Podcasts about o god

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 28:29"All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.”REFLECTION- JenMUSIC- "The Kingdom of God" Instrumental- "Let All the Earth Cry Out" (Psalm 66) by David Komel- "Es ist ein Ros Entsprungen" by Voces8NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

The Messenger of the {New} Covenant {Jesus} Is Coming – Is He Coming to Purify You or to Judge You? MESSAGE SUMMARY: The people, in God's Judgment articulated in Malachi 3:5, are the people of God. These people are not the unbelievers; these are the people that say they are following God. Malachi 3:5, articulates those transgressions, including the absence of a “fear of the lord”, in which God: “will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.” To this end, Paul reminds us again in Romans 2:4-5 of a pathway to or away from God's Judgment: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.". Additionally, in Proverbs 1:7 we find that the “fear of the Lord” provides us with “wisdom”. On the other hand and in the absence of our “fear of the Lord”, Proverbs 1:7 tells us that we are “foolish”: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”. The messenger of the Covenant is coming – He is coming to either purify you or to judge you.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, Nothing compares with knowing Jesus (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Exodus 19:5-6; Romans 11:25-32; Mark 14:22-25; Psalms 67b:13-24. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Power of God in Your Life”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

SCRIPTURE- 2 Chronicles 7:14"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”REFLECTION- SarahMUSIC- NOTES- Check out our Website Blog today for more on the Society of St. Vincent De Paul!PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Welcome to our Reveal Campus Podcast,Today, we're talking about spiritual examination. Scripture often calls us to pause, reflect, and examine ourselves not to create guilt or fear, but to align our hearts with God's truth.Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” This isn't about perfection, but about honestly asking: Am I walking with Christ? Am I growing in love, obedience, and faith?Spiritual examination is like holding up a mirror not to focus on flaws, but to see clearly where God's Spirit is shaping us. Psalm 139 shows us how: “Search me, O God, and know my heart… see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”When we practice self-examination, it's not self-condemnation. It's an invitation to repentance, renewal, and a deeper dependence on God's grace. It's checking the soil of our hearts, making sure we're rooted in Christ and bearing fruit for His kingdom.To support this ministry and help us continue our God-given mission, click here:Subscribe to our channel for the latest sermons:https://www.youtube.com/@revealvineyardLearn more about Vineyard Church Reveal Campus:https://www.revealvineyard.com/Follow us on social media!Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vineyardrevealcampus Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RevealVineyard

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 42-44; Psalm 48; Revelation 13 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, dear friends! In today's episode, recorded on September 8th, 2025, Hunter invites us to journey together through the pages of Scripture—reading from Jeremiah 42-44, Psalm 48, and Revelation 13. As we see the story of the Israelites wrestling with obedience and trust, and witness John's vivid vision of beasts and the mysterious number 666, Hunter encourages us to reflect on themes of separation, exile, and the relentless love of God. We hear the struggles of God's people as they debate listening to Jeremiah's warnings, the powerful imagery from Revelation about the dangers of idolizing power, and a reminder in the Psalms that God is our steadfast fortress. Through heartfelt commentary and prayer, Hunter reminds us to reject the lie of separation from God and instead embrace the truth that Emmanuel—God with us—is ever-present. Plus, we're joined by a wonderful chorus of listeners from around the globe, sharing their greetings and reminding us that we are not walking this journey alone. So settle in, open your heart, and let's explore God's word together—encouraged that you are loved, and never alone. TODAY'S DEVOTION: We are told that the number six hundred and sixty six is the number of a man. A lot has been written about this number. Three sixes, a trinity of numbers. But it is an unholy trinity. It is man, magnified, exalted and worshiped. It is a beastly reality in a stark contrast from the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We're told that great wisdom is required to understand what these numbers mean. And I don't pretend to have that kind of wisdom. But it seems to me that whether it's the queen of Heaven that Jeremiah is confronting or the multi-headed dragon that John describes, the results are the same. When man is deceived by Satan and by the lie of separation, we see destruction in its wake. And in Jeremiah's case, they refused to believe that God was with them, that he would rescue them and give them life. So under that lie, they separated themselves from him and his will for them. And they went to Egypt, a land of exile. And as we look back into the garden, we see that same pattern. Adam and Eve believe that God is not with them. They separate themselves from him. And in their separation, they live in exile in the garden. Over and over through time, through history, this tragic pattern is lived out. In our blindness, we refuse to see God's presence and so we separate ourselves from him, the Triune God of life. And instead we rely on the gods of our own making. And the results are the same. Satan's great strategy has never really varied – from the beginning in the garden to this very moment that John is describing here: seeds of doubt are sown. God is not present. God is not with you. God is not for you. And so, believing we are alone, that God is indifferent and uncaring, we go it alone and we devise a way of life apart from God, from the triune life of love and flourishing that is waiting for all of us. The psalmist tells us a different way in verse nine in today's reading: O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. Our God is like a fortified wall, a citadel, a beacon. That's what our God is like. And we will continue to tell it to future generations. Psalm 48:9. God is not separate from you. God is with you. That is the truth. Align your heart to his will and his purposes, his kingdom, and not your own. Renounce the lie of separation embedded in that number 666 and worship the God who is with us, Emmanuel, the God of love. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: And now let us pray. Lord God Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day. Preserve us with your mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Dear Lord, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold. Pour out your spirit on all flesh and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. And now, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light, and where there is sadness, joy. O Lord, grant that I might not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen. Almighty God, father of all mercies, we, your grateful children, give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and all you have made. We bless you for your creation, preservation and all the blessings of this life. And above all, for your immeasurable love and your redemption of the world through our Lord Jesus Christ. For the means of grace and the hope of glory. Lord, we pray, give us such awareness of your mercies that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but with our lives, by the giving up of ourselves for your service in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory through all ages. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 7:14"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.”REFLECTION- Fr. CarlMUSIC- "Perfection" Instrumental- "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above" by The Cathedral SingersNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

No excuses. No blame-shifting. Just honest confession before God. In this episode, we continue our journey through Psalm 51, David's raw and honest prayer of repentance after his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.  We unpack David's words in verses 3–6 and learn why true repentance requires truth in the inward being. Discover the freedom that comes when we stop hiding and agree with God about our sin. Next week, we'll cover David's cry for renewal: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Don't miss it.Please leave a comment or review for this episode to help us share this content with others! Connect with us: Website: https://www.narcelyruiz.com/podcast Instagram: http://instagram.com/upstreampursuit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpstreamPursuit/

Monday, 8 September 2025   And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Matthew 13:2   “And they gathered to Him, great crowds, so too He, having in-stepped into the boat, sat. And all the crowd, they had stood on the beach” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 13 began with Jesus going out of the house He was in and sitting by the sea. Next, Matthew records, “And they gathered to Him, great crowds.”   The miracles and teachings of Jesus were of great interest to the people. Therefore, anytime He was in an open area, people would naturally flock to Him. In this case, such great crowds began to surround Him that Matthew next records, “so too He, having in-stepped into the boat, sat.”   Some texts omit the definite article, saying “a boat.” Either way, there was a boat available at the particular location, and so He got in and sat down. This would allow more people to hear and see Him without overcrowding.   Although the exact spot is unknown, there are places along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee where the land makes a U-shaped formation. In such an area, the number of people who could see and hear Him would increase even more. They could almost encircle Him and listen. Whether this was the case or not at this time, the nature of the shore itself can be determined from the next words, which say, “And all the crowd, they had stood on the beach.”   Here is a new word, aigialos, a beach. It is derived from aisso, to rush, and hals, salt. Although the Sea of Galilee is not a saltwater sea, the idea is that the beach is like one found on a salty sea, where the waters rush upon it. This is likely a beach with sand or small pebbles.   In the immediate area, there are shores with large stones, smaller stones, pebbles, and sand. Some are mixed with large stones leading up to the beach and then small slivers of beach that meet the sea, or vice versa. Doing an image search or watching videos about the area, such as the one at this link, will give a sense of what the shoreline looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifTro5uRaT8   Life application: When you gather at church, what is your intent for doing so? The people of Israel surely had various ideas for going out to hear Jesus. Some were probably interested in seeing a miracle. Some may have wanted to hear the wisdom that overflowed from His teachings. There may have been some checking to see if He crossed every t and dotted every i in relation to the law.   Other people may have simply wanted to be close to the increasingly famous Teacher, making that a point of boasting when they talked to their friends, “Oh my, I got to sit in the front row, just feet away from Him!”   Today, people go to churches for such varied reasons as well. If you go each week to see a miracle, healing, or people speaking tongues, that will explain what you think the purpose of church is. If you are going to sit near a famous pastor, that will explain something about you.   Maybe you go because you want to challenge everything you hear, thus showing how much more you know about the sermon subject than the pastor. Each person's reason for going to a church will be a little bit different because we are all individuals with our own wants, desires, and thoughts about religion.   Consider yourself and what motivates you. Next, consider what you think God would want you to focus on. Does what you want match what you think God would want for you? A few points are certain. God wants to be recognized for who He is, meaning His being, such as what He is like, what His attributes are, and why He has done things the way He has done them.   When we ask people about such things, they are happy to respond because you are showing an interest in them. God wants you to be interested in Him. God also wants you to know His word. It is the word of God that most poignantly reveals Him to us. It is a testament that details creation, spans human history, explains why things are the way they are, and so forth.   God also wants you to see Jesus. His word tells us this explicitly, such as in Hebrews 12:2. However, according to Jesus, it does so in other ways as well. He said this a couple of times in John 5. In reading the Bible, we can find Jesus typologically, pictorially, and in other ways.   So, when you go to church, you should be pursuing these avenues of knowing God. If the church you attend is not doing this, your time in church is misdirected. Be sure to compare if what you do in your pursuit of Christianity is actually based on what Christianity is about.   Read the word, know what it says, and be willing to continue to learn more as you attend a church that explores the many facets of God and His interaction with His creation, especially in relation to Jesus Christ.   Lord God, may our priorities be aligned with Yours more and more each day. Help us to focus on You, and on Your word. May we make a concerted effort to have a closer and more personal relationship with You at all times. Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Asaph's raw journey through spiritual doubt and rediscovered faith in Psalm 77 reveals how we can navigate times when God feels distant yet remains faithful.• Moving from crying out to God in deep distress to finding comfort in remembering His character• Running to God even when our cries are ugly and our pain feels overwhelming • Learning that our theology should shape how we suffer rather than letting suffering shape our theology• Recognizing that our seemingly impossible situations become the stage for God's power to be displayed• Understanding that remembering God's past faithfulness gives us courage to face present struggles• Finding hope in Christ's work on the cross—the ultimate display of God's faithfulness• Standing on unshakable hope even during long, sleepless nights and heavy burdens"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?" (Psalm 77:11-13) If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.

David was running for his life, surrounded by fear, yet he declared, "My heart is fixed, O God." This message challenges us to ask: Where is your heart fixed? Fear… or faith in God's mercy, strength, and promises? Listen to this sermon and discover how to anchor your heart where it belongs.

Psalm 51:1-4 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

For our final day this week, we are going to meditate completely on Scripture that expresses gratitude. Take these passages into your mind, heart, and spirit.(Psalm 100 NLT) Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.(Psalm 105:1-4 NLT) Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.(Psalm 106:1-2 NLT)Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?(Psalm 107:1-2 NLT) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.(Psalm 108:1-5 NLT) My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! … I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.(Revelation 5:11-13 NLT) I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”Pray “Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiveness and freedom. As I accept Your forgiveness and freedom, help me always to grant forgiveness and freedom to others. You are worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. As above, so below.”

[Luke 18:1-7] One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don't fear God or care about people, [5] but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'” [6] Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith? God wants to give us what we ________ ________. [Matthew 7:7-8] Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. God uses persistent prayer as a vehicle for ________________. [James 5:16b] The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Allow God to align our _________ with His _________. [Matthew 6:33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [James 4:3] And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. [Psalm 46:10] Be still, and know that I am God! To prepare us for His ____________. [Psalm 51:10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. A premature answer might cause us to glory in the ________ and not the ____________ ___________. To ___________ our lives and character. [Philippians 1:6] And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. To be used of God in ___________ warfare. [Ephesians 6:12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 6:18] Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere To bless us with a more intimate ____________________ with God.

I. The All-Knowing God II. The All-Present God III. The All-Present God IV. The Heart Searching God

SCRIPTURE- Proverbs 3:13"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”REFLECTION- GaryMUSIC- NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Today's Uncertainties Call for a Deepening Personal Relationship with God Through Prayer, Fasting, and Listening MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge, and insights from the Lord about the specific issues that you are facing. The Lord will speak to you, but sometimes it takes your listening and fasting to hear Him. For example, when Joel received a Word when the land was to be destroyed, he called a fast (i.e. Joel 1:14): “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”. Some things you are facing in your life must be dealt with by both prayer and fasting. Fasting releases a spiritual power – in your weakness, God is made strong in your life. Daniel's prayer, from Daniel 9:3-5, provides a context for asking direction from God: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.'". After Jesus responded to the Apostles request of “teach us to pray” by providing the “Lord's Prayer”, Jesus instructed the Apostles and us, in Matthew 6:17-18, how to fast: “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.". Our fasting will be rewarded as a deepening link to God in our personal relationship with Him.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Resentment. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Compassion. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms 114:1-8. WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Crumbs From The Table ” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

SCRIPTURE- 1 Corinthians 3:18"Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.”REFLECTION- Fr. JasonMUSIC- "Deum Verum" by Psallentes- "Forgiven" (Psalm 32) by Sons of KorahNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Chaplain Don Moldstad was preacher for this service. Psalm 51:14-19: Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Order of Service: - Prelude - The Confession of Sin (p. 120) - Hymn 567 - Christ, Mighty Savior, Light of All Creation - The Versicles (pp. 120-121) - The Gloria Patri (p. 121) - Psalm 19: (setting by F. de la Tombelle) Day unto day utters speech, Night unto night reveals knowledge. Fear of the Lord is forever, His righteousness likewise And His judgments perfect forever. Worth far more than gold and sweeter than purest honey. Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God! Who knows his errors and sins? E'en to ourselves sins are hidden. Cleanse me, O Lord, from my sin, then in Your eyes I am blameless. Let my meditation be worthy in Your sight, my Strength and my Redeemer. Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God! - Psalm 51:14-19: Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. - Homily - The Versicle (p. 122) - The Magnificat (p. 123) - The Kyrie (p. 124) - The Lord's Prayer (p. 125) - Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord - The Collect (pp. 125-127) - The Benedicamus (p. 127) - The Benediction (p. 127) - Hymn 575 - The Sun Has Gone Down: vv. 1, 2 - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist), William Stottlemyer (Soloist)

Do you ever pray about something—big or small—and then wonder if God really heard you? Maybe you’ve asked Him to heal, provide, or even just help you find your keys, and later you’ve questioned if the answer was coincidence or divine response. Psalm 123 invites us to lift our eyes to God and wait expectantly for His mercy and direction. The psalmist models what it means to watch for the Lord’s hand in everyday life, trusting that He is attentive to both our deepest needs and the smallest details. Meg Bucher reminds us that recognizing God’s answers often requires training our hearts to notice His presence—in Scripture, in creation, through friends, and even in what the world might call coincidences. God is not silent. He is merciful, attentive, and always at work on behalf of His people. Main Takeaways God calls us to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), bringing both large and small requests before Him. Waiting on the Lord means watching attentively for His mercy and direction (Psalm 123:1-2). God’s answers may come in unexpected ways—through people, circumstances, Scripture, or His Spirit’s gentle promptings. Choosing to focus on His presence protects us from being overwhelmed by the contempt, arrogance, and chaos around us. Bible Verse References Psalm 123:1 – “I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.” Psalm 123:2 – Watching for the Lord’s mercy as servants look to their master. Psalm 123:3-4 – A prayer for God’s mercy amidst contempt and arrogance. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray continually.” Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement and Scriptural grounding. Share this episode with someone who is struggling to see God at work in their prayers. Leave us a review to help others discover this podcast and be encouraged by God’s Word. Resources & Related Articles 6 Powerful Prayers for Trusting God’s Plan – Crosswalk.com How to Recognize God’s Voice – BibleStudyTools.com When It Feels Like God Is Silent – iBelieve.com SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: The Crosswalk Devotional: https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-devotionalYour Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

SCRIPTURE- Romans 11:33“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”REFLECTION- Sr. CarolMUSIC- NOTES- Click HERE for the Article about the Ladies of CharityPRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Pillars and Practices // Praise, Worship, and Prayer  Both Praise and Worship are in Part:Reverence (Awe)Recognition (Awareness)Revelation (Awakening)Response (Action) Hebrew WordsYadahPsalm 44:8 (NIV)“In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise (yâdâh) your name forever.” Towdah Psalm 56:11-12 (NKJV)“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?...I will render praises (tôwdâh) to you.” Zamar - To make music. To celebrate in song and music. To touch the strings.Psalm 144:9 (NKJV)“I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings, I will sing praises (zâmar) to You.”Psalm 21:13 (KJV)“Be exalted O Lord, in Thine own strength, so will we sing and praise (zâmar) thy power.” Barak - To kneel. To bow down. To salute. To thank.Psalm 103:1 (NIV)“Praise (bârak) the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name.” Shabach - To address in a loud tone. To shout. To commend, glory, and triumph.Psalm 145:4 (NKJV)“One generation shall praise (shâbach) your works to another.”1 Samuel 4:5 (NLT)“When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy praise (shâbach) was so loud it made the ground shake! Tehillah - Derived from the word halal and means "the singing of halals, to sing or to laud; perceived to involve music, especially singing; hymns of the Spirit or praise.Psalm 22:3 (NASB)“Yet you are holy, and you are enthroned upon the praises (tehillah) of Israel.”Isaiah 61:3 (NASB)“To grant to those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The garment of praise (tehillah) instead of the spirit of heaviness, So they shall be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Halal - Means "to be clear, to praise, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish."Psalm 113:1-3 (NKJV)“Praise (hallal) the Lord, praise (hallal) all you servants of the Lord, praise (hallal) the name of the Lord.”Psalm 150:1 (AMP)“Praise (hallal) the Lord! Praise (hallal) God in His sanctuary; Praise (hallal) Him in His mighty heavens.”Psalm 149:3 (NKJV)“Let them praise (hallal) His name in the dance: let them sing praises with the timbrel and harp.” The Hebrew word most often translated as worship is Shachah - to bow down or to be prostrate; it's used over 170 times in the Old Testament.Exodus 34:8 (NIV)“Moses bowed down and worshipped.” The Greek word most often translated as worship is ProskuneoMatthew 28:9 (NKJV)“And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him.”John 4:24 (NKJV)“God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”Revelation 5:14 (NKJV)“Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped him who lives forever and ever.” These are Biblical, not just cultural or denominational, and they all have their place and time. As much as a people of Praise and Worship, we need to be a People of Prayer. Prayer as an Expression of Worship:An Expression of WorthOf ReverenceOf GratitudeOf DependenceOf Expectation Lord Teaches Us How to Pray:Our Father in heavenHallowed be thy nameYour kingdom comeYour will be doneOn earth as it is in heavenGive us what we need for today (our daily bread)Forgive us as we also forgive others (submission to God's work in me and through me)Lead us not into temptation/testing (lead us from temptation)But deliver us from the evil oneAdorationConfessionThanksgivingSupplication Types of Prayer:In the moment - Nehemiah 2:4-5Extended - Daniel 10 - 21 daysPrayer with fasting - focus and prioritizingWhat about tongues?? Read 1 Cor 14:1-19 Prayer is Both Individual and Communal or Interpersonal:When you pray, go into Private SpacePray for One Another, Bear One Another's Burdens This Tuesday Night and every first Tuesday, Prayer Night - Cards Available

In this episode, we begin our journey through Psalm 51 with David's opening cry: “Have mercy on me, O God.” After being confronted with his sin, David doesn't excuse or justify himself; he throws himself on the mercy of God. Whether you feel the weight of past failure or the daily struggle of following Jesus, this episode will remind you that God's mercy is greater than your sin. As disciples, we are called not to run from Him in shame, but toward Him in honesty, where mercy meets us, cleanses us, and makes us new.Please leave a comment or review for this episode to help us share this content with others! Connect with us: Website: https://www.narcelyruiz.com/podcast Instagram: http://instagram.com/upstreampursuit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpstreamPursuit/

 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life". Psalm 139:23-24This week, Ron Messelink will be sharing a message entitled, “Search Me". We are so blessed that you are joining us for this message!Remember to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE with a friend!

SCRIPTURE- COL 3: 23REFLECTION- Fr. RonMUSIC- NOTES- CHECK OUT our email that was sent today announcing September Spirit by CLICKING HERE!PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

What hymns bring you comfort when seeking peace? In this episode, Chaplain Brian Hamer joins Andy to explore the significance of hymns in the context of war and peace. They discuss the origins and historical contexts of three hymns: 'Silent Night', 'Now Thank We All Our God' and ‘O God, Our Help in Ages Past'. The conversation highlights how these hymns have provided comfort and hope during times of conflict, emphasizing their enduring relevance and trans-cultural nature. To view Chaplain Hamer's article, visit whatdoesthismean.org/lifted-voice--brian-hamer. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Monday, 1 September 2025   Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:45   “Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the unclean spirit returning to the house it departed and finding it holidaying, swept and arranged. He continues now with, “Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits.”   The spirit, realizing it had a good thing going, and seeing that there is plenty of new room available for even more uncleanness, goes out seeking friends to join in with possessing the man once again.   The number seven, hepta, is introduced here.    The number seven is the number of spiritual perfection. In this case, even though the spirits are unclean, there is a fullness implied in using the number. It stresses the potency and the immensely malignant nature of the event. This is stressed by the words, “itself eviler.”   There is an amalgamation of evil that will exude from this newly infested person. This is certain because even one unclean spirit will manifest itself in evil. With seven more, Jesus says, “and having entered, it dwells there.”   The verb translated as “it dwells” is singular. Despite being many, they align as one in purpose. It is similar to the account of the demon Legion in Mark 5 and Luke 8:30, where the verbs are singular when referring to many demons. With such a force now inhabiting this restored home, Jesus says, “And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first.”   This is the certain result of the matter. The man had an evil situation in his life. He had it supposedly taken care of, and yet, he wound up being worse off than at the first because he failed to obtain a complete correction to his state. Jesus next clearly states the subject to which He is referring, saying, “Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”   In verse 12:39, the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign. Jesus next called them “evil and adulteress,” explaining that it would not be given a sign except that of the prophet Jonah. Had He given them a sign, they would have exclaimed like the people did concerning Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8 –   “But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.'” Acts 8:9, 10   The people didn't actually care about Simon. They just wanted to be amused by his tricks. If someone came along, like David Copperfield, they would have left Simon and gone after David. They were looking for a quick cure to their insatiable desire to be delighted with surprise.   Jesus knew this was their heart attitude, and so He refused to give them a sign, telling them instead that their sign would come from Scripture itself. He told them why in John –   “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:46, 47   The sign would be wowed over until someone came and did something new and exciting. Without accepting the word, which was the basis of life and conduct for Israel, they would never truly accept and believe Jesus.   Life application: This set of verses contains a truth that extends beyond just the immediate context of the parable. What Jesus says will prove true in a great number of situations. Take an alcoholic, for example.   A person who has an alcohol addiction can be equated to a person with an unclean spirit, and indeed it is so. He knows he has a problem and strives to overcome it. Eventually, he prevails. The demon of addiction departs. Relieved, the man sweeps out his house, arranges it nicely, and says, “Self, you done well.”   However, he never takes the time to fill this empty house with Jesus. Eventually, when some trial, temptation, or situation arises where he finds himself in a weakened state, he succumbs to drinking again.   However, it is normally the case that the reacquired addiction will manifest itself in worse ways than before. He may take up drugs, get lost in pornography, etc. Eventually, he is bound to lose his home, job, and family. In the end, he is in a much worse state than he ever imagined because He failed to heed his wife's advice to come to church and seek the Lord.   This parable is an excellent one to use when talking to someone about the addiction he is facing. Cheer him on! Tell him to persevere! Offer to be there and assist in any way you can. But be sure to tell him that his void needs to be filled with his Creator's love found in Christ. Without that, things will not go well.   Personal note: I have spent a lot of time dealing with people whose lives were fraught with addiction. Having told many of them what to do when they get clean, far too many of them failed to do so. Most eventually went back to their old addiction, with more problems heaped on their lives. Several have died, leaving loved ones behind. Be careful to ensure you and those you minister to are filled with Jesus.   Heavenly Father, help us to have our priorities right in life. There are many things we can do that may distract us from healthy living. We can get addicted to the internet as quickly as we get addicted to drugs. Help us to instead focus on Jesus and have a proper balance in all other things. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Send us a textThe devotion for today, Monday, September 01, 2025 was written by Donald (Luke) Day and is narrated by Adrian White. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Psalm 16.1-2Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to God, you are my Lord”. All that I have which is good is provided by you.  Support the show

Jesus Followers Are the Enemy's {devil's} Target to Mess You Up and To Destroy Your Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  The enemy {the evil one, the devil} is always at work seeking to destroy the fruit of the Lord's field and your life. In John10:10, Jesus tells us: “The thief {enemy} comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter tells you more about your enemy who is always with you: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil {enemy} prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”. Continue to remember that the enemy is always attempting to mess you up and to destroy your witness. Also, the enemy is always attempting to destroy your relationship with God and to get you to reject God. The enemy does his evil in subtle ways, but his purpose is clear -- the enemy wants you off the right path. The enemy is always at work, and he never sleeps.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John10:10-18;1 Peter 5:8-11; Ephesians 4:26-32; Psalms 50b:13-23. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Crumbs From The Table” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Deaconess catches up with Tyler Martin. They look back on his sermon preached at St. John earlier this summer. We also get to hear a little about Tyler's vicarage experience thus far.Preacher: Vicar Tyler MartinSubmit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to SermonChurch Website: stjohndublin.orgChurch Center: stjohndublin.churchcenter.comThank you to Higher Things Inc. for permission to use their recording of LSB 834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”. (leader.higherthings.org)Thank you for listening to the Post-Sermon Podcast.Text Your Questions & Comments Here!

Pastor Joshua takes us on a journey of what it is like to carry heavy burdens, and then how the Lord co-labors with us to lighten the load and release burdens from our hearts. Psalm 51:10 King James Version10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Principle: It's easy for the heart ... Read More

Crumbs From The Table MESSAGE SUMMARY: We need to create a Culture of Grace and Kindness in our families, our churches, our work, and in our country. What is a Culture of Grace and Kindness? This culture involves: 1) an atmosphere or environment in which there is no griping or complaining – no putting people down; 2) giving others the benefit of the doubt; 3) visibly valuing other people; and 4) being filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. A Culture of Grace and Kindness flows from: 1) keeping Jesus Lord – as Jesus instructed us in Mark 12:29-30: “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'”; 2) loving your neighbor as yourself – as Jesus instructed us in Mark 12:31: “'The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.'”. 3) practicing the “Golden Rule” – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”; and 4) “having the attitude of the Canaanite Woman” – in Matthew 15:25-28, she exhibited humility without pride: “But she came and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, help me.' And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.' And her daughter was healed instantly." Too often in our families, work and church, we forget, in the way we treat others, that we to are sinners and not perfect. Therefore, we exhibit a culture without grace and kindness. Without a Culture of Grace and Kindness, we miss the blessings. In Matthew 15:25-28, the “Canaanite Woman” received the blessing, in her faith and humility, from Jesus when “her daughter was healed instantly”. Additionally, some are unhappy in their “Christian walk”.  Those, who are unhappy in their Christian walk, have forgotten that what Jesus wants from them is for them to “love Him”. The Lord, in ; Revelation 2:4, was telling the Church in Ephesus three things will enable us to get back to our love of Jesus: 1) remember – remember how we loved God when we first started walking with the Lord; 2) repent and return to the Lord – ask God to fill you with a sense of longing for Him; and 3) repeat the things we performed when our faith was on fire for God – don't get away from doing those things that provided a direct link for you to have a personal relationship with God and made you, in your eyes and the eyes of others, a follower of Jesus. Are you communicating, in your works, actions, words, and deeds inherent in a Christian Culture of Grace and Kindness? If not, why not?   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. 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! (Luke 11:13). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Galatians 5:22; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; Matthew 15:21-28; Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:12-17; Revelation 2: 1-7; (Click the Bible References, in blue, below to read the full Bible text for these Scripture References.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Are the Enemy's {devil's} Target to Mess You Up and To Destroy Your Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

A Sermon for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 & St. Luke 18:9-14 by William Klock “Two men went up to the temple to pray,” Jesus said.  The temple was the place where heaven and earth met.  The place where men and women could go to be in the presence of God.  Twice a day the priests would lead the people in prayers, at nine in the morning and at three in the afternoon, but people could go any time to pray. On this day, two men climbed the steps to the temple courts to pray.  “One,” Jesus said, “was a Pharisee.”  A Jew could pray anywhere—at home, wherever.  But if anyone was going to go out of their way to pray at the temple, it was going to be a Pharisee.  The temple was everything to them.  They weren't priests, but they lived their lives as if they were.  So it was natural for a Pharisee to go to the temple to pray. But there were two men this day, Jesus said, who went up to the temple.  “The other was a tax collector.”  If there was a polar opposite of the Pharisee, it was the tax collector.  The Pharisees were devoted to God's covenant and to his law.  They kept every last jot and tittle of it.  But the tax collectors.  When Jesus mentioned a tax collector, his whole audience recoiled.  They were the worst of the worst.  There were “sinners”—that means Jews who made lifestyle that rejected God's covenant with them—but then there were tax collectors.  They were a special kind of sinner.  The scum of the earth.  They got rich sucking up to the gentile dogs while swindling their own people. I expect that as Jesus described these two men, everyone had a similar mental picture.  The Pharisee, dignified, wearing his fine clothes, making his way confidently up the steps to the temple complex, and striding just as confidently through the outer courts.  Everyone knew him, everyone he passed greeted him respectfully as he made his way through the various gates and colonnades, further and further into the temple complex.  But then the tax collector.  Maybe it took him three times to make it up those steps, because twice he turned around, overwhelmed by guilt and shame.  And on the far side of the court of the Gentiles, the soreg, the low wall that marked the boundary between the pure and impure, made him pause.  He didn't belong on the other side.  But he'd already spent weeks tracking down the people he'd fleeced and making restitution to them.  There was no going back.  So he steeled himself and passed through, head down, trying to look unobtrusive, because he knew—he just knew—that everyone recognised him.  And he went to one of the men selling lambs.  And he picked one out, paid for it, took it in his arms—he wasn't used to handling animals—and he got in line in the courtyard outside the sanctuary, waiting for a priest as the lamb struggled.  And finally, a priest motioned him toward the altar.  He presented the lamb, his sin offering, and as the priest held it, the tax collector laid his hands on it and slit its throat.  And the priest collected the blood and poured it out at the base of the altar, then butchered the little lamb and burned its fat.  Now he was pure.  But there was still more to do.  The tax collector went back out to the outer court and this time he bought a ram for a guilt offering.  And a servant helped him with the ram as he, again, went back to stand in line for a priest.  And, again, he placed his hands on the ram as the priest held it.  And he killed it, and as with the lamb, the blood was poured out and the fat was burned.  And his guilt was expiated.  And now he could go and pray.  And there he saw the Pharisee.  The Pharisee had seen him, too.  The Pharisee had seen him all along.  As he'd chatted with a friend, the Pharisee had seen the tax collector buy his lamb.  And he'd seem him again as he bought his ram.  As he stood there praying, he'd seen the sacrifice.  God may have forgiven the tax collector, but the Pharisee sure didn't see him that way.  He took a smug look back at the tax collector and, Jesus says, “he prayed in this way to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: greedy, unjust, immoral, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week.  I give tithes of all that I get.'” And the tax collector.  Jesus says he “stood a long way off, not even wanting to lift his eyes to heaven.  He beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am.'”  He'd gone through the formal actions of forgiveness, but he knew that mere formalism would never see him reconciled to God.  And so, after offering his sacrifices, he knelt humbly and prayed the words of Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God—the psalm goes on—according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.”  He knew.  God isn't a vending machine.  Offering a lamb isn't like pushing B4 and absolution drops into the slot for you to take.  He knew the words of the psalm.  David went on to sing, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”  And so the tax collector knelt—and without any presumption—threw himself on the grace of God.  And, as Jesus has said elsewhere, all of heaven rejoiced over this repentant sinner—even as the Pharisee scowled at him. And Jesus said to the people, “Let me tell you, he—the tax collector—was the one who went back to his home vindicated by God, not the other.”  That had to make some people angry.  It was one thing to grant—even if a little grudgingly—that there was something good about a repentant tax collector.  Okay, he offered his lamb and his ram and his contrition was obviously real.  But dissing the Pharisee?  That was too much.  But you see, this is exactly why Jesus told this story.  Luke introduces this episode saying, “Jesus told this next parable against those who trusted in their own righteous standing and despised others.”  And so Jesus explains: “Don't you see?  People who exalt themselves will be humbled, and people who humble themselves will be exalted.” Going to the temple, standing before the Lord, and singing out a litany of your own pious greatness—that's not pleasing to the Lord.  That's a good way to find yourself humbled on the last day.  And having this in mind that makes this bigger than the Pharisees.  Maybe they were the worst offenders, but Jesus gets to the heart of Israel's problem and exposes it.  They knew they were “in”.  They knew that when the Day of the Lord came, judgement would fall on everyone else and that they would be vindicated and go on to live in his presence in the age to come, they knew this because they faithfully bore all the markers of God's covenant.  They were circumcised, they kept the sabbath, and they ate the right foods—they kept God's law.  That meant they were righteous…or so they thought.  But Jesus sort of asks here: “Where is your heart?” This is what the prophets had been asking Israel—and warning her about—for centuries.  Reminding the people that formalism doesn't cut it.  Yes, God required sacrifices.  He'd given them a law.  But obedience was supposed flow from a humble heart overflowing with gratitude for God's grace.  It was supposed to be rooted in faith—faith in a God who had called a childless pagan named Abram and blessed him beyond anything he deserved; faith in a God who called a sorry and miserable group of slaves out of Egypt and blessed them beyond anything they deserved.  But Israel got complacent, and comfortable, and forgot the source of her blessings.  Instead of trusting God, she trusted in horses and chariots and kings—and even foreign gods.  She thought mere formalism would satisfy God's requirement for holiness.  And her heart became hard, idolatrous, and self-righteous.  So for all their love of torah, the hearts of the Pharisees were far from God—and in that, they represented most of the people in Israel.  They exalted themselves and presumed upon God, when they should have been humble before him, thanking him for his grace.  When judgement day came, they were ready to sing that litany of their righteousness: We're not like other people.  We fast and we tithe.  We're circumcised and we keep the sabbath.  And God would high-five them and the invite them along to go smite the sinners and tax collectors and gentiles.  Their hearts will filled with pride, not faith. Habakkuk was one of those prophets that had warned Israel in the days before the exile.  “Look at the proud!” he said, “His spirit is presumptuous and is not right, but the righteous shall live by faith.”  Pride and faith, Brothers and Sisters, are polar opposites. Habakkuk looked around him lamented to the Lord: O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:1-4) Wickedness, idolatry, injustice—pride.  Judah no longer trusted in the Lord and it showed.  The heart of the people was far from God and those who were humble, who did lean on his grace were trampled under foot.  And Habakkuk knew it couldn't go on like this forever.  He knew the Lord's judgement on a wicked and faithless and proud people had to come soon.  And so he cried out to the Lord and the Lord assured him: “The righteous shall live by faith.”  In other words, the righteous will live the way they always do, regardless of circumstances: by faith in the grace and mercy and goodness of God—not in pride, but by faith.   Pride is insidious.  It can take any form in order to push out faith.  The Pharisees were, in most ways, so close—but in them pride twisted faith itself.  I wonder what Habakkuk would think of our world.  We now have a whole season devoted to pride.  At first it was a month, but now it just seems to go on and on: Pridetide, the unholy parody of Trinitytide.  At least the Pharisees were prideful for their good works.  Today, the wicked and perverted announce their sins with pride and their “ally” lackies signal their virtue as loudly as possible.  And the wealthy and the powerful, governments and corporation and businesses big and small join in the litany of pride and woe to anyone who dares to dissent and on whom the scorn and wrath of the Pride Pharisees falls.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.  The proud are always convinced of their own righteousness and standing before God. And yet Jesus told so many stories in which the proud—so sure of their righteous standing—ended up finding themselves in the outer darkness, weeping and gnashing their teeth, while the tax collectors and sinners—having discovered the mercy and grace of God, having repented in faith—found themselves welcomed into the feast.  Again, pride and faith are polar opposites, mutually exclusive. And I think this is why the church, for the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, has coupled this Gospel about the Pharisee and the tax collector with St. Paul's affirmation of faith at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 15.  He begins with the gospel, with the good news about Jesus.  He writes: “Let me remind you, Brother [and Sisters], about the good news which I announced to you.”  I love the way it works in Greek.  Paul talks about the gospel that he gospelled to them.  The gospel is the best news ever.  It's the news that changes everything.  It's the news that dispels—or, at any rate, it should dispel—any ideas we have about being proud of ourselves.  Because Paul goes on and says, “You received this good news, and you're standing firm on it, and you are saved through it, if you hold fast the message I announced—I gospelled—to you.  Unless it was for nothing that you believed.” These were men and women who had stood on all sorts of things.  Some of them were Jews and once they had stood on that: on their circumcision, on their sabbath keeping, on their general keeping of torah.  Some of them were Gentiles.  They'd stood on their pagan gods, or on the emperor, or on their philosophies.  But then Paul came and he gospelled the gospel.  He announced the good news and it changed everything.  Or, at least it did for a time.  And then pride started creeping back in.  It's insidious.  And as pride crept in, it pushed faith in the good news out.  And Paul says of that good news: “What I handed on to you at the beginning, you see, was what I received, namely this: The Messiah died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, then he was seen by over five hundred brothers and sisters all at once, most of whom are still with us, though some fell asleep, then he was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” The good news is that Jesus died and Jesus was raised and that it happened just as God had promised in the scriptures.  Jesus led his people in a new exodus and in that exodus he revealed God's mercy and grace and God's power and might and glory.  He revealed God's faithfulness to his promises.  In Jesus' death sins are forgiven and in his resurrection the life of God, his new creation began.  If the exodus from Egypt and all it revealed about God and its annual remembrance every year in the Passover could dispel Israel's pride and fill the people with faith in their God, how much more should this new exodus from sin and death dispel our pride and bring us humbly in faith to God through Jesus?  If we will only believe and trust. That was Paul's problem.  He was filled with pride.  He refused and refused and refused.  He persecuted the church.  But as a testimony to the patient grace of God, Paul goes on.  He writes, “And last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared even to me.”  It's hard to say exactly what he means here when he says “untimely born”.  The word in question is only used this one time in the New Testament, but it refers to a premature birth.  It could be a miscarriage or premature birth where the baby lives, but it could also refer to a child monstrously deformed by having been born premature.  It may be that some people in Corinth who didn't like Paul called him a monster because of his appearance and Paul is humble owning the accusation.  But the key thing, what Paul's getting at is the risen Jesus—not just a vision of Jesus but the real, live living Jesus—appeared to him last of all and Paul wants to stress that he didn't deserve it.  “I'm the least of the apostles,” he writes.  “In fact, I don't really deserve to be called ‘apostle' at all, because I persecuted God's church.  But I am what I am because of God's grace, and his grace to me wasn't wasted.” Paul has been the epitome of the proud Pharisee.  And then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and every last bit of his pride came crashing down around him.  Seeing Jesus alive was the proof that the gospel was true and if the gospel was true, none of the things in which Paul had prided himself mattered any more.  The only thing that mattered was faith—faith in Jesus the Messiah who died and rose again.  Paul knew he didn't deserve that vision of Jesus.  He didn't deserve the grace of God.  But there it was.  God had given his son to die, so that Paul, the proud Pharisee could live.  And ditto for everyone in the church in Corinth.  God gave his son to die so that those other Jews there could live.  He gave his son to die so that soldier proud of his devotion to Caesar or the prostitute proud of her devotion Aphrodite or the witch proud of her magic or the philosopher proud of his philosophy could live.  Each one of them, confronted with the gospel had their pride dispelled and that same gospel filled them with faith in the living God and his son who died and rose again.  And forever after they came to him in humility to fall on his grace and to praise him for his merciful lovingkindness.  Even Paul, after all he accomplished as a missionary apostle, writes to them: “I am what I am because of the grace of God, and his grace to me wasn't wasted.  On the contrary, I worked harder than all of them—though it wasn't me, but God's grace which was within me.  So whether it was me or them, that was the way we announced it, and that was the way you believed.”  Paul won't even take credit for what had happened in Corinth as a result of the gospel being preached.  It wasn't Paul's skill or his reasoning or his apologetics.  It was the grace of God. Brothers and Sisters, be captivated by the grace of God on display at the cross.  There God displayed his glory and that glory ought to dispel every last bit of pride we have—whatever it is we take pride in.  The gospel shines so brightly, it exposes the things in which we take pride as filthy rags in comparison.  And when pride is gone, then the gospel—this good news of God's saving grace, this good news about the God who humbled himself to take our form and to die for us so that we, his enemies can be his friends again, good news of the god who gave his own life to forgive our sins, that good news ought to fill us with faith overflowing.  So Brothers and Sisters, hear the good news about Jesus this morning.  How he died and rose again for you.  Not because you are so great, but because he loves you—his precious creation so much—hear that good news in the scriptures and in the liturgy and when you come to his Table.  Let it dispel all pride; be humbled by the gospel, and be filled instead with faith.  In the midst of a broken word, faith in the living God will begin to set things to rights, not pride in ourselves.  Faith in the living God, not pride in ourselves, is our real and lasting source of hope. Let's pray: Lord God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Your Nightly Prayer

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 55:8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.”REFLECTION- PeggyMUSIC- "Even If" by MercyMeNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

“Have mercy upon me, O God.” — Psalm 51:1 When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the enquiry was made, “If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?” He replied, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have […]

SCRIPTURE- Proverbs 1:7“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”REFLECTION- Fr. JimMUSIC- The Well Tempered Clavier performed by Sviatoslav RichterNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Have you heard the story about the man who   -  Was a wrestler. 300 matches only lost one   -  He fired guns at the white house   - He stood in front of live fire during a war   -  He was a licensed bartender    -  He was arrested for dueling   -  He held seances where he worked   -  He was accused of being to ugly for his job   -  And he was our 16th President!  Abraham Lincoln.  Outwardly: Rough, awkward, poorly dressed frontier lawyer. Many thought he was too simple for leadership. Inwardly: Brilliant thinker, deeply compassionate, and one of the greatest U.S. presidents who carried the weight of ending slavery.   He did so many great things in his life as president we often forget much about his life and his foibles!      Psalm 51:17: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."  God's Power in Weakness: God's strength is often made perfect in our weakness.  2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  Examples in Scripture: The Bible is filled with examples of flawed individuals used by God:  Moses, with a speech impediment and a past of murder.  David, an adulterer and murderer.  The Apostle Paul, a persecutor of Christians.  The disciples, who frequently misunderstood Jesus and abandoned him during his crucifixion.  God's Purpose Through Brokenness: God can use our past experiences, even those of pain and brokenness, to bring comfort and healing to others.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God

Evening lessons: Psalms 145; Obadiah; Matthew 1:18-25.  I will magnify you, O God my King, and I will praise your Name forever and ever.

SCRIPTURE- Matthew 24:13"But the one who endures to the end will be saved."REFLECTION- KyleMUSIC- Companions on the Journey by The 7pm Choir (YouTube)- Your Word by David NevueNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 83: www.ESV.org/Psalm83 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

In Today's Secular Uncertainties, God is Sovereign; and God “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Political discord and health care uncertainties surround us in all directions today. Without Jesus in our lives, we have reasons to be anxious and fearful. However, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:31: “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”. The future years may hurt our pride, wallets, and/or our freedom. On the other hand, we should not let the current secular political environment and culture hinder our resolve to continue in our fearless faith in the truth; our constant hope in the future; and our radical love for our neighbors. God has a plan; and, regardless of how things look from our eyes, we must remain faithful to His purpose. Now is the time to draw near to Jesus and to advance His Kingdom. Our gaze must remain on Jesus if we want to walk on the water during the storm. God is the King of Kings and the Sovereign God of the Universe. As Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 4:17 when God told Nebuchadnezzar: “to the end that the living may know that the Most High {God} rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he {God} will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”. God is always involved in our lives, and He gives the government offices “to whom he will”, even if the political processes produce “the lowliest of men {or women}”. Sometimes, we receive the elected officials we need, and sometimes we receive the elected officials that we deserve; but God is always Sovereign and faithful.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be a complainer (Philippians 2:14). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:31; Philippians 4:5-7; Daniel 4:17; Psalms 106c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Go! Make Disciples!”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 50-51; 3 John 1 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this episode for August 26th, 2025, join your host, Hunter, as we journey together through another day in God's Word. Today, we dive into the powerful prophecies found in Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51, where we hear God's message concerning the fall of Babylon—a tale of justice, redemption, and the unwavering faithfulness of the Lord. We'll also read from 3 John, reflecting on the contrasting lives of Diotrephes and Demetrius, and considering what it means to walk in the truth with humility and grace. As always, Hunter guides us not only through the scriptures, but also into a time of prayer, personal reflection, and encouragement. Whether you're a daily listener or just tuning in, take these minutes to nurture your soul, rest in God's love, and set your heart for the path ahead. So, grab your Bible, find a quiet space, and let's encounter God together—remembering, as always, that you are deeply loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Diotrephes and Demetrius, they couldn't be more different. Diotrephes was known to speak lies. He loved to be the leader and he made his life all about him. Demetrius spoke the truth. He was a humble traveling messenger that spoke the truth of the good news. His words of truth set people free, because that's what the truth does. John said everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. The truth will always point us not to ourselves, but to God. And God's truth will set us free and give us joy. So let's choose the way of Demetrius, the humble, truth speaking pilgrim, growing in the truth, being set free and knowing his joy. May God give us the heart of Demetrius. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of heaven and earth, you have awakened us in your mercy once more. Still our anxious minds, quiet our striving hearts, and help us to rest in the knowledge that we are held by you. May we walk in step with your spirit today, not ahead, not behind, but beside you in trust and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God of all peoples, you formed every soul in your image and breathed life into every heart. Open the eyes of the nations, soften hearts grown cold, and teach us to live as neighbors and friends. Let your spirit move in power, renew the face of the earth and usher in your reign of peace. Amen. And now, Lord, let me be a bearer of your peace. Where voices divide, let me speak grace. Where fear takes root, let me plant trust. Where the world rushes on, let me walk with you. May I seek not to climb but to kneel, not to win, but to love, not to grasp, but to give. For it is in emptying that we are filled, in surrender that we are strengthened, and in union with you that we find our truest joy. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

SCRIPTURE- Hebrews 10:36"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."REFLECTION- Sr. KaraMUSIC- NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 37-39; 2 John 1 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this August 25th episode, join your host Hunter as we journey through day 237 of our year-long trek through the pages of Scripture. Today, we dive into the dramatic account of Jeremiah chapters 37 through 39, witnessing King Zedekiah's struggle with pride and fear as Jerusalem faces the Babylonian invasion—and how Jeremiah stands firm amid adversity. Our reading wraps up with the heartfelt encouragement found in Second John, reminding us of the call to truth and love in the face of life's challenges. Through reflection and prayer, Hunter invites us to examine our own hearts, learn from the faith and failings of those before us, and embrace the grace, mercy, and steadfast love of God as we close out the summer season. Settle in, quiet your heart, and let's draw closer to the Living Word together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Blinded by pride and fear, Zedekiah's fate stands as a stark warning for us all. He could not hear or see the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah, and instead clung tightly to his own life, his own position, his own fears. In the end, everything he was so desperate to avoid came to pass—his sight was taken away, his freedom lost, and he became a captive, led away just as Jeremiah had faithfully prophesied. Pride and fear—they make for harsh and cruel masters. Zedekiah's story is one of gradually yielding to their grip, turning a deaf ear to repeated invitations into a better, truer way of life. When we allow pride or fear to rule in us, we too lose sight; we become prisoners of our own anxious striving, our own need to control or be right. But in today's reading from Second John, we hear another way—a way marked by grace, mercy, and truth. John encourages us to abide in love, not allowing anything to stand in the way of the life Christ has given us. He calls us to be diligent, to watch out that we do not lose what we have received by remaining in the teaching of Christ, by remembering the profound love God has for us and letting it shape every step we take. It is only in God's love that we find sight, freedom, and true reward. As we root ourselves in the truth of the gospel, as we let go of our pride and release our fears, we are ever being freed from the blindness that once gripped us. There is more to see, more freedom to taste, and more love to share, for those who walk in faith and trust in Jesus. That's my prayer for my own soul today—that I would recognize and reject the voices of pride and fear in my life. That is my prayer for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And that is my prayer for you: that you would walk in God's love, see with clear eyes, and experience the fullness of mercy and grace that is yours in Christ. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord of heaven and earth, you have awakened us in your mercy once more. Still our anxious minds, quiet our striving hearts and help us to rest in the knowledge that we are held by you. May we walk in step with your spirit today, not ahead, not behind, but beside you in trust and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God of all peoples, you formed every soul in your image and breathed life into every heart. Open the eyes of the nations. Soften hearts grown cold. And teach us to live as neighbors and friends. Let your spirit move in power. Renew the face of the earth and usher in your reign of peace. Amen. And now, Lord, let me be a bearer of your peace. Where voices divide, let me speak grace. Where fear takes root, let me plant trust. Where the world rushes on, let me walk with you. May I seek not to climb but to kneel. Not to win, but to love. Not to grasp, but to give. For it is in emptying that we are filled, in surrender that we are strengthened and in union with you that we find our truest joy. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

SCRIPTURE- Exodus 14:14"The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still."REFLECTION- Fr. RonMUSIC- NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Welcome to Day 2703 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2704 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 83:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2703 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2703 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: A Conspiracy of Silence – When Nations Conspire - A Trek Through Psalm 83:1-8 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 new and urgent chapter in our journey through the Psalms. We're embarking on a trek through Psalm 83 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 8. Psalm 83, another psalm of Asaph, is a fervent communal lament and an imprecatory prayer, a desperate cry for God's intervention against a specific and imminent threat. After the divine judgment scene of Psalm 82, where God condemned unjust human rulers in a heavenly court, this psalm brings us back to earth, to a very real and present danger: a grand conspiracy of nations with a single, malevolent goal. This psalm is a powerful expression of a people facing a severe existential threat. The psalmist pleads with God, the ultimate Judge and ruler of the nations, not to remain silent in the face of this malicious plot. It reminds us that there are times when the threats are so great, so overwhelming, that the only hope is for a silent God to speak and a hidden God to act. So, let's immerse ourselves in this prayer of national desperation and listen to the psalmist's earnest plea for God's intervention against this formidable conspiracy. The Plea for a Silent God to Act (Reads Psalm 83:1-4 NLT) O God, do not remain silent! Do not turn a deaf ear. Do not stand aloof, O God. Don't you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don't you see the arrogance of those who hate you? They devise crafty schemes against your people, and they conspire against your treasured ones. "Come," they say, "let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the memory of its existence." Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an immediate, urgent, and almost confrontational plea for God to break His silence: "O God, do not remain silent! Do not turn a deaf ear. Do not stand aloof, O God." This triple appeal highlights the profound distress of the people. God's silence in the face of a terrifying threat is unbearable. "Remain silent" (charash) implies inactivity. "Turn a deaf ear" (al-al) implies a refusal to listen. "Stand aloof" (shalaq) suggests a deliberate distance, an indifference to their suffering. The psalmist is begging God to do the opposite of all these things: to speak, to listen, and to draw near and intervene. This lament stands in stark contrast to the divine pronouncements of judgment in the previous Psalm 82, where God's voice was loud and clear. Here, that same mighty voice...

SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 61:10"I will rejoice heartily in the Lord. My being exalts in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of justice. Like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."REFLECTION- Sr. M. KarolynMUSIC- NOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.