Podcasts about lord almighty

One football team owner called it "the single most impressive symbol of being a champion in all of sports." Yep, he was talking about the National Football League's Super Bowl ring. The rings on Super Bowl champions are worth many thousands of dollars each one! Can you imagine losing something that valuable, that irreplaceable? Former Oakland Raiders champion, Gene Upshaw, can remember that. Yeah, he can imagine it. To keep his Super Bowl ring safe at home, he put it inside a bank that looked like a Pepsi can. Problem: he forgot to tell his housekeepers. You know where this is going? Yep, they mistook the bank for an empty pop can and tossed it out, ring and all. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Treasure In Your Mirror." That was a costly mistake - trashing treasure because of the container it was in. Well, that's a mistake many people are making. Except the treasure is themselves. And maybe we needed to talk about this today because maybe you're throwing away a treasure called you. Now you may not feel very valuable right now. Maybe you're not feeling very good about how you look, or what you weigh, or the fact that you're still single. You're not sure how much you're really worth. But you're making the same mistake those housekeepers made when they threw away that ring - judging the worth of what's inside by the container you come in. It could be that you feel pretty worthless because you've been passed over, put down, rejected, maybe abandoned, or maybe abused. And the tragedy is that you may have been throwing yourself away because you don't know how valuable you are. There are a lot of ways to throw yourself away. You can throw yourself away sexually, socially by the people you hang out with, chemically, alcoholically, just by giving up or withdrawing, maybe even thinking suicide. But you have worth that you'll never see just by looking in a mirror or basing it on how other hurting people are treating you. If you want to get an evaluation of your worth, you've got to go to the One who created you. He's the one who knows your value. In our word for today from the Word of God in the Bible, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, your Creator says, "We are the temple of the living God. As God has said...'I will be their God, and they will be My people...I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty." Did you hear what the God of the universe says about those who belong to Him? They're His temple that He lives in, His people that He walks with, sons and daughters of the King! If you don't feel like you are priceless treasure, maybe it's because you are without the One who gave you your value in the first place; the Creator who made you as His one-of-a-kind creation. You're missing the love you were made for. And that's because, well, we've chosen over and over again to turn our back on God and do things our way. But the Bible says God values you so much that He thought you were worth having His Son die for you! Good Friday was for you. Picture Jesus hanging on that cross. That was to pay for your sin so you could belong to Him. You'll never know how much you're really worth until you are in His loving arms. Jesus won't make you give yourself to Him. It's your choice to finally end those self-directed, wasted years and to stand at His cross and say, "Jesus, the 'me' years are over. You love me. You died for me. I'm yours." Why don't you make this the day that you become a member of His family. And say, "Jesus, I'm yours from this day on." There's a website I want to direct you to, it's ours. If you go there you'll find what you need to know from the Bible to be sure you belong to Jesus. It's ANewStory.com. Go there please. Maybe you've believed that you really don't matter much, and maybe you've thrown yourself away for long enough. You mattered enough to Jesus that He poured out His life for you. Isn't it time you belong to the One who loves you most?

2 The people walking in darkness     have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness     a light has dawned.3 You have enlarged the nation     and increased their joy; they rejoice before you     as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice     when dividing the plunder.4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat,     you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,     the bar across their shoulders,     the rod of their oppressor.5 Every warrior's boot used in battle     and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,     will be fuel for the fire.6 For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given,     and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called     Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the greatness of his government and peace     there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne     and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it     with justice and righteousness     from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty     will accomplish this.Isaiah 9:2-7PACK THE HOUSE SLIDE*2 The people walking in darkness     have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness     a light has dawned.Isaiah 9:2-79 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:9-11DAWN OF THE PROMISE9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”Matthew 9:9-13His [Matthew's] occupation as a tax collector implies that he had training in scribal techniques and was thus able to write…Crossway Study Bible, ESVMatthew, The Chosen picture***His [Matthew's] occupation as a tax collector implies that he had training in scribal techniques and was thus able to write, while his identity as a Galilean Jewish Christian suggests his ability to interpret the words and actions of Jesus in light of Old Testament messianic expectations.Crossway Study Bible, ESV1 This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,Isaac the father of Jacob,Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,Perez the father of Hezron,Hezron the father of Ram,4 Ram the father of Amminadab,Amminadab the father of Nahshon,Nahshon the father of Salmon,5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,Obed the father of Jesse,6 and Jesse the father of King David.David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,Rehoboam the father of Abijah,Abijah the father of Asa,8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,Jehoram the father of Uzziah,9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,Jotham the father of Ahaz,Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,Manasseh the father of Amon,Amon the father of Josiah,11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.12 After the exile to Babylon:Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,Abihud the father of Eliakim,Eliakim the father of Azor,14 Azor the father of Zadok,Zadok the father of Akim,Akim the father of Elihud,15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,Eleazar the father of Matthan,Matthan the father of Jacob,16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.Matthew 1:2-27WHEN GOD MAKES PROMISES, HE FULFILLS THEMThe Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation,     and I will bless you; I will make your name great,     and you will be a blessing.[a]3 I will bless those who bless you,     and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth     will be blessed through you.”Genesis 12:1-3All this may sound too good to be true, but it will be done. God – the LORD of all heavenly armies – has promised to accomplish this wordCharles SpurgeonGOD'S PROMISES REQUIRE FAITH18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:18-22"Oh, that men would see that all God's ancient promises find their yes in Christ! But their eyes are blinded by expectation and prejudice, so they wander, seeking fulfillment elsewhere."Charles SpurgeonFAITH IS NOT BLIND, IT'S REASONABLEMust be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3; 22:18)Must be from Isaac (not Ishmael) (Genesis 17:19)Must be from ...

P.O.G. Daily Pause 2025-11-20 Thursday – Isaiah 6:1-8In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;    the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

In a world ruled by fear and fueled by endless headlines, God's people are called to live differently. When the kings of the earth trembled, Isaiah heard a counter-cultural command: “Do not fear what they fear. The Lord Almighty is the One you are to regard as holy.” In this message, Pastor Gary Webber shows how faith in the face of fear becomes a declaration of hope in a despairing world—and how trusting the holiness of God can steady us amid cultural panic and personal anxiety.

What if the death of a marriage isn't the end of your story but the beginning of redemption? Stasi welcomes Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle for an honest conversation about sorrow, loss, courage, and healing as they discuss their new book, Surviving an Unwanted Divorce. In every moment of our lives, the painful and the promising, our hearts are held by our faithful, loving God who walks with us to hope and wholeness.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Malachi 2:16 (NIV) – ‘The man who hates and divorces his wife,' says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘does violence to the one he should protect,' says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.”Genesis 50:20 (NIV) – You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.Romans 12:18 (NIV) – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.John 15:13 (NIV) – Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. …..GUESTSLysa TerKeurst is the president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the author of eight New York Times bestsellers, including “I Want to Trust You, But I Don't”; “Good Boundaries and Goodbyes”; “Forgiving What You Can't Forget”; and “It's Not Supposed to Be This Way”. Lysa is now remarried. She and her husband, Chaz, enjoy life with their blended family of 7 kids and a whole crew of really fun grandkids. Connect with her at LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media @LysaTerKeurst.Joel Muddamalle holds a PhD in theology and serves as the director of theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries. He co-hosts the Therapy & Theology podcast with Lysa TerKeurst. Since the podcast started in the fall of 2022, more than 5-million episodes have been downloaded, making it one of the most popular podcasts available. Joel is a frequent speaker for churches, conferences, and events. In 2024 he released his first book, “The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility”. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Joel and his wife enjoy a full house with their four children and German Shepherd, Lady. Connect with Joel on Instagram at @muddamalle or muddamalle.comGUEST RESOURCESSurviving an Unwanted Divorce: A Biblical, Practical Guide to Letting Go While Holding Yourself Together by Lysa TerKeurst with Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Jim Cress  https://wahe.art/4hIxmQBTherapy & Theology Podcast — with Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress  https://proverbs31.org/listen/therapy-and-theology…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: https://wahe.art/4h8DelLSpotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

[Moses] put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. — Leviticus 8:7 A middle-school student asked why I was studying for eight years to be “ordained.” I explained that the church ordains ministers for special duties, like raising their hands to give the blessing in church. He wasn't impressed. “That's a long time to go to school just to be able to raise your hands,” he said.In Leviticus 8 God gives instructions for ordaining Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. The priests' clothing indicated the privilege and responsibility they bore. Priestly garments were purple and gold, matching the colors of the tabernacle, because the priests performed special duties for the Lord. The high priest's turban was inscribed with the words “Holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36), indicating special service to God. On the ephod—a kind of vest—were 12 stones, one for each tribe of Israel. God's people would see these stones and remember that the high priest carried their tribe close to his heart and lifted them up in prayer to God.It's even better for us! Hebrews 7:23-28 assures us that Jesus, our ultimate High Priest, continually lifts us up before God and holds us near to his heart. When grief or sadness weigh us down, Jesus is lifting us up! When Satan nags us about repeated failures, Jesus' Spirit reminds us that his righteousness covers all our sin. When we don't know how or what to pray for, Jesus prays on our behalf before the Lord Almighty! Lord Jesus, we thank and praise you for being our perfect priest. Thank you for representing us, O Savior and King! Amen.

Your country is desolate,    your cities burned with fire;your fields are being stripped by foreigners    right before you,    laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. 8  Daughter Zion is left    like a shelter in a vineyard,like a hut in a cucumber field,    like a city under siege. 9  Unless the Lord Almighty    had left us some survivors,we would have become like Sodom,    we would have been like Gomorrah. 10  Hear the word of the Lord,    you rulers of Sodom;listen to the instruction of our God,    you people of Gomorrah! 11  “The multitude of your sacrifices—    what are they to me?” says the Lord.“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;I have no pleasure    in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12  When you come to appear before me,    who has asked this of you,    this trampling of my courts? 13  Stop bringing meaningless offerings!    Your incense is detestable to me.New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14  Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals    I hate with all my being.They have become a burden to me;    I am weary of bearing them. 15  When you spread out your hands in prayer,    I hide my eyes from you;even when you offer many prayers,    I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! 16  Wash and make yourselves clean.    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;    stop doing wrong. 17  Learn to do right; seek justice.    Defend the oppressed.[a]Take up the cause of the fatherless;    plead the case of the widow. 18  “Come now, let us settle the matter,”    says the Lord.“Though your sins are like scarlet,    they shall be as white as snow;though they are red as crimson,    they shall be like wool.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/faith-love-trust--3493635/support.

Hey sweet mamas!

Your body, and mine, is special. No matter the look or the condition, the Apostle Paul tells us that our bodies are:THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRITThat is, within us dwells the Third Person of the Trinity, and our bodies should make the Spirit welcomed at all times. That means it is our duty to take care of that TEMPLE, our body, and not abuse it.Scripture also tells us that we are made in:THE IMAGE OF GODAnd, again, that means we should take very good care of the body we have been given, which is given to us in the image of God.That body of ours is endowed with the unbelievable organ called the HEART.It pumps life-giving blood throughout the body and to every organ therein. And that precious organ, like the body itself, must be fully respected, taken care of, nourished, and little or never abused. If it is, then the abuse it may fear the most can occur:THE HEART ATTACK.Such a debilitating attack, damaging or fatal, occurs when a coronary artery becomes partially or fully blocked, keeping blood from reaching the heart muscle. The symptoms of a heart attack can be obvious or subtle. A heart attack can often be mistaken for heart burn, stress, or even a virus. But, a heart attack, greater or lesser, occurs when some or all of the following symptoms occur:First, there can be intense chest pressure. That chest pressure can also producesevere, or in some cases mild, chest pain. That pain then travels to other parts of the body and can be felt in the arms, either or both. That pain can affect the lower jaw, and the neck, and may cause a headache. The pain of the heart attack can travel to the upper back, and again, can be severe or subtle.Other symptoms of THE HEART ATTACK can include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Those symptoms can be obvious.A heart attack can produce lightheadedness or a feeling of ABOUT TO FAINT. An obvious symptom of a heart attack is body weakness and a feeling of fatigue. The heart attack, when it occurs, can have any or all of these obvious or subtle symptoms. If they occur in your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the body made in the image of God, you should pay immediate attention and recognize the dangers. These symptoms can occur suddenly or gradually, and can occur during any type of activity from rest (even sleep) to strong physical exertion, or any kind of extreme stress.A heart attack victim, or anyone rendering care, should immediately call 911. Paramedics will come to your aid. You should rest in a comfortable position and take an aspirin, so says the medical profession, but you should not drive yourself to a hospital or emergency care: wait for paramedics. You should not eat anything. You should be ready to go, assuming you can, whenever paramedics arrive. The body can suffer permanent damage if medical help is not administered as soon as possible.STROKE. Then there is stroke. A stroke occurs when there is an interruption of blood flow to the brain. That can occur when there is major artery blockage, or it can also occur when there is bleeding in the brain.Know the symptoms of stroke:There can be difficulty walking. There can be trouble seeing in one or both eyes. There can be difficulty speaking. There can be difficulty in understanding others. There can be numbness or weakness on one side of the body, such as facial drooping. There can be headaches, mild or severe. There can be dizziness or loss of balance.If any of these symptoms and conditions exist or persist, CALL 911.Then, sit or lie down. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. Wait for paramedics. Do not eat or drink anything. Wait for real and professional medical help, and do your very best to secure that help as soon as possible.A relative of mine was in the very best of health. Medical physicals showed a body functioning well and without serious problems. Overnight, and almost without warning, that person suffered a severe stroke which left permanent damage to the brain, and consequently to the body. You never know! You need to pay attention to how the heart and the brain in the temple of the Holy Spirit is functioning, and any symptoms which affect the normal function of that very special brain.A friend of mine in their late 30s was in the very best health, a physical specimen, exercising virtually every day. Without warning, that friend suffered a major heart attack and died. There were symptoms, subtle symptoms, that meant a heart attack might occur, but of course at that young age and in that condition, they were ignored. As a result, death occurred.Know these symptoms and pay attention to them if and when any occur.Your body, made in the image of God, and the temple of the Holy Spirit, is one of a kind, the only one you will have. You are, in essence, a custodian, a guardian of this earthly life which God has given you to live in the body he gave you. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was God/man, possessed of a heart like ours. His heart was full of love, as ours should be. His blood, His blessed heart, which pumped for 33 years, was shed for us. His brain gave us the greatest wisdom, teaching, and knowledge which are life's finest guides. He gave His body, His heart, and His brain, to us, for us, and left us with this thought:THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THAT MAN (OR WOMAN) WHO LAYS DOWN HIS (OR HER) LIFE FOR HIS (OR HER) FRIEND.His heart not only beat with blood, but with supreme love. His brain was full of nothing but Godly wisdom. He gave both for us. When the Lord enters the heart, and captures the brain, how grateful we should be for His love and His wisdom. Do your best to always protect the heart and brain the Lord Almighty has given you.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 347, “Power, Pride, and the Plummet,” Kim discusses the humiliating fall of the puffed-up King Uzziah of the Southern Kingdom. As long as he feared the Lord and sought guidance from the Lord, he had a successful life, and the kingdom of Judah thrived. Yet, at some point, his eyes left the Lord and his purposes, and began to consider himself above respect for God and His law. May each of us learn from Uzziah's tragic end.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Chronicles 26:16-23, with 16 as the focal verse:   “But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.”     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   Humbly pray the prayer provided below and fully submit to the Spirit's leading.   PRAYER AGAINST PRIDE   Heavenly Father, You are the Lord Almighty, the One who resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). We come before You today, confessing that pride has crept into our hearts like a silent thief, stealing our dependence on You.   Forgive us, Lord, when we have thought too highly of ourselves, when we have sought our own glory instead of Yours. Like King Uzziah, we have sometimes trusted in our success, our strength, our wisdom— and forgotten that “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).   Break our hearts where pride has taken root. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Search us and reveal any arrogance, self-reliance, or desire to be seen by others. Help us to “humble ourselves under Your mighty power” (1 Peter 5:6), knowing that You alone are worthy of praise.   Teach us to walk in the fear of the Lord, for “true humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life” (Proverbs 22:4). Clothe us with humility, as You clothed Your Son, Jesus, who “humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).   May we never stand on the precipice of pride, but instead “boast only about the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31), and “take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10).   Guard our hearts, our words, and our actions. Let “everything we do… bring glory to God” (1 Corinthians 10:31), and keep us low at the foot of the cross, where true greatness is found in serving, not in being served.   In the name of Jesus Christ, our humble King, we pray. Amen. (Grok, Oct. 31, 2025)     Additional Resources and Scriptures:   8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:8-10) 16 There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, 18  a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, 19  a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. (Proverbs 6:16-19) 18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) 2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2) Isaiah 6:1-8 EMAIL — encouragingothersinlovingjesus@gmail.com X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus     I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2025). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Daily Dose of Hope October 31, 2025 Scripture – John 13:18-38 Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we have been going through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up John 13. In John's Gospel, there is an extended text about Jesus predicting Judas' betrayal. When asked who will be the one to betray him, Jesus says the one he dips the bread and offers it to. Jesus then dips the bread and gives it to Judas. He tells Judas to do what he is going to do and do it quickly. I often wondered why the disciples didn't notice this interaction more. They seem someone oblivious and lost in their own thoughts. Maybe they each wondered if they could be the one to betray their Master? John writes of a point in which Judas allows Satan to enter him. He had previously been influenced by Satan but now he has allowed the devil to have his way with him. At first, he opened the door a little. Then, he just opened the door wide. The devil had been feeding him lies, and Judas started believing them, totally and completely. The devil tempted him with money, and Judas found 30 pieces of silver more valuable than the God. Jesus told Judas that joy was to be found in sacrificially serving others, but Judas believed that Satan's way of putting self first was better. We recently went to a clergy training on deliverance, led by Pete Bellini, a professor at United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. It was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Dr. Bellini's books. But one of the things that Dr. Bellini said was that we as Christ-followers cannot be possessed by Satan. We belong to Jesus so we can never totally belong to Satan. But we can become oppressed. We can open the door to the demonic through various means, i.e. porn use, messing with occult-related activities, and when we do so, demons can attach themselves to us. Satan can oppress certain parts of us. We may not even be aware of it. That is when deliverance is necessary. So, was Judas possessed or oppressed? Did he know Jesus? Did he believe? I don't know if we will ever know this side of heaven. Most of the scholars I read said they thought he was totally possessed by Satan at the end. Who knows? I would love your thoughts. Let's move on in our passage. Verses 34 and 35 are really incredible, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It's as if, in two sentences, Jesus has summarized all his teachings to his disciples. And they aren't easy because they center on how we love one another. If we were to take these verses and look at church history, we would wonder if we were looking at the same faith. Christian history has done horrific things in Jesus' name. I think he must weep and mourn at this. Everything Jesus did was about teaching others to love and serve each other. And somehow, this got terribly corrupted. As we keep reading, Peter makes a very bold, ambitious claim that even if everyone else fell away and disappeared, he would not. Jesus doesn't mince words. He tells Peter that he will betray Jesus three times by that night (or as the text says, by the time the rooster crows two times). But Peter, and all the others, insist that they will follow Jesus even until death. I've thought about this a lot. At this time, the disciples still don't understand Jesus' ministry or purpose. They think they will follow him no matter what but we know what happens. They all scatter once Jesus is arrested. Peter does deny him three times in just a few short hours, consumed with fear for his own safety. When push came to shove, they weren't quite as invested in Jesus' mission as they thought. But then things changed. After the resurrection, the disciples were changed in fundamental ways. Peter, who was initially impulsive and fearful, becomes strong and bold, a superb leader in the early church. After experiencing both the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, their whole outlook on life is transformed. And all of them, except for John, are martyred for the Gospel. They do end up following Jesus to their own earthly death, just not in the timing they expected. I've asked this question before but it's worth repeating - would you follow Jesus to the point of giving up your life? If you were being tortured and persecuted for your faith, would you stay faithful to Jesus or would you give in to the pressure and deny Christ? It is not outside the realm of possibility that such a situation could exist for us. Afterall, it does exist for Christians all over the world. Reflect on this and spend some time in prayer. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Psalm 46:1-71 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

The Heart Series Week 4 Living Out of the Restored or Renewed HeartLives That Are Salt and LightLiving Illustrations of Godlikeness and Godliness Restored Hearts… Leading to Restored Lives… Leading to Restored Families… Leading to Restored Communities… Leading to Restored Nations… Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NIV)“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)“As much as you have the opportunity, do good to all.” 1Peter 2:11-17 (NIV)“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” John 10:10 (NIV)“I have come that you might have life and have it to the full - abundantly!”

The Lord Almighty delights in you, He loves you, He has chosen you

This message by Jon Bell takes us into one of history's most iconic underdog stories—David and Goliath—and reveals that our battles aren't won through our own strength, but through whose God is our God.We're invited to examine the weapons Satan uses against us today: anxiety, depression, loneliness, addiction, marital strife, and countless other fears that leave us shattered and paralyzed.The profound truth emerges that the thing we fear is often the thing we revere—whatever terrifies us becomes what we fixate on and elevate in our lives.David's secret weapon wasn't his sling and stone; it was his unshakeable confidence in the Lord Almighty. He didn't compare himself to the giant; he compared the giant's weapons to God's power.This shifts everything for us. When we face our Goliaths, we're called not just to have mental confidence in God, but to move with courage—to run toward the battle line, not away from it. Courage by definition requires fear; we can't be courageous if we avoid what frightens us. The message culminates in a stunning call to action: faith without deeds is dead.It's not enough to know about God or believe in Him intellectually—even demons believe and shudder. We need active faith that moves us from the safety of the sidelines onto the battlefield, declaring 'this day' as our day of victory through Jesus, the ultimate rescuer who saves us from sin and death itself.Website: https://impact.church Facebook: https://facebook.com/ImpactChurchHome Instagram: https://instagram.com/ImpactChurchHome YouTube: https://youtube.com/@impactchurchhome TikTok: https://tiktokcom/@impactchurchhome

In our second week of the Majesty & Mystery sermon series, Pastor Drew Super dives into exploring and explaining the holiness of the Lord Almighty with a sermon based in Isaiah 6:1-8. 

"How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion." ~ Psalm 84:1-7 Scripture Reference: Psalm 84 10/26/25

In this message, Dion van Breda reminds us that God's plan for our lives is for us to become more like Jesus.He also encourages us to remember that God wants us to live lives of impact and increase, even when we're facing times of trial and difficulty.Jeremiah 29: 4 - 14 (NIV)This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

As a mom, it can be hard to see ourselves the way God sees us. Join us on the podcast today as we dive into focusing on the Truth of who we are in Jesus!“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

Rebuilding What Darkness Destroyed Zechariah 3 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.  2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”   Name the accuser, and let God rebuke him.   3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”  Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” 5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. 6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here. 8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.  9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. 10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,' declares the Lord Almighty.”   Zechariah 4  Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”  “No, my lord,” I replied. 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!'”   Name the mountain, and trust God to move it.   8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”   Name your next step, and take it.    11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” 13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”  “No, my lord,” I said. 14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”   Name your Source, and trust God's supply.

Haggai 1:1-7 (NIV) A Call to Build the House of the Lord1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak,[a] the high priest: 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house.'” 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

SUKKOTSukkot is a seven-day festival that follows five days after Yom Kippur. It was to be observed by “living” in “booths,” or the “sukkah,” which served to remind the Jewish people of the forty years they wandered in the wilderness, when the nation came out of Egypt, in route to the Land of Promise. They dwelt in temporary structures, and the Lord Himself dwelt in the Tabernacle. Because the “sukkah” was a weak structure, it symbolized the fragility of their own lives, and the loss of Israel's national aspirations. It also served to remind the nation of their future hope of restoration and glory when Messiah returns and establishes the Messianic Kingdom (Amos 9:11).According to Leviticus 23:33-43, four plants were to be used in the worship of the Lord on this occasion. First, is the פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר “fruit of goodly trees,” or the etrog, which is a citrus-type fruit much like an extra-large lemon. Second, is the כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים “branches of palm-trees,” known as the lulav. Third, is the עֱנַף עֵץ-עָבֹת “boughs of thick trees,” also called the hadass, the branch of a myrtle tree. Fourth, is the עַרְבֵי-נָחַל “willows of the brook,” referring to the aravah, the willow branch. It ought not surprise us then that on Sukkot, Yeshua, himself, would make certain statements regarding his Messiahship in connection with these two most important ceremonies. During the water pouring ceremony, which symbolized Israel's prayer for rain and the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the nation, Yeshua said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his innermost being” (John 7:37-38). In connection with the “lighting of the lampstands” ceremony, Yeshua proclaimed on Sukkot, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Prophetically, Sukkot will have its fulfillment during the Messianic kingdom. While the first four festivals were all prophetically fulfilled by the first coming of Messiah, so the latter three festivals will be fulfilled by the second coming of Messiah. Zechariah foretells, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem, will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).SIMCHAT TORAHSimchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in September or October on the Gregorian calendar).YouTube: https://youtu.be/AnJGKyLWYBISend us a text

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 2 A Quick Execution Plan In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.             If my life is a mirror, why does mine have to be one-way with me on the wrong side.     Christina was waiting for me when I came out, minus her servant (classes had just been let out so she hadn't snared one yet), but she'd gained three sidekicks who looked upon me with varying degrees of amusement and contempt. The shortest of them, a sexy brunette with a foxy-like face glared at me with ill-disguised hate, over what I had no idea. "Come on, Zane," Christina said as she handed me her book bag, "time to face judgment." "Face judgment?" I mused. "Are we really going there? I made an honest mistake and besides, isn't forgiveness of sins the prime Christian virtue?" Angry Girl grabbed my arm and yanked but the sad facts of physics and my contrariness kept her from moving me. The girl ground her teeth, on the cusp of rage. "Zane, come," dictated Christina calmly. "Heaven, release him before he starts crying to the liberal media about physical abuse." Heaven? Seriously, who names their daughter Heaven, I thought, then I remembered where I'm standing. I meekly went to Christina's side when Heaven released me, then we started making our way to the Administration Building. My phone went off and I checked the message and had to snicker. It was Iona and apparently the girls are starting to use my time as some sort of currency. "What was that all about?" another sidekick asked. This one was actually friendly. "I'm Chastity," she identified herself. "Hey, Chastity," I grinned back to her. "That was an enterprising freshman who is keeping track of which lady has requested my Handmaiden services, and now I'm apparently being swapped around." "You are a whore," snarled Angry Chick Heaven. "Listen," I shot back, "this is your crazy tradition, not mine. I'm only doing what my upperclassmen are demanding of me. I'm acting like any other incoming freshman. But I have to admit, I haven't actually read the handbook yet." "Let it be, Heaven," advised Christina. "This will all be over in thirty minutes and he'll be gone." On that note, I turned to the last unnamed senior. "So what's your name, if you would be so kind as to tell me?" "Faith," she replied cautiously. I kept grinning. "I swear, if you ladies have a girl named Hope in your close circle of friend we should form an all-girls 80s-style punk rock band. I'll be the manager, constantly clashing with Christina over artistic differences," I rambled on. "You are kind of a nut," Chastity pointed out. "I'm on the verge of the shortest college career in history so I admit to being a bit nervous," I confessed, and surprise of surprises, Chastity placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. Somehow that made Heaven angrier with me, which I didn't think was possible. Before I could delve into the psychoses of Heaven, we arrived at the Chancellor's office. I gave Christina her bag as the girls abandoned me once the secretary ushered me in with a disdainful sniff of her nose. Inside were six women but I only recognized two: Chancellor Doctor Melrose Bazz and Ms. Goodswell, who also happened to be my assigned Spiritual Advisor. "Come in and sit down, Mr. Braxton," commanded Doctor Bazz. Since the only open chair was directly in front of her desk and flanked by the other chairs (so I'd be doubly flanked), I took my seat. "As you must now understand, there has been a horrible error," the Chancellor continued. "To rectify this situation you will withdraw from Freedom Fellowship University effective immediately. Your tuition will, of course, be refunded." She slid some papers in front of me. "I take it everyone knows who I am, ma'am, but who am I in the room with?" I inquired. "Sign the papers," insisted Doctor Bazz. "Can I think about this?" I inquired. "No," she answered. "Are you sure?" I persisted. "Yes," she snapped angrily. "Okay, then, I'm not signing," I decided. Everyone stirred restlessly. "You don't have a choice," one of the unnamed women in the room declared. "Security will hand you over to the Sheriff's Department as we remove you if you don't leave sensibly." "That sounds like a lawsuit," I noted. "You are mistaken, Mr. Braxton," the Chancellor glared. I noticed the unnamed woman farthest from me looked less than convinced; that made her the college's lawyer. "Chancellor, I have a deep respect for you and for the school you so expertly shepherd. I'm not out to embarrass this institution." I tried to relate to all of them. "The problem for you is that at no time in the registration process was I ever asked if I was male," I began my argument. "I entered my first name in as Glenn; your computer system transcribed that over to Glenda. At no time did I attempt to deceive the administration. I also can call forth witnesses from my dorm floor that will testify that I clearly didn't understand this was a woman's institution of higher learning." "You are being highly disruptive to the school and you've already been in one fight in your first four hours of school," another unnamed member announced. "Pardon me, but I don't know who you are," I asked the woman. "Dana Gorman, Head of Security and Dean of Athletics," she snipped. "Coach Dana, I was not aware that anyone was hurt and since I wasn't supplied my Handbook until yesterday afternoon when I went to my dorm room, I had no idea about the Handmaiden's Duty. I did find my roommate pinned to the ground with three girls sitting on her while she screamed and cried. I pushed/kicked them away and picked her up. I acted with charity and compassion," I put my best spin on the case as possible. "Doctor Josephine Sergeant, Dean of Sciences," the other unnamed woman introduced herself. "I'm not sure how I can fit you into my program, Mr. Braxton. The corpses Advanced Biology students work on are all female." "Doctor, I would imagine if I do become a doctor, I will have to work on women from time to time," I countered. "Mr. Braxton, nothing good can come of your intransience. Sign the papers, take the fall off, and find another school more fitting to your nature and gender," the Chancellor spoke. "I'll fight," I replied. We had a still moment, then Ms. Goodswell cleared her throat. "Zane, why do you want to stay?" "Short answer: this school has nine hundred women and one me; what's not to love? Long version: my inheritance is based on me being eighteen and in a college of my Aunt's choosing. It is too late for me to get into another program this year so if I don't fight, I go broke. I have nothing to lose." "Ms. Lane," the Chancellor addressed her lawyer, "is there any reason we can't escort Mr. Braxton to the gates right now?" The attractive young lawyer brushed a stray strand of her lovely light brown hair before responding. "There does seem to be a flaw in the administration software. There is no sexual differentiation key. Medical files were submitted as required and they clearly identify him as being male so there was no indication of evasion on his part, we missed it. FFU can expel him if he doesn't leave of his own accord but he definitely has a lawsuit against us." That gave people food for thought. It took Ms. Goodswell to save the day and I didn't really expect that. "Mr. Braxton, do you promise us to be an exemplary student if we allow you to stay out the semester?" "Of course," I promised. "Well, we can't keep him where he is," insisted Dana, shocked and angry. "We can keep him in his residence hall but place him in the Solarium. We can fix up something for him by tonight, and we have him cleared to use the fifth floor showers as schedules allow," Ms. Goodswell suggested. "The place is a mess," Dana grumbled. "I'll work to make it better as time allows," I volunteered. "Mr. Braxton, wait outside while we discuss this," commanded the Chancellor. I took my cue and left quickly. Christina and clique were sitting patiently waiting for me. She stood and made to leave. "I was told to wait here," I informed her, which brought the whole troop up short. "What are we waiting for?" Christina inquired. "Oh, I have them over a barrel so I insisted they assign one of you to be my bed warmer for the rest of the week. They are debating on which one of you gets the honor," I teased. "You bastard," spat Heaven, getting in my face. "You are a vomitus piece of filth!" "Just for that, you are next," I grinned devilishly at her. "Huh?" she looked far angrier than uncertain, "Next for what?" "Oh, during the upcoming sex orgy I host, you are 'Next'. See," I sighed dramatically, "I'm not likely to remember your name so when I call out 'Next,' I mean you." I had a split second to decide whether I'd duck or not. Training was screaming at me to half-step back while bringing up an arm to block but, Pow! I staggered back to the wall and slumped halfway down to the floor. Heaven kept coming and kicked me twice in the shin before Chastity and Christina pulled her off me. She was still sputtering and growling when the Chancellor's door opened up and Ms. Gorman stepped out and closed it behind her. "What is going on here?" she hissed. "There was a misunderstanding," Christina answered. "Actually, Heaven punched me after I deflected one of her insults," I countered. "Now I have to ponder civil litigation." "What?" Christina asked cautiously. Heaven was less diplomatic or restrained. "You provoked me," she accused me. "Do you know word one about my sexual habits? Could you prove a believable threat to you or someone around you? Barring that, you just committed assault," I informed Heaven. "You are willing to gamble we would betray Heaven to someone like you?" Faith threatened. "No," Dana answered for me. "I have little doubt that Mr. Braxton has noted that all classes and administration rooms have cameras." She seemed bitter about her own security procedures. The rest of the girl posse seemed equally unhappy except for, "Come on," Chastity told me as she offered me a hand up. I took it and quickly was upright once more so that we were chest to chest. "Please don't do this, Zane," she said evenly. Heaven scoffed. "Very well, Chastity, because it was you who requested it, but I do ask for one thing in return," I told her. "Of course he wants something," Heaven snarled sarcastically. "Actually, all I want is five minutes with Heaven," I explained, and when Heaven rolled her eyes and Chastity looked uncomfortable, I added, "no physical contact at all, only sitting down and talking." "She'll do it," Christina agreed. "No!" balked Heaven. "You'll do it or be expelled and face possible jail time," Ms. Gorman stated. "No," it was my turn to say. "I was joking; I won't press charges against Heaven." "She can still be expelled," Dana insisted. "For what?" I asked. Dana looked at me cautiously. "Hell, we were just fooling around; right ladies?" No one said anything because to speak was to court the sin of falsehoods. "Yes," said Christina, taking the plunge; the others nodded. Dana bored me into place with her gaze, weighing her options. "Keep it down out here," she snapped to the room, "especially you young ladies. I expected better from you four." The implication was that my cock exempted me from mature behavior. "Thank you," Chastity told me. "It took the grand total of one word, please," I explained. "I know it must be hard to believe but I'm not a total scumbag." "Are you still going to make me pay for insulting Rio?" Christina mocked. "The week isn't over yet," I pointed out. The resulting silence was interesting. Five minutes later the door opened and the women filed past. The second to last one out was the lawyer, Ms. Lane. "Mr. Braxton, we will have to get together to discuss some of your unique legal issues and liabilities next week," she informed me. "I await you at your leisure, Ms. Lane. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to comply," I smiled. "It will certainly be easier if you are compliant," she smiled back before turning and heading into the hallway, my eyes watching the line on her stockings going from where her skirt's hemline revealed her shapely thighs down her muscular calves to her four-inch heels. "Temptation comes in many forms," Ms. Goodswell said, interrupting me from the distraction of Ms. Lane's luscious posterior, a look that Ms. Lane caught as she smiled and turned out of sight. "In my admittedly limited experience, temptation is a result of dissatisfaction with one's circumstances, not a weakness of character," I offered as an explanation. "As your spiritual counselor, I feel it is my duty to keep you on the straight and narrow," Ms. Goodswell sighed with faux sufferance. "I don't mean to make things hard for you, Ms. Goodswell," I jibbed. "Enough sexual innuendo for the moment, Zane; you've been given an opportunity so don't blow it, don't disappoint me," Ms. Goodswell warned me while stabbing me in the chest with a well-manicured cherry gloss fingernail. I gave her a funny look. "What is it, Mr. Braxton?" she asked. "Oh, it is the fact that you are attempting the impossible, restoring my faith in organized Christianity, I answered while fishing for her name. "Virginia," Ms. Goodswell filled in the void of my unsubtle inquiry. "You are going to be trouble," she said, but her smile belied any worry on her part. "Well, I must get to lunch. I have a deserving Mistress who demands that I spoon-feed her," I told her as I moved to Christina and her cohorts. "Your room, seven o'clock, Zane. We'll be moving you to your new lodgings then," Virginia instructed. I nodded my acknowledgement then headed off to my late lunch. As we crossed campus, we remained relatively quiet until we approached the Dining Hall. "You remain intriguing, Mr. Braxton," Christina allowed. "I am equally drawn to you, you sanctimonious twat," I bantered back, and the girl posse jerked in response. "I hope they house you in a deep, dark hole," snapped Heaven. "I hope they do too," I beamed at Heaven, "and I hope you have the only key." "Why is that?" asked Chastity. "I'd let him starve to death," Heaven grinned viciously. I kept my eyes on Heaven. "Well, if Heaven had the key, she could come down and torture me whenever she wanted," I explained, and when Heaven licked her lips in anticipation, I added, "and she'd look so fetching in nothing but thin strips of black leather, high heels, and a whip in her hand as she scourged the sin out of me again and again, ." I licked my lips sensually at Heaven, "and again." Now all movement stopped; even the normally homicidal Heaven was caught up in the imagery (which she liked) and the other girls were wrapping their minds around the implications of either me on my knees, Heaven in leather, or us together. "You have a very sinful mind," accused Faith. "I have never denied that," I responded. "I'm a flawed creature in need of redemption, I admit that. Thankfully, I've chosen a religion based on forgiveness and second chances, then, eh?" Any further comments were interrupted by a girl running into me, more like almost running over me. "Zane! They didn't transubstantiate you into communion wafers," Rio squealed, showing more womanly affection than I would have given her credit for. Rio didn't do a great job of being 'surprised' when she noticed the girls around me. Heaven glared at Rio and I tried to shift myself between them but Christina intervened before anything happened. "Felon, I am in need of a stool to sit on; I'm tired," Christina said. As she used the word 'felon,' she smirked at me. Rio flinched too. "Wouldn't you rather have me lie on my back so you can sit on my face so I can get you off? That way we could both eat lunch," Rio sneered back. Christina didn't bite. "Make a seat, little felon," Christina smiled. I had a sudden desire to miss lunch. "I've got this, Zane," Rio told me as she touched my upper arm and pushed me toward the door. As I grudgingly walked away, I saw Rio get down on all fours on the grass and Christina take her seat. The best thing I could say about the situation was that Queen Christina didn't bounce up and down. Before I could come up with some rescue strategy, Iona corralled me and led me to the Handmaiden Mistress of the moment; Dove. Dove's food had grown cold and Iona had kept assuring her I was on my way so I set to my latest exercise in humility. Dove expected me to sit with her. I brushed her shoulder-length auburn hair aside and fed her mouthful after mouthful, using a napkin to tantalize her lips after every few bites, which Dove found enticing and the surrounding tables found romantic. I was getting the feeling that the girls were looking at this whole Handmaiden thing differently than I was. At three o'clock I made it to Soccer tryouts, forgetting one little gigantic complication, this was Christina's team. She and the coach decided that since they couldn't outright deny me the chance for a place on the team, they could make me target practice (aka goalie). I blocked eleven shots from established members of the team (they have Soccer/Football in Thailand) but number twelve got past me, I was off the team. At four came Archery tryouts and I was starting to feel the weight of being the true outsider here, and it got worse when I saw our Team Captain was Chastity Adams, aka Chastity of Team Christina. I turned to put my equipment up when Chastity called me over. "What are you doing, Zane?" "I've just finished having Christina use me as a crash test dummy," I admitted. "I figured I'd save us both some time so that you could concentrate your efforts on people who might actually have a chance to be on the team." "Zane, why don't you think I'd give you a chance?" Chastity asked quietly. "Will you give me a chance?" I wondered. "Not if you quit right now," she pointed out. So, I gave it a shot and I leaned that I sucked at archery, but clearly not as bad as most of the other girls so Chastity tapped me as a competitive alternate, which meant I was to carry equipment and practice a lot, the newbie. "Why did you do this, let me on the team?" I inquired after the team announcements. "You aren't half bad," she explained, then smiled and pointed out, "plus you will distract the other all-female teams." "Thanks for the chance, Chastity," I said as I shook her hand. "You are good-looking and funny, Zane, and the other girls will work harder so they can stick around you," she responded while looking at me intently. "Now go, you have another team to try out for." Sometimes I needed to be reminded that there are things a twenty-one-year-old could teach an eighteen-year-old. I barely made it to Karate tryouts (Marksmanship and Orientation were on Tuesdays and Thursdays). I didn't recognize our Team Leader but our coach was Dana Gorman, Head of Security. She eyed me with suspicion but it was nothing compared to the looks I got from the Team Sub-captain. I thought I recognized the face but I definitely recognized her ass and the hair weave, I'd put a foot in it when I kicked her off Rio, yeah me! I told them I knew some kick-boxing but Dana was not impressed so I was placed with the beginners group, which I proceeded to dominate utterly. Ten minutes of that and the Team Captain Wilhelmina Spellman put me in the second tier, where I went undefeated in our little sparing matches yet again. Willie wanted to put me on the first team but the girl whose ass I'd kicked vocally opposed her on it. Willie relented but only partially. After class, the sub-captain would judge my performance and get the final say if I was first-team material. I figured if I ripped out her still-beating heart and showed it to her, I had a fifty-fifty chance of making the squad. We squared off after the last girl left, the sub-Captain didn't want any witnesses. She was more skilled and had more emotional investment but I'd actually been in some real fights and was faster and stronger. As far as matches went, it was pretty intense. We went back and forth with no real advantage until she threw me by grabbing and tearing off my ghee. Before she could capitalize I got in a kick to her gut and when she unfolded, I head-butted her, causing her nose to bleed. I pulled up and she rubbed her nose and looked at the blood. "Oh, God, I'm sorry. Let me go get someone," I urged. "You hurt me," she muttered. "Lord Jesus Christ, you hurt me," she said angrily as I stepped forward. I was so overwhelmed with human compassion I didn't see the kick coming. I was dreaming of running errands to a close village which was something I got away with from time to time. It was a pleasant day if a little cold for daytime in the Thai uplands. The young widow I spent some time with was attending me and I was clearly lying back and enjoying some of our intimate foreplay. Her mouth felt warm and comforting on my little helmet, her tongue didn't twirl like it normally did, but I wasn't in Thailand anymore either. My jaw hurt but that was far less relevant than the pressure of the body I was feeling on my thighs, the warm, wet sensation around my cock, and the feel of hands on my shaft and stomach. I propped myself up and looked down at my crotch were our sub-captain looked up at me while keeping her bobbing rhythm going. "Stop," I ordered her. She reluctantly agreed, her eyes warring with anger, shame, and lust. I imagine she was wondering about what kind of academic hell I was about to bring down on her or if she could get away with crying rape as she pushed herself back and rested on her haunches. "Take off your clothes," I ordered next. That command staggered her but my gaze fixed her in place. "What are you going to do to me?" she said with a shaky voice. "I'm going to reciprocate what you've been doing to me. You gave me a great lesson and I want to return the favor, now strip." She thought about it a moment, then did a quick striptease which brought me to my knees. "What's your name?" I inquired as she finished. "Cappadocia Davis," she murmured as she met me at knee level. I started kissing her, drifting into chest contact and letting our hands roam free for several minutes. Cappy had a very passive-aggressive style and often mirrored what I did, all the signals of a confident virgin. Getting us down head to crotch took little effort as Cappy went back to administering her blowjob and I started working over her own sexual center. She only asked me to hurry once when I was spending time getting to know her thighs with delicate kisses. Though it was a bit rough, Cappadocia worked me furiously with strong hands, plump lips, and a fighter's stamina. On my end, I did all I could. I mapped out the pleasure lines along her thighs, across the groin, and farther along the stomach and sides, passing the breasts to the throat, ears and lips. Cappadocia expected a quick fuck and an equally quick departure. As it was, we missed dinner and I would almost be late for my room meeting. Before then, I explored Cappy fully. I kissed every ebony inch of her, from kneecap to navel; I took gentle tongue strokes to her lips, cunt, and especially the clit while not forgetting a little tantalization of her ass which drove her over the top to an orgasm by itself. Cappy was good enough to take my seed not once, but twice, though the first time she took most of it on her face. I sat there with two fingers stretching her lips apart while my tongue languidly worked on her labia and clitoris. I tickled the clit, sucking it with my lips, then blowing on it coolly. She learned how to swirl with her tongue once my cock was inside her mouth for a stronger sensation. Cappadocia liked a contest and we had the best of kinds; neither side won and a rematch was in order, definitely. "Cappadocia," I began as I was getting my outdoor clothes on, "I don't think I'm ready for first team yet." "Neither do I," she responded after a few moments of thought. "I'd like to keep training for it, though. I'm not going to give up trying, no matter how many private sessions it takes." "I have to agree, Zane. You are not yet ready and it is going to take a whole lot of private lessons to get you into 'first team' shape," she nodded. I left with a sore jaw but thinking good thoughts. I'd made two teams and had a shot at two others, as long as no one shot me or sent me to get lost in the wilds with a false map. The Solarium Why am I Living in a Glass House? I raced across campus to my dorm only to discover a sad looking girl in a short terry cloth robe sitting on the outside steps with a half-full trash bag. She perked up when she saw me. "Zane," she hailed me, "I want you to take out my trash." Okay, that seemed kind of lame to me because the dumpster was thirty feet away so I had to think quickly. "Umm," I looked her over. "Jolene," she provided. "Jolene, this doesn't seem quite fair," I pointed out, and I watched her deflate before me. "See," I said as I took her bag of trash and headed for the dumpster, her tagging along, "maybe I should come by your place tonight around nine thirty and clean up your room for you. Does that sound like a more appropriate Handmaiden's duty?" The little lights went off in her eyes. "Yes," she bobbed her head. "Yes, it sounds, amazing." Without telling me her room number, she skipped off through the doors and went off to do God knows what. I went looking for Iona who, as I guessed, hooked me up with the girl's location. Gliding into my room after that was less satisfying. "You are late, Mr. Braxton," Ms. Goodswell informed me. "Handmaiden's Duty," I countered. "We've moved all your furniture to the Solarium on the top floor," Dana rumbled. Solarium, top floor. Wasn't I on the top floor already? What was I getting into? That wasn't the most important thing at the moment, though. Rio sat on her bed, knees up, hugging a pillow and looking decidedly unhappy at the world. I turned to the two teachers and asked them for a minute with my old roomie. Dana grumbled but Virginia made her give us the space. "What's up, Rio?" I asked as I sat down at the foot of the bed. I knew what was wrong; I was abandoning her and I was not the first guy to do so. The only problem was, I wasn't those other guys. "Nothing's up, asshole," she shot back. "I'm looking forward to not having you snore all night long. Plus, I'll be able to shower whenever I want," she sniffled. "Oh, well, dealing with you has been a total pain in my ass too, Rio. It will be a relief to not have to wake up looking at you, your tattoos and all those body piercings," I stated evenly. "Hey, I don't have any piercings anymore," she pouted, hurt by the comment and its accuracy. "Well, I don't believe you, Rio. Sometime you will have to come up to the Solarium and show me just how wrong I am. I'll leave out a sleeping bag in case your city-bred ass gets lost and you can't figure out how to get back down after dark," I joked. "Zane, if they find you sleeping with a girl, you'll get expelled," Rio whispered. "Thank God you are not a girl, then, ya freak," I grinned so she hit me with her pillow. Rio was sneering at me playfully as I left; we were still friends. Outside my room, I'd picked up an old friend, Barbie Lynn Masters, and with Virginia, Dana, and Iona, we trekked to the fifth floor, then up to the roof. Now, when they were designing this kind of dorm in the nineteen seventies, the architect was on a 'Retro Victorian' kick. He envisioned a safe green haven for the girls to go to where they would be free to partake of nature's bounty without risking pesky urban menaces like rapists, thieves, and murderers. The Christian Elders liked the design so much, they transplanted it to the Virginia countryside. Of course, there aren't a lot of muggers in rural areas so the roof escapes weren't totally necessary or welcome by the student body and when the school built its twelve-foot-tall brick wall with security cameras around the entire facility, the need evaporated. Soon, all the Solariums were abandoned, the plants died, and not all the window panes were replaced. It was a pretty freaking miserable place at first glance and there was some suspicion that this was an indirect way to drive me out. But they clearly had avoided the Developing World and my long experience in it when thinking this through. I loved it. I had roughly eighty percent of the dorm building's floor space to play with. It would be a lot of work to fix it but I had been accidentally supplied with a ready and willing work force. Thank you, freshmen and Handmaiden's Duty, because amongst its other virtues, the Solarium was my room, and a freshman in a dorm room was immune to being summoned for Handmaiden Duty while in any such room unless required by a duty to go there. All I had to do was have Iona get the word out to our fellow freshman that my room was sanctuary and I was set. All that was tomorrow; tonight, I had a cold room with squirrels, maybe a raccoon or two, birds, spiders, roaches, and an assortment of other pests, plus my bed, dresser, and a wardrobe from the drama department. I had also secured the choice time of five forty-five to six as my bathroom time in the morning, and ten to ten-fifteen in the evening. How I would actually piss during the day was swept under the rug. Ms. Goodswell suggested I get a hall pass during class periods for safety's sake. College, hall pass, Did they think I should make up for missing high school? It was lights out in my domicile. The moon was waning and the sky was clear when I heard someone working the lock to my door at the bottom of the stairs. Five people had keys: I was one, Dana Gorman was another, Virginia Goodswell, and Chancellor Bazz were two others, but none of them, I suspected. I spotted the faint moonlight playing across golden locks as my intruder drew close. "Hey," Barbie Lynn whispered as she came to a stop by my bed. "I thought you might get cold so I brought you a quilt from storage." "You are a life-saver, Barbie; I'm freezing in here. Why don't you put the quilt over me and climb in so it will warm up here faster and we can both get to sleep sooner," I responded softly. It was a weak lie but it was really all Barbie needed; it was late summer in Virginia, after all. She spread out the quilt and started to get in. "Wait, you'll get your skirt wrinkled," I cautioned her before she sat down. She nodded and stripped out of it, then completed the process by stripping off her shirt, (no bra), socks, and shoes. As she snuggled up against me, she realized I was naked. "Oh, that doesn't seem fair," Barbie giggled, so she wiggled around under the covers and tossed out her undies. "That's better." I pulled her into my arms and I caught her stealing glances up at me as she pressed her hands against my chest. "We have all night," I assured her, and that earned me a kiss. "Oh, and I have your missing panties in my book bag, courtesy of Rio." I returned her kiss and soon we were wrapped around one another, engrossed in one another's erogenous zones (ear lobes, nipples, lips, and throats) as well as tempting fate with a little penal vaginal contact. After she wrestled me against the headboard and took my member deep into her mouth we had a little session of 'try doing this and watch him squirm' until I finally lost control and erupted several times into her mouth. "Umm, Barbie Lynn murmured as she rolled some semen over her tongue, eyes lighting up as I smiled at her talent. "Jesus bless me, you taste nearly as good as you look. I want more!" "Next time we can swap cum," I suggested to her. Barbie wrinkled her nose. "Doesn't that make you a homo?" she questioned. I forgave her ignorance due to cuteness. "You've tasted your juices on my lips but you are not a lesbian," I pointed out. After a moment she nodded so I continued with, "all I want to do is taste it on your tongue, not someone else's on my tongue." Telling her I'd given more than one blowjob didn't appear to be helpful at this time; I'm decidedly not heterosexual. "Oh, you're pretty smart for someone so young," she smiled seductively. I cupped her face in one hand. "I may be young and smart, but you are far more beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful, than me and one heck of a teacher because you keep me wanting to learn more," I heartily complimented her. I must have struck a chord because Barbie Lynn glowed from the inside out and virtually poured like tanned molten gold into my lap. "Fuck me," she begged with sensual need. "What about your Pledge?" I questioned. "Fuck my ass," she moaned, "it's not really cheating." Yeah, right. "Okay, Barbie Lynn, but teaching you to like it isn't easy. I'm going to have to break you in all night long," I warned her, but all I got was a violent trembling of anticipation which caused her to make my lap damp and my cock rebound to duty. We kissed deeply and with longing for over a minute, Barbie rocking in my lap, her labia brushing my cockhead. "Is it going to hurt?" she panted into my lips. "Yes. The first time you are going to scream, but I promise you I'll show you how good it can be," I assured her. She gulped in fear but smiled with wanton lust in her eyes. I played with her cunt and my cock, doing tiny penetrations until Barbie lost it in a screaming, ear-splitting orgasm, "God loves me, God loves me, God Loves ME!!!!" She followed that up by collapsing against me and burying my face in her ample bosom. I couldn't help myself; I took an overly sensitive nipple into my lips. "Oh, oh, oh, baby, that hurts; that hur, she whispered hoarsely until I relented. That didn't stop her from hugging me tightly to her chest though. "Barbie Lynn, go over to my kit and get the Vaseline," I ordered her after a bit. "Why do I have to do it?" she teased me. "I love to watch your ass wiggle when you leave and the way your bare breasts bounce when you come back," I confessed. Once more she came on with this deep kiss and a winning smile, then she did as I asked and the view was definitely as delicious as I'd hoped. She quickly resumed her position over me, shimmying to the point I was afraid I'd actually press my cock too far into her cunt. Barbie was biting her lip while we played with her virginal fire; I knew I had to do something and that was to pop the top of the lubricant and rub two fingers deep into her back door. "Here we go," I cautioned her, "I'll be slow and gentle. We are taking our time so don't worry about tensing up, I'll deal." She gave me a nod, then went back to tempting fate. I was finding more and more to lust over with Barbie. When my right index finger brushed her pink star, she didn't flinch one bit. She kept her rotation going and I slipped in a finger without much protest or resistance. I let this finger slip in and out for a minute, sinking in deeper every few thrusts. To distract her, I moved my left hand between us and slipped two fingers into her cunt. That, along with the touch of my cock, got her off. Barbie bounced harder so I was forced to put a third finger in the way of my cock penetrating her, plus I pressed the knuckle of my thumb against her clit. For a second Barbie Lynn seemed at a loss of what to do, but one look at my parted lips, panting from the excitement, convinced her to feed one magnificent nipple into my mouth while she played with the other one before my eyes. She teased me so I stuck a second finger up her ass. Barbie bucked and moaned but if she was in any pain, she hid it well. "Do you want to know something?" she struggled to say, hovering over me. I nodded. "It took a grand total of seven minutes for the last two boys I was with to cum all over my tits. I don't know how long we've been going at it but Lord Almighty, I'm so happy I was given this dorm. This is going to be the best year ever." "I'm working on it," I gasped as I twitched and pushed my fingers around. "I'm glad you are my Dorm Mother." "Oh, oh, oh, oh, the other girls are so jealous that I have you," she panted. "They wanted to know what it would take to steal you away." "I hope you understand that I want to stay here with you," I groaned. Barbie Lynn stopped moving for a moment, accepting me and my honest desire. "Put it in," she begged. "It will hurt," I assured her. "I don't care," she looked at me hungrily. I pulled my hand out of her cunt and rolled her to my side while still keeping my other fingers pumping in her ass. Maneuvering around so that I had her head on my pillow and ass sticking up took some thought. I pushed a third finger in quickly. Barbie gasped audibly, pulled away instinctively, then caught herself and pushed back against my hand. She whimpered and choked back a sob. I withdrew my fingers and covered my cock with some hastily scooped glob of Vaseline. Barbie looked back to me in quivering anticipation. Before she spoke I lined my cock up with her anus and started pushing. Barbie Lynn shut her eyes, bit her lower lip and smiled lustfully. "Oh!" she groaned, as I slipped past her anal ring. I knew enough to hesitate before the next push, then the next. "Please," she whimpered. I stopped moving. "Please give me all of it," she completed. "Don't hold back." I pushed harder not waiting for her to adjust. "Ah!" she cried out. I stopped and she responded with a, "No, no, no, Zane, please don't stop." "I don't want to hurt you," I groaned. "It hurts a lot but I like that you are the one doing it to me. Please, I want you inside of me, all the way in," she whimpered. I pushed all the way in steadily until my crotch pushed her scrumptious ass cheeks apart. As I rested for a moment, I felt Barbie Lynn's fingers reach between her legs and start to massage my balls. I pulled back while she moaned loudly, her cries echoing throughout the massive glass covered chamber. Despite the low lamplight around my bed, I realized now that we could be seen from the solariums on the roofs of the other dorms. There wasn't much I could, or would, do about that now. I started a slowly intensifying pace in and out of Barbie's ass and she met me with the thrust of her hips and a sensual moaning from her throat. I could tell she was pushing one set of fingers into her snatch while the other worked over her clit. Once we were in total symmetry I slapped her playfully on one ass cheek. "Oh, God, Zane, do it again. I've been bad," was Barbie's lusty declaration. I smacked down across the other cheek. "Harder, Zane, I've been really bad." Another spank and, "I've been much worse than that," she panted. SMACK! and a yelp. "That's it!" she gasped. I kept up the spanking and each blow made her anal muscles contract, virtually grabbing and twisting my cock inside her. "Ah, Jesus Loves Me!!!!" Barbie Lynn squealed as her strongest orgasm to date overwhelmed her and then me. I'd never felt that kind of empathy with another lover like I was feeling with this blonde enchantress. Barbie bucked up against me, slamming her ass against my crotch with painful ferocity as my seed plunged into the depths of her bowels. Barbie Lynn, now virtually sitting in my lap, crested orgasm after orgasm as the heat of each burst of my semen burned new pathways of ecstasy inside her rectum. "Oh, oh, oh, oh," she stammered as her fluids flowed down our legs in a slow steady stream. "Please, Zane , " "Yes?" I panted. "Promise me, promise me we'll do this again," she gasped as she now pressed her sweat-slick back against my upper body. "Again," I thrust into her, "and again, and again," I promised. Barbie Lynn put one hand around to the back of my neck and the other, leaning forward. She drew me into her and we slowly arched forward until the weight of our bodies tumbled us to the bed. Barbie's outstretched arm touched the mattress first and absorbed most of our momentum. Still, I ended up pressing on her and I soon propped myself up so my weight wouldn't suffocate her. As I stationed myself there, panting along with her from our mutual exhaustion, Barbie rolled over so that we were once more face to face. She had this beatific happiness about her that I doubt I'll ever forget. "I, I was afraid I'd regret this, and you," she grinned lazily. "Do you?" I questioned. "Yes. I regret I didn't take you back to my room and do this yesterday. I regret that we have to go to early classes tomorrow. I regret having to share you with nine hundred other women. And I regret you weren't here with me two years ago," she murmured heartily. "I'm going to sit here and bask in my over-stuffed sense of accomplishment," I faux-gloated. "You do a guy's ego good." "Speaking of over-stuffed, can I please, please have one more, please?" she begged playfully. "You are my Dorm Mother and I really should try to keep you happy, so, I related with feigned reluctance. "That's right," she giggled, "you really need to keep me happy. Please show me how you plan to do that." After another serious exploration of our sexuality, Barbie Lynn curled up against my chest, making this deep cat-like rumbling noise. "Do you always talk to Christina over breakfast?" I inquired. "Yes, I always do. If she asks about you, I, I'm going to tell her the truth," she answered. I didn't ask what that would be so she did. "Aren't you worried about what I will say?" "No. I trust you, Barbie. You'll tell her what you need to tell her; truth, lie, or evasion, it is all your business, not mine," I explained. "Well, I'm going to tell her in every minute detail what you did with, to, and for me tonight, and I promise you she's going to race back and change her panties," she sighed happily. From a morning shower to a Heavenly night. Sharing Umbrellas Tuesday: My schedule which the Chancellor had been set in stone, had me in sole custody of the fifth-floor bathroom from five forty-five until six, so I was grateful that only six girls were waiting for me when I arrived. At some level I was sure they expected me to say something and I was pretty sure they hadn't really articulated what they wanted. I said nothing and edged past them. The bravest one, Opal, followed quickly after me, though I had that special moment of taking off my robe in front of her as I readied for my shower. Somehow the blood of Homer's Amazons had entered this school's student body because Opal met my bluff with her buff (body) and crawled under her own water stream once the water was steamy. As I started washing my hair, I caught sight of another girl moving in on my far side. I did my best to remain nonchalant and managed to get my hair clean before they made their move. "Zane," Opal asked innocently, "would you wash my back?" I smiled, nodded, and took the bottle of liquid soap from her hands. I poured some into my palms before placing the bottle on the closest shelf. I started rubbing it onto her shoulders and down her back. The placement of our bodies was complicated by my emergent erection. I worked my way down her back until I touched, then parted and cupped, her ass. I pressed my body against her back with my cock taking a few moments decide on whether it would go up, in, or in between. Finally it slipped up until my cock rested warmly on her back. Opal was totally overtaken by events and simply stood there as I slowly rubbed my body up and down against her back. She looked over her shoulder speculatively as I reached past her for more liquid soap and poured some into my hand. Bottle put aside, I shared the soap with the off-hand before starting to rub down the front of her shoulders. "Put your hands behind your back," I whispered into Opal's ear. She was initially hesitant, then started putting them behind her back where she brushed against my cock, and again before she wrapped her hands around it and began slowly stroking it with a soapy grip. While she was working on my morning wood I made slow circles down to her breasts. Her nipples came alive under my fingertips. I first coaxed them, then plucked them, and finally pinched them tightly as I handled the rest of her breasts roughly. Opal began panting, moaning, and undulating her whole body against mine. I couldn't stop myself from kissing her on the crux of her jaw and neck. "Oh, Oh, Oh, Opal began to gasp. I felt her body start to tremble under my touch so I hunted for that most sensitive place with my tongue and bit into that spot on her neck sharply. Opal slammed hard into me, bouncing up and down on her toes like some sudsy, hot vibrator against my cock, if only I had the time. "Ah, she sobbed in joy. Even after the orgasm settled, Opal kept gyrating against me. "This wasn't what I had in mind," Opal moaned. Whoops! "My apology," I told her, and started separating from her, but she held firm. "Oh, no, you don't. Maybe you misunderstood me. This was more, much more than I expected. I'm glad you are superior to your hype. Can we do this tomorrow morning?" "Hmm, how about we see what comes up then?" I evaded. As I backed away, the girl on the other side held out her soap bottle expectantly. "Sorry, but I need to get out of here before girls, other girls show up," I explained to her. "Brigit; my name is Brigit," she filled me in. "Can we do, that, tomorrow?" By 'that,' I assume she meant my version of the soapy body rub. "Okay," I said, "how about calling Iona and figuring out how you ladies want to handle my shower visits, though I would like to point out the Administration believes I'm in here alone." "Do you want us to stay away?" Opal asked cautiously. "Opal, Brigit, I would rather go through life minus one testicle than miss spending time with any of you ladies but I don't want anyone unwittingly getting into trouble because of me," I answered. "Since you need to be going," Opal teased, "let me help." "I'll help too," Brigit insisted. I'm going to be a while deciding exactly how I rate being shaved by one girl while getting a blowjob from another at the same time. My facial expression caused Rio to laugh at me as I came back down to answer the door. It was around six thirty and I had only recently gotten back and put my school uniform on. "Either you've been hit by the world's softest two by four or you've already had sex at least once this morning," she chuckled. "Hey, Rio, Iona, come on in. It isn't like I could stop you," I joked. "So, did you take her temperature, kick up her heels, or give her an attitude adjustment?" Rio teased as we headed up. Iona looked confused and expected me to be either equally confused or give her an explanation. I was confused, which made Rio laugh louder. "Taking her temperature equals blowjob; kicking up the heels is straight-up fucking, and attitude adjustment is anal sex, jeesh, people," Rio berated us. Once we came to my island of civilization in the wilderness of the Solarium, Iona looked around curiously; this may have been the first men's bedroom she'd ever seen. Rio walked over to my bed, was about to plop down in it, then studied it for a second and gawked at me. "Damn, Zane, what happened last night? How many girls did you have up here?" she grinned maniacally. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "One," I admitted. "How did you know?" "Peach lip gloss and teeth marks on the pillow, several sets, so, You Go Boy!" she explained. "Plus, your bed smells of Vaseline, baby oil, sweat, Secret deodorant, and a good deal of fuck juice, the female variety. Then there is the matter of, she drew forth a long blonde hair, "you not being blonde." "This was not on the list!" squawked Iona. "Lip gloss, teeth marks?" "That means he fucked her ass long and hard, Iona," Rio explained to her far less experienced classmate, "and she came back for more, and more." Iona stole a look my way, hoping I'd deny everything, but I made eye contact with her and nodded. She looked disappointed in me, which oddly made me feel bad inside. "Snap out of it, Iona," Rio snorted. Iona still looked hurt. "What is more likely, Zane went trolling the lower levels for a girl to sex up, or a girl snuck up here and jumped him in his bed?" "Oh," Iona gasped, now more pleased. Apparently, me being nearly raped in my own bed was okay with her. From my point of view, I can try to understand women or I can appreciate them for what they willingly offer me. If a woman wants me to treat her like a Sphinx, I'll leap at the challenge. One day I'm sure I'll find a woman not worth this kind of effort but I'm not there yet. I had finished getting dressed and was making toward the stairs when the door at the bottom opened and Barbie Lynn came bounding up. She took in my two companions without missing her stride before bouncing up to me. "Hey, Zane," she purred. "I wanted to make sure you hadn't overslept." "Thanks, I appreciate the concern, but I slept great last night. Waking up feeling that good is always a pleasure. How did you sleep?" I responded. "I tossed and turned," she pouted. "I was missing something I couldn't put my hands on. If I can't figure out what that is I'll be up pacing the halls well past midnight tonight." Rio stepped behind Barbie and made a gagging motion. "So, Barbie Lynn," Rio requested, "do you have any lip gloss I could use?" Barbie turned around and pulled a micro-jar that she handed to Rio. "Umm, peach flavored," Rio revealed vindictively. At some point I am sure Rio will show restraint; my challenge now is living long enough to see it. Rio spanked Barbie Lynn hard on the ass and the Dorm Mother yelped in surprise and pain. "Ow," gasped Barbie Lynn, glaring at Rio. I moved an arm around Barbie and pulled her close, a gesture she comfortably molded into. "I'm sorry," Rio snickered, "but you have such a wonderful posterior BLT, I know it is a sin if no one appreciates it." "BLT?" I cautioned Rio, and by that I intoned that the next spanking was likely going to be administered to her by me. "Barbie Lynn Tease," Rio grinned, daring me to step up. As I handed my book bag to Iona, Rio squealed in delight and raced down the stairs. I was right behind her and I would have undoubtedly caught and punished her on the fifth floor if not for one thing. "Zane, I'm here for your breakfast duty," a sophomore I was to learn was named Emanuela commanded, Handmaiden's Duty. Technically she should wait until I was outside, but, eh. They nailed Rio seconds before she could turn and gloat at me. "Front or back?" I politely requested of Emanuela, who was thankfully on my schedule. "Front or back?" she wondered. "Do you want me to carry you like this?" I asked, as I swept her up in my arms. She was light enough, including book bag, for me to make it to the Dining Hall without too much effort. "What is back?" she gasped. "Piggyback," I explained. "Oh. I like this way much better," she informed me. I started making my way through the crowd when I caught sight of Barbie Lynn and Iona coming down the stairs. Seeing my situation, Barbie put an arm around Iona and whispered something to her. Iona was already carrying my books and I had the feeling that Barbie knew I liked Iona so she was going to look after the small freshman for me. Breakfast came and went and I found myself cornered and 'forced' to escort another girl to Assembly. She asked me if I'd prefer being covered with whipped cream or honey. I reminded her that whipped cream was cold but honey left a sticky residue, I suggested trying icing. At Assembly, the heavens broke and a hard rain set in as we got ready to disperse. The problem came when it was realized that many girls hadn't packed an umbrella. The answer for most was to take an umbrella from a freshman, which I found unsatisfactory. I had a sudden burst of insight as the first freshmen girls paled at the thought of being soaked through to the bone. I grabbed Iona and then made a beeline for Christina. None of what followed would have been possible without the understanding of a girl I didn't know, Pandora Jaspers. Her plan was for me to take my umbrella and cover us both as we went to class, but when I told her 'I have a plan,' she nodded and went along for the ride. Certainly we were a strange group that approached Christina Buchanan. "Yes?" questioned Christina with her bemused expression as I came to a halt before her and her court. Chastity smiled, Heaven seethed, Faith looked uncertain, and the fifth girl was a cipher. "I think I can do something about this rain," I said urgently. Christina didn't laugh but I had a feeling Pandora wanted to strangle me. "Go on," Christina commanded. "We make a covered walkway of umbrellas, held by freshmen, to protect everyone go

Afternoon high paced Spirit Wars!Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice,Mi. 3:2 you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;Mi. 3:3 who eat my people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot.”Mi. 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.Mi. 3:5 This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him.Mi. 3:6 Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them.Mi. 3:7 The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”Mi. 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.Mi. 3:9 Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;Mi. 3:10 who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.Mi. 3:11 Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.”Mi. 3:12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be ploughed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets. CHAPTER 4Mi. 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.Mi. 4:2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.Mi. 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.Mi. 4:4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own figtree, and no-one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.Mi. 4:5 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.Mi. 4:6 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.Mi. 4:7 I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and for ever.Mi. 4:8 As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold [Or hill] of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”Mi. 4:9 Why do you now cry aloud - have you no king? Has your counsellor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labour?Mi. 4:10 Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labour, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.Mi. 4:11 But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!”Mi. 4:12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing-floor.Mi. 4:13 “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their illgotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. CHAPTER 5Mi. 5:1 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, [Or Strengthen your walls, O walled city] for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod.Mi. 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans [Or rulers] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins [Hebrew goings out] are from of old, from ancient times.” [Or from days of eternity]Mi. 5:3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.Mi. 5:4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.Mi. 5:5 And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.Mi. 5:6 They will rule [Or crush] the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. [Or Nimrod in its gates] He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders.Mi. 5:7 The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.Mi. 5:8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no-one can rescue.Mi. 5:9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.Mi. 5:10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.Mi. 5:11 I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.Mi. 5:12 I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.

Title: How Can I Live a Spirit-Filled Life? Air Date: September 28, 2025 Series: FAQ's – Frequently Asked Questions Have you ever wondered what it truly means to live a Spirit-filled life? In this powerful message from our FAQ's series, we explore how the Holy Spirit empowers, guides, and transforms us from the inside out. Drawing from passages in Ezra, Zechariah, Galatians, Romans, and more, we uncover the role of the Holy Spirit as our constant companion, our helper, and our source of supernatural power. You'll learn: Why the Holy Spirit is essential to spiritual growth How to recognize and follow His leading What it means to be born again of the Spirit How to live each day in God's power, not your own If you're hungry for a deeper relationship with God and desire to walk in step with the Spirit, this episode will encourage and equip you.

This is such an incredible conversation to wrap up our Fridays in the Fall, Wider Lens series. Jerry Flowers is bringing encouragement about the patterns of your life and posture of your heart as we talk through his new book Heart Rehab: Finding the You God Created You to Be. Lean into the discomfort, create disciplines for preparedness, and surrender your need for control in order to step into your true calling as a son or daughter of the Lord Almighty. He loves you, he is for you, and we can trust him with our hearts!   Episode Highlights: Stop blaming everyone else. Take time for self reflection.  If we invite God in, He can use all seasons for our good and growth. Intimacy with the Lord allows us to grow into the people God created us to be.  Discipline and preparation go hand in hand. The more disciplined you are, the more prepared you are for what God has next.  Culture influences us to mislabel our fears, thoughts and anxieties. Make sure you are labeling them correctly. Strong core beliefs help us combat the lies of society and satan. Quotes from Today's Episode: I recognize many times, our placement in life isn't just because of problems, it's because of patterns. -Jerry Flowers Patterns reveal character. -Jerry Flowers Patterns are one of the ushers to certain seasons. -Jerry Flowers We want to blame the enemy, but we have to look at ourselves too. -Jerry Flowers Be aware of the enemy, for sure. But I think sometimes that keeps us from taking responsibility for our part. -Jerry Flowers It may not make sense right then, but later it'll make sense. -Jerry Flowers I see things that God put me through, before we got married, that helped me when I got married. -Dr. Kim We want to be whole enough where the Lord can pour into us and we can pour back out.- Jerry Flowers If you want results, you lean into discomfort.- Jerry Flowers What changed for me is realizing that my mind can lie to me. -Jerry Flowers A Wider Lens: Questions for Self Reflection Look at your daily life and identify one unhealthy pattern you've grown comfortable with. What one discipline could you start practicing to combat this pattern and prepare for what God has next? Identify an area of your life you haven't fully surrendered to the Lord. Choose a Scripture verse to meditate on as you commit to trusting Him completely.   Mentioned in this Episode: Website: Jerryflowersministries.com ; redefinedtv.net Facebook: facebook.com/JerryFlowersMinistries ; facebook.com/@redefinedtv Instagram: instagram.com/jerryflowers.jr ; instagram.com/redefinedtv YouTube: youtube.com/@Beredefined TikTok: tiktok.com/@jerryflowers.jr Heart Rehab: Finding the You God Created You to Be  

Built Different Pt. 2 | September 21, 2025II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.√  WE FIGHT THE WRONG ENEMY. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…√  WE FIGHT WITH THE WRONG WEAPONS.I Samuel 17:45 (NIV) You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.√  WE FIGHT FOR THE WRONG VICTORY.Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?BUILT FOR THE BATTLEI. PICK UP OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS.Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.Truth (Belt) - We hold our life together with the truth of God's Word.Righteousness (Breastplate) - Right living guards our heart.Peace (Shoes) - We walk steady with the peace of Christ.Faith (Shield) - Combat the enemy's lies through our trust in God.Salvation (Helmet) - Protect your mind with your identity in Christ.Word of God (Sword) - Fight back with Scripture.Prayer - Stay connected to God's power in the battle.II. RENEW OUR MINDS DAILY.II Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) ...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.III. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER.Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.Group Discussion Questions + PracticeOpening QuestionShare about a time when you felt like you were in a battle - maybe at work, in your family, or even in your mind. How did you try to fight that battle?Part 1– The Battles We FaceWe fight the wrong enemy (Ephesians 6:12)Why do we often view people as the enemy instead of recognizing the real spiritual battle behind the scenes?How might seeing the “true enemy” change the way you respond to conflict in your life right now?We fight with the wrong weapons (1 Samuel 17:45)What “worldly weapons” are easy for you to pick up when life gets hard (anger, control, avoidance, etc.)?We fight for the wrong victory (Matthew 16:24–26)Jesus warned that it's possible to “gain the whole world but lose your soul.” What might a “shallow victory” look like in your life?How can we shift our focus from temporary wins to eternal victories?

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I'll tell you what I heard from the Lord Almighty. For more resources on reading through the Bible in a year, visit my church's website at this link or text us at 888-644-4034. God bless - Doyle See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 28:29"All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.”REFLECTION- JenMUSIC- "The Kingdom of God" Instrumental- "Let All the Earth Cry Out" (Psalm 66) by David Komel- "Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen" by Voces8NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.", Baptism Video, Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive..”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?., Baptism, Children's Time, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have.."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.", Baptism Video, Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:15 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive..”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?., Baptism, Children's Time, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have.."      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Chris Skoglund (Pastor of Recreation & Family Ministries), "Do You Recognize Him?.       1.  After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”  2.  So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.       Now the famine was severe in Samaria,  3.  and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.   4.  While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)  5.  Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”        7.  As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”       8.  “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.'”       9.  “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death?  10.  As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you.   11. But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.'      15.  Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”      16.  So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  17.  When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”       18.  “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals.      30.  Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.  31.  Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.”  32.  With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.  33.  He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”       34.  “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.       “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.  35.  The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.       36.  At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37.  Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”       38.  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.       39.  When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”       (I Kings 18:1-5; 7-11; 15-18; 30-39 NIV)

Years ago a major art gallery sponsored a competition for painters. They were offering prizes for the best painting on the subject of "Peace." As the attenders browsed through the entries, most had decided that one certain painting was almost sure to win. It portrayed this lush green pasture under a vivid blue sky, with the cows grazing lazily and a little boy walking through the grass with his fishing pole over his shoulder. It really made you feel all peaceful. But it came in second. The painting that won was a big surprise. The scene was the ocean in a violent storm. The sky was ominous, the lightning was cutting across the sky, and the waves were crashing into the rock walls of the cliffs by the shore. No peace. But you had to look twice to understand what was going on. There, about halfway up the cliff was a birds' nest, tucked into a tiny hollow in the rock. A mother bird was sitting on that nest with her little babies, tucked underneath her, sleeping soundly. That was peace! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Peace in the Midst of the Storm." Now, that was the title of the prize-winning painting - and rightly so, because peace is not just the absence of a storm. It's peace in the middle of the storm. The kind of peace many of us could use right now; the kind of peace maybe you could have right now if you're resting where you ought to be. As our headlines have become more dominated with new dangers, as so many hearts have been struggling with new anxieties and new fears, I think we're ready for the incredible peace offered in Psalm 46. I call it "Good News for Troubled Times." It's our word for today from the Word of God. Maybe it should be our word for every day right now! "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." So, the more troubled things are, the more present God makes Himself. The psalmist then says, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Everything's collapsing here - things that have always been there for us. But no fear. Why? "God is our refuge and strength." This psalm continues: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where The Most High dwells." Where does God live today? Well, it's in those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus. So this might be about you. "God is within her, and she will not fall...Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall...the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Then as everything seems to be melting down, God says, "Be still, and know that I am God." OK, turn off the news, leave those other voices, and get where you can just be with God. And realize that as long as you're in His hands, there's no such thing as out of control. He is still God and you are still His! And if you have never given yourself to Jesus, the Man who died for you to pay for your sin, I'd say there's never been a better time than this. With so much uncertainty, it's so great to know that you're safe forever in a relationship with Him. I wonder if there's ever been a time when you began your personal relationship with Jesus. Not just have a religion about Jesus or agree with Jesus, but when you've pinned all your hopes on Him as the man who died for your sin and rose from the grave to give you eternal life. If you want that security, if you want that anchor, if you want that forgiveness, that rock to stand on, tell Him that today. Say, "Jesus, I want to belong to You. I'm giving myself to You because You gave yourself for me." I'd love to have you go to our website today because there is help to be sure that you are anchored to Jesus Christ from this day on and forever. It's called ANewStory.com. Would you check it out? When you are nesting in the care of the Lord Jesus Christ, you can rest through any storm, because you belong to the One who can give you peace in the middle of the storm.

Scripture:  2 Samuel 6, Psalm 30:4-5, Hebrews 9:5, Romans 3:25. Today's story of David is one that is an oft time ignored account from David's life, but we will see ways it dramatically impacts and applies to our lives. We open with 2 Samuel 6:2 “David and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.”  Pastor shares the history of the Ark from the Book of Exodus during the time of Moses, its description, and rules and regulations from God to the Israelites about the Ark. Pastor also goes into the annual Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, and what the practice was with the Ark.  But by the time of David the Ark was mostly forgotten.  The Ark has a fascinating history and Pastor shares a chronology based on what we know from the Bible: ARK OF THE COVENANT     ⁃    Mount Sinai - 1445 BC     ⁃    Promised Land 1406 BC     ⁃    Shiloh - ca. 1399-1075 BC     ⁃    Kiribati Jearim - ca. 1074-1003 BC     ⁃    Jerusalem - ca. 1003-586 BC  And then the Ark disappears.  While we do not know where or what happened to the Ark, we do know that during the time of David, he sought to restore bring the Ark back and to bring worship of God in Israel. 2 Samuel 6:3-5 “They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.”  However, we see that they are not doing this as the Torah instructed. It was to be moved only by priests, and by holding onto the Ark's handles with the ark completely covered from view. Ahia and Uzzah were priests but were not moving the Ark as God had instructed. On the walk, Uzzah reaches out and touches the Ark because the oxen stumbled and God's anger burned against Uzzah for his irreverent act and God struck him down and he died beside the Ark of God. God desires to be taken seriously.  Their intentions were good but the directions in the scripture were clear and straightforward and they had ignored them. Next we read that David ask the Lord, “how can the Ark of the Lord ever come to me?” God is capricious. God is holy and He's not to be trifled with. We are not to ignore what He says.   Today, many live in fear of God. But what He desires to communicate to us today is that He is holy. But He's more than that, we will find He is merciful AND He is Salvation! David wouldn't take the Ark into his city, after Uzzah died, instead he left it with Obed-Edom to see what would happen to him. And over the next three months Obed-Edom and his entire household were blessed, so David then moves the Ark the City of David with great rejoicing. They understood that God is merciful, that He is a generous and forgiving God. This time they follow what God has prescribed. The priests carry it, it's covered and no cart is used. David wrote Psalm 30 during this time and it expresses what he learned: Psalm 30:4-5 “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” It was an incredible celebration, a joyous time, because David and the rest understood that God is good, that God is merciful and that God can be trusted. They placed the Ark in the Tent that David had prepared and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. David organized the ongoing care of the Ark which we can read in 1 Chronicles 23 - 26 setting it up so that the priests would do what they were supposed to do. It also helped the children of Israel worship God the way they were supposed to. David wanted to ensure things were done God's way, just as God had directed in the Book of Exodus to Moses. Pastor closes today with, “God is Salvation.” God desires all to be saved. He is calling His children back to Himself. Pastor shares great insight to the “Mercy Seat” using Romans 3:25 “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Sacrifice of atonement or sometimes stated as “propitiation” are English translations of the Greek word for “mercy seat.”  What this verse literally means is that God presented Christ as a mercy seat through the shedding of his blood to be received by faith. David and people of the Old Testament era had their sins removed once a year on the Day of Atonement, which finds its ultimate fulfillment once and for all, not once a year, but once forever in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He is the mercy seat of God. It's His blood that covers our sin. And so what we have seen in 2 Samuel 6 gets its fulfillment in the One who is the Son of God.  God is holy.  God is merciful.  GOD IS SALVATION. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/david-and-gods-heart Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?” — Acts 5:9 “Kill the chicken to scare the monkey,” says a Chinese proverb. In other words, put the fear of punishment into people, and they will not break the rules. Is that what Peter does in this unnerving story about Ananias and Sapphira? In the early chapters of Acts, the writer Luke includes progress reports on the growth and character of the early church. At the end of Acts 4 we read that the believers were “one in heart and mind” and “shared everything they had.” We also read of a generous donation by Barnabas, who sold some land and gave all the money to the church. The story of Ananias and Sapphira, however, reveals a web of deceit. The couple sold some land and kept some money for themselves while pretending to give all the proceeds to the church. Peter harshly condemned them—not for keeping some of the profit but for lying and thinking they could deceive the Holy Spirit. What should we make of this story? Is Peter making an example of this deceitful couple? Well, this story isn't mainly about Peter. The Holy Spirit, who lives and moves within us and the church, is carrying out Jesus' plans for redemption. Ananias and Sapphira's story reminds us that we should rely only on the Spirit for growth and blessing—and we should never forget that the Spirit is the Lord Almighty. Lord Jesus, thank you for the promise and presence of the Holy Spirit, our comforter. Help us to trust and honor the Spirit in all things. Amen.

2025-08-17 Hope in the Latter Daysby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Micah 4:1-81 In the last daysthe mountain of the Lord's temple will be established    as the highest of the mountains;it will be exalted above the hills,    and peoples will stream to it.2 Many nations will come and say,“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,    to the temple of the God of Jacob.He will teach us his ways,    so that we may walk in his paths.”The law will go out from Zion,    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.3 He will judge between many peoples    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.They will beat their swords into plowshares    and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation will not take up sword against nation,    nor will they train for war anymore.4 Everyone will sit under their own vine    and under their own fig tree,and no one will make them afraid,    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.5 All the nations may walk    in the name of their gods,but we will walk in the name of the Lord    our God for ever and ever.6 “In that day,” declares the Lord,“I will gather the lame;    I will assemble the exiles    and those I have brought to grief.7 I will make the lame my remnant,    those driven away a strong nation.The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion    from that day and forever.8 As for you, watchtower of the flock,    stronghold[a] of Daughter Zion,the former dominion will be restored to you;    kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!All are welcome. 217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448(985) 626-3114Sunday Service: 9:30AMAdult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AMNursery and Children's church available.

The challenges, rebukes, and encouragements of this sermon all carry their proper weight. Preaching from James 4:2–3, Spurgeon first exposes the poverty of lusting, how all the carnal and self-reliant effort in the world never produces that for which we seek. Then, and painfully, he points out how Christian churches may suffer from spiritual poverty, declining and drifting, neither desiring anything worthwhile nor seeking after it. Such churches are often competing for the wrong things in the wrong spirit, even with bitterness. Where, asks the preacher, is the asking? Where is the praying and the pleading for God's blessing, and for God's glory in the blessing? All this leads to stirring encouragements to take God at his word, and to ask rightly of a God who is only too ready to bestow his favours upon those who seek him. Spurgeon really hammers this point home, exhorting us to persistent prayer to the God of heaven, assuring us that the Lord Almighty stands ready to pour out his goodnesses on those who call upon him. So, shall we believe the Word of God? Shall we give ourselves to prayer? Shall we look for the answer, because we are persuaded of what God himself has said? Read the sermon here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/resources/ask-andhave Check out the new From the Heart of Spurgeon Book! British: https://amzn.to/48rV1OR American: https://amzn.to/48oHjft Connect with the Reading Spurgeon Community on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ReadingSpurgeon Sign up to get the weekly readings emailed to you: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon. Check out other Media Gratiae podcasts at www.mediagratiae.org Download the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

The challenges, rebukes, and encouragements of this sermon all carry their proper weight. Preaching from James 4:2–3, Spurgeon first exposes the poverty of lusting, how all the carnal and self-reliant effort in the world never produces that for which we seek. Then, and painfully, he points out how Christian churches may suffer from spiritual poverty, declining and drifting, neither desiring anything worthwhile nor seeking after it. Such churches are often competing for the wrong things in the wrong spirit, even with bitterness. Where, asks the preacher, is the asking? Where is the praying and the pleading for God's blessing, and for God's glory in the blessing? All this leads to stirring encouragements to take God at his word, and to ask rightly of a God who is only too ready to bestow his favours upon those who seek him. Spurgeon really hammers this point home, exhorting us to persistent prayer to the God of heaven, assuring us that the Lord Almighty stands ready to pour out his goodnesses on those who call upon him. So, shall we believe the Word of God? Shall we give ourselves to prayer? Shall we look for the answer, because we are persuaded of what God himself has said?

TISHA B'AV: A DAY OF FASTING AND MOURNINGThis coming Saturday evening, August 2nd, the Jewish people will be observing Tisha B'Av. The name Tisha B'Av means "the Ninth of Av," Av being the fifth month in the Jewish calendar. It coincides with the months of July and August in the Gregorian calendar and is a day set aside for fasting, mourning, the reading of Scripture and prayer. It commemorates a number of tragedies that befell the Jewish people throughout their history.The observance of Tisha B'Av is nowhere commanded or instructed in the Scriptures, but reference to its observance by the Jewish people is found in the prophet Zechariah. In chapter 7 we read:"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. The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech, together with their men, to entreat the Lord by asking the priests of the house of the Lord Almighty and the prophets, 'Should I mourn and fast in the fifth month (the month of Av), as I have done for so many years?" (Zechariah 7:1-3; cf. vs.5, 8:19) The rabbis taught that the Jewish people experienced five tragedies on Tisha B'Av: the expulsion of the Jews from Israel by the Babylonians in 586 BC, the destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC and then by the Romans in 70 AD, the fall of the city of Betar in 135 BC which ended the third Jewish revolt against Rome and the plowing of the city of Jerusalem by the Romans following the crushing of the rebellion.Despite all the tragedies and anguish the Jewish people have experienced at so many times and in so many places, Tisha B'Av is observed with a sense of hope. On Tisha B'Av the book of Lamentations is read and we are reminded:"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 quietly for the salvation of the Lord...Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven...I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: Do not close your ears to my cry for relief. You came near when I called you, and you said, 'Do not fear.' O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life." O daughter of Zion, your punishment will end; he will not prolong your exile...You, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation...Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old..." (Lamentations 3:22-26; 3:40-41, 55-58; 4:22; 5:19, 21)YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/Iap9WWAVKfsSend us a text

WHEN HEAVEN CALLSSunday, July 27, 2025Pastor Wes Morris Isaiah 6:1-8 (NLT) It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then I said, “It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”√ GOD'S CALL DOESN'T BEGIN WITH AN ASSIGNMENT - IT BEGINS WITH AN ENCOUNTER. Isaiah 6:1 (NLT) ...I saw the Lord.√ THE CLOSER WE GET TO GOD, THE MORE CLEARLY WE SEE OUR NEED FOR GRACE. Isaiah 6:5 (NIV) “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips...”Luke 5:8 (NIV) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” You are more sinful than you ever dared believe, and yet more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than you ever dared hope.-Tim Keller√ GRACE DOESN'T JUST COVER OUR PAST - IT CALLS US INTO OUR FUTURE.Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”WHEN HEAVEN CALLSThe place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.- Frederick BuechnerI. START WITH SURRENDER.Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.II. STRETCH OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. II Corinthians 5:14-15 (TLB) He died for all so that all who live—having received eternal life from him—might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them.What makes me feel most alive?What problems or people do I feel drawn to help? (What breaks my heart?)How could God use me to make a difference?III. SAY YES TO THE CALL.Isaiah 6:8 (NLT) Then I heard the Lord asking, “Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.To learn more about Bay Chapel or to visit us in person, check out baychapel.com

“When God Gets Angry”1 Samuel 15:1-31 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'” CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

The Gospel of John Week 4 Scripture: John 2:1-22, Genesis 1:10 & 12, Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 25:6-9 Today's study starts with the story of a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the text opens with “On the third day.”  The first day is Sunday, the second day of the week is Monday and the third day is Tuesday.  The wedding is happening on a Tuesday. Why is the wedding on Tuesday? The answer is because of what we read in Genesis 1:10 and 12 where God declared everything as good, not once but twice on the third day of creation and the rabbis said the third day is an especially good day - what a great day for marriages! So orthodox Jewish people have set their wedding dates on Tuesdays going back to Biblical times. Mary, Jesus' mother is at this wedding, too. They are most likely into the 4th or more day of the wedding feast. (They typically lasted a week or longer). And they run out of refreshment and Mary lets Jesus know they have run out of wine. Mary then tells the servants to “do whatever He tells you.”  This is a word for us today - to do what Jesus tells us. We are to listen and obey. Pastor considers the questions: “Isn't this a rather frivolous miracle? Why would Jesus for His first miracle make 150 gallons of wine?”  Let's take a look at this miracle in light of what the Old Testament Scriptures say and what the Jewish people believe: God speaks of Himself as being married to His people. God calls Himself the groom and He gives Himself for His bride (the children of Israel). We reading Isaiah 62:5 "For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." And the Bible talks of wedding feast banquets when Messiah comes. Isaiah 25:6-9 begins with:  “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare     a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—     the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy     the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;     he will swallow up death forever.” These are a sample of the verses Jewish people knew and now Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding! This is not a frivolous miracle - this is Jesus saying: “I am the Bridegroom. I am the One who provides everything you need. I am the One who brings in the wedding feast!”  This miracle points to Jesus as the Messiah! It is a dramatic declaration of Jesus' identity and purpose and going forth Jesus will continually refer to Himself as the Bridegroom and to His people as those who get to be invited to the wedding feast. Pastor shares other great insight into:     1.    Why it's important that the jars where stone and not clay pottery     2.    The use of the word “signs”     3.    The 7 miracles shared in the Gospel of John and how they show Jesus' identity and demonstrate He is the Messiah.     4.    The recent archeological discoveries that go back to the 1st century. Next in our text we read the story of the Temple cleansing where Jesus overturns money changing tables at the Temple.  John is the only gospel that has this story at the beginning of Jesus ministry, the other gospels have it at the end of His ministry. Pastor shares the perspective of there being 2 temple cleansing: 1 at the beginning and.another at the end of Jesus' ministry. Other interesting points     ⁃    The temple was to be a house of prayer - not a market place     ⁃    Money changing was being done where worship was supposed to be happening     ⁃    Tyrian Stater - 1/2 shekel temple tax     ⁃    Pastor shares a detailed description of the Temple in Jesus' day and does a dating of events in conjunction with the building of the temple and Jesus' ministry     ⁃    Pastor suggests a book by Jack Finnegan, “Handbook of Biblical Chronology” Our reading today ends with John 2:20-21 where we read that Jesus knows what is in our hearts. He can see into our very souls. We cannot con Jesus. He is the Living God come to earth and we cannot fool Him.   Pastor ends today's class with a look at the Feasts of the Lord celebrated by the Jewish people and how the festivals point us to understanding their connection to who Jesus is: The Fulfillment of each festival. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Some years ago our family was vacationing on the eastern end of Long Island near a little village called Sag Harbor. It was amazing how much that village changed, though, over a period of just 24 hours. One day it was a sleepy little town of tourists kind of strolling from store to store. The next day it was a chaotic beehive with snarled traffic and anxious people rushing from store to store. Do you know what made the difference? A hurricane warning! Yes, a powerful storm was moving up the East Coast and it was expected to hit that part of Long Island. So people were rushing everywhere to get prepared. Batteries and candles suddenly appeared by every cash register in every store. And they quickly disappeared. People were suddenly living differently when there was a major storm. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Year That Everything Changed." You might be living in a year like that right now; a year when a lot of things have changed. And times like these (hurricane times) can really change your perspective on what's important and how you should be living. In our word for today from the Word of God beginning with Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord." Now, you're probably not all broken up over Uzziah dying, but he had been king for 52 years. So if you were 52 or under, King Uzziah was the only ruler you had ever known. And he had brought his nation to an unparalleled level of prosperity and power. And suddenly he was gone. It was one of those years when everything changed. So let's think of these words in this way, "In the year that everything changed." That's when Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord." That's when you usually do - when everything is changing - when the hurricane is blowing you around. Maybe God has shaken your world recently so you'll see Him as you've never seen Him before and so you'll live differently. Now there are three perspectives God wants you to live by in a season when everything is changing. First, Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord, seated on a throne, high and exalted." Isaiah describes powerful angelic beings he sees "calling to one another, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.'" Perspective #1 when everything is changing; "Lord, You are awesome." God wants you to enter His Throne Room as Isaiah did - by prayer. He wants you to see His majesty; to realize that, by praying, you are entering the Throne Room from which billions of galaxies are governed and bringing your life and your needs to the One who rules it all. When everything's changing, you need to dwell on the awesomeness of your God. Then Isaiah tells us he cried, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." Then he describes how one of the angels touches his lips with a live coal from the altar and says, "Your guilt is taken away." Perspective #2 - "Lord, I'm a mess." See, God wants all this change to be a wakeup call that shows you the sin that you haven't dealt with and to let Him touch it with His forgiveness and His cleansing. Then God asks, "Whom shall I send?" And Isaiah says, "Here am I. Send me!" God wants you to look at His awesomeness, then at your sinfulness, and then at the lostness of the people around you. Perspective #3 - "They are dying." You've seen the King; they never have. And God has sent the storm to refocus your attention on the mission of rescuing the dying people around you. With all that's changing in our world, the things that really matter haven't changed. In fact, the changes make the important things more important than ever. Make frequent visits to God's Throne Room, go off and to Jesus' cross to get clean, and go on frequent missions to take some people to heaven with you. With the storm intensifying, focus on the things that really matter so this can be the time when you really see the Lord.

Summer at City A Consuming Fire & An Unshakeable Kingdom Hebrews 12:25-29 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Deut. 4:24 ESV "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Consuming: completely filling one's mind and attention; absorbing. "It's not that we don't want God; it's that we've found a thousand things we want more than God." - Ravenhill God's fire produces missional clarity “yet there is a spiritual force which may well be described as a shaking. It is only when the tree of the nation has a thorough shaking, that at last the prime, ripe fruit will drop down into the great Master's lap. He shakes by Providence, by the movement of the human conscience. He shakes by the impulses of his Holy Spirit; he shakes the human spirit, and as a result persons out of all the nations are brought to himself. Stones that he would have, come at last out of the quarry, and he builds them up into a temple.” -Spurgeon Haggai 2:6-7 NIV “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty" Chemdah: the desire/desired of all nations 2:7b Revelation 5:9 NIV "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." Titus 2:13-14 KJV "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works" God's fire emphasizes eternal stability v28a. Questions: Are you building your life on the unshakable Kingdom? Does the way I'm living my life in this moment make sense in light of eternity with Jesus? God's fire propels us towards intimacy v28b

Sometimes God gives us a glimpse of something so great that we fear. Some may try to convince us that we should give up faith because it is too good to be true, or that we should be afraid of something so magnificent. However, godly fear doesn't drive us away from God but to him. It is this fear of God that brings holiness to completion in our lives driving us to respond to the promises and presence of the living God by drawing near to the Lord Almighty. He is our joy. He is our peace. He is our fear.