Podcasts about o lord

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.” — Jeremiah 17:14 “I have seen His ways, and will heal him.” — Isaiah 57:18 It is the sole prerogative of God to remove spiritual disease. Natural disease may be instrumentally healed by men, but even then the honour is to be given to God who […]

Homily given at St. Thomas à Becket on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 30, 2026).

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “I miss my home, [although I] don't remember it. Sometimes, I perceive a glimmer of it nonetheless. A longing for a feeling I can't remember or even name. But I know it's real, just beyond the sunset.”~The Stranger, Rings of Power S02E01 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”~2 Peter 3:13 “You are both free and bound. Free, paradoxically, because, now, you have a home… And bound: to that mystery, precisely, a bondage which liberates you into something of the glory and suffering of the world.”~Zadie Smith, contemporary English writer “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”~John 1:14SERMON PASSAGEPsalm 85 (ESV)1 Lord, you were favorable to your land;   you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;   you covered all their sin.                      Selah3 You withdrew all your wrath;   you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,   and put away your indignation toward us!5 Will you be angry with us forever?   Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6 Will you not revive us again,   that your people may rejoice in you?7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,   and grant us your salvation. 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,   for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;   but let them not turn back to folly.9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,   that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;   righteousness and peace kiss each other.11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,   and righteousness looks down from the sky.12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,   and our land will yield its increase.13 Righteousness will go before him   and make his footsteps a way.

“Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” (Psalm 141:3 NLT) It’s been said that God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason: He wants us to listen more and to speak less. Think of how often we jump to conclusions or pass judgment in a situation. The writer of Proverbs warned, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT). Nevertheless, when we hear something damaging about another person, our first instinct is to conclude immediately that the person is guilty as charged. And instead of saying, “Let’s go to that person and find out the truth,” we start to spread the news as if it were fact. In the old days when you went to a doctor, he would ask you to stick out your tongue. Then he would pull out a tongue depressor and tell you to say, “Ahhh.” Why? Because the tongue can be an indicator of what’s going on inside you. By observing your tongue, a doctor could tell what was wrong with the rest of you. The principle applies in a spiritual sense as well. Our tongue—or, more specifically, our words—are the table of contents to our lives. What we say gives away who or what we really are. That’s why David wrote, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). In essence, he was saying, “Lord, set a watch over my mouth. I can’t stop other people from speaking evil about me, but I will not do the same to them. I will not be guilty of it, Lord. But I need your help. I can’t do this in my own strength.” Keep in mind that David faced off against a lion, a bear, the murderous King Saul, and a host of other enemies. He stepped onto a battlefield with the warrior giant Goliath with no fear and barely a second thought. Yet he knew what he was up against with the tongue. We need to follow his lead. We can accomplish some important work with our words. The apostle Paul wrote, “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone” (Colossians 4:5–6 NLT). He also wrote, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). And the writer of Proverbs advised, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 NLT). But we can’t do those things on our own. Like David, we must pray that the Lord will set a guard over our mouths and keep a watch over the door of our lips. Reflection question: In what areas do you need the Lord to help you guard your lips? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle.” (Psalm 140:6–7 NLT) Few people in Scripture had a better understanding of God than David did. David knew what it was like to be favored by God. In 1 Samuel 13:14, he is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He also knew what it was like to be on the business end of God’s discipline after his affair with Bathsheba. But more importantly for the purposes of this devotion, David knew what it was like to be protected by God and to have his burdens lifted by the Lord. Look at his words in Psalm 140:6–7: “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle” (NLT). Such confidence can only come from experience. If you’ve ever wondered how David rose to the occasion time and time again when other people might have crumbled, look at his words to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:46: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands” (NIV). He didn’t boast about his speed, agility, or prowess with a sling. Instead, he invoked the name of the Lord, the One who had seen him through other dangers and carried his burdens in the past. David so completely trusted God to protect him again that he walked onto a battlefield against a heavily armored giant in his shepherd’s clothes. In 1 Samuel 17:46 and Psalm 140:6–7, David’s message was the same: “Lord, I place it all on you.” Have you reached the point in your relationship with God where you can say the same thing? You probably don’t have to think hard to recall times when He answered an urgent prayer request or saw you through a difficult situation. Let those memories serve as confidence builders. Replay them again and again in your mind. Give thanks and praise to the Lord daily for His work in your life. Keep track of it in your prayer journal. Tell others about His goodness to you. Memorize Scripture passages that testify to His goodness, strength, and protection. For example, in Isaiah 41:10, God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT). And in Philippians 4:19, the apostle Paul writes, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT). Are you burdened today? Is something troubling you? Do you have anxiety over some situation? Maybe it’s a problem at work or an issue with a loved one. Whatever your burden may be, David has given you the example. Cast it on the Lord. He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (NLT). God’s done it before, and He’ll do it again. Armed with that confidence, you can face any circumstance. Reflection question: What burden do you need to give to God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.” (Psalm 140:1–2 NLT) There’s an old saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” David’s words in Psalm 140 offer compelling evidence of that. David begins the psalm with these words: “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long” (verses 1–2 NLT). “Stirring up trouble all day long” is practically a job description for the influencers, trolls, and others who crowd onto modern social media platforms. No gossip is too salacious, no accusation is too offensive for them to reframe for their own purposes, comment on, and spread to others. Like David, we are living in a wicked, vicious time. People today have an unhealthy appetite for gossip and slander—anything that makes others look bad. Once upon a time, this was known as a “tabloid mentality.” But the kind of stuff that once could be found only in supermarket tabloids has spread throughout the ranks of journalism and broadcast media. Hard news has been replaced by attacking partisan commentary. Everyone wants the dirt, especially on those they oppose. Social media has accelerated the decline in journalistic and personal integrity. Civility, courtesy, and empathy seem to be nearing extinction. Take away the technology, and you have a culture that would have been recognizable to David. The “evil people” he referred to in Psalm 140:1 had initiated a carefully planned campaign of slander and lies against him, and it was proving to be effective. You’ve heard the expression, “Good news travels fast.” I suggest to you that bad news travels even faster. It’s been said that a lie is halfway around the world while truth is still putting on its shoes. There’s something about a falsehood that causes it to spread like a wildfire. James knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:6 NLT). David understood what our response should be to the trouble that people stir up. In Psalm 25:4–5, he wrote, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you” (NLT). As believers, we must reject the lies of the world and learn everything we can about God’s truth. We must ask God to lead us, to help us resist the temptation to fight fire with fire when people stir up trouble. We need never concern ourselves about people’s reactions when we’re walking in God’s truth. Reflection question: What would focusing on God’s truth look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hari Hari Biphale By Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura (Iṣṭa Deve Vijñapti - Prayer to One's Beloved Lord) (from Prārthanā) 1 hari hari! biphale janama goṅāinu manuṣya-janama pāiyā, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nā bhajiyā, jāniyā śuniyā biṣa khāinu O Lord Hari, I have spent my life uselessly. Having obtained a human birth and having not worshiped Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, I have knowingly drunk poison. 2 golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, rati nā janmilo kene tāy saṁsāra-biṣānale, dibā-niśi hiyā jwale, jurāite nā koinu upāy The treasure of divine love in Goloka Vṛndāvana has descended as the congregational chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. Why did my attraction for that chanting never come about? Day and night my heart burns from the fire of the poison of worldliness, and I have not taken the means to relieve it. 3 brajendra-nandana jei, śacī-suta hoilo sei, balarāma hoilo nitāi dīna-hīna jata chilo, hari-nāme uddhārilo, tāra śākṣī jagāi mādhāi Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Śacī (Lord Caitanya), and Balarāma became Nitāi. The holy name delivered all those souls who were lowly and wretched. The two sinners Jagāi and Mādhāi are evidence of this. 4 hā hā prabhu nanda-suta, vṛṣabhānu-sutā-juta, koruṇā karoho ei-bāro narottama-dāsa koy, nā ṭheliho rāṅgā pāy, tomā bine ke āche āmāra O Lord Kṛṣṇa, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vṛṣabhānu, please be merciful to me now. Narottama dāsa says, “O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is my beloved except for You?” To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #makejapagreatagain #mantrameditation #chantharekrishnaandbehappy #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Do you know something, or do you actually believe it? On this episode, Dot and Cara dig into the real difference between knowing about God and believing Him, from Dot's own journey with a prediabetes diagnosis to Cara's honest confession that she has believed God loves her but has struggled to believe He truly cares about the details. It is a raw, honest conversation about what it looks like to move from head knowledge to a faith that actually changes how you live, even when your circumstances have not changed at all. Pull up a chair, grab your Bible, and lean in with us.Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode RecapIntro  (00:00)Write this down: Psalm 9:9-10, the Lord as a stronghold for those who seek Him (00:00)Today's question: what's the real difference between knowing something and believing it (00:29)Dot on birthdays as a turning point, and asking God "what's next" instead of pulling back from life (01:12)Dot's prediabetes diagnosis, and the moment the knowledge in her head finally became something she believed (06:30)Knowing what you deserve versus actually believing you deserve it (08:31)Cara gets honest about a hard season, and the moment she realized she believed God loved her but not that He cared (13:53)Choosing to believe God is tending the hard places even when nothing about the circumstances has changed (18:01)Why God wants a relationship, not a five step formula, and the invitation to just ask Him for the faith to believe (20:05)The miracle isn't God changing your circumstances, it's God changing your heart, something only He can do (23:03)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook This Episode's Scripture VersePsalm 9:9-10 (ESV) — "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."

[Jeremiah said:] “O Lord, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your forbearance take me not away; know that for Your sake I bear reproach. … Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before Me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as My mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” (Jeremiah 15:15, 18-21)

Genesis 1:1, 26-31+ God is our Wise and Good Creator “A commonsense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature.” — Astronomer Fred HoylePsalm 104:24 NIVPsalm 111:2 NIV"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." — Augustine, ConfessionsThe PulleyWhen God at first made man,Having a glass of blessings standing by,“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,Contract into a span.”So strength first made a way;Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.When almost all was out, God made a stay,Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,Rest in the bottom lay.“For if I should,” said he,“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,He would adore my gifts instead of me,And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;So both should losers be.“Yet let him keep the rest,But keep them with repining restlessness;Let him be rich and weary, that at least,If goodness lead him not, yet wearinessMay toss him to my breast.”— George Herbert+ God is our Righteous JudgeGenesis 18:25 NIV+ God is our Gracious SaviorGenesis 3:15 + God is our Sovereign RulerGenesis 50:20

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 41: www.ESV.org/Psalm41 ❖ 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/

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness. (Psalm 26:1-3)

Happy feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Dr. John Bergsma to share more about the calling of this disciple of Jesus. Other guests include Fr. John Gavin to share what St. Augustine had to say about the Sermon on the Mount, and Kevin Schmiesing with This Week in Catholic History. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Collect Prayer for the Feast of St. Bartholomew Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith, by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung wholeheartedly to your Son, and grant that through the help of his prayers your Church may become for all the nations the sacrament of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. ***** Clare Swinarski is online at ascensionpress.com/fiatgirls. Full list of guestsSupport the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 22, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Trinity 12 - Psalm 70:2b, 4a, 5b; antiphon: Psalm 70:1-2aDaily Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 14:1-16:24; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13“You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:5)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Psalm 70 expresses a prayer that every believer in God has prayed: “Help!” “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” (v. 1). It is the most basic and sincerest prayer.What the exact situation of David, the author of the Psalm, was, we do not know. David had his sworn enemies. He had conquered rivals within Israel and many from other nations as well. The number of men slain by him was in the thousands. As a result, many people were out to get him. People who, as he put it, “delighted in my hurt.” (vs. 2)Some might think that a man like King David wouldn't need any help taking care of his enemies. Remember how quickly he dispatched Goliath? David could handle himself. Who would David have been afraid of? But David knew that his successes in battle were only a gift from God.For example, when they tried talking him out of fighting Goliath, he told them, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And during the pre-battle trash-talking, David told Goliath, “You come to me with a sword … but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down…” (1st Samuel 17:45-46). David didn't trust in his own strength, but he relied on God, his help and deliverer.You probably haven't had anyone plot to kill you (and hopefully, you never will!) Yet, you can still relate to the need to be rescued from your enemies. Have you had kids put you down to build themselves up? Have they said unkind things? Made fun of you in front of others? Mocked you behind your back? Teenagers can be cruel. While going through these situations is no fun, take heart, cry out to God for help, and the Lord will deliver you, too. In fact, the Lord God Almighty has already delivered you from your greatest enemies: sin and death. Jesus, the Son of David, fought Satan and defeated him. He gave Himself up for you on the cross, and His victory over the grave in His resurrection is complete and final. Now all who are in Him are delivered and will be forever. Therefore, rejoice and be glad in Him and say evermore: “God is great!” (vs. 4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Seek Him alone Who did atone, Who did your souls deliver. O seek Him first, All you who thirst For grace that fails you never. In ev'ry need Seek Him indeed; To every heart He will impart His blessings without measure. (LSB 557:3)Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Fr. Mike shows us from our reading of Jeremiah that when we give our hearts and minds over to idols we become foolish. The way of man is not in himself, we need the Lord to guide and correct us. In Ezekiel, we read about the vision of the measuring of the temple and Fr. Mike shows us how the early Church Fathers would read the Old Testament in light of the New Testament. Today's readings are Jeremiah 10-11, Ezekiel 40, and Proverbs 15:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman Spud Webb 5'7 In Junior high he went to try out and his coach told him to sit in the stands…. You are too short.  Cut from his Junior year of BB and had to talk his coach into keeping him. He scored 20 points his first game.  No Div. 1 college would even look at him. So he had to play at Midland College- lead them to a national JR league Championship, then got a scholarship to NC state.  Every NBA scout scoffed. They said maybe he could play overseas or if he was lucky he could play with the Harlem Globetrotters. Every NBA team passed on him multiple times… He fell to the fifth round and was drafted by the Detroit pistons… and cut before the season ever started.  He was “lucky” enough to be signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Hawks… At that time his star teammate Dominique Williams was the Slam dunk Champion… spud entered the contest and Dominique said he thought it was a joke and he would do layups… Spud won with numerous 360 slams, dunks off the backboard and Reverse slam dunks…. People laughed at him! He credits his belief in knowing God gave him that talent for a reason, and that dream for a purpose.    My question today is: How will you respond when people laugh at your dream?       Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”         Rather than just "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," biblical scholars and linguists often look at Sarah's reaction in Genesis 18:12 through a few distinct lenses:   1. Incredulous Incredulity captures a mix of disbelief, shock, and impossibility. Sarah was roughly 90 years old, well past childbearing age, and had dealt with a lifetime of infertility. Hearing a stranger tell Abraham she would have a baby by the following year sounded biologically absurd.   Abraham lives in a Spiritual and Theological worldview… Sarah lives in a physical biological world view…     2. Sarcastic (or Cynical) In Hebrew, Sarah's inner monologue reads as a self-deprecating scoff: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Describing her reaction as sarcastic or cynical highlights the defense mechanism of a woman who had likely given up hope decades prior and saw the statement as a cruel taunt or bad joke.   3. Human Her reaction was deeply human. It wasn't necessarily a malicious rebellion against God; it was an involuntary emotional slip—a defense mechanism triggered by years of grief, trauma, and disappointment over her barrenness.   The Nuance: Her laugh isn't scoffing insolence; it's a reflex against emotional re-traumatization. When a deep, long-buried desire is suddenly brought up by a stranger, cynicism acts as armor to protect the heart from being broken one more time. The Insight: Faith doesn't require instantaneous emotional compliance. God engages directly with her reaction rather than striking her down, recognizing the pain behind her defense.   4. Prophetic In the broader arc of Genesis, her laughter is viewed as prophetic or foreshadowing. The Hebrew root for laugh (tzachaq) is the exact root used for the name of the child God promises: Isaac (Yitzchak), which literally means "he laughs" or "laughter". What began as the laugh of doubt in Genesis 18 transforms into the laugh of joy and wonder when Isaac is born in Genesis 21: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me".   Key takeaway: While her response is often labeled as "disbelief," calling it incredulous or sarcastic better captures her emotional reality, while calling it prophetic reveals the literary wordplay embedded in the text.     MAYBE OUR REACTION SHOULD MATCH *TO SOME DEGREE …SARAHS… WHY? WHY WOULD GOD USE ABRAHAM A MAN OF MANY FAULTS?      Failure 1: Deception in Egypt Age ~75 (Gen 12:10–20) The Misstep: When a severe famine strikes Canaan, Abram migrates to Egypt without seeking divine direction. Fearing the Egyptians will kill him for his beautiful wife, he asks Sarai to lie and say she is his sister.   The Fallout: Pharaoh takes Sarai into his royal palace as a concubine while enriching Abram. God strikes Pharaoh's household with severe plagues. Upon discovering the truth, Pharaoh rebukes Abram for his deceit and expels his family from Egypt.       Separation from Lot & Rescue Age ~75–80 (Gen 13–14) As their livestock herds grow too large for the land to support both of them, quarreling breaks out between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen. Abram generously gives Lot first pick WITHOUT SEEKING GOD - Lot gets captured.      The Unconditional Covenant Age ~85 (Gen 15) Abram voices concern that he remains childless and his servant Eliezer will inherit his house. God reassures Abram that a biological son will be his heir and cuts a formal covenant with him, promising descendants as numerous as the stars.       Failure 2: Scheming with Hagar Age 85–86 (Gen 16) The Misstep: After living in Canaan for ten years without a child, Sarai proposes that Abram take her Egyptian servant, Hagar, as a surrogate mother. Abram agrees without seeking God's guidance, taking matters into his own hands to force the fulfillment of the promise.   The Fallout: Once Hagar becomes pregnant, domestic conflict erupts. Hagar despises Sarai, Sarai mistreats Hagar, and Abram washes his hands of the dispute. Hagar flees into the wilderness before an angel instructs her to return. She gives birth to Ishmael when Abram is 86.       The Covenant of Circumcision & Abraham's Internal Doubt Age 99 (Gen 17) The Moment of Disbelief: After 13 years of silence, God appears, renames Abram to Abraham ("Father of a Multitude") and Sarai to Sarah ("Princess"), and institutes circumcision as the covenant sign. When God explicitly states that Sarah herself will bear a son within a year, Abraham falls face down and laughs to himself, asking mentally: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at ninety?" (Gen 17:17).     The Three Visitors at Mamre & Sarah's Laugh Age 99 (Gen 18:1–15) Three divine visitors visit Abraham under the oaks of Mamre. The Lord repeats the divine pledge: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."   Overhearing this from inside the tent entrance, Sarah laughs to herself, thinking about her advanced age and physical state. When the Lord asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for God, Sarah denies it out of fear, but the Lord responds: "No, you did laugh."     MAYBE SARAH IS LAUGHING KNOWING WHO HER HUSBAND REALLY IS?       BECAUSE EVEN AFTER THIS VISITATION FROM GOD….   King Abimelech (Genesis 20:1–18) The Outcome: Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem. However, God appears to Abimelech in a dream, warning him that Sarah is married and that he will die if he touches her. Abimelech protests that he acted in good faith, returns Sarah untouched, gives Abraham restitution, and asks why Abraham did this.     Pattern in Abraham's Failures Across these 24 years, Abraham's missteps shared a common theme: self-preservation and impatience.     BUT LETS ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION: Regardless of how Sarah saw her husband Abraham - regardless of how we see him… How did God see him?      Names and Titles Given to Abraham   Abraham ("Father of a Multitude"): Originally named Abram ("Exalted Father"), God personally renamed him in Genesis 17:5 to reflect his ultimate destiny: "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations." "My Friend": God personally refers to Abraham as His friend in Isaiah 41:8 ("Abraham My friend"), a title affirmed throughout Scripture (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). Prophet: In Genesis 20:7, God speaks to King Abimelech regarding Abraham, stating, "Restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live." "My Servant": God repeatedly refers to Abraham with honor as His servant (Genesis 26:24, Psalm 105:6), marking him as a trusted agent of the Divine will. The Promises and Blessings Spoken Over Him Divine Shield and Great Reward: Infinite Descendants: Royal Lineage and Multiplied Nations: Universal Blessing for All Humanity: Divine Protection: An Everlasting Land Covenant:     SARAH MAY HAVE LAUGHED AT FIRST IN DISBELIEF - BUT   3. Sarah's later reversal is the untold "second half" of the story. But Genesis 21:6 gives Sarah's own commentary once Isaac is born: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." She takes the very word she used in doubt and reclaims it in worship. Isaac's name literally means "he laughs." This is a remarkable narrative arc — cynical laughter transformed into worshipful laughter —          FINAL THOUGHT: WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ABRAHAM?  IN SPITE OF ALL HIS FLAWS HE PRACTICED GODS HEART AND DESIGN FOR PRAYER.   What do I mean? Gen. 18 later in the chapter God tells Abraham I am going to destroy Sodom and Gomorra and Abraham does something very familiar according to Luke 11.       Luke 11 tells us how to pray - AFTER SHARING THE LORDS PRAYER JESUS SAYS SOMETHING AWKWARD ABOUT PRAYER - A parable.  A man goes to his friends house - he needs 3 loaves of bread… he will not give up asking.    If you ask seek knock - out of sheer perseverance I will answer!   Abraham here in Gen. 18 does just that for Sodom and Gomorra - showing Gods heart for the lost. 50 45 40 30 20 10!   I believe one of the greatest clues is given in these two stories in scripture about who God uses!   The one that will not give up asking God to fulfill his purpose!     WHAT IF WE UNDERSTOOD THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LIKE THIS: Yes he was a heap of missteps, failures, a massive example of weak humanity….    But in all his mistakes and failures he never quit asking God for that son!  FOR THAT ANSWERED PRAYER.      WILL YOU BE THE ONE WHO P.U.S.H.es into God. P - pray U - until S - something H - happens?

Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. God is a god of overflowing abundance and generosity. He gives liberally to all without discrimination. Now, if we struggle when we see the wicked prospering, we're not alone; the Psalmist also struggled with this at times (cf. Psalm 73). Of course, just because God causes the wicked to prosper for a time does not speak to how lightly He takes sin. Rather it speaks to how liberally He dispenses His grace. God is not a bitter god, constantly fuming to get His way and settle the score. Oh, God is just, and you can count on His justice being thorough and perfect (Exodus 34:7). But He is also patient and kind, longing for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So, the kindness that He showers on the wicked does not speak to a failure of God's justice, but to the abounding nature of His grace (Romans 2:4-5). Jesus put it this way: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”~Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV) You see, such generosity of spirit is rare, because it generated only by the Spirit of God. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. Psalm 73 (ESV) 1 Truly God is good to Israel,    to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,    my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death;    their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are;    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace;    violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;    their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice;    loftily they threaten oppression.9  They set their mouths against the heavens,    and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them,    and find no fault in them.11 And they say, “How can God know?    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked;    always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean    and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken    and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”    I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this,    it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;    then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places;    you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment,    swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes,    O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered,    when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant;    I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;    you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel,    and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you?    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail,    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God;    I have made the Lord God my refuge,    that I may tell of all your works.

Hey y'all ! Welcome to another Wednesday with CWCOI ! In this week's episode, our host, Ally Yost reads through Psalms 23-40. The book of Psalms is a collection of 150 poems, songs, and prayers. Whether you have already read through it or maybe you have been meaning to, we encourage you to sit with God as we open His word together.  "Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds." Psalm 36:5 _____________________________________________ ☆ PRE-ORDER 'LOVE THAT LASTS' HERE: https://allyyost.com/en-usd/pages/book ☆ OUR NEW MERCH IS LIVE! SHOP AT: https://allyyost.com ☆ MY BIBLE (code 'ALLYYOST' at checkout) ➤ https://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/nlt-notetaking-bible-belfast-theme ☆ TUMBLER LINK ➤ https://allyyost.com/products/cwcoi-glass-tumbler-black _____________________________________________ Connect further with us ! TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@christwithcoffeeonice  Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/christwithcoffeeonice  _____________________________________________ Connect further with Ally ! TikTok (2M) ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@ally_yost  Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/ally_yost/  ShopMy ➤ https://shopmy.us/allyyost  Pinterest ➤ https://www.pinterest.com/ally_yost1/_created/

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 38: www.ESV.org/Psalm38 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman   Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”         Rather than just "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," biblical scholars and linguists often look at Sarah's reaction in Genesis 18:12 through a few distinct lenses:   1. Incredulous Incredulity captures a mix of disbelief, shock, and impossibility. Sarah was roughly 90 years old, well past childbearing age, and had dealt with a lifetime of infertility. Hearing a stranger tell Abraham she would have a baby by the following year sounded biologically absurd.   Abraham lives in a Spiritual and Theological worldview… Sarah lives in a physical biological world view…     2. Sarcastic (or Cynical) In Hebrew, Sarah's inner monologue reads as a self-deprecating scoff: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Describing her reaction as sarcastic or cynical highlights the defense mechanism of a woman who had likely given up hope decades prior and saw the statement as a cruel taunt or bad joke.   3. Human Her reaction was deeply human. It wasn't necessarily a malicious rebellion against God; it was an involuntary emotional slip—a defense mechanism triggered by years of grief, trauma, and disappointment over her barrenness.   The Nuance: Her laugh isn't scoffing insolence; it's a reflex against emotional re-traumatization. When a deep, long-buried desire is suddenly brought up by a stranger, cynicism acts as armor to protect the heart from being broken one more time. The Insight: Faith doesn't require instantaneous emotional compliance. God engages directly with her reaction rather than striking her down, recognizing the pain behind her defense.   4. Prophetic In the broader arc of Genesis, her laughter is viewed as prophetic or foreshadowing. The Hebrew root for laugh (tzachaq) is the exact root used for the name of the child God promises: Isaac (Yitzchak), which literally means "he laughs" or "laughter". What began as the laugh of doubt in Genesis 18 transforms into the laugh of joy and wonder when Isaac is born in Genesis 21: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me".   Key takeaway: While her response is often labeled as "disbelief," calling it incredulous or sarcastic better captures her emotional reality, while calling it prophetic reveals the literary wordplay embedded in the text.     MAYBE OUR REACTION SHOULD MATCH *TO SOME DEGREE …SARAHS… WHY? WHY WOULD GOD USE ABRAHAM A MAN OF MANY FAULTS?      Failure 1: Deception in Egypt Age ~75 (Gen 12:10–20) The Misstep: When a severe famine strikes Canaan, Abram migrates to Egypt without seeking divine direction. Fearing the Egyptians will kill him for his beautiful wife, he asks Sarai to lie and say she is his sister.   The Fallout: Pharaoh takes Sarai into his royal palace as a concubine while enriching Abram. God strikes Pharaoh's household with severe plagues. Upon discovering the truth, Pharaoh rebukes Abram for his deceit and expels his family from Egypt.       Separation from Lot & Rescue Age ~75–80 (Gen 13–14) As their livestock herds grow too large for the land to support both of them, quarreling breaks out between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen. Abram generously gives Lot first pick WITHOUT SEEKING GOD - Lot gets captured.      The Unconditional Covenant Age ~85 (Gen 15) Abram voices concern that he remains childless and his servant Eliezer will inherit his house. God reassures Abram that a biological son will be his heir and cuts a formal covenant with him, promising descendants as numerous as the stars.       Failure 2: Scheming with Hagar Age 85–86 (Gen 16) The Misstep: After living in Canaan for ten years without a child, Sarai proposes that Abram take her Egyptian servant, Hagar, as a surrogate mother. Abram agrees without seeking God's guidance, taking matters into his own hands to force the fulfillment of the promise.   The Fallout: Once Hagar becomes pregnant, domestic conflict erupts. Hagar despises Sarai, Sarai mistreats Hagar, and Abram washes his hands of the dispute. Hagar flees into the wilderness before an angel instructs her to return. She gives birth to Ishmael when Abram is 86.       The Covenant of Circumcision & Abraham's Internal Doubt Age 99 (Gen 17) The Moment of Disbelief: After 13 years of silence, God appears, renames Abram to Abraham ("Father of a Multitude") and Sarai to Sarah ("Princess"), and institutes circumcision as the covenant sign. When God explicitly states that Sarah herself will bear a son within a year, Abraham falls face down and laughs to himself, asking mentally: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at ninety?" (Gen 17:17).     The Three Visitors at Mamre & Sarah's Laugh Age 99 (Gen 18:1–15) Three divine visitors visit Abraham under the oaks of Mamre. The Lord repeats the divine pledge: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."   Overhearing this from inside the tent entrance, Sarah laughs to herself, thinking about her advanced age and physical state. When the Lord asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for God, Sarah denies it out of fear, but the Lord responds: "No, you did laugh."     MAYBE SARAH IS LAUGHING KNOWING WHO HER HUSBAND REALLY IS?       BECAUSE EVEN AFTER THIS VISITATION FROM GOD….   King Abimelech (Genesis 20:1–18) The Outcome: Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem. However, God appears to Abimelech in a dream, warning him that Sarah is married and that he will die if he touches her. Abimelech protests that he acted in good faith, returns Sarah untouched, gives Abraham restitution, and asks why Abraham did this.     Pattern in Abraham's Failures Across these 24 years, Abraham's missteps shared a common theme: self-preservation and impatience.     BUT LETS ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION: Regardless of how Sarah saw her husband Abraham - regardless of how we see him… How did God see him? 

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Gary Zimak to share a verse from Isaiah about chariots, horses, and trusting God. Other guests include Fr. Philip-Michael Tangorra to discuss the legacy of Pope Pius X ahead of his feast day later this week, and Deacon Nathan Beiersdorfer to continue our series on Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** Prayer of St. John Eudes O my Lord, what poor use I have made of creatures! Pardon me, O Lord! Henceforth I do not want to use anything unless it is for Your glory and according to Your holy will, as Your Son Jesus did. O my God, if in the past I have turned aside from You who are my Beginning, my End, and my supreme good; if I have turned toward myself and creatures, preferring their will and mine to Yours, I here and now promise to renounce, entirely and forever the world and myself, and to give myself wholly and forever to You. O my God, I give myself to You as my Beginning; take complete possession of me. May I always abide in You! Be the beginning and end of all my actions. O my God, I give myself to You as my End, my Center, my supreme Good. Draw me to You! Make me tend continually toward You. Be my delight, my glory, my treasure, my all! ***** Patti Armstrong writes at ncregister.com. Full list of guestsSupport the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCRIPTURE- Psalm 71:5-6  "For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you." REFLECTION- Mary EllynMUSIC- "In Search of Love" by The Mountain- "Be Not Afraid" by The O'Neill Brothers Group- "Ode to Joy" by The O'Neill Brothers GroupNOTES- Converting Fear Into Faith in God by Mary EllynPRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

The David Alliance  TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”         Rather than just "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," biblical scholars and linguists often look at Sarah's reaction in Genesis 18:12 through a few distinct lenses:   1. Incredulous Incredulity captures a mix of disbelief, shock, and impossibility. Sarah was roughly 90 years old, well past childbearing age, and had dealt with a lifetime of infertility. Hearing a stranger tell Abraham she would have a baby by the following year sounded biologically absurd.   Abraham lives in a Spiritual and Theological worldview… Sarah lives in a physical biological world view…     2. Sarcastic (or Cynical) In Hebrew, Sarah's inner monologue reads as a self-deprecating scoff: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Describing her reaction as sarcastic or cynical highlights the defense mechanism of a woman who had likely given up hope decades prior and saw the statement as a cruel taunt or bad joke.   3. Human Her reaction was deeply human. It wasn't necessarily a malicious rebellion against God; it was an involuntary emotional slip—a defense mechanism triggered by years of grief, trauma, and disappointment over her barrenness.   The Nuance: Her laugh isn't scoffing insolence; it's a reflex against emotional re-traumatization. When a deep, long-buried desire is suddenly brought up by a stranger, cynicism acts as armor to protect the heart from being broken one more time. The Insight: Faith doesn't require instantaneous emotional compliance. God engages directly with her reaction rather than striking her down, recognizing the pain behind her defense.   4. Prophetic In the broader arc of Genesis, her laughter is viewed as prophetic or foreshadowing. The Hebrew root for laugh (tzachaq) is the exact root used for the name of the child God promises: Isaac (Yitzchak), which literally means "he laughs" or "laughter". What began as the laugh of doubt in Genesis 18 transforms into the laugh of joy and wonder when Isaac is born in Genesis 21: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me".   Key takeaway: While her response is often labeled as "disbelief," calling it incredulous or sarcastic better captures her emotional reality, while calling it prophetic reveals the literary wordplay embedded in the text.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138:7-8)

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  Garth Heckman Spud Webb 5'7 In Junior high he went to try out and his coach told him to sit in the stands…. You are too short.  Cut from his Junior year of BB and had to talk his coach into keeping him. He scored 20 points his first game.  No Div. 1 college would even look at him. So he had to play at Midland College- lead them to a national JR league Championship, then got a scholarship to NC state.  Every NBA scout scoffed. They said maybe he could play overseas or if he was lucky he could play with the Harlem Globetrotters. Every NBA team passed on him multiple times… He fell to the fifth round and was drafted by the Detroit pistons… and cut before the season ever started.  He was “lucky” enough to be signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Hawks… At that time his star teammate Dominique Williams was the Slam dunk Champion… spud entered the contest and Dominique said he thought it was a joke and he would do layups… Spud won with numerous 360 slams, dunks off the backboard and Reverse slam dunks…. People laughed at him! He credits his belief in knowing God gave him that talent for a reason, and that dream for a purpose.    My question today is: How will you respond when people laugh at your dream?       Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”    

August, 2026

Preaching Point: When confronted with the reality of your sin, we must respond to God in penitent faith, seeking his forgiveness and restoration.Text: Psalm 51 (ESV)To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

By Jerald Kliewer - Psa 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Psa 86:17 Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

#top .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-decf69baa0d7626367721f44357a615e{ padding-bottom:10px; } body .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-decf69baa0d7626367721f44357a615e .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{ font-size:25px; } .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-decf69baa0d7626367721f44357a615e .av-subheading{ font-size:15px; } Through My Bible Yr 03 – August 14Psalm 18:1-30 LISTEN HERE Through My Bible – August 14 Psalm 18:1-30 (EHV) https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0814db.mp3 See series: Through My Bible Psalm 18 Psalm 18 Unfailing Kindness to David And to His Descendant Forever (2 Samuel 22) Heading For the choir director. By David, the servant of the Lord, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the grasp of all his enemies, even from the grasp of Saul. Praise to the Rock of Salvation 1 Then he said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rocky cliff, my stronghold, and my deliverer. My God is my rock. I take refuge in him. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high fortress. 3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Deliverance From Death 4 The ropes of death entangled me. Floodwaters of destruction [1] rolled over me. 5 The ropes of the grave wrapped around me. The traps of death threatened me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord. To my God I cried out. He heard my voice from his temple. My cry came before him. It reached his ears. The Greatness of the Deliverance 7 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains [2] trembled. They shook because the Lord was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils, and fire from his mouth devoured. Coals were set on fire by it. 9 Then he tore open the heavens and came down. A dark cloud was under his feet. 10 He rode upon a cherub, [3] and he flew. He soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made the darkness around him his hiding place. Dark rain clouds [4] surrounded him like a canopy. 12 Emerging from the brightness in front of him     his clouds passed by with hail and coals of fire. 13 Then the Lord thundered in the heavens. The Most High raised his voice with hail and coals of fire. [5] 14 Then he shot his arrows and scattered the enemy. He shot great lightning bolts and routed them. 15 Then the sources of water [6] were revealed, and the foundations of the world were uncovered     by your rebuke, O Lord,     by the breath of wind from your nostrils. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of deep waters. 17 Because they were too strong for me, he rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hate me. 18 They confronted me on the day of my disaster, but the Lord supported me. 19 Then he brought me out into a wide-open space. He rescued me because he delighted in me. David's Uprightness as a Basis for God's Judgment 20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands he has repaid me, 21 for I have kept the ways of the Lord. I have not done evil and departed from my God. 22 So all his just decrees remain before me, and I have not turned his statutes away from me. 23 I have been blameless with him. I have kept myself from guilt. 24 The Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. God's Uprightness as a Basis for His Judgment 25 To the merciful you reveal yourself as merciful. To the blameless person you reveal yourself as blameless. 26 To the pure you reveal yourself as pure, but to the crooked you reveal yourself as crafty. 27 For you save humble people, but you bring low the eyes of the arrogant. 28 Yes, you light my lamp, O Lord. My God turns my darkness to light. 29 For with you I can charge against a battalion, and with my God I can jump over a wall. God Equips David for Victory 30 This God—his way is blameless. The speech of the Lord is pure. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Footnotes Psalm 18:4 Hebrew floodwaters of belial. Belial means worthless or unrestrained. It later became a name for Satan. Psalm 18:7 See 2 Samuel 22:8, which reads foundations of the heavens. Psalm 18:10 The cherubim are the powerful angels who serve as God's honor guard. Psalm 18:11 Literally darkness of waters, clouds of a cloudy sky Psalm 18:13 The Greek text does not include hail and coals of fire in this verse. It may be an accidental repetition from the preceding verse. The parallel in 2 Samuel 22:14 does not have this repetition. Psalm 18:15 Sources of the sea is the reading in the parallel text in 2 Samuel 22:16. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-aocsdx-89cb4ca21532423cf697fc393b6fcee0{ height:10px; } The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-4vzadh-3f04b370105df1fd314a2a9d83e55b26{ height:50px; } Share this entryShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare by MailLink to FlickrLink to InstagramLink to Vimeo

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And He answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28)

#top .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-49dced36807bed8610be33c243707434{ padding-bottom:10px; } body .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-49dced36807bed8610be33c243707434 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{ font-size:25px; } .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-49dced36807bed8610be33c243707434 .av-subheading{ font-size:15px; } Through My Bible Yr 03 – August 13Psalm 17 LISTEN HERE Through My Bible – August 13 Psalm 17 (EHV) https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0813db.mp3 See series: Through My Bible Psalm 17 My Righteous Plea Heading A prayer by David. David's Righteousness 1 Hear my righteous plea, O Lord. Pay attention to my outcry. Turn your ear to my prayer, which is not offered by deceitful lips. 2 May a just verdict for me come from you. May your eyes observe the things that are right. 3 You have tested my heart. You have visited me at night. You have refined me; you have found nothing wrong. I resolved that my mouth will not overstep its bounds. 4 As for the deeds of people:     by the words from your lips     I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. 5 Keep my footsteps on your paths. My steps have not slipped. God's Love 6 Indeed, I call to you because you will answer me, O God. Turn your ear toward me. Hear what I say. 7 Perform wonders through your mercy. By your right hand save those who seek refuge     from those who rise up against them. 8 Guard me like the pupil of your eye. [1] In the shadow of your wings hide me 9     from the wicked who try to destroy me,     from those enemies of my life who surround me. The Enemies' Ruthlessness 10 Their hearts are calloused. [2] Their mouths speak arrogantly. 11 Now they surround our steps. They watch us to throw us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear, like a young lion crouching in its hiding place. 13 Rise, O Lord. Confront him. Bring him down. Save my life from the wicked by your sword. 14 Save me from such men by your hand, O Lord, from men of this world, whose reward is in this life. Closing Confidence 14b But you fill the stomachs of those whom you treasure. [3] Their children are satisfied, and they leave their wealth to their children. 15 Indeed, in righteousness I will view your face. When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Footnotes Psalm 17:8 Traditionally the apple of your eye Psalm 17:10 Literally they close their fat Psalm 17:14 Many translations join verse 14b with the first part of verse 14, understanding it as an observation about the worldly prosperity of the ungodly. They translate with your treasure you fill their stomachs. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-aocsdx-89cb4ca21532423cf697fc393b6fcee0{ height:10px; } The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-4vzadh-3f04b370105df1fd314a2a9d83e55b26{ height:50px; } Share this entryShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare by MailLink to FlickrLink to InstagramLink to Vimeo

Midday Prayer Opening O Lord, open my lips And my mouth will declare Your praise. Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord.   Candle Lighting   Prayer of Approach (from St. Augustine) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy.   Psalm Reading - Psalm 117 - NLT (Pentecost) Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!   Scripture Reading - Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Silent Meditation on God's Word   As we enter this time of meditation on God's Word, we pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to re-center our scattered senses on the presence of God, and to take a moment of silent prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to us through His Word.   -Pause-   As I read our text for today, listen for one word or phrase that is being spoken by God to you.   Ask yourself: Through which word or phrase is God wanting to speak to me today?   Allow that word or phrase to guide your meditation today. Repeat it over and over in your mind. Let it wash over you. Let it fill you.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   As the Holy Spirit speaks to You today through His Word, take a moment now to pause and repeat that word over and over in your mind as you allow God's Word to wash over you and fill you.   -Pause-   Now we reflect on the word or phrase that God is highlighting for us today.   Ask yourself: What part of my life needs to hear this word from God?   The Spirit has highlighted something in this text for you today. What part of you really needs to hear that?   Here, I will read the text again, and then we will have a longer time of silence to reflect on what God is highlighting for you today.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What part of your life needs to hear this word from God today?   -Pause-   Now we respond to God's Word.   As yourself, What is my response to God based on what I have encountered in His Word?   Because God speaks to us all in different ways, your response can also take on many different forms.   Maybe that response is in the form of a prayer. Use this time to thank and praise God. Speak to and listen to Him. Ask Him for something. Allow your prayer to flow from your heart freely and fully.   Or maybe God is reminding you of something. Maybe He's reminding you of your identity in Him. Or of His promises. Or of His presence in your life. And so I encourage you to sit in that reminder.   Or is God inviting you to respond in some physical way to the word that you have heard?   Maybe it's an encouragement to keep doing what you're doing. Maybe it's an encouragement to stop doing what you're doing. Maybe it's an encouragement to start doing something new.   We hear God's Word and respond to it.    Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to pause and consider: What is your response to God based on what you have encountered in His Word?   -Pause-   And now we rest in God's Word.   We have read God's Word. We have reflected on it. You have responded to it.   Now we return to a place of rest.    Remember that this rest is not based on your works. It is not based on your response to God's Word. But today and every day, we can rest in God's promises and His presence here with us today.   Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.   Take a moment now to rest in God's promises and His presence here with us today.   -Pause-   Lord's Prayer Our Father who art in heaven: hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven:  Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us:  and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   Benediction Eternal Creator of light, Yours is the morning and Yours is the evening. Draw us to Yourself so there will be no darkness within us. Amen. Let us go in peace. Thanks be to God. *Liturgy was compiled using resources from Lectio 365 and Ruth Haley Barton's "Invitation to Retreat."

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain. The army Joel saw in chapter 1 now darkens the whole horizon, and at the head of it the LORD utters His voice; the swarm turns out to be His. That is what makes the appeal in verse 12 possible: return to me with all your heart. Rend your hearts and not your garments, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Everyone is summoned, elders and nursing infants and the bridegroom from his chamber, while the priests weep between the vestibule and the altar: spare your people, O LORD.  The Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, pastor emeritus in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Joel 2:1-17. Edom stands at the crossroads and watches his brother Judah dragged off in chains, and Obadiah announces that the day of the LORD is coming for the bystander, too. Joel sees a locust swarm strip a nation bare in a single season, calls the people to rend their hearts and not their garments, and promises a Spirit poured out on all flesh. Nahum returns to Nineveh a century after Jonah's revival, and this time the superpower does not repent. Zephaniah spends two chapters on the day of wrath and then ends with the Lord singing over the people He has rescued. This series on Thy Strong Word works through these selected books of the so-called "minor" prophets verse by verse, showing how the Lord judges the nations while also keeping his promises to gather His people home.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Psalms 38:13-15 (NLT)“But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.” 

You've listened to Neville's words. Now practice living from them. Join Unlock God Mode at unlockgodmode.org and begin a 30-day journey into state, assumption, self-concept, and conscious creation.  ------------------------ Start here: nevillegoddard.com – download Neville Goddard's most powerful book free and receive weekly insights to help you manifest.  ------------------------ NEW PODCAST: Follow the brand new Neville Goddard Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform. The Neville Goddard Podcast is dedicated to bringing Neville's timeless ideas into a modern, immersive format you can return to again and again. This is a modern faithful interpretation of Neville Goddard's most powerful teachings. Listen to Episode 1 on Spotify → Listen to Episode 1 on Apple Podcasts →   ---------Neville once said, “Assumption, if persisted in, will harden into fact.” That one truth is enough to change your life. The question is, how do you live from that place, day by day? That's exactly what Unlock God Mode was created to help you do.If you've been waiting for a sign to take Neville's teachings deeper and make them the rhythm of your daily life, this is it. Start your journey now: unlockgodmode.org. ---------I Am Called by Thy Name, O Lord (Neville Goddard, 1964 Lecture) ***Download the free Neville Goddard PDF Guide at manifestwithneville.com - Discover the transformative power of Neville Goddard's wisdom with this FREE 60-page guide on his 12 timeless principles of manifestation and reality creation.★ Follow the podcast for daily lectures from the mystic Neville Goddard ★FREE RESOURCES:• Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter• Join the FREE Telegram Channel• Feeling is the Secret • Full Audiobook* * *The James Xander Trip Podcast:• Listen on Spotify• Listen on Apple Podcasts• Listen on YouTubeDIVE DEEPER:• The Unlock God Mode Course• The Infinite Wealth Guided Meditation* * *ABOUT NEVILLE GODDARD:Neville Goddard (1905-1972), was an English writer, speaker and mystic. He grew up in Barbados and moved to the United States of America as a young adult. Neville Goddard was perhaps the last century's most intellectually substantive and charismatic purveyor of the philosophy generally called New Thought. He wrote more than ten books under the solitary pen name Neville, and was a popular speaker on metaphysical themes from the late 1930s until his death in 1972.Possessed of a self-educated and uncommonly sharp intellect, Neville espoused a spiritual vision that was bold and total: Everything you see and experience, including other people, is the result of your own thoughts and emotional states. Each of us dreams into existence an infinitude of realities and outcomes. When you realize this, Neville taught, you will discover yourself to be a slumbering branch of the Creator clothed in human form, and at the helm of limitless possibilities.Neville's thought system influenced a wide range of spiritual thinkers and writers, from bestselling author Dr. Joseph Murphy to Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer.He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of readers around the world.* * *SOCIALS:• Neville Goddard Newsletter• Neville Goddard Telegram• Neville Goddard Instagram• Neville Goddard Threads• Neville Goddard Twitter• Neville Goddard YouTube* * *ABOUT THE COURSEUnlock God Mode is a transformative 30-day course designed to accelerate your journey towards greater wealth, love, and success through a deeper understanding and manipulation of your reality.  Comprising of 30 audio lessons, this course unfolds as a self-paced, introspective expedition into reality creation, aiding you in elevating your consciousness to what's referred to as the God Mode. Throughout this journey, practical tools will be provided daily to help enrich your life with more love, money, and success by altering your mental models and perceptions. This course combines theory and hands-on experience to create a unique deep dive into manifestation, consciousness, and reality creation. Join me on an extraordinary, 30-day adventure (1 lesson per day) and watch your reality transform. Begin the Unlock God Mode experience today »* * *Follow Neville Goddard on Telegram, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and YouTube.★ Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter ★» For the Neville Goddard listener: Access the 30-Day Unlock God Mode Program «----------

Come to Our HelpTo the choirmaster. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah.44 O God, we have heard with our ears,    our fathers have told us,what deeds you performed in their days,    in the days of old:2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,    but them you planted;you afflicted the peoples,    but them you set free;3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,    nor did their own arm save them,but your right hand and your arm,    and the light of your face,    for you delighted in them.4 You are my King, O God;    ordain salvation for Jacob!5 Through you we push down our foes;    through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.6 For not in my bow do I trust,    nor can my sword save me.7 But you have saved us from our foes    and have put to shame those who hate us.8 In God we have boasted continually,    and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us    and have not gone out with our armies.10 You have made us turn back from the foe,    and those who hate us have gotten spoil.11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter    and have scattered us among the nations.12 You have sold your people for a trifle,    demanding no high price for them.13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,    the derision and scorn of those around us.14 You have made us a byword among the nations,    a laughingstock[b] among the peoples.15 All day long my disgrace is before me,    and shame has covered my face16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,    at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.17 All this has come upon us,    though we have not forgotten you,    and we have not been false to your covenant.18 Our heart has not turned back,    nor have our steps departed from your way;19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals    and covered us with the shadow of death.20 If we had forgotten the name of our God    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,21 would not God discover this?    For he knows the secrets of the heart.22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!24 Why do you hide your face?    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;    our belly clings to the ground.26 Rise up; come to our help!    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!+++For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com. Every weekday at 3:30 am and 7:30 am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on KSPD 94.5 FM and 790 AM Boise's Solid Talk in the Treasure Valley,  Idaho, USA.If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.  If you enjoy The Gospel for Life, please give us a rating and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. That helps us a lot!Phone: (208) 991-3526E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://www.790kspd.com/gospel-for-life/to donate on line https://www.reformationboise.com/donate

Are the words spoken in your home pleasing to God? Our words have tremendous power. They can build up or tear down, bring healing or cause hurt, encourage the people we love or leave lasting wounds. In this episode of Family Vision, Dr. Rob Rienow explores the biblical power of our words and challenges families to measure their speech by a higher standard. Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." The ultimate question is not simply whether our words please other people, but whether they please God. Rob also identifies seven kinds of speech that may win approval from others while dishonoring God, including flattery, gossip, crude language, affirming lies, mocking others, and complaining about authority. This episode offers a practical opportunity for your family to examine the words spoken in your home, seek forgiveness where needed, and ask God to transform your speech. What You'll Learn in This Episode: - Why words have the power to bring either healing or hurt - Why the words that come from our mouths reveal what is happening in our hearts - How saying the right thing at the wrong time can still damage a relationship - Seven kinds of speech that may please people while displeasing God - How parents can cultivate a culture of encouragement and godly speech at home - Practical ways your family can confess harmful speech and pray for words that honor God Featured Resources: Visionary Parenting — Discover a biblical vision for passing faith to your children and helping them follow Jesus for generations to come. Start reading for free today at https://visionaryfam.com/parenting. Upcoming Events — Meet Rob and Amy Rienow in person at a Visionary Family event or conference near you. View the full event schedule at https://visionaryfam.com/events. Love this episode? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts and prayer requests at podcast@visionaryfam.com. Our prayer team would be honored to pray for you and your family. If this episode encouraged you, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your review helps more families discover the show and grow in their faith. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube so you never miss an episode. Family Discussion: Take time this week to ask one another: "Are the words spoken in our home pleasing to God?" Consider whether flattery, swearing, crude jokes, affirming lies, gossip, mocking others, or complaining about authority have found a place in your family's conversations. Pray Psalm 19:14 together and ask God to make the words spoken in your home pleasing in His sight.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 11, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), a virgin and a most perfect follower of St. Francis of Assisi, who practiced a life of entire poverty.At the wish of St Francis, she established a community of nuns in the small convent of San Damiano — the Order of Poor Clares — and acted as their superior for forty-two years — her own life serving as a constant sermon for her sisters to emulate.Their Rule included austerities, walking barefoot, sleeping on the ground, keeping perpetual abstinence, and making poverty the basis of their lives. St. Clare died on August 11, 1253, and was canonized two years later.The Breviary says of her:"When the Saracens were besieging Assisi and were preparing to attack the convent, St. Clare asked to be assisted as far as the entrance, for she was ill. In her hand she carried a vessel containing the blessed Eucharist as she prayed: O Lord, do not deliver over to beasts the souls that praise You! (Ps. 73). Protect Your servants, for You have redeemed them by Your precious Blood. And in the midst of that prayer, a voice was heard, saying: Always will I protect you! The Saracens took to flight."Heroic in suffering (she was sick for twenty-seven years), she was canonized only two years after her death.In our twentieth century, there still remain large areas with millions suffering under extreme poverty. Poverty in itself is no virtue, but it should be made into a virtue. Christ was poor. His entrance into the world and His departure from it took place in circumstances of greatest need. He had no house wherein to be born, no crib; no house wherein to die, no deathbed. Poverty stood watch at birth and remained to see His death. "The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Matt. 3:20).At least, we can be moderate and frugal, and thereby find the way to the spirit of Christian poverty. St. Clare, help us, pray for us!Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• August 11, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Key Verse: Psalm 140:8 - Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!

Send Us a Message or Fan MailPreacher: Pastor Adam SteinbrennerSubmit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to SermonChurch Website: stjohndublin.orgChurch Center: stjohndublin.churchcenter.comThank you to Higher Things Inc. for permission to use their recording of LSB 834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”. (leader.higherthings.org)Thank you for listening to the Post-Sermon Podcast.

Evening lessons: Psalms 104; Hosea 9; John 11:45-57.  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, you have become exceedingly glorious; you are clothed with majesty and honor.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0811db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – August 11 Psalm 13 – 14 Psalm 13 How Long, O Lord? Heading For the choir director. A psalm by David. Anguished Questions 1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I experience worries in my soul, sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy tower over me? An Urgent Prayer 3 Look at me. Answer me, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes     so I do not sleep in death, 4     so my enemy does not say, “I have overcome him,”     so my foes do not rejoice when I fall. A Solid Answer 5 But I trust in your mercy. My heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord     because he has accomplished his purpose for me. Psalm 14 The Fool (Psalm 53) Heading For the choir director. By David. A Description of the Fool 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They do disgusting things. There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all the children of Adam     to see if there is anyone who understands, anyone who seeks God. 3 Every one of them has turned away. Altogether they have become rotten. There is no one who does good. There is not even one. The Final Fate of the Fool 4 Don't any of these evildoers understand, those who devour my people as if they were eating bread? They do not call on the Lord. 5 There they are! They are terrified     because God is present in the circle of the righteous. 6 You try to put the plans of the poor to shame, but the Lord is their refuge. Closing Prayer 7 Who will provide salvation for Israel from Zion? [1] When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! Footnotes Psalm 14:7 Or Oh that salvation for Israel would come from Zion! The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Today's chapter in Jeremiah [Jeremiah 31] provides us with a sequel to yesterday's thoughts about God's reaction to the time when the all nations, at the climax of human history, regard Israel as “outcasts … for whom no one cares” It is of the highest interest because of the attitudes today more and more fit this picture.     Today's chapter follows on from the final verse of Jeremiah 30, “The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this. “At that time“, declares the LORD. I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” [Jeremiah 30:24; 31:1  they are consecutive verses]     Jeremiah 31:7 reads, “… raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.” The meaning is not totally clear, but it implies there is a time when leading nations learn the reality of God's existence “and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth” [Jeremiah 31:8]. We know that half of the Jews still live in other lands, also, that the land promised to Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, is a great deal more than Israel possesses at present.     This spirit is totally opposite to what many nations, especially the Islamic, are saying today. As we read on, these words jumped out at us (among a number of others). “Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (all 12 tribes) … this is the covenant I will make … after those days, declares the LORD, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people.” [Jeremiah 31:31-33]     This climax of human history also brings the return of Jesus to earth and the resurrection. These events are the trigger for these verses to be fulfilled.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. . . He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.”~Psalm 18:8, 9-12 (ESV) “What is obvious is the power of a religion whose secret is perhaps, simply, to get rid of the distance, the transcendence, and the remoteness of the divine… A present God this time; a God who is there, behind the door or the curtain, and asks only to show himself; a God without mystery; a good-guy God; almost a human being, a good American, someone who loves you one by one, listens to you if you talk to him, answers if you ask him to—God the friend, who has your best interests at heart.”~Bernard Henri-Levi, secular journalist experiencing an American megachurch “There is a paradox in Old Testament narrative ethics: on the one hand God is terribly demanding, he looks for nothing less than godlike perfect behavior, yet on the other, despite human failings, he does not forget his covenant loyalty to his people… Old Testament ethics are therefore, as much about grace as about law: they declare that God, the all-holy, is also God, the all-merciful.”~Gordon Wenham, Old Testament scholar “There is in God a sweet conjunction: majesty and meekness joined together: he is sweet and gentle, and holy majesty; and also a majestic meekness; an awful sweetness; a high, and great, and holy gentleness.”~Jonathan Edwards, American pastor “The God of the Bible localizes himself. In great condescension, the Lord of Hosts rends the heavens and comes down and dwells in the midst of his people. And he sets apart and makes holy the temple, the symbol of that dwelling; or he sets apart for his use Bible and cup and bread, in order that flesh and blood persons can see and remember and know that the holy God is in their company.”~Elizabeth Atchemeier, Old Testament scholarSERMON QUOTESPsalm 99 (ESV)1 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!  He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!2 The Lord is great in Zion;  he is exalted over all the peoples.3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!  Holy is he!4 The King in his might loves justice.  You have established equity; you have executed justice  and righteousness in Jacob.5 Exalt the Lord our God;  worship at his footstool!  Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,  Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.  They called to the Lord, and he answered them.7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;  they kept his testimonies  and the statute that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them;  you were a forgiving God to them,  but an avenger of their wrongdoings.9 Exalt the Lord our God,  and worship at his holy mountain;  for the Lord our God is holy!

Lloyd pays tribute to the late author, Raymond Keating. Keating was author of the Pastor Steven Grant novels about a former CIA operative turned Lutheran pastor. He was a guest on the show in 2017, and in this episode Lloyd presents the full, un-edited interview from episode 81. We hope you enjoy the show and will keep the Keating family in your prayers. Support the Show  Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest Episode 81 "If James Bond was your Pastor" - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/episode-81-if-james-bond-was-your-pastor Obituary - https://www.raynordandrea.com/obituary/Raymond-Keating SBE Tribute - https://sbecouncil.org/2026/07/21/rest-in-peace-raymond-j-keating/ Raymond Keating Books at Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APVJHS Prayer of the Week Amid tears, O Lord, we praise You that You have received Raymond to Yourself in glory for all eternity. Comfort all who mourn him with the glorious hope of the resurrection and life eternal. Grant us the grace to say with a believing heart, "Thy will be done." Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand   

“I Quit” are two words that nearly every servant of God will be tempted to say at some point in the ministry. The Bible does not airbrush its heroes or pretend that men of faith never collapse beneath the burden. Jeremiah decided to stop preaching, Peter returned to his fishing boat, Elijah asked God to let him die, John the Baptist questioned Christ from prison, Moses could no longer carry the people, David became convinced that Saul would eventually kill him, and Paul despaired even of life. These were not weak men playing at ministry; they were mighty servants who discovered that calling does not make the flesh indestructible. The difference was not that they never reached the breaking point—it was that God met them there and refused to allow their darkest moment to become the final chapter. Christian, do you feel like quitting today? This message is for you. “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.” Jeremiah 20:7 (KJB)

The Redeemed of God Jonathan Parnell Download Psalm 107,Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.10 Some satin darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew nearto the gates of death.19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.25 For hecommanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted awayin their evil plight;27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.33 He turnsrivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.And we just heard verse 43. Now we want to do exactly what it says… This morning, by the grace of God, we're gonna be wise and we're gonna “attend to these things.”There are three central truths in Psalm 107 that we need to see. The first is this:1. The redeemed of God come from everywhere.This is verses 1–3. The psalmist is commanding the people of God to praise him. And notice in verse 2 that he calls the people of God “the redeemed of the Lord.” And that word “redeemed” is another way to say to be saved. It means to be claimed as one's own and brought back into safety at a cost to the redeemer. That's true for the people of God! We are who we are, first and foremost, because God has taken it upon himself to rescue us. We've been saved. Then verses 2 and 3 tell us more: We've been redeemed from trouble and gathered in from lands east, west, north, and south. I read this verse to the kids the other night and asked what it means if something is from east, west, north, and south — and John Owen said right away: It means from everywhere.That's exactly right. These are the four corners of the earth. It means everywhere— fromevery direction.And from the start in Psalm 107 this means two things are happening: this is an answer to prayer and it's a sign of hope. Thinking CanonicallyThis is an answer to prayer because of the immediate context. Last week, Psalm 106 closed with this prayer in verse 47: “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.”This week Psalm 107 opens in thanks and praise to God because he has answered that prayer. The people of God had been scattered, but now God is starting to do what looked like the new exodus. This is where we see the sign of hope … For this part, we gotta zoom out from the Book of Psalms and remember the whole storyline of Scripture and the history behind this: The Book of Psalms was shaped into its final form within the historical context of Israel's captivity in Babylon. The people of God were in exile, longing for the Messiah to rescue them. They longed for the restored kingdom the prophets foretold. And in 538 BC, Cyrus king of Persia allowed Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. Eventually the temple was rebuiltand the walls of Jerusalem were restored (we read about this in Ezra and Nehemiah). That's the historical situation behind Psalm 107. It was a foretaste of the hope to come, but it was still a far cry from the new and greater exodus envisioned by the Old Testament prophets … that's because:The nations are not yet streaming to Zion. The earth is not yet full of the knowledge of the Lord.The wolf is not yet hanging out with the lamb. Jerusalem was not yet new — it wasn't even what it used to be. That's why Psalm 107 is mainly a pointer. It's a signpost looking beyond itself. The real hope is that one day — quote: “people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at the table in the kingdom of God” — that's a direct quote from Jesus in Luke 13:29.Jesus affirms this Old Testament hope. One day the redeemed of God will come from everywhere, and every direction. And that's the church that Jesus is building now. Ever since Acts Chapter 2, Christians are from all over the world.Worthy of Global GloryAnd this is really important. It's one of the most glorious things about our faith. It's why Christianity has been called a missionary faith. And it's unique to us. Christianity is not like Islam. Islam is a coercive religion that imposes itself on other cultures. The goal of Islam is not to seek the good of a city, but the goal is conquest. Takeover. It destroys what was there before and tries to do something different. But see, the gospel is able to enter any kind of culture on this planet with both challenge and affirmation … There are parts of every culture that the word of God challenges — it says: “This is out of step with God's design. Change it.” And there are also parts of every culture that the word of God affirms — it says: “This echoes something good in God's design. Redeem it.”It's always both, which is why expressions of the church can look so different all around the world, and the Bible can be translated in any language — it's beautiful! The gospel never requires someone to become culturally Jewish or Roman or American. Jesus makes one people from every people. Because he is worthy of global glory. … That's where we're headed. This Old Testament hope, and what Jesus taught, one day is gonna be a “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” and we will all gather around the throne of the Lamb and we will praise him together (see Revelation 7:9).The redeemed of God come from everywhere. That's the first truth to see. Here's the second:2. The redeemed of God are rescued from every trouble.Now notice the word “trouble” in verse 2. The redeemed of the Lord (from all over the world) are redeemed from trouble.And then that trouble is explained in verses 4–23 as four different kinds of trouble. We can put it in four categories: God redeems his people from being … Lost, Trapped, Defeated, and Afraid.Now, look, I don't think these four categories are exhaustive or exclusive. You can be in other kinds of trouble, and you can be in all these kinds of trouble.But what I do know for sure is that all of us have been in some kind of trouble. And some of us are still there. … and if that's you, you're at the right place this morning. Now I'm going to read each kind of trouble to you, but remember this is poetic — it's not gonna describe every detail of your story, but it's gonna make sense to you.First, the trouble of being lost.We see two in verse 4:“Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.”Again, most likely none of you have literally wandered around in a desert … but you know what it's like to wander around in a desert. You know what it means to be lost. You're looking for a place to land, for a place to call home, for a place to plant your tree. But everything around you is just flat and dry, and there's nowhere to even sit. So you just keep wandering.This reminds me of earlier this summer. Y'all know I love summer, and I watched a lot of youth sports this summer, but there was one field we were at … flat ground as far as the eye could see, synthetic turf surrounded by concrete surrounded by asphalt surrounded by lava — that's what it felt like. There was no shade at all. The sun was just bearing down. And it was kinda funny to watch, because the parents and spectators would get there, and everyone is trying to figure out where to sit, everyone is wandering around holding their chair, but it's all the same: It's either scorching hot or scorching hot. Like a desert.And in a desert it doesn't take long before you're drained. Your soul gets hungry and thirsty and starts to faint. This the trouble of being lost. Second, the trouble of being trapped. We see this is verse 10:“Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons …”Let me stop here for a minute to make sure you get the picture: This kind of trouble is not being lost, it's being stuck. There's a seat in this trouble, but it's a seat in darkness. It's the shadow of death. And you're imprisoned there. You can't get out. And when you try, you realize that you brought this whole thing upon yourself. The psalmist tells us in verse 11:“for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.”Sometimes we choose our trouble. That's what this is. We enslave ourselves to sin, and we can't escape. It's this cycle of a slow downward spiral. We've been there. The trouble of being trapped.Third, the trouble of being defeated.This is verse 17:“Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.”I want you to see here the resignation. They're defeated. They've quit. The word for “fools” in verse 17 is one that shows up a lot in the Book of Proverbs. It means “culpable stupidity.” It's the recognition that “Yes, I brought this trouble on myself” but then it's just an implosion. You're beat. You're done. You give up. Think about this as cynicism to the extreme. It is the so-called ‘respectable sin' of our times. You're just grumpy about everything. Despairing. Nothing is ever good enough. You loathe any kind of food. The trouble of being defeated.Fourth, the trouble of being afraid. This is verse 22, and it's a longer description. … it's a picture of being in the middle of a storm at sea … huge waves are rising up around you … and we read in verse 26: “their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.”Now one of my favorite commentators said something about this verse that struck me. I want to read it to you. Listen to this. He said:Given the wider biblical resonances of the sea and the deep, it is reasonable to suppose that we are to feel here the terror not just of a literal storm at sea but of the forces of wickedness and chaos in the nations that afflict the church of God. (Ash, 124)Try this metaphor: Cities Church, we are in a ship (and it's not a cruise ship — it's a lifeboat) — and we are surrounded by a storm at sea. The wind and waves are raging around us. That's the image.One thing that helps us with this image is that this sanctuary is properly called a nave. That's what this room is. It's the “nave” — which is the Latin word for ship. These wooden beams were built to replicate an old boat. We're in an ark, and we're passing through the storm of this world, and we're trying to get as many people as we can in the ark with us. But right now the storm is bad.And bad storms cause fear. That makes sense. Some of us are at our wit's end. That makes sense too. Both makes sense when you're in a storm, because a storm is something we can't control. This reminds me of a moment when Earnest Shackleton and his team were attempting to cross the Drake Passage. (If you're not familiar with Shackleton, you will be, I'm gonna talk a lot about him for a while.) The Drake Passage is the most dangerous body of water in the world, between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. It's common for there to be 50-foot waves.The year was 1916, and Shackleton, along with five other men, were trying to make this voyage in a 26-foot sailboat … because it was the best they had. They almost died several times. They kept having to break off the ice that was starting to cover the boat. But all they could really do was hoist the sails and hold on … they needed the right wind. Which was not up to them. And I get that. But the good news for us is that we know who controls the wind. And therefore, in our storm, we do what the redeemed of God have always done when they're in trouble: we cry out to God! This is the refrain we underlined earlier, in verse 6, verse 13, verse 19, verse 28. It's repeated four times: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”The pattern in this psalm is trouble, prayer, deliverance.Trouble, prayer, deliverance. Trouble, prayer, deliverance. Trouble, prayer, deliverance. And it's deliverance for what? What do we want deliverance for?Is it to be comfortable? This is where we need to think hard and be honest. Churches that are compromised by a love for comfort prefer to be in situations where God doesn't need to be God. Sometimes, if we're honest, many Christians want to be in a place where Jesus doesn't have to be real. Now, what's amazing about this room is that you're here. You're in the boat. And I know it's not easy. I'm preaching to the choir here, as they say. But we're gonna be able to stay in this boat together and make it through as long as Jesus is in the boat with us. And he is. And he will bring us through the storm. And not just the storm of present opposition, but the storm that is the journey through this world. Look what he can do in verses 33–42! We're pilgrims, y'all. Our home is that better country, that lasting city. And Jesus will lead us there … rescued from every trouble. Finally, here's the third truth to see:3. The redeemed of God respond with grateful praise. This is what we do because God is God, because Jesus is real: “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”This refrain is verse 8, verse 15, verse 21, verse 31. And it's no surprise to us. If our experience is trouble, prayer, deliverance, then of course, our response is grateful praise.Trouble, prayer, deliverance, praise.And this grateful praise is not simply an action we do every now and then, but it is a way of life. Everyday we live grateful to God because we're saved! We are forgiven for all our sin! We are free from the power of Satan! Heaven is our home! God is our treasure!Some of you may know Steve Treichler.He's the senior pastor at Hope Community Church in Minneapolis. He's been there for like 100 years, and one thing I love about Steve is that he knows he's been saved. It's just fresh on his heart. Thinking about this sermon, I sent him a text yesterday and asked him: Steve, what's the secret? How do you keep that reality so fresh?He texted me back, and I gotta tell you what he said. He said — and I quote:“If I've got one spiritual gift it's that I remember where I came from. I remember what it was like to not know the Lord, to be lost, to be terribly afraid and without purpose.”And then he said: he remembers how the gospel came into his life and changed everything. He was lost, now he's found. Me too. Us too.Trapped, but now we're free. Defeated, but now we're saved. Afraid, now we're secure. And we can say:Through many dangers, toils, and snares,we have already come;Grace has brought us safe thus far,And grace will lead us home.And that's how we come to this Table.The TableWe come to this Table remembering from where Jesus has brought us. And that we have come to him. If you're here this morning and you've put your faith in Jesus, we invite you to eat and drink with us. Let's give Jesus grateful praise.

Evening lessons: Psalms 102; Hosea 8; John 11:1-44.  Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto you.

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Those who believe that the universe, the earth and everything on it are the result of mindless evolution are hard-pressed to explain the origin of intelligence. Some even try to argue that there is no such thing as intelligence, saying that we only think that certain things reflect intelligence. As we learn more about the world, it takes an even greater faith to believe in evolution.The incredible structure of DNA and how it works is one example. Scientists have now demonstrated, though they did not intend to do so, that DNA is itself infused with intelligence. In 1994, it was discovered that DNA could be used as a computer. Since then, much has been learned about the computing power of DNA.For example, how can DNA be used to solve the problem of finding a flight path between seven cities so that each city is visited only once? To solve the problem, researchers assign a numerical value to individual strands of DNA. Through a series of steps, they allow the strands of DNA to interact with each other, saving the results after each step. An electronic computer can solve a math problem with 30 clauses and fifty variables in 1.6 million steps. A DNA computer can solve the same problem in only 91 steps!DNA computers would not be possible unless intelligence was built into the very fabric of the creation. Only our all-wise Creator could have been responsible for this.Psalm 104:24"O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”Prayer: Dear Father, help me use the intelligence You have given me. Amen.Ref: Nature, "DNA computing on surfaces".  To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111