Podcasts about nlt god

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT) God loves you. Those words are so simple and so familiar that they might be mistaken for a cliché if they weren’t also so profound. The fact that God loves you gives you immeasurable worth. It also gives you context for your entire life. Nothing in this world, good or bad, can begin to compare to God’s love for you. No grief or trouble can overwhelm you because God loves you too much to let it happen. No difficult circumstance can defeat you because God loves you. No struggles are too difficult for you because God loves you. So, when grief, trouble, difficult circumstances, or struggles come, you can put them in perspective by remembering and being thankful for God’s love for you. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT). God’s love lasts forever. Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT). Because God loves you, He is always looking for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than you are. So, if He tells you to do something or not to do something, He does so for good reason. The devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He will whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable. You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.” What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all. I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose. Let us never lose our spirit of thankfulness for the fact that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we’re presently going through is difficult. Reflection question: How can you keep the devil from interfering with your relationship with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Think of the time when a giant Philistine was taunting the armies of Israel. Everyone was paralyzed with fear. So, whom did God select? He chose a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to take food to his brothers on the front lines. This young shepherd went out to face the heavily armored giant with a few stones and a sling—and more importantly, with faith in God. David was the person God used to turn the tide of battle and give Israel victory. At another time in Israel’s history, when the people were immobilized by fear because of their enemies, God found a man threshing wheat. His name was Gideon, and he was convinced that God had called up the wrong guy. But God selected him because he didn’t trust in his own ability. Gideon had to trust in God. He, too, won an unlikely victory for his people. In 1 Samuel 16:7, we read these words: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (NLT). It’s a simple yet extremely effective strategy. If God were to choose the people we would expect—the strong, the powerful, the talented, the ones who look like they just walked out of central casting for a spiritual hero role—to accomplish His work, our focus would be on them. Instead, God favors the small, the humble, the unlikely, so that we can more clearly see His hand at work. After God refused to remove a physical affliction from the apostle Paul, Paul wrote, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NLT). If you have faith in God, if you believe that He can use you, and if you’re willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can do incredible things through you. He is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” And in this season of thanksgiving, let’s praise God not only for using ordinary people like us to accomplish extraordinary things but also for making us aware of the potential we possess through Him. Reflection question: What can God accomplish through you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” (John 15:19 NLT) God is faithful. As with some of His other attributes, His faithfulness isn’t always apparent to us. Sometimes His ways seem harsh, but if we trust in Him, eventually, we will recognize the unshakable faithfulness behind them. “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT). We can’t always trust our feelings when it comes to God’s faithfulness. What seems like callousness may in fact be evidence of God’s commitment to us and to our spiritual well-being. God doesn’t promise to make our lives free from pain and struggle. He promises to make our lives spiritually fruitful if we remain faithful to Him. I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping cod from the East Coast. By the time it reached the West, it was spoiled. They froze it, but by the time it arrived, it was mushy. So, they decided to send it alive, but it arrived dead. They tried sending it alive again, but with one difference: They included a catfish in each tank. You see, catfish are the natural enemies of cod. By the time the cod arrived, they were alive and well because they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish. Maybe God has put a catfish in your tank to keep you alive and well spiritually. He’s faithful that way. Maybe there’s a person at work who always has eight hard questions for you every morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it’s that neighbor who is giving you a hard time for your faith in Jesus. Maybe it’s a spouse or a family member who doesn’t believe. You are wondering why this is happening. It’s like that catfish. That person is keeping you alert. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you” (John 15:19 NLT). God will allow persecution in the life of a believer. If you’re experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember: First, persecution confirms that you are a child of God. Second, persecution causes you to cling more tightly to Jesus. That’s God’s faithfulness at work. Embrace it. Give thanks for it. And when you’re suffering persecution for your faith, remember, this world isn’t your real home anyway. If you persevere with a steady, peaceful spirit, trusting in Jesus to help you, your welcome into Heaven will be more glorious than you can imagine. You can depend on it because God is faithful. Reflection question: When have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9 NLT) God is always present, everywhere, all the time. David celebrated—and explored the implications of—God’s constant presence in Psalm 139:7–12: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you” (NLT). He personalized God’s presence just as the prophet Amos did. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). God said to Amos’ fellow prophet Zephaniah, “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT). The point is that God is present with His people, and He wants His people to be present with Him. He wants us to keep appointments with Him, to meet with Him on a regular basis. He wants us to prioritize our relationship with Him. He wants us to make the necessary sacrifices to keep that relationship active and growing. I wonder how many times each day God wants to speak to us but can’t get a word in edgewise. I wonder if He might say, “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you’re too busy. This morning I wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have any time for Me. Instead, you read the newspaper, watched TV, and talked on the phone. You never opened My Word. You never prayed. At lunch I tried to say something, but your prayer was too fast. You have an appointment with Me. Why don’t you keep it?” The book of Genesis tells us that Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden. Adam would hear the voice of the Lord in the Garden in the cool of the evening. One day Adam missed that appointment because of sin. Genesis 3:9 says, “Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (NLT). I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: “Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. I want to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you.” Just imagine, the Creator of the universe wants to spend time with you! Is there any appointment that’s worth keeping more than this one? Reflection question: How do you experience God’s presence in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT) God is holy, which means not only that He is sinless and perfect, but also that He is distinct and set apart from all other beings. His holiness dictates our relationship with Him. He will not bend His rules or change His character to get closer to us. He demands that we pursue holiness so that we can get closer to Him. And for that, we can praise Him. Because the pursuit of holiness is what brings genuine joy and fulfillment to our lives. When we lose sight of that pursuit, things tend to go awry. I had a German shepherd that was a former guide dog for the blind. Because he had slight hip dysplasia, he was put up for adoption. When we got him, he was perfectly trained. We could take him anywhere. He was happy to sit next to us. Another dog would walk by, and he couldn’t have cared less. Then I got ahold of him. I would unleash him and let him run around in the park. Day by day his behavior started getting worse. The next thing you know, he was lunging at dogs and taking off after cats and rabbits and squirrels. I called the people we got him from and asked what went wrong. They told me I couldn’t let him do all that “dog stuff.” I couldn’t let him stop and sniff where he wanted to sniff. I couldn’t let him chase rabbits. They gave me a little muzzle-like device to put on him. Gaining control of his muzzle meant that he would obey because it would hurt to pull away. When I finally took the device off him, he was in sync with me again. My dog’s actions were reminiscent of our behavior with our holy God. If we see an opportunity to run around, go crazy, and do what we want to do, we often take it. We chase sin and selfish pleasure. The Lord has to pull us back in line because He wants us to walk with Him. To walk with our holy God means that we must get into harmony with Him. We must go the direction that He wants us to go. As the prophet Amos asked, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). The apostle Peter made clear how that agreement is reached: “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy” (1 Peter 1:15 NLT). We can be thankful that God is holy—that He is set apart from everything that is imperfect, tenuous, and unreliable. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (NIV). God’s holiness never wavers. His promises can always be trusted. Are you walking with God today? Are you pursuing holiness? Or are you pulling against Him, trying to do things your own way? If so, then it’s time to stop, ask God’s forgiveness, and get in sync with Him once again. Reflection question: What does pursuing holiness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” (Revelation 5:8 NLT) God is omniscient, which means He knows all things. Nothing can surprise Him. There is no unexpected occurrence with Him. That’s important to keep in mind, especially when we pray. In fact, a great way to begin any prayer is to give praise and thanks to God for His omniscience. Celebrating the fact that He knows everything puts us in the proper frame of mind to bring our requests to Him. Otherwise, we may start to doubt when our prayer requests seem to go unanswered. The reality is that God answers every prayer—in His way, for His glory, in His time. Revelation 5:8 gives us an interesting detail about Heaven: “And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (NLT). When we’re in Heaven, standing before God’s throne, and those golden bowls, full of prayers, are brought before us, we’ll realize that God heard every little prayer that we prayed. And I think we also will understand that His answer to each one was far better than what we asked for in the moment. We will realize that God overruled something we asked for because it wasn’t the best prayer. What we don’t realize today is that this hardship, or this tragedy, or this inexplicable event will ultimately lead to a chain reaction of events that touches the lives of so many others and changes the course of the future in ways we could never imagine. It is a butterfly effect that leads to glorify God’s plan for us. When we pray, we can see only one part of that chain reaction—the one that immediately affects us. We need to trust God to accomplish the bigger picture. We need to accept that the thing we want to go away, or the circumstance that looms so large in our life, is there to give God glory. We may not be able to see how, so we must trust the Lord, knowing that it all will be revealed in Heaven when we stand before Him. Some prayers are answered right away. And we can be thankful for that. On the other hand, some prayers are answered long after they’re prayed. And we can thank God for that, too. Because He knows everything. He sees every possible contingency. He sees every possible outcome. He knows precisely when to act in order to bring about ultimate good. His timing is always perfect. So, instead of praying for God to work according to our imperfect understanding of things, according to our imperfect timetable, we can leave our requests with Him and trust Him to answer them in His perfect knowledge and in His perfect time. Reflection question: What difference does it make in your life that God knows all things? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When life suddenly feels unclear and the path you’ve been walking seems to disappear beneath your feet, it’s easy to assume something has gone wrong. But Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that God is always at work—even when our view is obstructed. Sometimes confusion isn’t a setback; it’s a signal that God is shifting your direction, preparing new ground, or ushering you into a fresh season. What looks like disorientation may actually be His gentle nudge to lift your eyes, trust Him again, and follow where He’s leading next. Highlights Confusion can be a sign of transition, not failure. God often uses unexpected moments to redirect our steps. Old paths may fade so new ones can form. What feels like “lost” may actually be God’s protection or preparation. Faith invites us to walk even when visibility is low. Seasonal shifts in life often require new vision and fresh trust. Scripture realigns our perspective when we can’t see the way forward. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Confusion May Signal a God-TransitionBy Kelly Balarie Bible Reading:“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”– Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT God is so creative.Ever notice how He uses the most unusual things to teach us the lessons we need to know? It happened to me today... Taking a hike, I headed deep into the woods, leaves crunching underfoot. I kept my eyes alert, knowing I needed to take note of landmarks if I wanted to safely return to my car. You know how it is — it’s easy to quickly head somewhere without even realizing how you got there in the first place. That couldn’t happen; I wanted to make it home safely. At first, seeing my path was easy — that is, until it wasn’t. What used to be visible gray ground had disappeared. Now, pine needles covered my path. And confusion set in... Was I going right — toward that tall tree? Straight — toward no trees? Or left — toward a tree stump? I wasn’t so sure. Have you ever been there? Going a certain way only to suddenly experience confusion? Disillusionment? Maybe you were headed somewhere with God, only to be obstructed...Maybe you thought you were on the right path until you ran into something... This can feel discouraging and disorienting. It can happen in marriages, jobs, joys, hobbies, friendships, vision, or calling. All the same, it becomes wearying to be on a path you thought was right — only to feel lost. That’s how I felt — for a second — lost. But as I lifted my head and looked yards ahead, I saw it. There! The path. I was safe — yet again. However, those path-covering pine needles got me thinking... How did they get there to begin with? I figured they arrived one of two ways: The wind blew them there. The new season of Fall placed them there. Some of us today need to know that our confusion isn’t just about disorientation — it may be about God providing us with a new direction. And sometimes what covers the old path is actually preparing the ground for a new path. When the winds of God come, though they displace things, it can be a very good thing. It is His repositioning. It is His moving. Yes, it’s true — what we once knew can look different or even disappear. But this doesn’t mean it won’t be good. Even if we can’t see, by faith, we can still walk — trusting Him. Likewise, confusion may signal a progression into a new season. The paths we knew in the old season may not suffice in a new one, which is why seeing can be hard. The pine needles of Summer must fall to make way for Fall. We can’t hold on to what was and still step into the beautiful potential of what can be. Plus, the falling is part of the seeding of new ground. Did you know that pine needles prepare the soil and they save the path from weeds? In our not seeing, there is also God protecting us in the process of shifting seasons.So, what do we do when we find ourselves here? We readjust. We ask God if He has something new for us. We discern if He wants us to change course, change jobs, change relationships — or simply press through. Either way, we take a time-out with the Lord to listen and discern. “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”(Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT) There is a time for everything — and sometimes, there is a time when God adjusts our vision so we can walk in a new direction. If He is doing this in your life, be encouraged: He is not doing this to hurt you, but to guide you. Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you ever headed somewhere with the wrong directions? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? A left turn should have been a right turn. Ten minutes turns into twenty. We all know this: when going the wrong way, it is essential to get back on track. Part of getting back on track is to get a map. The Word of God is our map. Jesus is our Sure-Guide. Father cares. Holy Spirit is the Revealer. If you feel off track, how about you get on your knees? How about you ask God to reveal to you what He is doing and how He is guiding you? How about you keep your eyes and ears open to how He may respond? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” (1 John 3:21–22 NLT) God answers every prayer. That’s important to understand. Some people say, “I’ve been asking God to grant my request for years, but He still hasn’t answered me.” Chances are, He has answered. And His answer is no. No is as much of an answer as yes. It’s just not the answer we want. Here’s something to keep in mind: If the request is wrong, God says, “No.” If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow.” If we are wrong, God says, “Grow.” But if the request is right, the timing is right, and we are right, God says, “Go.” One of the amazing things you discover as you grow in the Lord is that some of your greatest answered prayers are those to which God said no. With a little spiritual maturity, you realize that what you wanted so desperately was the worst thing that possibly could have happened to you. That raises an obvious question. What can we do to receive yes answers to our prayer requests? Let’s look at what God’s Word says. “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for” (1 John 5:14–15 NLT). “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13–14 NLT). Ask for anything that pleases Him. Ask for anything in His name. Those are the quickest ways to get a yes from God. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them these words: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 ESV). And when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and crucifixion, He said, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine!” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). You can never go wrong when you pray for God’s will to be done. That may seem like legal fine print in a too-good-to-be-true offer: “God will give you anything you ask for! (As long as you ask for what He wants to give you.)” But it’s something much deeper than that. It’s God’s way of making sure that our will and our priorities align with His. If they do, the sky’s the limit where our prayer requests are concerned. If they don’t, we need to make some adjustments. So, all our prayers should contain this spoken or unspoken sentiment: “Lord, here’s the way I see things with my limited understanding. I think You should do this. If I’m asking for something outside Your will, I ask You to overrule my request. You know all things, so I ask for Your will to be done.” Reflection question: When has God said no to you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God owns everything. We don't own any of what we have. Everything is Grace! At best, we are just managers of what God has entrusted to us. We're God's Property Managers. The Bible has a term for it: God's stewards. Here's the definition. “A Steward is someone entrusted with another person's wealth and charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner's best interest – not theirs.” As the Psalmist says: “You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority” (Psalm 8:6 NLT) God calls us to be stewards of all of Creation. You're not just an employee. You're now God's Manager. The key message of Talk 3: You've been promoted.

Word for Today:Exodus‬ ‭13‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬“God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”Reflection PointYou've left “Egypt” behind. There's no turning back.

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.” (Exodus 20:7 NLT) God’s name is important to Him. There is power in His name. Anyone who tries to diminish that power by taking it lightly or using it in a way that dishonors Him is breaking the third commandment. One way people misuse the name of the Lord is by swearing by it. As in, “I swear to God, I’m telling you the truth.” People who swear to God often do so because their own word—their own name—isn’t reliable. They’re known to make commitments they don’t keep or to say things that aren’t true. This misuse comes into sharp focus in a marriage ceremony. If we commit ourselves to our spouses with vows that invoke God’s name, we must honor those vows. If we bail on the relationship we vowed to uphold, we’re misusing God’s name. Another way we misuse the Lord’s name is by saying, “Oh, my God” or “Oh, God.” When we drop those words into casual conversation—or any conversation—we’re treating God’s name like any other exclamation. We’re ignoring the importance God places on His name and using it simply as a thoughtless sentence filler. We’re not actually calling for Him. We’re not praying to or worshiping Him. We’re simply borrowing His name for our own conversational purposes. Some people misuse God’s name by leveraging it for personal gain. They market themselves as Christian business owners, or Christian salespeople, or Christian service providers, hoping to attract Christians as clients. They wear their faith on their sleeve to set themselves apart in the marketplace. That’s a misuse of God’s name and His work in our lives. And that brings us to what I believe is the worst way of misusing the name of the Lord: hypocrisy. If you claim to be a follower of God, if you call His Son Savior and Lord, people can and should expect to see Christ in you. In the way you talk. In the decisions you make. In the priorities you demonstrate. In the way you interact with others. In your business dealings. In the way you treat your enemies. If they don’t see Christ in you, if instead they see someone very much like the unbelievers they know, they will rightly question your faith. They will double down on their doubts. They will lean harder into their cynicism. Christian hypocrisy creates a huge stumbling block for unbelievers. It makes them question the power of God to change lives. If you claim God as your heavenly Father with your words but deny Him with your actions, you are misusing His name. Honor the name of the Lord—not just with the things you say, but also with the way you live. Reflection question: What’s the biggest challenge for you when it comes to not misusing the name of the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Word for Today:Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬“God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.”Reflection Point:What challenges are you complaining about but not praying about?

Welcome to Day 2702 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2702 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 82:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2702 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2702 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. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Supreme Court of the Cosmos – The Judge of All Judges - A Trek Through Psalm 82:1-8 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we open a powerful and dramatic new chapter in our journey through the Psalms. We're embarking on a trek through Psalm 82 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its entirety, verses 1 through 8. Psalm 82, like many we've explored recently, is attributed to Asaph. But after the celebratory festivals of Psalm 81 and the laments for national restoration in Psalm 80, this psalm introduces us to a truly astounding scene: God Himself, acting as the supreme Judge, standing in judgment over all other authorities. It's a divine courtroom, a cosmic tribunal, where God holds human rulers and judges accountable for their injustice and corruption. This psalm, in just eight short verses, provides a breathtaking glimpse into the heart of God's justice. It delivers a withering condemnation of those in power who abuse their authority, while simultaneously issuing a powerful command to defend the powerless. It reminds us that no matter how powerful or esteemed a human leader may be, they are ultimately accountable to a higher authority, the one true Judge of all the earth. So, let's step into this dramatic scene and listen to the verdict from the Supreme Judge of the cosmos. The Divine Tribunal and the Condemnation of the Unjust (Reads Psalm 82:1-4 NLT) God presides over heaven's court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: "How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked?" Interlude "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people." Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins by setting a truly magnificent and sobering scene: "God presides over heaven's court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings." The "heaven's court" or "divine council" was a common literary motif in the ancient Near East, but here it is uniquely appropriated to show God's absolute supremacy. The "heavenly beings" (elohim) in this context are not God's divine rivals, but are often interpreted as human judges and rulers, or perhaps even angelic beings entrusted with the oversight of nations, all of whom are ultimately subordinate to God. God is the one and only supreme Judge, and He is holding all other authorities—divine and human—accountable. He is standing over all the judges of the earth, watching every decision they make. The first question God asks is

Transformed By Love // “Love Is” How can we, as a church and as individuals, live in our community in a way that reflects the grace and kindness of Jesus? But What Is the Love of God? Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Agape - noun used 18x = benevolence, goodwill, flowing from God's charter. Agapáo - verb used 28x = The proof of love. Love Is + Love Does God is Love What is the Love of God Like? His Love Appears First 1 John 4:19 (ESV)“We love because he first loved us.” His Love Cannot be Earned 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Timothy Keller His Love is Proven by the Cross Romans 5:6,8 (ESV)“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” John 3:16-17 (NIV)“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” His love is revealed by the Holy Spirit Galatians 1:11-12 (ESV)“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” “Holy Spirit, Give Me a Revelation of Your Love, I Need It!” 

What are the desires of your heart? Sometimes we think, “If I just had ___, then I’d finally be happy.” Psalm 37:4 offers a different promise:“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” This powerful devotional by Megan J. Conner explores how God lovingly transforms our longings—helping us discover that what we truly desire is Him. If you’ve ever wondered why even your biggest wins still leave you wanting more, this message will speak to the deeper need in your soul: true contentment in God.

Word for Today:Genesis‬ ‭45‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬“God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.”Reflection:Are you judging people in the flesh or based on first impressions?

Welcome to Day 2673 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2673 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 76:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2673 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2673 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. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: God's Triumphant Vindication – A Fortress Unconquerable: A Trek Through Psalm 76:1-12. Today, we embark on a truly triumphant trek through Psalm 76 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 76, another psalm attributed to Asaph, bursts forth with a powerful declaration of God's awesome glory and His decisive victory over His enemies. Unlike the agonizing communal lament of Psalm 74, where the Temple lay in ruins and God seemed absent, or even Psalm 75, which proclaimed God's future judgment, Psalm 76 celebrates a past divine intervention, a resounding triumph where God Himself defended Jerusalem and shattered the might of those who defied Him. While the specific historical event is not named, many scholars believe this psalm likely celebrates a victory like God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army under Sennacherib (as recounted in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37). In that astounding event, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were struck down by the angel of the Lord in a single night, without a single battle fought by human hands. This psalm captures the awe and gratitude of a people who witnessed God's supernatural power turn the tide of war. It contrasts the fleeting glory and might of human kings with the enduring, terrifying power of the Almighty, who acts decisively to defend the humble and silence the proud. This psalm reminds us that our God is not only the ultimate Judge but also the invincible Defender of His people. So, let's immerse ourselves in this hymn of triumph, recognizing the God who makes His dwelling a fortress and crushes all who oppose Him. (Reads Psalm 76:1-3 NLT) God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel. His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion. There he broke the flaming arrows, the shields, swords, and weapons of war. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with a declaration of God's renown and His chosen dwelling place: "God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel." This isn't a speculative statement; it's a confident affirmation. God's character and power are not hidden; they are clearly "known" and "great" throughout the lands of Judah and Israel. His deeds have made Him famous, undeniable. This sets a tone of certainty and assurance, immediately establishing God's active presence and influence among His people. The reason for His renown is then specified: His presence in His sanctuary. "His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion." "Salem" is an ancient name for Jerusalem, and "Mount Zion" is the hill on which Jerusalem, and later the Temple, stood. The "Tabernacle" here refers to God's dwelling place, later formalized as the Temple. This emphasizes that God's presence is localized in...

John 8:31-36  //  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Freedom is a journey Ephesians 1:16-18  //  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people Know God Find Freedom Discover Purpose Make a Difference Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)  //  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)  //  Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Body, Soul, & Spirit Body - The Physical Soul - The mind, will, and emotions Spirit - The part of us that is like God. 1. Victory over sin. Sin: What I do to myself. Wounds: What others did to me. Romans 7:21-25  //  So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! 2. Healing from wounds. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)  //  And “don't sin by letting anger control you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 3. Authority over the enemy. Ephesians 6:10-12  //  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)  //  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:5-6 (NLT)  //  Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Right relationships are the key. Proverbs 28:13  //  He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. God will not heal what we conceal. 1 John 1:9  //  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16  //  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Water baptism Join the Church. Access groups.

“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NLT) God didn’t say, “I desire unity in the church. Good luck with that.” Instead, He designed the church so that it would promote unity. In Ephesians 4:11–12, the apostle Paul tells us that Christ gives people specific gifts so that they can fill specific offices in the church. When those officers use their gifts to fulfill their responsibilities, something amazing happens. Connections are made. Fellowship occurs. Bonds of unity are forged. Some people are called—and gifted—to be apostles. They don’t have the authority of Jesus’ apostles, but they are special ambassadors of God’s work. Apostles may plant churches or serve as liaisons to other Christian organizations. Some people are equipped to be prophets. They don’t have the same authority as biblical prophets, but they speak the words of God that agree with the Old and New Testaments. In 1 Corinthians 14:29, Paul emphasized that the words of prophets are subject to the discernment and authority of church leaders. Some people are equipped to be evangelists. That is, they are specially gifted to share the Good News of Christ with others. And some people are equipped to be pastors and teachers. We shepherd the flock by making God’s Word accessible, understandable, and applicable. Often that involves building a bridge to our audience or making a connection to get their attention. Ultimately, though, the power of our message is not in some quote from a secular philosopher or a pop star or some other iconic figure. The power is in the Word of God. God said in Isaiah 55:11, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (NLT). And Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (NLT). My job, and the job of all pastors and teachers, is not to make the Bible relevant. The Bible is relevant. I just need to let the lion out of the cage and let the Word of God do what it does best, change lives. In the bigger picture, Christ equips the leaders of the church to equip God’s people to serve. This common experience—of learning the truth of God’s Word, of being equipped, and of sharing a commitment to serve—strengthens the unity among church members. When we embrace our roles, the body of Christ grows, and the members of that body learn to work in unity. Reflection Question: How can you help create or nurture a spirit of unity in your church? 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.

As Christians, we do not have to fear death—because Jesus Christ defeated it. Easter was the death of death; it died when Christ rose! This Easter, hear Jesus as He says, “Don’t be afraid.” Notes: Focus verse - Matthew 28 #1 The world is full of fear. We live in a scary, frightening world.It’s an age of anxiety and global fears. There are personal fears too. Everyone has a fear of death. #2 Because Jesus rose from the dead, we no longer need to live in fear. Psalm 90:9 #3 The resurrection of Jesus replaces fear with faith. Read Matthew 28:1–10 The disciples were filled with fear and uncertainty after the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus came with the express purpose of dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Jesus is concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. Jesus told His disciples He would suffer and die and then He would rise again. Death does not have the last word—Easter does. Death died when Christ rose.Easter is the death of death. A Christian will never die spiritually. Jesus said, “You must be born again.”John 3:7 (NLT) God’s plans are better than yours. Turn your panic into prayer,your worry into worship,and your fear into faith. "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come."Matthew 14:28–29 (NKJV) Faith gives way to fear. Trust gives way to worry. Peter sank because he was afraid and took his eyes off Jesus. When we are sinking, we need to call out to Jesus.Matthew 14:30 Death does not have the final word—Jesus does. A new day can dawn for you today: #1 Realize that you are a sinner. #2 Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin. #3 Repent of your sin. #4 Receive Jesus Christ into your life. #5 Do it now. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Christians, we do not have to fear death—because Jesus Christ defeated it. Easter was the death of death; it died when Christ rose! This Easter, hear Jesus as He says, “Don’t be afraid.” Notes: Focus verse - Matthew 28 #1 The world is full of fear. We live in a scary, frightening world.It’s an age of anxiety and global fears. There are personal fears too. Everyone has a fear of death. #2 Because Jesus rose from the dead, we no longer need to live in fear. Psalm 90:9 #3 The resurrection of Jesus replaces fear with faith. Read Matthew 28:1–10 The disciples were filled with fear and uncertainty after the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus came with the express purpose of dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Jesus is concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. Jesus told His disciples He would suffer and die and then He would rise again. Death does not have the last word—Easter does. Death died when Christ rose.Easter is the death of death. A Christian will never die spiritually. Jesus said, “You must be born again.”John 3:7 (NLT) God’s plans are better than yours. Turn your panic into prayer,your worry into worship,and your fear into faith. "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come."Matthew 14:28–29 (NKJV) Faith gives way to fear. Trust gives way to worry. Peter sank because he was afraid and took his eyes off Jesus. When we are sinking, we need to call out to Jesus.Matthew 14:30 Death does not have the final word—Jesus does. A new day can dawn for you today: #1 Realize that you are a sinner. #2 Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin. #3 Repent of your sin. #4 Receive Jesus Christ into your life. #5 Do it now. --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is money your master? In this message Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how we can dethrone the almighty dollar. You may have seen the clip—recently a famous pastor went viral for harshly instructing his ushers to close the doors as he began to receive (take up) an offering at his meeting.  If you're skeptical: I get it. I don't want something from you, I want something for you. Here is why this topic is so important:Money is a master that's searching for servants.Matthew 6:24 NIV This false god wants to sit on the throne of your heart. Our finances reveal our faithfulness.Luke 16:10-12 NLTYou'll be good at what you practice. Be generous with what you have now. How to dethrone the almighty dollar:1. Choose generosity over greed. Greed assumes that what I have is mine. If a resource comes TO me, it must be FOR me. Generosity assumes everything is God's, and the resources I have received might not be FOR me, they might be THROUGH me.  Greed produces owners, generosity produces stewards.2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT God's desire is to be generous to you so that you will be generous to others. 2. Recognize your money problem.The world says you have money problems when you don't have money, but the Bible says you have money problems when money has you.1 Timothy 6:9-10 NLTHow do you know if you love money? If you're willing to set aside your beliefs to get it.1 Timothy 6:17 NLT God wants us to enjoy life, but he also wants to protect us from what will harm us. 3. Practice intentional giving.Give with purpose.2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Plant more seeds, reap more harvest. Plant no seed, reap no harvest. It's your choice. Give by percentage.Luke 21:1-3 Jesus was impressed with the percentage given, not the total. Why? Because different amounts of money matter differently to people. God notices sacrifice of the giver, not just the size of the gift. Give with a plan.1 Corinthians 16:2 Give to what feeds you and give to what moves you—or, pay for your meals and support what matters. If you don't plan to give, you'll forget to give. Give with perspective.1 Timothy 6:18-19 NLTInstead of accumulating more stuff, accumulate good works. How? When you give something away, you just stored it up in heaven. If you gather here, you store up here; if you give it here, you store up there.Heaven keeps better records than your bank. "We have unlimited resources."If someone asked you for $100 how would you react? If you recently inherited 100 million dollars, how would you react? Romans 8:32 "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?"If you have Jesus, you already have everything. Are you dethroning the almighty dollar?

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT) God promised David that his kingdom would last forever. That was a reference to Jesus, who, centuries later, not only descended from David but also was closely identified with him. People called Him “Son of David.” God also promised that He would bless David’s son, who would also succeed him as king. It would be that son who finally built the temple that David wanted to build. That son would continue the lineage of David that would eventually produce Jesus. That son was Solomon, the second child born to David and Bathsheba. (Their first child died as a consequence of their adulterous affair.) God promised to bless Solomon and treat him as a son. According to 1 Kings 3, when Solomon became king, God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (NIV). Solomon asked for wisdom so that he could be the ruler God wanted him to be. God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that He gave him wisdom—and then threw in wealth and honor. God equipped David’s son to carry on his father’s legacy and make a name for himself. King Saul was dead. That meant David was the only living human who knew the challenges Solomon would face as king. And before he died, he offered Solomon some final words of advice. You don’t have to be next in line to the throne of Israel to benefit from David’s hard-earned wisdom. You can find his advice in 1 Chronicles 29 (and in the passage above). Here are three starting points. One, develop an intimate relationship with God. Knowing about God from stories in the Bible or other people’s perspectives isn’t the same as knowing Him personally. You develop an intimate relationship with God by spending time in His presence, praying, and listening. And by meditating on His Word, asking Him to reveal Himself through His promises and commands. And by prioritizing His will. Isn’t that what the Christian life is all about: a deep friendship with God? Two, serve God with a whole heart and a willing mind. The better you know God, the more you’ll want to serve Him. Serving God isn’t drudgery; it’s not a duty. It’s a delight and a privilege, no matter what form that service takes. Remember, God’s plan for you is better than your plan for yourself. Three, put the Lord first in your life, and everything else will find its proper balance. That’s the key to effective prayer: aligning yourself with God’s will. Jesus said in John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (NLT). He also said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14 nlt). He didn’t say, “You are my friends if you do the things that you personally agree with.” God has told us in His Word how to live. It is not for us to pick and choose sections of the Bible we like and toss the rest aside. If God tells you to do something, He says it for good reason, and you need to obey Him. If God says not to do something, He also says it for good reason. Even if you don’t understand it, obey Him. Reflection question: How can you tell when you’re putting the Lord first in your life? 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.

Stasi is happy to welcome back Liz Wright — best-selling author, international speaker, and CEO and Founder of the International Mentoring Community — whose life is a beautiful testimony of profound transformation because of the love of Christ. Today's conversation is a divine invitation. Jesus is calling us into rest — not just as a moment of pause, but as a way of continually living in Him. Together, they unpack the power of trusting Jesus and the freedom that comes when we surrender and believe. May your heart be drawn closer to Him as you receive the rest He so freely gives!…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Psalm 62:1 (NIV) – Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) – This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'Hebrews 4:1-3 (NLT) – God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news – that God has prepared this rest – has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,'” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.Matthew 11:28 (NLT) – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) – For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT) – Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.Philippians 4:19 (NLT) – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.…..LIZ WRIGHTWebsite: https://lizwright.org/Website: https://www.jointheimc.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lizwrightShow: https://www.god.tv/ministries/liz-wright/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizwrightministries/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizwrightministriesLIZ WRIGHT BIOLiz Wright's story is one of radical transformation. She was miraculously healed of Motor Neuron Transmission Disorder and delivered from the pain of traumatic life events. In a desperate situation, she had a physical visitation from Jesus Christ that turned her world upside down and everything she had believed to be true. She understands suffering and the power of the Cross to heal and restore. Liz is a living miracle!She walks a life of encounters with Jesus as a messenger to His Bride and is called to activate people into encounters and the experience of His love. Liz has done this for thousands across the globe through her ministry.Liz is host of the Charisma podcast Live Your Best Life with Liz Wright, presenter of the TV show Encountering God with Liz Wright, a best-selling author, international speaker, and CEO and Founder of the International Mentoring Community. Her passion is that you would become all that Jesus created you to be.…..Quote: Elisabeth Elliot – “Rest is a weapon given to us by God. The enemy hates it because he wants us stressed and occupied.”…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: https://wahe.art/4jFlAXuSpotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

“At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.” (Genesis 28:11–12 NLT) God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation from Abraham’s descendants. Step one of the promised nation-building was giving Abraham and his wife Sarah a son, which God did when Abraham was one hundred years old. The son’s name was Isaac. When Isaac was a young man, he married a woman named Rebekah. When Isaac was sixty years old, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys. They named them Esau and Jacob. Esau was born first. In the culture of that day, the firstborn son was given special privileges, known as the birthright. The birthright included a leadership role in the family, the right to make judicial decisions, a double portion of the father’s inheritance, and a special blessing from the father. One day Esau returned from hunting, famished. Jacob was cooking a bean stew. He offered to give his brother a bowl of stew in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau agreed, which showed how little he cared about his birthright. Later, Jacob posed as his brother to trick his nearly blind father into giving Jacob his special blessing. The blessing gave Jacob divine protection. Whoever cursed him would be cursed by God, and whoever blessed him would receive God’s blessings. Esau was devastated—and furious—when he learned what his brother had done. He plotted to kill Jacob after their father died. To protect Jacob, Rebekah sent him away until Esau cooled off. While Jacob was on the run, he spent a night in a land named Luz. There, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway that extended from the earth all the way to Heaven. He saw angels going up and down the stairway. God spoke to him from the top of the stairway. He reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham and reminded Jacob that the land where he slept belonged to him and his descendants. What Jacob didn’t realize is that God had given him a glimpse of Jesus’ future work. Sin separated humans from God. There was no passageway between earth and Heaven, no hope for eternal life. But Jesus’ sacrifice changed that. He became the stairway to Heaven, the only way to eternal life. Jesus identified Himself with Jacob’s dream when He said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth” (John 1:51 NLT). In Genesis 32:9–16, Jacob prayed as he was on his way to make amends with Esau. He acknowledged the God of Abraham and Isaac as the true God. He confessed his own unworthiness. He brought his petition to the Lord. But it would have been better if he had said, “Lord, what should I do now?” Instead, he prayed and made his plans. In other words, he decided what he was going to do and then asked God to bless it. Is that not like us? We make our plan and then ask God to bless it. But that is not really praying about a matter. Instead, we should pray along the lines of “Lord, give me wisdom from Your Word and from godly people who will guide me scripturally. Help me do the right thing.” But Jacob did not do that. He wanted what was right, but he went about it in the wrong way. God helps those who can’t help themselves. This is what Jacob needed to realize. Let’s learn to seek out God’s will rather than bypass it. Reflection question: How do you feel about the claim that there are many different paths that lead to God? 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.

The Beatitudes, Pt. 1 | February 16, 2025Pastor Wes MorrisMatthew 5:3-12 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Matthew 5:3 (NIV) Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.✓ Spiritual Brokenness - A deep awareness of our need for God.Matthew 5:3 (NLT) God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.We will never depend on something we don't think we need.✓ True fulfillment isn't found through self-sufficiency but in surrender.✓ When we acknowledge our need for God, we open our hearts to His power.Psalm 73:26 (NIV) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.Psalm 73:26 (MSG) You're all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithfulBROKEN AND BLESSEDII Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I. FIND PURPOSE IN THE PAIN.I Peter 5:10-11 (MSG) Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.II. FIND INTIMACY WITH GOD.We enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we get to know Him intimately in the valleys. - Rick WarrenPsalm 51:17 (NLT) The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.Psalm 23:4 (NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. III. FIND HEALING IN SURRENDER.Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. God cannot heal what we refuse to surrender.

Ever wondered why there are so many imposters and hypocrites in churches? What should we do about it? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares insights both this topic from a story that Jesus told.  Why did Jesus use parables?Matthew 13:12-13a Jesus didn't use parables to make everything clear, but to make everyone think. Jesus' parables reveal people's hearts—they penetrate some hearts and they harden others. With His use of parables, Jesus isn't hiding truth FROM people; He's hiding it FOR people, in hopes that it draws them closer to Him. Questions to ask when reading a parable:1. Who does each character represent? 2. What is the surprise twist in the story? 3. What are the kingdom lessons behind each story?  Today's parable: The Wheat and the WeedsMatthew 13:24-30  The weeds in the story, are also called tares, but they're known today as darnel weed, often called false wheat. Jesus' explanationMatthew 13:36-43  3 Questions to ask:Who does each character represent?Jesus – FarmerThe field – the worldWheat – people who follow JesusWeeds – the people who don't follow JesusThe farmer's enemy – the devilThe harvest – the end of the worldThe harvesters – the angels What is the twist in the story?The farmer waited until harvest to sort the wheat from the weeds.28-30 God is playing the long game. God's justice is coming eventually, but God's mercy is here currently. What are the kingdom lessons in the story?1. It is often difficult to distinguish between believers and unbelievers, especially at the earliest stages of growth. We must be slow to declare which is which.Jude 1:22-23 NLT God is long-suffering towards those you find insufferable.This is why we don't throw people away when they make a mistake, when they struggle with sin, or when they're taking longer to "get it" than we think they should.Our father is a farmer and growing people takes time. 2. God is not calling you to be a holy weed eater.We have not been instructed to go in guns blazing, clearing out and cleaning up all we see wrong in someone's life. Why? Because sometimes, you look like a weed too.Galatians 6:1 NIV Christians shouldn't be passive against evil, but we're called to be patient with people.John 3:17 NLT If God didn't send Jesus into the world to judge the world, I doubt He sent you to judge it. 3. God's judgement is real, but not yet revealed.Romans 2:5 Some of you are too excited about the prospect of people going to hell. Others of you aren't concerned enough about people going to hell.Be angry at injustice, but trust the wisdom of the Lord of the harvest and share God's grace with others while we can.   Are you learning the lessons found in the parable of the wheat and the weeds?

Pastor David MorrisonJeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT)- The Israelites, the people this text is written for, had lived in rebellion against God and found themselves without a permanent home.- God says I have not forgotten you. I still believe in you and have plans for your future-good ones!This is the foundation for the Scripture I am sharing. It is a form of love that God can only fully show His creation.Ephesians 1:4-14 (NLT)- Before time began, God loved us so much that He chose us through the work of Christ to be in a relationship with Him. For this to happen, we had to be blameless and holy because God is a blameless and holy God.2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)- God has chosen all people. God has chosen you because He loves you.GOD CHOSE ME.- Anyone who says they don't want to be chosen has just been picked last so many times that they have stopped caring, in self-preservation mode.- God chooses me and you, even though I sin and make a mess.- This is the gospel: God chooses you despite all the terrible things you have done and will do, not to benefit Himself but to bring you into a relationship with Him!Not only does God choose us to be in a relationship with Him, but He also chooses us to spend eternity in heaven, not hell. That would be enough!I'm reminded of the story of the prodigal son who ran from his father, spent his money, sinned, and came home on his knees. My father forgives me; I am no longer worthy of being a son but a servant.GOD CHOSE TO ADOPT ME.- When it says God chose us, He chose me to be His child, adopted into His family with the same rights and inheritance as a biological one.- This means that when I am in Christ, I am a child of God.- Just as God calls Jesus son, He calls you son and daughter!Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)- As a child of God - He is proud of you. He will fight for you. Everything that He has is available to you. When someone crosses a child of God, they must deal with the dad.- Because of God's great love, you are chosen, not only chosen but also adopted into the family of God! And it gets better!Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)GOD CHOSE TO GIVE ME A NEW INHERITANCE.- I'm talking about a new spiritual inheritance.- When you step into a relationship with Christ...you are trading away the inheritance of this world for something greater.You see, what I inherited from this world is addiction, its brokenness, its loneliness, its oppression, it's hell. But that chain can be broken when you are a child of God. That which has terrorized your family is no longer yours to pass down to your children by default.Due to His immense love, God has chosen you, desires to adopt you, and has prepared a new inheritance for you.Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT)DO I CHOOSE HIM?

Proverbs 2, King Solomon speaks to our personal bandwidth, mental, spiritual, and physical balance. My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT) Was there a sentence or phrase or maybe even a certain word that jumped out at you as I read? That is often how God speaks to us through His Word. He will pull out a specific message for you for this moment, for this day. If so, focus on that throughout your day. With this in mind listen to the passage again From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT) God promises of Wisdom. Understanding. Insight. Knowledge. Common sense. Integrity. Justice. Protection. All promises from God when we seek Him. This ancient promise is yours. “Wisdom will enter your heart. Knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.” Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I want Your wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and insight. I submit my schedule, my time and energy to You, to teach me the way to live, how to live, with You and for You. As above, so below.”

Your Kingdom Come, Pt. 3 | January 19, 2025Pastor Wes Morris Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT) “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.“At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.“At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven't you been working today?'“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.'  The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.'“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. "When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?'“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”✓ We are here because of the mercy and grace of Jesus.Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.✓ God will choose anyone at any time.✓ Envy begins when I resent God's goodness in the lives of others, and ignore God's goodness in my own.✓ God's blessings aren't contingent on our work, but on His goodness.Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.WHEN LIFE DOESN'T SEEM FAIR I. DEVELOP A HEART OF GRATITUDE. Philippians 4:11-13 (MSG) I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.II. DON'T ALLOW COMPARISON TO STEAL YOUR JOY. Philippians 2:5-6 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.III. TRUST THAT GOD'S PLAN IS BEST FOR MY LIFE.Proverbs 19:21 (GNT) People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lord's will is going to be done.

Welcome to Day 2534 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2534 – Fourth Week of Advent – Living in Love, Daily and Christmas Eve Service - Living in Christ, Daily Putnam Church Message – 12/22/2024 Living in Love, Daily Last week was the third Sunday of Advent, and our focus was “Living in joy, Daily. We learned that we need to carry the joy of Jesus with us, reflecting His light and love to a world that desperately needs it. Let's celebrate the incredible gift of joy we have in knowing Christ, the One who brings “good news of great joy for all people.” This week is the Fourth Sunday of Advent: “The Candle of Love” in a message titled “Living in Love, Daily.” As mentioned previously, during the weeks of Advent, I want to slow life down a bit so we can truly take time to reflect on the purpose of the Advent season. I will also tie in some Christmas traditions in each message so we can reflect on the meaning of some traditions we practice during this blessed time. Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we gather on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we come with grateful hearts to reflect on the love You have shown us through the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for loving us unconditionally, even when we were unworthy. Open our hearts today to receive Your love afresh, and help us to live in that love daily, extending it to others. May Your Spirit guide us as we seek to grow in our understanding of what it means to truly live in love. In Jesus's name, we pray. Amen. Introduction: Love as the Heart of Christmas On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we come to one of the Christmas story's most profound and central themes: Love. We have lit the fourth Advent candle, representing love. We remember that love is at the heart of the Christmas season. It's a time when we celebrate God's love coming down to us through the birth of Jesus Christ. The Apostle John describes this love beautifully in 1 John 4:9-10 (NLT): “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” As we dive into this message today, let's explore the love God showed by sending His Son. We'll unpack what it means for us and look at how this love, revealed at Christmas, can change our lives if we embrace it. Problem Statement: The Search for Love We live in a world that is desperate for love. People search for it in so many places—relationships, careers, achievements, social media. But often, the love we find is temporary, conditional, or transactional. Many of us have felt the sting of love lost or love that wasn't what we hoped it would be. In this world, love can be fickle. It can be something given only when we perform or meet specific standards. But the love we're talking about today, the love of Christmas, is entirely different. Illustration: The Unbreakable Thread (Red Ribbon) Imagine a red thread that stretches across time and space, unbroken and unyielding. No matter how tangled, stretched, or pulled it gets, it never snaps. This thread represents God's love for us—constant, unchanging, and enduring. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Because Life is Short… “So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (NLT) “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV) “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT) Life at its longest point is short. “I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,, I strain to reach the end of the end of the race and receive the prize of God…” Philippians 3:13 NLT Here's What Lasts Forever: God- Isaiah 40:28 God's Son- Hebrews 13:8 God's Word- Isaiah 40:8 God's Faithfulness- Psalm 117:2 God's Kingdom- Psalm 145:13 God's Kindness- Isaiah 54:8 God's Love- Jeremiah 31:3 Salvation- Isaiah 51:6; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Peter 1:4 Heaven- Psalm 23:6 Here's What Doesn't Last Forever: Our Accomplishments- 1 Corinthians 3:15 Everything on Earth- Zepheniah 1:18 WHAT DOES GOD WANT ACCOMPLISHED ON PLANET EARTH? God wants all people, in all places, at all times to come to know and experience His love for them in Jesus Christ. And our response is to love Him back and demonstrate that love through obedience. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT “God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9, 10 NLT “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love has been brought to full expression through us.” 1 John 4: 11, 12 NLT What Do We Sacrifice to God So the World Can Come to Know and Experience God's Love? First, Give God Your Influence. Second, Give God Your Affluence. You let His work be the focus of your life. And when great focus and great sacrifice are combined, then the world will be changed. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 NLT

What is the greatest gift that you could receive from God? What is it that you really want? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about the greatest gift: God's presence. This Christmas, God doesn't just want to give you what you think you want, but what you really want.Not only does God want you to know who He is. He wants to be with you. You were created for communion with God. Matthew 1:23 NIV Immanuel" (which means "God with us").When it came time for the announcement, God did something very strange and announced the birth of Jesus to two unlikely groups:1. Shepherds.Luke 2:8-10 NLT Why shepherds? 1) Because God came for everyone, not just the wealthy and educated and 2) they were willing to share the news.Luke 2:17 NLT God speaks to those who will share. If you feel like God isn't speaking to you like He used to, ask yourself what have I done with what God has already said? 2. Wisemen.Matthew 2:1-2 NLT Why magi? 1) They helped verify the birth of the messiah through objective observers and fulfillment of prophecy. 2) Because God came for everyone, not just the Jews.There is only one path to God – Jesus. But Jesus will travel many paths to find his lost children. Jesus spoke the language of astrology to reach out the pagan wisemen. Can you find God through astrology? No. But God can find you there.  How can we receive the gift of God's presence? 1) Invitation.Habakkuk 2:14 NLT For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.Awareness is the key to experiencing God's presence. Revelation 3:20 NLT [Laodecia] "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."Imagine waiting on a guest to arrive that you hadn't invited.2) Preparation.You can create a favorable environment for your guest so they'll stick around, and they'll want to come back. Scripture talks about grieving the Holy Spirit and quenching the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV If you want the Holy Spirit hang out at your place, you've got to clean it up. Proverbs 1:7 "Fear" in Hebrew includes the idea of wonder, amazement, mystery, astonishment, gratitude, admiration, and even worship. If you'll fear God everywhere you go, you'll see God everywhere you go.How do you walk around with something important? By keeping it in mind with every step you take. 3) Habitation. John 15:4 Abide = remain in, dwell, stay with. Not visitation, but habitation. Make living in God's presence a lifestyle.  God entrusts us with the measure of His presence that we are willing to diligently guard.  Are you walking in the gift of God's presence?

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. (Micah 5:2 NLT) God could have directed Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in many ways, but He chose to do it through a Roman emperor's decree. Because Mary and Joseph both traced their ancestry back to King David, they went to the boyhood town of David, which was Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary were in Nazareth, but God needed them in Bethlehem. Micah had prophesied, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (Micah 5:2 NLT). Thus, God had a plan. We read in Luke's Gospel, “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. . . . And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home… He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child” (2:1, 4–5 NLT). This reminds us that ultimately, God is in control. World figures come and go. Dictators come and go. Kings, queens, prime ministers, and presidents come and go. But God moves people the way He wants to move them. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (NLT). Billy Graham once quoted, “Jesus is the hinge on which the door of history swings, the point at which eternity intersects with time, the Savior who redeems time by drawing all things to himself.” Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem. It was a difficult and dangerous journey, and when they finally arrived, they looked for a place to stay. But there was no room for them, which was indicative of the treatment Jesus received when He walked this earth. Essentially Jesus was homeless. Yes, He would stay in the homes of people, but He also slept out under the stars on the Mount of Olives. We find this interesting verse in Luke: “Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives” (21:37 NLT). The One who created Heaven and Earth, the One who said, “There is more than enough room in my Father's home” (John 14:2 NLT), left His home in Heaven so that we, too, could have a home there. It was all part of God's plan for our Savior to be born in the humblest of settings. At the same time, the innkeeper missed out on an opportunity. The same thing can happen to us. We can be so busy shopping for Christmas and talking about Christmas that we can't seem to find time to go to church or even take a moment to pray. Jesus was born so that we could be born again. He left his home in Heaven to make a home in our hearts. We need to make room for Jesus, not only during this Christmas season but all year long. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas at Bay Chapel Pt. 2 | December 8, 2024Pastor Wes Morris Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.√ The battle for peace begins in our minds. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding... √ Peace isn't the absence of problems, it's the presence of Jesus. Philippians 4:9 (NIV) And the God of peace will be with you.Psalm 23:4 (GNT) Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.John 14:27 (NLT) I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. THE PROMISE OF PEACE I. WALK IN THE WAYS OF GOD. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.Proverbs 16:7 (NLT) When people's lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.II. SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF GOD.Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Sar: Lord, chief, general, the one in charge.Shalom: Rest, tranquility, wholeness, contentment.  I Peter 5:6-7 (NLT) So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.III. OPERATE IN THE POWER OF GOD.Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT) God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.Psalm 29:11 (GNT) The Lord gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.Next Steps: Click here to join the Advent reading plan.

Revelation 12:11 says that “they triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” In today's episode, Stasi is joined by her dear friend Cyndi Fudickar, who bravely shares her story of brokenness, healing, and God's unshakable faithfulness—a conversation that will deeply resonate with each of us. Stasi and Cyndi explore the power of testimony—how our valleys and mountaintops can reveal God's heart and ignite hope in others. Friends, we hope this conversation encourages you with the truth that you are seen, cherished, and chosen by the One who meets you right where we are, with love that never fails. Listen in, be blessed, and feel His presence afresh today.…..SHOW NOTES:…..REGISTER — Ablaze: Setting Hearts on Fire for Jesus   wildatheart.org/ablazeAblaze is an exclusive six-week online journey, beginning Tuesday, January 14, 2025For more information or to register, visit wildatheart.org/ablaze…..VERSES: Revelation 12:11 (NLT) — They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.John 15:14–17 (NLT) — You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.Ephesians 1:5-6 (NLT) — God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.2 Thessalonians 1:2 (NLT) —  May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.John 15:15 (NIV) —  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.…..RESOURCES:Song: The God Who Sees by Kathie Lee Gifford and Nicole C. Mullenhttps://spoti.fi/3YRNMOyWild at Heart App: https://wildatheart.org/appWild at Heart Prayers: https://wildatheart.org/prayPause App:  https://www.pauseapp.com/Lectio 365: https://wahe.art/3Ckq7xGFind a Captivating Retreat near you: https://wahe.art/48LnpNFJohn Ortberg quote – "Everyone has a story. your story is important. Your story matters to god, and no one gets the story they want.”…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)God, the Master, created you to be His Masterpiece. You are perfectly designed to do His good work.

 Wisdom, Pt. 6 | October 6, 2024Pastor Wes Morris Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.Proverbs 19:11 (MSG) Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT) God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. ✓ A Hard HeartProverbs 18:19 (TLB) It is harder to win back the friendship of an offended brother than to capture a fortified city. His anger shuts you out like iron bars.Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT) The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.✓ Selective Memory✓ A Victim MentalityHELP, I'M OFFENDED I. CHOOSE TO OVERLOOK THE OFFENSE.Proverbs 10:12 (CEV) Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.Love looks past the behavior and has compassion for the pain in their life.  II. KEEP MY HEART FREE FROM UNFORGIVENESS.Colossians 3:13 (NLT) You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Romans 12:17-20 (NIV) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. III. CHOOSE TO LOVE, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.John 13:1 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.I Corinthians 13:7-8 (ESV) Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 

Pastor Sam BarberGenesis 11:1-9 (NLT)- What is the Tower of Babel about? - This is an essential story for your survival in 2024. We live in a divided world. - There are two popular ideologies to address this division: - Unity - Diversity The lack of moral absolutes dooms these propositions. - Unity seems promising, except we don't know what to unify over. - Diversity seems like a solution, except without a moral absolute, diversity becomes conflict, competition, one against the other. The thing that wrecks both the pursuit of unity and diversity is the same - selfish desire. The Bible reminds us that sin is essentially an unchecked selfish desire. Genesis 11:1-4 (NLT)- When we come together for our purposes, and God is marginalized or forgotten, what happens is destruction. Unity was championed, God was removed, and destruction reigned.- The Tower of Babel is the biblical account of unity devoid of God.Genesis 11: 5-7 (NLT)- God knows what breaks us, and God wants us to avoid that.- What breaks us, God calls sin and begs us to avoid it.- So, God scatters them to preserve them for their good.- So, we remain scattered, diverse, selfish, and hopeless.Acts 2:1-12 (NLT)- At the Tower of Babel, the people tried to unify without God.- In Jerusalem, the people gather to honor God and He blesses them in a never-before-seen way!- Perfect unity in perfect diversity is only possible through the work of God, the Holy Spirit.We see it playing out all around us right now. - All our efforts to “fix the world” are failing. There is only one “fix”: the power of God, poured out in His spirit, on people like us who make up the church. Our broken and scattered world needs to experience the love of a unified church. It begins with you:- A Unified and Spirit-filled church has Spirit-filled people. - The prayer of consecration will get you ready for God's work. It continues with this church: - As you surrender and live with God in control of your life, you change the trajectory of this church. - This church is this community's best hope for healing. Any one of us here, every one of us here, can surrender our lives to Jesus and be filled with His Spirit. When we do, we bring hope to a divided world.

Pastor David MorrisonGenesis 6:22 (NLT)- It took about 120 years to build this boat. People live to be much older in those times.- Seven days before the flood, Noah and his family entered the Ark with a pair of every type of animal.Genesis 7:15-16 (NLT)- It rained for 40 days and nights, and the water rose to cover the highest mountain. And they covered the earth for 150 days.Genesis 8:1 (NLT)- Throughout the Bible, we find examples of God's presence described as a dove. For example, during creation, the dove hovered over the waters in preparation for the new creation. - Over a year on the Ark, Noah and His Family and the Animals lived!Genesis 8:15-17 (NLT)- Noah made a sacrifice to the Lord. God made a covenant with Noah that He would never again destroy the earth like this and placed a rainbow in the sky.The story of Noah and the Ark is one of many stories that point towards a need to fix the problem of sin and evil in the world. 1 Peter 3:18-22 (NLT)- Many people will say, "How could God allow all those to be killed by the flood?" This Scripture seems to provide evidence that Christ provided a chance for redemption. The flood wasn't the end of their story.Come on, y'all, the story of God's plan for redemption is all over the story of Noah and the Ark!- Not even a flood can destroy sin.- God uses one righteous man to save the human line.- The method of this salvation is carried on pieces of wood fashioned together.- The Dove hovers over the waters as creation is restored. Genesis 7:13-16 (NLT)- God closed the door on the Ark, this giant floating boat - so that nothing or no one could enter it. They waited over 300 days for the destruction process to be complete and for the water to recede.Genesis 8:15-18 (NLT)- We know that when Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was placed in a tomb, and a giant stone was rolled in front of it so that no one could enter or exit. But the efforts of the most muscular men could not stop what God was doing.Luke 24:5b-6a (NLT)- That stone that sought to trap the body of Jesus, one final effort by the enemy to defeat the Son of God, and one final effort from the power of sin to remain in control, was broken when that stone was rolled away!Noah didn't stay in the Ark. There was a brand-new world in front of him and a command to go, subdue, and fill the earth. Noah could have stayed in his safe Ark… He could have stayed in the boat and used it as his shelter… But that's not what he was created for! Sometimes, we try to follow Jesus and want to be saved, but with an open door, we try to stay in the tomb and pretend we are dead still.That's not what you are created for! If Jesus has saved you, He hasn't just saved you for eternity. Jesus is calling us to step out of the BOAT...Step out of the boat!Leave the safety and comfort of the past behind. Your life has a calling. God has a purpose for it. That won't be accomplished by waiting. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the good news. They can do this because the same Holy Spirit that hovered over creation and Christ at His baptism dwells in us when we are in Christ. This call to step out of the boat begins with accepting God's free gift of salvation and continues when we say, “I surrender to you."Will you step out of the boat today? Today is your day to leave the past behind and start walking like you have been forgiven.

Luke 19:10 (NLT) “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”Luke 15:7 (NLT) 7 There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!Luke 15:10 (NLT) There is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.”Luke 15:22-32 (NLT) 22  “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23  And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24  for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26  and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27  ‘Your brother is back,' he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.' 32  We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'” The party is Life in the SpiritAt every party, you find….1. Preparation1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NLT) 9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10  But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.2. PeopleEphesians 1:5 (NLT) God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 3. Pleasure “If following Jesus is not joyful, then you are doing it wrong.”Psalm 36:7-8 (NIV) 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8  They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.4. PresentsActs 1:4-5 (NIV) 4 “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” A. A PersonB. Power “He doesn't release us from responsibilities; he empowers us to fulfill them.”Acts 1:8 (NLT) You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere...C. Proclamation of our identity.Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) You received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. James 1:18 (NLT) He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.____Luke 11:9-13 (NIV) 9  “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11  “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12  Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”www.overflowdfw.comSupport the show

Jason Not Josh @iamjasonburns Not @iamjoshburns Exodus 6:6-7  //  Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. The Cup of Sanctification – Salvation. The Cup of Deliverance – Freedom. The Cup of Redemption – Restoration. The Cup of Praise – Fulfillment. How do you get the Egypt out of you? Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)  //  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT)  //  Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Body, Soul, & Spirit Body - The Physical Soul - The mind, will, and emotions Spirit - The part of us that is like God. Victory over sin. Sin: What I do to myself. Romans 7:21-25  //  So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Healing from wounds. Wounds: What others did to me. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)  //  And “don't sin by letting anger control you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Authority over the enemy. Ephesians 6:10-12  //  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The Cup of Deliverance Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)  //  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:5-6 (NLT)  //  Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Right relationships are the key. Proverbs 28:13  //  He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 1 John 1:9  //  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16  //  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Water baptism. Join the Church. Access groups.

Pastor Dale BensonJudges 6-8 (NLT)- God needs a judge. The Hebrew term “shofet,” translated into English as “judge,” is closer to “ruler,” a kind of military leader or deliverer from potential or actual defeat. Enters Gideon. Can God Use Me?- It is not about my pedigree or my posture.- It is not about my strength or my status. - It's not about my possessions or position. Judges 6:12 (NLT)- Faith: Not in myself, but in the God who created me in His image.Judges 6:14 (NLT)- We learn that there are over 135,000 in the army coming against them.- 32,000 Gathered - Too Many- Minus those who were afraid (22,000)- 10,000 left - Too many- 300 drank from their hands. 9,700 drank like dogs.- God chose the 300 but kept the provisions of the 9,700 along with their shofars. - Empty Vessels: No Provisions. Save a “torch” or “lamp.”I don't know what you're facing. You may not feel qualified or prepared. God doesn't need your qualifications; He needs your obedience.There are times when:- It is okay to question.- God gives you specific answers.- God gives you general directions and lets you fill in the details.- God asks you to empty yourself, leaving only an empty clay vessel that He can fill with more than you could ever imagine. In the breaking, true glory, power, and light can shine.Empty jars with a torch in each jar.- It is not about my pedigree or your posture but about the God who created you in His image.- It is not about my strength or status but the power of the almighty God who created the universe.- It is not about my possessions or position but about the One who desires to fill you and has called you His child and mighty hero!2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NLT)

There has to be more! 2 Peter 1:4  //  He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Promise: an offer with a guaranteed result. Hebrews 6:17 (MSG)  //  When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. When life doesn't make sense, hold onto the promises of God. I need to know God's promises. Fear Psalm 27:1  //  The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Feeling Overwhelmed 1 John 4:4  //  The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Financial Stress Philippians 4:19  //  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Healing 1 Peter 2:24  //  “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” I need to understand God's promises. Numbers 23:19 (NLT)  //  God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Every promise has a premise. Exodus 6:6-7  //  Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:6-7  //  I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.  “I will bring you out.” God promises us Salvation. Titus 3:3-8  //  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. “I will free you.” God promises us Deliverance. Romans 7:25-8:2  //  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. “I will redeem you.” God promises us Restoration. Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)  //  It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. “I will take you as my own people.” God promises us Fulfillment. John 10:10  //  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Know God. Find Freedom. Discover Purpose. Make A Difference.

Today, Stasi invites us to journey with her as she unpacks one of her favorite psalms, Psalm 103, which reminds us of all the ways God has moved in our lives and continues to do so. This beautiful psalm instructs our souls to praise the Lord by reminding us of the splendor, majesty, and goodness of God. Turning our hearts' attention to our holy God naturally evokes worship from our inmost being. Stasi concludes with a guided time together, focusing on quieting our souls to praise God for the abundant blessings and love he showers upon us.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Psalm 103 — In its entiretyExodus 3:14 (NLT)  — God replied to Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”Proverbs 11:30 (NLT)  — The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.Psalm 16:9-10 (NLT)  — No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.Ezekiel 18:4 (ASV)  — Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.Acts 2:41 (NLT)  — Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.Revelation 18:13 (ASV)  — and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.Jeremiah 38:16 (NIV)  — But King Zedekiah swore this oath secretly to Jeremiah: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has given us breath, I will neither kill you nor hand you over to those who want to kill you.”2 Peter 2:14 (ASV)  — having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;James 1:21 (NLT)  — So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.Leviticus 17:11 (NLT)  — for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.1 Peter 1:22 (NLT)  — You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.1 Peter 2:25 (NLT)  — Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.Matthew 11:29 (NLT)  — Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.Acts 13:35–37 (NLT)  — Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.' This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)  — For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.John 14:1 (NLT)  — Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.1 Corinthians 2:16 (NLT)  — For, “Who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.Colossians 3:2 (NLT)  — Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.Philippians 4:8 (NLT)  — And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Romans 8:11 (NLT)  — The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.Leviticus 26:11-12 (KJV)  — And I set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)  — Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.1 John 4:18 (NLT)  — Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.…..RESOURCES:The Treasury of David – Psalm 103 by Charles H. Spurgeon: https://wahe.art/3VPIrWxGuided Time Background Music: Breakthrough from the album Soaking in His Presence, by William Augustohttps://wahe.art/4bl5XPI…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

Pastor Dale Benson Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT) - In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus assumes His audience is giving, praying, and fasting. The issue is not whether we give. Jesus is more interested in how and why we give, pray, and fast. - Do you give to be noticed? Is your giving an act of worship to God, or a way to get recognized for your good deeds? Malachi 3:10 (NLT) - God is not concerned about your money. He is concerned about your soul. Enough about generosity, let's move on to our possessions. - Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you? - “Lord you aren't adequately supplying what I think my needs are, so I am going to put my trust in Visa." - Do you worry about food? - It is one thing to trust God with the excess. It is an entirely different thing to trust God when both the cupboards and the bank account are bare. - Do I trust God with the first of what I have, or do I give Him the leftovers? Proverbs 22:7 (NLT) What do the rich and the poor have in common? God is the maker of them both. Proverbs 9:10 (NLT) Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)

Pastor Dale Benson Matthew 5:7 (NLT) - This is not a verse about Karma. This is not a sort of "what goes around comes around." "The Universe always pays you back." These sentiments are not what this verse is articulating. - This verse is a pithy saying that points to a much larger teaching by Jesus. Matthew 18:21-35 (NLT) Matthew 6:14 (NLT) - God's mercy to us is undeserved. We do not show mercy to others because they deserve it. If they deserved it, it would not be mercy. You have been shown great mercy. God has made forgiveness available to you for everything you have ever done. I am afraid that at times we have taken some verses in the Bible and made them the be-all/end-all of a short, easy way to have all your sins forgiven and receive salvation. These verses do seem to say that God expects something out of us. For mercy and forgiveness from Him, He expects us to show mercy and forgiveness to others. I am not saying this is easy, I am saying it is expected. I am telling you that the One who has died for all your sins is asking you, in return, to demonstrate your understanding of the mercy that has been extended to you by extending that mercy to others. Matthew 5:8 (NLT) - There is a difference between purity of filth and purity of heart. - This is not talking about a clean, white heart that has not been stained by anything. Purity of heart in this context is talking about a heart that is wholly set on God. Purity of Heart is to will one thing. - Soren Kierkegaard Romans 12:1-2 (NLT) - Transformation can happen in an instant. It can happen over time. In this Romans passage is a "renewal." Not like renewing your membership at The YMCA or renewing your Netflix subscription. It is more like a cleansing or purifying type of transformation. CALL TO THE ALTAR - To Begin the process of forgiveness and showing mercy. - Who do you need to show mercy? Begin by committing to show that mercy to them. - To pursue a pure heart... To seek God first with everything in you. - Commit to non-conformation to this world - Commit to Transformation through the renewing of your mind.

The past few weeks have been very, good, hard, motivating, hurtful, joyful and inspiring. In other words, “Normal... with a bit of an edge". Matthew 6:24 - 7:14 NLT - “…God cares more about you…” “NOW” matters! Jesus said, “Why are you worrying about what you wear or what you are going to eat? God clothes the lillies of the field and He cares more about you…”, but we worry anyway.  This is about seeing what is around you in this exact moment. The more we spend time with God now, the more we are secure and at peace with God taking care of us now... and in the future. When we are driven, because we have a calling that God has placed in us, that is different than worrying about what we do not understand. More time spent with God, takes care of the past, the present, and the future. More dependence on God every moment of every day gives us a drive that we cannot create without him.  “For we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” - Romans 8:28 NLT _______________________________ Looking for a new student ministry resource? You can read my book “Burn Up Not Out: A Student Ministry Fire Builder's Guidebook” here: https://amzn.to/3PtBTIy Listen to more episodes from the Youth Worker On Fire Podcast here: https://bit.ly/3saDyYq _______________________________ EPISODE CREDITS Email us at: youthworkeronfire@gmail.com Hosted by: Doug Edwards Theme Song: "The One and Only" by The 808 : Listen to more at https://bit.ly/3FTYIAJ Intro/Outro Voiceover: Michael Helms : https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelTheSoundGuy  Edited by: Secret Roots Music House

So how do you live out your faith when culture shifts? Daniel 1:7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. 1. Culture wants to CHANGE your IDENTITY. DANIEL-“God is my judge” Belteshazzar- “Lady, protect the King” HANANIAH- “Yahweh has been gracious” Shadrach- “I am fearful of God” MISHAEL- “Who is what God is?” Meshach- “I am despised, contemptible and humiliated.” AZARIAH- “Yahweh has helped” Abednego- “Servant of Nebo” When culture shifts, you have to know WHO YOU ARE. Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 2. Culture wants you to COMPROMISE your STANDARDS. When culture shifts, we must REAFFIRM our CONVICTIONS. Daniel 1:9-10 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel,   but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel 1:11-14 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,   “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 3. Culture will always CREATE a CONFRONTATION. When culture shifts, we must respond the RIGHT WAY. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. TRUTH: God's standard. John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. GRACE: God's favor. Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Without truth, we are CORRUPT. Without grace, we are all CONDEMNED. Without truth, we become WORLDLY. Without grace, we would become JUDGMENTAL. Truth without grace is MEAN. Grace without truth is MEANINGLESS. Truth and grace is good MEDICINE. Grace INVITES us to be free. Truth SETS us free. John 8:3-11 NLT   As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.   “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.   The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”   They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.   They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”   Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.   When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.   Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?”   “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coastalchurch/message