Podcast appearances and mentions of king darius

We are currently in the book of Daniel where we are hearing about how God was with his people while they were in captivity in Babylon.  At this point, Daniel has been serving in the palace in Babylon for around 70 years, which is a very long time! Today, King Darius is going to learn just how powerful God is, with the help of some angels and Daniel sleeping over in an unlikely place. Welcome to the Village Kids Podcast. Our bite-sized story podcast is a fun way to learn truths from the Bible in a fun story format. Tune in every week for a new episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

Daniel's unwavering commitment to prayer, even when it became illegal under King Darius's decree, demonstrates the true value of a consistent prayer life. Despite knowing he would face the lions' den, Daniel maintained his thrice-daily prayer routine with windows open toward Jerusalem. His faithfulness cost him everything temporarily but ultimately influenced the king to acknowledge the true God. Daniel's example challenges us to develop consistent prayer habits that sustain us through both good times and trials, treating prayer not as an emergency measure but as essential as breathing.

Join us as we dive into one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring stories in the Bible - Daniel in the Lion's Den! Will God intervene and rescue Daniel from the jaws of death? Explore the faith, courage, and miraculous events that make this ancient tale a timeless classic. Discover the power of trust and the limits of human fear in the face of the unknown. From the prophet Daniel to King Darius, uncover the characters and circumstances that led to this heart-stopping encounter. So, will God rescue you as He did Daniel from the lion's den? Watch to find out!

SCRIPTURE: Daniel 6 SHOW NOTES: We invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you will discover additional resources to support your spiritual journey. Daniel was an amazing man who believed in the power of fervent prayer. The more we study his life, the more we are challenged by his commitment to the Lord and his faithful prayer life. He was taken captive to Babylon as a young teenager and served there for over 60 years. In this historical episode, he learns that the king has signed a decree stating that no one should pray to any god or man for thirty days, except to King Darius. "Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy." Daniel 6:3-4The text does not explain why the other officials wanted to remove Daniel. Perhaps his integrity made it difficult for them to engage in bribery, fraud, and political corruption. They knew Daniel was a God-fearing man who did not worship pagan idols, so they devised a plan to trap him."When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house, where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously." Daniel 6:10 Daniel's choice: obey his God or the government. It was very clear to Daniel that he would obey God. The new decree did not deter him! He would continue to pray three times each day for the city's welfare and give thanks before his God! Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Daniel 6:16SONG: "Before the Throne of God Above" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MUNywhsZPU

You Shut The The Lion's Mouth Hungry lions are destructive, yet when you're in right standing with God, what devours others is at peace with you! The hungry lions did not touch Daniel, yet, jumped up into the air to devour the men who threw Daniel in! He was steadfast before the time of trial. He was prepared in faith ahead of time. 2 Thess. 3:3 The Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. You may not have time in the trial to build up the faith you need to overcome the attack, that is why before the trial, it is important to build your faith against opposition. King Darius issued an edict that no one could pray to anyone but him. Yet Daniel remained faithful to God, even though it could cost him his life. Daniel prayed to the Lord, and did not try to hide it, and was still thrown into the lion's den. The lions were hungry, they were purposely not fed, yet they did not touch Daniel! Daniel 6 shut the opposition, shut the lions mouth, prepare yourself, pray, stand in truth, Christian, Bold for Jesus, www.houseofglorychurch.org www.cathycoppola.org May 10th, 2025

You Shut The The Lion's Mouth Hungry lions are destructive, yet when you're in right standing with God, what devours others is at peace with you! The hungry lions did not touch Daniel, yet, jumped up into the air to devour the men who threw Daniel in! He was steadfast before the time of trial. He was prepared in faith ahead of time. 2 Thess. 3:3 The Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. You may not have time in the trial to build up the faith you need to overcome the attack, that is why before the trial, it is important to build your faith against opposition. King Darius issued an edict that no one could pray to anyone but him. Yet Daniel remained faithful to God, even though it could cost him his life. Daniel prayed to the Lord, and did not try to hide it, and was still thrown into the lion's den. The lions were hungry, they were purposely not fed, yet they did not touch Daniel! Daniel 6 shut the opposition, shut the lions mouth, prepare yourself, pray, stand in truth, Christian, Bold for Jesus, www.houseofglorychurch.org www.cathycoppola.org May 10th, 2025

King Darius of Persia now rules Babylon, but God helps Daniel succeed in this new kingdom. Jealous of his success, Daniel's enemies form a plan against him. U-Nite TV Uniting kids with the God's Word in a fun, engaging way to help kids understand and apply biblical truths to their lives. Stream animated adventures, music videos, missionary stories, and more! Available on Android, iOS, Android TV, and Apple TV. https://www.cefonline.com/unitetv/ *U-Nite Kids App * Uniting kids in with God's Word to help them grow in their faith through personal devotions. Play adventures that teach truths from the Bible, complete daily devotions, earn achievements, memorize God's Word, and get answers to common biblical questions. Available on the Apple Appstore, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore. https://www.cefonline.com/unitekids/ Copyright © 2025 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Monday, 14 April 2025   And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matthew 9:15   “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Not, they can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn – upon as much the bridegroom, He is with them. They will come, however, days when the  bridegroom, He shall be removed from them. And then, they will fast'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus was questioned by John's disciples as to why His disciples don't fast. In response, it next says, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Not, they can, the sons of the bridechamber, mourn.'”   Here is a new word, numphón, a bridechamber. It is derived from numphé which signifies a young woman as if veiled, and thus a bride. The word can also signify a daughter-in-law. One can get a sense of the Latin word nupto, to marry, which leads to our word nuptial.   Jesus equates fasting to mourning. This seems to confirm the connection to the fasts mentioned in Zechariah in the previous commentary. This is because the Lord's word in Zechariah 8 is based on what was said in Zechariah 7 –   Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, 2 when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the Lord, 3 and to ask the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” 4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 5 “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? 6 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? 7 Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?'”   It was either these fasts, or some other fasts of mourning that are being referred to during this conversation. But Jesus corrects the thinking of those who questioned Him, next saying, “upon as much the bridegroom, He is with them.”   It is another new word, numphios, a bridegroom. Jesus equates Himself to a bridegroom without explaining what He means, but the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) would probably come to the minds of those hearing. There, a love song between Solomon and his beloved is recorded in poetic form. It is a book read at the Passover each year, even to this day.   The Jews assumed that the poem was given as an allegory of the love expressed between the Lord and Israel, not understanding that Israel was only a portion of the history of the redemption of mankind. John's disciples may have pondered His words, wondering what He meant. However, if they made this connection, they would understand that He was equating Himself with God.   John also spoke of Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29. His disciples may, therefore, have understood what was being conveyed better than the others who were gathered around them, including the Pharisees.   Regardless of what they thought about His words, Jesus continued, saying, “They will come, however, days when the bridegroom, He shall be removed from them.”   Jesus uses the word apairó, to lift off, and thus to take away. It will only be seen in the comparable accounts in Mark and Luke.   As for His words, Matthew doesn't explain the meaning, instead sticking to the narrative. But Matthew could look back on what Jesus said and understand that He was speaking of His sacrificial death. The disciples of John probably would have had no idea what He was talking about, but there is no hint that they pressed the matter or questioned further.   That thought may have been overtaken by Jesus' continued words after this verse. But Matthew would have contemplated what Jesus said after His death and resurrection. Thus, he is providing the account without inserting what he knows, recording it rather as an eyewitness would do.   With that understood, Jesus next says, “And then, they will fast.” Jesus is using the word fast to indicate “mourn” just as He did when He began the words of this verse. In other words, there is a time coming when Jesus would be taken from them, and they would mourn, something that would directly lead to a state of fasting.   Life application: If you have never read the book Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon), it is only eight chapters. It is written in poetic form, and it is a beautiful read, even without understanding what is being conveyed in the back-and-forth words of Solomon and his beloved.   Take time to read it today. If you would like to understand what the poem is referring to, you can go to the Superior Word website or YouTube channel, and there are nineteen sermons that will explain what is being conveyed.   Don't stop reading your Bible. Don't stop considering how what the Bible is saying refers to Jesus. Keep looking for Him as you read. It is all about Him and what God is doing through Him to reconcile the world to Himself. It is the greatest love story ever written because it is God's word that tells us about JESUS!   Lord God, please open our eyes to see wonderful things in Your word. Help us to understand what we are reading and how to connect it to the life and work of Jesus Christ. He said in John 5 that it is all about Him, so help us to see this, O God. Amen.  

Long before he was thrown into the lions' den, Daniel had already won the respect of King Darius through the character of his testimony. Scripture tells us that Daniel was “distinguished above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3 NKJV). Darius saw in Daniel a man who was honest, wise, and deeply committed to something beyond politics—his God, Daniel's lifestyle showed a power of testimony to the faithfulness of God.

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

    wonder how often you receive a special looking envelope in the mail with words like “extremely urgent” or “official document” stamped on the envelope? And how often when you open the envelope do you find it is simply a marketing ploy attempting to coerce you into purchasing something you really don’t need? As frustrating as that is, occasionally we do receive a very important document which perhaps you put in a safe place with your other legal, important documents.   Yesterday I left you in the palace in Babylon with King Darius the Mede in the year 539bc. He had just witnessed the most remarkable miracle he’d ever seen in his 62 years of life. (Click here to see full text, images and links)   Pastor Doug Anderson    “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here

In this weeks message, we discussed the well-known story of Daniel in the lion's den, emphasizing that while God can rescue us, it does not guarantee we will be spared from every trial. The message highlights four key characters: the jealous instigators, Daniel who exemplifies integrity, King Darius who values loyalty, and God's sovereignty throughout the situation. Pastor Rich encourages the congregation to guard against jealousy, embrace integrity, and recognize the importance of loyalty in their relationships. Ultimately, the big idea presented is that God is in control, and we can trust in Him during both trials and triumphs.

When a queer book elevates our own expectations of ourselves and moves us to honor ourselves by saying: we deserve something more.Today we meet Blair Fell and we're talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault.Blair Fell's television work includes Queer as Folk, and the Emmy Award–winning California Connected. He's written dozens of plays including the award-winning plays Naked Will and the downtown cult miniseries Burning Habits. He's a two-time winner of the prestigious Doris Lippman Prize in Creative Writing from the City College of New York. His first novel The Sign For Home was long-listed by the Center For Fiction's First Book Award. His upcoming novel Disco Witches of Fire Island comes out May 6, 2025.Mary Renault was a British lesbian writer famed for her historically precise novels of the ancient world, including The Last of the Wine (1956), Fire From Heaven (1969), and The Persian Boy (1972). US publishers initially refused to publish her novel The Charioteer due to its positive portrayal of homosexuality and its happy ending. It was eventually published in 1959 and was a bestseller.The Persian Boy traces the last years of Alexander's life through the eyes of his lover, Bagoas. Abducted and gelded as a boy, Bagoas was sold as a courtesan to King Darius of Persia, but found freedom with Alexander after the Macedon army conquered his homeland. Their relationship sustains Alexander as he weathers assassination plots. After Alexander's mysterious death, we are left wondering if this Persian boy understood the great warrior better than anyone.Connect with Blairwebsite: blairfell.combluesky: @blairfell.bsky.socialinstagram: @blair.fellOur BookshopVisit our Bookshop for new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbookBuy your own copy of The Persian Boy: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9780394751016Pre-order Disco Witches of Fire Island (arrives May 6, 2025): https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9798892420341Buy The Sign For Home: https://bookshop.org/a/82376/9781982175962Become an Associate Producer!Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbookCreditsHost/Founder: John ParkerExecutive Producer: Jim PoundsAssociate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean SmithPatreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., StepheHey, so I'm going through a name change. If you've wondered what the JP in J.P. Der Boghossian stands for, well it's John Parker. And that is the name I'll be moving to over the next few weeks. Read more about it here: thisqueerbook.com/name-change.Save the date! We'll be hosting a live version of the podcast at Brooklyn Public Library - DeKalb branch on April 10 at 6pm with Mia Arias Tsang and Chloe Caldwell! Support the show

Daily Dose of Hope February 25, 2025 Day 3 of Week 48   Scripture:  Ezra 5-6; 3 John   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  This is the devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.   Our Old Testament reading is Ezra 5 and 6.  Work on the temple had been delayed (due to the opposition) for about sixteen years. Now, it was time to get back to work, time for a new beginning. However, the restarting of construction arouses suspicion among the pagan politicians of the area. Thus, they inquire of the Jews about the building project.   The Jewish leaders quite eloquently laid out a brief history of the temple, why it was destroyed, and why they were rebuilding. But the governor of the area is determined to get to the bottom of the situation. He actually sends a letter to the king to verify that Cyrus really did give permission for this work to take place. But we see God's hand of intervention here. The governor does not stop the work, he allows it to go on as they are waiting to hear back. Keep in mind, it could take five or six months to simply receive a reply. The Jewish people are faithful, they keep working hard on the temple, unsure of what the king's answer will be. Ultimately, they trust God. They forge ahead, trusting that God is the one who has authority over every human king and governor.  The Lord of all will ensure that HIS will is done.   In chapter 6, the decree from King Cyrus was found in the royal archives and sure enough, it was clear that Cyrus had given permission and resources for the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. King Darius wrote back stating that the Jews were to be left alone in the building, no more obstacles, and that their expenses were to be paid from the royal treasury! Wow! God is pretty amazing. Thus, work resumed on the Temple until it was complete.   When they finished, there was a big celebration. They dedicated the house of God with many animal sacrifices, by properly installing the priests, and then celebrating Passover with one another. This got me thinking about celebrations. How important it is for us to celebrate together as a people of God. We need times of fellowship and joy as a way to remind one another of the amazing work of our God. In the midst of everyday tasks and the struggles of daily life, we forget. We have short memories. Friends, we need to celebrate. We need to come together, to laugh, to dine, to say, “Our God is so good!” Honestly, I don't think we celebrate enough. We need to work these experiences into the rhythm of church.   John's third letter is the shortest book in the Bible. Unlike 2 John, which is addressed to a whole church, this letter is addressed to an individual named Gaius but also includes references to two other people–Diotrephes (the troublemaker) and Demetrius (probably the bearer of the letter). There isn't a lot of theological meat in the letter but it does give insight into church dynamics, particularly personality conflicts and the fact John fears his authority is being dismissed.   If you read through the text (and I hope you all have), the general sense of the letter is one of encouragement and praise up until we get to the main issue. It seems there is a problem that John feels the need to address. Diotrephes is refusing to host the missionaries that John is sending to the church; a failure to show hospitality would have been shocking in their culture and certainly embarrassing for John. The phrase “who loves to be first” might be better understood as the one who wants the authority for himself. His refusal of the missionaries wasn't just a rejection of the missionaries but truly disrespect and rejection of John himself. Plus, Diotrephes is spreading gossip and refusing to welcome other believers. He is ruling the church with an iron fist. No wonder John feels the need to address this issue immediately. This has the potential to destroy the young church and damage their witness for Jesus in the community.   I know this will be shocking but ambition, arrogance, and gossip still have a tendency to find their way into the church (I know, gasp!) They are just as damaging, just as destructive, just as heart-breaking today as they were then. I'm guessing that all of us know at least one person who was hurt by a church-goer who was too heavy-handed, patronizing, dehumanizing, or just plain mean. People leave churches all the time because of these things. For me, it is literally painful to think about. And yet, I totally get it. Churches are filled with humans and humans are sinful.   So what's the answer? How do we get a group of sinful people to live the faith and not be all about themselves? The only answer is Jesus within us. It was the only answer in John's day and it's the only answer now. We must actually have the desire and the motivation for Jesus to transform us, I mean really change our hearts. We have to repent of our selfishness, humble ourselves, and allow God to use us as HE pleases.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope February 11, 2025 Day 3 of Week 46   Scripture:  Daniel 4-6; John 18   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let's get into our Scripture for today.    For our Old Testament reading, we are in the book of Daniel, chapters 4-6.  All three of these chapters, though different, emphasize God's sovereignty through kings and kingdoms.  In chapter 4, Daniel interprets a dream for the king about a tree that shelters the world.  The tree is cut down by an angel.  Daniel, with a fair amount of trepidation, tells the king that it means he, the king, will essentially lose his mind.  He will become like a wild animal and eat grass in the pasture.  Daniel implores the king to stop sinning and get right with God.    Everything that Daniel interpreted in the dream eventually came true.  The king lost his sanity and became like a cow in the field.  But in time, Nebuchadnezzar came to and began to worship the one true God.  He gained his sanity and gave praises to the Lord.   By chapter 5, there is a new king, Belshazzar.  He holds a big feast and decides to use the vessels from the Lord's Temple to drink from.  A hand appears and begins to write on the wall.  The king's magicians can't understand it, so the king calls for Daniel.  Daniel boldly tells the king that God isn't pleased with his arrogance and how he is drinking from cups taken from the Temple while giving praise to false gods.    The message included these words: numbered, weighed, and divided.  Daniel interpreted what they meant.  Numbered indicated that the king's days were numbered and would end soon.  Weighed means the king was weighed on the scale but did not measure up.  Finally, divided means that the kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians.  King Belshazzar died that very night and Darius, the Mede, was made king.   Chapter 6 is a passage that most of us are familiar with – Daniel and the lions' den.  When the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar initially conquered Judah, Daniel and his friends would have been about 15.  Now, time has passed.  A lot has happened.  God has been faithful to these Jewish men living in exile.  They have remained faithful to the one true God, Yahweh, despite all the idolatry around them.  They have moved up the ranks and now fulfill very high positions in the Kingdom, despite the many political changes that have happened around them.    By now, Daniel is in his early 80's.  He was still exceptional, moving up, getting promoted, and the other administrators were jealous.  How in the world has this foreigner done so well and soon he is going to be placed over the whole Kingdom and be their boss. They look for a way to trap him.  But Daniel did not have any skeletons in the closet (don't you wish we had politicians like this in our world today) – no skeletons, there is nothing they can blackmail him with – he has such high integrity.  He is a Godly man.  But then they are like, “well, that's where we are going to have to set him up.  We know he will not betray his God, so that's it!  That's where we are going to cause his downfall.”   But they have to get the king onboard, and King Darius really liked Daniel.  But, if you want to sway someone in a high position, then what do you have to do – appeal to their ego, right?  They come up to him and say, “King, aren't you the highest and greatest in the land?  Aren't you the one who deserves worship?”  And the king, in all his arrogant glory, is like “yeah, yeah, I am…”  They get the king to issue a nonreversible decree that for thirty days, no one can pray to anyone but the king.  If they break the decree, they will be thrown into a den of hungry lions.  The king was obviously arrogant but he might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed either.    But Daniel was obedient to God.  He continued to get down on his knees and pray three times a day.  How easy would it have been for Daniel to just say, “Well, for 30 days, I'm just not going to pray so that I can stay safe.”  He could have said, “I'm going to just pray in my heart and no one will know.” He could have gone into an inner room where no one would have seen him.  But no, he goes up the stairs, opens his windows, and prays publicly.  He chose not to take the safe route.  I once read that we think of the miracle as Daniel being saved from the lions' den but the real miracle was that Daniel stayed true to his convictions and kept praying knowing that he would face death.  The real miracle was that he had made a decision to trust God no matter what.  He was not going to allow some human king to tell him when and to whom he could pray.  He had one Lord and it wasn't King Darius.   We all know how the story ends.  Daniel is saved from the lions.  But what do we learn here? I keep thinking how God's people should expect opposition.  When we live for Jesus Christ, then there are forces in this world that hate that.  Whenever we have a huge spiritual victory at New Hope, we typically see some kind of big issue afterward or in the midst of it.  If you have a personal spiritual victory, please know that the enemy is going to try to make a mess of it or discourage you or lead you astray.  Be aware and be vigilant. The other big thing to mention here is trust.  Maybe you've noticed, but trusting in God is the thread that has woven together the first half of the book of Daniel.   We can trust God because God can and will deliver believers from any danger we face.  We serve a God who is trustworthy.  We serve a powerful God.  We serve a God who cares for his people.  Now, I say that and I also know that how God chooses to deliver us from our lions' dens may not be the way we want him to deliver us from our lions' dens.  In this text, God chose to send an angel to close the mouths of the lions.  It could have had a different ending.  Here's our big question - do we trust God, even when we don't know what the ending will be?  With that, let's move to the New Testament.  Our text is John 18.  Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council.  They can't stand him.  They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father.  They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law.  They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate.  As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.  We could go in a lot of different directions with this.  But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth.  Pilate questions if there can be truth.  The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, and it means something like “divine revelation.”  It literally means “what can't be hidden.”  The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person.  Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel.  The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH.  For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

God always proves Himself supreme, and even His enemies must acknowledge it. King Darius saw an innocent man suffer injustice, yet he also witnessed God's power to save. In response, he issued a decree that Daniel's God must be worshiped and feared because His authority stands forever. God is living and active, delivering and rescuing […] The post How Much Greater? first appeared on Redeemer Church of South Hills. The post How Much Greater? appeared first on Redeemer Church of South Hills.

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

Dcn. Harrison Garlick and Adam Minihan are reunited to intro Aeschylus, the Father of Greek Tragedy.Aeschylus (b. 525 BC) was a warrior, statesman, and the father of Greek tragedy. Born into nobility, he grew up in Athens during its pivotal transition from tyranny to democracy. Furthermore, he famously fought in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC), defending a nascent Western civilization against Persian invasion. Aeschylus died in 456 BC, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the foundation of Greek drama.Check out thegreatbookspodcast.com for more information.From our guide on the Oresteia:1. What is the Ionian Revolt?To understand Aeschylus, we must first understand the Greco-Persian War (c. 499 BC to 429). In sum, what is called the “First Persian Empire,” founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BC, stretched from modern-day Iran, Asia Minor, modern day Israel, and Egypt. In Asia Minor, this Persian empire ruled over Hellenistic city-states. One may recall that Troy, a polis with both Hellenistic and eastern traits, was also located in Asia Minor. In 499 BC, the city-states rebelled against their Persian overlords with the support of Athens in what is known as the “Ionian Revolt.” The revolt failed and the Persians retained control of Asia Minor; however, King Darius of the Persian Empire believed Athens should be punished and elected to invade Greece. 2. What was the first invasion in the Greco-Persian Wars?The Ionian Revolt sparked the larger Greco-Persian Wars and led to King Darius' invasion of ancient Greece in 492 BC. Athens led the federation of city-states against the Persians, and Aeschylus fought for the Athenian army. Notably, Aeschylus and his brother both fought at the famous Battle of Marathon in 490 BC at which the first Persian invasion was defeated.[1] Aeschylus' brother, however, died in the conflict.[2] The Battle of Marathon is often held as a watershed moment in the birth of Western culture. The battle is also the namesake of running a marathon, as the legend has it that an Athenian runner ran the twenty-six miles from Marathon to Athens to tell them of the Athenian victory. 3. What was the second Persian invasion in the Greco-Persian Wars?Ten years later, a second Persian invasion was headed by King Darius' son, King Xerxes. This is the setting for the famous Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC), in which the smaller Spartan force of approximately 7000 men under King Leonidas held off 120,000-300,000 Persian invaders. The word Thermopylae means “hot gates” and takes its name from the hot springs in that area—it is also fittingly one of the mythological entrances to Hades. After Thermopylae, the Athenians won a great naval battle against the Persians at Salamis in 480 BC. Notably, Aeschylus is said to have fought in this battle as well and wrote his play The Persians about the conflict. The Greeks, led by the Athenians and Spartans, would eventually expel the Persians and bring peace in 449 BC. 4. What do we know about Aeschylus' writings?Aeschylus is...

Wednesday, 8 January 2025   “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:16   “And when you may fast, you be not just as the hypocrites, sullen-faces. For they mask their appearance that they may appear fasting to men. Amen! I say to you they obtain their reward” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke about forgiving others. Next, He turns to another issue, beginning with, “And when you may fast.”   Fasting was already mentioned at the time Jesus fasted for forty days. The word signifies abstaining from food for religious or spiritual reasons. In the law, the people were to deny themselves on the Day of Atonement. This included not eating.   Later, there were several national days set aside as fasts based on events that took place in Israel's history. Zechariah 7:1-7 refers to periods of fasting. Other fasts are noted in the Old Testament when the people were called to humble themselves before the Lord. In Luke 18:12, one of the Pharisees noted to the Lord that he fasted twice a week.   As for Jesus' words about fasting, He continues with, “you be not just as the hypocrites, sullen-faces.” He uses the word skuthrópos, an adjective derived from two words signifying sullen and face (countenance).   Being plural, He is lumping all the hypocrites into one basket. They are hypocritical sullen-faces. Next, He explains why they shouldn't be that way, saying, “For they mask their appearance that they may appear fasting to men.”   The verb aphanizó is used. It is derived from aphanés which means something not seen or not manifest. Thus, this verb form means to make unseen or render unapparent. To get the sense of the word, its use in James 4 may help –   “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes [aphanizó] away.” James 4:13, 14   Probably, the idea is that when people are sick or miserable (whether actual or fake), their faces are expressionless. Thus, this probably isn't people disfiguring their face, as if in pain, but rendering it pall-like, as if in near death. Along with that would come the “Ohhh, I'm soooo hungry.”   The whole thing would be a show for others to see and then consider how pious the person is to suffer in such a way. Of these people, Jesus says, “Amen! I say to you they obtain their reward.”   These people got what they wanted, attention from men. There was no point in actually fasting at all. But more, anyone can fake fasting and walk around pretending like he hasn't eaten. So, not only do such people lose out on any rewards for their fasting before God, they also are not intelligent enough to know that they are also losing out on a nice meal for no reason other than presenting a show before others.   Life application: In Zechariah 7, it says –   “Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, 2 when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the Lord, 3 and to ask the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, saying, ‘Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?' 4 Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, 5 ‘Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? 6 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? 7 Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?”'” Zechariah 7:1-7   The Lord isn't fooled by people's external actions. He knows very well the attitude of the heart. The hypocrites of Israel should have known the words of Zechariah 7 and taken them to heart. But they only cared about doing their deeds before men. It demonstrates a complete lack of faith in the Lord. If He is the Lord, then they would know He knew their thoughts.   Thus, their actions demonstrated that they didn't really believe in the Lord, or they didn't believe that the Lord actually was capable of knowing the intent of their hearts. Either way, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Because of their lack of faith, their only reward came from showy appearances before others. What a dry and vapid existence.   Let us have faith that what we do and even what we think is known to the Lord. When we have such faith, we will hopefully align our actions, our words, and our thoughts with what is right in His eyes.   Lord God, help us to have faith, and in having faith, may we do what is pleasing to You and right in Your eyes. May we not be arrogant or hypocritical in our hearts. Instead, may what we do externally be a reflection of what is going on in us internally. Yes, Lord, help us in this. Amen.  

Ezra 6: Rebuilding and Dedication of the Temple Ezra 6 highlights the completion and dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. King Darius reaffirms the decree of King Cyrus, allowing the Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple. The chapter details how the construction was carried out with the support of Persian kings and leaders, guided by God's prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Upon completion, the Israelites joyfully dedicate the temple with offerings and celebrate the Passover. This chapter underscores God's faithfulness in restoring His people and their worship. Contact Sharise Johnson-Moore is you would like to place a ad on our podcast - https://sharisenjohnson-moorellc.hbportal.co/public/PodcastAds Coming To Loving Yourself Paperback Book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Goodreads Coming To Loving Yourself Autographed Copy is available on my website - https://sharisenjohnsonmoore.com Coming To Loving Yourself Ebook is available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/dtNSKgc Published Now What Course Enrollment is available through - https://sharisenjohnsonmoore.com/publishednowwhat If you would like to give a donation go to the following: CashApp - $ShariseJohnsonMoore PayPal - PayPal.me/SNJMoore

Ezra 5: Resuming the Rebuilding of the Temple Ezra 5 marks a turning point as the prophets Haggai and Zechariah inspire the Jewish exiles to resume rebuilding the temple despite earlier opposition. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the work begins anew. When questioned by regional officials, the leaders boldly explain their mission and trust in God's guidance. A letter is sent to King Darius seeking clarification on the decree of Cyrus, setting the stage for divine intervention to support their efforts. This chapter highlights the power of prophetic encouragement and obedience to God in the face of uncertainty. Contact Sharise Johnson-Moore is you would like to place a ad on our podcast - https://sharisenjohnson-moorellc.hbportal.co/public/PodcastAds Coming To Loving Yourself Paperback Book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Goodreads Coming To Loving Yourself Autographed Copy is available on my website - https://sharisenjohnsonmoore.com Coming To Loving Yourself Ebook is available on Amazon - https://a.co/d/dtNSKgc Published Now What Course Enrollment is available through - https://sharisenjohnsonmoore.com/publishednowwhat If you would like to give a donation go to the following: CashApp - $ShariseJohnsonMoore PayPal - PayPal.me/SNJMoore

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 17th of December, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Proverbs 18:24: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly,…” Then we go to Daniel 6:3: “…because an excellent spirit was in him;…” Another version says, “an extraordinary spirit within him, it distinguished him amongst all the others.” Do we have that spirit in us today? You see, that is what King Darius found in Daniel. He was different to the others. He was a man of an excellent spirit, and that is what we have to do, folks. So often I have heard young people say, “Ja, but I have no friends.” Well, maybe because you are not friendly. Maybe you are always argumentative, maybe you are always critical, maybe you are sarcastic. They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. It always comes at the expense of somebody else. We have got to stop that. We have got to start affirming people. We have got to start having a godly spirit within us. We have got to be known as trustworthy, honest, level-headed people. I remember when I was a young man and I am not proud of it. I was a wild man, I had gone into the far country, and on a Friday night, after work, we were exhausted, all the boys working on the farms. I am talking about overseas, and when we went out to a party, we were going to have a real time of fun. You know what we did? We looked for the man who first of all was levelheaded. He didn't drink, he didn't smoke, he didn't swear, he was a bit of a corny kind of a guy. We didn't think too much of him, but he had an excellent spirit. So we would give him the keys of the motorcar because we knew that when it came to coming home we would be under the weather but he would be sober because he didn't drink alcohol. And I want to say to you, when I look back, he was an honourable man, a man who we might not have liked, but I want to tell you, we respected him. Now today, let us be level-headed. Somebody said to me, “That Angus, he is just a Jesus man.” Folks, I want to tell you, that is probably one of the greatest compliments I have had in my life: “He is a Jesus man.” Of course I am! What other man would I love to follow than the One who had an extraordinary Spirit? His name is Jesus.Have a wonderful day, God bless you and goodbye.

Looking at my high school yearbook, my grandchildren marveled at outdated hairstyles, clothing, and “old-fashioned” cars in the photos. I saw something different—first the smiles of longtime buddies, some still friends. More than that, however, I saw the keeping power of God. His gentle presence surrounded me in a school where I struggled to fit in. His keeping goodness watched over me—a kindness He grants to all who seek Him. Daniel knew of God’s keeping presence. In his exile in Babylon, he prayed in “his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:10) despite the king’s decree not to do so (vv. 7-9). From his prayerful vantage point, Daniel would remember God whose keeping presence sustained him—hearing and answering his prayers. Thus, God would hear, answer, and sustain him again. Yet, despite the new law, Daniel would still seek God’s presence regardless of what might happen to him. And so he prayed just as he had done so many times before. During the night, an angel of the Lord kept Daniel safe as his faithful God rescued him (v. 22). Looking to our past during present trials may help us recall God’s faithfulness. As even King Darius said of God, “He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth” (v. 27). God was good then, and He is good now. His presence will keep you.

Sorry for the delay. Please pray for our amazing volunteers and for an expanded team to help with this ministry. Today in History: The Prophet Zechariah received a prophecy about fasting the right way (see Zechariah 7:1–14). “In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev” (NIV). This week's portion is called “Vayetze” (He went out). Think about: What Scripture spoke to you most today and why? Did you learn something about God, or something you need to do in your life? Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context! THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to ⁠⁠https://dailybreadmoms.com⁠⁠ The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society. INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmoms Tags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

Within the historical account written down in the book of Ezra, we learn of a prophet named Haggai who turned the hearts of the people toward the Lord. We'll begin this episode by reading from the book of Haggai wherein the prophet addresses the people of Judah. Having just returned from exile they had prioritized making their homes comfortable while neglecting to rebuild the Lord's temple. This leads us back into Ezra, where the people prioritize building the temple. The rulers that oversee the region west of the Euphrates alert King Darius that the Jews are rebuilding the temple. The king's reply? Leave them alone! If anyone tries to stop them, they will be impaled on a beam from their own house!Haggai 1 - 1:06 . Haggai 2 – 4:09 . Ezra 5 - 9:16 . Ezra 6 - 13:12 . Proverbs 28:15-28 - 18:33 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Opening Words:“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”Psalm 19:14 (ESV) Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Venite (Psalm 95:1-7)Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. Come, let us sing to the Lord; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, * and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, * and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 23Dominus regit me1The Lord is my shepherd; *I shall not be in want.2He makes me lie down in green pastures *and leads me beside still waters.3He revives my soul *and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.5You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *you have anointed my head with oil,and my cup is running over.6Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.Psalm 27Dominus illuminatio1The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom then shall I fear? *the Lord is the strength of my life;of whom then shall I be afraid?2When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.3Though an army should encamp against me, *yet my heart shall not be afraid;4And though war should rise up against me, *yet will I put my trust in him.5One thing have I asked of the Lord;one thing I seek; *that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;6To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *and to seek him in his temple.7For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwellingand set me high upon a rock.8Even now he lifts up my head *above my enemies round about me.9Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblationwith sounds of great gladness; *I will sing and make music to the Lord.10Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *have mercy on me and answer me.11You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *Your face, Lord, will I seek.12Hide not your face from me, *nor turn away your servant in displeasure.13You have been my helper;cast me not away; *do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.14Though my father and my mother forsake me, *the Lord will sustain me.15Show me your way, O Lord; *lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.16Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *for false witnesses have risen up against me,and also those who speak malice.17What if I had not believedthat I should see the goodness of the Lord *in the land of the living!18O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *wait patiently for the Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Lessons1 Maccabees 1:1-28New Revised Standard Version Catholic EditionAfter Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated King Darius of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.) He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him.After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying. So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died.Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their descendants after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth.From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us.” This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, in order that he might reign over both kingdoms. So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet. He engaged King Ptolemy of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell. They captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt.After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force. He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off. He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures that he found. Taking them all, he went into his own land.He shed much blood,    and spoke with great arrogance.Israel mourned deeply in every community,    rulers and elders groaned,young women and young men became faint,    the beauty of the women faded.Every bridegroom took up the lament;    she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.Even the land trembled for its inhabitants,    and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.Revelation 19:1-10English Standard VersionAfter this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,“Hallelujah!Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,    for his judgments are true and just;for he has judged the great prostitute    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”Once more they cried out,“Hallelujah!The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying,“Praise our God,    all you his servants,you who fear him,    small and great.”Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,“Hallelujah!For the Lord our God    the Almighty reigns.Let us rejoice and exult    and give him the glory,for the marriage of the Lamb has come,    and his Bride has made herself ready;it was granted her to clothe herself    with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersLord, have mercy.Christ, have mercyLord, have mercyOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesO Lord, show your mercy upon us;And grant us your salvation.O Lord, guide those who govern usAnd lead us in the way of justice and truth.Clothe your ministers with righteousnessAnd let your people sing with joy.O Lord, save your peopleAnd bless your inheritance.Give peace in our time, O LordAnd defend us by your mighty power.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgottenNor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O GodAnd take not your Holy Spirit from us. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. The CollectsProper 27O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!Alleluia, Alleluia! BenedictionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Big Idea: Even lions are no match for our God, so give him your unflinching loyalty 1. Daniel's loyalty to the living God (6:1-13) 2. God's power over ravenous lions (6:14-24) 3. King Darius' declaration about who is really in charge (6:25-28)

Today's readings.. (2 Chronicles 29), (Daniel 9), (Acts 9) What a remarkable set of heart stirring readings we have today, accounts of individuals with whom and through whom God can and did work.  First, in 2 Chron. 29 we have the account of when the good king Hezekiah became king and his instant action beginning in the first month of his reign to restore the Temple and rededicate worship in it and how he inspired “all who were of a willing heart.” [v.31] to bring offerings, “and they sang praises with gladness and they bowed down and worshipped.” [v.30].  It is a chapter to be read with imagination of the event – that foreshadows –  a far greater future event . In Daniel ch. 9, the aged prophet is now living in the era of King Darius, he is deeply grieved as he “perceived in the books … according of the word of the LORD to Jeremiah “ [v.2] that 70 years must pass “before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem.”   Most of the chapter is his impassioned prayer, a great example for us, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him … To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.   To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness…[v.4,8,9]  The angel Gabriel comes to him, “saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding.  At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.” [v.22,23] What will the angels say to the ‘elect' as they gather them? How soon? When they (we) “meet the Lord in the air” [see I Thess, 4 v.17]   Our ‘feast' of thoughts continued in Acts 9 with the dramatic conversion of Saul – soon to be referred to as Paul.  His first action was to be baptised. His preaching then astonished the Jews. Immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”  Then Paul “increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”   [v.20-22]  And us. How, is our strength increasing? How zealous are we in “proving” the things which we claim to believe?  Surely Paul became “greatly loved” for his zeal and total commitment – and we must look at ourselves, look into our own hearts.  May the angels gather us because we “are greatly loved.” 

It's Tuesday, October 15th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Praying at home may be illegal under Scottish abortion law Scotland is banning silent prayer in private homes, according to one interpretation of new pro-abortion legislation passed by the nation's parliament As reported in the UK Telegraph, a letter has been sent to residents in an Edinburgh zone explicitly stating that: “Activities in a private place (such as a house) within the area between the protected premises and the boundary of a zone could be an offense if they can be seen or heard within the zone and are done intentionally or recklessly.” Anybody living within 200 meters of an abortion clinic in Scotland is forbidden from praying silently. Those breaking the law will be subject to a fine up to 10,000 pounds or perhaps even an evening in the lion's den. The Scottish law reminds us of Daniel 6: 6-7 and 11. It says, “So, these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.' “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Eight people killed in missile attack on Lebanese church At least eight people were killed in a missile attack on a Christian church in Lebanon over the weekend.  The church building, a priest's house, and a 3-story office building for the Greek Catholic Church were destroyed in the attack. According to a report from Christian Today, “the church had been sheltering people displaced by Israeli airstrikes at the time of the attack.” Hezbollah drone strike killed 4 Israeli soldiers In other war news, a Hezbollah drone strike on Israel killed four soldiers and wounded 61 others over the weekend. The United States is delivering an advanced anti-missile system to Israel. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense requires some 100 personnel to operate, and includes 6-truck-mounted launching devices. The system can intercept missiles at ranges up to 125 miles. China deployed ships to block Taiwanese ports Communist China's People's Liberation Army deployed ships and a record 125 aircraftsurrounding Taiwan over the weekend, and blockading Taiwanese ports. China's defense ministry also threatened more military action for any promotion of Taiwan's independence “until the issue is entirely resolved." Taiwan recording 280 homosexual faux marriage per month Back in 2019, Taiwan approved of homosexual faux marriage and provided for homosexual couple adoptions last year. The nation is now recording over 280 homosexual faux-marriages each month.  Taiwan's social disintegration was further accentuated this year, as the nation's population began declining for the first time. The nation's fertility rate is now at 0.87 children per woman— almost the lowest in the world. Archeologists unearthed Armenian church from AD 350 Archeologists have uncovered what is believed to be an ancient church in Artaxata, Armenia — dating around A.D. 350. The structure was built in the shape of a cross, and ran about 100 feet in circumference. King Tiridates III of Armenia was converted to Christianity in A.D. 301 at which time Armenia became the first Christian country in the world. The recently discovered remains of the church was built in the city where the king resided. The oldest Christian house church construction thus far identified by archeologists is found in Syria, on the banks of the Euphrates River in Dura-Europos — dating back to A.D. 232. The house church included a baptismal font and pictures of The "Good Shepherd," the "Healing of the paralytic," and "Christ and Peter walking on the water.” NASA's Europa Clipper looking for life on Jupiter's moon And finally, NASA ANNOUNCER: “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Ignition and liftoff. Liftoff of the Europa Clipper, unveiling the mysteries of an enormous ocean lurking beneath the icy crust of Jupiter's moon Europa.” NASA is spending $5.2 billion of taxpayers' money on this space craft which launched at noon yesterday from Cape Canaveral, Florida now heading towards Europa, one of Jupiter's 95 moons. The craft's mission will be to explore the icy surface of the moon, in hopes of finding life, or the potential for life existing beyond planet Earth — which God created specifically for animal and human life.  The Europa Clipper is the largest spaceship ever to launch from this planet — about 100 feet across, built to travel 1.8 billion miles, with the expectation of arriving in April of 2030. Psalm 8:3-6 features this meditation about God's world: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained. What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, October 15th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Ezra 5-6; Psalms 138; Luke 16 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome back, dear listeners, to the Daily Radio Bible. It's October 3rd, 2024, and we are on day 277 of our journey through the Bible. I'm your host, Hunter, and today, we immerse ourselves in the transformative power of God's Word. Join me as we explore the book of Ezra, chapters 5 and 6, Psalm 138, and Luke's Gospel, chapter 16. In Ezra, we witness the renewed efforts to rebuild God's temple despite opposition, inspired by the prophetic voices of Haggai and Zechariah. We'll see how God's favor and the decree of King Darius empower the people in their holy work. In Psalm 138, David pours out his heart in gratitude and praise, recognizing God's unfailing love and faithfulness. Finally, in Luke 16, Jesus challenges us with a parable that speaks to the heart, contrasting the fates of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus, urging us to remain faithful and not blinded by worldly riches. Prepare to be inspired and challenged as we reflect on these passages. Let's dive in, allowing the scriptures to point us to the living Word of God, guiding us to a deeper understanding and a renewed spirit. So grab your Bible and join me by the fires of God's love—let's explore His eternal truths together. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

King Darius asked an age old question: "Is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee...?" As Christians, we know that God is able!

King Darius asked an age old question: "Is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee...?" As Christians, we know that God is able!

In this episode, we dive deep into Daniel's "More Than a Conqueror" mindset and how his faith, leadership, and prayer life helped him navigate the challenges of Babylonian exile and hostile leadership under King Darius. From the political plots against him to his unwavering commitment to worship, Daniel's story teaches us how to lead with integrity and trust in God's plan. Perfect for student leaders looking to grow spiritually, this video explores how to apply Daniel's wisdom to your life, education, and leadership journey. 0:00 - Intro: The Story of Daniel 0:35 - Recap of Part 1: Transition from Judah to Babylon 1:21 - The Controversy of Daniel Chapter 3 2:45 - The Leadership of King Darius and Restructuring of Government 5:00 - The Plot Against Daniel: Politics and Religion 8:15 - The Consequence of Seeking Fame Over Wisdom 11:10 - Daniel's Prayer Life: The Secret to His Success 13:55 - The Trap is Set: Daniel's Faithfulness Under Attack 16:20 - A Lifetime of Integrity: Daniel's Leadership Example 19:00 - The Collateral Damage of Sin and Disobedience 20:30 - What We Can Learn From Daniel's Mindset Today 22:00 - Outro: Applying the Daniel Mindset to Student Leaders

Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. 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.

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

If you have siblings, then there was likely a time when you tried to get them in trouble for doing something you didn't like only to find out they were told to do it by your parents. In similar fashion, the governor and rulers that oversee the region west of the Euphrates alert King Darius that the Jews are rebuilding the temple. The king's reply? Leave them alone! If anyone tries to stop them, they will be impaled on a beam from their own house! The temple is completed with great joy and after about 60 years of silence, we are introduced to Ezra, a man with unique skills and special instructions from the king.Ezra 5 - 1:09 . Ezra 6 - 4:52 . Ezra 7 - 11:05 . Isaiah 16 - 16:54 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In this Bible Story, God's people are freed from the empire of Babylon and Persia to return home. The exiles journey back to the home of their forefathers. There they rebuilt the temple, and attempted to rebuild their broken hearts. This story is inspired by Ezra 1-6 & Haggai 1-2. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Ezra 3:7 from the King James Version.Episode 168: Cyrus King of Persia, had conquered all that was once Babylon. Because of this, he had learned from King Darius the stories of Daniel's God and his heart grew toward the exiles from Judah. So, in fulfillment of God's Word through Jeremiah, he issued a decree that the exiles could return to Judah if they would like. It took over two years to wipe the dust and rubble from the ruined city. However, while Zerubbabel, one of the exiles returning from Babylon, was rebuilding the temple, he sent away his fellow Israelites. Creating enemies instead of unity. All of this showed that it was not just the city that needed to be rebuilt, but the hearts of the people as well.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, Daniel is saved from the jaws of ravenous lions. This speaks to the King of the Medes, Darius. And he proclaims the goodness of God, and the Lord became famous in the land. This story is inspired by Daniel 6. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 6:22 from the King James Version.Episode 167: King Darius of the Medes was now ruler in the land and he leaned heavily on the wisdom that God gave Daniel. As Daniel's influence grew so did the jealousy of the other leaders around him. But Daniel was a righteous man and they could find nothing to accuse him of. So they conspired and made it a law that no one in the kingdom was allowed to worship anyone but Darius for 30 days. However, even the threat of being thrown into the lion's den would not stop Daniel from praying to our God. Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we enter week 5 of our series, we'll explore the story of King Darius, focusing on the importance of humility and trusting in God's plan.

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Living For God, Even When..., Part 2 Series: Devoted: A Study in Daniel Scripture: Daniel 6:1-11 Episode: 1297   Summary of Chapter 6:1-11: In Daniel Chapter 6, verses 1-11, we see the rising tension as Daniel's unwavering faithfulness to God leads to a plot against him by jealous officials. These verses highlight Daniel's faithfulness in the Bible, showcasing his commitment to daily prayer despite the newly established decree prohibiting worship of any god or man other than King Darius. This passage introduces the plot against Daniel in the lion's den, emphasizing the themes of faith under persecution and the integrity of Daniel. The conspirators' actions set the stage for one of the most famous acts of divine protection in Scripture, as Daniel's continued devotion contrasts starkly with the deceit of his accusers.

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Living For God, Even When..., Part 1 Series: Devoted: A Study in Daniel Scripture: Daniel 6:1-11 Episode: 1296   Summary of Chapter 6:1-11: In Daniel Chapter 6, verses 1-11, we see the rising tension as Daniel's unwavering faithfulness to God leads to a plot against him by jealous officials. These verses highlight Daniel's faithfulness in the Bible, showcasing his commitment to daily prayer despite the newly established decree prohibiting worship of any god or man other than King Darius. This passage introduces the plot against Daniel in the lion's den, emphasizing the themes of faith under persecution and the integrity of Daniel. The conspirators' actions set the stage for one of the most famous acts of divine protection in Scripture, as Daniel's continued devotion contrasts starkly with the deceit of his accusers.

Daniel Chapter 6: Lions, Decrees, and Divine InterventionBuckle up, heathens, because your favorite atheist duo is back to dissect another juicy Bible tale. This week, we're knee-deep in Daniel Chapter 6, where political backstabbing meets the supposed "power of prayer." We'll kick things off with the dramatic exit of King Belshazzar and the rise of Darius the Mede, who hands Daniel a cushy promotion. Spoiler alert: not everyone is cheering for Dan the Man.We'll dive headfirst into the petty jealousy and Machiavellian plotting of Daniel's coworkers, who trick the king into making a decree that puts Daniel's alleged faith in the hot seat. When Daniel refuses to give up his prayer routine, his rivals think they've got him right where they want him—tossed into a den of ravenous lions. But surprise, surprise! Divine intervention (or a convenient plot device) saves the day, leaving Daniel's enemies fuming.In a delicious twist of irony, those who tried to take down Daniel get a taste of their own medicine, along with their unsuspecting families. King Darius, now singing a different tune, issues a decree acknowledging the alleged power of Daniel's God, giving Yahweh a major PR boost.Join us as we tear this story apart with our signature snark, exploring its historical and literary context. We'll uncover why this tale of improbable survival still tickles the fancy of believers today, even though it's probably about as historically accurate as a unicorn stampede.Visit us at: SACRILEGIOUSDISCOURSE.COM and join us on Discord, where we interact the most AND have live episodes every Wednesday: https://discord.gg/VBnyTYV6nC Join Acast+ to enjoy our podcast adfree! https://plus.acast.com/s/sacrilegiousiscourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists from a California university ran experimental molecular swab tests to identify the traits and lifestyle habits of individual cell phone users. They discovered, among other things, the soaps, lotions, shampoos, and make-up cell phone of the users used, the type of foods, drinks, and medications they consumed, and the type of clothing they wore. The study allowed the researchers to create a profile of each person’s lifestyle. The administrators in Babylon, figuratively “swabbed” the prophet Daniel’s life to try and find any negative traits or lifestyle habits. But he’d served the empire faithfully for nearly seventy years—known to be “trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent” (Daniel 6:4). In fact, the prophet was promoted by King Darius as one of “three administrators over” his many governors (vv. 1-2). Perhaps out of jealousy, the other officials were looking for traces of corruption in Daniel so they might be able to get rid of him. He kept his integrity intact, however, and continued to serve and pray to God “as he had done before” (v.10). In the end, the prophet prospered in his role (v. 28). Our lives leave visible traces that point to who we are and who we represent. Although we struggle and aren’t perfect, when people around us swab our lives, may they find visible traces of integrity and devotion to Jesus as He guides us.

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Jori discusses with her listeners the decree to the nations and the praise King Darius offered concerning our one true living GOD saving Daniel from the lion's den. JOIN DR. JORI IN JOURNALING IN 2024! Check out this 9 min YouTube Video outlining her journaling strategy! Don't Forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/lqe9TO7RSz4 BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://a.co/d/9B5krQlhttps://a.co/d/iycFlnNHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds Scripture translation used is the Legacy Standard Bible.  “Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com  DR. JORI mentioned the conferences by Answers in Genesis.  The link below will take you to the website showing their schedule and upcoming conferences. https://answersingenesis.org/outreach/ Scripture References:Isaiah 26:3Daniel 6:272 Timothy 3:16-17Psalm 119:11Daniel 1:1-7Matthew 5:14-16Daniel 6:1-271 Peter 5:8Isaiah 55:7-8   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com  Support the Show.

Due to accurate record keeping in Persian libraries, King Darius of Persia discovers that Cyrus had previously decreed that the temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt. Darius therefore commands that the work be completed without any opposition. Through these pagan rulers and the faithful work of His people, the LORD provided that His temple was finally rebuilt in 516 BC. The dedication of the rebuilt temple was a moment of joy, as was the first Passover celebrated there. Both of these events pointed forward to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Rev. Richard Mittwede, pastor at University Lutheran Church in Austin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezra 6:1-22. "God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.

Fr. Mike encourages us not to be discouraged about the small things happening in our lives, because just as we see through Zechariah's visions, God takes small things and turns them into great triumphs. He also touches on the dedication of Israel to rebuild the temple, and the connection between the crowing of Joshua and the crowning of Christ the King. Today's readings are Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, and Proverbs 20:8-11. 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.