Podcasts about Mount Carmel

Without a doubt, the biggest threat to ancient Israel's worship of Yahweh was the rival demon-god Baal, regarded as the chief of all Canaanite deities. The allure of Baal worship was the promise of profit and prosperity. I've chosen four words that tell the story of the showdown between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and frame our role in modern culture.I. Courage (vv. 16-17)II. Contest (vv. 20-40)III. Confrontation (v. 21)IV. Cause (v. 36)Talk with God: Meditate on Matthew 6:24 and ask the Lord to reveal the areas of your life in which you're trying to “serve two masters.”Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer to keep their eyes on Jesus, no matter what they're walking through this week.Talk with kids: Why was it wrong for Saul to make the burnt offering?

Emmett Dowling threw two long touchdown passes to Marshaun Thornton and Mount Carmel knocked off three-time defending 8A champion Loyola 21-17 to remain undefeated in its quest for a fourth straight state title.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Defending state champions Mount Carmel and Loyola will collide for a second time after the Caravan defeated the Ramblers 35-24 in Week 9. St. Rita's rushing attack sparked a win over IC Catholic Prep, while Marist fell just short of the playoffs despite beating Niles Notre Dame.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

There's a prominent addition to the Class 8A field in Mount Carmel, but there's plenty of teams that are hoping than can keep the Caravan from collecting 8A hardware. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 8A Playoffs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Pastor opens today's class with the words from Psalm 135:15-18 "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." We will see the truth of these words in today's study. Elijah' Days: Most of this prophet's ministry was during the height of King Ahab in the north in Israel and King Jehoshaphat in the south in Judah. His name, Elijah, is even prophetic. In Hebrew it literally means, my God is Jehovah. ⁃ A time of great apostasy - under Ahab and Jezebel there was an attempt to get rid of any semblance of worship of the Living God and to supplant God with the worship of Baal. ⁃ A prophet of great faith (Elijah) ⁃ A man of insignificance (very little is know about him, was he even an Israelite?) ⁃ A time of great danger for believers. Ahab and Jezebel sought to destroy God's prophets. ⁃ A ministry of great impact Elijah's ministry is recorded in 1 Kings 17-19, 21 2 Kings 1-2 2 Chronicles 21 Elijah's Ministry: ⁃ Prediction and Provision (1 Kings 17) Elijah speaks that there will not be rain or dew for the next few years. This is a direct attack on King Ahab's gods. And the drought begins. Elijah goes into hiding. There are some great stories of God's miraculous provision for Elijah during the famine. ⁃ Contest at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18-19) God tells Elijah 3 years after the drought started that he was to go to Ahab and tell him that God would send rain. Elijah confronts Ahab about abandoning God and says for Ahab and his people and 850 prophets of Baal to meet him, a prophet of God, at Mt. Carmel and offers them the choice to follow God or Baal. Elijah is severely outnumbered against 850 false prophets, but the contest begins. ⁃ The Contest - those prophets worshiping Baal were told to pray to Baal for Baal to bring fire onto their altar, but it never comes. Elijah then builds his altar of 12 stones (1 for each tribe of Israel), slaughters the bull and then covers the altar in water and at 3pm he prays to God and the fire of the Lord falls on Elijah's altar. When the people see this they fall and cry out, "The Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God!" They destroy the false prophets, and the rains start falling. ⁃ The Aftermath - Elijah runs to Jezreel (the summer palace) where Jezebel threatens him saying she is going to ensure he is killed. Elijah becomes fearful and runs for his life. He hides in the wilderness and becomes very discouraged and depressed. He tells God that he's had enough, and to take his life. Then an angel of the Lord comes and tells him to head to Mt. Sinai where the Lord will appear to him. Join us next week as we continue our study of Elijah! Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Today on the Back Porch (Part 3 of our Mountain & Valley series), Lisa, Allison, and Dr. Jim Howard walk through the theology of peaks and valleys, from Elijah's bold stand on Mount Carmel to his post-victory crash in 1 Kings 19.  Along the way, we explore how God meets our fatigue and grief with rest, renewal, and the gift of community. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and join us on the porch!

There are over a dozen CCL/ESCC teams participating in the IHSA football playoffs this season. Among the playoff qualifiers are defending state champions Mount Carmel, Loyola, Nazareth and Montini. Here are all of the first-round matchups for CCL/ESCC teams.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Water service is out in both Grayville and Mount Carmel as workers take care of some necessary jobs... Sam Taylor, the EPD Officer shot in the line of duty last month, gives an update on his recovery... An apartment building in Mount Carmel had to be evacuated Saturday due to a fire in one unit... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mount Carmel survived Fenwick, while St. Rita and Marist won to keep their playoff hopes alive. Backup QB Iggy Amorrortu led St. Francis over DePaul Prep. Brother Rice, Nazareth, Providence and IC Catholic Prep all earned victories.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Can indecision hold your spiritual life hostage? We explore this compelling question by diving into the dramatic biblical story of Elijah's confrontation with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. This narrative underscores the vital importance of making firm choices and committing to God, especially amidst life's uncertainties. Drawing from the profound insights in James, we emphasize the necessity of seeking God's wisdom to overcome the paralysis of indecision, as wavering beliefs can lead us astray. As we navigate the "valley of decision," inspired by Joel chapter 3, we confront the internal struggles and fears that accompany choice-making. Indecision often stems from fear of the consequences, but recognizing the urgency and judgment that awaits can spur us to action. Here, we learn the importance of taking self-inventory and pursuing wisdom, while considering the eternal consequences of our choices. With examples from notable figures like Charlie Kirk and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, we discuss the transformative power of living for God and the courage required to embrace truth and self-denial. Finally, we reflect on the essence of choosing to live by faith, inspired by the teachings of both scripture and the lives of those who have walked the path before us. Through prayer and seeking God's guidance, we can find the strength to become not just hearers, but doers of the word. Join us as we explore how each decision impacts not only our lives but also future generations, reminding ourselves of the peace and direction found in committing wholeheartedly to faith. Where to dive in: (00:08) Decide (12:32) Valley of Decision and Consequences (22:40) Seeking God's Wisdom for Decision Making (36:51) Choosing to Live for God (44:18) Deciding to Live by Faith (57:07) Choose You This Day (01:05:51) Finding God's Guidance Through Faith Next steps: - Spend Time in the Word: Read the passages mentioned today: 1 Kings 18, James 1, Joel 3, and Joshua 24. - Reflect on what it means to choose God daily — not just in belief, but in every decision. - Ask God for Wisdom Daily: Make it part of your morning routine to say, “Lord, give me wisdom for what's ahead.” Let that simple prayer be your first step toward clarity and peace. - Share This Message: If this episode encouraged you, send it to a friend or family member who might also feel stuck between choices. Sometimes, your obedience opens the door for someone else's freedom. About your host: Jaime Luce' testimony has daunting personal mountains and treacherous financial valleys. She was trapped in day-to-day stress and couldn't see a way forward. But how she started is not how she finished! And she wants you to know God has a plan for your life too, no matter how tough it seems. Today, Jaime has been married to the love of her life for almost three decades, owns two companies, and has become an author and podcaster. God's way is always the blessed way! Free chapter of Jaime's new book: You Don't Need Money, You Just Need God: https://jaimeluce.com/book/ Connect: - Website: https://jaimeluce.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaime.luces.page - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime_luce/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-luce-00395691/

In this episode of "I Love to Tell the Story," hosts Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester explore one of the most dramatic narratives in the Hebrew Bible: Elijah's journey to Mount Horeb and his encounter with God in the "sound of sheer silence" (or "still small voice"). After his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah flees from Queen Jezebel's threats and travels from the northern territories all the way to Mount Horeb in the south—literally going "off the map." Exhausted and despairing, Elijah asks God to take his life, claiming he alone is left faithful to God. But God has other plans. In a powerful theophany (divine appearance), God shows Elijah that the divine presence is not in the mighty wind, earthquake, or fire—as it was for Moses—but in the sound of sheer silence. God redirects the self-righteous prophet back to his calling, reminding him that he's not alone and that his work isn't finished yet. The hosts discuss how this passage functions as a mirror for our own tendencies toward self-righteousness, the importance of reading it dramatically to capture its emotional depth, and how God's gracious persistence calls us out of ourselves and into service for others. TIMECODES: 00:00 Introduction to the Narrative Lectionary 02:06 Elijah's Journey and Emotional Turmoil 08:16 God's Communication and the Theophany 11:49 Elijah's Vocation and God's Call 12:47 Conclusion and Reflection on God's Grace

Nine CCL/ESCC football teams including Mount Carmel, Montini, Nazareth and Brother Rice have won six or more games and secured automatic bids to the IHSA playoffs. Several teams including St. Rita, Loyola and St. Patrick are still in the mix with a week left.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

When God showed up miraculously to consume a sacrifice (and spilled water), and then bring rain out of nowhere for the first time in 3 years.... Jezebel chose to willfully ignore the obvious in pursuit of killing the Voice of Truth. Ironically, we find when Elijah flees, he sees things worse then they really are, making his own deliberate oversights...

When God showed up miraculously to consume a sacrifice (and spilled water), and then bring rain out of nowhere for the first time in 3 years.... Jezebel chose to willfully ignore the obvious in pursuit of killing the Voice of Truth. Ironically, we find when Elijah flees, he sees things worse then they really are, making his own deliberate oversights...

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.Tunc simile erit regnum caelorum decem virginibus : quae accipientes lampades suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae. 2 And five of them were foolish, and five wise.Quinque autem ex eis erant fatuae, et quinque prudentes : 3 But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:sed quinque fatuae, acceptis lampadibus, non sumpserunt oleum secum : 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus. 5 And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.Media autem nocte clamor factus est : Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei. 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.Tunc surrexerunt omnes virgines illae, et ornaverunt lampades suas. 8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.Fatuae autem sapientibus dixerunt : Date nobis de oleo vestro, quia lampades nostrae extinguuntur. 9 The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.Responderunt prudentes, dicentes : Ne forte non sufficiat nobis, et vobis, ite potius ad vendentes, et emite vobis. 10 Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.Dum autem irent emere, venit sponsus : et quae paratae erant, intraverunt cum eo ad nuptias, et clausa est janua. 11 But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.Novissime vero veniunt et reliquae virgines, dicentes : Domine, domine, aperi nobis. 12 But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.At ille respondens, ait : Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. 13 Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.The seraphic St Teresa, born at Avila (Spain) at the age of 18, entered the convent of St Mary of Mount Carmel. As the Reformer of the Carmelites, she re-established the primitive observance of their ancient Rule. On account of her invaluable works on mystical Theology, she may be considered one of the greatest Doctors of the Church. She died A.D. 1582.

St. Laurence took a crucial matchup against St. Patrick, while IC Catholic Prep and St. Francis inched closer to automatic playoff bids. Providence outlasted Loyola and multiple teams including St. Rita, Carmel, Brother Rice, Mount Carmel and Montini picked up victories.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Send us a textWe trace Carmel from Elijah's fire on Mount Carmel to Teresa, John, and Thérèse, showing how silence, detachment, and love shape a steady allegiance to Christ. Along the way we share how Our Lady's scapular, community life, and simple daily prayer can anchor an ordinary life in God.• origins on Mount Carmel and the Rule of Saint Albert• Elijah as spiritual father and model of zeal• Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the brown scapular• allegiance to Jesus through contemplative prayer• Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle and perseverance• John of the Cross and purification in the dark night• Thérèse's Little Way and holiness in small acts• community shaped by silence, charity, and intercession• practical steps to begin a Carmelite practice• resources, retreats, and pilgrimages with Journeys of FaithVisit our website today and take the first step on this journey of faithBrowse our Brown Scapular CollectionBrowse our Carmelite Spirituality CollectionOpen by Steve Bailey Support the show

This week Michael spoke to us about Elijah's dramatic showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel — a story that reveals not just God's power, but His heart to restore His people. Dive deeper into this talk by visiting sps.church/docks Who are we? We are the church on the highway, the church in the docks, the church with the big red door. For hundreds of years we have been a harbour for worshippers. We are full of bold hope and generous love, a chapel of rest for all, a refuge to find peace in the storm and a launching post into the new, the exciting and the undiscovered. Dive in and explore with us. sps.church

Fr. Joseph Dalimata, FSSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Littleton (Denver), Colorado. He was ordained in May of 2021. In Today's Show: How should I interpret receiving roses from Saint Therese?  What should I say to someone who's grieving? If Jesus has a soul and body, where did his soul/body go? Can a priest have a side hobby/business? Is it okay for Catholics to create horror films/books? Do parishes pick and choose newer saints for feast days? Is it sinful to be in a play with copyrighted music being used illegally? How can we trust the Old Testament's accuracy? How were the books in the Bible decided on? Is it a sin if a priest finds a woman attractive? Why did Jesus ask the apostles, "Who do YOU say that I am?" Book recomendations for 11-15 year olds Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Five CCL/ESCC football teams have secured automatic playoff bids through seven weeks of the IHSA regular season. Nazareth, Fenwick and Brother Rice all improved to 6-1, joining Mount Carmel and Montini in the postseason. Several five and four-win teams are still in the hunt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

In this powerful message, we're reminded of God's sovereignty and holiness, and how these attributes should shape our relationship with Him. The central theme revolves around the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, where God's fire consumed the sacrifice, demonstrating His supreme power. This biblical account serves as a metaphor for our own lives - are we allowing God's holy fire to consume us and purify our hearts? We're challenged to examine the 'graven images' we've carved into our hearts - pride, offense, or worldly desires that take God's rightful place. The message urges us to repair our broken altars, those areas of our lives where we've drifted from God's presence. By doing so, we open ourselves to experience the transformative fire of God's holiness, which can purge our iniquities and reignite our passion for Him. This call to holiness is not just about personal purity, but about allowing God's consuming presence to empower us in our daily walk and spiritual warfare.

In this powerful message, we're reminded of God's sovereignty and holiness, and how these attributes should shape our relationship with Him. The central theme revolves around the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, where God's fire consumed the sacrifice, demonstrating His supreme power. This biblical account serves as a metaphor for our own lives - are we allowing God's holy fire to consume us and purify our hearts? We're challenged to examine the 'graven images' we've carved into our hearts - pride, offense, or worldly desires that take God's rightful place. The message urges us to repair our broken altars, those areas of our lives where we've drifted from God's presence. By doing so, we open ourselves to experience the transformative fire of God's holiness, which can purge our iniquities and reignite our passion for Him. This call to holiness is not just about personal purity, but about allowing God's consuming presence to empower us in our daily walk and spiritual warfare.

In this episode, we trace the dark and deadly road that leads to the rise of King Omri in Israel. The northern kingdom had already seen a rapid succession of kings—Nadab, Baasha, Elah, and Zimri—each one assassinating the previous and wiping out entire households to secure the throne. These weren't just political power plays; they were acts of defiance against the warnings and judgments declared by God's prophets, who show up throughout the books of Kings not with comfort but with confrontation.Omri, however, takes this downward spiral to new depths. The biblical text tells us he “did more evil than all who were before him.” He didn't just repeat the sins of Jeroboam—he perfected them, institutionalizing idolatry and setting the stage for a new era of covenant-breaking. And his legacy? A son named Ahab, whose name will be forever linked to Elijah, Mount Carmel, and one of the fiercest showdowns between prophet and king in all of Scripture.But then we shift to the Gospel of Matthew and encounter a radically different kind of king. Jesus stands before John the Baptist not to silence him, but to be baptized by him. Where Israel's kings typically resisted prophetic voices, Jesus seeks the out and honors them. His humility before John marks a new kind of kingship—one that doesn't kill the prophet but listens to him, and even acknowledges their joint participation in God's developmental path. In doing so, Jesus charts a new path, correcting the failures of those who ruled before him.Join us as we explore the story behind Omri's rise, the prophetic pattern of confrontation in Israel's history, and how Jesus' relationship with John reveals a the right relationship between kings and prophets. Key Passages: 1 Kings 16:21-28Matthew 3:13-17Previous Episode on Kings and Prophets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explainer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Video⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on how to use ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.biblehub.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.blueletterbible.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave us a question or comment at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website podcast page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Prophets and the Kings: Elijah on Mount Carmel by LaGrave Church

On Sunday we continued Binge the Bible: Season 2 with this truth:The God who calls us back demands a decision — and Jesus has already made His for you.That's what we saw on Mount Carmel and again in the message of Amos. God's people had been living double lives—offering lip service to Yahweh while chasing Baal for prosperity. Elijah stood on that mountain and asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21).The prophets remind us that we can't have it both ways. To not decide is to decide. And yet, even when we've wandered, the heart of God remains the same—He calls us back.Amos picks up that same call a century later: “Seek good, not evil, that you may live” (Amos 5:14). It's not just a moral checklist; it's a relational invitation. God is saying, “Come home. Seek Me, and live.”We live in a culture that celebrates self-made stories, where everyone writes their own version of truth. But Scripture tells a better one. It's the story of a God who doesn't give up, who rebuilds what's been torn down, who replaces false altars with grace.So here's the invitation this week:Don't just believe God's story—align your life with it.

Mount Carmel and Montini clinched automatic playoff bids, while several CCL/ESCC teams including Brother Rice, Nazareth and Fenwick are sitting comfortably with three weeks left in the regular season. 4-2 teams include Carmel, Loyola. St. Francis and Providence.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Mount Carmel and Montini clinched automatic playoff bids, while several CCL/ESCC teams including Brother Rice, Nazareth and Fenwick are sitting comfortably with three weeks left in the regular season. 4-2 teams include Carmel, Loyola. St. Francis and Providence.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

I Met Elijah Today on the Dusty Roads of HaifaA prophetic encounter on Israel's coast, a call to rebuild the altar, restore true worship, and prepare the way for the Lord. Are we ready for Sukkot? I hope this message blesses and prepares your heart.“Through the gate no calamity will come.Through the dwelling, no calamity will come.Through this door no division will come; through this place no strife will come.In this place, there will be peace and prosperity.”These words mirror the heart of Scripture:Psalm 91:10 — “No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”Psalm 24:7 — “Lift up your heads, you gates… that the King of glory may come in.”Isaiah 32:18 — “My people will live in peaceful dwelling places.”Psalm 133:1 — “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.”This message is more than poetry, it is a prophetic call to restore true worship and stand firm in covenant faithfulness, just as Elijah did on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Elijah's mission was to call a compromised nation back to Yehovah, rebuild the torn-down altar, and reveal that “The LORD, He is God!”What We Receive from Elijah's ExampleRestoration of True Worship – Return to covenant faithfulness and holiness (1 Kings 18:21, 36–39).Power and Prayer in the Spirit – Bold faith that changes nations (James 5:16–18).Spirit of Reconciliation and Preparation – Turning hearts and preparing the way for Yeshua's return (Malachi 4:5–6; Luke 1:16–17).Elijah's spirit is still at work — calling the end-time Body of Messiah to repentance, restoration, and readiness.Like the Atlit detention camp near Haifa, once a place of exile and captivity, many today feel trapped and longing for release. But Yehovah is breaking the chains, opening the gates, and calling His people home.This is a call to rise up — to restore the altar of Yehovah in our hearts and to prepare the way for the coming King. “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” — Deuteronomy 28:6

Senior quarterback Emmett Dowling threw for 352 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the Mount Carmel defense made three red-zone stops during the team's 27-14 win over Brother Rice in a battle of unbeaten, state-ranked programs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Marist and St. Rita snapped their recent losing streaks, while Trae Taylor threw for 5 touchdowns as Carmel scored 70 points against Marian Catholic. Mount Carmel and Brother Rice each improved to 5-0, setting the stage for a massive CCL/ESCC Blue Division showdown.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Have you ever felt stuck in a cycle of worry and negative thoughts? In this podcast, Pastors Jared Moore and Pastor DJ share openly about anxiety and the hope found in Christ. Drawing from Elijah's struggles after Mount Carmel, they reveal how even spiritual giants face anxiety and depression. With biblical insight and practical tools backed by modern research, they show how to replace toxic thoughts with truth and step into God's peace. Tune in to discover how you can experience freedom and rest in Him.--------------------------------RESOURCES:Anxiety Free by Robert Leahy--------------------------------STAY CONNECTED:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/onelifeaz.church/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/onelifeaz.church/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@onelifeaz.church

We explore the profound story of the prophet Elijah's struggle with discouragement and God's response. After his dramatic victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah faces deep despair, feeling alone in his faithfulness to Yahweh. God leads him to Mount Sinai, where He reveals Himself not through powerful natural phenomena, but through a gentle whisper. This pivotal moment teaches Elijah about God's often subtle workings and corrects his perception of being the only faithful one left. The episode delves into themes of prophetic ministry, divine communication, and the challenges of maintaining faith in difficult times.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Showdown on Mount Carmel

In this electrifying message, Bishop Michael Pitts declares that resistance is proof you're advancing. Drawing from the life of Elijah, he reveals how opposition signals progress, how God provides in famine, and how we must never walk alone in the battle. From the showdown on Mount Carmel to the still small voice on Mount Horeb, this word will stir courage, confront spiritual climates, and release the fire of God over your life. Expect prophetic impartation, renewed strength, and a mandate for expansion.

Explore the turbulent reign of King Ahab in the northern kingdom of Israel. Delve into the story of Ahab, son of Omri, as he leads Israel further into idolatry by marrying Jezebel and promoting Baal worship. Witness the dramatic confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, showcasing God's supreme power. Learn about the drought that plagued Israel, Elijah's miraculous provisions, and the first resurrection in the Bible. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

What wonders would a child see while exploring the land of the Bible? From the shores of Caesarea to the heights of Mount Carmel, and even to the Dead Sea, every stop points to God's truth. Join Jim Scudder on InGrace for part two of Israel Through the Eyes of a Child. Join the adventure!

Providence and Marmion are rolling into divisional play, Joliet Catholic stunned Marist on a scramble-drill touchdown and Nazareth held off IC Catholic Prep on a game-winning field goal. Montini held off Fenwick to stay unbeaten and Mount Carmel rolled over St. IgnatiusBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

Come As You Are Series - Elijah1 Kings 19:3-4 “And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there.  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”Elijah is someone we can relate to. He is so real and down to earth. He is a good example to us of real faith. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah gets word from the Lord that he is to go show himself to King Ahab. At this time, God's people were worshiping Baals, the false Gods, and the Lord was not happy. God sent Elijah to show His people He was the one true God. Elijah asked the priest to call all the prophets of the false Gods to the top of Mount Carmel. He called all the people of Israel as well.Once they were all gathered, Elijah told them to build an altar to their God, and he would build an altar to his God. They would take two bulls and each sacrifice one. They would get the sacrifice ready, but would not light it on fire. They would call upon their gods to consume the sacrifice with fire. The false prophets did as they were told, and they called upon Baal all day, but he did not answer them. There was no fire.Then Elijah called the Israelites closer to him, and he rebuilt the altar that used to be there. He also built a trench around the altar. He told the people to get four buckets of water and dump them on the offering and the wood. He had them do this three times. There was so much water that the wood was drenched, and it filled the trench. Then Elijah said, “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.” (1Kings 18:36-37) The Lord sent fire so hot that it consumed the offering, the stones, and even all the water in the trench.The people of Israel immediately fell to their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God.” Elijah had them gather all the false prophets, and he killed them. When Jezebel, Ahab's wife, heard this, she vowed to kill Elijah. This is where today's verse comes in. It says, “And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there.  But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”The reason I said earlier that Elijah was someone we can all relate to is that even though he was just able to call down the fire of the Lord, he is still scared when he finds out his life is in danger. Sometimes we think that if we get scared of something, it must mean that we don't trust God. This story is a great example to show us that it is not true. Elijah called all the people of Israel up on the mountain to see God show His power. He also called 450 false prophets there to tell them to call on their God to consume their sacrifice. This requires a great deal of trust in the Lord. He had to trust that he was really hearing from the Lord. He had to trust that God would show up and consume the sacrifice. He also had to trust that the false God would not show up.God was speaking directly to Elijah. Elijah heard God, did what God told him to do, and then saw God show up in a powerful way. Elijah knows how powerful God is. He knows there is nothing God can't do. Yet, right after this amazing demonstration of his faith and God's power, someone threatens his life, and he is afraid and runs for his life. He not only runs for his life, but he also asks to die. It is crazy how quickly our emotions and feelings can change. I would say that the experience on Mt. Carmel would have had Elijah on a high for days or weeks. He literally called down fire from the Lord. How cool is that? However, almost immediately after that he is running for his life and asking to die.This is how it can be with us as well. Some days we see God do incredible things and know without a doubt He is our Lord and Savior. We trust Him completely. Then something awful happens, and we don't know what to do. We forget to turn to the Lord. We forget how powerful He is. We just get so stuck in the moment and the fear of the situation. Being afraid doesn't mean we don't trust God. We all have weak moments; we are all human. Elijah knew God in a special way. They had a relationship, and Elijah could hear the Lord when He talked to Him.Elijah had just called down fire from heaven. I would think if Jezebel was threatening his life, he could call on the Lord to protect him. Reading this, you wouldn't think that he had any reason to be scared. The Lord is for him, and the Lord is powerful. However, that is not what happened. Instead of turning to the Lord and asking him for protection, Elijah ran for his life. We tend to think when we do this, when we forget to turn to the Lord, or when it looks like we don't trust the Lord, that the Lord is angry with us. We think He turns away from us when we turn away from Him.That is not what this story shows us. Elijah ran for his life. It doesn't say he asked the Lord for help; it just says he got scared and fled for his life. He also asked to die. Many of us have been there before. Things in life felt so scary that we thought that if we died, everything would be better. If we died, our loved ones would be better off, or we would be better off. We think God is mad at us when we have those thoughts. Here is what it says that God did for Elijah when he asked to die. 1 Kings 19:5-8 "Then he lay down and fell asleep under a broom tree; but behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat!” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a round loaf of bread baked on hot coals, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. But the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him, and said, “Arise, eat,  because the journey is too long for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and he journeyed in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.”Was God angry because Elijah ran instead of coming to Him? No. Did he punish him for not having faith that He could protect him and take care of Jezebel? No. God let him take a nap and then sent an angel to wake him up for a snack. Then he let him go back to sleep for a bit longer and then gave him another snack. Does this fit with the idea of what you think God is? If it doesn't, I invite you to take another look at all that God has done for His people in the Bible.God doesn't need you to be perfect all the time. Having fear, worry, or anxiety doesn't mean you have lost your faith or that you don't trust God. We are all human. We are often influenced by this world. We can see a miracle one minute and then wonder if God will come through for us in the next minute. It is important to know that you are not alone when this happens to you. It happens to all of us. Elijah was an amazing prophet, and yet he struggled with feeling like he wanted to die. He knew the Lord, they had a relationship, and often talked, and yet he was not shielded from those emotions. Following God and trusting God does not mean that we will never encounter difficulties again. It means that when we do, He will be there for us even if we don't know that He is.My prayer for you is that by the time we are done this series you would have seen yourself in at least one, but likely several, of these stories and you can see that you are not alone and that no matter what you think you have done, or how bad you think you are, God still wants you to come to Him just as you are. You are never too far gone for the Lord. He can always bring you back. He can always use you. He ALWAYS  loves you!Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless each person listening today. Lord, you are amazing, and we are so grateful. Lord, thank you for looking out for Elijah and giving him rest and a snack. Lord, we ask that you help remind us to take a rest and a snack when we are upset and feel as though we want to die. Lord, we ask that you send an angel to the side of each and every person who asks to die. Lord, we ask that your angel protect them and help them make it through that moment to the next. Help them see that things will get better if they can just hang on. Help them to see that you love them and are right next to them. Help someone in their lives see them and help them. Lord, I ask that you help each person listening to this realize that you want them to come to you just as they are. Lord, help us see through the enemy's lies that no one cares about us, and let us see and feel how much you care about us. We love you, Lord. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are the almighty one, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you have a person in the Bible that you turn to in certain trials because of all they have been through, I would love it if you would reach out on social media and let me know, or email me at Catherine@findingtruenorthcoaching.com. Who do you relate most to in the Bible? I would love to know. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in May 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Are you the same as you were 10 years ago? 50 years ago? No. You are always new. You are always living. You are always growing. And because you open yourself to my grace, you grow in my way. You grow in likeness to me. And it pleases me.” 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

Everybody wants to reap a harvest in life. You do, I do. But sometimes, our lives feel a whole bunch more like a drought than a harvest. So exactly what is my drought about? What exactly is your drought about? Why is God letting this, this drought happen, to you and to me?   Another Drought This week on Christianityworks we are continuing with the series called, “Reaping God's Harvest in My Life.” We all want to reap a harvest but sometimes, well, sometimes life is a bit more about drought than it is about harvest. Why is that? What's going on when we are going through a drought? Maybe you're going through a drought; a dry time; a difficult time, a time where things aren't just going the way you'd like them to go and when that's happening, it's dry and there's no rain and in a lot of countries there are famines when there are droughts. And when there's a drought on, what everybody is hanging out for is what? Well, of course we're all waiting for rain when there's a drought because we know to have a harvest we need rain. It's a very simple cycle – you buy some seed, you plant it, you wait for the rain, the rain comes and then the seed grows into a harvest and then we send out the workers into the field and we gather a harvest. No rain, no harvest! That's right isn't it? Well, let's see. Let's have a look. Last week we looked at Isaac's experience when - if you have a Bible, you can go back and look at it in Genesis chapter 26 – he went and did some silly things but then he went and sowed some seed in the middle of drought and we're told that his harvest, he reaped one hundredfold. So he planted one seed and for every one seed he planted, he reaped one hundred seeds. Today we are going to look at another drought. If you have a Bible, grab it. We are going to go to First Kings chapter 16. This is a time when Elijah, the Tishbite, got involved in a drought because one of the Kings of Israel was doing some silly things. If you have a look in First Kings chapter 16 verse 29, it says this: In the thirty eighth year of King Asa, of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab, son of Omri, reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty two years. Ahab, son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who went before him. Now remember, in the history of Israel, by this time they were in the Promised Land, but the twelve tribes of Israel had split. The ten tribes to the north were referred to as Israel and the two tribes to the south, Judah and Benjamin, were referred to as Judah. That's why we have two Kings that the writer is here talking about. We're talking about Ahab who reigned over Israel, that's the ten tribes to the north and this guy was a bad dude. He was just not one of the good Kings; he did some terribly bad things and so God decided to deal with him by sending a drought. And this is where we see Elijah come, in the beginning of chapter 17 of First Kings and this is what happens. Now Elijah, the Tishbite, of Tishbe, in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. The Word of the Lord came to him saying: “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself in the Wadi of Cherith which is east of the Jordon. So Ahab did bad things; he married Jezebel, he worshipped another god called Baal and so God's response was to send God's man, Elijah, a prophet, to say to the King: “Listen, I am going to send a drought, not only on you but on your whole country.” Now what's going on here? God is a God of grace but He is also a God of great wisdom. God's blessing rains down on us when we are living in His will, when we are living obedient to Him, when we're living in a relationship with Him. He is like any dad, Dad wants to bless His kids but when we rebel, as the King did here, as Ahab clearly rebelled by worshipping other gods. What does God do? Does God throw a tantrum? I mean, is that what God is doing here? No, no! God is being like any father and saying, “Well, if you are going to rebel against me, my heart is to bring you back.” There are consequences to your rebelling, so when we rebel, as Ahab did, against God, God turns the blessing off sometimes. The blessings stop raining down from heaven. If you're a parent who's brought up a teenager, you know that you want to bless them. Don't you? I do! I have a wonderful daughter and I love to bless her but when they rebel; when they turn against us, when they do things that we say "you shouldn't do" because we know that there'll be consequences, well, sometimes we have to withdraw some of the blessings. Why? To be mean? No! To help them to grow; to help them to lift up, to help them to learn that there are consequences to rebellion. And it's the same deal with God, the original Father, sometimes, sometimes our drought is about that very thing. What about your drought? What is your drought about? What droughts have you got in your life at the moment – in relationships or maybe they're in a financial area of your life or maybe in an emotional area of your life? Stop and think for a minute and say, “Where are the areas in my life that I would say – well, I'm not really reaping a harvest there? That part of my life is going through a drought.” Ok then, is there anything that you are doing or not doing in those areas that might have caused God to be a good Dad and stop raining down His blessings on that part of your life? Is God trying to get your attention? We are not doing a guilt trip here. We're not saying, “Well, you know, if I don't do everything a hundred percent perfectly, God's going to come a whack me over the head with a big stick.” No! God's Dad! Jesus referred to Him as ‘Abba‘, Dad. God is a loving Father so we are not doing a guilt trip number. Ok? This is a realistic assessment of our lives and I want to ask you, “Is God speaking to you today and saying, “There is something that you need to turn away from?” Maybe you've got some financial issues and I would ask you, “What does your giving life look like? How much are you giving to God‘s work? How much are you giving to the poor because so often, when we stop giving our very best; giving the top of what we earn to God's work, all of a sudden our finances turn to a mess because God's plan is to use God's people to fund God's work and when we stop giving to God‘s work, then God says, “Well, you know, your life's out of balance,” and all of a sudden we seem to be having a financial drought. Sometimes we're having relationship problems or maybe a problem in a marriage and maybe God's saying, “Well, what's your relationship with me looking like? How come we're not spending any time together at the moment? What drought are you walking through right now? And let me ask you: exactly what is your drought about? I think it's a good question. Not every drought; not every difficult patch; not every wilderness experience that we have in our lives, is because we have made some mistakes. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes other people do things and things are just happening and it's the way life is, but I gotta tell you, sometimes we are doing things that rebel against God like Ahab and God allows drought to come into our lives. The question is what can we do about it? We are going to look now at how Elijah went to be with a neurotic, suicidal widow and we will see exactly what God did.   The Suicidal Widow We are talking this week about reaping God‘s harvest in my life, in your life and sometimes we go through a period of drought in our lives and it's Dad's way of getting our attention. God's way of saying, “Look, there's something in your life that's not quite right.” That's why we need to ask, when we are going through a time of drought, “What is my drought about?” But in a drought, we can spend our whole time hanging out for the drought to break and the drought breaks when? When the rain comes! We have seeds, we plant the seeds and we know we will need rain before the harvest will come. We can be so busy moaning and groaning about the fact that there's no rain, that there's a drought but we miss the whole point of the journey that God has got us on. Elijah was God's man, he didn't do anything wrong. He was God's man in the middle of this drought and he had to get some food and He did provide for him when he went down to that Wadi at Cherith which was east of the Jordon. God said, “You will drink from the Wadi and I'll command the ravens to feed you,” and that's exactly what happened, but eventually the water ran out, even in the Wadi and God said, “Well, you know, Elijah's my man, I am going to provide for him,” and he also had a plan to provide for a woman, a widow. Let's have a quick read of what exactly happened. This is coming from First Kings chapter 17, beginning at verse 8: The Word of the Lord came to Elijah and God said to him: “God now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon and live there for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” He's thinking, “Yes, yes! God has given the food to this widow and she's going to feed me and it's going to be fantastic.” So he goes down there. He sets out to Zarephath and when he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there, gathering sticks and he called her and said: “Bring me a little water in the vessel so that I might drink.” As she was gong to bring it, he called to her and said: “And bring me a morsel of bread in your hand,” but she said: “As the Lord, your God lives, I have nothing baked only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I'm now gathering a couple of sticks so that I can go home and prepare it for myself and my son that we may eat it and die.” Aw, fabulous! Elijah goes all this way down to this Zarephath place and he thinks God's going to provide for him and God gives him an neurotic, suicidal widow, who's about to have her last meal and die. Aw, fabulous, thank you, God! But Elijah says to her: “Do not be afraid. Go and do as I have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me and afterwards make something for yourself and your son, for thus says the Lord God of Israel: “The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain of this earth.” She went and did as Elijah said so that she, as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the Word of the Lord, that He spoke through Elijah.” This is God's amazing provision. If drought was God's way of getting our attention to bring us home, doesn't it follow that He'll sustain us during the drought? If we die in the middle of the drought, it's punishment. If we survive and we learn and we change, that is grace. That is God's blessing from the God of grace. Elijah was a prophet but the drought still affected him and he goes down there and he goes to this widow and he demands something amazing of this widow. He says to her, “Look I know you've got almost nothing left. I know you're about to die and your son is about to die, but first, from the little bit that you have left, cook me something to eat and I promise you that God's blessing will chase you down and your food will not run out until the day that the rain comes on this land.” Can you imagine if you were that widow or I was that widow and this man says, “Gimme, gimme! Gimme what you've got,” and the widow has a choice, either to withhold it – and we now know from this story, if she had withheld from the man of God – she and her son would have died because they would have run out of food. Or she had the choice to give and take a "faith risk". She was sowing seed in drought and she chose to give to Elijah. Question: what's the point of the widow's story? Why is it included? Because if you look at the few chapters around the particular chapter in First Kings, there's a big macro level story going on. There's a King who had sinned, a land full of famine and drought and just after this – we're not going to have time to go there – there's a big picture story where Elijah has a showdown with the prophets of Baal. All this big stuff going on here and we think this macro level is important but at the micro level God tells us here about this widow with no name who is dying, who in faith plants seeds and takes risks and experiences God's blessing. And what God's saying is that the little story is as important as the big story. Here's a guarantee – in the midst of your drought; in the midst of my drought, the Word of God will reach out to us, somehow in some little way and there might be some much bigger things going on as there were here but God will come along and say, “Plant a seed here and now.” A faint whisper, a prophet, the Holy Spirit stirring in our hearts, “Plant seed here and now,” and you know what I've noticed? – often we have a problem; an area in our life where there's drought and God says, “Plant a seed, not in there, not is that field, plant a seed way over here in another field,” and we think, “Hang on a minute, God, these two things have got nothing to do with each other. I need to plant into my field, I need to feed my need,” and God say, “No, don't feed your need, plant my seed.” That's really important – “Don't feed your need, plant my seed.“ The widow could have feed herself and her son first and God said, “No, feed my prophet first.” “God, why do you want me to plant over there, my problem's over here? Why, this is crazy, this doesn't make sense? Why?”   The Lord's Rains Well, we are looking at reaping God's harvest in our lives and we've been looking at the story of Elijah and the widow and this drought and in the middle of this drought, when she had nothing left, God called the widow to sow the very, very little bit of food she had in her hand and give it to the prophet. Now she had a choice – she could have kept it. She could have said, “No, I need to feed my need,” but through Elijah, God said, “Don't feed your need, plant my seed over here, where I tell you.” And so the widow gave Elijah food. She sowed into his belly not her own belly and we saw as we read that story before, that God made sure that she was provided for. That none of her food ran out. Why is that? Why did God say, “Plant your seed over here – not in your need, not is your field – not where you want, do it the way I want you to?” Well, I think what's going on here is that God says, “Put me first.” We want to sow into our belly and that's not God's plan. This little story of this widow – we don't know her name - and Elijah is God's story. It's God's story of grace. It's a fabulous, wonderful miracle that she steps out in faith with her last little bit of food and she ends up with an endless supply of food to carry her through the famine. Isn't that a great story? God does that! When we honour Him, when we put Him first, He blesses us and she must have thought, “Fabulous, everything is going to be wonderful from here on in and then “Bang”! If you have a look at chapter 17, beginning at verse 17, we see that all of a sudden her son dies. After this, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. His illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him and she then said to Elijah: “What have you got against me O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son.” But he said to her: “Give me your son,” and he took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber, where he was lodging and laid him on his own bed. He cried out the Lord: “Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Then Elijah stretched himself upon the child three times and cried out to the Lord: “Lord my God let this child's life come into him,” and the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah and the life of the child came into him again and revived and Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and gave him to his mother and then Elijah said: “See, your son is alive,” so the woman said to Elijah: “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the Word of the Lord in your mouth, is truth. Isn't it amazing how  we are going through a drought and God does some miracles along the way and we think, “Fabulous, we're on easy street and all of a sudden "whack"! It's like three steps forward, five steps back. It happens sometimes. It's often the way – miracle, calamity, another miracle. Why? Well, have a look at what it says in verse 24. Now I know that you're a man of God and that the Word of the Lord, in your mouth, is truth. The reason God lets this happen is so that we learn faith and so that we learn that God will provide; that God will come through. There's so much more in this story that we can't go through in the next chapter, chapter 18 – we don't have time for that but there's God's powerful showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. I really encourage you to read it in chapter 18. But eventually, eventually, the drought comes to an end. This is what happens. Picking it up in chapter 18, verse 41: Elijah said to King Ahab: “Go up and eat and drink for there is the sound of rushing rain.” So Ahab when up to eat and drink and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees and he said to his servant, “Go up now and look forward to the sea.” And the servant went up and looked and he said, “There is nothing.” Then he said go again seven times and at the seventh time the servant said: “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a persons hand is rising up out of the sea,” and then he said: “Go say to King Ahab, “Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind and there was a heavy rain and Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel. But the hand of the Lord was with Elijah and he girded up his loins and ran in front of Ahab, to the entrance of Jezreel. There's a drought. There's been a drought for three years. Nothing's been happening and all of a sudden, it's time for the drought to come to an end and this man, Elijah, speaks the Word of God and says, “There's going to be rushing rain, there's going to be a flood, get home before it happens.” He spoke those words before even one cloud appeared, because he serves the God who calls things that aren't as though they are. What about your drought – your relationship drought or financial drought or health drought or whatever it is – we are walking through life and we are travelling along and we have this sense that – "nothing is really going right for me" – and the Holy Spirit comes along and says, “Plant a seed in another field.” He whispers that into our hearts and we do that and we just decide to be obedient to God and we plant that seed and maybe there's some other big spiritual battle going on, we don't really understand and we think, “Well, God's got to worry about that because I've got to let Him fight that, I can't deal with that.” And one day in your heart, one day in your Spirit, you'll sense that the drought is about to break. Why? Because you've figured out what your drought was about and in your heart you see that little cloud; you see a cloud no bigger than a persons hand is rising out of the sea and in your heart you can rejoice. Before the rains even come, we know. We pray in faith; we give thanks because God takes us through the drought and like that widow, He calls us to plant a seed, to take a risk, to take a step of faith because in the middle of the drought God wants to change us because in the middle of the drought, God wants to grow us because right in the middle of the drought God wants to bless us. And so we experience His blessing in the drought and there are ups and downs and there are days we want to cry and days we want to laugh, but one day the drought finishes. One day when we've figured out what God is doing and we bend our will towards His and we obey Him and we plant a seed in another field. When we finally figure out we have to stop feeding our need and start planting God's seed, then God says,“He's learnt what I wanted him to learn; she's learned what I wanted her to learn.” And then it's time for the drought to break. It'll take time. Droughts always take time and when we're in the middle of the drought it's never a lot of fun. But when the rain comes, it's God's rain. When the blessing comes, it's God's blessing. See if we had planted the seed in our own field, we'd be able to say, “I did it!” but when we take this seed, this Spiritual faith decision that God is calling us to – whatever it is – maybe it's forgiving someone, maybe it's giving money to some ministry, maybe ... whatever God calls us to do. When we plant His seed, in the field of His choosing and the blessing comes and the rain comes and He changed our heart along the way, we know that it's the Lord's rain, we know it's the Lord's blessing and we know it's His flood-tide, and that's so much greater and better and sweeter than you or I could ever do. So let me ask you - what exactly is your drought about?

One moment Elijah is standing in victory on Mount Carmel. The next, he's weary, discouraged, and ready to quit. How do you finish well when life feels heavy and faith feels small? In this finale from 1 Kings 19 through 2 Kings 2, Pastor Joby takes us through Elijah's last chapters where fear, failure, and frailty meet the faithfulness of God. From the still small voice in the cave to the fiery chariots of heaven, we discover that God is not finished with His people. He calls us to raise up the next generation, to walk in both Word and power, and to trust His promises all the way to the end. If you've ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you, or whether God can use you after your darkest days, Elijah's story is a reminder: it's not how you start, but how you finish.

Exodus 20:3 “You must not have any other god but me.”Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.idols made of gold and clay and silverAn IDOL is anything YOU VALUE more than God.IDOL: anything you seek to GIVE YOU what only God can.Colossians 3:5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Idols are not always BAD THINGS.Idols are often GOOD THINGS we put in GOD'S PLACE.Satan will do EVERYTHING to get you to put ANYTHING in God's place. False gods always PROMISE what only the true God can PROVIDE.It's time to STOP WAVERING!I Kings 18:17-20 When he (Ahab) saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.” So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.ONE is always a MAJORITY with God. I Kings 18:21a Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you WAVER between two opinions?”When you RIDE THE FENCE with God, all you end up with is a SPLINTERED LIFE.I Kings 18:21b “If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”“If you're going to be saved, be saved all the way!”—Charles SpurgeonI Kings 18:21c But the people said nothing.I Kings 18:24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”I Kings 18:24b Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”I Kings 18:26-29 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice.  But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.I Kings 18:36-38 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. I Kings 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”It's time to STOP WAVERING!

During this message, we looked the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings chapter 18. Ahab's confrontation was caused by... giving up on God's direction and limping along between two options. This weekend, Pastor Steve Huffman guided us through these two important points as we began our new series Holy Tension. This week be encouraged to anchor yourself to God's word. Full Service

Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Brocard; French by birth, he went to Mount Carmel; he was elected prior, and asked Albert, the patriarch of Jerusalem, to draw up a rule for the monks; this rule became the foundation of the Carmelite order; Brocard ruled for 35 years, and died in 1231 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 9/2/25 Gospel: Luke 4:31-37

There is something oddly invigorating about discovering that one is not the center of the universe. It is rather like opening a window and discovering, to your astonishment, that the world goes on quite well without your personal supervision. This, I believe, is the beginning of wisdom – and the birthplace of humility.Now, humility is not what the modern man imagines it to be. He thinks it a sort of sad apology for existing, a miserable muttering of “I'm not good enough”. But true humility is not thinking less of oneself – it is thinking of oneself less, because one is too busy being stunned by the glory of God. It is precisely in the Catholic spiritual life, that narrow path which twists like a mountain road where humility is not merely a virtue but a necessity. We are attempting the unthinkable: union with God. And in this adventure towards Him, self-importance and our “machismo” ego is not only ludicrous; it is lethal.Saint John of the Cross, that severe and splendid mystic, understood this with mathematical precision. In his Ascent of Mount Carmel, he teaches us that the soul must be stripped of every attachment. One must walk, he says, nada, nada, nada – nothing, nothing, nothing. A man cannot be filled with God if he is already full of himself.St. Teresa of Avila, for all her heavenly visions, was hilariously human. She once complained to God, when thrown from her donkey, “If this is how You treat Your friends, no wonder You have so few.” And yet, in her Interior Castle, she tells us that humility is the mortar that holds the whole soul together. It is not in the ecstasies or raptures that the soul grows, but in the quiet, daily acceptance of its littleness. In knowing, quite simply, that we are creatures and that God is not.It is the great paradox of Christianity that as a man shrinks, he grows. The ladder to heaven begins with a step down. The saints are not giants of will, they are beggars of grace. They have ceased to build Babels and have instead begun to whisper in prayer. The devil fell by pride; the angels rose by obedience. We do not ascend to God by building towers, but by descending into ourselves and finding there – not thrones – but dust.The modern world is filled with slogans urging us to believe in ourselves. But the saints urge us to believe in something far greater: in Him who believed in us first, while we were yet sinners. They urge us to laugh at our own egos and to bend our knees, not as slaves, but as lovers. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give

1 Kings 18:16-4016 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”But the people said nothing.22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed.29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

The Torah in Parashat Shoftim (18:15) introduces the command to obey the instructions of a prophet. Once someone has been confirmed as an authentic prophet, the Torah commands, "Elav Tishma'un" – we must heed everything he tells us to do. The Rambam discusses this command in Hilchot Yesodeh Ha'Torah (9:3), and he explains that it includes an obligation to obey a prophet in the exceptional case where he instructs doing something that the Torah forbids. Even when the prophet tells the people to transgress a Torah law – we are required to comply. However, the Rambam adds, this depends on several conditions. Firstly, and most obviously, the prophet must have previously established his credentials and been recognized as an authentic prophet of G-d. Secondly, this requirement applies only if the prophet calls for a temporary suspension of a Torah command. If, the Rambam writes, a prophet announces the permanent abolition of a Torah law, then not only should he be disobeyed – he is determined to be a false prophet, and must be put to death. The final condition is that the prophet calls for suspending a Torah law other than the prohibition against idol-worship. A prophet who calls upon the people to worship a foreign deity, even as a temporary measure, must not be obeyed. The Rambam draws our attention to a classic example of a prophet who called for a temporary suspension of a Torah command – the story of Eliyahu's confrontation with the prophets of the idol Ba'al. As we read in the Book of Melachim I (chapter 18), Eliyahu assembled the people at Mount Carmel for a "showdown" with the pagan prophets. He invited the prophets of Ba'al to offer a sacrifice to Ba'al, after which he would offer a sacrifice to Hashem, so that the sacrifice which received a response would prove who the true Deity is. The prophets of Ba'al offered their sacrifice, which of course elicited no response, whereupon Eliyahu offered a sacrifice which was miraculously consumed by a fire that descended from the heavens. The people then realized the fallacy of paganism, and the truth of Hashem's existence. Now offering a sacrifice outside the Bet Ha'mikdash constitutes a grave Torah violation, punishable by "Karet." Nevertheless, the people were required to accept Eliyahu's decision to offer a sacrifice on Mount Carmel as a temporary measure necessary for the purpose of opposing the pagan prophets. Rav Meir Simha Ha'kohen of Dvinsk (1843-1926), in his Meshech Hochma (Parashat Re'eh), offers an insight into why the Rambam pointed to this specific incident as an example of a prophet calling for the suspension of a Torah law. He notes that when the Torah introduces the prohibition against offering sacrifices outside the Bet Ha'mikdash, it explains the reason for this command – so that people will not sacrifice to foreign deities ("Ve'lo Yizbehu Od Et Zivhehem La'se'iriim Asher Hem Zonim Aharehem" – Vayikra 17:7). By requiring that all sacrifices must be brought to the Bet Ha'mikdash, the Torah helps ensure that people will not offer sacrifices to false gods. It thus emerges that this prohibition – which Eliyahu temporarily suspended at Mount Carmel – is associated with the prohibition against idolatry, as it is intended as a safeguard against foreign worship. Hence, the Meshech Hochma writes, a prophet does not actually have the authority to suspend this command. As we saw earlier, a prophet must be disobeyed if he orders the people to worship foreign deities – and presumably, this should extend also to commands intended to distance the people from idol worship, such as the prohibition against sacrificing outside the Bet Ha'mikdash. Nevertheless, the Meshech Hochma explains, Eliyahu was allowed to suspend this prohibition, because he did so for the specific purpose of leading the people away from idolatry. Seeing how the worship of Ba'al had become rampant among the nation, Eliyahu realized he needed to resort to drastic measures to convince the people to worship G-d, instead – and this necessitated offering a sacrifice outside the Bet Ha'mikdash. Therefore, although a prophet may not suspend a prohibition associated with the prohibition of idolatry, this is allowed when it serves to distance the people from idolatry. The Meshech Hochma explains on this basis why the Rambam chose specifically this example of a prophet temporarily suspending a Torah law – because this is the most extreme case of a prophet's legitimate suspension of a Torah command, a situation that we would have assumed would require the people's disobedience. Specifically this story exemplifies the extent of the prophet's authority, how he must be obeyed even when he calls for the temporary suspension of a law associated with the prohibition of idolatry when he deems this necessary to lead the people away from idolatry.

Let the Fire Fall: Awakening a Generation to God's PresenceWhat happens when God's fire really falls? It doesn't just inspire you—it changes you.In this special episode of New Path New You, Ron unpacks the heart behind New Path Worship's song Let the Fire Fall and explores how God's fire shows up in Scripture and in our lives today. Through biblical stories and practical application, you'll learn:

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8­–9 NLT) Often after great victories, the greatest challenges and temptations of the Christian life will come. I have found that after great blessings in my life, after God works in a powerful way, the devil will be there to challenge it. Think about it. After God had powerfully worked through Elijah on Mount Carmel, the prophet became so discouraged that he wanted to die. After Jesus was transfigured, He came down from the mountain to find a demon-possessed person waiting for Him. After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, after the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove, and after God said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17 NLT), Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After the dove came the devil. The devil will always be there to challenge whatever God has done. It may come after church, after God has blessed you and spoken to you. You may leave the parking lot and get hit with a heavy-duty temptation. That’s the devil’s way. He wants to make your life miserable. Most importantly, he wants to steal anything that God has done in your life. That’s why you need to heed the warning of the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:8–9 above. You need to stay alert to the devil’s schemes in all settings, in good times and bad. You can’t afford to make the mistake of thinking you can anticipate the devil’s every move. You can certainly anticipate some. If you have self-awareness, you know your areas of vulnerability. You’re all too familiar with the temptations that have worked against you in the past. So, in spiritual battle, you’re likely to be hyper-attuned to them and (understandably) diligent about protecting yourself from them. But when those battles are over, and you walk away victorious, Peter’s warning in 1 Peter 5:8 still applies. “Stay alert!” (NLT). Because if the devil can’t get you to give in to temptation, he may be able to get you to overinflate your ego as you enjoy your victory. Pride can be just as enticing as sexual sin. If you start to believe that you deserve more credit, more followers, or more acknowledgment for your spiritual maturity and good deeds, the devil’s got you just where he wants you. Anything that weakens your faith or testimony is a battle victory for him. The same goes for every other believer in the arena, doing battle with the devil. That’s why it’s always a good battle strategy to pray for any person whom you know God is using. The more you step out to be used by the Lord, the more you can expect opposition from the devil. Reflection question: What are some hidden areas of vulnerability, especially when things are going well, that the devil might exploit in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired By a True Crime Case: In 1932, the quiet town of Blackwood was shattered when unemployed miner Bernard Gorski brutally murdered three of his children, leaving behind a lone survivor and a trail of haunting questions,THE TRUE CRIME CASE THIS STORY IS BASED ON: In July 1932, the quiet coal-mining borough of Lykens, Pennsylvania, was shaken by a horrifying crime. Barney Godleski, a 31‑year‑old unemployed miner, brutally murdered three of his four children—Paul (8), Lillian (6), and Alberta (4)—in the basement of their East Main Street home. Only 10‑year‑old Helen survived, reportedly because she “kept house” for her father and he was “proud” of her. On the morning of July 14, Helen awoke to find her sister missing and bloodstains on her pillow. Following a trail of blood, she found her father with a self‑inflicted throat wound. At his instruction, she fetched local undertaker James Heldt, to whom Barney confessed his crime. Police arrived to find Barney calmly sitting at the kitchen table with the axe and butcher knife he used for the murders. The children's bodies were discovered in the cellar, one nearly decapitated. Barney confessed fully, stating that after a quarrel at a tavern and brooding over his marital troubles—his wife Lucille had left days earlier to work in Mount Carmel—he decided to kill the children and then himself. He admitted sparing Helen intentionally. Lucille, who had a past history of drug addiction and was working under an alias in Mount Carmel, expressed bitter anger and claimed she had feared Barney would harm the children, though locals described Barney as a devoted father and model citizen. Awaiting trial in Dauphin County Jail, Barney attempted suicide multiple times. On July 22, 1932, just eight days after the murders, he succeeded by hanging himself with his shirt sleeves in his cell. He was buried alongside the children he killed. The tragedy spiraled into further hardship for the family: Lucille was arrested for disorderly conduct the following month, and within two years both of her parents died, as did her brother in a mining accident. The eventual fates of Lucille and Helen remain unknown, with records only hinting that Lucille may have moved to New York by 1934. This grim case left behind unanswered questions about Barney's mental state, Lucille's role in the family breakdown, and the lasting impact on the lone surviving child.ORIGINAL CASE SOURCES…https://paoddities.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-lykens-triple-axe-murder-of-1932.htmlhttps://www.lykensvalley.org/three-children-killed-in-axe-murder-in-lykens-1932/https://www.lykensvalley.org/lykens-funeral-for-ax-murder-victims-1932/Music provided by Alibi Music Library= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: July 31, 2025NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/noir-blackwoodhorror#TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoricalTrueCrime #1930sCrime #PennsylvaniaTrueCrime #LykensMurders #FamilyMurders #CoalRegionCrime #TrueCrimeCommunity #CrimeDocumentary #DarkHistory #UnsolvedHistory #TrueCrimeStories