Podcasts about My God

kenn.blanchard@gmail.com    Matthew 27:32-56 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.    

Believing leads to belongingActs 2:47 (NKJV) - And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.Ephesians 1:22–23 (MSG) - He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center ofall this, Christ rules the church. 23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world isperipheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fillseverything with his presence.If you believe…you will seeJohn 3:3–7 (NLT) - Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see theKingdom of God.” 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spirituallife. 7 So don't be surprised when I say, ‘You mustJohn 20:26–29 (MSG) - Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas waswith them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” 27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your handand stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe.” 28 Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” 29 Jesussaid, “So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store forthose who believe without seeing.”

The whole resurrection of Jesus thing – can be a bit hard to swallow. I mean – did it really happen? And if it did, what does it mean for us here and now?   A Crazy Morning Let me paint you a picture. Just the other day, someone you love has passed away. You really admired and trusted this person. I mean, you'd seen them in operation and now they're gone. It's a shock. It shouldn't have happened. They were so young and so full of potential and promise; they had a future. And now that person's gone. It takes some time to come to grips with that sort of a loss. The shock, the sadness, even anger – we go through all sorts of different stages in that grieving process. You wake up with that dull headache in your head … what's it about? And then you remember your loss. But the phone rings and it's another friend and they're ranting and they're raving that this person who was dead, they're saying, "He's alive! He's alive! I've seen him!" Hang on a minute, what sort of a crackpot is this. What's going on? Is this some sick joke? But your friend's adamant. "He's alive!" Now what? How do you react to that? I mean, it's an incredible claim, an incredulous claim. Mad. You saw him die with your own eyes – arrested, crucified, buried and defiantly very, very dead. You know, in one sense it's almost easy to believe if you read it in the Bible. You know, it's something that happened a couple of thousand years ago to Jesus, I mean, long enough ago to make it safe. You know what I mean. Sure God could do anything, God could do that way back then, it was 2000 years ago. The question is, if you believe that Jesus rose from the dead again lets just transpose that into today, here and now. You get a phone call tomorrow morning, ‘Jesus is alive!' You saw him die … he's alive. Today we're going to put ourselves back in the shoes of the Disciples right there in that place in Jerusalem. This is the second message in a series of four that I've called, “The Price He Paid for You”. And it's about that part of the Easter story that involves the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What was that about? Did it happen, and if it did, what does it mean to you and me, here and now? Now, if we put ourselves back in the shoes of those Disciples, right there in that Jerusalem 2000 years ago with the Jesus they knew, all of a sudden it gets a whole lot harder to believe. It was a bit like that for Mary Magdalene: She went down to the tomb to embalm the body of Jesus and Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept she bent over to look inside the tomb and she saw two angels in white seated where Jesus' body had been – one at the head and the other at the foot. And they asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?' ‘They've taken Jesus, my Lord away,' she said, ‘and I don't know where they've put him'. At this she turned around and she saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't realise it was Him. ‘Woman,' He said, ‘why are you crying? What are you looking for?' Thinking that He was the gardener she says, ‘Sir, if you've carried Him away, tell me where you've put Him and I'll go and get Him.' And Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.' And she turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic ‘Rabonni' which means ‘teacher'. Jesus said, ‘Don't hold onto me as I haven't yet returned to the Father, go instead to my brothers, the Disciples and tell them I'm returning to my Father and your Father and to my God and to your God.' And Mary Magdalene went to the Disciples with the news. ‘I've seen the Lord,' she told them.” He had said these things to her. See it wasn't only Mary. I mean, I love the fact that even though Jesus had told them time and time and time again He would rise from the dead, she looked at Jesus and it's so incredible to think that He could possibly be alive, she mistakes Him for the gardener. Do you know the joke in that? The Son of God has risen from the grave and Mary, I mean the humour here is just something else, Mary looks at Him and thinks he's the gardener – the guy that mows the lawns and weeds the garden and does the edges. But she wasn't the only one: After that Thomas, sometime they call him doubting Thomas now Thomas was one of the Twelve and he wasn't with the Disciples first came to them after He'd risen from the dead, and so the other Disciples said to him, ‘Thomas, we've seen the Lord, He's alive'. But Thomas said, ‘Come on, unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my fingers where the nails were and put my hand into His side where they pierced Him, I am not going to believe this rubbish.' Now work that out. Jesus' Disciples were in a house together and this time Thomas was with them, and though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you, Shalom.' And then He said to Thomas, ‘Tom, come on, put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and start believing.' And Thomas just said, ‘My Lord and My God.' Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me you believe and are blessed. But blessed are those who have not yet seen but they believe'. Now I don't know but I think I'm with Thomas. This is hard to believe when you're close to it. What do you believe? Maybe it's an uncomfortable question. Maybe it's easy to consign this resurrection of Jesus thing back into the past. Kind of like a fable that we give some moderate level of intellectual assent to; a kind of vague, half-believing insurance policy thing. But the Apostle Paul takes it very seriously. In Romans Chapter 10 verse 9 he says: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead then you'll be saved. 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 verse 17: If Christ has not been raised than your faith is futile. So for Paul the resurrection wasn't some optional extra; it wasn't some kind of distant myth; not something we can just kind of half believe, maybe. And we can say, "Look, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead." But see what Paul says here, "If you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead then you'll be saved and if you don't believe from the heart that God has raised Him from the dead then you're wasting your time." What do you believe in your heart about the resurrection of Jesus? The resurrection can seem completely incongruous amidst the day-to-day realities of our lives. I mean, we get up and we go to work and we do all the stuff and we sit in meetings and we take the kids to school and we do all those day-to-day things. And you look around and you think, "Could Jesus in the midst of all this normality, could He have risen from the dead?" Now stick the resurrection right in the middle of your day-to-day reality and ask me, "Berni, in the middle of all this, do you actually believe that this Jesus was raised from the dead? I mean, it seems incongruous, it's an outrageous notion; it just doesn't fit. Come on Berni, do you really believe this stuff?" And my answer to you is, "Absolutely. I do. I believe in my heart that Jesus was raised from the dead." That's me. What about you? What do you believe, and if Jesus did rise from the dead, so what? What does it mean to you here and now, today?   Living the Resurrection Okay, if Jesus did rise from the dead, what does it mean to you and me, here and now? What relevance is there in all of that for our lives? Can the resurrection of Jesus Christ have any impact on your life and mine today? I think they're the right questions to ask. I mean, why have a resurrection at all? Why did God plan it that way, and why did He make it central to believing in Jesus? Earlier we saw how the Apostle Paul said it was essential that without faith in this resurrection there was no point: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” “And if Christ wasn't raised then your faith is futile." Okay, that's the theology if you like. Take that at face value. But why is it so important? Why does God put it right at the centre of believing in Jesus? It's not an optional extra, it's central. So I'm a pesky bloke; I keep asking these questions because truthfully, people never explained this stuff when I became a Christian at first, in terms that I could really understand and lay hold of. All these Christians were talking about the resurrection and the blood of the Lamb and all this sort of stuff, like it was really important. Well, great, but why? Believing in Jesus for me is a process; it's a lifelong thing that happens. And at some point I took the step of faith to believe in Him but what I discovered was there were lots of different parts of my life that didn't fit with Him – selfishness, anger, judgement – and I'm a really judgemental person naturally in the flesh, all stuff that actually stunted my growth. It's crazy how we want to hold onto the rubbish in our lives for dear life, but we do. And it turns out to rob us of life. You know, I used to spend most of my time being angry with people because they didn't measure up to my standards. They didn't see the world the way I did. And you know what, that robbed me of life. So instead of peace and joy, I was always angry. There was always resentment in my heart. Not rocket science is it. Its one thing to believe with our head or our heart in Jesus and to live it out authentically requires change and that's where the resurrection comes in. Again, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans Chapter 8: If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you. Let's unpack that. You have the crucifixion, the death of Jesus, where Jesus paid for all our sins. You know, we turned away from God, we missed the whole point of creation, that's what sin is (we looked at that last week) but God is loving and just. We've all fallen short and so Jesus died for us, and when we believe in that, our slate is wiped clean. We're forgiven and we have a fresh start. Like a prisoner coming out of gaol having served his sentence. It's fantastic. But you and I know that getting rid of that rubbish in our lives that God calls sin, it's a life-long process. Come on, we're all naturally selfish. At least I am. Someone does us wrong somehow and we want anger and revenge and payback time. But Jesus turns around and says, "Do you want to believe in Me with your life? Well show me, go on. Go out and love your enemy, in fact pray for them." I don't know about you but that way of living just didn't come naturally to me. So the process of changing we discover changing those things is really hard. I mean, it's very hard, and in fact in some areas it's downright impossible. I was just talking recently with some friends and I know I'm a very outcome-oriented person and I expect everyone else to be the same. They're not. Some people are wonderfully relationship-oriented, much more so than I am. Now those people aren't outcome-oriented but we need them too. So what am I going to do? Do I spend my whole life getting angry with them? Do I spend my whole life complaining about people who are different to me and they don't fit with my way of thinking and behaving? I mean, Paul bemoans this reality in Romans Chapter 7 when he says: I can will to do what's right I just can't seem to do it. Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is learning to live again. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through that same Spirit. God wants to bring life back to our bodies, colour into our cheeks. How many people need that in their lives right now, and they're looking in all sorts of strange places. There a people who are broken and hurt inside; there are people who are suffering from low self-esteem; there are people addicted to anger like I was; and we go looking for solutions in all these wrong places when the solution is staring us in the face. This isn't some theory, its actuality. The same Holy Spirit who breathed life back into the dead body of Jesus is the Spirit that wants to give us victory over the sin of our humanity and breathe life back into our mortal bodies. That's what the resurrection is about here and now. The Spirit wants to give us victory and a new life. Come on, this is great stuff, this is a great plan, this is good news. It's fantastic news! God wants to do for you and for me, here and now and every moment of every day for the rest of our lives here on earth, to keep changing us and setting us free and filling us with fresh new life what He did for Jesus when He brought Jesus back to life after the crucifixion on the Cross. God wants to give us a new life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Isn't that awesome? In a moment we're going to take a deeper look at that, because Jesus, as it turns out, has something very, very special for you and me.   A Certain Hope for Tomorrow Have you ever been in a place where you've lost all hope? Hope, as it turns out is a very precious commodity. We all need it in our lives to look forward to; to hope in the deep sense that I have future, I know where I'm going. And when there is no future it's tragic. When we lose hope it feels like our life is over, and that's the problem with death. We all die at some point physically. Some die young; others watch their bodies progressively give up the ghost. If God is God though, if He loves us the way the Bible says He does, then hope will be very, very high on His list, because the last thing that would do or He would want for us is to experience hopelessness and it turns out that hope is very high on His list indeed. That's what the whole resurrection thing is about. It's a funny thing, but when things are going bad in our lives, isn't it funny how hope breaks really quickly. Have you noticed that? Look at the Disciples: over and over again Jesus told them, ‘Guys, I'm going to be crucified but I'm going to rise again. Come on!' He told them lots of times, but when it happened, when He died, they were fearful, they were devastated, they were scattered to the four winds. They deserted Him; they completely lost sight of His promise of the resurrection, the thing that would give them hope. Actually most of them, as we saw before, needed convincing that Jesus was alive again. Bit like us. Life takes a turn for the worst, the first thing you do is you throw hope out the window. It's kind of natural. 1 Chronicles Chapter 29 verse 15 says: Our days on earth are like a shadow without hope. And let me get right in your face now for a bit, because we need some good teaching on hope. It's not ‘hope that it rains tomorrow' or ‘hope that it doesn't rain tomorrow', I mean the certain hope that faith in Jesus Christ brings. When we put our trust in Jesus in the good times and we lay down our lives and we love Him and we adore Him and we worship Him and we follow Him with our lives, I tell you what happens: when the storm clouds start to roll in, something strange and new and wonderful happens in our hearts. It's like that hope shines and won't go out. Peter the Apostle writes in His first letter, Chapter 1 verse 3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … It's a beautiful passage, if you have a Bible grab it, and have a look: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope, the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (I love that) “a new birth into a living hope, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead into an inheritance that's imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for us who are being protected by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we rejoice, even though now for a while we've had to suffer various trials. Boy that's an understatement. The people Peter was writing to, the Christians, were being tarred and feathered, burnt at the stake, fed to the lions, killed and Peter writes to them and says, “… but you know something, when you look at the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have a certain hope for the future.” Over and over again the New Testament talks about Jesus being the firstborn from among the dead. In other words, it points back to His resurrection. Jesus took all of our sin, He who knew no sin became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God. So He died because of our sin and He's the first of many to rise again. He's the firstborn, the first one in this resurrection cycle and we put our hope in that because we too when we believe in Jesus, will rise again and have eternal life. One day when my body gives up the ghost, one day I'll stand before Jesus for ever and ever and ever. It's a historical fact that death couldn't hold Jesus down, and when we put our trust in Him, that's where we put our hope. Our problem is, we spend so much time hoping for the next pay rise, hoping for some temporal bauble here on earth that we lose sight of the living hope we have through Jesus Christ, through His resurrection. Let's do it again: By His great mercy He has given us a new birth. We are born again into a living hope, not an uncertain hope, not a hope that's fleeting and fading but a certain hope – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading that is there for you, that is there for me, if we put our faith in Jesus. And if we're able to say before God in our hearts, ‘Jesus is your son, He died for me, He rose again', it's rock solid. And do you know the basis of that promise – it's the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Look at your life for the moment, the things that aren't going too well for you at the moment; the things that you might want to change. The reality is that we can't change some of them. Maybe God will change some of them, I don't know, but in the meantime He wants us to live life in the certain hope that we have a future, an eternal future. And we know that because we can look at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He defeated sin on the Cross – the wages of our sin became His death. But Jesus defeated that. He paid for my sin, He paid for my sin on the Cross and still He rose again even though He bore all that sin. And that's what awaits us. That doesn't compare to anything you and I can have on earth here. It just doesn't compare. That certain hope of eternal life with Jesus far outweighs it far eclipses anything we could have here and now. John writes in the book of Revelation Chapter 21; he gives us a glimpse, like a crack opens up in heaven and he's able to see inside: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and there was no longer any sea. And I saw the Holy City – the New Jerusalem – coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men and He will live with them and they will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There'll be no more death or mourning of crying or pain for the old things have passed away. Nothing, nothing comes anywhere close to that. We wander around down here in the weeds and the murky mire and we try to get hope and satisfaction out of all sorts of things that are going to pass away. What things on this earth be able to take with us when we breathe our last, come on? That's why God wants us to put our faith in Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is God's call to set our eyes and our hearts and everything we are and all our hopes and dreams on heavenly things because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – the first among many. That's where we are going when we trust in Jesus. Paul writes in Colossians Chapter 3 verse 1: If you have been raised with Christ, set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things on the earth because you have died to them. It is time my friend for you and me to start living our lives from an eternal perspective. When the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central truth, central to what we believe in our hearts, two things change. Firstly, the Holy Spirit starts taking away the rubbish that God calls sin and giving us life here and now – vibrant and abundant life. And secondly, no matter what happens, no matter how sick we get, how poor we get, we know that one day we will stand before Jesus Christ. Cry Hallelujah!

 Jesus knew the cost. He knew the agony of the scourging, the shame of the mocking, the suffocating pain of the nails. He knew the wrath of God would be poured out upon Him, that He would cry out in the darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). And yet—He still came. Jesus stepped into our place, taking the judgment, we deserved, so that we could walk free.

Sermon for Good Friday on Mark 15:33-35.Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” You know the answer. He was forsaken by God so that you will be accepted for all eternity.

If you have ever felt like Heaven was silent, you’re not alone. Even Jesus Himself cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” But here's what we’ll learn this Good Friday as we reflect on Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice: it’s often in the silence that God is doing His greatest work. Notes: Focus verse: Matthew 27:45–54 (NLT) #1 The Cry Met With Silence #2 The Plan Behind the SilenceIsaiah 53:5–7 (NLT) The silence from Heaven wasn’t indifference.The silence from the cross wasn’t weakness.It was fulfillment. #3 The Purpose of the SilenceJohn 19:28–30 (NLT)Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have ever felt like Heaven was silent, you’re not alone. Even Jesus Himself cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” But here's what we’ll learn this Good Friday as we reflect on Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice: it’s often in the silence that God is doing His greatest work. Notes: Focus verse: Matthew 27:45–54 (NLT) #1 The Cry Met With Silence #2 The Plan Behind the SilenceIsaiah 53:5–7 (NLT) The silence from Heaven wasn’t indifference.The silence from the cross wasn’t weakness.It was fulfillment. #3 The Purpose of the SilenceJohn 19:28–30 (NLT)Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The seven last words of Jesus from the cross aren't just historical statements—they're profound revelations of divine love that continue to transform lives today. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Even while hanging in agony, Jesus prioritized mercy, establishing the radical standard of forgiveness that defines authentic Christianity. This forgiveness wasn't dependent on the worthiness of his tormentors but flowed from the abundance of divine love. When we struggle to forgive those who've wronged us, these words remind us that forgiveness isn't optional—it's the heartbeat of our faith.The criminal who found paradise in his final moments teaches us that salvation remains available regardless of our past. Jesus's promise, "Today you will be with me in paradise," dissolves the myth that some people are beyond redemption. His care for his mother from the cross reminds us that Christianity flourishes in community, not isolation. When he cried, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus experienced the ultimate separation so we would never have to, giving sacred dignity to our moments of spiritual darkness.His declarations "I thirst" and "It is finished" remind us that Christ fully experienced human suffering while completing everything necessary for our salvation. Nothing needs to be added to his perfect sacrifice. And in his final breath—"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit"—Jesus modeled the peaceful surrender that comes from absolute trust in God's goodness.What makes this Friday "good" isn't the suffering but the love behind it. These seven statements continue to echo across centuries, offering forgiveness to the guilty, hope to the desperate, and community to the isolated. As you reflect on these powerful words today, remember that Sunday is coming—death doesn't get the final word when Jesus is in the story.Support the show

In this message from Pastor Michael, we reflect on the meaning and magnitude of the cross. Far from a formality, Good Friday confronts us with the central truth of our faith: Jesus, mocked and crucified, took on our guilt, absorbed divine justice, and extended unearned mercy. The cross answers our deepest questions about justice, forgiveness, and belonging. In Jesus' cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” we hear both the weight of human suffering and the hope of ultimate redemption. His death is not just a moment in history, it is the difference-maker for all of life. Sermon: Good Friday 2025 Series: Standalone Messages Speaker: Michael Chinchilla Full Service: https://youtu.be/xfn60SiOqyM Apple Podcast: http://thisisvillage.church/podcast/apple Spotify Podcast: http://thisisvillage.church/podcast/spotify Your Next Steps: http://thisisvillagechurch.com/nextsteps Village Kids Online: http://villagekids.online Give: https://thisisvillagechurch.com/give Website: https://thisisvillagechurch.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageChurch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisvillagechurch/ X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/thisisvillage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisvillagechurch

Mark 15:25-39 (ESV)25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

It was prophesied long, long ago that one day a sacrificial hero would arrive. He would be God Himself. He would eliminate the power of death, overturn evil, and rescue all who would come to Him. That's Jesus. Jesus said as He died on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When He took all the sins of the world upon Himself, the Bible says He became sin for us, and His Father, God, had to turn His face away. Jesus was quoting an old and well-known song that spoke of the long-awaited Savior. It was His way of telling the people, It's me! I'm the one and I am here. And I have come to save you. Will you let Him save you? Ask Him to come to be the Savior of your soul. Believe in Him. Put your faith in Him today. Always remember there is hope with God. I'm Andrew Palau. radio.hopewithgod.com

Mark 15:25-3925 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews.27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can't save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”   Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b] 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he's calling Elijah.”36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Good Friday Old Testament Isaiah 52:13-53:12 See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him --so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals-- so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.   Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.   Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.   He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.   Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. The Response Psalm 22 Deus, Deus meus 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? * and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; * by night as well, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are the Holy One, * enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; * they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 They cried out to you and were delivered; * they trusted in you and were not put to shame. 6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, * scorned by all and despised by the people. 7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; * they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying, 8 "He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; * let him rescue him, if he delights in him." 9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, * and kept me safe upon my mother's breast. 10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; * you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, * and there is none to help. 12 Many young bulls encircle me; * strong bulls of Bashan surround me. 13 They open wide their jaws at me, * like a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint; * my heart within my breast is melting wax. 15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; * and you have laid me in the dust of the grave. 16 Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; * they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones. 17 They stare and gloat over me; * they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing. 18 Be not far away, O Lord; * you are my strength; hasten to help me. 19 Save me from the sword, * my life from the power of the dog. 20 Save me from the lion's mouth, * my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls. 21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; * in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. 22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; * stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob's line, give glory. 23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; * but when they cry to him he hears them. 24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him. 25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: * "May your heart live for ever!" 26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him. 27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; * he rules over the nations. 28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; * all who go down to the dust fall before him. 29 My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; * they shall be known as the Lord's for ever. 30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn * the saving deeds that he has done. The Epistle Hebrews 10:16-25 The Holy Spirit testifies saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds," he also adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. The Gospel John 18:1-19:42 Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?" So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God." Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" They cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced." After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

On Good Friday we will hear Jesus cry out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and will be reminded how he could not save himself, but had to be forsaken so that we might be saved, and never be forsaken.

“Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46 NLT) Today we are going to discover the most painful moment in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. What do you think it was? Perhaps your mind races to the crucifixion itself. You think of the spikes being driven into His hands and feet. As painful and horrific as that was, I don’t believe that was His most painful moment. Perhaps you think of the scourging that took place prior to the crucifixion. The Roman whip literally tore Jesus’ back open, exposing his vital organs. As horrible as that was, I don’t believe it was His most painful moment. Perhaps you think of how all His disciples, with the exception of one, deserted Him in His hour of need. As horrible and painful as that must have been, I don’t believe that it was His most painful moment. I believe Jesus’ most painful moment is captured in His words in Matthew 27:46. Jesus uttered seven statements while He hung on the cross. Each one gives us insight into what He was experiencing, fulfilling, and accomplishing as He paid the ultimate price for our sin. The first reveals the depth of His suffering. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46 NLT). The intimacy that Jesus shared with His heavenly Father in the Garden of Gethsemane just a few hours earlier was gone. In its place was the wrath of the holy God. Jesus used the words of Psalm 22:1 to express His agony as He faced that wrath alone. God turned away from Jesus as He endured the punishment for the sins of the world. That spiritual abandonment was far more devastating than the physical pain Jesus experienced. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT). Jesus’ enemies believed they were getting rid of a false messiah. They didn’t realize they were crucifying the Son of God, who was giving His life to save them. Jesus’ compassion on those who mocked and tortured Him is an amazing example of divine grace. “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT). This is the work of salvation. One of the revolutionaries who was being crucified next to Him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” He placed His faith in Jesus. In reply, Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in Heaven the moment he died. “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (Luke 23:46 NLT). Jesus presented Himself to God as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He was ready to give up His life to complete the work of salvation. “Dear woman, here is your son”; “Here is your mother” (John 19:26–27 (NLT). Here’s another example of Jesus placing the needs of others above His own, even as He endured the agony of the cross. Jesus saw His mother in the crowd and wanted to make sure that she would be cared for. He entrusted her care to His beloved disciple John. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28 NLT). Jesus wasn’t trying to get His physical needs met. He was fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 69:21: “They offer me sour wine for my thirst” (NLT). He said He was thirsty so that the Roman guards would give Him sour wine (vinegar). Jesus made one final statement from the cross. That will be the focus of our devotion tomorrow. Even in death, Jesus’ words are life-giving. His final utterances from the cross completed God’s work of salvation. They point us to eternal life, and they show us how to live this life abundantly by prioritizing God’s will. Reflection question: What do Jesus’ final words reveal about Him, His work, and His priorities? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Easter episode, host, Rebecca Berschwinger, unpacks what truly made Jesus' sacrifice so excruciating, with His suffering going far beyond physical pain by digging into the scriptures to reveal why the cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” represents the ultimate pain: the weight of sin and God's wrath. Through biblical insights, she challenges us to reflect on the seriousness of sin, the gravity of what Jesus endured for our salvation, and the daily gratitude that should fill our lives because of it.https://onelittlecandlepodcast.com https://youtu.be/AjR_A2pGPrY?si=PajXAfAEcOPn41CI

Even on the cross, Jesus showed us how to live, Mama. In His pain, He cried out to the Father—and so can we. Tune in as we talk about turning to God in our greatest need, just like Jesus did. What are you carrying today? Bring it to the One who loves you most. “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'(which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?').” Matthew 27:46

Up the carpenter went to Jerusalem, knowing full well why. It was time, HIS time, the time, the eternal time as appointed when a world changing event would happen.It was to be the end of his earthly journey, a time for the transition between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Glory.There came that time in the Garden of Gethsemane where he went to pray. He asked his disciples to participate, to watch with him, to stay awake with him. Not knowing the incredible events about to happen, they slept. But the Master prayed, communed with the Father. How wonderful the humanity of Jesus the Christ in Gethsemane. As man, he knew the incredible suffering and agony to come, the crucifixion which would happen and he prayed to the Father:LET THIS CUP PASS FROM MELet there be another way to introduce your love and saving grace rather than crucifixion. But the answer was clear, the plan in place. There would be no change.Perhaps that was the greatest expression and revelation of the WILL of God at work. The plan of salvation would begin with Him, Jesus of Nazareth so that all men might know that He was indeed the SON OF GOD.And so, in blessed surrender, the soon to be Christ of Glory uttered this incredible prayer:NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONEOn earth even as it is in heaven. He was ready, and willing.Jesus of Nazareth loved Jerusalem as all Jews do. There stood the temple, the holiest place on earth to the Jews, the earthly abiding place of the HOLY OF HOLIES. It was ordained so by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and it was the place, the center for the longing, the love and the passion of all Jews. Jerusalem, the one and only Jerusalem, the City of David.Jesus of Nazareth poured out His love on the city and its people so very special to him. He passionately lamented how he would love to take the city and its people under his wing and to show them what he firmly believed was the way, the truth, and the life, allnew things. There would be from God through him a new creation possible, all thingsand people born again, a fresh and vital spirituality. But before these new gifts fromGod could become universal, a tragic and horrific event must occur followed by themost miraculous and wonderful event in the history of mankind.HE had dined in Jerusalem with his disciples, a loving Last Supper to commemoratethe event to come, the celebration of his body and his blood. That communion of thedisciples and the Lord, that spiritual fellowship celebrated vicariously with bread andwine, was the end event for them but only the beginning of a lifelong celebration for us.Roman soldiers found him in Gethsemane. There came the mockery of trial andinterrogation before Pilate and Herod. The world knows of the hands–washing, therefusal to make the decision of death for a just and innocent man and the offering tothe people of a choice between Jesus of Nazareth and a convicted criminal. The crowdof course chose the criminal.Then came the walk to the cross, the VIA DOLOROSA, the way of sorrow still todaycommemorated in Jerusalem by the 12 Stations of the Cross. When His cross becametoo heavy to bear, another carried it for him. Crowds lined the way, watching andlistening, some mocking, some wailing, all perhaps sensing this was no ordinary mannor would there be any ordinary crucifixion. But none could know that the world couldchange.And so, the cruelest and most brutal death possible occurred for an innocent man, apublic crucifixion. Roman soldiers nailed Jesus of Nazareth to that wooden cross.It seems ironic indeed, does it not, that a man who lived and worked with wood died abrutal death on wood itself.He hung on that cross for hours, a criminal on each side. The sky grew dark and itwas as though the earth and all in it mourned. The Christ of Glory hung in utteragony, and the horrific pain he experienced caused Him to utter these unforgettablewords:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN MEWHY?So alone, in utter agony, feeling even that the FATHER had forsaken Him. It isimpossible to know how He felt, how awful that death must have been for Him. But Hewas man, human. We as humans like him can understand the cruelty of man and thesuffering and agony he suffered in death as many of us have. HE took on the sufferingof mankind on that Golgotha Hill. So many who loved him watched, mourned andprayed, never really knowing that this tragic crucifixion would turn into a gloriousResurrection.It seemed indeed that in that darkest moment, God Himself had departed, forsaken.Perhaps it was, as some scholars think that this Holy God could not look upon theultimate and tragic event as they were laid on him the sins of the world. On that cross, in the blood and tortured flesh of the body of the Son of God, in that death unto sin were in fact the sins of the world, all of them and all of ours. That final bloody act of remission and propitiation had to be finished. There had to be that tumultuous and cataclysmic collision of worlds, when heaven and earth became one through Him. For hours, He suffered in agony and pain. His precious body was exposed, mutilated and mocked. He was crowned in the ultimate sarcasm with a crown of thorns to mock the claim of:KING OF THE JEWS.Roman soldiers taunted him, challenging him to use His miraculous powers to come down from the cross, laughing all the while. They cast lots for his garments and treated in cavalier style this world changing event as ordinary, the crucifixion and death of yet another fanatic, yet another would be Messiah as there were so many of them in that day. Never could these men know what would happen on the third day.And so He died and as He was removed from the cross, there came mercifully and lovingly Joseph of Arimathea to claim the body, something which rarely happened in early Roman times, so that Jesus of Nazareth could be buried in His very own tomb. And there He lay as all who knew him, loved, followed and believed in Him mourned. There was perhaps that day a sense of no hope, the law so tragic that HE would never be replaced. Like doubting Thomas, none really believed what would happen that third day.But on that third day, they hurried, they ran to the tomb, the women did. They were so anxious lovingly to attend His body. Instead, they found in the tomb the Angel of the Lord. The stone which had covered the tomb had been rolled back. The event was so terrifying it overwhelmed the Roman guards. The women announced that they had come looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He who had been crucified, buried and laid in this tomb. They demanded to know who took His body. But the Angel of the Lord said to them, words which would change the world:HE IS NOT HERE HE IS RISENHE IS ALIVE. Death as we know it had no power over Him. For millions, that is impossible for us to believe. But for us who do and especially those of us never having seen, heard or been in His physical presence, we who believe the truth and reality of the Resurrection are entitled to the power and the eternal victory over death even as it was with Him. Even as He returned to the Father, so shall we at our appointed time be with Him and the Father as well. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a myth, not symbolic, but the most real event in all of human history.The Apostle Paul states that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most fundamental event, the crux of Christianity. If, says Paul, there was no Resurrection, then Christianity is a farce and more importantly our FAITH is in vain. If the Resurrection was myth, or symbolic and not real, actual, factual, a bodily resurrection, then our faith is in vain. But thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did, that the Resurrection was real, it endures with everlasting power even now and for allveternity. OUR FAITH IS NOT IN VAIN. The tomb was empty and the empty lives of all mankind could now be filled with the power of this incredible resurrection. The words again which changed the world:HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!And so came the Resurrection witness. The resurrected and risen Christ was seen, heard, touched, and otherwise fully experienced as living once again. There were those who doubted, demanding proof. They touched the nail pierced hands and the side pierced with that Roman spear. And they said with the words of doubting Thomas:MY LORD AND MY GODTheir eyes were opened and they recognized Him. They fellowshipped with Him and ate with Him. And He said to them “why are you disturbed and troubled.” Why do such doubts and questionings arise in your hearts? He told them to see His hands and feet and know that it is I MYSELF. No mere spirit, He said, has flesh and bones as I have. His disciples were filled with sheer joy and marvel. Their minds were open to understand Him and the Scriptures. Now said the Resurrected Christ, you are witnesses of these things. Go and preach this wonderful event and our message to all nations. He blessed them and sent them.GO YE, He said, into all of the world and preach the Gospel to everyman, to the Jew first but then to the Gentiles. TO ALL MANKIND. The saving power of the Resurrection was for everyone. So many of us doubt in some ways even today. We see through a glass darkly, said Paul. Our understanding of these things is limited, human here and now. But hereafter, we will know, really know when we see HIM:FACE TO FACEBlessed are those who have never seen and believe!There is nothing in this world like this belief, the outpouring of the saving grace of the Resurrection. The power of life and life eternal through Him is the most powerful force on earth. It comes by acceptance and an open heart, the outpouring of this transforming love. It has been my blessing and I hope and pray that you have had such an encounter with THE LIVING CHRIST, that you have experienced the forgiveness of the cross and that you have accepted and believed in the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is Easter, that is what Easter means. It is life anew, one born again. A decision to encounter is the most important decision any person can make. It changes life here and it creates life hereafter. It allows the unfolding of the Kingdom of God now and fellowship in that Kingdom for eternity. We become ONE WITH HIM now, and then forevermore.And so, we who believe sing on Easter Sunday and all year long:CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAYHALLELUJAH!Let the heavens and the earth sing with joy and praise and fill the mind and heart with the power and love of the Resurrection. May the meaning of Easter be with you always, and firmly fasten in your mind the words of the angel, the Messenger of God who stated to those women so many years ago and consequently to all mankind:HE IS NOT HERE!HE IS RISEN!Christ the Lord is in fact risen and our faith is not only NOT in vain but the greatest thing in life. As He was with them in those days following His Resurrection, so He will be with us. His words to that effect are unforgettable.HEAR ME!I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!EVEN UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!Christ is Risen!HALLELUJAH!

Bobby and Khalil unpack a few of the profound mysteries of Jesus' Passion, including His cry, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Was Jesus truly abandoned, or is there a deeper meaning? Discover how Christ's sacrifice as the Lamb of God ties to Passover, why Judas' fate remains a mystery, and whether the apostles would've used Instagram to spread the Gospel! From fasting to Catholic art, this episode explores how to live your faith boldly in today's world.Key Moments:-- The true meaning behind Jesus' cry of abandonment (Psalm 22 revealed!)-- Was Judas condemned? What the Church really says-- Jesus as priest AND victim: The ultimate sacrifice explained-- Would Jesus and the apostles have used social media? -- Why fasting and Catholic art can transform your Holy Week Join our 72-hour Triduum Fast! Follow us on Instagram (@purposelycatholic) for details and inspiration to grow closer to Christ. Resources Mentioned:Ignatius Catholic Study BibleThe Light of Christ by Fr. Thomas Joseph WhiteOffer It Up by Megan OlmsteadFulton Sheen's reflections on the Seven Last Words_______________________________________________________________✴️

Final words have weight and meaning. The Scriptures share the final words of Jesus, poignant words spoken from the cross. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” “Amen, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise” “Woman, behold, your son….Behold, your mother.” “I thirst.” “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” “It is finished.” “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Before we move into celebrating the resurrection, together we meditate on these sacred words. The Azure Hills Pastoral Staff will share short messages on the last words of Jesus. We invite you to take in the depth of the love and sacrifice of Jesus. John 10:18 says, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

"God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 In this devotion's first part, we explore three of Jesus' final words on the cross. Where He asks for forgiveness for those crucifying him, assures a criminal of paradise, and entrusts his mother to John. However, Today's devotion focuses on the final four of Jesus' seven last words on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", "I thirst", "It is finished", and "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”. As we delve into the final four statements, we discover a tapestry woven with pain, hope, and ultimate redemption. The fourth statement from Jesus on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) is perhaps one of the most heart-wrenching cries in Scripture. In this moment of despair, Jesus identifies with our feelings of abandonment and isolation. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone; God is present, even when it feels like He is distant. As Psalm 22 echoes this sentiment, we are encouraged to voice our struggles and bring our pain to God, knowing He understands our anguish. Next, Jesus declares, “I thirst” (John 19:28), a statement that transcends physical need and speaks to a deeper spiritual longing. This expression of thirst reflects humanity's desire for fulfillment and connection. In our own lives, we often find ourselves yearning for something more—be it love, purpose, or peace. Jesus invites us to recognize these longings and seek them in Him, for He is the living water that quenches all thirst (John 4:14). “It is finished” (John 19:30) resonates with a powerful declaration of completion and victory. Here, Jesus assures us that the weight of sin and suffering has been borne on our behalf. Your pain and sorrow are finished; they do not define your identity or future. As we grapple with our struggles, remember Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This promise brings hope and liberation from the burdens we carry. Finally, Jesus speaks, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46), offering us a profound example of surrender. In committing His spirit to God, Jesus demonstrates trust and faith in the Father's plan. This is an invitation to release what we hold dear into God's capable hands. Whatever you may be clinging to—fears, dreams, or uncertainties—now is the time to let go and trust in His divine will. Mark 15:24 says, "And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take." Prayer for the Day! Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons found in Your Son's words. Help us understand our burdens and teach us to surrender them to You. May we always remember that Your grace is sufficient in our weakness. Amen. 

Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizers https://Bioptimizers.com/toddEnter promo code TODD to get 10% off your order of MassZymes today.Bizable https://GoBizable.comUntie your business exposure from your personal exposure with BiZABLE.  Schedule your FREE consultation at GoBizAble.com today.  Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/toddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com).Get a second opinion on the health of your retirement portfolio today. Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. go to KnowYourRiskRadio.com today.Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddGod Bless The People Who Make Things // Who Will Heal The Children's Minds? // Is This Why Andrew Tate Says Jesus Christ Is Weak?Episode Links:Mike Rowe: “For every five tradespeople that retire this year, two replace them. It's been that way for 12 years. I don't need to be a mathematician, this is bad arithmetic.”MUST WATCH: Dad OBLITERATES @JeffcoSchoolsCo after they fed his daughter lies about him, alienated her, and undermined his parental rights.A 1st grader was punished for writing “All Lives Mater.” The school district argues 1st graders are too young to have free speech. The Court of Appeals points out that if they're too young for controversial topics, then why are they learning about BLM??Elementary school disciplines first-grader for innocent “Black Lives Matter” drawingIsaiah 53:3-7 (The Suffering Servant)Prophecy: Describes a servant despised, rejected, bearing the sorrows and sins of others, wounded for transgressions, and led like a lamb to slaughter.Fulfillment: Jesus is seen as this servant, rejected by many (John 1:11), crucified for humanity's sins (1 Peter 2:24), and silent before His accusers (Mark 15:3-5).Reference: Matthew 8:17, John 12:38, Acts 8:32-33.Psalm 22:1, 16-18 (Cry of Anguish and Crucifixion Details)Prophecy: Begins with “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and describes pierced hands and feet, divided garments, and lots cast for clothing.Fulfillment: Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 on the cross (Matthew 27:46), and His crucifixion included pierced hands/feet (Luke 24:39) and soldiers dividing His clothes (John 19:23-24).Reference: Matthew 27:35, John 19:24.Zechariah 12:10 (Pierced One Mourned)Prophecy: Speaks of looking upon “me whom they have pierced,” with mourning for Him.Fulfillment: Jesus was pierced by a spear (John 19:34), and His death led to sorrow among His followers, later seen as a fulfillment of redemption (John 19:37).Reference: John 19:37, Revelation 1:7.Isaiah 50:6 (Humiliation and Beating)Prophecy: The servant gives his back to those who strike him, his face to shame and spitting.Fulfillment: Jesus was beaten, scourged, and spat upon during His trial and crucifixion (Matthew 26:67, 27:26-30).Reference: Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63-64.Psalm 69:21 (Gall and Vinegar Offered)Prophecy: The suffering one is given gall for food and vinegar to drink.Fulfillment: Jesus was offered vinegar to drink while on the cross (John 19:29-30).Reference: Matthew 27:34, John 19:28-30.Genesis 3:15 (Seed of the Woman Bruised)Prophecy: The seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head, but his heel will be bruised.Fulfillment: Jesus, born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14), though He suffered (bruised heel) in the process.Reference: Romans 16:20, Colossians 2:15.Daniel 9:26 (Messiah Cut Off)Prophecy: The anointed one (Messiah) will be cut off and have nothing.Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified, seemingly ending His mission, but this was part of His redemptive suffering (Mark 15:37).Reference: Acts 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3.Psalm 34:20 (No Bones Broken)Prophecy: Not one of his bones will be broken.Fulfillment: Jesus' bones were not broken during crucifixion, unlike the thieves crucified with Him (John 19:32-36).Reference: John 19:36

Feeling ForsakenMatthew 27:45-46 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani' which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Speaker: Ashley Kanoc

Joe tackles bad Protestant theology on the Cross and Psalm 22, rebutting those claiming that God the Father abandoned Jesus on the Cross. Some go so far as to call the Cross “the most obscene thing in all of creation.” Let’s test that against the Bible and see what the truth is… Transcript: Joe: Welcome back to Shameless Popery. I’m Joe Heschmeyer. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The haunting words that echo from the cross as our Lord suffers on Good Friday, they’re a powerful meditation for Holy Week. And as I mentioned in an earlier episode, Jesu...

“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” — Psalm 22:1 We here behold the Saviour in the depth of His sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry rends the air […]

Jesus suffered separation from the Father—a torment exceeding the cross's physical agony.  His cry "My God, my God" expressed profound distress, but not distrust. In this message, Pastor Lutzer illuminates the significance of this separation as Jesus bore our sin alone. How did Jesus' death forever change how we have access to God? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. 

What happens on the cross when Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" This week, as we uncover the truths of the cross, we will see why Jesus had to go where none of us could so that we might be forever adopted as the children of God.  

Send us a textWhen my homeless friend moved in with me, we often listened to music instead of NPR, which was typical for me at the time. I came to realize that replacing politics with music shifted my mood drastically. When I was no longer filling my ears with the horrible things happening in our world, I noticed how much more at peace I felt and how much of a game changer this was for me. This week's episode 311 of the Fragmented to Whole Podcast is about choosing peace over panic- why I stopped watching the news. In this episode of the Fragmented to Whole Podcast, I'm sharing my transformative journey of prioritizing my mental health by stepping away from constant news consumption, some options if you want to limit your news intake, but don't want to be kept out of the loop completely, and a prayer you can read before watching the news should you choose to do so.A Prayer Before Reading the News Written by Rabbi Irwin Keller in early 2016  My God, the soul you have placed in me is pure and vulnerable. I am afraid that looking at today's news will be painful. Encircle me in a robe of lightso that I can witness the wounds of the world without being wounded myself. Let me learn what I need to know In order to be of greatest usewithout being overwhelmed by despair. I feel your protective light nowas I open myself to the world's suffering and the world's joys. Amen Remember, you are not obligated to be constantly informed about every world event. Your mental peace is more important than feeling perpetually anxious about things outside your control. Take a moment to evaluate how news consumption affects your daily life, and give yourself permission to make changes that support your emotional wellness.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on living a more whole life and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Fragmented to Whole at https://higherpowercc.com/podcast/ Are you saying yes when you really want to say no? Are you putting yourself last? Perhaps you're the consummate accommodator whose people-pleasing ways are wearing you out. If so, you're a perfect fit for my 12-week private coaching program!Sign up for a free 30 minute Better Boundaries call with me at this link. https://calendly.com/barb-nangle/better-boundaries-callCONNECT WITH BARB NANGLE:Subscribe to “Friday Fragments” weekly newsletterFree boundaries resourcesFacebookInstagramWork with Barb! Buy Barb a teaGet a free chapter of my upcoming book: Roadside Recovery 

"My God, My God..." (Psalm 22) by Harvest Church

Send us a textWhen my homeless friend moved in with me, we often listened to music instead of NPR, which was typical for me at the time. I came to realize that replacing politics with music shifted my mood drastically. When I was no longer filling my ears with the horrible things happening in our world, I noticed how much more at peace I felt and how much of a game changer this was for me. This week's episode 311 of the Fragmented to Whole Podcast is about choosing peace over panic- why I stopped watching the news. In this episode of the Fragmented to Whole Podcast, I'm sharing my transformative journey of prioritizing my mental health by stepping away from constant news consumption, some options if you want to limit your news intake, but don't want to be kept out of the loop completely, and a prayer you can read before watching the news should you choose to do so.A Prayer Before Reading the News Written by Rabbi Irwin Keller in early 2016  My God, the soul you have placed in me is pure and vulnerable. I am afraid that looking at today's news will be painful. Encircle me in a robe of lightso that I can witness the wounds of the world without being wounded myself. Let me learn what I need to know In order to be of greatest usewithout being overwhelmed by despair. I feel your protective light nowas I open myself to the world's suffering and the world's joys. Amen Remember, you are not obligated to be constantly informed about every world event. Your mental peace is more important than feeling perpetually anxious about things outside your control. Take a moment to evaluate how news consumption affects your daily life, and give yourself permission to make changes that support your emotional wellness.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on living a more whole life and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about Fragmented to Whole at https://higherpowercc.com/podcast/ Are you saying yes when you really want to say no? Are you putting yourself last? Perhaps you're the consummate accommodator whose people-pleasing ways are wearing you out. If so, you're a perfect fit for my 12-week private coaching program!Sign up for a free 30 minute Better Boundaries call with me at this link. https://calendly.com/barb-nangle/better-boundaries-callCONNECT WITH BARB NANGLE:Subscribe to “Friday Fragments” weekly newsletterFree boundaries resourcesFacebookInstagramWork with Barb! Buy Barb a teaGet a free chapter of my upcoming book: Roadside Recovery 

Your Purpose In Your Pain 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Session 2 April 13, 2025 REVIEW: God's Grace, Encouragement, and comfort through your pain is your ministry opportunity! Your prayers for God's people who are hurting are a strategic ministry with great rewards! (2 Corinthians 1:11; Philippians 1:19) The Lord's Invitation! (Matthew 26:36-41) A Daily Walk With Jesus During Holy Week Matthew 21-27; Mark 11-15; Luke 19-23; John 12-17 Day 1: Sunday The Triumphant Entry (Matthew 21:1-11) Night Spent in Bethany (Approximately 2 miles from Jerusalem) Day 2: Monday On journey back into Jerusalem, Jesus pronounced curse on fig tree. (Mark 11:12-14) Jesus cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:15-17) Confrontation with the religious hierarchy. Back to Bethany for the night. Day 3: Tuesday Discussion about the fig tree and the power of faith (Mark 11:20-25) Confrontation with religious leaders (Mark 11:27-33) Discourse on the Mount of Olives (re: the destruction of the Temple, the end times and Second Coming and final judgement (Matthew 24) Judas secretly betrays Jesus Return to Bethany for rest Day 4: Wednesday SILENCE!! Day 5: Thursday Peter and John prepare Passover in a Jerusalem Upper Room for Jesus and disciples. Judas betrays Jesus (Luke 22:3, 4) Jesus washed the disciple's feet. The Lord's Supper, Communion, established (Mark 14:22-25) Jesus' special message to Peter (Luke 22:31,32) Gethsemane: “The Ultimate Battle” (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22) “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” “Take this cup …. Nevertheless” Judas/Sanhedrin come to take Jesus Could call 12 legions (72,000) angels Day 6: Late Thursday/Early Friday Mock Trials: Caiaphas; Pilate; Herod; Pilate Peter's denial; Judas' remorse Beatings, scourged, crown of thorns, crucifixion, piercing Utterings From The Cross: “Father, forgive them ….” “Today you shall be with Me” “Woman, behold your son” “My God, my God, why ….” “I thirst” “It is finished” “Father, into Thy Hands” Matthew 26, 27; Mark 14, 15; Luke 22, 23; John 18, 19

Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (NIV) Psalm 31:4-5 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. (NIV) 2 Timothy 1:12 - That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. (NLT) 3 Keys to trusting God on bad days 
 1. Trust that God loves you, in spite of your feelings Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (NIV) 1 John 4:16 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (NIV) Ephesians 3:18 - And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. (NLT) Romans 8:38–39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV) 2. Trust that God is trustworthy in spite of what you’re experiencing Luke 23:46 - Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. (NLT) Psalm 20:7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. (NIV) 3. Trust God’s hands in spite of what you’re seeing 3A. God’s hands are powerful enough to help Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (ESV) 
3B. God’s hands are steady enough to lead you Psalm 139:10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (ESV) 3C. God’s hands are big enough to bless you 1 Chronicles 29:12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. (NIV) 3D. God’s hands are strong enough to keep you John 10:28-29 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (NIV)

We are still at the beginning of a 6-month study of the Psalms, which currently has us in Psalm 22 which gives us one of the most incredible pictures of our crucified and risen King, Jesus. A picture drawn with incredible accuracy of a moment that would not take place for 1000 years. Last week we got an overview of the whole Psalm, and understood it as being the words of Jesus, the experience of Jesus at the cross. It is verse 1 that gives us the 4th statement of Jesus from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?' That feeling of abandonment would lead to a prayer, and we see that prayer in verse 19. Look with me at Psalm 22:19-21.

Give All to Gain All - Matthew 13:44-58When the child of GodLooks into the word of GodAnd sees the Son of GodThey are transformed by the Spirit of GodInto the image of GodFor the glory of God- Warren WiersbeWhen King Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He was offering Himself up as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.Jesus came into Jerusalem on the very day the sacrificial lambs that would become the Passover lambs were brought into Jerusalem from Bethlehem. Jesus is the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).Psalm 118:25-26a (ESV)25Save us, we pray, O Lord!O Lord, we pray, give us success!26Blessed is he who comes in the name [authority] of the Lord!Let's do the math: 10 sins a day x 365 days = 3,650 sins per person per year; Multiplying that by 30 years per person equals 109,500 sins per person in a lifetime. Multiplying that by the 117 billion people who have lived in history = 12 quadrillion, 811 trillion, 500 billion sins.- Jim Denison2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.Matthew 27:46 (ESV)46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”John 19:30 (ESV)30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished [Tetelestai]," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.Two little parables about the Kingdom's inestimable value - V. 44-46What is the point to us of the parables in verses 44-46? To get the greater treasure the man had to first give up everything he previously treasured. And for us to really get Jesus we have to do the same. But when we give our all to get Jesus, two things happen: we gain more than we could ever imagine, and we also gain what was ours back better than before.Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. - Isaac Watts, Verse 4 of When I Survey the Wondrous CrossLearn to know Christ and Him crucified. Learn to sing to Him and say, “Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness, I am your sin. You have taken upon Yourself what is mine and given me what is Yours. You have become what You were not so that I might become what I was not." - Martin LutherAnother parable about the great ‘sorting' to come - V. 47-50Are you ready for the ‘great sorting' to come after Christ returns?Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.Remember from Matthew 13 that we are called to be sowers not sorters! Catch all the people you can for Jesus – He will sort out whether they were truly saved or not. True Disciples will bring forth Scripture treasure - V. 51-52In chapter 13 Jesus spoke of making what was a mystery in the past known now. Those who love Jesus will be able to explain how New Testament truth comes out of Old Testament truth.If you don't take who Jesus is, what He has taught, and what He has done for you seriously, you won't see God do much either. But if you recognize how valuable this faith is, you will give up everything to gain Jesus!

Psalm 88 WorksheetOne of the most interesting things about this Psalm and the next is that they are written by 2 men named Heman the Ezrahite and Ethan the Ezrahite. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were each descendants of Levi's sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Asaph was from Gershon; Heman from the line of Kohath; Ethan from Merari (1 Chr. 6:31-48). Heman has the added distinction of being the grandson of _______________________ (1 Chr. 6:33).Asaph wrote 12 Psalms, 11 here in book 3 of the Psalms; Heman wrote Psalm 88 and Ethan wrote Psalm 89. So 13 of the 17 Psalms of Book 3 are attributed to David's key music leaders from the tribe of Levi. The tone of Psalm 88 is very much one of _____________________________. It appears the Psalmist is facing suffering and death is very discouraged. It is not regarded as a Messianic Psalm, but several verses remind me of the suffering Jesus endured. As I read Psalm 88, look for the different ways death is referred to. Also look for the 3 times he speaks of calling out or crying out to the LORD. A man _______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 1-9This man is despondent, but at least he is __________________________. Be honest with God in your prayers like in Psalm 88, and then go on to the kind of perspective that Psalm ____________ gives! The first reference to death is in verse 3, the word grave or Sheol. Sheol occurs 64 times in the Old Testament. The second reference to death is in verse 4, the word pit or bor. Bor occurs 61 times in the Old Testament. The third reference to death is in verse 5, “adrift among the dead.” The word for dead is mut, which occurs 693 times in the Old Testament. The sixth and seventh references to death are the words darkness and depths in verse 6.The word “wrath” in verse 7 reminds me of when Jesus was bearing our sin on the cross and cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me” (2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:36). Verse 8 reminds me of Jesus “shut up” on the cross, with so many of His followers not there to support Him. Jesus can identify with the Psalmist and any of us who feels neglected or forsaken by _____________. Verses 1 and 9 begin and end the first section by crying out to the LORD in the midst of this man facing death. A man ______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 11-18Verses 10-12 feature 6 questions that it appears the Psalmist fears the answer is no but Christians now know the answer is ________________ in Christ!Let's not forget our count of references to death – verses 10-12 have the eighth through ________________ references to death! Verse 13 gives the one note of hope that after death, the “___________________________” will come. We borrow that hope from this being near to Psalm 86 by David.“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” -Psalm 86:11-12Back in Psalm 88, the Psalmist wants to know, he wants to feel what David feels and __________________ in Psalm 86, but he is on the struggle bus. Verses 15 to the end make that struggle clear.Verse 15 gives us at least the 14th reference to death. With other references to being “cut off”, “wrath” and “terrors,” we may get all the way to ________________ references to death. Why is this discouraging Psalm in the Psalter, meant to be sung by the people? Sometimes getting the way we feel out there begins the ___________________________. Psalm 88 is like parts of the book of Ecclesiastes, that really describe the emptiness in life without God. Ecclesiastes brings to despair to then drive to faith in God (Ecc. 12:13-14). Psalm 89 does that for book 3 of of the Psalms. After the discouraging note of Psalm 88, Psalm 89 includes this thought to God's people when they feel discouraged:Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. -Psalm 89:33

When Jesus is hanging on the cross, He cries out the famous words: "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" But what does it mean? What is Jesus communicating? That is what we will be looking at in today's Palm Sunday sermon!

We continue our study of the last moments of Jesus' life by studying the words He uttered from the cross as He was dying for the sins of the world. This week, Jonathan teaches through the phrase Jesus "cried out" of "My God, my God why have You forsaken me?!" 

That, says the scriptures, THE CROSS is an:OFFENSE.The meaning, the thought, the application of the cross is indeed an offense to the NATURAL MAN. That is, the man or woman who has no belief in Christianity. This natural person, man or woman, is offended by the notion of the cross. In fact, this anti-Christian person is offended by anything about the cross, including the blood of Jesus Christ.For Christians, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, was the act of the son of God who laid down his life for mankind, for the sins of man and woman, and without, says the scriptures, this shedding of blood there is:NO REMISSION FOR SIN.None at all.But the concept of sin generally and the need of humankind to accept that propitiation for sin is offensive, even mythological. Some critics, atheistic, even go so far as to call the crucifixion and the shedding of blood:BARBARIC.They go back to the Old Testament, to the very book of Genesis, where there was a sacrifice of an animal, the shedding of that animal's blood as atonement, remission for sins, declaring that to be barbaric as well. But, again, for Christians, without the shedding of blood, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, there is no remission for sins, none at all. Sin and blood, and of course crucifixion, say the natural man and woman, is ridiculous mythology and stokes the passions of these anti-Christians in this day and age, perhaps as never before.But sin, the coming short of the glory of God is indeed a reality. In fact, it is everywhere in deed and in heart. Evil is a reality, and there really is no cure for it, except ONE! And that is the saving grace of our Lord clearly manifested to us at Calvary, Golgotha, THE CROSS. Thank God for the cross and Christ!Jesus of Nazareth was tried before Pilate, and the verdict was:I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM!But the mob cried out:CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!Pilate, politician that he was, honored the tradition of the time, to release a prisoner to them and Pilate chose Barrabus over Jesus, so much for justice.To Calvary, he went. Weakened as he was, Simon of Cyrene was conscripted by the Romans to carry the cross of Christ and the Golgotha drama began. Nails were driven into his hands and feet, and there he hung, suffering, parched with a terrible thirst, the crown of thorns on His head causing his blood to drip and his spirit to yearn for the end. He felt all alone, even abandoned by His Father, as he took upon himself the sins of the world, of you and me. In that lonely state, he cried out:MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?But then, mercifully, it was over. And his parting words were:IT IS FINISHED!That ultimate act of redemption was accomplished once and for all, for all mankind, for you and for me. There were those at the time who saw the event, witnessed the horrible act of Roman crucifixion, and watched the innocent Jesus of Nazareth suffer. They witnessed his body taken down from that cross, and the man Joseph, wrapping it in fine linen and laying the precious body of Jesus Christ in that very own and special tomb.That was Friday, but then came Sunday. On the third day, this son of the living God, with the power of God, rose from the dead, and accomplished the greatest event in human history:THE RESURRECTION.Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o'er his foes. He arose the victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever with his saints to reign. Blessed are we, by the millions and millions, who have never seen but who believe, nonetheless.BLESSED ARE WE!And we are indeed, for Gentile and Jew, anyone for that matter, all humankind, can have the incredible benefits of the crucifixion and the resurrection, a life of reconciliation here and life eternal there. Death is destroyed, for there now is no more death. We who believe will live eternally with Him so that the life we now live is redeemed, cleansed, and forgiven by His BLOOD. And we will be raised like HIM in our very own resurrection morning to know HIM and to live eternally with HIM.Thank God for that third day. Life here and now is one of joy, unspeakable rejoicing, praise, worship, and thanksgiving because of this great offense, the cross of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.So, my fellow Christians, on Easter Sunday and every other day, may we praise God for Jesus of Nazareth, and:THANK GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!

Welcome to Day 2605 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2605 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 57:1-6 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2605 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2605 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. In today's Wisdom Nugget, I'll guide you through the Scriptures, exploring ancient wisdom for our daily lives. I'm so glad you're joining me today on our journey as we continue our trek through the Psalms—poetic expressions that reveal deep truths, powerful emotions, and a profound trust in God's faithful care. Today, we begin an exploration of Psalm 57, focusing specifically on verses 1 through 6. Psalm 57 is a remarkable Psalm, written by David during one of the most perilous and uncertain times of his life. Hiding from King Saul in a cave, David felt surrounded, vulnerable, and in imminent danger. Yet even amid fear and uncertainty, David turns to God, expressing unwavering confidence in His protection, mercy, and faithfulness. Let's begin by reading Psalm 57:1-6 from the New Living Translation: 1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. 3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. 4 I am surrounded by fierce lions who greedily devour human prey— whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows, and whose tongues cut like swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. 6 My enemies have set a trap for me. I am weary from distress. They have dug a deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it. Seeking Shelter Under God's Wings (Verse 1) David begins this Psalm with an urgent, heartfelt plea: “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.” Notice the repetition, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!” This reveals David's desperation and urgency. He isn't casually praying—he's pleading deeply for God's mercy, help, and protection. David's imagery of hiding “beneath the shadow of your wings” is powerful and deeply comforting. This image would have resonated strongly with the ancient Israelites, who often used the metaphor of God's protective wings. It pictures God as a compassionate parent—like a mother bird sheltering vulnerable chicks under her wings from danger, predators, or harsh weather. David doesn't deny the reality of his danger; he fully acknowledges it. Yet even as he hides physically in a cave from Saul, spiritually and emotionally, he hides himself within God's presence—knowing true protection comes not from stone walls but from the Almighty God. Illustration: Imagine a mother eagle perched high on a mountain ledge, wings spread wide to shelter her young from storm and danger. Those baby...

Prepare for a profound shift in how you perceive Scripture as this teaching unveils a remarkable revelation: what if many Psalms and prophetic writings aren't merely predicting Christ, but revealing His actual thoughts and prayers during His earthly ministry?The central revelation emerges when examining passages like Psalm 22 ("My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") and Psalm 119's declarations of love for God's Word. These aren't simply David's experiences or prophetic glimpses into the future, but windows into Christ's very soul—His meditations, struggles, and devotion as He walked the earth as fully human, dependent upon the Spirit of God."Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus" becomes the refrain throughout this teaching. Jesus, as the Son of Man rather than merely exercising His divinity, demonstrated how to live in complete alignment with God's Word. He treasured Scripture, found it to be as "sweet as honey," and committed Himself to fulfilling it regardless of the cost. This revelation transforms Jesus from an unreachable divine being into our prototype—the blueprint that shows us how we too can walk as sons and daughters of God.The message concludes with a sobering reminder that true discipleship requires counting the cost, being willing—like Abraham with Isaac or the man who sold everything for the pearl of great price—to sacrifice what is most precious to gain what is most valuable. Are you ready to have the mind of Christ?"Message Our Father's Heart a Question or Response"Support the showThank you so much for listening and sharing with others! We would very much appreciate you continuing to FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, and LIKE us through any of the following platforms:Substack: htt​ps://ourfathersheart.substack.com/Website: ourfathersheart.orgPodcast: https://ourfathersheart.buzzsprout.com/shareTwitter: https://twitter.com/@ofathersheart Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ofathersheartYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ourfathersheartMay God bless you and make you prosperous in Him as you listen and obey His voice!

IBC Choir sings "That's My God" during a worship service at Immanuel Baptist Church, Florence, Ky. Please visit us at 7183 Pleasant Valley Road Florence KY 41042, or call us at (859) 586-6829. Church links: Website: https://www.ibcflorence.com Daily Devotions: https://www.ibcflorence.com/devotions Free App: http://www.ibcflorence.com/ibc-app Our entire list of recent sermons: https://www.ibcflorence.com/recent-sermons Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ibcflorence Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibcflorenceky Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibcflorence/ Podcasts: https://soundcloud.com/user-658781358 Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/ibcflorence/live We would love to know how to pray for you! Romans 10:9

Do you have a rock collection? Have you ever wondered how rocks are made? Discover the amazing ways God created nature to make rocks, and hear Eryn's rockhounding adventure stories.Here's our trail map:How Is a Rock Made?What Are Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks?What Is Rockhounding and How Can You Become a Rockhounder?What Does the Bible Say About Rocks?Episode Links:Order Eryn's book: The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://erynlynum.com/club-videosGet full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://erynlynum.com/clubFree Rock Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/fun-facts-about-rocks-for-kids/Plan Your Visit to the Family Adventure Days at the Creation Museum: CreationMuseum.org/family-daysDiscover God's wild and wonderful world with the Kids Answers magazine by Answers in Genesis: GetAnswers.org/kids Try CTCMath's simple and effective math lessons: https://ctcmath.com/Ask your nature question: https://erynlynum.com/askListen to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast: https://podcast.schoolhouserocked.com/Order Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:“There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no God but you; there is no Rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 (NCV)“The LORD is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.” Psalm 18:2 (NCV)“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?' Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD's Covenant went across.' These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7 (NLT)“In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?' Tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land. The Lord your God caused the water to stop flowing until you finished crossing it, just as the Lord did to the Red Sea. He stopped the water until we crossed it. The Lord did this so all people would know he has great power and so you would always respect the Lord your God.'” Joshua 4:21-24 (NLT)Terms Learned in This Episode:Rock: A solid object made from nature. Many are made from minerals.Mineral: A natural substance made from nature, such as from the earth's crust, but not made from living things. A mineral's atoms (tiny building blocks) are arranged in...

Today's promise: 2 Samuel 22:29 This promise shows up as David expresses his praise and thankfulness for God delivering him from his enemies and King Saul. David declares that God is His lamp. A burning lamp was the symbol of lasting happiness and strength. The lamp provided consistent light. Here are three things the Lamp of God brings. The lamp of God brings clarity. The lamp of God removes fears. The lamp of God keeps you from harm. You could say the second part of this promise this way. "My God is the one who turns my darkness into light."

Let's listen in as Anna challenges us to ask the question, What if you don't actually need what you think you do? Here are some key points we'll learn: What we think we need Vs. What God knows we need Key verses: Matthew 6:8 your father knows what you need before you ask him. Philippians 4:19 My God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 4:6 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. We would love for you to join us at a Beacon People Coffee & Connections at Workshop! Explore our upcoming events:beaconpeople.org/eventsFollow us on Instagram:@beacon.peopleLike us on Facebook.com/beaconpeopleWe would love for you to join our Beacon People Community on Facebook!

 “All major snakes in mythology are just the same fucking snake.”Time to enter the land of the pharaohs! Join Darien (she/they) and DJ (he/him) as they start their journey through Rick Riordan's The Kane Chronicles. Other topics include a sort of muddy lore, DJ trying to uncover the mystery of why the Kane Chronicles audiobooks aren't readily available, when exactly Bast was hanging out in Manhattan, a good, old fashioned “My God is stronger than your god” fight, obvious traps, age gaps in fiction, and a deeper examination of Order v. Chaos.Spoilers for SMITEContent Warning: This episode contains mentions of and conversations about death, and dismembermentOur 11 “Favorite” Book Moments  bonus episode available NOW on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/musesofmythologyAbout UsMuses of Mythology was created and co-hosted by Darien and DJ Smartt.Our music is Athens Festival by Martin Haene. Our cover art is by Ranpakoka. Find him on Instagram @Ranpakoka Love the podcast? Support us on Patreon and get instant access to bloopers, outtakes, and bonus episodes! Patreon.com/musesofmythologyFind us @MusesOfMyth on Instagram. Find all of our episodes and episode transcripts at MusesOfMythology.com----------------------- Support the show

Be Bold & Be Like DanielDaniel 6:10 “Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.”This verse may not make much sense if you don't know the context. Once you do, you can see Daniel's bravery in continuing to pray. This situation boils down to greed and envy, which is the cause of so many bad decisions. Daniel 6:1-5 says, “ It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these, the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss.  Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.  So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. The men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”Daniel was a good man. He loved God and was faithful to God. He was also faithful to the king. God was blessing Daniel, and so Daniel was excelling at his job, and the king noticed it. He was about to give Daniel a promotion and put him in charge of the whole kingdom. However, the others were jealous, and they wanted to discredit Daniel. However, they couldn't find anything that he was doing wrong. Has this ever happened to you in your life? Have you ever had people who were jealous of you or what you have tried to discredit you? It is not a very good feeling. I remember hearing a story once of a woman who my dad worked with. She made an advancement towards my dad, but he was happily married with several kids, and he said he was not interested. She was upset and felt rejected, so she made up lies about my dad to the boss. Luckily, God was looking out for him, and the truth came out.The people who wanted to get Daniel in trouble went to the king and convinced him to sign something saying that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. They knew Daniel was faithful to his God and that he would continue to pray, even when told not to. The king did not know this. He probably wasn't even thinking of Daniel when he signed this into law. Once he found out, he was so upset and tried to rescue Daniel, but it was a law he could not revoke.Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, and the king was so upset he fasted that night, hoping that Daniel's God would save him from the lions. And, in case you don't know the end of the story, God did! Let me read it to you in Daniel 6:19-23. “Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever!  My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.”  Then, the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God.”Can you imagine what a witness Daniel is, not only for the king but for all those in the kingdom, as well as all those who hear the story later? Can you imagine the bravery Daniel must have had? He knew if he prayed to God during those 30 days, he would be thrown in the Lion's Den. Or, at least, he knew it was a possibility, and yet he did it anyway. I wonder if I would have done the same. I wonder if I would have been brave enough or if I would have convinced myself that praying to the Lord in secret was ok. That God would understand because he wouldn't want me to die, either. And this might be true. I am sure God would understand. And yet, Daniel didn't pray in secret. He did pull down the curtains. He could have gone into his bedroom to pray or to any other room that might not have had windows. However, he didn't. He continued his prayer routine as though nothing had changed.When I think of how brave Daniel was, I wonder if I would have been that brave. We live in a society right now where being Christian is not popular. When many people talk about Christians, especially Catholics, they say we are intolerant, unloving, judgmental, and hypocrites. It is sad that this is how Christians are portrayed. Sometimes, it is easier not to stand up for what we believe because we know it will cause conflict. We know others may judge us and say rude things to us. Fortunately, in the country I live in, we will not be put in jail for what we believe, but this is not the same for other countries.I remember when we lived in England, there was a historic home near us, and we took the kids there one time to explore it. We learned that back in the day, it was illegal to be Catholic. The only acceptable religion was that of the king, the Church of England. The house that we were exploring was owned by Catholics. Priests used to do house calls to provide the sacraments to the Catholics who wanted them. However, if they were caught they would be in serious trouble. According to the internet, During the English Reformation, when Catholicism was outlawed in England, Catholic priests who were caught faced severe penalties, including execution by hanging, drawing, and quartering, or imprisonment. The house that we went to visit had a priest's hiding space. It was this hole in the wall where the priest could hide if the British police decided to do a raid. It was a tiny space, but it was a safe space. Can you imagine continuing to attend mass if it meant you might be executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering or put in prison? I know it seems like many of our rights are in jeopardy, even in the United States. There is a lot going on right now, and some of it can seem scary and overwhelming. Life can feel overwhelming if we are constantly watching the news and focusing on the bad things.  However, we need to do what Daniel did and keep our focus on the Lord and what He wants us to do.God is the one who can protect us. He can save us from a lion's den, and he can also save us from a fiery furnace. If we are doing what the Lord wants us to do, He will protect us. If you are particularly scared about what is happening in this country, I want you to turn your gaze to Jesus. If you hear unsettling things in the news, bring them to the Lord. Ask Him to explain what is going on right now. Ask Him for peace of mind. Ask Him to see the situation through His eyes and with His heart for all who are involved.God is our savior. End of story. There is no coma, there is no but, God is it. He is all we need. However, when we take our eyes off Him. When we look to the world for our answers, we will always be more scared and more confused. We can look to the Lord for our answers, and sometimes, we don't have to know how it will all turn out or what we are supposed to learn from this situation. Sometimes, just knowing God is in control of it is enough.Can we be brave like Daniel? Can we pray even though others may not like it? Can we be different than everyone else? Can we show love, even when others can't? Can we give mercy and forgiveness even to those who haven't earned it and don't deserve it? Can we love God in this crazy world where everyone seems to be telling us not to? Can we look at the terrible things happening in the world and still be faithful to God? Can we still trust that God has a plan, even when we can't see it? Daniel was willing to risk being thrown in a lion's den. What are we willing to risk to follow the Lord?Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless everyone listening to this podcast. Lord, we want to follow you no matter what. Please help us. Help us not to be afraid. Help us stand up for our beliefs, no matter the consequences. Help protect us from anyone who wishes to hurt us just because we love you. Help us not shy away from you because of fear. Help us to love you more and more with each passing day. Help us to pass that love on to others. Lord, fill us with the holy boldness you gave the apostles. We love you Lord 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 are enjoying these episodes and feel like you want to go deeper, then I invite you to join us in mentoring. It meets tonight at 8 PM Eastern Time on Zoom. There is a link below to join. If you would like to check it out before joining, just email me, and I will send you the Zoom link for tonight's session. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. 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 September 2024 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, “When you fret, and you do fret over things that really are not things that you should fret about, I ask you, I beg you, I plead with you. Call upon my Holy Spirit. Just say, Holy Spirit, come take this fret that I have. I give it to you. He will fly in in a flash.” 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

Rawrr! Prayer is good, right? But what happens when someone makes it against the law to pray?!?! Find out in this great episode!Prayer is talking to GodDaniel would continuously talk to God through prayer. Even when he was threatened to be thrown into the lion's den, Daniel would continue to pray to God.Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.– Colossians 4:2Daniel 2, Daniel 6Daniel and the Lion's DenDaniel was a very good, faithful man, who always obeyed God. He would pray to God consistently, three times a day. Daniel had a very close relationship to God due to how often he would talk to God through prayer and because of his unshakable faith. God also gave Daniel an incredible gift—Daniel was able to interpret dreams. This gift led Daniel to successfully interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king then gave Daniel a high up position in the kingdom and gave him many gifts. Because Daniel was so smart, other wise men in the kingdom were very jealous. Their jealousy led them to convince King Darius to make a new law—that the people were only allowed to pray to the king. If people chose not to obey this law, they would be thrown in the lion's den. These jealous men knew that Daniel would never obey this law since he would pray to God several times a day.Daniel continued to pray in his room, even when he had heard about this new law. After the jealous men saw him do this, they told King Darius. This made King very upset because he cared for Daniel and tried to get him out of trouble, but knew there was no way around it. Before throwing him in the den, King Darius told Daniel “Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.” The next morning, King Darius went to check on Daniel and heard Daniel say “My God sent his angel to shut the lion's mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have wronged you, Your majesty.” Daniel had not been harmed! They both knew that Daniel was protected because he had completely trusted God and had faith in Him. Daniel had a great amount of love for the Lord. Daniel also had a deep and personal connection to God because he would intentionally talk to God all the time through prayer. Regardless of the situation he was facing, he would make time to pray. Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our daily routine, that we neglect to prioritize our quiet time with God. But the truth is, God wants to hear from us—He wants us to talk to Him because of His love for each and every one of us.I can talk to God. Questions to think about:1. Why did Daniel continue to pray, even when he knew his life would be threatened?2. Why did Daniel have such a close relationship with God?3. How can I remember to talk to God on a daily basis?

Welcome to Faith Church Online! Matthew 27 paints a beautiful picture of the crucifixion of Jesus and in it we see the fifth statement Jesus spoke, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" Jesus was expressing deep anguish as the sins of the world were place on Him, which caused Him to be separated from His Father for the first and only time. But here's the good news: Because Jesus suffered for our sins & because He endured the spiritual separation from His Father, we may be united with Him and never have to be separated from God's love.We hope this serves you well!

How many of you have middle schoolers? We are so excited to be moving into the milestone of Mercy, in our Are My Kids on Track series. And this week, our favorite Bible teacher for middle schoolers—or any schoolers—is back, Melissa! In this episode, she talks about how we bring the Gospel to middle schoolers (or kids of any age, really), right where they are. This is one you're not going to want to miss! Thy Mercy, My God by Sandra McCracken Ep 62: The Power of Vintage Values with the Daystar Parents Grab a copy of Are My Kids on Track? to follow along with us through the season! Are My Kids on Track? Spotify Playlist . . . . . Grab your tickets today for the Raising Capable Kids Conference with David Thomas, Sissy Goff & Special Guests! Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube! Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor: Wayfair: Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Goldberg is at the forefront of robotics — which means he tries to teach machines to do things humans find trivial. SOURCES:Ken Goldberg, professor of industrial engineering and operations research at U.C. Berkeley. RESOURCES:"The Bitter Lesson," by Rich Sutton (UT Austin, 2019).R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama in Three Acts and an Epilogue, by Karel Capek (2019)."The Robot in the Cloud: A Conversation With Ken Goldberg," by Quentin Hardy (New York Times, 2014).Mind Children: The Future of Robot and Human Intelligence, by Hans Moravec (1990)."Stochastic Plans for Robotic Manipulation," by Ken Goldberg (Carnegie Mellon University, 1990)."The Two Cultures And The Scientific Revolution," by C. P. Snow (Cambridge University Press, 1959).Dex-NetAncient Wisdom for a Future Ecology: Trees, Time, and Technology.Ambi Robotics."The Telegarden." EXTRAS:"Feeling Sound and Hearing Color," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024)."Are Our Tools Becoming Part of Us?" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024).“My God, This Is a Transformative Power,” by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Drawing from Life (and Death)" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Aicha Evans Wants You to Take Your Eyes Off the Road," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).