Podcasts about may god

Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025; May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. This is the most wonderful time of the year, or so we are told by Johnny Mathis and others.  It really is though, even if the turkey didn't thaw out in time, the kids are hyped up on sugar and dreams of Santa Claus, and the in-laws are about to send you to a therapist's couch.  Yet sometimes when we think about Christmas, we get caught up in the Hallmark version of it – the lights, the carols, the cookies, and the gifts, that when we hear the story of that first Christmas, whether here at church or from Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas, it seems so far away from who we are that we lose sight of what it means for us.  But the thing is, this story isn't as foreign to our lived reality as we sometimes make it – and that knowledge helps us to see something we need to know now.  The author of Luke, from where Linus and we get the birth story we usually hear on Christmas Eve, sets the scene for us in the midst of human history – it was when a certain ruler was in charge and had commanded a census of “all the world.” Now, just for context, things were difficult in those days – they were indeed a people who walked in darkness (though the prophet Isaiah was speaking about an earlier time).  The empire's taxes were hard, and most labored for their own food.  Poverty was crushing most of the people, while a small elite profited off of them and lived lavishly.  And there was political unrest caused by an appointed ruler, Herod, a larger than life sort, who the people  viewed with suspicion because of his ties to the empire.  This is the setting into which God chooses to enter, and there is a lot we can all resonate with in it to be sure – but more on that later. Back to the story itself – this census moves Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a journey of nearly 100 miles (with no trains, planes, or automobiles to get them there).  It also likely meant a lot of others were making similar journeys, so as the song goes – there may be No Place Like Home for the holidays, but the traffic really is terrific!  And then there is the problem of trying to find places to stay along the way.  I have to wonder if Joseph and Mary made their place in Nazareth an Air B&B, given all the folks traveling in the opposite direction. At any rate, all that travel must sound familiar to a lot of folks today who stood in long TSA lines, navigated bumper to bumper traffic, or was trying to figure out where to put everybody who made it home for the holidays.  Add to all of that is the fact that Mary is very pregnant!  Lordy – that's gotta be a tough trip. So, back to our Holy Family – they get to Bethlehem, and there is “no room for them in the inn.” Now, that may mean Joe forgot to make reservations (you know that meant a big argument later – right?).  But it wasn't like they had to go to a barn somewhere on the property.  Likely, because other guests already took over the host family's guest rooms, it was sort of like telling them they had to sleep on the old lumpy sofa in the unfinished basement. Homes in those days had a lower level where animals were brought in for the night and in cold weather.  That is where the host family had to send Mary and Joseph.  If you can imagine that for a moment – it means the house was filled with people – all there for the census taking one supposes.  That is a made for  Hallmark crazy time moment for sure, that many of you here likely know far too well.  And for this couple, who already had a lot going on, sleeping among the animals may have been the most peaceful part of their days – a respite from upstairs where perhaps Joe's crazy Uncle Roy was getting into it with Grandma Lucy, who had a bit too much eggnog.  At least the animals aren't likely to break out into a fight over politics.  From the animals point of view though, this was a nightmare. I mean, first this couple comes down, takes over two of their beds of hay, and dang it – then they have a baby (what a noisy mess) and worse – they put that little human on their food in their manger – yuk!  The animals were probably like – What the heck!  And as for the birth, you know that was crazy time at the OK Corral.  Women upstairs likely came down to help, making things a bit crowded; and birth scenes, even for the virtuous like Mary, are typically not quiet events, despite what the hymn says.  Giving birth then, and even today is joyous and noisy.  Sadly, it is also dangerous – for both the mother and the child.  And after all that – shepherds arrive to tell them that angels appeared in the sky and confirming what the angel had said to Mary at the beginning of this journey.  No wonder she pondered it all in her heart – before nodding off for a much needed nap. What a wild family story this probably became over the years, right?  I mean, can you imagine on the 10th Christmas, somebody saying – Hey Joe and Mary, remember that crazy year of the census?  And them saying back “Lordy what a time that was” as Joe grabs another eggnog and Mary chases Jesus and his siblings away from the presents. Seriously though – that was the Luke story.  Filled with very human stress, joy, and a bit of craziness – and all wrapped up in love.  The Matthew story was much less chaotic, but far more dangerous.  Mary was pregnant, but she and Joseph were engaged, not married – which in those days, and in some parts of the world today – means danger for Mary and her unborn child.  In a dream, Joseph is told by an angel not to discard her, but to marry her as planned.  After the baby is born, a few wise people from the East come to their house (with very impractical and odd gifts).  Then, Joseph has another dream where an angel tells him that King Herod is out to kill Jesus.  So ,the Holy Family become refugees.  They flee the danger in their homeland, cross over the border into Egypt, and stay there until Herod dies.  Thankfully for most, this story in Matthew is not as familiar to their Christmas gatherings as the one in the Gospel of Luke.  But it is to many in this country now, who fled from danger in their home countries, often with children and just the clothes on their backs, to come here for safety.  To them, this flight to Egypt is very familiar. So, if we really take in the story we celebrate tonight we may just find a place for ourselves in its familiarity.  Sure, we don't ride donkeys generally (although how cool would that be – well, except not from the donkey's perspective, I suppose).  We don't trudge for miles on all dirt roads (even if in NJ it feels that way), have farm animals on the first floor of our house, or have to travel for our government census (they kinda frown on that). And we don't typically see choirs of angels singing, have shepherds coming over with strange news, people bearing odd gifts knocking on our door, or an awe inspiring astrological phenomenon shining in the sky above (which I can guarantee meant that it was cloudy over New Jersey that first Christmas night, as it always is when there is something cool to see).   No, we don't have any of that on our Christmas to do or see list, but then again, it is not those things that matter anyway.  What makes this birth we celebrate so important to remember is the rest of it.  God chose to enter into the world through relationships of love – the love of parents for their newborn child, of a young couple starting their life together, of family, friends, and neighbors gathering in likely too small a space but somehow making it work.  This birth, that changed the world forever, begins among family relationships that are messy and wonderful all at the same time, and amid moments when we feel exhausted or lonely even in a crowd (as it must have felt for Mary, Joseph, or the shepherds sometimes). It is in the mundane, the mess, the fear, the joy, the hurt, and the longing – the ever day ordinariness and sometimes craziness of human existence – that God comes – choosing to connect heaven and earth in the form of a vulnerable baby, born to world weary parents, in a humble setting, amid a chaotic family gathering, to a people who walked in darkness.  Today we too are a people who walk in darkness – the deep night of bigotry and hate, oppressive governmental leaders, marginalized people, poverty and loneliness, violence and war. And here's the thing, we who live in a land of deep darkness, need to remember most of all this night – Jesus is being born now too, and we have a part to play in that birth.  Long ago, God chose Mary because God knew she had the courage to say Yes to that call, the faith to trust the Holy Spirit even when things got crazy, and the will to bring Jesus into a world in need.  And God chooses us to do the same now.  You, and you, and you, all you-all, are not spectators this night.  You are a part of the story.  The story that is happening now. You are the one God now calls to bring the light of Christ's love into the darkness.  You are the one that needs to trust the Holy Spirit amid the insanity of this time and place. You may not see angels flying around in the sky, or shepherds knocking at your door in the middle of the night, but you are meant to be a part of this story nonetheless.  You are meant to be Mary – bearers of Christ to those who walk in darkness. We all are. And perhaps Mary's need to ponder all of it in her heart makes a lot more sense to us now.  It is a lot to think about – more than whether the tie you got for your dad was a good idea or not.  Because while the gifts we give at Christmas will someday be put away and forgotten, this gift – to be Mary – to carry Christ's light within us, give birth to his love for the sake of others, nurture him in the world – it is the gift of a lifetime – and the call we all have.  And perhaps like her, we may be wondering: Why me? Why would God come into this crazy world at this time and place? Will I be able to do what God is asking me to do, and will it really matter? And when you need to ponder that, come here among your parish family, where you will be given what you need for your life journey, just as Mary was so long ago.  Remember that when she became pregnant as the Archangel Gabriel told her, she traveled to her cousin Elizabeth, who affirmed her call.  Here is where you too can take a moment from the busy-ness of the world to come among family and be affirmed about your life and in your call. The story of Christmas – of the birth of Jesus – is our story – of God active in our lives and in the world.  It reminds us that mystery and wonder abounds even in chaos, that healing and restoration come with humility and grace, that God's great love appears in the most unexpected ways, and bursts into our ordinary lives to bring freedom and justice for the oppressed, and to proclaim for all to hear that everyone is a beloved child of God – no exceptions.  And perhaps most especially, that God chooses us to help bring this all about. God chooses us to be Mary – bearers of Christ into the world. So let us all have a Mary Christmas!  M-A-R-Y and the other kind too. For then we may one day truly see peace on earth, and good will for all.  Merry Christmas Everyone! 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-Christmas_Eve-11pm.m4a The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve 1st Reading – Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 2nd Reading – Titus 2:11-14 Gospel – Luke 2:1-20     The post “Ponder This” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

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! Born again believers singing"Almighty God"

Emmanuel or Jesus? St John survived martyrdom? Long-suffering? Daily indulgences? Saved without Penance? 1994 Assisi Conclave: "Pope" Linus II? Angels of Christmas. This episode was recorded on 12/22/2025. 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!

When we place the Christ child in the center of our families, everyone's life is transformed.   (Holy Family - Danielle Rose and Peter Kolar St Francis de Sales 7pm Sunday Choir )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 28 - 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 20; Nehemiah 10-11; and Proverbs 29. 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 fundamental reality of our lives is a spiritual one. According to Ephesians we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this age, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. As I have come to realize the role these battles were playing in my own life and how to fight in these battles my life has changed for the better. On this episode I share with you a talk I recently gave at Bethel Church's Fall Meetings in Frontier, Saskatchewan.Merry Christmas! Thanks so much for tuning in throughout 2025. May God bring you Grace and Peace in 2026.

December 27 - 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 19; Nehemiah 8-9; and Proverbs 28. 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.

Merry Christmas!  Praying YOU receive the gift of new life this Christmas.  Be sure to subscribe to Mamas in Spirit wherever you listen to podcasts and follow on Instagram and/or Facebook. Announcements of new Mamas' projects in 2026! You are a gift to our beloved community. May God bless and keep you, always!

Pastor Steven preaches from Titus 2:11-14Let 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 26 - 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 18; Nehemiah 6-7; and Proverbs 27. 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.

Merry Christmas Church! Every year come Christmas time, it's natural to look at the story of the nativity and the characters who played their part around it. In this message by Pastor Dave, we look at Mary's bold faith and how she wasn't just a listener of God's Word but a believer and role model for us. May God bless you as He did Mary and cause you to be a blessing to all.

Merry Christmas everyone! As I close down the year and celebrate the 5th anniversary of this podcast, I want to leave you all with a special message. May God bless you and your family as we head into 2026!

On this Christmas Day, open your hearts to the light of Christ so that He may be born in you! Merry Christmas!  (Light Up Our Life- Angie Killian) 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.

Have a Social with the Saints! Receive encouragement for your daily life as we meet & discuss this chain-smoking misfit who became a heroic martyr during the Second World War. Who was she? Be encouraged and inspired in your daily life! Get a free quote card and pamphlet of Bl Sára Salkaházi here. We invite you to share them with friends and family. We want to hear from you! What struck you about Bl Sára Salkaházi? Please send us your feedback to join the conversation by email at ministry@pilgrimcenterofhope.org The official Socials with the Saints theme song is "Hero's Ascent" by Chris Haugen. Used with permission. Thanks for listening, and remember, you are never alone in the communion of the saints! May God bless you. Help us spread hope!

10 Things You Should Stop Doing as Christian - Part 2 | The Catholic Warriors Talk Show10 Things You Should Stop Doing as Christian - Part 2 | The Catholic Warriors Talk Show - https://youtu.be/COcZdnKdY5E December. 23rd, 2025Please subscribe to my channel for Christ glorifying His name and kingdom! May God bless you always! Come and join me in this journey being True Warriors of Christ with me closer to God! We are here to have wonderful experiences of Christ be shared to all with wonderful topics of God to encourage us to grow in faith closer to Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Mother Mary, and God, our Father.#CatholicPodcaster#Catholicinfluencer #CatholicChurch#Catholic#faith#spiritualgrowth

December 25 - 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 17; Nehemiah 4-5; and Proverbs 26. 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.

December 24 - 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 16; Nehemiah 1-3; and Proverbs 25. 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.

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, "Not What They Thought." TODAY'S MESSAGE " Hundreds of years before Christ was born, the prophets foretold a Messiah. They saw him coming, and promised a king who would be like no other. In the same way that they prepared for him, we do as well." 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 December 22, 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! Sis. Bev Petitt  Instrumental "Silent Night"

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 Romans 1:1-7 and Matthew 1:18-25Let 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.

Title:  Glory and Peace Text: Luke 2:10-14 Today's Takeaway – See and rejoice in the Bethlehem baby's two-pronged purpose 1. His Heavenly Purpose – To maximize God's glory 2. His Earthly Purpose – To broker man's peace May God's glory be high and man's peace be wide through the Savior this Christmas!

Episode 259How We Feel Disrespected Sensers! Have you ever just felt in your mind whether it was justified or not that you were unworthy? So when those thoughts arise, how do you go about handling them as they occur? Do we go to vices? Do we sit with those thoughts? Do we project onto those around us? What gets the happy feeling going inside you? When life gets challenging as we know it to be a constant battle, what do you do to generate the happy chemicals inside your mind to shift your mood in an upward spiral? Is it a song? Is it a touch? Is it a thought? Is it an accomplishment? Fellas, have you ever been in a toxic situation with a woman and found yourself tolerating behavior you wouldn't want to see your son or father face? How did you handle that level of disrespect? How much of the disrespect did you enable for it to prolong as long as it did in your life? What do you do when you feel that you've been disrespected by a woman? 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

Merry Christmas To All! Enjoy this live holiday performance of "The Gift", a Northeast Pennsylvania tradition that has finally gone back outdoors after a several year hiatus! Put on by volunteers at the Back Mountain's Harvest Church, this musical extravaganza has touched the hearts and minds of thousands here in the region. I sincerely hope that this rendition of The Christmas Story blesses you and yours! If you have been blessed by this performance, please consider making a donation to Harvest Church at the link provided below. Peace on Earth, and Good Will toward men. May God bless you all this holiday season! Cheers!Find more information about Harvest Church here:https://www.harvestnepa.orgMake a donation to Harvest Church here:https://www.harvestnepa.org/givingThe video was filmed and edited by Erik Vince. Special thanks to him. Erik has a YouTube channel devoted to railroad history and the appreciation of trains. If this interests you, check out his channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@ErikVinceAs always, you can find me at:www.alchemicaltechrevolution.com

As we draw closer to Christmas, let us open our hearts to allow the Light of Christ in!  (O Come O Come Emmanuel) 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.

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.

Hello and welcome to the program Retornando a la Palabra. In today's sermon originally recorded on December 15, 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.    

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"

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 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.

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.

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”

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

"Obeying the King: Wisdom, Authority, and Your Limitations (Ecclesiastes 8:1–9)In this sermon we explore Ecclesiastes 8:1–9 to uncover a profound biblical truth:

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!

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/

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

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  

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