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

Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'” MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge and insights from God about the specific issues that you, your family, your church, or your country are facing. In your personal relationship with God as a Jesus Follower, the Lord will speak to you; but sometimes it takes your listening and fasting to hear Him. For example, when Joel received a Word when the land was to be destroyed, he called a fast (i.e. Joel 1:14): “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”. Some things you are facing in your life must be dealt with by both prayer and fasting. Fasting releases a spiritual power – in your weakness, God is made strong in your life. Daniel's prayer, from Daniel 9:3-5, provides a context for asking direction from God: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.'".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms138:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Thanks-Living” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

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

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

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

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

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

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Today, Ash and Tobias wrap up the week with a conversation that starts with a year-long debate about a pink bedspread… and ends with a powerful reminder about worship, sovereignty, and trust. In Isaiah 25:1, we see something stunning: praise after devastation. Isaiah looks at the brokenness of the world in chapter 24—judgment, sin, chaos—and still declares, “O Lord, YOU are my God.”This episode explores what that kind of worship looks like in real life. In this episode, we talk about: Why worship isn’t about circumstances but about God’s character Learning to exalt God simply because He is God Trusting His sovereign plans—long established and never reactive Why God is worthy of praise even before the promise is fulfilled How His faithfulness remains the same in 2025 as it did in Scripture And why fixing our eyes on Jesus brings security, even in overwhelming seasons If you’re in a season where life feels uncertain or heavy, this conversation will remind you: God’s plans are steady, His character is unchanging, and He is worthy of your praise right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trusting God in the DarknessPsalm 131 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.Our guest speaker Pastor Andy takes us the Psalm 13 and lamenting. How do we approach this with our God?1. Bring our Complaints2. Bring our Requests3. Bring our Praise

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

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

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

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on December 23, 2020)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Revelation16:1-2 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.   2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome (smelly) and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.   Many doctrines in churches today are doctrines of men and not doctrines of God.  As churches follow the doctrines of men, the people of those churches take on the mark of the beast, worshiping something that is not God.  Upon these people comes the wrath of God.   Plagues of blood to follow:   Revelation 16:3-4  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.   4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.   And the angels in heaven rejoiced saying:   5-6  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.   7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are THY judgments.   But the men of this world who have taken on the mark of the beast curse God over these plagues and they repent not of their works.   The fourth angel of the 7 angels, brings a plague that affects men greatly.   *****   Revelation 16   8-9  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give HIM glory.   10-11  And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.   12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.   15 (Jesus says) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.   We will not be ashamed in the day of the Lord when we follow the instructions given by the New Testament Bible, for by these we correct our way on this earth and come into agreement with God and HIS Word, Jesus.   But those in churches who agree with antichrist and follow his doctrines will be ashamed when Jesus returns for His righteous.   Correct yourselves now by the New Testament Bible and follow the doctrines of the Bible and turn from the antichrist doctrines being taught by man, and agree with God, while there is still time.   Revelation 16   17-21  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.   18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.   19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of HIS wrath.   20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.   21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.    

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 140: www.ESV.org/Psalm140 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

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

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

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

Delivered by Celine from the Parish of Santo Marinus Yohanes in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Wisdom 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9; Rs psalm 105: 2-3.36-37.42-43; Luke 18: 1-8.GOD ACTS QUICKLY ANDRIGHTLY The title for ourmeditation today is: God Acts Quickly and Rightly. A 6-year-old girl often accompaniedher mother to shop at the market. She notices that her mother always requestsfor discount to the things being bought. What a surprise! She asks for discountmore than half of the price. When the seller objects the discounted price, themother always says: "Sorry, we have nothing, we are very poor." On one occasion thegirl used her small savings to buy something at the shop nearby. She alsowanted to ask for dicount imitating what her mother usually does. Before sayingwhat she wanted to buy, she first said to the shop owner, "Sorry, we havenothing, we are very poor." Then she showed the item she was about to buy.The shop owner took the item and gave it to the little girl for free. In this life we seemeetings between the small and big ones, poor and rich, master and servants,powerful and powerless. The screams and cries of the poor or little ones alwaysattract attention. They shout either directly to certain people who immediatelygive attentions, or openly to the public and it's up to anyone who would payattention to them. Their screams and cries can only stop after their requestsare answered or attended. God has compassionfor these people. God acts quickly and becomes their savior at the right time.They are the people who do not have supporters, defenders and protectors. Theparable of the widow and her case to be solved by the lawyer in today's gospelpassage is an example of how the divine assistance comes at the very time manreally needs. In the scriptures there are many similar examples that show God'shelps come quickly and rightly. Many of us have everexpereinced God's helps comes quickly and rightly. Some people admit that theirprayers have not been answered. Therefore, they tend to view God is not yet intheir side. Some are patient enough to wait for an answer at the right time.Some have given up because they already waited for a long time, then theybecome passive and apathetic. Some even are emotionally driven by anger orhostile towards God because they are frustrated knowing no sign of the Lord'sfavor for them. It maybe true thatthe time is not yet right. Why? Because God is using our neighbors to be thehelpers. For sure, our immediate helps should come from there. The helpsactually come from God himself, who uses neighbors who are near to us. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, we pray and we hope for the security and worthiness of our brothersand sisters who are so helpless and distress; may they find your favor andaccept all helps with gratitude. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to theHoly Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...

(Ws.18:14-16,19:6-9; Ps.105:2-3,5,36-37,42-43; Lk.18:1-8) "He led forth His people with joy; with shouts of joy, His chosen ones." "They beheld stupendous wonders." Before their eyes, "out of what had been water, dry land was seen emerging." And so, sheltered by the mighty hand of the Lord, they crossed over, from the land of bondage to freedom. And in their joy "they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs…" praising the Lord, "their deliverer." This is the story of our own salvation; this is the way of our own redemption from the sin which holds us bound on this earthly plane. Our exodus, too, must come. The Lord shall return to earth. As He was faithful in leading the Israelites forth from the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves four hundred years, so He will not forget us who have been in the bonds of Satan upon this plane. Our deliverance, too, will come. Yes, my brothers and sisters, God will "do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night." He will not "delay long over them" but will "give them swift justice." The vision of the Israelites at the Red Sea will be our own. Before our eyes we will see the dry land appearing. We shall rejoice at the Lord's hand guiding our steps out of this dark land. "An unimpeded road" we shall travel, moving toward His promised land. Yes, heaven will be ours. The first-born of Satan, the flower of his evil, shall be destroyed in the stillness of the night, and truth and goodness and light will emerge victorious; and we shall be led forth, as it were, "laden with silver and gold," rejoicing in the abundant blessings of our Lord and God. He does not delay. He will not delay. We wait, yes, and struggle with our faith… but He is ready – He does not have to be asked twice. But as our hearts are weakened by sin, we must be encouraged, we must continue to pray, always, even in the face of darkness. Through the darkness the Lord's light shall come shining, if we remain faithful in our cries. So, "sing to Him, sing His praise… O hearts that seek the Lord!" for He is near in all our prayers, and shall lead us forth into His blessed kingdom. Alleluia! ******* O LORD, your justice is swift but who is there that calls out to you, that desires your hand at work in his life? YHWH, what marvels you have worked for us; for we who were overshadowed by sin, who seemed trapped by its darkness, abandoned to its clutches, have been mightily delivered from sure death and destruction to stand with you in your kingdom. And should we now have no faith in you? Should we fail to cry out to you for secure protection? Will your justice not come quickly to us, whom you so love and for whom you so desire salvation? O LORD, let us not be so foolish as to doubt your good will toward us and your power to save us; let us not forget the wonders you have performed for us even to this day. And what greater wonders await those who hope in you! For the dry land we shall soon stand upon when your Son returns, when He has overshadowed our enemies and redeemed us from all darkness, shall be the Promised Land of Heaven. O praise you, LORD! Your people glory in your holy NAME.

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

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

Psalm 116Canticle: Revelation 4Reading: 1 Peter 4Intercessions: We praise you, O Lord.St. Helena Ministries is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. Your donations may be tax-deductibleSupport us at: sthelenaministries.com/supportPresentation of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) from The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) © 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. The texts of Biblical readings are reproduced from the New American Bible © 1975

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

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

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

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

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

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

As I write these lines on Veterans Day, a time of remembrance, many warm thoughts come to mind. I can also remember past Veterans Day when we experience a blizzard, as we had yesterday. On this Veterans Day, I would like to share these prayerful thoughts with the readers of this Warm Thoughts column as together, we pay tribute to all those who served their beloved country. Thanks from the Heart. "They served and fought and died so that we might be safe and free. Grant them, O Lord, eternal peace and give them the victory. And in these days of unrest filled with grave uncertainty, let's not forget the price they paid to keep our country free. And so on this year's Veterans Day, we offer up a prayer - May the people of all nations be united in thy care. And grant us understanding and teach us how to live, so that we may lose our selfish pride and learn to love and give. And keep us ever mindful of the fighting men who sleep in Arlington and foreign lands, so we may ever keep the light of freedom burning in their honor through the years and hear their cry for peace on earth resounding in our ears. Forgive us our transgressions and O God, be with us yet, lest, in our pride and arrogance we heedlessly forget. From "Someone who cares." Those of us who've never served can't truly understand the sacrifice that you made protecting life and land. You were called from homes and jobs you never turn around. You did more than was asked of you in air, on sea, on ground. You gave for us in freedom's name. Till now, the time has come for us to give you in return a thank you, everyone. Yes, thank you from the heart. Let freedom ring! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, November 19th 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

I once had a cantor who recently had a baby. She wanted to minister quickly after her child was born, but balancing two children with varying work schedules was a constant challenge for her. I told her that we would welcome her back as a minister in any way that her schedule would allow. One morning, her husband had an unexpected work commitment, so she brought her toddler and infant with her to church. They were both incredibly well-behaved until the preparation of the gifts, but this didn't stop my cantor. With her toddler next to her leg and her infant on her hip, she sang “How Great Thou Art”. She looked at her infant as she sang, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made….” There was not a dry eye in the house. She ministered to all of us in multiple ways that day, and she reminded me of the power of lay leadership. You know, we are so quick to cling to the role of the clergy, I think we often forget the presence of God that lives within us and flows through us as we minister. And that is the conversation we're having today. I sat down with Brother Louis Canter to discuss the importance of Lay Ecclesial ministry, a term that is either fresh or incredibly well-worn in your local diocesan vocabulary. Brother Louis believes that the key to the church's future lies within the lay ministers who serve the church with their time, talent and treasures, big and small:

Daily Evening Prayer (11/10/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 53-55; Ecclesiasticus 34; 2 Thessalonians 1; Metrical Psalm 21:1-41 The King, O lord, with songs of praise shall in thy strength rejoice; With thy salvation crowned, shall raise to heav'n his cheerful voice. 2 For thou, what'er his lips request, not only didst impart; But hast with thy acceptance blest the wishes of his heart. 3 Thy goodness and thy tender care have all his hopes outgone; A crown of gold thou mad'st him wear< and sett'st it firmly on. 4 He prayed for life, and thou, O Lord, didst his short span extend; And graciously to him afford a life that ne'er shall end.To read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

Join Pastor Balla in this powerful daily devotion for November 10, 2025, on Psalm 31:1–3: "In You, O Lord, Do I Take Refuge." Dive deep into David's cry for help, trusting God's righteousness for deliverance, speedy rescue, and unshakable protection as our rock and fortress. This Christian Bible study explores faith over fear, God's faithfulness, mercy, and guidance for His name's sake—rooted in Jesus Christ.Find spiritual strength amid life's storms with daily Bible inspiration, Christian encouragement, prayer for protection, and scriptural truths on refuge in God. Ideal for believers seeking faith-building devotionals, overcoming uncertainty, and proclaiming God's glory through trials.Support the ministry and buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalph (buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalph). God's peace and blessings!#DailyDevotion #Psalm31 #GodMyRefuge #ChristianFaith #BibleProtection

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota on November 9, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel.   Sermon Text: Psalm 3:1-13 (NKJV) «A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.» LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. 5  I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. 7  Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You  have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8  Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people.  Theme: He Will Come to Judge 1. A Source of Peace in a World of Trouble 2. A Source of Justice in a World of Unfairness

Daily Evening Prayer (11/10/25) from Trinity Anglican Church (Connersville, IN): Psalms 53-55; Ecclesiasticus 34; 2 Thessalonians 1; Metrical Psalm 21:1-41 The King, O lord, with songs of praise shall in thy strength rejoice; With thy salvation crowned, shall raise to heav'n his cheerful voice. 2 For thou, what'er his lips request, not only didst impart; But hast with thy acceptance blest the wishes of his heart. 3 Thy goodness and thy tender care have all his hopes outgone; A crown of gold thou mad'st him wear< and sett'st it firmly on. 4 He prayed for life, and thou, O Lord, didst his short span extend; And graciously to him afford a life that ne'er shall end.To read along, visit: https://ie.dailyoffice1662.com/To sing along with the Brady and Tate Metrical Psalter, visit: https://www.friendsofsabbath.org/cgmusic.com/workshop/newver_frame.htmTo own a Bible, visit: https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com/product/kjv-center-column-reference-bible-with-apocrypha/To own a prayer book, visit: https://anglicanway.org/product/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer-international-edition-hardcover-march-2-2021/To own a hymnal, visit: https://anglicanhousepublishers.org/shop/the-book-of-common-praise-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/

November 10, 2025Today's Reading: Exodus 3:1-15Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:1-20; Matthew 25:14-30“God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:15a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We have a God who hears us; he never plugs his ears to our cries for help. We have a God who remembers; he never forgets but is faithful to keep his promises. We have a God who sees; he is intimately aware of the details of our lives. We have a God who knows; he is mindful of all we need, and he cares. This is the God who promised Abraham that he would be a father of a great nation, God would give his offspring a land to possess, and through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Those promises sounded pretty good to Abraham, almost too good to be true. All Abraham had to do to be on the receiving end of God's incredible promises was to believe him, and Abraham did. Abraham's descendants became an exceedingly large population after settling in Egypt; however, they became entrapped under a new pharaoh and forced to serve as his slaves. This went on for some 400 years; the people “groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.” God heard, he remembered, he saw, and he knew (Exodus 2:23-25). So what does God do? He sends a rescuer to deliver his people from their bondage. God calls to Moses from out of a burning bush to go and deliver his people from an impossible situation. Moses is God's mouthpiece to deliver his message; God will do the work of rescuing through him. Moses went, and God delivered. We, like Israel, find ourselves in an impossible situation. We are slaves as well, helplessly shackled by sin and death with no good way out. So, what does God do? He sends a rescuer to deliver us out of our bondage. God himself comes to save us. Jesus comes to set us free and lead us into the Promised Land of his eternal kingdom. God hears our prayers and cries for help. He remembers his promises made to you, and he never forgets. God sees all, knows the things that weigh you down, and he continues to care for you. God sends a preacher to you to speak His Word for you that continues to set you free. “Your sins are forgiven.” “You are my beloved child.” “I will be with you to the end of the age.” “I have redeemed you; you are mine.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the midst of utter woe When our sins oppress us, Where shall we for refuge go, Where for grace to bless us? To Thee, Lord Jesus, only! Thy precious blood was shed to win Full atonement for our sin. — Lord, preserve and keep us In the peace that faith can give. Have mercy, O Lord! (LSB 755:3)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

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

St. Luke 8: 41-56 Drawing on St. Nikolai Velimirović's image of divine grace as electricity, this homily on the raising of Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:41–56) invites us to become  living conduits through whom God's uncreated energy continually flows. Christ's tender command, "Talitha koum," reveals the greater reality that in Him even death is but sleep, for the fire of His love transforms all who see with eyes full of light into partakers of His eternal life. Homily on Jairus' Daughter  St. Luke 8:41–56 Glory to Jesus Christ! It is a blessing to be with you this morning. I have really appreciated your hospitality throughout this weekend. In his homily on this beautiful event in the history of our salvation, St Nikolai Velimirović compares our Lord to electricity—or perhaps to magnetism, and to light. What he is describing is what we in the West call grace. The idea is that the Lord's uncreated energy – His spiritual electricity - is continually available; and those who allow themselves to be connected to Him become receptacles and conduits of that spiritual electricity—of that grace, of that beautiful light.  We see this especially at Pascha, when the priest sings "Come receive the light," and one candle lights another, and the flame spreads from person to person. Magnetism is a similar image: not only does it attract, but it also bestows magnetism in a lesser degree to some of the objects it touches. This a lovely and apt metaphor—though, as St Nikolai warns, don't take it too far or you'll end up spouting heresy– for instance, a screwdriver that has received magnetism from a magnetic source retains the magnetism even after the source is removed.  As we discussed yesterday, anything that is removed from the Source of Divine Energy loses its spiritual life.  Going back to the metaphor of electricity, our hope is not to become a sort of battery that receives grace and then stores it separate from its source; rather, our hope is to increasingly become pure conduits of divine energy through whom it continually flows.  Switching metaphors again, Jesus Christ describes this as living water in the Gospel according to St. John when He says; If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (St. John 7:37; also St. John 4:14) The grace that we share as Christians is flowing to and through us from its source, and that source is God. There is another lesson here.  St. Nikolai points out that there were many people in the crowd that day, but only one was healed. Let me develop a point from yesterday's talk.  You may remember my sharing that the scripture about the newly healed blind man seeing "trees walking" as a metaphor for our need to work on seeing the world as it really is.      A related scriptural metaphor from Christ Himself has to do with the "eye of darkness;"    "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (St. Matthew 6:22-23). In part, these are eyes that fail to see the Lord even when He is present among us. Imagine that He turned to you and healed you after you had endured fourteen years of suffering. How would you respond? Lord willing, you would respond with thanksgiving and joy; a thanksgiving and joy that never fades. But the eye of darkness might quickly slip from thankfulness and joy back into bitterness and think or say: "Where have you been these fourteen years?" Do you see the trap? Do you see how such a response, such an attitude, misses the whole point of God's work among us — it's kind of like saying to Christ the God-man when He appears in His glory to bring us into His Kingdom; "O Lord, I thought you'd be taller." The eye of darkness is a terrible thing. For those who see truly, the world is permeated with the grace of God.  Let us strive increasingly to the world with these eyes of light. Another lesson the Fathers draw from this story is that the healing itself wasn't even the main point. Do you remember the plot line we are following in the Gospel lesson? A ruler of the synagogue—a leader of the Jews—comes to Christ and begs: "My daughter lies dying. Please come to our house." As the Lord goes with him, the crowd presses in around Him. And even along the way, miracles happen. This is a lesson we need to learn: with the Lord, there is no such thing as "along the way." His grace is always active. Every moment with Him is transformed in Him and by Him.  For the Christian, every moment of grace is an experience of eternal glory… and that moments lead in time to the next which is similarly transformed and transformative. For the Christian, after such an encounter, there is no darkness left to return to, only life in Christ so full that we can say with St Paul, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)  When we are connected to Him in this way, His grace—like living water, or electricity, or magnetism, or light—flows through us and straightening our connections with the world around us. This is what St Seraphim of Sarov meant when he said, "Acquire the Holy Spirit, and thousands around you will be saved."   And this is the same things that we celebrate in the life of St. Nektarios, whose memory we celebrate today, when we proclaim this verse at Orthros: "Since thou drunkest the nectar of life eternal, thou gushest, O Nektarios, streams of healings. Again, there is no such thing as being merely "on the way"; rather, all of life is "along the Way"—in Christ, growing in Him forever.  Every moment is an opportunity to grow and share in this, the great Mystery of the Sacrament of our salvation. Now, about this man—Jairus. Jairus had great power in his community and a relationship with God through the Law. Yet here he found himself powerless in the face of death. Everyone who tries to find salvation through secular power or the Law alone eventually meets that same limit. At that time, the Jews were deeply divided over what death meant and whether there was truly a resurrection. So this became a teaching moment for the Lord. The other Gospels describe how the mourners had gathered, the flutes were playing lamentations, and the house was filled with grief. A twelve-year-old girl—the only child of a leader in the community—had died. And Jairus, for all his authority, was utterly powerless. To make the moment even more striking, Jesus said something that caused the people to laugh Him to scorn: "She is not dead, but sleeping."  He said this precisely so that they would affirm—beyond any doubt—that she was truly dead: the body cold, the breath gone. And then, having confirmed the reality of death, He revealed the greater reality of life. He went in, took her by the hand with such tenderness; this pointed out most clearly in the version shared by St. Mark, in which he is recorded as having said in Aramaic, "Talitha koum"—literally, "Little lamb, arise." (Mark 5:41) "Talitha" is a term of affection, something like "little lambkin." And she arose and He told her parents to give her something to eat. All those who had mocked Him now faced undeniable evidence of a miracle. They could not rationalize it away or pretend they were mistaken. They had declared her dead—and now she was alive. There was only one explanation: the life-giving power of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him is life, and in Him there can be no death. (John 1:4; John 11:25) Now, here is a more difficult lesson.  Some steak for us to chew on.  Jesus did not spend His earthly ministry going to every grieving parent to restore every child. I'm sure that's hard for you to hear—it's hard for me, too. But He did not come simply to prolong life in this world; He came to transfigure it. What good would it be to restore someone to this mortal life, only for them to die again after a few years? Instead, He performed this miracle so that we would know that when He says, "I go to prepare a [better] place for you," that He has the power to fulfill that promise. (John 14:2-3) There will be times—there have already been times—when we are the ones saying, "She is dead." But the Church uses a different language: "fallen asleep" and "in blessed repose." These are not naive phrases. They are reminders that for the Christian, death is but a rest before the age to come. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14) And honestly, we long for that age, don't we? Life in this world can be exhausting —wars, suffering, the loss of children, — all the griefs that weigh us down. But as we sing in our funeral service; in the age to come, there will be "no sighing, no sorrow, no sickness, but life everlasting"  This is the time, quoting both the funeral and Revelation, "God will wipe away every tear." If I may change metaphors one last time: our God, who was earlier described as electricity, is also called a consuming fire. (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29) Those of us raised in the South have heard preachers use that image as a warning. But for the Christian—for the ones who live in Christ so completely that it is no longer they who live but Christ who lives in them (Galatians 2:20)—that fire is not torment but glory. It is the radiant warmth of divine love. For those purified by grace, the fire of God becomes the very source of joy and life. So when you find yourself saying, "Our beloved, our little lamb, is dead," remember this: our Lord, who loves our beloved even more than we do, holds her hand and says, just as He did in today's Gospel, "My dearest one, arise." That is the future that awaits all who have given their lives to Him. May we be strengthened by this as we grow in Him. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Morning lessons: Psalms 26, 28; 2 Kings 23; Acts 13:13-43.  Be my judge, O Lord, for I have walked innocently; my trust has been in the Lord; therefore I shall not fall.

[Job 26:8] He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don't burst with the weight.Every system relies on _________________.[Psalm 104:24] O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.All throughout creation, we see a divine ________________.Nothing thrives in _________________.[Colossians 1:17] He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.There's a _________________ holding everything together.[Genesis 2:18] Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."Everything in creation was declared _________________ except _________________.[1 Corinthians 12:18-20; 25-27] But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. [19] How strange a body would be if it had only one part! [20] Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. [25] This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. [26] If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. [27] All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.Our relationship with God is built on _________________.[John 15:4-5] Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. [5] "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.And you are called to _________________ to the life around you.

Pastor Dave invites us into the book of Habakkuk, exploring what it means to have "faithful doubt"—trusting God even when the world feels upside down. From Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" to the prophet's ancient cries of “How long, Lord?”, Pastor Dave reminds us that honest questions can grow seasoned faith. Like a cast iron pan refined by heat and oil, our faith is strengthened through life's trials and worshipful trust. Join us as we learn how to sing, wait, and believe—because God is still good, still sovereign, and still at work in times like these.

Sunday, November 9th | Beau Bradberry“And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly." – Daniel 9:15–Podcast: https://pod.link/willowridgechurchWebsite: https://willowridgechurch.orgInstagram: https://instagram.com/willowridgechurchFacebook: https://facebook.com/willowridgechurchYouTube: https://youtube.com/@willowridgechurch

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Collect O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament Job 19:23-27a Job said, "O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another." The Psalm Psalm 17:1-9 Exaudi, Domine 1 Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord; give heed to my cry; * listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips. 2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; * let your eyes be fixed on justice. 3 Weigh my heart, summon me by night, * melt me down; you will find no impurity in me. 4 I give no offense with my mouth as others do; * I have heeded the words of your lips. 5 My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; * in your paths my feet shall not stumble. 6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; * incline your ear to me and hear my words. 7 Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, * O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; * hide me under the shadow of your wings, 9 From the wicked who assault me, * from my deadly enemies who surround me. The Epistle 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. The Gospel Luke 20:27-38 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." Artwork: Road to North Beach by Lorraine Almeida (used with permission).  

November 9th, 2025, Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio To support the ministry of the church, please click here: https://groveportumc.org/give/ OPENING SONGS: “Open Our Eyes, Lord” WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING PRAYER: Dear God, we're glad to be here. Please hear our prayers, enjoy our songs, and teach us through Your Word. Make our hearts kind and our choices wise. As we learn what You want, help us follow Jesus at church, at school, at work, and at home. Help us listen. Help us love. Help us share. In Jesus' name, Amen. PRELUDE & LIGHTING ALTAR CANDLES “Onward Christian Soldiers” *HYMN: “God of the Ages” - #698 PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Benevolent God, we want to be wise investors; yet we confess that too often we invest our time, our talent, and our money foolishly. We invest in things thinking that things will give us security. When we come to worship we are reminded that Jesus came to give us abundant life, not to give us more stuff. In our better moments we know that stuff does not lead to eternal life; only a relationship with Jesus can do that. But we are anxious and foolish people. We confess of our myopic view of seeing the world through the lens of ourselves only. Heal us of our blindness and empower us with your vision of who we are and who we can become. Grant us the grace and courage to walk that narrow path which leads to you. Give us the courage of our convictions, O Lord of Life. Make us the people that you imagined at creation. Heal our lack of trust so that we may wholly and completely follow you as disciples of the Risen Lord. We genuinely desire to be your hands and feet in the world, so give us the volition to follow our hearts into a deeper relationship with you. Forgive us in all the places that we have fallen short and give us an enduring vision of the realm of God that we desire to serve. Help us learn to invest together and live as the gracious body of Christ in our community. In this and in everything we offer our prayers in the name of the one you sent to be our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE HYMN: “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” - #334 FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Proverbs 21:5 OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.) HYMN “Sanctuary” PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Medley - “America the Beautiful, God Bless the USA, Battle Hymn of the Republic” *DOXOLOGY *PRAYER OF DEDICATION CHILDREN'S MOMENTS (Children K-6th grade are invited to Jr. Church at this time). SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 6:19-21 SERMON “Save All You Can” *CLOSING HYMN: “Faith of Our Fathers” - #710 *BENEDICTION *SENDING FORTH: “As We Go” POSTLUDE “He Keeps Me Singing”

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

Morning lessons: Psalms 25; 2 Kings 22; Acts 12:25-13:12.  Unto you, O Lord, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in you; O let me not be ashamed, neither let my enemies triumph over me.

❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 135: www.ESV.org/Psalm135 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

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

Send us a textPsalm 30:12: "That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"Support the show

The Evergetinos continues to unveil through the lives of the saints the beauty and power of a heart freed from anger and the desire for vengeance. In the story of Saint Spyridon and the deceitful shipowner we see how divine simplicity disarms deceit. The Saint entrusted his gold to another with pure confidence and without suspicion, and when that trust was betrayed he did not rage or demand justice. Instead he allowed truth to reveal itself in silence. The emptiness of the box became the mirror of the man's soul, and the words of the Saint, spoken without bitterness, pierced him more deeply than any accusation. You are defrauding yourself, not me, he said. The gentleness of the holy man became the instrument of repentance. By leaving judgment to God and refusing anger, he brought a sinner back to truth and left a testimony of meekness that is stronger than any earthly power. Saint Evthymios the New of Madytos embodied the same spirit. When thieves broke into his church and desecrated what was sacred, he prevented others from punishing them and instead took them into his home. He fed them, freed them, and sent them away forgiven. The wrath of men would have destroyed them, but his mercy broke their hearts and restored them to life. Later when he found other men stealing wheat during a famine he did not rebuke them but joined in their labor, taking the place of the accomplice who had fled. The thief, seeing later who had helped him, was overcome with fear and awe. For Evthymios, compassion was the only response to human need. His heart was so formed by divine love that he no longer regarded anything as his own. He had been freed from the possessiveness that feeds anger and from the blindness that makes us see others as enemies. All these holy ones teach that freedom is born of meekness. Anger enslaves the heart to the one who offends it, while forgiveness releases the soul into the hands of God. To bear injustice without vengeance is not weakness but participation in the strength of Christ who on the cross asked forgiveness for His murderers. To the eyes of the world these men seem defeated, yet they are the victors in the only battle that matters, the struggle against the passions. O Lord, grant me this peace of the saints. When I am wronged, let me remember Saint Spyridon's quiet mercy, Saint Evthymios' compassion, and the Elders' serene acceptance. Let me not defend myself with anger or words but entrust all things to You who judge with truth. Let me see in every loss the chance to become poor in spirit, in every insult the seed of humility, in every theft the call to freedom. Teach me to bless those who wrong me and to keep my hope unshaken, for You alone are my refuge and my portion. May my only vengeance be love, my only wealth contentment, and my only victory the peace that comes from Your presence. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:03:12 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/blog 00:03:34 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 301, # 3 00:05:35 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/blog 00:07:52 iPhone (6): Just letting you know new participant Joan Chakonas has joined the group. 00:09:21 iPhone (6): I'll try to figure out how to change my id from “iphone6” if you see what I see 00:11:21 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/blog 00:13:09 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 301 section 3 00:16:13 Janine: Sensus fidelium has been around for a long time 00:16:26 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.philokaliaministries.org/blog 00:16:38 Janine: It started with FSSP priests 00:16:57 jonathan: Reacted to "https://www.philokal..." with ❤️ 00:17:01 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "It started with FSSP..." with

We want to hear from you! Submit your Thanksgiving Prayer or a short note of thanks! Your submissions could be featured on Your Daily Prayer as we lead up to Thanksgiving Day. Thank you again for your continued support—we can’t wait to hear from you! https://tinyurl.com/322k4xau There are times in our walk with God when His presence feels near — when prayer flows easily, Scripture feels alive, and worship fills our hearts with joy. But, as our daily prayer and devotional remind us, then come the harder seasons — the dry, weary days when God seems silent, and our hearts ache with loneliness. In today’s reflection, Sophia Bricker reminds us that even when God feels far away, His presence has never left us. Scripture gives voice to this struggle through the psalmists, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus Himself, who cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46). These moments of spiritual dryness are not signs of abandonment — they are invitations to deeper faith. When we face sorrow, sin, or suffering, we may feel distant from God, but faith reminds us that He remains close — “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). The Lord has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. His love does not depend on our emotions; it is steadfast, eternal, and unchanging. When God feels far, hold fast to what is true: He is near, and He will never leave you. Bible Reading:“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20, NIV Takeaway Truths: Feeling distant from God doesn’t mean He has left us — His presence is constant. Spiritual dryness is often an invitation to grow deeper in faith. God’s promises are greater than our emotions; His love never changes.