Podcasts about may god

Welcome to the “Prison Pulpit” on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share, among other things, daily reminders to pray for China. Also, feel free to email any questions or comments to bfwesten at gmail dot com. And last but not least, learn more about (most of) our strategic prayer and missions projects @ PrayGiveGo.us! The Prison Pulpit As I’ve stated all year, the goal of the Prison Pulpit series is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us to do: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” As I am recording this podcast, we have just passed the 7th anniversary of the attack and forced closure of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, China, and the arrest of Pastor Wang Yi, on December 9th, 2018. A couple weeks ago I read the Wang Yi family newsletter that was published just 12 days before his arrest on Dec 9, 2018. Last week I shared a few updates that were put out by unnamed Early Rain Church members in the aftermath of the attack and arrest of the pastor and most of the leadership. As one of last week's updates reminded us, there was no guarantee that the next update would ever come. Arrests were ongoing and, for lack of a better phrase, church leaders were falling like flies. However, in spite of all this, more updates did follow, and I want to share some of them with you now: Early Rain Urgent Prayer Update #10 (12/12/18) May the Lord give us love for souls. These law enforcement officers greatly need the gospel of Christ. They have greatly sinned against God. We need to pray for them, for we were once like them. May the Lord himself speak words of comfort to us, for he has given his life for us. We suffer with those brothers and sisters who suffer as though imprisoned with them. May God make peace like a river flow through our hearts… Please strengthen your resolve, brothers and sisters. Experience in the midst of every kind of tribulation and danger the filling of the Holy Spirit and the renewal of your lives. Early Rain Urgent Prayer Update (12/15/18) According to some testimonies of brothers and sisters that have emerged, they have been sharing the gospel while under guard. They have been using their suffering as a beautiful testimony for the Lord. Some police officers and workers have been very interested in the gospel, even giving their addresses and asking for Bibles. May the Lord choose for himself children from among these law enforcement officers persecuting the church. Another encouraging testimony from a church member who was just released from 10 days of detention... “It is like a monastery in there. I cultivated myself for ten days there. Thank God for his protection. I often shared the gospel in there. There was a Tibetan named Z who really wanted to hear preaching, to join a small group, and to become a Christian. There was also a master’s student who has been quite miserable since entering [the detention center]. He wanted to buy a Bible, and I told him I would give him one. He also wanted to attend a small group Bible study. There was also another person who used to belong to a traditional house church but who stumbled because of marriage problems. I am preparing to give him one of our church’s thumb drives so he can listen to preaching. Please keep praying for the nearly 20 brothers and sisters at the detention center and for Yingxu and Shuqi, about whom we still have no information. And pray for the others, as well, because we don’t know how they are doing now. It is a high-level detention center, and it is quite strict; but from another perspective, the despair of the prisoners inside is also quite high, making evangelizing more fruitful. Thank the Lord!” Lord, the greatest freedom in the world is the freedom of becoming your children. You say that we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. May your Spirit fill us and make us to worship freely, to enter prison freely, to spread the gospel freely. Give us free and noble hearts. Turn us into liberated criminals willing to be detained by the world. For a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted you, they will persecute us. We also ask you to forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Open their eyes to see your glory and turn them into free children! In the cross, in the cross / Be my glory ever / All our sins are washed away / Only by His blood. Follow China Compass Subscribe to China Compass wherever you get your podcasts. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures), email anytime (bfwesten at gmail dot com), and check out our website (PrayGiveGo.us). Hebrews 13:3!

Grail Psalms? Anglican Ordinariate? Flaws in "My Catholic Faith"? Forgiving myself? Excessive grieving? Euthanasia: murder by doctor? Catholic devotion to Mary: viewer objects! Absurdity of "Bible alone." Leo's program: leftist politics and religion. This episode was recorded on 12/16/2025. Our Links: http://linkwcb.com/ Please consider making a monetary donation to What Catholics Believe. Father Jenkins remembers all of our benefactors in general during his daily Mass, and he also offers one Mass on the first Sunday of every month specially for all supporters of What Catholics Believe. May God bless you for your generosity! https://www.wcbohio.com/donate Subscribe to our other YouTube channels: ‪@WCBHighlights‬ ‪@WCBHolyMassLivestream‬ May God bless you all!

This week's podcast is helpful, but also challenging. On this final podcast episode I am releasing in 2025, I want to point your attention to the coming year, 2026. Before we get into this final episode, I am recording in 2025, I want to share a few quick updates with you: Merry Christmas from Jeana and me to you and your family. I hope these final days of 2025 are fantastic, and the celebration of Christmas will be special. For many of you who have lost a loved one in 2025, we are praying for you as you face this first Christmas without that loved one in your family being with you in person. May God's grace and peace be with all of you. God has been so good to me in 2025, with the release of my newest book, entitled The Supernatural Power of Prayer and Fasting. I have conducted over 40 interviews or podcasts with various people since the release of this book. God is using it extensively. You can order it on Amazon to help you begin the new year with God in a way you've never experienced before.  I received a dynamic testimony just this past week from a pastor in Virginia about the impact this book has had on his life, including the salvation of one of his children. There is Supernatural Power when you Pray and Fast. Order a copy today. If you want to order by the case, contact us here and we can help you accomplish this. There are forty books in each case so those who are sharing it with Bible Study groups or churches, this may help you do it more effectively. God has opened up so many doors preaching God's Word throughout the nation and even in Athens, Greece, this past August, at a large global missions conference with over 80 nations present. Hundreds were there, and it was powerful. God is at work in our country and world. 

Welcome to the “Prison Pulpit” on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share, among other things, daily reminders to pray for China. Also, feel free to email any questions or comments to bfwesten at gmail dot com. And last but not least, learn more about (most of) our strategic prayer and missions projects @ PrayGiveGo.us! The Prison Pulpit As I’ve stated all year, the goal of the Prison Pulpit series is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us to do: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” As I am recording this podcast, we have just passed the 7th anniversary of the attack and forced closure of Early Rain Church in Chengdu, China, and the arrest of Pastor Wang Yi, on December 9th, 2018. A couple weeks ago I read the Wang Yi family newsletter that was published just 12 days before his arrest on Dec 9, 2018. Last week I shared a few updates that were put out by unnamed Early Rain Church members in the aftermath of the attack and arrest of the pastor and most of the leadership. As one of last week's updates reminded us, there was no guarantee that the next update would ever come. Arrests were ongoing and, for lack of a better phrase, church leaders were falling like flies. However, in spite of all this, more updates did follow, and I want to share some of them with you now: Early Rain Urgent Prayer Update #10 (12/12/18) May the Lord give us love for souls. These law enforcement officers greatly need the gospel of Christ. They have greatly sinned against God. We need to pray for them, for we were once like them. May the Lord himself speak words of comfort to us, for he has given his life for us. We suffer with those brothers and sisters who suffer as though imprisoned with them. May God make peace like a river flow through our hearts… Please strengthen your resolve, brothers and sisters. Experience in the midst of every kind of tribulation and danger the filling of the Holy Spirit and the renewal of your lives. Early Rain Urgent Prayer Update (12/15/18) According to some testimonies of brothers and sisters that have emerged, they have been sharing the gospel while under guard. They have been using their suffering as a beautiful testimony for the Lord. Some police officers and workers have been very interested in the gospel, even giving their addresses and asking for Bibles. May the Lord choose for himself children from among these law enforcement officers persecuting the church. Another encouraging testimony from a church member who was just released from 10 days of detention... “It is like a monastery in there. I cultivated myself for ten days there. Thank God for his protection. I often shared the gospel in there. There was a Tibetan named Z who really wanted to hear preaching, to join a small group, and to become a Christian. There was also a master’s student who has been quite miserable since entering [the detention center]. He wanted to buy a Bible, and I told him I would give him one. He also wanted to attend a small group Bible study. There was also another person who used to belong to a traditional house church but who stumbled because of marriage problems. I am preparing to give him one of our church’s thumb drives so he can listen to preaching. Please keep praying for the nearly 20 brothers and sisters at the detention center and for Yingxu and Shuqi, about whom we still have no information. And pray for the others, as well, because we don’t know how they are doing now. It is a high-level detention center, and it is quite strict; but from another perspective, the despair of the prisoners inside is also quite high, making evangelizing more fruitful. Thank the Lord!” Lord, the greatest freedom in the world is the freedom of becoming your children. You say that we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free. May your Spirit fill us and make us to worship freely, to enter prison freely, to spread the gospel freely. Give us free and noble hearts. Turn us into liberated criminals willing to be detained by the world. For a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted you, they will persecute us. We also ask you to forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Open their eyes to see your glory and turn them into free children! In the cross, in the cross / Be my glory ever / All our sins are washed away / Only by His blood. Follow China Compass Subscribe to China Compass wherever you get your podcasts. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures), email anytime (bfwesten at gmail dot com), and check out our website (PrayGiveGo.us). Hebrews 13:3!

A public library in Caleb and Stephen's area has been providing pornographic content to children. What is happening, why, and what should be done about it?Caleb and Stephen's Letter to the Sioux Center Public Library:To the Sioux Center Public Library, together with its director, board, staff, and all else who pertains:May the Lord convict you to read this letter in its entirety. Do not shrink from its words. Be discomforted, but receive the admonishment in humility. Remove Icebreaker, Identical, and every other wicked, ungodly, and perverse “literature” which you make available for public distribution. To be clear: not only should children be protected from depraved content, but also adults.Repent and do what is right — not from fear of man, not out of a duty to the community, but in the sight of God — that you may be forgiven. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 Jn. 18-10). As will be explained further below, this is no matter of simply saying something to the effect of, “We don't personally like the book, but it's hard to decide what should or shouldn't be stocked,” or to “let the parents decide.”First, a brief note on the First Amendment and libraries. We would like to draw your attention to this week's conclusion of Little v. Llano County, in which the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal against the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the county's removal of 17 books from their public libraries. Specifically, they had ruled that there is no inherent right protected under the First Amendment for someone to receive information via taxpayer-funded books from a public library. This decision now applies to the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. If this is the case elsewhere, can—even, ought it not be applied here? Your board has been quoted as stating its “commitment” to “protect access to information.” Should the reception of any and all information or content be protected? There is no true necessity in providing erotica to anyone. Indeed, as your director has said, “Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge and strengthen our community.” How does pornographic, erotic literature inspire learning and advance knowledge? And — given the backlash you have thus far received — how does this strengthen the community?Second, your opinions on the first amendment, the Iowa constitution, and ALA policies aside: We call upon you to realize you are accountable to a Higher Authority (Acts 5:29; Westminster Larger Catechism QA 99, 128-130; Heidelberg Catechism, QA 104; Belgic Confession 36). You are under a law greater than your own policies. This law, God's law, applies to all peoples, unbelievers and believers alike. All mankind will be judged under the same law. If there are any on the board who do not profess Christ, you must hear the gospel and turn from your sins so that you may be saved. If you would hear this message of salvation while there is yet time, please contact us at pastor.rvurc@gmail.com.However, being aware of the demographics of our county, it is far more likely that this board and the library staff are full of churchgoers. If so, what grief you bring upon Christ's name! “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” (Gal. 3:1)What does the Word of God say of your actions?By providing in your catalog any material with perverse content, you promote peoples' minds to dwell upon that which is prohibited by the holy law. You train peoples' hearts to store up that which defiles the temple of our body (1 Cor. 6:18-20).“Fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting…For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:3-5).” Sexual immorality is not limited to only an outward action, but also when the mind itself is lured to entertain temptation. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”We are instead positively commanded to give our minds to holy, good things: “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).Perhaps you object. Perhaps you think, “I'm not responsible for what others do. If they want to read these things, that's for them to decide.” You may as well like Cain (Gen. 4:9) ask the Lord, “Am I my brother's keeper?” Yes, you are. “Do not be deceived,” says Paul, for “Evil company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33), and “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Gal. 5:9).Concerning sexual immorality and the 7th commandment, Q. 109 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks, Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? Note its answer well: “We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and Godwants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why God forbids all unchaste actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires, and whatever may incite someone to them” (see also WLC QA 139). It is clear: you shall certainly be held responsible for your part in distributing that which may lead someone to sin, whether they be adult or child; regardless of the government's position on its permissibility. However, know that your guilt is magnified for involving a child. Indeed, by permitting a child to check out such filth, you pose a stumbling block before them that they trip into sin. To you Jesus says, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin” (Luke 17:1-2; WLC QA 151).We pray you will heed these warnings with all sobriety, especially if you profess Christ, for “You should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind” (Eph. 4:17). “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).Consider this rebuke as a mercy from the Lord, shining light to expose devilish works. And now being exposed, understand that “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17), “for if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment” (Heb. 10:26-27). Can the stakes be any more clear than that? What ought you do?Well, if you would truly be called public servants:* Serve the parents by informing them if a child is seeking adult content (Prov. 17:25; 29:15)* Serve the child by declining to check out any material that would be destructive to their soul, even if it would cost you your job. (Lev. 19:7; Prov. 27:5; James 5:19-20)* Serve the community by refusing to stock wicked books in the first place (Ps. 101:3); by not squandering tax dollars on smut (Prov. 21:20; Lk. 16:10-13). * Discard from your shelves all depraved materials, pornographic writings, even any work which might “shake the hand against God, in defiance against the Almighty” (Job 15:25; Ezek. 20:7; Acts 19:19). * Refuse to contribute to the deformation and denigration of godliness in this area and in this land (Deut. 28:47-48; Dan. 12:10; Matt. 24:12; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; Jude 18-19).And finally, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:7-10).May God have mercy.Rev. Caleb CastroMr. Stephen EvertseRock Valley United Reformed ChurchDecember 03, 2025Iowa Standard interview with Teri Hubbard, the lone dissenting member of the SCPL boardAmerican Library Association “Freedom to Read” statementSioux Center Public Library Circulation Policy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.onceforalldelivered.com/subscribe

  December 7, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. You'all know I love Hallmark Christmas movies.  However, there is nothing quite like the ultimate story we hear at this time of year – A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.  And as much as I love Hallmark, they just do not compare in their remakes of that classic, to the ones that star Alister Sims or Sir Patrick Stewart.  Now, we are in Advent, not Christmas, so why do I bring this classic tale of Christmas up?  For the same reason I did many years ago when I was preaching on the texts for this Sunday – especially the one from Isaiah, because Dickens knew how to create a setting.  And, the truth is, while the movie adaptations are good, nothing is better than the actual book in telling that important part of the story.  I mean, isn't that nearly always the case – Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dune, the Chronicles of Narnia – I know, I am showing my fantasy/scifi side. Even the Harry Potter movies, while really good, were not as good as the books.  The same is very true for A Christmas Carol. The opening paragraph of this Dicken's seasonal classic makes one thing absolutely clear.  It reads, “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.  Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.” So, I guess Marley, old Scrooge's business partner, was very much dead?  Or, as we get from the coronor in The Wizard of Oz – Marley is “…not only merely dead, [he's] really most sincerely dead.” Clearly we do not need to ask, in our best Monty Python voice, “Is he dead yet?”  Marley is dead.  Got it.  But why all the fuss – why all the repetition? Well, as we continue in the story we realize that if we weren't quite sure about Marley being dead, than it throws off the basis for the very strange set of Christmas Eve visitations that result in a miracle of new life for Scrooge.  And it is this new life that is an important part of our Advent journey.  The life that grows out of death.  Now you might be thinking, isn't that Easter, not Advent?  Well, it is both, as will see in the passage from Isaiah, and also from St. Paul in his letter to the Romans (who quotes the very scripture in Isaiah we heard today).  The passage begins with this: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”  That branch, the passage continues, is the birth of a new leader – one who is righteous and faithful, who has compassion for the poor and the meek. Oh, how we yearn even today, for that. Now we often hear these words and think of Jesus, but Jews then and to today know these words as applying to King Hezekiah of Judah.  Still, everyone all over the world yearn for this type of leader – one who has compassion for her people, and knows they are not God, but are there to serve God's people.  The prophet's words remind all of us what is expected of those that lead the people of God.  And it is a proper metaphor for the incarnation too. So, let's get back to that stump, that leftover remains of a very dead tree.  A tree that, as Dickins would likely say, is as dead as a door nail.  Why is this imagery so important to the people then, or us now? Well, remember last week? The prophet was speaking of a vision of a new world where swords would be turned into plowshares?  Well, that hasn't come about yet.  The Assyrians were still a threat to Jerusalem, and had destroyed many a city in Judah and Israel.  In fact, in the chapter before the one we read from today, we hear about those rulers who oppress the people, turning aside the needy from justice, and robbing the poor and vulnerable.  It was a time of darkness for the people, where hope was far gone and everyone seemed like the walking dead.  The stump is a metaphor for the people who felt dead inside.  The shoot is the birth of a new leader who is righteous, faithful, and good.  That would be a miracle to those so worn down by the reality in which they lived. But the passage doesn't stop there.  This new life is beyond anything anyone has ever experienced – beyond even swords being made into plowshares.  It is what we have come to call the peaceable kingdom…where “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid…” Of course, this image has been depicted in religious art, and is the stuff of poets.  But given the circumstances then and today, many of us might say, “The wolf might lie down with the lamb. But the lamb won't get much sleep!”  We greet these words with a big “Bah Humbug!' Not because we don't want it – oh we so dream it could be true.  No, we are skeptical because we have become so used to the very unpeaceable kingdom – war, violence, human trafficking, hate crimes, cyberbullying, and leaders who attack the people they are meant to serve, not to mention difficult times in our own lives. We can feel devoid of dreams like this because it can all seem too big to imagine – this time of peace and love for all.  It seems like a pipe dream. We can be so very weary from what life throws at us that we become like those people long ago – the walking dead.  Our faith withered so much that we keep a watchful eye, a bit like a lamb near a lion, for what might next prey upon us, and not for miracles of new life.  And so this prophetic witness of Isaiah is not only meant for those long ago, but for us too.  Maybe that is why St. Paul quotes the prophet in his letter to the Romans we heard a part of today.  He writes “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope….and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”” St. Paul is reminding the people in Rome, and now us, of the promise of Isaiah – that new life grows out of what seems to be very much dead, bringing hope to all.  And folks, as I said last week, hope is a most powerful force amidst the darkness of the world.  It is the stuff of transformation, and the heart of Advent.  Hope is the spark in the soul that can defeat the darkness, can overcome the strongest enemies, can make dreams – God's or our own – possible.  And hope is the root of joy. Now, to be clear, joy is not happiness.  Joy is not connected to external events.  Joy is the inner peace we carry knowing that no matter what life throws at us, God loves us – loves us enough to break into the darkness of our lives with the birth of Christ Jesus. But here's the thing.  This new vision of the world – this peaceable kingdom and life out of death – this hope and joy – well, we have a role to play in bringing it all about. St. Paul adds this instruction we heard today “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you.”  This welcome isn't a polite greeting like we do at the peace, or we might when being introduced at a party.  That is far too tame.  The Greek used here is more on the lines of “fully embrace.”  And it isn't meant just for people we know well, or even like.  It is to fully embrace like Christ!  Or to put it in Christ's own words “love one another as I loved you.”  We are to be the counter-cultural witness to the goodness of God in how we treat one another, how we treat those who are different than ourselves, how we treat all of creation.  When we love as Christ loved us, we become the very sprouts of new life for a world that feels dead as a stump.  That is how we, by his incarnation in our heart, give birth to God's vision of love and peace. It happens one welcome – one full embrace – one moment of unconditional love at a time.  It is the hope of nations, and the promise of the child we await.  Think about the story of old Scrooge for a moment.  His transformation didn't come about because he got frightened out of his wits by a bunch of ghosts.  It started with a warning from Marley, to be sure, but what exactly was Marley telling him?  First, he told Scrooge that the chain he was wearing he forged in life, and that Scrooge's was just as long and growing ever still.  And when Scrooge said, “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” Marley shouted back – “Business!” “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!…At this time of the rolling year, I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?” Then the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future arrive one by one. What did they show Scrooge?  Images of hell to scare him?  No.  They showed him love – love he once had for another person, love of the Cratchit family even amidst all their lot, love his nephew showed to him despite Scrooge's nasty clapbacks at him.  And the reader or viewer sees how the absence of love from others can deaden many a child of God. That is what the Spirits showed to Scrooge – love.  Love not based on being treated well, love not based on the circumstances of life.  Just love – that full embrace St. Paul implores us to give – that commandment of Jesus to us all.  It is the very thing that will bring forth the shoot of hope and joy from even the deadest of souls, including our own. So next time you are watching your favorite version of A Christmas Carol, remember this passage from Isaiah and the epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. Remember and see that even a soul as dead as Dickin's Mr. Scrooge may be given new life through the power of love. Remember too that this miracle of redemptive grace is for everyone – for you and for me.  It is the hope that will heal the world and bring about the beloved kingdom for us all, so long as we do our part to bring it about. And so I leave you with this, the two benedictions St. Paul includes in this part of his epistle.  Maybe they be something you can say each morning as you start the day – a reminder of Advent and what is possible by God's grace, when we share with others our hope and joy in love.  “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Rec-001-Sermon-December_7_2025.m4a   The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge December 7, 2025 Advent 4 – Year A 1st Reading – Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 2nd Reading – Romans 15:4-13 Gospel – Matthew 3:1-12 The post “The Power Of Love” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20251215fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the desert will be glad. The wasteland of the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It will bloom lavishly, and there will be great joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it. It will be excellent like Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make the shaky knees steady. Do not be afraid. Look! Your God will come with vengeance. With God's own retribution, he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. The crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. The burning sand will become a pool, and in the thirsty ground there will be springs of water. There will be grass, reeds, and rushes where the haunts of jackals once lay. A highway will be there, a road that will be called the holy way. The impure will not walk there. It will be reserved for those who walk in that holy way. Isaiah 35:1-8 (EHV) The Great Heart Superbloom In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have you ever seen a place that looks super green, like a giant forest? The Smoky Mountains are like that—so many greens it looks like someone used every crayon in the box! If you go to a place like Zion National Park, you'll see tons of browns and tans—still beautiful, just different. But then there's Death Valley. Most of the time, it looks dry, empty, and kind of plain. It's like the world's biggest “nothing-to-see-here” desert. But something amazing happens once in a while. When it finally gets enough rain, everything changes. Suddenly, colorful flowers pop up everywhere—yellow, orange, purple, pink—like the desert got a giant surprise party! This is called a “superbloom.” Sometimes our lives feel a little like that dry desert. We might feel sad, lonely, or worried—like our hearts don't have much color in them. But Jesus changes everything. The Bible says he's our “living water,” which means he refreshes our hearts just like rain refreshes a desert. In the book of Isaiah, it talks about things Jesus did. He made blind people see, deaf people hear, and people who couldn't walk get up and move again! But Jesus didn't just fix bodies. He made a way for us to get to heaven—a special road for God's people called the “holy way.” We weren't always on that road. We were stuck in our “sin desert,” with no way out. But God didn't leave us there. The Holy Spirit used God's Word and baptism to plant faith inside us—like tiny seeds that bloom into beautiful flowers. Because of Jesus, we can walk with God now—and someday we'll go to heaven, a place where sadness runs away and joy and happiness chase us down! May God help our faith grow and bloom forever. Amen. Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being our living water. You make our hearts come alive—like a big, beautiful superbloom. Help us remember that all our joy and faith come from you. Thank you for saving us and redeeming us. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children Who gets to go to heaven? (Help kids focus on: “Everyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior.”) Who helps us believe in Jesus by working through God's Word and baptism? (The Holy Spirit!) Questions for Elementary Age Children The Bible says there will be no more crying or sadness in heaven. What happy things will “overtake us”? (Talk about joy, laughter, peace, excitement.) As believers in Jesus, why don't we need to be scared about the future? (Jesus is with us, loves us, and already knows the way.) Questions for Middle School and Above How is having faith in Jesus like a “superbloom”? (Faith makes our hearts full of color, life, and joy—just like rain brings flowers to the desert.) What does it mean to be “ransomed” by the Lord? (Jesus paid the price for our sins so we could belong to him forever.) Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Real Life... Church for Everyone. As we gather this week both in-person and remotely, join us, with Pastor Jim Miller and today's message entitled, "The Coming King." TODAY'S MESSAGE "Hundreds of years before Christ was born, the prophets foretold a Messiah." WE WELCOME YOU... ...each week, join us via our Sunday Sermon podcast, on online broadcast on Facebook & YouTube every Sunday morning, or in person at Real Life | LA. Visit reallife.la to learn more, request prayer, or to connect directly with someone at Real Life. May God bless you in miraculous ways today!

We hope you are blessed listening to our podcast and we would love to hear from you. If you have a prayer request, please send to our page or write us a letter. Address is Fellowship Temple Church 300 Weldon Ave Madisonville, Ky. 43431. We would love to hear from you. We are on Facebook on Saturday nights and Sundays during our weekly service. Thanks so much for listening and May God bless you! Sis. Betty Rickard singing"God of the Mountain"

Pastor Steven preaches from Matthew 11:2-11Let us know you heard the message. Send us a text!Welcome to Pastor Steven G. Lightfoot's Podcast. Sermons and homilies by Rev. Steven G. Lightfoot. Pastor Steven is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and serves as Senior Pastor to First Methodist Church Splendora and Shepherd Methodist Church in Southeast Texas. Thanks for listening! Join us each week for a new message. May God bless you and keep you.

December 15 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is Revelation 7; Ezra 3-4; and Proverbs 16. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

The greatest source of darkness is sin. The homilies of Msgr. Stephen J. AvilaPastor, St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth, MAThanks for listening! May God's Word find a home in you.

December 14 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is Revelation 6; Ezra 1-2; and Proverbs 15. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

Romans 15:12-13Isaiah's word: There's the root of our ancestor Jesse, breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!The good tidings of great joy from thousands of years ago is that there is a root breaking through and growing big enough for everyone, everywhere to take hope.That same promise made thousands of years ago is just as true today, on a daily basis. There is a root that has already been planted in your life because of what happened in Bethlehem thousands of years ago. And that root of hope can break through the ‘earth / ground of your life' and grow.Because of the root of Jessie, thousands of years ago, and the root of Jesus growing in our lives today, verse 13 comes alive. The hope, that is the fruit of what has already been planted as followers of Jesus, becomes infectious to all of those around us. Let's personalize this passage.May God of green hope,fill me up with joy,fill me up with peace,so that my believing life is filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit and flows over with infectious hope.Let's pray: “Immanuel, Lord Jesus, We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus! Help us to receive and embrace the Hope eternal that only You bring. Emanuel, God with us. Amen”

December 13 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is Revelation 5; Esther 9-10; and Proverbs 14. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

In this movie parody combo, Kevin is home alone when intruders arrive to rob his house. He shares a scripture with them in hopes that they will receive Jesus as their Savior. “Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!” Phil. 2:11 Also featured is Buddy, as he learns to do nice things for others rather than demanding that others serve him. “May God make you complete in every good work…, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,” Hebrews 13:21. And last, the Grinch discovers an unwanted caroler outside his lair who happily sings praises to God—despite the Grinch's protests. "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1! #kids, #storiesforchristiankids, #christmas, #biblelessonsforkids, #praisethelord, #sharegoodnews, #loveoneanother, #discipleofjesus, #fishbytesforkids, #fishbytes4kids, #fishbitesforkids, #ronandcarriewebb, #roncarriewebb Music by YouTube Audio Library FairyTale Waltz by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100232 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Watch more great content from Rich and Gaz at https://ickonic.com/ Just £1.99 for your first month Get your 40% CBD Products at  Use the code :WTAF https://supremecbd.uk/Subscribe to our Youtube Channel to watch the episodes for free:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheWTAFPodcast

The Ten CommandmentsGod loves us so much that He guides us with His Agape love toward a life of virtue and goodness. From the beginning of time, God has endowed us with the gift of discernment and the ability to choose to do good.Join us in this insightful episode, in which we reflect on how God, through Moses, rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them all to the Promised Land, showing them the path to holiness through the Ten Commandments.Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast. Please follow us on Instagram.We love you and are infinitely grateful for your support!May God always bless you!Marjorie and Maya.

Unwelcoming Trads? Trad school graduates lose Faith? Must there always be popes? Leo's deceptive ecumenism. Praying 1962 breviary? Why no USA feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe? IVF controversy: three SSPX weigh in. Mary gives body and blood to Christ! This episode was recorded on 12/09/2025. Our Links: http://linkwcb.com/ Please consider making a monetary donation to What Catholics Believe. Father Jenkins remembers all of our benefactors in general during his daily Mass, and he also offers one Mass on the first Sunday of every month specially for all supporters of What Catholics Believe. May God bless you for your generosity! https://www.wcbohio.com/donate Subscribe to our other YouTube channels: ‪@WCBHighlights‬ ‪@WCBHolyMassLivestream‬ May God bless you all!

It's Tuesday; so you know what time it is… THE MAC EFFECT drops another FIRE episode. Season 7 Episode 5' This week, we welcome Eddie Bruenrostro; he is a financial coach; but more than his title he is a man with a story to tell. Shared the struggles of “knowing it all” (guilty) thinking at a young age; we know better. Yet having to go thru; learning the hard way. With life beating us down, beat down, after beat down, after beat down.  What inspired me of Eddie's story was; coming from a house that served the Lord, parents divorcing; being affected by it greatly and still today learning to not react via trauma but from an identity standpoint point. Eddie opens up about finding his dad in the driveway of his house; kinda odd… as he was walking up his dad sitting there with a gun on his lap. Don't judge. We all have moments of wanting the pain to leave. Wanting it to be over. Yet God has a plan. Sent Eddie in at the right time to not only stop it. (And maybe he wasn't going to do it) but never the less; Eddie was sent by God. To show his dad that Jesus cares; ALWAYS!! I have a lot of respect for Eddie. To open up; share and go thru personal issues to victory of where he is at right now. And recently getting married!!!! Praise the Lord! Congratulations to the newly wed couple. May God bless, cover and protect this marriage. In Jesus name… amen' Any questions you may have for my guest or myself, please ask, reach out, comment, email, DM… (just ask, stop letting fear stop you)     My email is mailto:Themaceffect19@gmail.com for all questions and inquiries. You are not alone; We share together, walk together and heal together' To say thank you; it feels like it comes short, but I know if you watch or listen with love and support… you feel my Thank you!! #Themaceffect #maceffect #mac #mikecampos6 #god #love #hope #faith #joy #question #hurtpeople #hurt #healing #healpeople #healingmind #healingbody #heartofgold #healingspirit #morals #chorebelieves #growingpain #thewilltofight #keepgoing #youhavepurpose #awakening #understanding #building #fundamentals #ihaveaquestion #iwanttolearn #growing #growingpains #letsgetitright #nottoday #nottodaysatan #jesuschrist #inJesusname #lovealwayswins #peace #letsgetit #testing #learning #process #developing #maturing #fatherhood #motherhood #husband #wife #partnership #equals #tildeath #god #processing #process #guest #podcast #shorts #growth #development #growth #purpose #will #plans #goals #challange #opportunity #welcoming #bringit #letgoletgo #lakersin5

John 11:3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." Mary and Martha knew Jesus loved Lazarus and would want to know of his illness, so they sent word to Him. Makes me wonder if others can see Jesus' love for someone through me. I don't think Jesus' concern was to be seen to love. His love was as steady, constant, and genuine as His Father's. He lived to love and it was obvious to the sisters. So they thought Jesus would want to know that Lazarus was sick. May God's love be obvious in us today.

Hello and welcome to the program Retornando a la Palabra. In today's sermon originally recorded on December 8, 2013, we listen to the founding pastor of Centro Cristiano Internacíonal, Pastor German Ballesteros. I'd like to encourage you to pull out your bible and continue listening to today's sermon.        We hope this message has encouraged you to seek the voice of God. We encourage you to discover the nature of God through his word the Bible. If you'd like to download this episode or share with someone you know remember you can do so by subscribing to the podcast which you can find by searching retornando a la palabra or ccichurchsa on your favorite podcast listening device.Thank you again for spending this time with us and until next time we'd like to leave you with a quote from our founding Pastor the late Pastor German Ballesteros, “Cambia tu mundo con Cristo en tu corazón.” May God bless you.    

The apostle Peter knows that his execution as a martyr is imminent and now pours out his pastoral heart for those he is writing to. He is deeply aware in the Spirit that after his 'departure' that false teachers will arise within the churches he has helped to plant and will try to deceive many of them. What he warns them of is still relevant for us today. May God grant us open hearts to hear what the Spirit is saying to us today. The two New Testament epistles ascribed to the Apostle Peter are lesser known by most Christians than the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. Some scholars believe that First Peter may have been written to young Christians and may have even served as a 'catechism' for those about to be water baptised. In this episode, we look at how Peter presents God as Father, Son, and Spirit, and how Christianity commences with becoming 'born again'. But this is not where Christianity ends - and that aged Apostle Peter gives instructions on how a new believer is to grow in the faith by exploring what the knowledge of God and HIs grace requires. For more Biblical teaching via podcast subscribe to Messages That Matters with Dr. Andrew Corbett on iTunes, Soundcloud or Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/messages-that-matter-by-dr-andrew-corbett/id1059252114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3GuYKpgiAyKiF56LCekRSS Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/DrAndrewC Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/u/0/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zb3VuZGNsb3VkLmNvbS91c2Vycy9zb3VuZGNsb3VkOnVzZXJzOjY5NjkzNjY5L3NvdW5kcy5yc3M For Biblical Thinking Resources - https://www.andrewcorbett.net/ Read “The Most Embarrassing Book in the Bible -understanding the Book of Revelation” on Kindle https://www.amazon.com/MOST-EMBARRASSING-BOOK-BIBLE-ebook/dp/B0081RZ91O/ Read “Authentic Apostolic Leadership - Structure For the Church” https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Apostolic-Leadership-Structure-Church-ebook/dp/B003GIRESO/

Welcome to Real Life... Church for Everyone. As we gather this week both in-person and remotely, join us, with Pastor Jim Miller and today's message entitled, "The Birth Foretold." TODAY'S MESSAGE "As we enter the Christmas season, in which we prepare for the coming of Jesus, we remember that the prophets foretold a God who would walk among us." WE WELCOME YOU... ...each week, join us via our Sunday Sermon podcast, on online broadcast on Facebook & YouTube every Sunday morning, or in person at Real Life | LA. Visit reallife.la to learn more, request prayer, or to connect directly with someone at Real Life. May God bless you in miraculous ways today!

We hope you are blessed listening to our podcast and we would love to hear from you. If you have a prayer request, please send to our page or write us a letter. Address is Fellowship Temple Church 300 Weldon Ave Madisonville, Ky. 43431. We would love to hear from you. We are on Facebook on Saturday nights and Sundays during our weekly service. Thanks so much for listening and May God bless you! Heavenly Reins singing "Did I mention He's been faithful"

Encounter God in 2025, Sundays at Viewpoint Church.May God stir up our hearts to hear his voice through the pages of Scripture today. And may we align our hearts with His as we read the pages together as a family.As you sit down to read the Word daily, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it. Then join us as we walk daily together through the pages that will change our lives! ------------------------------------------ Whether this is your first time with us or you have been watching for a while, we would love to connect with you! https://www.viewpointchurch.org/connectWe would be honored to pray for you or someone you know. Our team prays for all the prayer requests we receive on a regular basis. https://www.viewpointchurch.org/prayer------------------------------------------STAY CONNECTED!➜ Website: https://www.viewpointchurch.org➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viewpointchurch➜ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViewpointChurch

Pastor Steven preaches from Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12Let us know you heard the message. Send us a text!Welcome to Pastor Steven G. Lightfoot's Podcast. Sermons and homilies by Rev. Steven G. Lightfoot. Pastor Steven is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church and serves as Senior Pastor to First Methodist Church Splendora and Shepherd Methodist Church in Southeast Texas. Thanks for listening! Join us each week for a new message. May God bless you and keep you.

“The Announcement!” Luke 1:26-45   Thank you for listening! Please enjoy our weekly sermon from Pastor Mike Rodrigues of Aliante Community Baptist Church. We invite you, your family and friends to join us as we study God's word. We pray that you will be blessed by today's lessons from God's Word and we invite you to contact us with any questions you may have - especially questions regarding your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to help you with your walk of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and with your understanding of His Holy Word, the Bible. May God richly bless you!​ Donations We are accepting offerings via our church website. Donate Here Your financial support of our ministry is greatly appreciated.   Contact Information info@aliantecommunitybaptistchurch.com Website www.aliantecommunitybaptistchurch.com

Two brothers who were closely connected to Pablo joined S2S Books for a conversation about his life, ministry and books. As you will hear, Pablo lived his life to the fullest and many were brought to the faith through his life, however, even with his passing, it can be said as the Hebrew writer said of Abel, “he being dead still speaks.” May God be gloried through this conversation.Pablo Yoder has dedicated his life to the furtherance of the kingdom of God. For the past twenty-seven years, he has worked among the Nicaraguan people to bring a message of Jesus' love.He has been the author of numerous books, a testament to his wide expertise and passions. His books range from his love of nature such as “The Work of Thy Fingers,” biographical sketches such as “Unconditional Surrender,” to devotionals such as “Footsteps of Christ.”On August 15, 2022, he was diagnosed with stage-four kidney cancer, and passed away on October 14, 2022. His latest work, “Soul Food,” was published in 2025.This interview is with Pablo's brother, Mark Yoder, and Duane Nisly, Pablo's brother-in-law and co-laborer in the Gospel in the churches in Nicaragua and Costa Rico.https://strengthtostrength.org/soul-food/

God invites us to be an influencer, like St. John the Baptist, pointing others to Christ.  (Christ the Lord  -Sarah Hart)The homilies of Msgr. Stephen J. AvilaPastor, St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth, MAThanks for listening! May God's Word find a home in you.

You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) “I'm resolved to become a man of my word.” That's what he told me, and I said, “That's great! I have one piece of advice for you.” “What's that?” he said. “Say less.” He laughed, probably because he knows he's a big talker! Big talkers often have a problem keeping their word. The more you say, the harder it is to keep track of it all. So here is one huge piece of advice if you want to do better at keeping your word. Say less. In Matthew 5:37 Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ‘No' be ‘No.' Anything more than this comes from evil.” In other words…stop babbling! James 5:12 also says to let your yes be yes and your no be no, then adds, “…lest you fall into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 5:4 talks about the importance of keeping your word, and it says, “…for God has no pleasure in fools.” Do you ever add things to your words like, “I will, I promise”? Or worse, “I swear to God.” Listen, you should never have to add anything like that to your words, because your word alone says it all. If you have to add to it, you are already ruined. They don't believe you, and you don't believe you. And God has no pleasure in fools. So one way to do better at keeping your word is: say less. If you say less, you will commit to fewer things, making it much more likely that you will actually do all the things you say you will do. Fewer things are easier to remember. Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, sin is unavoidable.” The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. It's like a water tap. Open it a little and you have complete control of it. You can fill a cup perfectly to the top and not spill a drop. That's like keeping your word perfectly. You have it under control. But open up that water tap all the way and you lose control. And for some people, their mouth is like a loose fire hose! Have you ever seen a loose fire hose that is out of control? It's flopping here and there and if you get near it you are going to get hurt. And if you get near someone whose mouth is a firehose…you are going to get hurt. And if YOUR mouth is the firehose, you are going to hurt people, and you probably already know that full well. Psalm 141:3 is a very powerful prayer, and it's so good I'm going to give it to you from multiple translations. The King James says, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” The New King James says, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth…” The NLT says, “Take control of what I say, O LORD…” This is a wonderful goal, to get your mouth under control. You want to become a man or a woman of your word. When you say something, people can count on it. And here is one major tip for keeping your word. Say less. May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.

Episode 257How We Re-Parent OurselvesSensers! So there's cliche statement that some women of today love to utter…”once I meet a man who is masculine then I'll show my feminine/softer side of my personality” or some shit like that. Granted we as a society hear this but what is the actual possibility of this coming true to life? Believe it or not, I believe that it can happen. Let's talk about it!So if you were ever born on this earth in America, there's a strong chance that you had some form of trauma, however, after a certain point…blaming your parents/family for it becomes outdated and then accountability for rehabilitation comes into play. So what are you going to do to aide in your own healing? Yes you are not responsible for what happened to you, but we can agree that we are responsible for how we interpret the pain, our thoughts on the action, and how we're going to over come this.“Love conquers all…” One would love to believe this statement from fairy tales and Disney stories but I believe it's not that simple. Those of us who have been around you humans for sometime learn that it takes more than love to make a relationship, be with a mate, family, or friend to last the test of time. Peep my perspective here!May God and His Universe remove any negative energy you may have stored from reading this. If you dig the episode, click, like, and share on your page. Help build the tribe of healing

Know this: God always has a next step for us. Until we see Jesus in glory, God is not finished with us. This work of ongoing spiritual growth and development is called sanctification.Main Points:1. The basic meaning of "sanctify" is to set apart to God, for His use. This work of “setting us apart” is the ongoing spiritual growth that makes you and me more like Jesus.2. Sanctification is the work of God in our lives to call us away from sin, ungodliness, and worldliness, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, enable us to live holy and righteous lives that reflect Christ.3. Salvation is a momentary act, bringing us from spiritual death to life. It is exclusively God's work. Sanctification is an ongoing process; it is dependent on God's ongoing work in our lives, but it also requires our continuous fight against sin.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Thessalonians 4:3 - “It is God's will that you should be sanctified.”Romans 8:29 - (God is) “conforming us to the image of His Son.”  Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

New Order baptisms? Leo boosts Parolin, downgrades Latin. Freemason Pope? Perpetual papacy? Popes and modesty! IVF kills six for every life it gives. Catholic burial after suicide? Catholics marry by Justice of Peace? Sunday Mass on Saturday? Familism? No compromise with Modernism! 2025 Christmas Appeal : https://www.icaohio.com/christmasappeal This episode was recorded on 12/2/2025. Our Links: http://linkwcb.com/ Please consider making a monetary donation to What Catholics Believe. Father Jenkins remembers all of our benefactors in general during his daily Mass, and he also offers one Mass on the first Sunday of every month specially for all supporters of What Catholics Believe. May God bless you for your generosity! https://www.wcbohio.com/donate Subscribe to our other YouTube channels: ‪@WCBHighlights‬ ‪@WCBHolyMassLivestream‬ May God bless you all!

Host: Steve Macchia, Co-host: Matt Scott "Simplicity? It goes against the grain of our society. We're needing to make a concious choice to say no to the excess and to the busyness." - Steve Macchia How is it that the most wonderful time of the year often draws us into excess and exhaustion? Tune into the first episode of Season 37 as Steve Macchia and Matt Scott explore the posture and practice of simplicity. May God grant you rest and renewal this season as you choose the most important things to give yourself to.  Also, here's your reflection guide. Set aside some spacious and unhurried time to prayerfully consider how you might embrace simplicity this Advent season.   Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net.  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Romans 5-8 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where we gather together each day to journey through the Scriptures and warm our hearts by the fires of God's love. On this very first day of December, your host Hunter invites you to reflect on how far we've come this year as we near the completion of reading the entire Bible together. In today's episode, Hunter guides us through Romans chapters 5 to 8, exploring profound truths about grace, hope, and freedom found in Christ. We'll be reminded that our faith isn't about tallying pages read, but about encountering Jesus—the very heart and purpose of God's Word. Together, we'll consider the depth of our human need, the purpose of the law, and the unparalleled gift of God's inseparable love. Take a moment to breathe, pray, and remember: you are loved. Join us as we continue this journey, encourage one another, and let God's joy be our strength. TODAY'S DEVOTION: We are so far from home. All of humanity is lost. It was lost in the garden—lost to the self, lost to sin, lost because of Satan, lost because of a lie. We are so very lost, far more lost than we ever knew. That is why God has given us the law. Sin is so deceptive that it minimizes our plight. We are blind to how lost we are, but the law opens our eyes and shows us just how far from home we truly are. God gave us his word to open our eyes, to prepare us to see and understand the living Word—the Logos, the incarnate Son of God. He is the telos—the point, the purpose, the complete exposition of who God is and who we are in God. Humanity wasn't made for the law. The law was made for us. Humanity was made for God. The law isn't the point—God is the point. Our life in God is what Jesus has come to demonstrate and to make possible for everyone. My prayer is that I will see the blessing of the law, its intent and purpose, and that I will let the law point me to the one I was made for: Jesus. He is the telos. He is the purpose and the point. He has come to reveal himself to you and to the whole world, that we might be set free, that we might be found, that we might come home. May God open our eyes to see him. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family: my wife, my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: And now let us pray. Lord of heaven and earth, you have awakened us in your mercy once more. Still our anxious minds, quiet our striving hearts, and help us to rest in the knowledge that we are held by you. May we walk in step with your spirit today—not ahead, not behind, but beside you in trust and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God of all peoples, you formed every soul in your image and breathed life into every heart. Open the eyes of the nations, soften hearts grown cold, and teach us to live as neighbors and friends. Let your spirit move in power, renew the face of the earth, and usher in your reign of peace. Amen. And now, Lord, let me be a bearer of your peace. Where voices divide, let me speak grace. Where fear takes root, let me plant trust. Where the world rushes on, let me walk with you. May I seek not to climb, but to kneel; not to win, but to love; not to grasp, but to give. For it is in emptying that we are filled, in surrender that we are strengthened, and in union with you that we find our truest joy. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Welcome to Real Life... Church for Everyone. As we gather this week both in-person and remotely, join us, with Pastor Jim Miller and today's message entitled, "Holy Night." TODAY'S MESSAGE " The prophet Isaiah foretold a coming Messiah who would be born of a virgin, suffer for his people, and initiate a kingdom that would last forever. Today, we look at the calling of the prophet and what it means for us when we listen for God's voice." WE WELCOME YOU... ...each week, join us via our Sunday Sermon podcast, on online broadcast on Facebook & YouTube every Sunday morning, or in person at Real Life | LA. Visit reallife.la to learn more, request prayer, or to connect directly with someone at Real Life. May God bless you in miraculous ways today!

Hello and welcome to the program Retornando a la Palabra. In today's sermon originally recorded on June 2, 2013, we listen to the founding pastor of Centro Cristiano Internacíonal, Pastor German Ballesteros. I'd like to encourage you to pull out your bible and continue listening to today's sermon.        We hope this message has encouraged you to seek the voice of God. We encourage you to discover the nature of God through his word the Bible. If you'd like to download this episode or share with someone you know remember you can do so by subscribing to the podcast which you can find by searching retornando a la palabra or ccichurchsa on your favorite podcast listening device.Thank you again for spending this time with us and until next time we'd like to leave you with a quote from our founding Pastor the late Pastor German Ballesteros, “Cambia tu mundo con Cristo en tu corazón.” May God bless you.    

We hope you are blessed listening to our podcast and we would love to hear from you. If you have a prayer request, please send to our page or write us a letter. Address is Fellowship Temple Church 300 Weldon Ave Madisonville, Ky. 43431. We would love to hear from you. We are on Facebook on Saturday nights and Sundays during our weekly service. Thanks so much for listening and May God bless you! Bro. David Rickard singing"Thank God for the Preacher"

Encounter God in 2025, Sundays at Viewpoint Church.May God stir up our hearts to hear his voice through the pages of Scripture today. And may we align our hearts with His as we read the pages together as a family.As you sit down to read the Word daily, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it. Then join us as we walk daily together through the pages that will change our lives! ------------------------------------------ Whether this is your first time with us or you have been watching for a while, we would love to connect with you! https://www.viewpointchurch.org/connectWe would be honored to pray for you or someone you know. Our team prays for all the prayer requests we receive on a regular basis. https://www.viewpointchurch.org/prayer------------------------------------------STAY CONNECTED!➜ Website: https://www.viewpointchurch.org➜ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viewpointchurch➜ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ViewpointChurch

Episode 256 How a Man RepelsSensers! Surprises…and by surpirise simply meaning shit that comes up in our lives that we didn't necessarily anticipate becoming an adult. I think its dope if some of us were able to achieve the goals we set for ourselves prior to becoming an adult….BUT for some of us, we had to respond to the Draw Four Card we were dealt when life Life'd the shit out of us. Many failures towards success and a story to tell in the process.What does life mean to you? Something we ask ourselves in our head probably when inebriated but a legitimate question to ponder on as we go through each day. What gives life meaning for me? Does it have to have a meaning at all? I firmly believe in my life's meaning with the way things have transpired over the course of it to present day.I am obviously not a woman to truly say what's deemed attractive and or unattractive but I have my strong convictions on the trials and errors I've committed in my dating experiences that I believe some ladies would agree. Fellas, know the difference between a woman who loves versus a woman who's attracted to you, it doesn't equal out at all times. Let's talk about what I mean by this bold statement.May God and His Universe remove any negative energy you may have stored from reading this. If you dig the episode, click, like, and share on your page. Help build the tribe of healing

In this 4 week Advent series, Fr Steve will develop the theme of God's Light as we prepare for the Coming of Christ. There is no life without light and there is no light without God.  (Christ the King - Sara Hart)The homilies of Msgr. Stephen J. AvilaPastor, St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family Parish, Falmouth, MAThanks for listening! May God's Word find a home in you.

Am I Catholic? Adopting IVF children? Why postpone Baptism? Most prayers are now! Does Vat-2 put government over Church? Is adultery still a sin? Labubu craze? Leo XIV priming for world religion? AI evil? Advent in Catholic home? The Trump Show: no political solution for sin! This episode was recorded on 11/26/2025. Our Links: http://linkwcb.com/ Please consider making a monetary donation to What Catholics Believe. Father Jenkins remembers all of our benefactors in general during his daily Mass, and he also offers one Mass on the first Sunday of every month specially for all supporters of What Catholics Believe. May God bless you for your generosity! https://www.wcbohio.com/donate Subscribe to our other YouTube channels: ‪@WCBHighlights‬ ‪@WCBHolyMassLivestream‬ May God bless you all!

The Mother of God told Ramprasad, "Never allow the world's opinion to dim the light of non-duality, nor draw you away even subtly from Mother's wonderful intimacy." That's what you're feeling right now.And as you go out into the seeming duality,as long as you're feeling this intimacy,as long as you're feeling Her holding you up,as long as you're hearing Her Silence, feeling Her Prayer,doors will open where you didn't expect them to be,opportunities will come that you couldn't have imagined.You'll see that you've figured it out like you always do,like you always will.And you'll keep this receipt,and you'll never worry again.I Love YouI Am Younik nik Support the show:▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings__________________________________________"You're gonna figure it out like you always do." - @acupof.selflove via IG "Do not worry about anything, my child.Worry will only make you sick.If you exist within the Light of the Faith that only God exists then there will be no worry for you.There will only be God.Do not worry my child.The path of the world is difficult the path of God is very easy.If you take one step towards God, then He will take a thousand steps towards you.It is my prayer that you come to know that only God existsThat is my prayer.May you come to know Him, my childMay you receive His Grace. May God protect all of us. Amin!" - M.R.BAWA MUHAIYADDEEN"It was God who called you. It was God who gave you purpose. It was God who planted and watered that desire in your heart. It was God who opened that door for you. It was God who gave you those talents. It was God who made you good at that skill. It was God who provided you with connections, It was God who gave you that hope and strength. It was God all along.It was Him all along. From beginning till the end, it will always be God." -@JoenaSandiego via IG

Send me a Text Message!As we enter the holiday season, I just want to focus for a moment on the word, bless. Psalm 67 uses that word alot. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us." "God our God blesses us. May God bless us still." I'm sure that they aren't the only ones who use the phrase, but a family that used to attend Calvary, the Norwood's are the first ones who I heard use it, --BBB--  "Blessed Beyond Belief." It's not a bad phrase to carry around in our hearts as we make our way through the Christmas season, as we shop and sing and bake and eat...and eat...and eat...It's a good thing to be reminded that in so many ways that don't require a credit card or a receipt, we have been blessed beyond belief.  In this episode and the next I just want to give us a pause for gratitude!

November 23, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. For some, this is a day called Christ the King Sunday, but as I say every year, that is not a title he would have ever claimed.  As we heard in the Gospel, it was a title given to him by the oppressors who crucified him.  No, Jesus would not be happy with this King business I believe, Jesus is Lord is enough, and was for centuries for his followers, as Christ the King wasn't even a thing until 1925.  So, not Christ the King…but it is Advent. And we have practiced the original seven week Advent here at Christ Church since 2016, and as then, it seems so appropriate now, because Advent is about a people walking in darkness, but not a people without hope. The people are in crisis.  Many live in fear.  The country is divided against itself.  People don't know which way to turn, how to take the next step, what to do, because the leaders have failed them.  Certainly, this sounds like it is a time of darkness, and even very familiar – but I am not talking about the events in this country, at least not yet. I am talking about the passage in Jeremiah we heard this morning.  If you were in doubt about whether Advent, from a lectionary point of view, is seven weeks long, just look again at our reading today from Jeremiah and the Canticle. Jeremiah begins with a stern warning from God for those in power that because they have abused their people, because they have not care for their flock, they will meet with God's wrath.  Jeremiah had been speaking about the failure of leaders in the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 bce.  And the passage ends with a very Advent-y verse “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…” God clearly was not happy with the shepherds who failed their sheep. One of the things that our faith, our scriptures, make abundantly clear, is the importance of shepherds.  And being a shepherd is about never forgetting that the focus of your work must always be on the welfare of the sheep. This is true, not only for those who watch over flocks, but for all kinds of leadership positions – from President to parent, from CEOs to church leaders.  We don't have to have lived in the Ancient Near East to understand what can happen when shepherds fail in their work.   We have borne witness to this in our lifetimes. Today, we can certainly understand what it must have felt like back in the days of Jeremiah to be a people divided, scattered, fearful of our leaders, and not sure what tomorrow will bring.  Our own nation's leaders have not only failed to be good shepherds, it is far worse than that.  They have actually turned on the sheep.  Our country – once a beacon of freedom and democracy to the world – has entered into the dark shadows of oligarchy and systemic oppression. The President has put masked troops in the street shooting tear gas and pepper balls into crowds of citizens, and callously throwing people, including clergy, onto the pavement – arresting them for the crime of free speech.  He is responsible for the execution of over 80 people without due process of law through drone strikes on boats in international waters.  He has had thousands detained, including zip tying children (let that sink in), again without due process of law, and even deported many of them to foreign prisons notorious for their human rights abuses.  He has dismissed the concern of over a thousand female victims of a child sex predator to protect his own hide, calling their abuse a hoax.  And his government has stolen affordable access to healthcare for the poor to give money in tax breaks to the rich and powerful. And while some may feel this is less important – it goes to his misogyny and eroding of the freedom of the press – the silencing of those who courageously try to protect the flock from predators.  He told one woman reporter who dared ask him a question, “Quiet Piggy!”  Then he held a meeting at the White House with Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, known for his brutality, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US citizen, by having him chopped up while still alive.  When the President was asked about meeting with him by another reporter (also a woman) he called her “insubordinate.”  Insubordinate – as though he is a king who cannot be questioned.  And to another who asked directly about the murder of Khashoggi, he said “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”  Things happen?  Sure, a guy walks into a bathroom and things like a bone saw just kinda happen to him. Seriously.  You can't make this stuff up.  These are dark days we find ourselves walking in, to be sure. And it could make anyone feel like just pulling the covers over their heads and praying that things will change.  That perhaps new leaders will emerge and make everything better in some distant future.  But, that would be like reading only parts of this passage from Jeremiah – the beginning condemnation of the current leaders in the first two verses, and the promise of a new leader in the final verses, when what we need most to pay attention to today is everything in between. Because if we focus only on the current predicament, and the hope of new leadership, we miss what God intends for us, and it is something so very needed now. After condemning the current leaders, God then says “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock, and…I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.”  God declares “I will raise up shepherds…”  Well, guess where God gets those new shepherds?  From right within the flock!  God intends to call from among the sheep new shepherds. As one commentator noted, “While [Jeremiah] opens with judgment and closes with a promise of a future leader who will save and protect the people, the larger book of Jeremiah does not let us — the people — off the hook as we wait.” So, both sheep and shepherds have responsibilities to the full flock.  Everyone has a role to play, especially when we talk about our lives in Christ.  Some are called to a dedicated shepherd role.  Bishops are the shepherds for a diocese and Deacons assist in that work.  Priests are the shepherds for a parish or other type of faith community.  But what about the laity, the sheep?  Well, that's what we hear about in the Song of Zachariah, the canticle, or for Latin nerds, the Benedictus, chanted so beautifully this morning by our choir.  Zachariah, after the miraculous birth of his son John by his wife Elizabeth, had a lot to say.  Now, you can understand why when we remember what the angel Gabriel did to him before this.  See, back about nine months earlier, Zach was a priest, and it was his turn to serve in the temple.  This was not an every week thing.  There were a lot of them, and so maybe this was his one shot a year.  So, he's back there doing his priestly work, burning some incense, as you do, when the angel Gabe pops in to tell him “Hey Zach!  You and Liz are gonna have a baby!  You will call him John, and he will be a great prophet, who will proclaim the coming of the Lord.” Now, Zach was a bit skeptical, after all, he and Liz were getting on in years.  So, he says “Seriously?  How is that gonna happen?  My wife and I are already on Medicare for crying out loud.”  Gabe was not pleased.  “I am Gabriel – the best messenger God has!  I came all this way to give you this awesome news and you doubt me?”  Knowing priests love to talk, he made Zach mute until the baby was born.  Which tells you that if an angel appears, even in flames like the movie Dogma, keep your doubts to yourself. So, as we know now, Liz did get pregnant.  Her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her, etc.  Fast forward to today's passage, and that baby was just born.  Zach's mouth was opened, and he wasn't holding back.  He told all that had gathered to celebrate this birth what this miracle child would do.  He told them that salvation was coming for all of them, and that John would be called a prophet, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ.  That's a lot right there for this newborn.  But there's more.  John's prophetic witness would shine light “…on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” This prophet John, through his witness in the world, would give light where there is darkness, and guide others toward peace.  John would be a great prophet of God in a time of deep darkness.  He was also an example to us all, most especially now. John, a sheep of God's flock, was made for such a time as he lived.  And you know what? So are you.  So is every single one of you. It is in times such as when John was born, such as what we are experiencing now, that light is needed most within the shadows of despair, longing, fear, and hate.  And that is when God raises up prophets to carry the light of hope and love into a world of darkness and discord.  While it is true that some will do this in particular calls to ordained life – all of us are called to be John – to be the prophets that guide others to the way of peace.  And if you think about it, there is a shepherding quality to prophet work, right? If you are guiding others, you are a shepherd.  And in the church, as all are part of the priesthood of all believers, so each of you is called to be both sheep and shepherd.  That is our life as a part of the flock of God, most especially when the flock – the people of God, and the creation in which we dwell – are in danger, are being hurt, are living in fear.  Folks, is it clear that we are in Advent – both in the church and in the world.  And God is looking for prophets, for shepherds, to listen, to lead, and to love.  Forget looking to someone else to do it – look in the mirror instead. Because God is calling you – here, now. In Advent most of all, we know that in the darkest of times, the light will always come.  But it is up to each of us, following where the Holy Spirit leads, to be that light too – to be Christ's light shining in the world.  And one way we do that is by what we will do here today.  Later in this service, each of you will bring forward food for the those in need and your pledge cards – a commitment to stewardship of this place, out of which we bring the gospel message of hope to a world in need, and in which we are given restoration for our souls as we do this prophetic work of being shepherds in the world.  The food, for both humans and animals, is our commitment to caring for the folk of God. The pledges are a commitment to be the prophet our Creator needs today, and proclaim from the highest hills, and the lowest valleys, that God loves everyone – no exceptions.  They are a pledge to be the shepherd of a people who are lost, alone, or living in fear. They are a step in the longer journey of our life, and in the long history of shepherds and prophets of God. Long ago, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, lamented those called to be shepherds who failed their flock, who failed in God's mission and call for them, and declared that other shepherds would be raised up instead.  And they were to the hope of all creation. Long ago, John was born with a call to prepare the way for the One who would bring light into the world.  Today, we are the ones that God has raised up – born in baptism – not to prepare the way, but to be the way – to guide others, by the light of Christ shining in us and through us, into the path of peace. To be both the sheep of God's pasture, and the shepherd of others.  These are dark and dangerous times, and this will not be easy work.  And, so I want to leave you with these words of a 13th century woman who heard her own call to be a shepherd.  She cast aside all she knew and left the wealthy life of her noble birth to follow Christ.  She was Clare of Assisi, who started the monastic order known as the Poor Clares.  On her deathbed, St. Clare offered this blessing – words that still ring out through the centuries, serving as a reminder that we never do this work alone.  Christ is always our partner in our call.  And so I offer them now to you to take into your heart as you leave here today to be the shepherds, the prophets, who light the way and guide others into the path of peace, the ones God calls for the sake of the world: “Live without fear: your Creator has made you whole, always walks with you, and loves you as a mother. So, follow the good road in peace, and may God's blessing remain with you always.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Rec-001-Sermon-November_23_2025.m4a   The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox             Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge November 23, 2025 Advent 2 (7 Week Advent) – Year C Texts 1st Reading – Jeremiah 23:1-6 Canticle 16 2nd Reading – Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel – Luke 23:33-43   The post “Live Without Fear” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

It's Tuesday, November 25th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  Filling in for Adam McManus I'm Ean Leppin. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Eritrea Persecutes Christians persecution.org reports now eight Christians who have languished in Eritrea prison cells for over 18 years.  The charge — they were following Jesus Christ. Eritrean authorities routinely arrest and imprison Christians in horrific conditions under severe authoritarian rule.   The nation recognizes only four religious groups within its borders: the Tewahedo Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Lutheran churches, and Sunni Islam. All other Christian denominations are unrecognized by the state.  According to a 2025 report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), “as of May 2024, over 350 Christians were imprisoned [in Eritrea].” The report continued, stating that “police at times arrest entire Christian families, including children, during the early morning hours.”  Brazilian Christian Homeschool Conference The Brazilian Christian Homeschool movement is exploding.  2,000 dads, moms, and children  Joao Passeo participated over a 3 day conference — with messages on Biblical Worldview in science and history, Christian education, family discipleship, family economy, God-centered curriculum, and God's order for family, church and state. This was the fourth in the Generations and Worldview sponsored conferences in Brazil — one more way of serving 75,000 homeschoolers throughout the country. Expo organizer, Vinicius Reis had this to say about God's powerful working in the hearts of fathers and mothers throughout Brazil:   VINICIUS: “We are here in the third day, the last day, of our Expo Homeschooling Brazil Conference. We have the mission with this event, to connect those who love and teach their children. And we achieve here, more than 2000 attendees, during these three days, and it was so special... and receiving encouragement to move it and keep moving forward, especially in our discipleship mission for our kids. So, thank you for supporting us and continue praying for us, because despite the challenge, despite the persecution, we will not stop to teach and to love our children. May God bless you and may God bless Brazil too, amen.” Psalm 78 has a message for all Christian parents: "For [the Lord] established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God." Argentina Considering Recognization of Homeschooling And, Argentina is heading towards a complete rewrite of their education law — explicitly recognizing homeschooling and hybrid forms of distance education as legitimate alternatives. If the law passes, parents will be recognized as “the natural and primary agents” of education, and the state's role will be considered subsidiary. The nations' teachers unions have already expressed opposition to the legislation, entitled The Education Freedom Act. G-20 Annual in Johannesburg At least 13 presidents and prime ministers from leading nations showed up at the G-20 annual get together of the world's most powerful men in Johannesburg, South Africa over the weekend.  Nothing substantial was accomplished, besides the issuance of vague statements on climate resilience, peace, stability, the need for debt relief, and global cooperation. The US and Argentina were conspicuously absent from a meeting that involved the UK, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Canada, and Australia.  This was the United States's first absence since the creation of G-20 in 1999 under the Clinton Administration.  According to recent numbers published in the US Government's FY2026 budget, the US contributions to international organizations and UN peacekeeping is dropping by 89% — from $2.45 billion to $264 million. Here is one clear message for G-20 and the world's leaders: "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way." Psalm 2:10  College-Grad Employment Getting Worse College-grad employment is getting worse and worse.  A recent Bloomberg story finds that the percentage of the college-educated making up the unemployment numbers in the US has increased from 12% in 2008 to 25% in 2025.  Young degree-holders are running at a 9.2% unemployment rate. All that to say, the market for college-educate Marxist-activists has cooled quite a bit.  40% of US House of Representatives are Pro-Life Exactly 40% of the US House of Representatives are pro-life and willing to oppose the mail-order abortion pill. Only 174 members signed a letter urging the Trump Administration Department of Health and Human Services to ban the mail-order kill-pill, but still allowing for in-person dispensing of it. 44 Republicans members and the Democrat contingency did not sign the letter. Bitcoin Loses Value Cryptocurrency is still as volatile as ever.  Bitcoin has lost 30% of its value in the last six weeks — that's the third swing exceeding 30% in just a year. Over the same year, gold took a steady 100% increase, without any significant downturns. Wicked Movie Sequel in the Box Office The movie sequel to Wicked received the largest box office opening since Barbie in 2023 — a worldwide record of $226 million. Wicked: For Good is based on a book meant to put both “good” and “bad” witchcraft in a good light. . . .Author, Gregory Maguire. was one of the first persons in America to stage a faux-homosexual marriage in the state of Massachusetts in 2004. The Christian film reviewing organization, Movieguide points out the latest movie advocates fornication in a lesbian context. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, November 25th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Filling in Adam MacManus I'm Ean Leppin.  “Seize the day for Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 119:33–37 (NASB)Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,And I shall observe it to the end.Give me understanding, that I may observe Your lawAnd keep it with all my heart.Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,For I delight in it.Incline my heart to Your testimoniesAnd not to dishonest gain.Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,And revive me in Your ways.I remember exactly where I was when I first read these verses and how a melody immediately came to mind. It became a song for Scripture Songs Volume 2 and you'll hear it at the end of this episode.As I read Psalm 119:33–37 in the NASB, the NIV, and the NLT, something caught my attention: two phrases remain unchanged — “all my heart” and “to the end.”James Boice wrote that “to the end” means without time limit, and “with all my heart” means without reservation.Another phrase stood out too: “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity.” Many translations render it “worthless things.” There really is a war over our eyes—over where we set our gaze. Not every “worthless thing” is sinful, but when comparison or discontent rises in us, those things may be climbing into a place they were never meant to have.Psalm 119:37Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,And revive me in Your ways.May God redirect our gaze, revive our hearts, and help us follow Him—to the end and with all our heart. I'll close with the song, “With All My Heart.”If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time gift, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses themes of abuse and suicidal ideation. Please use caution in considering those listening around you, as well as your own personal triggers. Today on the podcast, I have a powerful conversation with Anne Beiler, who spent years of her life keeping secrets that were never meant to be kept. You may recognize her name from the famous Auntie Anne's pretzels (the best pretzels on earth, by the way!). We spent time unpacking her dark history of abuse, her struggle with secrecy, and the 7 years of struggling with a secret that she was too afraid to share. Even when she felt like she was at her lowest point, and contemplated taking her life, she got the strength to take the first steps toward healing, by using her voice to speak the truth - to shine a light on the darkness, and invite God into the broken places in her life. May God help us to continue shining truth in the darkest places in our lives, and allow His healing work to begin. Tune in to this important episode.  You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch the full episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast Extras: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order Any Day Emotions Today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY!  DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. She is the bestselling author of eight books including ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choosing Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are You Really OK?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soul Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talk To Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DebraFileta.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trigger warning: This podcast discusses themes of abuse and suicidal ideation. Please use caution in considering those listening around you, as well as your own personal triggers. Today on the podcast, I have a powerful conversation with Ann Beiler, who spent years of her life keeping secrets that were never meant to be kept. You may recognize her name from the famous Auntie Ann's pretzels (the best pretzels on earth, by the way!). We spent time unpacking her dark history of abuse, her struggle with secrecy, and the 7 years of struggling with a secret that she was too afraid to share. Even when she felt like she was at her lowest point, and contemplated taking her life, she got the strength to take the first steps toward healing, by using her voice to speak the truth — to shine a light on the darkness, and invite God into the broken places in her life. May God help us to continue shining truth in the darkest places in our lives, and allow His healing work to begin. Tune in to this important episode.  You can also ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠watch the full episode on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Talk To Me: The Debra Fileta Podcast Extras: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Order Any Day Emotions Today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Debra Fileta Counselors Network: Book a counseling session at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get started on your healing journey from the inside out TODAY!  DEBRA FILETA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Debra Fileta Counselors Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. She is the bestselling author of eight books including ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Choosing Marriage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are You Really OK?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RESET⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Soul Care⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Talk To Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where she facilitates on-air authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders. You may also recognize her voice from her appearances on national television and radio, including Better Together, The Kirk Cameron Show, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, and many others. She reaches millions of people each year with the message of mental, emotional, and relational health. Connect with her on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DebraFileta.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices