the Father Who sent Me commanded Me what to say and speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told Me.” Memorial of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr Saint Fidelis, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day2, 3, 4) Dan Donaldson, Vice President of the Catholic Men's Leadership Alliance joined the Alliance in 2022 and is passionate about expanding this ministry to men worldwide

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 12:44-50 - Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me believes not only in Me but also in the One Who sent Me, and whoever sees Me sees the One Who sent Me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in Me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects Me and does not accept My words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on My own, but the Father Who sent Me commanded Me what to say and speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told Me.” Memorial of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr Saint Fidelis, pray for us!  

1) Gospel - Jn 6:44-51 - Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to My Father and learns from Him comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One Who is from God; He has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the Bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever; and the bBread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world." 2, 3, 4) Daniel Fitzpatrick on how reclaiming Sunday can revive our human nature in his book: Restoring the Lord's Day (Sophia Press) https://sophiainstitute.com/product/restoring-the-lords-day/ 

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 5:31-47 - Jesus said to the Jews: "If I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on My behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on My behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave Me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on My behalf that the Father has sent Me. Moreover, the Father Who sent Me has testified on My behalf. But you have never heard His Voice nor seen His Form, and you do not have His word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the One Whom He has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on My behalf. But you do not want to come to Me to have life. "I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the Name of My Father, but you do not accept Me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed Me, because he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" Bishop Sheen quote of the day Bishop Strickland joins Terry and Jesse to discuss the importance of spiritual warfare, Mar-a-Lago and the movie on Saint Frances Cabrini

Gospel - Jn 5:17-30 Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the sabbath but He also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the Voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son the possession of life in Himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His Voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on My own; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the One Who sent Me."

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 5:17-30 Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the sabbath but He also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the Voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son the possession of life in Himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His Voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on My own; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the One Who sent Me." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Kristen Theriault, author of  The Mother Cabrini Companion, on the book: The World Is Too Small - The Life and Times of Mother Cabrini by Theodore Maynard https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-mother-cabrini-companion/ https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-world-is-too-small/

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 5:17-30 - Jesus answered the Jews:"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the sabbath but He also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son the possession of life in Himself. And He gave him power to exercise judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on My own; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the One Who sent Me." Bishop Strickland and Terry discuss why buying tickets to Olivia Rodrigo concerts, or any other concert funding abortions is a grave sin that endangers one's soul https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bishop-strickland-grave-sin-tickets-abortion/

Twice during his earthly ministry, Christ fed a multitude of people by multiplying loaves and fishes. These miracles were performed not only to relieve the people of their physical hunger; they were done to relieve every one of their spiritual hunger, too. In these miracles, Christ shows us all Who God is, that He is a merciful Father Who desires our salvation.Subscribe to receive every sermon here: https://sspx-sermons.captivate.fm/listenSee all our Sermons: https://sspxpodcast.com/sermons/Donate: https://sspxpodcast.com/faq/#donateView on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SSPX

In a world of fickle, ever-changing emotions, how can we know for sure who loves us…or even if we are loved at all? The Word of God tells us that God loves us with an unending, unfailing love; and, in this message, you will find out just how far His love for us goes. When we receive God's love, and accept the free gift He offers each of us, we are adopted into His family, where we have a loving heavenly Father Who will never give up on us!

Matthew 5:16 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Join us today as Pastor Patrick Gloria reminds us that our journey as Christians does not end with our salvation. Freedom Life Fellowship Euless, TX / Freedom Life Fellowship Live Stream Pastor Patrick Gloria Church Website - https://freedomlifemc.org/

Christ the Spirit in relation to Christ the man. The humiliation and glorification of Christ. Christ is the Father Who is the Son. 1 John 2:22.

With the tragedies happening in the world right now, Cinthia encourages each of us to discover and remember why God has placed us on the earth.  With that in mind, today she discusses concepts from one of her books, God Wants You Truly Living (Not Walking Dead).  God is wanting us each to have a life beyond our wildest dreams, but it requires that we die to the things that get in the way of that – including, sometimes, the dreams themselves. Ephesians 3:20 (Message version) says, “God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in you wildest dreams!  He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  And John 10:10 (Amplified version) says, “The thif comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”  This is God's desire for His people.  But what is life that is “abundant?”  Cinthia reads a definition of abundant that begins with the phrase “being more than enough without being excessive” and continues with an abundance of adjectives about fullness and profusion.  Our example of this on earth is Jesus.  Jesus's abundant life did not include the things we often associate with abundance, the things we tend to think will help us live life to the fullest and achieve happiness.  In fact, happiness lies.  “God is not trying to give us “happy” as a goal,” says Cinthia.  “He knows happiness is an outcome of an abundant life.  The thief, which we know is Satan… realizes that, if I pursue happiness, I will simply be achieving pleasure, which only creates a bigger void in my life that must be continuously fed as it becomes bigger and deeper, screaming more loudly to be fulfilled.”  Consider the book of Ecclesiastes in which the wisest man on earth tried the life of pleasure—tried it well—and declared it meaningless. Jesus demonstrated the abundant life.  He was free, had deep and meaningful relationship with God the Father and got His value there, had deep and meaningful relationships with others, had a clear conscience, and lived with a sense of meaning and purpose.  But there was something else that offered more power, more life, a separation from any other power or entity:  He was willing to die.  He was willing to die a literal, physical death for us and for the Father Who had sent Him.  But He was also willing to die to Himself, to what He could have tried to be separate from His Father.  His responses to the three temptations Satan offered Him in the wilderness demonstrate this.  How do we let God infuse this into us? Jesus knew that, in order to be what He was created to be, He would have to do it the Creator's way.  He had to trust that the Father Who made Him knew Him and knew the best way.  [Don't misunderstand our use of the word “Creator” here.  We know the Nicene Creed says Jesus was “begotten not made” to express that Jesus existed with the Father from all eternity.  But, when He came to earth, He was knit together by His Father inside of a human mother.  This is the kind of “created” we mean.  Jesus, by Whom and through Whom everything had been created, took on the position of a created human being, and He showed us what it means to live as created human beings are meant to live.]  The Father's way, the Creator's way, was for Jesus to die.  God always goes first and sets the course.  He died for us and died to Himself, and this sets the course for us – dying to ourselves, dying to the things we think will give us life but that are, in fact, getting in the way of fulfilling the purposes for which God made us.  So what has to die in order for you to live?  What has to die in you life in order for you to actually live for Christ?  Cinthia explains, “Not my way, His way.  He is the Creator; I am the created object.”  What are the things that are getting in the way of you being what He made you to be?  Cinthia continues, “We have a great God Who has gone before us and knows the way.  He does not grow tired, and He understands that suffering through death produces life.  Not only that, but He also promises that He will comfort us through the suffering…” and tells us in Psalm138:8 that He “will fulfill His purpose for me.”  You are not meant to do life on your own, trying to do it right and hoping God is happy with it. Philippians 3:10 and Acts 1:3 describe the necessity and hope in this process.  We join Him in His suffering and death, but also in His resurrection.  He is alive!  He went through death and came back alive!  II Corinthias 1:3-6 (Msg) describes Him as walking with us through our suffering and loss and bringing us alongside others to be there for them.  Jesus is the consummate Servant-Leader.  He leads by example.  He walks with us and walks out His concepts.  Psalm 23:4 describes Him as with us as we walk through the shadow of death.  There cannot be a shadow without light.  What has to die in your life in order for you to fully live it?  This is an important time in history for each of us to recognize the purpose God has for us, to figure out the life He has planned solely for us and to do our part.  There are two types of death that have to occur in order to produce and sustain life:  The first is the death of a good thing in order to become the best thing.  The second is the death of “the thing that is killing me.”  How many of us fight to keep alive the thing that is killing us?  Addictions, fear, relationships to which we cling even as they keep us from living the life for which God created us – Ask yourself, “Why am I walking out a living death?”  Both types occur simultaneously at different times of life.  Type One is beautifully demonstrated by the seed.  John 12:24-25 (NIV) says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  An unknown author has said that we can count the seeds in a single piece of fruit, but only God can count the fruit that lies within a single seed.   Do not let the enemy minimize who you are, what you know, how you feel, what you want to do, and what your calling is.  Don't let him talk you out of that.  John 12:24-25 in the Message version says, “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat.  But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.  In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life.  But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.” Cinthia says, “I want to keep everything sometimes… I only want the things to die that I don't like.”  But so often the good has to die to give way to the best.  Addiction is a great example of the kind of thing that has to die lest it kill us, but think beyond that.  What has to die in order for you, like the seed, to produce and sustain life?  We have to die to something in order for the thing for which we were created to live.  What won't you let go? A seed must die in order to have the life for which it was intended.  Don't nurse and protect the seed.  Let what is inside of it burst forth.  Don't abandon it because you don't know what it is.  Water it and nourish it.  Do this because it may be buried at this time, but God has planted that seed of life within you.  So you need to trust Him.  Don't be afraid to let the seed die, to break out of the shell that has housed it.  We are very used to our bondage, but God dreams of setting us free to produce and sustain life.  Think about the caterpillar as it turns into a butterfly.  Think about the movie Failure to Launch, which is funny but tragic in the truth it expresses about our culture.  Think about Adam and Eve.  When we go against creation and interrupt or impede God's timing, the creation either dies or fails to thrive, and we are left with the agony of depression and despair. So ask yourself, “Am I refusing to move forward in ways that are age- and circumstance-appropriate?  Am I resisting age-appropriate tasks?  Am I holding onto previous life stages, to behaviors and clothing and self-care patterns that are no longer appropriate to my current life stage?  Do I refuse to move forward with technology?  What do I want to ignore or deny?  Am I unwilling to go through the grief and loss process?  Do I hold onto a person, decade, paradigm, or belief system?  Do I allow a system that isn't working to continue?  Am I willing to let expectations die?  Am I resisting a new season that is only going to happen anyway?  Am I willing to let go of my dream or my vision for myself or another person?  What are the birth pains that I may be ignoring or resisting?  What is trying to come out of me?  Am I resisting dying to self?”  Do not continue to resist what you know is natural for you to do – not those things that are natural in their decadence, but those that are natural to what God has created in you. Consider Philippians 1:6 and Isaiah 66:7-10.  We don't know the mind of God.  We cannot force to die what He wants to live or force to live what He knows must die.  The only way out is through.  You were born for a reason.  So what has to die in order for that reason to live?

When an honest soul contemplates the amazing greatness of the honor and the stupendousness of the relation of regarding itself as a joint-heir with Christ, it is startled and staggered. What, me a child of God- God my Father- Who am I to be thus exalted into the divine favor-- Surely it cannot be so. When I consider my fearful sinfulness and unworthiness, the awful depravity of my heart, the carnality of my mind, such rebellion of will, so prone to evil every moment, and such glaring flaws in all I undertake-surely I cannot have been made a partaker of the divine nature. It seems impossible- and Satan is ever ready to assure me that I am not God's child.

Malachi 3:10 reads, “Test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'” If we really believed that, might it encourage us to pray for some things that might seem a bit crazy?   ***   Welcome to Celebrating God's Grace, a Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Harwick. Thank you for joining me today as we celebrate God's grace in our lives, in this ministry and around the world. How's your prayer life? Maybe you only pray when your back is against the wall and you have nowhere else to turn. Or maybe, like me, you know the importance of communicating with God, but struggle to do it in a way that doesn't feel rote, rehearsed or maybe even sleep-inducing. By His grace, God is in the process of revitalizing my prayer life and has recently led me to pray what in the past, I could've only considered crazy prayers. I'm not sure that anyone taught me this, but growing up in church, I kind of had this notion that prayers should be prioritized according to importance. At the top of the list is anyone who's facing some kind of life and death crisis, followed by other, serious concerns, and finally, after the important stuff was covered, I might address my personal desires. From age 9 to 14, I dared to pray for a horse. I was totally obsessed with horses and dreamed of having my own.  We lived in the country, had plenty of acreage and a barn, so it was feasible, but I almost felt guilty for asking for such a thing. While people I knew were seriously ill, or battling addiction or struggling financially, was it wrong of me to bother God with a horse? In spite of my doubt, God moved my parents to say, “yes, I could have a horse…if I could afford to buy it and feed it myself.” I began saving money for it, but by the time I had come reasonably close to having enough, I was in high school and came to the realization that I didn't really want the responsibility of caring for a horse. It seemed I had matured beyond the desire for what I now deemed a childish thing and subconsciously I began to equate praying for such trivial things as a mark of immaturity. In my mind, God had enough major issues on His plate to deal with and my silly little desires didn't merit taking His attention away from them. He challenged that notion a couple of years later when I was on a summer missions' trip. After 3 torturous years of wearing braces, I had finally gotten them off and was only required to wear a retainer. But it was critical that I wear it anytime I wasn't eating in order to ensure my teeth didn't shift back to their former positions. About 10 days into the trip, I came to the horrifying discovery that I had accidentally scraped my retainer into the garbage after dinner. I realized it within 30 minutes, but dozens of massive garbage bags had already been tied off and taken to the dumpster. There was no way to know which garbage bag held my retainer which was nothing more than clear plastic and a metal wire in the midst of fried chicken bones, corn on the cob and other food waste. I was due at the evening meeting in less than 5 minutes and to be late would lead to “special blessings,” which were never nearly as nice as they sounded. Usually, it meant digging a ditch while everyone else enjoyed some free time. I considered just throwing up my hands in defeat, but my parents would be furious at having to pay for another retainer and I wouldn't be able to get it for more than 8 weeks.  During that time, my recently perfected teeth might be beyond straightening with just a retainer. I shared my dilemma with some friends who suggested we begin by checking the site where we'd eaten in case it had just fallen on the ground. When our search turned up nothing, I realized I was going to have to bite the bullet, risk special blessings and begin the most disgusting treasure hunt I could imagine. In the spirit of unsurpassed kindness and teamwork, several of my teammates offered to join me. In addition to being thoroughly grossed out at the prospect before us, I had serious doubts that we could ever hope to locate such a small, nearly invisible thing in the midst of so much garbage. God had already used difficult experiences here to show me that I could cry out to Him in brutal honesty and that He would be with me through every trial. In desperation I prayed, “God, it's just a stupid retainer, but it's really important to me right now and I have no hope of finding it unless you intervene.” We went through bags and bags of slimy chicken bones with no success before one of my friends pulled out the long- lost retainer.  Our faith soared and I couldn't wait to write my parents a letter about the incredible miracle God had worked for me. I was not so eager to put it back in my mouth, but after repeated cleanings, it was a constant reminder of a verse I had memorized years earlier.  Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  A retainer wasn't something I would've ever considered a “desire of my heart,” but in this moment it was and I believe that God delighted to give it to me. My faith definitely grew that summer, but it was easy to slip back into old ways of thinking.  Apparently, I'm not the only one who struggles to remember that God really does care about everything that concerns us. Jesus addressed it in His Sermon on the Mount. He points out that we are quick to worry about things such as what to eat and what to wear even though we observe that God feeds the sparrows that we barely notice and clothes the lilies of the field in splendor greater than Solomon's.  He says, “the Father knows that you need these things,” and wraps it up in Chapter 6, verse 33 by directing us to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus was specifically addressing our tendency to worry rather than pray and He brought that to my attention in an unusual way a few years ago.  The swimming pool that seemed like an absolute necessity when we purchased our home as parents of four young children had now become an albatross around my neck. One day as I was adding muriatic acid and shock, I noticed some black spots scattered around the bottom. I grabbed the brush and tried to scrub them away, but it didn't seem to have much impact. As time passed, I began to notice more and more of these black spots, and it concerned me enough to do some online research.  What I learned was troubling to say the least. It seemed to match the description of something called black mold which, from all accounts, was a pool owner's nightmare. Those who had dealt with it described using various treatments only to have it reappear time and time again. Short of having the pool resurfaced, most people began a lengthy process of daily scrubbing of every single spot along with a special chemical regimen. Eradicating it was expensive, difficult and very time consuming. I lived in denial for a while, but when the pool pump needed to be serviced, I asked the technician to give me her professional opinion about the black spots. She confirmed my fears. The next morning as I attempted to have my daily quiet time on the patio overlooking the pool, my thoughts were consumed with how I was going to deal with this problem. I was apologizing to God for my lack of focus when He reminded me of James 4:2, “You have not, because you ask not.” For the first time, it became crystal clear. Why was I worrying about this situation and trying to deal with it on my own? Did God actually care about my swimming pool? Could I do something as crazy as pray that He would heal my swimming pool? I must admit, it did seem a little crazy, but I asked anyway, saying, “God, You say nothing is too hard for you. Well, this is too hard for me. I don't know what to do about it and You have better things for me to do than scrub this pool every day and we have better things to spend our money on too. Would you just make this mold disappear?” I instantly felt better and was able to set those concerns aside.  I got distracted by other things and didn't really even think about the pool for a while. I couldn't see the mold from a distance, so it wasn't really on my mind until I saw hints of mustard algae beginning to appear.  When I went to treat the algae, my heart soared as I looked from one end to the other and saw not a single black spot. God had healed my pool! Now I'm almost reluctant to say that, not because I have any doubt that He did, but because it may hurt someone who's been praying for healing of a far more serious nature.  I don't pretend to know why God chooses not to heal some serious physical illnesses or conditions and then heals something as trivial as my swimming pool. I only know that His ways are not our ways and, as Job learned, He really doesn't have to answer to us. The fact is, He did heal my pool and I give Him all the glory for it. I've had opportunities to share this story on multiple occasions and I see it as further confirmation that He really does care about everything that concerns us and is even eager to not only meet our needs, but give us the desires of our hearts. He is such a good Father Who delights to give His children more than we could even ask or think. Most of my prayers are of a more serious nature, but the swimming pool lesson was not lost on me. My current “crazy prayer” is that God would provide me with a lake in my backyard. Yeah, I know it's a little unorthadox, but I had prayed for many years that at some point God would lead us to a home on a lake, river or pond. God speaks to me through nature and I feel especially close to Him when I'm looking at a large body of water. He led us to a new home a little over a year ago and I love it, however, it does not have the water feature I was hoping for. What it does have is a dry lakebed just beyond our property line.  As recently as 4 years ago, there was a lake there, but now it's nothing but tall grass and a big puddle. Our new home has so many other features that I love, I can't complain. But one day when I was reading Mark 11:23 a new thought sprouted. Jesus said, “I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” I immediately saw a parallel. I prayed, “Lord, I don't need You to put a mountain in my back yard, though I know You could and that would be really awesome since we're in Florida which doesn't have mountains. But what I am asking You to do is pick up some lake, there are hundreds all around me that no one even notices and put it in that dry lakebed behind our house.”   It may take years or God's answer may be no this time, but I know He can do it and I know He loves giving me good gifts.  So I'll continue to pray and wait. My husband is a great dad and he is quick to pick up on what our kids are passionate about.  If there's something they want or need and he can provide it, he rarely hesitates. He didn't generally spoil them or give them everything they wanted, but he took great joy in those times when he could give them something special. Our heavenly father is no different. He loves you.  He delights in you. Don't ever hesitate to ask Him not just for what you need, but for the desires of your heart. And then, sit back and watch for the crazy miracle He may bring, just to show you how much He loves you. Thanks for listening to Women World Leaders podcast!  Join us each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we explore together God's extravagant love and your courageous purpose.  Visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com to submit a prayer request, register for an upcoming event, and support the ministry.  From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders .  All content is copyrighted by Women World Leaders and cannot be used without express written consent.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:10)     You are the crown of God's creation! He has taken great care in uniquely designing you. And the way in which God has crafted you determines what He intends for you to do. You have been created in Jesus with purpose and significance in His Kingdom, to do good works every day for His glory.   And this Sunday, we will see that Scripture tells us those everyday good works have consequences in the kingdom to come. What we do, how we do it, and why we do it are all going to be considered by God on a day when we, as Christians, will stand before Him.    The New Testament is clear that a day is coming when you and me and all believers must all appear before the “Bema” – what many call the “judgment seat of Christ” (2 Cor 5:10). In New Testament times, the bema was a raised platform used by the judges in the Greek games. Athletes would “appear” before the bema after completing their events, where the judges would ensure they competed according to the rules and then award the prizes for winning.     The issue at the Bema of Christ will not be our eternal destiny. That's been settled by the death of Jesus on the cross for your sins. As Paul says in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Again, in Ephesians 1, he makes it clear that, “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” This is not a judgment which will determine whether we get into heaven or not.   So, what's at stake? The good works we have done as Christians. It will be an assessment (not a judgment in the way we normally think) of our stewardship for Jesus. When we stand before the Bema of Christ, our faithful service to Him will be evaluated and rewarded. Jesus will assess our every thought, motive, and action. And then He will reward us for all that we have done for His glory.   Most likely, you've never heard of the Bema of Jesus. The thought of being “judged” certainly seems unsettling. On Sunday, we'll unpack it and see that it's really more like the celebration at a graduation, complete with rewards.     Until then, be the light so others will see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in heaven!

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you.” John 14:15–17Imagine a spouse or a friend saying to you, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Such a statement might cause you to react with surprise. Ordinarily, we do not see obedience to another as a sign that we love them. However, what if a parent were to say to a child, “If you love me, you will be obedient.” That statement is easier to accept because of the unique role of a parent to their children. In regard to our love of God, obedience to His divine will is the greatest act of love we can offer. This is because God's will is perfect. It's exactly what we need in life. It's what we were made for. And it is the one and only way to achieve the human fulfillment that we seek. Only God can say such a thing to us because only God is God.Jesus followed up His call to obedience by saying that obedience to Him will result in Jesus and His Father bestowing the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth upon you. The Holy Spirit will remain “with you, and will be in you.” This is such a profound statement from our Lord. In fact, so much of what He says within this sermon, given at the Last Supper, is profound beyond comprehension.One clear thing this tells us is that obedience to God leads to a discovery of the Truth. And as Jesus says elsewhere, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32). Obedience leads to Truth. Truth leads to freedom.This begs the question: Do you want to be free? Clearly you do. We cannot not want to be free. Meaning, we are obliged to want freedom, just as we are obliged to want happiness. Why? Because the desire for freedom and happiness is written upon our very nature. It is a desire that we cannot escape. It's how we are wired. However, it is quite possible to become confused about the way we achieve these desires. For many, obedience is not always understood as the pathway to that desired freedom and happiness.Consider, again, a child. Imagine a parent telling that child not to eat a certain wild berry that grows behind their house because the parent knows the berry is poisonous and will cause the child to become sick. If the child disobeys and eats the berry anyway, he will learn the important lesson that he should have been obedient. Or if the child were to get in a fight with his brother and was angry and crying, the parent may tell him to say he's sorry and reconcile with his brother. If the child refuses, he will remain angry and crying. But if he obeys, then he and his brother will once again be able to have fun together.On a grand scale, this is what God does for us. He is the perfect Father Who always knows what is best for us. For that reason, we must not only conform to His will, we must desire it, seek it out and desire to be obedient to the greatest degree. This is the path to Truth. It is the path to freedom. It is the path to the happiness we desire. Reflect, today, upon your own level of obedience to the will of God and your understanding of the importance of that obedience. Do you realize that God's will is perfect? Perhaps you do intellectually, but how about practically? When you read through the Scriptures and hear Jesus' commands of love, do you seek to follow them without hesitation? For example, do you forgive those who seem undeserving? Can you say, with our Lord from the Cross, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do?” Reflect upon anything this past year that was difficult for you to embrace from God. Ponder it, pray over it and seek to obey whatever He has revealed to you. Doing so will be the first step toward the fulfillment of your deepest desires in life. Most glorious Jesus, Your will is perfect in every way. Obedience to Your will leads to the fulfillment of my life and my every desire. Please bestow the Spirit of Truth upon me so that I will always know Your will and embrace it with all my might. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Jn 14:21-26 - Jesus said to His disciples: "Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the one who loves Me. Whoever loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to Him, "Master, then what happened that You will reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; yet the word you hear is not Mine but that of the Father Who sent Me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My Name -- He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Bishop Sheen quote of the day Matthew Arnold joins Terry to discuss if we know what is really important in our lives

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 14:6-14 - Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, then you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father Who dwells in Me is doing His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My Name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of Me in My Name, I will do it." Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles Saints Philip and James, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Ex-US Army PSYOPS expert: FoxNews fired Carlson to maintain a “semi-lobotomized quasi-retarded population” it is "the death of American media" https://www.newswars.com/ex-us-army-psyops-expert-fox-news-fired-carlson-to-maintain-semi-lobotomized-quasi-retarded-population/ 3) Over 300 attacks on U.S. Catholic churches since May 2020 https://catholicvote.org/tracker-church-attacks/ 4) Update with Church Militant on news as it relates to the Church & Culture

I Will Raise Him Up on the Last Day! What Does That Mean For Us? How can I understand if no one instructs me? In the first reading (not included within this audio) we hear this statement in reference to the scriptures. We do not hear that one completely understands the scripture. Furthermore, we do not hear that I will interpret the scripture according to my understanding and knowledge! We hear the statement above. Understand the context of this statement and its importance to us . . . within the Homily. The Church has the proclamation of the Gospel and scripture within the context of Mass. Why? Because we all need to be instructed in the words of God. We all must learn how to submit our minds to the will of God. It is Christ that makes all scripture clear. Hear more within the Homily. In today's Gospel we hear an amazing statement by Jesus. No one can come to Me (Jesus) unless the Father Who sent Me draws him to Me. And I will raise him up on the last day. What does that mean? Jesus tells us He will give to us eternal life. Jesus speaks of His upcoming Resurrection. Listen to I Will Raise Him Up on the Last Day! What Does That Mean For Us? Listen to The Bread of Life. Hear more in this Meditation Media.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 6:44-51 - Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.  Everyone who listens to My Father and learns from Him comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the One Who is from God; He has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world." Bishop Sheen quote of the day The Vatican is preparing document for couples living in "new unions" after "marriage failure" https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/vatican-preparing-document-for-couples-living-in-new-unions-after-marriage-failure/?utm_source=popular 2, 3) "Pure Fear" as an excuse for lockdowns https://brownstone.org/articles/the-pure-fear-theory/ 4) The typical new US Priest: 33 years old, prays the Rosary, and takes part in Eucharistic Adoration https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=58478

There are three promises Jesus gives in this command: 1) if we ask, it will be given. 2) if we seek, we will find. 3) if we knock, it will be opened. If these incredible promises are true (and they are), then they would beg the questions: Why are we not consistently asking? Why are we not faithfully seeking? Why are we not eagerly knocking? So often our asking, seeking and knocking are as big as our view of God.God is a Father Who is good and does good. In commanding us to ask, seek and knock, He is not trying to dangle a carrot in front of us or make things complicated for us. It is actually an invitation to draw closer in our relationship and communion with Him. Will we respond to this invitation and pursue intimacy with Him?Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at www.homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at www.homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/homediscipleshipnetwork

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 5:17-30 - Jesus answered the Jews: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the sabbath but He also called God His own Father, making Himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself does, and He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever He wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in the One Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son the possession of life in Himself. And He gave him power to exercise judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His Voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. "I cannot do anything on My own; I judge as I hear, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the One Who sent Me." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Pope Francis is waging an “unjust war” against the Latin MassWages Unjust War on the Latin Mass https://www.tfp.org/pope-francis-wages-unjust-war-on-the-latin-mass/?PKG=TFPE3042 3) A mosque, synagogue and church are being built together in Abu Dhabi https://www.newsweek.com/church-mosque-synagogue-abu-dhabi-1461097 4) Update with Church Militant on news as it relates to the Church & Culture

In this encouraging episode, Nate and Gabe address questions we all may have about the command to Ask, Seek and Knock.  Questions such as: What about Jesus' words “ask what you will and it will be done to you”? What if I asked and nothing has happened? How do I grow in faith? God is a Father Who is good and does good. In commanding us to ask, seek and knock, He is not trying to dangle a carrot in front of us or make things complicated for us. It is actually an invitation to draw closer in our relationship and communion with Him. Will we respond to this invitation and pursue intimacy with Him?Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at www.homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at www.homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/homediscipleshipnetwork

Do you have a 911 relationship with God? Are you only seeking God when you're in a “tight spot”? Or is your asking, seeking, and knocking motivated by a desire to consistently pursue  fellowship and intimacy with your Heavenly Father?God is a Father Who is good and does good. In commanding us to ask, seek and knock, He is not trying to dangle a carrot in front of us or make things complicated for us. It is actually an invitation to draw closer in our relationship and communion with Him. Will we respond to this invitation and pursue intimacy with Him?Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at www.homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at www.homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/homediscipleshipnetwork

The command Ask, Seek and Knock reveals the depths of God's love as our Heavenly Father towards us. He wants us to come to Him and ask! However, Jesus gives a parable in Luke 11:5-11 that unlocks an even greater dimension to this exciting command…a dimension of meeting the needs of others! God is a Father Who is good and does good. In commanding us to ask, seek and knock, He is not trying to dangle a carrot in front of us or make things complicated for us. It is actually an invitation to draw closer in our relationship and communion with Him. Will we respond to this invitation and pursue intimacy with Him?Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at www.homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at www.homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://www.instagram.com/homediscipleshipnetwork