Podcasts about give god

John 12:1-8Rev. Mark Wilson

The End of the World Jonathan Parnell Download Psalm 97,The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;let the many coastlands be glad!2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.3 Fire goes before himand burns up his adversaries all around.4 His lightnings light up the world;the earth sees and trembles.5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,before the Lord of all the earth.6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,and all the peoples see his glory.7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,who make their boast in worthless idols;worship him, all you gods!8 Zion hears and is glad,and the daughters of Judah rejoice,because of your judgments, O Lord.9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;you are exalted far above all gods.10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!He preserves the lives of his saints;he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.11 Light is sown for the righteous,and joy for the upright in heart.12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!This morning I want to talk to you about the end of the world. For as long as there has been a world, humanity has been fascinated with this topic. This has been true of cultures all over the world all throughout history — from Ancient Mesopotamia to Chinese dynasties, from Norse Vikings to sub-Saharan Africa, from medieval Europeans to modern Americans — it's a human thing to wonder about the world's end.And in the Bible itself, the end of the world was on the table right away!In the Book of Genesis, just five chapters in, the Flood could have been the final judgment to end the world — and it would have been if not for the mercy of God!But because of God's mercy, and because of his patience (the apostle Peter tells us), the final end of the world has been delayed. Still.But the end is coming, and that's what I want to talk about this morning. And the real reason I wanna talk about the end of the world is because it's the topic of Psalm 97.There are three parts to the psalm, and I'm gonna title each part with what its mainly about:Part 1, verses 1–6 is Christ will come again.Part 2, verses 7–9 is Every human will respond. Part 3, verses 10–12 is How God's people live in the meantime.We're gonna spend most of our time on Part 3, but first Part 1.1. Christ will come again (vv. 1–6)Psalm 97, verse 1 just picks up where Psalm 96 left off. Psalm 96 envisions all of creation rejoicing, and the last verse of Psalm 96 explains why. This rejoicing is, verse 13,“…before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.”97:1, then, says: Yes, that's right, the Lord reigns and all the earth rejoices, even the coastlands. That's the deepest corners of the earth. The parts way out there.Then verses 2–5 describe the coming of God with this intense imagery. Listen to this: clouds and thick darkness. A throne of righteousness and justice. Fire going before him, consuming his adversaries. Lightning flashes. The earth itself trembles. Mountains melt like wax.To a casual reader, this sounds like a really bad thunderstorm. But when we have the whole Bible in mind, we can pick up the allusion to Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was when God came down on the mountain to give the law: Exodus 19:18,“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.”Deuteronomy 4:11,“the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.”The Final TheophanyThis was an amazing moment in history. The word for it is a ‘theophany' — which means a God-appearing. That's what Sinai was.And now Psalm 97 is describing another theophany — it's a future, final God-appearing, that's envisioned to be like Sinai!That's because the Original Law-Giver and the Final Judge are the same. That's why the imagery is the same, except in this future, final appearing, God comes in the person of Jesus Christ. We know this from the New Testament: John 5:11,“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”Matthew 24:30,“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”2 Thessalonians 1:7,“the Lord Jesus [will be] revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire…”The end of the world is now what we call the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The God who once descended on Sinai in clouds and fire will appear again finally in the person of Christ, and “every eye will see him” — Revelation 1:7. Everybody will see him, and everybody will respond, one way or another. That's Part 2.2. Every human will respond (vv. 7–9) Humanity is divided into two categories that will be clearest on the final day of judgment.Jesus has called these categories the wheat and the tares. The Psalms use the language of the righteous and the wicked. The New Testament draws the line as between believers and unbelievers — those who are in Christ and those who are not. And when Jesus comes back every eye will see him — those who have been united to him by faith and those who have rejected him. They all will see him, but they're gonna respond differently. Shame for IdolatersVerse 7 tells us the unbelievers (those who reject Christ) will be put to shame — but here they're described as the “worshipers of images” … as those who “boast in worthless idols.” Which is a good reminder! I want you to get this: there is really no such thing as an unbeliever. Everybody believes in something. The question is never if you believe, but who you believe in. So, unbelievers are always more accurately called “idolaters.” They've chosen to reject the one true God, and instead, they've replaced him with some other ‘little-g god' — and for the last hundred years in our society, the ‘little-g god' of choice is the Modern Self. That's the point of theologian Carl Trueman's book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (it's a helpful book written a few years ago).In one sense, modern idolatry is as old as it comes — our society has “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” — that's Romans 1:25.But what makes us different today is that, with our technologies, we have said, “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14) …So we want to create human life … We want to determine our own sexuality …We want to invent our own morality … We want to become super human in our daily lives and live longer than ever … We even want to have the final say on when and how we die … The whole thing is about putting Self in the place of God.That's what transhumanism is — it starts with the myth of exclusive humanism (that's the idea that there is no God, but only us). That paves the way for the idolatry of the Self — the idea that “We are all God.” And right now, it's just so clear that's what's going on. If you look around in our culture, the idolatry of Self is having its moment. But on the day Jesus returns, at the end of the world, every unbeliever/every idolater/everyone who rejects Jesus will be put to shame. That means eternal regret. They will hate the choices they have made. The lies they have embraced will be exposed. And the demonic forces behind the idolatry will also bow the knee in submission to Jesus! (That's the end of verse 7.) The Day is coming. Joy for BelieversBut now in verse 8 notice the contrast to believers, to those who trust in Christ — that's who Zion and Judah represent. It's the people of God. Zion is glad! The daughters of Judah rejoice! And the mention of “daughters” in verse 8 is an idiom for villages or small towns. (This is an insight from Christopher Ash.) He says the idea here is that it's not just the capital city, Zion, that rejoices, but it's all believers everywhere! Even what might seem like the smallest outpost of kingdom of Christ, even the parts way out there, like in the middle of North America — on that day we're all rejoicing together … believers from “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” … We will all say, “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory!” (Revelation 7:9; 19:7). On that day, verse 9 will be the clearest reality of all:“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;you are exalted far above all gods.”In other words, Jesus has ultimate supremacy … “every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).This is what Psalm 97 is getting at. In summary, Psalm 97:1–9 is the Christian hope in a nutshell: One day Jesus is coming back in judgment and salvation — judgment for those who reject him and salvation for those who trust him. And by his grace, church, we trust him. We will rejoice on that day. We will love his future, final appearing! Amen.The big question now is: How do we live in the meantime?3. How do God's people live in the meantime?Now this is the church's question. We ask it together, and the New Testament is all about it. But verses 10–12 in Psalm 97 give us a pretty good answer, and that's what I wanna show you. But I want to help you bring it down more personally. This is a topic that can be so out there and theoretical, but don't let it be. I want you to think, right now: Jesus is coming back one day. Now ask yourself this question: What does God want me to do in this life? How should I live in the meantime?According to verses 10, 11, 12, we see at least three answers. First is this:1. Lead a moral life.This is verse 10, and it's one you need to see. So everybody help me out. Find Psalm 97, verse 10:“O you who love the Lord, hate evil!”“Hate evil” — this is a command, and it's one that we are not set up well to understand. That's because “hate” is a biblically strong word that we use too commonly. And “evil” is a biblically common word that we use too strongly. That make sense? We've weakened the word hate and narrowed the word evil. So we have to slow down and think about this.To hate something is to have an intense hostility against it. It's not a mood, it's a conviction. We shouldn't casually throw the word around about food or weather or sports teams. And evil is anything that defies the moral will of God — anything that is a deprivation or distortion of God's goodness. It's not just the worst, most horrible things nobody likes to talk about. But truly, sin, of every kind, is evil. See, we often define evil horizontally: we think it has to do with how much hurt it causes other people. But the Bible, first, defines evil vertically: the issue is what it says about God.Evil is evil because it defies him, it rejects him, it dishonors him. This is why we must have a God-centered morality.Right and wrong, good and evil, is not whatever you want it to be in the moment. But good and evil — the moral framework of reality — is an objective standard determined by the righteousness of God, and he has revealed this to us as his moral will in Scripture. What a gift!God guides us how to live in harmony with his holiness. He shows us how to lead a moral life, which means we hate evil. I think this is one of the greatest needs in our day for the church's witness. We need moral clarity — the ability to recognize evil, the courage to call evil evil, and the God-centered conviction to hate evil.And that means the evil out there, but it starts first with the evil within our own hearts. It's been said that many Christians today are soft on evil. And wherever that's true, my theory is that we're soft on evil culturally because we're soft on evil personally, and we're soft on evil personally because our vision of God is small … Wherever our understanding of God's glory is frail, and our commitment to his word is weak, we will get this wrong.And if we're ever gonna experience true revival, in our church, in this country, it will include a recovery here. Spurgeon put it plainly. He said, “We cannot love God without hating what he hates.”Until Jesus returns, in the meantime, we're called … you're called … to lead a moral life.Second thing to do in the meantime …2. Lead a hopeful life. This is verse 11:“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.”A few years back, the Holy Spirit made this verse pop off the page to me. I wrote it out on a notecard and put it on my desk. I think it's a glorious sentence. Notice first that it's an agricultural metaphor, which we see a lot of in Scripture. Light and joy are sown. The focus is on planting, on sowing, but the words “light” and “joy” sound more like a harvest. How do you sow light? How do you plant joy? You don't. You sow something else that, in the moment of sowing, looks different from what you hope it will become.I just re-seeded my front yard. Tall fescue grass: Thick, forest-green blades, cool to the touch on the hottest summer day, firm but humble, durable but inviting, elegant but approachable — oh it will be wonderful! But what I held in my hand, before I dropped it in the ground, looked nothing like that — it looked nothing like what it will become. It was just a seed.That's so much of life, isn't it? Life in this meantime is sowing. It's planting. And a lot of times, we want to judge the future harvest by how the seed looks now. It's such an easy mistake to make. How do we not do that?How can we call it light now in the sowing? How can we call it joy now? The answer is hope. Our hope is in the harvest, and it's so sure — God's promise is so certain — we can say the light is in the ground. The joy is coming, and it's already here. That's what it means to lead a hopeful life.Third thing to do in the meantime …3. Lead a thankful life.This is verse 12:“Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!”Rejoicing and thanksgiving — it's the same idea. We rejoice in God and we give him thanks in response to who he is and what he's done. Now, I'm just going to use the word thankful because it's the last word in verse 12 and it encapsulates joy. Thankfulness includes joy. And this is such a fitting way to conclude Psalm 97, and really, to conclude everything. For everyone who trusts in Christ, thankfulness will be the posture of our hearts at the end of the world. We begin doing now what we will do forever. We're called to lead a thankful life today: Colossians 3:15,“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.”1 Thessalonians 5:18,“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”Now, how do we do that? What does it look like to lead a thankful life?I think it comes down to the discipline of daily thankfulness.Very practically, just imagine how you start and end your days. You wake up every morning. We all start there. Now what if, first thing in the morning, when you're awake for your brain to work, you thanked God? Thank him for something specific — a provision, a gift, an experience. Start by thanking him. And then that night, with your head on your pillow, when God has brought you through another day, you end your day by thanking him for it. Even when things are tough, when things go sideways, in the full assessment of everything, there's a reason to be thankful. Give God thanks as you fall asleep, give God thanks when you wake up — and if you do that everyday that becomes a thankful life. It will be a life that honors God until that final day when we step into the eternal morning. This is how we live as we wait for the end of the world, because, as Psalm 97 shows us: Because Christ will come again. And every human will respond to his final appearing, either in shame or joy. And until that day, in the meantime, lead a moral life, lead a hopeful life, lead a thankful life.Father in heaven, the life to which you have called us is a life that you create. Thank you for the Holy Spirit! Thank you for his presence and power day by day, moment by moment. We need him. Thank you that your Spirit brought us from death to life through the gospel. Thank you that he opened our eyes to see Jesus and to know your great love for us.Thank you for the hope that your Spirit guarantees in our hearts — the hope that Jesus will return and make all things new. We long for that day. And we pray, with the apostle John, Come, Lord Jesus!In his name, amen.

What should worship never be about, what does God want from us and how should we offer it to him? Find out the difference between giving your best and going through the motions. The post Give God Our Best appeared first on Wooddale Church.

Message from Pastor Daniel Bernard on May 24, 2026

How do I detect God's unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? Give God your...

Gospel Reading: John 9:1-38At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

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

In this episode of Soul Hydration, we're talking about why we assume the worst when God says no, stays silent, or makes us wait. What if His delays and closed doors aren't rejection—but love, protection, and preparation? This episode is a reminder to start giving God the benefit of the doubt and trusting that He's always working for your good.Send me a direct message

Most people give God words, rituals, and appearances…but Scripture says God looks at the heart.In this episode, we break down:• What the “heart” means biblically• Why God desires your inner man• The danger of outward religion without surrender• Repentance, loyalty, and true devotion• Why God promises a “new heart”“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

05/10/2026 Strong and Courageous | Walls Fall When God LeadsJoshua 6Big Idea: Victory belongs to God, but obedience belongs to us.When God's ways don't seem to make sense, remember they're shaping faith in you.1. God's leading, you're following. God is not trying to win a battle as much as He's trying to form a people who will continue to trust Him. (Prov 3:5-6) We believe God can leverage the wall in front of us, but we struggle to trust how He chooses to do it. (Isaiah 55:8)2. God is transforming you in the process. God often does his deepest work in you, before He does His visible work through you.3. God is working even when you don't see it. God is working while you are obediently walking. (Gal 6:9)Four clarifying questions to help you walk in obedience:1. What wall are you staring at right now? You cannot defeat what you will not define.2. What obedience step is God asking from you that doesn't make sense? Do you really believe that Jesus is enough for you? 3. Where do you need to keep walking? Faith is an EVERY DAY thing.4. What victory do you need to surrender back to God? Give God the credit and the glory that only he deserves.

What can we possibly give back to God for everything He's done? This reflection reveals the Eucharistic answer.Morning Offering, May 7, 2026Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

Give God One Year: Prayer | Pastor Amy Smith by City of Life Church

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.]5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. Subject: Give God your All. Thank you for joining. Be a Blessing to the Kingdom of God by spreading the word of God share this video. And if God leads you to sow it would be a blessing in the furthering of the word CashApp $ChristEmbassyA https://Ko-Fi.com/LivingLifeThroughth...please feelFree to visit our website & social sites with only one click https://linkfly.to/PastorDrDarleneSmith#Thepowerofprayer,#PastorDSmith, #ProphetessofGod, #bibleClass,#BibleStudy, #GodisGood,#DrLadyD;#MidweekMotivation,#LivingLifeThroughthewordofGod,#ChristEmbassy,#WordofGod, #SundaySchool

What's the cure for discontentment? Gratitude! Melissa Simon shares her story and the reasons she wrote See God Move and the accompanying journal. Give God 30 days. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Look for HOPE is Here: - at www.HOPEisHere.Today - on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HOPEisHereToday - on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hopeisherelex/ - on X (Twitter) - https://www.x.com/hopeisherelex - on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeisherelex - on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJ47I4w6atOHr7agGpOuvA Help us bring HOPE and encouragement to others: - by texting the word GIVE to 833-713-1591 - by visiting https://www.hopeisheretoday.org/donate   #Lexington #Kentucky #christianradio #JesusRadio #Jesus #WJMM #GregHorn #GregJHorn #suicideprevention #KentuckyRadio #HOPEisHere #Hope #HopeinJesus #FoodForThoughtFriday #MondayMotivation #FridayFeeling #Motivation #Inspiration #cupofHope #FYP #ForYouPage #SuicideAwareness

Author of See God Move, Melissa Simon created this daily Christian Gratitude Journal as a 30-day guide to helping you see how God moves, every day. Give God 30 days. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Look for HOPE is Here: - at www.HOPEisHere.Today - on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HOPEisHereToday - on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hopeisherelex/ - on X (Twitter) - https://www.x.com/hopeisherelex - on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeisherelex - on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtJ47I4w6atOHr7agGpOuvA Help us bring HOPE and encouragement to others: - by texting the word GIVE to 833-713-1591 - by visiting https://www.hopeisheretoday.org/donate   #Lexington #Kentucky #christianradio #JesusRadio #Jesus #WJMM #GregHorn #GregJHorn #suicideprevention #KentuckyRadio #HOPEisHere #Hope #HopeinJesus #FoodForThoughtFriday #MondayMotivation #FridayFeeling #Motivation #Inspiration #cupofHope #FYP #ForYouPage #SuicideAwareness

Prayer

Why are you tempted toward self-pity when obedience proves costly? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Matthew 19:29 to show Christ himself repays every sacrifice.

Legacy Audio Archive

Leviticus ch 1 vs 1-10 - Rev Bob Morrison - Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Leviticus ch 1 vs 1-10 - Rev Bob Morrison - Wednesday, April 8, 2026

At the Procession with Palms - GospelMatthew 21:1-11When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalemand came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,"Go into the village opposite you,and immediately you will find an ass tethered,and a colt with her.Untie them and bring them here to me.And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,'The master has need of them.'Then he will send them at once."This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophetmight be fulfilled:Say to daughter Zion,"Behold, your king comes to you,meek and riding on an ass,and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,and he sat upon them.The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,while others cut branches from the treesand strewed them on the road.The crowds preceding him and those followingkept crying out and saying:"Hosanna to the Son of David;blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;hosanna in the highest."And when he entered Jerusalemthe whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?"And the crowds replied,"This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."At the Mass - Reading IIsaiah 50:4-7The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue,that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. Reading IIPhilippians 2:6-11Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.GospelMatthew 26:14—27:66One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,went to the chief priests and said,"What are you willing to give meif I hand him over to you?"They paid him thirty pieces of silver,and from that time on he looked for an opportunityto hand him over.On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,the disciples approached Jesus and said,"Where do you want us to preparefor you to eat the Passover?"He said,"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,and prepared the Passover.When it was evening,he reclined at table with the Twelve.And while they were eating, he said,"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."Deeply distressed at this,they began to say to him one after another,"Surely it is not I, Lord?"He said in reply,"He who has dipped his hand into the dish with meis the one who will betray me.The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.It would be better for that man if he had never been born."Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"He answered, "You have said so."While they were eating,Jesus took bread, said the blessing,broke it, and giving it to his disciples said,"Take and eat; this is my body."Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,"Drink from it, all of you,for this is my blood of the covenant,which will be shed on behalf of manyfor the forgiveness of sins.I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vineuntil the day when I drink it with you newin the kingdom of my Father."Then, after singing a hymn,they went out to the Mount of Olives.Then Jesus said to them,"This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken,for it is written:I will strike the shepherd,and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed;but after I have been raised up,I shall go before you to Galilee."Peter said to him in reply,"Though all may have their faith in you shaken,mine will never be."Jesus said to him,"Amen, I say to you,this very night before the cock crows,you will deny me three times."Peter said to him,"Even though I should have to die with you,I will not deny you."And all the disciples spoke likewise.Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,and he said to his disciples,"Sit here while I go over there and pray."He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,and began to feel sorrow and distress.Then he said to them,"My soul is sorrowful even to death.Remain here and keep watch with me."He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,"My Father, if it is possible,let this cup pass from me;yet, not as I will, but as you will."When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.He said to Peter,"So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again,"My Father, if it is not possible that this cup passwithout my drinking it, your will be done!"Then he returned once more and found them asleep,for they could not keep their eyes open.He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time,saying the same thing again.Then he returned to his disciples and said to them,"Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?Behold, the hour is at handwhen the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.Get up, let us go.Look, my betrayer is at hand."While he was still speaking,Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived,accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs,who had come from the chief priests and the eldersof the people.His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying,"The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him."Immediately he went over to Jesus and said,"Hail, Rabbi!" and he kissed him.Jesus answered him,"Friend, do what you have come for."Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesusput his hand to his sword, drew it,and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.Then Jesus said to him,"Put your sword back into its sheath,for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.Do you think that I cannot call upon my Fatherand he will not provide me at this momentwith more than twelve legions of angels?But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilledwhich say that it must come to pass in this way?"At that hour Jesus said to the crowds,"Have you come out as against a robber,with swords and clubs to seize me?Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area,yet you did not arrest me.But all this has come to passthat the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled."Then all the disciples left him and fled.Those who had arrested Jesus led him awayto Caiaphas the high priest,where the scribes and the elders were assembled.Peter was following him at a distanceas far as the high priest's courtyard,and going inside he sat down with the servantsto see the outcome.The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrinkept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesusin order to put him to death,but they found none,though many false witnesses came forward.Finally two came forward who stated,"This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of Godand within three days rebuild it.'"The high priest rose and addressed him,"Have you no answer?What are these men testifying against you?"But Jesus was silent.Then the high priest said to him,"I order you to tell us under oath before the living Godwhether you are the Christ, the Son of God."Jesus said to him in reply,"You have said so.But I tell you:From now on you will see 'the Son of Manseated at the right hand of the Power'and 'coming on the clouds of heaven.'"Then the high priest tore his robes and said,"He has blasphemed!What further need have we of witnesses?You have now heard the blasphemy;what is your opinion?"They said in reply,"He deserves to die!"Then they spat in his face and struck him,while some slapped him, saying,"Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?"Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.One of the maids came over to him and said,"You too were with Jesus the Galilean."But he denied it in front of everyone, saying,"I do not know what you are talking about!"As he went out to the gate, another girl saw himand said to those who were there,"This man was with Jesus the Nazorean."Again he denied it with an oath,"I do not know the man!"A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter,"Surely you too are one of them;even your speech gives you away."At that he began to curse and to swear,"I do not know the man."And immediately a cock crowed.Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken:"Before the cock crows you will deny me three times."He went out and began to weep bitterly.When it was morning,all the chief priests and the elders of the peopletook counsel against Jesus to put him to death.They bound him, led him away,and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned,deeply regretted what he had done.He returned the thirty pieces of silverto the chief priests and elders, saying,"I have sinned in betraying innocent blood."They said,"What is that to us?Look to it yourself."Flinging the money into the temple,he departed and went off and hanged himself.The chief priests gathered up the money, but said,"It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury,for it is the price of blood."After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's fieldas a burial place for foreigners.That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood.Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiahthe prophet,And they took the thirty pieces of silver,the value of a man with a price on his head,a price set by some of the Israelites,and they paid it out for the potter's fieldjust as the Lord had commanded me.Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him,"Are you the king of the Jews?"Jesus said, "You say so."And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,he made no answer.Then Pilate said to him,"Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?"But he did not answer him one word,so that the governor was greatly amazed.Now on the occasion of the feastthe governor was accustomed to release to the crowdone prisoner whom they wished.And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,"Which one do you want me to release to you,Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?"For he knew that it was out of envythat they had handed him over.While he was still seated on the bench,his wife sent him a message,"Have nothing to do with that righteous man.I suffered much in a dream today because of him."The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowdsto ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.The governor said to them in reply,"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"They answered, "Barabbas!"Pilate said to them,"Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?"They all said,"Let him be crucified!"But he said,"Why? What evil has he done?"They only shouted the louder,"Let him be crucified!"When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,but that a riot was breaking out instead,he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood.Look to it yourselves."And the whole people said in reply,"His blood be upon us and upon our children."Then he released Barabbas to them,but after he had Jesus scourged,he handed him over to be crucified.Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetoriumand gathered the whole cohort around him.They stripped off his clothesand threw a scarlet military cloak about him.Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head,and a reed in his right hand.And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,"Hail, King of the Jews!"They spat upon him and took the reedand kept striking him on the head.And when they had mocked him,they stripped him of the cloak,dressed him in his own clothes,and led him off to crucify him.As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;this man they pressed into serviceto carry his cross.And when they came to a place called Golgotha—which means Place of the Skull —,they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.After they had crucified him,they divided his garments by casting lots;then they sat down and kept watch over him there.And they placed over his head the written charge against him:This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,one on his right and the other on his left.Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,"You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,save yourself, if you are the Son of God,and come down from the cross!"Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,"He saved others; he cannot save himself.So he is the king of Israel!Let him come down from the cross now,and we will believe in him.He trusted in God;let him deliver him now if he wants him.For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"The revolutionaries who were crucified with himalso kept abusing him in the same way.From noon onward, darkness came over the whole landuntil three in the afternoon.And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Some of the bystanders who heard it said,"This one is calling for Elijah."Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge;he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed,gave it to him to drink.But the rest said,"Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,and gave up his spirit.Here all kneel and pause for a short time.And behold, the veil of the sanctuarywas torn in two from top to bottom.The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened,and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection,they entered the holy city and appeared to many.The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesusfeared greatly when they saw the earthquakeand all that was happening, and they said,"Truly, this was the Son of God!"There were many women there, looking on from a distance,who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.When it was evening,there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph,who was himself a disciple of Jesus.He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus;then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linenand laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomband departed.But Mary Magdalene and the other Maryremained sitting there, facing the tomb.The next day, the one following the day of preparation,the chief priests and the Phariseesgathered before Pilate and said,"Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said,'After three days I will be raised up.'Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day,lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people,'He has been raised from the dead.'This last imposture would be worse than the first."Pilate said to them,"The guard is yours;go, secure it as best you can."So they went and secured the tombby fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard. 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aPsalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6Ephesians 5:8-14John 9:1-41Fourth Sunday of LentLectionary: 31Reading I1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aThe LORD said to Samuel:“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD's anointed is here before him.”But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him.Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”Then Samuel asked Jesse,“Are these all the sons you have?”Jesse replied,“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”Samuel said to Jesse,“Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.The LORD said,“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.Reading IIEphesians 5:8-14Brothers and sisters:You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”GospelJohn 9:1-41As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.His disciples asked him,“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered,“Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.Night is coming when no one can work.While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”When he had said this, he spat on the groundand made clay with the saliva,and smeared the clay on his eyes,and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see.His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?”Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”He said, “I am.”So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”He replied,“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyesand told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.'So I went there and washed and was able to see.”And they said to him, “Where is he?”He said, “I don't know.”They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.He said to them,“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”So some of the Pharisees said,“This man is not from God,because he does not keep the sabbath.”But others said,“How can a sinful man do such signs?”And there was a division among them.So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him,since he opened your eyes?”He said, “He is a prophet.”Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.They asked them,“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?How does he now see?”His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.We do not know how he sees now,nor do we know who opened his eyes.Ask him, he is of age;he can speak for himself.”His parents said this because they were afraidof the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,he would be expelled from the synagogue.For this reason his parents said,“He is of age; question him.”So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise!We know that this man is a sinner.”He replied,“If he is a sinner, I do not know.One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”So they said to him,“What did he do to you?How did he open your eyes?”He answered them,“I told you already and you did not listen.Why do you want to hear it again?Do you want to become his disciples, too?”They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man's disciple;we are disciples of Moses!We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”The man answered and said to them,“This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.If this man were not from God,he would not be able to do anything.”They answered and said to him,“You were born totally in sin,and are you trying to teach us?”Then they threw him out.When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?”He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”Jesus said to him,“You have seen him,the one speaking with you is he.”He said,“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.Then Jesus said,“I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”Jesus said to them,“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,' so your sin remains.

You've been trying harder… but it's still not working.What if trying isn't the answer?⸻Description:Most people think following Jesus is about trying harder, doing better, and meaning well.But what if that's the very thing holding you back?In this message, we walk through the powerful moments leading to the cross—Peter's failure, Judas' betrayal, and a criminal's last-second surrender—to reveal a truth most people miss:

Reading I1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aThe LORD said to Samuel:“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD's anointed is here before him.”But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him.Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”Then Samuel asked Jesse,“Are these all the sons you have?”Jesse replied,“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”Samuel said to Jesse,“Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.The LORD said,“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.Reading IIEphesians 5:8-14Brothers and sisters:You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”GospelJohn 9:1-41As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.His disciples asked him,“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered,“Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.Night is coming when no one can work.While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”When he had said this, he spat on the groundand made clay with the saliva,and smeared the clay on his eyes,and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see.His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?”Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”He said, “I am.”So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”He replied,“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyesand told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.'So I went there and washed and was able to see.”And they said to him, “Where is he?”He said, “I don't know.”They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.He said to them,“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”So some of the Pharisees said,“This man is not from God,because he does not keep the sabbath.”But others said,“How can a sinful man do such signs?”And there was a division among them.So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him,since he opened your eyes?”He said, “He is a prophet.”Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.They asked them,“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?How does he now see?”His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.We do not know how he sees now,nor do we know who opened his eyes.Ask him, he is of age;he can speak for himself.”His parents said this because they were afraidof the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,he would be expelled from the synagogue.For this reason his parents said,“He is of age; question him.”So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise!We know that this man is a sinner.”He replied,“If he is a sinner, I do not know.One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”So they said to him,“What did he do to you?How did he open your eyes?”He answered them,“I told you already and you did not listen.Why do you want to hear it again?Do you want to become his disciples, too?”They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man's disciple;we are disciples of Moses!We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”The man answered and said to them,“This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.If this man were not from God,he would not be able to do anything.”They answered and said to him,“You were born totally in sin,and are you trying to teach us?”Then they threw him out.When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?”He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”Jesus said to him,“You have seen him,the one speaking with you is he.”He said,“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.Then Jesus said,“I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”Jesus said to them,“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,' so your sin remains.

God not only wants the mistakes we've made—He wants the ones we're making. Are you drinking too much?  Are you...

March 15, 2026. Fr. Tyler's homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent.    Gospel John 9:1-41 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,  that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned;  it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him,  “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,  “Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don't know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again,  “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” Now the Jews did not believe  that he had been blind and gained his sight  until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said,  “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed  that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind  and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said,  “You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses,  but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing,  that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners,  but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said,  “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment,  so that those who do not see might see,  and those who do see might become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this  and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin;  but now you are saying, ‘We see,' so your sin remains.

I've been tested a lot recently.This one is really just me hyping myself up.

It's easy to curate an image—successful, spiritual, “together.” But the charade ends where it matters most: before God, who sees the heart. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef points to Paul's sobering reminder in 1 Corinthians: every believer will one day stand before the Lord and have their works tested. This isn't about salvation—Christ settled that at the cross, purchasing our righteousness by His blood. This is about eternal rewards and the reality that motives matter. Dr. Youssef explains the difference between building with: gold, silver, and precious stones—faithful obedience offered to Jesus with pure motives, and straw—doing the right things for the wrong reasons, seeking self-glory instead of Christ's glory. As you listen, ask yourself: Am I building for the glory of Jesus—or for something else? This devotional calls you to surrender your time, talents, and resources fully to the One who is worthy—so your life brings extravagant honor to Christ. Today's MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

What does God want from you the most? If you knew the answer to that question would you live differently? Chip shares, from scripture, what God is looking for from you and me. Join Chip and discover how to give God what He wants the most.Introduction: Risk, reason, and the decision-making processCase Study #1 – John's Civil War CoinsCase Study #2 – Sheila's PicassoQuestions to ponder:What are the risks?What are the potential rewards?What would you do?Why?Three Principles:Truth – What is true about the issue?Knowledge – Have you educated yourself about the issue?Faith – Do you believe it to the point of action?Case Study #3 – Ancient Treasure -Mat. 13:44-46Thesis – Total surrender is the CHANNEL through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.Definition – “Total commitment is the alignment of one's motives, resources, priorities, and goals to fulfill a specific mission, accomplish a specific task, or follow a specific person.” -Webster's DictionarySpiritual Insight – Through which lens do you view total commitment? Positive vs. NegativeThe Problem: What does total commitment look like in our relationship with God? How does it work?The Answer: Romans 12:1The Command: “OFFER your bodies”The Motivation: “The MERCY of God”The Reason: “Spiritual act of WORSHIP.”What does He want most?He wants you!All that you are and all that you have fully surrendered to Him.Why surrender to His Lordship? -Ps. 84:11Because total surrender is the channel through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.The Question: Are you ALL IN?Broadcast ResourcesMessage NotesAdditional ResourcesBecome a Monthly PartnerTrue Spirituality BookTake the Real You Assessment FreeWhat Every New Believer Needs to KnowConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

What does God want from you? When you boil it all down, what is God looking for from you and me? Chip reveals the one thing that God is looking for from his children.Introduction: “Risk, reason, and the decision-making process” –Excerpt from Harvard Business ReviewCase Study #1 – John's Civil War CoinsCase Study #2 – Sheila's PicassoQuestions to ponder:What are the risks?What are the potential rewards?What would you do?Why?Three Principles:Truth – What is true about the issue?Knowledge – Have you educated yourself about the issue?Faith – Do you believe it to the point of action?Case Study #3 – Ancient Treasure -Mat. 13:44-46Thesis – Total surrender is the CHANNEL through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.Definition – “Total commitment is the alignment of one's motives, resources, priorities, and goals to fulfill a specific mission, accomplish a specific task, or follow a specific person.” -Webster's DictionarySpiritual Insight – Through which lens do you view total commitment? Positive vs. NegativeThe Problem: What does total commitment look like in our relationship with God? How does it work?The Answer: Romans 12:1The Command: “OFFER your bodies”The Motivation: “The MERCY of God”The Reason: “Spiritual act of WORSHIP.”What does He want most?He wants you!All that you are and all that you have fully surrendered to Him.Why surrender to His Lordship? -Ps. 84:11Because total surrender is the channel through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.The Question: Are you ALL IN?Broadcast ResourcesMessage NotesAdditional ResourcesBecome a Monthly PartnerTrue Spirituality BookTake the Real You Assessment FreeWhat Every New Believer Needs to KnowConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

What causes God's blessings to flow to you and me? Chip looks at how God chooses whom He will pour out His blessings and how you can begin receiving those blessings, starting today.Introduction: “Risk, reason, and the decision-making process” –Excerpt from Harvard Business ReviewCase Study #1 – John's Civil War CoinsCase Study #2 – Sheila's PicassoQuestions to ponder:What are the risks?What are the potential rewards?What would you do?Why?Three Principles:Truth – What is true about the issue?Knowledge – Have you educated yourself about the issue?Faith – Do you believe it to the point of action?Case Study #3 – Ancient Treasure -Mat. 13:44-46Thesis – Total surrender is the CHANNEL through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.Definition – “Total commitment is the alignment of one's motives, resources, priorities, and goals to fulfill a specific mission, accomplish a specific task, or follow a specific person.” -Webster's DictionarySpiritual Insight – Through which lens do you view total commitment? Positive vs. NegativeThe Problem: What does total commitment look like in our relationship with God? How does it work?The Answer: Romans 12:1The Command: “OFFER your bodies”The Motivation: “The MERCY of God”The Reason: “Spiritual act of WORSHIP.”What does He want most?He wants you!All that you are and all that you have fully surrendered to Him.Why surrender to His Lordship? -Ps. 84:11Because total surrender is the channel through which God's best and biggest blessings flow.The Question: Are you ALL IN?Broadcast ResourcesMessage NotesAdditional ResourcesBecome a Monthly PartnerTrue Spirituality BookTake the Real You Assessment FreeWhat Every New Believer Needs to KnowConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Days With Jesus Day 36 When You Give God Your Best John 12:1-11

Wednesday, February 18th 2026 | Pastor Carlos Jones | “Just because it doesn't make sense doesn't mean God isn't able. When you trust Him, He will provide.” - Pastor Carlos JonesAbraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14 (KJV)

Give God Some Flowers

The Potter doesn't throw away collapsed clay; He reshapes it. When your life feels broken or the fire seems too hot, God is simply forming your strength. Discover the beauty of trusting the Divine Potter's timing and process today.

I've been sharing five lessons for living, which are found in Proverbs 3. Here is the fifth lesson for living, from verses 9 and 10: Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10). Now this one is close to home, because it talks about money, and if anything is close to our hearts, it's our money—right? But please believe me when I tell you your avenue to financial security begins with your willingness to make this lesson a part of your life. And what is that lesson? It is to give God the first part of your money. You may be thinking, But I'm not wealthy and I barely have enough now to make ends meet. I understand that feeling, but this lesson has nothing to do with whether you have lots of money or not. It simply says to give God the first part. Honor God by giving money to him, and then pay your bills. If you wait to give God the left-overs after you've paid your bills and used your money for your own desires, you'll discover you just never seem to have much left-over. The enemy of your soul will see to that! It takes a step of faith to begin this practice of honoring God first with your money, but this is truly the first step to financial stability for a Christ-follower. How much should you give? Think of what you think you can afford and then double it. That's a good starting place. Give God more than you think you can. It's the one place God invites us to test him. In Malachi he says, test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it (Malachi 3:10). God is not promising us financial wealth, but he is promising financial stability and security if we will honor him first with our money. Start where you are—and the sooner the better—and see if this lesson for living is not one of the best principles you've put in place in your life. As my dad said to me so often, “Honey, you can't out give God,” and I promise that is true.

Dennis Stevenson | Revival 2.18.26

Have you developed a hardened heart towards your spouse, your children, or anyone in your life? There are true signs and there are godly answers about how we can have our hardened hearts softened towards God and towards others. Don't live in the danger of a hardened heart! Be willing to confront it and willing to start the journey back to tenderness—first with God and then with others. God will help you and He can replace the heart you have now with a heart that is pliable, forgiving, kind, and full of mercy. Give God a chance!

We all love receiving gifts, but today we're going to flip the script. Pastor Kyle shares with us the greatest gift YOU can give back to God. Open a Bible to Proverbs 3 and follow along with us!

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1452/29?v=20251111

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1452/29?v=20251111

In the opening message of The Lord's & The Leftovers, we begin with a simple but searching question: does God receive our first and best, or only what remains after everything else has been taken care of? Looking at the story of Cain and Abel, this message reminds us that giving has never been primarily about money, but about trust and priority. God is not interested in leftovers or reluctant offerings. He invites us into a relationship where He is honored first, shaping our hearts and our lives in the process.Questions for Reflection• When it comes to your time, resources, and attention, where does God actually fall in the order of your priorities?• What might change if honoring God first became a trust-filled response rather than a reluctant obligation?

Opening Bible verse: Matthew 6:19-21 In 2026 I am taking you through my group coaching course via this podcast. For January, we are establishing a morning prayer routine. Give God the first fruits of your day. Praying the rosary is my favorite and my recommendation but whatever works for you, just get up and do it! Now, let's create a space that is inviting enough to get you out of bed and praying! If you liked this episode, I would encourage you to listen to this one as well: 272. Faith-Filled Decluttering with Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean ***Are you so overwhelmed with clutter that you find yourself unable to make any decisions? Do you plan on decluttering only to find yourself standing in a room confused about where to start? Are you hoping motivation will strike and you'll get it all done in one weekend? If this sounds like you, let's work together.   Book a one hour virtual coaching session via Zoom. Together we craft a decluttering plan and I walk you through the process. You'll complete much of the decluttering on your own time at your own pace. I just give you the roadmap and the accountability. Cost $77 per hour. Virtual Coaching Schedule   Not sure what you need? No problem! Book a complimentary 15 minute clarity call. We'll meet via Zoom and see if working with me would benefit you.  Email me at: tightshipmama@gmail.com to schedule a time.   Looking for community of like-minded women? Join the private Facebook community here: Facebook Group   Prefer to receive a weekly email with the monthly freebie like a group rosary, group declutter, or budget Q&As?  Join my mailing list here: Monthly Newsletter   Do you like to watch a podcast? Check out my YouTube channel here:  YouTube    For any other inquiries or guest appearances, please email me at: tightshipmama@gmail.com

You can admire spiritual maturity from a distance, or you can take your formation journey seriously. Many of us prefer the former. We outsource growth to personalities, call delayed obedience "wisdom," and bargain with God when surrender would cost too much. This week on Win Today, Dr. Eric Mason joins me to confront the quiet drift that hollows discipleship: the consumer posture that fuels bad teaching, the spiritual immaturity that bargains with God, and the confusion that happens when we make our assignment our purpose. If your faith has been built around sermons more than Scripture, preferences more than practices, or outcomes more than obedience, this conversation is your invitation to grow up on purpose, with the Spirit, for the long road of holiness. Guest Bio Dr. Eric Mason is the founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and the founder/president of Thriving, an urban ministry training leaders for city contexts. A pastor-theologian for nearly three decades, he has preached and trained nationally and internationally and authored several books. He holds a B.S. in Psychology (Bowie State), a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary—where he was mentored by Dr. Tony Evans at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship—and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell. Eric and his wife, Yvette, live in Philadelphia with their four children: Immanuel, Nehemiah, Ephraim, and Amalyah. Show Partner We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Setting goals for the new year often focuses on achievement, productivity, and personal growth—but Proverbs 16:3 reminds us that lasting transformation begins with surrendering our hearts to God. When we commit our plans, desires, and direction to the Lord, He shapes not only what we do but who we are becoming, aligning our goals with His purposes and power. Highlights God is more concerned with who you are becoming than what you accomplish. Committing your plans to God starts with aligning your heart with His. Many goals fail when they rely on personal strength instead of God’s power. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out, transforming character as goals are pursued. Spiritual growth flows from becoming, not just doing. Jesus shaped His disciples through relationship before responsibility. God establishes plans by shaping them to fit His good purposes, even when they change. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Set Your Heart, Not Just Your GoalsBy: Whitney Hopler Bible Reading:“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3, NIV When a new year starts, it’s natural to think about goals. You may want to set some New Year’s resolutions to start some new habits, or at least make plans for the year ahead. While it’s good to want to set and achieve new goals, it’s important to focus on more than just accomplishing a list of tasks. God wants you to focus less on doing and more on becoming. God cares far more about who you are than what you check off a list. Proverbs 16:3 highlights a simple yet significant truth: If you commit what you do to God, he will establish your plans. The key is first committing your plans to God. You can only do that if your heart is lined up with God’s heart. When you “commit to the LORD whatever you do,” you’re not just handing God your goals; you’re handing God your whole self. That choice opens the door for God to transform you and lead you into plans that are really the best plans for you. Maybe that’s why so many New Year’s resolutions fall apart a few weeks into the year. It’s hard to make much progress on goals if you’re relying only on your own limited power to achieve them. But if you’re relying on God’s unlimited power to help you achieve goals God wants for you, you’ll experience the Holy Spirit empowering you to accomplish those goals in any kind of circumstances. The Spirit’s power works from the inside out, so in the process of working toward your goals, you’ll be transformed as a person. This year, instead of asking yourself what you want to accomplish, ask God who he wants you to become. Think of your goals less as what to do and more as how to be. How does God want to strengthen your character during this new year? Do you sense God calling you to be more courageous, patient, joyful, kind, generous, or trusting? When you focus on becoming, the doing naturally follows. Habits flow from the heart. So, your goals will flow from the kind of person you are becoming, with God’s help. Jesus didn’t start by giving his disciples tasks; he started by inviting them to follow him. Walking closely with Jesus changed who they were long before it shaped what they did. Their lives were transformed from the inside out. God wants to do the same with you! So, this new year, bring your goals to God, but bring your heart first. Ask God how he wants you to learn and grow this year so you can become the person he wants you to become. Then listen. Be open and willing to take slow, steady steps closer to God throughout this year and beyond. When Proverbs 16:3 says God “will establish your plans,” it means God will shape them so they match his good purposes for your life. It doesn’t mean everything will go exactly how you imagined. Some plans will unfold beautifully. Some will change unexpectedly. Some will be put on hold. Some will lead you into places you never thought you’d go. But when you set your heart in the right place with God, you’ll fulfill all the important purposes for your life. This year, don’t pressure yourself to achieve everything you want all at once. Instead, set your heart before God and let him shape you. Focus not on trying harder, but on trusting God more. The more you build a closer relationship with God, the more your own goals will line up with God’s goals for you. Give God your year, and look forward to how he blesses your heart! Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider how it’s important to set your heart on God to set the best goals, reflect on these questions: What goals have you made in the past that focused more on doing rather than becoming? What qualities do you sense God wants to grow in you this year? Are there any plans or expectations you need to surrender to God today? What would it look like for you to “commit to the LORD whatever you do” day by day? How does knowing that God establishes your plans give you peace or confidence? Further Reading:Psalm 37:5Philippians 1:6Proverbs 3:5-6Ezekiel 36:26Psalm 90:17 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ready to Unlock Spirit-Driven Success??   What's in store?  Tools to integrate faith and spirituality into every area of your life, helping you align with God's purpose.  Insights to build confidence, clarity, and courage to boldly pursue the God-dream planted in your heart.  Strategies to deepen your influence, live with intention, and positively impact the lives of those around you   Tune into God's Vibes and learn how to discover God's best! xo/Juliana ___ THE SPIRIT-DRIVEN SUCCESS LIFE COACH CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Enrollment is OPEN for the next round of the SDS Life Coach Certification Program [Program starts 1/8/2026!!].  Are you an aspiring Kingdom life coach or an existing life coach?  Have you wondered how you can be successful with God or what His design for success is for you personally and professionally?  Apply Now: https://julianapage.info/coachapplication

How can I give God more honor