Podcasts about maybe god

Though We Stumble, We Shall Not FallPsalm 37:23-24 “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way;  though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”I have read that verse several times today and yet this time when I read it I got the image of toddler walking along the sidewalk while he is holding his daddy's hand.  When we are just learning to walk we definitely stumble and sometimes we even fall.  We fall because we are learning something new.  We fall because we are letting go of the safety of the wall, couch, or coffee table and venture out on our own.  It is not a bad thing when we fall as long as we get back up and try again.  It is expected to take time to learn something new.  It is part of the journey.  If we never let go of that safety net we will never learn what we are capable of.  What I love about this verse though is that it says we will stumble, but we will not fall because God hold us by the hand.  God allows us to venture out into the unknown, but we are not alone.  He doesn't send us out alone, he holds our hand.  He allows us to stumble, but we don't fall headfirst into the ground.  We stumble and He steadies us.  To me that is a great image.  The beginning line of this verse says, “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way.”  I found the word “when” an interesting addition to this sentence.  I was wondering why it was there.  I know the words in the Bible are chosen carefully so what does that first sentence mean?  The first thought that came to me was maybe when our steps are unsteady and weak, we aren't doing what the Lord wants us to do.  Maybe we are like a child venturing out on our own.  We aren't waiting for the Lord to hold our hand, we are just heading out without him.  Have you ever done this? Saw something you wanted and went after it.  You didn't stop to ask God if it was right for you?  You didn't stop to weigh the pros and cons, you didn't really give it much thought at all.  It all seemed too good to be true and so you ran after it.  Yep, me too.  How did it work out for you?  Was it all you thought it would be?  The thought that keeps coming up in my mind is, “Not every opportunity is from God.”  If something feels too good to be true, this is a great time to pause and examine the situation.    I am definitely an optimist so you won't find me raining on your parade.  Maybe it is exactly what you have been praying for.  Maybe God gave this opportunity to you as an answer to your prayers.  God does do amazing things.  Often times God's plan do seem too good to be true.  This is not me telling you if it seems too good to be true it probably is.  What I am saying is if the opportunity is from God He won't mind if you pause to consult Him about it.  He will like it if you take time to pray about it.  Even if that time is 5 minutes.  A job may come up and you may not have a lot of time to consider it, that's ok.  Take a few minutes, catch your breath and ask God what He thinks.  Ask Him for guidance and see what he says, or how you feel about the job after you have talked to God about it.  Have you ever rushed into the perfect opportunity because you thought it was the answer to your prayers and it wasn't?  This can happen when we don't stop and invite God into our decision making.  For instance, we have been praying for more money and then a promotion becomes available.  We decide, without talking to God, this promotion is the answer to all of our prayers.  However, when we get the promotion we find out it has a lot of travel attached to it, or longer hours and now we never get to spend time with our family.  Not every opportunity is from God.  Sometimes the enemy offers us things that seem like what we want but aren't actually good for us.  For instance we want to be rich and powerful and we achieve it and yet we are not happy.  These opportunities, or maybe the desires, might be from the enemy.  We live in a fast paced world and sometimes it seems like we have to do everything so quickly.  We feel as though we don't have 5 minutes to stop and think.  If you don't have time to pause and consult the Lord then I don't believe that opportunity is from the Lord.  I think that is the enemy trying to get you to make decisions based on your feelings instead of your thoughts.  Our feelings can betray us.  When we are acting solely upon our feelings we are letting go of God's hand and telling Him we can walk on our own.  We are telling God we don't need Him.  Our feelings don't have our overall best interest at heart.  Our feelings are based on our temporary happiness.  Their goal is to make us feel good in the moment.  For instance, we might eat some macaroni and cheese for dinner because are feeling sad today and want to feel happy.  However, how is that macaroni and cheese going to make you feel when you no longer fit into your clothing.  We might take a job that seems good and pays a lot of money because we feel scared that we won't have enough money to pay the bills.  However, how much are you going to enjoy that job when you find out you never get to see your family.  Do you see how your feeling can betray you.  The verse says, “Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way;  though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”  When we stop and consult God, ask Him what He wants us to do, invite Him into the situation, our steps are made firm.  When we pause and grab hold of God's hand He will lead us.  This doesn't mean everything will be perfect.  We will still stumble, but we won't fall.  God hold's tight to our hand.  Yes, he allows us to stumble, and that is because when we stumble we learn, when we stumble we become more resilient, when we stumble we learn to lean on Him  more.  However, He does not allow us to fall headlong.  He catches us and sets us on solid ground once again.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we are so grateful that you make firm our steps.  We are grateful you allow us to stumble because that is where we grow and yet you don't allow us to fall.  You are there to catch us.  You hold our hand gently guiding through these uncharted waters.  Lord, we are sorry for all those times when we run off without you and do the things we want to do.  We are sorry for the times when we don't consult you.  We know you know better than we do.  We know your ways are higher than our ways.  Help give us the strength to pause and invite you into our decisions.  Help give us the patience to wait on your timing.  We love you Lord and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus holy name, Amen.  Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  Have a blessed day! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Send us a textHave you ever found yourself standing at the edge of what God is asking — hesitant to step deeper?In Ezekiel 47, the prophet sees a river flowing from the temple — ankle-deep, knee-deep, waist-deep — until it becomes a river so deep it can only be swum in. That river represents the Spirit of God, flowing with healing, life, and restoration.In this episode, I'm sharing what it's looked like in my own life to let go of control and trust God enough to step where I can no longer touch the ground. Because the truth is — full surrender isn't just about faith; it's about healing.Maybe God is inviting you, too, to take one more step. To move from standing in safe, shallow waters to being fully immersed in His presence — where healing begins and life flows again.Let's walk together into the river that makes everything come alive.

Do you remember Tales of the Unexpected? This was a popular series on UK TV between 1979 and 1988. In each episode, everyday folk got caught up in surprising and bizarre stories. Each story ended with a twist. This story from the bible is similar. Rahab, a lowly prostitute, gets involved with hiding two spies from Joshua's Israelite army. She does a deal, involving hanging a crimson ribbon in her window, and the story ends with her and her family being saved from certain death. Maybe God wants to invite each of us into our very own episode of Tale of the Unexpected? In particular, like Rahab, maybe we are sometimes unexpectedly called to protect others? Family. Friends. Colleagues. Strangers.

We are now in the middle of our series, No Longer Strangers. Talk 3, God Has a Family, affirms that we are not strangers from one another. Every single human being has equal dignity, equal identity, and equal inheritance—because we're all children of God. No exception. Even if we look at the world today, there is so much painful inequality. Which makes us think: “Maybe God loves some more than others.” Sadly, inequality is the undeniable mark of the world around us. But Ephesians says this is not God's Plan. In Ephesians 3, Paul gives a summary of everything he's talked about so far and then prays that we'll be able to understand—just a bit more—the greatest mystery of all— God's awesome Love for us. The key message of Talk 3: We are equally loved.

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do Christians have to go through hardship? Well, trials are like God’s gym. In them, we're broken down so we can be built up. Pastor Greg Laurie shares more in his message focused on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Notes: Focus verse - Daniel 3 / James 1 Jesus walking with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through the fiery furnace. Do not despair! You are not alone in your hardship! 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:14Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you. There are different kinds of trials and testings in the life of the Christian.The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.This is clearly shown in the story before us of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up for what was right, even at the risk of losing their own lives. The stand you make today will determine what kind of stand you will make tomorrow. The most important time of our life is the time of our youth.It is when we set our course and habits are developed. The evening of our life is determined by the morning of it,the end from the beginning. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego made a stand in a small area.This is why they had the character and strength to make their stand in a larger one. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were captured along with Daniel and placed as counselors to the king. One night King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream.When he awoke, he called in all the astrologers and magicians. The prophet, Daniel, humbly gave glory to God, and told the king he had dreamed of a giant statue. Daniel 2:47 (NLT)The King said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret." As chapter 3 opens, around 16–20 years have passed.King Nebuchadnezzar has a 90-foot-tall statue erected, covered in gold of himself! The King ordered that everyone gather for a big celebration.They had an orchestra in place and when they played you better bow, or else! The Lord was very clear about that in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:4–5"Do not make idols of any kind; you must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any.” Thousands of Israelites apparently bowed, but not these three.Someone estimated 300,000 people were present. Read Daniel 3:14–18 King Nebuchadnezzar was choosing off God, when he asks,“What god will be able to rescue you?” Nebuchadnezzar had quickly forgotten the God who gave him a dream. Because of his pride, Nebuchadnezzar would soon be brought to his knees. Everybody is a worshipper. The question is not if we worship or not.It’s who we worship. Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego worshipped God, they could not worship the statue. You will end up serving who you worship. Daniel 3:18”Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." A moment at the altar of sexual experimentation can lead to a lifetime of regret. Moments spent worshipping God can lead to a lifetime of service. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were adamant, they were not going to bow. This will happen in the life of every Christian.Sooner or later, you too will be asked to bow before some idol. These boys were facing peer pressure on an epic scale. Despite the fact that everyone in Babylon bowed,Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood up straight. They figured, "Better to burn on earth and bow in Heaven, than to bow on earth, and burn in Hell!” One day, the Disciples came to Jesus, excited that they could cast out demons. Luke 10:20 (NLT)“But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were not sure they would survive this, but they were sure of God’s promises.Daniel 3:17–18 Either God would preserve them, or He would be waiting on the other side. Upon hearing of this insubordination on the part of these three teens, the King flies into a rage. Read Daniel 3:19–25 Nebuchadnezzar said the fourth man looked “like the Son of God!” In this Christophany, Jesus walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego through this fiery furnace. Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Jesus is there with you, each step of the way. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you, even until the end of the world." James 1:2–4When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots. Staying cool, when things get hot. How do you do that? It’s similar to going to the gym and working out. A lot of folks find themselves getting tired and lethargic and say, “I’m just getting old!”Yes, and it maybe you are just out of shape too. Maybe you need to get busy and do something with your faith. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” Trials take our faith from the realm of theory to reality. James 1:3 (NKJV)Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Perseverance! (Greek: Hypomonē) We know about the suffering of Joseph. Psalm 105:18 (NLT)They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. “As he was laid in iron, iron entered his soul.” The very thing you want out of your life may be the thing you need in your life. If you want to grow spiritually, iron must enter your soul. James 1:4 (NKJV)Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. We may pray, “Lord, use me for Your glory! Bless me, Lord!”Then a trial comes. James 1:2 (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,No two experiences are alike. How did they do this?By the decisions and commitments they made years earlier. An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place in our life. 1 John 5:21 (NKJV)Little children, keep yourselves from idols. One day another world leader will come along and demand worship.The bible calls him Antichrist. He too will erect an image and demand worship, placing the image in the temple. Jesus promises to deliver us from this time of tribulation. Revelation 3:10 (NKJV)"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)"Behold, I am coming quickly! Jesus says, ”Behold, I am coming quickly!”Revelation 3:11 Nebuchadnezzar saw God work. Maybe God is trying to get your attention today! Jesus died on the cross for your sin so you could know God. Looking for hope or know someone who is? Join Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade: Hope for America on November 16! Get event information here. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Petia invites you into a deeply honest and vulnerable conversation about purpose, calling, and the way God gently unfolds what we're meant to do. If you've been wrestling with the question “What's my purpose?” — this one is for you. It's not about hustle, performance or having all the answers. It's about resting in what God is already doing, recognising what He's placed in your path, and trusting that He has written the story long before you arrived. Petia shares her own journey—shifting from business coaching to leaning into motherhood, the “aha” moments she's been given, and how what once felt too simple is exactly the gift to step into.   What You'll Learn Why we often over‑complicate our calling when the Bible shows it's simple (James 4:8, Matthew 7:7). What it looks like to let go of control and allow God to guide the next step rather than you trying to piece everything together. How to recognise when something lights you up and flows easily—this is a clue to your gift and calling. Encouragement to ask: “What am I pretending I'm not seeing?” and “What's so obvious I'm overlooking it?” A fresh perspective: your purpose may be big or small right now—but it will feel life‑giving and God‑led. Practical next steps: Listen for the gentle nudges. Trust the timing. Walk with God one step at a time.   Key Verses “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” — James 4:8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7     Why This Matters In a culture of doing, performance and comparison, this conversation offers a breath of fresh faith: God doesn't need our striving. He needs our surrender. He already knows the before, the now and the later. When we partner with Him instead of trying to manufacture everything ourselves, our path becomes clearer—even if the full picture hasn't yet been revealed.     Personal Story Petia was reflecting one morning after her Bible reading and realised: “My coaching background has given me business strategy—but it never felt right for my soul. Now that I'm pregnant and walking through motherhood again, I see what lights me up: helping other women who are walking into motherhood, non‑toxic living, holistic nutrition, podcasting…” She shares how she discovered a “common thread” among her clients: pregnant women, women planning for pregnancy, women wanting to live holistically as mamas. And how that thread felt like God saying: ‘Here. This is it.' She also recounts how at a local church conference she connected with a company helping women with unplanned pregnancies—a clear sign that her path, calling and gifting are aligning.     Action Steps for You Sit quietly today and ask: “What's so obvious in my path I'm ignoring?” Write down what lights you up—what you do easily, what you talk about without being asked. Ask a trusted friend: “What gift do you see in me that I don't recognise yet?” Choose one small step: maybe a short Instagram reel, a reflection prompt, a prayer asking God for clarity. Remember: if all the blessings came right now, could you handle them? Maybe God is saying: “Not yet—let me prepare you.”   Connect With Me Instagram: @Petia or @Made4Impact_Podcast If this episode gave you hope or fresh insight, please share with other women—whether they're believers or exploring faith—so we can bring light and encouragement together.     Leave a Review Your review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify matters! It helps more people find this show and be encouraged. Thank you so much.     Until then, remember: you're not alone. God's with you. He's guiding every step. And your calling is unfolding beautifully. Blessings, Petia Kolibova Burns

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Check out our mission to teach every verse of the Bible on video in what we call Project23. Our text today is Judges 10:3-5. After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon. — Judges 10:3-5 Jair's life doesn't read like an action movie. No armies were defeated. No fiery speeches. Just thirty sons riding thirty donkeys, each governing their town. Honestly? It feels… uneventful and ordinary. But that's the beauty. After Abimelech's bloody chaos, Jair brought something Israel desperately needed—ordinary life. Families could grow. Communities could thrive. Stability took root. That was his legacy. Sometimes the absence of headlines, "ordinary," is the greatest headline of all. We are so addicted to the spectacular. We want to live like our lives are highlight reels. Big promotions. Viral moments. Spiritual mountaintops. But God does some of his best work in the grind of the ordinary. Steady dads who show up after long days of work. Moms who faithfully pray with their kids at bedtime. Men and women who stay the course in marriage, integrity, and worship—when nobody is watching or praising them. That's Jair's story. Faithfulness that never trends, but always lasts. Drama is exciting, but it rarely builds anything lasting. Stability feels boring, but it gives time and space for generations to build and flourish. Maybe God's calling you not to chase that next “big moment,” but to keep showing up faithfully in the small ones. Grinding it out in faithful obedience. So keep grinding, with your family, church, and in your time. Do something "ordinary" today. ASK THIS: Do I crave dramatic moments more than daily faithfulness? Where has God called me to show up steadily, even when it feels unnoticed? How can I reframe “ordinary” as holy ground? Who in my life models Jair-like stability, and how can I thank them? DO THIS: Choose one “ordinary” act of faithfulness today—pray with your kids, send an encouraging text, or serve without credit. Do it as worship, not for applause. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for the gift of ordinary days. Teach me to embrace faithfulness over flash, stability over spectacle, and obedience that honors You even when no one notices. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Faithful."

✨ Join our free masterclass! If you've been working hard, eating “right,” and still feel stuck — join us for the Her Roadmap to Lasting Weight Loss Masterclass on October 28th at 6:00 PM EST. You'll learn how to reframe your why, create balance, and honor God with your health so you can finally see progress that lasts.

Topics: Moses, Coffee Pumpkin, Parent Reminder, Shock Jock, Contentment, Wisdom, Squeaky Shoes BONUS CONTENT: Relationships   Quotes: “You're not going to see a major repentance story by May.” “Maybe God's waiting for us to be weak.” “Time is finite with your kids.”

Did you ever notice this little law of life? Just about the time you get comfortable in a place, the scenery changes. You're all comfy at home as a little child, and you think this is a world you can handle. You just figured out your house and the yard, and suddenly somebody plunges you into this unfamiliar jungle of kindergarten with all these crazy kids in this classroom. And then you get pretty comfortable in elementary school. You say, "Hey, I've got this figured out. I know how to handle this place." And no sooner do you get on top of that, and they plunge you into the middle school or junior high. Then there's high school. Just about the time you're really confident in junior high, boom, you're in the huge world of high school. And then after that you're plunged into college or the working world, and you think, "Well, I think I've got college figured out." Hello? Now you are plunged into life! Of course, parents get to go through all those new beginnings with their kids. Being grown up doesn't mean you're beyond those "shake ups" that are caused by new beginnings. No, you might be staring at a new beginning right now. Well, I've got news for you! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "When You're Moving From Rest to Risk." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Exodus 33. Let me set the stage for you a little bit. Moses and his people are at Sinai. At one point, this very imposing mountain out in the wilderness had been a new beginning place for them. They left Egypt, and this is where God asks them to park for a while. They've met the Lord there. But by now Sinai, which maybe once looked new and dangerous, has become the easy, familiar, comfortable place. It's the place where they've had a lot of encounters with the Lord actually. In chapter 33 verse 1, it comes as a shock perhaps when the Lord says to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought out of Egypt, and go to the land I promised you." Leave this place, this safe place, this familiar place? To something better, but it's something different, something unknown, something risky. Can you relate at all? Maybe God seems to be saying to you, "It's time to move on. You're on the edge of change right now in your life." A new beginning can be triggered by a lot of things - maybe a change at work, a change in your family, maybe in your health, a graduation, retirement, an accident. Well, here's Moses on the edge of something new. He's nervous...and maybe so are you. And God has a word for him. In fact when Moses says, "Teach me Your ways" in Exodus 33:13, we then get God's answer to him. And our word for today from the Word of God, Exodus 33:14 - "The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" The scenery changes, the cast changes, the location changes, the script changes, but the Director is the same. The presence is what makes the risk not really risky. His presence is what made this place bearable and beautiful. It's the same in the next place. He's the same in the next stage of your life - in the next season. That's the important thing. He will not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I want you to imagine Jesus now, standing in front of you, looking you in the eye, and you're standing together in front of that new thing. He puts a hand on your shoulders, grips you tightly and He says these words, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." No matter what the risk, no matter what the change you're facing, isn't that enough to go on?

Have you ever looked back and felt the sting of a missed opportunity? In Missed Opportunities and Growth, Vivian Bricker reflects on Ephesians 5:15-17 and reminds us that while fear can cause us to step back from God-given opportunities, His grace still leads us to growth. Even when we stumble, God redeems our regrets and uses them to strengthen our walk with Him. Highlights Ephesians 5:15-17 calls us to live wisely and make the most of every opportunity. Fear often blocks us from stepping into new seasons of growth. Missed opportunities can lead to regret—but also reflection and transformation. God provides continual chances to grow in wisdom, courage, and faith. Learning from setbacks prepares us for future opportunities aligned with His will. Join the Conversation Have you missed an opportunity God placed in your path? How did He use that moment to help you grow? Share your story and encourage others to walk in wisdom and courage. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #FaithAndOpportunities #GodRedeemsRegret #WalkInWisdom to join the conversation.

Send me a Text Message- please include your contact information so I can respondThis episode is different. It's tender. It's raw. And it's something I feel deeply called to share.A grieving parent recently whispered to me, “Maybe God took my child because I strayed.” That sentence — that pain — has echoed in my heart ever since.In this special episode, I speak directly to that voice inside so many of us… the one shaped by fear-based theology, wondering if loss is somehow our fault. Wondering if we're being punished. Wondering if God is angry.We explore the lies that grief can trigger — and the deeper truths that can begin to set us free.You'll hear about soul paths, spiritual guilt, parental love, and what it really means to believe in a loving God. If you've ever carried the weight of “what if” in your loss — or walked beside someone who has — this is for you.

Maybe God is exaggerating about Heaven....Support the show

In business and in life, sometimes things don't go as we planned. Sometimes, our plans are completely derailed. In this episode of the #DoorGrowShow, property management growth experts Jason and Sarah Hull share a recent experience where they ended up in the right place at the right time and discuss the importance of being able to trust the process. You'll Learn [01:27] A Sudden Vet Visit Becomes An Unexpected Lesson [08:20] When the Plan is Derailed [16:30] Being in The Right Place at the Right Time [23:21] Trusting the Process When Things Don't Go as Planned Quotables “In business, things are always changing.” “Things might derail us, but that doesn't mean that it has to be a worse outcome just because it didn't go the way that you wanted.” “A lot of times it's not the business stuff that derails us. It's everything else outside of business.” Resources DoorGrow and Scale Mastermind DoorGrow Academy DoorGrow on YouTube DoorGrowClub DoorGrowLive Transcript Jason & Sarah Hull (00:00) In business, things are always changing. Things might derail us, but that doesn't mean that it's going to has to be a worse outcome just because it didn't go the way that you wanted.   All right, we are Jason and Sarah Hull, the owners of DoorGrow, the world's leading and most comprehensive coaching and consulting firm for long-term residential property management entrepreneurs. For over a decade and a half, we have brought innovative strategies and optimization to the property management industry. At DoorGrow, we have spoken to thousands of property management business owners, coached, consulted, and cleaned up hundreds of businesses.   helping them add doors, improve pricing, increase profit, simplify operations, and build and replace teams. We are like Bar Rescue for property managers. In fact, we have cleaned up and rebranded over 300 businesses, and we run the leading property management mastermind with more video testimonials and reviews than any other coach or consultant in the industry. At DoorGrow, we believe that good property managers can change the world.   and that property management is the ultimate high trust gateway to real estate deals, relationships and residual income at DoorGrow. We are on a mission to transform property management, business owners and their businesses. We want to transform the industry, eliminate the BS, build awareness, change perception, expand the market and help the best property management entrepreneurs win. now let's get into the show. OK, so we were up way too late last night.   And it wasn't for any really exciting reason. It was because of dogs. So. Do you want to tell the story? Yeah, sure. So you start last night, we were about to settle down and we were going to watch something on Netflix and my dog, my biggest dog, Parker, he is he's our pit bull. Well, he's our pure red pit bull. And he's kind of scratching and pawing at the couch.   telling Jason he wants something. So Jason goes over, pulls it out. And we have these, they're water buffalo horns. Natural, like real water buffalo horns that they chew on. And there was a, how big was it? Like this big? Yeah, I don't know. Maybe like two by three inches kind of a thing. So little last piece of it and Parker wanted it. I got up.   Went to the bathroom. I come out. It's in pieces on the floor. So I did not want him to eat that. So I said, no, no, no, give me that. And he did not want to give it to me. So I took the remaining pieces off of the floor and I figured I would bribe him with a treat. I was pretty sure he swallowed. And at least some of it was kind of dark. Yeah. So pretty sure he swallowed some of it.   And I went, okay, I don't wanna play this game. I've played this game several times. It's not fun. I'm just gonna induce vomiting and then we'll get it out of him and we'll go on with our night. So we do this mixture of hydrogen peroxide and I some vanilla ice cream.   No vomit. So I did another batch of that. No vomit. I did a third batch of that. No vomit. And now I'm starting to panic because it's been about what? 15 minutes at that point. Maybe 20. Maybe 20. And I'm going, I'm panicking. I'm going, I have never given a dog hydrogen peroxide and they didn't vomit. I don't understand what to do. So he had looked up online and he said, okay, well.   Walking I guess will help stimulate that so I went okay. So we walked him down to the end of the block. We came back. No vomit we got into the house as soon as we got into the house, then he vomited twice And some of the pieces had come out, but I was quite large. Yeah. Yeah, I know I don't think they would have passed through a system. So it was a good thing that we did that. Yeah, I know so then I I felt like what if there's more in there because I just don't I don't know   And I get, I get really nervous about that. So we were thinking that most of it kind of came out. I thought maybe there was a little bit left, but wasn't quite sure. Didn't want to induce vomiting again, especially after that much time had passed. It's, it's, it's not going to be good at that point. So we were sitting on the couch. We were kind of keeping an eye on him. He was drinking some water, but then he started kind of drooling.   and that's not a good sign, I went, okay, we're going to the vet. So we went to the emergency room vet. We got there around 11 o'clock.   Okay. Thinking they would get him right in because it's an emergency. Yeah. And they just had a crazy night at this place. Such a sad night for them. So we got there. We drove my Chevy Tahoe, not my cyber truck. Yeah. Because that's the vehicle we usually drive if we're putting the dogs in it, because, know, who knows, maybe the dogs scratch stuff or puke or whatever. So we drove the Tahoe and   We get there and they wouldn't see us. And there's kind of a timeline in Sarah's mind. Well, no, you look it It says pretty much about two hours from when it goes to the stomach into, I think it's called the pyloric valve. You can quote me on that. But then it goes into the intestine. If it goes into the intestine, we're F'd because it's not going to pass through the intestine. I can tell you that for sure.   And once it's in there, you can't get it. It's not like it can regurgitate back out into the stomach. It's in there, it's done. So now your option is surgery or death. Ask me how I know. Been there, done that. Yeah, you had a dog have this issue. Two dogs. Two. Two dogs eating things they shouldn't eat. Yeah. So I'm trying to make sure we can get, if there is something in there, I just want to check and see. Don't even know. Maybe there's something in there. Maybe there's not.   But if there's something in there, I want to get it before it gets into the intestine Yeah, so by the time we got there it already been at least what an hour and a half Yeah Since the original incident so we don't know if there's still something in him and we get there and then we're sitting in the waiting room and there's a Lot of stuff happening. I guess there's just a lot of people ahead of us to have some serious Issues with their pets and so we're waiting   Eventually I go up and you were freaking out. You're like, we're nearing the deadline. I'm counting down. I'm going, okay, we have 20 minutes left. So I go up and I just say, is there any way we can rush this along or is there another place we can go? And she hands me a sheet. Here's some other hospitals in the area. This one's 20 minutes away. It's good. This one's 30 minutes away. It's good. And I was like, my gosh, it's another 20 and 30 minutes. That puts us past the two hour mark. So I...   Explain this to you brought you the sheet like and you said we might as well just yeah go home So I said well at that point if they cannot get us in here and then we have to go somewhere else either way We're gonna miss the two-hour deadline. So at that point now, it's a gamble Okay, so if it's moving on to his intestine now, we just go okay We keep an eye on him and he's gonna be fine or we keep an eye on him and we come right back here when we need to so   We talked about it, we thought about it, and then we said, okay, let's just head home because if there's nothing they can do at this point, like we missed the window. So let's just head home. Okay. So the story gets kind of interesting from here. So we go out to the car, we get Parker in and I push the button to start the Tahoe and it sort of turns over, but it doesn't start. So the battery must be low.   like never has happened ever with this vehicle. And so we were stuck. We were stuck. Okay. Could not. Yeah. Couldn't start the vehicle. So forced to stay there, which actually back for jumper cables. Right. I'm digging around, figuring out where I'd hide, hit my jumper cables in this vehicle. He was pissed. He like hit the steering wheel.   Okay, apparently I got violent with the the Tahoe. He was mad. So get it. It was like 11 45 at night. I understand. Okay, so the story gets even more interesting. Well at this point. Well wait. So at this point I had said to Jason I said wait. my god. What if This is god telling us You are supposed to be here like you are exactly where you are supposed to be I thought maybe because this is weird. This is weird All right, so we're tell you the conclusion of this because it does seem like   some little bit of magic happened. So maybe God really did want to stay. So, but I'm going to share our sponsor for this this this episode, Cover Pest. So Cover Pest is the easiest and seamless way to add on demand pest control to your resident benefit package. Residents love the simplicity of submitting a service request and how affordable it is compared to traditional pest control options. Investors love knowing that their property is kept pest free.   And property managers love getting their time back and making more revenue per door. Simply put, Cover Pest is the easiest way to handle pest control issues at all of your properties. To learn more and to get special DoorGrow pricing, visit coverpest.com slash DoorGrow. Okay. Back to the story. All right. So, so then I'm, find the jumper cables and I'm like, cool. I guess I was   and I was like, I don't even know if I have jumper cables, but I do. I had that planned. So from the beginning, I guess a long time ago, I had stashed them in a panel in the backside of the vehicle that had to pop off in plastic. And then I found them. All right, so I had the bag, I had the jumper cables, and then I'm like, I need to find somebody. And like, there's a bunch of cars, but only one was running and there was only one person outside, so I went up to it. I could tell they were pretty upset.   Like I'd seen them walking around. It's two ladies. Turns out one is the friend of the other and had driven her there in her car. And so I went up to the window and I was like, know, I'll let my jumper cables. She rolled down her window and said, hey, could you help us jump our car? Our car won't start. I could really use some help. And I'm thinking.   she's probably thinking I'm some weird creep or gonna do something or I don't know, like in middle of the night, like it's really, it's late and like, you know, but she was like, she said, yeah, I'd be, I'd be happy to help. My dog just died. And then this lady's coming out that works at this center and she's holding a little paper and she said, this lady is bringing me the prints that they took of my dog's paws.   right now. And I was like, my gosh, I am so sorry. Like this is like one of the most awful things ever. And I didn't, I didn't even know what I could say other than I'm so sorry. And she said, but she was willing to help out. So she drove her car over and next to ours and I hooked up the cables and tried getting this thing started. And it like, I think I charged it. Initially, I thought let's do it for like five minutes, then try it.   Then we waited, didn't work, waited another five, 10 minutes, tried again, still didn't work. Somewhere in the middle of trying all this, the same lady comes out and she's like holding her iPad and she's like, are you guys here for Parker? Are you still wanting to be seen? And I was like, well, I guess. And I said, do you want to? It's already been past that time. And Sarah was like, yeah, we might as well.   Yeah, so I explained to her the issue and she said well It might not hurt to have them looked at and she said it's not a hard and fast two-hour rule sometimes it's closer to two to four so you might still have some time and You know, do you want us to at least check him out and you know? Do an exam like, know, we can kind of feel around in the stomach. Maybe do an ultrasound or an x-ray I said, okay, let's get him in so I went brought Parker in and Jason stayed outside   Trying to jump the car. So this lady said, you know, I told her, you know, I could when I had got offered like asked for help, I had said, well, only, you know, I could give you a hug, you know, was the thing I could offer because she was so sad and I didn't know what to do. And she then told me I started talking with her. She told me that she was she just opened up.   I think she could tell I was probably a safe person to talk to. She just opened up and said, hey, I'm just really debating right now whether I should go see her, go see my dead dog. Like whether I should go see her, because I didn't see her. Like she went in and she passed away and I didn't see her. so I could tell, you know, if she's asking the question, there's probably, it's probably, yeah, you probably should. And I said, well,   I just was thinking, what does she think around and, you know, trying to be empathetic. And I was like, she's, why would she not want to? Well, I was like, are you concerned that if you go see your dog, that that's the image you'll have of her forever? And she said, yeah. And she starts crying. She said, yes. I said, you have a lifetime of experiences with this dog to remember, you know, with her to remember her by.   This will not be the defining thing, but I think if you don't go and get full closure on this and you know, there's going to be an emotional thing that just doesn't happen. You know, you need, you need to get that closure and that would be my, my guess, but this is for you to decide. And, I guess based on that conversation, she decided to go, to go, to go do it. So she.   like I'm gonna go do it and so she goes get in my car still her car still running I'm still trying to charge my car figure out well now I guess I'll just let it run for a while and I let it run for a good another 10 15 another 15 minutes at a timer still wouldn't start car just would not start it wouldn't turn over   So she goes in and then eventually she comes back out and she's like, they're making me wait. I think they're trying to get her presentable for me. And I said, well, it's probably a good thing. You know, but she's like, but now I am like, I'm thinking all about it and I'm stressed. And I have to wait. was hoping I'd just walk in and see her and be done with it. And I was like, yeah, I get that. And I guess you were inside with Parker and you had eventually she was.   came out and they were like, you can go in. She, she went in to go, go see, but I had asked her, like, do you mind me asking what happened? She said, my dog was in a car accident. A car hit my dog, not a car accident. My dog hit like I hit by the car and cause she gets out and thinks it's super fun to get out and had gotten out and she was feeling really guilty. Like it was her fault. And so she went in, I guess, to go see the dog and I was outside with the cars, but you had kind of, you were inside.   to share? Yeah well I was inside with Parker just kind of waiting so at this point they had already come and checked a few things preliminarily and then they were sending the doctor in and I think everybody in the building could hear that poor woman she was just absolutely crushed and heartbroken and just wailing and crying and I am not   one to cry and I'm sitting there I've got like tears coming down my face I'm going god this poor woman just because I've been there and I know what that feels like. So then the doctor ends up coming in and she's kind of checking him out and asking me some questions and the fact that it was a water buffalo horn was really confusing for everyone because it's not very common. So she's kind of feeling around on his stomach and she goes he has a full bladder.   She said, he might need a potty break. And she said, OK, and then I'm just going to check a couple things here, and then we're going to take him in the back. We'll do an ultrasound. I said, OK. So as she's doing her heart check on him, she said, hey, did anyone ever tell you that he has a heart murmur? And I said, no. And she said, OK, well, it's not anything serious right now. It's really not bad. But it is something to keep an eye on because.   it could be associated with something like heart disease or a heart failure. So there might be some underlying heart condition. It's you might want to talk to a cardiologist and just kind of have them check it out. I said, okay. So then she took Parker back and I was waiting for them to come back. She comes back at some point with him and she says, well, she said, okay, so here's what I think about the bone. I'm still going to stand by my original statement.   I would not recommend inducing vomiting again. You already did that. Some of the bones came out. She said, if there's anything else in there, I would not recommend inducing vomiting again. Sometimes if you do induce vomiting, then something might get stuck in the esophagus. It might scratch or tear the esophagus. Now you have a critical problem. So she said, I think you already did that. Don't worry about it. I would not do it again. I would not recommend us doing it again. She said, if it's a bone,   Their stomachs are just meant to digest that. Don't give him any sort of anti acid. Just let his stomach do its thing. And at some point it'll disintegrate and it'll pass normally. So I said, okay. And she said, I do however have some bad news. And I said, well, what is it? And she said, well, do you know when I was feeling him and I said, his bladder seems full. Well, that was not his bladder.   And she said, so he has a large mass located right behind his bladder. And she showed me the ultrasound image of it. And it's larger than a grapefruit right now. So it's pretty big. And she doesn't know what it is. She's not sure, you know, is it liquid? Is it some sort of cyst? Is it some sort of like tumor? We don't really know what it is.   She sent me a referral so that I can go and have them do an ultrasound and then have them kind of take a look at it. They of course recommended biopsy, which I'm not going to do. But she said, yeah, I would definitely have this checked out. And she said, I am so, so, so sorry to have to tell you this. But the way she was breaking it to me was almost like she was treating me like the woman who, yeah, who like, whose dog just passed away.   And I'm thinking, okay. So from her point of view, I understand why she was kind of reacting that way. I do understand why she thought I would react that way. But I think the way I feel about it is I don't think we're gonna go the typical normal route of let's go and have somebody poke it and rupture it and then.   release whatever it is out into his body to just float around and that'll kill him in like a year. And in the meantime, we're going to do all kinds of medication and cancer treatments and radiation and chemotherapy and all of the things that then will also kill you. We're not doing any of those things. But yeah, the point is she felt like it was really, really bad news and you felt like you're going to figure out a solution. Well, I felt like it was just a good thing that that was found.   We know because we wouldn't have known otherwise. How would I have ever known that? He's perfectly healthy. There's no it's not like, you know, there's any kind of warning signs. The one thing is he did lose some weight. So at some point that might have been a concern for me. Like, hey, I'm trying to get him to gain weight and he doesn't seem like he's gaining weight. Maybe something would have shown up on blood on a blood test at some point. But I just don't know that they would have.   Maybe eventually they would have found that. Yeah. But I just don't think like right off the bat, they would have found it. But it would have gone on a lot longer if there was an issue. So and we don't know what the issue is fully yet. That's still to be determined. however, yeah, that that that gal came out after viewing her dog. She was just I could tell a mess. So I I couldn't get the car to start. Didn't matter how long I was charging it. So I said.   Let me just unhook this and you just go, go do what you gotta do, go home and close their thing, their hood and let her leave. So there I am with this dead car. I don't know what's going on with Parker and you're in there and I'm so frustrated thinking, do I need to like get an Uber home, go get my cyber truck to come here and try and jump this car or try and get, like, am I gonna need to roadside assistance? So I'm trying to figure out how to get roadside assistance from our insurance and.   It's just, I'm trying to figure it out. And then eventually some other couple came out and they were like, I chatted with them a bit and they're like, yeah, we're here for another hour at least. Our dog's in surgery. It had gotten sliced open through its whole side somehow and they have no idea how it happened. And I'm like, that's crazy. They're like, yeah. And so I chatted with them for a bit and I said, well, could you help me jump my vehicle? And they had a, they had a,   Ford that was kind of similar in size to my Chevy and I thought maybe this one will have a little more juice somehow I don't know alternators only are adding a lecture, you know To on the on the meter there, you know to charge the battery, but I turned off all the everything I went away from it. So nothing was turning on we Charged it up. I tried starting once it didn't take but it sort of did something so I just left it charging a bit longer I said a longer timer   You eventually came out, but right before you came out, I tried, I was almost ready to submit the form to get roadside assistance to have them come out for the battery. And it was that or towing. Those are your two options. It's like, did you already try to jump it? If you did, they would only send towing. So I had to say no, like come out and help me jump it. And so I asked him if he could help me try one more time and.   He was really nice guy and they were stuck there for a while. So we just charged it for like 15, 20 minutes. And then you came out right after I had tested it and it started. And so now the car was ready. It was ready to go. And I'd already tried for like 20 minutes plus of charging before, maybe a half hour, trying to get this thing to work. Couldn't get it to start. And now it started. What's weird is that the car was having more issues than   like with the second thing, like things weren't turning on the second vehicle I was charging it off of than the first. So I was really surprised, but it just started. And then you came out and the car was ready. And so I really kind of feel like maybe you were right. Maybe God was like, you need to be kind of a little angel to this lady that is struggling. I gave her a hug, like I chatted with her a bit, told her she should go see her dog.   She was able to have some big sounds like cathartic sort of release in there. And which, you know, that would have been just stuck inside her, you know, and there always would have been this question of doubt, like what, what, you know, she wouldn't have gotten maybe that closure. And then we never would have found out if there was an issue with Parker, if we hadn't, if the car had worked, we just would have went home. We never would have known that he had a couple of health issues as one of which might be really serious. And we would have just never known and never.   dealt with it probably as effectively as we're able to now. So God works in mysterious ways, I guess. so moral of story is what? Our plan for the evening was we were gonna sit down and watch a show on Netflix. That was what we were gonna do. were gonna do that. Little cuddling, little Netflix and watching. had in mind for us. He's like, no, no, we need you at the Central Texas Emergency Veterinary Clinic.   Their name is so long. I don't know but yeah, no, no, we need you to be right here. So I'm gonna just make things happen to get you there and it's so funny because we we had decided to leave Yeah, we were done. I was like, okay. Well, there's no point in sitting here. I Don't want to sit here for two hours To find out if we have a problem where if we have a problem, we'll just come back   but I don't need to be here in the meantime. So let's just go. And if he has a problem, we will come back. And if he's fine, then great, we'll at least be home. And then the card ends, sorry. So I think what you plan for is not always what you get, but I think what you get is exactly what you need. And sometimes, know, plans may change. Our original plan, the thing that we want doesn't happen, but.   Sometimes there's a better outcome. finding out, is it worth losing a little sleep to find out that a dog that we really love and care about has maybe a potentially serious health issue that we can now nip in the bud and take care of early on? Absolutely. There's no other scenario in which we would have just gone and gotten this checked or that they would have been feeling this pit bull's body to find this out.   It was only because he had eaten that crazy bone that we were and Sarah was nervous enough about it that we went and got got him there and it like it was this whole cascade of magical events to make sure that this happened and so yeah, so it's really mind-blowing how everything kind of can work out and Yeah, the car drove home just fine. I probably was startup fine right now. I don't know. I probably should charge the battery a little bit more but   Yeah, but everything in the end worked out. We're a little tired. But and I think this is a good lesson and we wanted to share because this is real for us is what happened. And you you care about pets like family. You know, a lot of times it's not the business stuff that derails us. It's everything else outside of business. That's one lesson you can take away from it. Like, you know, making sure that your family's good, including pets are taken care of, getting those things checked out.   And then also just trusting that, you know, there's there's I believe and trust that there's a higher power that's watching out for you that has a plan. And if nothing else, it could just be those of you that aren't into that. It could be that you are intuitive enough and magical enough and a creator enough that based on quantum physics or whatever you're into that, you know, things get taken care of and positive outcomes come if you believe in.   in that sort of thing. so I think that's the thing is, you know, In business, things are always changing. Things might derail us, but that doesn't mean that it's going to has to be a worse outcome just because it didn't go the way that you wanted.   That's my two cents. You have anything, to add?   Okay, I'm tired. Can we go? We're gonna we're gonna wrap this up and go take it easy. I'm maybe gonna go take a nap. Yeah. When did we go to bed? Like take a nap. o'clock. Yeah. Take a nap right here. He's gonna nap right here. All right. So hopefully this was beneficial to see a little bit of flavor of our life. I don't know. It's not super property management oriented today, but   If you have ever felt stagnant or stuck in your business or you just don't feel like you're growing big enough, my guess is you don't have big enough goals. And we've seen this a lot with clients. And if you don't have big enough goals, the business is not fun. It's not exciting. So reach out to us at doorgrow.com. We'd love to help you out. Also join our free Facebook group community. It's just for property management business owners at doorgrowclub.com.   And if you found this even a little bit helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review to really appreciate it. Helps us out, helps us be able to help more people like you. And until next time, remember the slowest path to growth is to do it alone. So let's grow together. Bye everyone.

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Send us a textDigital censorship is tightening its grip across the globe, and nowhere is this more evident than in the United Kingdom. What starts as well-intentioned protection for children online quickly morphs into something more sinister - a system where people face longer prison sentences for deleted tweets than violent criminals receive for physical assaults.The disturbing reality we're witnessing in England should serve as a wake-up call. Special police task forces now monitor social media platforms, blocking content under expanding definitions of "harmful" speech. This isn't speculation - it's happening now, with documented cases of citizens being dragged from their homes for expressing opinions online. As George Orwell eerily predicted decades ago, the line between protection and control has become dangerously thin.Yet perhaps there's an unexpected silver lining to this digital darkness. For believers, these growing restrictions might be pushing us back toward something we've lost - authentic, face-to-face sharing of our faith. The gospel spread powerfully for centuries before Facebook and Twitter existed. Maybe God is using these challenges to scatter His people from their comfortable online bubbles, just as persecution in Acts 8 scattered the early church from Jerusalem to spread the message more widely. Our mission hasn't changed, only our methods might need adjustment. Whatever talents God has given you  - now is the time to use them in service to His kingdom. Support the show

Is science really a barrier to belief in the Bible and Christianity? Why does science remain one of the primary reasons why people are rejecting Christianity? This week we dig into that topic and wrap up our conversation about the state of the Atheist and Christian dialogue with author, speaker, and podcaster, Justin Brierley. From http://justinbrierley.com/about/ Justin is a freelance writer, speaker and broadcaster who has become known for creating dialogues between Christians and non-Christians. Justin is passionate about creating conversations around faith, science, theology and culture. Through creative use of podcast, radio, print, video and social media, he aims to showcase an intellectually compelling case for Christianity, while taking seriously the questions and objections of sceptics.Justin's first book 'Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian' (SPCK) was published in 2017. His new book 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God' (Tyndale) was published in Sep 2023.Justin currently co-hosts the Re-Enchanting podcast for Seen & Unseen, and is a guest presenter for the Maybe God podcast. He has also recently launched The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief in God podcast documentary series. Contact Justin at  justin@justinbrierley.com.Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship:  Atheism by Dr. Robert Bowman: watchman.org/Atheism  Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: watchman.orgAgnostic  Naturalism by Daniel Ray: watchman.org/Naturalism  Richard Dawkins by Rhyne Putman https://www.watchman.org/Dawkins.pdf Featured clips on this broadcast from YouTubehttps://youtu.be/3mKXYI1d8-8?si=KRSSsJ2GjsBQJ47Phttps://youtu.be/IEjB3OX0JME?si=cla3xrquzTyl8eL1https://youtu.be/AvwGhlBI1hA?si=ZnMtXui0FXY8LYtVhttps://youtu.be/OVEuQg_Mglw?si=YsdypJcSZgRZi7gHDembski interview Luskin interviewAdditional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

One of the most painful experiences anyone can endure is that of being rejected by someone who is special in your life. Maybe a spouse, a child, a parent, a close friend or anyone whose approval we desire. In our Bible passage for today, the apostle Peter wrote to some people who has been utterly rejected. The reference for our text in the Scripture today is First Peter Chapter Two. Let's look at this together for the next few minutes. Maybe God has a message for YOU today!  For more information on the Campground, insider tips and FAQ's, listen to our General Ocean Lakes Podcast, Campground Conversations. 

New Atheism is in decline but atheism in general still persists. But so too does Christianity. What are the current trends today in the Atheist and Christian dialogue? Is Christianity also declining or is there a general resurgence of interest in the Bible and the Person of Christ? Or is it a little of both? This week and next on the Profile we talk with author, speaker, and podcaster from the U.K. Justin Brierley and get his insights on these and other topics from over twenty years of engaging believers and nonbelievers. From http://justinbrierley.com/about/ Justin is a freelance writer, speaker and broadcaster who has become known for creating dialogues between Christians and non-Christians. Justin is passionate about creating conversations around faith, science, theology and culture. Through creative use of podcast, radio, print, video and social media, he aims to showcase an intellectually compelling case for Christianity, while taking seriously the questions and objections of sceptics.Justin's first book 'Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian' (SPCK) was published in 2017. His new book 'The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God' (Tyndale) was published in Sep 2023.Justin currently co-hosts the Re-Enchanting podcast for Seen & Unseen, and is a guest presenter for the Maybe God podcast. He has also recently launched The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief in God podcast documentary series. Contact Justin at  justin@justinbrierley.com.Free Resources from Watchman Fellowship:  Atheism by Dr. Robert Bowman: watchman.org/Atheism  Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: watchman.orgAgnostic  Naturalism by Daniel Ray: watchman.org/Naturalism  Richard Dawkins by Rhyne Putman https://www.watchman.org/Dawkins.pdf Featured clips on this broadcast from YouTubehttps://youtu.be/3mKXYI1d8-8?si=KRSSsJ2GjsBQJ47Phttps://youtu.be/IEjB3OX0JME?si=cla3xrquzTyl8eL1https://youtu.be/AvwGhlBI1hA?si=ZnMtXui0FXY8LYtVhttps://youtu.be/OVEuQg_Mglw?si=YsdypJcSZgRZi7gHAdditional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

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

The Unlikely Missionary #RTTBROS #Nightlight The Unlikely Missionary God:uses ordinary people"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." (1 Corinthians 1:27William Carey was just a shoemaker. He had little education, came from a poor family, and worked with his hands for a living. But he had a heart for the lost and a desire to take the gospel to places where it had never been heard.When Carey shared his burden for missions with his fellow ministers, one of them famously said, "Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine." But Carey wouldn't sit down. He kept studying, kept praying, and kept preparing.In 1793, Carey sailed for India where he would spend the next 41 years without ever returning home. He translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and parts of 35 other languages. He started schools, fought against the practice of widow burning, and saw thousands come to Christ. He became known as the "Father of Modern Missions."But it all started with a shoemaker who believed God could use him.I love Carey's story because it reminds me that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. He doesn't look for the smartest, the most talented, or the most educated. He looks for the willing.Think about it: God used a shepherd boy named David to defeat a giant. He used a teenage girl named Mary to bring the Savior into the world. He used fishermen to become apostles. He used a former persecutor of the church named Paul to become the greatest missionary who ever lived.And He wants to use you too, right where you are, with whatever skills and abilities you have.Carey's motto was "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God." He expected God to work through an ordinary shoemaker, and God did extraordinary things.What's God calling you to attempt for Him? What burden has He placed on your heart? What need have you seen that you keep thinking someone should do something about?Maybe that someone is you. Maybe God wants to use your ordinary life to do something extraordinary for His kingdom. Don't disqualify yourself because you feel unworthy or unqualified. God specializes in using unlikely people to do impossible things.After all, history is just HIS story, and He's looking for ordinary people who are willing to let Him write their chapter.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Bible Reading: Romans 12:3-5"I want to play first base this year, and Coach Nichols won't let me!" said Quincy. "He says I'll help the team more if I play right field." He frowned. "The guys have a saying about right field. They say, 'right field equals left out,' because the ball never gets hit to that side of the outfield.""Now, hold on! That's just not true!" said Dad. "A good right fielder often makes important plays--and I know you'll be a good one." But nothing Dad said could convince Quincy that right field was a good position for him.The next day, Quincy helped his father plant geraniums in the front yard. "Maybe we could get some of those bushes with white flowers we saw when we hiked up Mount Major," said Quincy. "They'd look nice here with the geraniums."Dad shook his head. "Those plants grow well in higher elevations, but I don't think they'd do well down here. God didn't intend for all plants to thrive in the same location. Each species has its own spot in the plant kingdom. That principle applies to people too. God has blessed every one of us with the talents we need to do the best job in the special spot He's put us in."Dad smiled at Quincy. "For example, God gave you one of the strongest throwing arms on your baseball team. That's important for a right fielder, so give it a chance. Perhaps God has a special lesson He wants you to learn by playing right field on your ball team.""What lesson could there be in that?" asked Quincy. "Maybe God wants you to see that every person on a team is important," said Dad. "That's true for baseball, and it's also true for another team you're on--Jesus's team of all those who trust in Him. God gave every Christian an important part to play in caring for other members of Christ's team and sharing His love with those who don't know Him. Without each person's important role, the whole team suffers--just like your baseball team won't do as well if you refuse to play right field."Quincy sighed. "Okay," he said after a moment. "Right field, here I come!" –Linda M. MagoonHow About You?Do you get upset when you don't get the position you want--whether it's on a sports team or within Christ's team of believers? Jesus gave you the gifts and abilities He did so you could fill an important role and serve Him with other Christians. So no matter where He places you, be a team player and use your gifts to help the body of Christ share His love with the world. Today's Key Verse:Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 12:22)Today's Key Thought:Each team member is important

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Friday morning, the 27th of June, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go the Gospel of Luke 9:13: ”But He said to them (Jesus) “you give them something to eat.” Folks, that is a big and a tall order. Do you know, there were 5000 men there? They had nothing to eat. The disciples came to Jesus and said,“Lord, we've only got five loaves of bread and two fishes. How are we going to feed them?” Maybe God is asking you the same question this morning, ”You feed them.” And you say, ”But I can't Lord. I don't have any money left. I don't have any wherewithal.” He says, ”I've got it all. I've got all the money and all the wherewithal.”This story is very special in my life because I experienced it personally on the farm Shalom in 2007, when we hired a 5,000-seater tent and were expecting 5,000 men. What happened? 7500 men arrived! And I'll never forget the kitchen. The ladies came to me and said, ”Angus, please, I don't know how we're going to feed them. We've only catered for 5000 men and 7500 have arrived!" I want to say to that lady listening to this podcast. How would you like to have 2500 men come and spend the weekend in your home without your husband telling you they're coming? That's exactly how they felt. They said, ”When you get up and welcome them, please tell them to go easy on the food.”We were feeding them Friday night, Saturday (two big meals) - three meals in total. Well, I got up and I was so full of joy. I never expected such a big crowd of men. I said, ”Boys. There's a message from the kitchen. Eat as much as you can,” and these boys can eat, especially those from the Free State. They came in and they loaded up their plates. Well, I want to tell you, a miracle happened because they ate as much as they could for the whole weekend and at the end of the weekend, yes, my dear friend Peter, came into the prayer room and said to me, ”Angus,” he was in tears. He said, ”Three meals, twelve baskets collected of leftovers from each meal. Three times twelve is 36 baskets. We have just cleared thirty-six baskets of leftovers.”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. If He tells you to do something, then do it and He'll perform another miracle in your life.God bless you and have a wonderful day.

Sacrifice and Persecution (tape recording from Germany in 1975)I want to begin with Thomas' words to my parents on the tape. He went to great depths to explain to them why we came, and why we were willing to make sacrifices. Both of our parents, would have preferred that Thomas get a normal job, and that we would live in a normal house. This reminds me of the first conversation Thomas and I, had after we gave our lives to Jesus. It was early in the morning, foggy and damp out on Highway One. I was pregnant and we were hitchhiking to our tipi location. Thomas said, ”I guess we are Christians now because we believe in Jesus. But we are not going to be like those other Christians, who go aroundpreaching to everyone.”This time, we were far away from California! I was pregnant again, and we were living in a cold brick farmhouse in Nienburg. Maybe God, was using our desire to communicate with my parents, to help us formulate what we  believed we were called to do. Our tape recordings were very personal, just talking in our room, and imagining that someone would listen to our story.

Join Us for Worship: Sundays at 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM https://www.flourishinggrace.org/plan-your-visit Sermon Title: Die to Self, Live for Christ: Following Jesus in Luke 9 YouTube & SoundCloud Search Description (4,500 characters): In this powerful and deeply challenging sermon, Pastor Benjer leads us through Luke 9:1–27—a rich and intense section of Scripture that confronts every follower of Jesus with a fundamental question: What kind of life am I living—and what kind of death am I choosing? At the heart of this message is the call to discipleship—not just belief, not just admiration, but wholehearted following of Jesus. Through the example of the twelve disciples, the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, and Jesus' own foreshadowing of the cross, we're shown what it truly means to be a disciple: to learn from Jesus, walk in His footsteps, and embrace a life that is often uncomfortable, messy, and costly—but ultimately full of abundance and eternal purpose. Jesus begins by sending His disciples out with power and authority to proclaim the Kingdom, heal the sick, and cast out demons. And they do it. Ordinary men, empowered by Christ, stepping into extraordinary mission. But when they return and face the challenge of feeding the multitudes, they falter. They forget what they've just seen and done. They forget that Jesus is enough. And so do we. Discipleship, Pastor Benjer reminds us, is not a perfect upward trajectory. It's not about spiritual heroism or flawless devotion. It's a bumpy journey. It's full of grace and learning. And above all, it's a daily dying—dying to comfort, dying to small dreams, dying to our preferences and our endless yeses to self. Jesus makes it plain in Luke 9:23: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” That's the call. That's the cost. And that's the invitation into the abundant life Jesus promises—not abundant in stuff, ease, or worldly success, but rich in meaning, rooted in purpose, and shaped by selfless love. Benjer doesn't hold back from applying this to everyday life: our marriages, our parenting, our ambitions, our finances, even our weekend plans. He shares honestly from his own experience as a father of children with disabilities, reflecting on what it means to dream big in God's kingdom—not in worldly achievement, but in faithfully following Christ and helping others do the same. This sermon is a wake-up call. In a world that tells us to chase comfort and say yes to every craving, Jesus speaks a better word: Say yes to me. Pastor Benjer challenges the cultural lie that Christianity is just about self-improvement or believing the right things. Jesus doesn't call us to be better versions of ourselves—He calls us to be new. And that newness comes through surrender. If you're someone who has followed Jesus but finds yourself weary, discouraged, or feeling like you've failed too many times, this sermon is for you. If you're exploring faith and wondering what Jesus really expects, this sermon is for you. And if you're a committed disciple who needs a fresh reminder that the way of Christ is both cross and resurrection, this message will stir your heart. At Flourishing Grace Church, we're not trying to create a culture of superficial faith. We're learning to die well—to die to our own way so that we might live in the fullness of Jesus' way. This message will help you take your next step, whatever that may be. Stick around until the end as Pastor Benjer invites us into prayer and response. Maybe you've held back a part of your heart, your time, your dreams. Maybe God is gently poking at something you know you need to surrender. Don't ignore it. Lean in. Say yes. And remember: when you say no to yourself, you're not saying no to joy—you're saying yes to Jesus, the only source of true life. Listen, reflect, and let this teaching sink deep into your soul.

It is almost as if God had sent us an angel. We were coming back from a Christmas party years ago. All five members of the Hutchcraft family together with the families of the youth ministry I worked for had been there for the annual Christmas party. Now, Joe, one of our dearest friends - our greatest helpers, helped us load up all of our equipment into the back of the car and we headed home. Well, we had only driven just a few miles when a drunk driver crossed the centerline, plowed into our car and totaled it! Well, here we were sitting there dazed with the kids crying. I couldn't even see the car that had hit us! It had spun off behind me. I just sat there going, "What happened? What happened?" Well it became an even longer night with police reports, x-rays, emergency room vigils, and trying to rearrange schedules for the next few days. As we sat there in this total confusion in our totaled car, I suddenly saw a familiar face at the window. There was Joe, our dear friend. He had decided (without telling us) that he would follow us to help us unload when we got home. There he was, right there when the accident happened; right there to bring us comfort and to bring us help all night long. On one of the toughest, longest nights we'd ever had, Joe was the angel we needed. He was just the right man at just the right place at just the right time. So are you. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Positioned to Make a Difference." Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from the book of Esther 4:14. Let me review for you the life of Esther up to the point where we'll begin reading. She was a young, Jewish maiden. She was approached to be the new queen of Persia. Nobody knew she was Jewish. Well, after all of the possible candidates that could have become queen, she is selected to become the new Queen of Persia. And now we are at a point where an evil man named Haman was plotting and prodding the king to give a decree that will cause the deaths of all of the Jews. Now, if Esther reveals herself and goes before the king, she may lose her life. But if she doesn't, it may cost the lives of her people. She's in a position to talk to the King Xerxes. And here's a statement from God's Word, "Who knows whether you have come into the kingdom for such a time as this." In other words, "Esther, it's no accident you are where you are. God put you here to be the right person at just the right place at just the right time." You know, God is very good at this business of positioning people to make a difference. He's done it with you. You say, "Well, I just go to this school. I just play on that team. I just work at this office. I'm just involved in this club. I just work at that plant. I just live in this neighborhood. Oh, come on! You know what? You are divinely, uniquely positioned by God. There is someone near you that God knows you can help with what you know; with who you are; with your biographical credentials. Maybe you're in a position where you can open a door for some ministry need. There was such a man like that in a key position to dispose of the vans his company was getting rid of, and he saw our need in our ministry at just the point when we desperately needed them. He came into the job at just the right moment and provided those vans. See, just an example of divine positioning. Above all else, God knows who around you needs to hear about your Jesus. He's divinely positioned you, like He did Esther; to be in a spot where you can save lives because of the influence He's given you; because of the shared life experiences you have with that person. They will listen to you, because you're one of them. Wherever God has put you, you can be sure it is to accomplish His divine purposes. God has a mission for you where you are. Be the best you can be, so you'll have people's respect, and know that you're where God wants you to assist Him at this place, at this time. Who knows? Maybe God has you there for such a time as this. So, use what He's given you to make a difference for Him.

On today's Moody Presents with Mark Jobe, when God calls us to our purpose, our response can determine the beginning of our assignment or... the start of our running. The prophet Jonah received his task, but out of fear headed as fast as he could in the opposite direction... but God in His love stayed with him. Our series is titled, “The Chase: God’s Heart for Rebels”. Maybe you can relate to Jonah. Maybe God is clearly calling you to make needed, bold changes in your life. Are you listening... or are you running? Become part of our Advance Team: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/moodypresents/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel discouraged because you don't have enough people, money or resources? Then, you'll want to listen to our interview today with Pastor Randy Gaumer, whose church began with 3 people and no paycheck, and has become a flourishing church of over 100. Maybe God can do a lot more than you think.

Send us a textThis episode is one that will touch you soul deeply if you are in a place that seems like God is fighting against what you are asking Him to do. Maybe God is trying to bring you to the place of COMPLETE COMPLIANCE to His will instead of your will?Feel free to give thru CASHAPP. $JesseECantyAnything you give will be appreciated. Be blessed and thank you. Email me at JesseCantyPodcast@yahoo.comI would love to hear from you! Get your Noni Juice today! Can be shipped worldwide!Contact Kimberly A. Canty 8649212653MrsKimberlyCanty@gmail.comNoni-Wellness.com Support the show

Are you tired of living life scared or following the status quo? Maybe it’s time we remembered what it felt like to believe in ourselves before the world told us who we should be and what we should do. In today’s conversation, we will explore the chasm between the dreams we once had and the reality in which we are now living. Speaking from personal experience, renowned speaker, best-selling author, and today’s guest, Dr. Heather Thompson Day dives deep into her newest book titled, What If I’m Wrong?, to help us better understand what makes us feel overwhelmed or defeated by the hopes we once had, the disappointments we should have overcome, the goals we expected to accomplish, and the person we wanted to be. Somehow and somewhere along the way, we stopped following our heart and started listening to the lies in our head: It’s time you gave up on that childish dream. What makes you think you could accomplish that? Others see who you really are, so stop trying to be someone else. So we decided to play it safe and just accept our lot in life. And instead of feeling alive every day, we walk through our days numb and uninspired. But today’s conversation will help you understand that pursuing a painless passion means you have an insignificant dream, living a “normal” life is scarier than taking risks and embracing the unknown, being vulnerable and admitting mistakes can lead to success quicker, embracing failure might be the best thing that ever happens to you, staying motivated and confident when things go wrong gets easier with practice, and the person God made you to be is waiting to live life to the fullest! As Dr. Heather says, “Have you ever considered that the hardest things in life might be our greatest areas of passion, through which we find fulfillment in everything we do, from work to play to relationships to our faith? Fears and failures come upon us like relentless waves, pulling us to deeper water. Panicked, we believe we are going to drown. But what if we’re wrong? Maybe God is teaching us how to swim stronger, to pursue greater adventures, and to learn how to really live!” Find Out More About Dr. Heather: https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/ Purchase Your Copy of What If I’m Wrong?: https://www.amazon.com/What-If-Im-Wrong-Navigating/dp/1400341574 Link to Cross Communication: https://www.crosscommunication.com/ Check out Dr. Heather’s ‘What If I’m Wrong Podcast’: https://www.heatherthompsonday.com/podcast Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon and health editor Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. The controversy over the appointment of a Shin Bet chief continues, says Sharon, discussing the implications of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara's instructions to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he continues to disregard the instructions about appointing a new Shin Bet chief. Sharon reviews the potential for a constitutional crisis as the situation comes to a head. Sharon also reviews some of the statements made by the attorney general and President of the Supreme Court Isaac Amit during Monday's Bar Association conference, as they both accused the government of quietly advancing far-reaching changes to Israel’s form of government. Bletter speaks about several Israeli medical centers and how hospitals prepared for and responded to the needs of returning hostages in the earlier stages of the war and more recently. She discusses the particular care given to children and the expectation that hospitals will care for released hostages and their families for months and years to come. The Druze community in Israel is in touch with and actively supports relatives in Syria, reports Bletter, with concerns over the future of Druze in Syria, given the new government in place. They're also questioning the strength of their own Druze identity in Israel. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: AG tells Netanyahu that choosing Zini to head Shin Bet ‘invalid and unlawful’ AG: ‘Not a warning, but reality – under cover of war, regime change has sped up greatly’ Netanyahu’s appointment of David Zini as Shin Bet chief is fraught with obstacles Facing a hostage situation without precedent, Israeli hospitals innovate to rehabilitate ‘Maybe God put Druze in Israel to save the Druze there’: Minority fights for Syrian cousins Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and video edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: A billboard showing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, 'The judicial seamstress to the government! in Tel Aviv on December 6, 2024 (Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daily Dose of Hope May 19, 2025 Day 1 of Week 8   Scripture – Matthew 1   Prayer:  Almighty God, We come before you on this Monday, as we start a new week, with both humility and gratefulness.  You are so powerful, so holy, and so wise.  We need you.  We seek you.  We are desperate to hear a word from you today, Lord.  We also know that we have failed over and over again.  Lord, forgive us for our sins, for the ways we fall short.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...Jesus, help us stay focused on you and your Word today.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we start the book of Matthew.  While the author does not identify himself, most scholars agree it was written by Matthew the tax collector.  He actually mentions himself a couple times in the Gospel.  The events in the book take place in the first 40 or so years of the first century.  It was actually written somewhere between 50 and 90AD.   Let's keep in mind that all the Gospel accounts were passed down and taught orally for about 30-40 years before they were written down.  Each Gospel author collected and arranged these accounts to highlight certain themes about Jesus.  Mark, who we just finished, emphasized Jesus' authority.  Matthew, on the other hand, very intentionally uses his Gospel to demonstrate the continuation and fulfillment of the whole Biblical story of God and the people of Israel.  Thus, he emphasizes how Jesus is the Messiah in the line of David, and he focuses on how Jesus is Immanuel (which means in Hebrew, God with us.) Matthew 1 starts with a genealogy.  Sometimes, our inclination is the brush over the genealogies, but this one is pretty unique.  First, we can see the connection between the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus. As we read through the names on the list, we get a picture of God's history of redemption for his people.  Abraham and David are highlights, as both were recipients of God's promises for the people of Israel, significant parts of redemptive history.  Another reason I love this genealogy is that five women are specifically mentioned. This was at a time when women were basically never mentioned in the history of patriarchal societies. And here we are, five very unique and interesting women–Tamar (who was quite tricky to achieve her purpose), Rahab (at one point a prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Uriah's wife (Bathsheba), and Mary.   The first four women were Gentiles or married to Gentiles, they were outsiders to a certain extent, and yet they had tenacious faith, the kind that would be critical for faith in Jesus.  This focus on Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba leads to the introduction of Mary.  It's like the author is saying, “Don't discount Mary!”  She may not be who you would expect to be the mother of the Savior of the world but God uses all kinds of people!  God lifts up all kinds of women, those who are proper and those who aren't. What a beautiful reminder that the Gospel is for ALL. Then, we have Joseph's story.  Joseph is probably the most underrated person in the Christmas story. He is like the father of the bride at the wedding. No one notices him yet he gets to help pay for the whole shin-dig. But Joseph is an example of faithful, unquestioning obedience in the middle of fearful, life-altering circumstances.   Scripture says that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph.  Remember, Mary was a very young girl and was probably very poor.  Joseph would have been older than her.  We tend to think of Joseph as a carpenter but really it's more likely he was a general builder. He was from a kind of backwater, remote area of Palestine. He was probably illiterate (education was generally just for merchants and aristocrats at the time). Both Mary and Joseph were humble people from a very humble part of Israel.   Scripture continues, "before they came together, it was found that Mary was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit." Joseph, being a righteous man, faithful to the law, didn't want her to be publicly disgraced so he had decided to divorce her quietly. At the time, when one became engaged, it was much more formal than it is today. Most likely, Joseph had made an agreement with Mary's father, perhaps years earlier, to take Mary as his wife. This would have been a binding agreement. In the eyes of the law, they were as good as married already, even though the relationship had not been consummated.   Mary was found to be pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that all Joseph knows at this time is that she is pregnant. His fiancé is pregnant and he knows the baby isn't his. We don't think much about Joseph's feelings. We focus a lot on Mary (and rightfully so) but Jospeh must have had all kinds of feelings too.  The whole thing must have been crushing for him. He had hopes and dreams. My guess is that he was hurt and betrayed. Despite that, he doesn't fly into an angry rage or have a desire to hurt Mary even though this would have amounted to adultery in their culture.   Joseph had compassion. He doesn't want to bring additional shame onto Mary if he can help it. Part of this could have been that Joseph was older than Mary. He might have known that a girl of that age didn't really have much control over her sexuality in that culture. Joseph is in a predicament. He wants to be faithful to the law, so he can no longer marry her, but yet he doesn't want to humiliate her either. So he decides to quietly divorce her, not make too much of a big deal about it. Regardless, Mary would face humiliation and be ostracized. That was the nature of the situation.   But before Joseph breaks off the engagement, he goes home and goes to sleep. It's always good to sleep on big decisions. While he is sleeping, an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” And here is the amazing thing. Scripture says that when he woke up, Joseph did what the angel told him and took Mary as his wife. If Joseph had doubts, they weren't recorded. If he made excuses, we certainly don't know about them. It appears he was simply obedient.    It's worth mentioning that the angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to marry Mary because the baby she is carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We know that Mary was risking a lot, but Joseph was also taking big risks here. He also will make some pretty significant sacrifices. People are generally pretty good at counting and they would know that the baby was conceived before they got married. He also faces being ostracized and being an outcast in his community. It was scary! What would their lives look like? What would their families do? What would become of them? Joseph models for us that we can be obedient in spite of fear. He did what was commanded of him, even when it was hard.   Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look. Let's be real. We want being obedient to God to be a good job with a comfortable salary, a nice home, good schools for our kids, plenty of leisure time and fun activities, a fairly decent social standing, and occasional church attendance. For most of us, if we are honest, that's what we want obedience to God to look like the typical American dream.  But we learn from Joseph is that obedience to God might not always make sense, it might not be popular, and it might not be comfortable.   Obedience to God may also require sacrifice. In the case of Joseph, obedience may have cost him his reputation and his place in the community. We know that later it means he has to drop everything to go to Bethlehem for a census. Then, he has to go to Egypt to keep the baby safe from an evil king. This probably wasn't what Joseph envisioned for his young family.   When God calls us to something, there are often things we have to give up. Joseph gave up stability and safety. Think about what God has called you to. Maybe God has called you to minister to someone and give up your time. Maybe God has called you to share your faith with your neighbor, coworker, or that person at the gym and risk rejection. Maybe God has called you to volunteer in a specific area or give sacrificially to a mission partner. Maybe God has called you to go back to school, change jobs, reconcile with an estranged friend or family member. Maybe God has called you to full-time ministry. However God has called you (and I can guarantee he has called you in some way), it typically involves some kind of sacrifice, discomfort, and hard work. Being obedient to God doesn't always look like we want it to look.   The last thing I'll mention is that God calls us to obey even when we are fearful of the future. This is so hard but God calls us to obey through the fear. We trust that if God has called us to it, God will see us through it. What I've come to learn is that obedience and trust go hand in hand.   Have a wonderful Monday.  We will chat again tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Instead of asking, “Am I past my prime?” we should be asking:“Am I living this stage of life with purpose and perspective?” Ecclesiastes invites us to live in light of eternity—not to despair over what we’ve lost, but to rejoice in how much time we still have to glorify God. Whether your “second act” looks like a new calling, a slower pace, or mentoring others—you’re still in the story God is writing. Think of Sarah, Paul, Noah—some of their most meaningful work happened later in life. “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13 That’s your calling, whether you’re 18 or 80. Join the Conversation:We want to hear from you! How are you embracing your current season of life? Have you discovered a new purpose in your “second act”? Leave a comment on today’s episode, or share your story on Instagram using #Lifeaudionetwork. Let’s encourage one another to live well—no matter what chapter we’re in. Full Transcript Below: Looking Forward to the Second Act By: Laura Bailey “Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” Ecclesiastes 9:4 NIV Turning my head from side to side, lifting my eyebrows, and pulling back the skin around my chin, I wondered if it was time for me to start an anti-aging routine. I turn 40 in six months, and truthfully, until a few weeks ago, the approaching descent into middle age didn’t bother me. Most of my friends are in their forties and fifties, and their lives seem to be thriving; they didn’t take going over the hill as their life was over. Instead, it was almost as if they started living. Most were experiencing the perks of older children or an empty nest, reaping the benefits of a successful career, or embracing a slower pace where they could finally stop and smell the roses. And yet, I couldn’t shake the persistent accusing voice that dominated my thoughts, “the best years are behind you.” We live in a society that elevates youth over maturity, but God’s word says the opposite. Proverbs 16:1 tells us that gray hair is a crown of glory, and Job 12:12 shows that more trips around the sun bring more profound knowledge and rich experiences to our lives. Scripture tells us to honor our elders, to respect them, and to glean wisdom from their lifetime of lessons. The “second act” of our lives can be even better than the first half, especially if we live with the proper perspective. The book of Ecclesiastes invites readers to experience the benefits of a life in light of eternity. One of the book's central themes is the reality of our mortality, which shouldn’t drive us to despair but encourage us to ask, “Am I using my time on earth well?” What does it mean to live life well? Solomon, Ecclesiastes's author, tells us in verse 12:13, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” God created humanity with a purpose to glorify Him and make Him known. As the author of our lives, God divinely appoints the days, when we will be born and depart from this earth. Every stage, season, decade, or year serves a purpose, as Ecclesiastes 9:4 tells us that while we have breath in our lungs, we have hope! Not only that, but our lives have a purpose, no matter how many candles are on the cake. We don’t have to fight the signs of aging, cling to the memories of yesterday, or long for youth. Instead, we can embrace God’s plan and purpose for a new life stage. Perhaps, like Sarah, in our second act, the Lord grants a request we’ve been praying about for decades ( Genesis 21:1-7). Maybe God will call us to a completely different career path, project, or passion, like Paul ( Acts 9). Or, potentially, God will make room for you to rest, shedding the weight of the responsibilities of your younger years and having time to invest in the next generation before you go to glory like Noah ( Genesis 6-9). I don’t know what the Lord has planned for me next. Truthfully, my life is not what my 18-year-old self would have envisioned for my forties. But it is beautiful, and I am assured that it will be infinitely better than I had planned because of God’s providence. I am learning that God is more interested in my heart’s posture than my productivity. This allows me freedom and grace to age well, knowing that I am fulfilling my purpose as long as I bring God glory and honor. And well, that looks different in different seasons of life. I pray that as the years tick by, I grow in spiritual maturity and biblical wisdom and that my life always looks more like Christ today than it did yesterday. The best is yet to come, if not in this life; those of us in Christ have the promise of eternity. The end of earthly existence is not the end but only the beginning. May we use the time the Lord grants us well, making the most of every season as we live in light of eternity. Intersecting Faith and Life: A friend once encouraged me to stop asking, “What does God want me to do?” and instead think, “Who does God want me to serve?” This season, take some time to consider your current circumstances. Who can you serve, show God’s love, or pray over? For Further Reading: Hope if You Aren’t Living Your Best Life Now The Aging Process: Life is Seasonal Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Jesus said that we're to be his witnesses to the ENDS of the Earth! And here they are reaching further than it's ever been before… All because Paul and Silas trusted and adjusted to God's to somewhere plans and just try to force their own! Maybe today some of you need to do the same… ● Maybe God is closing some doors ● Maybe God is saying no to opportunity ● Maybe God is saying stop to something that seems good and it doesn't make sense To redirect you… to make your paths straight… If you sense that, will you follow God's leading and adjust as necessary to let him guide you? How do you know? ASK don't Assume

Is it possible to find meaning in the places we once thought were meaningless? Maybe God is found in the absence, the silence. Join us as we talk about it. This is the audio podcast.

Do you ever sit in your car with the engine running but haven’t yet put it in drive? You can pray for direction all day, but at some point, you’ve got to step on the gas. Pastor Greg Laurie says our Christian walk is like that. There’s a time to be still and trust, but there’s also a time to move. Maybe God is calling you to take action, just like He did with Nehemiah. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, good encouragement about stepping up and moving forward in our walk of faith. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever sit in your car with the engine running but haven’t yet put it in drive? You can pray for direction all day, but at some point, you’ve got to step on the gas. Pastor Greg Laurie says our Christian walk is like that. There’s a time to be still and trust, but there’s also a time to move. Maybe God is calling you to take action, just like He did with Nehemiah. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, good encouragement about stepping up and moving forward in our walk of faith. Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Mike will be speaking on I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Easter Sunday). He will be reading out of Job 19: 25-26. And Job just says, okay. Maybe God is gonna slay me. Maybe God is punishing me. I don't know. But no matter what God allows in my life or what God causes […] The post I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Easter Sunday) first appeared on Hope Worth Having.

Are you disillusioned with God? Are you disappointed because your expectations haven't been met? Maybe God didn't heal you or provide certain finances? John the Baptist dealt with these same struggles. The very man who proclaimed Christ as the Messiah was now doubting that himself. John dealt with his doubts in a way that sets an example for each of us. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

Are you disillusioned with God? Are you disappointed because your expectations haven't been met? Maybe God didn't heal you or provide certain finances? John the Baptist dealt with these same struggles. The very man who proclaimed Christ as the Messiah was now doubting that himself. John dealt with his doubts in a way that sets an example for each of us. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/790/29

Hollywood movies are a clear indicator that the end of the world is of interest to many people. We all have an existential angst about not just our personal future, but the future of the universe. Maybe God put that interest in us. What better place to turn than the Bible to find answers to how the world will end.1) The beastly nature of history2) The ironclad kingship of heaven3) The final conflict of sufferingText: Daniel 7:1-28

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Joshua 18-20; 1 Corinthians 9 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 another episode of the Daily Radio Bible! I'm your host, Hunter, your Bible reading coach, here to guide you through our daily journey in the scriptures. Today marks day 83 of our biblical exploration, where we'll delve into the book of Joshua chapters 18 through 20 and then turn our attention to 1 Corinthians chapter 9. We'll uncover the sacred narrative of land allotment among the tribes of Israel and explore the profound teachings of the Apostle Paul. As we walk through these passages, we'll reflect on the manifold ways God's word speaks to our lives today, urging us to seize the blessings He has set before us and to live intentionally in His purpose. Join me as we embark on this spiritual journey together, allowing the Bible to be our guide and comfort. Let's dig deep into these passages and discover the rich wisdom and grace they have to offer us. Grab your Bible, settle in, and let's listen to God's voice together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: The lesson of the ox. In the Bible, we have these strange obscure laws like don't muzzle an ox while it's threshing grain from Deuteronomy 25. And yet within these strange and obscure sayings, there are layered implications. God is speaking to farmers about treating their animals with care, but he's also picturing for us something more, something deeper. He's including these things for us, not just for the farmer. He wants to teach us something, about the way we should treat those who serve or care for us, who work on our behalf, who even work on behalf of our soul. So when we read through the Old Testament, it seems unrelated to our everyday experience, and it often does. I mean, how does muzzling an ox have anything to do with me? When we read these things, we shouldn't dismiss them. We need to see them for what they are. Yes. He is speaking to a farmer. And, yes, Joshua is speaking to the tribes of Israel. But God is speaking to us too. It was written not just for them, but for us. God is pointing us to a deeper reading. And sometimes, that's an allegorical reading or an analogous reading. In fact, many of the church fathers felt that a “spiritual” reading of scripture was a higher form of engagement with the text. They welcome this creative allegorical interpretation of the text. Maybe God would have you chart out what he has in front of you. Maybe he would have you sit down and write out the boundaries of his blessings and gifts for you. Maybe you would find, as the children of Israel did, that there are unoccupied lands and gifts yet to be realized in your life. Maybe God is wanting you to chart them or to go out and seize them. There's a lesson in the ox. This whole Bible that we are reading is written for us. It's not just about oxen and writing reports. It's about what God has done for us. It's a revelation of Him. It's about the God who gave us his life and learning to seize and live in the reality of it. So maybe we can all chart out what God has actually done for us. And when we do that, let's go out and occupy it. Let's seize it. Let's live in the reality of who we are in Christ. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

We all do it. We avoid sorrow and chase after joy—celebration, fun, and whatever makes us feel good. So why does Solomon say that sorrow is better than laughter? Welcome to The Daily. We go through the bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, every single day. Our text today is the second part of Ecclesiastes 7:1-4. A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. — Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 Now, Solomon isn't telling us to enjoy suffering. He's saying we need to recognize its value. Laughter is temporary. It feels good for a moment, but sorrow? Sorrow makes us stop. It forces us to reflect. When we face hardship, loss, or even the reality of our own mortality, something shifts. We break free from the cycle of just going through the motions. We stop taking life for granted. And we start appreciating what truly matters. The house of mourning makes us pause. The house of feasting—it can be a distraction. Fun and pleasure aren't wrong, but if we're not careful, they can numb us. Solomon warns that the fool stays in the house of mirth (i.e., amusement)—always chasing the next high, never stopping to ask, Where is this leading? But the wise? They step into the house of mourning. They reflect. They take it to heart. They consider their actions, their legacy, and what life is really about. And here's the irony—sorrow becomes a tool in God's hands to shape a deeper joy. One that's not dependent on circumstances but rooted in wisdom and meaning. Sorrow slows us down so wisdom can catch up. So let me ask you—are you using entertainment, success, or busyness to avoid life's deeper questions? Maybe it's doomscrolling on your phone, binging another show, or staying constantly busy so you don't have to think. Maybe… God is calling you to pause, reflect, and grow in wisdom. #WisdomInSorrow, #Ecclesiastes7, #SpiritualGrowth ASK THIS: How have moments of sorrow shaped your faith and priorities? Are you using entertainment or busyness to avoid deep reflection? What distractions keep you from facing life's deeper questions? How can you embrace wisdom through hardship rather than run from it? DO THIS: Take five minutes today to reflect on a recent hardship—ask God what He wants to teach you through it. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to see the value in sorrow and not just chase temporary happiness. Teach me to seek wisdom in every season, even the difficult ones. Amen. PLAY THIS: Even When It Hurts.

There are those moments when I make life much harder than it has to be, and in fact sometimes I wonder if I'm slipping. There was a time not too long ago when I looked frantically for my house keys. And, of course, I mobilized the whole family and said, "I've got to get out of here! I'm running late! Everybody go on a search mission; we've got to find my keys." I found them in the door right where I'd left them. I've been doing that since I was about 20. Did you ever find your car keys missing and you run all over the place, and you find them in your own hand? Oh, you say, "Oops!" Or your glasses and they're on your face. It happens more often than you might think. The answer you've been looking for frantically might be right there in front of you. You might be surprised how close the answer is to what you've been looking for. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Answer Under Your Nose." Now, our word for today from the Word of God about the answer under your nose is in John 14, beginning at verse 6. "Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that would be enough for us.' Jesus answered, 'Don't you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'" This passage introduces us to what I call the Philip Syndrome. Philip has this problem - we read about it in the New Testament. He seems to have the tendency to miss an answer that is right in front of him. And who knows, you might be suffering from the Philip Syndrome. Remember back to the feeding of the five thousand? Philip said, "Lord, what are we going to do? We don't have near enough money, even if we go to a bank and get a loan. How are we ever going to feed all these people?" And Jesus said, "Why don't you go look for a lunch? The answer's right here. All we need's a lunch - go find a lunch." Here He's looking for some special event. He says, "Lord, we want to see the Father. We want to have a big, spiritual event here." And Jesus said, "Look at Me! I'm right in front of you." The answer in John 14 was right in front of Philip. I wonder if the answer you've been waiting for, straining for, praying for could be right in front of you. For example, maybe you've been waiting for just the right person to come along to fill a very important slot. Why don't you look around at the people you already have right now instead of pinning all your hopes on somebody that Scotty's going to beam down from the Enterprise? Maybe the person you need has been right under your nose all along, and you haven't seen what they could do. Or maybe you need to look again at your money and your resources, and find if there's a creative way to use what you already have instead of waiting for more. Maybe the answer you've been looking for, praying for is right there in the resources you already have if you just used them differently. Or look at yourself. Maybe you're the answer to your prayer. Maybe God wants you to do what you've been praying for somebody else to do. Our ministry started in New York years ago when a young woman came up to me and said, "Ron, I've been praying for a year for somebody to be the first Youth For Christ staff worker." She said, "You know what? I think it's me." The answer was right under her nose. Yeah, maybe you're the answer to your own prayer. Maybe God is leading you to stop doing something or to start doing something. You're just not obeying, you're hoping for something easy. Quit running around looking for an answer. Stand back! Maybe you've got it. Maybe the answer is right in front of you.

“Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16 NLT) This verse from 2 Samuel 7 is part of a promise God delivered to King David through the prophet Nathan. David was troubled by the fact that, as king, he lived in a beautiful cedar palace while the ark of the covenant, where God’s Spirit dwelled among His people, was kept in a tent. David’s ambition was to build a beautiful temple for the Lord. But God (through Nathan) said no. David wasn’t the person for that job. That task would fall to David’s son Solomon. After declining David’s offer, God makes a stunning promise. It’s known as the Davidic covenant, and it deserves to be read in full. “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever’” (2 Samuel 7:8–16 NLT). God reaffirmed the promise He made to Abraham about a land for his descendants. He promised that David’s son would succeed him as king of Israel. And He promised that David’s kingdom would last forever. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was called “the son of David” (see Matthew 21:9 nlt). Not only would Jesus be a descendant of David, He also would be closely identified with the beloved king. What kind of person receives such an honor from the Lord? That’s the question we’re going to explore over the next several days. David was a shepherd, a musician, a poet, an outcast, a warrior, and a king. In fact, he was the greatest king Israel ever had. He was part of the most exclusive genealogy of all: the ancestors of Jesus. And aside from Jesus, there are more verses written about David than about any other Bible character. He’s also the only person in the Bible God calls “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22 NLT). God dealt with him the way He dealt with many people He was preparing for greater ministry assignments. David was anointed king of Israel as a young teenager, but he didn’t ascend to the throne until he was thirty. God used that interval to prepare David for what was ahead. Some of that preparation involved hardship. When you have gone through the desert of hardship, God uses you to more effectively minister to others. Do you find yourself in a “desert experience”? Maybe God has some training in mind for you. Remember, you can never be too small for God, only too big. Reflection question: What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you ready for a change or to live your best life? Maybe God is signaling to you it's time for a shift. A new life coach is ready to help you prepare and organize with a strategy. Quadasia (Dasi) Love wears a lot of other hats too: international chaplain, model and actress, and a prophet at her church (through the fivefold ministry) that's focused on unity and going soon to Zambia. (3:15) Dasi Love kicks us off on this podcast episode with insight on how faith impacts big life changes for us, like God's call and tools to do special things vs. bad habits and the world's distractions. There are plans that need to be made over the course of months, part of her life coaching called "My Kairos Time" (greek for due season): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571592010474. (8:40) Time management is huge for a lot of us. Time to eliminate excuses. And when do you know to make that sometimes-scary change in your life? Dasi says "God can't be through you what He isn't to you." She went from being a pre-med Biology major in college and a future Dr. Love....to a real relationship with Jesus, attending seminary and becoming a Chaplain for Dunamis International Chaplains. This young woman is (19:03) also an actress and model who won't comprise on certain photo/video shoots. She was the stand-in and running double for the main actress in the Kendrick Brothers' popular film "Overcomer." (25:35) Dasi also loves to discuss what true unity looks like, in and out of the church. She's learned a lot from her job as a chaplain - going where they're needed! (32:50) One more hat she wears is as a prophet top make sure others are in alignment with the Word of God, not as a "fortune teller." This is part of the Christian concept of fivefold ministry - 5 roles to serve the church in different ways. Satan can also pervert those roles or what's in the Bible. What can also get in the way of those gifts are pride, churches' fear of criticism, denomination differences, pastors not held accountable). (44:33) Along with fundraising for a Fall 2025 trip to Zambia, Dasi Love also has partnered with pastors to help persecuted believes in the Islamic state of Pakistan. She explains...then closes our episode out in prayer. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.

This week is just a quick check-in with our A Gay And A NonGay community as James Barr has an announcement about down under (not like that!), James and Dan reveal the results of a poll about sexual preferences and we chat about negative comments from TikTok! Think of this as a brisk affair lasting just over 8 minutes... you feel light and giddy at the end, and can't wait to come back for more. Follow A Gay & A NonGay TikTok: @gaynongay Instagram: @gaynongay YouTube: @gaynongay Facebook: @gaynongay Website: gaynongay.com Email Us: us@gaynongay.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Genesis 1-2:Luke 1 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 podcast! I'm your host, Hunter, and today is January 1st, 2025. As we kick off this new year, we're embarking on a transformative journey through the Bible, reading the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. Together, we'll immerse ourselves in scripture, reflect, and pray, as we draw closer to Jesus and His boundless love. In today's episode, we dive into the foundational chapters of Genesis, exploring the creation story, and begin the Gospel of Luke, witnessing the miraculous announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus' births. We'll discuss living a shame-free life through Christ and encourage you to say "yes" to His presence and forgiveness. Join us for a time of prayer and reflection, and let's start this year by focusing our hearts on the one who offers us true, abundant life. Remember, dear ones, you are loved. Let's get started! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Shame free living. That's how the story begins. God created man and woman, and they were without shame. But in the chapters ahead, we are going to see that they have been robbed of a life without shame. We'll soon read all about it. We'll also read about the devastation that ensues. But as we read through the whole story of God, we're going to find that it doesn't end there. No. That would be bad news. But this is good news. And the good news is that God has sent his one and only son, the second Adam. And he's going to do everything necessary for us to get back to a life without shame. A life lived with God. That's the whole point of this amazing story of the Bible. That this has been given to us. God has come to us at our lowest, the most shame filled places of our lives. Christ has come to meet us there, and he offers us there a real abundant shame free life. Some of you went through this last year carrying a lot of shame, but this year can be different. This year, you can come to him, not just pages in a book, but to Christ himself who is present with you and in you. And you can begin to open up your heart to him so that he might set you free from all the ways that shame has crippled your life. The prayer that I have for my own soul today is that you and I would have the same spirit and heart that Mary had when she heard the good news. She said yes to it. She said yes. May it be unto me as you have just said. Maybe she didn't understand all of it. No doubt she didn't. But she was ready to say yes to God. And maybe that's something that you can do today. Even though you don't understand all things, you can say yes to him who does. You can say yes If you've heard like I heard today in the reading that God intends for us to live without shame, then say yes to that. If you have heard as I have heard today that Jesus has come to take that shame away, To take away any barrier that would keep us from a life with him? Then maybe you and I can both say yes to that. Let me encourage you to say it, even in your unbelief. Go ahead and say it now. Yes, God. I believe. Help me in my unbelief. I say yes to your presence in my life. I say yes to your forgiveness. I say yes to the hope that I can live without shame and in your strength. Maybe you just need to whisper it to yourself. Maybe you need to shout it out loud. It's important that we begin wherever we can. And maybe today, that beginning is simply a whisper of faint hope that maybe it's true. That maybe we can be free. Maybe God really is with us. Maybe Christ really doesn't live in you. Maybe you really are loved by God. Maybe there's a way to live without shame. And to that, I say, yes. That's a prayer that I have for my own soul. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL