Podcasts about lamentations

Today's Scripture: Lamentations 2 Mary is reading Lamentations 2 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Today's Scripture: Lamentations 1 Mary is reading Lamentations 1 in the WEB.   Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app […]

Send JKO a Text MessageEvery decision has a price and a prize, and they rarely happen in perfect conditions. Most times, we decide under pressure, with limited information, and moving pieces. JKO explains the trade-offs women making hard choices in the trenches face and breaks down why constant “re-deciding” can steal your peace. Nuggets of wisdom in this episode Hindsight is not wisdomSome correct decisions still hurtDecision trade-offs don't make you a hero or a failureA simple 6-step decision process God can still bring good out of what you didn't fully understandKey Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5–6, Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, Lamentations 3:22–23 Safety Note: Please use these ideas in a way that feels right and safe for your situation. For personal support, reach out to someone you trust or a local service in your area. Picture on cover developed in Canva. Support the show If Messy Can't Stop Her blesses or inspires you, please consider supporting it at supportmessycantstopher.buzzsprout.com. Thank you for being part of this journey. If you would love to share your story on the #MessyCantStopHer podcast, click here to let me know. Thank you so much for listening. Music Credit: https://indiefy.me/wanted-carter

Lamentations 3 - Mark Wilkerson - Wednesday Evening, January 28, 2026 by First Baptist Church of Hammond

Send us a textWe submit ourselves to God so He can prepare us for His plans. Lamentations 3:25: The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.Support the show

Hi, I'm John Sorensen, President of Evangelism Explosion International, and you're listening to Share Life Today. Have you ever put your hope in another person? Well, if that person is trustworthy, it's fine! But here's the problem with placing your hope in other people: sometimes, they let you down. But I am here to tell you that placing your hope in Jesus will never result in you being let down. Lamentations 3 says this: "Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." What a wonderful thing, to know that your hope for eternal life in Heaven can be certain because Jesus is faithful! If you don't have this hope yet, look to Jesus. His mercies never fails. To learn more about this never-failing hope and to learn how pass it along to others, friends, relatives, coworkers...visit us at sharelife.today. That's sharelife.today.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.” -Lamentations 3:21-23   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode, host Sandra Flach, brings you the 4th and final episode in her 4-part series on Nutrition with Dr. Jerrod Brown. Today Dr. Brown unpacks the vital role nutrition plays in the brain and body of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).    To view Dr. Brown's slides for this episode, check out the Justice For Orphans' YouTube channel HERE.   Listen to Sandra's conversation with Dr. Brown on Episode 516 wherever you get your podcasts.   Register for your chance to win a free signed copy of Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster & Adoptive Moms HERE.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: The Adoption & Foster Care Journey AFCJ on YouTube justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org sandraflach.com Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon Filled Retreat Mobilize Ohio ReNew Retreat in NC

Pain, frustration, and discouragement are unavoidable realities of life and work. From tedious tasks and unmet expectations to seasons of deep grief, loss, and hardship—pain has a way of shaping how we see ourselves, our work, and even God. In this message, Josiah Kish invites us to wrestle honestly with pain through the lens of Scripture. Drawing from Lamentations 3, written by the prophet Jeremiah in the aftermath of profound loss, we are reminded that pain is not a sign of God's absence—but often the very place where God meets us most deeply. Jeremiah does not minimize suffering. He names it fully—describing it as wormwood and poison. Yet, remarkably, in the midst of devastation, he declares hope. Why? Because hope is not rooted in circumstances, but in the unchanging character of God—His steadfast love, His mercies that are new every morning, and His enduring faithfulness. This message explores three powerful truths: Pain is the grim reality of a broken world Hope in pain flows from trusting God's character Pain carries an invitation—to wait on God, to be formed, and to draw closer to Him Ultimately, this sermon points us to the Gospel, where we see pain fully embodied in Christ Himself. Jesus enters our suffering, bears it on the cross, and transforms it into a place of redemption and hope. The Gospel empowers us not to escape pain, but to meet God within it. Whether your pain comes from work stress, disappointment, unemployment, caregiving, study, or seasons of deep personal loss, this message offers an invitation: to see pain not as the end of hope, but as the doorway through which God does His deepest work in us.

Life sometimes pauses. Church may cancel. Plans shift. But God does not.In this Week 4 message from the Not Alone series, John Gunter delivers a timely reminder from his office during a winter storm. Drawing from passages like John 14, Romans 8, and Psalm 46, this sermon encourages listeners to trust in the presence of God when things feel uncertain, disconnected, or overwhelming. Even in seasons of isolation, God is still faithful, still close, and still working in our lives.Key Points:God's promises do not pause with our circumstancesThe Spirit intercedes for us even when we cannot find the wordsGod's presence gives us peace, even when outcomes are uncertainWe are never abandoned, never alone

Most Christians don't lose their faith overnight. They lose it slowly—through fatigue, distraction, and disorder. In this episode, Coach Alex breaks down why mornings are not just a productivity hack, but a spiritual battleground.Drawing from Scripture, neuroscience, circadian biology, and lived discipleship, he shows how your first 30 minutes shape your faithfulness, clarity, and emotional regulation for the entire day. You'll learn why Scripture before screens matters neurologically and biblically, why sunlight and movement anchor your nervous system, how prayer realigns your loves, and why delaying dopamine restores authority over your mind.This isn't aesthetic “quiet time.” It's embodied stewardship of the body God designed.Main Discussion Themes-Why mornings are about consecration, not self-care-First fruits theology and the discipline of order-Scripture before screens: neurological and spiritual implications-Circadian rhythm, cortisol, testosterone, and morning light-Dopamine, novelty, and nervous system dysregulation-Training attention toward truth instead of threat-Prayer as alignment, not performance-Habit formation and spiritual plasticity -Stewardship of the body as worship-A simple, repeatable, faithful morning rule of lifeTimestamped Outline0:00 – 0:45 Hook: “If Satan can't steal your salvation, he'll gladly steal your morning.” Why most Christians drift through fatigue, distraction, and disorder.0:45 – 1:45 Biblical foundation: Psalms 5:3, Mark 1:35, Lamentations 3:23. Mornings as first fruits and consecration.1:45 – 2:45 Orientation: Who is Lord today? Why reactivity is the opposite of discipline.2:45 – 3:45 Biology: Testosterone, cortisol, circadian rhythm, morning light. Why God designed your body to win the day early. 3:45 – 4:45 Dopamine, novelty, phones, and nervous system scrambling. Why Scripture stabilizes attention and identity.4:45 – 6:00 Four rules of a faithful morning: Scripture before screens Sunlight and light movement Short, honest prayer Delay dopamine6:00 – 7:15 Formation: What you rehearse first becomes your default under stress. Morning habits shape emotional regulation and faithfulness.7:15 – 8:15 Mid-episode CTA: Faithful Fitness Premium invitation.8:15 – 10:15 Peace is readiness, not passivity. Strong mornings don't make life easier—they make you faithful. 10:15 – 11:30 Seven-day challenge: No phone. 10-minute walk. One short prayer.11:30 – 12:00 Closing: Who you belong to before the world makes demands.Move Forward Today-Coach Alex's Devotional, “Faithful Fitness” - https://faithfulfitnessdevo.com-Join Faithful Fitness Premium - https://faithfulfitness.coStructured disciplinesScience-backed formationFaith-rooted community Serious accountability-Try the 7-Day Faithful Morning Challenge – No phone before Scripture– 10 minutes of outdoor movement– One short prayer– Delay dopamineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faithful-fitness-by-better-daily--5150768/support.

To the person who is struggling with sexual sin: Do you feel as if you've been conquered by the enemy of your soul? The book of Lamentations is surprisingly very applicable because it was written in Jerusalem after it was destroyed by its enemies—and the author finds hope in God. In today's message, Dr. John Oswalt draws five truths out of this book which still apply today.   Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com  The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Blessed Are — Part 1: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Description: In Part 1 of Blessed Are, Pastor Eric opens the Beatitudes by slowing down on one of Jesus' most counterintuitive promises: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). This message clarifies that mourning isn't only about grief after loss—though Jesus absolutely meets us there. It is also, and most importantly, about mourning over sin: seeing our fallenness clearly, becoming broken before God, and running to the only Savior who can forgive, cleanse, and comfort. From James 4, John 6, John 10, Psalm 42, and Lamentations, Eric shows that the path to comfort is not denial, self-justification, or religious performance. Comfort comes through surrender—submitting to God, resisting the devil, drawing near to the Lord, and letting repentance become honest sorrow rather than shallow regret. Eric also addresses why sin is tempting “for a season,” why it always damages the soul, and why God's heart toward the repentant is not condemnation but restoration. The message then widens to the other “layers” of mourning: death, broken relationships, dashed dreams, wounds no one sees, and the long ache of grief that can feel like waves and billows rolling over the soul. In those places, believers are called to expect Jesus in their grief—to lament, to hope, to wait quietly, and to receive God's lovingkindness that holds steady in the dark. Finally, Eric calls the church to live as Christ's body: God comforts by His Spirit, and He comforts through His people. We are meant to carry comfort to one another—praying, showing up, and becoming tangible reminders that mourners are not alone. Key Scriptures (NKJV): Matthew 5:4; James 4:7–10; Hebrews 11:24–27; John 6:35–40; Matthew 11:28–30; John 10:27–30; Psalm 42:1–7; Lamentations 3:22–26; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Romans 10:13. Highlights: “Blessed are those who mourn” has layers, but it begins with mourning over sin. Repentance isn't humiliation—it's the doorway to comfort, cleansing, and freedom. Sin is pleasurable “for a season,” but it always wounds the soul and harms others. God does not discipline to demean; He draws sinners in to restore them. Jesus' comfort is not an empty offer—He keeps His promises: “I will by no means cast out.” Salvation is receiving a gift, not earning a reward—religion says “perform,” Christ says “receive.” Assurance for believers: Jesus holds His sheep, and no one can pluck them from His hand. Grief is real and biblical: Psalm 42 gives language for sorrow, tears, questions, and hope. Lament is not unbelief—it is faith speaking honestly in pain. God's mercies are new every morning; the call is to get up again and hope in Him. The church is called to comfort one another with the comfort we've received from God. Next Steps: Ask God to show you which kind of mourning you need right now—and respond with one concrete act of faith. If you're mourning over sin: confess it plainly, turn from it, and come to Jesus for cleansing. If you're mourning loss: lament honestly, bring your questions to God, and ask Him to meet you in the waves. If you're stuck in cycles: thank God you got up again, then take one next step toward freedom. If someone near you is mourning: obey the nudge—pray, reach out, and offer comfort in Jesus' name.

This sermon explores Nehemiah chapter 2, teaching how prayerful dependence on God leads to faithful action. The message addresses the common struggle of knowing what to do when God seems to be moving slowly, warning against two spiritual ditches: giving up in passivity or taking control through manipulation. Instead, the sermon presents a third way—waiting on the Lord while remaining actively obedient. Using Nehemiah's example, the message shows how to step forward with courage, ground ourselves in humility and preparation, and stand firm against opposition and self-righteousness. The central teaching emphasizes that true faith involves both deep dependence on God and diligent action, summarized as "step, ground, stand."Main Points:Faith Steps Forward (2:1–8) Obedience in “waiting for the Lord” transitions to obedience in courageous and diligent action as the Lord leads.Vision Gets Grounded (2:9–16)Faithful leaders don't need fanfare; they humbly gather facts to help them discern faithful action.Leadership Stands Firm (2:17–20)God's servant puts to death any self-righteousness and invites God's people to move in unity toward God's promises.Scripture Referenced:Nehemiah 2:1-20 (main passage); Nehemiah 1; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 27:14; Lamentations 3:25; Isaiah 40:31; Proverbs 18:13; Proverbs 19:2; Proverbs 14:15; Proverbs 31; Job 29 and 31; Ecclesiastes 3:1-5; Proverbs 28:1; Esther 4; Daniel 6; Genesis 16; Matthew 22:21Community Group Guide:Begin with Prayer - Begin by asking God to help your group share authentically and honestly in a way that encourages one another and pushes your group toward Christ.Discussion Questions:Part 1: The Two Ditches (Introduction)Which "ditch" do you tend to fall into when facing difficult circumstances?Giving up and becoming passive ("If God wants to fix it, He'll fix it")Taking control and moving ahead without God ("God helps those who help themselves")Part 2: Stepping Forward (Read Nehemiah 2:1-8)Nehemiah waited four months before acting. How do you distinguish between God's timing and your own procrastination or fear?Nehemiah's instinct to pray in the moment (v. 4) reveals a heart shaped by faithful waiting on the Lord. Often, when we wait on God seeking answers, He deepens relationship instead. Has there been a season where God Himself became more precious to you than the outcome you were hoping for?Part 3: Grounding in Humility (Read Nehemiah 2:9-16)Nehemiah gathered facts before announcing his plan. How does the principle "facts are our friends" apply to a decision you're currently facing?Nehemiah chose discretion over fanfare.Where in your life might you be tempted to seek recognition or justification rather than quietly trusting God with your faithfulness?Part 4: Standing Firm (Read Nehemiah 2:17-20)When opposition came, Nehemiah stood firm because he knew 'what time it is' - how does closeness with God help you define reality and discern when to stand against criticism?Practical Application:If you are waiting on the Lord in a particular area, take note of how many times this week you're tempted to either give up or take control.Journal about those instances and confess this to God, asking the Spirit to help you depend on His leadership as you faithfully wait.Share with someone in your Community Group if there is a tendency one way or another and ask them to join you in praying against it.Read Nehemiah 3 in preparation for Sunday's sermon.Personal Reflection:What am I waiting on God for right now?What faithful action can I take while I wait?Where do I need to ground myself in humility and preparation?Are there any facts I need to gather before I am ready to act?Are there any areas where I am looking for fanfare that I need to confess to God?Worship Setlist: Life Defined; Agnus Dei; All Hail King Jesus; Shout to the Lord; Build My Life; Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

 Most of the regret in our lives doesn't come from the last domino—it comes from the first one. It started with a decision that we didn't stop to examine. In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally teaches us to pause and ask, "Are you sure about that?" It's space between the dominoes that can stop the next one from falling. Lamentations 3:40 NLT Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.Most regret isn't from bad intentions—it's from unexamined decisions.1. What would I think about someone who made the choice that I'm about to make?We're really good at evaluating everyone else, yet God calls us to turn that discernment inward.1 Corinthians 11:31 NASB But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.The Word of God is first a mirror to examine our own lives, not a microscope to inspect everyone else's. You can tell a lot about yourself by paying attention to who else is making the same choices that you are. 2. Have I gotten Godly advice?Proverbs 12:15 NLT Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Proverbs 27:6 NLT Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.Godly wisdom always makes room for godly voices. And if everyone agrees with you, you didn't ask the right people.  3. Will I want to tell this story?Haggai 1:5 MSG Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over.Some choices create stories you hide; others create stories you cherish. You don't write your life story all at once. You write it choice by choice.  4. Do I really want to do this, or is this what others want me to do?Some of the most dangerous decisions happen when we confuse God's voice with other people's opinions.Romans 14:12 NLT "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."Other people can advise you, but only you will give account to God for your decisions. Make sure its what you really want to do. 5. Will this glorify God?Every decision reflects your devotion.Matthew 5:16 NLT In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Your choices don't just reveal what you value, they reveal who you worship. Before a surgeon ever makes the first incision, the entire operating room pauses for what's called a surgical time-out. Everything stops and the surgeon asks a series of critical questions. If anything is unclear, the surgery doesn't proceed—because once the cutting starts, you can't undo it.The more important the mission, the more intentional the questions. God often speaks loudest in the pause we're tempted to skip.Are you you sure about that?

Because God has shown Himself faithful in every way-by His nature, by His promises, and to His people-we can trust Him enough to live faithfully, love deeply, and serve wholeheartedly. Pastor Dan Cox reads from Lamentations 3:22-27. Learn more about Wonder Lake Bible ChurchContact Wonder Lake Bible ChurchStudy NotesGod is faithful… in His nature to His promises in Christ to His people God has been, and will be, faithful to me… God has been, and will be, faithful to YOU… God has been, and will be, faithful to WLBC… VISION 2030 Applying the Text Trust Him Love Him Praise Him

Send us a textGod loves you, you are important to Him, He desires a  close personal relationship with you.  Have you experienced His love for yourself?  The answer may be yes, but it probably goes without saying, no matter how long we have followed Christ, we do not yet fully grasp the depth of God's love for us.Luke 15:11-32; 1 Peter 5:7"Yet I still dare to Hope..." - Lamentations 3:21 PODCAST HOME: daretohopepodcast.buzzsprout.com/ EMAIL: hope@dare2hope.life FACEBOOK: Dare to Hope Ministries WEB: www.dare2hope.life

Today’s Bible Verse: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s mercy meets us fresh each day. Even in seasons marked by grief, uncertainty, or exhaustion, God’s love remains steady and sustaining. His compassion doesn’t run out—and it doesn’t depend on our performance. Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe Meet Today’s Host: Carol Ogle McCracken

In this week's episode -- the ninth episode in our "Names of God" series -- we will discuss God's name "Jehovah Jireh" (The Lord Provides). We will discuss how the Lord does not just provide our needs, rather, He Himself is our need. And He provides Himself for us. We will discuss how all we truly need is Jesus. Scripture discussed: Genesis 22, Lamentations 3, and Psalm 23.follow me on instagram! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/braxtenhm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠follow me on tik tok! https://www.tiktok.com/@UCKFDLPcSq_V1LP76Kq4HL1g⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What are you hoping for? What are you expecting God to do in your life this year?If you're stepping into 2026 needing fresh faith, renewed hope, or a new beginning, this message will encourage you to put your faith and trust in God for what He wants to do next.Pastor John Huseman begins with Lamentations 3 and a powerful reset for the new year, reminding us that when we choose to remember who God is and what He has promised, hope begins to rise.Pastor John Huseman also walks through the Prayer of Jabez and highlights how expectation grows as we:•Fill our lives with the Word of God so faith can rise•Pray boldly with pure motives•Break free from old labels and walk in the new identity we have in Christ•Allow God's blessings to flow through our lives, shining His light to    those around us

This week Nate Shannon speaks with Westminster doctoral student Jeremy Menicucci about his journey to Westminster, his pastoral background, and his doctoral research on the Book of Lamentations. They focus on Jeremy's dissertation work on Hebrew poetry, focusing especially on deviations from unmarked word order in Lamentations. He explains how poetic structure, acrostic form, and word order function not merely as literary devices but as vehicles for theological meaning. Lamentations, he argues, is carefully structured as a chiasm with chapter 3 at its center—a chapter that uniquely holds out hope through a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and a strikingly Christological portrait of “the man” who bears God's wrath. The episode closes with a rich pastoral reflection on suffering, comfort, and the sovereignty of God, offering listeners guidance on how to read Lamentations faithfully and how its theology equips believers to grieve, hope, and minister wisely in the midst of profound loss. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

This message was delivered during our Sunday morning service on December 28, 2025. The text being expounded is Lamentations 3:19-27.   To learn more about Tabernacle or access more resources, visit https://www.tabernaclebaptistchurch.com/. 

Welcome to Troy Church's podcast series. Our Connection Card link:https://troychurch.breezechms.com/form/7e350cWALK WELLMatthew 11:11John's Person (Luke 3:1-6, 16-17)Isaiah 40:1-5John's Message (Luke 3:7-9)Lamentations 3:22-23The People's Response (Luke 3:10-20)Jesus's Response (Luke 3:21-22)Worship Songs"Cornerstone" - Hillsong Worship"Names" - Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music"Yet Not I" - CityAlightYou can keep up with all things Troy Church right here on our channel, and also at our other social media and outreach opportunities:facebook.com/troychurch.tvinstagram/troychurchalwww.troychurch.tv

Dealing with Depression: Finding Hope and Victory in the God of All Comfort    Depression is a profound heaviness of soul that the Scriptures describe with raw honesty. The Bible does not employ our modern clinical term, but it portrays the experience vividly: the spirit overwhelmed, the heart cast down, the bones troubled, the soul in despair, even the wish that life would end. Yet the same Word that records this darkness repeatedly declares that God draws near to the brokenhearted, that He is the lifter of the head, that His comfort abounds in affliction, and that joy comes in the morning. Throughout Scripture we see God's choicest servants pass through seasons of deep discouragement. Their stories are recorded not to magnify their weakness but to display God's faithfulness in the lowest places. By examining these lives, and by listening carefully to the voice of God in His Word, we discover divine principles for enduring and overcoming depression from a thoroughly biblical standpoint. I. Elijah: Despair After Victory The prophet Elijah stands as one of the clearest examples. In 1 Kings 18 he experienced one of the greatest public triumphs in redemptive history—fire falling from heaven on Mount Carmel, the prophets of Baal defeated, the people confessing that the Lord is God, and rain ending a three-and-a-half-year drought. Yet in chapter 19, a single threat from Jezebel sends him fleeing in fear and exhaustion. Hear the Word of the Lord in 1 Kings 19:3-4 (KJV): “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Elijah, the man who had just called down fire, now prays for death. He feels his labor has been in vain, that he is no better than his fathers, that everything is “enough.” This is the language of depression: exhaustion, hopelessness, isolation, and suicidal ideation. But observe God's tender response. Verses 5-8: “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” God does not begin with rebuke. He begins with physical care—sleep, food, water—twice. The angel acknowledges the reality of Elijah's limitation: “the journey is too great for thee.” God remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). When Elijah reaches Horeb, he repeats his complaint in verses 9-10: “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Depression distorts perspective. Elijah believes he is utterly alone. God gently corrects him in verse 18: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” Then God gives Elijah new work and a successor. God meets Elijah in his depression with physical provision, truthful perspective, renewed purpose, and the quiet whisper of His presence (verses 11-13). II. Job: Prolonged Suffering and Overwhelming Grief Few stories portray sustained depression more graphically than Job's. A righteous man suddenly stripped of wealth, children, and health, Job sits in ashes, scraping his sores, wishing he had never been born. Job 3:1-3, 11-13, 20-26 (KJV): “After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived… Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest… Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble cometh.” Job's anguish is physical, emotional, and spiritual. He cannot eat without sighing; anxiety and dread consume him. His friends' misguided counsel only deepens the wound. Yet through forty-two chapters God allows Job to pour out every complaint. God does not silence him. Finally, in chapters 38–41, the Lord speaks—not with easy answers, but with a revelation of His sovereign wisdom and power. Job's response in 42:5-6: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Seeing God afresh brings repentance, humility, and eventual restoration. Job's depression lifts not when circumstances immediately improve, but when he encounters the majesty and goodness of God in a deeper way. III. David: The Psalms of the Cast-Down Soul No biblical figure gives us more transparent language for depression than David. The Psalms are filled with his cries from the depths. Psalm 42:1-11 (KJV): “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Notice David's pattern: honest lament (“my tears have been my meat,” “all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me”), self-exhortation (“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? … hope thou in God”), remembrance of God's past faithfulness, and confident expectation of future praise. Psalm 43 continues the same theme, ending with the identical refrain. Psalm 77 shows Asaph following the same path—remembering God's mighty deeds until hope revives. Psalm 88 is perhaps the darkest psalm, ending without explicit resolution on earth, yet still addressed to “LORD God of my salvation.” Even unresolved sorrow is brought to God. IV. Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet Jeremiah's ministry spanned decades of rejection and judgment upon Judah. He is called “the weeping prophet” for good reason. Lamentations 3:1-20 (selected verses, KJV): “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light… He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer… He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood… And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” Jeremiah feels God has become his enemy, that prayer is blocked, that hope has perished. Yet in the very center of Lamentations comes one of the most hope-filled passages in Scripture, verses 21-26: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” Jeremiah preaches to himself the truth of God's character. Remembering God's steadfast love and faithfulness becomes the turning point. V. Other Examples: Moses, Hannah, Jonah, Paul Moses, burdened with leading a complaining people, cries in Numbers 11:11-15 (KJV): “And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? … I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” God responds by sharing the burden with seventy elders and providing meat—practical help and companionship. Hannah, barren and provoked, is “in bitterness of soul” (1 Samuel 1:10). She pours out her soul before the Lord, and though her circumstances do not change immediately, “her countenance was no more sad” (1:18) after entrusting her grief to God. Jonah, angry at God's mercy to Nineveh, prays in Jonah 4:3 (KJV): “Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” God patiently teaches him through a plant, a worm, and a wind. Even the apostle Paul knew despair. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (KJV): “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” Paul's despair drove him deeper into dependence upon the God who raises the dead. VI. The Lord Jesus: Sorrow Without Sin Our Savior Himself entered into sorrow. In Gethsemane, Matthew 26:38 (KJV): “Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” He sweat as it were great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Yet He submitted: “not my will, but thine, be done.” Hebrews 5:7 speaks of His “strong crying and tears.” Christ identifies with our weakness and intercedes for us as One touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). VII. God's Promises of Comfort and Deliverance The Scriptures abound with assurances: Psalm 34:17-19 (KJV): “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” Isaiah 41:10 (KJV): “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV): “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” Psalm 30:5 (KJV): “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” VIII. How Believers Today Can Deal with Depression and Gain Victory from a Biblical Standpoint The examples and promises above yield clear, scriptural pathways for fighting depression today: Bring every feeling honestly before God. The Psalms model unfiltered lament. Do not hide your despair; pour it out. God invites it and can handle it. Preach truth to yourself. Like David and Jeremiah, recall God's character, past faithfulness, and unchanging promises. Speak Scripture aloud when feelings contradict truth. Care for the body God gave you. Elijah's story reminds us that exhaustion, hunger, and isolation exacerbate depression. Sleep, nourishment, exercise, and medical care when needed are acts of stewardship, not lack of faith. Seek godly community. Elijah felt alone, but was not. Isolation feeds depression; fellowship counters it. Confess faults, bear burdens, receive prayer (James 5:16; Galatians 6:2). Fix your eyes on Christ. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Our light affliction works an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). The gospel assures us that nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39). Wait upon the Lord with hope. Seasons of darkness do not last forever. “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Victory is not always immediate deliverance from the feeling of depression, but it is certain triumph through union with Christ. Even if the night lingers, the Morning Star has risen in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19). One day He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we walk by faith, anchored in the God who has never forsaken His own. The same God who sustained Elijah under the juniper tree, lifted Job from the ash heap, turned David's mourning into dancing, and carried Jeremiah through the furnace is your God. He is faithful. Hope in Him, and you shall yet praise Him, who is the health of your countenance and your God.

This sermon explores the book of Lamentations, focusing on how believers can maintain hope during seasons of profound suffering and disappointment. The message centers on Lamentations 3:19-27, emphasizing that God's mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness never fails. Pastor Tom Messer addresses the inevitable reality that all Christians will face times when their world falls apart, when they feel abandoned by God, and when their circumstances challenge their understanding of God's character. The core theological truth presented is that hope is not restored when circumstances change, but when we remember the unchanging character and unfailing mercy of God. Pastor Tom teaches that suffering is part of being human and that these difficult seasons are designed to develop character and deepen faith. Two practical applications are emphasized: Preaching the Gospel to Yourself Daily and Bringing Your Disappointments Directly to God Through Honest Prayer and Lament.

Abide 2026 • Week 2 • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Lamentations 3:22-23, John 15:4-5

The Lord who "thus far" has helped you Will help you all your journey through. "When the words 'thus far' are read in heaven's light, what glorious and miraculous prospects they reveal to our grateful eyes!" —C.H. Spurgeon "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, 'Till now the Lord has helped us.'” (1 Sam. 7:12, ESV) "Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." (1 Sam. 7:12, KJV) What is your "Thus Far"…this past year? References: 2 Timothy 2:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 1:9; Numbers 23:19; Lamentations 3:19-26 Resources: A RARE Book rec. section. *** DISCLAIMER ** - Happy Lies by Melissa Dougherty - What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert - Consider the Lilies by Jonny Ardavanis - The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul - When Culture Hates You by Natasha Crain - Knowing God by J.I. Packer Contact us: devotedpodcast@atheycreek.com women@atheycreek.com https://atheycreek.com/ministries/women Follow us on IG: @atheywomen @ammcreynolds

I've been talking this week about God's promises and his faithfulness to keep his promises. A promise is only as good as the one who promised, right? We've had far too many examples of politicians who promise so much and deliver so little, so that now in general we just don't trust politicians. The Pew Research Center reports only 20% of Americans today say they can trust the government to do what is right. It may be true that because you have been sorely disappointed in what others have promised you, you have difficulty trusting God. I just want to encourage you today that, no matter how much you've been disappointed or let down by others, you can trust God, because he is trustworthy. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23). Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 119:89–90). God is faithful and therefore his eternal Word is faithful. We learn to trust God by getting to know his character. And we get to know his character through his Word and through our own history of his faithfulness to us. Have you forgotten God's faithfulness to you in the past? Sometimes when you're in the midst of a troubling situation, you just forget how God has helped you in the past; how he has proved himself true. I encourage you right now to recite out loud God's faithfulness to you in the past. By remembering his past faithfulness, you will learn to trust his future faithfulness. Here is one last promise as this new year begins, from our trustworthy God. It's a go-to promise for you for the entire year, from Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

Welcome to the Faith For Anxious Moms Podcast! As we start a new year filled with resolutions like eating better, moving more, and “reading the Bible more,” I want to meet you right where you are, whether you're a SAHM, worry or want to find time for more Bible study. In this episode, I share the heart behind the Drive Thru Moms name, why the podcast is evolving, and how God used a chaotic season of motherhood — carpools, Chick-fil-A drive-thrus, and constant busyness — to draw me back into daily time with Him.We'll talk honestly about:Motherhood anxiety and spiritual overwhelmWhy consistent Bible time matters more than perfect routinesThree simple, realistic habits to build a daily quiet timeHow repetition, not guilt, leads to spiritual growthFinding peace through Scripture in stressful seasonsIf you've ever felt like your faith keeps getting pushed to “later,” this episode will encourage you to start again — without pressure or shame. God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23), and He meets us when we choose to spend time with Him, even in small pockets of the day.Faith for Anxious Moms exists to encourage women who love the Lord, feel the weight of motherhood, and want to raise godly children — all while learning to overcome fear and discover truth in Christ.Nothing has changed but the name. The mission remains the same: helping moms soak up more of Jesus and experience the peace only He can give.Happy Wednesday — and thank you for listening.ENJOY friends and HAPPY WEDNESDAY!BECOME AN INSIDERLYNN'S BOOKBLOGLEAVE A REVIEWINSTAGRAMLINKTREE

"The Lord is My Portion" - Lamentations 3:22-24Ron Bower, Senior PastorOriginal Date: 1/4/2026

Can a new day really mean a fresh start?In today's episode, host Richelle Alessi invites us to reflect on the beauty of new beginnings and God's unwavering faithfulness. Together, we'll explore how every morning brings a renewed opportunity to leave the past behind, embrace God's mercy, and set our hearts on pursuing His purpose for our lives, no matter what last year looked like. Drawing inspiration from Lamentations 3:22–23, we'll remind ourselves that His compassions are new every morning and great is His faithfulness to us.Let's join together as a community in prayer and devotion, seeking God's strength for the journey ahead and celebrating the gift of a fresh start, today and every day.Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.Join our Community Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Join our newsletter and get additional resources Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family podcast The Family Business with The Alessis Check out our Worship Music Hear the new music project "Praise the Lord EP" from Metro Life Worship and Mary AlessiListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube

God’s new mercies for a new year remind us that lasting hope isn’t found in resolutions, productivity, or perfectly planned goals, but in the daily faithfulness of the Lord. Rooted in Lamentations 3:21–27, this devotional points us to the steady truth that God’s compassion never fails, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His presence is sufficient for each ordinary day ahead. Highlights Ordinary, quiet days can feel harder than busy ones, yet they are sacred gifts from God. Our relationship with God is not a goal to achieve but a journey to continue. New Year’s resolutions cannot sustain spiritual growth the way daily dependence on God can. God’s mercy, love, and compassion are renewed every single morning without fail. Hope is not found in knowing the future but in trusting the God who reigns over it. There is always enough mercy for each day—never more, never less. Living one day at a time frees us from fear and anchors us in God’s faithfulness. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: New Mercies for a New Year By: Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:I reach up for my coffee cup in the cabinet. Silently, while my house is still quiet, I pour the steaming liquid. The morning hours are sacred, peaceful, and go by too fast. My children, all five of them, will wake up early. The rooms will be filled with voices, doors opening, and then the noises of food being fixed in the kitchen. Although they are older now and can make their own breakfast, I walk in with my empty coffee cup. I’m ready to help them pack their lunches and pour the orange juice. The morning hours will once again be quiet after getting them off to school, but facing my day means I face the truth that ordinary, mundane days are often harder than the busy ones. How do I spend my day? What is truly important? If I made a list, it would be a mile long. New days bring new to-do lists. Jobs, careers, family, and ministry weave together as the years go by, but how do we decide what to do with our days? Each day is a gift from God, and we don’t want to waste our time, so how do we live better? As the new year approaches, you and I want to make our lives better. We want our health to be better, our relationships to be better, and we want our faith to be better. Although New Year’s resolutions are great, maybe even beneficial, what we cannot resolve to do better is our relationship with God. Our connection to God is something to grow, not a goal to reach. I admit that many times over the years, I’ve spent time writing out my goals and aspirations for my life in December and January, including “spiritual things.” I would write down things like praying more, reading my Bible more, and doing more for God. Although we can make tangible goals like that, God is not asking us to reach a certain point, but to continue on in the journey with Him. What if instead of looking for more, we looked for new? In the new year, maybe we can find hope, mercy, and peace not in our goals or resolutions, but in the daily mercies God is already giving us. What do we have that is something we’ve forgotten about God? What if we stopped looking for more and looked to God for the daily? In the book of Lamentations, we see a powerful passage of hope. The author has spent two and a half chapters lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Sorrow, death, and fear surrounded the city. The author’s heart was completely overwhelmed. If you are entering this new year with trepidation, fear, or sorrow, listen closely to the turning point that happens here in the following verses. Yet this I call to mindand therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord. -Lamentations 3:21-27 (ESV) God’s love, compassion, and mercy are new every morning. Our lives are not built because we make New Year's resolutions or meet all our goals. In the daily choices we make, that’s what really counts. How can we daily look to God for our hope? We don’t know what will happen in the coming year, but we can know for sure God will be on his throne (Psalm 47:2), there is hope (Psalm 9:18), and Christ is with us. (Matthew 28:20) As we enter the new year, don’t forget that God’s mercies are new today. Every year, every morning, and each moment we walk through life, God is with us and His mercy has no end! This gives us a place to start connecting with God right now. Each day, there is enough mercy for that day. There will always be enough. God’s mercy and love are faithful to show up every day without fail. It never runs out. You won’t disappoint, sin, or make mistakes that keep you from God’s love and compassion. We can’t outrun God’s love for us. Don’t get wrapped up in trying to prepare for the whole year in January. Just trust God, there will be enough for each day as it comes. He invites us to live this life one day at a time. Make one resolution or goal: to connect with God daily. Psalm 68:19 says that God “daily bears us up” (ESV). Each day God lifts us, provides for us the hope and mercy we need. God will never fail us. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul tells us what can separate us from God’s love. Spoiler: Nothing can! Intersecting Faith & Life: A New Year can invite us to celebrate God’s new mercies, which show up every day. We access this through His Word. Do you have a regular Bible reading habit or study plan? If life feels overwhelming, I invite you to begin with the Psalms. Check out the podcast Psalms to Help You Sleep to jump-start a daily Bible routine. You can start experiencing God’s new mercies in this new year. Further Reading: Psalm 40:1-3 Isaiah 43:18-19 Romans 8:28-39 1 John 5:14-15 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22–23 One of the most comforting things I have come to cherish is the rhythm of mornings. No matter how chaotic or discouraging the previous day was, the sun still rises each morning. It's as if God painted a daily reminder across the sky: You can start again. During a difficult season, I struggled with feeling that I had blown too many chances. I remember sitting in silence one early morning, feeling heavy with regret. Then this passage from Lamentations came to mind: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” Not just once or twice, but every morning. That promise became a lifeline for me. God doesn't recycle old grace. He gives fresh mercy for each day's needs. Even when we feel stuck, consumed, or too far gone, God shows up with compassion that never runs dry. You may not be able to erase what happened yesterday, but you can begin again today. Let God's faithful love reset your heart. It's not too late to take a deep breath and step forward into the life story he's still writing for you.  Lord, thank you for your daily mercy. When I feel like I've messed up too much, remind me of your faithfulness. Help me to embrace each day as a fresh start. Amen.

Preached on December 28, 2025 from Psalm 90:12 and Lamentations 3:22-23. For more information about Columbia Christian Church, please visit our website: www.columbiachristian.org

We can be assured every day in this New Year that God will be, as He always has been, faithful and full of compassion towards His people. Just as He was merciful to His people in Jeremiah's day, He is merciful to us. Every morning when you wake up in 2026, remember that His mercy is new and available for you, great is His faithfulness! By Dave Bartlett

I love trees and the imagery that our Torah is a tree of life. Before I became a rabbi, I was a tree-fruit farmer. I've planted hundreds ( maybe thousands) of trees all across Israel, from the Golan to the Negev. With that in mind, Hashem gave me this melody, which I hope you'll catch on to quickly. Menachem Herman made this lively arrangement, and is playing guitars and singing. Well-known Jewish music producer Jeff Horvitch is on the keyboards. Yours truly is playing the native-Israel flutes. Enjoy this (lyrics below, in translation, transliteration and original Hebrew): Translation: She is a tree of life to those who hold on to her, and happy are those who uphold her (Proverbs 3:18). Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17). Bring us back to You, Hashem, and we shall return; renew our days as of old (Lamentations 5:21). Transliteration (to sing along): Etz chaim he, lamachazikim ba, vetomcheha me'ushar; deracheha darkei no'am, vechol netivoteha shalom. Hashivenu A'donai elecha venashuva; chadesh yameinu k'kedem.  

Lamentations 3:22-24Because of the Lord 's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

https://anchorbaptist1611.com/

Today, we embark on a brand NEW year that has never been lived before! A fresh start on this life the Lord has blessed us with on earth. What will you do with it? Will it be any different than last year?Here are a few things that will make this year one of your BEST YEARS EVER-1. Being in Gods Word everyday!2. Surrounding yourself with a community that pushes you towards Jesus!3. Forgiving others just like Jesus forgave you! Don't start the year carrying that weight. 4. Go to church in the building! It's special to worship together in person. 5. Show gratitude everyday! It really will change your attitude. God's Word is full of "new" promises: Isaiah 43:19“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”Revelation 21:5“Behold, I am making all things new.” Lamentations 3:22-23“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”Romans 6:4“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, justas Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

We learn in the book of Habakkuk that God's promises require patience, that everything comes back to faith, and that joy can transcend our circumstances. When everything is stripped away in your life and God doesn't fix your difficulties, will He still be enough? Let's listen in…LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:• Find a free study guide, show notes, & complete transcript here• Scripture References: Habakkuk chapter 2, verses 2-4 & chapter 3, verses 17-19; Genesis 18, verse 14; Isaiah 6, verse 8; 1 Kings 18, verse 21; Joshua 24, verse 15; Matthew 16, verse 15; Luke 6, verse 46; John 21, verses 15–17; Mark 8, verse 36; Lamentations 3, verses 25-26; Romans 1, verse 17; Galatians 3, verse 11; Hebrews 10, verse 38; Philippians 4, verses 10-13; Psalm 73, verses 25-26; Isaiah 40, verses 30-31• Find out more about Covenant Church at ⁠covenantexperience.com

New mercies. Lamentations 3:19-24.

A new year offers a God-given invitation to renewal, hope, and spiritual refreshment rooted in His design for seasons and fresh starts. Anchored in Romans 15:13, this devotional reminds us that God weaves renewal into creation itself—daily, weekly, and yearly—so we can release the past, trust His mercy, and move forward with joy, peace, and confident hope through the Holy Spirit. Highlights God designed rhythms of renewal through days, weeks, and seasons for our good. Fresh starts are woven into creation, pointing us toward spiritual restoration. The cross of Christ stands as the ultimate picture of death giving way to new life. God removes our sin completely, offering freedom from past failures. His mercies are new every morning, inviting renewed hope each day and year. The turning of the calendar is an opportunity to trust God with what’s ahead. God is still writing your story—renewal is not behind you, it’s ongoing. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Seizing the Opportunity to Refresh This New YearBy Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13 (NIV) All of the hustle and bustle of the holidays has come to a close. Decorations have been stored away, regular schedules have resumed, and the inevitable and likely necessary (at least for me) annual recommitment to diet and exercise has been enacted. Another new year is upon us. For some, the reset of the calendar feels like a fresh start, a blank slate. For others, it might draw out feelings of uncertainty about the unknown ahead. How do you view the renewal of another twelve months? Do you greet a new year with apprehension or anticipation? If we look closely, the framework of refreshing and renewal through time and seasons is evident throughout the Word of God. From the very beginning, we learn that God made day and night. Within each 24-hour period, there is a time for work and time to rest before the cycle begins again. The Lord also established weekly sequences with days assigned to toil and a call to reset on the Sabbath. Monthly and yearly periods are connected to new moons and seasons of sowing and harvesting. The list goes on and on… We can also observe the ultimate example of death and rebirth, exemplified through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ, reflected every year as the world goes dormant in winter. During those dark, bare days, we question whether life is present beneath the frozen tundra, yet each year, spring bursts forth with its radiant buds, reminding us all that warmth and light are on the way. With so many opportunities for refreshing and renewal organically embedded into creation, it is clear our Maker sees this process as “good” (Genesis 1:4). There is something cleansing, almost freeing, about a fresh start. How many situations or circumstances have you encountered this last year, or even this past month, that you wish you could put behind you and start again? There are several that come to mind. The Lord understands how these disappointments or personal failures can become a burden too heavy to bear. Which is why both spiritually and physically, He has embedded marker-point moments for us to begin again with a clean slate. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us,” (Psalm 103:12, NIV). While we may struggle with the concept of freedom from current or past circumstances and sin, the Lord’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). There are opportunities for new days, new years, and renewed hope. For “… there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV). Wherever you find yourself this new year, I encourage you to seize this opportunity to refresh. Whatever has passed, let it be put away and look forward to a new beginning. God, the great author, is still writing your story. Let’s commit together to hand Him the pen and trust that the narrative He has planned will be full of abundant blessings this new year. Intersecting Faith & Life: How do you view the turn of the annual calendar? Do you feel inspired or intimidated? Why? Take some time today to prayerfully consider the highs and lows you experienced last year. Note next to each one how you saw God’s presence and provision in every example. Next, jot down some hopes or dreams for this new year. If possible, list aspirations in both the physical and spiritual. Are there relationships you would like to see founded, mended, or renewed? Or perhaps a new pursuit in health, education, or career. Write down anything you feel tugs on your heartstrings. Once completed, take some time to consider how you would like to see your relationship with the Lord grow this year. Is there a particular study you would like to join? Or perhaps a prayer group, or a commitment to daily individual prayer? Whatever feels like the Lord is prompting, make note of it, then release it to Him. I encourage you to keep this list somewhere safe. This time next year, bring it back out and see how God met you in any or all of these circumstances and desires. Further Reading:Ecclesiastes 3Revelation 21:1-6 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode Summary: Welcome to a brand-new year! If you’re like many, today might bring a mix of emotions. Excitement for a fresh start, anxiety over the unknown, or maybe even a lingering weight from the past. So many of us enter the new year feeling burdened by past mistakes, failures, or regrets. The enemy would love nothing more than to keep us stuck in shame, replaying the moments we wish we could erase. But here’s the truth: Our God is a God of redemption, of new beginnings, of fresh mercies every morning including this very one. Today, we talk about Trusting God's Redemption Over Your Past. We’ll explore what it means to step forward in faith instead of shame, to trust in God’s plans instead of our past, and to fully embrace the fresh start He offers us through His love and grace. Quotables from the episode: If stepping into this new year has felt more like stepping into a cloud of uncertainty, I want you to know that you are not alone. More importantly, you are not without hope. Today, we’re going to explore what God’s Word says about new beginnings and how we can release the past to walk confidently into His plans for our future. God is in the business of making things new. If you’re struggling to let go of past failures, hear this today—God is doing a new thing in your life. Will you embrace it? No matter what yesterday held, today is a new day, and His mercies are fresh and waiting for you. Practical Tip 1: Release What You Cannot Change Holding onto past regrets won’t change them. Take a moment to pray and surrender those memories to God, repenting where necessary and trusting Him to use even your mistakes for His glory. Practical Tip 2: Replace Shame with Truth The enemy often whispers lies of unworthiness and failure, but God calls you redeemed. Meditate on scriptures that remind you of your identity in Christ—because you are loved, valued, and renewed every day. Practical Tip 3: Set Your Eyes on the Future, Not the Past In Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul encourages us, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...” Today, commit to focusing on God’s promises for your future. Each new day is a step toward the plans He has for you—plans filled with hope and purpose. Where there is uncertainty, seek God’s will for your future. Practical Tip 4: Surround Yourself with Encouragement Fellowship is key. The enemy would love to isolate you, but we were not created to be alone. Whether it’s through Christian friends, a church community, or inspirational books and podcasts, fill your life with voices that affirm your worth and point you toward God’s truth. When you're surrounded by encouragement, the journey to healing and new beginnings becomes much more manageable. Practical Tip 5: Start Each Day with a Fresh Perspective Begin every morning by thanking God for a new day and seeking His guidance. A short prayer or a moment of reflection can reset your mindset, reminding you that His mercies are new every day. Consider journaling your thoughts and prayers to track the fresh starts and breakthroughs God is bringing into your life. If you need a resource to start your day in God’s word, reflecting on His promises, I encourage you to pick up a copy of my book Today Is Going to Be a Good Day: 90 Promises From God to Start Your Day Off Right. Take a moment now to reflect on these steps. Ask yourself: What past burdens do I need to surrender? Which scriptures will I meditate on to replace shame with truth? Allow God to fill you with hope as you anticipate the new things He’s ready to do in your life. Friend, I don’t know what your past holds, but I do know this—God is bigger than your mistakes, greater than your failures, and ever faithful in His love. As you step into this new year, hold onto the promise that He is doing a new thing in your life. You no longer have to be weighed down by what was. Instead, embrace what is to come, knowing that God’s plans for you are filled with hope, purpose, and renewal. As you leave this episode, I encourage you to put these steps into practice. Tonight, reflect on the scriptures we discussed and commit to a fresh start tomorrow morning. Trust that each new day is a gift from God—a day filled with His mercy and love. Let’s pray together: “Lord, thank You for the promise of new beginnings. Help us to let go of the past and step boldly into the future You have planned. May we embrace Your truth over our shame, and may Your mercies renew us each morning. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” Scripture References: Isaiah 43:18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Recommended Resources: Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Happy New Year! In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with Cynthia Baker, life coach and author of Still Stuck. They discuss why we often get stuck accomplishing our goals — and how we can experience real, lasting change.  Cynthia opens with her hope story of overcoming an eating disorder in seminary and how changing her mindset became the turning point toward healing. She walks through four key principles of changing your mindset, offering biblical wisdom and practical tools to help you approach goals and resolutions with clarity and hope. This is biblically-rich, encouraging conversation to start the New Year with fresh perspective and hope. Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.   So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.   Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.   Listen in to learn more    (02:53) Digging Deeper—Mindset Change Over Behavior Change (16:48) The Power of Small, Consistent Steps—Not All or Nothing (21:35) Identify and Rewire Limiting Beliefs (41:35) Four Principles to Getting Unstuck and the Role of Action   Cynthia Baker Resources  Learn more about Cynthia Baker and her life coaching resources: https://cynthiabaker.com/    Hope for the Heart resources Blog: When God's Truth Silences the Enemy's Lies – https://www.hopefortheheart.org/explore/blog/i-dont-even-remember   Blog: How to Control Anxious Thoughts - An Exercise from Philippians 4:8 – https://www.hopefortheheart.org/explore/blog/8-ways-to-control-anxious-thoughts    Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart    Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night   God's plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/   Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON    ---------------------------- Bible verses mentioned in this episode   Lamentations 3:40 – “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”   Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”   2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”   Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Send us a textYou may not realize it, but most marathoners never cross the finish line first.  In fact, for most, that's not even the goal.  The real goal is to finish the race—to cross the finish line, period. That's a great illustration for the Christian journey.  We are in it for the long haul; it's not a sprint, it's a marathon.  We are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus.”  The focus of this week's message looks beyond just another year, to the moment we will cross the finish line into God's brand new day.2 Peter 3:1-18; Joel 2:30-32a; Matthew 24:42-43; Isaiah 65:17"Yet I still dare to Hope..." - Lamentations 3:21 PODCAST HOME: daretohopepodcast.buzzsprout.com/ EMAIL: hope@dare2hope.life FACEBOOK: Dare to Hope Ministries WEB: www.dare2hope.life

Have you ever experienced a power outage? You pull out your favorite flashlight, only to discover the batteries are dead. Bummer, am I right?How about light bulbs? For some reason, they all seem to go at the same time, leaving you in the shadows and looking for that flashlight—you know, the one with the dead batteries!Light bulbs burn out, tires go flat, umbrellas turn inside out on a windy day, and batteries die. Many of the things we use on a frequent basis are designed to be temporary—and sometimes they let us down when we need them most.Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”God's Holy Word, the Bible, promises that His compassion never fails. Each day is a new opportunity to experience God's love and benefit from His grace, and His faithfulness to us that will never end. Not because we've earned the Lord's favor—simply because He loves us.Let's pray.Heavenly Father, your mercy is new every morning, and your steadfast love for us is amazing. Thank you for loving us so much, and thank you that we can depend on you, always. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Welcome to our Reveal podcast,“The Weight of the Wait” is about the tension between God's promise and God's timing. Throughout Scripture, waiting is rarely passive it's formative. Abraham waited decades for Isaac, Joseph endured years before the dream made sense, David was anointed king long before he ever wore the crown, and even Jesus waited thirty years before beginning His ministry.In the Bible, waiting carries weight because it stretches faith, exposes motives, and builds endurance. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength but renewal comes in the waiting, not after it. The delay is not denial; it's preparation.The weight feels heavy because waiting confronts our desire for control. Yet Scripture shows that God often does His deepest work in the unseen seasons. Lamentations says the Lord is good to those who wait for Him, not because waiting is easy, but because God is present in it.The wait is where trust matures, character is shaped, and purpose is refined so when the promise arrives, we're strong enough to carry it.To support this ministry and help us continue our God-given mission, click here:Subscribe to our channel for the latest sermons:https://www.youtube.com/@revealvineyardLearn more about Vineyard Church Reveal Campus:https://www.revealvineyard.com/Follow us on social media!Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vineyardrevealcampus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RevealVineyard

Title: The PlanSpeaker: Mike CaseyScripture: Lamentations 3:1-23

As we step toward 2026, many Christians are trying to build a new year on an old foundation. In this powerful final episode of 2025, Mike Stone reveals three spiritual anchors you must leave behind if you want to walk fully in God's purpose—regret, comparison, and comfort.Drawing from Scripture, including Genesis 19, John 21, Isaiah 43, and Lamentations 3, this episode challenges believers to stop living as pillars of salt—preserved in the past—and start moving forward in obedience. Learn the difference between conviction and condemnation, why comparison is spiritually dangerous, and how comfort quietly kills growth.If you're longing for a fresh start, clarity in God's will, or freedom from what's been holding you back, this message is for you. God isn't waiting for January 1st to do something new—He's waiting for you to let go.