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Welcome to Day 2737 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2737 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 92:8-15 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2737 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred thirty-seven 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 of today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Eternal Exaltation and the Flourishing Righteous Today, we conclude our journey through Psalm Ninety-two, the beautiful Song for the Sabbath Day.   We are covering the final, triumphant verses, eight through fifteen, in the New Living Translation. In our last conversation, we affirmed that it is "good to give thanks to the Lord," proclaiming His Unfailing Love in the morning and His Faithfulness in the evening (Psalm Ninety-two, verses one through four).   We wrestled with the temporary flourishing of the wicked—who "sprout like grass"—but concluded that they are destined to be "destroyed forever," for God's thoughts are simply "deeper than anyone can comprehend" (Psalm Ninety-two, verses five through seven). Now, the psalm moves to its magnificent climax.   It declares the eternal nature of God's sovereignty, contrasts the certain ruin of His foes with the flourishing destiny of the righteous, and celebrates the lifelong vitality of those who trust in the Most High.   This final section is a powerful declaration of vindication and blessing, a perfect capstone to the Sabbath celebration. So, let us open our hearts to this triumphant assurance, embracing the destiny of the righteous and the certainty of God's eternal rule. The first segment is: The Eternal Judgment and the Exaltation of the Righteous Psalm Ninety-two: verses eight through eleven But you, O Lord, will remain supreme forever.  Your enemies, Lord, will be destroyed;  all evil doers will be scattered.  But you have made me as strong as a wild ox;  you have poured olive oil on my head.  My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;  my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked foes. After acknowledging the fleeting power of the wicked, the psalmist immediately shifts focus to the unchanging reality of God's reign: "But you, O Lord, will remain supreme forever." The "But" is the most important word in the psalm, signaling the ultimate pivot from the temporary to the eternal.   The wicked are ephemeral, but God "will remain supreme forever."   This affirms His sovereignty over all time and space, including His supreme position over the Divine Council, guaranteeing that His justice will prevail. Because God is eternally supreme, the fate of His enemies is sealed: "Your enemies, Lord, will be destroyed; all evil doers will be scattered." This is a prophetic certainty, a final judgment that will

Jonah 4:1-11 ESV1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” 5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” • • •1. Anger can result in justifying sin. • • •Jonah 4:1-2 ESV1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. • • •Luke 6:45 ESV45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. • • •Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. • • •2. Anger can cause us to question God's character. • • •Jonah 4:2-3 ESV2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” • • •Exodus 34:6-7 ESV6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” • • •Matthew 18:32-33 ESV32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' • • •3. Anger can lead us to believe dying is better than living. • • •Jonah 4:3-4 ESV3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?” • • •Luke 15:25-32 ESV25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'” • • •Application:The same love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness we receive from God, we should willingly give to others!

(1Mac.6:1-13; Ps.9:2-4,6,16,19; Lk.20:27-40) "The needy shall not always be forgotten, nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish." Death comes, yes. Death is upon us and surrounds us in this world. But the suffering we face in this life has its reward. Jesus has brought redemption: He has been resurrected, and we with Him. And this new life is eternal. It seemed the Israelites were doomed. Antiochus had ruthlessly destroyed Jerusalem and the inhabitants of Judah. All hope seemed lost. But hope was not lost, and today we read of the return of the people to Jerusalem in strength and the defeat and death of their enemy, the king. Now Antiochus has become "sick with grief because his designs ha[ve] failed." Now he is "overwhelmed with sorrow" as he sees the evils he has committed overtake him and finds himself dying "in bitter grief, in a foreign land." While in Jerusalem the Israelites celebrate and sing praise to God: "My enemies are turned back, overthrown and destroyed before you." And now such redemption is made eternal in the Person of Jesus Christ. What was but human and temporal, the fall and rise of empires and of temples, now becomes divine, now becomes everlasting in the coming of the Messiah in the flesh of God. Yet with Him there is death – but after His crucifixion it shall be no more. Yet with Him is new life – but with His resurrection it has no end. Now "those judged worthy of a place in the age to come and of resurrection from the dead… become like angels and are no longer liable to death." In His death He destroys death: He makes it bereft of all power. In His rising He draws all into the eternal presence of the Father. Now "all are alive for Him." Brothers and sisters, may any "floods of sorrow" which afflict us now because of our sins or by the oppression of our persecutors not overwhelm us in this day. Let our sins be nailed to the cross with Him who is our salvation, and our hope of overcoming all the scourges of the evil one be made strong in the surpassing light of His glorious rising. With David let us "declare all [the Lord's] wondrous deeds," and our enemies will be left speechless. (I must note today that the city named for this evil king – Antioch – would soon become the place where the followers of Christ were called "Christians" for the first time; and that the seat of the state which would next oppress the people of God – Rome – is now the place from which the Chair of Peter reigns. How God's redeeming Hand does work.) ******* O LORD, in Heaven we shall be as angels; let us not be weighed down by the cares of this earth. YHWH, turn back our enemies, we pray, the sins that grieve us in this dark place. Let us not in exile die, but by your grace come to new life. O LORD, how we long for the day when we will no more be liable to death. Like the angels of Heaven let us be; in the age to come let us make our home, leaving behind the vestiges of this vain world. For all we have done or spoken against you, let us be forgiven, O LORD. From all the evils we have committed in Jerusalem, let us be washed clean. Make your City holy this day, that to your NAME we might sing praise. Build up the walls round about us, dear God, that we might be protected from all the attacks of the enemy. Give us arms to defend ourselves from their snares, and we shall declare your wondrous deeds. O let us rise again with your Son!

When life feels like it's falling apart — when fear, betrayal, or uncertainty surround you — what do you do? In this episode of Wisdom Calling, we look at Psalm 3 and discover how David found peace and confidence in the middle of chaos. Through his simple yet powerful prayer, “You, O Lord, are a shield for me,” we'll explore how to turn fear into faith and find rest when the world feels unsafe.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningProverbs 3:5–6 — Trust in the Lord: A Prayer of Guidance and Renewal for Canada“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6 Recorded live here in London, England with Reverend Ben Cooper. As evening settles across the world, this prayer becomes our national focus. Proverbs 3:5–6 is globally searched because nations, families and individuals are desperate for direction. Canada stands at a turning point — spiritually, socially and generationally. Across Toronto, Vancouver, Alberta, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, millions are searching for clarity, identity, hope and stability. prayer continues our Day 1 Arc by moving into TRUST — trusting God for the destiny of a nation. Canada is a land of beauty, diversity and incredible potential — yet beneath the surface are rising pressures: cultural division, mental health battles, economic uncertainty, and spiritual drift.But the Word remains unchanged: Trust in the Lord. When a nation humbles itself, God directs its path. The Holy Spirit is calling believers across Canada to stand in unity, prayer and holiness. This prayer lifts Canada before  It means laying down fear, anxiety and the pressure to control outcomes. When Canada leans not on human understanding but on Christ, revival becomes possible.  The Holy Spirit can renew cities, restore churches, ignite the next generation, and bring healing to communities. Where trust rises, God straightens paths. Where surrender happens, direction becomes clear. We pray for Canada — for Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and the Prairies. Lord, restore unity where division has grown. Heal the land from anxiety, confusion and spiritual weariness. Strengthen churches, pastors, leaders and families. Awaken a fresh hunger for Jesus across every province. Let Canada become a beacon of compassion, righteousness and Holy Spirit transformation.Straighten the path of this nation, O Lord. Pray for Canada to turn its heart back to God.  Pray for unity across provinces and communities.Ask God to heal divisions, conflicts and anxieties.Pray for revival to rise in Canadian churches.Ask Jesus to strengthen families facing pressure.Pray for young adults to encounter the Holy Spirit.Ask God to straighten Canada's path forward.Pray for hope and peace to fill cities and towns.ThankSupport the showFor more inspiring content, visit RBChristianRadio.net — your home for daily devotionals, global prayer, and biblical encouragement for every season of life. We invite you to connect with our dedicated prayer hub at DailyPrayer.uk — a place where believers from every nation unite in prayer around the clock. If you need prayer, or would like to leave a request, this is the place to come. Our mission is simple: to pray with you, to stand with you, and to keep the power of prayer at the centre of everyday life. Your support through DailyPrayer.uk helps us continue sharing the gospel and covering the nations in prayer. You can also discover our ministry services and life celebrations at LifeCelebrant.net — serving families with faith, dignity, and hope. If this devotional blesses you, please consider supporting our listener-funded mission by buying us a coffee through RBChristianRadio.net. Every prayer, every gift, and every share helps us keep broadcasting God's Word to the world.

(1Mac.4:36-37,52-59; 1Chr.29:10-13; Lk.19:45-48) "Let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it." In both our reading and gospel today, we hear of the cleansing of the temple, and we see its purpose and fulfillment. "My house is meant for a house of prayer," declares Jesus. A house of prayer, and a house for teaching: "He was teaching in the temple area from day to day." It is a house of music, for by the Israelites after the Maccabean revolution it "was reconsecrated with songs, harps, lutes, and cymbals." It is a place for humility: "All the people prostrated themselves…" and worship: "…and adored and praised Heaven." Praise is most fitting for the house of the Lord, for His holy temple, for it is this which unites us with our God. When we sing of His greatness – "Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours" – we are joined to Him who is "exalted as head over all." For in proclaiming the truth of His "power and might" over all, we ourselves are cleansed and become as temples of the Lord, holy and radiant as gold. "The entire populace was listening to Him and hanging on His words." To whom did the people listen but the Temple itself? What was begun by the Maccabee brothers is accomplished in Jesus. It had long been the hope and desire of the Israelites, and indeed the longing of all mankind, to have a holy place to worship God, to offer sacrifice to Him who is the greatest love of all hearts. And now He stands before them, now He speaks to them. And He effects the renewal of the temple not so much by His "ejecting the traders" who had made it "a den of thieves," as by His presence in their midst. For the temple exists not so much in the walls adorned "with gold crowns and shields" as in the flesh of Christ; and it is this Temple we become when we follow Him, when we hear and heed the words which issue forth like a cleansing stream from these sacred lips and heart, and when we eat His body and drink His blood. The destruction of this Temple will come. Even now the leaders of the people are "looking for a way to destroy Him." But in three days the Temple will be rebuilt and dedicated forever in perfect purity for all who desire to enter there. ******* O LORD, purify our hearts that we might rejoice in your Temple, our prayer ever rising up to you. YHWH, may your Temple be cleansed that we might offer true worship to you here in your Church. Let all souls be purified by your Son and by His sacrifice, that your children might sing your praise forever. From eternity to eternity you are exalted, you are the Most High – O let us freely bless your holy NAME! O LORD, may we know the great blessing of falling prostrate before you who are God. May we find the grace of adoring you alone. May we ever be in prayer in your holy House, and so become holy ourselves in your eternal presence. Let your sanctuary be purified; let it be dedicated to you, dear God. Let all that is sinful be cast from us by your Son that we might indeed be blessed to be as He is; listening always to His teaching and obeying His every word, let us become a House of prayer for you.

What happens when a 17-year-old's dive into the Chesapeake Bay changes everything—and the healing never comes? ⁠Watch the full conversation on YouTube⁠. Fifty-seven years later, Joni Eareckson Tada sits across from me with an answer that might undo everything you think you know about strength, suffering, and the strange mercy of God. In this conversation marking the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we go where few dare: into the raw, daily reality of quadriplegia, chronic pain that would break most of us by breakfast, and a two-time battle with breast cancer. But this isn't inspiration porn. This is Joni—unflinching, funny, and fiercely honest about what it means when "I can do all things through Christ" meets 4 a.m. despair. We talk about the crushing loneliness of being the only wheelchair in a room full of chairs. The rage when well-meaning Christians promise healing that doesn't come. The particular exhaustion of advocating for your own existence. And why she tells God some mornings, "I have no strength for today. Can I borrow yours?" But we also discover something unexpected: how limitation becomes liberation. Why the disabled community might be the most honest place in America. And what happens when churches stop trying to "fix" people and start making room for them. Fair warning: Joni doesn't do platitudes. She'll tell you exactly what not to say to someone in chronic pain (spoiler: "everything happens for a reason" isn't it). She'll explain why she's terrified of a world that's editing out Down syndrome. And she'll make you rethink whether your church's "all are welcome" sign means anything if there's no ramp to the door. This is for anyone who's ever wondered where God is when the miracle doesn't come. For those caring for someone who's suffering and don't know what to say. For all of us who suspect our obsession with optimization and control might be making us miss the point entirely. Come for the practical wisdom. Stay for the kind of hope that only comes from someone who's been asking "How long, O Lord?" for nearly six decades—and still believes the answer matters. Keep up with Joni's work through Joni and Friends, here. Keep up with Russell: Sign up for the weekly newsletter where Russell shares thoughtful takes on big questions, offers a Christian perspective on life, and recommends books and music he's enjoying. Submit a question for the show at questions@russellmoore.com  Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Day 2735 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2735 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 92:1-7 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2735 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand seven hundred thirty-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 of today's Wisdom-Trek is: A Sabbath Song, The Joy of Proclaiming God's Faithfulness Today, we embark on a journey into Psalm Ninety-two, covering its opening, foundational verses, one through seven, in the New Living Translation. This psalm carries the unique superscription, "A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath Day."   It is a deliberate, joyful declaration of praise and thanksgiving, written specifically for the day of rest. We transition here from the high assurance of Psalm Ninety-one, where we learned that God's faithful promises are our armor and that His angels are ordered to protect us.   Psalm Ninety-two is the natural response to that security: because God is a faithful protector, our lives should overflow with joyful, continuous worship. This psalm invites us to make our lives a perpetual Sabbath, a dedicated time of celebrating God's Unfailing Love and His Faithfulness.   It challenges us to look beyond the temporary flourishing of the wicked and to rest in the wisdom of God's eternal plan. So, let us open our hearts to this song of rest and worship, learning the wisdom of perpetual thanksgiving. The first segment is: The Command and Content of Perpetual Praise Psalm Ninety-two: verses one through four It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.  It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, and your faithfulness in the evening.  Praise him with the ten-stringed harp, with the melody of the lyre.  For you, O Lord, have made me joyful by your deeds; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. The psalm begins with a simple, profound statement of spiritual fact: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High." "Good"   (ṭôḇ) here means more than merely pleasant; it signifies morally and spiritually excellent, the right and proper thing to do.   The focus is squarely on the Most High   (‘Elyōn), the supreme, sovereign God, whose power transcends all earthly and celestial authority, ensuring that our praise is directed to the one true source of all blessing. This praise is meant to be continuous and all-encompassing: "It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, and your faithfulness in the evening." The psalmist delineates the ideal spiritual rhythm of the day, moving from dawn to dusk.   In the morning, when hope is renewed, we proclaim God's Unfailing Love   (ḥesed), His steadfast,

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      What Separates Us From the Animals Do you know how biologists evaluate life? It is in terms of the capacity to experience pain, the more the pain, the higher the life form. A worm experiences little pain, but a dog can actually experience moods. Have you ever noticed that? Haven't you ever seen a dog pout. Dogs can actually grieve over people, and I understand that over at the tracts in West Memphis there are some people who grieve over dogs. I'm not sure. Scientist say that man is at the top of the biological scale because he has the keenest ability to experience pain. What separates us from the animals, I would suggest, is not only our ability to feel pain; rather, it is our ability to feel pain vicariously for others.   But not only that but feel the possibility of pain if we do not change our ways. Have you ever seen an obese parent sitting there at a restaurant and their child is pounding down cookies, soda and ice cream. And you feel sorry for them… The question is not “do you know then well enough to speak into their life… even if you felt tremendous pain for them… the question is would they be willing to listen to you?      Psalm 144:Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly. 4 Do not incline my heart to [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, Or to practice deeds of wickedness With men who plan and do evil; And let me not eat of their delicacies (be tempted by their gain). 5 Let the righteous [thoughtfully] strike (correct) me—it is a kindness [done to encourage my spiritual maturity]. It is [the choicest anointing] oil on the head; Let my head not refuse [to accept and acknowledge and learn from] it;   Crazy that David would ask God to send people into his life that would be willing to speak into his life things that he may not want to hear. But don't miss the point… he sees this verse in comparison to the previous verses… i.e. God make sure there is someone who speak boldly and bluntly into my life so that I do not end up like the wicked.    Maybe the ultimate betrayal is someone who sees the trail of pain and regret you are starting out on and they say nothing, they do nothing they just let you walk off into emptiness… And if that could be true, why wouldn't you pray a prayer like David and ask for Godly voices in your life. It would be a great prayer… think about it. 

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Roger Lemasters from Mt. Carmel, TN. Your commitment through Project23 helps deliver God's Word daily with clarity and conviction. This one's for you. Our text today is Judges 13:6-14 Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'" Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born." And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me." And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to this woman?" And he said, "I am." And Manoah said, "Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?" And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe." — Judges 13:6-14 After hearing the angel's message, Manoah's wife ran to tell him. This was big news—life-changing news for their family and nation. But instead of rushing forward, Manoah did something vital: he prayed. He asked God to send the messenger again, to teach them how to raise the child. That's powerful leadership. Manoah didn't assume he knew best. He didn't sprint ahead with his own ideas. He stopped. He prayed. And God answered, sending the angel back to confirm the call and lay down clear boundaries for Samson's anointing. We all face the temptation of rushing ahead of God. We want quick answers. We want control. We want the whole plan mapped out. But rushing often leads to regret. Faith calls us to pause, pray, and wait. Manoah shows us the better way. He slowed down and sought God's guidance. That's what leaders do. That's what fathers and mothers do. That's what faithful followers of Christ do. They wait for God to speak before they move. When you rush, you risk missing God's wisdom. But when you pause and pray, you put yourself in a position to receive it. Don't sprint ahead—let the Lord lead step by step. ASK THIS: Where am I tempted to rush ahead of God right now? Do I pray for clarity—or just act and hope for the best? How would slowing down and seeking Him first change my next decision? DO THIS: Before you make your next move, stop. Pray. Ask God for clarity in His Word, and wait for His leading before you take action. PRAY THIS: Lord, guard me from rushing ahead of You. Teach me to trust Your timing, listen for Your voice, and move only when You lead. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Wait On You."

(1Mac.2:15-29; Ps.50:1-2,5-6,14-15,23; Lk.19:41-44) "We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree." The king of heaven shall soon come into the city of peace, humble and riding on an ass, but today He weeps as He sees Jerusalem and knows of its imminent destruction for its sins. Yet He shall ride into Jerusalem, yet He shall be dragged within its walls… and the death He proclaims upon all its children, He Himself shall know, He Himself shall undergo, that there may be means of escape for us all, for all who turn from the prince of this world and his seduction and seek to remain true to the commands of our God. The persecution of the Jews some two hundred years before Christ's own we continue to hear of in our reading from Maccabees: "The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices." And though many go over to the enemy, Mattathias and his sons remain faithful, remain true to the Lord. Great is their zeal in the face of the threat and in the sight of the ways of the evil one. And flee the city and its abominations Mattathias did with all the righteous, to make a home apart in the desert. For he recognizes the time of visitation and the destruction of faith upon his city and his people; he has not "completely lost" vision of "the path to peace" but remains faithful even in time of persecution. "Days will come upon you when your enemies encircle you with a rampart, hem you in, and press you hard from every side," Jesus prophesies as He weeps over Jerusalem. He wishes not to see the persecution come, nor to have to die Himself. But the people do not recognize with their hearts the love He offers forth… and so what can He do but die; and so what can they know but destruction. But His sacrifice shall prove redemptive for those who turn; a place in the desert He shall prepare for those who desire to be holy, to be set apart from the wickedness of this race. "From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth" and His "faithful ones" gather before Him. In their praise of His glory they fulfill their "vows to the Most High" and so the king of this world holds no power over them. In the New Jerusalem with the risen Lord they live, beyond the destruction of the old. ******* O LORD, you will come to visit your people; let us flee the sin of this world or we will be destroyed. YHWH, it is better for us to dwell in a desert apart if it means we can remain with you. Better for us to leave all our possessions behind than to be enslaved by the silver and gold and many gifts this world offers to those who abandon their faith. Let us remain steadfast with you and fight always for what is just in your sight. Days will soon come when there will not be one stone left on another. Indeed, our enemies come to encircle us and close in upon us. But we need not fear the darkness, the powers of this dying age. For with you, O LORD, we are strong, stronger than death itself. Let us ever offer a holy sacrifice to you; forever let us praise your NAME. Jesus weeps for the blindness of the people to His presence among us. They hear Him not as He speaks and summons them to the kingdom. Let us not be so blind and deaf, dear LORD, but obey your every word, and we shall be rescued.

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, ‘I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, “O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.”'” Jonah 2:1-4The book of Jonah is without a doubt the most known book of the prophets and perhaps one of the most well known of the Old Testament. That is to say, most of the story is well known. From the earliest ages the story of Jonah and the fish or Jonah and the whale is taught in church classrooms around the world. But usually that story ends in chapter 2 . . . but there are still two more chapters to the book of Jonah and, you know what, the conversation today spends most of its time in chapter 4. To help us navigate the book of Jonah is Dr. T. Desmond Alexander, Senior Research Fellow in Biblical Studies at Union Theological College. So let's leave what you think you know about Jonah behind and strap in as Desi Alexander takes us on a really fun and thought-provoking journey into the book of Jonah. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:https://www.amazon.com/Obadiah-Jonah-Micah-Introduction-Commentaries/dp/0877842752Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Obadiah - https://youtu.be/jB6W-TM5Y-oNavigating the Bible: Amos - https://youtu.be/8DqVHu7leDUNavigating the Bible: Joel - https://youtu.be/Ilg6r300q4UNavigating the Bible: Hosea - https://youtu.be/nWZ4TuAUSRQNavigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfgNavigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsgNavigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXENavigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRkNavigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgsNavigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMgNavigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9ENavigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUINavigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQNavigating the Bible: Esther - https://youtu.be/7RZ7ATWQZucNavigating the Bible: Nehemiah - https://youtu.be/Gok4WDgwn5INavigating the Bible: Ezra - https://youtu.be/aBC0nEjYeyoNavigating the Bible: 2 Chronicles - https://youtu.be/OG3rHTgMgEINavigating the Bible: 1 Chronicles - https://youtu.be/lQ_Qc4zbfgANavigating the Bible: 2 Kings - https://youtu.be/04q9gDhBKTkNavigating the Bible: 1 Kings - https://youtu.be/aS-KoeQXl2kNavigating the Bible: 2 Samuel - https://youtu.be/ZbpafGgOW7cNavigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMYNavigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaMNavigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Key Verse: Psalm 119:55 - I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.

Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”A few of the ladies from my prayer group and I attended a bootcamp to teach us about the unbound method of deliverance.  Unbound is a method of setting people free from the things that weigh them down.  Sometimes we open doors to the enemy in ways we didn't know and Unbound helps us close those doors.  There are 5 Keys in the Unbound program.  The five keys are: Repenting of sin and expressing faith in Jesus; forgiving oneself and others; renouncing the lies, spirits, and tactics of Satan; taking authority over the works of Satan; receiving the Father's blessing. When you go through an Unbound session you meet with someone and they walk you through each of these keys.  In our first night of training we covered an intro and then we learned about the first two keys.  The first one was repenting of sin and expressing faith in Jesus.  We all sin, it is a part of our daily life, and yet when we sin in hurts our relationship with God.  When we sin we are opening a door for the enemy to come in.  Repentance for our sins is a big part of our freedom.  If we truly want to be free we can't have our sins hanging over us.  One way our sins can invite the enemy in is because He will then use that sin to make us ashamed of what we did.  Shame is straight from hell, it is not from God.  Once we start to feel ashamed then we pull away and we tend to isolate because we feel as though we aren't worthy of anything.  Once we repent we bring our sins out of the darkness and into the light and they no longer have hold over us.  The second key we talked about is forgiveness.  This is the one that left the biggest impression on me.  This is the one that I don't think we realize how important it is.  I remember when I was at a Bible study and they were talking about forgiveness.  We were talking about Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” When they said that God forgives us the same way we forgive those who trespass against us I was so surprised.  I had no idea what they were talking about.  Now, I have been a Catholic for my whole life and this was only about 10 years ago.  I have probably said the Our Father prayer more times than I can count and yet I never really put two and two together.  Have you ever had a time when you heard something or realized something and it was life changing for you?  I can remember two times this has happened for me with scripture.  The first one was when I discovered Romans 8:11, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”  When I discovered we have the power of the one who raised Jesus from the dead, the same power Jesus had, that was life changing for me.  The second time was when I discovered what I am really saying when I say the Our Father prayer.  “Forgive us O Lord as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Did you know that is what you are saying?  How many times do you say that prayer, have you said that prayer?  If you say the rosary every day you have said it at least 6-5 times daily.  When I heard this I was determined to learn how to forgive better.  I was determined to not hold things against people.  I have done my best to do this.  Over the course of the last 10 years have a learned quite a bit about forgiveness in my quest to become better at it.  First I learned what forgiveness is and is not.  Forgiveness is making a decision that you are no longer going to give the thing that happened any space in your brain anymore.  You are not going to think about it and you are not going let it dictate what you do and how you act.  Forgiveness is an act of the will, it is not a feeling.  You can, not feel like forgiving someone and yet you can still forgive them.  You can forgive someone and yet not feel like anything has changed.  Forgiveness is not saying the thing that the other person did was ok, it was not.  When you forgive you are not letting the other person off the hook and condoning their behavior.  Forgiveness is making a decision to turn the judgement over to God.  Forgiveness is making a decision that you are no longer going to let the unforgiveness eat you up inside.  The person you are refusing to forgive probably has moved on and your unforgiveness is not bothering them at all.  The analogy that I have heard time and time again about forgiveness is that it is like taking a little sip of poison every single day with the expectation that the other person will die.  I know you are angry, hurt, sad, I am sure you have every right to be and also, as long as you keep thinking about it and refusing to forgive, you can't really heal.  I talk to people I know about unforgiveness all the time since learning we will be forgiven as we forgive.  I can't help it, I understand what is at stake and I know it is not worth it.  Whoever you are refusing to forgive has probably taken enough from you, are you really going to let them take you eternal salvations too?  What they did to you, is not forgiving them worth the risk of God not forgiving you?  Our teacher on Monday told us about a preacher/minister who had died and found out he was on his way to hell.  He said he saw how horrible it was.  In hell this man saw another man on all fours on fire from head to toe.  He had a collar around his neck attached to a chain and a demon was holding the chain.  Our teacher told us that this man went to hell because he had unforgiveness in his heart.  I was curious to hear the exact story so I looked it up online.  I will put a link to the article in the show notes.  It turns out is was a priest who had a heart attack and must have flatlined at some point.  CLICK HERE for the article.Here is what priest said, "I thought I was going upward because I thought I had done so much good in this lifetime trying to help so many people and made so many decisions that were godly decisions, but as opposed to me going up, I went down.”  This priest was very angry as he said he did so much good in his lifetime.  Then he said he saw Jesus and Jesus gave him a personal message.  "He said, 'You have been secretly upset with the people who have hurt you. You had been hoping that I would punish the people that hurt you. These are not your people. These are my people.' He said, 'I only want you to focus on the assignment I am giving you.' The priest explains, “Although I did good, the thing I had in my heart was the unforgiveness to the people who wronged me. A person that can't forgive is a person that has forgotten how much they have been forgiven of.”This example is probably not what we want to hear.  I know it scared me when I heard it and yet we must hear it.  We have to know what will keep us from spending eternity with our Father.  This is why God sends people to share these messages with us.  Mary gave the little children of Fatima an image of hell and told them that more people than we know are ending up there.  Forgiveness is not easy, I know that.  I know that I don't understand some of the things that have happened to you.  I know people can be terrible and they do terrible things.  If you are struggling to forgive I ask you to review what forgiveness is and is not again.  You don't have to forgive and forget.  You don't have to forgive the person and invite them over for Christmas.  It is perfectly ok to forgive the person and never see them again, never tell them you forgave them, never talk to them again.  Forgiveness is for you, it is not for them.  The last line the priest said really hit me.  “A person that can't forgive is a person that has forgotten how much they have been forgiven of.”  What if all the people we wronged refused to forgive us?  What if God held original sin against us and refused to forgive us?  What if he refused to send His only son to save us?  Forgiveness is so much more important than we think it is.  I know so many people who are refusing to forgive because they say the other person doesn't deserve forgiveness.  You might be right and also, forgiveness is about them, it is about you.  It is about setting yourself free from the spirit of unforgiveness.  Unforgiveness can block so much from the Lord.  It can block healing, it can block graces, it can block your forgiveness from the Lord.  Is it really worth it?I want to take a minute to add some hope to this episode as if you are harboring unforgiveness it might be very scary to think of the consequences.  You might have had some truly terrible things done to you and you want the Lord to forgive you and yet you have no idea where to even begin forgiving the other person or people.  Here is the thing, the Lord doesn't expect you to forgive on your own.  We can't actually forgive on our own. All we can do is say, yes Lord, I want to forgive, and the Lord can change your heart for you.  If you are at a point right now where you really can't even say, Lord, I want to forgive, please help me, that's ok, the Lord meets us where we are at.  Can you say I want to want to forgive?  Can you say, Jesus, can you give me the grace to want to want to forgive?  If so, Jesus will help you get to that point and then you can move to actually forgiving.  My teacher told a story about a woman who was doing an Unbound session and the woman who she was working with refused to forgive her sister.  Well, this is the first key, you can't move on to the rest of the keys if you can't first get through forgiveness.  The woman was adamant that she would not forgive or even pray for her sister.  The woman leading the session asked if she would be able to ask Jesus to help her want to want to forgive.  She said yes and she asked Jesus.  She said ok, now she wanted to want forgive, but she still couldn't forgive. The leader asked her if she would be willing to do 1% of the work to forgive if Jesus could do the other 99%.  She said she thought she might be able to do that and so she forgave her sister 1% and Jesus did the rest.  Remember, forgiveness is an act of the will, it is not a feeling.  She might not have felt any different after she forgave her sister that 1% but she was willing to do it.  God will meet you where you are at too!  If all you can say right now is, “Lord please give me the grace to want to want to want to forgive.”  That's ok, just say it.  God is the one who does the forgiving.  We just need to say the words and God does all the hard parts.  God is asking us to let Him in, to not refuse to let Him work on any area of us.  Can we do that?  Can we give God even a tiny little crack of a window where He can come in and transform our heart?  Don't let the unforgiveness of what others did dictate the level of forgiveness you get from God.  Haven't then done enough, don't let them continue to have an effect on your life and definitely not your eternity.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, today's topic was a hard one.  I ask you to open people's hearts and minds and let them hear the word that you want them to hear.  Holy Spirit I ask you to convict each person listening to this of any unforgiveness that they may have so we can all work to forgive.  Sometimes our unforgiveness is hidden and so we ask for you to show us any areas we need to forgive in Lord.  We say yes to you coming in and helping us forgive.  We say yes to you forgiving us as we forgive others.  We say yes to loving your children as you love them.  We love you Lord and we are sorry for closing you out and not letting you heal our hearts by guarding them with unforgiveness.  We need your help Lord and we are so grateful you always come when we call.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen.Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.   I look forward to meeting you hear again on Monday.  Remember, Jesus loves you, and so do I!  Have a blessed weekend! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Praise is not just a worship song or a Sunday morning routine—praise is a lifestyle. As our daily prayer and devotional remind us, Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing,” and in the same way, we can cultivate a posture of continual praise. God gives abundantly, consistently, and generously. Even in difficult seasons, even in uncertainty, He remains the One who provides every good and perfect gift. Keneesha Saunders-Liddie reminds us that the greatest gift God ever gave was His Son. Christ came to earth, bore our sin, and secured our salvation—a gift precious beyond measure. But God’s generosity did not stop at the cross. He continues to sustain us daily with strength, breath, provision, relationships, and opportunities. James 1:17 emphasizes that God does not change. Unlike people who can be fickle or inconsistent, the Lord is steady and faithful. He does not give gifts only to take them back. He does not shift like shadows. His character is constant, and because of that, our praise should be constant too. Every blessing—big or small—flows from His good hand. Every moment of comfort, peace, joy, and strength is evidence of His loving provision. And even when we walk through trials, His presence and sustaining grace are gifts worth praising Him for. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, and the ultimate source of all goodness. Bible Reading:“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17 Takeaway Truths: God is the source of every good and perfect gift. His character is unchanging, providing stability in an unstable world. Praise is a lifestyle that grows from recognizing God’s constant provision. Let’s Pray Oh Heavenly Father, You are the giver of all good and perfect gifts. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. What a comfort that is to my weary soul. There is evil all around. There are trials and temptations that I have to go through, but You don’t tempt believers with evil. You are the One who gives perfect gifts to Your children. You lead us through temptation, and Jesus has walked the path that we now must walk. There is no temptation that Jesus hasn’t experienced and overcome while He was here on earth. Thank You for being the giver of good gifts. My soul praises and extols Your matchless name because You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. You give gifts to me that are wonderful, and even when I have to walk through trials, Your constant presence is there with me. You are unchanging, O God, so that I can depend on You. I will continue to praise and magnify You, O Lord. Let my praises always be on the tip of my tongue. I praise You with my body, with my finances, with my lifestyle, and with everything that You have blessed me with. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Related Scriptures Psalm 103:2 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Psalm 145:7 Hebrews 13:8 Related Resources What Does It Mean That Every Good Gift Comes From God? – Crosswalk.com Understanding God’s Unchanging Character – BibleStudyTools.com More daily prayer devotionals at LifeAudio.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When we see all God has created, simply by speaking a word, we recognize his existence, his majesty, and his power. I believe there is a natural curiosity in our hearts that cannot be completely satisfied by anything else but a belief in the existence of God.Main Points:1. Listen again to those powerful words: “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.”  David looked to the heavens – not the spiritual heaven where God is enthroned, but the heavens of the blue sky and the night sky – and he clearly saw the glory of God declared.2. I think you have I have experienced what David saw and felt. When you see the serenity of a sunrise or the beauty of a sunset, when we see a sky filled with millions of stars, when we see the radiance of the sun and moon, and when we think of the multitude of galaxies God has created, it all reveals the glory of God.3. The word glory here means that which gives the honor to God - his wisdom, power, skill, faithfulness, benevolence, as seen in the starry worlds above us, and even the silent, movements by day and by night. The idea is, that these convey to the mind a true impression of the greatness and majesty of God. Everyone with physical eyesight can see the glory of God.Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 19:1-2 - “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.”Psalm 8:1,3-4 - “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”Romans 1:20 - “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

We continue our Advent journey with “O Lord of Might,” the ancient cry that remembers the God who rescued Israel and reveals Jesus as that same redeeming Lord. Throughout Scripture, Adonai is the warrior who saves—powerful in judgment, rich in mercy, and faithful to deliver His people. In Christ we see this fullness: gentle and gracious, yet the One who will return to judge evil and make all things new. This week invites us to take that portrait seriously—not to fear evil, because Jesus conquers it, but to fear drifting toward the very sin He opposes. The Lord of Might stands ready to redeem, lead, and strengthen all who call on His name.

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Jonah Syndrome.” Jonah 3.10 ESV: “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” Jonah 4.1-3 ESV: “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”” Romans 9:.15 ESV: “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”” Luke 23.34 ESV: “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.” Romans 9.22-24 NLT: “In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.” If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org. Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcome 06:10 - Jonah 3.10–4.3 07:19 - Jonah Syndrome

Preacher: Pastor Adam SteinbrennerSubmit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to Matthew SermonLink to Romans 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!

#christianity #protestant #reformationThere is a solitary, humble, wooden structure on a windswept hill in rural New England. To open the door is to engage our minds, our hearts, and our imaginations. In this place, preachers and professors, past and present, come alive as they walk the aisle, ascend the pulpit stairs, and teach…from theology, from history, and from the Word of God. Welcome to the Saybrook Meetinghouse, an audio production of Saybrook Ministries. Saybrook Ministries' vision is to inspire and invigorate Christians with imaginative and intellectual content.Saybrook Ministries' mission is to provide didactic and devotional content from the Christian faith delivered to the saints; recovered and refined by the Protestant Reformation.Saybrook Ministries' prayer is that our content will be (1) to Christians convinced of Reformation truths: encouraging & powerful; (2) to Christians unconvinced of Reformation truths: educational & persuasive; (3) to non-Christians: engaging & prophetic.Saybrook Ministries' four foundational scriptures are: The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times (Psalm 12:6). The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand (Daniel 11:32b-33a). And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD have not forsaken those who seek you (Psalm 9:10). Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth (Hosea 6:3).

Send us a textIn this episode, Pastor Dom give us some us some indicators that we are right with God. Luke 13:33 …unless you repent you will all likewise perish.2 Corinthians 5:1717 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.Matthew 7:2121 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 3:88 So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance… 1 Peter 2:1-31 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.1 Peter 1:14-1514 So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.John 10:1010 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.Psalm 68:1919 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! SelahPsalm 103:22 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:Mark 4:1919 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.Romans 12:22 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Matthew 6:3333 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,..Psalm 5:33 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.Joshua 1:88 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.1 Thessalonians 5:15-1715 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing,

“Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us…” (II Corinthians 7:6). When life seems more than you can bear, remember “But God.” Join us in this broadcast of Woman at the Well Ministries as Kim continues to walk us through the scriptures displaying the power of the presence of God in any situation.   Do you want to connect with Kim and Erika? Visit us on our website, on Facebook, or on Instagram.  Mentioned in this Episode 2 Corinthians 7:6 – “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us…” www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+7%3A6&version=KJV 1 Samuel 17:47 – "The battle is the Lord's..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17%3A47&version=KJV Philippians 4:13 – "I can do all things through Christ..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=KJV Romans 8:37 – "We are more than conquerors through him..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A37&version=KJV 1 Peter 5:7 – "Casting all your care upon him..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A7&version=KJV Hebrews 4:16 – "Come boldly unto the throne of grace..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A16&version=KJV 1 John 3:1 – "What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+3%3A1&version=KJV John 10:10 – "That they might have life, and have it more abundantly." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10%3A10&version=KJV Colossians 3:2 – "Set your affection on things above..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A2&version=KJV Matthew 6:19–20 – "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A19-20&version=KJV Hebrews 11:10 – "He looked for a city which hath foundations..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A10&version=KJV Romans 12:1–2 – "Lay aside every weight..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&version=KJV Psalm 33:22 – "Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+33%3A22&version=KJV Psalm 38:15 – "For in thee, O Lord, do I hope..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+38%3A15&version=KJV Psalm 39:7 – "And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+39%3A7&version=KJV Psalm 78:7 – "That they might set their hope in God..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A7&version=KJV Psalm 119:114 – "Thou art my hiding place and my shield..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A114&version=KJV Jeremiah 17:7 – "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+17%3A7&version=KJV Jeremiah 33:3 – "Call unto me, and I will answer thee..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+33%3A3&version=KJV Romans 15:13 – "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+15%3A13&version=KJV Titus 2:13 – "Looking for that blessed hope..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A13&version=KJV Hebrews 13:5 – "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5&version=KJV John 14:16 – "He shall give you another Comforter..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A16&version=KJV Genesis 48:21 – "Behold, I die: but God shall be with you..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+48%3A21&version=KJV Proverbs 18:24 – "A friend that sticketh closer than a brother." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+18%3A24&version=KJV John 15:13–14 – "Greater love hath no man than this..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A13-14&version=KJV Nehemiah 9:12,19 – "Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah+9%3A12%2C19&version=KJV Psalm 119:105 – "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A105&version=KJV Isaiah 58:11 – "And the Lord shall guide thee continually..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+58%3A11&version=KJV 1 Corinthians 10:13 – "But God is faithful..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A13&version=KJV 1 Corinthians 1:9 – "God is faithful, by whom ye were called..." www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1%3A9&version=KJV Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'” MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge and insights from God about the specific issues that you, your family, your church, or your country are facing. In your personal relationship with God as a Jesus Follower, 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.'".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms138:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Thanks-Living” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

11-16-2025 This message was brought to you by Pastor Gerardo Toro. www.1bcchbg.com

In this episode, Fr. Anthony reflects on Christ's call of St. Matthew as a revelation of the Lord's pastoral wisdom, patience, and mercy. Drawing on St. John Chrysostom, he shows how Christ approaches each person at the moment they are most able to receive Him, gently leading sinners to repentance while shielding the weak from the self-righteous. The homily invites us to imitate this divine pedagogy—offering mercy before rebuke, healing before judgment, and a way of life that draws others to the knowledge of God. +++ Mercy, Not Sacrifice: Christ's Pastoral Method in the Calling of Matthew St. Matthew 9:9-13 At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he rose and followed Him. And as He sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard it, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."  When looking at this encounter, it is important to know the context.  Jesus had been at this for a while.  He had already called at least four of the twelve; Andrew, Peter, James and John, to be his disciples.  Moreover, in addition to them, many others were following him.  He had already been baptized, been tempted, given the Sermon on the Mount and performed several public miracles. Knowing this allows us to better appreciate Christ, how He operates, and therefore how we might better imitate Him as we claim to operate in + His name. Example One: Calling the disciples Let's go back to His calling the disciples.  Why didn't He call Matthew at the same time He called Andrew, Peter, James, and John?  St. John Chrysostom indicates that it was Christ's pastoral heart that determined when we called each of His disciples.  Remember, as the Logos, He shares the Father's will that "all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4).  This means that He addressed people in the time and manner they were most likely to hear.  St. John Chrysostom points out that Matthew's heart was not open to Christ's call at the same time as Andrew, Peter, James, and John.  It took miracles and profound teaching to soften His heart for the encounter.  And He didn't just do this for Matthew, look how long it took for the Apostle Paul!  And perhaps, we can look at long he waited for us! We should learn from this lesson from Christ's earthly ministry and imitate Him.  We may need to live among some people for a while, showing the miracle of God's love working in and through us in the way we act and the things we say, before they are ready to accept an invitation to join us in The Way that heals and perfects.  Many of us jump the gun; skipping the vital step of living a public life of miraculous love – and then are surprised when the call to "follow Christ" goes unheeded.  Yes, there are times when the modern equivalents of scribes and pharisees need to be confronted, but once again, let's imitate Christ and let them out themselves when they question our motives and sanity for performing acts of sacrificial compassion.  If we skip the step of imitating Christ in His love for mankind, not only won't we win converts, we may also be indicating that we aren't really working in His Name at all.   Example Two: Leaving, not owning the opposition Speaking of which, Christ also demonstrates his pastoral care at the very beginning of today's lesson.  You may remember that today's lesson begins with something that seems to be a throwaway line; a transitional clause that lets the reader know that the narrative is moving on to another scene.  St. Matthew writes; "At that time, as Jesus passed on from there,…" and then segues into this lesson about how Christ called him, the author, to be His disciple.  But what did He leave and why?  What did He "pass on" from in the previous scene? Let me share that with you; just prior to this, Jesus had publicly corrected some scribes - leaders in the Jewish community - by healing a man of his paralysis after they doubted His ability to forgive sins.  Do you see how they out themselves as fools?  But Christ doesn't want them to remain in ignorance.  He desires that they, too, be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth …  but He also knew that they were not ready to accept the truth, so He left before they could double down on their sin and thus become even less likely to change their way of thinking and eventually answer His call to discipleship. As St. John Christostom puts it; For when He had performed the miracle, He did not remain, lest, being in sight, He should kindle their jealousy the more; but He indulges them by retiring, and soothing their passion. This then let us also do, not encountering them that are plotting against us; let us rather soothe their wound, giving way and relaxing their vehemence. Jesus could have owned those scribes!   This is what our polarized and self-indulgent culture seems to require of us: to immediately jump on any perceived weakness to show the superiority of our way.  We even manufacture offenses so that we have an opportunity to score points and play to the crowd.  But that's not what Jesus did; there was a real offense and a real weakness – but He didn't want or need to impress anyone.  Again, his desire is that of His Father; that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth.  And so He forbeared and gave them an opportunity to cool off and repent while He moved off to spend time with someone who was ready to hear Him. These are the kinds of lessons that are obvious to those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear," but for the rest of us, it takes time.  As we have discussed previously, we still see the Gospel "through a glass darkly" and only see reality as "trees walking."  But we want to learn, and so we ask those who have made this journey successfully before us, men like the Holy Apostle and Evanglist Matthew, whose memory we celebrate today and St. John Chrysostom who shares the deeper Truths that St. Matthew shared – we ask them to guide and pray for us as go deeper into The Way. Let's see what more we can learn about Christ's approach to evangelism and pastoral care in today's lesson.  It is worth remembering that Matthew was a tax collector.  When Jesus gave him the invitation to "follow me", he responded with hospitality.  He opened his house to the Lord, his disciples, fellow tax collectors, and unspecified sinners.  Just to make sure everyone had a good time, this was all done within view of some local Pharisees.  The Pharisees spent their whole lives dedicated to righteousness (as should all of us).  I am perfectly willing to believe that they were sincere in their devotion to the Law.  In fact, it was probably their devotion to the Law that led to their revulsion at seeing an alleged rabbi (Jesus) eating with sinners.  They shared their righteous indignation with the Lord's disciples and He overheard them.  We can learn a lot about how to pastoral ministry by looking at Christ's response. First, He said (e.g. St. Mark 2:17); Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.  This is the most obvious point: God was explaining what His mission to these sinners (and the world) was:  He had come to bring them to repentance.  This would hardly satisfy any ultra-Orthodox takfirists – they always want their pound of flesh!  After all, they say, repentance requires tears, and the best way to bring someone to tears is not to eat with them and provide them a living example of the better way; no, surely it is more effective to beat them over the head with the Sin-Stick, right?!  Evidently not, at least according to the all-knowing and all-loving God-man Jesus Christ. After acknowledging the sinfulness of His dinner companions and their need for repentance, He corrected the Pharisees' dubious pedagogical and evangelical instincts with this (e.g. St. Matthew himself in 9:13); Go and learn what it means, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice': for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Christ is quoting Hosea when He says; "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice".  The full passage (which was implied) continues with (Hosea 6:6); "… and [I desire] the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."  This is huge.  The Pharisees knew the full quote and its context; they would have seen that Christ was telling them that they were guilty of the very same sorts of things that went against God throughout the Old Testament.  He was telling them that they were more concerned with fulfilling the letter of the law (i.e. doing the "burnt offerings" well) than they were with knowing God or bringing others to Him.  At that meal, He was doing something that they should have been doing themselves. How Christ Discipled His Sinners cum Apostles More importantly, along with His entire response, Christ used this quote to describe His method for bringing the "knowledge of God" to sinners; He would use mercy to lead them to repentance, which would in turn allow them to grow in the knowledge of God.   St. John Chrysostom brings this point out at the end of his homily on this passage; What Christ is saying through his words and deads is this, "The disciples have not yet become strong; they still need a lot of condescension. They have not been renewed by the Spirit yet.  You really shouldn't put a lot of injunctions on people who are still weak."  And He said all these things in order to set laws and rules for His own disciples, so that when it was their turn to train disciples, they would deal with them very gently.  To reiterate St. John Chrysostom's point, God is showing His disciples how the Gospel is to be taught: gently and with mercy … while protecting the weak from the attacks of the self-righteous.  This is important for us as Christian leaders: we are called to follow Christ!  We are called to take His Gospel to sinners so that they might repent,  come to the knowledge of God, and be saved.  Keep the Sin-Stick ready, but use it the way Christ Himself did; to defend the weak from the attacks of the self-righteous. There is a temptation to bring sinners to a full awareness of their sin in order to drive them towards repentance, but be careful with this.   Psalm 129: 3-4 (which we often repeat as a prokimen so that we will master it – or rather so that it might master us);  If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee. And later in that same Psalm, we learn from the Psalmist, in the Spirt, what the purpose of this merciful forgivness is; so that He might bring salvation to Israel (129:8). Repentance, kenosis, and discernment are fostered over time.  It is an iterated and communal process.  The wounds this world inflicts on God's children are serious and it takes time for Him to heal them.  This means that you may not be able to see the process through to its conclusion, but it is okay to simply begin the treatment; the Church has trained other physicians that can continue the process, just as you will be called to continue the work others have begun.  As Christ said "One soweth, and another reapeth." (St. John 4:37:4) Conclusion Saint Matthew's life is a testimony to the efficacy of this gentle discipleship process.  He was a sinner.  The Lord protected Him and showed Him mercy.  Over time, through His example, His holiness, and His teachings, He brought Matthew through repentance to the true knowledge of God.  As a recipient of this grace, St. Matthew could do nothing else but offer it to others.   It is true that the Church is a hospital, and that Christ is the Great Physician; and it is also true that St. Matthew found healing in the Church under the Doctor's care.  But it is also true that He did not stay in the hospital bed. After a lifetime spent spreading the Gospel, this "good and faithful servant" earned the martyr's crown in Ethiopia. May the Lord transform us into the kind of patient, merciful, and holy pastors who can do the same.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --God designed each one us to know and follow Him, that's our destinyFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 CSBFor God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:29-30 NLTPredestined means predesigned, not predetermined! How do we steward well God's will?1) Believe - Gods plans for you are intentional and good!Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you. Jeremiah 1:5 MSG You are divinely designed to know and walk with God and to live a life of meaning not misery. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:15-18 NLT God's plans for you are intentional, not accidental, and they're good!For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT2) Trust - Trust God with every decision, direction and outcome. Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLTThe call isn't to trust in God‘s plan, but rather to trust in God's character!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. Philippians 1:6 NLTGod's plan is not a guess, it's a gift!The LORD will work out his plans for my life, for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Psalm 138:8 NLTDon't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT Trust opens the door for God work out His will and purposes in our lives which are for our good. May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:20-21 NLTTrust is always tested when trouble comes.3) Persist - - Persist in pursuing God and His will in every season and situation and for the long haul.Promise always comes with a process. - The process is not punishment, it's preparation.If you can't steward the pit with faithfulness, you won't steward the palace with humility.Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESVImpatience has a tendency to weaken our persistence and overrule our willingness to follow God's process. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. Isaiah 46:10 CSB-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

[Colossians 1:16a NIV] For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible....[Proverbs 25:2 ESV] It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.[1 Corinthians 3:18-20 NIV] 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. [19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; [20] and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[Romans 1:20 NIV] For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.As science progresses, more and more of the evidence points to a wise and intelligent being who created all things.[Proverbs 18:15 NIV] The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” –[Job 12:7-10 NIV] “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; [8] or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. [9] Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? [10] In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.God designed all things with purpose and for purpose.There are no accidents in God's creation.God is not a God of blind indifference who just set things in motion. He is a God with a plan for every creature under heaven.[Psalm 104:24 NET] How many living things you have made, O Lord! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.The very hairs of your head were ordained by God, the color of your skin, the way you look, the interests or gifts that God gave you.[Luke 12:6-7 NIV] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. [7] Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.[Matthew 6:26 ESV] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?[Luke 12:24 ESV] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds![John 1:1-5 ESV] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --God designed each one us to know and follow Him, that's our destinyFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 CSBFor God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:29-30 NLTPredestined means predesigned, not predetermined! How do we steward well God's will?1) Believe - Gods plans for you are intentional and good!Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you. Jeremiah 1:5 MSG You are divinely designed to know and walk with God and to live a life of meaning not misery. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:15-18 NLT God's plans for you are intentional, not accidental, and they're good!For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NLT2) Trust - Trust God with every decision, direction and outcome. Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLTThe call isn't to trust in God‘s plan, but rather to trust in God's character!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. Philippians 1:6 NLTGod's plan is not a guess, it's a gift!The LORD will work out his plans for my life, for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Psalm 138:8 NLTDon't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT Trust opens the door for God work out His will and purposes in our lives which are for our good. May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. Hebrews 13:20-21 NLTTrust is always tested when trouble comes.3) Persist - - Persist in pursuing God and His will in every season and situation and for the long haul.Promise always comes with a process. - The process is not punishment, it's preparation.If you can't steward the pit with faithfulness, you won't steward the palace with humility.Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESVImpatience has a tendency to weaken our persistence and overrule our willingness to follow God's process. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. Isaiah 46:10 CSB-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Thanks-Living (Additional Message by Pastor Yow of Gahanna – “Go, and Make Disciples”) MESSAGE SUMMARY: Today's Message by Archbishop Beach -- ”Thanks-Living”: We need to develop a mindset of “Thanks-Living”, which includes a perspective of “thankfulness” based on God's faithfulness to His promises. God wants us to live with a fullness in our lives, but our lives should not be focused and consumed by “things”. Jesus tells us, in Matthew 6:33, to seek first His Righteousness and His Kingdom: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.". Additionally, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25a,27: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life . . . And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”. Have faith; trust in God because He knows what we truly need, and God is faithful in His promises. Rather than worrying and being anxious about “things”, we need to view the “things” of the world with “thanksgiving” because God has promised to provide what we need – this perspective and focus on earthly “things God's faithfulness to His promises is “Thanks-Living”. We need to live in thanks for what God has promised to do for us. We should seek to form an “attitude of gratitude” to instill a perspective of thankfulness to God who has provided and will provide – “Thanks-Living”. If you have a need, thank God because He knows your need; and that, somehow and in some way, God will provide for your need. Paul promises in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.". When you enter a life focused on “Thanks-Living: 1) your life burden is lifted, and it is replaced by God's peace; 2) God becomes your partner is the life issue that you are facing; 3) you are provided with a spirit of anticipation for what God is going to do; 4) you will find that God is always faithful; and 5) your faith will increase. During the week of America's declared holiday of Thanksgiving, practice living your life in “Thanks-Living”. Today's Added Message by Pastor Yow of Gahanna – “Go, and Make Disciples”: Pastor Yow's focus is to take the Gospel and his witness into those places in which God and Jesus are unknown; and the practice of “religion” in these places is, often, through “witch doctors”. Also, those in America, who are supporting missions, must “believe” themselves: “American Christians must believe because there are too many unbelievers in America”. In order to fulfill Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples in America as well as beyond America, those professing to be Christians must be a witness to the Gospel by proclaiming, publicly and often, our faith in Jesus and His Gospel to the world.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:25-33; Philippians 4:19; John 3:16-17; (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The Suffering of the Psalmist      The Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psa 119:67). The word translated “went astray” is שָׁגַג (shāgag). According to HALOT it means “to make a mistake inadvertently, unwittingly…to go astray.”[1] It connotes moral or spiritual deviation (cf. Prov 5:23; Isa 53:6). Ross states, “The verb (שָׁגגַ) is used in Leviticus for unintentional sins; but here it probably includes rationalized, deliberate sins because he was wandering from the way of God. He was not walking by faith in obedience to the word, and so he suffered some affliction at the hands of the wicked; but now he was keeping God's oracle, the word “keep” (שָׁמַר) referring to a meticulous observance of all that God required in his covenant.”[2] The significance is that the psalmist admits he was drifting from obedience, not necessarily into outright rebellion, but into carelessness or neglect of God's Word. The affliction became God's means of correction, turning his wandering into renewed obedience. Thus, the term highlights human tendency to stray and God's faithful use of discipline to restore. A few verses later he states, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes” (Psa 119:71). Affliction is seen as a teacher that drives God's people back to His Word. Ross adds, “The psalmist is able to acknowledge that his affliction worked for his good because it forced him to learn more of God's plan revealed in his word. In learning through adversity, he discovered the word God personally revealed in human language was far more valuable than silver or gold [Psa 119:72].”[3] Then, the psalmist states, “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me” (Psa 119:75). Ross states: "The affliction he has been experiencing came from God, even though it was through arrogant oppressors. The principle was laid down in the experience of Israel in the wilderness: God tested them to see if they would obey or not (Deut 8:16). Those who understand the ways of God know that ultimately it is his plan to exalt the righteous and destroy the wicked, but that in his wisdom he often humbles the righteous before exalting them."[4]      Taken together, these verses trace the movement from wandering, to correction, to obedience, and finally to worshipful recognition of God's faithful purposes. They teach that affliction, far from being wasted, is a tool in God's hand to sanctify His people and anchor them more firmly in His Word. We don't like trials or suffering, and we often ask God to remove them, much like Paul asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7). However, we find that most of the time God chooses not to remove our difficulty, like He did not remove Paul's (2 Cor 12:8-9), and we must learn that what He does not remove, He intends for us to deal with, and this by faith (2 Cor 12:10; cf. 2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6). The Suffering of Joseph      Joseph's life stands as one of Scripture's clearest demonstrations of how God employs suffering to shape the faith and character of His people. Betrayed by his brothers and cast into a pit, Joseph was sold into slavery and carried away to Egypt (Gen 37:23–28). There he endured the humiliation of serving as a foreigner in Potiphar's house, and though he prospered by God's favor, his integrity in resisting Potiphar's wife led to false accusations and unjust imprisonment (Gen 39:1–20). Even in prison, where he was forgotten by those he had helped (Gen 40:23), Joseph displayed remarkable faithfulness, refusing bitterness and maintaining trust in God's providential hand. Each stage of his trial pressed him deeper into dependence upon the Lord, refining his character for the weighty responsibilities that awaited him. His hardships were not incidental but instrumental in God's design, preparing him to serve as second only to Pharaoh and to become a channel of blessing to countless lives.      Joseph consistently interpreted his life from the perspective of God's providence, not merely in the well-known statement of Genesis 50:20. When he first revealed himself to his brothers, he sought to comfort them with the assurance that their sin, though grievous, was under divine control: “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen 45:5). He went further, declaring, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen 45:7–8). In both statements, Joseph acknowledged the reality of human betrayal but deliberately framed it within the larger purposes of God. He viewed his sufferings as divine instruments for the preservation of life and the fulfillment of covenantal promises.      Later, after Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers again feared retaliation, but Joseph reaffirmed the same perspective, saying: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen 50:20). This statement serves as the theological climax of his narrative, demonstrating how God overruled human evil for His own purposes. According to Radmacher, “God works His good plan even through the evil plans of evil people. Even the worst events can be used in the hand of kindly Providence for His good.”[5] Even at the end of his life, Joseph's confidence remained fixed on God's providence. Altogether, Joseph voiced this divine perspective at least four times (Gen 45:5; 45:7–8; 50:20; 50:24–25), revealing a mature faith that consistently interpreted suffering through the lens of God's sovereign care. The Suffering of Moses      Moses' life reveals how God employs prolonged suffering and repeated trials to shape His servants into men of spiritual depth and usefulness. After killing the Egyptian, Moses fled into exile, spending forty years in Midian as a shepherd (Ex 2:15–25). This season of obscurity was not wasted but was God's classroom for humility and preparation. Though Moses had been educated in all the wisdom of Egypt (Acts 7:22), he needed the quiet discipline of the desert to unlearn self-reliance and to grow in patience and dependence on God. The Lord used these years of hiddenness to refine his character and to equip him with the endurance necessary for leading Israel. This long exile reminds believers that God often uses seasons of difficulty, waiting, and obscurity as essential training grounds for future service. Moses would later emerge not as the impulsive prince of Egypt but as the meek servant whom God could use to shepherd His people. Wiersbe states: "The man who was “mighty in word and deed” is now in the lowly pastures taking care of stubborn sheep, but that was just the kind of preparation he needed for leading a nation of stubborn people. Israel was God's special flock (Psa 100:3) and Moses His chosen shepherd. Like Joseph's thirteen years as a slave in Egypt and Paul's three years' hiatus after his conversion (Gal 1:16-17), Moses' forty years of waiting and working prepared him for a lifetime of faithful ministry. God doesn't lay hands suddenly on His servants but takes time to equip them for their work."[6]      When God called Moses to return to Egypt, the trials intensified. He faced the hardened opposition of Pharaoh (Ex 5–12), who resisted every divine demand, bringing repeated conflict and mounting pressure. Beyond this, Moses bore the weight of constant complaints from the Israelites themselves, who murmured against him at the Red Sea and in the wilderness over water and food (Ex 14–17). Such trials might have broken a lesser man, but through them God deepened Moses' humility and dependence. Scripture later records that “the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Num 12:3). His humility came as he suffered hardship—first in Midian's solitude, then in Pharaoh's defiance, and finally in Israel's stubbornness. Each trial stripped Moses of self-confidence and taught him to rest in God's power and presence. Thus, Moses' life illustrates that suffering, though painful, is God's tool to produce humility, endurance, and spiritual maturity in His people, preparing them for greater responsibility and usefulness in His service. The pathway to spiritual maturity sometimes runs though the valley of hardship and suffering. Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.   [1] Ludwig Koehler et al., The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1412. [2] Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150): Commentary, vol. 3, 523. [3] Ibid., 524–525. [4] Ibid., 529. [5] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 83. [6] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1, 182-183.

November 16, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 21:5-28 (29-36)Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 31:1-17, 23-34; Revelation 16:1-21; Matthew 27:1-10“[Jesus said,] ‘And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'" (Luke 21:25-28)In the Name +  of Jesus. Amen. When you see these things: things of evil governments laying hands on Christians, Christians being persecuted for the holy Name; things of your own sin, your own failures; things of the frustration of living as a Christian, wishing you could do better each day, but seeing the hopelessness of it all as you find yourself once again, as yesterday and the day before, falling to doubt, to fear, to lust, to the desire to control others, or to any other temptation—when you see these things, Stand, lift up your heads, for you belong to Baptism. And Baptism is not the sinner showing allegiance to God. It's God saving the sinner. It's your Lord using his appointed means to work the forgiveness of sins, to rescue from death and the devil, and to give eternal life to all who have faith in the words and promises of God. So despair not. Lift up your heads, for you belong to the life-giving water, rich in grace, a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)With each day, the world nears its final judgment. We see the signs all around. Despair not. We continue to rejoice in serving neighbor, in opportunities to work for peace and good order, in words spoken in kindness to acclaim our Lord's gift of life, extolling his institutions of family and home, of marriage of man and woman, of property and possessions, our Lord's institutions so often rejected by our fallen world. For we know that these things instituted by the Lord are his way of providing for us and our neighbor on Earth.We see our sin, our failures, and we fear. Despair not. Hear your Lord's Gospel and rejoice in the life of Baptism to which you belong. We stand and lift up our heads in faith. Luke 21:28: [Jesus said,] “Now when these things begin to take place, stand and raise up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Lord, Almighty and always-living God, You gave great and precious promises to people who trust You.  Reign and lead our hearts and minds with Your Holy Spirit. Then we can continue to live forever in Your Son. Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

Morning lessons: Psalms 42, 43; Judith 10; Acts 16:6-40.  As the deer desires the water brooks, so longs my soul for you, O Lord.

Today we started to read the book of Nehemiah who was in exile in Susa, the capital of the empire of the Medes and  Persians. He is obviously a very special personality for he had become cupbearer to King Artaxerxes – a very responsible and trusted position to ensure the king was not poisoned.Nehemiah records that “… my brothers came … from Judah.  And I asked them … concerning Jerusalem.  And they said to me, ‘The remnant there in the province that survived the exile is in great trouble and shame.  The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed …” [Ch. 1 v.2,3]  The Temple had been rebuilt, as we have just read in Ezra, but nothing else.In reacting to this news, “I sat down and mourned and wept for days …” [v.4].  He is then “praying before the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” [v.4,5]    We prove we mean what we say, especially in loving God, by what we then do.The climax of his prayer is in v.11, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayers of your servants who delight to fear your name.”  Do we “delight” in fearing God?  By “name,” we primarily mean – his ‘reputation' toward those who love and therefore serve him truly.  We need to get our minds around this.Chapter 2 tells us that “in the month of Nisan” (4 months later) in serving the king as his cupbearer, but having continuing great sadness about the plight of Jerusalem that “the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?  This is nothing but sadness of the heart.'  I was then very much afraid” [v.2]What should we do when we are “very much afraid”?   If we are truly godly, as Nehemiah was, we should instantly pray.  Nehemiah tells the king the cause of his sadness, saying, “Why should not my face be sad when the city, the place of my father's graves, lies in ruins …” [v.3]“Then the king said to me, ‘what are you requesting?' So I prayed to the God of heaven …” [v.4]  What instant and urgent prayer was involved here!   Imagine it!  Nehemiah then asks, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's graves that I may rebuild it” [v.5]  The request is granted – because he responded in a godly way although in great fear –– there arose a challenging and wondrous opportunity.  The account that unfolds in this book from hereon is an inspiration to all who are fully committed to serve God at every opportunity.  Do you have that sense of commitment?How much will such be needed as life in this world becomes ever more uncertain – so let us all set our minds on developing that commitment more and more – and the foundation for this is to ‘feed' on God's word every day.

It is time this very minute to pray and seek God. Time to set our timers and pray for the minute. This podcast encourages us to stop for a minute and, now, in the presence of our Heavenly Father—with praise and prayer—worship Him in Jesus' name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. ———— *We do not own the rights to music played on this podcast.

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 140: www.ESV.org/Psalm140 ❖ 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/

Jesus Followers Reach Out to God When Fear and Anxiety Seek to Take Hold of Life Because They Have a Personal Relationship with the Universe's Creator MESSAGE SUMMARY: Your problems are not too big for God because God is faithful and Sovereign. Your financial issues, your debt, your health issues, and your sins are not too big for God. God is faithful, and He is trustworthy. Why not take, to God, all those things in your life that are creating your anxiety? In Psalms 9:9-10, the Psalmist encourages you to put your trust in God: “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.". Also, Jesus tells us, in Mathew. 6:33-34, that you can put our trust in Him and not be anxious about your problems: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”. Our God is a faithful God – reach out to God when fear and anxiety are taking a firm hold on your life.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I now take a deep breath and stop. So often I miss your hand and gifts in my life because I am preoccupied and anxious. Grant me the power to pause each day and each week to simply rest in your arms of love. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 132). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Evil Ways. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Goodness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mathew. 6:25-34; Mathew. 10:19-20; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Psalms 48:1-14. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “My Grace is Sufficient” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

We want to spend the bulk of our time together in meditation on a powerful chapter that King David wrote. Today, our focus will be to understand who we are, we must first know that God is God and we are not. So much of the issues in our lives regarding our identity is when we try to keep ourselves on the throne when we were never created to sit there. Only our God.(Psalm 84 NLT)How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies.  I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God! What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. O Lord God of Heaven's Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. … A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.What phrase or thought stood out to you? Consider why. What is God saying to you right now?Listen to verse 5-7 from the Message BibleAnd how blessed all those in whom you live,whose lives become roads you travel;They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, andat the last turn—Zion! God in full view!Is there a lonesome valley you are facing right now?Then listen to the closing words once more - For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. O Lord of Heaven's Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.Let's pray: “Father, David used the word ‘joy' many times in this Psalm. Help me to find more joy in You and in my life. I need You to be my sun and my shield. Please give me Your grace and glory. I want to do what is right in Your eyes so You will withhold no good thing from me. As above, so below.”

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Andrew Petiprin to continue our series on his book, The Faith Unboxed. Other guests include Bobby Schindler from the Life and Hope Network, as well as Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo from the Institute of Catholic Culture and Fr. Jonathan Duncan from the Diocese of Charleston to preview the Sunday Mass readings. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. Albert the Great Govern my heart O Lord, lest it drift into useless and disordered thoughts. Do not permit me to become excessively preoccupied with anything at all, even matters and concerns that are useful and good in themselves. Temper the affections of my soul so that I may neither love nor hate anything in a way that exceeds due proportions. Let me neither rejoice nor be saddened beyond the measure that is fitting and rational. ***** Neena Gaynor is online at ascensionpress.com. Roxanne Salonen, author of Finding Flannery Full list of guestsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evening lessons: Psalms 38; Isaiah 26; Luke 1:24-56.  Rebuke me not, O Lord, in your anger, neither chasten me in your weighty displeasure.

Key Verses: Psalm 119:41–42 - Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; [42] then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

Evening lessons: Psalms 35; Isaiah 25; Luke 1:1-23.  Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me, and fight against those who fight against me.

[sermon_banner] In Psalm 6, the first penitential psalm, David's cry of repentance shows us that God hears and delivers His people when they turn to Him in sorrow for sin—an assurance fulfilled for us in Christ. [sermon_media_line]

In this episode of The Word Within, Malachi Herbster continues our Walk Talks journey through Psalm 119, exploring the “Distinct Delights” of a life centered on God's Word. In verses 57–64, the psalmist declares, “Thou art my portion, O Lord,” revealing the joy of belonging fully to the Lord and finding satisfaction in His statutes. From Radical Constraint to Righteous Companionship, this passage uncovers what sets the believer's joy apart from the world's fleeting pleasures—a joy rooted in obedience, gratitude, and fellowship with those who fear God.Discover how devotion brings both discipline and delight as Malachi unpacks six key marks of a heart fully satisfied in the Lord, showing that the life anchored in Scripture is not one of mere duty, but of distinct and lasting delight.

In this week's message from our Ascent: Walking up the Pilgrims' Pathway series, Pastor Nate takes us deep into the heart of two of the most intimate Songs of Ascent, Psalm 130 and Psalm 131 , to show us how we ascend in our pilgrimage through waiting for God's mercy with quiet trust.Psalm 130 begins “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord,” painting a picture of the pit of sin—a place of helplessness where no one can save themselves. But there, in the darkness, we find the beauty of God's character: forgiveness, steadfast love (hesed), and plentiful redemption. Through the cross of Christ, these are not abstract ideas, they're living realities. Like Hosea's faithful love for Gomer, God's hesed runs deeper than our failures and stronger than our rebellion.We are called to pray and wait. Waiting isn't passive, it's an act of hope and longing that just as the watchman waits for dawn, the light of God's mercy will rise. We hope on His Word—trusting His promises—and we hope for His Word—expecting His Spirit to speak and lead. Psalm 131 moves from crying out to calming down, from desperation to quiet trust. David models humility before God, resisting Satan's attacks on the heart, eyes, and mind. Instead of arrogance, pride, and restless speculation, he quiets his soul “like a weaned child with its mother.” Pastor Nate contrasts childish faith, which demands and fears, with childlike faith, which rests and trusts.As pilgrims, we can be sure of this: The Lord Himself will redeem us from all our iniquities. So, we keep praying, keep waiting, and keep trusting, until we see His mercy rise like the morning light.

Evening lessons: Psalms 31; Isaiah 23 Mark 15.  In you, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in your righteousness.

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?     Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right     and speaks truth in his heart; 3 who does not slander with his tongue     and does no evil to his neighbor,     nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,     but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 who does not put out his money at interest     and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Send us a textThis is a rebroadcast of our 08/24/24 program.GUEST: SCOTT ANIOL, Executive VP and Editor-in-Chief G3 MinistriesThere is no more important issue and pursuit than worshipping God. It's more important than who will be our next president, more important than world peace, more important than your health, financial security, and whatever else we treasure.Scripture makes the primacy of worship clear:  King David prayed, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).Paul wrote, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).King Solomon exhorted, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear [reverence, awe] God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)Psalms, the songbook of the Bible, closes this way: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6)God created man as a worshipful being. We can see this because everyone worships someone or something. If God isn't worshipped, a false god will be substituted—person, pleasure, possession, position, popularity, power, to name just a few.God, as Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and Sovereign over all, deserves our worship. Our peace, purpose, and pleasure in life is directly proportional to how rightly and authentically we worship the Creator.Our guest this weekend is Scott Aniol, Executive VP and Editor-in-Chief G3 Ministries. G3, which stands for “Gospel—Grace—Glory”, is a Christian organization that aims to strengthen the local church through conferences, resources, online articles, podcasts, expository preaching workshops, biblical worship workshops, and local church-based curriculum for Sunday school and small groups.”Scott Aniol will join us to discuss “The Primacy of Worship”. He explains in a five-part column series corresponding to each of the “five solas” of the Reformation that worship is even more important than salvation, for salvation is the entry point to proper worship of God.This program aims to be a helpful for individual Christians and also the church, for worship includes but is far more encompassing than music alone.-------------------Manger in Danger for a donation of $30 or moreRELATED ARTICLES:The Primacy of Worship Scott Aniol's series on the 5 Solas of WorshipScripture AloneGrace Alone in Christ AloneFaith AloneTo the Glory of God Alone

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 135: www.ESV.org/Psalm135 ❖ 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 a world of mistrust, God can be trusted. He can be counted upon. He keeps his promises, he fulfills his word, and he does what he says he will do. God is worthy of your trust, your faith, and your confidence.Main Points:1. The Bible teaches us that God is faithful. This means God is always reliable, all of the time.  He does not fail or forget.  He always keeps his word.  His character is consistent and He never changes.2. Think about the implications of this wonderful truth. If God never changes, his love never changes. His grace never changes. His forgiveness never changes. His power and his presence never change. His ability never changes.3. If you are struggling to trust God, be assured of his character. There is no one like God. He does not change. He will be faithful in your life. Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”Psalm 119:89-90 - “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”Malachi 3:6, "I the Lord do not change." James 1:17 - “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group