Podcasts about mercy god

This sermon continues our series in Jonah chapter 2. After running from God's call, Jonah finds himself trapped in the dark—buried in distress and unable to save himself. But in that place, he is met by the mercy of God. We explore how Jonah returns to the presence of God, how his prayers are shaped by the Word of God, and how he comes to treasure the grace of God in a new way.Jonah 2 reminds us that even when we flee or feel stuck, grace knows how to find us. If you've been running, drifting, or hiding, this passage calls you to return. To God's presence. To His Word. And to His grace.Key Themes:·Storms of Mercy: God's storms aren't punishment—they're grace. (Jonah 1:17; 2:3)·Prayer in the depths: Jonah's lowest moment becomes his turning point. (Jonah 2:1–2)·Scripture-Shaped Prayer: Jonah prays the Psalms from the deep, reminding us of God's Word in suffering. (Jonah 2:3–7)·Idols and Steadfast Love: When we cling to lesser gods and worship created things, we forfeit the steadfast love of our Creator. (Jonah 2:8)·Salvation Belongs to the Lord: Jonah remembers who saves. Salvation is from the Lord alone. (Jonah 2:9)Key Texts:·Jonah 2·Psalm 69:1–2·Psalm 118:5·Matthew 12:38–41·Luke 15·Exodus 34:6–7·Romans 5:8Support Our Mission:Your generosity helps us proclaim Christ as King and equip disciples to make disciples.https://alloflife.churchcenter.com/givingVisit Our Website:www.alloflife.church

In this kickoff to our new series in Jonah, we explore what happens when God's call disrupts our comfort. Jonah isn't just a story about a fish—it's a deeply personal account of resistance, mercy, and God's unrelenting grace. The same Jesus we encountered in Revelation shows up here too, offering mercy to people who don't deserve it—just like us.Jonah is a prophet called to preach to Nineveh, a violent and brutal city. But instead of obeying, he runs—in the opposite direction. We see his downward spiral, and we wrestle with our own: when God speaks, do we follow or flee? This sermon confronts delayed obedience, self-protection, and the costly fare of rebellion.But God pursues us. He hurls storms not to destroy, but to wake us up—to call us back. And through it all, He's writing a story of mercy.Whether you're young and drifting or older and disillusioned, God's still speaking. Will you respond?Join us as we open Jonah 1 and see how the Word of the Lord comes—not just to Jonah—but to us. And like Jonah, we're invited to rise, repent, and be sent.Key Themes:· The God Who Sends: God calls Jonah to Nineveh—a brutal, pagan city—revealing His heart for even the most wicked. (Jonah 1:1–2)· The Cost of Disobedience: Jonah flees to Tarshish, paying a price to go the wrong way— like we often do. (Jonah 1:3)· Storms of Mercy: God hurls a storm to stop Jonah's escape, not as punishment, but as rescue. (Jonah 1:4–6)· Downward Descent: Every step away from God takes Jonah further down—geographically and spiritually. (Jonah 1:3–5)· Pagans Who See Clearly: The sailors fear God and act with more faith than the prophet, reminding us that sometimes outsiders see truth more clearly than insiders. (Jonah 1:14–16)Reflection:Jonah 1 is not just about a prophet—it's a mirror for us. We all have places we'd rather not go, people we think are beyond mercy, and moments we choose comfort over obedience. Yet God, in relentless grace, speaks into our lives and redirects us—not with shame, but with storms meant to save. As we sit with this text, we're asked a question that echoes in our lives today: When God speaks, will we go? Or will we flee and find that even in our running, God is already there?Key Texts:· Jonah 1· Psalm 139:7–12· Matthew 12:38–41· James 4:17· John 14:26· Mark 4:35–41· Micah 6:6–8Support Our Mission:Your generosity helps us proclaim Christ as King and equip disciples to make disciples. https://alloflife.churchcenter.com/givingVisit Our Website:www.alloflife.church

We gather for mass on the first day of the resurrection, the next Sunday and every Sunday to encounter the risen Lord truly present breathing His resurrected life into us. And as the father sent Jesus to us while we were still unworthy we are called to go and show God's mercy to other others, even those we might think our unworthy. 

Send us a textFocus Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10Why do we need an Extreme Makeover?Dead - Ephesians 2:1Disobedient - Ephesians 2:2Dominated - Ephesians 2:3How does God make all things new?Love - God sees what I can't see.Mercy - God spares me from what I can't stopGrace - God strengthens me where I came up shortWhen God give me an Extreme Makeover, I have a:New LifeNew LevelNew LookNew LoveThe Big So What:The more I stop trying to just get over or get on with life - and instead give over my life to God - He makes my life over, better than I ever could!This Week's Challenge:Read Ephesians Chapters 1-3Memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17Journal - Pray & commit to a makeover area in GodAction - Give 2 people permission to hold you accountable

In this episode I talk with Pat Barett about the upcoming Divine Mercy conference, and he cracks open the heart of Jesus' Divine Mercy for us and shows us that this is much more than merely a set of prayers.https://www.divinemercyconference2025.co.nz/More info on:Instagram @evangelion_nzSpotify Curiously CatholicTikTok @curiouslycatholic

Series: N/AService: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: Emerson, Kris

Discussion QuestionsSermon Overview Rejoice in God's might, mercy, and memory, shown in sending Jesus.The story: the coming of Jesus is cause for joy (vv. 39-45)The song: our joy is fueled by what God's sending of Jesus reveals about himself (vv. 46-56)A. Might: God has done great things to save (vv. 46-49)B. Mercy: God shows his favor to those who fear him (no matter how low in the world's eyes) (vv. 50-53)C. Memory: God remembers his promise to help his believing people (vv. 54-55)Digging Deeper    Read Luke 1:39-56Rejoice in God's might, mercy, and memory, shown in sending Jesus.1. The story: the coming of Jesus is cause for joy (vv. 39-45)For some of us, the Christmas season can be hard for various reasons. And yet, regardless of our circumstances, the coming of Jesus should be a cause for great joy in our hearts. How does Jesus coming to earth give you joy?    What is one step you could take this Christmas season to create time and space to reflect on how the coming of Jesus should lead to greater joy in our hearts?  Luke 1:45 says, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” In your own life, when have you seen the blessing of taking God at his Word?2. The song: our joy is fueled by what God's sending of Jesus reveals about himself (vv. 46-56)A. Might: God has done great things to save (vv. 46-49)How is God's might revealed in his sending of Jesus to earth as a baby? Mary's heart overflows in song to God as she marvels that God would choose her to bear the Messiah. Though not in the same way as he did with Mary, it is God's intention to use each of us to further his kingdom purposes on earth. How have you seen God use you for his purposes in the world (be it in a big way or small)? B. Mercy: God shows his favor to those who fear him (no matter how low in the world's eyes) (vv. 50-53)How is God's mercy revealed in his sending of Jesus to earth as a baby? Why is God's mercy for those who fear him (and implicitly not for those who don't)? Read vv. 51-53 again. How have you seen God do what is described here? C. Memory: God remembers his promise to help his believing people (vv. 54-55)In vv. 54-55 Mary said, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring forever.” How did God do this through his sending of Jesus into the world as a baby? God sent his Son into the world on a mission (cf. Luke 19:10). How should God's purposes in sending Jesus into the world shape our purposes as individuals, Gospel Communities, and as a local church?   Who could you share this story within the coming week? Prayer

24th September, 2024– Experience God's Healing Power as Deacon Don shares incredible stories of healing. In this episode of God's Healing Power Hour, Deacon Don  and Roisin Doherty delve into the significance of dreams as vehicles of divine communication and healing. They explore a poignant listener letter about a traumatic dream that preceded a family […] The post E781 | God's Healing Grace Power Hour – Dreams of Mercy: God's Messages in the Night appeared first on Radio Maria Ireland.

Sermon Summary: God's Unwavering Promises Scripture References: Genesis 27 Key Themes: God's sovereignty, His faithfulness to promises, the importance of pursuing His calling, and the availability of His mercy. Summary: The sermon begins with a reflection on the tumultuous family dynamics depicted in Genesis 27. It highlights the contrasting favoritism between Isaac and Esau, and the deceitful actions of Jacob and Rebekah to secure the coveted blessing. Despite the chaotic events and human shortcomings, the sermon emphasizes that God's plans and purposes remain steadfast. The sermon delves into the cultural context of the time, where the father's blessing was a significant inheritance passed on to the firstborn son. It underscores the importance of understanding the cultural nuances to accurately interpret biblical passages. God's Unwavering Promises: Sovereignty: God's plans and purposes are not hindered by human actions or mistakes. He remains sovereign, orchestrating events according to His divine will. Faithfulness: God's promises are unwavering. He is faithful to His word, and His promises will be fulfilled, regardless of human failures or attempts to thwart His plans. Mercy: God's mercy is available to all, regardless of their shortcomings or past mistakes. Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross provides a path to salvation and reconciliation with God. Pursuing God's Calling: Passion: The sermon encourages listeners to passionately pursue the calling God has placed on their lives. It emphasizes the importance of stepping out of comfort zones and embracing the challenges that may arise. Purpose: God has a unique purpose for each individual. By actively seeking His guidance and following His call, individuals can discover their true potential and contribute to His kingdom. Conclusion: The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging listeners to accept God's mercy, pursue His calling, and trust in His unwavering promises. It emphasizes that God's love and grace are available to all, and that by surrendering to His will, individuals can experience transformation and fulfillment in their lives. Transcript Okay, we're in Genesis 27, and I've asked Kathy, she's going to come and read the chapter for us. It's a long chapter, but it is important to kind of read the whole thing to get a picture of the story together. So Kathy's going to read it for us, all right? Here you go, Doug. When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau, his older son, and said to him, my son, here I am, he answered. Isaac said, I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your equipment, your quiver and bow, and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat so that I may give you my blessing before I die. Now Rebecca was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebecca said to her son Jacob, look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die. Now my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you. Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats so I can prepare some tasty food for your father just the way he likes it. And take it to your father to eat so that he may give you his blessing before he dies. Jacob said to Rebecca, his mother, but my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring him down a curse on myself rather than a blessing. His mother said to him, my son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say. Go and get them for me. So he went and got them and brought them to his mother and she prepared some tasty food just the way his father liked it. Then Rebecca took the best clothes of Esau, her older son, which she had in the house and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. He went to his father and said, my father, yes, my son, he answered, who is it? Jacob said to his father, I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me, please sit up and eat some of my games so that you may give me your blessing. Isaac asked his son, how did you find it so quickly, my son? The Lord your God gave me success, he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not. Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, the voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau, so he proceeded to bless him. Are you really my son Esau, he asked? I am, he replied. Then he said, my son, bring me some of your game to eat so that I may give you my blessing. Jacob brought it to him and he ate, and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, come here, my son, and kiss me. So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you heaven's dew and earth's richness, and an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and people bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed. After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, my father, please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing. His father Isaac asked him, who are you? I am your son, he answered, your firstborn Esau. Isaac trembled violently and said, who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him, and indeed he will be blessed. When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, bless me, me too, my father. But he said, your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing. Esau said, isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me. He took my birthright and now he's taken my blessing. Then he asked, haven't you reserved any blessing for me? Isaac answered Esau, I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives and servants and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son? Esau said to his father, do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father. Then Esau wept aloud. His father Isaac answered him, your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will save your brother, but when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck. Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, the days of mourning for my father are near, then I will kill my brother Jacob. When Rebekah was told what her oldest son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say. Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day? Then Rebekah said to Isaac, I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth the living. That's one passage there, isn't it? But it's really important to get our heads around the whole story of what we're doing. Let's just pray a minute. Father, we just want to thank you for your word that is living and active and sharp and cuts to our heart and divides between joint and spirit, and we pray, Lord, come and speak to us this morning, come and challenge us, come and encourage us, come and move us on in you. In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. So, what is this all about? It's interesting, isn't it? When we go through Genesis, as we have been doing, it's kind of like a bit of a rollercoaster ride, isn't it? Some weeks, it's that we're up here and it's a great story and it's full of faith and we're stirred like the stuff we heard last week, and we think, yeah, we get this, we're for it. And next week, you're into a chapter which is, my word, what are these guys doing? You know, family, huh? What a family. I don't know what your family is like, if it's anything like the one in this story here, or maybe your family is great, I don't know. But when you read a chapter like this, you think, what is going on? How is this? How can this happen? And we're reminded how fickle human character is, and yet how God continually uses fickle human characters like you and I to bring about his plans and his purposes. And just the context of this passage, if you're reading it thinking, what really is going on here, is in the culture and society of that day, it was the custom for the father as they were nearing the end of life to pass on this blessing to their firstborn son. A little bit like, I guess, you might pass on all of your will to the firstborn son. It's that type of thing that's going on in the story here. And yet behind that very practical, earthy thing is the sovereign purpose and promise of God, that we'd seen him speak to Abraham through the earlier chapters, and now passing on through Isaac to the next generation to Jacob. And yet today's passage is a bad story for everybody involved. Back in chapter 25, we read how Rebecca loved Jacob, but Isaac loved Esau. Favoritism never ends well in families, never ends well in families. And we see that in the story today. We see Isaac trying to go against the plan of God that God had spoken to Rebecca when she was pregnant with the twins. We see Esau break his oath that he'd made to his brother Jacob in chapter 25 and end up wanting to murder him. We see Jacob and Rebecca lie and cheat and act deceitfully to get what they want. We see Jacob running away so that his mother, and she's the one, he's the one she loves, his mother never sees him again. And although Jacob and Esau make up by the time we get to chapter 34, their descendants are at each other's throats for generations to come. This is better than EastEnders. Who needs soaps when you've got the Bible, right? And yet through all of this that's going on, yet through all of this, the plans and the purposes of God are unfolding. How on earth can that happen? What is that all about? You see, God's promise to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the sand on the seashore, we saw he spoke that to Abraham, and Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac to be born. And then when Isaac's born, he remains a bachelor for 40 years. That must be so frustrating for Abraham. He's thinking of the tension of how is God's promise going to be fulfilled? And then he's married to Rebecca, and then they have children, and then you think, right, it's going to really take off now. No, things still don't go so well. And that unfolding promise of God to Abraham passes to the next generation through the words of a poorly sighted, aged old man who can't detect the difference between human skin and goat hair. Don't ask me how that one works, right? And by a scheming mother and a scheming younger brother and a very angry older brother. And on the surface, it can seem like the purposes of God are being fulfilled via deceit, via cheating and other dubious practices. And yet, if anything, this chapter speaks volumes about no matter what mistakes you and I make, no matter what naughtiness we get caught up in, no matter what dodgy dealings we have done or schemings we get involved with, God can not only use you, but fulfill his plans and purposes for your life through you, despite all of that. Hallelujah. That is good news. Right? And as we've seen already, we're only at chapter 27 of the first book of the Bible, and we've seen that carry on so often. We've seen Adam and Eve think they can hide from God as he walks in the garden with them. We've seen Noah rescue, not Moses, but Noah rescue all the animals in the flood and save mankind and then as a bit of an issue of alcohol. We've seen Abraham lie and cheat and pretend his wife is his sister and try and manufacture the promise of God. And now we see Isaac and Rebekah caught up with the same sort of shenanigans as they do. Where do people get the idea that God only calls and uses people once they've got everything sorted out? Why do people look at the church and think, oh, they're goody-goodies, they think their life is sorted out? It's tosh. It's wrong. Right? And actually, maybe we should be more transparent about how messed up we are, and then the world would see and realize this is where God works. He doesn't work in the people who have got it all lined up and nicely, neatly boxed off, but he works in the mess and the chaos and the distractions of life that goes on around us. The promises of God, his plans and his purposes are not stopped by the mess and chaos of our human lives, which is good news, isn't it? In fact, they sometimes seem to be the very catalyst that brings about those things. Four things briefly from this chapter, I promise quickly. I just want to say in passing, it's really important when we read passages like this that we get our head around the fact of the culture in which we live today and how we bring that when we read a passage of scripture and this tension of, does our society and our culture tell us how to interpret scripture, or does scripture tell us how to interpret the society and culture round about us? What I mean by that, you can read this passage and feel really sorry for Esau. Oh, come on, be honest, as you read this passage, that's right. I mean, he's just the older brother who's naturally gone to his dad and asked for the blessing, right? And then he's deceived and cheated by his own mum and his younger brother, and we could easily read this and feel sorry for that. And that kind of difficulty is heightened when we look in the New Testament. You know we've got to use scripture to interpret scripture, right? So when Paul talks about this passage in Romans 9, and he's quoting, actually he's quoting Malachi, but he talks about this passage, he says, God says, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. How do we work that out? That doesn't fit very well with our nice Christianity, does it? How can God say something like that? And then he goes on and describes how God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he will have compassion on whom he will have compassion. And they remind us, those verses and this passage remind us that there are times in our lives when we need to lean back into the sovereignty of God, that we do not understand everything. And leaning and recognising that God is sovereign might be a problem for some of you, might be a problem for someone here this morning, but that is such an important part of how we read a passage like this. You know, we all have fallen short, all of us. All of us deserve the judgment of God, and it's only because he is merciful to us. He has chosen to be merciful to us. We do not deserve his grace by definition. We talked about that when we looked at Sodom and Gomorrah, and it's resurfacing again in this passage here. Here we have a passage where God says mercy and grace to Jacob and not to Esau. Now we've got the rest of eternity to kind of discuss that with him, and ask him what was going on, right? But at this point in time, in our lives here, we need to lean back into the sovereignty of God and trust his good and perfect plan. And the point I'm just making, it's really important when we read scripture that we recognise that and take that approach rather than taking what is a common approach in the world today in the society and culture we would live, which is godless at the end of the day, and humanistic and secular, and would come up with a different rationale of how to read that. How to come up with the truth of scripture, learn how to handle it, and interpret the times in which we live through the lens of scripture and not the other way around. So that's the first thing. The second thing I want to talk about is God will fulfil his promises, his word will come to pass. Isaiah 55 tells us that the word of God leaves his mouth and does not return until it has accomplished what it set out to do. Full stop. And we see here the word of the Lord came to Rebekah, you can read it in chapter 25 verse 23, that when she was pregnant, the word of God came to her to say that the older will serve the younger, that the blessing of God will come primarily to the younger child. And although Isaac and Esau tried to change that in the story we've read today, they weren't going to do that because God has spoken. And on the surface it may look like human scheming going on but behind that is the orchestration of God's sovereign plan and purpose, that when God speaks his word it will be fulfilled. Abraham had had to learn that, Isaac had learned that in his life, and now Jacob is beginning to learn that in his young life. You see it's not like when you and I make a promise, you know, because circumstances change for us, don't they, and we reason ourselves out of something we previously promised and say why we've changed our mind about something. Circumstances change, you know. The frivolity of life today reduces the sense of what a promise is, and when we read passages like this we think, oh yeah, God's making a promise, but no, his word will not change. It's not like I observe, maybe this is just the younger generation thing, they go on Facebook to events. Have you seen events on Facebook and you can say whether you're going or whether you're interested or whether you're not going. And I remember chatting to our daughters about this, they say they're going, but they don't go. And they're actually not even intending to go really, but they still say they're going. This is not the kind of promise God makes, all right. He doesn't say, I'm going to say this, but then I'm not really bothered about it. There's not that frivolity. And the problem is the politicians say one thing and do another, as we know really, really well. The characters have a media appearance of what they present through the media, but in real life they are very different so often, and there's challenges going on, and we see that in the news almost week after week, right. And we live in a culture and a society where people's words and people's promises rapidly become meaningless. Nice. That's great. That was obviously the key part of the message. Even in our own lives we change our priorities, so we've just started having our granddaughter three days a week, which is kind of a challenge, and I'm rapidly learning that the list of stuff I thought that we had to do, suddenly the priorities of it all changed because there's this dynamic two-year-old in our life for eight hours a day, and you can't do the things that actually I thought we could do, and we've had to change it all. Not so with God. He's trustworthy. He is committed to his word. He is committed to you and I. He is trustworthy. In Joshua, at the end of Joshua, in chapter 21, after they had gone into the Promised Land and they'd won all their battles and they'd taken it all over, we read this. So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn through their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them. The Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed. Everyone was fulfilled. God keeps his word. When he speaks, it will happen. That starts in Genesis 1 when he speaks and says, let there be light. Guess what? There was light. And he hasn't stopped speaking since, and when he speaks, what he says will happen. Paul says the same thing when he writes to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians chapter 1. He says this, but as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not yes and no. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy was not yes and no, but in him it has always been yes. Well no matter how many promises God has made, they are in Christ, absolutely. And so through him there are many spoken to us, the glory of God. The promises of God are yes in Christ. He is not a God who has changed his mind elsewhere, Paul writes. He's not a man that he would change his mind, but his word is true and faithful and it will come to pass. And we need to get a hold of that in our lives, and I'll just bring that in personally. God has doubtless spoken over your life. Words about his love for you, his passion for you, words about his plans and his purposes for you. Maybe like Rebecca in our story today, that was a long time ago that you heard God speaking. Maybe like Abraham, you've heard God speak and you've tried to make it happen yourself and somehow it hasn't. Maybe you think that you've lost it through getting things messed up in your life like in the story today. So many things can snatch away the promise of God over our lives. The busyness of life, right, can just snatch away what God has spoken into you years, decades previously. The busyness that can snatch, the mess of life. You can start to doubt, did God really say that to me? It just seems really daft and unusual. We can drift away from, we lower the bar of faith in our own lives and we settle for a place of faith and living out our Christianity that actually is where we are just comfortable but it is not where God intended us to be. And he spoke a word to us years ago that actually we've let drift and we no longer respond to that. I'm here to say this morning that what God has promised to you, he will do. I am confident that he who began a good work in you will carry it through to completion until the day of Christ. Hallelujah. That God is true, his word is true and it will be fulfilled. Maybe for you this morning it's a little bit like you've got those embers of God in your life like coals glowing red. They're not raising fire anymore but they've dwindled. Maybe one or two of those coals are black but one or two of them are red. I want to tell you this morning, God is ready to get down with you and start going, I'm blowing on those embers in your life for his word to spring up and start to grow again and new shoots of the Holy Spirit to get a hold of you and transform your life and move you into the plans and purposes that he's got for you. Number three, passionately pursue the calling of God on your life. Because his promises are true, because his word over you will be complete and he will fulfill it, the encouragement to us from this passage is that we should be men and women who passionately pursue what God has called us. On the face of it, we would not condone the scheming and the deceit we see that Rebecca and Jacob do in this story and just to be clear, we don't. And there are plenty of passages in the New Testament where it makes that very clear. However, if we take a step back, what's going on here? Well perhaps Rebecca is remembering the word of God that came to her when she was pregnant all those years previously, that God had spoken and said the blessing of God will come to Jacob and the promise of God that started with Abraham will continue through Jacob. I'm kind of intrigued, this is a bit of a side conversation, I'm kind of intrigued that when we look at Abraham and he tries to manufacture the promise of God by Ishmael, that's clearly wrong and not on and yet what we seem to have here, interestingly enough, it looks a little bit like Rebecca is trying to manufacture the promise of God and make it happen and switch through Jacob. I'll leave you to take that one away and discuss in your groups. But on hearing of what Isaac is about to do and bless Esau, she is stirred to take action and an action that is going to cost her, big time, because she will not see Jacob again. But just think for a minute, if she hadn't taken that action, you know, maybe the blessing would have gone to Esau. Maybe Jacob would have just lived out a life as a home bird, counting down the years, an ordinary life, you know, where the highlight of his life would be Strictly Come Dancing every September and that was it. Maybe he would just be ordinary, he would have missed the blessing of God on his life and my cry this morning is I do not believe Jesus wants you to miss the blessing of God on your life. Today, this week, next month, next year, at all, but he wants us to have it all and to take it all and he is passionate about that and the change in Jacob, whether he ended up just being this home bird guy and just flitting away his life or whether the promise of God came to him and whoosh, he was off, it all hung on Rebecca's determination and passion to do something about it and I want to say this morning, Jesus is that passionate about you and about me that we get a hold of the word that he has for us and that we get a hold of the life that he has for us to transform us. Have you ever been faced with that awkward situation of where there's something you want to do and you kind of don't want to do? You know, you're kind of, it's exciting to do it and I really ought to give it a try but I'm actually scared at the same time. There's a few people in this room who know I once went white water rafting, yeah, once and never again. That's one of those things. I do want to do it, I don't want to do it, I do want to do it, I don't want to do it, you know, because it sounds really exciting and it's thrilling and I'm going to get wet but, you know, and it's difficult and in the end you do it because you don't want to back down in front of your mates but that's a different story, right, but that kind of tension is what is going on here, that actually Jesus is calling you and I to something far greater than just living out three score years and ten or a little bit more and just eking out an existence and then we die and that's it. He's calling us into the purposes of God, that one day Jesus will return for a church that has made itself ready and you and I have been caught up with that and you and I have been given a place and a part to play to help God fulfil his purposes, not just to lean back and just eat through life. You see, here's the deal, do you want to see God's plans and purposes for your life happen? You want to see what he will do in you and through you if you dare to believe. We have the same choice that faced Rebecca here and Jacob here. We can choose just to mooch along in life existing surviving or we can choose to passionately pursue Jesus and his call on our lives instead wherever that takes us across the world or across the street. Last week we weren't able to be here but we prayed for Roland as he went off to Zambia and he's arrived, as we've heard, which is great news but Angie and I remember Roland, we go back to about 1982 when we first knew him and we used to chat about stuff then and he had no idea of any of this but he is a guy who has chosen to passionately follow Jesus as best as he is able to understand it and work it out and pursue it. If we talked to him in 1982 and said Roland, one day you're going to go to Zambia to help launch a massive radical education system to reach some of the distant tribes in that land he would have, I don't know what he would have done, he would have said we're very silly at the very least, you know, had no idea, you do not know where the plans and purposes of God are going to take you once you make yourself available to Jesus for him to use you and get a hold of you and like I say that may be across the world, it may be across the street but you're doing it with Jesus and seeing what he will do through you and in you. Hallelujah. And for some of us it's a little bit like Jesus is a firework, alright, and he's a firework that we've got in the box and we take it out of the box and we read the instructions and then we put him back in the box and we think, ooh, they're a bit dangerous, aren't they? It might go wrong, it might topple over, it might explode, you know, we have to stand at least 200 metres away when we light it, you know, it's dangerous. And Jesus is here this morning to say it's time to light the firework and to let his Holy Spirit ignite you to bring the purpose of God for your life into focus and to get a hold of what Jesus wants to do for you, to say to God, your will, not mine, wherever that goes, whatever that means and I particularly want to say, you know, for a younger generation and bear in mind I'm 62, so make of that what you will, but to a younger generation here this morning, what are you wanting to do for Jesus? What is Jesus speaking to your heart about to stir you up for him, to give you passion for Jesus, for his church, for his mission? Maybe even you're sat here and think, yeah, actually I do feel I've had something of that but it sounds daft to talk about it or embarrassing to talk about it. And I daren't talk about it because it just sounds so out there and it's so not me. But actually Jesus is here this morning to stir your heart and to agitate and to give you and to eyeball you, say this is what I'm calling you to do. And you know, years ago, she reminded me that, and when I say years ago, we were talking about 1980, something like that, we're in a meeting where there's a guy speaking called Alan Vincent and he was talking about passing the baton on to the next generation, to a younger generation. And at that time, 40 years ago, that was us. Well, now it's another generation. This is a story about passing on the baton. This is a story about Isaac passing it on to Jacob and despite the mess around Jacob's life that actually it happens. And so here we are again, you know, there's a baton passing needing to take place to younger people in this room and in this church and even in 146, that actually Jesus is passing on. Will you take up the mantle? Will you take up the baton for him, for his church and for his mission? And that is stirring us up. It's time to step up to the plate, to not be passive. The question is, what is he calling you to do? And finally, I just want to talk briefly about God's mercy for today, because what we see in this passage and throughout the Old Testament is the mercy of God shown to specific undeserving individuals like Jacob at set times. And Jacob goes away from this chapter carrying the blessing of God on his life, not because of anything he had done, not because of his character, but simply because of the mercy of God. And the good news now is that the mercy of God is here for all people, because Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth 2,000 years ago, lived, was tempted in every way as you and I are, yet did not sin or slip up once. He was crucified on false charges, but actually he was killed taking the punishment that you and I justly deserve. He took it for us all, for you and for me. And three days later, God raised him from the dead, and he now sits at God's right hand with all power and authority. And now because of that, the mercy of God is available to all of us. But we have to want it. We have to take it. In the words of Billy Graham, we have to get up out of our seats and walk down to the front and receive it from Jesus. But it does mean no one can sit here this morning and say, I'm so undeserving. How could I possibly do this? Because you're absolutely right. We are all so undeserving. There is nobody more undeserving than anybody else. We're all in the same boat. You can't say and sit here and say, but what I've done is so bad, how could Jesus accept me? Because he took the full consequences of what you have done that is so bad on the cross and those nails pierced his hands and his feet, and he died for you and for me. To take that away. To win freedom and open the way for God's mercy to transform our lives. We've talked about the promises of God this morning, and some of those promises as you come to him are the things that mess up our lives, that trip us up. We can be free of them. Hallelujah. And this morning, maybe Jesus is knocking on the door, but to be in the good of that, you need to ask him in. You need to turn over the running of your life from you to him. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh. And because Yahweh God describes Himself as "abounding in hesed (lovingkindness)" this means Jesus is hesed in the flesh! What an amazing reality!In this episode, Nathan talks about how the Hebrew concept of "hesed" is seen in the New Testament (often translated as "mercy") and examines one specific story in the life of Jesus where He (the God of hesed) goes to the "House of Hesed" to give hesed to a man desperately needing it.-----------------» Join the Deeper Christian community and receive the Deeper Digest each Saturday, which includes all the quotes, articles, podcasts, and resources from Nathan and Deeper Christian from the week to help you grow spiritually.-----------------Deeper Christian Podcast • Episode 333View the shownotes for this episode and get other Christ-centered teaching and resources at: deeperChristian.com/333

Sermon by Fr. Bob Fabey "Mercy- God's Response to a Rebel Heart" 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Psalm 50 is a profound piece of scripture that offers a rich blend of divine authority, judgment, and the call to sincere worship. It is attributed to Asaph, one of King David's chief musicians, and is structured as a divine courtroom scene where God himself is the judge. Structure and Themes 1.Divine Summons (Verses 1-6): •Verses 1-3: The psalm begins with a majestic portrayal of God, the Almighty, summoning the earth from east to west. It describes His appearance as radiant and powerful, with a consuming fire and tempest around Him, emphasizing His supreme authority and holiness. •Verses 4-6: God calls the heavens and the earth to witness His judgment on His people. This section highlights the seriousness of the divine courtroom setting, where God will judge with righteousness. 2.False Worship Condemned (Verses 7-15): •Verses 7-8: God addresses His people, Israel, affirming that He will testify against them despite their sacrifices. •Verses 9-13: God clarifies that He does not need their sacrifices as He owns all creation. This rebukes the misconception that God's favor can be bought with offerings. •Verses 14-15: Instead of mere ritualistic sacrifices, God desires thanksgiving and the fulfillment of vows. He calls for a relationship based on sincere devotion and reliance on Him, promising deliverance to those who call upon Him in times of trouble. 3.Rebuke of the Wicked (Verses 16-21): •Verses 16-17: God confronts the wicked who recite His laws but disregard His commands. •Verses 18-20: Specific sins are enumerated, including theft, adultery, deceit, and slander. This section underscores the hypocrisy of outward religiosity without inward righteousness. •Verse 21: God's silence is interpreted as approval by the wicked, but He warns them of impending judgment and correction. 4.Call to Repentance and Promise of Salvation (Verses 22-23): •Verse 22: A stern warning is given to those who forget God, emphasizing the danger of being torn apart with no one to rescue them. •Verse 23: The psalm concludes with a promise: those who offer thanksgiving honor God, and those who order their way rightly will experience His salvation. Key Messages •God's Ownership: God owns all creation and does not need human offerings, challenging the notion of transactional worship. •True Worship: Genuine worship involves thanksgiving, fulfilling vows, and calling upon God, reflecting a heartfelt relationship rather than mere rituals. •Hypocrisy Exposed: God detests hypocrisy and calls out those who outwardly follow religious practices but live in sin. •Judgment and Mercy: God's judgment is righteous and inevitable, but He offers mercy and salvation to those who repent and align their lives with His will. Application Psalm 50 encourages believers to examine their motives and sincerity in worship. It calls for a shift from external rituals to a deep, personal relationship with God characterized by gratitude, obedience, and trust. This psalm serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty, His desire for genuine devotion, and the seriousness of His judgment against hypocrisy and wickedness.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Hey Winner, The Israelites took the good gifts God gave them, but they rejected the giver. How we do that too, don't we? We forget what God has done for us. We chase after idols or things of this world. Promotion, money, entertainment. We forget to run to the giver who gives these good gifts. And, even so, he's still standing there with open arms for us, waiting for us to return to him. He doesn't turn his back. Yes, he does discipline us when we need just like any good father would do. But He's standing there with grace and mercy calling for us, longing for us. So what path do we choose today? Rooting for you ~ Gabe   CONNECT WITH ME: ➡️ Website: https://redhotmindset.com ➡️ Join the Red Hot Accountability Club: https://redhotmindset.com/rha/ ➡️ Free workshop: 3 pillars to setting and crushing goals in a stress-less, no hustle way https://redhotmindset.com/goals/ ➡️ Free workshop: Turn your knowledge into a coaching offer to make both an impact and an income! https://redhotmindset.com/coach

Ephesians 2:1-10 | Anita Hooley

Message from James Opperman on February 11, 2024

Trevor Lucas - Guest Preacher

When loved ones don't believe in Jesus despite being raised by Christian parents or growing up in church, it can leave us with deep aches and painful questions about God's sovereign choices and our free will. The apostle Paul understood this ache and wrestling. Even as he celebrated the inclusion of Gentile believers into God's family through faith in Jesus, he was distraught by what this same truth meant for Jews who did not come to believe in Jesus. In Romans 9-11, Paul laments his concern for the Jews and demonstrates what it looks like to turn to Scripture to seek wisdom for the concerns of our hearts. Join us as we dig into Paul's teaching, a teaching that informs what we today call the doctrine of predestination. May we find comfort in the truth that God, in his mercy, has chosen us. Like Paul, may the truth of God's mercy give us hope and assurance that God is patient and there is still time for those we love to believe and receive salvation in Jesus Christ.

The final week of our sermon on the New Testament book of Philemon called "Reset". Big Idea: Paul models substitutionary atonement for Philemon, a picture the Lord Jesus Himself modeled when He paid our debt on the cross. I. A Model of The Gospel's Tenets (vs. 17-20) v. 17 - “So if you consider me” - literally “if, therefore, me” Paul appeals to Philemon to change his view of Onesimus; to view him through a different lens. No longer is he a runaway slave. He is now a returning “beloved” brother (v. 16). Paul says treat him in the same manner that Philemon would treat his friend and mentor, Paul. Vs. 18-19 - Look at the words “charge” and “repay.” It's transactional. It's that simple. No emotion is needed. Paul says in Onesimus has wronged Philemon, stolen anything, damaged anything, Paul literally says he'll cover the bill. This is penal substitutionary atonement… We have a sin debt we can't pay. So, Jesus went to the Lord on our behalf and said, “Father, if they owe you anything, I will repay it.” v. 19b - “to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.” Let's unpack this. Paul isn't saying that Philemon owes Paul his life or soul. That, always and forever, belongs to Jesus. But, Paul did, most likely, share the gospel and disciple Philemon, so Paul seems to be asking for a little latitude on behalf of Onesimus. RC Sproul says this about grace, “It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace. Grace by definition is undeserved. As soon as we talk about deserving something we are no longer talking about grace; we are talking about justice. Only justice can be deserved…God never “owes” grace….God reserves for Himself the supreme right of executive clemency.” MERCY - God withholding that which we do deserve (His wrath). (EPHESIANS 2:1-6) GRACE - God imputing that which we do NOT deserve (His forgiveness). (EPHESIANS 2:7-9) V. 20 - Philemon forgiving and reconciling with Onesimus would be a “refreshing” of Paul's spirit. When we forgive and reconcile, the Lord is refreshed. Also, the house church is refreshed to see a display of selflessness and unity. II. A Model of The Gospel's Triumph's (vs. 21-22) Vs. 21-22 - Valuable theology is found here. We see the correlation between knowing the scriptures, and doing what the scriptures command. Paul is confident that the grace he once showed Philemon can and will be replicated in his encounter with Onesimus. One day, Paul hoped to be released from to come back to Colossae and see how things turned out. V. 21 - Paul knew that Philemon probably just needed a little perspective, and that he would most likely go far beyond what Paul is asking. That kind of trust is somewhat scarce in our society these days. III. A Model of the Gospel's Testimony (vs. 23-25) You do know that people watch us, right? We profess to be Christians, and they want to see if we're willing to put our figurative (and sometimes literal) “money where our mouths are.” They want to know that we don't just preach the gospel, we give testimony to it! vs. 23-24 - These are names…and names mean things. These men are also watching to make sure Philemon lives the gospel he proclaims. Let's introduce you to these men (hat tip to my seminary president, Dr. Danny Akin, for the assist with these biographies): 1) Epaphras was from Colossae and certainly well known to Philemon (Col. 1:7-8; 4:12-13), but now he is imprisoned alongside Paul in Rome. Paul sees Epaphras as he sees himself, not as a prisoner of the Empire but as a prisoner “Christ Jesus.” He is where he is because he is captive to Christ. 2) Mark is John Mark, author of our 2nd Gospel. Formerly, like Onesimus, he had been useless (Acts 15:38), but now he was useful both to Paul and the Lord (see esp. 2 Tim. 4:11). 3) Aristarchus was a close associate of Paul possibly from Macedonia (Acts 19:29; 20:4). He had traveled with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2). Colossians 4:10 calls him Paul's “fellow prisoner.” Tradition says he was martyred in Rome during the persecution under Nero (MacArthur, 230). 4) Demus is honorably mentioned here and in Colossians 4:14. However, 2 Timothy 4:11 informs us that he deserted Paul, “because he loved the present world.” 5) Luke is “the dearly loved physician” (Col. 4:14) who penned the 2 volume work Luke-Acts. Some believe he may also have written Hebrews. He traveled with Paul, helped care for him, and became a dear and faithful friend. He was the only person with Paul in the last days of his 2nd Roman imprisonment as he waited execution (2 Tim. 4:11). These men, then, stand with Paul on behalf of Onesimus. Paul knew they were faithful and trustworthy, and so did Philemon. Their “vote” in favor of Onesimus would have carried significant weight. As a matter of fact, these men are nearly an identical rendering of the greetings to the church at Colossae. Philemon knew these men. Their vouching for Onesimus would carry weight. v. 25 - I love how Paul ends here. He ends the way he began this letter…with Jesus.

The final week of our sermon on the New Testament book of Philemon called "Reset". Big Idea: Paul models substitutionary atonement for Philemon, a picture the Lord Jesus Himself modeled when He paid our debt on the cross. I. A Model of The Gospel's Tenets (vs. 17-20) v. 17 - “So if you consider me” - literally “if, therefore, me” Paul appeals to Philemon to change his view of Onesimus; to view him through a different lens. No longer is he a runaway slave. He is now a returning “beloved” brother (v. 16). Paul says treat him in the same manner that Philemon would treat his friend and mentor, Paul. Vs. 18-19 - Look at the words “charge” and “repay.” It's transactional. It's that simple. No emotion is needed. Paul says in Onesimus has wronged Philemon, stolen anything, damaged anything, Paul literally says he'll cover the bill. This is penal substitutionary atonement… We have a sin debt we can't pay. So, Jesus went to the Lord on our behalf and said, “Father, if they owe you anything, I will repay it.” v. 19b - “to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.” Let's unpack this. Paul isn't saying that Philemon owes Paul his life or soul. That, always and forever, belongs to Jesus. But, Paul did, most likely, share the gospel and disciple Philemon, so Paul seems to be asking for a little latitude on behalf of Onesimus. RC Sproul says this about grace, “It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace. Grace by definition is undeserved. As soon as we talk about deserving something we are no longer talking about grace; we are talking about justice. Only justice can be deserved…God never “owes” grace….God reserves for Himself the supreme right of executive clemency.” MERCY - God withholding that which we do deserve (His wrath). (EPHESIANS 2:1-6) GRACE - God imputing that which we do NOT deserve (His forgiveness). (EPHESIANS 2:7-9) V. 20 - Philemon forgiving and reconciling with Onesimus would be a “refreshing” of Paul's spirit. When we forgive and reconcile, the Lord is refreshed. Also, the house church is refreshed to see a display of selflessness and unity. II. A Model of The Gospel's Triumph's (vs. 21-22) Vs. 21-22 - Valuable theology is found here. We see the correlation between knowing the scriptures, and doing what the scriptures command. Paul is confident that the grace he once showed Philemon can and will be replicated in his encounter with Onesimus. One day, Paul hoped to be released from to come back to Colossae and see how things turned out. V. 21 - Paul knew that Philemon probably just needed a little perspective, and that he would most likely go far beyond what Paul is asking. That kind of trust is somewhat scarce in our society these days. III. A Model of the Gospel's Testimony (vs. 23-25) You do know that people watch us, right? We profess to be Christians, and they want to see if we're willing to put our figurative (and sometimes literal) “money where our mouths are.” They want to know that we don't just preach the gospel, we give testimony to it! vs. 23-24 - These are names…and names mean things. These men are also watching to make sure Philemon lives the gospel he proclaims. Let's introduce you to these men (hat tip to my seminary president, Dr. Danny Akin, for the assist with these biographies): 1) Epaphras was from Colossae and certainly well known to Philemon (Col. 1:7-8; 4:12-13), but now he is imprisoned alongside Paul in Rome. Paul sees Epaphras as he sees himself, not as a prisoner of the Empire but as a prisoner “Christ Jesus.” He is where he is because he is captive to Christ. 2) Mark is John Mark, author of our 2nd Gospel. Formerly, like Onesimus, he had been useless (Acts 15:38), but now he was useful both to Paul and the Lord (see esp. 2 Tim. 4:11). 3) Aristarchus was a close associate of Paul possibly from Macedonia (Acts 19:29; 20:4). He had traveled with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2). Colossians 4:10 calls him Paul's “fellow prisoner.” Tradition says he was martyred in Rome during the persecution under Nero (MacArthur, 230). 4) Demus is honorably mentioned here and in Colossians 4:14. However, 2 Timothy 4:11 informs us that he deserted Paul, “because he loved the present world.” 5) Luke is “the dearly loved physician” (Col. 4:14) who penned the 2 volume work Luke-Acts. Some believe he may also have written Hebrews. He traveled with Paul, helped care for him, and became a dear and faithful friend. He was the only person with Paul in the last days of his 2nd Roman imprisonment as he waited execution (2 Tim. 4:11). These men, then, stand with Paul on behalf of Onesimus. Paul knew they were faithful and trustworthy, and so did Philemon. Their “vote” in favor of Onesimus would have carried significant weight. As a matter of fact, these men are nearly an identical rendering of the greetings to the church at Colossae. Philemon knew these men. Their vouching for Onesimus would carry weight. v. 25 - I love how Paul ends here. He ends the way he began this letter…with Jesus.

In today's episode, Mother Miriam continues her reading on the divine attributes, specifically on God's mercy and compassion.To help keep this and other programs on the air, please donate: https://give.lifesitenews.com/sustainlife?utm_source=mml_042423You can tune in daily at 10 am EST/7 am PST on our Facebook Page: http://FB.com/mothermiriamliveSubscribe to Mother Miriam Live at: http://bit.ly/submml Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you have prayed the “Hail Mary” prayer, then you have prayed for your last hour in this world: “Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” Death is frightening to many people, and the hour of our death is not usually something we want to think about. But the “hour of our death” is a moment we should all look forward to with the utmost joy and anticipation. And we will look forward to it only if we are at peace with God, within our soul. If we have regularly confessed our sins and sought the presence of God throughout life, then our last hour will be one of great comfort and joy, even if it is mixed with suffering and pain (See Diary #321). Think about that hour. If God were to give you the grace to prepare for that hour many months in advance, how would you prepare? What would you do differently so as to be ready for your final passing? Whatever comes to mind is most likely that which you should do today. Do not wait until the time is near to prepare your heart for your passing from death to new life. See that “hour” as an hour of the greatest grace. Pray for it, anticipate it and be watchful for the abundance of Mercy God wishes to bestow upon you, one day, at the glorious conclusion of your earthly life.Lord, help me to be rid of all fear of death. Help me to continually remember that this world is but a preparation for the next. Help me to keep my eyes on that moment and to always anticipate the abundance of Mercy You will bestow. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: www.divinemercy.lifeCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

We frequently concentrate on the immense, limitless mercy that God has extended to us. We now need to evaluate how we have been merciful to others and perhaps even to ourselves. Where is it a problem for you to be merciful? We might not be hospitable to strangers, or we might lack forgiveness or compassion for people who are dependent on others or beg. Every single one of us struggles with someone or something. Throughout my time in high school and college, as well as after I got married, I worked in retail. One of my issues is putting up with obnoxious or ignorant store clerks who try to upsell me something. I try. A blog post for this episode is also available https://saginawmichigansvsu1saginawcares.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/often-we-focus-on-the-great-unearned-unlimited-mercy-god-has-shown-us-now-we-need-to-consider-how-we-have-shown-mercy-to-others-and-maybe-even-to-ourselves/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blogs-2-u/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blogs-2-u/support

In tender mercy, God sends a messenger to prepare his people for the coming of his Son.--1. who John is-2. why John came

In tender mercy, God sends a messenger to prepare his people for the coming of his Son.--1. who John is-2. why John came

Use your voice to proclaim God's mercy to the next generation.

Use your voice to proclaim God's mercy to the next generation.

Luke 19:1–10 Jesus and Zacchaeus [1] He entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. [3] And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. [4] So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. [5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” [8] And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (ESV) Questions to think about: 1. What currently motivates my giving? If it's not God's Grace and Mercy, what would it look like for my giving to be motivated by His Grace and Mercy? How might starting from that place transform the way I approach this invitation from God? 2. If I currently do not give anything to my congregation why is this? How might Jesus be inviting me to grow in this area? 3. Regardless of my income, age, or life situation, when it comes to the amount I give does my giving show a heart moved an motivated by the Gospel? What would it look like for the amount that I give to be shaped by the amount of Grace and Mercy God has shown me?

When we run and hide from God, when we conceal our secret sins, God comes looking for us. Because God never gives up on those He loves. In this passage, Jonah tried to run from God. So, God sent a ferocious storm and a giant fish to bring Jonah back; because God loved Jonah. This sermon explores three things about the relentless pursuit of “The Lord of the Storm.”   The Chance of Discovery: God brings Jonah's rebellion into the light through the storm He sent. If God loved Jonah less, He'd let him go. But in His mercy and grace, God brings Jonah's rebellion into the light. Takeaway: Confession is grace. God is bringing our rebellion into the light because He loves us too much to let us self-destruct. Confession is our first step toward healing. The Sentence of Death: All Jonah must do is repent and cry out for mercy for God to respond. But Jonah doesn't do that, and in his stubbornness continues to run from God. So, God makes Jonah own the deadliness of his sin. Takeaway: Conviction is grace. Have you ever been overwhelmed with conviction over the deadliness of your sin? That's grace; because it is under the weight of conviction that we cry out for mercy, and it is the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance, which leads to life. Confession and conviction feel like death, but they are grace that leads to life. The Depths of Mercy: God's mercy knows no depths, and there's fathomless grace beneath the waves. So, God sends the fish and intends for Jonah to stay there until he has a change of heart. With this fish, God rescues Jonah from the watery grave. Instead of instant death, Jonah gets more time, a chance to repent, to cry out for mercy, and to discover that God is gracious and merciful. Takeaway: Continuation is grace. Another day, another chance to repent, to cry out for mercy, and to discover God's unrelenting grace for undeserving people.   God is unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people. Even when we run and hide in our stubbornness and pride, God always comes looking for us. Because God never gives up on those He loves. His grace is relentless.   Jonah 1:7-17   Living the Message episode: https://youtu.be/zJi6G-8i7vc

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Love Reaching Out To MiseryWhat is Mercy? GOD'S Definition Vs. The WORLD'S Definition - Matthew KellyGet Matthew's 60 Second Wisdom delivered to your inbox: https://www.matthewkelly.com/subscribeVideo Transcript:“What is Mercy? The world's definition of mercy is “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.” But the mercy of God is much more than an act of pardon or the cancellation of punishment. It is more dynamic than the passivity of looking the other way. It is intimate and deeply personal. And so, we ask again, what is mercy? Mercy is love reaching out to misery. Love reaching out to misery. When we need God's mercy, we are miserable, the two go hand in hand. Sometimes it is misery that we have caused ourselves, sometimes we are the victims of misery someone else has caused, and sometimes our misery is caused by the inexplicable accidents, disasters, and tragedies of life. Just know this, next time you are miserable, God is reaching out to you. And that reaching out is love reaching out to misery. I have seen human beings bestow astounding mercy on other human beings. How does that happen? Made in the image of God we are capable of mercy. So, imagine how vast and infinite God's mercy must be.God's mercy is bigger than any mistake any of his children can make. Such is the mercy of God. God is the love continuously reaching out to us when we are in misery.”If you have not read LIFE IS MESSY, order your copy today: https://amzn.to/2TTgZKn Subscribe to Matthew's YouTube Channel today! https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewKellyAuthor/featured?sub_confirmation=1https://www.matthewkelly.comGet Matthew's 60 Second Wisdom delivered to your inbox: https://www.matthewkelly.com/subscribe The Best Version of Yourself and 60 Second Wisdom are registered trademarks.#MatthewKelly #BestVersionOfYourself #BestVersion #ThoughtLeader

We delve into understanding the MERCIES of God and how mercy and GRACE work together.

Message: “A Psalm of Mercy - God's Mercy vs Our Sin” Psalm 51:1-4, 9-12 from Pastor Koeppen Find out more at https://stpauls.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-57b0f5 for 40% off for 4 months, and support St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Bourbonnais, IL).

Lesson presented at The Crossings Church Collinsville in Collinsville, IL – a non-denominational church that meets Sunday mornings at 2002 Mall Street, Collinsville, IL just outside of St. Louis. For more like this, visit the sermons page at https://crossingscollinsville.com/ The post Wes Woodell – Miracle of Mercy: God's Mercy, My Failures appeared first on The Crossings Church Collinsville.

Reflection 80: At the Hour of Our DeathIf you have prayed the “Hail Mary” prayer, then you have prayed for your last hour in this world: “Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.” Death is frightening to many people, and the hour of our death is not usually something we want to think about. But the “hour of our death” is a moment we should all look forward to with the utmost joy and anticipation. And we will look forward to it only if we are at peace with God, within our soul. If we have regularly confessed our sins and sought the presence of God throughout life, then our last hour will be one of great comfort and joy, even if it is mixed with suffering and pain (See Diary #321). Think about that hour. If God were to give you the grace to prepare for that hour many months in advance, how would you prepare? What would you do differently so as to be ready for your final passing? Whatever comes to mind is most likely that which you should do today. Do not wait until the time is near to prepare your heart for your passing from death to new life. See that “hour” as an hour of the greatest grace. Pray for it, anticipate it and be watchful for the abundance of Mercy God wishes to bestow upon you, one day, at the glorious conclusion of your earthly life.Lord, help me to be rid of all fear of death. Help me to continually remember that this world is but a preparation for the next. Help me to keep my eyes on that moment and to always anticipate the abundance of Mercy You will bestow. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: www.divinemercy.lifeCopyright © 2022 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In this devotional you will learn that God has all the right to show mercy to anyone He chose. May you become the object of His mercy in Jesus Name. Amen.

When God proclaimed Himself merciful, we must accept His mercies and walk in it daily. Without His mercies, we all would be lost and gone into oblivion.

Generation Z is known as “social justice warriors.” This generation really does seem to care about doing what is right, and have an eye for the vulnerable in society. From protests, boycotts and cancel culture, they have a particular view of justice. But how does that compare to God's view of justice? Questions to ponder with your girl: 1. What does justice mean to you? 2. What do you think about public shaming? 3. What's the difference between consequences and cancel culture? 4. What's God's view of justice differ from our society's view of justice? Resources: Bible Project Justice Video: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/justice/ *** Follow Robrenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robrennaredl/ Image Credit: Getty/Svetlana Shamshurina

This final teaching in our Magnificent Mercy series on the magnificat in Luke chapter 1 explores God's faithfulness. God's faithful mercy is not grounded on our performance but on his character. Preached in Baltimore City by Ian McFadden on December 19th, 2021.

Public reading of Mary's Magnificat was forbidden in British ruled India because it was deemed to be too revolutionary. This week's teaching explores God's justice in Luke 1:51-53.

This teaching on Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:50) explores how God's love is transgenerational. God loves to bless and to work across generations of relationships, whether they are biological, adoptive or spiritual. We explore some practical ways to partner with God in transgenerational blessing.

How God Reveals in the New Book Love Letters from God: My Love for you Never Ends, His Passionate Love for you.Love Letters from God are messages from the Heart of God, revealed through His Word to draw you closer into a Deep, Personal Experience with Him. Encouraging personal messages of your Heavenly Father's Tender Love, which the Holy Spirit whispers from the Scriptures into your innermost being, revealing the Grace and Mercy God has lavished upon you as His child. (Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:12)Each message offers encouragement in your daily life and provides inspiration and Strength as you cope with life's challenges. Let the Holy Spirit guide you through the message, giving you rich and enlightened thoughts so that you can experience for yourself the astonishing Love of Christ in all its infinite and innumerable dimensions. (Ephesians 3:19)God wants you to enjoy your New Life in Christ, to have Fullness of Joy, His Life to the fullest measure. When you are worried, anxious, feeling overwhelmed, run-down, weak, and distressed, these messages from the Word of God can lift your spirits and give you a fresh, God-Centered Perspective, Hope, and Victory!

We continue our exploration of who God is with a look at Justice and Mercy. Justice is what should be and dispensing of punishment for what is not. Mercy God's compassionate love toward us. We all deserve justice for our sin, but Jesus Christ and God's Mercy provides a way for justice to be fulfilled.

Leviticus 25-26 Even though the people didn't trust God to provide for them by letting their land lay fallow each 7th year, (25:4, 25:20-21), and would suffer consequences for their lack of faith (26:33-35), God will keep his promises to them. (26:44-45) Numbers represents the last approximately 39 years of the 40 years of the Israelites' wanderings on their way to their Promised Land. They could have made the journey in 40 DAYS if they had trusted God. Let us learn from this, and trust God, instead of our own humanistic, worldly thinking, to guide us as we are on our OWN journey to the Promised Land. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/catholicbiblestudy/support

To help this podcast grow, make sure you share, follow, and turn on notifications for new episodes! Thank you for joining me on this podcasting and life journey! Blessings...I hope You're enjoying the content! New Content comes as this podcast grows. Follow and turn on notifications to keep up with new episodes ;) Thanks!In this episode I'm whispering an encouraging word. I pray this helps someone. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/whisper-grace/message

Jesus & The Godhead, (The Trinity!) Weekly: M-F, 7-8AM; Sat-Sun, 6-8AM(CST);Email: gpwf@yahoo.com; Website: rahardin.com; --Bio, Books, Video, Pods,****The Trinity of God did not exist prior to Jesus being exalted to the fullness of the Godhead. In Genesis Chapters 39-50, The Pharoah ruled Egypt by His Word. When Joseph was exalted to the 2nd highest position in Egypt and given the rule in Egypt, except for over the Pharoah, the rule of Egypt changed to the Pharoah, Joseph and their "word." In the Old Testament, God ruled through His Spoken Word, Christ. When Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead, the rule of God's Kingdom in the New Testament changed to: God, Jesus and their "Spoken Word, Christ." Joseph was in the second highest position in Egypt, with full authority to rule Egypt (except over the Pharoah), but God was so pleased with Jesus, that God exalted Jesus through the second high mediator or second highest position to the fullness of the Godhead and to equality with God. Remember it was Jesus, the man, who died on the cross for us, not Christ, Who is the living spoken Word of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, the living Word of God, Christ, left Jesus' heart and left Jesus the man to die alone on the cross. That is when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me" because Christ, the Spirit of God, had just left His heart. The man, Jesus, died alone for our sins; Christ, the living spoken Word of God did not die for us. After Jesus was exalted to the fullness of the Godhead; God, Jesus and Christ are the same in the new covenant, but in the Old Testament, Isaiah 59:21 and Psalms 25:10 state the Godhead was God and His Spoken Living Word and Truth/Christ, as the Godhead. Ps 25:10 states, "All the paths of the Lord are Mercy (God's Spirit, Love,) and Truth (God's Word, Christ) unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies or (All people seeking to obey and serve God). Is 59:21 God states, "As for me, this is my covenant with them (All of God's people as above), saith the Lord; 'My Spirit (Mercy) that is upon thee, and My Words (Truth, Christ) which I have put in thy mouth, ..." Truth and Christ, God's Living Word, is the Christ spoken of in Heb 11:26 as spoken of Moses, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt..." God spoke His Word, Christ, to Moses, and Moses respected, accepted and obeyed God's Word, Christ. In the New Testament Covenant, God puts His spoken Word Christ in our Hearts and that process is called the work of Grace as He creates in us a new heart and puts Christ, His Living Word, in us as His Children. We have His Mercy(Spirit) on us, His Spoken Words to us(our minds) and His Spoken Words in us (Grace) if we respect, accept and invite Him to put His Living Word (Christ) into our hearts! on @KLRNRadio.com 7AM CST Mon #GPWF #Christian or anytime on rahardin.com (Radio)