Podcasts about his son

It turned out to be one of TV's biggest and most surprising hits of the time - "Touched By an Angel." Actually, CBS almost canceled it after its first season. But they responded to all this mail they got, encouraging them to give it another chance. And with that, it just took off. It was consistently one of the top 10 TV programs in America! It was about three angels who take on human form and assignments from God to bring His hope and His messages into certain people's lives. And in an age when angels had become an intriguing subject for a lot of people, this positive program was really a success. Who would have guessed that it would be a success? Stories of humans whose lives are "touched by an angel"? Of course, there's an even bigger surprise. Did you know that angels can be touched by a human? I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Heaven's Waiting for You." Actually, the Bible says there is something you can do that literally touches the angels in heaven. It all has to do with a spiritual homecoming God has been waiting for a long time for you to experience. Our word for today from the Word of God is about that. It's in Luke 15:10. Jesus has just been telling about the joy of a shepherd who is bringing home his lost sheep...and a woman who has just found a treasured possession she had lost. In both cases, the finder gets their friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep...or my lost treasure." Then Jesus tells how people like us can touch the angels in heaven. He says, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." In heaven, they know that God sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to rescue us sinners. And according to the Bible, that's me, that's you, that's all of us. It says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The angels were there the night the Son of God came to live among us that first Christmas. An angel was there strengthening Jesus when He agonized in a garden over the cross that He knew He was going to be facing in a few hours. The angels know that we who have lived outside of God's plans deserve the death penalty for running our own lives. They also know that God loved you so much that He sent His Son from Heaven to die so you don't have to. And now God is waiting, has been waiting for a while, for you to respond to His love...to turn from your "my way" living and put all your trust in Jesus to forgive what only He can forgive, because only He died for it. He's waiting for you to come home spiritually. And when you do, the angels - who know how much is at stake in your decision about Jesus - they start celebrating your homecoming - a party in heaven. If you've never had your moment when you've begun your personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you could make your peace with God right where you are right now. Here's a homecoming prayer you could pray from your heart, "Lord, I know my only hope of having my sins forgiven, my only hope of going to heaven, is You and what You did when You died on the cross for me. I know you're alive! You walked out of your grave, and now I want you to walk into my life. I'm putting all my trust in You. I want You to be my Personal Savior. Beginning this day, Jesus, I'm Yours." If you prayed that, It's your homecoming day! Let me invite you to go to our website, and there you'll see explained very simply and briefly how to begin and be sure you've begun your relationship with Jesus; how to know you belong to Him. The website is ANewStory.com. If you will make this the day you come home to the One who died for you, the Bible says, heaven starts celebrating. Why? Because now, you'll be going there someday...and you'll be there forever.

In Similitude; Becoming Full of Grace and Truth by Autumn Dickson Before we jump straight into the Old Testament and the Creation story, we have an opportunity to read in Moses and Abraham. There are many truths that were restored through these works, and there are many truths we already know that are echoed. In Moses this week, we read about a vision that Moses was given on the top of a high mountain where Heavenly Father was speaking to him. Here is a verse from that vision. Moses 1:6 And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all. There are a couple of phrases in here that are powerful, especially when put together. Let's start with this one: “…and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth…” The Savior holds grace and truth within Him; He is full of it. Let's talk about both individually. Under Topics and Questions on the church website, we read this: “Grace is a gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ.” Christ is full of the enabling power and spiritual healing, and He offers it in mercy and love. There are a couple of other truths that we learn in that same topic page. Overcoming physical and spiritual death are part of the grace that He offers. He helps us do things we would not be able to do on our own. He strengthens us. He helps us return to live with God. He helps us every day. The Savior is also full of truth. He knows things as they are. There are two different perspectives with which we can look at this idea of Christ being full of truth. One, we know that He is currently full of truth. He knows all things. He is omnipotent. When He tells us to do something, He knows what He is talking about. However, there is also another perspective. Christ may have all knowledge now, but it didn't start out that way when He started His mortal journey on earth. On earth, He came as a baby and forgot everything. He had to learn truth through the power of the Spirit as He grew. He did not know everything on earth. Otherwise, He could not have remained on earth (Moses 1:5). So we know that Christ didn't know everything while He was here, but He knew all of the most important truths and lived perfectly according to those truths. There is another phrase in the first verse that we read that I want to utilize to add another layer here. “…Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten…” To be in the similitude of someone is to resemble them, not so much in looks, but in how one chooses to live one's life. Moses was like Christ, even if he was not perfectly like Christ. Moses was likewise full of grace and truth. When we are baptized, we promise to take the Savior's name upon and become like Him. Essentially, we promised to be in a similitude of the Only Begotten. When people look at us, they should see something that roughly resembles the Savior. We can also be full of grace and truth. We may be full of grace and truth in a different way than Christ, but we can be full of it too. Let's go back through our paragraphs about how Christ is full of grace and how He is full of truth, and let's look at the parallels in our own lives. 1. We can be full of grace. We can offer the enabling power and spiritual healing with mercy and love. No, we cannot offer it in the same way that Christ can, but we can help with it. When you sin and harm your spirit, another person can't go in and fix it. However, another person can take you to the doctor. As I was growing up, I had a shame problem. I took guilt beyond its helpful, proper boundaries and tried to beat myself into submission in the gospel. Not a great way to approach the gospel. I remember being on my mission, and my companion and I came in later than we were supposed to. We didn't set out to be disobedient, but we did make that mistake and it could have been prevented with a bit more effort on our part. I remember telling my companion that I didn't feel guilty and that I felt bad about not feeling guilty. With no hesitation she simply responded, “Maybe Heavenly Father knows you don't need to feel guilty in order to do better.” And she was definitely right. Coming in late happened once on my mission. Making me feel guilty wasn't going to change that. It wouldn't have served me. It was such a simple, nonchalant thing for her to say, but it changed my life. I had experienced a lot of self-inflicted spiritual damage in the name of trying to force myself to do better. Attacking myself and berating myself over mistakes didn't draw me closer to Christ or help me be better. Ironically, it did the opposite. My companion did not spiritually heal me. She is not the one who could take away those feelings or pay the price for them. Rather, she took me to the doctor. The grace she offered me was not her own, but she was still full of it. Overcoming physical death is a little different. We're not sure how resurrection looks or how that comes to pass. Do we get to help with that process through the power of Jesus Christ in the same way that we help with ordinances like baptism? Even if we don't, we can still point others towards Christ and hope for the resurrection. Overcoming spiritual death is similar to offering healing; it is a part of healing. It's not our power, but we can take people to the doctor. His power can be offered through us. We can help others do things they would not be able to do on their own. We can strengthen others. We can help others return to live with God. We can help others every day. 2. We can be full of truth. Eventually, we are going to progress to the extent that we know all things. That will take a long time. Until then, we can know all of the most important truths. We can be so full of truth that we live our lives differently than we would otherwise. My dad used to frequently echo the truth taught by Boyd K. Packer that doctrine changes behavior faster than a study of behavior changes behavior. When we see and know things as they are, we change accordingly and we feel differently. “As they are” is a really key phrase here. I've learned to see things as they are a lot more clearly since I became a mother. Let me give some examples. My third child, KJ, is obsessed with our youngest baby. She is constantly running over to Vivian and rolling her over so she can hold her down and cuddle her. Vivian is less than impressed now that she can walk. I swear I sound like a broken record all day, “KJ, let her go. KJ, let her go.” There was one time that KJ did it where Vivian got hurt. Vivian’s leg got stuck at a bad angle while KJ was trying to roll her over, and Vivian started crying pretty hard. KJ felt so bad she could hardly stand it. She ran and hid on the stairs. After making sure Vivian was okay, I called KJ over to me. KJ couldn't even look at me. She was trying to swallow back tears, and her chin kept trembling. It was rather cute on her four year old face. I remember feeling that way before when I accidentally hurt my dog when I was younger. I could hardly bear to even look at my dog the whole day because it hurt so bad. As I sat and thought about how that felt, the Spirit taught me something, and I was able to teach it to KJ. I told KJ, “The bad feeling is actually a good sign. It means you're a good person because you would never want to hurt Vivian. If you weren't feeling bad, then that would be a bad sign. Feeling bad just means you love her so much.” I guess the Spirit testified of that truth to her, and she brightened immediately and ran after Vivian again. Being full of truth is more than being able to recite that God judges us by our hearts. It's understanding how God's judgment works and being able to thwart Satan when he tries to mix us up. It is understanding the knowledge. It is applying the knowledge to any given situation and acting accordingly. If we want to be full of the truth like the Savior, it's more than just reciting what the Savior said. It's understanding what He said and seeing things as they really are. I testify that the Savior is full of grace and truth, and I testify that one of His purposes is to help us become so as well. This is done line upon line, with each practice taking us closer and closer. It's about taking our hearts with us into those actions, rather than going through the motions of the gospel. I likewise testify that the Savior is trying to fill us with grace and truth because He loves us and knows it will make us happier. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Moses 1; Abraham 3 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

Ron, of Ronko Enterprises, mistakenly thinks that you need a heavenly communicator so that you can hear God when you pray. As Ron dials a number on the “communicator,” the operator reminds everyone that FELLOWSHIP is one of the most important parts of prayer. “Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 PoP3 #kids, #christiankids, #bedtimestoriesforkids, #storiesforchristiankids, #biblelessonsforkids, #godhearsmewhenipray, #prayer, #believeandreceive, #believeonjesus, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbytes4kids, #fishbitesforkids, #fishbites4kids, #ronandcarriewebb, #roncarriewebb

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!" Dive into the powerful moment when the heavens opened, and God declared His love and approval for Jesus.In this episode, we witness the monumental moment of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. As the heavens open and the Spirit descends like a dove, God declares His approval of His Son, marking the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 3:17, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday, 5 January 2026   And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.” Matthew 15:27   “And she said, ‘Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table'.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus responded to the Canaanite woman, telling her it wasn't good to take the children's bread and cast it to the puppies. Now, her incredible response to His words is given. Matthew records, “And she said, ‘Yes, Lord.'”   This Canaanite woman doesn't argue Jesus' premise, nor does she go off on some woke tangent, crying that His words are xenophobic, racist, or anti-Canaanitish. She fully accepts His statement, knowing it is right and logical.   However, she has words for Jesus that not only acknowledge this, but which highlight them in the most profound way, saying, “And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.'”   A new word, psichion, crumbs, is introduced. It will only be seen here and in the parallel account in Mark. It is also found in Luke 16:21 in some texts. Of this word, the Topical Lexicon says –   “First-century Mediterranean households commonly used small flat loaves both as food and as utensils for dipping and scooping. Portions too small or too soiled for human consumption were discarded from hand to mouth or allowed to fall to the floor, where house dogs—kept not as pampered pets but as low-status scavengers—would consume them. In that light, ‘crumbs' suggests the tiniest, seemingly insignificant portion of sustenance. The woman's statement accepts her social standing without protest while affirming the superabundance of the Master's provision: even leftovers from Israel's table are sufficient to meet her need.”   This woman understood the power of Jesus, obviously having paid heed to what was said by others who had encountered Him. She understood that she had no standing in Israel but that the God of Israel was abundant in mercy and was capable of extending Himself beyond the Israelite nation.   Using the metaphor of the dog receiving table crumbs, she acknowledges Jesus' words concerning her being a dog. Without finding any fault in His statement, she humbly accepts her status but wisely notes that even in Israel, where dogs are unclean animals according to dietary laws, it did not make them inherently unclean within the society or the household.   Instead, they were a recognized and acceptable part of the family and received their sustenance, including that which was reserved for the family under ceremonial laws of cleanliness, when it was surplus to the needs of the family.   This woman had in no way “out-mastered the Master.” Rather, she had brilliantly relieved the tension that He faced in the matter of being sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, which was contrasted to His innate desire to help this distressed Gentile woman.   Jesus' response to her logic will be seen in the next verse.   Life application: No person who has heard the gospel message of Jesus and believed that it is true should ever feel that he is unacceptable to be saved. It doesn't matter if a woman was a prostitute or a lesbian, it doesn't matter if a man was a womanizer or a drunk, it doesn't even matter if someone was a cannibal. God's mercy in Christ is without any such limit.   People from each of these categories, and an innumerable list of others, have heard, been saved, and gone on to do great things for Jesus. To assume that your earthly status, culture, skin color, or past is a limiting factor in your being accepted by God is to place that supposed issue above God, who created all things.   All such things are incidental to your state as a human. It is your humanity that allows these things to be overlooked because Jesus shared in human existence. Don't fret that you are unworthy to be saved. Every other person ever saved has been unworthy of being saved. Rejoice that in our state of unworthiness, God sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. Rejoice in this and praise His name!   “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! 2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117   Lord God, we stand in awe of You. You have created all things and given life to all beings. We are the ones who strayed and offended, and yet You, in Your infinite grace and mercy, have brought us back to Yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.  

You know that thing, the thing you know you should do, but you just keep putting off for one reason or another. It's a good thing – maybe even a really important thing – but maybe it will be uncomfortable or mean giving something else up or cost you something you value. So we procrastinate, make excuses, hope that it fixes itself without our having to do anything. But what if you stopped saying no, and finally said yes? What if you made this year, the year of yes!Sometimes our "yes" is to stop ignoring or neglecting the damage done to one of our relationships. Maybe we were the source of the fracture, or maybe someone else was, but in either case, God is inviting us to do our part to heal that relationship because reconciliation matters to God. It matters so much that God sent His Son to bring about reconciliation long before we were ever sorry about how we'd hurt Him. Join us as we dig into this hard "Yes."Join us for service every Sunday at 9:15am or 11:00am (EST). Here are ways to connect with us!Text TODAY to 937-358-6565 to let us know you decided to say 'Yes!' to Jesus leading your life. Text BAPTISM to 937-358-6565 to find out more about getting baptized as an expression of your new faith.Text SERVE to 937-358-6565 to find a serve community to join that matches your skills and passions.Text PRAYER to 937-358-6565 to let us know how we can be praying for you!And if you would like to support The Valley Church financially or participate in Be Rich, you can GIVE online via our website: www.thevalley.church/give.

Do you want everything God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ? Then it's time to make the decision to live by faith! In this series, Dr. Jerry Savelle teaches how to receive faith, where to apply it, and how to use it in your everyday life. Gain a deeper revelation of God's glory and understand what He expects from you and me. We pray that you will make the decision to live by faith, seek first the kingdom of God—not things, but God Himself—and yield to His wonderful will, receiving the blessing of God with open arms.

Do you want everything God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ? Then it's time to make the decision to live by faith! In this series, Dr. Jerry Savelle teaches how to receive faith, where to apply it, and how to use it in your everyday life. Gain a deeper revelation of God's glory and understand what He expects from you and me. We pray that you will make the decision to live by faith, seek first the kingdom of God—not things, but God Himself—and yield to His wonderful will, receiving the blessing of God with open arms.

God Sees Jesus Followers as “In Christ”: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” MESSAGE SUMMARY: As Followers of Jesus, we are "In Christ" -- God looks at us and sees Jesus in us. Throughout the Epistles we find: "In Christ" or "In Him". In Galatians 3:14, Paul tells us that our faith in Jesus makes us “In Christ” and recipients of God's Covenant with Abraham: “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.". Also, Paul goes even further, in Galatians 3:25-28, to tell us that, through our faith in Jesus, we no longer need any kind of intermediary because we are “In Christ” and we have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”. The benefit our position "In Christ", as Christians, is that when God looks at us, He sees Jesus, the Son; therefore, He then sees us as His sons and daughters.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 3:21-26; Romans 6:5-11; Romans 6:22-23; Psalms 77a:1-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Struggle with Time -- Until I Determine How We Want to Use Our Time, Others Will Determine How Our Time Is Used” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Speaker: Luke BrandonScripture: Matthew 2:13-23Episode Overview:Matthew 2:13–23 reveals a tension we all feel: God is sovereign over history, yet human beings are fully responsible for how they respond to Him. In the flight to Egypt, the massacre in Bethlehem, and the quiet obedience of Joseph, Matthew shows that God's redemptive plan moves forward even through suffering, fear, and apparent chaos. This passage invites us to see beyond immediate circumstances and trust that God is faithfully working out His good purposes—just as He did in preserving the life of His Son.Key Highlights:• God's sovereign plan unfolds through fulfilled prophecy, even in the midst of danger and displacement• Jesus as the true and better Son, reliving and fulfilling Israel's story through a new Exodus• Two radically different responses to God's authority: humble obedience and violent rebellion• The preservation of Christ as the foundation of our hope, righteousness, and salvation• The goodness of God revealed in His willingness to enter human suffering and insignificanceCall to Action:Consider how you are responding to God's authority in your own life. Where He calls you to trust and obey without full clarity, ask for the grace to submit your plans to His greater purpose. Rest in the truth that the God who governs history is also good, personal, and deeply attentive to your life—working even hardship toward redemption.Redeemer Church211 Northshore Dr. Bellingham, WA 98226www.redeemernw.org

When God redeems us from sin through Jesus, His Son, He doesn't leave us to ourselves. He makes us ambassadors – representatives of His kingdom – to proclaim His message to the world we live in. Join Mark Musa, one of our Elders, as he digs into how we can live as ambassadors for Christ.

Are life's triggers holding you back from God's purpose? Pastor Dave challenges us to shift from being controlled by past trauma to being motivated by divine purpose. Through Romans 8:28, he reveals how God foreknew our struggles yet predestined us for greatness—not despite our past, but through it. Drawing on the powerful image of ancient showbread, Pastor Dave explains how God wants to put our transformed lives on display as evidence of His power. Ready to break free from old triggers and embrace your calling? This message inspires hope for anyone seeking to move from past pain to purposeful living. Watch now!Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works……………………but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Kyle Kauffman | Jan 4 2026 God is not silent. He speaks! From the very beginning, God spoke the world into existence, and creation continues to pour forth His speech and reveal Him. The earth and the heavens preach His majesty, but as glorious as this revelation is, it is not enough to save us. We need more than the stars in the sky and the wonders of the world—we need the Bible, God's Word. God has spoken through the Scriptures and He continues to speak to us today through His written Word, assuring us it is not just another book but the very Word of God. And ultimately, God has spoken most clearly through His Son, Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh. God is not silent. He speaks! This should lead us to cherish and meditate on His Word so that we might know and enjoy Him.

I. Introduction - Psalm 125:2; Hebrews 11:13-16; 13:8II. What is the Gospel?a. The Gospel Addresses and Answers My Greatest Need: Sin -Romans 3:10-12, 23b. The Gospel Is about a Father's Love for His Chosen Child -Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16c. The Gospel Centers on the Sinless Life, the Punishing Death, andthe Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ -2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15d. The Gospel Affords Me the Status of Sonship - 2 Corinthians 5:17III. Who Is Jesus?a. Jesus Is the Image of the Invisible God - Colossians 1:15; John 3:16; 14:9b. Jesus Is Preeminent - Colossians 1:13-20c. Jesus Is Worthy - Revelation 5:9, 10, 12, 13bd. Jesus Is YOUR Savior - Matthew 1:21IV. CONCLUSIONa. Rehearse Gospel Texts - John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; I John 4:10;Isaiah 61:1-3b. Sing Gospel Hymnsc. This is Who God is; this is what I am; this is what Jesus did for me;this is how I received itd. My Father loves me and always has loved me…because HEransomed me with the blood of His Sone. It's all about Jesus

The Struggle with Time -- Until I Determine How We Want to Use Our Time, Others Will Determine How Our Time Is Used MESSAGE SUMMARY: Life will never settle down until we chose to settle down. Life is a choice more than we realize. We are given twenty-four hours in a day, and if God had wanted us to have thirty-six hours in our day, He would have given us a thirty-six-hour day. Therefore, if we don't have enough clock in our day, we are doing some things we should not be doing. We can determine some of the time traps that keep us from serving the Lord and how we can address the traps to better serve ourselves and the Lord. Is the clock our dictator; do we allocate time to serve the Lord, our families, and our work? How do we delegate? Life will never settle down until we choose to settle down; life is a choice. To manage our time as God would have us manage our lives: 1) Work is important and necessary, but working is not living; 2) Time is life first and then money; 3) More life productivity means more time; 4) How we use our time significantly effects our self-esteem, identity, and our fulfillment; and 5) We cannot control time, but we can control how we use time. We must get control of the time issues in our lives. The simple formula for managing our time: Prayer, Priority, and Plan. Managing our time better is a fundamental question as we end a year and begin a new year. We must learn to honor the Lord by "honoring our time".    TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Ecclesiastes 9:11-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Romans 8:18; SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “God Sees Jesus Followers as “In Christ”: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NASB Christ is a title not a name “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 NASB Anointed One, the Messiah The Christ is God's Son “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4 NASB “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5 NASB The Christ has no beginning “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 ESV The Christ proves God is for us “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 NASB The Christ is God with us “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NASB

God has spoken and we have His words. In various ways and in various times, He has revealed Himself through human writers. But in these last days, God has spoken most clearly through His Son – Jesus Christ. Jesus the Son of God surpasses all other revelations because He is superior to all other humans God has or could have used. Hebrews 1:1-4 Taught Sunday morning, January 4, 2026 by Brad D Harris We hope that this online service has blessed you.  It is funded by the generous participants of Prairie Oaks Baptist Church.  If you would like to contribute to Prairie Oaks and their audio ministry, we have a donation page so that you can securely give online to help this ministry.  Thank you for listening and prayerfully supporting us.  I hope we continue to further you in your journey with Christ!

The good that God works for in our lives is conformity to the likness of His Son. Bible In A Year: Genesis 7-9 & Matthew 3

(Matthew 2:1,13,23) The all-wise Father chose three places to connect His Son's early years - Bethlehem, Egypt, and Nazareth. In this study we find out why...and what they mean to us. (10002260102) Join our study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

This homily is the second reflection in a three-part Christmas–Epiphany series on the family. Given by Dcn. Chris Haberberger on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, it focuses on the vocation of motherhood as God's chosen way of giving His Son to the world. The reflection highlights how God's self-revelation comes not in abstraction, but within the simplicity of a family. Mary's motherhood reveals the heart of Christian motherhood in every age: to give Jesus to the world by receiving Him, pondering Him in prayer, and responding with faithful love. Through the often hidden, daily sacrifices of mothers, homes become places where children first learn what it means to be loved, to belong, and to cry out to God as Father. Recognizing that many families carry wounds or unmet hopes, this homily emphasizes that Mary is not only a model but also a refuge. Christ gives her to us as our Mother, and through her tenderness God continues to bring peace, mercy, and healing into real families as they are. This reflection builds upon the previous homily on fatherhood and prepares for the final installment of the series on the mission of the family at Epiphany.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260101dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5 The Greatest Christmas Gift Many people assume Christmas is just a single day, December 25th, or perhaps two if you count Christmas Eve. But it is, in fact, a season of twelve days. Today is the eighth day of Christmas, and God has another present for you to unwrap: the greatest gift of all. This gift arrives “when the set time had fully come.” Not a moment too late or too soon, the gift came at a specific, perfect moment in history, precisely when it was most needed. The gift came from God, because “God sent.” He did all the work; all you do is receive it. What did he send? “His Son, born of a woman.” The eternal God took on human flesh and blood. He who had no beginning suddenly had a birthday, an age, a hometown, and a body confined to time and space. The One who fills heaven and earth humbled himself to dwell among us. This humbling involved being “born under law.” That means he placed himself beneath the very commandments he authored and lived a life of perfect obedience. Jesus wasn’t your Savior only for the six hours he spent on the cross; he spent thirty-three years before that fulfilling the law in your place, as your Substitute. Every commandment you break, he kept flawlessly for you. Why this perfect obedience? “To redeem those under the law.” That’s all of humanity, including you. We are all under God’s law and guilty of breaking it. So, Jesus kept that law for us and bore its punishment on the cross, buying our freedom from our slavery to sin. The glorious result? “That we might receive adoption to sonship.” That’s amazing! In his Son, God the Father has given you the greatest Christmas gift of all: He made you a member of his family. No longer a slave, you are now an heir of forgiveness, peace, comfort, hope, and the everlasting riches of heaven. Prayer: Son of God, thank you for being born under the law to redeem me and make me an heir of heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260101dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5 The Greatest Christmas Gift Many people assume Christmas is just a single day, December 25th, or perhaps two if you count Christmas Eve. But it is, in fact, a season of twelve days. Today is the eighth day of Christmas, and God has another present for you to unwrap: the greatest gift of all. This gift arrives “when the set time had fully come.” Not a moment too late or too soon, the gift came at a specific, perfect moment in history, precisely when it was most needed. The gift came from God, because “God sent.” He did all the work; all you do is receive it. What did he send? “His Son, born of a woman.” The eternal God took on human flesh and blood. He who had no beginning suddenly had a birthday, an age, a hometown, and a body confined to time and space. The One who fills heaven and earth humbled himself to dwell among us. This humbling involved being “born under law.” That means he placed himself beneath the very commandments he authored and lived a life of perfect obedience. Jesus wasn’t your Savior only for the six hours he spent on the cross; he spent thirty-three years before that fulfilling the law in your place, as your Substitute. Every commandment you break, he kept flawlessly for you. Why this perfect obedience? “To redeem those under the law.” That’s all of humanity, including you. We are all under God’s law and guilty of breaking it. So, Jesus kept that law for us and bore its punishment on the cross, buying our freedom from our slavery to sin. The glorious result? “That we might receive adoption to sonship.” That’s amazing! In his Son, God the Father has given you the greatest Christmas gift of all: He made you a member of his family. No longer a slave, you are now an heir of forgiveness, peace, comfort, hope, and the everlasting riches of heaven. Prayer: Son of God, thank you for being born under the law to redeem me and make me an heir of heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

In Genesis 3 we have the record of how sin first entered the world through the yielding to temptation by the first created humans - Adam and Eve. The Apostle Paul says also, that at this time death also first came to the Adamic creation as a result of sin - Romans 5verses12. Adam and Eve after their creation - Adam from the dust (Genesis 2verses7), and Eve from Adam's side during a God-induced sleep (2verses20-25) - the man unable to find a suitable partner from the lesser creation; and feeling first, lonely; then joyous with a compatible companion. Chapter 3 commences with an introduction to the snake, who at that era had great powers of observation; limited reasoning capacity; and the ability to talk. The snake suggested that Adam and Eve were being deceived and held back by the Elohim (God). And so, after seeing the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" was attractive (pleasant to the eyes); it was good, and an excellent quality (good for food); and its clinching appeal - "a tree to be desired to make one wise" (the pride of life. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that Adam and Eve grasped for equality with God - which thing our Lord Jesus Christ never did when tempted. The Apostle John tells us in his first letter chapter 2verses15-17 that all temptation and sin fall in one or more of these categories. Having sinned they were expelled from the garden; James tells us in chapter 1 the process of sin within every human mind -verses 13-15. Having disobeyed God, He the Almighty must in justice enforce the law He had given. Adam and Eve now had the sentence of death activated within them - this is called "mortality". What was possible before transgressing was now "a law within them" (Romans 7verses21-25) - i.e. now an inevitability. The human race now found that from this point forward all descendants from the first human parents found that sin cannot be overcome in their lives every time that each of us is subjected to temptation -Romans 6 tells us that they were bond slaves to sin. It required God to produce a Saviour, His Son, who although bearing the bias to sin within himself; this being the entail of the effects of Adam and Eve's first sin, would himself be sinless - though Jesus was of our identical nature (Hebrews 2verses12-18.

January 1, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 2:21Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 61:1-11; Luke 1:57-80“And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There is something remarkable and yet so subtle in the Christmas story: the Holy Child of Bethlehem is not called Jesus until the eighth day when He is circumcised. Before verse 21, He is referred to as the baby, the child, Christ, and Lord, all glorious titles, but the personal, saving name of Jesus is bestowed upon Him in the covenant of circumcision. This is not merely a name His parents have placed upon Him from their own whims. It is the Name given by the Father in Heaven. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus means “YHWH saves.” This is God's covenant Name for His Son. And Jesus lived by it to completion. He is what His Name declares: YHWH saves. From His circumcision to His crucifixion, from that first cut of blood to the New Creation of His resurrection, Jesus fulfills the meaning of His Name for you and me. And now, you who are baptized, you are in His Name. You have been baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). You are clothed in Christ. His Name is on you even as you now dwell in His Name. When the Lord sees you, He does not remember your sin or your shame, but sees the beloved child now dwelling safely in the shelter of the Name of Jesus, “YHWH Saves!” So call upon His Name. Live under His Name. And rejoice that, as Acts 4:12 says, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The Name was given, the flesh was cut, the covenant fulfilled. Your name was given, the Water and the Word applied, and now the salvation declared in the Holy Name of Jesus is yours.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Author: Rev. Matthew Synnott, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

It's your choice to choose God or not, but I'm suggesting since you've tried everything and nothing has helped, why not try God!! The only way to God is through His Son, Jesus! I pray each of you be blessed and grow in leaps and bounds!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/relationships-and-relatable-life-chronicles--4126439/support.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260101dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5 The Greatest Christmas Gift Many people assume Christmas is just a single day, December 25th, or perhaps two if you count Christmas Eve. But it is, in fact, a season of twelve days. Today is the eighth day of Christmas, and God has another present for you to unwrap: the greatest gift of all. This gift arrives “when the set time had fully come.” Not a moment too late or too soon, the gift came at a specific, perfect moment in history, precisely when it was most needed. The gift came from God, because “God sent.” He did all the work; all you do is receive it. What did he send? “His Son, born of a woman.” The eternal God took on human flesh and blood. He who had no beginning suddenly had a birthday, an age, a hometown, and a body confined to time and space. The One who fills heaven and earth humbled himself to dwell among us. This humbling involved being “born under law.” That means he placed himself beneath the very commandments he authored and lived a life of perfect obedience. Jesus wasn’t your Savior only for the six hours he spent on the cross; he spent thirty-three years before that fulfilling the law in your place, as your Substitute. Every commandment you break, he kept flawlessly for you. Why this perfect obedience? “To redeem those under the law.” That’s all of humanity, including you. We are all under God’s law and guilty of breaking it. So, Jesus kept that law for us and bore its punishment on the cross, buying our freedom from our slavery to sin. The glorious result? “That we might receive adoption to sonship.” That’s amazing! In his Son, God the Father has given you the greatest Christmas gift of all: He made you a member of his family. No longer a slave, you are now an heir of forgiveness, peace, comfort, hope, and the everlasting riches of heaven. Prayer: Son of God, thank you for being born under the law to redeem me and make me an heir of heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

If you consider yourself a religious person, boy, have I got good news for you! Recent research indicates that those who consider themselves religious tend to have lower blood pressure than the rest of the population, they are less likely to be obese, to have cancer, to be hospitalized, and they have a 29% greater chance to live longer! And religious people (it says) tend to have lower rates of depression, less suicide, greater sexual satisfaction in their marriage, and overall a greater sense of well-being. What do you know, Jesus was right when He said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness" and "Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:6, 8). Lots of good news if you're a religious person, and some very disturbing bad news. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Bad News About Being Religious." That bad news comes through loud and clear and it's in our word for today from the Word of God. It's in Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus is describing some horrible surprises when some religious folks stand before God. Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.'" The unsettling bad news is this: some very religious people will be stopped at the gates of heaven! These are clearly people who know a lot about Jesus...who've done a lot of things in Jesus' name...who are, no doubt, considered to be Christians by the people who know them. Except for one thing - Jesus says, "I never knew you." Somehow, in the middle of lots of Christianity, it is possible to miss Christ. It's possible to be very religious, very involved with Christian things, and to miss Jesus and to miss heaven! How does this happen? Jesus said that what these people missed was "doing the will of my Father in heaven." Well, in John 6:40, Jesus tells us exactly what that is. "My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life." That's what God the Father wants. That's what He demands as the only way to get into heaven. It's not doing Christian things or believing Christian beliefs or observing Christian rituals. It's putting your total trust in His Son as your only hope of having eternal life. That's the problem with some of us church folks - we're actually counting on our Christianity, our church attendance, our spiritual track record as the thing that will make us right with God. But none of it can do that. That's why Jesus came. Your sins and mine carry a horrible, eternal death penalty in hell; one which can't be paid by any amount of human goodness, but only by Jesus' death on the cross. It may be that for all your years of being around Jesus, of agreeing with Jesus, you've never grabbed Jesus like a drowning person would grab a lifeguard. You've never told Him you're abandoning any trust you have in your religion or your goodness and you're putting your total trust in Him to be your rescuer from your sin. If you've never taken that step, if you're not sure you've taken that step that makes all the difference, would you do it today? "Jesus, I abandon all hope but You. I now come to you totally on the basis of your death on the cross and your resurrection. I turn from my sin to You controlling the rest of my life." I hope you move Him from your head to your heart today. You know what? I'd love to help you make that commitment to Christ and cross that line to belonging to Him. That's actually why our website is there. It's ANewStory.com. Would you go there today?

Our Election in Christ (1) (audio) David Eells 12/31/25 I'm going to talk to you today about our election in Christ. There is much false teaching and many misconceptions in Christianity about the doctrine of predestination, which includes calling and election, yet it's actually been a general power in my life to understand it. It's given me more faith in the Lord and more fear of the Lord. Much of the church, especially in America, rejects and even fights against it. Predestination is opposed by the Armenian doctrine or the “freewillers,” as they are called, but when you look around, you don't see the free will that people say that they have because everybody is serving something. Jesus said in (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So you are either serving Him or you are serving the devil. (Psa.51:5 KJV) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Someone who is bound in sin is not free to make a godly choice; the ability to do that comes from God Himself and it's a gift. (Joh.15:16) Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. Although experientially it does seem to us that we chose Him, that just lets you know how easy it is for God to put His will in you. (Joh.15:19) If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. You see, not only did He choose us, but in effect, He didn't choose someone else. Out of the whole world, He chose us. Several years ago, I heard something that has really stayed with me. I was listening to a lady talking to her adopted son, and she was trying to explain this to him. She said, “Most moms and dads don't have much of a choice. They just have to settle for what they get. But we chose you; out of all that we knew, we chose you.” That's the way it is between God and us. He didn't just settle for what came along. God knows how this universe goes on the way it does, and He foreknows the end of it. He's the God (Rom.4:17) … who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. And He tells us, (Isa.46:9) … for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; (10) declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. He chose us and He put His will in us. He chose us for what we will be; He chose us for what we will become by the grace of God. It was not the will of man that caused us to come to Jesus, it was the will of God. Paul writes (Php.2:13) … it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. And He's been doing that since before our Christian beginning. (Joh.1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he the right (The Greek word there is exousia and it means “authority.”) to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name. You need to have authority to become a child of God, and only God gives authority to everyone who believes on His name because faith is a gift of God. (Joh.1:13) Who were born, not of blood (Our new birth is not like the Israelites, who had to be born into a family who made them a part of the Covenant.), nor of the will of the flesh.... Now, nothing in our flesh causes us to come to God. (Rom.8:7) Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. Our flesh is the enemy of God, and you would never choose to come to God, especially when you were totally bound in sin. The only One who could set you free is Jesus. (Joh.8:36) If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Back to (Joh.1:13) Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. This choice to come to God was no part of man; it came from God. God put a holy choice in an unholy person. If we had gone on doing our own will, our will would have always led to sin and to never serving anyone else but ourselves. It was God who reached in from the outside and put a will in us to come to Him. Romans 9 is one of the most avoided chapters in the Bible because of all the false teaching coming from the pulpits. People read Romans 9 with their preconceived ideas from their religion, so they can't understand it. If you drop all that and just read what it says, you will be able to understand it. (Rom.9:6) But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel (The same thing can be said about the Church.): (7) neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8) That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. (Rom.9:9) For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. (10) And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac– (11) for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, (12) it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Before any of their works Jacob was chosen. The doctrine of Arminianism says that God foreknows the future, and He predestines according to what He foreknows is going to happen or what we will do in the future. This is ridiculous when you think about it. If it was foreknown to happen anyway, why would He have to predestine it? “Predestine” or “foreordain” are two translations of the same Greek word proorizo, which means “to decide the destiny before it comes; to ordain the destiny before it comes to pass.” It doesn't mean that God looked ahead and saw what was going to happen and who would do good. Salvation would have been by works. Truly, God already knows what's going to happen because He does not dwell in time. Jacob didn't always do good but God chose him for what He would make out of him. Remember, God speaks the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). (Rom.8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained (or “predestined”) [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. That means those whom He knew before the creation, He ordained at that point, so it's not because of their works. It's not based on whether they had done anything good or bad as we just saw. I did a diligent search when I first discovered this in the Scriptures. I decided I was going to be open-minded, and I was going to see what the Bible really had to say about the subject. I wanted to see why God chose me. So I searched and I searched for the reason why God chose me above someone else and I found out, (Eph.2:3) Among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. You see, there is no reason, physically speaking, why God would choose one person over another. I discovered that one “dirt” is just as good as the next “dirt.” It's not the dirt that counts; it's what you are sowing in it. God is interested in creating the spiritual man, which has nothing to do with your old life. The new life is born-again from above and that's the spiritual man. The spiritual man, who is created in the likeness of Christ, is born of the Word. He's born from above and has nothing to do with the old nature. I was looking for a reason why God would choose me above someone else and found there is no reason. (Rom.9:21) Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? God claims the right to make whatever vessel He wants out of this same lump of clay. That means there was no difference in our natural life that caused God to choose us above anybody else. (Rom.9:14) What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. (15) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. (16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy. After we are born again, I think God spends a lot of time teaching us that it's not by our willpower. We try to save ourselves by our willpower and it doesn't work. We eventually learn that we are to walk by faith, or we won't receive what we're looking for. Some people think grace starts after you choose God, but it starts before you choose God. Otherwise, you wouldn't choose God. (Eph.2:8) For by grace (This is the Greek word charis and it means “unmerited [or unearned] favor.”) have ye been saved.... It's not that you are saved but that you have been saved. The ancient manuscripts and the Numeric text both say this, but the KJV says, “are saved.” No, you were saved, and it was by grace. (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God. So, since we were saved by grace and it's a gift of God, that doesn't give us a reason to look down on anyone else, does it? And it doesn't give us a reason to condemn anyone in the world. It's strictly a gift from God and this gift is given to us (Eph.2:5) Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.... When Christ was resurrected is when He “made us alive together with Christ.” (5) … (by grace have ye been saved), (6) and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places,] in Christ Jesus: (7) that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (And now, we are the benefactors of this grace that was given in Christ 2,000 years ago. The people who were saved, were saved 2,000 years ago. People who are manifesting salvation now were saved then.): (8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; (9) not of works, that no man should glory. Nobody will be able to brag about this salvation. We are depending upon God now as much as we were then. We have to cry out to God to give us grace to be obedient and to serve Him. He says in (Joh.15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them. God prepared the works of His Chosen. God wrote your name in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world (Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12). Manifestly, it's being written in the Book of Life when you come to God, but your name was written from before the foundation of the world, just as God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” (Eph.1:4) Even as he chose (This is the Greek verb eklego of the noun eklektos and it means “I pick out for myself, choose, elect, select.”) us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love. God chose us in Him and that means He didn't choose all. Some of you are probably asking, “But what about the ‘calling'?” I was told that God's call goes out to the whole earth to bring people to Christ. Well, that's just not true. I looked up every verse in the New Testament about “calling,” and that word is not used that way at all. (2Ti.1:9) Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal. Notice it says here, “who saved us, and called us.” According to the doctrines of most religions, we are called and then saved; however, this invitation is to Christians only. The Greek word for “called” here is kaleo and it means “invitation.” We see in the parables of Jesus that only His people are kaleo, or “invited,” to partake of the Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-14; Revelation 19:9). Every place in the Bible where the word kaleo is used, everyone who was called came to Christ. They were already a Christian. When we go out and call (or invite) people through the Gospel to come to Christ, some accept and some don't, and we're finding out that those who accept are those who have His calling and the others do not. (Eph.1:18) 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. So He saved us, then He called us and we're going to see that all the called are not necessarily going to be chosen, but all the elect will be chosen. (Mat.22:14) For many are called, but few chosen. The word “chosen” there is the same Greek word used above; it's the word eklektos, and it means “elect.” The difference between the called and the elect is that all of the elect are called, but not all of the called are the elect. Those who are saved have an invitation to partake of all of Jesus. As Christians, we are called to partake of His body and blood, which is His nature, His character and His power. The world cannot partake of that invitation; it's not even extended to them because this invitation is a Covenant offering. (Rom.10:20) And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me. That shows the power of God because we did not seek Him. That shows we were not seeking Him when we found Him. It was Jesus Who came for His lost sheep. (Luk.19:10) For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. We were the lost sheep. Think about the conversion of Apostle Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-30), You say, “God can save anybody!” God went to extremes in order to make Paul His child and His emissary to the world. Truly, God can save anybody He wants to, and He will. We didn't seek Him and the Gentiles didn't seek Him. (1Co.4:6) Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other. (7) For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? Why should we be puffed up about our salvation? What do we have that we didn't receive? Nothing. We think that we chose Christ. Some people look upon the lost and wonder why they cannot understand what's being said. They're thinking, “Why won't the lost be reasonable?” In a way, they're condemning the lost because they don't realize that only by the grace and mercy of God did they receive what they have. When you understand that you can't convert anybody by your works, you know to first go to God. By your works, you can fill up churches, but you can't convert anybody that way. Salvation is a gift from God. (Rom.11:35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? Everything comes from Him. There is nothing that God is ever going to owe anybody. (36) For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen. Everything came from Him and everything is going back to Him. It didn't come from us and this takes away all room for pride. The first choice we made for God, the first desire we had for God, didn't come from us. It came from Him, and He can put that in anyone. This takes away all reason for pride because it's totally, 100% by God's grace. A good example is (Psa.65:4) Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee,] That he may dwell in thy courts.... The choice comes from God first. He causes us to approach unto Him and dwell in His courts. Salvation from the curse in every form has already been given to us by faith. We need to pray to God to give us the grace to be what we need to be. (Joh.10:16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring (Notice that Jesus is talking about doing this in the future. These sheep weren't saved yet because He said, “I must bring.”), and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. In the days ahead, we are going to see that one flock and one shepherd, but when we study Ezekiel 34, we find that the Lord talks about how His flock was spoiled by shepherds who were doing their own will. (Eze.34:2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel (a type of the Church), prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord God: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep? (3) Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep. (4) The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them. The Lord says that He is going to take all those fruitless shepherds away, and He, Himself, has promised to personally be the Shepherd of His flock. (Eze.34:11) For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. (12) As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (13) And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (14) I will feed them with good pasture; and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. (15) I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. (16) I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice. So, the Lord is going to have physical shepherds to do this. They will be men who are vessels through whom the Spirit of the Lord is going to flow, and they will not be doing their own will. In that way, God is going to have one flock and one shepherd. But the point I want you to see here is that when Jesus says, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold,” these are people in the future who are going to come because they were given to Him back then; you belonged to Jesus back then. (2Ti.1:9) Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal. Some people think, “Okay, I'm predestined and there's nothing I have to worry about. I can just sit back and take it easy.” They are justifying their doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” They don't understand that God has methods to predestine. He uses those methods to predestine, and if you ignore His methods, you will not be predestined. Calvin and Luther, the people who made predestination famous, were accused of believing “once saved, always saved,” but that's not what they believed. They taught God's methods of predestination and here's one of them: Jesus said, (Joh.10:26) But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. The people who didn't believe Jesus were not His sheep. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.... Jesus' sheep have ears to hear. They hear and they follow, and the rest do not. If you teach only what Jesus taught, you will be able to recognize those who are His sheep and those who are not. Those who do not hear are the self-willed. They're going to be like the son of perdition who sits in the temple of God. (2Th.2:3) Let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, (4) he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. He is his own God for he does his own will. We've seen that here with the Unleavened Bread Bible Studies. Some people have their own ideas and as long as we adhered to the Scriptures, they just left, which needed to happen. If it wasn't that way, a little leaven would leaven the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). Jesus said, (Luk.12:51) Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division. And the way He came to bring division was to use the Word like a sword. (Eph.6:17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And so He says, (Joh.10:27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. You probably recognize that verse the “once saved, always saved” crowd uses to justify their doctrine, but Jesus is talking about His sheep. “No one shall snatch them out of my hand” and no one can snatch them out of His hand. These are the elect; they are the chosen of God. It's not possible for them to be snatched out His hand because they hear and they follow. (Jas.1:18) Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. By His will, not our will, He brought us forth by the Word of truth. His method is to give you the gift of ears to hear the Word of truth (Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew 13:15; Romans 11:8; etc.) In the latter days of Israel, having ears to hear is what separated those Israelites who were going into the New Testament from those who would not. And in these latter days of the Gentile Church, having ears to hear is once again separating between those who are going to go on with God and those who do not belong to God. Those who are not part of the elect are going to be drawn aside. (Joh.8:31) Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him ... (43) Why do ye not understand my speech? It's amazing to me how sometimes people just can't understand you when you are saying something very simple, but if they have ears to hear, they understand, and if they don't have ears to hear, they can't understand. Now, sometimes, because of someone's age in the Lord, their understanding may not be very deep; however, anyone who knows God should be able to understand the basic principles. (Joh.8:43) Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word. They didn't have the gift of ears to hear. (44) Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do.... I've learned that most people have a blockage for why they don't hear. I know because it's happened to me when I was young and had a false doctrine. To the extent that someone clings to a pet doctrine, to that extent they won't hear and they won't believe anything that challenges their doctrine. Then also there can be a bigger blockage. (47) He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God. That's how God divides between the sheep. People who don't hear the Word of God, people who don't put the Word of God before their own thinking and their own religion, they are not of God. That's how Jesus discovered who was of God, and it's still the same today. Jesus says in (Joh.13:17) If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. (18) I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen (This is again the Greek eklego, which is the verb of the noun eklektos, and it means “I pick out for myself; choose, elect.”): but that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me. Jesus knew whom He had chosen, and He knew Judas was going to fall away. Judas was “called,” kaleo, but he was not “elect,” eklektos. (Joh.6:70) Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil? (71) Now he spake of Judas [the son] of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, [being] one of the twelve. Jesus understood that Judas was a son of the devil, yet He chose him to walk among the 12. (Joh.13:18) I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen.... He went on to explain that He was not speaking of Judas, who never had ears to hear. (Joh.6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life. (64) But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him. (65) And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father. Let me point out to you that it's not who receives the call and starts out with you who is chosen; it's who is still with you at the end. (2Jn.7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world.... John is talking about leaving Christianity. (1Jn.2:18) Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour. (19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but [they went out,] that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. “They” here is referring to antichrists. The Beast is antichrist in the world, but antichrist in the Church is this son of perdition. (2Jn.7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. (9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. So it's not “he who began with you” who is chosen; it's “he that abideth in the teaching.” Some people say they love the Word and seem very eager to study the Word, but there comes a point where they decide not to go any deeper, usually because it comes against their flesh. You know, lost people like knowledge. They like knowing things that other people don't know because it gives them a reason to be puffed up. The son of perdition likes knowledge, but when it comes to knowledge that demands a change in their life, that's where those people start filtering out, as the Bible says: (1Jn.2:19) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but [they went out,] that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us. (2Jn.9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. “He that abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God.” This is saying you have to be obedient to have the Father and the Son. Antichrist are those who go out from among you and are denying the Father and the Son because they are not obedient to the Word. Remember that Jesus said, (Joh.14:15) If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. That's not a promise to those who are disobedient or to those who start out and don't finish the course. That's a promise to those who endure until the end. (Mat.24:13) But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. (1Co.1:23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; (24) but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. People who are called understand the wisdom of the Gospel, but to the rest, it's foolishness and a stumblingblock. You may preach the Gospel to somebody today, and they won't come, but they might come later on because the right foundation was finally laid and the right timing has finally come. Just because someone doesn't accept the Gospel today doesn't mean that they're forever lost but only the called are going to come. Only the called have salvation. A good example of that is, (26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called:].... It's not many who are called to begin with. The calling is not to all. The calling is internal; the calling is a gift from God to those who are saved. The Bible never says all are called. Everything in this world was created for the purpose of manifesting sons of God and everything that Paul did was toward that purpose. He said in (2Ti.2:10) Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. God called His Son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), but then He tried Him in the wilderness to find out who was going to go on to the Promised Land. Those who went on into the Promised Land were God's elect. His whole purpose was for the elect, not for those who fell away in the wilderness. You see, God's grace has been given to all those who are called, but it's the elect among the called who are going to take advantage of it and that's the difference. Paul dealt with many, but everything he did was for the few, the elect. God used Paul to fulfill His purpose. (Joh.6:37) All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. You will know those who the Father gave to Jesus because they shall come to Jesus. This is very interesting because the phrase “come to me” is used many places in Scripture. Jesus told the Jews in (Joh.5:39) Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me; (40) and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life. That was obvious about most of the Jews then, who totally rejected everything that Jesus said. And it's obvious about those people today who reject everything that Jesus said, but did you know that some of those people who walked with Jesus, even as disciples, wouldn't come to Him? (Joh.6:66) Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Notice: 666. Only Father can cause a person to come to Jesus: (Joh.6:39) And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. (40) For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It's not possible for anyone to come unto Jesus, except the Father draws them. It is possible for them to come to church and to believe many doctrines. They can go to an altar and accept Jesus as their Savior, even though we don't see anything in the Scriptures about that. But people will not come unto Jesus unless they are drawn by God.

15 And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath shewed to us.Et factum est, ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in caelum : pastores loquebantur ad invicem : Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis. 16 And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.Et venerunt festinantes : et invenerunt Mariam, et Joseph, et infantem positum in praesepio. 17 And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. 18 And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds.Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt : et de his quae dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quae audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos.Let us go with the shepherds to the infant Jesus; the Lord manifested to these shepherds the incarnation of His Son. Let us go with haste and adore Him in the crib.

John 11:30-31 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. God gathered the crowd to display His glory in His Son by having Mary not follow Martha in the beginning but stay with the friends who came to console her. When Mary finally heard that Jesus was on the way and called for her, they followed her. God is always at work providentially moving people into place to accomplish His will. This will happen today in our lives as God places people in our paths to love with Him. He loves them and wishes to do it through us for His glory even as He loved Mary, Martha, and those who mourned Lazarus' death. Let's be alert to everyone we see today. God planted them there.

New beginnings in Christ aren’t just inspirational ideas—they’re biblical promises rooted in spiritual renewal, freedom from sin, and transformation through Jesus. Drawing from Ephesians 4:20–24, this devotional explores what God says about new beginnings, reminding believers that faith in Christ creates a new identity, a renewed mind, and a real opportunity to leave the old life behind. Highlights Scripture teaches that salvation in Christ creates a new self, not a slightly improved version of the old one. God offers new mercies every morning, providing forgiveness, restoration, and fresh opportunity. Sin, trauma, and unhealthy patterns do not have the final word—renewal through Christ is possible. Change may feel difficult or impossible, but God supplies the strength to walk in newness of life. New beginnings require belief, trust, and intentional steps rooted in God’s truth. Choosing God’s promises over fear allows spiritual growth and lasting transformation. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: What God Says about New Beginnings By Aaron D’Anthony Brown Bible Reading:“But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:20-24, CSB) There’s plenty to appreciate about new things, like the smell of a new car or the feel of new clothes. This is all the more true of a new marriage or a newborn baby. Newness in life can be and often is good and exciting. Yet, while we can usually appreciate new material things or relationships, we don’t always show the same gratitude toward the newness found in God. The newness that is God. Perhaps that is because we don’t fully fathom what He says about new beginnings. Scripture tells us how the Lord creates within us a “new self,” and how He offers “new mercies” every morning. He takes off the shackles of sin that once defined us and helps us become better image-bearers of His Son. The old self was corrupted, but the new self was created in His righteousness. If our faith in Jesus Christ makes us new, then we don’t have to be like our old selves. Whatever sinful habits or unhealthy relationships or trauma that once seemed permanent can be undone. A new beginning is possible. Chances are, on an intellectual level, we believe in the new beginning because we know that change is possible. Yet, another part of us says that change is hard. And oftentimes not just hard, but seemingly impossible. That’s when we have to remember, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). If God makes us new and grants us the power to walk in that newness, then we should ask ourselves, “Why aren’t we?” Fear? Laziness? Ignorance? If we are new, then we are not stuck in the old. We can grow. We can embrace a new beginning. After reading Scripture and understanding that God makes us new, the next step is figuring out how to apply this knowledge to our lives. Intersecting Faith & Life: Here are a few ways you can apply God’s new beginnings to your life starting today: Thank God for new mercies. Today doesn’t have to be like yesterday, and tomorrow doesn’t have to be like today. If God grants us new mercies, we would be foolish not to accept them. That means mercy in the form of forgiveness, mercy in the form of a chance to right our wrongs, mercy in the form of seeing another day. The average life expectancy for Americans may be around 80, but no day is guaranteed. That should caution us to make the most of each day we are given. Not using it as an opportunity to serve the flesh or our old way of being, but striving to be something better, someone new. Thank God that His mercies are new every morning and make wise use of them. Thank God for new opportunities. With every new day comes an opportunity to do something different. Maybe yesterday brought a contentious argument with a spouse or a relapse in addiction, but today doesn’t have to follow the same pattern. Today can be different, because the past does not predict the future. We often see new beginnings as impossible until we’re in them, but paradoxically, not believing in the new beginning prevents us from reaching it in the first place. Recall and thank God for the new opportunities He has given you in the past, whether in relationships, jobs, or financial security. Remember those past blessings and use them to encourage yourself today. If a new beginning was possible before, indeed it can happen again. Be encouraged that you are new. Understanding that you have been and are being made new every day will feel hard to believe some days, but we have to press forward. Newness means something to God, and He delights in His children growing in the likeness of His Son. The sinful part of you may say that isn’t true, but if you have to ask yourself, “Do I want to believe sin, or do I want to believe God?” Which would you pick? If you pick God, then choose to embrace your new beginning today. Further Reading (and Listening): Jeremiah 29:11 2 Corinthians 5:17 Isaiah 43:18-19 “God Gave Us A Future” by Marvin Winans & The Perfected Praise Choir “Sunday is Coming” by Phil Wickham Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

With December 25th behind us on the calendar what do we do with Christmas? Where did all the tidings of Joy, giving to those in need, and the desire for more Jesus go? Christmas is a way, not a day, it is Yahweh! Today, on Like It Matters Radio, Mr. Black wants to encourage listeners to stay in the Christmas Spirit. Christmas is a WAY, not a DAY, it is YAHWEH! People need HOPE and HEAT no matter the time of year. We live in a dark, bitter, and self-absorbed world. There are wars, and death, there are marriages and divorces, there is sickness and health. There are good people doing bad things, and there are healthy people taking their lives because of feelings of despair. Helpless and Hopeless, war ravaging our families, our communities and our countries. God sent His Son to HEAL and to SAVE. As followers of Jesus, we get to be his hands and his feet, throughout the year, not just December 24-25 of each year. On today’s Hour of Power, Mr. Black will be joined by Michael Johnson President of the Slavic Gospel Association, with a focus on the children of Ukraine. Listeners today will be inspired and will be entertained, but they will also be called to stay in the Christmas Spirit and to bring some Heat and Hope to the children of Ukraine, to our fellow citizens and to our families! Enjoy today’s Inspiration, Education and Application as Mr. Black encourages listeners to stay in the Christmas Spirit and remember: Christmas is NOT a day, it is a WAY, it is YAHWEH! Be sure to Like and Follow us on our facebook page!www.facebook.com/limradio Instagram @likeitmattersradioTwitter @likeitmatters Get daily inspiration from our blog www.wayofwarrior.blog Learn about our non profit work at www.givelikeitmatters.com Check out our training website www.LikeItMatters.Net Always available online at www.likeitmattersradio.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only meaning, the true logos, is God. The true logos is what we believe as Christians, the baby Jesus. He is the logos made flesh. That is what we celebrate, that that is the profound meaning. That is a foundation meaning for everything in our lives. God loves us so much that He did not just send a messenger, He sent His very self, His Son. (Read more…) Here is my homily from the Christmas Day Mass. I hope you can enjoy it.

Sermon Summary: “Who Hijacked Christmas?”   Christians Reclaimed Christmas The sermon explains that Christmas was not stolen from Christianity—Christians intentionally reclaimed it. Long before Christ, pagan cultures celebrated the winter solstice with fleshly festivals. Believers stepped into that moment and redirected the season to focus on God sending His Son. Rather than abandoning the season, the church redeemed it for truth. The Birth Matters Because the Resurrection Matters While the resurrection is the greatest event in history, the birth had to happen first. Christmas is celebrated not because of a date on the calendar, but because without the birth there is no cross, no empty tomb, and no salvation. Celebrating Christ's birth honors the beginning of God's redemptive plan. Defending the Virgin Birth A central emphasis of the sermon is the virgin birth. Jesus was not merely born—He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This supernatural conception is essential to Christianity. If Jesus is not born of a virgin, He is not the Son of God and Christianity becomes just another religion. The church historically elevated Christmas to defend this truth when it came under attack. Jesus Is the Good Shepherd and God's Gift Through John 10 and the illustration of the candy cane, the sermon teaches that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The red represents His blood, the white His purity, and the shepherd's staff His care and protection. Jesus came to give abundant life and eternal life. Celebration Is Biblical Just as Israel celebrated God's miracles (such as Hanukkah), believers are encouraged to celebrate God's greatest miracle—Jesus Christ. Celebration does not equal compromise. Giving gifts reflects God's nature, because God loved and gave first. Materialism is a heart issue, not a Christmas issue. The Unseen Became Seen The sermon highlights that Christmas marks the moment when the unseen God became visible. Jesus stepped into human history, walked in our shoes, suffered, and redeemed humanity. His coming proves God did not abandon a fallen world but entered it to save it. Stand for Christ in Every Season Believers are called to stand boldly for Jesus—not just at Christmas, but in every moment of life. The world is imperfect, but Christians are light in darkness, using every opportunity to point others to Christ rather than withdrawing from culture. The Greatest Gift Still Offered The message concludes by reminding listeners that Jesus is still healing, delivering, restoring, and saving. He is the Anointed One who sets captives free. Christmas ultimately declares that God sent His Son as a ransom, offering forgiveness, healing, and eternal life to all who believe.     This sermon explains that Christians did not lose Christmas—they redeemed it. While many cultures celebrated pagan festivals around the winter solstice, believers intentionally reclaimed the season to celebrate the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ. Though Jesus was likely not born in December, the timing does not diminish the meaning. The focus is on why we celebrate, not the calendar date. The message emphasizes that the birth of Jesus is essential, because without the birth there could be no death, resurrection, or salvation. Christmas matters because it defends the virgin birth, which confirms Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, distinct from every other religious leader. If the virgin birth is denied, Christianity collapses into just another religion. Using Scripture from Isaiah, Luke, and John, the sermon highlights Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Anointed One (Messiah), and God's help sent into the world. His supernatural conception, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection reveal that the unseen God became seen in human form. The sermon challenges believers not to abandon Christmas because of materialism or cultural misuse. A fallen world will always distort good things, but that does not negate truth. Instead, Christians are called to stand up in every moment—holidays, workplaces, families, and culture—to proclaim Christ. The message closes with a call to endurance and bold faith, urging believers to let God heal their wounds, stop focusing on imperfections, and consistently testify that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, crucified, resurrected, and still saving today. Christmas is not about traditions—it is about celebrating God's greatest gift to humanity.

In this Christmas teaching, Francis Chan invites us to slow down and truly adore Jesus. To not just believe in Him, but respond to the God who first came after us. Reflecting on the meaning of ”Emmanuel, God with us,” Francis explains how God has always been the initiator: creating humanity, pursuing us after the fall, dwelling among His people, sending His Son, and ultimately placing His Spirit within us. From the garden to the manger to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the story of Christmas is the story of a God who wants to be with us. This message reframes prayer, worship, and even repentance, not as efforts to earn God's attention, but as responses to His mercy, grace, and relentless love. As we celebrate Christmas, we're reminded that God is near, He is knocking, and He longs to pour His love into our hearts.

Advent Week 4: Love has been God's story from the beginning. From the moment of creation, God's love was part of the fabric of our world. His love turned the world inside out when He sent His Son to live among us—the God of the universe to be born in a stable, to die on the cross, and to rise again from the grave. It took love to disrupt and overturn the power of death and evil.Support the show

Our Relationship with God Is Based Solely on Our Relationship with God, and He Desires to Have a Relationship with Each of Us MESSAGE SUMMARY: We may have a Godly father and mother, but our relationship with God is not based on their relationship with God; it is solely our relationship with God. God has given us covenants as a way to build our relationships. The people of Israel found out quickly that when they desired to live their lives apart from God that they brought disaster upon their lives. God is a covenant God. He will bless us if we obey Him; but if we disobey him, it leaves us to the consequences of our sin.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Nehemiah 9:26-32; Acts 3:22-26. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB 

This message is from our "God Gave" series.John 3:16 reveals a God who loved first, offering His Son so the world could know Him personally. In this series, we'll see salvation as a gift we receive through faith. We'll explore God's generous love and how it shapes our response as we give our first and best back to Him in gratitude and devotion.Crosspoint City is one church in multiple locations and we exist to relentlessly pursue those far from God to help them know and follow Jesus. To help support this mission and work, visit https://mycpcc.com/giveSTAY CONNECTED:Facebook: https://mycpcc.com/facebookInstagram: https://mycpcc.com/instagramTiktok: https://mycpcc.com/tiktok

What does it truly mean to say, “God is love”? Let's explore the depth of God's agape love—a love that's unconditional, sacrificial, and self-giving. God's love isn't merely an emotion but an action, most clearly revealed through the gift of His Son. As recipients of such overwhelming grace, we're called to imitate God's love by laying aside selfishness, extending forgiveness, and demonstrating Christlike love to one another. When we love as He has loved us, we can change the world.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. . . . If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48 NLT) Who was on your Christmas gift list this year? Usually, we give gifts to family and friends. We want to buy gifts for people we love and people we care about. We tend to give gifts to those who treat us well, people who are kind and considerate to us. And often we will give gifts in return for gifts that we have received. Some of us will even buy gifts for our pets. However, we generally don’t buy gifts for our enemies, do we? We don’t give a gift to the person who has slandered us in the past year. We don’t give a gift to the irate neighbor who never has a kind word to say. We don’t give a gift to someone who has tried to run us out of business. Nor do we send a gift to the thief who broke into our car last month. Yet that’s the standard to which the Lord calls us. In Matthew 5:43–48, Jesus said, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. . . . If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (NLT). How can the Lord hold us to such high expectations? “We love each other because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19 NLT). When God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, and gave us the ultimate gift, He gave it to us while we were still His enemies. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV). We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve this gift. In fact, what we really deserve is judgment, because we all have sinned against God. We all have deliberately crossed that line. The amazing truth of Christmas is that, despite our sins, God sent His Son to save us. In that tiny manger in Bethlehem, He gave us a gift that we don’t deserve—but that we can be thankful for every day of our lives. Reflection question: This Christmas season, how can you show love to someone you don’t get along with? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (Luke 12:51 NLT) This may come as a shock to you, but the real Christmas story is not about love, peace, harmony, and gathering with family around a crackling fire. The real Christmas story is about conflict. It always has been, and it always will be. In Luke 12:51, Jesus said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (NLT). One of the most surprising passages in Scripture that deals with the subject of Christmas is Revelation 12. There we find the apostle John’s account of a woman being pursued by a powerful dragon who seeks her death. As she is preparing to give birth to a child, the dragon hovers over her, wanting to destroy the baby. The woman is a picture of Israel, the child is a picture of Jesus Christ, and the dragon is a picture of the devil. That’s Christmas from a heavenly perspective. John’s imagery in Revelation 12 gives us the big picture of what was really happening when God sent His Son into the world. The devil opposed God’s plan and wanted to stop Jesus’ birth. It’s not hard to see how that story is still playing out today, especially at this time of year. The season of giving often turns into a season of giving those who celebrate Christmas a hard time. Hostility toward Christmas seems to escalate a little more every year. More nativity scenes are being removed from public places. Christmas carols are being prohibited in more places. Podcasters and influencers who attack the Christian faith are becoming more and more popular. Many people still object to the use of the word Christmas. All these things are individual battles in the great spiritual conflict of Christmas. We can rejoice in that. Jesus said, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way” (Matthew 5:11–12 NLT). Jesus did not come to bring an empty, feel-good peace on earth devoid of truth. Look again at the angel’s message to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT). The peace that Jesus offers is conditional. It’s hard-earned. It requires sacrifice and purposeful choices on our part. It encourages us to live as He lived, to prioritize God’s will, and to spread His message to others. We will have peace on earth only when we’re pleasing to God. Reflection question: What do you think God is pleased with in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They weren't studying the prophets. They were reading the sky.In our Members-Only Part 2 of our Christmas deep dive into the Star of Bethlehem, Caleb Jones returns to answer the question everyone's been asking: Why did the Magi know to come? What did they actually see in that chart that made them pack up and travel for months?Using ancient sources—Ptolemy, Manilius, Vettius Valens—Caleb reconstructs what an astrological reading of August 12, 3 BC would have looked like. The verdict? A heaven-blessed birth in Palestine. Incredible fortune. Warfare and a sword in his future. Someone who would overcome great danger through Jupiter and Venus.But this episode goes deeper than astronomy. Caleb traces how the Bible itself addresses astrology—not as fake, but as a rival way of knowing that God told Israel not to pursue because He would speak to them directly. When Israel rebelled and looked to the stars anyway, God wove their disobedience into His plan: He would use pagan astrologers to announce His Son and shame His people who should have known better.From Deuteronomy to Isaiah to Romans, the threads converge. The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They were reading the sky. And God met them there.The Christmas story is stranger than you thought. Not a member yet? Right now, we are running our biggest sale of the year with 20% OFF all memberships until the end of the year. Head over to https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members to check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christmas morning is filled with anticipation, joy, and carefully prepared gifts, yet Scripture reminds us that the greatest gift does not come from beneath the tree. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God, and Christmas celebrates the most perfect gift of all—Jesus Christ. While we strive to give meaningful presents to those we love, God’s gift surpasses them all: His Son, sent to bring salvation, hope, and eternal life. As we begin Christmas Day, we are invited to pause, give thanks, and remember that Jesus is the heart of the celebration and the gift we are called to share with others. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why our desire to give meaningful gifts reflects God’s generous nature. Discover how Jesus is the ultimate and perfect Christmas gift from the Father. Reflect on the significance of Christ’s birth as described in Isaiah’s prophecy. Be encouraged to begin Christmas Day with gratitude, worship, and prayer. Understand how sharing the gift of Jesus can be part of how we give to others this season. Bible Verse References James 1:17 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/james/1-17.html Matthew 7:11 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/7-11.html Isaiah 9:6 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/isaiah/9-6.html 2 Corinthians 9:15 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/2-corinthians/9-15.html John 3:16 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/john/3-16.html Your Daily Prayer Dear Father, Giver of every good and perfect gift, thank You for Jesus—Your precious and perfect gift to us. As we begin this Christmas Day, fill our hearts with joy, gratitude, and peace as we celebrate His birth. Help us remember the incredible love behind Your gift of salvation and eternal life. Lead us to share this good news with those we love, and may everything we give today reflect Your grace, generosity, and love.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement rooted in Scripture. Leave a rating or review to help others discover the podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com for more faith-filled podcasts and devotionals. Explore more Christmas devotionals and biblical resources at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Scripture study and Bible tools:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Christmas devotionals and Christian living articles:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“What sweeter music can we bring / Than a carol for to sing / The birth of this our heavenly king.” The lines of this 17th century poem “What Sweeter Music” were reimagined by modern-day choral composer John Rutter to become an Advent season favorite. Its gentle melody describes a long, cold season of waiting that’s thawed by the springtime feeling of Jesus’ arrival. The singers bring Him a Christmas carol; the listeners are invited to bring their hearts. Rutter’s arrangement was commissioned to correspond with a church reading on the wise men who brought Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These mysterious magi traveled a great distance to meet baby Jesus with the express purpose of worshiping him (Matthew 2:1-2). God gave them wisdom to keep Jesus’ location a secret from wicked King Herod. When they finally found Him, they “were overjoyed” (v. 10). They bowed down in reverence. Then “they opened their treasures” to lay precious resources at His feet (v. 11). The Christmas season shouldn’t be focused on material goods—but it’s certainly about giving and receiving gifts. God gave His Son to heal a broken world. If we’ve never given Him our hearts, today’s a wonderful day to do so. If He already reigns there, let’s offer a carol of peace and joy as we think about His arrival all those years ago in Bethlehem—and wait for His return.

Jesus came to make you a part of His family. On this Christmas Day, celebrate God for sending His Son, Jesus, who is the greatest gift to all mankind. Listen to Kenneth Copeland and Professor Greg Stephens on Believer's Voice of Victory as they remind you how important family members are to anyone. By living in victory, you are able to raise your children to know the Love of God through you. Learn how to align yourself with God, who sees you as family, with all the rights and privileges He has given to Jesus.

Merry Christmas! We hope you're all enjoying Christmas day and spending time with your families. In this episode, Brody reads through some Scripture of Jesus's coming. Let's take time today to thank the Lord for sending His Son to the world to save us from our sins.Matthew 1Luke 2 Matthew 225 Christmas Hymns You Should Listen to This YearSend us a textPlease leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help improve No Sanity Required and help others grow in their faith. Click here to get our Colossians Bible study.

What was the Star of Bethlehem? A miraculous light? An angel? A comet? Attorney and biblical researcher Caleb Jones brings a library of books and years of astronomical study to the basement to present the most compelling answer we've ever heard: the Star of the Magi was the combined light of Jupiter and Venus merging into a single point of light in the sky, not once, but twice.On August 12, 3 BC, a rare planetary conjunction appeared in the eastern sky for just ninety minutes before dawn and was visible only to those whose job it was to watch the stars. Ten months later, on June 17, 2 BC, an even more spectacular once-in-a-millennium conjunction occurred, visible to everyone, setting over the hill of Bethlehem at the exact location tradition holds as the house of Joseph and Mary.Caleb walks us through astronomy, ancient calendars, the chronology of Herod's death, the census of Quirinius, and why the world still counts time based on the reign of Jesus Christ. This isn't just about solving a Christmas mystery. It's about how God speaks to people where they are and even through systems He told Israel not to use. The Magi were pagan astrologers doing pagan astrology, and God used the very stars they were watching to lead them to His Son. They arrived with gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and they worshiped. The star wasn't magic. It was astronomy. And somehow, that makes it even more miraculous. Merry Christmas from Blurry Creatures! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15 John 3:16 is the most familiar verse in the Bible. Many of us can recite it from memory. For millions of people, its powerful truth marked the beginning of their journey with Christ. Listen as Pastor Chuck Swindoll recounts how this verse spoke to him as a child. God loves the world—He loves you! His love is for everyone, and His call to believe in Jesus is open to all. Accept God's invitation to believe in His Son and receive His promise of eternal life.

In this episode, we end our journey at the Stable, the humble place where God chose for us to meet His Son. We reflect on the stable of our own hearts, how Jesus chooses to meet us in our own poverty now, and why His very presence brings healing. We also talk about how when we sit in our emptiness, release control, and surrender each part of our lives to God, He is able to work more powerfully in our lives. Finally, we ponder Mary's quiet and loving gaze upon the Christ Child and how we are invited to slow down and notice Jesus smiling back at us.  Friends, we've deeply enjoyed journeying with you this year. As we take a break, please know you are in our prayers. We will see you on January 19th, 2026 when Season 18 begins! Have a blessed and merry Christmas!   Heather's One Thing - Our Abiding Together staff: Camille, Kate, and Kristina! Heather's Other One Thing - The Sisters of Life new St. Francis convent in Steubenville Heather's Third One Thing - Every Sacred Sunday's Edition of the  Catechism of the Catholic Church Sister Miriam's One Thing - Our listeners and Patreon supporters. Thank you! Sister Miriam's Other One Thing - Philosophy and Healing (with Fr. Matthew Rolling) from the Restore the Glory Podcast Michelle's One Thing - The beauty of the different religious orders!   Finally, we arrive at the Stable — the poorest of places, and yet, the holiest of all. Here, in straw and silence, the Infinite takes on skin. The cry of a newborn splits the night open, and suddenly, everything is sacred again The invitation into the mess  Into our own poverty… The cry of our humanity … Worship is not what we think it will look like.    Other Resources Mentioned:  The Nativity Painting by Caravaggio Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You by Dr. James Friesen   Journal Questions: Where do I find myself in "unsatisfactory condition"? What are the scandalous places within me that I want to keep away from the Lord? How am I managing my own creativity rather than welcoming the Holy Spirit into my creativity? What beliefs am I carrying deeply about God? How does God want to heal these beliefs? Where am I afraid? How can I make space for Jesus and spend time with Him in this Christmas season?   Discussion Questions: How are you tempted to sanitize the Mystery of the Incarnation in your own life? Where in my life do I need a new perspective? When have you experienced God coming to you in a way you weren't expecting Him to? How am I seeking control in this season? How can I surrender that control? What are the stables of my life that God is inviting me into deeper surrender?   Quote to Ponder: "I am so glad Jesus was born in a stable, because my soul is so much like a stable. It's poor and in unsatisfactory condition - Yet, I believe that if Jesus can be born in a stable, maybe he can be born in me." (Dorothy Day)   Scripture for Lectio: "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7)   Sponsor - Fully Mediterranean: Our sponsor today is Fully Mediterranean, a company dedicated to helping people discover the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, a way of eating and living that is both deeply nourishing and beautifully simple. At Fully Mediterranean, they believe that good health and good food go hand in hand—and that both of these begin in the same place: around the table, where we slow down, gather, connect, and are reminded of God's goodness in the everyday moments of life. It's where we feed not only our bodies, but also our relationships. And it's often where we rediscover joy, connection, and presence. Fully Mediterranean was built on a mission to help people discover a simple, nourishing way of eating and living—a way that brings peace, beauty, and balance into everyday. Their approach is not about pressure or perfection. It's about gently integrating habits that help you live fully, with a sense of gratitude and mindfulness that aligns beautifully with our Catholic faith. What makes the Mediterranean lifestyle so special is that it's not just a way of eating; it's a way of living. It's a lifestyle shaped by mindfulness, by community, and by gratitude. It's about slowing down, savoring what God provides, and sharing meals with the people He places in our lives. It's about choosing foods that nourish the body He entrusted to us—vibrant  vegetables, wholesome grains, fresh herbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats—while also embracing the joy and connection that come from preparing and enjoying meals with others. Fully Mediterranean provides practical, realistic tools, guidance, and inspiration to help you bring these values into your kitchen and everyday life. Through recipes, programs, workshops, and practical nutrition guidance, we help women simplify healthy eating, feel confident in the kitchen, and rediscover the joy that comes from preparing meals that are both good for the body and soul-satisfying. In a world filled with noise, pressure, and quick fixes, the Mediterranean lifestyle offers something gentler and more grounded—an invitation to live intentionally, joyfully, and wholeheartedly. It encourages us to choose foods that honor the bodies God created, to gather more often with the people we love, and to find celebration in simple, nourishing routines. Whether you're looking to support your long-term health, gain energy for your daily responsibilities, or create more meaningful rhythms in your home, Fully Mediterranean is here to guide you every step of the way. We want to help you build a lifestyle that supports your well-being and draws you closer to living the full, abundant life God desires for you.  Because at Fully Mediterranean, we believe that when you nourish your body well, you nourish every part of your life. And when you gather at the table with gratitude, intention, and love, you reflect God's goodness in the most natural, beautiful way. If you're ready to bring more peace, health, and joy into your kitchen—and your life—we invite you to explore all that Fully Mediterranean offers. Discover delicious recipes, practical tips, and inspiring resources designed to help you integrate the Mediterranean way of living into your daily routine with ease and grace. Join us and use the code Abidingtogether20 to receive 20% off any of our products, including our course, ebooks and Substack membership. Join the 30-day Mediterranean challenge starting January 1st for just $8. Visit us at www.fullymediterranean.com, Substack: fullymediteranean.com.substack.com and @fullymediterranean   Chapters:   00:00 Fully Mediterranean  01:37 Intro 02:30 Welcome to the Stable 05:56 Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse 07:12 The Poverty of Our Hearts 11:26 Surrendering the Messy Parts of Our Lives 15:30 Healing Our Image of God 19:31 What it Means to Ponder 21:37 Making Space in the Midst of a Busy Season 28:27 Season 18 Announcement! 28:58 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0 

Is it that God didn’t know how to stage a spectacular entrance for His Son? The God who created heaven and earth, hung the stars in the sky, and summons forth thunder and lightning. Was the heavenly event planner on vacation the day Jesus was born in a humble stable? No, today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how the birth of Christ happened quietly, with little fanfare, and revealed to the least likely. It was on purpose . . . and it speaks of our purpose. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.