Podcasts about Israelites

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible! I think it's because the Israelites enemies thoughtthat they had won, yet really God had the last word! The Philistines discovered that God ispowerful, more powerful than their god Dagon.Year A Quarter 4 Week 47All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Father Lead Me Day by DayWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: SummerPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

As we come to the end of our journey through the book of Joshua, our hero is now elderly—over 100 years old. He realizes his time of leading his people will soon be over. So, he calls the people together and gives a remarkable farewell speech. He begins by reminding them of the covenant God had made with their ancestors. He invited each of them to enter into that covenant, to choose to be loyal to God above all else. Abraham said, “I'm in.” Isaac and Jacob each in turn said, “I'm in.” Hundreds of years later, Moses said, “I'm in,” and even Joshua himself had made that choice. “I'm in. All in.” Now, as he prepares to pass from this earthly life, he asks his people, “What about you?”He reminds them of all the ways God had led and protected them, miraculously giving them the land upon which they now stood. He knows that the temptation to assimilate the local gods into their worship would be fierce. In fact, it was already happening. So, he makes this challenge: “Choose for yourselves whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The Israelites, moved by Joshua's words, answered, “We're in! We will serve the Lord, too!” But Joshua knows them all too well. “You can't do it.” Joshua was pushing his people to really think through what they were committing to. See, talk is cheap. It's easy to say you'll follow God. But what will you do when serving God costs you? When someone important to you chooses another way?The Israelites raised their voices to quell Joshua's doubt. “No! We will serve the Lord and obey Him.” This same challenge is laid before you today. “Choose for yourself whom you will serve.” If you choose a life of loyalty to God, there are some timeless truths it would be wise to understand. 1.     You need to know that your allegiance will be opposed.There are Satanically-inspired strategies all around us trying to trip us up—hoping to woo our hearts and compromise our values. We must be alert.  2.     You need to see that your decision might be a lonely one.When I was a young believer, I learned a song that has stuck with me over the years.  It says: “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.” The last stanza says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back.”To make a decision to serve God wholeheartedly…and for your family to be “on mission” for the Kingdom…might well be lonely.   3.     You need to understand that your dedication needs to be shown and not merely said.Are you a noun Christian or a verb Christian? A noun Christian is just a title you wear. A verb Christian is a life you live. 4.     You need to trust that your resolution will be worth it. To follow the Lord wholeheartedly will pay off with dividends that are literally out of this world. “Choose yourselves this day whom you will serve.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”What about you?  Text: Joshua 24Originally recorded on December 11, 2016, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN

In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have.The Rosary is foremost among them.Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.The Great Rosary Campaign is an ongoing prayer and penance campaign for the conversion and strengthening of both Catholic and non-Catholic leaders.THIS WEEK of the Great Rosary Campaign, we will pray for the conversion of Ben Shapiro to the Catholic Faith.The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a 24 hour water fast, adjusted for your state in life.Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:Keeping the FaithMoral renovationConversions of non-CatholicsThe Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).Sign up to take part in the Great Rosary Campaign today: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com

The Lord is always at work. And the Lord is for you. Do we remember what the Lord has done? Do we take time to give thanks for it? Join Pastor Mike and Tyler as they dive into Psalm 118 and see how the Israelites celebrated the faithfulness of the Lord. Support the show

The Suffering of the Psalmist      The Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psa 119:67). The word translated “went astray” is שָׁגַג (shāgag). According to HALOT it means “to make a mistake inadvertently, unwittingly…to go astray.”[1] It connotes moral or spiritual deviation (cf. Prov 5:23; Isa 53:6). Ross states, “The verb (שָׁגגַ) is used in Leviticus for unintentional sins; but here it probably includes rationalized, deliberate sins because he was wandering from the way of God. He was not walking by faith in obedience to the word, and so he suffered some affliction at the hands of the wicked; but now he was keeping God's oracle, the word “keep” (שָׁמַר) referring to a meticulous observance of all that God required in his covenant.”[2] The significance is that the psalmist admits he was drifting from obedience, not necessarily into outright rebellion, but into carelessness or neglect of God's Word. The affliction became God's means of correction, turning his wandering into renewed obedience. Thus, the term highlights human tendency to stray and God's faithful use of discipline to restore. A few verses later he states, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes” (Psa 119:71). Affliction is seen as a teacher that drives God's people back to His Word. Ross adds, “The psalmist is able to acknowledge that his affliction worked for his good because it forced him to learn more of God's plan revealed in his word. In learning through adversity, he discovered the word God personally revealed in human language was far more valuable than silver or gold [Psa 119:72].”[3] Then, the psalmist states, “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me” (Psa 119:75). Ross states: "The affliction he has been experiencing came from God, even though it was through arrogant oppressors. The principle was laid down in the experience of Israel in the wilderness: God tested them to see if they would obey or not (Deut 8:16). Those who understand the ways of God know that ultimately it is his plan to exalt the righteous and destroy the wicked, but that in his wisdom he often humbles the righteous before exalting them."[4]      Taken together, these verses trace the movement from wandering, to correction, to obedience, and finally to worshipful recognition of God's faithful purposes. They teach that affliction, far from being wasted, is a tool in God's hand to sanctify His people and anchor them more firmly in His Word. We don't like trials or suffering, and we often ask God to remove them, much like Paul asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7). However, we find that most of the time God chooses not to remove our difficulty, like He did not remove Paul's (2 Cor 12:8-9), and we must learn that what He does not remove, He intends for us to deal with, and this by faith (2 Cor 12:10; cf. 2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6). The Suffering of Joseph      Joseph's life stands as one of Scripture's clearest demonstrations of how God employs suffering to shape the faith and character of His people. Betrayed by his brothers and cast into a pit, Joseph was sold into slavery and carried away to Egypt (Gen 37:23–28). There he endured the humiliation of serving as a foreigner in Potiphar's house, and though he prospered by God's favor, his integrity in resisting Potiphar's wife led to false accusations and unjust imprisonment (Gen 39:1–20). Even in prison, where he was forgotten by those he had helped (Gen 40:23), Joseph displayed remarkable faithfulness, refusing bitterness and maintaining trust in God's providential hand. Each stage of his trial pressed him deeper into dependence upon the Lord, refining his character for the weighty responsibilities that awaited him. His hardships were not incidental but instrumental in God's design, preparing him to serve as second only to Pharaoh and to become a channel of blessing to countless lives.      Joseph consistently interpreted his life from the perspective of God's providence, not merely in the well-known statement of Genesis 50:20. When he first revealed himself to his brothers, he sought to comfort them with the assurance that their sin, though grievous, was under divine control: “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen 45:5). He went further, declaring, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen 45:7–8). In both statements, Joseph acknowledged the reality of human betrayal but deliberately framed it within the larger purposes of God. He viewed his sufferings as divine instruments for the preservation of life and the fulfillment of covenantal promises.      Later, after Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers again feared retaliation, but Joseph reaffirmed the same perspective, saying: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen 50:20). This statement serves as the theological climax of his narrative, demonstrating how God overruled human evil for His own purposes. According to Radmacher, “God works His good plan even through the evil plans of evil people. Even the worst events can be used in the hand of kindly Providence for His good.”[5] Even at the end of his life, Joseph's confidence remained fixed on God's providence. Altogether, Joseph voiced this divine perspective at least four times (Gen 45:5; 45:7–8; 50:20; 50:24–25), revealing a mature faith that consistently interpreted suffering through the lens of God's sovereign care. The Suffering of Moses      Moses' life reveals how God employs prolonged suffering and repeated trials to shape His servants into men of spiritual depth and usefulness. After killing the Egyptian, Moses fled into exile, spending forty years in Midian as a shepherd (Ex 2:15–25). This season of obscurity was not wasted but was God's classroom for humility and preparation. Though Moses had been educated in all the wisdom of Egypt (Acts 7:22), he needed the quiet discipline of the desert to unlearn self-reliance and to grow in patience and dependence on God. The Lord used these years of hiddenness to refine his character and to equip him with the endurance necessary for leading Israel. This long exile reminds believers that God often uses seasons of difficulty, waiting, and obscurity as essential training grounds for future service. Moses would later emerge not as the impulsive prince of Egypt but as the meek servant whom God could use to shepherd His people. Wiersbe states: "The man who was “mighty in word and deed” is now in the lowly pastures taking care of stubborn sheep, but that was just the kind of preparation he needed for leading a nation of stubborn people. Israel was God's special flock (Psa 100:3) and Moses His chosen shepherd. Like Joseph's thirteen years as a slave in Egypt and Paul's three years' hiatus after his conversion (Gal 1:16-17), Moses' forty years of waiting and working prepared him for a lifetime of faithful ministry. God doesn't lay hands suddenly on His servants but takes time to equip them for their work."[6]      When God called Moses to return to Egypt, the trials intensified. He faced the hardened opposition of Pharaoh (Ex 5–12), who resisted every divine demand, bringing repeated conflict and mounting pressure. Beyond this, Moses bore the weight of constant complaints from the Israelites themselves, who murmured against him at the Red Sea and in the wilderness over water and food (Ex 14–17). Such trials might have broken a lesser man, but through them God deepened Moses' humility and dependence. Scripture later records that “the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Num 12:3). His humility came as he suffered hardship—first in Midian's solitude, then in Pharaoh's defiance, and finally in Israel's stubbornness. Each trial stripped Moses of self-confidence and taught him to rest in God's power and presence. Thus, Moses' life illustrates that suffering, though painful, is God's tool to produce humility, endurance, and spiritual maturity in His people, preparing them for greater responsibility and usefulness in His service. The pathway to spiritual maturity sometimes runs though the valley of hardship and suffering. Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.   [1] Ludwig Koehler et al., The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1412. [2] Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150): Commentary, vol. 3, 523. [3] Ibid., 524–525. [4] Ibid., 529. [5] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 83. [6] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, 182-183.

“Can you clarify the Fall of Man?” This episode delves into the complexities of humanity’s original sin, exploring how Lucifer’s fall relates to Christ’s incarnation. Additionally, we tackle intriguing questions about the identity of the woman mentioned in 2 John, the credibility of the Targum Neofiti, and the implications of Old Testament commands. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:57 – Guadalupe Radio… The fall of man sounds circular to me. Can you help clarify it? Lucifer falls because he knew God would become man. Then he causes man to fall thus Christ becomes man. 15:06 – A BYU scholar claims he knows who the name is in 2 John 1. He said it’s a woman named Eclecta and his conclusion came from reading the letter of St. Clement. What are your thoughts on this and What is the Catholic position on who she is? 22:49 – What is Q? What is the evidence behind it? 36:05 – In the OT the Israelites were told to kill all men women and children in the promised land. Is it too far a stretch to connect this with Christ wanting us to kill off all sin within us? 46:10 – How credible is the Targum Neofiti? What do we as Catholics know about it? 52:10 – What is ‘this' in Matthew 16:18 that Jesus built his Church on?

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible! I think it's because the Israelites enemies thoughtthat they had won, yet really God had the last word! The Philistines discovered that God ispowerful, more powerful than their god Dagon.Year A Quarter 4 Week 47All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: Father Lead Me Day by DayWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here:Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this week: SummerPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/ for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music.To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

Presented by Lauren Stibgen As Christians, we often consider ourselves servant leaders, but how was this phrase born into our business vocabulary as something to aspire to whether you are a follower of Jesus or not? And why do we consider servant leadership biblical at all? First, for those of you who missed the conversation about the roots of servant leadership in secular business, it all began in 1970 when Robert Greenleaf mused over an allegory about a servant who ended up being a leader of a great band of men. This story was not biblical, but it sparked the thought that those who serve with an others-first focus can become some of the greatest leaders; more than leaders who are bestowed with a title who desire power, authority, and self-focused gratification. The phrase servant leader is not specifically found in the Bible. How many times is the word leader even used in the Bible? Just a quick look in my Bible's concordance—you know the list of words in the back with references to verses—the word leader is not listed. Only, lead, leads and led. People who lead are listed. Rulers along with kings, but both rulers and kings would better describe appointed positions of authority. In the New Testament, the word diakonia—meaning servant or service—is the most used word to describe people in leadership. Not surprising the words servant, servants, serve, and service take up much more space in the concordance than any of the other “official” terms for the appointed offices. Perhaps this is why we are drawn to the term servant leader as followers of Jesus. It is deeply connected to the Word of God in describing those in the early church. In Romans 16:1 speaks of Phoebe, a servant and patron of the church. 1 Corinthians 3:5 exhorts, What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. We know each of these servants were in fact leaders of the early church. All early church leaders had one thing in common—submission and obedience to the will of God in their lives. They looked to their relationship with God in Jesus before even considering the work before them. In his book, Forgotten God, Francis Chan sums up our need for seeking and submission well in his introduction when he writes, “…as believers we can never be done with God. He is infinite and we are finite; there will always be more of his character to discover, more of his love to experience and more of his power to use for his purposes.”[1] More of his power—not my power—to lead. His power made perfect through me for his purposes. True servant leadership begins in submission to God through Christ Jesus. We see this throughout Scripture. We see the success of those who submit themselves to the Lord's will and the failure and despair of those who choose to lead by selfish ambition and pride. True servant leadership as a follower of Jesus Christ starts with a posture of submission. Is this on a leadership description for your next job—must be willing to submit. We can all say probably not. But are you willing to submit in order to become a better servant leader? God rarely uses the shiny, well-educated people to make the biggest impact for his kingdom. Remember, the disciples were mostly fishermen and a tax collector! So, if you are submitted, be prepared for God to use you as a servant leader right where you are! I have thought a lot about the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Submission to the will of God was most of his story, and God used him to glorify himself during a deeply sinful time filled with idol worship. Found in 1 Kings, God used Elijah to give word to Ahab of a drought in the land. During this time, the Lord sent Elijah away where ravens and a non-Israelite widow provided for him! We learn he stayed by a river for a while, and when it dried up, Elijah moved on. He was completely reliant on God and obedient to his call. Finally,

Al and Zach lose their composure when John Luke walks onto the set with a surprise introduction to his pet mascot, sparking a favorite memory of Phil comparing himself to the late Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. The guys then examine Moses' response to the Israelites building a golden idol while he was in God's presence receiving the Ten Commandments. Al adds that Indiana Jones' treatment of the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark might be one of the few things Hollywood ever got right about God's power and beauty. In this episode: Exodus 20, verse 20; Exodus 24; Exodus 32; Exodus 33; Exodus 34; 2 Corinthians 3; Hebrews 11; Hebrews 12; John 14; John 16; 1 Corinthians 6 Today's conversation is about lessons 8 of The Exodus Story taught by Hillsdale Professor Justin Jackson. Take the course with us at no cost to you! Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/⁠ More about The Exodus Story: Explore God's mercy as he leads Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Exodus is a central narrative of the Bible. It recounts the moment that God reclaims Israel as his people, rescues them from slavery in Egypt, and establishes the Ten Commandments to guide their moral and religious freedom as an independent society. In “The Exodus Story,” Professor of English Justin Jackson picks up the biblical narrative where his course on Genesis ended. Join Professor Jackson in learning about the nature of God's mercy, human freedom, and the relationship between the divine and man. Enroll today to discover the beauty of God reclaiming the Israelites through his mercy and love in “The Exodus Story.” Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-08:49 A large reptile joins the guys on set 08:50-17:04 Self-worship is the human condition 17:05-26:26 Israel's fast fall into idolatry 26:27-33:00 The hissy fit of Moses & facing consequences 33:01-41:08 Indiana Jones shows the terror of God's glory 41:09-48:36 Leaders come & go, so prep the next generation — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the tenth episode of "The Mystery of Seeds," Duane Sheriff reveals the biblical truth about the dual nature of reaping, which can be either a blessing or a hardship. While we often reap what we sow, there are also instances where we reap where we did not sow.This dual reality, rooted in John 4:35-38, shows that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they reaped cities they had not built and vineyards they had not planted. This parallel helps us to recognize the unearned blessings in our lives, while also understanding our responsibility to sow good seeds.This mystery reveals why some believers struggle with self-condemnation when facing challenges, not realizing they're experiencing casualties of living in a fallen world. Understanding this principle offers incredible freedom—no longer questioning, "what did I do wrong?" Instead, focus on sowing good seeds by faith through God's grace.The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries

There is a clear distinction between "Israelites" and "Hebrews" in the Bible and secular writings from antiquity.  It's a mistake to homogenize the two.  It's also a mistake to extrapolate from the Exodus passages that either Hebrews or Israelites were practicing Judaism at this time.  Judaism did not exist yet, and a careful examination of the life of Moses and his family history will clear up a lot of the confusion that surrounds this topic.  VF-2514 Exodus 18 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

This episode originally aired Oct. 15, 2024. On the night of Oct. 16, 2024, Jews around Canada welcomed the holiday of Sukkot, having erected temporary wooden or cloth structures outside their synagogues and homes. While celebrating in their makeshift shacks, many told stories of the huts that ancient Israelites lived in after their exodus from Egypt. Meanwhile, in modern-day Canada, a different kind of exodus is happening across the country: young Jewish families, along with Canadians of all stripes, are finding themselves priced out of the housing market, fleeing their home cities to find affordable houses in ever-farther destinations. While the cost of a sukkah kit may seem steep these days, in the hundreds or low thousands, it pales it comparison to the national average cost of a house: nearly $650,000. As a result, housing organizations are stepping in to find creative solutions. One such company with deep Jewish roots is Ourboro, whose COO, Eyal Rosenblum, is the son of Israeli immigrants. The company essentially buys a stake in your house by lending you up to $250,000 for your down payment. Whatever the percentage of the down payment is, that's what you'll have to pay them back once you sell. The idea has caught on, with real estate developer Miles Nadal having joined Ourboro as a key investor. Eyal Rosenblum joins The CJN Daily to explain how this concept can help some Canadians afford homes, and why his Jewish values align with the idea. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here )

Worship rituals are interspersed between the conquests in Joshua. This leads to a Sabbath School lesson emphasis on the need to prioritise time with God even amongst adverse circumstances. But reading the book of Joshua suggests that the Israelites may not have seen these events in this context. We've already seen how the military and religious aspects of entering God's Promised Land were entwined in ways that make us a bit uncomfortable. We're drawn to words of the great Joshua of the New Testament - Jesus himself - which seem to provide greater clarity.

Pastor Jack Morris brings us a powerful message titled God's Arm Reaching. We'll begin by looking at how God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt—a powerful demonstration of His deep love and compassion for His people. Through this act of deliverance, God showed that He hears the cries of His children and moves with power to set them free. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1528/29?v=20251111

Our text is Deuteronomy 15:1, 4-5: "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts…there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today." Old Testament laws are not always easily applied to us because they concern Israel as a nation state. These laws about the Sabbath year, when debts are cancelled and land is returned to the families it was originally given to, are such instructions. We live in a very different context and economy. However, we should not pass them by too quickly. Our economy is largely rooted in the principles of scarcity. We are all in competition for limited resources. But that is not the way it was meant to be. The creation was able to provide for its creatures. The land Israel received as a gift from God was able to provide sufficient resources for each Israelite. "There need be no poor people among you." This was rooted in a deep belief that God would provide. Sabbath was, at least in part, a space of deep joy and celebration for Israel because life was secure in their covenant Lord. As such, this weekly rest from work, offered room for generosity to bloom in the hearts of God's people. If God provided, then his people could provide for those who had less. Israel was to be a nation of generosity, just like the God who had freed them. This generosity is a quality that grows in those who follow Jesus. Luke's description of the early church includes this, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Acts 2:44-45). And two chapters later, this is added, "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had" (4:32). Those who take time for Sabbath, who learn to rely on God, find themselves growing in generosity. The authors of the Heidelberg Catechism understood this. They teach that "especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God's people" to, among other things, "bring Christian offerings for the poor" (A 103). Israel's generosity was rooted in her memory of slavery from which God redeemed her (15:14-15). In the same way, "God's indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15) is the source of our generosity. In an economy of scarcity, generosity is foolish. For those who 'rest' as an act of faith in the God who provides, there is space for generosity to take root. Sabbath keeping is a pause that refreshes us and can transform society. As you journey on, hear Jesus' invitation: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).

(Ws.18:14-16,19:6-9; Ps.105:2-3,5,36-37,42-43; Lk.18:1-8) "He led forth His people with joy; with shouts of joy, His chosen ones." "They beheld stupendous wonders." Before their eyes, "out of what had been water, dry land was seen emerging." And so, sheltered by the mighty hand of the Lord, they crossed over, from the land of bondage to freedom. And in their joy "they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs…" praising the Lord, "their deliverer." This is the story of our own salvation; this is the way of our own redemption from the sin which holds us bound on this earthly plane. Our exodus, too, must come. The Lord shall return to earth. As He was faithful in leading the Israelites forth from the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves four hundred years, so He will not forget us who have been in the bonds of Satan upon this plane. Our deliverance, too, will come. Yes, my brothers and sisters, God will "do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night." He will not "delay long over them" but will "give them swift justice." The vision of the Israelites at the Red Sea will be our own. Before our eyes we will see the dry land appearing. We shall rejoice at the Lord's hand guiding our steps out of this dark land. "An unimpeded road" we shall travel, moving toward His promised land. Yes, heaven will be ours. The first-born of Satan, the flower of his evil, shall be destroyed in the stillness of the night, and truth and goodness and light will emerge victorious; and we shall be led forth, as it were, "laden with silver and gold," rejoicing in the abundant blessings of our Lord and God. He does not delay. He will not delay. We wait, yes, and struggle with our faith… but He is ready – He does not have to be asked twice. But as our hearts are weakened by sin, we must be encouraged, we must continue to pray, always, even in the face of darkness. Through the darkness the Lord's light shall come shining, if we remain faithful in our cries. So, "sing to Him, sing His praise… O hearts that seek the Lord!" for He is near in all our prayers, and shall lead us forth into His blessed kingdom. Alleluia! ******* O LORD, your justice is swift but who is there that calls out to you, that desires your hand at work in his life? YHWH, what marvels you have worked for us; for we who were overshadowed by sin, who seemed trapped by its darkness, abandoned to its clutches, have been mightily delivered from sure death and destruction to stand with you in your kingdom. And should we now have no faith in you? Should we fail to cry out to you for secure protection? Will your justice not come quickly to us, whom you so love and for whom you so desire salvation? O LORD, let us not be so foolish as to doubt your good will toward us and your power to save us; let us not forget the wonders you have performed for us even to this day. And what greater wonders await those who hope in you! For the dry land we shall soon stand upon when your Son returns, when He has overshadowed our enemies and redeemed us from all darkness, shall be the Promised Land of Heaven. O praise you, LORD! Your people glory in your holy NAME.

"Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it." Psalm 37:34 In our fast-paced world, the concept of waiting can feel daunting. Yet, waiting on God is like a potter working diligently with clay, shaping it with care until it becomes a masterpiece. Just as the clay must undergo the delicate process of molding and drying, so too are we being shaped and refined while we wait. This wait is not merely a pause; it is an active process of faith where we trust in God's perfect timing. When we reflect on Psalm 37:34, we are reminded, “Wait for the Lord and keep His way.” In other words, patience aligns us with divine rewards. Like the Israelites who journeyed through the wilderness in anticipation of the Promised Land, our own periods of waiting can lead to profound blessings. Their story teaches us that while the journey may take time, those who remain steadfast in faith ultimately reach their destination. Isaiah 64:4 says, "No one has ever heard, nor has any eye seen, any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Let me paraphrase Isaiah 64:4, you see "The world rushes to make things happen; God moves where trust makes room. When you pause, heaven proceeds." The Lord is constantly working for our good, and His richest blessings often come to those who learn to wait in expectation. It is in this waiting that our relationship with Him deepens; we become more attuned to His voice and more appreciative of His grace. Remember, "Waiting on God isn't idle; it's the quiet ground where miracles set their roots. Patience is the prayer you live before the answer arrives." Each moment spent waiting becomes an opportunity for hope to blossom in our hearts. Just as the potter sees the final design before the clay is fully formed, God sees our potential and the plans He has laid out for us. Our faith during these times can significantly uplift our spirits and inspire those around us. Amen. Micah 7:7 says, "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Amen. Prayer for the Day!Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us of the blessings found in waiting on You. Holy Spirit, help us to trust in God's perfect timing. Grant us patience when the path feels long and unclear. Teach us to wait actively — praying, praising, serving, and obeying — rather than striving in our own strength. Quiet our anxious thoughts and steady our hearts with your peace. Lord, as we wait, make us faithful, joyful, and courageous. We believe you are working all things together for good. We rest in your character, your wisdom, and your love. In Jesus' name, amen.

The evidence is abundant showing a nearly continuous Jewish presence in the Holy Land since ancient days and linking modern Jews and ancient Israelites. __________ Access Truth Rising The Study: Educators' Edition at colsoneducators.org.

One of the deadliest wildfires in US history decimated the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in August 2023, killing ninety-nine people and destroying more than two thousand buildings. Still reeling from the devastation, residents experienced additional trauma when some looters pillaged buildings and greedy realtors attempted to gobble up land. The corrupt desire to take advantage of tragic circumstances is the backdrop of a strong message from God to the nation of Edom. The prophet Obadiah warned the Edomites, Israel’s enemies for generations (Ezekiel 35:5), of God’s coming justice because the Edomites used their geographic advantage (Obadiah 1:3), acquired wealth (v. 6), alliances with other nations (v. 7), wisdom (v. 8) and military strength (v. 9) to exploit the weak. Obadiah also rebuked the way Edom gloated as Israel was sent into captivity. Instead of compassion, Edom looted Israelite homes and marched through defeated cities in victory (vv. 12-13). Although Lahaina residents saw despicable actions, they also experienced kindness when churches on the island became hospitality centers offering shelter, hot meals, and emergency supplies. When someone is suffering, we face a similar choice. We can try to benefit from their loss. Or we can respond in the way God desires, like the churches in Lahaina, with kindness and generosity.

On Sunday, we continued studying Jeremiah's warnings to the Israelites, spotlighting how they began to image other gods instead of Yahweh. As Mike Erre put it, we become like what we worship. Not that there's anything relevant these days in that idea, but our community had lots of questions about idols, disagreement, forgiveness and reconciliation. So, Tim Timmons, Kevin Dixon and Suzie Lind are here to help respond to those queries.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro01:04 If pumpkin spice lattes were a person07:50 Seth Erre shout out14:00 Qontent, questions and qlarifying responses begin- - - - -Have a question or comment for the NOW team? Join the conversation by texting us at ⁠⁠+1 615 861 9503⁠⁠.

In this stream I discuss and attempt to answer, What is a Jew? and show how Jewish identity has changed over the years. This stream demarcates three unique periods, from creation to Abraham, from Abraham to Christ, and from Christ to today. Make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think. God Bless

“This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” — Leviticus 16:34 When I was 12 years old, I told my father a lie—and I soon found that I had to tell more lies just to keep the first lie going. It felt like something ugly had taken over my soul, and I couldn't get rid of it. That was guilt, and most of us learn at a young age how destructive it can be. Guilt festers in our soul; it can wear us down, even physically; and it can erode our relationships. Guilt is related to a moral standard, and since we fall short of God's standard, we all live with guilt.Leviticus 16 is the thematic center of God's law. The Day of Atonement illustrated how God would remove the guilt of all his people. Because sin contaminated the community and everyone in it, the priest made atonement for his own sin, his family's sin, and the sins of all the people; then he did the same for the tabernacle, since it was contaminated by the people's uncleanness.Two goats were chosen. One was killed, and its blood was poured out to signify that the penalty of death was paid. The other goat became the scapegoat and was sent out into the wilderness.But the Day of Atonement ritual couldn't deal fully with our guilt. No sacrifice of animals could truly pay our debt. But when Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30)—the price for our sin was paid once for all! When we confess our sin, we can be assured that Jesus has atoned for us and that our guilt no longer counts against us! Gracious God, in Jesus' name we confess our sins and ask for your forgiveness. Thank you! Amen.

Digital ID, Universal Basic Income, the coming cashless society all leads to the Mark Of The Beast!

Welcome to Day 2730 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2760 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 90:10-17 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2730 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2730 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title of today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Wisdom to Number Our Days – A Prayer for Satisfaction and Significance Today, we reach the conclusion of the oldest psalm in the Psalter, Psalm Ninety, also known as the timeless Prayer of Moses, covering its remaining verses, ten through seventeen, in the New Living Translation. In our last conversation, we explored the sobering first half of this psalm. Moses established the immense chasm between the eternal God—our “home” and refuge who predates the mountains—and the transient life of man, who vanishes like a “dream” or “grass” that is withered by evening. We acknowledged that our fleeting years are often spent under the cloud of God's righteous anger against sin, as He sets our “secret sins in the light of [His] presence” (Psalm Ninety, verse eight). Now, Moses moves from somber theological reflection to a fervent, practical prayer. Recognizing the brevity and the sorrow of a life lived under divine displeasure, he prays for wisdom, mercy, and ultimate significance. This concluding segment is the mature response to our mortality: since our days are numbered, how can we ensure they are counted for something eternal? So, let us open our hearts to this ancient and vital prayer, learning how to redeem the time God has given us. The first segment is: The Frailty of Life and the Plea for Wisdom Psalm Ninety: verses ten through twelve Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Moses begins by stating the typical limit of human lifespan, a stark number based on his long experience with the dying generation in the wilderness: "Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty." This lifespan, while a gift, is often limited, but Moses acknowledges that longer life isn't always better: "But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away." This speaks to a universal truth: even the healthiest and most prosperous years have their share of hardship—a reality that the ancient Israelites knew...

WATCH THE PROMISED LAND HERE https://thepromisedlandseries.tv/ Crossing the Red Sea was the easy part. We can't stop raving about this show for a reason. It's FREE to watch on YouTube & the full season is out now! Literally run! Scripture comes to life in this humorous & realistic take on Moses & the Israelites heading toward the promised land after escaping Pharaoh's reign.  — In this episode, the girls hang w Todd Wagner, founding pastor of Watermark Community Church & good friend. They talk about how Jesus is often portrayed as different than what the scriptures communicate—& what that means for our life today? Does God want me to be happy? How do I know I'm blessed, & can I feel that way about things that aren't overtly spiritual? Is laughter important to God?  PS—you'll have a laugh & love Jesus more after listening.  We love you holy babes,  Laura & Nico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Prayer to Know God is Faithful to Go Before Us by Erin H. WarrenGod is always one step ahead of us. In today's episode by Erin H. Warren, we look at Deuteronomy 31 and Moses’ charge to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land. We are reminded that God doesn’t send a messenger — He goes Himself. His presence leads, surrounds, and sustains us. Psalm 139 paints this same truth beautifully: God hems us in, behind and before, and His hand is upon us.Reference: Deuteronomy 31:8 Prayer: Lord, we know that you are faithful and that you go before us. So please open our eyes to see all the paths you have prepared for us. Please help us walk in confidence and not fear. Give us strength to walk in obedience to your word. LINKS: 5 Promises of God to Build Faith Connect with Erin Warren Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon. Discover more Christian podcasts at LifeAudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at LifeAudio.com/contact-us Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This chapter highlights the power of God in leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

2532 - IDF Sgt Maj Chaim Malespin joins the trio to unlock the mystery of ancient Ai and reflect on the Israelites' greatest defeat. The brothers visit Ammunition Hill, where a recent archaeological find verifies supernatural intervention.

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” — Matthew 8:3 Rules in Leviticus about skin diseases and rashes may not make for the most comfortable reading—especially if we are reading this at mealtime. And there is a lot more here about things that made an Israelite “clean” or “unclean.” This section of Leviticus includes all kinds of requirements about foods, bodily fluids, and sacrifices. These commands describe whether a person was fit for participating in worship as a part of God's people.These laws didn't necessarily say that a person had committed a sin, though. Rather, the person had come into contact with something that made them ritually unclean—usually a bodily fluid, a certain kind of animal, or a skin disease. When a person was “defiled,” steps were needed to restore purity—usually bathing, waiting for a period of time, and bringing an offering. An unclean person also had to take care not to touch other people because that would spread the uncleanness. These laws reminded the people that God desired holiness in all areas of life. From eating food to having children to taking care of one's body, God's call to holiness was always in view.Yet people could not make themselves holy. Only a priest declared whether that was so.And this is vitally good news for us. When Jesus healed people, their impurities flowed to him, and his purity flowed to them. In the great reversal that makes God's salvation possible for us through Jesus, we are made pure once for all! Lord Jesus, thank you that although we are not holy, you make us clean by taking our impurities away. Amen!

Have you ever wondered why God doesn't show us everything at once? Deuteronomy chapter 29 reminds us that while some things remain hidden in the heart of God, He has revealed more than enough for us to trust, obey, and live faithfully. This chapter is all about covenant — a covenant renewed, remembered, and reaffirmed. The Israelites were standing on the edge of the Promised Land, and Moses called them to renew their promise to walk in obedience and to keep God at the center of their hearts. Every man, woman, and child was invited to recommit to the Lord, to turn away from idols, and to live as a people set apart. Deuteronomy 29:29, says, “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” This verse calls us to a simple but powerful truth — we don't have to understand everything to obey completely. God has revealed what we need to know in His Word, and the rest we can safely leave in His hands. Join us for this episode of Woman at the Well Ministries as Erika Klose teaches from Deuteronomy chapter 29, reminding us that true faith is built on trust, that obedience flows from love, and that God's revealed truth is always enough. Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

This Sunday we embarked on a journey of raw truth and invitation: discovering how our personal preferences—the way we expect life and God to look—can quietly shape how we experience Him and sometimes limit what He wants to do. Through valleys and victories, we've seen God remain our constant; yet when storms hit and our timing didn't match our expectations, our preferences often took center stage and our eyes drifted from Him. Using the example of the Israelites and the golden calf, Pastor Shayna reminded us that when we cling to our way, we leave less room for God's way. But in His kindness, God invites us to notice where we've held too tightly, not to condemn us but to draw us closer and bring freedom. This week, let's humbly lay down our preferences, surrender our need for control, and create space for God to be God in our lives. Let's refuse to let our boxes define Him—and instead let His presence redefine our reality.

Send us a textThis is not a moment to say that we're defeated as Christians. It happened to the Israelites. It happened to the early church. What if ... God allowed it to happen for our good and to advance the Gospel? Listen in. Be emboldened. Support the showhttps://www.hisvessel.org/podcast

Moses doubts whether the Israelites will believe him.God responds with 3 signs.We discuss the symbolism of these signs.Thanks to Rabbi Prof. Yonatan Grossman whose teachings were enormously useful in preparing this podcast.

In the old covenant, the average Israelite was not allowed to enter into the holy place, and only the high priest was allowed to enter into the most holy place. This earthly tabernacle was a shadow and predecessor of the heavenly pattern, wherein sinful men like us cannot enter into God's holy presence. Thankfully, we have a high priest in Jesus, for he is able, not only to enter into His Father's presence, but to cleanse our consciences. He cleanses us, not with the blood of bulls or goats, but with his very own blood. In so doing, Christ is the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Unlike the old covenant which required continual sacrifices by imperfect men, Christ has entered into this heavenly tabernacle, or one “not made with hands” and has made sacrifice once and for all. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Everyone is tempted. Avoiding temptation is not the issue. How we handle temptation is. This week we explore how praying over temptation can lead us to a place of blessing. Just as Moses offered the Israelites their choice, so we must face ours as well.

Fr. Mike elaborates on the significance of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. He points out that the location of the Jordan River is particularly noteworthy because it's the same river that Joshua crossed over to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, signifying that Jesus will bring about a new exodus. Additionally, it's the lowest spot on the planet, symbolizing Jesus' humility. Finally, Fr. Mike emphasizes that when we are baptized, we are adopted as beloved sons and daughters of God because what belongs to Jesus by his nature is given to us by God's grace. Today we read Luke 3-5 and Proverbs 25:27-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

The people of God have always been a singing people, and God's servant Moses was no exception. He sang God's praise after leading the Israelites to safety, and sang his second and final song just before he died. Join Dr. James Boice as he examines the reason and the meaning of one of the greatest songs of Scripture. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/81/29

Worry has a way of sneaking in and taking over, but Ephesians 3:20-21 reminds us of something worry can’t compete with: a God who is able—able to do exceedingly, abundantly above anything we ask, imagine, or fear. When anxiety rises, God invites us to remember His power, His faithfulness, and His perfect track record. From parting seas to opening parking spaces to carrying us through life-changing moments, He proves again and again that nothing is too big or too small for His care. Highlights God interrupts our worry with reminders of His presence and power. Scripture anchors us when our minds want to spiral into fear. God cares for both the “small things” and the monumental moments of our lives. Nothing can thwart God’s plans—His purpose always prevails. We worry because our vision is limited, but God sees the whole story. Remembering past faithfulness strengthens our confidence in present battles. Jesus stands ready to answer the “door” when worry comes knocking. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: God Is Able By: Alexis A. Goring Bible Reading: “ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV “Why are you worried?” God interrupted my thoughts with this question to ponder before I could start a downward spiral in my mind. He then put the lyrics to a song I hadn’t heard in years into my head. The song “He’s Able” by Deitrick Haddon ministered to my spirit and lifted my thoughts heavenward. It was through the message of this song and reading Bible verses that support it that God breathed new life into me and reminded me that He is still in control. He let me know I can always take my concerns to Him. The Bible says we are to “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). But how often do we keep our worries in our grasp and push God away? Perhaps we think that ruminating over our problems will somehow solve them. I’ve learned that way never works! The good news is that we have a Savior (Jesus Christ) who is exceptionally good at saving us from everyday disasters and ultimately, saving our souls (John 3:16-17) so we can make it into our final destination (Heaven). Over the years, I’ve learned that when worry comes knocking on the door of my mind, I need to remember who God is and let His Son (Jesus Christ) answer that door and send worry running away from me for good. I’ve found that when worried, it helps to remember Bible stories of how God delivers His people. One of my favorite scriptures to illustrate that point is the story about when God parted the Red Sea for His children (the Israelites) to pass safely to the other side then He drowned their enemies who were in pursuit behind them by returning the sea to its natural form! This is the same God who is alive today. The same Lord who is available to help us 24/7/365 because He never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:4). When worried, it is important to recall God’s faithfulness to us. He is Almighty, Sovereign, Faithful, and True to me and you. God is able to accomplish everything He has planned for our lives on Earth and in the world at large. No human or evil supernatural force can thwart God’s plans. His purpose always prevails (Proverbs 19:21). Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37)! So why do we worry? I think it’s because we’re still human, mere mortals with finite vision. But the good news is we serve an Immortal God with infinite vision! The Bible says that God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He’s planned out all the days of our life (Psalm 139:16), and He knows what He’s doing. God has a perfect track record of being trustworthy, and He does all things with perfection. God shows up for us in little ways and big ways. Such as the time when I needed a parking space in an office lot that is often full. Recently, as I prepared for an appointment, I prayed about this on my drive to that small space, and when I arrived, there were four empty parking spaces! This proved to me that God cares about the small things. When I was in my last few weeks of graduate school, our professor told us that if we made more than two mistakes on our final paper, then we would fail her class and not graduate. I asked all my God-fearing family and friends to pray for me about this serious situation, and God answered our prayers! I passed her final class and received my graduate degree. This proved to me that God cares about the big things! In closing, I’d like for you to listen to this song, “He’s Able” by Deitrick Haddon, then remember that God is a loving Heavenly Father who provides for all our needs daily. So next time you feel a wave of worry crashing over you, reach out to Him. He’s always there. Our Lifeguard (Jesus Christ) walks on water. He won’t let us drown. We just need to remember that He is able to rescue us, sustain us, and help us reach our true home (Heaven). Intersecting Faith & Life: How does it feel to know that we serve a God who is able to meet our every need and exceed our greatest expectations? Further Reading: Isaiah 40:29-31Luke 12:24Psalm 37:25Philippians 4:6-7Hebrews 7:23-25 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Danny shares his journey to becoming a youth director, encouraging youth to stand firm in faith. The study of Hebrews chapter 11 highlights faith through Old Testament examples. Moses exemplifies faith, prioritizing spiritual riches and leading the Israelites to salvation, emphasizing the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus.

When trouble is on the horizon, it can be hard to trust in God's promises, and to believe He has a plan for us.The book of Judges in the Old Testament gives us an awesome example of trusting God in the story of Gideon.God called Gideon to lead Israel into battle with the Midianites, who had a sizable army of 135,000 men. Gideon gathered an army of 32,000 men to battle with the Midianites, but despite odds in favor of the enemy, God told Gideon there were too many men in his army. Through a selection process, God whittled the Israelite army down to just 300 men.Though Gideon was afraid, he trusted God to fulfill His promise. And God told Gideon they needed a smaller army so people would know God won the battle, and not some large army.The night of the battle, Gideon and his servant snuck into the camp of the enemy and overheard the telling of a dream. The two Midianites interpreted the dream to mean that Gideon's small army would wipe out their larger army.Reassured, Gideon returned to camp to begin the battle. The Midianites were so frightened, many of them began fighting and killing one another, thinking that Gideon's army was all around them.Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Gideon trusted God's plan, even when he didn't understand. Because of his faith, God helped Gideon and the Israelites to conquer the Midianites with an army a fraction of the size of the enemy's.Let's pray.Lord, you are mighty to save. Help us to trust you in every battle. We love you, and believe you have a plan for us. Give us courage to face the challenges in our lives, knowing you are here with us, and you have a good plan. 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.

In this insightful sermon, we explore the profound themes of Revelation 21 and uncover the true meaning of wealth within the framework of God's kingdom. Listen in as we discuss how the faithful witness of the church can transform adversaries into allies and how the material benefits of this world are meant to glorify God and expand His temple.Journey with us through biblical history, from the Israelites' Exodus and return from exile to the early church's mission, and learn how God continually redeems and repurposes earthly wealth for worship and mission. This message challenges us to reflect on our relationship with money and urges us to give joyfully and sacrificially in line with God's divine purposes.Join us as we delve deeper into aligning our resources with our faith, transforming assets into tools of redemption, and preparing for the growth and multiplication God desires for His church. Embrace the call to partner with God and let your heart and wealth serve the advancement of His eternal kingdom.Follow us for more messages that inspire faithful living, and don't forget to share this transformative sermon with others.#Revelation #ChristianPodcast #Generosity #Wealth #KingdomImpact #FaithfulStewardship #ChurchGrowth #Transformation #ListenAndGrow

The Second Story and the Third Heaven This week I'd like to visit the architecture of resurrection. Yes, such a thing is possible! Scripture gives us several examples from literal buildings. Last week's newsletter gave a hint with the resurrection patterns in the homes of the women who extended hospitality to Elijah and Elisha. There are even more examples than that.   Just to review, the last several newsletters have investigated the Torah's ancient call to hospitality, not just a a nice thing to do, but as a vital preparation to inherit the Kingdom. Our hospitality study trail through the Torah, Prophets, Writings, and New Covenant started with Song of Songs 5:1, a restoration of the Bride and Bridegroom to the Garden of Eden:   • "I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk. Eat, friends; drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”   Elijah in 1 Kings 17:9 protected the widow and her son during the famine. Because she used the last of her flour and oil to feed the prophet of YHVH, she never lacked during the tribulation. She also hospitably gave him an upper room in which to dwell during the famine. In return, her son was resurrected from the dead in that upper room. Because she ministered to the man of God during an apocalyptic famine, she received multiplied miracles of nourishment and resurrection.    And in Elisha's “double portion” fashion, he performs two resurrections for the hospitality of the upper room. First, the barren Shunnemite woman is rewarded with a son, and then later the son is resurrected from the dead:   • "Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually. Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.” (2 Ki 4:8-10)   The Shunemmite furnished her upper room with the furniture of the Mishkan. She made a little House for the Presence to dwell over the daily activities of her lower rooms. Elisha, a righteous visitor, was the stand-in for the very resurrecting Presence of Adonai.   The upper room is the highest room of our home, a set apart place, yet attached to the rest of the home. What we furnish in the upper room blesses the rest of the home...or not. It can be where heaven meets earth...or not. When the Shunnemite woman constructed an upper room, imagine it as a third story built atop their own living quarters in the second story. Not a brand-new building, but one atop the existing one.   Although now more symbolic because its examples are drawn from building construction in ancient times, today we still have upper rooms, those spaces we make to host the righteous believers who will accept our invitations. The visitor becomes the presence of Yeshua in our homes, especially during Shabbat.   During the Iron Age (1000–586 BCE; the First Temple Period), the "four-room house" dominated Israelite architecture. The four-room house with pillars was widespread already, but it often had more or less than four rooms. The majority of houses only had three rooms, but could also five or more. The house had long rooms and a transverse broad room in the back, which could be partitioned by walls or columns.   The ground level housed valuable livestock and had a working area for storage, weaving, food preparation, or other working tasks. The second level had the living quarters. A rooftop had an area for drying certain products, such as flax or fruits, and it was used as sleeping quarters in the intense heat of the summer for the cool breeze.  

What if cultivating joy in your homeschool could be as simple as saying "good morning" with intention or creating one silly family tradition? In this conversation with Amber Smith (mom of 10!), we're exploring how gratitude practices transform not just your homeschool, but your relationships with your kids and your ability to handle the overwhelming seasons.From speaking life over a strong-willed child to filling your own tank when you feel depleted, Amber shares honest, practical wisdom that will help you step back and see the beautiful life you're actually building.In this episode:✅How cultivating joy through simple habits like "good morning" changes your family atmosphere✅The power of speaking life over difficult children instead of defeat✅Why remembering where you've come from creates gratitude in overwhelming seasons✅Practical gift-giving traditions that build thankfulness (including a hilarious "most beautiful of women" story!)✅How to find community and fill your tank when you're running on emptyReady to practice gratitude with your family? Grab the FREE 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge hyperlink mentioned in this episode and join hundreds of families starting November 1st!Recommended Resources:30 Days of Gratitude ChallengeGrand Prize GiveawayThe Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year: Self-paced Course & Guided Journal. Book available on AmazonIn Due Season CoursesAmber Smith Amber Smith and her chef husband of 28 years raised ten wild children in southern Iowa. Her desire to help homeschool parents avoid burnout and build their best lives with strong relationships led her to start blogging at 200 Fingers & Toes. That is where you can find the latest articles, product reviews, and new In Due Season Homeschool Podcast episodes.Show Notes:Why Gratitude Can Give You PeaceWe are talking about a topic that I really think can slow you down and move you to a little bit of peace and joy, and a chance to maybe take that coffee break, or a bathroom break, or whatever you need to just get some peace. We are talking about gratitude today.My friend Amber Smith is here, and she's gonna be able to just bless you in your homeschool and in your family.Amber: I really enjoy getting to share with you and connect with the audience, and I'm looking forward to this 30 Days of Gratitude. I feel like it's such a good and important season to remind moms to just kind of step back and evaluate and assess kind of where we're at, and bring back an attitude of gratitude so we can kind of go forward into the holiday season realigned.Y'all, I'm gonna tell you right now, if Amber can focus on gratitude, and she has 10 kids, she calls herself 200 Fingers and Toes, then any homeschool family, any family at all, can take a step back and not get into the pressure.Meet Amber Smith: Homeschool Courage LenderAmber: One of the reasons why I started the blog was because so many people were hesitant to homeschool, and thought they weren't capable or equipped, and didn't have enough of X, Y, or Z. Really the main reason that I started sharing my story was because I wanted to show people that anybody could homeschool.Really, the desire to homeschool was the most important thing. Beyond that, it's just skills that you could learn. I was a high school dropout, I was involuntarily homeschooled for my last two years of high school. I got a job and took some classes at the community college.Coming forward as a homeschooling mom, I really didn't have a view of homeschooling and kind of had to find my own way. I have a heart for moms who are jumping into homeschooling and discovering it for themselves, and kind of making a roadmap for themselves that makes the most sense.I call myself a homeschool courage lender. I want to lend the courage to moms who are starting, so that they can get that for themselves, and then take that and start building homeschool that really fits them and is personalized to their life and family.We have 10 kids. I have graduated 7, and I have the last 3 at home right now. I am kind of on the downward slide. We're all down to high schoolers, and it's a very exciting time at our house, because I get to see the fruits of that, and I get to see the fruits of all of our children's lives, and how homeschooling has provided them with some skills.Cultivating Joy Must Be PracticedYou have made a comment that gratitude must be cultivated, nurtured, and practiced. What does that really look like in a real family life, especially when you have 10 children, or you still have those 3 at home?Amber: I was thinking back, what were the things I had to reset my brain to imagine me back at the table with 7 children, 7 and under, starting our first day of homeschool. Even that just makes my heart just so excited to see it was just an idea at the time, and we weren't really confident about what it was going to look like long-term in the future.One of those things that I think is so important about practicing gratitude is kind of looking at where you've come from and looking at what you have accomplished so far. I think so many times, we get to this certain place, and there's so many obligations and so many things we need to do, but sometimes it's just to sit back and be like, hey, you know what? This was the struggle we started with this year, and we really have come a long way, and we really have overcome that challenge.We kind of do yearly evaluations, and we talk about the skills that we want to build with our kids, or maybe character things that we want to address. At the end of the year, we go back over that list, and we see what we wanted to work on at the beginning of the year.Some years we've missed the mark completely, and we just put that on the list for next year. But oftentimes, as we go back and look at the things that we've wanted to learn or establish with our family, we can see that, oh wow, actually, we did make a lot of groundwork.The Power of Simple Daily HabitsOne of the things as a homeschooling mom is your job is never done. Never. The dishes will always be there, laundry will always be there, school will always need to be done. Without a finish line, I think it's really important to set some artificial places where we can stop and kind of evaluate what we've done personally.Amber: With our kids, a few really small ways we've established gratitude—I think it was a quote from Little House on the Prairie, but Pa said, good morning is one of the best words. I deeply feel that. Good morning is probably the most important thing that we can say to each other every day.That's just a tiny habit that we've established. When you wake up in the morning, when you see that first person, we greet each other, and we say good morning, and we usually give each other a hug. We're a huge I love you family, so we obnoxiously say I love you in our house, and we say it to our friends, and we say it to people's parents.That's just a habit that we've created, because we do love each other, and we want to acknowledge that. Taking the time to acknowledge the people in the room, taking the time to stop and say hello and how are you—those are little things that sometimes we just think are niceties, but actually they're establishing a heart that looks at other people and sees them.That is so good. When you started, you were talking about homeschooling just keeps continuing, sometimes you need to take a stop and look at what's happened. It made me think of the word remember, and it's a word in the Bible that's used over and over.God was telling the Israelites, remember when I did this, and remember this. Now, whenever I see it, I use colors in my Bible. I put an orange rectangle around it, and it just pops out. That idea is used over and over in the Bible, and I think we do need to remember all the good things that God has done.I also like that you didn't say, we failed in this. You said, we missed the mark, and I was like, what a great way to say, okay, we missed the mark, but we're going to keep moving forward.Gift-Giving Traditions That Build GratitudeLet's sort of take that gratitude. We're in the holidays, the Thanksgiving holiday, which is all about thanks. How do you use gift-giving and your family traditions to build gratitude during the holidays?Amber: The first holiday I thought of, was we actually have a tradition for Valentine's Day. I buy a little cup, and I fill it with candy, and we put them all around the table, but I always put a card and pens. I make all of the children write a little note, so each person has their name on the card, and then all of the other kids go around the table and just write a little message to their siblings, just what they love about them.I just think it's just one of those times—we can create different opportunities. I just felt like Valentine's Day is about love, and so it was a great opportunity to tell our siblings what we love about each other.Now my oldest daughter's married, and my son-in-law came over for Valentine's Day, and he got a card with all of the things that the kids love about him. About a month later, I went to their house, and it's on the fridge. Those are actually really meaningful things.I'm a words of affirmation person, and so sometimes maybe our gifts and our love languages we can use to kind of bring out things in other people. You can create your own holidays, you don't have to wait.Definitely at Thanksgiving, it's busy, and so I really try to create some intentional opportunities that we don't bypass and forget. We try to just create some times where we sit together, because the holiday I host, it's 30 people plus at our house.When She Forgot to Actually Give ThanksI know we had one Thanksgiving where everybody left, and I thought, oh my gosh, we did no actual Thanksgiving things. We just ate. We ate, and we visited, we played games, and we moved on, and I just remember feeling like a check in my spirit that I don't want to do this again. I don't want to miss the opportunity of having gratitude and sharing with each other what we value about each other and what we're thankful for.So we try to set a time that we can say what we're grateful for. For me, Christmas is really busy, and so the same thing kind of happens. We host, we have family come in, it's just a swamped, crazy house over here.Amber: I bought—I can't remember who it was—but they had a Christmas tree fold-out book that just did an Advent every day, and it was an ornament that you got out of the little book, and you hung up, and it had a little card. I just thought, I just need a crutch. I need something to help me become grateful. I need something to help me practice gratitude.I love how the Lord had the Israelites build pillars, and build remembrances, and build things that they physically saw in front of them to help remind them of that moment, and to help them be grateful for what happened. When they passed the river, they had them put the pillar of stone so they would remember their crossing and remember what God did.I think it's very on task to say, let's use tools that we have in front of us to help us be in the front of our mind about gratitude. If you find a devotional—the She Reads Truth had some kids cards that had a little Advent plan all the way to Christmas.Finding a tool that helps you be intentional, I think, is a great way to just help you all focus. The kids loved it, so if the kids like it, they will make you do it, and I think that's a great way to have your kids involved, because they will make you remember.Kids will remind you. When I was at my daughter's last January, she just had a baby, and I had the other two. She was at the hospital longer than was expected for various reasons. I was going through this devotional that I had given the kids.By the end of the week, they come home with the baby on Friday or Saturday, and the little 3-year-old at the time, he's like, GG, Bible book, Bible book, Bible book, because every day we were doing this little devotional. Even a 3-year-old, they're like, we've been doing this for 4 days, so get us going.You said something I think is really important, and that is you need crutches. I think crutches are not bad. You don't feel like, I'm not good enough, so I've got to use this other stuff. That's why God's given us a lot of different gifts, to be able to be intentional. Sometimes we have to think ahead, and then we need to choose what might help us the best.The "Most Beautiful of Women" StoryLet's talk about self-care and taking care of ourselves. If moms are struggling to sort of take care of themselves, or to just feel grateful about what God's doing in their life, what would you suggest to them? I know some of them are overwhelmed and not appreciated, and they got a lot going on.Amber: First of all, I thought of a funny memory. I had a period of time where I am a words of affirmation mother, and I felt very empty in the gas tank. I had 7 little ones, and just a high-intensity need life. I just felt like I was not getting enough positive words fed back to me.So I made a rule that the oldest boys, whenever they answered me, they had to say, yes, mother, most beautiful of women.It was hilarious. It went on for a year. For a year, every time I said, boys, go do this, yes, mother, most beautiful of women. I tell you what, it was kind of a joke, but it filled my tank, and it made me—it just really did. It filled my heart.Sometimes a silly game—sometimes just take the stress and anxiety and horribleness out of it, and just try to be fun, and create some silly ways that you can maybe communicate things that you need to hear, or that your kid needs to hear.It was very funny, but it was at a really hard time in life for me, and I really needed positive words. It was such a great season that the kids answered me that way, and they would do it at church, they would do it at the store. It was very, very entertaining, and it just became a fun little habit. Sometimes you can be creative, and you can fill your own tank in ways that maybe just are silly and cute.Building Community That Fills Your TankAmber: I have a book, Six Keys to Your Homeschooling Success, and one of the chapters is about community, and building community. I really think that in seasons where we are the sole person at home with our kids, and carrying the responsibility of homeschooling, we need support.It's really, really important to find people that are maybe in your same life area, people that you can talk to, and people that can support you, and also people who can reflect back to you the same situations or what's going on.I have probably changed friends groups 3 times. My early friends who had kids that were my oldest kids' ages stopped having kids. Then we kind of outgrew those friendships, because then I had a whole bunch of little kids again, so we made some new friends.Each time that we have come to a place where I had a different set of needs, and I had a different set of situations that I was dealing with—when I moved to having high schoolers, our church had closed. We really forcibly lost our community because we were a very rural church, and so when it closed, all of those people lived 70 miles outside of our circle.I remember hitting a place where it was about a year that we didn't go to church because we were kind of in a place where we weren't sure where we wanted to go. I remember just telling my husband, I need people. I'm gonna find somewhere, because I have high schoolers, I am in the middle of just all of these things, and I need support.I think it's really good for us to kind of maybe evaluate and say, where do I need support? If that's joining a women's group, if that's getting involved in your church community, if that's joining a homeschool co-op, wherever it is that you can maybe find a place that fills your tank.Even if that's something outside. I started blogging and writing because that was one of the things I really wanted to do. I wanted to be a writer when I grow up. Working with other writers and bloggers—something that filled my tank so that then when I had to give out and homeschool and do all those things, I had some things that I looked forward to.In whatever capacity that is, looking at somewhere that fills your tank and can kind of give back to you, but I think in building community, it's one of the best places where you can get human interaction that feeds your soul and fills you up.I love that story with your kids. We should have fun together as a family. You do need to fill your tank. I also think sometimes when I write down things that I'm grateful for, that actually lowers my stress and gives me peace and joy, because it's like, get your mind off your problems and get it on to God.Laughing and having fun together—when you just have that really deep belly laugh, it just feels so good. Find ways to add some fun to your family, even if you're a really serious, somber person. Everyone needs to laugh as well.We do have different seasons of life. You might need to find some new people. You want to find people that will encourage you in your season of wherever you are right now.Speaking Life Over Strong-Willed ChildrenI know you also mentioned how gratitude changed your relationships with your kids. Is there anything that you could say about gratitude, about how maybe it changed your marriage, your relationships with your kids, or maybe even the way that you homeschooled?Amber: One of the ways that gratitude has really helped me in my relationship with my kids—I am not a controlling person, and I'm a pretty mellow, even-keeled person. I have some intensely control-oriented children. That can be a conflict, and it can be really hard.There are personality things that we have to resolve as homeschooling mothers that can feel all-consuming, and can feel really difficult. I remember going through a really difficult time with my oldest daughter. It was hard, and her personality is very different than mine, and it can feel personal.When you're dealing with a child who just doesn't think like you think, and maybe challenges you and your parenting, it can feel like they're out to hurt you. That's just because our mother hearts are tender. We want to love our kids, we want to do best by them, and so when things are hard, that can be really difficult.I remember going to my best friend, and I was just complaining. I just needed somebody to hear me. I remember she just kind of called me out, and said, hey, you know what? I'm hearing the words that you're saying about your daughter, and what a brave, beautiful friend to say this. She just said, I think that you should really think about the words that you're speaking, and maybe look at that and see if you could speak life over your situation.For half a second, I was deeply offended, because your friend should hear you, and should hear your heart, and let you complain, but you know what? God bless that she loved me so much that she called my attention to that. I was being really negative, and in my negativity, I was being defeated about that situation. I was really giving up my power and claiming that I was powerless.In that check that she gave me, I really became intentional and started to speak life over my daughter. Even though she was very strong-willed, I just said, you know what? God made this child this strong-willed. That means that he has a purpose for her that is so great that she needs all of this tenacity to be able to accomplish that.If I destroy that, she will never be able to do what God has called her to do. My job as her mother and the person who's helping her hone these skills and talents is to help her use this power well. I started being like, I'm a partner with God in helping this child create her purpose.I just started to speak life over her, and I think that is gratitude. When we can look at a situation and step back and call out what is true and what is real, because we know who God created us to be, we know who God called our children to be, and speak life.That was just one of the ways, and that really was a turning point in our relationship. As I began speaking life over her, we went from screaming at each other in the living room. It was a hard season. Now, she's 25, and I will say that child is my best friend.All of her siblings are kind of shocked that we are so closely knit together, but we did the work. We worked really hard on our relationship, and really worked on being grateful and kind and forgiving and grace-filled to one another, even in difficult situations.Sometimes stepping outside of what you see and just shaping your view of your family, your view of your situation—sometimes husbands can be frustrating. They live in a different world, and they come home with different mindsets and different things that they've got on their mind, and so we can battle, but also we can step back, and we can be like, you know what, I'm so thankful for the things that my husband does so that I can be here in this place and in this position I am now. We're a team.I think gratitude kind of puts us back on the same level again and gives us a heart where, hey, we're equals in this place. Sometimes my husband and I will sit in bed at night, and we just talk about when we first met, or the funny things that brought us together. I think that's one of the ways that we practice gratitude, is by remembering all of the ways we've succeeded, and all of the hard things we've gone through.I think it's important in our relationships to remember the struggles and the difficulties and the overcoming, so that we can get back to this place where our hearts are knit together and we're on the same team.The Power of WordsWords are so important. Words can cut you down, but they can build you up. Too often, I can get really negative and start saying things, even about—I love my children, but they could do something that sort of grinds on me.I have a statistic—something like, kids hear 300-something negative words a day and 17 positive. That applies to probably our marriages, our kids. We need to—you don't do false positive words. You don't just say good things to say them. You need to speak truth to them and speak life.Words are so effective, and even if they aren't acting like it, you can speak the truth of who they are. Like, you're a strong-willed child. God's got things in her life that she's got to be strong. My mom would have told you I'm a strong-willed child, too, and my husband would say I was stubborn.Yet, that stubbornness can be used to be faithful for years and years and years, despite bad things going on in our family and our lives. Use even things that grind on you—speak life to them, and really focus on speaking truth, and building them up, and noticing. You gotta pay attention to when they're actually doing something that you can praise them for as well.The other word you used was forgiveness. We were talking about this at Bible study, because we were going through Ephesians 5 on husbands and wives. We need to forgive, and they're going to get on our nerves. Forgive and go on and let God take care of that. He's the only one that can change anyone.Six Keys to Homeschooling SuccessYou mentioned your book, Six Keys to Homeschooling Success. Can you tell people a little bit more about that, and where they could get it if they're interested?Amber: Actually, it started off as a course, and so I have a full course online that basically helps parents build their own roadmap, because I think so many people are trying to fit themselves into homeschooling, and trying to fit a model or the school.I think if we step back and really ask some deeper questions, we can personalize our homeschool to fit, A, our goals, but B, our kids' needs the best way. It started as a course, but then I thought, you know what, I need this to be accessible to people in a broader sense.We took it to Kindle KDP, and now it's available on Amazon as well. It's the 6 Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year. I just wanted every parent to have access to ask the right questions before they start.It's just a course and a guided journal in the back, and it asks questions each week. As you answer those questions, you build a roadmap for you. I remember reading online, somebody asked the question, hey, I'm in a homeschool, what curriculum should I use?I just thought, that is a crazy question. Anybody who answers that question to you right now is doing you a disservice. There are a whole bunch of questions that we should ask before that, so that you know exactly what you want.I think if we could help parents ask better questions, then they know exactly what they're looking for, and I want people to start their homeschool year knowing exactly what they're looking for and what they want to accomplish.I have a ton of articles and things, 200 Fingers and Toes, because I had 200 fingers and toes to clean up after for a lot of years. One thing that people always remembered about me was that I had 10 kids, so I thought, I'm gonna capitalize on this.The blog is 200 Fingers and Toes, and there we have probably 300 articles that are reviews, devotionals, curriculum ideas, and just life situations that we've shared about what our homeschool looks like, and maybe problems that we've overcome. You can search by topic, you can search by questions. We've done graduations and college prep, and just lots of things that we've covered over all the years that we've been homeschooling. Just a resource to get information and answer questions.You make a good point, because you need to do what's best for your family, not the family next door. Amber has 10 kids. Maybe you live in downtown Chicago and have one kid in a high-rise. Your homeschool will definitely look different than Amber's.For you to say, what's the best third grade curriculum, you need to use some of these questions that Amber is providing for you, because you need to find out what's best for you, your children, your family in this season of time, and it may change.

In this episode of Elevate the Day, we ask an important question: What's your Red Sea? We all face moments when we feel trapped by life's challenges with no way forward and no way back. But just like God parted the waters for the Israelites, He will make a way for you too.Today we share how to navigate your own “Red Sea moments” with faith instead of fear. We need to remember that Jesus is with us in every trial and that we can find strength and victory when we stay rooted in His Word. There's no power in a pity party—only in God's promises!Learn how to prepare your heart before the storm hits so you can walk in peace, confidence, and victory through every challenge life brings.Key Takeaways:Everyone faces their own “Red Sea” moments, but God always provides a way through.Jesus never leaves us. He's with us in every trial.There's no victory in a pity party. Focus on God's promises instead.Preparation is key: stay in the Word, speak God's truth, and stay in faith.When you're spiritually prepared, you'll walk through the trial with victory.“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” (Exodus 14:13–14 NKJV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:2(NKJV)Listen and be encouraged to lift your eyes from the problem to the Promise-Keeper and let God part the waters before you!

This week, we launch our 140th Anniversary Celebration by turning to the story of the Israelites at the Red Sea. Pastor Joe reminds us that faith is not nostalgia. It is not about recreating what was. It is about stepping toward what could be, even when the way is not clear. How might we live into the new thing that God is doing? 

They were ready to fight. They thought they knew the truth. They were wrong.Joshua 22 shows how fast things can go wrong when we rush to judgment. As the Israelites were making their way northward toward Canaan, some of the tribes found the land east of the Jordan to be quite attractive. They asked to settle there, and permission was granted for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh to stake their claims.The only stipulation was that the troops from those tribes were to assist their brothers in conquering the territory west of the Jordan. Once the fighting was done and the land divided, the Reubenites, Gadites, and men of Manasseh, returned to their land and families east of the Jordan. But when the troops got to the edge of the river, somebody probably said, “Wait a minute. Suppose, sometime in the future, someone would say to our descendants, ‘You can't really be God's people – you're on the wrong side of the river!'”They decided, as a safeguard against that and to preserve their connection with the western tribes, they would build a monument. The text says that it looked like an altar – a place for sacrifice and worship.  But it was never intended to be that.  It was simply to be a reminder that they were part of the people of God.Seems so innocent, doesn't it?  Not to the western tribes. They jumped to the conclusion that the eastern tribes had built their own place to worship God—something strictly forbidden. “This is heresy!” they thought. And they strapped on their swords, intending to go to war against their brothers.The problem was, they didn't pause to look into the situation first. Instead, they rushed to judgment and nearly destroyed untold lives.   Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. They sent some elders to get the facts. Their eastern brothers were horrified that their efforts to mark unity could be so badly interpreted. But because someone took the time to look into it rather than jump to conclusions, a split among God's people was averted. Such close calls still happen today among God's people. And all too often, the tragedy isn't averted. Misunderstandings arise. Assumptions are made. Accusations follow. And in the end, friendships are lost. Partnerships are ended. Churches are split.So, given this, let me offer you several points to remember lest you rush to judgment. Set your default to think the best not presume the worst.Get the facts before you draw your conclusion.Let your commitment to unity trump your need to be right. If we hope to live a life of courageous faith and be communities of courageous faith, we must commit to love and unity. In the words of St. Paul:“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Ephesians 4:2-3   Text: Joshua 22Originally recorded on November 27, 2016, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN 

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank discusses the way God used Israel as the axe of His judgment against Canaan, and the question of whether the Israelites who survived the forty years of wilderness wanderings would also survive the prosperity in the land of promise.Hank also answers the following questions:My grandmother was Aboriginal, and she believed in the native ways. Did she go to hell when she died? Winston - Calgary, AB (6:49)Are there any extrabiblical historical records to support the miraculous plagues on Egypt? Jim - TX (15:13)Can you explain the parable of the fig tree in Mark 13? Dorothy - West Plains, MO (18:40)How can we be overcomers as Christians when we continue to do the same thing over and over again? Geraldine - St. Louis, MO (23:43)

Christian Huff's confusion at the name “Pat Sajak” proves daytime TV is officially a thing of the past, and Al and Zach take the opportunity to school the younger guys using the legendary story of Granny Robertson's double Price Is Right showcase win. John Luke and Christian manage to finesse a free lunch out of the ever-frugal Zach by taking him at his word. The guys turn to Exodus 19, where God hands down the Ten Commandments, explore how covetousness sits at the heart of every other sin, and what it means that only Christ could fulfill the law written on stone. In this episode: Exodus 15, verses 1–21; Exodus 17, verses 1–16; Exodus 19, verses 1–25; Exodus 20, verses 1–17; Exodus 24, verses 4–8; Exodus 3, verses 1–6; 1 Corinthians 10, verses 1–6 and 13; Hebrews 12, verses 18–29; Galatians 4, verses 21–31; Ezekiel 47, verses 1–12; Revelation 22, verses 1–2; John 4, verses 10–14; John 14, verses 16–17; John 16, verses 7–15; Philippians 4, verses 11–13; Genesis 2, verses 9–17; Genesis 3, verses 1–7; Genesis 11, verses 1–9; Luke 15, verses 25–32 Today's conversation is about lessons 6 & 7 of The Exodus Story taught by Hillsdale Professor Justin Jackson. Take the course with us at no cost to you! Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/⁠ More about The Exodus Story: Explore God's mercy as he leads Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Exodus is a central narrative of the Bible. It recounts the moment that God reclaims Israel as his people, rescues them from slavery in Egypt, and establishes the Ten Commandments to guide their moral and religious freedom as an independent society. In “The Exodus Story,” Professor of English Justin Jackson picks up the biblical narrative where his course on Genesis ended. Join Professor Jackson in learning about the nature of God's mercy, human freedom, and the relationship between the divine and man. Enroll today to discover the beauty of God reclaiming the Israelites through his mercy and love in “The Exodus Story.” Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Chapters: 00:00-08:08 Granny Robertson plundered Bob Barker's game show 08:09-17:14 Exodus 15 & the Song of Moses 17:15-23:33 Manna, quail, and a test of trust 23:34-30:39 God fights Israel's battles in the desert 30:40-37:33 Zion & Sinai: two mountains, two promises 37:34-45:57 God sends down the 10 Commandments 45:58-51:20 True obedience brings joy, not suffering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices