Podcasts about god does

from Exodus 3:17-22; 14:5-16 We can learn and understand so much about the character of God by looking at the things God DOES. In this 4 week series, with the Exodus account as the backdrop and Moses as the one willing to answer the call, we see that God's heart is for the rescue and … Continue reading "(May 25, 2025) “The God Who: Sets Us Free”"

from Exodus 3:14-16 We can learn and understand so much about the character of God by looking at the things God DOES. In this 4 week series, with the Exodus account as the backdrop and Moses as the one willing to answer the call, we see that God's heart is for the rescue and redemption … Continue reading "(May 18, 2025) “The God Who: Is”"

from Exodus 3:1-12 We can learn and understand so much about the character of God by looking at the things God DOES. In this 4 week series, with the Exodus account as the backdrop and Moses as the one willing to answer the call, we see that God's heart is for the rescue and redemption … Continue reading "(May 11, 2025) “The God Who: Calls”"

from Exodus 2:23-25 We can learn and understand so much about the character of God by looking at the things God DOES. In this 4 week series, with the Exodus account as the backdrop and Moses as the one willing to answer the call, we see that God’s heart is for the rescue and redemption … Continue reading "(May 4, 2025) “The God Who: Hears”"

"Confident to Put One Foot in Front of the Other as God Does the Work": God doesn't need your competence to get the job done. He'll use you despite your weaknesses or strengths. Welcome to the audio version of Amber's newest book, "The Key to Confidence." You can also get your own print copy from our store: https://timeofgrace.store/

Series: The Mission of the ChurchScripture: Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 28:18-20 Speaker: Pastor David HallettIn our final message in this series on the Church and Missions, we want to bring it all home. We have shown that God DOES have a mission. Jesus commands us to fulfill that mission. He gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us for that mission. All that is left to ask is “What is our specific role in the MISSION of God?”

You’re invited to join Dr. Michael Youssef for the next LEADING THE WAY when he guides you to the words of Psalm 8. You’ll be comforted by the truth that God DOES have the answer for EVERY problem you face! (Psalm 8)Support the show: https://au.ltw.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the next LEADING THE WAY, Dr. Michael Youssef takes you into Psalm 8. You'll quickly see that God DOES have the answer for EVERY problem you face! Be equipped with the tools you need to study the Bible in 2025! Click this link to learn more about this month's special resource: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/155/29

When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn't understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don't have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does. 

If God doesn't listen to sinners, not a single person could be saved. He has a whole rescue system in place to help that sinner in the first place, and then deal justly with her sin ultimately. Rather than our sins separating us from Him, He makes a way that our sins are separated from Us.  So yes, God DOES listen to sinners.  If you are one of them, give it a try.  Subscribe today for tomorrow, Lord willing.https://youtu.be/on_7B5JxBIw

Welcome to 2025.  What will this year be like?  Who know?  GOD DOES! And his love and presence did not change.  But what was the worst year to be alive.  Here's one thought...

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25, Micah 6:8 Being in the Scripture is a great place to be because God DOES speak in His Word, both 2,000 years ago and today!   Today's text from the Bible is a powerful Word, a life-changing Word… Matthew tells the Christmas story from the vantage point of Joseph, who after finding out about Mary being pregnant decided to divorce her quietly, but… Joseph receives a visit by an angel in a dream and the angel tells him that he is not to divorce Mary, that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and that he is to name the child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.  Following the dream, Joseph stays engaged to Mary, doesn't consummate the marriage until after Jesus' birth, and he names the baby, Jesus. A virgin birth is implausible if there is no god. But there IS a god!  He is the God who reveals Himself in the Scripture and through His Holy Spirit and like in today's reading, through angelic beings. What prophets predicted, is fulfilled in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth.  Immanuel: God with us.  Fully human: suffers as our substitute for our sin Fully God: eternal redemption by His blood Apart from Christ our lives hold no hope. No matter how good we are it's not good enough. We cannot save ourselves for we have all sinned and we need the Perfect One to save us. Apart from Jesus - nice guys finish last. With Jesus there is life, forgiveness, peace, strength, joy, hope and the assurance we will live forever with Him. Today's Bible story still speaks powerfully to us today. God revealed the identity of Jesus to Joseph - and for us God is still speaking and revealing His identity to each of us through Joseph's story. In Joseph we see an example of what a godly person ought to be:     ⁃    Our faith is based on the truth that God has revealed to us in His Word     ⁃    Our faith is more than head knowledge     ⁃    Our faith informs our behavior Joseph's example:     ⁃    Faithful to God's Word and wanted to live for God. He knew God is to be trusted, honored and obeyed.     ⁃    Merciful in a culture that looked at Mary's pregnancy as a disgrace, that recommended a public divorce, Joseph did not want to humiliate Mary.     ⁃    Obedient to what God revealed in his dream and also obedient to the Word in the Bible of “the virgin will conceive and bare a son” and so he took her as his wife.     ⁃    Courageous individual who put family first and God over all. An individual who did what God told him to do despite pushback and persecution.  He understood that it is more important to follow God than to worry about public opinion. Joseph wasn't saved because he was a good man. He was a good man because He was saved. So we too are encouraged to live lives as a response to the incredible gift of the grace and goodness of God in Christ. Micah 6:8 says: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. May we exhibit that kind of a life-style in response to the revelation of who our Lord Jesus Christ is. Lord Jesus help us live courageous lives for You! https://www.awakeusnow.com Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/the-greats Check out the video on Youtube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwOsas957DiSUd6oyPPusju&si=aF1BhWGvhZyBvUVi Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

 To desire materialistic gifts without wanting to share them with others is greed.For more on the topic of this podcast, use GNM's WordByte: "God Does the Extraordinary with Ordinary People" @ https://wordbytes.org/master-needs-you/the-extraordinary-with-ordinary-people/ The text of this podcast can be found on our website @ https://gnm.org/daily-reflections/2024-12-04/Subscribe to receive the Good News Reflections delivered to your email inbox or texted to your phone @ https://gogoodnews.net 

Have you been operating under the belief that God's love isn't steadfast? That His love is based on who you are, what you've done, or how well you measure up? Has this led to doubting that God loves you consistently - or that He could possibly love you at all? Friend, the biblical truth is that God DOES love you 24/7/365 no matter what you've done or where you are in life. In fact, His love isn't based on your actions at all but who He is! Discover the one major trait of God that will ensure His love is always present and available to you! --------------------    Take the Quiz: https://www.relateescape.com/quiz  Get a weekly love note from Jenn with legit biblical insights. Plus, be the first to know about exclusive offers! https://bit.ly/GodLovesMeEmail  Join the Online Community: https://www.relateescape.com/online-community Shop the Store: https://www.relateescape.com/store Follow Jenn on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/relateescape

Support our channel & Become a Partner ⇨  https://www.missiondelafe.org/   Listen on Podcast Spotify Podcast ⇨ https://spoti.fi/3RBKdq3Apple Podcast ⇨ https://apple.co/3evzCuuConnect with ushttps://www.facebook.com/delafetestimonieshttps://www.instagram.com/delafetestimonies/Connect with Sharon:Youtube ⇨  https://www.youtube.com/@UCpqs6NF7-ZMGfK1ghJj-c9Q Email ⇨ hegwoodsharon3@gmail.comTiktok ⇨ www.tiktok.com/@lovelydarling773Credits:Testimony by Sharon HegwoodDirected by Eric Villatoro Interviewed by Eric VillatoroEdited By David Pauta and Joshua GayleAudio Mixed by Paul Nicholas Production Assistant, Jaiden VilsonTestimony Recorded in Grand Prairie, TXDelafé Testimonies is a global evangelistic project with the mission of creating the world's largest archive of Jesus testimonies. Our vision is to save souls, build community, and set people free through the testimony of Jesus.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:36 My Dad Accidentally Shoots Me02:37 The Fear of God Comes Over Me After I See This…06:29 God Uses My Mom to Speak Life into Me08:42 Feeling the Presence of God After Being Shot 11:17 My Family Begins to Pray for Me15:04 God Does a Miracle18:50 The Recovery Process22:09 I End Up Back in the Hospital26:04 The Lord Shows Me This During Surgery…29:38 "God Gave Me a Second Chance"30:32 "My Response is Gratitude”34:34 Who is Jesus To You?34:47 For Those Who Doubt the Existence of God35:52 Final Words37:00 PrayerShe Was Accidentally Shot by Her Dad & Saw This Vision...

Listen to Pastor Gawel's sermon for October 13, 2024, taken from Mark 10:17-31. The post God Does the Impossible for Our Salvation – Sermon for October 13, 2024 appeared first on St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

In this episode, Dr. Beach continues to explore Book 3 of Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, focusing on a topic that's often misunderstood- The relationship between faith and repentance. Many Christians wonder- Do we need to clean up our act before coming to God-- Does our repentance earn us forgiveness-- Calvin is helpful here. He provides insights for his time and ours that true repentance isn't a prerequisite for faith but rather its fruit. Join Dr. Beach now as he unpacks Calvin's thoughtful exposition on how the Holy Spirit bonds us to Christ, the nature of genuine repentance, and why this understanding is crucial for grasping the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

In this compelling sermon from 2911 Church, Pastor Karl Feller explores the journey of developing a "Grown-Up Faith: From Milk to Meat". Dive deep into your spiritual journey as Pastor Karl uncovers the timeless truths found in 1 Corinthians 3 and Acts 2, illustrating the path from spiritual infancy to maturity in Christ. Discover the unique plan God has for your life, as Karl emphasizes the importance of moving beyond being a mere spectator in faith to actively serving within the Church. Through powerful examples from the Bible, including the lives of King David and Queen Esther, learn how God uses individuals, with or without titles, to fulfill His purpose and build His kingdom. Embrace God's plan as you grow in faith, ensuring you won't be swayed by false teachings but instead stand firm in your beliefs. Join the 2911 Church community in this transformative series and see how your gifts can meet the needs around you for a greater purpose. Like, share, and subscribe to support this journey of faith.#HowToGrowYourChurch #StrongFaithInGod #Saints #ChurchPlanting #MaturityInFaith #ChristianMaturity #Stories #MinistryGrowth #Prayer #HowToGrowYourChurchCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:21 - Be More Than A Consumer: Engage, Contribution, Purpose07:52 - Carry What You Were Meant To Carry: Responsibility, Burden, Mission10:41 - Why is it Important to Serve: Service, Community, Impact16:16 - Acts 6 - The Church Grows Up: Growth, Leadership, Scripture20:13 - The Whole Body of Christ is Involved: Unity, Participation, Body of Christ23:01 - God Uses Your Gifts to Meet a Need: Spiritual Gifts, Needs, Service28:15 - God Does a Deeper Work in and Through Your Life When You Use Your Gifts: Transformation, Growth, Purpose30:13 - The Power of Mentoring: Mentorship, Guidance, Spiritual Growth----------Follow 2911 Church on Social Media:FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/2911churchINSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/2911churchWEBSITE: https://www.2911church.com/GIVING: https://2911church.churchcenter.com/giving----------Subscribe to 2911 Church's Podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SiLmBl5TcTGD63CTNwU4f?si=98186b325cf94ee6Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/29-11-church/id1456498714

What do you expect to find in the desert? Parched? Cracked soil? Heat, no water? Sand and rocks? A barren, dry, and desolate place.No one anticipates life or growth in the desert. However what happens an unlikely person in an unlikely person encounters God? Join us this Sunday as we learn what God Does in our Desert Seasons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nathan the prophet visits David and shares a message from YHWH:  Nathan tells David a story that makes David extremely angry Why adultery is the sin of theft Why adultery is the sin of disrespecting God Does 2 Samuel 12 support polygamy? Nathan drops a truth-bomb on David David repents of the sin, but the consequences are still there God punishes David, but forgives him nonetheless    There are so many other things P40 does! Check it out: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries  Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries  Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com  Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk  Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop  YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle    Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee  https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40   This ministry is only made possible due to your generous support https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries

Steve Parker from Houston, Texas and I discuss the parable of the Prodigal Son, also called the Lost Son.  The lessons from this parable were the theme of the Young Adults Retreat in Townsend, Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains.  Steve was one of the principal speakers at the event that took place May 24-27, 2024. This parable offers more than meets the eye, with lessons for all ages about how God loves and pursues us.  Steve Parker is a Christ-follower, husband, father of four, and soon-to-be grandfather. He serves as a Deacon in the Houston congregation of the United Church of God and is currently finishing a five-part sermon series entitled Live Valuably: Learning to Appreciate Yourself and Others as God Does. Professionally, he has been a hospice executive for nearly 23 years with sector expertise in patient experience, business development, and leadership. You can find him on social media at @storysparker where he contributes about storytelling, Biblical wisdom, and whatever book he is reading at the time. We'd love your feedback on this podcast to  vkubik@gmail.com    

In this "identity" episode, through the filter of God's Names, we will look at the fullness of who God IS, His "Is-ness", and the promises of what God DOES, His "Does-ness".  Dr. Patty will dive into the Omni-Truths of God and how He shares those characteristics with believers.  Jesus gives us a multifaceted metaphor of how simple everyday items in a junk drawer speak to the abiding lifestyle.  Then He challenges you personally to experience Him bigger than you have ever before in your Experience Jesus encounter time. Links referenced in this episode:   New to the Podcast?  Check out the Trailer Episode for the Biblical Foundation for Experiencing Jesus!  https://PattyEJ.Podbean.com/e/trailer-episode-experience-jesus-with-dr-patty-sadallah   The Special Place Encounter Exercise   https://bit.ly/3cEkYBC   939 Names and Titles of God http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/namesofgod.html   The Utility Drawer Photo  https://bit.ly/3iXBBuD "Is-ness" and "Does-ness" Experience with Jesus  HTTP://bit.ly/2wK9SpF Get Two Free Chapters of the Experience Jesus Book Series  https://pattysadallah.com/free-gift/ Check out all of Dr. Patty's books, journals, and downloadable resources at her bookstore, and don't forget to use the code EJPOD to receive 10% off everything, even the things on sale.  https://PattySadallah.com/shop/   Check out Dr. Patty's latest book- Encountering the POWER  of God: Experience Jesus Book 4 https://pattysadallah.com/product/encountering-the-power-of-god-experience-jesus-book-4/   And please make sure you share this podcast and share how you were blessed by this episode by commenting below!  THANKS!    

Love is not only what God DOES but love is who God IS. 3 reflections on how God shows his love to us through the cross of Christ 1. Love SERVES 2. Love FORGIVES 3. Love WELCOMES

Sermon for Sexagesima Sunday.Our own idolatry is believing that the Word of God Does not produce fruit. The solution is to hold to the Word of God with patience and steadfastness.

This week on The Gospel Jubilee Chip and Denny will be playing new music by Right Road Quartet, Zane & Donna King, Scotty Inman, Big Mo, and of course our mystery artists of the week. We will also have an interview with the station manager of Radio For Life, Lynn White. Lynn carries the Gospel Jubilee twice weekly on his station. 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/58531062/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. Scotty Inman - Southern Gospel - "Southern Gospel - Single" 02. Big Mo - Thinking outside the box - "Thinking Outside The Box - Single" 03. The Guardians - Heaven is happening - "Come On In" 04. Right Road Quartet - Walking on the right road now - "On The Right Road" 05. Voices Won - Fishing trip - " Just Call It Southern - Volume 10 - Disk 2" 06. Zane & Donna King - Front porch sittin - "Front Porch Sittin - Single" 07. TrueSong - Waiting for me - "Tell Someone" 08. Avenue Trio - Keeping it real - "Here We Are - Deluxe Edition" 09. Woody Wilson Wright - His way with thee - "Hymn Time" 10. Bradley Walker - With His arms wide open - "Call Me Old Fashion" 11. Interview with Lynn White - Station manager - Radio For Life and Greater Vision with, God Does 12. George Jones - Lord, You've been mighty good to me - "20 Gospel Greats" 13. Ed Bruce - I pray - "In Jesus' Eyes" 14. Endless Highway - I'll get over it - "This Is The Moment" 15. Daryl Williams Union - I am saved - "I Am Saved - Single" 16. The Williamsons - You made the mountain - "Above Everything" 17. Mystery artists of the week - Stand by me 18. The Gaither Vocal Band - He's still the King of Kings - "All Heaven & Nature Sing"

When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn't understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don't have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does. 

some people don't want to see us happy .i was reading on IG when a young Christian woman put up something that said when she was 16 years old she started to pray for God to send her a Godly husband and nice in laws she said she thought it would have taken along time but by twenty she was married with nice inlaws every one was happy for her except this one person who said 50% of Christian marriages end up in divorce .after i made a comment the person remembered they had been married for 40 years .so maybe all the person should have said is that i wish you a happy marriage but some people don't want to see you happy but God Does want to see you happy thank you all for listening to blessed and free 63 on Anchor Spotify apple and other platforms where jesus is Lord

Listen to Pastor Gawel's sermon for November 5, 2023, taken from Romans 3:19-28. The post God Does the Impossible: Justification of the Ungodly – Sermon for November 5, 2023 appeared first on St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

Introduction: Getting On Mission: Why Should I Care? (Matthew 9:35-38) I care because people are Hurting . (Matt 9:36) Exodus 32:32 - But now, if you will forgive their sin--but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written. Romans 9:3 - For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Luke 19:41-42 - And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." 2 Corinthians 5:14 - For the love of Christ controls us... I care because of where people are Heading . (Matt 9:37) I care because God Does . (Matt 9:37b-38) John 17:9 - I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me... Ephesians 6:18-19 - praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel... Colossians 4:2-4 - Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison--that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Romans 10:14, 17 - How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? ...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 9:35-38What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why do you think many churches have drifted away from the Great Commission?How can we prevent Harvest Bible Chapel from drifting away from the Great Commission?When was the last time you shared the Gospel with an unbeliever? What happened?When was the last time you invited someone to be your guest at HBC? What happened?What do you think would cause you personally to witness to people more often? BreakoutPray for one another, and HBC, to grow in compassion for the lost. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Have you ever struggled with trusting God? What's that about? How do you get past it? Tune in to Kent's sermon and learn how you can turn and trust the one who can still the wind and the waves and redeem our story. Jump in with us in Sections 87 of the Gospel Harmonies @ https://www.harmonychurch.cc/tracking-jesus-timeline/. IT'S EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). ILLUSTRATION: The first time I ever swung a golf club was at a driving range. I knew nothing about golfing except they had given me a long stick to hit a small ball. So, naturally, as a 20-something kid, I thought, “Hit it as hard as you can…” Man, I was swinging that bad boy as hard as possible, trying to muscle it. And you can guess what was happening, it was terrible - the ball was slicing, and then sometimes barely moving. At one point, it literally went sideways. Finally, a guy came over to me and said, “It's not about how hard you hit it, it's about having good form and follow through”… I stopped and watched all these other people hitting the ball, I watched them with grace, hit the ball, and follow through with their club and it hit me, I couldn't get a hit because I didn't know what I was doing… WE: We all know what it's like to not have good follow-through on something, right? -Some of you have a boss that takes things to like 90% done and then switches to a new project and it drives you nuts - nothing's ever finished As humans, we know what it looks like for someone to not follow through on an implied promise. b I think the secret struggle of lots of people when it comes to God, is feeling like God fails to follow through. There are a few points in people's lives where they tend to walk away from God The sermon I'm about to preach is one that can cause people to walk away from God. b Can I preach it, and then walk you back through why people walk away and what we can do? Check it out… THE SERMON: One of the things I think Jesus was doing was redeeming the history & story of Israel. Let me explain - do you know the story of Jonah? God called Jonah to go to a non-Jewish nation and call them to God. He didn't want to do it, so he ran - he got on a boat with a bunch of religiously pagan sailors and set off for a distant land to run from God. Jonah went down into the boat and fell asleep. While he was sleeping, a huge storm broke out. The sailors, guys who knew what they were doing on the water thought they were going to die. They finally wake up Jonah and end up realizing he's the reason - he's running from God. They throw Jonah over the side of the boat and the storm stops. The sailors end up worshiping God and sacrificing to him out of fear. Alright, let's jump into the gospels (section 87), cause I want you to see how Jesus redeems this story.. Mark 4:35-41 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Now, you don't know this at this point, but I”m preaching on it next week. Jesus is actually going over to the other side of the lake to a non-Jewish man who is suffering from demon possession… Jonah ran from the non-Jewish people, Jesus is running towards him. 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Luke tells us they were in great danger… These guys have spent their entire lives on the water and they know they are in serious trouble - sound familiar? 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” Jesus is asleep during this chaos. It's funny, I picture him rolling over like one of my teenagers and being like, “5 more minutes…” covering his face with his cloak… :) Now, remember at this point in the story of Jonah, they throw him over board and the storm stops.. but not with Jesus! 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. with a word, Jesus speaks and the waves stop. I was on a boat on the sea of Galilee and felt the waves on just a windy day, I kept thinking, what would would you think of someone who could really do that - control the ecosystem with a word - that's God-level power… In both stories, God stops the storm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” These guys recognize who he is in their fear… So, here's the sermon I'd normally preach, ready for it? God is in the business of writing stories of redemption. b Jesus redeems the story of Jonah and He can redeem your story b All you have to do is turn and trust the one who can still the wind and the waves. b You just have to trust and have faith. Hit pause, cause maybe you're thinking Kent, I don't get it, where's the problem with that sermon? Here's the problem. b The implication of that sermon is that God is going to “follow through” for you if you have enough faith - He will move whatever mountain you need moved. b And lots of you… have experienced the exact opposite. b You had faith, you trusted and the mountain remained. And the temptation is to just walk away from Jesus. Ugh… Can I just tell you a couple quick stories? Because I believe God is in the business of redeeming stories I believe and have 100% faith and trust in Jesus. Did you know the one person we know of that Jesus knew died and didn't raise from the dead was his cousin? Did you know that Paul the apostle healed lots of people but was brutalized and put in prisons? Did you know that all the apostles - even the ones who were in the boat that day and thought they would die but were rescued, that they all died even worse deaths at the hands of violent men? Listen, your confidence in God can't be bound by your circumstances. b Yes, God sometimes will answer prayers in miraculous, mind-bending ways, but at other times, He will be strikingly silent. b Jesus was God while He was sleeping and they were terrified and He was God when He was standing and commanding the elements to back down. b God doesn't sleep, but God can be silent - it doesn't mean He doesn't care, it just means He is up to something you don't understand yet. b God's gift to mankind is not to remove us from our circumstances but to walk through them with us. b “Then how can I ever have confidence in prayer with God?” 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. b God is always following through, He's just following through on His will - which is complex, multifaceted, caught up in time and space trying to bring as many into relationship with Him as possible. CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: A few years back there was a heartbreaking story of some worship leaders at a church whose 2-year-old daughter passed away suddenly. The church prayed for several days for this little girl to resurrect. It was heartbreaking. Can I tell you something, I believe God could do something like that, I've even prayed for it. But it doesn't destroy my faith if God doesn't do it. As a matter of fact, the entire book of Revelation is written to show us that God DOES have a plan to restore these wrongs. It is ok to both admit that what you have gone through is terrible and wrong AND to still trust God in the midst of the storm. Jesus Himself entered into those kinds of places - when His friend Lazarus died. Jesus knew He was going to raise him from the dead, and yet Jesus still cried. Some of you, need to let down your guard and cry. Some of you need to return to Jesus and realize you had bought into some implications about God and how He works that were just never true…

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In all of recorded history since Adam, there has never been a time when humanity did not know pain, sorrow, trauma and death. Never. These things are so ingrained into the fabric of our lives that the very idea of not knowing pain and suffering is a pipe dream. And death? It's a given. Everybody has death touch those around them, as we all eventually will be swallowed up by it. If we try and have someone imagine a world without these things, the thought is often met with the classic response, “That would be great, but it sounds too good to be true!” Why do we bring up this hope that sounds like a fairy tale happy ending? We bring it up because the Bible explains it through many prophecies. We bring it up because we believe it is the true conclusion of the stated plan of God. It's easy to blame God Because pain and suffering are hard things to deal with, it can become easy to blame God for our experiences with them. If God loved us, He would never allow these things to happen! I wouldn't let my children go through such things, so why does God let us go through them? These are but two of the many reactions people have to God in the face if the difficulties of life. You can't blame people for feeling this way, as a logical, God-based explanation for our current social circumstances is hard to find. Does He really care? Along with these kinds of reactions, there are a list of questions people typically wonder about when trying to make sense of God in the context of our current troubles. “Does God really care about the massive suffering that humanity experiences?” is probably near the top of the list. This fundamental question demands a simple yes or no answer. If we were to answer yes, and we absolutely believe that to be true, then another question immediately follows, “If God does care, then what possible benefit could there be from the thousands of years of human suffering we have endured?” Answering this question is by necessity a much more detailed endeavor, as it requires reasoning through several levels of proof. Here again, we believe that there is a sound, scriptural and logical conclusion that can be drawn. These two questions are a gateway to several other pertinent life questions dealing with God and the existence of things like fear, crime and violence. Check out our April 17, 2023 podcast, “Will the World's Pain and Suffering Ever End?” for more. We directly approach these and other questions about God and humanity. Our objective is simple. To the best of our ability, we want to be able to square the loving character of God with the sin, pain, suffering and death of our present world. The good news is that there are sound and inspirational scriptural answers that provide hope and opportunity for every human being who has ever lived. God DOES have a plan! Join us as we unfold its solutions!

The minority affects the majority.Today was such a blessing. Thanks to the faithfulness of the three young women—Charity, Grace, and Jacklyn—who gave their testimony as students of Asbury University during the recent revival. Pastor Paul shared in this service that revivals, like this one, have been used by God as instruments of awakening power within communities all throughout history. God DOES move in ways that transform entire nations. During this service, we heard what that looks like from three unique perspectives: how awakening brings unity among believers (Charity), how it breaks chains and deeply roots our identities in the Lord as Children of God (Jacklyn), and how revival brings us not simply to worship what God can do for us but rather WHO GOD IS (Grace). And all of us have experienced how encounters like this have far-reaching ripple effects, word of mouth, whispers, and rumors of the Spirit being poured out on a massive scale that magnetically attracts us to the feet of the King.Meditate on these things this week as you pray and seek the face of God alone, with your family, and with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do the difficulties you face ever cause you to doubt God's love?Take heart; those difficulties might actually be great evidence that God DOES love you!Join us for today's Daily Word & Prayer to find out why I'd say this.Who do you know that needs to hear today's message? Go ahead and forward this to them along with a prayer that God will use it in their life.Scripture Used in Today's MessageHebrews 12:4-111 John 4:17-18To become a TSCM Ministry Partner, click herehttps://www.tomthepreacher.com/supportTo find Tom on Instagram, Facebook, TicTok, and elsewhere, go to linktr.ee/tomthepreacher Have you read my book, "Takin' it to Their Turf"?If not, you may request a copy on my website, www.TomthePreacher.comWe send a copy to anyone who donates to our ministry, but if you can't do so, simply request a copy by sending us an email.************ Do you want to have all your sins forgiven and know God personally? *********Check out my video "The Bridge Diagram" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Kjwrlind8&t=1sCheck out my website, www.TomthePreacher.com, to learn more about my ministry and sign up for my daily email. And make sure to request a copy of my book, Takin' it to Their Turf, when you visit my website.Check out my videos on this channel to learn how to answer tough questions challenging our faith.

Many within the household of God, due to their commitment to the work of their hands (what they do for God), will not repent of their idolatry—the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood which now can neither now see nor hear nor walk. When life is terrible, filled with trouble and pressure and our suffering never seems to end, it feels that God DOES not love or help us. Hence, many seek some solution other than this mystical formula of “by grace through faith.” Hence, our idolatry. In our idolatry, instead of worshipping only God, we worship and honor idols of gold and of silver—things connected to the divine and the angelic (things that are endemic in our religious culture). As a result, we venerate religious things, religious deeds, the angelic, all manner of personal and communal “holiness,” spiritual gifts and the gifted ones, and much like our veneration of “holiness” we also venerate religious and cultural godliness. Download Transcript

When I graduated from high school, I had my life all planned out. For years I had felt God calling me into ministry, so naturally I planned to attend Seminary…. But then God asked me to take a right turn in my vocation - He asked me to go into business. At the time I didn't understand how I could feel called to ministry AND the marketplace, but today I can look back and see that all those years WERE ministry and that he was laying the groundwork for iWork4Him. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” We don't have the big picture, but GOD DOES! So, how about you? Are you saying NO or NEVER to something that God is asking you to consider? Try removing the word NEVER from your prayer life – and see what God does.

God DOES have a plan for your life. It's not a secret, and it doesn't have to be a mystery! Listen to this message from David Webb to learn how to unlock God's divine destiny for your life!

The 72 disciples returned from their mission with amazing stories. Jesus celebrated with them, saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightning.” As ambassadors for Jesus, He gives us His power to defeat evil in this world. Let's take a stand together! (Luke 10:17-24) ***** Thanks for joining us today for Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders' podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I am the host for this, our Wednesday edition of the podcast. If you are new to Women World Leaders – we offer three different podcast episodes on this one feed each week. On Mondays, founder Kimberly Hobbs host Empowering Lives with Porupose – a 30-minute interview with a different woman of faith who shares her God story in the hopes of empowering you to walk in your God-given purpose. On Fridays, we have a team of leaders who present Celebrating God's Grace – a joyful and instructive podcast about God's grace in our world today. And, of course, you've happened on Walking in the Word, where we take a few minutes each Wednesday to open and study scripture together. There is SO much going on at Women World Leaders! If you have been around the ministry for any length of time, you are likely aware that God continues to bring us writers who are eager to share their God stories. We are continually building and coaching teams to work together to write books filled with individual one-on-one encounters with and teachings from God. We are SO excited to announce that we have TWO new books soon to be PUBLISHED! So keep an eye out on social media and through our newsletter to find out how you can purchase these soon-to-be-released books! Also, we ask you to pray with us! By God's grace, each of our previously-released books has hit best-seller status within days of their release, and we are praying for the same for each of these books — because the more books that sell, the more God's glory will be revealed to our world! To receive the newsletter in your email to ensure you don't miss out on anything God is doing in and through this ministry, please visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com Let's get to the teaching, shall we? As we dive into our walk through the Word, we continue learning from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John verse by verse, asking God to show us what He wants us to learn from each step. Today our study comes from Luke 10:17-25. Before we begin, let's pray. Dear Most Holy God, we come to you today, first, seeking your forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. Father, we don't want anything to impede the Holy Spirit's power and wisdom within us as we seek to understand your Word. So we say we are sorry for the recent moments when we have offended you, and we thank you for your mercy. God – lead us today as we read and study your Word. Help us understand what you want us to know. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   Last week, we studied Luke, chapter 10, verses 1-16. We saw Jesus send out 72 disciples in pairs to prepare the cities where He Himself would soon be going. He instructed the disciples that first, they were to pray for others to come alongside them as helpers, because there was much work to be done. Then He instructed them to be aware, because they wouldn't always be walking into friendly territory. Jesus told them they shouldn't take any money or provisions, instead trusting God's provisions along the way. They were told that as they entered homes, they should declare God's peace and not hesitate to accept hospitality. When they were welcomed, they were to heal the sick in God's power and declare that the Kingdom of God had come. If it happened that they were not welcomed, they were to shake the dust from their feet and move on. The 72 disciples were sent as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, with the power of Jesus Christ to heal and proclaim His name. If you listened to last week's podcast, you may remember that I gave you a charge – to go out and be an ambassador for Christ. I wonder how your week went? It's always important for us to take a look at how we are doing – to hold ourselves accountable. One way to do that is to be involved in a group that cares about your walk with Jesus. My favorite thing about Women World Leaders is that, through this ministry, God facilitates community, fellowship, and accountability. I am very much an introvert – I gotta' tell you, I was just fine with the pandemic forcing me to work from home. So I understand if you are a person who doesn't want to “get out there” – trust me, I do! But my commitment to my fellow sisters in this ministry helps me stay on the right track. Each time we meet, whether it be in a leaders connection, a writers' meeting, a prayer Zoom, or any of the many other meetings that we have – that you are also invited to attend, by the way - I feel a resurgence in my spirit. And I'm reminded that despite the sins I commit, God still considers me His daughter, and, as His daughter, He has given me the gift of sisters who hold me up and hold me accountable. These ladies remind me daily of God's glory working in and through this ministry and the world. I believe that is how the 72 disciples who Jesus sent out felt. Because, though they each had a very individualized mission, they were not going it alone. They were part of a community of believers. And today, as we read forward in Luke, we get to peak in on the return of the 72 – what happened when they came together in community to share their individual experiences with their peeps? Let's begin reading in Luke 10:17 from the New Living Translation… 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” I wish Luke had spent more than one sentence on this reunion! I love that they all returned together – I'm not even sure how God orchestrated that without cell phones. And I love their joy – even though they were probably dog-tired. I know when I return from a trip, I am spent. And I don't ever have to walk to my called destination! But these 72 were clearly energized by the fact that THEY were used by God! Have you ever been there? I sure hope so! The devil works hard to mask the miraculous that God does in and through us. That's exactly WHY it is important for us to reflect on our days and weeks. Think about your prayers – who have you prayed for that God has healed? We tend to not think in those terms, but I assure you that God DOES hear you when you pray. And He does respond. How have you seen God give His peace to someone dear to you in the last week? Is it possible He used YOUR words to bring a momentary smile to someone's face? That's being an ambassador. And I know there are plenty of ways we've affected others that we won't even know about until we get to heaven. I know our magazine contributors and book authors pray for their readers all the time – that God would speak a word of encouragement, empowerment, comfort, or grace to the one who happens to be holding the writing in his or her hands. But we may never hear all those stories. And that's okay, because we know that when we go for God, in God's power, we can trust that He will use every word and every step and every bit of strength we muster to serve Him. Though Luke doesn't record too much of the celebration of the returning 72, he does record Jesus' response. 18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!  This was the BEGINNING of Satan's downfall on earth! That fight rages on even today, but the disciples won THAT battle – and Jesus celebrated with them. We have battles we walk into every day, too. But when we give ourselves fully to God's plan, we can be assured that Satan falls far and fast – like lightning! Jesus continues… 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. This is GOOD NEWS – it was for them, and it was for us. We, with the power of Jesus coursing through us, have the power to conquer evil in this world. The disciples had already seen this first-hand, but Jesus is now telling them that their power wouldn't stop with that one mission trip, but was meant to be harnessed every day of their lives. Carrying God's power is both a blessing AND a responsibility. There is a job to be done on earth, and God has called you and me to do it. Jesus continues, saying that as exciting as all this is, it isn't the best part. Verse 20…  20 But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Cities of the day kept a book, a registry of their citizens' names. Though we may live temporarily on earth, our true home is in God's Kingdom. If you have given your life to Christ, YOUR name is registered in heaven. THAT is the true celebration. And with that thought, Jesus broke into prayer…verse 21… 21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. 22 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Jesus praised and honored God the Father – who made a way for us ALL to understand the depths of His teachings no matter what education or background we have. Holy, unfathomable, righteous, omniscient, and omnipresent God Almighty sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal to US His magnificent secrets and promises and power. I don't know about you, but that is just TOO MUCH for me to even take in. I imagine the disciples with eyes wide and brimming with tears at the wonder of it all. But Jesus wasn't done teaching them…verse 23… 23 Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn't see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.” Jesus' arrival on earth was heavily anticipated for a long time. Through the years, MANY prophesied of His coming. Many MORE believed and waited, yearning for His arrival. And these individuals, the 72, were honored to receive the blessing of serving Jesus' as He walked in the flesh. Since Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, we have been waiting again. This time, for Jesus' return. But we, too, are blessed beyond measure because we have been given so much – we have the Holy Bible—God's own Word translated into hundreds of languages. We have teachers and preachers who have studied and taught and shed light on God's teachings. And, most importantly, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we submit our lives to Jesus Christ, we are infused with the Holy Spirit Himself, who comes to live within us, giving us full access to His power, joy, and wisdom. This is simply remarkable and should cause us to break out in our own song of praise and thanksgiving. God sent Jesus. And Jesus called His disciples, revealing the glory of the Father, and sent them on a mission for Him. And He has done the same for us. We DO walk among snakes and scorpions—the path is not easy. And the more we learn, the more responsibility we are given. It's essential to remember that we have God's power in us, and as we walk,  to stop and take notice of all God is doing in and through us. And we should never forget to celebrate with others—because God didn't call us to walk alone. We all need each other – we were created to hold each other up and hold each other accountable. So let's stand together in His presence! We are going to know each other for eternity, so we might as well start relying on each other in friendship now! Let's pray. Dear Most Holy God – what an amazing family you have called us to be part of! You have given us gifts and joyful responsibilities beyond our wildest imaginations. God, sometimes the road is tough, but you warned us of that in advance, and assured us of your power to overcome the world, Satan, and evil of every kind. God, we stand as your army, in your power, ready and willing to fight the good fight for you. Thank you for bringing us along for the ride. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.      

What does Jesus mean when He says we will be set free? And how do we achieve freedom status? Dive into Scripture today with Julie Jenkins as we study John 8:31-47. **** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders' podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and it's my honor to be your host as we study Scripture together. I hope that you had the opportunity to join us for our leadership meeting Monday. We heard from one of our leaders, Michele Hughes, who taught us and led a discussion on how we can be physically heart-healthy. The Bible teaches us that our bodies are God's temple, and as Christians, we can attest to the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in us. There is no doubt God has work for us to do, and the means by which we get around this world are our bodies! These bodies certainly won't last forever – can I get an Amen and a Hallelujah? – but they are what we have while we are here, and God DOES call us to take care of ourselves so that we can serve Him and others.  If you weren't able to join us, I do invite you to mark your calendar for the third Monday of each month at 7pm ET to join us for our leadership meeting. Next month, October 17th, we will continue our teaching and discussion on healthy leadership. To join us, sign up on our website, www.womenworldleaders.com. While you are on the website, I do hope you will consider becoming a monthly donor to the ministry. Your donations are tax-deductible and will allow us to continue providing excellent Christian guidance and empowerment. AND, when you become a monthly donor, we will, as a thank you, make sure you receive a physical copy of Voice of Truth magazine in your mailbox. Well, let's dive into today's Scripture, which comes from John 8:31-47. But before we do, let's pray. Dear Most Holy God – we come to you today in total submission, asking you to teach us what you want us to know. Father, as we open your Word each day, we are blown away by your wisdom and the relevance of your teaching in our lives. These words were written so many years ago, but you breathe new life into them each time we study and read. God, help us know your thoughts as we study today and help us walk away with you on our minds, allowing you to reach deeper into our hearts. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   You likely recall from our recent Wednesday podcasts, that we are currently walking through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John studying the life of Jesus as chronologically as the Holy Spirit guides. For the last few weeks, we have been listening in on Jesus' teachings to the crowds on the temple grounds in the days around the Festival of Tabernacles. We have seen many question him, but we can't ignore the fact that many also came to a saving belief in Jesus. Last week, in fact, we wrapped up with John 8:30 which says, “Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.” In the very next verse, where we begin today, Jesus continues his teaching. We haven't spoken on this podcast about different Bible translations recently, so hopefully, you will indulge me for a minute. For this podcast, I tend to read out of the New Living Translation because I find its language clear and its phrasing understandable. But sometimes questions can arise from how something is worded – in any translation. All scripture was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. So ANY other translation, is, well a translation. When questions arise regarding specific words, it is best to go back to the original language, or, at the very least, look at other translations and see what we can learn. The NLT tells us that many people believed IN Jesus, and then, in the following verse, says that Jesus spoke to those who believed IN Him. But if we look at other translations of the same verse, verse 31, it is clearer that Jesus was not responding to those who believed IN Him, but turning and speaking to those who merely BELIEVED Him. I bring this up because WHO Jesus is talking TO in this set of verses is important. Many theologians and scholars think that Jesus was NOT, at this point, speaking to those who had put their faith in Him, but instead, He was speaking to those who believed all that He was saying, but weren't ready to accept Him as their Lord. Do you know anyone like that? Perhaps you are like that. Perhaps you see nothing wrong with believing that Jesus IS God, but that fact has never made a difference in how you live your life. The distinction is kind of like going to the doctor for a physical health issue and having the doctor prescribe medicine that will help your condition. You walk away with the prescription in hand, but that prescription will do you no good unless you ingest it into your body and let it do its work. Those who BELIEVED IN Jesus, took the medicine – they consciously choose to receive Jesus into their lives. While those who BELIEVED Jesus, simply held the medication in their hands. As we read today, we can imagine Jesus saying – TAKE THE MEDICINE ALREADY! With that thought in mind, let's begin by reading beginning in John 8:31 out of the New Living Translation… 31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is giving his listeners who believe, instructions on what to do with that belief. He instructs: remain faithful to my teachings. And He says the result of remaining faithful to His teachings is that the believer will know the TRUTH, and will be set free by the truth. Notice the order. The listener had to understand, and then, by faith, follow Jesus' teachings. THEN he or she would know the truth, and THEN they would be set free. Back to our medication analogy. They held the medicine in their hands. But they HAD to ingest the medicine, in FAITH, that it would affect their bodies the way Jesus said it would. And THEN, they would get better. And THEN, they would be empowered to live their best lives for God. I keep saying they, but again, Jesus was talking to US. To you and me. There comes a time  – whether it has been in your past, your present, or your future – when YOU are holding the medicine to life in YOUR hand. God makes SURE that we each hear and know about Jesus – that's a miracle in and of itself. But what we EACH do with that information is up to us. If you don't yet get it…keep listening…verse 33… 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free'?” These listeners were Jews. They were part of God's chosen people. They were the children of Abraham. And they assumed, in their pride, they were automatically free. Maybe you can relate to this statement. Many people grow up in the Christian faith. They might even go to church with their families every week and attend Sunday school. But until the individual CHOOSES to put his or her faith in Jesus, they are simply holding on to the medicine. And holding onto the medicine gets you nowhere. Verse 34… 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message.  Sin is a deadly disease. And in this life, it carries the symptom of enslavement. The Jewish people considered themselves one big family, and Jesus teaches them that as sinners, they are actually slaves to God's family, not sons of God's family. The slaves in that time often enjoyed the benefits of the family they were serving, so from the outside, who truly belonged and who didn't may not have been readily apparent. But at ANY time, the slave could be cut off from the family, and indeed, would DEFINITELY be cut off at some point. But a son of the family would enjoy the family and the benefits of the family for life. Remember the prodigal son that Jesus had taught about? He ran off and squandered his inheritance, and yet, he was invited back with a party, because he belonged. As children of God, we will always be invited back; God will search for you and forgive you NO MATTER WHAT you do. Because you belong; you are a part of His forever-family. But before you can move from slave to child status, you have to CHOOSE to. God is waiting with open arms for each of us to CHOOSE to become a member of His forever family. Jesus continues, making the point to His listeners that though they have BELIEVED Him, they have not yet put their belief IN HIM…verse 38… 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” This went all over them – see if you recognize their pride. Verse 39… 39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.[a] 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me!  Did you hear the pride? The people couldn't put their pride aside to listen and learn from Jesus. They were like entitled children who thought that they knew everything there was to know and they had everything under control. I'm willing to bet that as you listen to this, you can think of a circumstance when someone dismissed your knowledge – when they simply didn't understand what you were trying to tell them and went their own way. In fact, I KNOW this has happened to you, because it is such a common occurrence that humans swell up with pride and close their ears to others. Even as you think about that person or instance, however, I want you to intentionally wipe that out of your mind. And instead, ask God to show you your OWN pride. Where have YOU steadfastly turned the teaching of someone else away because it ruffled your feathers? Maybe the words came from a boss or a relative. Or maybe, the words and teachings you didn't want to hear came directly from God's Word. Love your neighbor – yeah, the one who parks his big RV and boat in the street making it difficult to pull out of your driveway. Give to the poor – yes, perhaps that surprise bonus in your paycheck wasn't meant for you. Or maybe you are ignoring the teaching to put your faith in Jesus Christ. To say yes to Him. If that is you, will you pray for God to help your unbelief and give you the courage to take the medicine – so He can set you free. Not just to live for eternity, but to live EMPOWERED to serve Him in JOY today. Maybe it's US who need to let go of OUR pride and give ourselves FULLY to God's call on our lives. We say He is righteous, we say He is perfect, we say He cares for us and loves us and will always take care of us – but are we willing to put ourselves in His hands, and like a child held swaddled in her mother's arms, completely and peacefully rest in His provision and protection? Jesus continues to his listeners… 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God.” Do you listen to God? Do you belong to God? Are you healed, forgiven, accepted as a child into His forever family? You can be! You just have to choose it. And He will set you free. Let's pray.   Father God…we believe you and we want to be in your forever family! Jesus, we seek today to be faithful to your teaching. Give each listener a special word right now – a teaching to follow today. Whether you are guiding the one listening into a freedom-filled relationship with you or moving her deeper into a life of obedience as you empower her to walk in your will and your way is personal, just between you and her. God, I ask you to guide her clearly – what is it that you want her to do for you today? …. Thank you for your Word to our hearts. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

In today's scripture, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. As Julie Jenkins leads this teaching, ask God to share His heart with yours. (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-10) **** Welcome to Walking in the Word – the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins, and I am so glad that you have joined us. This is episode 305 of the Women World Leaders podcast. We are coming up on our 2-year anniversary of bringing you new episodes 3 times a week. And we want to thank you – for loyally listening and sharing and contributing to Women World Leaders! When God first called us to develop the Women World Leaders podcast in 2020, we did so without hesitation, and we believe and pray that God has blessed many through both our and your efforts. If you are new or have been listening for a while, we would love to hear how Women World Leaders has impacted you. Connect with us on Facebook or our website, womenworldleaders.com, or drop us an email at info@womenworldleaders.com.  We want to connect with you! We believe that all of God's children are called for a specific purpose, and together, we can help each other as we walk in the gifting that God has given each of us. On this, our Wednesday edition of the podcast, we take a few minutes to open God's Word and study scripture verse by verse. We are currently walking through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John chronologically. Our study today is from Matthew 18:1—14 and Luke 15:1-10. Before we begin, let's pray. Father God – we thank you for this ministry and for this podcast. God, we love to come together to learn about you, encourage each other, and celebrate all that you are doing in our lives, in this ministry, and in our world. In the last two years, our world has continued to struggle, but you are clearly on the throne. Thank you for always giving us tools that lead and guide us into your presence – and Father, let us never take you or those tools for granted. We praise your name even as we work for you, give financially to further your reach in the world, and rely on you for everything we do. Be with us now as we open your Word together. Teach us what you want us to know and inspire us to live our lives to your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   As we study today, we see Jesus' heart as it focuses on His search for His lost sons and daughters, as told in two different parables from two different gospel writers. In recent weeks, we have been witnesses as the disciples learned that it takes a servant's heart to be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Through Jesus' teachings and illustrations, we have come to better understand the importance of ministering to those whom the world would consider the “least” in the kingdom – that is, children and new believers. It is from this vantage that Matthew records Jesus' launch into the parable of the lost sheep, warning the disciples in Matthew 18:10 from the New Living Translation:  10 “Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father Theologians disagree as to whether this verse means that each of God's children has an individual guardian angel or whether it means that angels, in the general sense, look out after God's children. Whatever your particular belief, it cannot be denied that God and His army of angels are constantly taking care of all of us. I often wonder what my day would look like without the unseen angels around me doing their job. Would the car that narrowly missed me have hit me? Would I have breathed in germs that were floating my way instead of turning my head? Would I have missed getting that important message? Thinking about the “what if's” from this perspective can certainly anchor us in gratefulness for God's care. Matthew goes on to share, in the parable of the lost sheep, just how much God DOES care for each of us.   Luke's intro into the same parable is a bit different. Luke 15:15 says… 15 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story:  A different take – a different intro, isn't it? Although the situation is a bit different, the teaching is the same. Luke tells us that Jesus is teaching the tax collectors, notorious sinners, AND the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law about His care and love for each individual.   I do want to take this opportunity to point out that someone who is intent on highlighting inconsistencies in the Bible could very well point to what we just looked at and say, the Bible is NOT without error. Two different gospel writers wrote about Jesus' teaching of the same parable, giving two different scenarios in which the parable was shared. Does that mean that either Matthew or Luke was mistaken, and, therefore, the Bible is not infallible? Not without error? Or could a simple explanation be that Jesus told the same parable more than one time? I point this out because, as Christians, it is important to know what we believe. And stand for it. And as a Christian, I believe that the Bible IS without error. Anything that I don't understand, or any error I think I see, comes from the limited understanding of my own mind. So, when I don't understand a teaching or a seeming inconsistency in the Word, I ask God for wisdom to understand. Sometimes He whispers something simple, like “maybe I told the same story on two different occasions.” And sometimes, because I am not a great theologian, in fact, nine times out of ten, God's answer to me is, “Don't worry about it. Focus on the meaning of the scripture, not the minutiae.” But if you notice something that could be perceived as an error, you too should go to Him for guidance. He may actually be calling YOU to dig further…because we all have different giftings and purposes. My point is, don't be afraid to ask God questions so that you can share with others where you stand.   Okay…all that is an aside…but an important aside. Let's get back to the parable…which both gospel writers record very similarly! Luke writes… 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away! In this day and age, most of us aren't too familiar with sheep and shepherds, so let's dig into this. Sheep are not the smartest animals. They like to wander. But they need to be taken care of – in fact, I've heard it said that sheep require more care than any other class of livestock. On top of care, a sheep, to live a full life, needs to be protected. And yet sheep are valuable. So if a shepherd were to lose a sheep, his reputation would be in danger. So Jesus' listeners would have heartily agreed that the shepherd would do everything he could to go after that one, missing sheep. Picture a vast field full of rolling hills, and shepherds with hundreds of sheep – shepherds often worked in teams. Each shepherd knew each of his sheep, and an attentive and caring shepherd would notice one missing out of the 100 he is caring for. So he leaves his other 99 sheep in a safe place with his fellow shepherds, and heads out across the hills, looking for the one endangered, and stupid, lost sheep. And when at last he finds him, a celebration breaks out! The joyful shepherd doesn't leave it to chance that the sheep will follow him back to the flock. Instead, he PICKS him up, puts him on his shoulders, and carries him home. In joy. When they arrive, the shepherd announces his find, calling together his friends and celebrating again. Jesus is our shepherd. We are the stupid sheep. Whether we are little children, new believers, or stubborn Pharisees, we are all sinners – just stupid sheep. We cannot exist on our own. We can't take care of ourselves, we are in danger, and yet we, at different times in our journey, willingly wander from God – our shepherd. The only one who can guide us and protect us. But God doesn't ever let us walk away. He knows when we've wandered, and He searches the hills and the valleys, looking under every bush and behind every rock until He finds us. And when He does, He rejoices – and picks us up and carries us home. On His shoulders. And when He arrives home with us in tow, He calls everyone together to rejoice with Him. And then the residents of heaven rejoice, too. Over one sheep. Because every sheep is valuable. Every sheep has a purpose. And every sheep is loved. Luke records a 2nd parable…verse 8… 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.” Who wouldn't search for a coin? A silver coin was worth a day's wages – certainly worth a good housecleaning to find. But the silver coin may have had even more significance. It was customary for a Jewish woman, when she married, to wear a headband or chain with ten silver coins. So the coin may have been one of those ten – with far deeper meaning than a simple, though valuable, coin would carry. I can remember one time losing a diamond out of my wedding ring. I was crushed! While I knew, in my head, that the diamond could be replaced, I held in my heart that the ring that symbolized the vows I made with my husband would never be the same. I searched high and low for that diamond! Whether the coin that the woman searched for was meant to pay for food or symbolized her marriage is less important than the understanding that the coin was important. So the woman searched, and she rejoiced when she found it! We have all been created on purpose for a purpose. And our most important purpose is to be loved and to love God and others within His family. God needs and wants you in His family! You belong! He will search every mountain and valley to find you and carry you home. He will light every lamp and clean every floor until He holds you in the palm of His hand. And then He will rejoice! And His whole family will rejoice! And the angels will rejoice! Matthew tells us that Jesus ended this particular teaching by saying in 18:14… It is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish. Are you feeling “little”? Unimportant? Or are you feeling unworthy because of your own sin or the fact that you willingly wandered away? Let me assure you, God still treasures you! He wants you to come home. And He will do anything to bring you to the celebration that He has prepared and waiting! Dear Most Holy God! Thank you for being our Good Shepherd! Thank you for never giving up on us – no matter how many times we stubbornly wander. God, forgive us for our sins and wandering hearts. Forgive us for the judgments we hold about others and keep at arm's length. Help us to reach out and welcome EVERYONE into the family that you have so lovingly and painstakingly prepared for our enjoyment. Give us your tenacity to search high and low for any missing sheep. Give us your strength to carry each one into the flock on our shoulders. And give us unselfish hearts, that we may REJOICE at each one's return. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.  

What is devotion to GOD Does the Bible have the answer Mark 81-10 Fr. Daniel Poovannathil

"Cast all your cares on Him" - we've likely all heard this phrase at one point or another in our lives, and maybe it's even become one of those things that we get but we don't get. The truth is God DOES want us to give those to Him - what does that look like, and how do we do it?

My Guest this week is Denise Mari! Denise is a Creative Consultant and Productivity Coach who helps women find the clarity they need to walk in what God has called them to accomplish. She enjoys spending time with her teenage sons, drinking coffee, and doing all things adventurous. She is the founder of: @Musecompany.co., creator of @inspire365planner, host of @she.abidespodcast and co-author of Women of Destiny a Path to Greatness.We talk about having courage to walk out God sized Opportunity admist feelings of worry, fear, leaving a job that not he right fit anymore and so much more. We pray that you will feel seen and inspired to tap into what God is trying to tell you and have the courage to step into new territory even when YOU don't have it all planned out- Don't worry, God Does!

Have you every prayed, expecting God to answer, yet it seemed like nothing happened? It felt as though your prayer hit the ceiling and came falling back to your feet.  Yeah, I've been there too! We know God hears our prayers. We also know God has the power to answer. We even know the Bible tells us to ask and we shall receive.  So, why, at times, does it seem like He doesn't answer?   Trying to understand and make sense of that can be very difficult.  It can also lead to emotional and spiritual frustration. However, God DOES actually answer all of our prayers.  And in this episode we will talk more about this, as well discuss four practical keys that will help you pray with more understanding and less frustration. Are you ready? I know I am. Remember, great lives are not born, they're built. Let's start building! 

God's power can indeed move mountains. But He uses it for so much more! As you listen to this podcast, ask God to speak to your heart, and then rest in submission as He guides you deeper into His presence – in His power. (Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-43) ****** Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders' podcast. I'm your host, Julie Jenkins, and I'm so glad you have taken time out to spend with God in His Word today. This past week, members of my household have been struck with covid for the first time. Thankfully, no one's symptoms are life-threatening, but it has changed the structure of our days. I have been living and sleeping in my office and sharing my daughter's bathroom, while my husband and son – both infected – are staying in their parts of the house. But life has gone on – I continue to work via the internet, as does my husband – and I have been struck by just how much just the existence of covid in the world has changed how we live over the last couple of years. In Deuteronomy 11:11-12, God promises the Israelites that the land they will enter will be full of hills and valleys, and there will be plenty of rain, but God will care and watch over us in every season of the year. Doesn't that hold so true for us today? Our lives are full of hills and valleys, and there IS plenty of rain – meant to keep us from being parched but sometimes causing distress. But most importantly, it is certain that God DOES watch over us in EVERY season of every year. I hope that you have experienced God's care over the recent years. We at Women World Leaders continue to see God work through the hills and the valleys, opening for us doors of opportunities to serve others and shout His name even as the world continues to be attacked by illness, violence, and hate. In today's Scripture reading, we see the disciples experience the hills and valleys of life, too, and we see Jesus' constant care as He leads and instructs them. Today we will study Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-43. Before we begin, let's pray… Father God, We thank you for always being with us through the hills and the valleys – and for caring for and teaching us along the way. We give you this time as we open your Word and learn from you. Help us be teachable, willing to listen, and excited to walk even closer to you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. Last week, we saw Peter, John, and James marvel at seeing the transfigured Jesus in His glory on the mountain top. They were awestruck and didn't know how to react. God then covered them in a cloud, commanding them to listen to Jesus. They then descended to the valley to meet back up with the other nine disciples. As they did, Jesus instructed the trio not to share what they had seen until after His resurrection. Their thoughts of glory and awe were abruptly interrupted when they came upon a large crowd in chaos, including a man begging for help, a child in torment, and the teachers of the religious law arguing with the nine disciples. Mark 9:14, from the New Living Translation begins… 14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. 17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won't let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.[a] So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn't do it.” The other gospels give us some additional details that we shouldn't miss. Matthew tells us that that the man came to Jesus, kneeled before Him, and then begged Jesus to have mercy on his son. What a beautiful picture of humility. We can learn so much from this man who, simply put, was desperate for help. He sought out Jesus. He kneeled before Him. And He begged Jesus for mercy. We serve a merciful God who WANTS us to come to Him – when we are in the valley AND when we are on the mountaintop. No single act is more powerful than our own submission to Jesus. Jesus, remember, had just been talking with Elijah and Moses about what was to come – Jesus' “exodus” as they called it – His upcoming death on a cross followed by the glory of His resurrection. Jesus knew that He was entering into very precarious times, and He knew that the disciples would soon become responsible for spreading the gospel and serving in His name…so we can understand His frustration that their attempts at overcoming the evil in this boy had failed. Mark 9:19 continues… 19 Jesus said to them,[b] “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. Can you picture the scene? Jesus then asked the boy's father.. 21 “How long has this been happening?” to which he replies “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Luke records that the father said that the spirit hardly ever left the boy alone. Can you imagine the heartbreak of this man? His son, Luke tells us his ONLY son, has been demon possessed since birth. The father has spent this boys' WHOLE life caring for him and trying to keep him alive. He must've been exhausted – mentally, physically, and emotionally. Maybe you can relate. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you are beating your head against a wall and nothing helps? The man, obviously, was able to deal with the repercussions of the issue – he was able to muster the strength he needed to keep the boy alive. But he knew he was powerless against the source of the problem. And I do wonder where the mother was. Had she thrown in the towel? Perhaps you've been through something horribly trying in your life and can kinda, sorta understand if she had indeed given up. Recognizing the extent of the father's torment helps us understand his next words to Jesus… Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” Then Jesus used this distraught man's words to teach us all something that we can hold in our hearts forever. Mark 19:23… 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can'?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Our God can do ANYTHING! His power is limitless! His reach unending! God, who spoke the world into existence and who knit us together out of nothing can do anything. And He will – if we believe. 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Can I be honest and say that, personally, this is my most often prayed prayer? That's a bit embarrassing to admit. But I breathe this prayer several times a week if not more. You see, I study the Bible regularly. I go to church. I watch and am marveled by the signs of God. I thank Him nearly continuously as He works in my life. But deep within, I recognize that God is SO MUCH BIGGER than the picture of Him I have in my head. I had loving parents who spoke the Word of God to me. My children are growing up strong in the Lord. My husband is faithful both to me and to God. And I live in a sweet little house in a beautiful community. But, still. God is so much bigger than I can imagine! My own view is tainted by the world. I see evil. I see sickness. I see death. I see jealousy and greed and pain. And if I let them, those things can begin to diminish my view of our great big God. So I pray – Help my unbelief! Help me to remember, God, that you are for me and not against me. Help me see your glory in the mundane. Help me feel your power as I serve you. And what I've learned, is that when I pray this prayer, Jesus will NEVER let me down! He opens my heart a little wider, He helps me to see a little clearer, and He puts a spring in my step that can only come from Him. Jesus has always answered that prayer, and He always will. Beginning with the first time it was prayed. Verse 25… 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil[c] spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. After YEARS of striving to help his son, the father learned that he didn't need to know the right words to say or the right thing to do, he only needed to know the right place to go. To our Lord and Savior. And then, with the demon released, we see the devastating effects of the boy who had never lived his life as a boy…verse 26… The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He's dead.” 27 BUT JESUS took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. It can look like we have lost, like we are dead – BUT JESUS. Jesus WILL, if you let Him, take you by the hand and give you a new life. No matter how down and out you are. If you ask Him…Help my unbelief. As always, Jesus' power impacted far more people than the recipient of the miracle, more than the boy and his father that day. Luke 9:43 says… 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God's power. When was the last time you allowed the majestic display of God's power to grip you in awe? If that hasn't happened recently, ask God to help your unbelief, and He might just take you from your valley to His mountaintop! Mark 9:28 continues… 28 Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?” 29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.[d]” In other words…it wasn't about saying the right words or doing the right thing, it was about being connected to the right source. No matter what credentials or experience or background we have, our power is limited. But God's power is endless. This is tricky, even for Christians. After a series of “wins” based in prayer and obedience to God, it can be tempting to start believing in ourselves rather than in God. We must always keep ourselves grounded in Christ. One of my favorite word pictures comes from Psalm 1 – we flourish and grow when we depend on God, just like a tree planted by a river bank. Matthew 17:20 gives a deeper explanation of why the disciples were powerless against the demon… 20 “You don't have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[a]” For God – NOTHING is impossible. And our God is the same LOVING Father who wants to nurture you, protect you, and bring you and every single one of His children into His Kingdom forever. EVERYTHING He does is with that single purpose in mind. We can trust His goodness, His love, and His power. God's power CAN move mountains, but He has a much better use for His resources. God will always use His power to bring each of us closer to Him. Indeed, helping our unbelief. Dear God…I love you even more at this moment than I did this morning. Thank you for opening our eyes to your care, protection, and power. Thank you for always using your power for our good. Thank you for helping our unbelief. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." I. God Values His People. II. God Determines to Acquire His People. III. God Gives Everything to Purchase His People. IV. God Does it For Joy. 

Have you ever wondered if God is calling you to start a coaching business? Do you see other people making money online & think, "could I do that too?" I have good news for you! God DOES call people to coach & today's episode is for the woman needing a little bit of encouragement to take the leap. Friend, if you dream of quitting your 9-5 & making money from home in your PJs while watching your kiddos play with their toys on the living room floor, then this episode is for you

Let's start this week off with some good news. Listen to this Monday Mini podcast episode for some quick and practical encouragement to kick off your week and ground you in your calling. No matter what this upcoming week brings our way, we can start it off centering ourselves on the good of others and the glory of God. You can hear from God. Let's turn to Genesis: Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?” Genesis 3:1 Satan was placing doubt in Eve's mind about God, but also – about her capacity to hear from Him. What if fear and insecurity are keeping us from declaring what we're hearing God say? Here are 3 questions to ask to discern if you're hearing from God: Does it line up with scripture? Is it good for other people? Does it bring God glory? And, it can be wildly freeing when you realize that you actually cannot avoid getting it wrong. Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22-MSG God wants to talk to you, through you. You can be humble without speaking doubt + disbelief. He is mighty in you. We'll see you Thursday!

John the Baptist was beheaded. Does that mean that Herod won? This scripture is full of evil plots, sin, and power-hungry moves. Let's walk through this and unravel it step by step as we seek to uncover the lesson that God has for us. (Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, Luke 3:19-20) ********** Welcome to Walking in the Word, a Women World Leaders' Podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and I am so happy you have joined us! Women World Leaders is a worldwide ministry whose mission is to empower YOU to walk in your God-given purpose. Kimberly Hobbs started this ministry as a Bible Study in her home, but God had bigger plans! As the number of women involved in the ministry increased, God continued to empower us to reach even more for Him. Besides this three-tiered podcast, which focuses on teaching, inspiration, and encouragement, we also offer an array of tools to help you grow. Please visit our website at www.womenworldleaders.com or our Facebook page under the name Women World Leaders to find out more about how God may be calling you to be empowered and to use the gifts He has given you to empower others. We have leaders from around the world and offer opportunities to grow as a writer, artist, musician, speaker, event-coordinator, prayer-warrior, financial consultant, … the list goes on and on. Our biggest endeavor, however, is growing together as followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today, you have landed on Walking in the Word. This is our 15-20 minute Bible Study podcast. Each Wednesday, we take a deep dive into a few Scripture verses, and we take a deep breath as we ask God to guide us through and teach us what He wants us to know today from His Word. We are currently walking through the gospels chronologically. Please know that once we put up a podcast, your donations allow us to keep it available to you. So no matter what platform you are listening on, you can always go back and relisten to a particular teaching that God may be calling you to. These podcasts can be a great tool to help you start your own Bible study! Some of the best discussions I have been involved in throughout my life have centered around Scripture. We would LOVE to hear how you are using the podcast! Drop me a note at julie@womenworldleaders.com and let me know. Today's scripture reads much like a soap opera. There are steamy characters, betrayal, thwarted love, and even murder. Who ever said that the Bible is boring has simply never read it. Today we are talking about John the Baptist's death as we study Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, and Luke 3:19-20. Before we begin, let's pray… Dear Most Holy God…thank you for giving us your Word to study together. God, we know that the Bible is living and active, meaning that though it was written years ago, it's teachings are relevant to us today, and will always be relevant to those who read and study it. We acknowledge that the words we are reading today were breathed by You and that, as we read, you will unveil the lessons that you want us to learn. God, I pray that you take my own thoughts out of this teaching and allow me to present only Your thoughts. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.   Matthew 14 in the New Living Translation begins… 14 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee,[a] heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.” We just finished reading about Jesus sending out His disciples, giving them His power to preach as well as to heal and cast out evil. As they traveled, we can surmise that news of Jesus and His followers reached Herod Antipas, who was the ruler over the area where Jesus ministered. And this news scared Herod – sending him into a guilt-induced speculation that Jesus was actually John the Baptist resurrected. This kind of makes no sense…because Herod was a Sadducee, so he didn't even believe in resurrection…and WE know that John the Baptist and Jesus were born nearly at the same time, that John foretold of Jesus' ministry, and even had baptized Him. But truly…there isn't much about Herod Antipas that makes sense. Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great, who had 10 wives and many sons…all named Herod! Herod the Great was notoriously evil and had no problem killing his wives or children. You may remember Herod the Great as the Herod who, fearing he would lose his power, ordered all the babies in Bethlehem to be killed after he learned that the new King of the Jews had been born. God protected baby Jesus by sending an angel to Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, and telling him to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. So Herod Antipas, who we are reading about today, had clearly come from a long line of evil and power-hungry egotism. When Herod the Great had died, his kingdom was divided among three of his sons. Herod Antipas, being one of them, became a “tetrarch”- which meant a ruler over a fourth of the kingdom, at the age of 17. Throughout his reign of 30 years, Herod Antipas craved more and more power. As part of that craving, he married his first wife, the daughter of an Arabian King, to gain a political advantage. But fifteen years later, while visiting his brother Herod Philip, a civilian in Rome, Herod Antipas fell in love with Herod Philip's wife, his own sister-in-law who also happened be his half-niece and was named…wait for it…Herodias! Herodias, who was also power-hungry and conniving, was game for the new marriage with her brother-in-law, but on the condition that Herod Antipas divorce his current wife. So now we have a NEW power-couple, so-to-speak…Herod Antipas and Herodias. And their conniving and evil ways fed into each other. Remembering that our scripture began with Herod Antipas succumbing to a guilt-induced speculation that Jesus is the resurrected John the Baptist? As we read on, we see where that guilt comes from. What is recorded next is a flashback…and it had been festering in Herod Antipas' conscience. Matthew 14:3… 3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod's brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God's law for you to marry her.”  Mark 6:19-20 fill in some of the details for us… Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod's approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him This is fascinating to me! We just uncovered the evil and confusion that existed in this family, and yet, Mark writes that Herod Antipas RESPECTED John the Baptist and he protected him because he knew that he was a GOOD and HOLY man. And even though what John had to say disturbed Herod…He still LIKED to listen to him! Luke tells us that John publicly warned the people of Herod's sin of marrying his brother's wife, which displayed John's own loyalty as a prophet of God. But John also courageously spoke truth directly to Herod AFTER he was imprisoned for speaking truth PUBLICLY. John advised Herod that marrying his brother's wife was against scripture. Herod WAS a Jew, so it should have mattered. And he listened. God was working on Herod. Despite Herod's evil ancestry and his worldly sins, God did not give up on him. And our God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, hasn't given up on you either. Herod listened, but he turned away without response. It isn't enough to listen to God, and then turn away. God calls us each to respond. What is God trying to tell you today? How is He asking YOU to respond? Matthew continues in 14:5… 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. So Herod CONTINUED to listen to John…who was speaking for God…but he also continued living his life as usual. Herod had built a royal palace meant for lavish entertaining, and then he proceeded to use it for a lavish pagan celebration – his own birthday party. Mark tells us this party was full of high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. This was no doubt a raucous event with plenty of alcohol to go around. It was normal, at a party such as this, to put slave girls on display as they danced sensually for the pleasure of the men. But as we have seen, the Herodian family was not quite normal, and they certainly lacked family values. And as Herodias was seeking power…she sent her daughter out to be the entertainment. Her likely pre-teen daughter. And the men were indeed entertained. And Herod gave her great praise. Matthew 14:6 continues… 6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. Mark records that Herod said to the young girl…“Ask me for anything you like, and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” 24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” 25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” Herodias was seeking power herself. She saw the relationship building between John the Baptist and Herod. John had actually been imprisoned for two years by this time. Herod had plenty of time to listen to John's teaching and respond. He listened. But he didn't respond. And then, through a string of bad decisions, Herod's path was determined. Herod gave into his desire for power and control and married his first wife for political reasons. Then he gave into his lust and married his brother's wife. Next, Herod heard John's public warning, and, as a favor to his wife, had John imprisoned. He then sat and listened to John, a man he respected as good and holy – but Herod refused to respond and, instead, allowed his heart to continue to harden. Then Herod threw a raucous pagan party, and promised the young, promiscuous dancer, who was also his wife's daughter, anything she wanted. And she asked for John's head. In front of the government officials, army officers, and the leading men of Galilee. From the depths of his hard heart, he now had no choice. Mark continues in 6:26… 26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John's disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb. Matthew ends this section with… Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. John was a good, upstanding man. A righteous prophet who was courageous and faithful. And he was beheaded. Herod Antipas was a wicked, weak, and confused man who had every opportunity to listen and respond to John's teaching. He did listen. But he refused to respond and enjoyed his fun in the sun. Who won? History tells us that Herod Antipas' divorce from his first wife led to a border war and serious military losses. And Herodias continued to cajole him into attempting to gain more power; but instead of becoming king, in the end he was removed from power and banished to Gaul, where he died. But more importantly than that, we saw Herod's heart harden. It is never up to us to say that someone is with or without an eternity in heaven. But we don't have any record that Herod did turn to Jesus. And that is the biggest loss of all. God gave Herod EVERY opportunity, and he turned away again and again. God DOES pursue each of us. But it is up to each individual to not only listen, but to respond. And make no doubt about it, although our God is patient, there will be a time when it will be too late to respond. If you refuse to listen to God, your heart will grow harder day by day, until you can no longer hear His call. AND the fact is that God can simply close the door at any moment – because the end times are coming and none of us know when our last breath on this earth will be. And then, no matter how ready you are, if you haven't already responded, it will be too late. So in this twisted drama, who won? John was beheaded – but he is spending his eternity with God in heaven. Herod Antipas enjoyed the party and the power – but he died alone, and to our knowledge without turning to God. Are you on the winning track? Have YOU listened and responded to Jesus' call? If not…will you now? Before it is too late? Oh most gracious Lord and Savior…we come to you today with humble hearts asking you to break the strongholds in our lives. Asking you to allow us to hear You and giving us the courage to respond. God, we confess that we are sinners in a broken world. We confess that without you, we are alone and our lives are empty. Jesus, enter our hearts. Forgive our sins. And set us on a path of resolution with you. We thank you for your guidance and for giving each of us the next steps to respond to your grace with courage. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Seeing God's faithfulness in our lives is not always easy when there are BIG things we're waiting for breakthroughs on! AND if we were honest its hard to keep the faith when you don't see those breakthroughs after what feels like forever in a waiting season, BUT, and I do say but for a reason… in choosing to believe God CAN show himself faithful in our stories, it's one way we can stand up to the enemy and allow our hearts to respond to God, then often times we get to see how God DOES show himself faithful in our everyday. As we bank on the promises of God, when we start focusing on the little things and even look for him in every area of life, I bet you'd be surprised where you actually DO see God working. Conversations like today's with my dear friend Amber are ones I can't wait to share with you as a listener. Originally from Colorado, Amber is a momma bear to 3 boys- 2 on earth, and 1 in heaven. Amber recently fulfilled a long long dream of living by the ocean, and moved to Florida where she is surrounded by sunshine and palm trees. A self-professed "gym-rat" Amber is passionate about fitness, and nutrition, and aspires to one day compete in body-building. Eternally changed by the death of her second son, in 2009 - Amber has relied on Jesus and gym to find healing from life's adversity, and is a firm believer that faith is not only an anchor, but a choice. Learn more about Walk with Me, the ministry Amber mentioned in todays show on Instagram at: WalkWithMedotorg OR www.walkwithme-nonprofit.org As you listen today my encouragement to you is to tune in, take in Amber's story, but then allow yourself to reflect and see where YOU have seen the faithfulness of God within your own story. It's probably a lot different, but there's a good chance there's things you can relate on, too. ____ Are you looking for community? Follow us @ The_Places_Between on instagram & say HI but also, you're invited to JOIN US for a PLACES BETWEEN RETREAT, coming this fall!  We just have a feeling God is doing something special here. Our vision is to equip people in their faith through the encouragement and testimonies of others who've experienced GOD in the places between, and they speak from wisdom and experience. Making it all come together over one weekend of deepening your faith, commitment and resolve to keep chasing God (on your own AND with others!) That is why we hope you'll join us...IN FLORIDA! What can you expect? Intentional deepening of your faith, community, activities and rest! Plus time alone and time with strategic coaching to equip YOU with the tools to step into your future with arms open! >>FLORIDA IS OPEN FOR THIS FALL!