Podcasts about his son

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 17 Paul continues his second missionary journey with stops in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. In Thessalonica, Paul reasons with the Jews in the synagogue, explaining that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled the scriptures. While some believe, others incite a riot, forcing Paul and Silas to flee to Berea. The Bereans are praised for their eagerness to examine the scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings. Many believe, but opposition arises again, prompting Paul to leave. In Athens, Paul is stirred by the city's idolatry and engages with philosophers in the Areopagus. He proclaims the one true God, emphasizing His power to create all things and His call for everyone to repent of their sins. He informs them that God will judge the world, providing proof by raising Jesus from the dead. The centerpiece of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Nearly every sermon in Acts highlights the evidence for and significance of this momentous event. In Thessalonica, Paul uses the resurrection to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ. In Athens, the philosophers are challenged by Paul, who is “preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” Paul concludes his sermon to the Athenians by declaring Jesus as the final Judge, a truth established by God raising Him from the dead. God created us to seek Him, and He offered and raised His Son so that we can find Him. Some sneer at this, while others delay their response. However, true believers in the resurrection accept it and join the cause.  Dear Father, thank You for raising Your crucified Son from the dead. Thank You for the evidence of His resurrection and for the incredible, eternal assurances that accompany His victory over sin and death. Lord God, we believe. We believe You made all things and created us to seek and find You. We also believe that Your Son's death and resurrection are the only path to reach You, forgiven by His blood and granted the promise of eternal life in His name. We know Jesus will judge the world. Lead us to repent and prepare for our Savior's return.   Thought Questions: -       Why do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? Are you prepared to elaborate in order to teach others about Jesus? -       The Berean listeners are commended for examining scripture to confirm Paul's words. Why should you do that when you hear teaching? -       Do you believe that God created you and that in Him you “live and move and exist”? How does this belief shape your daily life and choices?

Are we all "children of God"? Well, we certainly are all God's creatures, but unfortunately, we possess the family likeness of our sinful forbears - a fallen, sinful nature. The Bible is clear that we need a second birth to bring us into the family of God. A birth from above. A spiritual birth. One that brings us into the family of God with the likeness of His Son. Has there ever been a time like that in YOUR life?

God is RELATIONAL. We start a relationship by believing in the person and work His Son. We believe that Jesus is God and that He died for us on the cross. When we do that God responds by saving us from sin and death and we become a child of God. That is called “Salvation.” […]

Are you truly living for God, or merely seeking self-improvement? In a world obsessed with self-help and therapy, we must ask ourselves: What's our ultimate goal? To become well-adjusted, or to live is mature sons unto Him? In this episode, Nancy McCready challenges us not to mistake the means for the end. Our Father desires more than a well-adjusted or good life– He longs for sons who reflect His Son. True discipleship isn't about fixing ourselves, but about dying to self so Christ can live through us. It's a journey from self-reliance to complete dependence on Him. Is all that you're involved in getting you ready to live, think, and die like Christ? Are you ready to come after Him, take up His cross, and live unto Him? Here we go! Thanks for Listening! I hope that after listening to The Tent Talk Podcast, you'll want to start discussions with your team or small group. These resources can help guide your discipleship journey to maturity and destiny with the Father: Episode Notes & Conversation Guide DOWNLOAD HERE https://nancymccready.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/POV-11.0.pdf LINKS The Producer's Way School theproducersway.com Nancy's book, From Trauma to Trust www.amazon.com/dp/B096ZML6R3/ JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries SUBSCRIBE Like what you hear? Subscribe to Tent Talk with Nancy McCready so you don't miss an episode! nancymccready.com/podcast/ ABOUT NANCY MCCREADY Nancy McCready is redefining discipleship across nations, cultures, and denominations. Through Nancy McCready Ministries, she partners with leaders to build deep, transformative discipleship cultures that provoke people to walk in freedom and live as mature sons of the Father. Her powerful message comes from her journey of overcoming abuse, addiction, and self-destruction to walk in true freedom. She now dedicates her life to helping others grow in intimacy with the Father and live unto Him. ABOUT TENT TALK PODCAST Tent Talk with Nancy McCready is a listener-funded podcast dedicated to helping Christians along their journey of a deeper walk with Christ. With the support of donors like you, we are able to help our listeners gain a deeper spiritual understanding and connection with the Father. Thank you for your support of the Tent Talk Podcast! nancymccready.com/giving/ Brought to you by Nancy McCready Ministries nancymccready.com/

In the final segment In the final segment of our Bible readings we are introduced a picture of ourself – Onesimus, a profligate runaway slave, who in Rome is liberated from his wasteful state to become a brother in Christ. The key words in this letter are related to BOWELS. Paul is demonstrating his love for God, His Son, His Word, His truth, and for Philemon and his family and the ecclesia, as well as for Onesimus. The Apostle is demonstrating to Philemon that, we must not only know and live the truth, we must love it, and God and His Son and His Word, His truth, His ecclesia, His family: we must be emotionally involved and committed. Paul sends Onesimus back to his master, as a fellow believer in Christ carrying this letter and the epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus is formerly described as being “unprofitable”, which is our condition before we believed the gospel and received forgiveness. But now he has learnt to abound in his grateful realisation of his elevated status see Ephesians 2:1-12. The Apostle Paul had taught Philemon the truth of the gospel. He speaks of Philemon's debt to God in the forgiveness which he has been given. Therefore Philemon ought to show the same forgiveness to his fellow believer – even though Onesimus was his slave. The Apostle Paul is confident that Philemon will comply with the Apostle's request. Final greetings are conveyed through Epaphras, who carries the letter to Philemon.

Let us start our day by giving thanks to our Loving Heavenly Father, praising Him and His Son, our brother Jesus Christ, who reigns in communion with the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen. 

Introduction: The Trustworthiness Test (Matthew 5:33-37): Do I Need to CONVINCE OTHERS of the TRUTHFULNESS of what I say? (Matt 5:33–34a) Do I Look for LOOPHOLES to GET OUT of what I say? (Matt 5:34b–36) Matthew 23:22 – And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 1 Peter 2:22 – He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Do I Always FOLLOW THROUGH on what I say? (Matt 5:37) James 5:12 – But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:33-37What was your big take-away from this passage / message?How can you strengthen your reputation when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness? How can you weaken it?Do you ever make excuses or look for loopholes to get out of what you say?Do you struggle with being a “yes or no” person? How do you fail to be reliable and follow through on what you say?What does it look like to truly repent of deception and make things right with those you have lied to?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Return your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37.Is it safe to say that trust is in short supply in 2025?We are constantly bombarded with lies, conspiracies, fraud,lame excuses, propaganda, cover-ups.With each passing year, we become less and less trustingas others seem less and less trustworthy.I was going to use an object lesson to prove this point,but for the sake of unity, which you'll see in a minutewhy I'm not doing this, I'm going to have you use your imaginations instead.Imagine with me that a bunch of images are from the screens behind meof famous individuals, politicians, billionaires, tech gurus, celebrities,social media influencers, world-renowned doctors,and popular preachers who you see pop up on Spotify, YouTube, and television.And with each image, with each person, I ask this very simple question,is this person trustworthy?And with some of these famous people, the answer would be a decisive yes,while others would be a resounding no.But some examples may prove to be a bit controversial and divisive.It may be a bit of a mixed reaction, which could lead to some frustration,heated debates, and strained relationships.Hence my unwillingness to show these images in service today.What if I were to close out this slideshow with a picture of you?And for the final time, I ask this very simple question, is this person trustworthy?What would be the response?What would your family members, friends, and fellow church members say about you?Maybe you don't want to play along with my made-up scenario,because you're afraid of what other people would say about you.But you cannot be oblivious in this area of life, because your reputation,when it comes to honesty and trustworthiness, is not a throwaway issue.Your credibility with others on the outside speaks to your integrity before the Lord on the inside.We've been studying the Sermon on the Mount for the past few months,and now this is the fourth week of our latest section, "The Heart of the Law."And throughout Matthew chapter 5, Jesus doesn't lessen the Old Testament law.He elevates it. He doesn't abolish it and throw it away.He digs down deep into our hearts to show how it applies at the deepest levels of who we are.Jesus proves that obeying God's commands and displaying true righteousness are matters of the heart.Jesus cares way more about the internal than the external,because who you are internally shapes all that you say and do externally.So far, we have covered what Christ commands and expects when it comes to anger,sexuality, and marriage.In Matthew chapter 5, verses 33 through 37,the Lord turns your attention to what he has to say about making promises and keeping your word.To help you gauge your own personal credibility, Jesus assigns an important testthat you cannot afford to skip or to fail.And this test is the trustworthiness test.Before we dig into the first question, let's go to the Lord in prayer.Please pray that I will faithfully proclaim God's word.While I pray that you will faithfully and joyfully receive God's word.Father, we thank you for the gift of your word.It is a mirror that you hold up to our hearts to show us what means to change.Lord, this morning you're going to show us some very challenging and difficult things about ourselvesthat we do not want to see,but we must recognize them and we must make changes by the power of your Holy Spirit.So may you do the work that only you can.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.All right, who is ready for the trustworthiness test?Well, we're going to take it anyway. So the trustworthiness test, question one.Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Do I need to convince others of the truthfulness of what I say?Let's read verses 33 through 34.Jesus says, "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old,'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This is the fourth time in Matthew chapter 5 that Jesus repeats the same verbal pattern."You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."So let's cover what was said in the past."You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn."You will not find this exact sentence word for word in the Old Testamentbecause it is a mashup of three different passages about keeping oaths.With the Nicos 19-2, Numbers chapter 30 verse 2 and Deuteronomy 23-21.In the Old Testament, oath taking was serious business.It wasn't something to be entered into lightly or carelessly.Vows were reserved for important matters.And God put them in place as a first line of defense against dishonesty.I find it helpful to view Old Testament oaths like spiritual speed bumps.Why do speed bumps exist?To cause you to slow down and keep pedestrian safe.Let me ask you, do speed bumps always do that?No, we've all seen maniacs treat speed bumps like challenges and jumps instead of warnings.And maybe you've been that maniac from time to time.Oaths were set up by God to curb the natural tendency to be deceitful and unreliable.They were like speed bumps.By taking an oath, you were saying,"God, you can bring judgment and cursing upon me if I do not keep my side of the bargain."But these spiritual speed bumps could not stop all dishonesty.It couldn't do away with people being deceitful.So vows help provide accountability, but they could not change the human heart,which is seen most clearly in the lives of the religious leaders of Jesus' day.The rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees misinterpreted the Old Testament commands about vowsand twisted God's word to advance their own dishonest agenda.They believe that you shall not swear falsely, only spoke to perjuring yourself in a court of law.We'll talk about this in even greater detail in a few minutes,but they also believe that the instruction you shall perform to the Lord what you have swornleft some room for coloring outside the lines when it came to keeping your word.If you weren't in a court setting or you didn't make vows directly to Godand in His name there was some wiggle room to tell some lies.It wasn't ideal, but hey, not a big deal.As long as you said the right things and as long as you kept their man-made rules.Once again, the religious leaders are taking God's word, taking His commandsand putting it into their own man-made box.Their standards were shallow and their righteousness was phony.But Jesus calls His followers to a greater righteousness, to a higher standardwhen He says, "But I say to you, do not take an oath at all."This command brings up an important question that we have to answer.Is Jesus saying that it's always sinful to make a promise or a vow of any kind at any time?Well, some Christians, some scholars and pastors certainly think so,but that's a really hard stance to defend from the rest of Scripture.The Apostle Paul kept and he made and kept a vow in Acts 18-18.In Revelation chapter 10 verses 5 through 6, the Apostle John records an angel swearing enough.In the Old Testament, God made oaths to show the seriousness of His covenant promises.God didn't do that because he had a shaky reputation.He lovingly did that to give His people a rock-solid confidence in His trustworthinessand the certainty of His purposes and His plans.God's vows were like exclamation points that highlighted His credibilitybecause we so often do not trust Him even though His track record is flawless.The Lord established the Old Covenant with Israel and He has established a new covenant with all who believein the life, death, and resurrection of His Son.And at its core, a covenant is an oath-bound relationship that is built upon promises being keptand the Bible is crystal clear that God always keeps His promises.And speaking of covenants, the Bible describes marriage as a covenant relationshipwhich means that as a good and godly thing, you swear your devotion to your spouse.You know, 11 years ago, Pastor Jeff married my wife and Iand when he asked me to repeat my vows to Kate after him, I didn't say, "Whoa, wait preacher boy,I don't make promises or take vows. Don't you study the Bible for a living?Shouldn't you know that? Pass." Did I do that? Jeff, do you remember that? I don't think I did that.Let's move from the marriage ceremony to the courtroom.I'm called to testify in a very important case and the judge tells me to raise my right handand he asked me, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"What should I say?Sorry, judge. I'm a Christian. I can't do that. You may as well call the next witness. I'm out of here. Deuces.Is that going to go very well with the judge?Listen, Jesus is not condemning vows in the context of a courtroom or a wedding ceremony.Jesus is forbidding the practice of taking frivolous oaths and making pointless promises in everyday life situations.He's saying, "Do not be the kind of person who needs to swear on something or someone to be believed.Do not be the kind of person who needs to clarify that you're not lying.Who needs to clarify that you're telling the truth.Be so trustworthy that your word can be taken at face value without jumping through hoops.As a follower of Christ, you shouldn't need the spiritual speed bumps of promises, oaths, and vows to be taken seriously.You should be a person of such great integrity that promises are unnecessary because your past performance speaks for itself.Others should trust you implicitly because you have proven yourself explicitly.Your heart should be so full of the truth that lying doesn't even register as a valid option to choose or path to take.For the Christian, honesty is like breathing.You inhale the truth of God's word and then you exhale the truth in every situation.You don't tell white lies because you understand that there are no such thing as white lies.Every lie, no matter how small, is a huge deal to the Lord.You don't embellish your stories or add on extra details to impress people because who cares what other people think about you.What matters most is what God thinks about you.And He knows what you're saying is not true.You don't cut corners at work because you ultimately serve the Lord of all creation who sees everything,not the human boss across the hall who cannot see into your heart.You cannot control much in this life, but you do have the ability to deepen your credibility or destroy it,to strengthen it day by day or to willingly weaken it.You have no right to be offended when someone doesn't believe you if you have a shady history of saying things that are not trueand making promises that you didn't keep.You are simply reaping the consequences of what you have sown.You are receiving the label of untrustworthy, which is a title that you have repeatedly earned.The trustworthiness test.Move on to the second question.And it will not be easier than the first.Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?Do I look for loopholes to get out of what I say?So Jesus pulls the rug out from underneath the religious leaders and exposes their ridiculous schemes in verses 34 through 36.But I say to you, do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.As I said earlier, the scribes and Pharisees were experts at looking for loopholes and creating escape patches to get out of what they said,especially if what they said wasn't made in a court setting.So instead of swearing in God's name, they would swear by heaven, they would swear by the earth, the city of Jerusalem, or even their own heads.In their minds, swearing on these things was not binding like swearing in God's name.This is the verbal equivalent of crossing your fingers behind your back whenever you make a promise.They thought they were so clever. They found their own get out of oaths free card.But Jesus shows them that this line of thinking is childish and dumb.He destroys their loopholes and he closes their escape patches.Let's follow his logic.Jesus says, "Do not swear by heaven because who does heaven belong to?"All right. I know it's early. I'm going to ask that question again.Who does heaven belong to?It is His throne.And Matthew actually reinforces this later on when Jesus says,"And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it."He also says, "Don't swear by the earth because who does it belong to?"Once again, I'm going to try it again. Who does the earth belong to, everyone?It is His footstool. God is so awesome. He is so big.The earth is like a teeny tiny ottoman where He puts His feet up.The earth belongs to God, so don't swear by it.It's also not a great idea to swear by Jerusalem because who does it belong to?Great job, everyone.The king of Jerusalem, the king of the earth, and that is God.You swear by Jerusalem. You swear by the one who created and rules over Israel.And He also says, "Don't swear by your own head."It seems kind of weird, right? What does that even mean?Well, it means this. "If I don't keep my word, let me be decapitated."A modern day equivalent of this would be, "Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my..."These words mean nothing and they control nothing.Jesus says, "You cannot make one hair white or black."Back in those days, people could not control their hair color with hair dye like we can today.Once your hair started going gray, there was no going back.But even today in 2025, you can't speak a change of hair color into existence, right?You can't say, "Let my hair be black. Let my hair be blonde again."You cannot do that.So Jesus is saying, "If you cannot even control the color of your hair with your words,your words definitely cannot control if you're decapitated or not."God is saying, "My words certainly control that."Which means, "I own you. I own your head. I am the one who controls all things.So do not swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or your own head."Jesus even exposes the other things the religious leaders swore by in Matthew chapter 23 verses 16 through 22.They would swear by the gold of the temple instead of the temple itself.They would swear by the gift on the altar instead of the altar itself.Jesus doesn't actually commend them for their shrewd thinking and their creative brainstorming.He calls them blind fools who cannot see the stupidity of their own actions.He labels them as blind guides who have fallen into a sinful pitand are calling the rest of Jerusalem to join them in the darkness.I know what you may be thinking at this point.Taylor, this is an interesting history lesson at all.I just don't see how this relates to me.I haven't sworn by anything or anyone for a long time.I haven't said, "I swear on my mother's life. I swear on my grandma's grave.I swear by my life that I'm not lying."So how does this relate to me? I haven't done that for many years.Well, here's how the text relates to you."Don't be a sneaky word ninja like the scribes and Pharisees.Do not be a sneaky person.Do not look for escape hatches and loopholes to get out of what you say,because that does not honor the Lord."Let me give you some examples that may hit close to home.Husbands, you're supposed to carry out a task for your wife, but then you forget.Yeah, stretch your imagination because that never happens, right?Then your wife calls you on it and to save face you say, "Oh, I was just about to do it.You didn't give me enough time. That's sneaky. So don't do it."You commit to a small group, but on one particular night, you don't really feel like going.So you call your small group leader, "Oh, man, I'm really under the weather.I don't want anybody else to get what I have. So I'm not going to make it tonight."That's sneaky. So don't do it.Someone texts or calls, someone texts or emails youand really annoying message that you do not want to respond to.So the next time you see that person, you pretend like you accidentally missed it.That's sneaky. So don't do it.You get invited to an event that you desperately do not want to go to.So what do you say? "Yeah, maybe that might work. Let me get back to my calendar and get back to you."You ain't getting back to them about nothing. You are going to ghost this person.That's sneaky. So don't do it.Unfortunately, you do get sucked into that event that you do not want to go to.Instead of biting the bullet and attending, you call that person the day of,"I really wanted to come, but something came up."But nothing came up.That's sneaky. So don't do it.And I know what some of you are saying to yourselves right now."Taylor, this seems like really small potatoes in the grand scheme of things."Shouldn't we move on to something a bit bigger?I mean, come on. These kinds of excuses are harmless and they hurt no one.Actually, these kinds of excuses are harmful and they hurt everyone, including you.You are numbing yourself to the deceitfulness of sin.And you are paving the way to lie in bigger and bolder ways moving forward.Listen, no one starts out as a pathological liar.It starts with one compromise that you get away with.And then it's way easier to make another compromise.You cross the line, you get away with it,and then you make a habit out of pushing boundaries and testing the limits.If you keep this up, you will end up saying and doing things that you never thought you were capable of.Sneakiness is a way of slipping into your heart and taking over if you're not on guard against it.But most importantly, these kind of devious excuses are sinful and sinning against the Lord.And that alone should give you pause and cause you to cut this behavior out of your life.It is not wise, it is not right to walk in the sneaky footsteps of the scribes and Phariseeswho rejected and murdered the Son of God.Instead, walk in the footsteps of the one who committed no sin.Neither was deceit found in his mouth.Jesus always told the truth even when it cost his own life.Jesus never made excuses to get out of his mission of dying on the cross.You must always tell the truth even when it gets you into trouble.Never make excuses even when it seems like everyone else around you is.The final question of the trustworthiness test.Do I always follow through on what I say?Do I always follow through on what I say?Jesus wraps up by showing the alternative to being an undependable and sneaky person in verse 37.Let what you say be simply yes or no.Anything more than this comes from evil.Well, according to our Lord, being an honest person is not a complex concept.Say yes if you'll do something. Say no if you will not do something.That's super easy, right?Not really.It is so simple, but it is also so hard to live out.It isn't convenient to be a yes or no person, but it is the freest way to live.It is so stressful to not keep your word.It is so stressful to have all those deceitful plates spinning in your mindbecause at some point one will come crashing down and you will have to deal with the consequences.It is exhausting to put on a mask and pretend to be someone who you are not.It is painful to not be the person who you project yourself to be.It is embarrassing to be unreliableand to have the reputation of being a constant flake and not an unshakable rock.When I am closing things down in my office for the day and packing things up,I often text my wife to let her know that I am on the way home.But sometimes I get distracted with other things after I send that text.Writing down a sermon thought that I don't want to lose,wrapping up a task that I forgot to complete, or talking to Pastor Jeff.That never happens, right Jeff?Several months ago I arrived home way later than I told Kate that I would.And I profusely apologized and I will never forget her blunt response with a loving smile on her face."Oh, that's okay. I always add an extra 15 minutes to your arrival time when you text me."Ouch!That loving burn really stung my conscience.My wife gave me some extra wiggle roombecause she was aware that I often missed the target of my stated arrival time.Do people need to give you wiggle room because they know that you often missed the target of keeping your word?They know you'll be somewhere off on the board but way off-center,or maybe you'll miss the board completely.You mean well, you have good intentions but your follow-through fall short.Maybe you feel very discouraged by your unreliable reputation.You're thinking to yourself, "I don't want to be this way. I want to help everyone.I want to be there for everyone but I can't seem to keep all of my commitments."Well, it sounds like you have a no problem.You say yes to everything because you don't want to let anyone down.But in the process, you let everyone down because you cannot equally serve everyone.If you say yes to everyone, your word will not carry weight with anyone.And to be clear, saying no can be wrong and sinful.Some of you in this room say no way more than you should at home, at work, and even in this church.God may be calling you to step up more, not step back less.But at the same time, saying no can also be right and productive.Because you have to recognize that you are not God.You cannot be everywhere all the time and you cannot do everything at the same exact time.You are a limited person.You need to count the cost of what you are committing yourself to before you say yes or no.It takes great wisdom and discernment to say no to good things.So that you can say yes to the best things.And Jesus is so direct at the end of verse 37 and says that anything beyond being a yes or no person is evil.It is wicked.And this is recapt in James 512.Some translations of Matthew 537 say that this kind of behavior beyond being a yes or no person is from the evil one.Meaning if you live this kind of deceitful lifestyle, you are way worse off than just being like the scribes and Pharisees.You are also like their spiritual father, Satan.Listen to what Jesus says to religious leaders in John 844.You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father's desires.He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.When he lies, he speaks out of his own character for he is a liar and the father of lies.My kids bear a family resemblance to Kate and me.They have my eye color and thankfully they have her good looks.After service, you see them running around.It shouldn't come as a surprise that they belong to Kate and me because they look just like us.There are two spiritual families and it's obvious which one you belong to based on which father you resemble the most.Do you resemble Satan who lies, cheats and steals or do you resemble God who tells the truth, does the right thing in the right way and selflessly serves?Which father do you resemble the most?We've reached the end of the trustworthiness test.How did you do?Did you pass or did you fail?Did you stick the landing or did you crash into the runway?Maybe the Lord has encouraged your heart and revealed to you that you have a strong and solid reputation that is well deserved.If that's you, keep up the good work, keep your foot on the gas pedal and keep moving forward by the grace of God.Maybe you're convicted that yes, you are in the family of God, but you sure aren't acting like it right now.Instead of hiding away and keeping your lies a secret, be honest about your dishonesty to God and to those you have betrayed.It is not enough to just stop lying from now on. You also have to uncover the lies that you've already told.I know that's hard. I know that feels shameful.But remember, if you are a true believer in Christ, there is no condemnation for you.You can be honest about your sin and ask for forgiveness from others because the penalty has already been paid by Jesus Christ.We can share openly about our failures because they're no longer held against us.Maybe you've come to the realization that you resemble the evil one and belong to the wrong family.For years, you've unapologetically told bold-faced lies. You've shared half truths.You've led people on. You've been underhanded and you've covered your tracks so you can avoid getting in trouble.You may feel crushed under the weight of your own dishonesty right now.If that's you, please do not try to do better or be better on your own.Do not try to clean up your act because that will not solve the problem.Self-improvement and self-help are fools errands that lead straight to hell.Those worldly methods will not solve the problem that is truly within you, which is the problem of your heart.Please come clean and confess your sins to the Lord.Turn from your deceptive ways and throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again to save liars like you and me.If you do that, the Lord will give you a brand new heart that loves the truth, that desires the truth.A heart that is overflowing with a desire to share the truth with everyone.Only the most trustworthy one in all of existence can truly turn you into a trustworthy person.Let's pray.Father, I am a man of unclean lips who dwells among the people of unclean lips.Lord, we have sinned against you with our deception and our lies and our half truths.Lord, on our own, we are so helpless. We are so hopeless.But we thank you for your redeeming work.We thank you that you have cleansed us.You've cast our lies away from us as far as the east is from the west.Lord, help us not to be sneaky anymore.To not be deceptive anymore. To not make untrue excuses.Lord, help us to be people of our word who don't need to make promises.Help us to be people who have a solid reputation because our reputation impacts your reputation in this world.Lord, there's someone in this room who does not know and love you.May today be the day where they finally make the most important decision of their livesand are transformed and changed forever.We thank you for your goodness. We thank you that you are unchanging even though we're constantly changing.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today, Bram and Sandi begin a brand new series on the Life and Words of Jesus, from His own lips! Often referred to as ‘The Red Letters', we'll take every scripture from the New Testament where God speaks unfiltered from the mouth of His Son, Jesus Christ. We hope you'll be challenged and delighted by […]

Did you know that the cross of Christ was always God's plan from the very beginning? It wasn't a reaction to mankind's rejection of His Son, nor was it an accommodation to a Roman and Jewish miscarriage of justice. It was according to "the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23). Today we will take a journey back and connect the dots of God's unfolding plan of the cross throughout the ages.

Patience is deeply tied to waiting on God's timing and faith in God's character. It requires strength, courage, and stillness. God offers hope, rescue, and redemption to those who trust His Son, Jesus.

Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God's Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life's Trials They Should “fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always”            MESSAGE SUMMARY: You should fear, respect, and praise God's power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but, as a Jesus Follower, you should “fear not” in life's trials and tribulations or at your time of judgment. As David's praise tells us in Psalms 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”. David models again and again, in Psalms, how we should praise God. For example, in Psalms 146, David says: "Put not your trust in Princes; Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, Oh my soul!". When we are wondering how to praise the Lord, we can read one of David's Psalms to God like David's praises to the Lord in Psalms 112:1-2: “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.". Also, we learn in Proverbs 1:7, the “fear of the Lord” and “wisdom” are closely linked: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.". These verses from the Old Testament point to the fear, respect, and praise that God warrants and demands from His power, sovereignty, and Holiness. On the other hand, as we see when the Apostle John quotes Jesus from Revelation 1:17-18, when Jesus, in all His power and Glory, reassures us of God's Grace and His plan for working out the Salvation and Eternal Life for all those that have accepted Jesus as their Savior: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). 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): Revelation 1:17-18; Psalms 118:1-20; Proverbs 1:7; Psalms 73a:1-14. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Come Holy Spirit” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Come Holy Spirit MESSAGE SUMMARY: Special Introduction – The Spiritual Discipline of Giving: We are challenged by God to bring our whole tithe into the storehouse (church) because God tells us that we cannot out give Him. After all, everything we have is from God. Our gifts to God should be from our first fruits and not our last fruits. Developing the discipline of returning our first fruits to God breaks the hold of materialism on our lives. Today's Message – Come Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is God Himself. The Holy Spirit is a presence of God in the Trinity of one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells us, as our counselor, always pointing to Jesus in truth. People are not convicted and converted in their hearts and minds to become followers of Jesus without the Holy Spirit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our churches, not much will be accomplished. It is impossible to be a Christian and to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit. The character of Jesus' followers is manifested through their lives bringing forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit, as presented in Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . . .”. Otherwise, our lives will only reflect the fruit of the flesh as presented in Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these . . .". The Holy Spirit seeks to work through us in a way that those around us see the fruit of the Spirit and not the fruit of the flesh. What do people see when they look at Your life? As followers of Jesus, we need to live through God's gift to us of the power inherent in the Holy Spirit.     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): Malachi 3:8-12; Proverbs 23:5; Genesis 1:2; Psalms 1:39; Acts 1:4-5; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Hebrews 9:14; Luke 1:35; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 14:16; Acts 2:42; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:6-7; John 3:4-8; John 14:16; John 16:7; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God's Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life's Trials They Should “fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Now, through Jesus, you go directly the Father in prayer. He hears you! He loves you, because you love His Son. Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 107:1–9; James 1:22–27; John 16:23–33Easter 65th Sunday after Easter

For Memorial Day- from 2007- Tom Bissell, author of "The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam."

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21As she sat working on her homework alone, Star didn't feel very loved. It was a holiday weekend, and all her friends had plans. Megan's parents were taking her to a waterpark. Emma was practicing tennis all weekend with her dad. Mila and her siblings were having fun playing on their new trampoline.Star's mom was working in her home office. She didn't have a dad around or any siblings to spend time with. All she had was homework she had saved for the weekend, just to give herself something to do.Star frowned at the paper in front her. Why had her teacher assigned her the word love to write about? She didn't know anything about love.She picked up her phone and called Mila. She had to convince her friend to take a break from the trampoline so they could talk. "How am I supposed to write about love?" she asked. "No one loves me."Mila snorted. "No one? What about me? And Emma and Megan?""That's…different." Star hadn't thought of her friends as she was considering the topic."What about your mom?" Mila asked. "She loves you."Star glanced toward her mom's office. "She doesn't spend time with me.""Because she's busy," Mila said. "She's busy because she loves you and needs to work to take care of you." She sighed. "What about God, Star? Aren't you forgetting that He loves you?"Star twisted her hair around her finger. Maybe she had forgotten God. "Sometimes it doesn't feel like it.""Maybe not," Mila said. "But He really does, Star. Like we learned at church, His love is bigger than any human love. Jesus died on the cross so you could live with Him forever. What love is bigger than that?"Star nodded slowly. "You're right.""You don't need to go on a trip or get amazing gifts in order to be loved," Mila said. "But, Star? I really am loving the new trampoline and I would like to get back to it. Since your mom is working, want me to ask my mom to give you a ride over so you can try it out?"Star's eyes widened. "Really?" "Really," Mila said. "Because I love you." She laughed. "Don't forget how much God loves you too, Star." –Emily Acker How About You?Have you had times when you felt like you were not loved at all by anyone? God's love is greater than the love of any human--He loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you so you could spend eternity with Him, and He promises to always love you and take care of you. If you think about all the people He's put in your life, you'll probably realize you're loved by many others too. Today's Key Verse:As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (NKJV) (John 15:9)Today's Key Thought:God has great love for you!

The personal letter of Paul to his son in the faith, Timothy, is written from Rome during the Apostle Paul's first imprisonment (during his house arrest of two years) between 61-63 AD. The standard greeting of the Greeks “charis” – “grace”; and of the Hebrews, “shalom” – “peace”, or “wholeness”; begin the letter. Verses 3-11 warn against false teachers. The Apostle starts with genealogies because the false teachers were asserting to their hearers the importance which they placed on their own lineage. Law is a necessity for humans are, by weakness and choice, sinners. From verses 12-17 the Apostle Paul states the first of five faithful sayings, written in the pastoral letters of 1 and 2 Timothy; and Titus. The first of these sayings is that “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners”. Paul acknowledges that he is one of the foremost in this category; because he persecuted believers. In verses 18-20 Timothy is entrusted with the “charge” – Greek “deposit” ie solemn responsibility – to oppose false teachers and their teachings. In chapter 2:1-6 Timothy is told to pray for all people so that believers may be allowed to worship God in peace. Paul states that God is the Father alone. He further adds that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of the Father, whose offering of himself brings believers to God. From verses 8-15 there are explanations about the right way to worship God. These include sincere prayer from dedicated believers; modesty in all aspects of appearance – avoiding drawing attention to oneself in the wearing of jewellery and in the wearing of immodest clothing. The Apostle says that in the meetings of believers that sisters acknowledge their God appointed roles by the wearing of a head covering and by allowing the men to teach. Nonetheless the sisters bearing of children is fulfilling (if by circumstances they are able) a God given role. A sister, Mary, gave birth to our Saviour. In chapter 3:1 the Apostle gives the second faithful saying, “those aspiring to guiding believers have chosen a noble path”. Verses 2-7 speak of the qualifications for an overseer (bishop), or guide of believers. Verses 8-13 outline the requirements for deacons (assistant guides for believers). Verses 14-16 talk about God and contain the great truth of the gospel that Jesus Christ is the pillar and foundation of the temple of faithful believers. Christ has revealed to all believers the character and traits of our Sovereign Father. Pivotal to understanding the gospel is a grasp of the doctrine of God manifestation.God was revealed in Christ who has revealed the character and attributes of his Father. Having done that, the Father then welcomes His Son to join Him in heaven. It seems that the Apostle Paul's thoughts may be based on Daniel 6:19-26. Read aloud, pause and ponder.

"Not so the wicked!" With these solemn words, the Psalmist draws a sharp contrast between the godly and the ungodly. The righteous are like fruitful trees--rooted, nourished, and prosperous. But "the wicked are like chaff that the wind blows away." Chaff is the worthless husk separated from grain--light, dry, and empty. It is easily scattered and quickly forgotten. Such is every life lived apart from God: rootless, fruitless, and ultimately futile. However impressive the wicked may appear for a season, their prosperity is short-lived, and their end is destruction! (Psalm 73:18-19) The wicked "will not stand in the judgment." They will have no defense, no covering, no hope. When they stand before the Judge of all the earth, their works will be burned up as stubble. All their excuses will be silenced. The day of judgment will reveal what they are: rebels against the Most High God, having rejected His Son and despised His Word. They will not be counted "in the assembly of the righteous." They may have mingled with the godly on earth--but in the last day, the Shepherd will infallibly separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Their exclusion will be eternal. "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Here is the final contrast. The Lord lovingly and attentively watches over the path of His redeemed people. He guards their steps, directs their course, and brings them safely home. But the way of the wicked--though it may seem smooth for a time--leads only to ruin! Their end is not annihilation, but everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46). The broad road may appear pleasant, but it descends into outer darkness, with w

It is a big ask for God to request some interaction with specks of dust like us.  Fortunately, He tells us how to do it.  He Helps with the process. He comes to get us, first and foremost. He gives us people to help.  He gives us His Spirit locally and His Son to intercede at a distance. Please listen and be encouraged. Subscribe to be encouraged tomorrow with the Lord's will. https://youtu.be/padhcmu7cOI

Gospel John 14:21-26 Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. "I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name-- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Reflection It's hard to imagine how the disciples understood these words of Jesus. Even today, with all the theology that has been written and all the explanations, we still have to look carefully at what Jesus is saying. And it holds within it a secret. And the secret is that this thing we're asked to do is not about doing, but about being. Love is the answer to everything. Love is God. Jesus is manifesting the love of God. But the most powerful thing in this reading is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Often described as the love between God and His Son, Jesus. But what it underscores is that we have within us this indwelling presence of a way of seeing and understanding and living that has to be revealed to us. It's not something we can come up with ourselves. So to be a person who ponders and who wonders is the key to unlocking the power of the Word of God. Closing Prayer Father, logic is important. But so often we're asked to let go of logic or the way we think the world works and open ourselves to a great mystery. The mystery is all about God in us, doing the most amazing things through us. The pressure is not on us to do anything more than to trust and to believe all that God can do through us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expositional style teaching of Romans CH 5:12-14 addressing within the sovereign rule of God, how sin was and is dealt with. We will explore some of the details as it pertains to sin from Adam to Moses, look into how the Lord has always communicated His ways to man without the law, show how the Christian faith is exclusive in dealing with sin, and explain the process of God's transference of sin to His Son for the redemption of mankind. Taught by Assistant Pastor Mac at Calvary Kaneohe Hawaii.

Did you know that the cross of Christ was always God's plan from the very beginning? It wasn't a reaction to mankind's rejection of His Son, nor was it an accommodation to a Roman and Jewish miscarriage of justice. It was according to "the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23). Today we will take a journey back and connect the dots of God's unfolding plan of the cross throughout the ages.

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   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 FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 4” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

If you feel like you’re less important to God, remember that He sent His Son because He loves you personally.

1 Thessalonians 5 reminds us that the Scriptures provide graphic detail of the times (Greek ‘chronos' which God has explicitly revealed through His Scriptures and particularly in His prophetic word) and that He has adjusted ie patterned the world's eras around His Son, the Christ (Hebrews 11:1). Time in this chapter is made up of longer periods called “times” and shorter periods known as “seasons”. The shorter seasons characterised by specific signs compel us to believe that our Lord's coming is imminent (Luke 21 verses 24-36). These signs urge us to watchfulness and to lives that are consistent with us being the children of the DAY. That is the day soon to dawn when the sun of righteousness will arise with healing (Malachi 4 verse 1). We are exhorted us to lives consistent with the character required of the children of our Father in verses 4-11. The chapter concludes with patterns of behaviour befitting the children of the kingdom (cp 2 Peter 3 verses 10-18).

Being in Christ, Part 4 MESSAGE SUMMARY: In this powerful message, we explore the profound concept of 'dying in Christ' through the lens of Philippians 3. We're reminded that for believers, death is not an end, but a gateway to eternal life. The key spiritual lesson here is that our citizenship is in heaven, and our earthly bodies will be transformed to be like Christ's glorious body. This teaching challenges us to shift our perspective on death, viewing it not with fear, but with hope and anticipation. The message draws an interesting parallel with the story of Chip, a visually impaired friend who, upon passing, likely received perfect sight in his heavenly body. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's promises, even in the face of physical limitations or suffering. As we navigate life's challenges, we're called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, allowing His presence to diminish our earthly concerns. This message is deeply relevant to our faith journey, reminding us that our identity in Christ transcends our earthly existence and offers us eternal hope..   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 FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 11:25-26 (paraphrased); Philippians 3:17-21; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 6:6; John 14:13-14. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:7-9; Titus 1:15-16"Look," said Adrian, pointing to an insect he and his sister Eva had caught out in the garden. "Maybe it's praying!" Sure enough, the bug's forelegs were folded together as if in prayer. "Let's see if we can find out what it is." The kids searched online and found a picture of the bug they had caught. "It's a praying mantis," said Adrian."Does it really pray?" asked Eva.Adrian laughed. "Of course not! Bugs don't pray. I wonder what we should feed it?" He scrolled down the page. "This says they eat other insects and like to eat their prey alive.""Gross!" said Eva, wrinkling up her nose."It says here that if you put a small piece of meat on a string and move it in front of a praying mantis, he may think it's alive and eat it," said Adrian. "Let's try it!"Adrian put a tiny piece of hamburger on the end of a string, and sure enough, the mantis lunged for it."So, did your new pet like the food you gave him?" asked Mom.Adrian nodded. "The website we found said praying mantises are vicious little creatures. It said the female will even eat her husband if she gets hungry enough.""You little hypocrite," said Mom, looking at the bug. "You look so faithful and devoted with your forelegs folded like that, but you're a pretender--you don't mean it at all."Eva giggled. "That would be a good name for him." So Pretender he became.Whenever Adrian looked at Pretender, he felt a bit funny inside. At dinnertime he folded his hands and said "Amen" after his parents, but he never cared to listen to what was being said. I'm just like that bug, he thought. I'm not really praying--I'm just pretending. Adrian knew Jesus loved him, and he pretended he loved Jesus too. But he had never asked Jesus to be his Savior.As Adrian snuggled down into his blankets one night, God seemed to be whispering to him, Haven't you been a pretender long enough? Suddenly, Adrian tossed off the blankets and got up. I'm going to talk to Mom and Dad! he thought. I want to quit pretending and become a real Christian.–Matilda H. NordtvedtHow About You?Are you just going through the motions so others think you're a Christian? Are you more focused on fitting in or pleasing your parents than on God and what He thinks? God loves you so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could have eternal life with Him. He wants a real relationship with you, not a pretend one. Become a real Christian by trusting in Jesus today. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (NIV) (Matthew 15:8)Today's Key Thought:Don't be a pretend Christian

1 Thessalonians 3 verses 1-5 Paul tells us of the sufferings that the Apostle experienced in Athens. Next Paul informs his readers of the great encouragement and comfort that Timothy brings him; and it is the news of the Thessalonians' magnificent response to the gospel. Note how the chapter finishes – read aloud verses 12-13 and pause, and ponder. Chapter 4 speaks of how pleased God and Paul are with the way that the believers are living their lives as a witness to their faith and to their trust in God and His Son. The love the Macedonian believers show to each other is evidence that they have learned what God's Word teaches. They needed to keep working until the Lord Jesus' return. These believers did, however, have a wrong view about the order of events after the Lord's return. The living believers will have no time advantage over those faithful who had fallen asleep in Christ ie died. Verses 13-18 describe what happens at Christ's return to the earth. Jesus will come with angels and the trumpet of God (1 Corinthians 15 verses 52-53). Those believers who are alive when he comes will be caught up together with those believers who have been raised from the dead, into a great cloud of witnesses (see Hebrews 12 verses 1-2). These believers will be caught into the air ie aerial, in the sense that, together with their Lord Jesus Christ, they will be the rulers (or those elevated to be in authority) over the people of the earth – ie the subjects of that coming kingdom. What a comfort to those who are now suffering persecution.

John 4:7-8 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Yesterday we were encouraged that God has divine appointments for us. The woman from Samaria had no idea at the first that she was having an encounter with God, but of course, Jesus did. Being weary and thirsty, it's easy to imagine what was going on in Jesus' mind as He watched her walking toward Him with her water pot. She could get Him a drink, which He needed for refreshment. Maybe they greeted each other cordially, or maybe not. It's not recorded. If these were the first words Jesus spoke to her, then it probably caught her off guard. Jesus didn't ask her to give Him a drink, He commanded her to do it. The reason given for Jesus' demand was that His disciples were not with Him. It implies that had they been with Him, one of them would have had the means to draw water for Him. But since He was alone, He needed her help. Let's notice what love did in this situation. First, let me remind us of God's kind of love. It is the sustained direction of the will toward the highest good of another, no matter what the cost, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God. So Jesus' demand for water wasn't selfish, it was an act of love. He was relating to her for her highest good, which was to serve God by drawing water for Him. Jesus also glorified His Father by receiving His need for water as a need arranged by His Father. He also looked to His Father for the supply of His need. No doubt, He viewed the woman coming to the well as His Father's supply. Therefore, He concluded, that the Father's way of loving this woman was to use the circumstances to reveal the Father to her. He had a need, and she could help. Jesus often drew people into an encounter with God by asking them for help or using what they had at their disposal for God's work. A young virgin's womb, a young boy's lunch of fish and bread, hospitality from a tax collector, a man's donkey, or a friend's guest room are examples of the Father's provision for His Son. In each case, the Son had a need, and the Father glorified Himself in and through those who had what Jesus needed. The need was necessary, so God could be revealed. This raises a question. How often are we in need of help, but don't ask for it because we don't want to inconvenience anyone? Are we really loving them by not asking for help? This story encourages us that one aspect of loving with Jesus is to ask others for help when we have a need. As they respond, we then have the opportunity to receive their service in Jesus' name and point them to Him. If God brought them to us at just the right time, then we know it's a divine appointment—an opportunity to love with Jesus. This is what it means to abide in Jesus—to receive our circumstances from the Father as well as His guidance in response to the circumstances. The result will always be for the glory of God as we live to love with Jesus. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

There is a movement in our society for a return to simple living. We might not want to give up all of our technology—much of it is wonderful and helpful. But it is true we want to quiet our minds and find some peace. This week, we are talking about the simplest, sweetest truth around: Jesus Saves.With that knowledge in hand, we can all find peace that the Bible says is from another world.Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” It seems we are moving at near the speed of light through this amazing Information Age. Constant access to that much information can bring with it tired minds and weary hearts, at times.With that said, wouldn't you like to be able to grab hold of the secret of life?We just read it. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a man, to take on our sin and pay the penalty for those sins. When He was crucified, God raised Him from the dead three days later. It is what believers call the Good News. You can believe it or not. Those of us who follow Jesus believe God has proven Himself many times over.We love our Jesus.Let's pray.Lord, you have given all of us the hope of a joyful eternity. Your Son's sacrifice has saved us, and we are eternally grateful for that. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

LESSON 136Sickness Is A Defense Against The Truth.No one can heal unless he understands what purpose sickness seems to serve. For then he understands as well its purpose has no meaning. Being causeless and without a meaningful intent of any kind, it cannot be at all. When this is seen, healing is automatic. It dispels this meaningless illusion by the same approach that carries all of them to truth, and merely leaves them there to disappear.Sickness is not an accident. Like all defenses, it is an insane device for self-deception. And like all the rest, its purpose is to hide reality, attack it, change it, render it inept, distort it, twist it, or reduce it to a little pile of unassembled parts. The aim of all defenses is to keep the truth from being whole. The parts are seen as if each one were whole within itself.Defenses are not unintentional, nor are they made without awareness. They are secret, magic wands you wave when truth appears to threaten what you would believe. They seem to be unconscious but because of the rapidity with which you choose to use them. In that second, even less, in which the choice is made, you recognize exactly what you would attempt to do, and then proceed to think that it is done.Who but yourself evaluates a threat, decides escape is necessary, and sets up a series of defenses to reduce the threat that has been judged as real? All this cannot be done unconsciously. But afterwards, your plan requires that you must forget you made it, so it seems to be external to your own intent; a happening beyond your state of mind, an outcome with a real effect on you, instead of one effected by yourself.It is this quick forgetting of the part you play in making your “reality” that makes defenses seem to be beyond your own control. But what you have forgot can be remembered, given willingness to reconsider the decision which is doubly shielded by oblivion. Your not remembering is but the sign that this decision still remains in force, as far as your desires are concerned. Mistake not this for fact. Defenses must make facts unrecognizable. They aim at doing this, and it is this they do.Every defense takes fragments of the whole, assembles them without regard to all their true relationships, and thus constructs illusions of a whole that is not there. It is this process that imposes threat, and not whatever outcome may result. When parts are wrested from the whole and seen as separate and wholes within themselves, they become symbols standing for attack upon the whole; successful in effect, and never to be seen as whole again. And yet you have forgotten that they stand but for your own decision of what should be real, to take the place of what is real.Sickness is a decision. It is not a thing that happens to you, quite unsought, which makes you weak and brings you suffering. It is a choice you make, a plan you lay, when for an instant truth arises in your own deluded mind, and all your world appears to totter and prepare to fall. Now are you sick, that truth may go away and threaten your establishments no more.How do you think that sickness can succeed in shielding you from truth? Because it proves the body is not separate from you, and so you must be separate from the truth. You suffer pain because the body does, and in this pain are you made one with it. Thus is your “true” identity preserved, and the strange, haunting thought that you might be something beyond this little pile of dust silenced and stilled. For see, this dust can make you suffer, twist your limbs and stop your heart, commanding you to die and cease to be.Thus is the body stronger than the truth, which asks you live, but cannot overcome your choice to die. And so the body is more powerful than everlasting life, Heaven more frail than hell, and God's design for the salvation of His Son opposed by a decision stronger than His Will. His Son is dust, the Father incomplete, and chaos sits in triumph on His throne.Such is your planning for your own defense. And you believe that Heaven quails before such mad attacks as these, with God made blind by your illusions, truth turned into lies, and all the universe made slave to laws which your defenses would impose on it. Yet who believes illusions but the one who made them up? Who else can see them and react to them as if they were the truth?God knows not of your plans to change His Will. The universe remains unheeding of the laws by which you thought to govern it. And Heaven has not bowed to hell, nor life to death. You can but choose to think you die, or suffer sickness or distort the truth in any way. What is created is apart from all of this. Defenses are plans to defeat what cannot be attacked. What is unalterable cannot change. And what is wholly sinless cannot sin.Such is the simple truth. It does not make appeal to might nor triumph. It does not command obedience, nor seek to prove how pitiful and futile your attempts to plan defenses that would alter it. Truth merely wants to give you happiness, for such its purpose is. Perhaps it sighs a little when you throw away its gifts, and yet it knows, with perfect certainty, that what God wills for you must be received.It is this fact that demonstrates that time is an illusion. For time lets you think what God has given you is not the truth right now, as it must be. The Thoughts of God are quite apart from time. For time is but another meaningless defense you made against the truth. Yet what He wills is here, and you remain as He created you.Truth has a power far beyond defense, for no illusions can remain where truth has been allowed to enter. And it comes to any mind that would lay down its arms, and cease to play with folly. It is found at any time; today, if you will choose to practice giving welcome to the truth.This is our aim today. And we will give a quarter of an hour twice to ask the truth to come to us and set us free. And truth will come, for it has never been apart from us. It merely waits for just this invitation which we give today. We introduce it with a healing prayer, to help us rise above defensiveness, and let truth be as it has always been:Sickness is a defense against the truth.I will accept the truth of what I am, and let my mind be wholly healed today.Healing will flash across your open mind, as peace and truth arise to take the place of war and vain imaginings. There will be no dark corners sickness can conceal, and keep defended from the light of truth. There will be no dim figures from your dreams, nor their obscure and meaningless pursuits with double purposes insanely sought, remaining in your mind. It will be healed of all the sickly wishes that it tried to authorize the body to obey.Now is the body healed, because the source of sickness has been opened to relief. And you will recognize you practiced well by this: The body should not feel at all. If you have been successful, there will be no sense of feeling ill or feeling well, of pain or pleasure. No response at all is in the mind to what the body does. Its usefulness remains and nothing more.Perhaps you do not realize that this removes the limits you had placed upon the body by the purposes you gave to it. As these are laid aside, the strength the body has will always be enough to serve all truly useful purposes. The body's health is fully guaranteed, because it is not limited by time, by weather or fatigue, by food and drink, or any laws you made it serve before. You need do nothing now to make it well, for sickness has become impossible.Yet this protection needs to be preserved by careful watching. If you let your mind harbor attack thoughts, yield to judgment or make plans against uncertainties to come, you have again misplaced yourself, and made a bodily identity which will attack the body, for the mind is sick.Give instant remedy, should this occur, by not allowing your defensiveness to hurt you longer. Do not be confused about what must be healed, but tell yourself:I have forgotten what I really am, for I mistook my body for myself.Sickness is a defense against the truth.But I am not a body. And my mind cannot attack. So I cannot be sick.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

LESSON 136Sickness Is A Defense Against The Truth.No one can heal unless he understands what purpose sickness seems to serve. For then he understands as well its purpose has no meaning. Being causeless and without a meaningful intent of any kind, it cannot be at all. When this is seen, healing is automatic. It dispels this meaningless illusion by the same approach that carries all of them to truth, and merely leaves them there to disappear.Sickness is not an accident. Like all defenses, it is an insane device for self-deception. And like all the rest, its purpose is to hide reality, attack it, change it, render it inept, distort it, twist it, or reduce it to a little pile of unassembled parts. The aim of all defenses is to keep the truth from being whole. The parts are seen as if each one were whole within itself.Defenses are not unintentional, nor are they made without awareness. They are secret, magic wands you wave when truth appears to threaten what you would believe. They seem to be unconscious but because of the rapidity with which you choose to use them. In that second, even less, in which the choice is made, you recognize exactly what you would attempt to do, and then proceed to think that it is done.Who but yourself evaluates a threat, decides escape is necessary, and sets up a series of defenses to reduce the threat that has been judged as real? All this cannot be done unconsciously. But afterwards, your plan requires that you must forget you made it, so it seems to be external to your own intent; a happening beyond your state of mind, an outcome with a real effect on you, instead of one effected by yourself.It is this quick forgetting of the part you play in making your “reality” that makes defenses seem to be beyond your own control. But what you have forgot can be remembered, given willingness to reconsider the decision which is doubly shielded by oblivion. Your not remembering is but the sign that this decision still remains in force, as far as your desires are concerned. Mistake not this for fact. Defenses must make facts unrecognizable. They aim at doing this, and it is this they do.Every defense takes fragments of the whole, assembles them without regard to all their true relationships, and thus constructs illusions of a whole that is not there. It is this process that imposes threat, and not whatever outcome may result. When parts are wrested from the whole and seen as separate and wholes within themselves, they become symbols standing for attack upon the whole; successful in effect, and never to be seen as whole again. And yet you have forgotten that they stand but for your own decision of what should be real, to take the place of what is real.Sickness is a decision. It is not a thing that happens to you, quite unsought, which makes you weak and brings you suffering. It is a choice you make, a plan you lay, when for an instant truth arises in your own deluded mind, and all your world appears to totter and prepare to fall. Now are you sick, that truth may go away and threaten your establishments no more.How do you think that sickness can succeed in shielding you from truth? Because it proves the body is not separate from you, and so you must be separate from the truth. You suffer pain because the body does, and in this pain are you made one with it. Thus is your “true” identity preserved, and the strange, haunting thought that you might be something beyond this little pile of dust silenced and stilled. For see, this dust can make you suffer, twist your limbs and stop your heart, commanding you to die and cease to be.Thus is the body stronger than the truth, which asks you live, but cannot overcome your choice to die. And so the body is more powerful than everlasting life, Heaven more frail than hell, and God's design for the salvation of His Son opposed by a decision stronger than His Will. His Son is dust, the Father incomplete, and chaos sits in triumph on His throne.Such is your planning for your own defense. And you believe that Heaven quails before such mad attacks as these, with God made blind by your illusions, truth turned into lies, and all the universe made slave to laws which your defenses would impose on it. Yet who believes illusions but the one who made them up? Who else can see them and react to them as if they were the truth?God knows not of your plans to change His Will. The universe remains unheeding of the laws by which you thought to govern it. And Heaven has not bowed to hell, nor life to death. You can but choose to think you die, or suffer sickness or distort the truth in any way. What is created is apart from all of this. Defenses are plans to defeat what cannot be attacked. What is unalterable cannot change. And what is wholly sinless cannot sin.Such is the simple truth. It does not make appeal to might nor triumph. It does not command obedience, nor seek to prove how pitiful and futile your attempts to plan defenses that would alter it. Truth merely wants to give you happiness, for such its purpose is. Perhaps it sighs a little when you throw away its gifts, and yet it knows, with perfect certainty, that what God wills for you must be received.It is this fact that demonstrates that time is an illusion. For time lets you think what God has given you is not the truth right now, as it must be. The Thoughts of God are quite apart from time. For time is but another meaningless defense you made against the truth. Yet what He wills is here, and you remain as He created you.Truth has a power far beyond defense, for no illusions can remain where truth has been allowed to enter. And it comes to any mind that would lay down its arms, and cease to play with folly. It is found at any time; today, if you will choose to practice giving welcome to the truth.This is our aim today. And we will give a quarter of an hour twice to ask the truth to come to us and set us free. And truth will come, for it has never been apart from us. It merely waits for just this invitation which we give today. We introduce it with a healing prayer, to help us rise above defensiveness, and let truth be as it has always been:Sickness is a defense against the truth.I will accept the truth of what I am, and let my mind be wholly healed today.Healing will flash across your open mind, as peace and truth arise to take the place of war and vain imaginings. There will be no dark corners sickness can conceal, and keep defended from the light of truth. There will be no dim figures from your dreams, nor their obscure and meaningless pursuits with double purposes insanely sought, remaining in your mind. It will be healed of all the sickly wishes that it tried to authorize the body to obey.Now is the body healed, because the source of sickness has been opened to relief. And you will recognize you practiced well by this: The body should not feel at all. If you have been successful, there will be no sense of feeling ill or feeling well, of pain or pleasure. No response at all is in the mind to what the body does. Its usefulness remains and nothing more.Perhaps you do not realize that this removes the limits you had placed upon the body by the purposes you gave to it. As these are laid aside, the strength the body has will always be enough to serve all truly useful purposes. The body's health is fully guaranteed, because it is not limited by time, by weather or fatigue, by food and drink, or any laws you made it serve before. You need do nothing now to make it well, for sickness has become impossible.Yet this protection needs to be preserved by careful watching. If you let your mind harbor attack thoughts, yield to judgment or make plans against uncertainties to come, you have again misplaced yourself, and made a bodily identity which will attack the body, for the mind is sick.Give instant remedy, should this occur, by not allowing your defensiveness to hurt you longer. Do not be confused about what must be healed, but tell yourself:I have forgotten what I really am, for I mistook my body for myself.Sickness is a defense against the truth.But I am not a body. And my mind cannot attack. So I cannot be sick.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Charlie shares his thoughts on the Anniversary of His Son's Death: https://bit.ly/4dn8RpUTraumatic grief is grief and mourning over a death that came about in traumatic circumstances (e.g. sudden, suicide, murder). This week Charlie talks about the murder of his 21-year-old son which occurred outside a bodega in New York City, five years ago. This heartbreaking story brings into focus the value of advance care planning, organ donation, and the ongoing pain that comes with the death of a child. In this Episode:01:31 - Road Trip: New Hampshire and the Origin of "Live Free or Die"03:24 - Poutine, Canada's version of smothered fries05:18 -  Grieving a Murdered Son: Charlie's Personal Story 13:33 - Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven"15:26 - OutroRelated Content:S1E11: GriefS1E12: Traumatic GriefS4E39: Traumatic Grief: What it is and How to Find a Therapist to Help Manage ItS3E38: Navigating Grief and Healing from Loss – with Dr. Ken DokaS1E52: Coping with a Child's DeathS1E28: Organ DonationS1E09: Advance DirectivesAdvance Directives – a firsthand accountS1E41: When someone you love dies from an overdoseSupport the showGet show notes and resources at our website: every1dies.org. Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | mail@every1dies.org

What happens when a nation drifts from its spiritual moorings? Jesse Cope tackles this profound question by examining America's foundation in Christian principles and the consequences of abandoning these truths.The episode opens with a heartfelt reminder to prioritize our relationship with God - through daily Scripture reading, prayer, and living according to biblical values. Jesse points out that our personal spiritual discipline reflects what our nation needs collectively. When we neglect these foundations, both our personal lives and our national character suffer.A centerpiece of this episode is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's magnificent poem "The Building of the Ship." This powerful allegory of shipbuilding represents America's creation and preservation as a nation. Jesse shares the fascinating historical connection between this poem, Abraham Lincoln (who reportedly wept upon hearing it), and later, how Franklin D. Roosevelt sent its opening lines to Winston Churchill during World War II, creating a profound bond between allies during their darkest hour."Thou too sail on, O Ship of State, sail on O Union strong and great. Humanity, with all its fears, with all the hopes of future years, is hanging breathless on thy fate." These words resonated deeply with leaders who understood that America's strength came not from abandoning its principles but from embracing them more fully.The episode takes a sobering turn as Jesse reads accounts from Fox's Book of Martyrs, detailing the horrific persecution Christians faced in the second century. These stories serve as powerful reminders of the price paid for faith throughout history and challenge us to consider what we would sacrifice to preserve religious freedom today.Jesse concludes with a thought-provoking challenge: "We can't have America without God at the wheel and His Son, Jesus Christ, guiding it and the Holy Spirit. It's just not going to work. You can't have liberty where the Holy Spirit is not." He reminds us that when we compromise truth in the name of tolerance, we aren't being kind but cruel - a powerful reminder that genuine love speaks truth, even when difficult.Join us for this enlightening exploration of faith, liberty, and America's spiritual heritage - and consider what we must preserve to ensure our ship of state continues to sail through the storms ahead.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 3 Peter and John, two of Jesus' apostles, go to the temple to pray. They see a lame man and Peter heals him. The man expects a monetary blessing but receives the much greater gift of healing. He rejoices and clings to Peter and John. A crowd gathers, affording Peter the opportunity to preach about Jesus. He begins by noting that this power to heal has come from God. Peter explains that God the Father has glorified His Son and that the Jews have made a terrible mistake by crucifying Jesus. It is in the name of Jesus, the resurrected Prince of Life, that this lame man has been healed.  Jesus is God's raised and ruling Servant, and all who repent of sin and turn to Him will be spiritually refreshed. The healing of the lame man affords Peter a chance to preach Jesus to the people. Peter uses beautiful terms to describe our Lord in this sermon: “God's Servant,” “the Holy and Righteous One,” “the Prince of life,” God's “Christ,” as well as “the Christ appointed for you.” He finally explains that Jesus is the “Prophet” raised up by God, just as Moses predicted. These terms should invoke awe and respect in us. Jesus is God's plan for our salvation, and not even death can stop Him from becoming our Savior. The hope was for the people to hear these things and repent. We also should continually turn from our wicked ways when we consider the authority and glory of Jesus.  Holy God, thank You for sending Your Servant Jesus as the Christ who would give His life to free us from our sins. We are refreshed in His grace, and we praise You for the wonderful gifts afforded to us in our Lord. While we have many good things in this life, the healing of our souls is greater than any amount of silver and gold. We treasure Him above all else. Father, so many need to repent and turn to Jesus. Please give us the boldness to tell others about the victory and worthiness of the “Prince of Life.”  Thought Questions: -       A man's life was changed forever after experiencing the authority of Jesus. How has the name of the Lord changed your life? -       People saw God's power, and Peter used the occasion to teach. What opportunities is God creating for you to speak openly about Jesus?  -       In his sermon, Peter uses several titles for Jesus. Mark those. How do they shape how you see Jesus and express His glory to others?

God has deeply invested in you—through blessings, His Son's sacrifice, and His love—and He will not abandon what He's sown; in due time, He will reap His joy in you, His beloved, for eternity—that's the Gospel.

John 3:16 reveals the heart of God in one sentence: He loved a broken world enough to give His Son. This message explores the depth of that love—not for the moral, the beautiful, or the deserving, but for all. True belief in Jesus means surrender, not just intellectual agreement. It's a love so deep, it changes everything.

LESSON 132I Loose The World From All I Thought It Was.What keeps the world in chains but your beliefs? And what can save the world except your Self? Belief is powerful indeed. The thoughts you hold are mighty, and illusions are as strong in their effects as is the truth. A madman thinks the world he sees is real, and does not doubt it. Nor can he be swayed by questioning his thoughts' effects. It is but when their source is raised to question that the hope of freedom comes to him at last.Yet is salvation easily achieved, for anyone is free to change his mind, and all his thoughts change with it. Now the source of thought has shifted, for to change your mind means you have changed the source of all ideas you think or ever thought or yet will think. You free the past from what you thought before. You free the future from all ancient thoughts of seeking what you do not want to find.The present now remains the only time. Here in the present is the world set free. For as you let the past be lifted and release the future from your ancient fears, you find escape and give it to the world. You have enslaved the world with all your fears, your doubts and miseries, your pain and tears, and all your sorrows press on it, and keep the world a prisoner to your beliefs. Death strikes it everywhere because you hold the bitter thoughts of death within your mind.The world is nothing in itself. Your mind must give it meaning. And what you behold upon it are your wishes, acted out so you can look on them and think them real. Perhaps you think you did not make the world, but came unwillingly to what was made already, hardly waiting for your thoughts to give it meaning. Yet in truth you found exactly what you looked for when you came.There is no world apart from what you wish, and herein lies your ultimate release. Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly. Ideas leave not their source. This central theme is often stated in the text, and must be borne in mind if you would understand the lesson for today. It is not pride which tells you that you made the world you see, and that it changes as you change your mind.But it is pride that argues you have come into a world quite separate from yourself, impervious to what you think, and quite apart from what you chance to think it is. There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach. Not everyone is ready to accept it, and each one must go as far as he can let himself be led along the road to truth. He will return and go still farther, or perhaps step back a while and then return again.But healing is the gift of those who are prepared to learn there is no world, and can accept the lesson now. Their readiness will bring the lesson to them in some form which they can understand and recognize. Some see it suddenly on point of death, and rise to teach it. Others find it in experience that is not of this world, which shows them that the world does not exist because what they behold must be the truth, and yet it clearly contradicts the world.And some will find it in this course, and in the exercises that we do today. Today's idea is true because the world does not exist. And if it is indeed your own imagining, then you can loose it from all things you ever thought it was by merely changing all the thoughts that gave it these appearances. The sick are healed as you let go all thoughts of sickness, and the dead arise when you let thoughts of life replace all thoughts you ever held of death.A lesson earlier repeated once must now be stressed again, for it contains the firm foundation for today's idea. You are as God created you. There is no place where you can suffer, and no time that can bring change to your eternal state. How can a world of time and place exist, if you remain as God created you?What is the lesson for today except another way of saying that to know your Self is the salvation of the world? To free the world from every kind of pain is but to change your mind about yourself. There is no world apart from your ideas because ideas leave not their source, and you maintain the world within your mind in thought.Yet if you are as God created you, you cannot think apart from Him, nor make what does not share His timelessness and Love. Are these inherent in the world you see? Does it create like Him? Unless it does, it is not real, and cannot be at all. If you are real the world you see is false, for God's creation is unlike the world in every way. And as it was His Thought by which you were created, so it is your thoughts which made it and must set it free, that you may know the Thoughts you share with God.Release the world! Your real creations wait for this release to give you fatherhood, not of illusions, but as God in truth. God shares His Fatherhood with you who are His Son, for He makes no distinctions in what is Himself and what is still Himself. What He creates is not apart from Him, and nowhere does the Father end, the Son begin as something separate from Him.There is no world because it is a thought apart from God, and made to separate the Father and the Son, and break away a part of God Himself and thus destroy His Wholeness. Can a world which comes from this idea be real? Can it be anywhere? Deny illusions, but accept the truth. Deny you are a shadow briefly laid upon a dying world. Release your mind, and you will look upon a world released.Today our purpose is to free the world from all the idle thoughts we ever held about it, and about all living things we see upon it. They cannot be there. No more can we. For we are in the home our Father set for us, along with them. And we who are as He created us would loose the world this day from every one of our illusions, that we may be free.Begin the fifteen-minute periods in which we practice twice today with this:I who remain as God created me would loose the world from all I thought it was.For I am real because the world is not, and I would know my own reality.Then merely rest, alert but with no strain, and let your mind in quietness be changed so that the world is freed, along with you.You need not realize that healing comes to many brothers far across the world, as well as to the ones you see nearby, as you send out these thoughts to bless the world. But you will sense your own release, although you may not fully understand as yet that you could never be released alone.Throughout the day, increase the freedom sent through your ideas to all the world, and say whenever you are tempted to deny the power of your simple change of mind:I loose the world from all I thought it was, and choose my own reality instead.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

LESSON 132I Loose The World From All I Thought It Was.What keeps the world in chains but your beliefs? And what can save the world except your Self? Belief is powerful indeed. The thoughts you hold are mighty, and illusions are as strong in their effects as is the truth. A madman thinks the world he sees is real, and does not doubt it. Nor can he be swayed by questioning his thoughts' effects. It is but when their source is raised to question that the hope of freedom comes to him at last.Yet is salvation easily achieved, for anyone is free to change his mind, and all his thoughts change with it. Now the source of thought has shifted, for to change your mind means you have changed the source of all ideas you think or ever thought or yet will think. You free the past from what you thought before. You free the future from all ancient thoughts of seeking what you do not want to find.The present now remains the only time. Here in the present is the world set free. For as you let the past be lifted and release the future from your ancient fears, you find escape and give it to the world. You have enslaved the world with all your fears, your doubts and miseries, your pain and tears, and all your sorrows press on it, and keep the world a prisoner to your beliefs. Death strikes it everywhere because you hold the bitter thoughts of death within your mind.The world is nothing in itself. Your mind must give it meaning. And what you behold upon it are your wishes, acted out so you can look on them and think them real. Perhaps you think you did not make the world, but came unwillingly to what was made already, hardly waiting for your thoughts to give it meaning. Yet in truth you found exactly what you looked for when you came.There is no world apart from what you wish, and herein lies your ultimate release. Change but your mind on what you want to see, and all the world must change accordingly. Ideas leave not their source. This central theme is often stated in the text, and must be borne in mind if you would understand the lesson for today. It is not pride which tells you that you made the world you see, and that it changes as you change your mind.But it is pride that argues you have come into a world quite separate from yourself, impervious to what you think, and quite apart from what you chance to think it is. There is no world! This is the central thought the course attempts to teach. Not everyone is ready to accept it, and each one must go as far as he can let himself be led along the road to truth. He will return and go still farther, or perhaps step back a while and then return again.But healing is the gift of those who are prepared to learn there is no world, and can accept the lesson now. Their readiness will bring the lesson to them in some form which they can understand and recognize. Some see it suddenly on point of death, and rise to teach it. Others find it in experience that is not of this world, which shows them that the world does not exist because what they behold must be the truth, and yet it clearly contradicts the world.And some will find it in this course, and in the exercises that we do today. Today's idea is true because the world does not exist. And if it is indeed your own imagining, then you can loose it from all things you ever thought it was by merely changing all the thoughts that gave it these appearances. The sick are healed as you let go all thoughts of sickness, and the dead arise when you let thoughts of life replace all thoughts you ever held of death.A lesson earlier repeated once must now be stressed again, for it contains the firm foundation for today's idea. You are as God created you. There is no place where you can suffer, and no time that can bring change to your eternal state. How can a world of time and place exist, if you remain as God created you?What is the lesson for today except another way of saying that to know your Self is the salvation of the world? To free the world from every kind of pain is but to change your mind about yourself. There is no world apart from your ideas because ideas leave not their source, and you maintain the world within your mind in thought.Yet if you are as God created you, you cannot think apart from Him, nor make what does not share His timelessness and Love. Are these inherent in the world you see? Does it create like Him? Unless it does, it is not real, and cannot be at all. If you are real the world you see is false, for God's creation is unlike the world in every way. And as it was His Thought by which you were created, so it is your thoughts which made it and must set it free, that you may know the Thoughts you share with God.Release the world! Your real creations wait for this release to give you fatherhood, not of illusions, but as God in truth. God shares His Fatherhood with you who are His Son, for He makes no distinctions in what is Himself and what is still Himself. What He creates is not apart from Him, and nowhere does the Father end, the Son begin as something separate from Him.There is no world because it is a thought apart from God, and made to separate the Father and the Son, and break away a part of God Himself and thus destroy His Wholeness. Can a world which comes from this idea be real? Can it be anywhere? Deny illusions, but accept the truth. Deny you are a shadow briefly laid upon a dying world. Release your mind, and you will look upon a world released.Today our purpose is to free the world from all the idle thoughts we ever held about it, and about all living things we see upon it. They cannot be there. No more can we. For we are in the home our Father set for us, along with them. And we who are as He created us would loose the world this day from every one of our illusions, that we may be free.Begin the fifteen-minute periods in which we practice twice today with this:I who remain as God created me would loose the world from all I thought it was.For I am real because the world is not, and I would know my own reality.Then merely rest, alert but with no strain, and let your mind in quietness be changed so that the world is freed, along with you.You need not realize that healing comes to many brothers far across the world, as well as to the ones you see nearby, as you send out these thoughts to bless the world. But you will sense your own release, although you may not fully understand as yet that you could never be released alone.Throughout the day, increase the freedom sent through your ideas to all the world, and say whenever you are tempted to deny the power of your simple change of mind:I loose the world from all I thought it was, and choose my own reality instead.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, Solomon explores the pursuits of pleasure, achievement and possessions, ultimately finding them all meaningless apart from God. While God wants us to enjoy life, these pursuits become empty when they are self-centered or disconnected from Him. Solomon concludes that true fulfillment—wisdom, joy and purpose—comes only from God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism affirms that “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Let's determine to invest the rest of our lives in the pursuit of what really matters - a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. 

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   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): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Being in Christ, Part 3” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Sermons Archive RSS John 15:16 NKJV You did not choose Me, but I chose you Acts 17:24-27 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth . . . he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else . . . he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” Paul continues, “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Isaiah 55:6 NKJV Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Psalms 14:2 NKJV The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Romans 3:10-11 NKJV As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. Genesis 28:16 NKJV “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” Psalms 63:1-4 NKJV O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:10 NKJV "I will visit you" John 3:16-17 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Psalms 27:4 NKJV One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. Psalms 105:3 NKJV Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Romans 3:23 NKJV "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Luke 5:31-32 NKJV Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” I Timothy 1:15 NKJV "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. I Peter 3:18 NKJV For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, Romans 4:25 NKJV who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. John 20:21 NKJV So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Revelation 3:20 NKJV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Sermon Discussion Questions:What does Zacchaeus's story teach us about faith, repentance, and transformation? What does the story say about how we can experience salvation? What are some examples of how we might "seek and save the lost" in our own lives? What are some examples of how God's grace has impacted our own lives? How does this story challenge our understanding of social status and worth?

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.” (Ephesians 1:5–6 NLT) Some people come from homes in which their fathers never expressed love or showed any affection toward them. Therefore, they take that concept of their earthly fathers and place it on their heavenly Father. They spend the rest of their lives trying to earn the approval of God, who has already given His approval to them. There are a lot of people who think they should keep the Ten Commandments because they are under the impression that God will punish them if they don’t. In a sense, they’re like Sisyphus, the character from Greek mythology who spent eternity pushing a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down again when he neared the top, forcing him to start over—again and again and again. These people work hard to earn God’s approval and be worthy of His love. But every time they slip up or do something to displease Him, they feel like they have to start over. Their faulty understanding of God and His mercy keeps them from maturing in their Christian faith. The fact is that God loves us and accepts us as we are. We don’t have to do anything to earn His approval. We don’t have to do anything to merit His love. In spite of our shortcomings and in spite of our sins, God loves us. He showed us how much He loves us by sending His Son to die in our place so that we might have eternal life. Romans 5:8 puts it this way: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (NLT). Understanding how much God loves us is what inspires us to love Him and others. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love each other because he loved us first” (NLT). Instead of wanting to keep God’s commandments to earn His love, we should want to keep them because of His love for us. We should want to keep His commandments because we know they are right. It all comes down to our motives. We can’t do anything to earn God’s love or affection. His standards are too high. Because He is just, He demands perfect righteousness. And perfect righteousness is found only in Christ. That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 2:8–10: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). We don’t live in a Christlike way so that God will love us; we live in a Christlike way because God loves us and because we want to honor our heavenly Father. Reflection Question: How, if at all, does your relationship with your human father affect your relationship with your heavenly Father? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By Randy Urwiller - Both the Father and His Son have proven through their sacrifice their singular and amazing love for us! We should never doubt God's love for us. But, now, how should we demonstrate our love and gratitude to God? What sacrifice can we give?

Temptation is as constant and real as gravity—a daily battle that every believer faces. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar remind Christians that they are never alone in this struggle, and the enemy wants them to believe otherwise. Isolation is one of Satan's strongest tools, but God calls believers to live in the light and walk in community. When one believer confesses a struggle, another can offer encouragement, reminding them that being tempted is part of the Christian journey. A fear of the Lord becomes a shield against compromise. Every time Jesus was tempted, He responded with Scripture. In the same way, when believers store the Word in their hearts, the Holy Spirit brings it to mind at crucial moments, arming them with truth that weakens the power of temptation.Prayer is to be ongoing. Even Elijah, who shared the same human nature, prayed earnestly and witnessed the power of God. The model of praying to be delivered from temptation and evil is not optional—it is essential. Spiritual discipline plays a critical role in a believer's strength. Fasting, once a common practice in the early church, has been overlooked by many today. In avoiding legalism, many have also rejected discipline, but Scripture teaches that while salvation is a gift of grace, Christians are created for good works. Discipline, when motivated by love for God, helps conform believers to the image of Christ.Resisting temptation is not about earning favor, but about growing in Christlikeness. God has predestined His people to be conformed to His Son, and resistance is a part of that transformation. Humility is key—recognizing that apart from God, nothing is deserved but judgment. Gratitude flows from this awareness. The best way to flee temptation is to have somewhere better to run. Redirecting desires toward Christ changes the battle entirely. Believers are the reward of Jesus's obedience, and understanding His love is stronger than any willpower.Standing strong also means running with the right people. Christians grow when they walk with others who are running the race well. Community, scripture, prayer, evangelism, and fellowship all strengthen the soul. Ephesians teaches that the real battle is spiritual and that the armor of God is essential. Believers must be aware of their weaknesses, seek counsel, pursue repentance, and embrace accountability. Like Joseph before Potiphar's wife, believers must refuse, reason, resist—and then run. Those who believe they cannot fall are often the first to do so. Temptation is real, but so is the strength found in Christ.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Isaiah 64:1 — What ought to be the prayer of God's people in all times? It is the prayer that God would come down and save His people. It is the prayer that God would deliver His people from suffering and persecution. It is the prayer that God would save sinners and make them spotless children of God. In this sermon on Isaiah 64:1 titled “Revival Sermon: O Wouldst Thou Rend the Heavens,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the need for God's people to always pray for God to show mercy and compassion to His people. The church should pray this prayer in faith and belief that God is as loving and good as He has told them He is. It is a prayer that relies on the absolute greatness of God to be what He has said He will. The church can know that in the midst of a world that is hostile to God and His people, God is always for them in His Son, Jesus Christ. This sermon encourages both believers and unbelievers to turn away from doubt and unbelief, and to trust in God who is always faithful. This sermon tells of human sin, but most of all, it speaks of God who is gracious and who has sent His Son to redeem all things.

Isaiah 64:1 — What ought to be the prayer of God's people in all times? It is the prayer that God would come down and save His people. It is the prayer that God would deliver His people from suffering and persecution. It is the prayer that God would save sinners and make them spotless children of God. In this sermon on Isaiah 64:1 titled “Revival Sermon: O Wouldst Thou Rend the Heavens,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the need for God's people to always pray for God to show mercy and compassion to His people. The church should pray this prayer in faith and belief that God is as loving and good as He has told them He is. It is a prayer that relies on the absolute greatness of God to be what He has said He will. The church can know that in the midst of a world that is hostile to God and His people, God is always for them in His Son, Jesus Christ. This sermon encourages both believers and unbelievers to turn away from doubt and unbelief, and to trust in God who is always faithful. This sermon tells of human sin, but most of all, it speaks of God who is gracious and who has sent His Son to redeem all things.

Isaiah 64:1 — What ought to be the prayer of God's people in all times? It is the prayer that God would come down and save His people. It is the prayer that God would deliver His people from suffering and persecution. It is the prayer that God would save sinners and make them spotless children of God. In this sermon on Isaiah 64:1 titled “Revival Sermon: O Wouldst Thou Rend the Heavens,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the need for God's people to always pray for God to show mercy and compassion to His people. The church should pray this prayer in faith and belief that God is as loving and good as He has told them He is. It is a prayer that relies on the absolute greatness of God to be what He has said He will. The church can know that in the midst of a world that is hostile to God and His people, God is always for them in His Son, Jesus Christ. This sermon encourages both believers and unbelievers to turn away from doubt and unbelief, and to trust in God who is always faithful. This sermon tells of human sin, but most of all, it speaks of God who is gracious and who has sent His Son to redeem all things. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

Bible Reading: Luke 12:6-7In the attic's dim light, Andrew could see many interesting things--boxes of Christmas ornaments, piles of photo albums, and trunks filled with camping equipment. He and Dad were hunting for Dad's old train set from when he was Andrew's age. "What's this?" asked Andrew, stumbling across a large wooden crate with dozens of items wrapped in newspaper. Wondering what was inside, he began to unravel one. He was disappointed to discover an old-fashioned teacup painted with rambling roses."Be careful with that!" said Dad. "That looks like Grandma Joan's teacup collection. It's very precious to your mom."Andrew was puzzled. "What's so precious about a box full of teacups?" he asked. "Didn't Mom tell you the story? Grandma Joan collected teacups from every place she ever visited. She had teacups from all over the world!"Andrew's eyes grew wide. Perhaps the teacups weren't so boring after all."They're not everybody's 'cup of tea,'" continued Dad, obviously pleased with his awful joke, "but this collection was Grandma Joan's treasured possession!" "What do you mean?" asked Andrew. "Like, her very favorite thing?" "Exactly!" said Dad. "Over the years, those teacups became very valuable. She could have sold them at a high price, but she wouldn't think of it. They held a lot of memories."Andrew smiled--now he understood. The teacups reminded her of all the places she'd visited. "Do you know there's a verse in the Bible about God's treasured possession?" asked Dad.Andrew was intrigued. "God has a treasured possession? What is it?""Well," said Dad, "it's you and me, and all of God's people all over the earth. We're so valuable to Him that He was willing to pay a high price so we could be His. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could have a relationship with Him." Dad blew away years of dust from a large rectangular box. "And speaking of favorite things--this was definitely mine when I was your age!" He opened the box. "Here she is! The Red Rocket!"Andrew hurried over to have a look at the red locomotive. "Wow, it's so awesome! Can we set it up today, Dad? Please?""Okay," said Dad. "Let's go!"–Angela JelfHow About You?Do you have a treasured possession? Is it valuable? You can tell how valuable something is by the price someone is willing to pay for it. God's people are His treasured possession. He paid the highest price--the life of His Son, Jesus--to make you one of His children. That's how much He loves you. You are very valuable to Him!Today's Key Verse:The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 7:6)Today's Key Thought:You are valuable to God

God ordains all things for a marvelous purpose: to bring His people home to Himself in the likeness of His Son. Today, Derek Thomas expounds on one of the most majestic promises in Scripture. Get Derek Thomas' teaching series Romans 8 on DVD, plus lifetime digital access to all 12 messages and the study guide, for your donation of any amount. We'll also send you his book How the Gospel Brings Us all the Way Home: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3980/donate   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request digital access to the Romans 8 teaching series and study guide, plus the ebook by Dr. Thomas, for a gift of any amount: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   Derek Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor's Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts