Podcasts about hold on to me

Sermon Summary: Temporary Residents, Eternal Home Chris's sermon this week delved into Genesis chapters 46 and 47, picking up the narrative of Jacob and his family's move to Egypt to escape the severe famine in Canaan. He structured his talk around six key "episodes" or scenes within these chapters, ultimately drawing out four significant takeaways for the congregation in Sheffield in 2025. Chris began by addressing the crucial question of relevance: how can a text written potentially 16-18 centuries before Jesus, set in a vastly different culture, speak to us today? His answer lies in the belief that the Bible is "God-breathed," inspired by God, who continues to speak through its pages to those who approach it with humility and an open heart. He emphasized the Bible's unique authority, stating that any teaching, including his own, should be disregarded if it contradicts scripture. Furthermore, Chris highlighted Romans 15:4, reminding listeners that the scriptures were written for our encouragement, hope, and perseverance in our Christian walk. Drawing a parallel to the London Marathon, he likened the Old Testament heroes of faith, including Jacob (mentioned in Hebrews 11), to a crowd of witnesses cheering us on in our own race of faith (Hebrews 12:1). Moving into the text, Chris outlined the six episodes: God appears to Jacob (Genesis 46): Despite being called to the Promised Land, God instructs Jacob to go to Egypt, a seemingly counterintuitive command. The journey to Egypt (Genesis 46): Jacob and his family undertake the journey. Reunion with Joseph (Genesis 46): Jacob is reunited with his son Joseph, whom he long believed to be dead. The brothers meet Pharaoh (Genesis 47:1-6): Joseph presents a delegation of his brothers to Pharaoh. They identify themselves as shepherds seeking temporary residence due to the famine. Chris noted their subservient tone ("We your servants") while also highlighting Joseph's prior coaching to secure their desired outcome. Pharaoh's response is directed to Joseph, granting them permission to settle in the land of Goshen and even offering positions managing his livestock if they possess special skills. Jacob meets Pharaoh (Genesis 47:7-10): Joseph then brings his father Jacob to meet Pharaoh. In contrast to his sons, Jacob seems to possess a greater sense of authority, even blessing Pharaoh twice. Pharaoh inquires about Jacob's age ("How many are the days of the years of your life?"), to which Jacob replies that he has lived 130 "hard years" and that the "days of the years of my temporary residence are few and hard." Chris emphasized Jacob's use of "temporary residence" (or "sojourner" in some translations), a significant theme throughout the chapter. Despite his hardships (fleeing his brother, losing his mother and wife, believing Joseph dead), Jacob's encounter with Pharaoh reveals a man carrying moral authority. Joseph's leadership during the famine (Genesis 47:11-26): This lengthy section details Joseph's strategic management of the famine. He provides the best land of Egypt, the region of Ramesses (another name for Goshen), for his family. As the famine intensifies, Joseph collects all the money in Egypt and Canaan in exchange for grain, eventually moving to exchange livestock and then land and the people themselves for food, making them Pharaoh's slaves. The priests are the only exception, receiving direct provisions from Pharaoh. Joseph then establishes a system where the people receive seed to plant and keep four-fifths of the harvest, with one-fifth going to Pharaoh. The people express immense gratitude for Joseph saving their lives. Chris acknowledged the potentially unsettling nature of this narrative, where Pharaoh's wealth increases significantly. However, he pointed out that the Egyptians willingly entered these arrangements and were grateful for survival. He also noted that their situation as "slaves" differed significantly from typical understandings of slavery, as they continued to live on their land and retain 80% of their produce, a potentially lower tax burden than experienced today in the UK. Chris cautioned against a literal "lift and drop" application of Old Testament narratives, using the example of the hand-under-thigh oath later in the chapter as a practice no longer relevant. He stressed the importance of respectfully engaging with the text while discerning its enduring message. Jacob prepares to die (Genesis 47:27-31): The Israelites settle in Goshen, acquire property, become fruitful, and their population grows rapidly, fulfilling God's promise in Genesis 46:3 that they would be prosperous in Egypt. Jacob lives for another 17 years, reaching the age of 147. As his death approaches, he calls Joseph and makes him swear an oath (placing his hand under Jacob's thigh) not to bury him in Egypt but to take him back to Canaan to be buried with his ancestors. Joseph agrees and takes the oath. Chris highlighted the significance of being buried with his ancestors, noting the memorial in Hebron revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the family grave of Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah, and Jacob. He also pointed out that the hand-under-thigh oath was a family tradition, previously used by Abraham when sending a servant to find a wife for Isaac. Jacob's focus on being buried in the Promised Land underscores his deep connection to it. From this passage, Chris identified four key takeaways for the congregation: Depending on God: Chris found Jacob in his final chapters to be an "appealing and beautiful character," contrasting him with figures like Solomon who started well but finished poorly. Despite his past flaws and hardships, Jacob is "finishing well," which Chris attributed to his dependence on God. He affirmed that while we hold onto God, it is ultimately God who holds onto us. He referenced Lauren Daigle's song "Hold On To Me" in this context. Chris encouraged the congregation to have the "desire to finish well" in their own lives, noting that many around us do not. Do to others as you would like them to do to you: This "golden rule" of Jesus is reflected in the cycle of blessing within the narrative. Jacob blesses Pharaoh, and through Joseph, both the Egyptians and Jacob's family are blessed. Chris expressed his hope that the church's activities are a blessing to the local community and encouraged individuals to be a blessing in their families, workplaces, and among their neighbors. He then referenced Deuteronomy 23:7 (in some translations, this is Deuteronomy 23:7-8 or Deuteronomy 23:7), "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt," noting its counter-cultural message in contemporary politics. Remember you are temporary residents: Chris drew attention to Peter's words in 1 Peter 2:11, "Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very soul." He connected this back to the potential reasons for Joseph choosing Goshen – to protect his family from the idolatrous Egyptian culture and the risk of assimilation. He emphasized the importance of identity: if we truly believe we belong to God, there are certain things we should avoid. Identity acts as a protection against temptation and evil, echoing Jesus' prayer, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). Where is your true country?: Chris explored the legal concept of "domicile" – permanent home – contrasting it with "residence" and "citizenship." He posed the question: where is our true home as Christians? Like Jacob, we are temporary residents in this world; our true home is with God. He quoted Hebrews 13:14, "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come." He concluded with a powerful quote from C.S. Lewis's The Last Battle, where a character entering heaven says, "I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now."1 Chris shared that Karen had read this passage at Anne's funeral and expressed his hope that it would be read at his own, emphasizing the Christian understanding of our ultimate belonging in God's presence. Chris concluded with a prayer, thanking God for his mercy and love, acknowledging human failings, and expressing the desire to understand and embrace the truth of our eternal home in God. He then invited those who wished for prayer to come forward. Bible References: Genesis 46 Genesis 47 Romans 15:4 Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1 1 Peter 2:11 Matthew 6:13 Hebrews 13:14 Deuteronomy 23:7 (or Deuteronomy 23:7-8 depending on translation) Transcript Let's wait for the PowerPoint to appear on the screen. Great, there it goes. So we're continuing with Genesis and continuing really where we were a fortnight ago with the move of Joseph and his family, or Joseph's already there, the move of Jacob and the family into Egypt. So a few things I want to do today. I'm going to kind of walk us through the chapter and bring a few things out, and then at the end I'm going to kind of identify, I think, four things that I think we can particularly take away from this chapter. And after I finish speaking, we're also going to have an opportunity for people who want to be prayed for to come forward and be prayed. I'm not going to make a big deal of that, but we do believe in the work of the Holy Spirit, and if you've come and you would like prayer, then we'd be more than delighted to pray for you and pray that you will encounter God. But before I get into the chapter, I just want to go on to the next slide, because that's quite important, isn't it? We've been spending all this time studying this chapter, and Genesis is set, and nobody's exactly sure when, but probably 16 to 18 centuries before Jesus was born. And it's set in a very different culture and part of the world. So how can that be relevant to us living in the UK in 2025? So that is a very important question. And I think that the start of the answer to that question comes from our understanding of what the Bible is, and that is that we believe that the Bible is inspired by God. Paul actually used the phrase, God breathes—that the Bible is God breathed. And that God speaks through his Bible to us, and he actually continues to speak today through his Bible to us. And that if we approach it with the right attitude, if we come to it humbly and respectfully, not looking to pick arguments with it, but open to any nourishment going, then God will meet us and speak to us through the Bible. And so that's why Genesis is relevant. We also say that the Bible has unique authority. If I as a preacher, or indeed any other preacher here or anywhere else, says something to you that is not in agreement with the Bible, then feel free. In fact, definitely ignore what is being said by me or any other preacher. The Bible has the final authority on difficult points. But there's also something, I think, when we're looking at these Old Testament stories, about recognizing that these were written to inspire us in our Christian walk. Romans 15, verse 4 says something like, the Scriptures were written so that for our encouragement and hope, and to encourage us to persevere in the Christian life. Today is the London Marathon Day, isn't it? And over the past 20 years or so, I spent quite a few times at the finishing line, not of marathons, I will admit, but the finishing line of Iron Man races, and waiting for family members and friends to run the race. And you always stop by, you know, runners, some of them looking completely done in, would kind of turn the corner and see the finishing line ahead of them, and also hear the crowd at that point all clapping and cheering and shouting. And they would kind of brighten and pick up pace and cross the line. And that's kind of the image that the writer to the Hebrews has. In Hebrews 11, there's a long list of Old Testament heroes of faith. And Jacob, who we're particularly thinking about today, is on that list. And at the end of it, the writer goes on, he says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. And it's almost like these Old Testament heroes, with all their difficulties in their lives, are part of the crowd that is cheering you and I on in our race. And so we do say that Genesis is very relevant. Let's just pray briefly. Father, we do just pray, Father, that the goodness that you've got for us in your Word, Lord, that we would receive that today, Lord. We don't want to miss out on any good thing that you've got for us in your Word for us today, and in fact, every day. Amen. Next slide. So, Genesis 46 and 47 are really part of one story. And you can remember about a fortnight ago, Andy took us through Genesis 46. I kind of divided it up into what I'm calling episodes, probably more like scenes, really. But episodes one, God appears to Jacob and says to him, I want you to go to Egypt. And that must have felt really odd, because he called to the Promised Land, and God is saying, No, I want you to go to Egypt. But nevertheless, God speaks to him. So that's episode one. Episode two is he journeys to Egypt. And episode three, he's reunited with a son he had long believed dead. He's reunited with Joseph. And then today we have episode four, a meeting with Pharaoh of the brothers, a delegation of brothers meet Pharaoh. Episode five, Jacob then himself meets Pharaoh. Episode six, quite a longer section, all about Joseph's leadership during the famine that is affecting Egypt at this time. And in the final episode there, Jacob prepares to die. So let me read the chapter. It's been, I think, necessary but still a shame as we've been going through Genesis. Time has just been a pressure to read the whole chapter, but we go off to a good start today, and I want to read it to us, because this is God's Word. This is God-breathed. Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him, My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the region of Goshen. Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh asked the brothers, What is your occupation? They replied, We your servants are shepherds, just like our ancestors. We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there, so please, we request permission to live in the land of Goshen. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Now that your father and brothers have joined you here, choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen, and if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock too. Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. How old are you? Pharaoh asked him. Jacob replied, I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years, but my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors. Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court. So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt, the land of Ramesses, to his father and brothers, and he settled them there just as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided food for his father and his brother in amounts appropriate to the number of their dependents, including the smallest children. Meanwhile, the famine became so severe that all the food was used up and people were starving throughout the lands of Egypt and Canaan. By selling grain to the people, Joseph eventually collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan, and he put the money in Pharaoh's treasury. And when the people of Egypt and Canaan ran out of money, all the Egyptians came to Joseph. Our money is gone, they cried, but please give us food or we will die before your very eyes. Joseph replied, since your money is gone, bring me livestock. I will give you food in exchange for your livestock. So they brought their livestock to Joseph in exchange for food, in exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle and donkeys. Joseph provided them with food for another year. But that year ended and the next year they came again and they said, we cannot hide the truth from you, our Lord. Our money is gone and all our livestock and cattle are yours. We have nothing left to give you but our bodies and our land. Why should we die before your very eyes? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We offer our land and ourselves as slaves to Pharaoh. Please give us grain so we may live and not die so the land does not become empty and desolate. So Joseph brought all the land, bought all the land of Pharaoh for Egypt and all the Egyptians sold in their fields because the famine was so severe and soon all the land belonged to Pharaoh. As for the people, he made them all slaves from one end of Egypt to the other. The only land he did not buy was the land belonging to the priests. They received an allotment of food directly from Pharaoh so they didn't need to sell their land. Then Joseph said to the people, look today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. Then when you harvest it, one fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths of seed for your fields and it's food for you, your households and your little ones. You have saved our lives, they exclaimed. May it please you my Lord to let us be Pharaoh's servants. Joseph then issued a decree still in effect in the land of Egypt that Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on this land. Only land belonging to the priests was not given to Pharaoh. Meanwhile the people of Israel settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt. There they acquired property, they were fruitful and their population grew rapidly. Jacob lived for 17 years after his arrival in Egypt so he lived 147 years in all. As the time of his death drew near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said to him, please do me this favor. Put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me with unfailing love by honoring this last request. Do not bury me in Egypt. When I die, please take my body out of Egypt and bury me with my ancestors. So Joseph promised, I will do as you ask. Swear that you will do it, Jacob insisted. So Joseph gave his oath and Jacob bowed humbly at the head of his bed. Amen. So yes, if we can have that slide. Oh, can we go back to, can we go back a few slides to nearly the beginning? I think it's going to be the first couple of hours. Let's keep it back. That's it. So here we are in what I was calling episode four, and Joseph's taken a delegation of the brothers to meet Pharaoh. And we can probably picture the scene about, I mean, Pharaoh is the leader of a superpower. And they're really quite a small tribe from Canaan. And they are looking to be economic migrants. That's definitely what we call them today. They've come because there's no food left in their land, so they're coming as economic migrants. So it's kind of a subservient tone to it, isn't it? We're your servants, Pharaoh. But also kind of stressing things that they want. You know, we're shepherds. By the way, we've got flocks, but if you would let us stay for a while. And actually, at the end of the previous chapter, we see that actually Joseph had coached them to say this. Joseph was good at managing his boss, and he's prepared this. So this speech is important. Because, you know, this is a difficult moment. Pharaoh could have sent them away. So that's the first of the episodes. And you see that they're coming to live in Egypt for a while. So they're not saying, we're coming here to settle permanently. We're coming for a while. I'll mention that briefly, because that kind of phrase, for a while, or other versions of it, are quite important to this whole chapter. So I'm just picking out the first time it appears. Next slide. And this is interesting, actually, because you remember the brothers were speaking to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh's reply is addressed to Joseph. Now, you know, there's a couple of possibilities. One, of course, it's simply that Joseph is kind of the head of the delegation, isn't it? He's still the important guy. And so Pharaoh speaks to somebody of, you know, Joseph's number two in the land. So Pharaoh naturally speaks to him, not to the brothers. But it's also possible it might just be a side meeting. You know, in my career, I saw things like that. You know, somebody very senior would listen to what people had to say, and then have a kind of separate meeting with their inner group of most senior people and make a decision. And that's what kind of is happening here. Pharaoh is sitting down with his number two, and he's making a decision. And he's choosing to let them stay. And there's quite a mention of the word Goshen. I don't know if you picked that up as I was reading it, but Goshen, I think if you take the end of 46 and 47, it gets mentioned something like eight times, something like a lot of times. And Goshen is the place that Joseph has definitely engineered for them to be. So he's told them to go in Joseph. He's mentioned it to Pharaoh himself that they're already there. And then they've asked if they can stay in Goshen. So they definitely are after Goshen. And why is that? Well, I think at least three possibilities, or some mixture of them. One is simply that Joseph just thinks it's going to be a really good place for them and their flocks. So it can be as simple as that. The second possibility, though, is that Joseph is doing this in some ways to protect them. Because at this time, the kind of main center, the kind of equivalent of London, Egypt at that time, a place called Memphis. So Memphis is a big urban center with all the, so that's where the main stuff is happening. So Joseph doesn't want them in Memphis. He wants them kind of on the edge of the territory, and up in the kind of northeast corner of the Nile Delta is Goshen. And is he wanting them to protect them from the Egyptians to some extent? There have been hints, more than hints, actually, of prejudice of Egyptians towards Canaanites through the last couple of chapters. Egyptians didn't eat with Canaanites. Even Joseph didn't eat with them. And apparently they regard shepherds as pretty abominable. So they don't want to kind of mix with shepherds, because they're kind of sophisticated urban people. So is Joseph protecting them in that sense? And if that was right, he probably had seen something that is definitely there, because the whole book of Exodus is based on the fact that these Israelites end up getting very badly treated in Egypt. So, you know, racial prejudice is alive in this situation. I guess a third possibility is one that actually he wants to protect them from the Egyptians, but in a different sense. Does Joseph see that there's a risk of assimilation, that if they're just mingling in with all the Egyptians, that they will pick up Egyptian ways of life and Egyptian habits and start to live like Egyptians? They assimilate, and then they start worshiping Egyptian gods, and suddenly they're distinctive as the people of God has gone altogether. So it may be some mix of those factors. I'm not going to be too definite about it, because the Bible doesn't tell us. So it's conjecture to an extent, so I don't want to lay too much weight on that. But nevertheless, it's something like that that is going on. Next slide. And then we have Joseph brought in his father to see Pharaoh. And it's only because the tone of this one is slightly different, whereas the brothers were deeply respectful, kind of, you know, bowing and like that before Pharaoh. Jacob seems to carry a lot more authority in that situation. And that may be because he's given the respect due to an older man. It may be that, actually, Jacob carries some moral authority that somehow he's just present in the room when this is going on. There's also—not so much in this translation, but in some of the original language—that Jacob by this time has got some mobility issues, because it talks about Joseph bringing him in to see Pharaoh and then making him stand before Pharaoh. Now, you know, it might simply be that he's presenting him, but kind of sometimes I've seen in that that maybe actually Jacob had to be helped into the room and then helped to stand before Pharaoh. And then he has this conversation with Pharaoh, and Pharaoh says, How old are you? Again, the literal question that Pharaoh asked him is quite—Pharaoh says, How many are the days of the years of your life? How many are the days of the years of your life? And Jacob replies, The days of the years of my life—no, the days of the years of my temporary residence are few and hard. The days of the years of my life are 130 years, but they've been few and hard. And it's interesting that having been just asked, in a sense, for a number, he's introduced this phrase, temporary residence. And in some translations, you'll get that translated as sojourner. That's a kind of less common word these days, but it means temporary residence. And, you know, again, we heard that earlier, and one of the features of this chapter is that this thought of temporary residence is quite important to what this whole chapter is about. But Jacob blesses Pharaoh—in fact, he blesses Pharaoh twice. So he's not, in a sense, in a cringing situation. He's actually taking authority in the situation, and Pharaoh almost seems respectful of Jacob. You might think it odd to hear somebody who's 130 and whose son has become the number two in Egypt describe his days as being few and hard, but that is the expression that Jacob uses. And there's a lot in that, because if you think about Jacob's life, he undoubtedly had had a hard life. You know, he's had to run away from home while still quite a young man, immediately after his father's death, because otherwise he's at risk of being killed by his own brother. He had been particularly close to his mother, Rebekah, and he never sees her again. He gets tricked into an arranged marriage that proves unhappy, and he becomes the head of quite a dysfunctional family. The wife he deeply loved dies early in childbirth, and then the son that he's particularly close to he believes has been died, and he's lived with that belief for many years. So Jacob has had a hard life, but nevertheless there is something very beautiful, which I'll come back to, I think, about the Jacob we now see before us. Next slide. So, with the authority of Pharaoh, Joseph gives them the land in the region of Ramesses. Apparently that's just another word for Goshen, so it's the same place. And Joseph provides food for his father and his brother. Again, we see that Joseph is continuing to behave graciously in all this that he's had. He's been through very difficult episodes in his life directly at the hands of his brothers, but he's been continuing to behave graciously in this situation and providing for them all. Next one. And then the next section, which is actually the longest in the chapter, and you had me read it, really running from 13 to 26, is about the famine and what happens with the Egyptians during the famine. And that can strike us as a bit hard, because it's quite clear in all this, Pharaoh is getting very much wealthier. And so we can think, well, it's kind of not sure how I feel about that section. However, people who have kind of studied this deeply said, you know, first of all, you can see that the Egyptians are asking for this, and they seem very grateful. So what they're asking for is what Joseph gives them. He undoubtedly is responsible for saving perhaps even millions of lives, certainly many, many lives who are starving to death, and Joseph is instrumental in their being saved. And the end result for people who are being described as slaves doesn't sound much like slavery as we would understand it, because they're still living on their own farms, and they get to keep 80 percent of all that they grow and produce. So there's a kind of 20 percent flat rate tax and everything else is yours. Well, that's kind of probably not would have been your mind idea of what slavery would ordinarily look like. I mean, in this country today, I think the burden of taxation on people of average income is about 30 to 35 percent. So, you know, they're facing a much lower rate. Comparisons, of course. I don't suppose the NHS was up to much in Egypt. I don't suppose there was a state pension, so all the rest. But anything, just it's a little bit of an aside, but I think this kind of passage is helpful. I meant every word of what I said about the Bible being God's word and God speaking to us through it and about the authority of that word absolutely mean every word of that. But it doesn't mean that we lift and drop everything in the Old Testament and just say we take that on board. It doesn't mean that, say, the way in which Joseph managed that famine is instructive for us in how we might manage a situation today. There's another odd detail about a vow later in this chapter that you might have picked up about putting your hand under somebody's thigh while making a promise. We don't do that. There's a good reason. You know, it's not, so it's not lift and drop, but it is kind of hearing the voice of God and dealing with the passage respectfully. So that was a bit of an aside. Next slide. And the people of Israel settled in the land of Goshen, and there they acquired property and were fruitful and their population grew rapidly. And you remember what I said at the beginning about the previous chapter and about what Andy preached about was it must have felt very, very strange, particularly to Jacob, when having been called to the Promised Land and believed that that's where they belonged to be told to go to Egypt. But in that, God had promised, and it's in chapter 46, I think it's verse 3, he said, I am calling you to Egypt and you will be prosperous there. And this is God keeping this promise, and that is a promise that we've seen at earlier points in Genesis. So this has all been part of God's plan. God's timing in the way that he works can frequently be deeply puzzling to us, because to an extent his ways are not our ways, but God is keeping his promises, and that's what this verse is about. Next. The time of his death do near, Jacob called for his son Joseph and said, please do me this favor, put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will treat me, and don't bury me in Egypt. Take me home and bury me with my ancestors. And it almost seems quite a formal little thing for a father and son discussion, but you sense behind it all that Jacob, this is very, very important to Jacob, so he's very insistent about it. He doesn't want there to be any misunderstanding. He doesn't want there to be any wriggle room that would mean that after his death something different would happen. He wants Joseph to understand very definitely that he intends to be buried with his ancestors in Egypt, in Canaan. Actually, if you know this, there's a memorial today in Hebron in the West Bank, which is honored by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, which is the family grave so people believe of Abraham and Isaac and Sarah and Rebekah and Jacob. So this is very important to him, and in this reference to putting your hand under his thigh, he's recalling a bit of family history because his grandfather Abraham had used that same particular formula when sending a servant out to find a wife for who's to be Jacob's father. So he is, and he's thinking about the promised land is what Jacob's thinking about. And as we think about the application of this to us today, we'll definitely come back to that thought. Let's have the next slide. So the first thing I think that we learn from Jacob is about depending on God. I do find Jacob in these last chapters to be a deeply appealing and beautiful character. You know, there are plenty of examples in the Bible, and indeed in church life, of people who have a good start or a good middle with God but finish badly. Solomon would be an example of that. You read the early years of Solomon and how he gets made king, and he says some glorious things, and you think it's absolutely wonderful. But by the time of his death, he was a shadow of the man of faith he'd been when he was younger. Jacob is finishing well. Yes, he's had some bad days. Yes, some of the problems of his dysfunctional family have been of his own making. Yes, he had often been deceitful. Yes, he did days when he felt completely hopeless and sometimes strikes us as being quite self-pitying. What does that tell you? It tells you he's like you and I. But he's finishing well. He's finishing well, and that's about depending on God. Of course, we depend on God. We hold on to God because God is holding on to us. But there is something beautiful. By the way, I love that. If you're familiar with the song Hold On To Me that Lauren Daigle thought, beautiful lyrics. Anyway, that's again an aside. Next slide. I don't think I've warned you this. There's going to be some C.S. Lewis. I think Jacob would have loved this. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep picking ourselves up each time. We shall, of course, be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes are in the earring cupboard. It's a magnificent quote. But you get the sense of that's the kind of thing that Jacob's thinking. And it's beautiful, and it's about holding on to God. And I do hope you put that in your heart, the desire to finish well. There's plenty around of us who are not finishing well. Make that your life's work to finish well. Next one. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. That's, of course, the golden rule. That's Jesus. But we see in this chapter a kind of cycle of blessing. Jacob is blessing Pharaoh. And through Joseph, the Egyptians and Jacob are being blessed through the famine, through the work of Joseph. And the people of God are also being blessed, you know, treating others as you would like them to do. And I think it's great that we as a church, I hope that the things that we are doing as a church are a blessing to the community around us. You know, whether it's the library, the drop-in, the hub, whatever it is, I hope that we're a blessing to the community around us. I hope you're a blessing in your family and in your workplace and amongst your neighbors, called to be a blessing. But in this particular context, we can see actually that the Israelites did get this message. Let's look at the next verse, which is not one of the best known. You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I think quite a few political parties, that's never going to get on the manifesto, is it? But you know, it's important to treat others as you'd have them treat you. Next slide. Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very soul. Here we see Peter, and he's not the only one of these, Peter picking up on this temporary resident thing. And it becomes quite important in the New Testament, and both Peter and the book of Hebrews definitely on it big time. And you get something of what was possibly in Joseph's mind about the choice of Goshen. He's protecting them from this deeply idolatrous culture of the Egyptians. But you see, identity is important to that. You know, if you're living in a country, but you're not pretending to be there forever, there's some stuff you wouldn't get involved in, because actually that's not your long-term home. Some stuff you're not going to do. And there's something about who we are, who do we, if I really believe myself, I am, in Bob Dylan's words, the property of Jesus. If I belong to God, and if my future is with him, then there are some things that are dangerous to me that I ought to be avoiding. You know, Jesus prayed, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, because temptation and evil are very real things. But identity is one of the tools that we use that protect us from temptation and evil. Next one. Where is your true country? There's a concept in law, not only actually in English law, but it's in a number of other countries as well, including Nigeria, I believe, called domicile. And domicile means permanent home. And it's distinguished from, say, residence. Residence is the place you happen to be living. So if you're in the UK for more than six months, you're regarded as resident here. And citizenship is usually about, well, who gives you your passport? So it's about, you know, kind of legal status. But domicile meant something more like permanent home. It's actually probably the deeper of the concepts. And permanent home is something that also kind of sticks to you. So you could go and live abroad for 25 years and come back to the UK, and the UK would say, your domicile was always in this country because your strongest roots and who you felt yourself to be belong to this country. So domicile is about true home. And the very real sense in which, as Christians, we're saying, so where is my true home? Where do I truly belong? Do I understand and see myself to be in this world, as Jacob put it, as a temporary resident? But my true home is with God in hand. There's that difference from temporary residence today, true home and sense of belonging. And the writer of Hebrews says precisely that. Hebrews 13, verse 14-ish. Your permanent home is not in this life. Our permanent home is with God. And we'll have another C.S. Lewis quote. The last battle, I still think the last battle, although it's in a sense a children's book, it's still one of the best things written about the life everlasting. And I commend it to you. But this is a phrase when they've kind of got into heaven effectively, and someone says, I have come home at last. This is my real country. I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. And it's that sense of belonging to our true country. We are temporary residents here. We belong to Jesus. We belong to God's people. And our true country is yet to be. And actually, Karen read this at Anne's funeral, and I hope someone will read it at my funeral. So let's pray, and then I'll hand back to Steve, and we'll give an opportunity if you'd like to be prayed for. Father, we thank you for your great mercy and love, Lord, for all our feelings and shortcomings, for all our messed up-ness, for all the mistakes that we've made in our life. You are faithful, and we can depend on you because you are holding on to us. But Lord, we do want to understand the truth about things, Lord. We do want to receive your truth into our lives, Lord. We do want to know in our hearts where our true home is. Lord, we thank you for Jesus, and we thank you for all that lies ahead of us. The best is yet to be. We thank you for Jesus. Amen.

Originally Recorded February 21st, 2025 Check out Francesca Tarantino's music: https://francescatarantino.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0PdOlZcp5lryupyIlDIZDOThe song played at the end is “Hold On To Me.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musicallyspeaking.substack.com

The Love of God by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Song- Hold On to Me by Lauren Daigle. ACU Sunday Series.   The Love of God Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. To watch the entire speech visit- https://youtu.be/bCCqqorvCkE?si=NK3dpmDRpp6lncgs General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ 584K subscribers 21,741 views Dec 15, 2014 Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. https://www.lds.org/general-conferenc...   Lauren Daigle - Hold On To Me (Official Audio Video) https://youtu.be/RWua9o2KEv0?si=4UMuTm4nUh6KJWV7 Lauren Daigle 3.39M subscribers 2,821,083 views Feb 25, 2021 #LaurenDaigle #HoldOnToMe The official audio video for "Hold On To Me" by Lauren Daigle. Get the track here: https://fanlink.to/ld-holdontome Watch the official music video:     • Lauren Daigle - Hold On To Me (Offici...   Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/LaurenDaigleYTSubscribe​ Connect with Lauren on socials below: Follow on Spotify: http://bit.ly/LaurenDaigleSpotifyFollow​ Follow on Instagram:    / ​   Like on Facebook:    / ​   Follow on Twitter:    / lauren_daigle   - Lyrics: When the best of me is barely breathing When I'm not somebody I believe in Hold on to me When I miss the light the night has stolen When I'm slamming all the doors You've opened Hold on to me, hold on to me Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You Hold on to me when I have reached the end Hold on to me when I forget I need You When I let go, hold me again When I don't feel like I'm worth defending When I'm tired of all the pretending Hold on to me When I start to break in desperation Underneath the weight of expectations Hold on to me, hold on to me I could rest here in Your arms forever 'Cause I know nobody could love me better So hold on to me, hold on to me #LaurenDaigle #HoldOnToMe   For Come Follow Me lesson manual and materials visit- Come, Follow Me For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/come-follow-me/2023?lang=eng   For a list of 100+ episodes of ACU Sunday Series visit- https://www.podbean.com/site/search/index?kdsowie31j4k1jlf913=85cb8104bdb182c048b714ad4385f9e82a3aeb49&v=ACU+Sunday+Series+ Note- Click on “100 Episodes Found” in upper right corner.   For many different Podcasts based on the ‘Come Follow Me' program visit- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=come+follow+me+   Subscribe to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the latest videos: http://bit.ly/1M0iPwY Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchofjesu... Twitter: @Ch_JesusChrist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChurchOfJes... Website: ChurchOfJesusChrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints   BYUEducationWeek Get a Free Book of Mormon | ComeUntoChrist Church of Jesus Christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org › requests › free-...   The Book of Mormon brings you closer to Jesus. Click to download a free digital copy of the Book of Mormon and learn about it with online missionaries.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Strength of Youth To help you find the Way and to help you make Christ's doctrine the guiding influence in your life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has prepared a new resource, a revised version of For the Strength of Youth.   For over 50 years, For the Strength of Youth has been a guide for generations of Latter-day Saint youth. I always keep a copy in my pocket, and I share it with people who are curious about our standards. It has been updated and refreshed to better cope with the challenges and temptations of our day. The new version of For the Strength of Youth is available online in 50 different languages and will also be available in print. It will be a significant help for making choices in your life. Please embrace it as your own and share it with your friends. This new version of For the Strength of Youth is subtitled A Guide for Making Choices. To be very clear, the best guide you can possibly have for making choices is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the strength of youth. So the purpose of For the Strength of Youth is to point you to Him. It teaches you eternal truths of His restored gospel—truths about who you are, who He is, and what you can accomplish with His strength. It teaches you how to make righteous choices based on those eternal truths.13 It's also important to know what For the Strength of Youth does not do. It doesn't make decisions for you. It doesn't give you a “yes” or “no” about every choice you might ever face. For the Strength of Youth focuses on the foundation for your choices. It focuses on values, principles, and doctrine instead of every specific behavior. The Lord, through His prophets, has always been guiding us in that direction. He is pleading with us to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation.”14 He is inviting us to “hear Him.”15 He is calling us to follow Him in higher and holier ways.16 And we are learning in a similar way every week in Come, Follow Me.   American Conservative University Podcast (ACU) is not an official representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All opinions, selections and commentary are solely those of ACU.  We post a variety of selections from various Christian denominations.   ACU Endorsed Charities -------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Born! Saving babies and Souls. https://preborn.org/ OUR MISSION To glorify Jesus Christ by leading and equipping pregnancy clinics to save more babies and souls. WHAT WE DO Pre-Born! partners with life-affirming pregnancy clinics all across the nation. We are designed to strategically impact the abortion industry through the following initiatives:… -------------------------------------------------------- Help CSI Stamp Out Slavery In Sudan Join us in our effort to free over 350 slaves. Listeners to the Eric Metaxas Show will remember our annual effort to free Christians who have been enslaved for simply acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Savior. As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, join us in giving new life to brothers and sisters in Sudan who have enslaved as a result of their faith. https://csi-usa.org/metaxas   https://csi-usa.org/slavery/   Typical Aid for the Enslaved A ration of sorghum, a local nutrient-rich staple food A dairy goat A “Sack of Hope,” a survival kit containing essential items such as tarp for shelter, a cooking pan, a water canister, a mosquito net, a blanket, a handheld sickle, and fishing hooks. Release celebrations include prayer and gathering for a meal, and medical care for those in need. The CSI team provides comfort, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on while they tell their stories and begin their new lives. Thank you for your compassion  Giving the Gift of Freedom and Hope to the Enslaved South Sudanese -------------------------------------------------------- Food For The Poor https://foodforthepoor.org/ Help us serve the poorest of the poor Food For The Poor began in 1982 in Jamaica. Today, our interdenominational Christian ministry serves the poor in primarily 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. Thanks to our faithful donors, we are able to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, fresh water, emergency relief, micro-enterprise solutions and much more. We are proud to have fed millions of people and provided more than 15.7 billion dollars in aid. Our faith inspires us to be an organization built on compassion, and motivated by love. Our mission is to bring relief to the poorest of the poor in the countries where we serve. We strive to reflect God's unconditional love. It's a sacrificial love that embraces all people regardless of race or religion. We believe that we can show His love by serving the “least of these” on this earth as Christ challenged us to do in Matthew 25. We pray that by God's grace, and with your support, we can continue to bring relief to the suffering and hope to the hopeless. --------------------------------------------------------

Trust that he has abundance in store for tomorrow. Like Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Through the Hurt and Hard Times, Hold On to Him By Keri Eichberger  Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) I was walking through what felt like the hardest financial hardship of my life. Yet in the midst, I noticed something sweet, and actually sort of surprising. It was how well I seemed to be handling the storm. I would have a brief emotional outburst at least daily, but then I'd move on and get to work reversing the setback or just keep treading in assurance of God‘s provision and goodness always with me. I felt the strength of the Lord keeping my head and eyes above the dark water. Until the heaviness hit me. And all of a sudden, the reality of the black shadows that had steam rolled into my life like a tsunami of storm clouds, paralyzed me with grief. Sadness overtook me. I felt alone, on an island, where no one could reach me, see me, or help me. The lyrics of Lauren Daigle's “Hold On To Me” had been playing in the background of my soul for twelve days since the unexpected blow. And now I needed to grasp these words forefront, and more than ever. Beautiful reminders to hold on to the Lord through the very hard season and moments swelling in my midst. You might be walking pretty well through a hard time like I was for a bit too. And if so, you'll need to hang onto this message for when weariness does come for you. But, if you can relate more to an overwhelm of heaviness, you may just need to know right now that you are not alone in the hurt you are carrying. You're not, trust me. I'm with you.  But what we both really need to know more than that, is that our friend, Jesus, is with us too. Because even though there are hurting souls at every turn you take – yes everyone has something that weighs on them – no one is weathering your exact storm the exact way you are. No one totally gets it. But Jesus. He cries with you. Cries for you. Yes, he loves and adores you. And I need to remember how much he loves me too.  So, let's hold on to him. In him we will find comfort. In him we will find peace. In him we will find our strength. In him we will be redeemed and find joy again. I know how long the days drag on when sadness sweeps over your spirit and seems to dim all the lights within. But I also know that God‘s mercies are new each day. Today, the Lord just wants you to feel and receive his love. And to trust that he has abundance in store for tomorrow. Like Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Intersecting Faith and Life: I understand how hard it is to hold on when you feel weakened by discouragement or despair. But, I hope today you will find encouragement in the truth of God‘s constant compassion and presence. And that you will hold on just a little tighter to him. Let's release the pressure of feeling we have to pull our own selves up out of the pit and into the world of expectation. Let's just hold on to him. And let him hold us. Friend, let him heal your heart today with his unconditional love. In time he will lift you up to where he wants to lead you. For now, just know you are absolutely never alone, and keep clinging to the good Lord who loves you.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us a Text Message.Check out Jessie and listen to her songs "Hold On To Me" and "Homemade" !! really good stuff, was a blast talking to her!!!  check her website and links to all socialswww.jessiekellieadams.comSupport the Show.The David Bradley ShowHost: David Bradleyhttps://www.facebook.com/100087472238854https://youtube.com/@thedavidbradleyshowwww.thedavidbradleyshow.com Like to be a guestContact Usjulie@thedavidbradleyshow.comRecorded at Bradley StudiosProduced by: Caitlin BackesProud Member of CMASPONSERSBottled Water and Sweet Tea provided by PURITY DairyABlaze Entertainment

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Black Women Amplified, where we celebrate the stories and achievements of remarkable Black women making waves in various industries. Today, we delve into the dynamic world of country music with the trailblazing Rissi Palmer, an artist whose talent knows no bounds.Rissi Palmer is not just a country music artist; she's a powerhouse reshaping the landscape of the genre. With a career spanning over a decade, Rissi has made history and continues to pave the way for artists like her to thrive.Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Rissi's musical journey started early in life. Surrounded by a family that cherished both country and R&B music, Rissi's passion for storytelling through music blossomed. By the age of 19, she had already secured her first publishing and label deal, setting the stage for her remarkable career.In 2007, Rissi released her debut album, which featured chart-topping singles like "Country Girl," "Hold On To Me," and "No Air." Since then, she has independently released several projects, including a Christmas single, a children's album, and an EP titled The Back Porch Sessions. Her latest album, Revival, released in 2019, has been praised as her most personal and uplifting work to date.Rissi's impact extends beyond her music. She has graced prestigious stages such as The White House, New York's Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry, sharing her soul-stirring performances with audiences worldwide. Her advocacy for artists of color in country music led her to launch Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer, a groundbreaking radio show on Apple Music Country. Through this platform, she amplifies voices that are often sidelined in mainstream country music.One of Rissi's notable initiatives is the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund, supporting emerging country artists of color. Additionally, she serves as a Special Correspondent for CMT's Hot 20 Countdown, showcasing the diverse talents and stories within the country music scene.Rissi Palmer's journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and breaking barriers. Her unwavering commitment to inclusivity and representation has transformed the country music landscape, making space for new voices and narratives. Tune in to our conversation with Rissi Palmer as we explore her inspiring journey and the impact of her work on the music industry and beyond.Thank you for joining us on Black Women Amplified, where we continue to elevate and celebrate Black women's voices. Stay tuned for more empowering episodes and remember to amplify your voice and stories wherever you go.Support our Power Partner Vital Body:Feeling drained? Ready to start your vitality journey? Begin your day with a scoop of vegan-friendly nutrition from Vital Body. With 8 servings of fruits and veggies, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and more, Vital Body is the perfect addition to your daily routine. From powder to capsules, they offer convenient options for every lifestyle. I've been using Vital Body for over 20 years and have seen remarkable results. Plus, they even have travel packets for when you're on the go.Use code "Monica20" at www.blackwomenamplified.com/vitalbody for an exclusive BWA discount of 20% off each order.Join our newsletter at www.blackwomenamplified.com/powerstory and receive a complimentary ebook, "5 Ways to Monetize Your Story," as a token of our gratitude.Visit BlackWomenAmplified.com to explore more inspiring content and read our latest blog posts.

Sam Tinnesz is a singer-songwriter and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. He is known for his alternative and pop-rock style of music, which often incorporates elements of electronic and cinematic music. Tinnesz has released several albums and singles, and his music has been featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials. Some of his most popular songs include "Play With Fire", "Legends Are Made", "Even If It Hurts", and "Babel". Tinnesz has also collaborated with other musicians, including Christian rapper Lecrae and singer-songwriter Ruelle.Check out Sam's website here: https://www.samtinnesz.comPaul Duncan is a songwriter and worship leader from the LA area. As a frequent collaborator with many of Christian music's top artists, Paul has had many No. 1 radio singles. Based out of Los Angeles, his songs have been featured on various TV shows and have been heard in radio stations and churches around the world. Some of his most popular songs include Lauren Daigle's “Light of the World,” “Still Rolling Stones,” and “Hold On To Me.” Paul is the co-host and co-founder of the podcast “Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters,” which features in-depth conversations with writers whose music has stood the test of time. Check out Paul's website here: https://centricitypublishing.com/writers/paul-duncan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Tinnesz is a singer-songwriter and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. He is known for his alternative and pop-rock style of music, which often incorporates elements of electronic and cinematic music. Tinnesz has released several albums and singles, and his music has been featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials. Some of his most popular songs include "Play With Fire", "Legends Are Made", "Even If It Hurts", and "Babel". Tinnesz has also collaborated with other musicians, including Christian rapper Lecrae and singer-songwriter Ruelle.Check out Sam's website here: https://www.samtinnesz.comPaul Duncan is a songwriter and worship leader from the LA area. As a frequent collaborator with many of Christian music's top artists, Paul has had many No. 1 radio singles. Based out of Los Angeles, his songs have been featured on various TV shows and have been heard in radio stations and churches around the world. Some of his most popular songs include Lauren Daigle's “Light of the World,” “Still Rolling Stones,” and “Hold On To Me.” Paul is the co-host and co-founder of the podcast “Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters,” which features in-depth conversations with writers whose music has stood the test of time. Check out Paul's website here: https://centricitypublishing.com/writers/paul-duncan/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who will make tonight's playlist. Make sure you tune in for all the hot music and hot topics. Playlist - Chesney Claire - Hours,   Glancy Kelly - Give It A Try, Like That, Hold On To Me, One More Shot,   Chesney Claire - Movin On,  SuperStar Kay - Overtime,  Alexis Finley - All Me,  Degoo x Bren - Fell In Love, DiDi Boo - GoGo,  KDubb - Sipping Wine,  JCroz - Alone,  2Smooth - Pay For It,  Lady Sweet - Epiphany,  Maani Picasso - Zero Below,  Michelle Renee - Love Recipe, Free,  Adrienne LaShe - Friendzone,  MikeT x Big Wes - Low, PJ Ricochet - Touch Ya Toes, Adrienne LaShe - Touch Me Host Rolo Solo Producer Roland Tennyson Engineer Roland Tennyson Email: relax.n.relateshow@gmail.com IG:/FB: @relaxnrelateshow  Visit www.relaxnrelateshow.com ENJOY iFM Magazine, Music Videos, TV Shows, Movies and much more available with Itunes, Roku TV, Tune-In, castbox, blogtalkradio and YouTube!! Download your favorite music app and subscribe to : iFM Plus.

You're in for a treat! Today on Black Women Amplified, we have an extraordinary guest. Please join me in welcoming the talented Rissi Palmer to the show.Rissi's musical journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With a career spanning over a decade, she has cemented her place in the country music scene, exploring and integrating other genres into her music, creating a unique sound she calls "Southern Soul."She released her self-titled debut album in 2007, which featured chart-topping singles such as "Country Girl," "Hold On To Me," and "No Air." Since then, she has independently released a Christmas single, a children's album called Best Day Ever, an EP titled The Back Porch Sessions, and her most recent album, Revival, which has received critical acclaim for its personal and uplifting message.Throughout her career, Rissi has performed at iconic venues like The White House and Lincoln Center and has shared stages with music legends such as The Eagles and Taylor Swift. She has also been featured in numerous publications like Essence, Huffington Post, New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Wall Street Journal, to name a few.In addition to her successful music career, Rissi is also a passionate advocate for diversity in country music. She hosts her own radio show, Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer, which features in-depth conversations with artists of color who have been marginalized in the industry. Rissi has also established the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund, which provides financial support to new country artists of color.As a special correspondent for CMT's Hot 20 Countdown, Rissi continues to share her insights and experiences with a wider audience.Get ready to be inspired by Rissi's story of resilience and triumph. This is an episode of Black Women Amplified you won't want to miss!For more information on Rissi Palmer, visit RissiPalmerMusic.com.Thank you for listening! Please share with your tribe and leave us a great review. Appreciate it!Please support our Power Partners:Buddha Tea: Rich delicious tea with soothing properties perfect for your self-care experience.www.BuddhaTeas.comPodia is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create a website, sales pages, email marketing, a newsletter, and more for one affordable price. You can even start for free. Try PodiaVital Body is a nutrient company that I have used for over 15 years. They have an incredible product called Vital Fruits and Vegetables that contains amazing ingredients, enzymes, probiotics, and greens with no added sugar. My clients love it as well. www.vitalbody.comThey are offering our tribe 20% off when you use the code: OY2N2GLV5AInterested in Black Women Amplified Gear? Go to www.blackwomenamplifed.com/shop to see our signature merchandise. Thank you for supporting our power partners. They help keep the show going. I appreciate it. Monica Wisdom

1. Out Of This World (FloE Deep Feelings Remix): Deep Fog, Djiva 2. Just Want To Give (Original Mix): Sumatra 3. Two & Ten (Extended Mix): Denis Airwave 4. Permission (Original Mix): Spanking Machine 5. Hold On To Me feat. Aza Nabuko (Extended Mix): Ghost Etiquette, Aza Nabuko 6. Auug (Original Mix):Tasso 7. Derb (Extended Mix): Nebula 8. More & More (Yoshi & Razner Extended Remix): Technikal, Kym Ayres, Yoshi & Razner 9. True Sight (Original Mix): SpaceLine, U-Mount 10. Ephemerides (Extended Mix): Andrea Ribeca 11. Dark Side of The Moon (Stoneface & Terminal Dark Extended Mix): SusanaEvery Friday at 6pm (GMT+4) listen to Diversified with Spanking Machine.Los Angeles-based producers/performers Spanking Machine have created an innovative sound that's supported by Markus Schul... Download

1. Cygnus A (Original Mix): Falcos Deejay 2. Route 88 (Original Mix): Tulamor 3. Otago (Extended Mix): Adam White, Ray Mitchell 4. Suffer and Sacrifice (Naughty Naughty Mix): Spanking Machine 5. Two & Ten (Extended Mix): Denis Airwave 6. I'm Flying (Extended Mix): Av, Anton By, Irina Los 7. Awakening (Extended Mix): Dennis Graft 8. Dark Side of The Moon (Stoneface & Terminal Dark Extended Mix): Susana 9. I Miss You (Original Mix): Jameson Tullar, Rebecca Louise Burch, Alex van Sanders 10. Hold On To Me feat. Aza Nabuko (Extended Mix): Ghost Etiquette, Aza Nabuko 11. Your Eyes (Extended Mix): NoMosk, Roman Messer, Airwalk3r 12. Inception (Extended Mix): Andy Cain, Glynn AlanEvery Friday at 6pm (GMT+4) listen to Diversified with Spanking Machine.Los Angeles-based producers/performers Spanking Machine have created an innovative sound that's supported by Markus Schul... Download

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist JP Saxe has released his latest album The Deluxe Edition “Dangerous Levels of Introspection” with the lead single “Soft Landing” and the album also features two additional new tracks, “Love v. Logic” and “Hold On To Me.”

Singer-songwriter Lauren Daigle joins the Bedtime Story to talk about her serendipitous path to a Grammy, Billboard Music Award and Dove Award-winning career.  Lauren also tells Jim how her life in the spotlight is coming through in her songs like in her latest hit "Hold On To Me".

What if you could have that ONE relationship where, no matter how bad you mess things up, the other One won't let go? Our Heavenly Father offers us that stability and consistency we desperately want. When Lauren Daigle sings "Hold On To Me," I think of the many times in Scripture where God promises to do just that. Let's learn more about our Father, who holds us close. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Consult an overview Read in context Start with God Compare and contrast Make a list Meditate on Scripture The 30 Day Music Challenge A trusted overview of Isaiah - BibleProject.com How God not only holds us, but carries us - Isaiah 40:11 How God holds us, has the power to keep us, and has our good at heart - Isaiah 41:10 Staying faithful to study God's Word no matter the stage of experience you are in Starting with God when you approach Scripture Using questions to spur on additional study or leaving them unanswered while you meditate on the parts you do understand An article on "recompense" - GotQuestions.org Correcting any wrong thinking that may say we are hidden from God's sight or that He is indifferent - Isaiah 40:27-31 Additional Resources Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com Chords - Essential Worship The Story Behind the Song "Hold On To Me" by Lauren Daigle - YouTube Video Commentary on Isaiah - BibleStudyTools.com This Week's Challenge Read Isaiah 40 and 41 and note the characteristics, conduct, and concerns of our mighty Creator. Figure out how these chapters of Isaiah fit into the whole by watching the overview videos over at BibleProject.com. Make a list, compare and contrast, and meditate on all that God has revealed Himself to be. Then turn in trust despite your current circumstances knowing that He's holding on to you.

On today's episode of Table Talk Radio we put the song Hold On To Me through the Praise Song Cruncher

After a year of living through a pandemic, we are all uncertain, anxious and even a little bit cranky about things going back to normal. As adults, we have a lifetime of practice building coping strategies that work for our individual personalities and lifestyles. But what about our kids?  A year of distance learning, isolation from friends, disruption of routines and continued uncertainty only adds to anxiety they may already feel and not know how to manage. That's why I invited Sissy Goff on the show today to talk about the state of our kids in a post-pandemic world and how we can better support them. Since 1993, Sissy has helped girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them be, both as individuals and families. She is a sought-after speaker for parenting events and the author of twelve books, including her latest release for teenage girls, Brave. Join us as she shares her insights and knowledge on:  How anxiety and depression manifest differently in boys and girls. Practical ways parents can support their children who struggle with anxiety. The number one thing parents can do to help support the mental health of their kids.   Favorite quotes: 1. Culturally we're just doing too much and moving too fast. And kids are often getting the brunt of that unintentionally from us as adults. 2. For adolescents, so much life for them comes from peers. The loneliness really immediately started impacting them in a very different way. 3. Anxiety is an overestimation of the problem and an underestimation of ourselves. 4. Anxiety is the most prevalent condition among kids but it's also the most treatable.  5. When we can come up with a name for anxiety, it loses its power.   In this episode I answer this question: I want to host Bible study but I didn't go to seminary, is it okay that I host one? (45:13) Great things we discussed: 1. Find Sissy at her website & on Instagram 2. Brave 3. Goodness Of God4. Parenthood5. Late Migrations6. K. McCarthy 7. Hold On To Me 8. Standing Strong Hope you loved this episode! Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and slap some stars on a review! :) xo, Alli  www.alliworthington.com/SissyGoff/

Grammy-winning hit maker Lauren Daigle joins Nancy to discuss her career, the impact of others on her songwriting, the power of humor, her love of community, and the new music video Hold On To Me that highlights the important needs of others (1:26). In the second segment, Grammy winner and singer/songwriter Jonas Myrin shares his secrets for creative inspiration that have helped inspire others and his new single “For The Ones We Love” and the official music video (35:04). Like and follow Entertaining Insights Facebook Page. Watch the official music video for Lauren Daigle’s Hold On To Me. Find out more about The Price Fund. Watch the official music video for Jonas Myrin's For The Ones We Love. Visit Nancy’s website. Learn about segment sponsor the Finding Brave podcast with host Kathy Caprino (1:03, 34:53).

MY GRACIOUS HOW MUCH DO I LOVE LAUREN DAIGLE. From her family's land in Louisiana, Lauren checks in with us, tells us what she learned in the last year, how it has changed her for good, why she almost quit music, and we have a great Taylor Swift Side Bar. Make sure you check out her new song Hold On To Me. . . . . . Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guests! #thatsoundsfunpodcast Thank you to our sponsor! Ritual: Get 10% off during your first 3 months. Visit ritual.com/THATSOUNDSFUN to start your Ritual today!

Lauren Daigle went from a small school with no music program, to one of the most impressive vocalists in the world, and now she's sitting down with Paula to talk about how she has used the hardships in her life to launch herself to a place of success. The two-time GRAMMY Award winner recalls the moment she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that forced her to live in isolation for more than two years as a teenager. She opens up about the depression she experienced and how music became an outlet during those dark days, eventually giving her the courage to pursue her pipe dream. The former American Idol contestant talks about the doors that opened after being sent home early from the show, and how it lead her to an unlikely opportunity that forever changed her life. She also shares the meaning behind her new single, “Hold On To Me,” and the experience she was going through when it was written. The 29-year-old talks about turning 30 and the one thing she is finally concurring after many years of feeling like she was missing out. Click HERE for more on Lauren Daigle.New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe today so you never miss an opportunity to be encouraged through powerful stories.Discover more about Paula at https://paulafarisofficial.com/ or get your own copy of Paula's book, Called Out by clicking HERE

On this week's episode, Jayar got to host a zoom call with Lauren Daigle and the entire Christian Radio Industry. He asked her about lessons learned in quarantine, and of course, they talk about her new song, "Hold On To Me." FOLLOW: The JAYAR Show Lauren Daigle SONGS: Hold On To Me  

We had the pleasure of interviewing Mondo Cozmo over Zoom video!You hear and read countless stories about blood, sweat, and tears all shed in the name of art and—paid like a toll to unseen forces—for its creation. However, you never validate how much of each fluid really flowed...or do you? In this case, blood actually spilled (beyond a lot of tears and sweat) in order for Mondo Cozmo to craft his second full-length and first release for Last Gang Records, New Medicine. Now, he does not regret putting his fist through that window for a second, but the four-hour surgery did suck. Yet, breaking the glass smashed a figurative ceiling. In the aftermath, he learned how to “Say no,” departed amicably from the major label system, “taped a fucking pick to his cast” in order to play guitar, lost feeling in the aforementioned hand for two years, attracted the wisdom of Butch Vig (“the dude of dudes!”), and wrote the rock ‘n’ roll record he always meant to write. The most rock ‘n’ roll thing about it isn’t the right hook, the guitars, or even the attitude. It’s the moment of self-actualization by the Philadelphia-born and Los Angeles-based critically acclaimed alternative troubadour and gutter punk poet.The man himself, Josh Ostrander, tells the story best.“We were shooting a live video on a sound stage in Culver City, and I fucking lost it, because the whole thing didn’t feel like me,” he recalls. “I never lose my cool. I try to be the leader I want to see. A switch flipped, though. I thought I was looking at a dumb foam wall in the studio, but it was the glass door. I punched it so hard that when I pulled my hand back out you could see the eruption of blood everywhere. Turns out, I clipped all of these arteries. My drummer pulled a handkerchief from my pocket, tied a tourniquet around my arm, and my tour manager took me to the hospital. It turned out to be therapeutic. So many beautiful things happened. Since I made such an ass of myself, I knew the next record had to be the best thing I’ve ever fucking done,” he laughs.As performing proved a challenge to say the least, he took a primitive approach to writing in addition to enlisting the help of some friends. With the pick taped to his cast, he simplified the chord structures and allowed the anger to ring out (you can hear his cast hitting the strings) as he wrote in his home studio. He invited longtime friends and tourmates Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to lend their talents to the project as Peter Hayes cut guitar and Leah Shapiro performed drums on multiple tracks. Not to mention, legendary producer Butch Vig professed his fandom for Mondo Cozmo on a podcast, so Josh found a way to get in touch. Butch then became a sounding board and “father figure” throughout the whole trip.In the midst of the recovery, Josh’s doctor prescribed an antibiotic, doubling as an omen.“When I was on the antibiotic, I was coming up with all of these fucking songs,” he says. “I told him! He looked at me and said, ‘Do you actually think it’s the antibiotic? Or, do you think because you said what you needed to, you’re writing these?’ I thought, ‘Maybe, he’s right’. So, I called the album New Medicine as it stemmed from the whole experience.”He introduces the record with the revved-up snarling rock of “Black Cadillac.” A slithering clean riff snakes around tambourine. On the bridge, everything subsides into a steeple-size chant upheld by handclaps before the affirmation, “I’m alright.”“We had these seven-hour van drives during the Kavanaugh hearings, so we’d watch them,” he goes on. “I call him out on the third verse, because I feel artists should be speaking up right now. Don’t play in the middle of the road. Use your words. At the same time, the song is also very much about being on the road and getting sick of Instagram.”A rush of guitars builds towards the sweeping and soaring “Come On.” For the only co-writer of the project, he joined forces with Dan Wilson and summoned the spirit of “Cracker’s ‘Low’” with teeth bared and glorious feedback swells. Elsewhere, “Generator” climaxes on a glorious chorus of “Come Release Me” bound to be a high point of any and all upcoming gigs. “It’s just fucking beautiful,” he grins. “Upside Down” tempers a tweaked-out sample and plain-spoken lyrical musings with “a social narrative about watching the news every night” on the edge of an off-kilter guitar solo. He adds, “I like the idea of the song being out in 2020 in the election year of everything upside down.”Mondo Cozmo’s music has all the makings of the soundtrack to the current era and beyond. His 2017 full-length debut, Plastic Soul, boasted the #1 single “Shine.” In addition to performing everywhere from Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo and garnering acclaim from Entertainment Weekly, Consequence of Sound, and more, he made his television debut on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, toured alongside Bastille and Spoon, and opened for Muse. Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons joined him for a live duet on The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony,” while Anna Faris starred in the video for “Hold On To Me” and Paz de La Huerta starred in the video “Higher.” GRAMMYs On The Hill invited him to speak in support of the Music Modernization Act during 2018. Even though Josh admits, “I’m not sure I graduated high school,” he got to ride the underground trolley to the senate that JFK used. He joined various members of congress at a celebratory dinner where he stared down the urge to steal a spoon—his wife assured him it was not a good idea….That brings us to New Medicine. You can be sure Josh’s blood went into New Medicine; you’ll also get to know him better.“I feel like I’m the dude you want to introduce to your family, but he might be on acid and will still hug you,” he leaves off. “I’m very much a blue collar guy who’s trying to do right. I went through something pretty profound. It happened so I could find myself. It’s a release. There are certain lines I hope will resonate with people. I’ve gone through enough shit. I’ve played every fucking club. I’ve slept on everybody’s sofa. I’ve opened up for every band. I want to take over the world. I want to be true and honest. I want to live with conviction. I just feel like I have a shot right now.”  — Rick Florino, July 2019We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com.www.BringinitBackwards.comAmerican Songwriter Podcast Network#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod  #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork​​Listen & Subscribe to BiBFollow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 

Songwriter Rissi Palmer discusses her new podcast, "Color Me Country" and her newest album "Revival." The daughter of Georgia natives, Rissi Palmer was born near Pittsburgh and spent her adolescent years in Missouri. Raised in a musical family that loved both country and R&B, she sang in a singing/dancing troupe sponsored by a local television station at 16. She was offered her first publishing and label deals at 19, and in 2007 released the album Rissi Palmer, charting with the singles, “Country Girl,” “Hold On To Me,” and “No Air.” She followed with a Christmas single, an independently released children’s album, Best Day Ever, and an EP called The Back Porch Sessions. Rissi has performed at The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry, has appeared on Oprah & Friends, CNN, the CBS Early Show, and the Tavis Smiley Show. She has shared stages with Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Chris Young, and Charley Crockett, and she has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, People, Parade, Ebony, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post. To follow Rissi on Social Media: www.instagram.com/rissipalmermusic/ www.twitter.com/rissipalmer music by Rissi Palmer audio editing by Sheridan Wilbur For access to more content visit: daviddelaneymayer.com/thereandback © David Mayer Films, L.L.C.

Songwriter Rissi Palmer discusses the personal inspirations that drove her to create her most recent album "Revival." The daughter of Georgia natives, Rissi Palmer was born near Pittsburgh and spent her adolescent years in Missouri. Raised in a musical family that loved both country and R&B, she sang in a singing/dancing troupe sponsored by a local television station at 16. She was offered her first publishing and label deals at 19, and in 2007 released the album Rissi Palmer, charting with the singles, “Country Girl,” “Hold On To Me,” and “No Air.” She followed with a Christmas single, an independently released children’s album, Best Day Ever, and an EP called The Back Porch Sessions.            Rissi has performed at The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Grand Ole Opry, has appeared on Oprah & Friends, CNN, the CBS Early Show, and the Tavis Smiley Show. She has shared stages with Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Chris Young, and Charley Crockett, and she has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal, People, Parade, Ebony, Newsweek, and The Huffington Post. To follow Rissi on Social Media: www.instagram.com/rissipalmermusic/ www.twitter.com/rissipalmer music by Rissi Palmer audio editing by Sheridan Wilbur For access to more content visit: daviddelaneymayer.com/thereandback © David Mayer Films, L.L.C.

This isn't the first time Kelly has attempted to enter the music industry. In fact, he's has modest success for a few years, including a short stint in the early rounds of the FOX reality show American Idol. “While I consistently received praise from the producers, I never moved past the non-televised portion of the contest,” he said. “It was a wake-up call for me. I have these ideas and content that break the convention mold of ‘filler' lyrics, and I realized that I was going to have to make my own dreams come true. That's why I put out ‘Hold On To Me' a couple of years ago. The positive response has been overwhelming. My followers on Soundcloud just exploded, and some of the heavy-hitters in the music industry began to take notice.” “Not only did I learn a lot of instruments as a kid, but I also taught myself how to sing,” he said. “I've been singing now since I was 17 or 18. A lot of people have vocal coaches, but I didn't have that and I taught myself to sing. I just kept practicing, trying to be good at it. I really believe that all you need is a steady tone and the ability to hold a note and you can do some things in this industry.” “Now or Never” is available for purchase on iTunes, Spotify and other digital media sites. Fans who want to sample more of Kelly's music can visit his Soundcloud page, or check out some of his music videos on YouTube. Fans can also follow him on social media @glancysinger on Twitter and Instagram and www.facebook.com/glancykellyofficial

The homie Zack Martino starts off in the hot seat this week over something he said in another interview, we talk about his decision to work on his own sound vs just remixes, our favorite moments of our week in Miami, his track, "Hold On To Me", and some heat he got for the last time he was on the show. We also recap our busy weekend where Spirito DJ'd our first Beats & Booze Brunch in Jersey City, Dramos was on the float for pride, Flipz went to hang with Pauly D, and the talking to Spirito got from friend of the show.

The homie Zack Martino starts off in the hot seat this week over something he said in another interview, we talk about his decision to work on his own sound vs just remixes, our favorite moments of our week in Miami, his track, "Hold On To Me", and some heat he got for the last time he was on the show. We also recap our busy weekend where Spirito DJ'd our first Beats & Booze Brunch in Jersey City, Dramos was on the float for pride, Flipz went to hang with Pauly D, and the talking to Spirito got from friend of the show.

show#607 09.06.15 GONE On The Level - Baby Gone Left Me from ????? (3) 0 (3:26) Jerry Portnoy - Real Gone Guy from Poison Kisses (3:16) Willie Dixon - Since My Baby Been Gone from Big Three Boogie,Catfish (3:00) Big Head Todd & The Monsters - Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Ft. Charlie Musselwhite) from 100 Years Of Robert Johnson 2011 (5:47) Gangbusters - Gone from Stomp Stomp 1987 (2:12) John Hammond - My Baby's Gone from In Your Arms Again 2005 (3:36) Willy DeVille - It's Too Late She's Gone from Acoustic Trio In Berlin 2002 (4:00) Ray Bonneville - Gone Too Long from Gust Of Wind 1999 (3:36) Bob Meyer - When I'm Gone from Threefold Return 2008 (3:02) Buddy Whittington - Every Goodbye Ain't Gone from Buddy Whittington 2007 (2:59) Charlie Watts Quintett - Going, Going, Going, Gone from A Tribute To Charlie Parker 1992 (7:12) Eddie Boyd - She's Gone from 7936 South Rhodes 1968 (5:36) Blues 'N' Trouble - Long Gone Man from Blues Is A Tramp 1992 (6:35) Rory Block - I'll Be Gone from Angel of Mercy 1994 (4:28) Van Dyck - She's Gone from Blue Smoke 1999 (5:24) Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - My Chains Are Gone from Jump Start 2012 (4:30) Grand Marquis - After You've Gone from Hold On To Me 2010 (3:09) J.B. Hutto & His Hawks With Sunnyland Slim - The Feeling Is Gone from Hawk Squat 1968 (3:20) John-Alex Mason - Gone So Long from Jook Joint Thunderbolt 2011 (3:32) Matt Baxter & Jake Sampson - Little Girl Gone from Haunted 2012 (4:20) Rick Holmstrom - I'm Gone from Hydraulic Groove 2002 (3:49) Ian Moore - You'll Be Gone from Modernday Folklore 1995 (5:17) Arthur Ebeling - Gone Away from Simple Man 1993 (3:18) The Meters - I'm gone from New Directions 1977 (4:24) Michael Powers - another man done gone from Songs From Onyx Root (6:08) Nat Dove and the Neo-Classic Blues Ensemble - Has the World Gone Mad? from Real Texas Piano Blues 2006 (6:42) Shane Dwight Blues Band - True Love's Gone from A Hundred White Lies 2011 (5:53) Mighty Mo Rodgers - Gone Fishin' from Blues Is My Wailin' Wall 1999 (4:21) Professor Longhair - How Long Has That Train Been Gone from Rock 'n Roll Gumbo 1977 (3:30)

*2010, and still one of the most downloaded mixes to date!* 15 uplifting grooves to celebrate the summer season. 80 minutes of non-stop music. Download and enjoy!

This months show includes new smashes from Armin Van Buuren (once again), A & N Project (Agnelli & Nelson's alter ego), Stoneface & Terminal, and a throwback from FKN. 1. Armin Van Buuren - Hold On To Me (featuring Audrey Gallagher)2. Markus Schulz - Perfect (featuring Dauby) (Jerome Isma-Ae Remix)3. Stoneface & Terminal - Endorphine (Original Mix)4. Ronski Speed - All The Way (Original Mix)5. Rafael Frost - Run To You (Rafael Frost Remix)6. A & N Project - Just When I Think There's An Answer (Genix Club Mix)7. Seth Hutton - Don't Look Behind You (feat. Judie Tzuke) (Mike Shiver's Catching Sun Remix)8. Markus Schulz - Without You Near (Alex M.O.R.P.H.'s Sacred Light Remix)9. Pulser - Things You Say (Ambrosial Remix)10. FKN - Why (feat Jahala) (Aly & Fila Mix)