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The SSPX met with Rome after signaling it may consecrate bishops without Vatican approval. We break down what was said and what comes next. Meanwhile, a secret, password-protected video message from the Charlotte bishop is set to be shown at Mass this weekend. And finally, the Stop/Start feature is dead. All this and more on the LOOPcast!00:00 Welcome to the LOOPcast03:20 SSPX Meets with Rome12:10 Charlotte Bishop Video18:18 What's going on at Notre Dame?38:29 End of Immigration Enforcement Surge in MN46:00 EPA Change58:55 Good News1:08:35 Twilight Zone1:20:16 Closing PrayerEMAIL US: loopcast@catholicvote.org SUPPORT LOOPCAST: www.loopcast.orgSubscribe to the LOOP today!https://catholicvote.org/getloop Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-loopcast/id1643967065 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08jykZi86H7jKNFLbSesjk?si=ztBTHenFR-6VuegOlklE_w&nd=1&dlsi=bddf79da68c34744 FOLLOW LOOPCast: https://x.com/the_LOOPcast https://www.instagram.com/the_loopcast/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the_loopcast https://www.facebook.com/LOOPcastPodcast Tom: https://x.com/TPogasic Erika: https://x.com/ErikaAhern2 Josh: https://x.com/joshuamercer Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithfuland kindle in them the fire of your love.Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,and you shall renew the face of the earth.Let us pray.O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithfulby the light of the Holy Spirit,grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wiseand ever rejoice in his consolation.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.All opinions expressed on LOOPcast by the participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CatholicVote.
SCRIPTURE- 1 John 1:8-9"If we say, ‘We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.”REFLECTION- CherylMUSIC- "Before Dawn" by Ola Gjeilo- "Braveheart" by Emma Jackson- "Grace Wins" by Matthew WestNOTES-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.
SCRIPTURE- 1 Peter 1:13"Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”REFLECTION- Fr. CarlMUSIC- "Seek Ye First" by Steve Pulvers and Brandon Gile- "God is Good" by Jonathan McReynoldsNOTES-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.
In this episode from a few years ago, we wandered through Arabic poetry and prose and talked about many different forms of literary love: regretful love, unreciprocated love, bad love, vengeful love, liberating love, married love. We read this poem by Núra al-Hawshán: “O eyes, pour me the clearest, freshest tearsAnd when the fresh part's over, pour me the dregs.O eyes, gaze at his harvest and guard it.Keep watch upon his water-camels, look at his well.If he passes me on the roadI can't speak to him.O God, such afflictionAnd utter calamity!Whoever desires usWe scorn to desire,And whom we desireFeeble fate does not deliver.”The Núra al-Hawshán poem, translated by Moneera al-Ghadeer, has a modern musical adaptation on YouTube produced by Majed Al Esa.Yasmine Seale's translation of Ulayya Bint El Mahdi. This poem and others were set to music on the album “Medieval Femme.”Do'a al-Karawan (“The Nightingale's Prayer”) by Taha HusseinI Do Not Sleep, Ihsan Abdel Kouddous, trans. Jonathan SmolinThe Cairo Trilogy, Naguib Mahfouz (1956-57)Al-Bab al-Maftouh (The Open Door) Latifa al-Zayyat, trans. Marilyn Booth (1960) All That I Want to Forget, by Bothayna Al-Essa, translated by Michele Henjum.Rita and the Rifle, Mahmoud Darwish, made into a song by Marcel Khalife. Ode to My Husband, Who Brings the Music by Zeina Hashem Beck Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Lust. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Perfect Provision. “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: “Essentials Part 3 – Incomplete Finished Work” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
SCRIPTURE- John 8:10-11"Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She replied, ‘No one, sir.' Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin anymore.'”REFLECTION- SarahMUSIC- Immaculate Mary by 7pm Catholic ChoirNOTES- PRAY ALONG ROSARY (25 min)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.
SCRIPTURE- Psalm 5:3-4"Attend to the sound of my cry, my king and my God! For to you I will pray, LORD; in the morning you will hear my voice; in the morning I will plead before you and wait.”REFLECTION- GaryMUSIC- "Tantum Ergo" Instrumental- "A New Beginning" by James SpliteriNOTES- Click HERE for the article about Lent by Fr. Jay Jung, C.M.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.
SCRIPTURE- Ezekiel 36:27"I will put my spirit within you so that you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them.”REFLECTION- JenMUSIC- Yet by the King Will Come (cover)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.
In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions Through the Psalms with Dane Ortlund
❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 51: www.ESV.org/Psalm51 ❖ 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/
Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Keep your heart open to God. Cam a young man who got a new heart. Sunday stopped service. Showed the picture. They keep his chest open so they can get to it ASAP if something goes wrong. Psalm 62:8 (VOICE) — "Have faith in Him in all circumstances, dear people. Open up your heart to Him; the True God shelters us in His arms." A direct call to open your heart to God in trust. Acts 16:14 — "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia... The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." David's prayer for renewal reflects a desire for a heart continually open and right before God. Hebrews 10:22 — "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…" Sincere heart - GK. ah-lay-thee-NOS. True inside and out. Exposing the “inner make up” of the heart. Father keep my heart open… Why is it so important for my wife to keep her heart open to me? Because it means she is sympathetic to what I am going through, my needs, my hurts, my wants, needs, hopes, fears… it is the foundation to a healthy growing relationship between us.
ENTRANCE HYMN #372 Praise to the Living GodSEQUENCE HYMN #601 O Day of God, Draw NighOFFERTORY ANTHEM Prayer for Peace (Harlan)COMMUNION ANTHEM I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light (Thomerson, arr. Harlan)POST-COMMUNION HYMN #408 Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns AboveTHE COLLECT OF THE DAYSet us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.FIRST READING Isaiah 58:1-9aReader A reading from the Prophet Isaiah.Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.PSALM Psalm 112:1-9, [10] Beatus vir1 Hallelujah!Happy are they who fear the Lord *and have great delight in his commandments!2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *the generation of the upright will be blessed.3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *and their righteousness will last for ever.4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.5 It is good for them to be generous in lending *and to manage their affairs with justice.6 For they will never be shaken; *the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *their heart is right;they put their trust in the Lord.8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, *until they see their desire upon their enemies.9 They have given freely to the poor, *and their righteousness stands fast for ever;they will hold up their head with honor.[10 The wicked will see it and be angry;they will gnash their teeth and pine away;...
Preacher: Seminarian Brian SchneckSubmit 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!
Monday, 9 February 2026 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23 “And, having turned, He said to Peter, ‘You withdraw behind Me, Satan! Snare, you are, to Me. For you think not these of God but these of men'” (CG). In the previous verse, Peter, without proper thought, admonished Jesus for His words concerning His destiny in Jerusalem. Because of his words, it now says of Jesus, “And, having turned.” We can only speculate what this means. Was Jesus not directly facing Peter until he spoke, but after hearing his words, Jesus turned toward him? Did Jesus turn towards the disciples to allow them to clearly hear what He was going to say, or did Jesus turn His back to Peter, while speaking as a sign of contempt and admonishment? The latter seems the most likely. Peter would probably have been facing Jesus. With his words contradicting what Jesus said, Jesus probably turned around with His back now to Peter. With this symbolic act accomplished, the next words would have full effect: “He said to Peter, ‘You withdraw behind Me, Satan!'” The turning, then, would be a metaphor for the words themselves, confirming His words as an object lesson to Peter. It is the same thought, with the added object lesson, that Jesus said to Satan in Matthew 4:10, “You withdraw Satan!” Peter has taken over the bidding of Satan in his unwitting attempt to frustrate God's plans for man's redemption. This would be what Luke was referring to in Luke 4:13 – “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” The devil took full advantage of Peter's overzealous and unintelligent utterance to tempt Jesus. But Jesus was already prepared to defend the Father's will by standing against such an appeal. With His object lesson and admonishment accomplished, Jesus continues, saying, “Snare, you are, to Me.” The word skandalon has already been seen. It signifies a trap-stick that is used to snare an animal. It is quite often translated as a stumbling block. Jesus is saying that Peter's words are Satan's attempt to trip Jesus up, causing Him to falter through sin. Once one is in a snare, he is entrapped. Sinning, which it would be for Jesus by denying the Father's will for Him, would be the result if He were so ensnared. But Jesus prevailed over this. His words continue, saying, “For you think not these of God but these of men.” Peter had just been told that because of his proclamation, revealed to him by the Father, he would possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven. And yet, he still had an earthly view of God's plans. He was a work in progress, something that continued on long after Jesus had completed His earthly ministry. Life application: Paul uses the same term, skandalon, when referring to the crucifixion of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 1:23 and Galatians 5:11. His crucifixion is the basis for the gospel of salvation. In fact, in 1 Corinthians, he directly makes the connection – “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block [skandalon] and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25 A trap is something that is hidden and unnoticed. If someone knew he would be trapped, he would simply avoid the thing. However, people overlook what they don't see. This is what the gospel is like. It is so simple and unassuming that people miss its significance. But in denying the efficacy of the cross, people deny the only means of restoration with God. The world has many different ways of confusing the issue. The term “all paths lead to God” may sound good, but it isn't a very well-thought-out sentiment. Religions, by their very definition, are contradictory to other religions. It would be a ridiculously inept Creator who would send His Son to the cross to die for the sins of the world, but who would then accept people into His list of saved people who denied the very thing He had done. Maligning Jesus, spitting on His cross, etc., are the same as spitting on God who sent His Son to die. Use wisdom as you hear people's ideas about God, heaven, restoration, etc. It is so easy to be misled by catchphrases, fine-sounding arguments, and appeals to emotion. But such things normally have nothing to do with the reality of what God has done. Lord God, help us not to be a hindrance to others as they seek the truth of the gospel. Unlike Peter in his admonishment of Jesus, we need to stop and consider things carefully, and then present them in a manner that will glorify You through right instruction concerning Jesus and His complete work. Help us in this, O God. Amen.
Today's Psalm (72) is a prayer David wrote at the end of his life – addressed to the LORD about Solomon – who was taking over as king. What a vision David had in doing this, it is evident the LORD took his thoughts beyond the forthcoming reign of Solomon. His prayer starts, “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness …” [v.1,2] And Solomon was to do this – and we read in Kings and Chronicles how his fame spread far and wide.But David is inspired in prayer to even greater visions of the future, ones that will only be fulfilled in the reign of his greater Son! He prays that “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!” [v.7,8] This ultimate future is further emphasised as the Psalm reaches its climax: “May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!” [v.17] David's prayer concludes, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen.” We understand that ‘Amen' has the underlying meaning, of ‘so be it, this is sure, this is truth.'David's prayer is a prayer for all true believers in God and His Son Jesus and the ultimate divine purpose for life on this earth. The final and ‘postscript' verse of the Psalm is “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” The next group of Psalms are prepared by Asaph and others for singing in the Temple – until we get another “Amen and Amen” at the end of Psalm 89. Let us all make David's prayer ours, pleading in prayer to God – “may the whole earth be filled with his glory” – very soon.
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 A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f 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: “Essentials Part 3 – Incomplete Finished Work” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday, 8 February 2026 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” Matthew 16:22 “And Peter, having clutched Him, he began to admonish Him, saying, ‘Propitious, to You, Lord! No, not it will be, this to You!'” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples about the trials ahead for Him in Jerusalem, including being killed. He also told them about the resurrection on the third day. Peter, who had just stepped forward and proclaimed Jesus as the Christ, now has something to say about Jesus' words. Matthew notes, “And Peter, having clutched Him, he began to admonish Him.” A new word is seen, proslambanó, to take aside. It is from pros, signifying motion toward something, and lambanó, to take. In this case, the word pros is used to indicate interacting with, and so it means to “aggressively receive, with strong personal interest” (HELPS Word Studies). A suitable single word that can be taken both literally and figuratively would be clutch. Peter either actually or figuratively clutched on to Jesus because of His words and began to admonish Him over His words, “saying, ‘Propitious, to You, Lord!'” Another new word, the adjective hileós, is used. It signifies “propitious.” In Attic Greek, it was used to indicate appeasing divine wrath. It is related to the Greek word hilastérion used in Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 to indicate the mercy seat of the Ark, which prefigured Christ as our propitiation before God. Peter's use of it here is idiomatic. He is essentially saying, “For heaven's sake!” or “God forbid!” In such an exclamation, it then indirectly signifies, “May God be propitious to you.” However, behind Peter's intent is, “No way, Jose!” Thus, “God forbid” is a good paraphrase. Having said that, he continues with an emphatic “No, not it will be, this to You!” The double negative adds heavily to the negative intent of the idiomatic expression. Peter is adamant that Jesus is not going to suffer. And whatever Jesus meant by “be killed” is not going to happen. As is common with Peter, he has failed to stop and think his words through. Even without understanding that Jesus is God, he is admonishing his Lord, Teacher, and Guide. This is something that is wholly inappropriate for a person in his position. He also acted without further questioning, such as, “What do you mean by...” But if he had stopped and evaluated Jesus' words before blurting out his admonishment, the most obvious question of all would be, “What do you mean by, ‘and the third day be roused.'” Whatever Jesus meant by “be killed,” that topic is then qualified by the words “be roused.” Not having a clue about what Jesus was saying, he should have stopped, formed a question, and then asked in a respectable manner. It may be that his zeal is appropriate, but his approach with that zeal is unacceptable. Life application: In Galatians 4:17, Paul says, while speaking of Judaizers, “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” There are times when having zeal is good. This is especially so when it is in the service of God, honoring our duties as citizens of our nation, or for the benefit of family, friends, the downtrodden, etc. However, if we don't put curbs on our zeal, we can fall into the same personal trap Peter did. Our good intentions will turn out to be inappropriate because we didn't consider all the facts. Likewise, if our zeal is misdirected to start with, like the Judaizers in Galatia, we err in whatever we are doing. Peter found this out when he fell into their trap. If our misdirected zeal is doctrinal in nature, we are working against what God has ordained. That is why when people shoot off their mouths about doctrinal matters without properly understanding what the Bible says about them, they cannot be pleasing to God. A simple example is the rapture. We have to determine one of two things first. Does the Bible teach there will be a rapture or not? The answer to that needs to be fully understood before talking about the matter in an instructive manner. Only one answer will be correct. The other will be a false teaching. The next question would be, does the Bible teach about the general timeframe concerning when it will happen? This would mean pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, post-trib, etc. Only one answer can be correct. The other answers will be contrary to what God expects of us in our instruction. The next question might be, “Am I maintaining the proper context for my conclusions?” In other words, a person may be using Jesus' words from Matthew XX to support his rapture conclusions. Is that appropriate, or is it out of the context of what Jesus taught? Next, a good question is, “Now that the general timeframe of the rapture has been rightly understood, can I pinpoint the precise timing of it, or is that going to be unknown to us until it happens?” The Bible does tell us. So if we take a contrary position, we are harming, not helping, with proper instruction on this matter. Our conclusions are false, and thus we are teaching falsely. Those who teach falsely have become false teachers. And what does the Bible say about such people? These are only a few of the many parameters to be understood about a single lesser doctrine that is found in Scripture. How much more should we be prepared before speaking about the more important doctrines that can lead people to a complete misunderstanding about who God is, how to be saved, etc.? No wonder James says that not many should become teachers. Unless we are willing to do the hard work to rightly understand and teach what the word of God says, we will be more stringently judged for our words. Read the Bible! Study to show yourself approved! Lord God, You are wonderful, forgiving of our transgressions because of Jesus. But we still must consider that You are holy and Your word is sacred. May we never attempt to run ahead without thinking things through carefully. We do not want to do Satan's bidding while intending to honor You. Give us wisdom in this, O God. Amen.
PSALM 42-43 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon - from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of the waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is within me - a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. 2 You are God my stronghold, why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? 3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. NIV 84 LESSON NOTES We were created with a deep need to belong. Being made in the image of a relational God means we are wired for connection with Him and with one another. To be seen is a sacred longing. The psalmist's cry—“When can I go and be seen by God?”—reveals a soul aching for God's attentive presence. Spiritual thirst is often painful, not pleasant. God's presence is not distant or indifferent. Repeatedly, Scripture reminds us that God sees His people. In Christ and through the Spirit, God says again and again, “I see you, and I am with you.” We were made to be fully known and truly loved. The loss the psalmist feels is not just about place, but about people—being known in the worshiping community. True belonging reflects God's love: knowing us completely and loving us faithfully. The cross is the ultimate invitation to belong. At the cross, exclusion ends. Jesus' outstretched arms declare that no one is too far away, too broken, or too unworthy to belong to the family of God. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever felt “unseen” by God? The psalmist longs to be seen by God. Have you experienced a season of longing and thirsting to be seen by God? 2. Who knows you well outside of your immediate family—and chooses to love you anyway? If that list feels short, what might be holding you back from deeper relationships? 3. How can our church fight loneliness intentionally? The sermon highlighted loneliness as a public health crisis. What are practical ways our church or small group can become a place where people are fully known and truly loved? 4. How does the cross redefine belonging for you? If the cross is the ultimate symbol of belonging, how should that shape the way we see ourselves—and the way we welcome others who feel excluded or overlooked?
Today's Psalm (69) of David is very heart stirring. Some of its verses are prophetic of events in the life on earth of his greater son. David is conscious that God's all seeing ‘eyes' means he is fully aware of the problems surrounding him – and some of these prefigured situations that would occur in the life of Jesus. David built up his faith in his Creator, setting us an example, “my prayer is to you, O LORD, At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.” [v.13] He pleads, “Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.” [v.17] The Gospels show the times of urgency in the life of Jesus, times when he sought deep communion with his father. In Luke 6 v.12 we read, “he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.”We can only surmise the situations that caused David to write, “Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” [v.20,21] Some of his experiences pre-figured events in the life of his greater Son! Have there been experiences in our life which are to some degree a little parallel? Has our faith increased as a result of finding strength (from our Saviour) to overcome them and then to become stronger to more boldly face any future situations?There are verses in this Psalm that will inspire and lift up our hearts as they must have lifted up the heart of Jesus. “I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!” David then added, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” [v.29,30] When we “magnify” what God is, he becomes large in our thoughts and dominates our mind. How significant that David next prays, “you who seek God, let your hearts revive.”[v.32] Our world threatens to overwhelm our minds with its godlessness, – so how urgent should be our spirit of seeking a revival of our hearts so as to have a fully heart-felt relationship with God day after day. Our Psalm ends by declaring, “For God will save Zion … and those who love his name shall dwell in it.”
Evening lessons: Psalms 94; Jeremiah 37; 2 Corinthians 5. O Lord God to whom vengeance belongs, O God to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself.
SCRIPTURE- Corinthians 1:27-29"God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”REFLECTION- Fr. JasonMUSIC- Kittle Gentle Spirit by AwakeningNOTES-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.
SCRIPTURE- Psalm 115:1"Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy and faithfulness.”REFLECTION- Sr. CarolMUSIC- "Where Charity and Love Prevail" by Tom Harder- "O God Mounts His Throne to Shouts of Joy" (Psalm 47) by Jeremy Mayfield- "Seek Ye First" by Steve Pulvers and Brandon GileNOTES-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.
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: “Essentials Part 2 – More than Just a Man”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
SCRIPTURE- Colossians 3:15"And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.”REFLECTION- JeffMUSIC- 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.
SCRIPTURE- Luke 2:27-28, 38"Simeon came in the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law he took Jesus in his arms and blessed God. And the prophetess Anna, coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”REFLECTION- Sr. KathleenMUSIC- "Nunc Dimittis (The Canticle of Simeon)" by Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz- "Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All (Sweet Sacrament)" by Luca RaggiNOTES-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 2788 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2788 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 109:1-5 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2788 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred eighty-eight 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. The tile for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Courtroom of Lies – When Love is Repaid with Hatred Today, we are stepping off the mountain peak of victory and descending into the deepest, darkest valley of the human experience. We are beginning our journey through Psalm One Hundred Nine, and today we will navigate the opening complaint, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. To understand the emotional whiplash of the Psalter, we have to remember where we just were. In our previous trek through Psalm One Hundred Eight, we stood with King David on the mountaintop. He was the confident Warrior Poet. He woke the dawn with his song. He looked at the map of the nations and declared, "With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes." It was a psalm of absolute certainty, military strength, and divine conquest. We left feeling invincible. But today, the music changes. The triumphant horns of Psalm One Hundred Eight fade away, replaced by the dissonant, scratching sound of a lawsuit. Psalm One Hundred Nine is famous—or perhaps infamous—as the most intense of the "imprecatory" or cursing psalms. Later in this psalm, David will unleash a torrent of curses against his enemy that makes many modern readers cringe. But before we get to the curses, we must understand the pain that birthed them. We must sit in the defendant's chair. In these opening five verses, David is not the General commanding an army; he is a man alone in a courtroom, surrounded by a mob of liars. He has been stripped of his reputation, betrayed by those he loved, and—most terrifying of all—he is facing the silence of God. This is a psalm for anyone who has ever been slandered. It is for anyone who has loved someone deeply, only to have that love thrown back in their face as hatred. It is the raw, unedited cry of a heart that has been stabbed in the back. So, let us enter the courtroom and hear the plea of the innocent. The first segment is: The Silence of the Judge: The Crisis of Communication. Psalm One Hundred Nine: verse one. O God, whom I praise, don't stand silent and aloof The psalm opens with a desperate appeal to the only One who matters. "O God, whom I praise..." Literally, "O God of my praise." This is a statement of history and identity. David is saying, "Lord, You are the subject of all my songs. I have spent my life building a throne of praise for You. I have defined myself by Your glory." It is an appeal to relationship. He is reminding God, "We are friends. I am Your worshiper." But this intimacy makes the current situation unbearable: "...don't stand silent and aloof." The Hebrew simply says, "Do not be silent." In a legal context—and this psalm is full of legal imagery—the silence of...
Morning lessons: Psalms 83; Genesis 33; John 17. Hold not your tongue, O God; keep no silent, but rouse yourself, O God.
SCRIPTURE- 1 Corinthians 3:7-9"Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor. For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building."REFLECTION- Fr. RonMUSIC- "Before the Throne of God Above" by Jonathan Roth- "Come With Me Into the Fields" Piano Intrumental- "Trust in You" by Lauren DaigleNOTES-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.
In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions Through the Psalms with Dane Ortlund
❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 45: www.ESV.org/Psalm45 ❖ 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/
The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013026.cfmFather Jason Lewis, MIC, leads us into one of Scripture's most sobering and hope-filled accounts: the fall and repentance of King David. Chosen, anointed, and beloved by God, David nevertheless sins gravely — through sloth, lust, deceit, and murder. Yet this story is not preserved to excuse sin, but to reveal the astonishing depth of Divine Mercy.David's crimes are real and devastating. He abuses power, betrays trust, and orchestrates the death of an innocent man. But when confronted by the prophet Nathan, David does not justify himself. He repents. From the depths of that repentance comes Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness; in your compassion blot out my offense” (Ps 51:3; NABRE). This cry becomes the prayer of the whole Church.What follows defies human logic. God does not abandon His covenant. From this broken history comes restoration. From repentance comes mercy. And from this wounded lineage comes Solomon — and ultimately Jesus Christ Himself. As St. Paul teaches, “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Rom 5:20; NABRE). Mercy does not deny justice; it transforms the sinner who turns back to God.This is the heart of The Divine Mercy message entrusted to Saint Faustina: no sin is greater than God's mercy when met with repentance and trust (“The Diary of St. Faustina,” 699). The Catechism affirms that God's mercy is infinite and offered to every contrite heart (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,”1847).This homily invites us to hope. No past is irredeemable. No repentance is wasted. God is always working — not against us, but with us, for our salvation.Watch the full homily on DivineMercyPlus.org, the no-cost, ad-free Catholic streaming platform with exclusive Catholic content. ★ Support this podcast ★
Evening lessons: Psalms 79, 82; Jeremiah 29; 1 Corinthians 14:1-19. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, and made Jerusalem a heap of stones.
[Matthew 5:8] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God wants to bless you for living a ____________ life. You have to purify something before it's ____________. [1 John 1:8-9] If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. [9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. You have to ____________ that you have a problem. [2 Timothy 2:20-21] In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. [21] If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. God can use all kinds of vessels, but they have to be ____________. [1 Corinthians 6:18-20] Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. [19] Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. [Psalm 119:9-11] How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. [10] I have tried hard to find you—don't let me wander from your commands. [11] I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ________________ is our weapon to fight off temptation. [Psalm 51:7-10] Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. [8] Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. [9] Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. God ____________ can create a clean heart in you.
SCRIPTURE- 2 Timothy 1:8"So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God."REFLECTION- GerryMUSIC- Holding the SkyNOTES-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.
Jesus Follower's Greatest Witness for the Gospel of Jesus, in a Hurting World, is for Others to See Jesus in Them MESSAGE SUMMARY: You need to live the Christian life in whatever you do – at home; in your job; in the way that you drive; and in the way that you treat your friends. We live in a hurting world, but God wants more for you. To achieve God's desire for your life, you must stay in fellowship and communion with God; and you must let Him work in your life. In Colossians 3:17, Paul challenges us: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”. If you live your life, in all places and situations, in the name of Jesus, you will live a better life in our hurting world. As Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.". Remember, the greatest witness for the Gospel, as a follower of Jesus, that you can give is for others to see Jesus in 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, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Past Failures. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Grace. “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): Colossians 3:16-17; Matthew 21:21-22; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalms 43:1-5. WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part1 – People of the Book” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Morning lessons: Psalms 75, 76; Genesis 29; John 15:18-27. Unto you, O God, do we give thanks; indeed, unto you do we give thanks.
SCRIPTURE- Matthew 23: 11-12"The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."REFLECTION- Fr. JimMUSIC- My Soul is at Rest by Taize-Doria by Piano VersionNOTES-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 2785 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2785 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 108:6-9 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2785 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred eighty-five 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. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Divine Cartography – God Claims His Geography. Today, we are back on the trail, continuing our exploration of the "Warrior Poet's Remix," Psalm One Hundred Eight. We are trekking through the middle section, verses six through nine, in the New Living Translation. In our previous trek through the first five verses of this psalm, we heard the sound of a "fixed heart." We watched King David wake the dawn with his lyre and declare that God's love is higher than the heavens. We saw him take an old song of lament (from Psalm Fifty-seven) and remix it into a new anthem of confidence. He ended that section with a cosmic prayer: "Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth." Today, the scene shifts from the cosmic to the concrete. David moves from singing about the stars to looking at a map. He moves from the "heavens" to the dirt and rock of the Middle East. In verses six through nine, we hear God Himself speak. It is a divine oracle spoken from the Holy Sanctuary. In this oracle, Yahweh acts like a victorious General standing over a map of the ancient Near East. He points to specific territories—Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Moab, Edom, Philistia—and claims them as His own. He essentially says, "This belongs to Me. And this belongs to Me. And that over there? That is just My washbasin." This is a powerful assertion of Divine Ownership. In the Ancient Israelite worldview, where nations were believed to be owned by their respective gods (Chemosh for Moab, Milcom for Ammon), Yahweh is declaring that He is the Landlord of everything. He is redrawing the borders and reclaiming the inheritance for His people. So, let us stand in the war room and listen to the strategy of the King. The first segment is: The Prayer for Rescue: The Right Hand of Power. Psalm One Hundred Eight: verse six. Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power. Before the oracle begins, David offers a short, sharp prayer. This acts as the bridge between the praise of the first five verses and the prophecy that follows. "Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power." The literal Hebrew here is quite evocative: "That Your beloved ones may be delivered; Save with Your right hand, and answer me!" First, notice the identity of the people. David calls them "Your beloved people" (yedid-echa). This comes from the same root as the name Jedidiah (which was Solomon's name given by God, meaning "Beloved of Yahweh"). This is crucial for our confidence in prayer. David doesn't appeal to God based on Israel's military strength or their moral perfection. He appeals to God's affection. "Lord, these are the ones You love. Therefore, rescue them." Second, notice the method...
Morning lessons: Psalm 74; Genesis 28; John 15:1-17. O God, why have you utterly case us off? Why is your wrath so hot against the sheep of your pasture?
SCRIPTURE- Psalm 95:3-4"For the LORD is the great God, the great king over all gods, Whose hand holds the depths of the earth; who owns the tops of the mountains."REFLECTION- Sr. KaraMUSIC- "Here I Am Lord" Instrumental- "You Speak" by Audrey AssadNOTES- Click HERE for our blog article on the Holy NamePRAYER 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.
Evening lessons: Psalms 70, 72; Jeremiah 26; 1 Corinthians 11. Hasten, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.
SCRIPTURE- John 9:11He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see."REFLECTION- PeggyMUSIC- "Holy, Holy" by Tim Janus- "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" by Michael W. SmithNOTES-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 2783 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2783 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 108:1-5 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2783 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred eighty-three 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. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Warrior Poet's Remix – A Song of Cosmic Confidence Today, we are lacing up our boots to begin a new adventure in Psalm One Hundred Eight. We will be trekking through the first movement of this anthem, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. In our previous journey, we stood at the summit of Psalm One Hundred Seven. We listened to the testimonies of the redeemed—the wanderers, the prisoners, the fools, and the sailors—who cried out to God in their trouble and were rescued by His Unfailing Love (Hesed). That psalm ended with a challenge to the "Wise": "Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord." Psalm One Hundred Eight is the response of the wise heart. It is the song of someone who has observed God's history and has decided to move forward with absolute, unshakable confidence. But there is something unique about this psalm that we must understand before we take a single step. Psalm One Hundred Eight is a Remix. If you were to look closely at your Bible, you might notice something familiar. Verses one through five are almost identical to Psalm Fifty-seven, verses seven through eleven. And verses six through thirteen are almost identical to Psalm Sixty, verses five through twelve. King David, the master songwriter, took two of his previous songs—songs written during times of intense crisis and lament—and spliced them together. He cut out the parts about fear and crying for mercy, and he kept the parts about confidence and victory. He fused them to create a new, high-energy anthem for a new generation. This teaches us a profound lesson about wisdom and legacy. Sometimes, to face a new battle, you don't need a new revelation; you need to rearrange the truths you already know. You need to take the lessons learned in the caves of your past (Psalm Fifty-seven) and the battlefields of your history (Psalm Sixty) and combine them into a fresh declaration of faith. So, let us open our hearts to this "Greatest Hits" album of King David and learn how to sing with cosmic confidence. The first segment is: The Fixed Heart: Preparation for the Dawn. Psalm One Hundred Eight: verses one through two. My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. The psalm opens with a statement of internal stability: "My heart is confident in you, O God..." The Hebrew word for "confident" is nakon. It means "fixed," "steadfast," "firm," or "prepared." It is the same word used to describe a foundation that cannot be moved.
Jesus Followers Maintain a Constant Presence of Jesus in Their Lives Through Prayer and a Focus on Their Personal Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: As a Jesus Follower, you must maintain a constant conversation, through prayer, with Jesus; and you must look to see how God is involved in the events surrounding your daily life. If the Lord is in your life, then your life's circumstances will relate to Him. The Psalmist tells us, in Psalms 100:2-5, that God is with you because He made you to: “Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to generations.". Therefore, practicing the presence of Jesus in your life helps you to stay in tune with Jesus' influence in your life. Being in tune with Jesus' presence, in your life, is like listening to an FM radio station – you must tune into the right station and then listen. Tuning into the right station, for the presence of Jesus, requires that you maintain an awareness of your circumstances and their relationship to Jesus. 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 Hatred. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Love. “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): 2 Corinthians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 3:16-18; 1 John 1:5-10; Psalms 104a:1-13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part1 – People of the Book”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Today's Passage: Psalm 27The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh,my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;I will sing and make melody to the Lord.Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!You have said, “Seek my face.”My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”Hide not your face from me.Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help.Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!NOTES & LINKS:21 Days of Prayer & Fasting WebsiteSubscribe to the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting NewsletterPDF Guide to Prayer & FastingAs Part of the 21 Days, we are committing to 24/7 prayer during this time. Sign up for a time slot here.
PSALM 42 1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon-from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me- a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. PSALM 43 1 Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. 2 You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? 3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Jesus Followers' Righteousness Will Flow, with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from Their Heart Through Their Personal Relationship with Jesus MESSAGE SUMMARY: You are called, as a Christian, to live a life that is deeply righteous and not shallow, superficial, or hypocritical. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.". Your righteousness, as a Jesus Follower, should flow from your heart and from being in communion with the Holy Spirit. You should allow the Holy Spirit to create a clean heart and a pure heart within you. The righteousness of a clean heart is the righteousness that Jesus wants of His followers, as the Psalmist tells us in Psalms 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.". TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, 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): Matthew 5:6; Matthew 5:10; Psalms 112:1-6; Psalms 39:1-13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part1 – People of the Book” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
SCRIPTURE- John 10: 29-30"My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."REFLECTION- Sr. KarolynMUSIC- "God of All Hopefulness" Instrumental- "Mesmerize" Instrumental- "Hold My Hand" by Jess GlynneNOTES-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.
SCRIPTURE- Romans 12:21"Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good."REFLECTION- LaurenMUSIC- "Da Pacem Domine" by WordHarmonic- "Be Not Afraid" by The O'Neill Brothers- "Not Afraid" by Rend Co. KidsNOTES- Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn ChildrenPRAYER 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.
Disney World. The Magic Kingdom. How can a four-year-old girl be a little cranky in that dream destination for kids her age? Our granddaughter had been having a great day there with her mom and her cousins while her daddy was busy in meetings. She'd done all the princess stuff she loved, she'd gotten the autographs of Disney characters that she loved, she'd gone on rides she'd been looking forward to. But for some reason, by early afternoon she was just a little out of sorts. By that time, her dad was available, and he showed up to take her on some rides. And suddenly, it was like the clouds had blown away and the sun came out. She was the bouncy, happy little girl we all know again. In retrospect, I guess it was easy to diagnose why the clouds had rolled in. She was missing her Daddy! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No Substitute For a Daddy." It's true of every one of us, even if our childhood is way behind us. There's a spot in our heart and in our life that was meant to be filled by a father. If you've been trusted by God with the awesome assignment of being a father, don't ever forget there's nothing that can take your place in the life of your son or daughter. No matter how young or how old they are. In Ephesians 6:4, our word for today from the Word of God, He speaks directly to dads: "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." We fail our children, and we fail the God who gave them to us when we continually "exasperate" them. We exasperate them by our absence. We're so busy they just get our leftovers while everyone else gets our best. And that's wrong priorities. We exasperate our children by our unavailability. We're around them, but we're not with them. We're all tied up with sports on TV or some website, checking something out, we're doing our "chores" or we're involved in our hobby or our work. We're there, but they can't have us - because from the way it looks to them, there's something always more important than they are. We exasperate our children by our criticism, too. How many of us have been wounded by the feeling that we could never be good enough for our dad? If you're always harping on what they need to improve, on what's wrong with them, that child is going to have a hard time believing they have a lot of value. The praise and encouragement of a dad is one of the most powerful life-shaping forces on earth. Our kids are also exasperated by a father's silence - he doesn't express his feelings, he doesn't show or speak his love for them. So they're never sure where they stand. And a dad can exasperate a child with just passivity - a failure to lead, to set and enforce consistent boundaries, to provide spiritual leadership for them. Maybe you're thinking about the hole you have in your life because of what your father never was for you. I call it the daddy deficit. I've got a wonderful promise from God for you in Psalm 68:4-5. "His name is the Lord...a father to the fatherless." And Psalm 10:14 declares that "You, O God...are the helper of the fatherless." God is already your Creator. He wants to be your Father - to love you, to care for you, not like the earthly father you had, but like the father you always wished you had. But first you've got to have the sins forgiven that stand between you and Him. God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to die to pay for those sins so you can belong to the ultimate Father you were made for. The day you put your total trust in Jesus to forgive your sins, you get a personal Savior and you get the Father that your heart is missing. You ready for that? Tell Him you want to belong to Him. Tell Him today. Go to our website and find there the verses that will show you how to be sure you belong to Him. That site is ANewStory.com. You know, as a Dad, there's a lot of regrets. He'll forgive every mistake, every sin we've ever committed. All the hurts we've inflicted, He died to pay for them. This could be your new beginning today. He's waiting to welcome you into His big ol' Father's arms this very day.
SCRIPTURE- Isaiah 40:11"Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, leading the ewes with care."REFLECTION- KyleMUSIC- See you when you appear by Dylan RycheNOTES-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.
SCRIPTURE- Lamentations 3:22-24"The LORD's acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning— great is your faithfulness!"REFLECTION- Sr. CharleneMUSIC- "Canyon Trilogy" by R. Carlois Nakai- "Ripples on the Water" InstrumentalNOTES- Click HERE for the blog post about Our Lady of AltagraciaPRAYER 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.