Podcasts about his body

Today we start a new series “The Church As…”, with Pastor Ira teaching how many of us, when we think of “Church” we have misconceptions, or bad experiences that prevent us from allowing this amazing gift to have the impact on our lives that He intended. The Church was given a name that truly breaks this stereotype, “HIS BODY”. With this name, He takes something that could be construed as a “religious institution” and makes it an indispensable part of our life with Him. Key Scriptures:Hebrews 1:1–2, John 1:14,18, Ephesians 1:22–23, 1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Ephesians 4:11–16 

Tonight, we're journeying into the world of Norwegian folklore with two classic tales collected by Peter Christen Asbjornsen: The Lad Who Went to the North Wind and The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body.These timeless stories have been passed down through generations, filled with clever heroes, magical encounters, and the enduring wisdom of traditional folk tales. Whether it's a young man's quest to recover what was taken from him or a daring adventure to defeat a seemingly invincible giant, these stories capture the wonder and imagination that have made folklore beloved for centuries.This episode also marks something new for the podcast: for the first time, you'll hear a gentle rain ambience accompanying the narration. My hope is that the soft rainfall creates an even cozier atmosphere as you settle in for a night of rest.So find a comfortable position, let the rain wash away the day, and enjoy these classic Norwegian tales.Interested in supporting the show and in return, getting an additional story each week? Follow Dozing Off on Patreon:patreon.com/dozingoffpodcastSleep well.

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #306 Title: The Oneness of Christians   Web Description: Is oneness among Christians just a nice idea that we cannot expect to see actually happen? No. According to Psalm 133, oneness is where the Lord commands eternal life. Jeshua (Jesus) prayed to the Father that we may all be one. Our oneness is already created by the Word of God, and we can fully expect it to be manifested within the Body of Christ.   Show Notes: In this podcast Silas Esteves talks about recent meetings he held with Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant ministers who gathered to pray for the oneness of Christians. Silas has been involved with the vision for oneness within the Body of Christ for years, conducting meetings with Christians from every denomination. This vision for oneness has been a major emphasis for our fellowship, and it is something we have been tested on. But we are determined to have faith that the Body of Christ will be one just as Christ and the Father are one.   We know it is not something we make happen by ourselves. It will take God and Christ, who is seated at God's right hand, by the power of the Holy Spirit to make this a reality. But a reality it will be. It is something that has already been created because Yeshua spoke it. Oneness was Yeshua's prayer to the Father, and the Father will absolutely fulfill it. Our oneness in Him is something that is finished. It is complete. And all we are doing by faith is watching the manifestation of it unfold.   This oneness is a key element in the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on the earth. The more we believe for oneness and declare it to be the reality for the Church, the more we challenge it to blossom into something that we see actively manifesting on this earth. It is in the atmosphere of oneness that the members of the Body of Christ minister the life of Christ to one another. It is in the atmosphere of oneness that we will see the manifestations of Christ's resurrection life. Let us continue to pray for the oneness of His Body to be our reality.   Key Verses:   •       John 17:20–23. "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one." •       Psalm 133:1–3. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!"   Quotes:   •       "Maybe this is a time when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are drinking from the Lord, and the rivers of living waters will flow out." •       "Oneness is something really that is finished. It is complete. It was completed when the Father spoke it. It was completed when Yeshua spoke it, when the prayer was voiced." •       "If we really want to see a manifestation of life and resurrection, then it's going to be in an atmosphere where the oneness of His Body is our reality."   Takeaways:   1.    Even though our oneness has been tested, we cannot let go of the faith that the Body of Christ will be one as Christ and the Father are one. This was the prayer of Christ to the Father. And the Father will not let that go until it is fulfilled. 2.    We are not trying to create another World Council of Churches. We are taking steps toward the reality that the Body of Christ is one. 3.    Psalm 133 tells us that oneness is where God commands eternal life. It is in the atmosphere of oneness where resurrection life manifests in the Body of Christ.

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation centers on the importance of living in continual awareness of God's presence and intentionally including Him in every aspect of daily life. Ron shares how his experience in Israel impacted his walk with the Lord, particularly through the Jewish practice of prayer, memorizing Scripture, and keeping God at the forefront of everyday activities. The discussion highlights how prayer is not merely a religious exercise but a way of welcoming God's presence into every moment. The family also reflect on a worship service at a Messianic Jewish Kehila in Jerusalem, where people of all ages participated by singing and reciting Scripture. This experience served as a powerful picture of the Body of Christ functioning together, with every member contributing. The conversation further explores the beauty of Israel, the faith and resilience of its people, the security provided by the IDF, and the fulfillment of biblical prophecies visible in modern Jerusalem. Throughout the discussion, the emphasis remains on recognizing God's faithfulness, cultivating His presence, and allowing His Word to become a living reality in daily life. Show Notes • Ron shares how his trip to Israel changed his perspective on prayer and daily fellowship with God. • The importance of memorizing Scripture and keeping the Word continually before the Lord. • Dale explains how Jewish culture intentionally includes God in every aspect of life. • Discussion of prayer as the gateway to living in God's presence. • Ron describes attending a Messianic Jewish Kehila where worship centered on Scripture, participation, and community. • The congregation demonstrated a living expression of the Body of Christ, with every person contributing. • Reflections on the beauty and fruitfulness of the land of Israel. • Observations of the security and vigilance of the Israeli people and the IDF. • Testimonies of feeling God's peace and protection while in Israel. • The fulfillment of biblical prophecy seen in the children playing in the streets of Jerusalem. • Recognition of God's faithfulness to His promises and His ongoing work among His people. Key Quotes • "When you do that, it really brings the Lord front and center in an awareness." • "I'm trying to memorize, memorize, memorize so that I can mumble all day long the Word of God." • "The drive of our hearts is to be in His presence always." • "The best way to welcome Him into our presence is prayer." • "To me, it was like an example of the Body of Christ moving where every member supplies." • "I never felt afraid at all, not even once." • "A lot of it had to do with the presence of the Lord." • "The children will be playing once again in the streets of old Jerusalem." • "These kids were having a ball. They were just having fun." Scriptural References Psalm 1 (2) "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night." Referenced through Ron's emphasis on memorizing and continually speaking the Word of God. Psalm 119 (11) "Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You." Reflects the discussion of hiding God's Word in the heart through memorization. Joshua 1 (8) "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night." Illustrates the practice of continually speaking and meditating on God's Word. 1 Thessalonians 5 (17) "Pray without ceasing." Supports the theme of including God in every aspect of life through continual prayer. John 15 (4–5) "Abide in Me, and I in you." Reflects the desire to live continually in God's presence and awareness. Ephesians 4 (16) "From whom the whole body, being fitted and held together... causes the growth of the body." Illustrates Ron's observation of every member participating during worship at the Kehila. 1 Peter 2 (5) "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house." Supports the picture of a functioning spiritual community where every member contributes. Isaiah 35 (1) "The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like the crocus." Connected to the discussion of Israel's land flourishing and becoming fruitful. Zechariah 8 (4–5) "Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem... and the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets." Directly referenced in the conversation regarding Rothschild Square and children playing in Jerusalem. Psalm 91 (1–2) "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Reflects the testimony of experiencing peace and protection while in Israel. Takeaway Living in God's presence is not reserved for special moments of worship or prayer meetings; it is a daily lifestyle of intentionally including Him in everything we do. As believers fill their hearts with His Word, cultivate continual prayer, and remain aware of His nearness, they become increasingly sensitive to His presence and His leading. Out of that relationship flows peace, worship, fellowship, and a living expression of Christ through His Body. The more God becomes the center of everyday life, the more His reality is manifested in and through His people.

Death, Resurrection Power and Revival (1) (audio) David Eells, 6/14/26 Coming Baptism of Death Unto Life Pearl Harbor James Kehrli (David's notes in red) In December of 1984, about a week after I purchased an old 1940 Cadillac sedan, I was driving around thinking about times gone by, particularly the time before and during World War II. Suddenly I heard the Lord say to me, very softly, “It's 1940 and Pearl Harbor is coming up for the Church”. I thought about betrayal, warfare, death and awakening! I prayed to the Lord about it and He began to reveal to me more about Pearl Harbor. He reminded me of a scene from the film Tora Tora Tora in which one of the Japanese military leaders remarked, after their attack on Pearl Harbor, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve”. I thought about the Church finally waking up to her true condition. I thought about the terrible price our country paid in the 1940's to wake up to the realities of the world political situation. The price was human life, suffering, and destruction. But we did wake up. I thought about December 8, 1941, when we declared war against the Axis powers. Before that time, we were sending arms, supplies and money to our allies, but we were not sending men to help fight. We watched China, the Pacific Islands, France and much of Europe fall to Germany, Italy, and Japan, but we were not personally affected so we did not enter the warfare. It took a catastrophic event to wake us up. (His reference to waking up a sleeping giant reminds me of Tommy Hicks' End Time Vision and it becomes millions of people all over the world.) I prayed about and meditated on what I had heard until May of 1985, when I again heard from God during a baptismal service in our Church. The person to be baptized was an older lady who was quite concerned, even a little frightened, about being fully immersed. But she, after fifty years of disobedience and rebellion against God, desired to be baptized for the first time. Right before I was going to enter the water with her, a message in tongues came forth from my wife. The Lord gave me the interpretation by means of the following vision. This vision describes a future time of great hardship and great blessing for the Body of Christ. He showed me a deep harbor with blue-green water that was clear and calm. There was a Person in the water. This Person was not swimming or standing, but just floating in an upright position. He was motionless, like a sailing ship listing in a windless sea. Many Japanese Zero aircraft came in from the east and proceeded to dive-bomb and strafe the body in the water and the body began to slowly sink. Eventually, the body was entirely under the water. As he went down, I could see that there were many little people on this Body. As this Body sank deeper into the water, many of these small people jumped off just before they were about to enter the water. There were thousands of people jumping off and swimming away from this slow but steadily sinking Body. Some of these people jumped onto beds, which the Lord made clear to me were beds of adultery, and floated away, off to the left. Others jumped onto whiskey bottles and paddled away; still others jumped on books, while others swam off on their own strength. All of the people were floating, swimming or paddling in the same direction. I looked over in that direction, which was to my left, and I saw an extremely beautiful, gigantic woman, with skin and clothing of a deep reddish purple hue, standing solidly on the harbor floor. She stretched out her arms toward the sinking Body and got the attention of many as she very sweetly, seductively, and sincerely called out, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you WHAT YOU WANT!” (As we know, God separates His people, and the tares and goats go to the left, as in this vision. This is the Great Harlot of Rev 17:1-5 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication. 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication, 5 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.) The people who were jumping off were in a panic, like rats leaving a sinking ship. Some scurried to higher ground on the Body, going from the shoulders to the ears and finally jumping off the top of the head right before it went under. It was clear that THEY DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THIS BODY, but it was equally clear that they were not going down under the water with it either. The Body was now completely under the water, sinking steadily toward the bottom. Some of the little people hung on as it sank, but after a few seconds of holding their breath, they gave up, swam for the top, gulped a mouthful of air, and swam off toward the woman. The apparently lifeless Body sank deeper and deeper into the clear blue-green water. As it sank, I could see at the bottom of the harbor a beautiful, large, perfect Pearl - obviously of great value. It was supernaturally large and beautiful, lustrous, pure and round. As I watched, I could see the Body change shape from that of a single being, with little people desperately hanging on it, to many little individual people swimming deep enough to get to this beautiful Pearl. As they went deeper, many chose to quit and swim to the surface for air and life and then go over to the beautiful woman. All who quit diving eventually swam over to the beautiful woman. (The water puts to death the old man. They don't want to give up their fleshy life and die to self and follow Jesus.) Finally, I saw a number of these small people swim to the Pearl and touch it, and embrace it. But to do this, everyone who dove down reached a point when they realized that their own natural ability to hold their breath and dive deeper would not be enough. Those who dove down and touched this Pearl all came to understand that they would have to expend all of their natural strength before they touched and embraced the Pearl of Great Price. This did not keep them from diving down though, because the closer they got to the Pearl, the more of His beauty they saw. I saw many touch and embrace the Pearl and then immediately shoot straight up. As each of these little people shot up from the floor of the Harbor, each had the Pearl. As this group of individuals rose higher and higher, they all became one Body again. By the time these Pearl-laden people reached the surface they burst forth from the waters as one Body, the Body of Christ. These people were manifestly His own possession and they, in turn possessed the Pearl of Great Price, Jesus Christ Himself. (Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: …) As the Lord was showing me this beautiful picture, He spoke to me and said, “Even as Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, so My Body will come out of Pearl Harbor with a new and powerful anointing of My Holy Spirit, and a new and deadly power to fight the enemy”. He said that there indeed would come upon the Church of Jesus Christ a Pearl Harbor experience like the United States experienced on December 7, 1941. He said that when the Body of Christ begins to sink under the water, because of a soon-coming, devastating attack of the enemy, MANY will choose to desert our Lord Jesus Christ because they do not esteem the Pearl of Great Price (Jesus Himself) worth the price - death to their own selfish desires. They will not make the selfless effort of love to dive deeply enough to embrace Him because they do not love Him more than their own lives. Many will choose not to identify with what they assume is a defeated individual or group. They look upon themselves as winners and will not identify with a Jesus Who is apparently being defeated. They will choose to identify with the beautiful woman of the harbor who gives them what they want. As the vision revealed, many who leapt off the sinking Body because the woman of the harbor promised them success. Because of this, they went to her. Many others did not feel that it was necessary to pay such a high price to apprehend Jesus, and they felt that the beautiful woman would give them Jesus on their own terms. (This is the great falling away and like the parable of the seed and the sower; only one of the four held fast to the Word and bore fruit, 30-60 and 100-fold.) As the Body of Christ came out of the waters of death, the Lord said that His Body was now fully alive and would now fight the enemy with purpose and real anointing. (the coming Latter Rain anointing. Hos 6:3  And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.) Also, His Body would now use only supernatural weaponry. He spoke so clearly to me about the weapons. He said, “Even as the United States entered the Second World War using conventional weapons to fight the enemy, and ended the war with the atomic bomb, a weapon beyond their comprehension; so My people will begin this spiritual war with conventional weapons in the Spirit, but by the end of this war to end all wars, they will be using atomic bombs of the Spirit”. The Lord made it clear that we will come out of the water equipped with God-given anointing to REALLY heal the sick, work miracles, and deliver those in demonic bondage. He also made it clear that before the warfare ends, we will be moving in a dimension of spiritual warfare that is unimaginable to us now. We will do greater works than Jesus did and we will see the demon hordes routed like never before. After this message in tongues and interpretation was given, my attention turned back to the woman who was to be baptized. Then the Lord said that the Pearl Harbor experience for His Church would be similar to this woman's baptism. I closely watched this baptism to see what the Lord meant. The woman was very nervous and quite afraid of going under the water. I assured her that she would be all right. After several moments of prayer and a short teaching on what baptism represented, she was plunged underneath the water. She came out of the water with her hands lifted up, praising God. I had not told anyone what the Lord told me about this woman's baptism, because I did not know exactly what was going to happen. When she recovered her composure, she began to testify about what had just happened to her. She said that she was extremely fearful at first, but that when she got under the water, a Beautiful Peace swept through her, and all her fear was gone. This beautiful peace became joy as she came out of the water, and she praised God for His great comfort, love and mercy. I believe that God was showing us that we need not fear what He will put us through. His purpose is to bring us peace, joy, cleansing and power. He was also showing us that His Church will go through a baptism. It is a baptism of the Body of Christ. It is a death and a resurrection. We must trust Him to bring us out of this watery tomb of death and into the glorious resurrection power of His Son. We must understand that a harbor is a place of SAFETY and REFUGE. (As we have been shown. Those who reject death to self will not find this place.) God's people who are involved in these events will need to be safe and protected. The Harbor of the Pearl of Great Price is the only harbor that will provide refuge and safety, and ALL who believe will be more than willing to pay the price of dying to their own desires. Pearl Harbor is the death and resurrection of the Body of Christ, being prepared to do His work in His way, with His heart. It is the final separation of David from Saul - the David Church being purified and separated from the Saul Church. It is the final AWAKENING blast of the trumpet of God to rouse His people for battle. It is the judgment that begins with the house of the Lord. It is the refining fire that separates the gold from the dross. It will be preceded by the Lord dealing with His true people to both survive and desire this final preparation for battle. It is the promise of unmatched power and purity: power over sin, power over the enemy, power to live a much more virtuous life, and power to glorify our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even now, God is dealing with those in the David Church, even as God dealt with David. Whenever David would start to fall asleep to God's purity and purpose, the Lord would abruptly DEAL with David to AWAKEN him. God did not waste this kind of effort on Saul because Saul CHOSE to be asleep to God and His desires. Pearl Harbor is a warning of betrayal and disaster. The Church in the past has gone through many Pearl Harbors of betrayal and disaster. Jesus was betrayed, killed, and rose again. English Puritans experienced Pearl Harbor in the early 17th century and survived because they could not obey the law that the Church of England tried to force them to obey. They fled England and eventually sailed to the New World, where they laid the spiritual foundation for what eventually became one of the greatest revivals in the history of the world. John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress at the bottom of the harbor as he was betrayed by his own country and thrown in jail for not attending the services of the Church of England and for preaching in a way that did not conform to this church's liturgy. Had he given in and done that which they asked, he could have been a free man. But for conscience sake he chose not to do so. Because of this uncompromising obedience to the Scriptures and to God Himself, he was able to rise to the highest place in the history of Christian literature. Today, he still blesses us with the fruit of that resurrection power. To those who are not awake and prepared, Pearl Harbor will come suddenly and tragically, as a thief in the night, and they will be swept away to Great Deception. (As we are seeing.) To those who are more open to the will of God than they are to pleasing religious men, it will be an expected ordeal, a call to arms, and a prelude to great victory. The initial stages will be the harbinger of the greatest move of God in history: the Greatest Revival and the greatest manifestation of Christian Unity that the world has ever known.   The Pearls of Great Price Marie Kelton - 1/6/23 (David's notes in red) In this dream, I was in Chicago, and I was walking away from my old house on the sidewalk. (Leaving the house of our mother Church is a sign of growing in spiritual maturity.) I met Thaddeus (God's gift) and Greg (watchful or vigilant), two people I went to school with. (God gives us helpers along the way, like the fruits of the Spirit and wisdom; we must listen to them.) Thaddeus was to my left and Greg was to my right. As we were walking, I asked Thaddeus what had happened to him because I saw that he had a cut on his finger. Thaddeus said that he had a paper cut. I said to him, “Those are the worst.” (Our gifts can suffer when we go contrary to the Word which is written on paper and is a sharp two-edged sword.) We were going across the street and there was a tan van waiting for us to cross so that it could turn right. A red truck was behind the van, waiting also. As we were crossing, I felt an evil spirit grab the back of my shirt to keep me from continuing to cross the street. Thaddeus and Greg continued walking across the street. (We shouldn't get separated from our spiritual gifts by any demon or fleshly influence.) The person in the tan van was getting impatient and turned and hit me with their car. (The demons will try to hold us back so that we fall under judgment.) In the dream I told the Judge (representing the Father) about the car that hit me. The license plate on the front of the van had 333 in it. (Jer.33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.) (This is on the front or before the van hits, so to stop this, we must seek the Lord for His direction and wisdom!) The scene changed and I was in a car. I don't know if I was driving or not. I realized I was wearing an old necklace, and I heard a voice say, “Pearls.” (If our treasures have become tarnished from age or the curse we must sanctify them with repentance and faith and drawing near to Jesus.) In the dream I thought of the parable of the pearl of great price. While in the car, the Lord was supernaturally changing the radio stations to speak to me through the songs. Every time He would change the song, one of the old pearls from the necklace I wore would burst and break and a new pearl would be in its place. (As we seek His face and ask for wisdom, He will give us new born again beauty and values.) I was so excited and asked the Lord to keep speaking to me through songs on the radio. (The Lord's Words are melodious, pleasing Words to our spirit man.)  Mat.13:45-46, Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it. An Experience of Power G. W. - 10/17/22 (David's notes in red) I was going through a time of what seemed like reflection. I kind of felt like my life had no purpose, kind of meaningless. I've been waiting so many years, and it seems like nothing is happening. I didn't feel sad or condemned by it, but rather just wondering what God's mind was on everything. (The Word had the answers but he couldn't stay under it for long and would seek a simple message that did not demand death to self.) So, I was just questioning what God's purposes were for me in my life and if I was missing something. I was really earnestly seeking God and wondering what am I doing? Is there something I'm supposed to be doing that I'm missing? I don't want to waste any talents even though I don't see myself as having any great talents or anything, but I know the Lord has given us all some. I want to be able to use them. Before I went to bed, my wife and I prayed to the Lord about these questions. I woke up in the middle of the night and went to lie down on the couch. As I was lying down on the couch, I don't know if I fell asleep or if I was awake, to be honest. I'm assuming I fell asleep for just a few minutes. It seemed like a dream but I could feel everything happening in my body like it was real. I could hear myself say to myself, “You are such a loser” (I felt like it meant that I was not good for anything, meaningless life, etc.). (“We can do nothing without Him” but “We can do all things through Him”. His power is made perfect through our weakness. This revelation comes before the experience below.) Immediately, after that was said, this incredible Force picked up my entire body. Not even the strongest human on Earth would be able to resist this Force. My body was powerless, as I had no control over my motor functions. However, my consciousness was still there, and I was completely aware of everything that was going on from an observing point of view. This Force was moving me across the ground, as if I were a floating object. I then noticed something that the Force was moving towards. As I got closer, I knew that it was a shadow in the shape of a man. As the Force brought me directly over the shadow, I shot up in the air like a rocket! The Force moved me with such extreme velocity and an incredible amount of G-Force. It felt like my body was shaking like an earthquake (The Lord was showing him that He comes in those who will, through death to self, give themselves over to His Word and power.), as I was going straight up into the air. It seemed like the shadowy figure was what made the Force shoot me directly up in the air. I was shaking so excessively that it seemed to be contorting my face, as if soaring up through the air. I then seemed to come either out of the dream or into an earthly reality. I started to think normally, and I thought, is something wrong with me? What is happening to me? The Force started to wind my body down, and it began to become less intense. It shook me so hard that I could still feel it in my physical body, as I either woke up or came into complete consciousness. I started meditating on what had just happened. I thought about the shadowy figure. The only thing that kept coming to me was Trump. I have no idea why I felt this way. It might have looked like him, I'm not for sure. I don't think about Trump a lot, so it was very unusual for me to think that. (He is typed by Cyrus, who conquers DS Babylon, just when the Man-child is anointed over the Kingdom by the King. Cyrus is a shadow of Trump. Cyrus makes it possible for the Latter Rain Man-child to come and release the captives, as in Isaiah 61. So the shadow person could represent both of these entities ruling under God as the verse he received. The refuge here will be formed and our new provisions to reach the world will come.) I have a Bible App that I check every morning and it sends me a verse of the day. I opened the App and looked at the verse, it said “whoever dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty”. I was amazed that it had the word “shadow” in the random daily verse!   Resurrected Back to Life D. L. - 05/24/2016 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was observing a group of about 12 people standing somewhat together. All of them had grey hair that was tending more toward the white. (This could be the 12 Man-children from UBM we have had many dreams about and who have been spiritually resurrected.) Then in walked a tall man who walked directly to the group and to a woman in the middle, whom I understood to be his wife. But he had died some time ago and had been buried at that time. (This is a repeat of history called the “out resurrection” by Paul in Phl.3:11 If somehow I may attain unto the out-resurrection from the dead. This is in the most accurate Numeric English New Testament. Here it is in history. Mat.27:50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent; 52 and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised (Many of these were just dust by the time of this out-resurrection. All of these have a purpose in God's work); 53 and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many. 54 Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. What a witness of the resurrection to these people! This partial resurrection will be worldwide. As a witness G.C. was resurrected after being dead and buried for 8 ½ months. He came walking into his kitchen to greet his wife. Six people were resurrected that day in a moment.) D.L.- Now, she was no longer a widow, but no one showed any emotion. (These men would have also been resurrected, so it's no surprise to them.) He just walked over to where she was and started talking to her. In the next scene, they were in a room off to my right, standing there talking. Then I woke up and it was almost 4:30 am. As I was waking up, I was still in the dream state and heard a knock at the back door, which is near the bedroom, and I opened the door. It was light outside and there stood my brother Darl, who had been dead since October of 2009 and was cremated. (Cremation is the fast oxidation of the body. The normal rotting of the body is slow oxidation. Both are just dust but God can bring them back.) He had brown hair but the last time I saw him it was white. He said he was on his way to Charlotte, NC to see his daughter and just stopped by to let me know he was around. He said he had a car and plenty of money to do what he had to do. Then he walked away and when he got about 20 feet away, I asked him if he was going to see our five children. And he said yes and that it was in his schedule. End of dream. (They have a God-given schedule for the revival. Could this be a secondary meaning to Paul's words? Php.3:10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; 11 if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead [Numeric pattern is in “the out -resurrection from the dead”]. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Paul and others of his caliber will be among them.)   What's the Motivation of Your Heart? Sandy Shaw - April 2016 (David's notes in red) In this dream, the first thing I see is a white brick fence. People are walking on the fence. Some jump on the left side, and then they jump back on the fence. Some jump on the right side, and then they go back to the fence. And this is going on continually with people walking the fence. Then I realized the left side is the way of the world and the right side is the way of the Lord. When I realized that, I heard, “I will spew you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). (Which God spoke to the lukewarm.) Then I noticed a man was standing next to me. I didn't know who he was until he spoke and He asked, “How does this edify Me?” I immediately felt conviction and asked the Lord for forgiveness for having my own agenda. Then I saw a little girl in a house. (A little girl represents immaturity.) She was looking out the window as she saw her friends outside. She was sooo anxious to go with them. She ran to a closed door in the house and knocked on it. And on the other side of the door was her mom. She said, “Honey, I'll be out in a minute”. At this point, the little girl turned and looks out the window and turned around and knocked on the door again. And her mom said, “Wait for me. I'll be out in a minute”. The little girl ran to the big window and saw that her friends are in the next yard. She ran to the table and saw paper and a pencil. She wrote, “I'll be back in a little while. I'm going to play with my friends”. So Mom comes out and called for the little girl and saw that she is not there but she saw the note. Time has passed, and the little girl comes back and she says, “Hi, Mom!” And Mom says, “Honey, come and sit down”. The little girl says, “Mom, did I do something wrong? I left a note; didn't you see it?” “Yes, I did. But I asked you to wait.” “But my friends had gone to the next yard”. Mom said, “Now I know I need to give you punishment. First, because you didn't wait and your plans are not my plans for today. Therefore, you did not listen”. Next, I saw a big tree. I was sitting under it with the same man next to me. He said, “Examine the motives of your heart. Are your desires My desires? Are your desires lined up with My Word? Examine the desires of your heart. Is the agenda of your heart yours or Mine? Your motives, your heart, your agenda -- are they lined up with the Word? Am I your All-in-All?” Pro.16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirits. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. Mar.12:30 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Psa.27:14 Wait for the LORD: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; yea, wait thou for the lord. Isa.55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith The LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.   Surrendering Brings Swift Victory T.F. - 1/14/23 (David's notes in red) Suddenly, I felt the Lord's presence so strong in the spiritual realm. I then saw at that very moment, that in an instant, God could remove all the filth in my flesh and soul 100%, quicker than I could think, and He could manifest His presence 100% in my body and soul. I saw that it had already been done, and the manifestation could be done instantaneously. (The manifestation is progressive but it can be finished quickly. Php.1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. Psa.81:13 Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.) I know many other brethren pray for God to manifest Himself in us fully (Eph.3:19 to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.) We all want to be 100% dead to self, and my soul desires it so much for all of us. We know that, by faith, it has already happened and we will see it manifest in the physical realm. But, in that moment, when I saw He could do it all right then, my flesh got so terrified because it couldn't handle the presence of God that strong and that intensity so quickly. I desire it, and I know it will happen. But there is so much that I still have to let go of that isn't Christ, that God hasn't even revealed to me yet; so many hidden things. But God will reveal those things in His perfect timing, and I desire to let go of EVERYTHING that isn't Holy. I have thought that the complete removal of self in an instance would hurt because it is all I have ever known and His holiness replacing it would hurt if it happened without me being fully prepared. I felt that it had to be a gradual thing. I must let go of things bit by bit, and then the Lord can come and fill those spots, until there is nothing left but Jesus. I must keep letting go of my own carnal thinking, reasoning, and understanding and filling it with the Word and His Holy Spirit. (This is why God told the Israelites that every place that they set their foot in the Promised Land, He would give them. Because if He had wiped out their enemies all at once the land would have been overrun with wild beasts. So, He ordained that they conquer it a little at a time. Exo.23:28 And I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. 29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.) I have felt and experienced what I would describe as my flesh surrendering bit by bit to the Spirit and the Word, but some parts still haven't surrendered completely and if it happened instantaneously, possibly my mind and body couldn't handle it. God's timing is perfect and we need to be prepared every day for an increase of Him in each of us in our soul and physical body. When we surrender to His Spirit willingly and surrender our whole heart to Him, it is so much easier for our body to submit. (1Co.9:27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.) Yes, I want the complete manifestation and deliverance from all evil in my soul and body, but I realized that it is a progressive thing, so that my physical body can handle it. God doesn't give us more than we can handle. God wants His Son to completely manifest in each of us. I can see Jesus growing and increasing in the brethren more and more, and it is so beautiful to witness. After experiencing this, I have felt so much closer to God and that every day we are getting closer and closer to Him manifesting in us fully. Every day, whether we see it or not, we are dying to self in some areas and He is coming into us more and more than the previous day. (Joh.3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.) Everything is His grace and can only be done by His grace. It is all because of Jesus. ALL Glory and praise to Our Father and Lord Jesus forever and ever! Lord, let us all willingly surrender to Your Spirit in all areas of our existence. Allow us to love You more and to rest in You, accepting Your grace and allowing You to flow through us. Thank You Lord, that Your grace is beyond anything we can comprehend. Thank You that we can do nothing without You, but we can do everything through You. Thank You that it's not us living, but Christ living in us. Thank You that we are dead to self and alive unto You, God in Christ Jesus. Thank You that Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death! Thank You, God that it is all You for all eternity! (My husband prayed and saw a young fruit tree - ambitious to bear hundreds of fruits, but not yet mature to do so. As the branches grew, buds formed all over and flowered. In time the tree was able to bear the amount it could handle.) Empty Me, (for Jesus) Debbie Fensky – 10/24/19 On Wednesday morning, October 23, I was awakened at 4:13 a.m. by a loud voice. I had fallen asleep on our sofa, and Denny was in the bedroom. My first thought was that he was yelling to me to get up. But when I looked at the clock, I saw it was too early to get up to get ready for the morning meeting. My mind cleared enough to realize that it was not Denny's voice. It was the voice of God or the voice of an angel of the Lord. And what He spoke was not in words I recognized. And it was really loud! It sounded to me like two words were spoken. I asked Father to let me know what He was saying through these words. I immediately heard, “Empty,” and He continued speaking. “This is the word for you, My people. Empty! The time is now to be empty! I am still uncovering hearts. Will you spend time with Me? For your hearts, your very life, is the temple in which I dwell. Do you know that you represent My authority? Do you truly know? Know this, that I know your name, for you hold My Name. I am going to bring back much truth to remembrance and reveal spiritual to spiritual. (The disciples related that this happened after Jesus died and was resurrected.) You are My spiritual people, and I want to continue working a spiritual work and a deep work in you and among you. And My authority will be upon you as you allow the spiritual light and truth to pour forth into your heart, and your mouth will speak deep things of My Spirit; things I have taught you. And people will know these things are true. But, My people, there is still some emptying out that needs to take place. For yea, I am cleaning you up. I am making you clean. Only be empty. Empty your hearts and yourselves of all your belongings, longings, and your trifles. Yes, even your own nothingness. What you think of yourself is not important. Glory only in that you are in Me, and that I am everything in you. I have a job to do through you. I have chosen you to be My humble, My emptied out, and cleaned up vessels. But I am letting you know the time is short. And I still need room for total residence.” I was moved by what Father said. And I was intrigued and wanted to know how “empty” was pronounced in the Hebrew. And I wondered if it was two words. So I tried something - I looked things up, asking God to lead me. In Hebrew, “empty” is “tohu bohu.” That was about the length of the words that I heard spoken to me so loudly. Some “empty” definitions: decant, lay bare, empty, raze, spill Strongs Hebrew 7386 adj; rake, empty, vain. Much that we give ourselves to is nothing; only vain. Strongs Hebrew 8414; formless, confusion, unreality, emptiness, desolation, empty space It said, properly spelled, it is, “tohuw bohuw.” And somewhere in all of this belongs, “tohu wa-bohu.” And this meaning (Heb), wasteness, that which is laid waste, desert, emptiness, vanity. But, “tohu bohu” is parallel to Isaiah 34:11, confusion, emptiness. Speaking about God's wrath against the nations, which we want to have no part of. So God is still telling us to get things of Egypt out of us. Isa.34:11 “But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, and owl and raven will dwell in it; and He will stretch over it the line of desolation and the plumbline of emptiness.” Father, may we desire to become completely empty of ourselves and our personal correctness, all that is vain, so that Your plumb line finds us measuring up to the fullness of Your likeness in us, so that we do not fall behind and even become as one of the nations. God, we need You to help us give it all up. Thank You for Your grace to do what You are being so long suffering in telling us to do. We do want You fully and totally residing in us. Lord, in Jesus name, help us to keep the end in view! Amen. Eph.4:12-13 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” 1Th.5:6 “so then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” Get Ready for God's Great Reset! The One Word Order - Kolyah - September 14, 2021 Rhema Word … 9.13.21 … entrusted to Kolyah … released just prior to Yom Kippur “Little ones, are you ready for My hard reset of your world? It is best that you prepare now, for in an instant, of My choosing, the brakes on this runaway world will suddenly be applied down to the floor … to the foundations; bringing this global wickedness to an abrupt halt. When that happens, there will be a hard tossing about, with slamming, banging, and pain for those who are not braced, awake, and aware. (This reminds me of Eve's Dream of the US/China Train coming to a sudden halt.) Do you remember the report of the loud shrieks of horror and mourning that arose in Egypt's night, at the death of their firstborn? Truly, I say to you, it shall happen again on a worldwide scale, as I bring forth the disclosure of the truth that will shatter hearts, minds, idols, and strongholds by the power of truth that will not be held back, modified, or contained behind closed doors. The cries of anguish and despair will finally bring the level of breaking necessary for the people to realize how wickedly they have been deceived, and how eagerly they have ingested the poisons promoted by the deceivers. (On both sides. This could be the EBS that Trump and the Alliance have been planning, revealing the DS satanic crimes and the false Christian leadership.) They will think that ALL IS LOST, as they see the price that they have paid for their blindness, stubbornness, pride, and fear. As no household was untouched by the grief arising throughout Egypt at the time of the first Passover, so shall it soon be in your day. Only the households that heeded my warning and those, who obeyed My voice, will be spared the depths of the pain. The righteous will mourn and grieve for those around them. They will weep for those across the world, who will be writhing in unspeakable agony of soul in the realization of the pit into which they have fallen. I will allow the righteous to feel the pain of seeing the losses among those whom they love, but I will not allow them to go into the deepest depths of soul pain; only into the depths of intercession that will lessen the pain in others. My compassion will undertake. Have I not said that those who did not LOVE the truth would fall into deception? Too few believed My word regarding that matter. As I am the first Truth, whom they are to love, those who have had a shallow, fickle affection for Me will find out the grave consequences of being casual about truth and without true love … and the results of accepting, as fact, only those things that fit into their own grid … into their prideful grid of comfort and human knowledge. They will feel horrifically betrayed, and well they should. Their own souls have betrayed them, because their love of My truth, and of My reality was only partial. In the pain of their consequences, they will have the opportunity to exchange an appreciation of truth for a committed LOVE of the truth. Not only am I Truth and Love, but I am also Justice and Commitment. Human justice and convenient human commitment will be humiliated through what is to be revealed soon. The deep falsehoods in the human premises will be shattered as My truth comes down like a hammer. Truth will not come down as a soft rain, for rain requires years to erode rock and to move mountains from their place. There is no time for that now. A rock smasher and a mountain crusher are needed to awaken the sleepers and to expose the truth before all is lost. The Enemy has been working his plans with wicked brilliance. I have allowed it to unfold in order to entrap him, and all those who are in league with him. The lies, which have provided the glue to secure their wicked plans and mandates of unholy power, are about to be changed into a slime. That slime will be powerless to hold their deceptions together. The road, which has been cemented into place through their deceit, will begin to sink and separate. Where then, will they walk in their prideful power? Who will join them on that slimy road, once the truth is exposed? All this will come … but first the howls and the tears must come to soften the hardened hearts, and to bring them to the melting point in the laser light of hot Truth. My way is righteous and wise. You must trust Me. The fear of Me has been replaced with the fear of man. The awe of Me has been replaced with the awe of inventions and technology. The awareness of human vulnerability has been replaced with an awe of intellectual prowess and confidence. All of these strongholds of wicked false worship, and of arrogant disregard of Me … all the strategies designed to supplant and to replace Me … will be brought down into dust. (What? No Med-beds? The use of AI, CGI, and high-tech devices.) It is good to be down on your knees in this hour, as the final round of increased shaking takes place. On your knees, you will be properly positioned before Me. Those on their knees will not be knocked down as the world rocks. Their personal kingdoms will not fall down upon their heads. The posture of submitted humility will be the place of safety for those who seek Me, and who abide in Me. But be advised: what is about to take place will greatly disquiet your souls. Do not allow the pain you see manifesting in the multitudes, nor the shrieks of those you love, cause you to mistrust or to despise Me. Trust Me that the process I bring forth will set My Great Harvest into place. Go to your knees soon, and remain in a spiritual posture of humility before Me as these days unfold. The Enemy of your souls will put up an even greater fight to retain power, and to seize even more. I have already declared the boundary set against this advance and have put that boundary into place. It will not be moved by him, nor by any of his associates. It will stand firm, for I have decreed it. (The boundary is the Bride. As in my vision of 2007, the boundaries of the catastrophes were the refuge.) Get out of the way of what I am about to allow and do. Move into a place of safety as I direct you. Do not fear and do not depend upon your own survival strategies. Simply abide in Me and be well. I will not allow more than you can handle. Have I not entrusted the words of truth in Psalm 91 to be a holocaust blanket, and a sure safety to surround you? Declare those words and find safety in the shelter of those promises. Know that the wailing of the masses will seek to disquiet you; to take you into fear and doubt. Don't go there, but rather profess your faith and stay in the Spirit at all times. Lock down in Me and hold. Gather in those who are standing, but who are weakening. Be a support of faith for each other. Share the treasure and the provision which I have given to you for this hour. What I provide will be more than enough. Entrust your troubled heart to Me. I will hold it securely and will fill it with all the love and hope you will need. Know this: I am fully in control. There is NOTHING out of My hand, plan, or notice. There will be many who have been on the fringes of faith, who will declare that My way is NOT GOOD. They will feel the horror of the unveiling, and then cry out that I am cruel for allowing such things. I AM MORE compassionate and patient … more loving and kinder than any of you can fathom. My path is a hard one, because the rebellion is very deep and widespread, consuming a great portion of humankind. (Stripes that wound cleanse away evil.) Unless there is a clearly visual manifestation, revealing where the influences of rebellion and deceit have taken your world, the changes in hearts will be only temporary and shallow. There are lessons to be learned. There are people to be reborn. There are powers of great evil embedded into every facet of human life that must be disclosed and stripped. As a result, these painful measures are necessary. I will allow only the smallest level of suffering required to bring the vital changes. The length and depth of human suffering will be determined by the speed at which the hearts and minds submit to the purpose of the shakings. See to it that you lovingly, clearly, tell the ignorant and the arrogant the truth about what is happening, and about what will yet happen. If you do not speak the truth to them, the hollow spaces formed within their human souls because of the shaking will be quickly filled with more lies, bringing more rebellion and more defiance against me. Cooperate with My plan to bring a Great Awakening, and see the Glory come to your world as a result. Hold on tightly to Me. The most violent shaking is about to come. (Spiritual and physical! In the warfare that is coming, there will be violent earthquakes which they are very capable of making; to say nothing of the nukes going off.)HOLD! Rest in Me, and do not withhold the truth from the terrified and perishing. The deceptions that have held them are about to crack. The trauma and terror of it will bring forth good fruit as we work together. All will be well. Trust, stand, obey, and believe. I am with you, and I am in charge. In the final analysis, you will bless Me for what I am about to allow, as well as that which I am about to bring forth from My own hand. Hold, and thank Me in advance for the glory which is soon to come to your world to change everything.” At the time we received this last revelation in 2021, a year after COVID-19 and the DS death jab. We prayed for people who took the shots and saw healings. We prayed for those who were infected by those who got the jab and saw healings. We know worse plagues than the DS's vax are coming. We have prayed for lost friends and seen healings. Some people who got the shots got placebos and showed no infection. Some only got the first shot and show less trouble. Cry out for mercy and God answers. The revival of the Man-child ministries will heal many when they believe. Mark 11:24 is still true. Mar.11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Like Esther, intercede for your family and the people of God that they repent and accept God's word and turn this thing around for them. Many times God changes a decree when touched by faith. Pray for your loved ones and cover them. All things are possible to him that believeth. Like the woman who, in rebellion, finally decided to get baptized, and shared her experience of the extreme fear she felt before she was submerged in the water, which was replaced by a beautiful peace and joy. That's what's coming for those who obey and surrender to the Word of God. The power of the Holy Spirit will fill those who repent and obey.   Prepare, I Come Quickly Eve Brast – 8/20/18  Yesterday, as I was working, around 11 am, the Lord spoke to me very clearly, “I come quickly... Go, My daughter, and write the things I speak and warn My people.” So I grabbed my notebook, and He said, “In a very little while you shall see Me. I come quickly. Tell My people to enter into the secret places of their hearts and cry unto Me for purity and holiness; to press into the voice of My Holy Spirit. Listen to My voice in the quiet place. Soften your hearts to My corrections. Cleanse yourselves of all defilement of flesh and spirit. If your hearts are pure and willing, I will fill you with My power to overcome. Separate yourselves from distractions and the useless things of this world and this life. There is so little time left. So little time!! Seek Me with all your mind, will, and strength and I will be found of you. Don't faint in the day of adversity! Many judgments and terrible things are coming. Do not get weary of seeking Me daily. Do not grow weary of sanctification. Be diligent to be found in Me. When I return and judgments fall, will you be found in Me? Your adversary is increasing his activities, especially against My holy ones, seeking to deceive and destroy as many as will listen to his lies. All idolaters will fall. Wherever idols are found, the enemy will gain access to your souls. The idol of self is the biggest deception. You sit on the throne of your own hearts and are deceived by your own mind, will, and emotions!! Put on My whole armor and fight! Do not let down your guard even for a minute. Understand your enemy's tactics! He will use your friends, even your brethren, your family members, and your phones and electronic devices to keep you from obeying this word I speak to you. Resist the distractions and the cunning deceptions and lies. Do not listen to lies! Cast down every vain thing, every vain thought, or these will take root in your heart and mind and exalt themselves above Me and My Word. Then shall the scales cover your eyes and your ears will be stopped, and the deceptions will overtake you! You will not even recognize it. Go forth in intercession, void of distractions. Don't be slothful! Pray without ceasing and I will lead you to victory. You will be found in Me and the devil will have nothing in you. In this way you will live in the light of My truth. I will lead you forth in victory, conquering all your enemies. I have provided everything you need, but you must use it!” I asked Father for a text for this word by faith at random and my finger was on the phrase, “there is no respect of persons” in Colossians 3:25 (in context 1-25) Col.3:1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. 5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; 6 for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience: 7 wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things; 8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth: 9 lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, 10 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God. 17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: 23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Deborah Fensky - 8/29/18 God started speaking this to me last week in a couple of the morning meetings and last Friday night's meeting. Since last Friday, after I was done receiving this word, several things were shared here and there that matched up with or seemed to me to confirm things in this word. I had been questioning God about Him being bitter. But then He reminded me that He hates, and how in so many places in the word, God expressed what and who His soul hates. He let me know that He can be bitter too. Then on the last conference call Michael asked everyone, “Can God hate?” Along with other things this week that have been said, I felt God was confirming this word to me. But I did ask Him today to confirm with 2 heads if I should share this now, or wait. I know other words have been spoken that we need to remember. Yet, today I tossed and immediately got 2 heads. “I am bitter toward My people. I am bitter with anger. Listen, My holy ones. Have I not said that I come quickly? I come quickly, with a strong vengeance. For My people disregard Me. They disregard My ways. They refuse to seek Me out, but stubbornly adhere to their own likes and desires. Yet, though I am bitter with anger towards My people, My mercy will cause Me to hear their cries of repentance. Hear My cry, My holy people. I need you. I need you to pray and fight for My lost and stubborn children. And I need you in this day to continually draw close to Me. Live in love and faith, and in the wisdom of My Word and by My Spirit. For though living in an evil day already, as I have warned, dark evil is soon to descend upon all the earth; a darkness so gross that the light of My Glory to shine forth, penetrating that darkness, drawing My lost people out of the world to the light. I am the Light. My holy ones, you are the Light. You in Me and I in you. The dark and evil day is upon you. Thrust all your faith in Me and Me alone. There can nothing be of yourself. Yes, the day you are about to enter is a day of deep darkness, but a day of My power. It is the day My Glory will be fully revealed in My holy ones. Have I not said, I come quickly? I need you to trust Me. I need you to make yourself ready. Make yourself ready!”

Today's Reading: Luke 14:15-24Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 14:1-27; John 15:1-11“And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses.” (Luke 14:17-18a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Have you ever really looked forward to a celebration or a meal? Perhaps it's your birthday - you just KNOW that your mom is going to make your favorite foods and you will get an awesome cake; you cannot contain your excited anticipation for that day. Or maybe it's Thanksgiving - you can't wait to enjoy your grandma's homemade pie and your uncle's stuffing! Look again at the reading for today; a banquet has been prepared. There is literally nothing to do except come! And yet EVERYONE who was invited made excuses. That seems ridiculous. Surely they know a good thing when they are given it - a free banquet! Who says no to that? Well, let's be honest with ourselves. How many Sunday mornings have you wished to just keep sleeping? How many times have you sat in church and thought, “Why is this taking so long?” How often have you skipped Bible study because the teacher is really boring? Repent, dear invited one. You are making excuses. Our Lord prepares a banquet for us - a feast for us - every time we are in the Divine Service. He has equipped and called men to be our pastors; they stand in the stead of Jesus and pronounce our sins forgiven. Our Lord has given us His Word to hear, read, speak, and sing; the Word that points to His mercy and our rescue. He pours out His Blood and sacrifices His Body for our eating and drinking. Indeed, every time we attend church, we are at a banquet! We receive the most perfect, holy, beautiful Gifts from God: we are reminded of His adoption of us in Baptism, we are forgiven of our sins, and we literally feast on Jesus' Body and Blood for our salvation. Maybe you are still going to drag yourself to church, hurt, broken, and tired from the week. God's Gifts don't depend on how you feel about them - they are real and they are yours. Attend the banquet. Receive the feast that has been prepared for you. Rest where you are safe, holy, and loved. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

Eternal life, mercy, forgiveness of sins, covenant meal that keeps us in Christ and He in us. These are but a few of the very real benefits Christ our God bestows upon us through bread and wine that He has made His Body and Blood for us. Jesus teaches us this directly in the Gospel of John and chapter 6. The very generation following the Apostles testify to the experience of all of these benefits in this blessed Sacrament. And, the Church passes on the ministry of Christ to His people through the Eucharist even today. The Feast of Corpus Christi is the remembrance of the eternal benefits Christ has wrought for us in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. And, this Feast is our opportunity to offer great thanksgiving to Christ this great gift, the gift of Himself.

Fr. Wesley shares we God picked bread and wine to become His Body and Blood.

Homily from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). To have the Real Presence in the Eucharist, one needs the Apostolic priesthood. Corpus Christi is an important feast for an important Reality. We know that Jesus was clear when He taught about His Body and Blood in the Eucharist...yet this true Presence requires the true ministerial priesthood that Jesus established with His Apostles. Christ's followers are divided, but He continues to desire our unity. Mass Readings from June 7, 2026: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16 Psalm 147:12-15, 19-201 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58

Delivered by Christine Gunawan from the Parish of Saint Joseph Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Pontianak, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 8: 2-3.14b-16a; Rs psalm 147: 12-13.14-15.19-20; 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17; John 6: 51-58.WE ARE SUSTAINED BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST The theme for our meditation on this Sunday, Solemnityof the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is: We are Sustained by the Body andBlood of Christ. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christinvites us to contemplate a profound truth: Christ does not only teach us froma distance. He gives Himself completely to us. In the Eucharist, Jesus becomesour food and drink so that we may have life in Him and continue our journeywith strength, hope, and love. In the Gospel, Jesus states frankly that His body, the flesh of the Son of Man, and Hisblood are the food we should eat. This reveals more than just His power toprovide material food, but a deeper gift. Just as people are nourishedphysically, Christ nourishes us spiritually through His Body and Blood. Humanshunger for many things: acceptance, peace, meaning, forgiveness, and love. Nogift from this world can fully satisfy our hunger. Only Christ can fulfill thedeepest longings of the human heart. The Eucharist reminds us that God understands ourweakness. We often become tired, discouraged, and burdened by life's struggles.At times we may feel inadequate in our vocation, family responsibilities,ministry, studies, or work. Yet Jesus does not leave us to rely solely on ourown strength. Every time we receive the Eucharist with faith, He shares His ownlife with us. His patience strengthens our impatience. His love heals ourwounded hearts. His courage sustains us when we feel afraid. The Eucharist is also a call to become what we receive.We receive the Body of Christ so that we may become the Body of Christ forothers. The bread that is broken for us challenges us to share ourselvesgenerously. The cup of salvation invites us to pour out our lives in service,compassion, and forgiveness. Nourished by Christ, we are sent to nourish othersthrough our words, presence, and acts of kindness. A father shared a story about how the daily and weeklyEucharist sustains him and his family. The burdens of life and theresponsibility of caring for his family are daily tasks that cannot beneglected. Therefore, every time he attends the Eucharist, he is given theopportunity to receive the Lord Jesus and bring Him into every situation andactivity in his life. Like that father, we often find that our strength isinsufficient. The Eucharist reminds us that we are not sustained by our ownefforts alone. We live by Christ himself. He feeds us so that we can continueour journey faithfully.Let us pray. In the name of the Father … Lord, Jesus, You give us Your Body andBlood as the food of eternal life. When we are weak, strengthen us. When we arediscouraged, renew our hope. When we are tempted to rely only on ourselves,remind us that You are always with us. May every Eucharist deepen our unionwith You and transform us into instruments of Your love for others. Glory tothe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father…

In Hebrews 10:19-25, the author encourages us to never stop meeting together as a Church Body. In this passage, "LET US" statements are used to show us how it is essential that we fellowship in order for us to flourish in our relationship with Jesus Christ, the head of HIs Body, The Church.

Welcome to worlds where cunning foxes outsmart bears and humans, where people are turned into wolves, where ogres (stállus) terrorize communities until outwitted, where undead creatures of the sea (rávgas) lure others to their demise. These worlds are illuminated in more than 300 folktales and legends that make up the most extensive compilation of Sámi narratives recorded from Sámi storytellers ever published in English translation: Sámi Folktales from the Near and Far Worlds, originally recorded by Just Knud Qvigstad and Isak Saba and translated by Barbara Sjoholm. Sjoholm is joined here in conversation with Lise Lunge-Larsen.Barbara Sjoholm is an award-winning translator and author of many books, including From Lapland to Sápmi: Collecting and Returning Sámi Craft and Culture and The Palace of the Snow Queen: Winter Travels in Lapland and Sápmi. Among her translations are By the Fire: Sámi Folktales and Legends, collected by Emilie Demant Hatt.Lise Lunge-Larsen is the award-winning author of The Troll with No Heart in His Body and Seven Ways to Trick a Troll. She lives in Duluth, where trolls can still be found if you really look for them. Praise for the book:"Beautifully written, the introduction to Sámi Folktales from the Near and Far Worlds captivates the reader from the very beginning with poetic descriptions of the Sámi landscape, the historical context and thematic characteristics of the storytelling tradition in Sápmi, and an exploration of the relationship between Just Knud Qvigstad and Isak Saba. This book is a valuable collection of Sámi stories."—Line Esborg, Head of Norwegian Folklore Archives, University of Oslo"For decades, these stories have provided contemporary Sámi literature with drama, detail, and inspiration. This collection is a treasure trove for every writer and reader to explore, and it's a gift to the English language that these folktales are now translated."—Elin Anna Labba, author of The Home of the Drowned and The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow: The Forced Displacement of the Northern Sámi"The deeper you dig into this collection, the more satisfying it gets. Barbara Sjoholm's introduction is worth its weight in gold."—Lise Lunge-LarsenSámi Folktales from the Near and Far Worlds, collected by Just Knud Qvigstad and Isak Saba and translated by Barbara Sjoholm, is available from University of Minnesota Press. Thank you for listening.

In this moving continuation through Acts 16, Father Genard unpacks the beautiful and challenging truth that salvation is a gift of grace received by faith — yet it is also a living, ongoing journey of repentance, obedience, and perseverance in the life of the Church.Building on last week's teaching from James 2, Father Genard walks through the powerful story of the Philippian jailer, Paul's bold stand as a Roman citizen, and the deep connection between our heavenly citizenship in Christ and how we live as His people on earth. He lovingly reminds us that we have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved — if we remain faithful to the end.This episode is a heartfelt call to stop treating grace as a license to live however we please and instead embrace the full life of devotion, fellowship, and follow-up that Jesus calls us to in His Body.

Our Enemies Were Defeated (1) (audio) David Eells – 5/27/26 Saints, our enemies are already defeated, and we enter into and appropriate this promise by faith. Fight every battle like the enemy is conquered. Luk.1:67-75 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, 69 And hath raised up a horn (a strength or weapon against enemies) of salvation for us In the house of his servant David (This represents Jesus, and now Jesus in the Man-child David reformers.) 70 (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old), 71 Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; (We have already been saved from the wicked enemies because Jesus was cursed for us. Believe and confess this, avoiding willful sin, until it manifests.) 72 To show mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; (It is His covenant to save us from enemies.) 73 The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, 74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear, (We were delivered from the hand of the wicked.) 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (We were given Jesus' holiness and righteousness, which the wicked refuse in their unforgiveness and judgment of Esau's seed.) I know of the natural fulfillment of this text, but the Lord was showing me a spiritual fulfillment too. Zec.12:1-9 The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus saith Jehovah, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him: 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem (The Bride) a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem. (The wicked stagger with hatred for the Bride. The Dragon, shown to be Satan in his world body in Revelation 12, has one consuming desire: to devour the Man-child so he can then devour the Woman. Those of his vessels who proclaim to be Christians besiege them, for they are of the Dragon. Just as their forefathers did to Jesus, the prophets, and the saints, they consider themselves to be doing God a favor. I have been amazed since we heard from God years ago of the parallel between the faction in the Church and the faction in the government. The God of the leftist, communist, anarchist, fornicators, etc., shows the same hatred and uses the same slander against the Trump administration. They are always assured by Satan that they will win because they cheat, but they ultimately will lose, for all the evidence of their perversion, theft, lies, etc., is against them, and all will be revealed. Rev.12:11-12 And they overcame him [the Dragon] because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time. (And remember we wrestle not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers.) Back to Zec.12:3 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it. (The wicked hate the Bride for she is a manifestation of all that sinners hate. She is a manifestation of Jesus who came unto His own and His own received Him not.) 4 In that day, saith Jehovah, I will smite every horse with terror, (The horse represents the strength of the beastly flesh that is harnessed to do man's and therefore Satan's will. They are in terror now because they fear that all of their evil is known and will be (and are being) prosecuted. The faction in both camps of the Dragon is launching one last desperate attempt to destroy their enemy, but God has foretold their end. The Red Sea, Sennacherib, Jehoshaphat, the Northern army, is their end.) I will smite… his rider with madness (Even the average lost man sees their insanity. They can't stop telling on themselves that they are communists, anarchists, racists, murderers, fornicators, etc.); and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness. (They will not be able to find a way to defeat us or a way out of their predicament.) 5 And the chieftains of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Jehovah of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, (Just as David did) on the right hand and on the left; and they of Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem. (David conquered unregenerate Jerusalem, which was called Jebus. The Jebusites were the old man of the land, the wicked who had to be removed so it would become Jerusalem, the Bride. It is coming to pass by the grace of our God.) 7 Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah. 8 In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem (The Bride, according to John in Revelation.): and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them. (What enemy can win when God is in His people by His Word and Spirit?) 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (And so it shall be.) Psa.44:2-8 Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad. 3 For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them. 4 Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob. 5 Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6 For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me. 7 But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us. 8 In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah. Rom.8:31-37 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; 34 who is he that condemneth? (Satan, the Dragon, and his body) It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (And who is mightier than the prayers of Jesus for us?) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (As the flesh of sheep was sacrificed to bring atonement, so we ourselves must be sacrificed to make us pure before God. The power by which we do this is that of Jesus' sacrifice. He died that we may die to self.) 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. It was said to the Bride, a position that was once forsaken when God's people went into captivity for their sins, but now God is building her again. Isa.54:1-17 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. 3 For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more. 5 For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee (As it was with Jesus, Who said, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me” but then resurrection life came into Him); but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer. 9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me (The waters of the Word killed the wicked and saved Noah); for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee. 11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones. 13 And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall because of thee. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah. 1Co.15:57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. Deu.20:4 for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. 2Co.11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. 2Co.4:1-6 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not: 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: 4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Even when the reprobates hear this text, they are unmoved. Rom.1:20-2:11 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: 21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: 25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. 28 And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them. Rom.2:1 Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things. … 5 but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 who will render to every man according to his works: 7 to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: 8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, 9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: 11 for there is no respect of persons with God. Luk.10:17-20 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. 20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. We must take care to fight the demonic enemies. The spiritual enemies that our human enemies have given their lives over to serve. Mar.16:17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons... Eph.6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. (Let the weak say, I am strong) 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (If you will not stand now, what about the evil day?) 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (We are the righteousness of Christ; we do not have to give in.) 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. (He sends many thoughts into our minds to conquer us, like wrestling with people (the flesh) instead of him. We should have faith in the truth to defend ourselves.) 17 And take the helmet of salvation (And quench the fiery thoughts), and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Be filled with the Holy Spirit so you can pray in the Spirit.) These spiritual powers are now under the feet of His Body. Eph.1:17-23 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Notice the Lord is the head of the body and He put the enemies under His feet, the lowest member of His body.) Col.2:12-15 having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses; 14 having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (To triumph means to celebrate the victory.) Luk.10:1 Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. ... Luk.17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name. (They did not have the Holy Spirit at this time, but they were given the authority of the name of Jesus.) 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (They were casting down the dominion of Satan.) 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents (demons whose poison is in the head = deception) and scorpions (demons whose poison is in the tail = to make you powerless, respectively), and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (Believe and confess this victory efore the enemy.) 20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (These scorpion spirits come to rob you of justification by faith so that you lose the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice and have to start over to recognize the benefits of the crucifixion. Many are crucifying Jesus afresh.) If you have confessed any sins that you know of, which are the only ones that count, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9), then you are justified. Then reconciliation is made, and you are to see Jesus in the mirror by faith because, as Paul said, you don't live anymore; Christ lives in you. Gal.2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 2Co.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Then you are to reject the condemnation of the devil. If you see yourself in the mirror after you have confessed all sin, you are beating up “Christ in you” just like the faction does. You are crucifying Him afresh. If you are condemning yourself after you confess your sins honestly, you do not believe Jesus, and you will get no grace to overcome. You are beating Him up in you. If you are in willful sin, confess and forsake it and see Jesus in the mirror. Confess His righteousness and holiness are yours, and you don't live anymore. There is no other way to have power from God to defeat self. When the disciples asked, “What must we do to do the works of God?” Jesus said, “Believe on him who He hath sent” … Eve Brast dreamed of wisdom to resist crucifying Jesus on 8-29-20: What I heard the Lord saying was: “Why do you, My people, crucify me afresh continually? For you are indeed crucifying me afresh.” (According to the dream, it is by helping the evil spirits to crucify Jesus.) I thought this dream was just a personal correction, but when I heard the Spirit say, “My people,” and Lexi's interpretation of M. L.'s tongue, He said, “Why are you, My children, forsaking Me for the world?” I knew this dream was a corporate correction to the body. (When we accept what demons say about us instead of what Christ says about us in His promises, we are giving up ground to the demons, we are crucifying Christ in us.) Here's the dream: I was walking through an old western town along the main dirt road with Jesus. He was to my right, and at first, I was happy to be walking next to him. But then I looked up and saw that the whole left side of His face and head had been severely beaten, and He was all bloody. (The wicked deface Christ to others. He is not like them. We should be a revelation of true Christianity.) He had blood stains on his garments, and He looked like He had been dragged through the dirt. I was horrified to see Him like this, and I felt immense pain for Him. And then I became very angry and indignant and asked Him, “Who did this to you?!” He turned and gestured with an open left hand and arm to a group of followers, who were supposed to be His disciples, about 10 to 20 paces behind us, and I looked back at them. They were clamoring at Him and shaking their fists in anger at Him and also at one another. There was much confusion amongst them. (Those from among God's people who fall away to become slanderers, railers, accusers, and haters of the righteous are these. These are the wicked who crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame, but we are exhorted to hold on to the faith and not help them to kill us. Heb.6:1-12 Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it (The Word), and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: 8 but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: 10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Notice the wicked are facing Eve and the Lord. When they accuse you, they are accusing the Lord, as in Mat.25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. (If you accept those spirits' words, you will crucify Christ in you again.) I looked back up at Jesus, and He looked at me with such love in His eyes, but it was mixed with hurt and a questioning look of, “Why did you take part in helping them?” Suddenly, I got the revelation that I had helped these people to drag Jesus through the dirt and crucify Him afresh. I was all at once horrified by this realization, and as I woke up and began to process what I had dreamed. (When do we help the wicked crucify Jesus again? When we accept what their scorpion spirits speak to us of condemnation, accusation, slander, faction, reminding us of our past, instead of believing we were crucified with Christ. Through witchcraft, they send these spirits against the righteous and even those who do not qualify as saints but favor the saints. As the witches are warring against the Trump administration with these lies now, and some are believing them and turning away from truth. Eve asked for prayer from Michael and me. We learned she was believing the condemnation of these spirits, which helps them to crucify Christ in her. So, we reminded her of the good news of grace, and she was cured. We were all forgiven, healed, and delivered from sin.) Luk.11:20-23 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 21 When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (Satan's kingdom) 22 but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (Jesus), he taketh from him his whole armor (Notice: Satan has lost; he has no defense against us.) armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (to us) 23 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. (We must be plundering Satan's kingdom by faith, or we will flee from the scorpion demons. (Scattereth here is the Greek word “skorpizo” meaning, “to penetrate and put to flight” as a scorpion or a hornet does with its tail to make you run from it, just as the hornet drove the enemies from the Promised Land.) Examples of Scorpion scattering demons: fear, anxiety, rejection, guilt, shame, unbelief, self-pity, discouragement, depression, fear of man, unforgiveness -Mat.18:34-35, condemnation - 1Jo.3:21-22. Examples of the Hornet scattering: Deu.7:20, Jos.24:12, Rev.21:8). If we are running from the demons, they are taking back the ground behind us, crucifying Christ in us. Then we have to return to faith and start all over, taking back that ground Jesus gave us. Consider the nature of these spirits carefully and how, when you accept them, they conquer your faith and justification, and you cannot stand before the demons. You must war with the Sword of the Spirit and use your faith against these and others, or you will not bear fruit. Pray and ask the Lord to help you discern your thoughts. 2Co.10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; Being subject to God gives us power over the enemy. Jas.4:7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. How can we be subject to God? 1Jn.1:7-9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jas 5:16 confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Be not deceived, you must repent by faith in the promises, or you cannot enter the kingdom. 1Co.6:9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. We have absolute authority over the demons' lies. Luk.10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. 20 Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. Mar.16:17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Joh.14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Mat.18:19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. Mar.11:22-25 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (If you do not forgive, you have no benefits of the Kingdom of God but are under demons.) Mat.6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Mat.18:34-35 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. 35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The faction demons refuse to obey this. Col.1:12-13 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet (able) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; Mat.10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans: 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. Mar.7:26-30 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. 28 But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. 29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter. 30 And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out. Luk.13:11 And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up. …16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath? (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Mat.28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.   Printer-friendly version

In this episode of The Wheeler and Tyler Podcast—under their unmistakable banner, His Body, Your Choice— as Tyler is trying to decide where to put his new tattoo with some peer pressure attached.  Dave Wheeler and Tyler Carr kick off the week with a chaotic mix of local news, pop culture deep dives, and classic radio banter. The guys debate the ultimate camping essentials (and whether "glamping" is a superior lifestyle), review The Mandalorian & Grogu, and try to decipher the bizarre concept of "bird autism."  Tyler tries his hand at being a "Track Star" naming tracks from artists.  

DELIVERANCE POWERFor too long, the enemy has run a masterful deception -- not just convincing people to walk away from God, but convincing believers that God cannot change them or their situation. That He is sovereign, so we are spectators. That losing ground and generations is just the way things are.That is not theology.That is a spirit of defeat. And it has kept millions from walking in the fullness of life in Christ, because they could not see who they actually are.But that power -- the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead -- is not sitting idle.If you are a Christian, it is working in you, and it must work through you. Right now.Deliverance is not a relic of another era.It is the present-tense activity of a living King who is still setting captives free.The deliverance of Jesus Christ is not small.It is for individuals. For families. For cultures. For nations.Believers all across America and Europe are waking up -- beginning to see that Jesus Christ is the Head.We, the Church, are His Body, and everything -- every rule, every authority, every name -- has been placed under His feet.The Head does not lead a passive Body.He leads a delivering one.You turn on the light.You drive out the darkness.You hold the line.The Kingdom is advancing, and we are honored to be here in this fallen world, declaring the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ.Christ Is King. Live Like It.#DeliverancePower #HoldTheLine #ChristIsKingLiveLikeIt #CiKM

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! What a radiant and holy custom it is that, here in the United States, we set aside a day in honor of our mothers. And rightly so.Consider what she endures for the sake of her child. Long before we first behold the light of the sun, we are carried beneath her heart, hidden within her very being for those mysterious nine months in which life itself is woven together in secret. And then comes the hour of birth — that fearful and glorious threshold where she willingly passes through suffering, and even the shadow of death, so that another life may enter the world.Nor does her giving cease when the travail is ended. Having poured out her strength, she continues to sustain the child from the substance of her own body, feeding the helpless little one with nourishment only she can give. It is a love so profound and sacrificial that one is almost compelled to hear, echoing faintly through it, the words: “This is my body, given for you.” The cover of this Sunday's bulletin recalls the radiant joy of last Sunday's First Holy Communion. The young girls, clothed in garments of brilliant white, and the boys, with ties neatly fastened and collars straightened, came not merely to a ceremony, but to a profound divine encounter. For what greater marvel can be given to mankind than this: that God should feed His children with His very life? Not symbol alone, nor distant memory, but His Body offered for the life of the world. Yes — His flesh; His Body.First Holy Communion ought therefore to be celebrated with trembling gladness and with majesty befitting heaven itself. The child approaching the altar steps nearer to the heart of the universe than kings upon their thrones or conquerors in their triumphs. Here is Love made tangible. Here is Eternity stooping low to nourish the weary children of earth.And so we celebrate this sacred feast much as we celebrate Mother's Day because both bear witness to self-giving love. Every Mass is another encounter with that divine charity which spends itself entirely for the beloved. Christ desires nothing less than union with each soul. At every reception of Holy Communion, He whispers again the words that shattered history and remade the world: “This is my body, given for you.”That is why we Catholics genuflect. The bending of the knee is not mere habit, nor empty ritual, but a holy reminder to distracted minds and wandering hearts: Love Himself is here. In the Holy Eucharist we stand in the presence of the living God, who still gives Himself away for the life of His people: “This is my body, given for you.” --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

May 9, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 6 - Psalm 66:1-2a, 17, 19-20; antiphon: Isaiah 48:20bDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 26:21-33, 39-44; Numbers 1:1-2:34; Luke 14:1-24“Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!” (Psalm 66:20)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen. Our God is a God who wants to hear our prayers. The psalmist confesses his iniquity and knows that his heart has turned from God. Even in the darkest times, God has heard his cries for help and pleas for mercy. It is not God that is far off; rather, it is man who has abandoned God in his sin. He has turned his back on God and sought after the desires of his sinful heart.In this world, the attacks from sin, satan, and the world are relentless. The temptation to follow our own desires of the flesh is always before us. Satan does not take a day off or the world a vacation when it comes to pulling us away from the one true God. In sin we seek after the lusts of the flesh. In sin, we want to work out our problems on our own. We rationalize God to be far off and out of touch with the realities that confront us. We meditate on our own wishes and reason our own solutions to the struggles that confront us. God has not abandoned us. He has not forsaken us. Our God is a God of mercy and compassion. He is a God who desires our prayers. He wants nothing more than for us to lift our prayers and petitions to Him. He hears our prayers. As the Psalmist writes, “...He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me.” In humility and humbleness, we petition our Father that His will may be done through us. He shapes and forms us as the potter shapes the clay. We are His vessels to serve in the vocations that He has equipped us for from before the foundations of the world. As we journey towards the end of the Easter season, we are comforted by the words of the Psalmist in knowing that our Father in Heaven always hears our prayers. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are pointed back to our Baptism where we are marked with His word and water. We are drawn to the Communion rail where He feeds us with His healing balm of His Body and Blood. In His Holy Word, the Savior is revealed, and the message of forgiveness is placed upon our ears. In faith, we lift up our prayers to an ever-loving God who does not reject our prayers.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.To God the Holy Spirit let us pray For the true faith needed on our way That He may defend us when life is ending And from exile home we are wending. Lord have mercy (LSB 768:1)Rev. Timothy Davis, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

May 3, 2026. Fifth Sunday of Easter homily by Fr. Matt Lowry about how Jesus has a place for us in heaven, in His heart, and in His Body, the Church. The way to find His path for us is to seek Jesus Himself. He is the Way, the Path, and the Place.

Sponsored By:→ Neuro | Go to https://getneuro.com and use code ONEDAY at checkout for 15% OFF your entire order.DescriptionHe raised $135 million, built one of Silicon Valley's most hyped companies, watched it collapse in public, and then disappeared into the Mojave Desert with a yurt and a hot spring and no one to talk to.Jon Bier sits down with Doug Evans, founder of Organic Avenue, founder of Juicero, and now founder of The Sprouting Company, for one of the most raw conversations about failure, identity, and what it actually takes to rise from the wreckage. Doug didn't pivot. He didn't rebrand. He went to the desert, lived alone for over a year, started growing sprouts out of necessity, and slowly rebuilt himself from the inside out. What came next was an eight-figure business, a wife, a daughter at 56, and a clarity about what life is actually for that most people never find.This is a story about the second mountain. And how you only find it after everything else burns down.In this episode: • The real story behind Juicero's collapse — what the Bloomberg hit piece got wrong, what Doug got wrong, and why he takes 100% of the responsibility • How living alone in the Mojave Desert on nothing but sprouts became the unlikely foundation for a new company, a new life, and a completely different relationship with success • Why delusional confidence isn't a flaw — it's the only ingredient that actually works for founders who are building something nobody else believes in yetFind Doug: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougevans/ • The Sprouting Company: https://www.thesproutingcompany.com • The Sprout Book: https://www.thesproutbook.comTimestamps:0:00 - Intro1:40 - Meet Doug Evans: Organic Avenue, Juicero & the Sprouting Company 2:42 - Taking 100% Responsibility for the Failure 4:00 - What Really Killed Juicero (It Wasn't the Product) 8:26 - Going to the Desert: Isolation, a Yurt & Hot Springs 9:57 - What Brought Him Back: Nature, Stillness & Sprouts 11:09 - 30 Days on Sprouts Only & What Happened to His Body 15:21 - Hitting Rock Bottom at TED: Shame, No Name Tag & Meeting Mike Posner 18:33 - Why Investors Still Backed Him After the Biggest Silicon Valley Failure20:10 - Why Sprouting Is a Better Business Than Juicing 24:47 - How the Fire Gave Him Everything: Wife, Daughter & His Second Mountain 31:42 - Growing Up in Chaos: From Paratrooper to Degenerate Friends to the Army 35:05 - Seven Years Working for Paul Rand for Free (And Talking to Steve Jobs) 45:45 - You Have to Be Delusional to Be a Great Entrepreneur 50:01 - How Much of the Glow Is the Sprouts? 54:44 - Broccoli Sprout Water & Breaking Through to 100 Push-Ups at 60 57:18 - Founder Energy vs. CEO Energy & Pure Presence

On the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, this homily examines the temptation to treat Christ as a figure of the past rather than the Living Lord. It explores how even faithful Christians can reduce Him to something studied at a distance—especially in an age of endless religious content. Grounded in the Church's sacramental and communal life, the message calls us to encounter Christ where He truly speaks: in His Body. The result is both comforting and demanding, as the living Christ not only teaches, but calls us to repentance and transformation.  Enjoy the show! --- Homily for the Myrrhbearers St. Mark 15:43–16:8; Acts 6:1–7 Today we celebrate the holy Myrrhbearers: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the most holy Theotokos, Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Joanna, Salome, Mary and Martha, and Susanna—those who loved Christ enough to come to Him even in death. Their love is beautiful. It is courageous. It is faithful. But it is also, in one very important way, mistaken. They came to anoint a corpse. They came expecting silence, stillness, finality. They came to do one last act of love for someone who was no longer present to receive it. And that is where we must be careful—because we can do the same thing. We sing again and again, "Christ is Risen!" But how often do we live as if He were not? Think about how we relate to the dead. We remember them. We honor them. We reflect on their words. We study what they said, and we try to apply it to our lives. But we do not expect them to speak to us now. We do not expect them to guide us in real time. And this is exactly how many Christians treat Christ. We treat Him as a figure from the past—a great teacher, whose words are preserved in a fixed collection of texts. If we want to know what He thinks, we go back and study what He said, like we would with Plato or any other historical figure. Please—do not misunderstand me. We need the Scriptures. We must study them. But if that is all we are doing—if Christ is only someone we study—then we are treating Him as if He were dead. Because if He were truly risen—if He were truly alive—then we would expect Him to still be teaching. And He is. Christ is alive—not only in heaven—but here and now. He lives in the hearts of the faithful. He lives in His sacraments. He lives most fully as the Head of His Body—the Church. And that means something very concrete: the Church is not a memory. She is not a museum. She is not an archive. She is alive. And here is where the danger comes in—because just as we can treat Christ as if He were dead, we can also treat the Church as if she were dead. We do this when we reduce her to an institution, when we treat her traditions as relics instead of life, when we experience the Liturgy as repetition instead of encounter, and when we assume that nothing truly happens here—nothing new, nothing real—only the preservation of the past. We do this when we think, "I already know what the Church says," "I'll decide how to apply it," or "I'll take what is helpful." But a living body does not work that way. If Christ is alive, then His Body is alive. And if His Body is alive, then it speaks—not just in the past, but now. In the hymns, in the prayers, in the canons, in the counsel of those who are faithful and wise, in the real, sometimes difficult life of the parish—where we are taught through living out our salvation with one another, in patience, repentance, and love—and in the quiet voice that speaks when we have learned to be still. And this leads to the second reaction—the more difficult one. It is one thing to doubt that Christ is speaking. It is another thing to realize that He is. Because "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). A dead teacher can be interpreted. A living Lord must be obeyed. A dead teacher can be studied at a distance. A living Lord sees you, knows you, and calls you to change. And here is one of the ways we avoid this. We listen to the Church—but at a distance. We listen through podcasts, through videos, through discussions online. We hear sermons, teachings, arguments, explanations. And again, these things can be good. But notice what happens when this becomes our primary way of listening. We receive the words, but not the life. We hear, but we are not known. We learn, but we are not accountable. We can pause it, skip it, choose one voice over another, agree or disagree without consequence. In other words, we remain in control. But that is not how the living Christ teaches. The living Christ teaches through His Body—a Body that we must enter, a Body that sees us, a Body that corrects us, a Body that calls us to repentance, a Body that we cannot curate or control. You can learn about Christ anywhere, but you can only be taught by Him within His Body. To receive Christ only as content—even Orthodox content—is still, in a subtle way, to treat Him as if He were not fully alive. Because the Risen Christ does not simply inform us; He forms us. It is much easier to interpret what Christ said two thousand years ago—indeed, much easier to interpret what the Councils and Fathers said hundreds of years ago—than it is to hear what He is saying to you today. Because interpretation can be shaped by our pride, by our ego. Obedience cannot. So how do we learn from the living Christ? The answer is not new. We give our lives—our bodies, our minds, our souls—to Him and to His Church. We pray. We enter into the Liturgy. We love our neighbor. We learn from the Fathers. We seek counsel. We quiet ourselves so that we can hear—not because this is a system, but because this is where He is: ministering to us, teaching us, healing us, enlightening us. The Myrrhbearers came looking for the dead. Instead, they encountered the Living One. And that is the same invitation given to us. Do not come here to remember Christ. Do not come here to study Him from a distance. Do not come here as if nothing real is happening. Come here to meet Him. Because He is not in the tomb. He is not confined to history. Christ is risen. Indeed He is risen—and He is with us, here, now, and always.

This week in our look at finding stability in a season of instability, today and tomorrow, we will focus on the support we all need within a solid and supportive community.When we come to Christ, we are grafted into His family tree. We become a part of His body. That's what the Bible teaches. We enter into an eternal community where we have a definite and intentional place in which we fit right now.Listen to Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 … The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. … But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? … But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. … The eye can never say to the hand, “I don't need you.” The head can't say to the feet, “I don't need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you are included in that passage. You belong to this body that Paul is talking about. You count. You fit. You are in that community with a unique place.Is there a community you need to separate yourself from?Are there some toxic relationships you keep allowing to hurt you?Are you needing a place to fit and do life to secure you inside a healthy community?You are in the Body of Christ, but are you in a physical community of believers?If not, what steps do you need to take today to find your place and your space?But always remember—God has not only prepared a place for you in Heaven, but a place here in His Body, His community, until You join Him. He's made all the arrangements for eternity but we have a responsibility for what we do while we are here.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the Body of Christ. Thank You for Your community and Your kingdom here. Help me to always take my place in You and with those I need to be connected to. As above, so below.”

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation reveals that the Kingdom Passover is the spiritual doorway into God's Kingdom, made possible through the crucifixion and blood of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that this is not about human effort, but about receiving what Christ has already accomplished through grace and faith. Through His blood, believers enter into God's presence, stand in His victory, and participate in the unfolding Kingdom on earth. The message highlights unity, transformation, trust, and the present reality of walking in Christ's authority as part of His Body. Show Notes 1. The Cross as the Door into the Kingdom Christ's crucifixion is thekey to the Kingdom PassoverHis death opened anew door from one age into anotherThe Kingdom is entered through His sacrifice, not human works 2. The Blood Covenant and New Covenant Reality The covenant in Christ's blood iseverything for believersIt is based onwhat God has already done, not what we doThe Passover representsappropriation of Christ's finished work 3. Access into God's Presence Through Christ's blood, believers:Enter God's presenceReceive redemption and grace Ongoing transformation still comes by believing Him 4. Inclusion of All Creation God's plan includesall creation through ChristThe Kingdom removes divisions:“Neither Jew nor Greek…” A new creation reality is emerging through His blood 5. Standing in Victory and Authority Believers stand in:Christ's victoryThe rest of God Authority comes through positioning in Him, not striving 6. Manifestation of the Kingdom on Earth The Kingdom is not distant—it iscoming into this realmChrist is being revealed through His peopleHis Body becomes the vessel of Kingdom expression 7. God's Appointed Times and Revelation The feasts areappointed times of revelationGod is unveiling things previously hiddenBelievers are called to live withanticipation and faith 8. Grace, Faith, and Trust Salvation and walking in God are by:Grace + Faith Trust becomes a deep, unwavering response Walking with God becomes an automatic reflex of trust 9. Living in the “Now” of God The Kingdom is not future only—it ispresent (“today”)Believers must remove delay and excusesThe call is to step intoimmediate obedience and reality 10. Walking in Openness and Truth Victory comes through:Transparency before GodThe Word as a sword Not through worldly systems or duplicity Key Quotes “The key to the Passover of the kingdom was Christ's crucifixion.”“That door that Christ opened… was so necessary.”“The covenant that He made in His blood is everything to us.”“By grace we've been saved through faith.”“I don't care what's coming… I trust what the Lord's doing.”“We are in Christ… walking in His victory.”“It's now. It's today.”“You prevail as you stand… before the Lord with the sword.”“God is our provision… this is a new day.” Scriptural References Exodus 12The original Passover (foundation of the concept)John 1 (29)Christ as the Lamb of GodHebrews 10 (19–22)Access to God through the blood of JesusJeremiah 31 (31)The New CovenantEphesians 2 (8–9)Saved by grace through faithGalatians 3 (28)No Jew or Greek, one in ChristRomans 8 (19–21)Creation included in redemption

Read OnlineJesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.” John 6:35–36Some who listened to Jesus' Bread of Life Discourse must have been shocked. Those who listened with faith began to believe in Him, even though their understanding was not complete. Those who listened with skepticism were not only shocked but angered, as evidenced by their reaction. Today's Gospel marks Jesus' clearest revelation of His divine identity and mission, inviting us to accept Him into our lives.After proclaiming Himself to be the Bread of Life, Jesus reveals His unity with the Father in Heaven Who sent Him on His mission. He proclaims that He “will not reject anyone who comes to” Him because He “came down from heaven” to do the will of the Father Who sent Him. Jesus concludes with a declaration about the Father's will and Jesus' mission: “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day” (cf. John 6:37–40). Again, without the ears of faith, what Jesus revealed must have been shocking.At that time, the people of Israel were used to listening to rabbis who interpreted the Law of Moses, the psalms, and the prophets for them. These educated teachers often spoke clearly and with authority, but never like Jesus. His clarity and authority were pronounced, and His message He taught was new. Not even the prophets of old spoke like Him. When they prophesied, they usually began by saying, “Thus says the Lord…” Jesus' teaching took a drastic shift by essentially proclaiming, “I AM the Lord…”Though some might have been skeptical and critical, it's important for us to consider those who were humble of heart who listened to Jesus' words with openness and faith. As they heard this new and amazing teaching, their hearts would have responded, “Yes!”, while their minds would have said, “I don't understand.”When we experience the gift of faith, we will find we have that same reaction. God's revealed and mysterious truths often stir our spirits first, calling us to believe, and only once we believe, is clarity given. In fact, faith often precedes understanding, inviting us to trust first and receive deeper insights in time. For that reason, we must understand that belief does not require perfect understanding. It's appropriate to believe in our spirit, even though our minds have not yet grasped the truth we believe. This is especially the case with the Eucharist.Saint John Vianney once said, “There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.” Do you believe that? Of all the material possessions we might obtain in this life, nothing is more valuable, important, or precious than the Eucharist. Why? Because the Eucharist is Jesus Himself. He is the Bread of Life. His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity enter our souls when we receive this precious gift.After Jesus said to the crowds, “whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst,” He said that some would not believe in Him. But those who do believe, despite an incomplete understanding of the Eucharist, are promised they will “never hunger” and “never thirst.” Clearly, the hunger and thirst Jesus speaks of are far greater than physical needs. It's the longing that comes from the depths of our being, desiring fulfillment, contentment, and peace. It's a desire to be made whole, free from guilt and shame, satisfied beyond any natural satisfaction. This is the Eucharist. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, desiring to satisfy our souls' every longing. Reflect today on Jesus' invitation to satiate your soul's deepest hunger and thirst through the Eucharist. He calls you to a personal encounter, to find in Him the true satisfaction that the world cannot give. We attempt to acquire that satiation through many passing means, such as pleasures, comforts, indulgences, wealth, and prestige. None of it works. As you look into your soul and identify the many longings you have, turn to Him alone Who satisfies. Renew your faith in the Eucharist and receive the satiation He desires to bestow. My Eucharistic Lord, You have promised that if I come to You, You will satisfy my deepest longings, every hunger and thirst. I do come to You and believe that You are the Bread of Life, the only means to the Father. I renew my faith in Your True Presence in the Eucharist and pray that every time I receive You, my heart will be open to Your transforming love. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:  Sermon on the Mount Stained Glass via AdobeSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041726.cfmFather Anthony Gramlich, MIC, challenges us to stop asking "Why, God?" when we face suffering or confusion, warning that we will never receive an answer in this life. He explains that God often allows us to walk through experiences without understanding to test and strengthen our faith, revealing His plan only years later or in Heaven. Drawing from the miracle of the loaves and fishes, Fr. Anthony highlights how the Apostles initially panicked, unable to see the solution, until a little boy offered his small lunch in faith. Jesus multiplied this offering through the Apostles, feeding 5,000 and leaving 12 baskets of leftovers.Father Anthony reveals the deeper spiritual meaning: This miracle is a sign of the Eucharist. The five loaves and two fish symbolize the humanity and divinity of Christ, distributed through the Church (represented by the 12baskets, one for each Apostle) to nourish our souls. He connects the Passover context to the Last Supper, showing how the Apostles later understood that Jesus was instituting the Mass to feed us with His Body and Blood. Even when we cannot understand God's plan, we are called to trust Him. Father Anthony encourages those unable to receive sacramental Communion to make a spiritual communion, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to offer perfect thanksgiving on our behalf. Ultimately, we must have faith that God is working for our good, even when His ways remain a mystery. ★ Support this podcast ★

April 14, 2026Today's Reading: 1 John 5:4-10Daily Lectionary: Exodus 23:14-33; Luke 4:31-44“For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:7-8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What testimony is this that John writes? What testimony are the three, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, in agreement? This is not concerning manifesting faith within us, or that we accept the Lord Jesus into our hearts. Rather it is this, “The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”The Spirit points to the One who died, whose side poured out water and blood that brings life for all who receive them. You receive this life-giving testimony in your Baptism and are given a new identity through the washing of the water and the Word. In Baptism, you receive the Holy Spirit, who brings you who were dead to faith in the testimony concerning your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through water and the Spirit, you are given new life and a Savior who is with you through all weakness, pain, and even death. There with you, leading you from this life, through death, to eternity.He gives you His Body and Blood, which is given to you through His Word, and bread and wine. To strengthen and keep you all the days of your life. That's what these three are for. Because it is not by your reason or strength that you are saved, that you have faith, or that you endure. Rather, it is by these three that unite you to the One who endured and has overcome death and the grave, and so shall you. These three testify, and these three agree. By them, you are united with your Lord Jesus now, and just as He died and rose again, so will you. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Water, blood, and Spirit crying, By their witness testifying To the One whose death-defying Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:1)

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel – Luke 24:13-35 – That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to Him in reply, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And He replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to Him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed Him over to a sentence of death and crucified Him. But we were hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that He was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them what referred to Him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, He gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Bishop Sheen quote of the day

“Salvation joins a believer to CHRiSt, union with CHRiSt joins the believer to the Body of CHRiSt.” In this second look into Church Consciousness, we explore the responsibility of the Church in stewarding the value imputed by CHRiSt, to the members of His Body. For inquires & bookings: Phone: +234 708 881 8864 Email: info@thebasileiacommisssion.org Twitter | Instagram: @WAHthehurch Facebook: @TheBasileiaCommission | @WAHthechurch

“The Resurrection: God's Gamechanger!” April 5, 2026 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 15:13; John 11:25, 26 The Resurrection: The Basis of Our HOPE! Hope: the energy in the Spirit to Reach! Our Hope may be redefined, but never ultimately defeated! Hope is the “Forerunner” of Faith, without which we cannot please God. (Hebrews 11:6) Ephesians 1:15-23: A God-Given Prayer For You on “Resurrection Day” The spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Him (intimately, personally) “Eyes of our heart”; “get it”; deep knowing! Hope of His calling: Out of and into! Riches re: to His Inheritance! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) death life; darkness/light; disease/health; anger, bitterness/forgiveness; fear, shame/perfect Love; rejection/acceptance; pride/humility; lack/provision; despair/Hope; chaos/order! The exceeding (more than enough) power/authority to those who believe, in line and in partnership with, in connection to …. The Resurrection and Seating (positioning) of Christ! Above: greater than, superior to, FAR ABOVE …. Every spiritual enemy! …. NOW AND FOREVER! The Resurrection Connection is the Birthright of His Church, His Body! (Ephesians 1:22, 23) ✸ HOPE vs. DISAPPOINTMENT HOPE is ESSENTIAL to Spiritual Function (Hebrews 11:1) and is centered in the Spirit! DISAPPOINTMENT is CIRCUMSTANTIALLY motivated and centered in the emotions/mind. Its nature is temporary. Hope functions even with disappointment manifested.

Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18 Palm Sunday reveals both our love for Christ and our temptation to abandon Him when He does not meet our expectations. This homily invites us to see ourselves in the Gospel, to embrace the deeper work of transformation, and to follow the King who leads us not to comfort, but to life through the Cross. --- Palm Sunday Homily 2026 For the Jews two thousand years ago, today was the culmination of their long waiting: the Messiah had come to save them. "Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!" It is a great day for us as well—the end of Great Lent, the celebration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We take up the first fruits of spring—palm leaves and pussy willows—not just as decoration, but as a sign of renewal. The winter of waiting is over. Christ has come among His people. As the Church sings in the Triodion: "Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together, and we all take up Thy Cross and say: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord." And more than that: He has come into our lives. This feast is not only about what happened in Jerusalem long ago. It is about the moment when Christ entered into our own story—when we first recognized Him as Lord, when we opened our hearts to Him, when we felt the relief of His presence. For many of us, that moment was marked by healing: the easing of despair, the forgiveness of sins, the restoration of hope. And so we cried out: "Hosanna in the Highest—the King has come to save!" Not just Israel. Me. But here is where the Gospel becomes dangerous for us. Because the people who cried "Hosanna" were not wrong to rejoice. They were wrong about what that joy meant. They loved Christ because He met their expectations. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He gave them hope that their visible, worldly problems would be solved. Of course they loved Him. And we do the same. We love Christ when He meets our expectations:   when He brings peace   when He answers prayers the way we want   when He restores what we think should be restored We love the Church for the same reason:   when it comforts us   when it feels like home   when it confirms what we already believe We cry "Hosanna" when Christ—and His Body, the Church—fit into the life we already want. But then something happens. Christ moves beyond our expectations. He refuses to remain what we first loved Him for. And here the Church gives us words that both celebrate and correct us. In the hymns of this feast, we sing: "Seated in heaven upon Thy throne and on earth upon a colt, O Christ God, Thou hast accepted the praise of the angels and the song of the children who cried unto Thee: Blessed art Thou who hast come to call back Adam." He comes as King—but not the kind of king we expect. He comes not to confirm our plans—but to restore Adam. And this is why Lent has prepared us. All through the season, in the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, we have been taught how to read Scripture: "I alone have sinned against Thee." "I am the one who has fallen." We are not spectators in the Gospel. We are participants. So when the crowd turns from "Hosanna" to rejection— we do not say, "they did this." We say: "I am capable of this." We are the ones who welcome Christ when He fits our expectations —and are tempted to abandon Him when He does not. And this is not just about Christ in abstraction.   It is about Christ in His Body—the Church. We love the Church when it gives us what we expect:      beauty      stability      meaning But when the Church calls us to something harder—      to repentance      to forgiveness      to self-denial —we can become disappointed. Even resistant. Even tempted to step back. But that later moment—the moment of disappointment— is often more important than the moment of joy. Because that is the moment when Christ is no longer fitting into our life— He is transforming it. And this transformation is not accidental. As Maximus the Confessor teaches, the spiritual life is the purification and reordering of our desires. We begin by loving God for what He gives us—but we are called to love Him for Himself. What begins as expectation must be healed into communion. We see this even in the Liturgy. In the Great Entrance, Christ comes among us. He is received with honor and reverence. But then a turn is made; the stairs up the amvon to the altar     are the mountain of Golgotha. And His throne is revealed—not as a seat of earthly glory— but as an altar of sacrifice. And the hymns of this Great Feast prepare us even for this. We sing: "Today the Master of creation and the Lord of glory enters Jerusalem seated on a colt. He hastens to His Passion, to fulfill the Law and the Prophets." The One we welcomed in joy— is already going to the Cross. This is the truth the crowd did not expect. And it is the truth we struggle with. Christ does not come simply to solve our problems. He comes to transform us. Not to meet our expectations— but to purify them. Not to give us the life we imagined— but to give us His life. So today we are given a choice. When Christ meets our expectations, we rejoice. But when He overturns them—when He exceeds them—when He leads us through the Cross—      what will we do then?      Will we turn away?      Or will we follow Him still? Some saw this day as the end—the fulfillment of everything they had hoped for. But it was not the end. It was the beginning. The beginning of a path that leads through suffering, through death— and into resurrection. So do not make your heart a place that welcomes Christ only on your terms. Do not turn your heart into a tomb for the King. Let it be His throne. Receive Him not only in triumph—but in sacrifice. Not only in consolation—but in transformation. Because He will not remain what we expect. And thanks be to God— He will become something far greater. "Let us also, like the children, bear the symbols of victory, and cry out to the Conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord."

Friends of the Rosary,Today, April 4, is Holy Saturday (from Sabbatum Sanctum, its official liturgical name), the day of the Lord's rest. Jesus rests in peace in the grave, and the faithful sit near and mourn, after the intense battle against sin and death, and now a victorious triumph over evil. It's a calm and quiet day.The Church, united with Mary and the apostles, remains in prayer and faith at the Lord's tomb, meditating on his Passion and Death, on his Descent into Hell, and awaiting his Resurrection.The body of Jesus lies in the tomb, but his soul has descended into hell, or to the realm of the dead, to announce liberation from darkness to his ancestors and deliver the righteous.The body of the Church is represented in the Blessed Virgin Mary: she is the "credentium collectio universa" (Congregation for Divine Worship,The mortal wounds on His Body, the scars of intense suffering, remain visible. Jesus' enemies are still furious, attempting to erase the very memory of the Lord by lies and slander.No liturgies are celebrated until the Easter Vigil at night. The silence of Holy Saturday ends at sundown with the Easter Vigil, which marks the start of Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.The Easter Vigil signifies the transition from darkness to light and from death to life.It's the longest and most dramatic service of the year; it often lasts over two hours, depending on the number of readings and baptisms. It features four parts:• Service of Light: Begins in darkness, with a fire lit outside the church to light the Paschal Candle, symbolizing Christ breaking the darkness of sin.• Service of Readings: Multiple readings from the Old and New Testaments recount salvation history, from creation to resurrection.• Service of Initiation and Baptism: The blessing of water, used for baptismal regeneration and renewal of our baptismal vows. We see the celebration of baptisms, with those being baptized, symbolizing new life, wearing white Garments and holding lit candles.• Service of the Eucharist: The first mass of Easter, marking a joyous celebration of the Eucharist.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• April 4, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The twelfth station: The Last Supper.   We've heard the words so many times:   “This is my Body… This is my Blood…”   But do we really understand what's happening?   The Eucharist is not just a meal. It's not just presence.   It is sacrifice.   At the Last Supper, Jesus gives us access to Calvary — to His Body given up and His Blood poured out.   And at every Mass, that same sacrifice is made present.   You are not just remembering something… You are there.  

The tenth station: The Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. Jesus takes what seems small… and feeds thousands. He takes. He blesses. He breaks. He gives. And this miracle isn't just something that happened once. At every Mass, Jesus still feeds us — with His Body and His Blood. In abundance. But He can only multiply what we give Him. So the question is: What are you offering? What are you holding back? God wants to take your life, bless it, break it, and give it for the world.

The eleventh station: The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6). Jesus makes it clear: “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life within you.” These are not easy words. But they are life-changing. From the tree in the Garden… to the tree of the Cross… God is restoring what was lost. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us everything — His Body, His Blood, His very life. And when we receive Him… He heals us.

Today's Reading: Luke 22:1-23:56Daily Lectionary: Exodus 10:21-11:10; Lamentations 3:1-66; Hebrews 4:1-16“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.' Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.' Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.'” (Luke 22:31-34)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Exorcism and possession are popular topics for media in our age, which seems to have moved from outright secularism to acceptance of all spiritualities. In the popular imagination, these possessions culminate in a violent and dramatic force of wills between a protagonist and a demonic entity. Fiction makes it seem as if we must either use our own strength to battle the darkness, or employ some secret knowledge, or sometimes invoke the name of Jesus, like an ancient protection spell. But this text shows us what is really going on behind the curtain of the spiritual world. Here, Jesus directly tells Peter that Satan demanded possession of him, and instead of responding with fear, trembling, or even trust in Jesus, Peter makes a declarative statement about the strength of his own faith. Peter is certain he would never fail in his love for Jesus. He is certain about the strength of his own faith. Luke doesn't tell us here how Peter responded to Jesus's disclosure. I wonder if Peter argued with him? I suspect he did. Luke does tell us a few verses later that Jesus was, of course, correct in his prophecy, and Peter weeps bitterly as he understands his own betrayal in light of Christ's words. How foolish he must have felt, first to declare his certainty, then to be explicitly warned by Jesus, and yet still fall into denying him three separate times! But Peter's story here gives us hope. The Word of Christ will so often call us back from our own sin, our own failings, the temptations that we have fallen into, and have spent days, months, or years justifying. The realization of our deep failings, in light of Christ's love and mercy, can feel like a deep betrayal of all we have been called to be in this world. Yet we do not have to rely on the strength of our own faith, the purity of our love and devotion, or anything within us to keep us in the love of Christ. Rather, we can look to Him who thwarts the devil's demands with His Word, His action, His Body and Blood for all who trust in him.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.If my sins give me alarm And my conscience grieve me, Let Your cross my fear disarm; Peace of conscience give me. Help me see forgiveness won By Your holy passion If for me He slays His Son God must have compassion! (LSB 440:5)

Read Online“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.” Matthew 26:21–23The Last Supper was both a glorious moment of grace and a painful moment of betrayal. During that meal, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, the gift of His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity that perpetuates His saving sacrifice until the end of time. It was also at that holy meal that one of Jesus' closest companions lied to His face and resolved to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver.According to the Torah, if an ox killed a slave, the owner was required to pay the slave's master thirty pieces of silver. The holy irony is that Judas betrayed Jesus for the price of a slave, even though Jesus came to set all people free from the slavery of sin.When Jesus informs the Twelve that one of them would betray Him, He does so without anger or self-pity. His words reflect holy sorrow, accompanied by resignation, clarity, and gentleness. This sorrow is not merely sadness over His impending suffering but a loving sorrow for the lost soul of His betrayer. Deeply distressed, the disciples respond one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”The Greek word Kyrios, used here for “Lord,” denotes authority, mastery, and divine lordship. It appears frequently in the New Testament, primarily in reference to Jesus. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), Kyrios replaces YHWH, the sacred and unspoken name of God, about 7,000 times. By addressing Jesus as Kyrios, the eleven recognize Him not only as their teacher but as the Messiah and Son of God. This title expresses a relationship of trust and reverence, acknowledging Jesus' divine authority.When Judas speaks, he replaces Kyrios with Rabbí—“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”—a transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic term meaning “teacher.” While respectful, this address falls short of acknowledging Jesus as Kyrios, focusing on Him as a human teacher rather than as Lord, Messiah, and God. This distinction is subtle but significant, inviting us to reflect on how we approach Jesus during the Holy Mass, since this conversation took place at the Last Supper—the first Mass. Do we approach Him with the heart of Judas, recognizing Him only in an earthly sense, or with the faith of the other disciples, seeing Him as Lord?Judas did not hate Jesus. Unlike the Pharisees who sought His death, Judas regretted his betrayal, tried to return the thirty pieces of silver, and tragically “went off and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:3–5). His greatest failure was that he could not look beyond Jesus' humanity to perceive His divinity. His eyes were fixed on himself—particularly his greed and selfish desires. In a similar way, when we approach the Eucharist without faith, surrender, and adoration, we risk falling into Judas' error: focusing more on ourselves than on Christ.At Mass, we say, “Lord, have mercy,” not “Rabbi, have mercy.” This prayer must come from the depths of our hearts, recognizing our need for mercy with God as its source. When we kneel at the consecration, our hearts should cry out, “My Lord and my God!” Yet, how often are we distracted, thinking about our plans after Mass? When we neglect to approach Jesus in faith and reverence, we miss the opportunity to encounter Him as He truly is—our Lord and our God.Reflect today on how you participate in the Holy Mass. See yourself at the Last Supper, uniting that moment with every Mass you attend. Pray that you may receive Jesus with love, devotion, and reverence, looking beyond the appearance of bread and wine to encounter your Lord. My Lord and my God, I believe in You, I adore You, I hope in Your mercy, and I love You with all my heart. Please fill me with a deep faith in Your presence, especially every time I attend Mass. May I recognize my need for You and surrender completely to Your mercy and love. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Bernard van Orley, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

In the Fourth Station of the Eucharist, we reflect on the Jewish Passover in Exodus 12. It was not enough for the Israelites to simply believe— they had to sacrifice the lamb, eat its flesh, and mark their doors with its blood. And through that obedience, they were saved. This moment points directly to Jesus. He is the true Lamb of God. And in the Eucharist, He gives us His Body and Blood— not as a symbol, but as the fulfillment of the Passover. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life within you.” The Eucharist is our Passover. Today, take time to reflect: Where is God calling you to greater obedience? And ask Him for the grace to love more deeply—because where there is love, there is obedience.

“Salvation joins a believer to CHRiSt, union with CHRiSt joins the believer to the Body of CHRiSt.” In this second look into Church Consciousness, we explore the responsibility of the Church in stewarding the value imputed by CHRiSt, to the members of His Body. For inquires & bookings: Phone: +234 708 881 8864 Email: info@thebasileiacommisssion.org Twitter | Instagram: @WAHthehurch Facebook: @TheBasileiaCommission | @WAHthechurch

Romans 8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  Christian, Ministry, Christ in you, Kingdom of God, Revelation of Jesus Christ, Fulfilled Eschatology, Resurrection Life, Life in our Mortal Bodies, The Coming of the Lord, The Lord lives in His Body, Christ Jesus is in the Church, The Fulness of God in Christ, Victorious Ending, Victorious Eschatology, The End Times, The End of the World, The End of the Age. Pastor Wayne Shelton awayne_shelton@icloud.com

“Salvation joins a believer to CHRiSt, union with CHRiSt joins the believer to the Body of CHRiSt.” In this second look into Church Consciousness, we explore the responsibility of the Church in stewarding the value imputed by CHRiSt, to the members of His Body. For inquires & bookings: Phone: +234 708 881 8864 Email: info@thebasileiacommisssion.org Twitter | Instagram: @WAHthehurch Facebook: @TheBasileiaCommission | @WAHthechurch

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This episode explores the reality of Christ expressing Himself through His Body. As believers grow in maturity and oneness, they begin to move beyond striving and into a deeper flow of the Spirit where the Lord speaks through yielded vessels. The cross becomes the pathway into this life, bringing the dying out of self so that Christ can live and minister through His people. Instead of relying on knowledge, religious systems, or personal effort, the Body of Christ is learning to trust the Spirit of God and enter into His rest. In that place of faith and surrender, believers become living channels of the Holy Spirit, speaking a living word and ministering Christ to one another in love, freedom, and unity. Show Notes Entering a Life in the Spirit The discussion begins with the recognition that believers are being drawn into a deeper experience of knowing the Lord by the Spirit and relating to one another in that same realm. God's purpose has never been centered on isolated individuals but on a corporate Body—a family and a Kingdom through which Christ can express Himself. Maturity and Oneness in the Body As the Body matures, there is a growing sense of unity and shared life. Ministry becomes less about individual effort and more about the collective expression of Christ flowing through His people. The Cross as the Pathway The cross remains central to spiritual growth. Through the process of dying to self and accepting the Lord's dealings, believers are transformed and brought into true sonship. What may seem like pressure or difficulty is actually God's loving work shaping His sons and daughters. Moving Beyond Religion into Spirit Many believers remain stuck in systems that operate at the level of the soul and flesh. Without the work of the cross, spiritual growth stalls. True life in the Spirit requires leaving behind religious striving and entering into genuine spiritual experience. Freedom From Striving As believers learn to trust the Spirit, they stop striving to perform or prove themselves. Instead, they begin to minister from the Lord's presence, allowing His Spirit to speak through them naturally. Christ Ministering Through His People When believers serve one another with love and faith, Christ Himself is ministering through them. The Spirit flows through simple acts of obedience, planting seeds, watering hearts, and allowing God to bring the increase. Entering Into God's Rest The conversation concludes with the call to enter into God's rest. This means trusting the Lord rather than relying on personal understanding, past experiences, or religious tradition. In this place of faith and surrender, the Holy Spirit flows freely and Christ speaks through His Body. Quotes Debbie: “We're coming into a place of spirit and a place of knowing the Lord by the Spirit, and knowing each other by the spirit.” Ron: “He wants a kingdom. He wants a family. He wants a body of Christ.” Ken: “You just jump into the water and go with it. The Lord creates something that you look back and you say, who spoke that word?” Ron: “This is what God's doing because He loves me and He wants me to be a son, and He wants me to come closer to Him.” Mike: “That which is spirit is spirit. That which is flesh is flesh and religion is flesh.” Ken: “When things drop off because of the cross, all of a sudden you realize how much lighter you are.” Ron: “We're not asking people to come to the Lord. We're creating an open door in their hearts.” Ken: “We're simply ministering out of the Lord's presence in the Spirit.” Ed: “You're ministering to your brother as if he is Christ.” Ron: “This is gonna be Christ speaking through me.” Scriptural References Galatians 2 (20) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Matthew 28 (19) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Matthew 25 (40) “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” John 3 (6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Hebrews 4 (9–11) “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” Proverbs 3 (5–6) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Philippians 1 (21) “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 1 Corinthians 12 (27) “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Takeaway Christ desires to express Himself through His people. As believers embrace the work of the cross, release striving, and trust the Holy Spirit, they enter a place of rest where the Lord speaks and ministers through them. The Body of Christ becomes a living channel of the Spirit—bringing life, freedom, and revelation to others.

In this episode of the OCIA: The Bridge to Rome series, Greg and Cory dive into the heart of what OCIA is ultimately aiming for: the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. They explain how these three sacraments bring a person into full communion with the Catholic Church, marking the gateway to the Christian life as a death-and-rebirth in Christ, a strengthening by the Holy Spirit, and intimate union with Jesus in His Body and Blood. The conversation covers key distinctions between catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (validly baptized in other Christian traditions), the biblical foundations (especially the Great Commission and Pentecost), why Catholic baptism is regenerative rather than merely symbolic, how validity is determined (Trinitarian formula and intent), and the typical order of reception at the Easter Vigil. They also touch on practical questions inquirers often have—like documentation, Protestant "confirmation" practices, and why the Church recognizes some baptisms but not others—while keeping everything clear, charitable, and rooted in Scripture, tradition, and the Catechism. Perfect as a preview for those considering OCIA, a supplement for current participants, or a refreshing reminder for lifelong Catholics rediscovering the power of these foundational sacraments on the road to the Easter Vigil. SUPPORT THIS SHOW Considering Catholicism is 100% listener-supported. If this podcast has helped you on your journey, please become a patron today! For as little as $5/month you get: • Every regular episode ad-free and organized into topical playlists • Exclusive bonus content (extra Q&As, Deep-Dive courses, live streams, and more) • My deepest gratitude and a growing community of like-minded listeners ➡️ Join now: https://patreon.com/consideringcatholicism (or tap the Patreon link in your podcast app) One-time gift: Donate with PayPal! CONNECT WITH US • Website & contact form: https://consideringcatholicism.com • Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com • Leave a comment on Patreon (I read every one!) RATE & REVIEW If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating (and even better, a review) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — it really helps new listeners find us. SHARE THE SHOW Know someone who's curious about Catholicism? Send them a link or share an episode on social media. Thank you! Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, is Laetare Sunday, a Sunday of joy. As in Advent we had Gaudete Sunday, so in Lent we have a Laetare Sunday.The Church's liturgy, with the celebrant priest in Mass wearing rose-colored vestments, gives a foretaste of Easter joy, inviting us to focus on the Risen Christ.In today's reading, we learn how Christ Jesus takes onto Himself all our sins — which are ultimately the consequences of our blindness — allowing Himself to be abandoned by His friends, rejected by His people, crowned with thorns, stripped, and nailed to the cross.He offered His Body to the Father for our salvation and consecrated His entire Person for every one of us.He introduced us into His Holy Heart, inflamed with love for us, which is the same as God's light.The indestructible link with Christ, which is founded on His love and fidelity, is the ‘new creation' that was given to us on the day of our Baptism. With our eyes blinded by sin, we come again to see.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠March 14, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In a world shaped by outrage and constant commentary, the Christian calling is different. Drawing on Scripture, the Desert Fathers, and the theology of St. Gregory Palamas, this homily explores why Christians must learn to speak in ways that build up rather than tear down. Sometimes the most faithful response is simply silence. --- Homily Notes: St. Gregory Palamas "Let Us Be Quiet" There are moments when the most truthful response a human being can give … is silence. What do you meet in silence? On Holy Saturday, during the First Resurrection service, we sing these words: "Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and in fear and trembling stand; for the King of kings and Lord of lords comes forth, to be slain, to give Himself as food to the faithful." Why should we be silent in the presence of God? Sometimes the reason is shame. When we see the goodness of God clearly, we recognize the ways we have failed Him. The proper response is not words of justification. It is silence. Sometimes the reason is gratitude. For those who have received God's gift of redemption through Christ, there is nothing we could say that would adequately express it. Sometimes the reason is relief. For those who have wearied themselves trying to do good in service to God, there is comfort in knowing that our efforts have not been in vain. The burden becomes light because God is real. Sometimes the reason is simply rationality. What could we possibly say that would improve the intellectual profundity of the moment? Remember St. Peter at the Transfiguration. He sees the glory of Christ and immediately begins talking: "Lord, let us build three tents…" But Scripture gently reminds us that he did not know what he was saying.  This teaches us that sometimes silence is the only reasonable response. It also teaches us that the most profound experience of silence is simply awe. It is like standing in the sun after a long cold winter and feeling its warmth. You do not analyze the sun. You stand in it. But silence does not come naturally to us. Spiritually speaking, the opposite of silence is not just sound. The opposite of silence is distraction. Noise. Talking. Constant reaction. And today one of the loudest places in our lives is not the street. It is our phones. Social media trains us to respond instantly to everything. Every opinion must be expressed. Every disagreement must be answered. Every irritation must be broadcast. But the spiritual life teaches something very different. Sometimes the holiest thing you can do… is not to respond. Sometimes holiness means closing the app and being quiet. This struggle with speech is not new. The Desert Fathers understood this deeply. A brother asked Abba Pambo whether it was good to praise one's neighbor, and the old man said: "It is better to be silent." And if that is true about praise, how much more true it is when we are tempted to criticize or attack our neighbor [or even some rando on the internet]? Another brother asked Abba Poemen: "Is it better to speak or to be silent?" And the old man replied: "The man who speaks for God's sake does well; but the man who is silent for God's sake also does well." Scripture says something similar: "Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; and he who shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." (Proverbs 17:28) Or as Mark Twain later put it: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt." But Christian silence is not just about avoiding foolish words. It is about growing out of our sin and toward divinity. And here we must be honest with ourselves. We see easily when other people speak with anger, bitterness, sarcasm, or cruelty. But we rarely notice when we do the same thing. It is a bit like bad breath: [pause] We notice it quickly in other people, but we may not realize when it is our own. So here is a simple rule many of us were taught as children: "If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all." That may sound simple. But it contains real wisdom. Before speaking, ask yourself: Will what I am about to say build up the person I am speaking to? This is not about sugar-coating reality. This is not about pretending evil is good or giving evil a pass. Rather, it is about learning to speak in a way that builds up rather than tears down—so that we become pastors and priests rather than pundits and prosecutors. There are already plenty of prosecutors. What the world needs are pastors.   And that is precisely what we are called to be as the Royal Priesthood. But we need to acquire silence so that we might receive and share grace in this calling. Abba Arsenius said: "I have often repented of speaking, but never of remaining silent." And if you are not sure whether a word would be useful? And how could you be sure?  Do you really know their heart? Do you know their struggles? Do you know their intentions? We so easily judge the surface of another person's life without knowing the weight they carry. So if we are not sure whether speaking would be useful—and we should always have our doubts—perhaps the best thing for us to do is simply be quiet. Because silence is not just the absence of words. It is the space where the heart begins to hear God.--- This is only the first step in the way of silence.  But we must start somewhere: Speak less. Listen more. Use words to build up rather than tear down. Over time, something begins to change inside us. Silence creates space. And in that space we begin to notice something we had missed before. The presence of God. A brother once came to Abba Moses at Scetis and asked him for a word. The old man said: "Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything." Silence becomes a teacher. Stillness becomes a teacher. And this is exactly what St. Gregory Palamas teaches us. He reminds us that the knowledge of God is not reached by noise or argument, but through hesychia — holy stillness — the quieting of the mind and heart so that the light of God may be known. Not because we have earned it. But because we have finally become quiet enough to notice Him. And this is why the Church calls us to spiritual silence in the Divine Liturgy. In a few moments we will stand again before the altar. The King of Kings will come forth. Not in thunder. Not in spectacle. But in bread and wine that become His Body and Blood. And so the Church says again, through the hymn of Holy Saturday; "Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and in fear and trembling stand." Let us quiet our minds. Let us quiet our tongues. Let us quiet our hearts. So that we may stand before the Lord of glory… and receive Him with awe. And so the Church teaches us again what the saints have always taught: let us be quiet. If we learn this lesson well, we may discover that what waits for us in that silence is not emptiness at all… but the living presence of God.  And that silence, and that Presence, slowly shape us into the likeness of Christ.

The place you belong in the body of Christ is no accident. The Church that Jesus is assembling is fit together perfectly, according to His design and master plan. One of the best things that we can discover in our lives is exactly where we fit in His Body. Today Pastor Joshua discusses the truth about finding and filling the place you were created to be!

Over the next weeks, we'll be revisiting Lance's series called “The Lord is in the Whirlwind and the Storm”. In this episode, Lance shares part 3 from this series on Nahum. This episode is called “As Seen in Believers” May the Lord by His grace prove the faith He has placed in you. May you learn to see Christ in the midst of the storm May you know the deep deep love of Jesus Chapters (00:00:01) - The Book of Nahum(00:06:41) - A Word of Prayer for Today(00:07:52) - Winds of Storm and Storms(00:14:37) - The Personal Character of the Church(00:18:49) - The Trial of Peter(00:27:13) - The Proving of Your Faith in Christ(00:35:35) - Paul on the Condition of His Body(00:44:30) - Peter the Disbeliever(00:53:48) - Peter the Disbeliever(00:57:31) - The Sleep of the Lord(01:05:47) - God's Love in the Storm

This message reminds us that we are not random parts in God's Kingdom… we are intentionally set in His Body. Like a small ligament in the knee, unseen but essential, every believer has a grace-gift that brings strength and stability to the whole. The good news is this: you are not overlooked, you are assigned. And when you embrace your placement, your light shines and your purpose becomes visible.

Read OnlineIn those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” Mark 8:1–3Early in Jesus' public ministry, He made a brief trip across the Sea of Galilee to the territory of the Gerasenes—a largely Gentile and pagan town on the outskirts of the Decapolis. This journey was significant, as it demonstrated Jesus' intention to extend His mission beyond the boundaries of Jewish territory, foreshadowing the universal scope of salvation that would later be fully realized through the Church's apostolic mission.When Jesus arrived on shore in the territory of the Gerasenes, He freed a man possessed by “Legion,” meaning many demons, and sent the demons into a herd of two thousand swine, who drowned themselves in the sea. Although this was the only recorded act Jesus performed during that initial visit, it caused quite a commotion. When the swineherds saw this, they ran and reported the incident to the nearby town, and people came to see it for themselves. Stunned by what had happened, they asked Jesus to leave, and He did. However, “the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed” (Mark 5:20).That brief trip into the Gentile and pagan territory of the Decapolis planted a seed. The loss of two thousand swine undoubtedly affected the people, but it also planted the seed more deeply. Which was more important: one man possessed by a legion of demons or two thousand swine? Jesus' actions reveal the answer. As word spread of His miraculous deliverance and authority over demons, many Gentiles became curious.That brief miracle set the stage for today's Gospel when Jesus returned to the Decapolis to nurture the seed He had planted. Upon His return, He cured a deaf and mute man, symbolizing the importance of hearing and proclaiming the Gospel. Afterwards, Jesus drew a great crowd, who remained with Him for three days despite having no food.After three days, Jesus revealed His compassionate heart to the Twelve: “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” Jesus then tested the Twelve, observing, “If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” This situation should have been familiar to the Twelve. Earlier in His ministry, while in Jewish territory, Jesus had fed five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish. But now they were in Gentile territory, and instead of understanding that Jesus' same providence extended to these pagans, the disciples said to Him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Once again, Jesus performed a miracle and fed four thousand.Reflect today on the universality of Jesus' mission. His compassionate care transcended cultural and religious boundaries, offering physical and spiritual nourishment to all who sought Him. Jesus' same mission continues today through us, the members of His Body, the Church. We must never become self-enclosed in our own communities of faith and family. Instead, we are called to go out into the world, to the “pagan” regions where people hunger for God's Word. Sometimes our mission is to plant a seed; at other times, it is to nurture the seed by helping it grow through the grace of God, so that everyone may come to know and love Him. Ultimately, the feeding of the five thousand Jews and four thousand Gentiles points to the universal call for all to share in the Eucharistic banquet. Learn the lesson Jesus taught the Twelve, and imitate our Lord's merciful heart, filled with compassion for those who need Him the most. My generous Lord, You desire all people to come to know You and to be saved. Free me from any hesitancy or fear in sharing Your saving Truth with those who need it most. Grant me the wisdom to discern when to plant the seed, when to nurture it, and when to harvest. Use me as Your instrument to draw others into the fullness of life, where they may share in Your Eucharistic banquet of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: New Skete: multiplication of loaves & fishes by Jim Forest, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineRising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. Mark 1:35–39Jesus' prayer was unique. He did not pray because He needed God in His life—He was and is God. Yet, in His human nature, He regularly withdrew to be alone and to pray to His Father. Jesus' prayer teaches us two primary lessons.First, Jesus' prayer reveals Who He is. He is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. As a member of the Trinity, Jesus prayed in solitude, not to become closer to the Father, for He and the Father are eternally one in essence; rather, His prayer expressed and revealed that perfect union to us. Unity with and love of the Father are at the center of Who He is.Though we are not God, we are made for oneness with God. This is not an external invitation but an essential part of who we are and who we must become. In Heaven, our lives will be one ongoing and eternal expression of prayer—a perfect union with God. That union must begin now, and the foundation of its growth is prayer.By going off alone to pray to the Father, Jesus also models for us the way to the Father. His action is prophetic, calling us to set aside moments each day for nothing other than prayer. While we are called to pray continually throughout the day, this habit is nourished by intentional moments of silence in which we immerse ourselves in God's presence. In our fallen nature, daily moments of focused prayer are necessary for clearing the distractions of life, overcoming sin, and allowing God's grace to draw us into deeper union with Him.Jesus' prayer invites us to examine our own daily prayer life. How often do you pray each day? How do you pray? Does your prayer change you, transforming you into who God made you to be? Most people easily find time every day for less important things, such as entertainment, idle conversations, and daily work. Though these things have their place, they must never overshadow that which is most important. We must learn to pray and be faithful to prayer every day.One of the best ways to pray is to participate in the Mass. In the Mass, we most fully share in Christ's human life, sacrifice, and divine presence. The Mass is the summit of prayer and the foundation of our spiritual life. We receive Him into our lives as we consume His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. To participate in the Mass well, daily moments of prayer are essential. At times, we must silence every other thought and actively offer our praise to God. Meditation on the Word of God is also essential. Taking time to read the Gospel, in particular, and meditating on those passages disposes us to hear God's voice. His Word counters the many lies and temptations we face during our daily activities, preparing us to live more fully as God's sons and daughters.Reflect today on your commitment to daily prayer by following Jesus' example. Resolve to find a moment of solitude in which you silence your heart and simply dwell in God's presence. Let this time of prayer become the cornerstone of your day and a foretaste of the union with God in Heaven for which you were created. Prayer is not an option; it is the very path to becoming who we are meant to be—united with God in love, now and for all eternity. My prayerful Lord, Your prayer revealed Your perfect union with the Father and set an example for us to follow. Grant me the wisdom and strength to remain faithful to daily moments of personal prayer—times when I can simply be with You and express my love for You. May these moments transform every part of my day, leading me to greater charity here on earth and preparing me for perfect union with You in eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via rawpixelSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineJohn the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John 1:29–31Though John grew up in the hill country of Judea near Jerusalem and Jesus grew up in Nazareth, it is very likely that their families visited each other regularly, allowing John and Jesus to spend time together as cousins. Despite this, when John first saw His cousin coming to him in the wilderness, he said, “I did not know him.” John did not fully understand who Jesus was—that He was the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—until John began his public ministry and witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon his Lord, his cousin.What an awe-inspiring and joyous moment that must have been for John. He had discerned that his mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah, to be the Messiah's immediate precursor, preparing the way for Him. He embraced that mission and fulfilled it by preaching and offering a baptism of repentance to those who believed. He lived in the wilderness, fasting, praying, and anticipating the day the Messiah would arrive. Imagine his surprise and delight at that moment when he saw the Holy Spirit descend upon his cousin.Though the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in a singularly unique way, since He is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, John's experience offers us an invitation to remain vigilant as we await Jesus' ongoing coming among us. Though our Lord came and walked the Earth 2,000 years ago, He continues to do so today through His Body, the Church. Like John, we must be on the lookout, and when we see Him, we must cry out in faith, “Behold the Lamb of God!”The most important way our Lord comes to us is within the Mass. The priest repeats John the Baptist's familiar words as he holds up our Lord, hidden within the Sacred Host, for all to see. Additionally, our Lord comes to us as the Holy Spirit descends and makes Him known. This happens in sermons, reflections, Church teachings, within the charity of others' actions, through personal prayer, and in numerous other ways. We must see the Lamb of God every time He comes to us, ideally with the same wonder and awe that filled John's mind and heart during those first encounters. Reflect today on those sacred words with which we are very familiar: “Behold the Lamb of God…” As you do, ponder how often you personally “behold” Him. Are you filled with wonder and awe at Mass? Within your daily prayer? In the life of the Church and in the lives of faithful Christians you encounter? As we continue our Christmas season, which focuses on the Incarnation, make the words of the Baptist your own as you discover the ongoing presence of our Lord made possible through the Incarnation.My awe-inspiring Lord, because of Your Incarnation, You continue to be present in this world, coming to us and drawing us to Yourself. When Your cousin, John the Baptist, first saw the Holy Spirit descend upon You in the desert, he cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Please give me the eyes of faith I need to echo that cry as I encounter Your divine presence in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Annibale Carracci, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.