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"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations." Where should we go for help with decisions and difficulties of life? Where do you go to get help or counsel to take care of something that is broken and needs fixing? When my heating system quit working here in the middle of the winter, first I was thankful for some warm days. But fixing it was beyond my ability, so I went to the “experts” in the HVAC world. They immediately saw what the problem was and were able to repair the system. It was an expensive fix (over $1,100), but of course it was well worth it to have it working properly! My friend, when your life is broken and you are facing major or even minor decisions and you don't know what to do, you can always go to the One Who knows best and that is the LORD! The biggest decision you will actually make is who you are going to trust to give you the best counsel! And really you only have two choices. You can either trust the world and its ungodly counsel or you can trust the LORD and His Word to get “godly” wisdom and guidance! Remember the very first Psalm? “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly… but his delight is in the Law of the LORD and in His Law he meditates day and night…” (Psalm 1:1-3). There is no one who knows more about life than the One Who created it, and that's the LORD! Psalm 33 is a call to worship the LORD and it is very difficult to worship when you are disturbed, discouraged, depressed and emotionally distraught about things and life in general. That is why the Psalmist here is encouraging us to make sure we go to the LORD for our counsel. Because, “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.” This reminds me of 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” We worship and praise the LORD for His wonderful goodness and character, for His majestic creation, for His marvelous works, and for His powerful Word, but we must also thank and praise the LORD for the wisdom of His counsel (vv. 10-11). People with authority make decisions that affect the destinies of nations, and when God isn't permitted to rule, then He overrules; for His will shall be accomplished. He can turn the policies and plans of a nation into nothingness (Isa. 8:10; 19:3). The will of God for His children comes from the heart of God and is an expression of His love for them, so there is no cause for us to be alarmed or afraid (Jer. 29:11). What a privilege it is for Israel to be the people of God and the Lord's treasured inheritance (v. 12; and Ps. 28:9; 74:2; 78:62, 71; Deut. 4:20; 32:9). Today as His church we are His inheritance and the sheep of His pasture! When you are daily in His Word, and His Word is alive and working in you, and you are being cleansed by His Word and by confession of your sins, His counsel will always lead you in the right way. A couple of my favorite verses in Proverbs are: “A man makes his plans, but the LORD directs his steps….” “Man's goings are of the LORD, how then can a man understand his own way…” My friend, you can absolutely trust the LORD to give you the best counsel for every decision and difficulty you are facing in your life today! (Proverbs 3:5-6) God bless!

This glorious word means to bow down, to prostrate yourself before the One Who is greater.  It's a mindset rooted in trust, a determined choice that says, “Not my will, but yours be done”.

Many in our day do not remember the name of the fame of Sergeant Alvin C. York was the most famous soldier of World War I. Many people do not know that Alvin York single-handedly captured 132 German soldiers one day in France. York was the recipient of many great honors from several nations for his bravery in combat. However, Alvin C. York was a most unlikely man to become a legendary hero. York felt that his Christian faith barred him from killing anyone, even in war. After being drafted, York made it known that he was a conscientious objector; that he would not be able to kill other men.  He was sent home on a ten-day leave to think about his situation and to consider the scriptures a Christian captain had shared with him. York was promised that he would be dismissed from the Army if he still felt the same way when he returned. Finally in a crisis of faith, God showed York that he could obey God and defend the helpless in Europe at the same time. He wrote, “As I prayed there alone… I knew that He was there. He understood I didn't want to be a fighter or a killing man… He took pity on me and gave me the assurance I needed… It was His will and that was enough for me.” Sgt. York had to win the war in his mind before he could win the battles that lay ahead of him in the trenches of France. Alvin York had to yield to the Lordship of God in his life before he would ever become a great war hero. The same truth is seen in this passage. Israel is about to attack the city of Jericho. Before that battle, the leader of Israel, Joshua, goes out to inspect the site of the coming battle. On that important day, Joshua came face to face with the real leader of Israel. He had an encounter with One Who was far more powerful than he was. That day, outside the walled city of Jericho, The Leader Meets The Lord. When he did, Joshua was humbled, but he was also prepared for the battle that lay ahead. Let's look in on this special encounter between The Leader And The Lord.

As we begin to look at the passage in John 5, where Jesus healed the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, we'll see how everyone waiting to be healed at the pool of Bethesda, was placing their hope in the power of the water in the pool.  Instead, they should have been placing their faith in the One Who had Power at the Pool—Jesus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29Saint John the Baptist speaks these words about Jesus at the moment that he sees Jesus coming to him in the distance. John knew, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” He knew, by this interior revelation, that Jesus would become the Sacrificial Lamb Who would lay down His life for the salvation of the world. Perhaps John did not know the details of how this would happen, but he didn't need to. He was content knowing this sacred mission of the Messiah, and he was content knowing that Jesus was that Messiah.Today, as we ponder John's words, we are able to see them more clearly. Jesus is the One Who gave His life on the Cross for the remission of sins. He is the One Whom we now receive sacramentally in Holy Communion as that “Lamb of God.” It is His flesh and His blood, poured out for us, that we now consume with the deepest reverence and love.At Mass, these are the final words spoken by the priest after the consecration and prior to Holy Communion. Every time we participate in the Holy Mass, we relive this moment in which John saw our Lord coming to Him.As we begin this season of Ordinary Time, we are invited to come to know this Lamb of God more fully through His many teachings, miracles and actions done during His public ministry. In the Liturgy of the Word at every Mass, we are called to unpack these words of John, coming to understand the mystery of the life of Christ more fully. And through our participation in the reception of Holy Communion, we come to know Him Who is the Lamb of God in the most personal and intimate of ways, when we enter into holy union (Holy Communion) with Him.Reflect, today, upon these very familiar words of Saint John the Baptist. As you do, begin by prayerfully pondering the knowledge that John might have had about Christ the first time he saw Him. Why did John say these words? How fully did he understand their meaning? Did he know that his words would be echoed throughout time? As you prayerfully ponder the interior knowledge that John might have had at that time, try also to reflect upon all that we now know about these holy words. Reflect especially upon the suffering and death of the Lamb of God and the way in which He has transmitted His Saving Sacrifice to us in Holy Communion. What a gift! What a mystery! What a joy! Behold the Lamb of God within your heart, mind and soul, and prayerfully seek to know Him more fully this day.Glorious Lamb of God, You have come and taken away the sins of the world through the sacrifice of Your sacred life on the Cross. Please help me to understand Who You are and all that You have done for me, especially every time I come to behold You and receive You in Holy Communion. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

I've heard it said so many times (and said it myself), “oh, I guess all that's left to do is to pray”. It happens to all of us. We face a problem and the first thing we do is try to solve it the way we always have.  • We resolve to work harder • We think of who we can ask to help us  • We strive to make more money so the situation will be covered Then, when we've exhausted everything we know to do it's as if the thought occurs to us that the last thing on the list is to pray about it. Well, what if we flipped the script and prayer became the first thing we do? What if we went to the One Who has all the answers, and loves us enough to want to walk through the situation with us?!?! As you listen to or watch today's episode, I outline 3 practical Truths and steps to take in ANY situation that will draw you close to the One Who knows all, and wants to help prayer be your FIRST step. As always, Jesus is inviting you on an adventure today. Will you accept?   Come across and visit us at www.TheWaysOfWisdom.com

“God so loved the world,” but let us think of what all is embraced within His love for us? This broadcast expresses His love as the One Who came to fulfill the law, the Old Covenant and to bring forth the New Covenant. Let’s look at the purpose of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Mandeville, LA - Today is the day we celebrate the Feast of The Holy Family, given to us by God as The example to model our lives by and for the young to aspire to begin families in their image. In a world gone mad and given to the most hideous practices of "family-life" e.g. the obsession with helping 5 year olds to "transition", the Holy Family's example deservedly shines as a beacon to illuminate this age of familial sacrilege. The Holy Family by Juan Guiterrez The recognition of The Holy Family has roots that extend all the way back to the writing of the Gospels when Saint Luke tells us that after finding Our Lord in the temple “he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them”. Bishop Fulton Sheen. In his speech titled Obedience and Love, Bishop Fulton Sheen takes this passage and explains the beauty and humility of Our Lord and the holiness of his family as the greatest example there ever was. “What adds particular emphasis to the fact of His obedience was that Our Blessed Lord was subject to parents so much His inferiors --- even as a creature is far below a Creator. One day the sun in the heavens, in obedience to the voice of a Man, stopped in its course. So, obedient to the voice of Mary, the Light of the World submitted for thirty years --- I might almost say that it stopped in full midday to illumine, embrace, and enrich her for all eternity.” And that Our Lord was subject to the greatest model of fatherhood God ever created, the Bible's only “just man”, Saint Joseph. Bishop Sheen continues. “If Joseph ever bade Him search for a tool that was lost, it was the Wisdom of God and the Shepherd in search of lost souls who was actually doing the seeking. If Joseph taught Him carpentry, He Who was taught was One Who had carpentered the universe and Who would one day be put to death by the members of His own profession. If He made a yoke for the oxen of a neighbor, it was He Who would call Himself a yoke for men —-- and yet a burden that would be light.” Raimundo de Madrazo Garreta - The Holy Family I have spoken of the fact that the entire civilization of Man can be brought into existence and made to flourish through the Divine prose of the 4th Commandment, that is the Family, made Holy by God's Grace, contra the example of the Prince of this world; Bishop Sheen concurs. But there is no evidence that Jesus limited Mary and Joseph to the mere nominal right to command. The Gospel says: "He lived there in subjection to them." Two great miracles of humility and exaltation are involved --- God obeying a woman, and a woman commanding her God. The very fact that He makes Himself subject endows her with power. By this long span of voluntary obedience, He revealed that the Fourth Commandment is the bedrock of family life. For, looking at it in a larger way, how could the primal sin of disobedience against God be undone except by the obedience in the flesh of the very God Who was defied? The first revolt in God's universe of peace was the thunderbolt of Lucifer: "I will not obey!" Eden caught up the echo, and down the ages its infraction traveled, winging its way into the nook and crevices of every family where there were gathered a father, a mother, and a child. By making Himself subject to Mary and Joseph, the Divine Child proclaims authority in the home and in public life to be a power granted by God Himself. The Life of Saint Joseph, available in paperback! In her one of a kind work, Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B., The Life of Saint Joseph, Our Lord manifested revelation to Sister Cecilia about the life of Saint Joseph. In one of them, the fining of Our Lord in the temple is revealed in detail. The divine youth, meanwhile, had concluded his expositions. And everyone applauded. Jesus now hastened to his mother who was lovingly waiting for him, and who declared: “son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have sought you amid great sorrow.

“God so loved the world,” but let us think of what all is embraced within His love for us? This broadcast expresses His love as the One Who came to fulfill the law, the Old Covenant and to bring forth the New Covenant. Let's look at the purpose of the Old Testament and the New Testament. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1561/29

John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” John 1:32–34It's interesting to note that in the Gospel of John, Saint John the Baptist never baptized Jesus, as is depicted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Instead, in the Gospel of John, John the Baptist simply witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit from a distance, and then spoke the quoted line above. The next day, the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the “Lamb of God,” and two of his own disciples left the Baptist to follow Jesus.Why is there this apparent discrepancy between the Gospel of John and the three Synoptic Gospels? Though it's hard to answer that for certain, one thing that is made uniquely clear in the Gospel of John is that the Baptist was given a unique spiritual knowledge by the Father that Jesus was the “Lamb of God.” In this Gospel, the revelation of Who Jesus was did not take place in a way that everyone present heard and saw. Rather, John's Gospel focuses upon the interior realization that John the Baptist received from the One Who sent him. And the One Who sent him was the Father in Heaven.One spiritual truth worth pondering from the account of the Gospel of John read today is that the conviction and certainty given to the Baptist about Jesus' identity was so certain that he knew Who Jesus was beyond any shadow of a doubt. This personal revelation given to the Baptist changed his life. From that moment on, all he did was point people to Jesus.As you ponder this spiritual revelation about Jesus that the Baptist received from the Father in Heaven, consider for yourself what would be more convincing. Would it be more convincing to hear an audible voice from Heaven declare Who Jesus was? Or to receive this same knowledge through an interior and spiritual communication from the Father? If you believe that the former, the external and audible voice, would be more convincing, then you might want to pause and think again. The truth is that God's clearest and most certain form of communication to us is one that is internal. And even if there were an audible voice spoken from Heaven, as depicted in the Synoptic Gospels, that Voice would have to also be interiorly confirmed by faith in the hearts of the hearers so as to convince them on the deepest level.Reflect, today, upon the spiritual truth that God the Father wants to speak to you in the depths of your own soul so as to draw you into a certainty about Himself and all that He has spoken as true. Do you hear God speak? Have you allowed yourself to be convinced by His Voice? Listen to Him today and allow all that He speaks to you to become the source and goal of all that you say and do in life.Father in Heaven, You have revealed to me Who You are and Your plan for my life in many ways. And though You are always speaking to me, I acknowledge that I do not always listen. Please open my soul to You more fully so that I may come to faith and be certain of Your love and Your perfect will in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

If we want to share personally in Christ's restoration and fulfillment of the human person in God's image and likeness, we must cut off from our hearts and minds all that would separate us from embracing the great mystery of the One Who was circumcised in the flesh on the eighth day.

If we want to experience true blessedness in life, we need to be -people of the Book-- --In Psalm 1, we are shown that God actually wants to bless us - not with a health and wealth kind of blessing, but with a deep spiritual blessing. He has given us His precious Word to be our standard of truth and morality, so that we do not need to rely for counsel on scoffers and situational ethics. It is useful for combatting Satan, just as Jesus did- and it is profitable for our souls to meditate on it morning and evening. On every page of Scripture, we meet with Jesus- He calls us to be faithful, and He is the One Who brings forth fruit in our lives. --What are some practical helps for reading the Bible- Pick a reading plan that will help you work through the Bible, but avoid legalism. Be honest about the time commitment that you will be able to make, or you will set yourself up for failure. Read the Bible together as a family, as well as personally- And it's okay to use technological helps to assist you, too. No matter what, though, choose a plan, a time, and a place - and stick to it until it's a habit. If you find that you struggle with consistency, read the Bible together with someone to help keep you accountable. And even if you failed last year, don't worry about it- The Lord wipes away our failures and invites us to seek His blessing anew this year. Open the Word and find Jesus there, and He will bring fruit to your life-

“I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”  John 1:26–27Now that our Christmas Octave is completed, we immediately begin to look toward the future ministry of our Lord. In our Gospel today, Saint John the Baptist is the one who points us to that future ministry of Jesus. He acknowledges his mission to baptize with water is one that is temporary and only a preparation for the One Who is coming after him.As we saw in several of our Advent readings, Saint John the Baptist is a man of great humility. His admission that he is not worthy to untie even Jesus' sandal straps is proof of this fact. But ironically, it is this humble admission that makes him so great!Do you want to be great? Deep down we all do. This desire goes hand in hand with our innate desire for happiness. We want our lives to have meaning and purpose, and we want to make a difference. The question is “How?” How do you do this? How do you achieve true greatness?From a worldly perspective, greatness can often become synonymous with success, riches, power, admiration from others, etc. But from a divine perspective, greatness is achieved by humbly giving God the greatest glory we can with our lives.Giving God all the glory has a double effect upon our lives. First, doing so allows us to live in accord with the truth of life. The truth is that God and God alone deserves all our praise and glory. All good things come from God and God alone. Second, humbly giving God all the glory and pointing to the fact that we are unworthy of Him has the reciprocal effect of God reaching down and elevating us to share in His life and His glory.Reflect, today, upon your calling to imitate the humility of Saint John the Baptist. Never shy away from humbling yourself before the greatness and glory of God. Doing so will not demean you or hamper your greatness. Rather, only in the deepest humility before the glory of God is God able to draw you into the greatness of His very life and mission.Lord, I give all glory and praise to You and You alone. You are the source of all good; without You I am nothing. Help me to continually humble myself before You so that I may share in the glory and greatness of Your life of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a   Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos   00:00 Why show the brothers the bris mila?   2:50 What is the Torah's perspective on Open AI?   10:45 How did the brothers not know he was an Ivri when all Egypt knew?   12:19 Why is there no archaeological evidence of the Israelite presence in Egypt?   17:48 What are some halachos of trimming the beard?   21:14 Did the Nazis learn from the Egyptians? Who was worse: Pharaoh or Hitler?   24:38 Why should the School in Heaven allow Levi back in, just because Shmuel asked?   28:29 What is the origin of the "Jewish mother" stereotype, and does it have significance?   34:55 Why should it be that the most assimilated Jews celebrate Chanukah? Why are all exiles mentioned in Maoz Tzur?   44:45 How is there machlokes in the Mishnah, since the Sanhedrin still existed at that time?   48:17 Why does God need to mention the Exodus after He revealed Himself at Har Sinai?   52:47 Why did the Sages have to destroy Rabbi Eliezer's vessels in front of him?   54:28 Why are we thanking Hashem for taking us out of Egypt when He's the One Who put us there?   1:00:36 Have our Rabbanim made themselves unreliable to determine who the Moshiach is?   1:05:45 What is a person allowed to do before davening in the morning?   1:07:51 What does it mean that animals sing pesukim?   1:12:29 What signs might the Moshiach provide to prove to us, in the same way that Moshe had signs?   1:13:47 Is King Saul's "ruach ra" a violation of free will?   1:18:56 What are the halachos of yoga?   1:24:01 For a better relationship with a non-Jewish relative, what can one say and do on their holidays?   1:27:04 How does Har haBayis have kedushah of the shechinah if the shechinah left with the people?   1:31:22 Can one celebrate Thanksgiving?   1:33:59 What's the connection of the brothers' crying to the destructions of the Mishkan and the Beis haMikdash?   1:37:06 Why did the ring specifically say "This too shall pass"?   1:37:32 Why are there many Jews who dress like Polish nobility or like American businessmen?   1:39:31 How could one "reject" certain Midrashim?   1:41:35 What level of control does a neighborhood have within its borders, halachically?   1:43:39 Do we have a pronunciation for the Tetragrammaton, and when should it be pronounced?   1:47:31 How can there be chiddushim if Hashem gave the whole Torah to Moshe?   1:49:50 What is the source for holding the thumb during havdalah?   1:50:13 What is Sheol and why does Yaakov say he's going there?   You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ ohr.edu  PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

The Christmas season can be a dangerous time! No, I am not referring to shopping at Wal-Mart, although you are taking your life into your hands when you go there during this time of year. I am talking about the Christmas story. There is a danger that we can hear it so often that it become too familiar. There is a danger that we will lose the significance of the message because we are too familiar with it. Every year we tell the same stories told in the same ways. We talk about shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. If we are not careful this annual handling of this precious truth might just cause us to take it for granted.  We know all the details and if we are not careful, our familiarity with the Christmas story can cause us to overlook just how amazing the story really is. So today, I want to challenge you to see it again for the first time. Let's begin with the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ. To whom does God announce the birth of His Son? To whom would you expect the announcement to go? We could see how God might choose to announce the birth of Christ to Herod the king. We could see how he would want to announce the birth in a splendid ceremony in the Temple led by the High Priest. But we have trouble understanding why he would choose a ragtag band of shepherds. The announcement of the birth of the Son of God is not made to a king in a palace. It is not made to a priest in as temple. It is not made to the wealthy, to the movers and the shakers, or to the most important people in the land. The announcement of the birth of the Messiah; of the One Who would grow up to die on a cross for the sins of the lost, was made to a group of shepherds. At best the shepherds were common, ordinary men. They were not the social elite. At worst, they were vile, dirty men, who were, for the most part, social and religious outcasts. Most likely these shepherds were tending their sheep just outside of Bethlehem. By all accounts, they were tending sheep being that were being raised for use in the sacrifices down at the Temple in Jerusalem. They were the last group of people that you would expect God to make this kind of an announcement to. They were the very group of men that was chosen to hear the glorious news of the Savior's birth.    

18DEC22 (22aA4). Christmas is naturally good, but it is also supernatural. In the midst of all the natural goodness let us remember the supernatural good. He comes to reveal Himself, but we can never fully comprehend his mystery, but we can always ponder and meditate. JESUS   Manifest Infirmity, wondrous Humility, in which all the greatness of God lay hidden: He is both great in the nature of God and small in the form of a servant. But His greatness is not diminished by His smallness, nor His smallness overwhelmed by His greatness. He Himself with the Father and the Holy Spirit precedes all spans of time, but on this day, issuing from His mother, He stepped into the tide of the years.   * * * * *   He who made man, was made Man; He was given existence by a mother whom He brought into existence. He finds no room in the inn, but He builds a temple for Himself in the hearts of those who believe. Unspeakably wise, He is wisely speechless; filling the world, He lies in a manger. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes, but He gives us a garment of immortality. John the Baptist baptized Christ, the Giver of Baptism, in waters made holy by the One Who was baptized.   * * * * *   In Him we see our God made visible, and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see. He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay. Such is the love of our God! Then let us be kindled with love, that we may come to His eternity!   By Marie E. Barfknecht

It is the holiday season, which means you will most likely be receiving at least one Amazon gift card! In this short Christmas special, I present six books, three written about the Bible and the church and three written about politics and economics, that shaped my political worldview and led me to a uniquely Christian version of libertarianism. Below is the list, with Amazon links for your convenience. Happy reading, and merry Christmas! Are You the One Who is to Come?  by Mike Bird: https://a.co/d/dBD49ywThe King Jesus Gospel by Scott McKnight: https://a.co/d/7qSxDgEThe Politics of Witness by Allan Bevere: https://a.co/d/hYw3xO5Economic Facts and Fallacies by Thomas Sowell: https://a.co/d/70aieGxThe Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek: https://a.co/d/5kq85GSEnough Already by Scott Horton: https://a.co/d/3O9tehv

A Paradox is not two doctors!a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.There are many such things in the Gospel: “Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.” Luke 17:33 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”” Luke 6:38. The King of a Kingdom that is not of this world. Love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you. The first shall be last. Drink the water I give you and you will never thirst again. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,”1 Peter 5:6 Messiah – Christmas is another paradox: that is why there are so many festivities that have nothing to do with the Messiah but just having a good time.  Cashing in on generosity! Many just don't comprehend the paradox.Is the Messiah is God?  That is a paradox.  A God who is born? How can someone 750 years before Christ be able to prophecy that the Messiah could be both God and man?  This Messiah who comes to deliver is God himself? But this is what makes Christianity unique among religions: God comes to us because we are unable to come to him.  Our concepts and understanding of God(s) are so warped and confused.  Mixed with our own imaginations and our own ideas, thoughts, knowledge we assume things that we may have heard here and there and thrown together. Here in America as well as in the rest of the world we make assumptions and twist the Bible to make it fit our desires.  God is love and he loves me regardless of what I do, who I am, and what I say.  That is only a partial truth about love.  He is greatly concerned, not just about our morals, but also our attitudes, character, and behavior. God is greater than we think he is!MightyInteresting adjective. Not Powerful God, not dominant, forceful, potent, dominant, but mighty. This becomes particularly poignant when we see the Government on his shoulders.  Might is right. Wars continue to prove that the big guy wins. Our concept of might just might not coincide with that of Jesus.  He claims to be meek.  Meekness is power under control. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 Now Mighty can have two different reactions:Mighty to judge – creating fear the the One who is coming to judge the world in righteousnessMighty to save: grace and mercy, love and forgiveness How do you choose? Imagine all is OK, or do you repent and receive the gift of God today?“Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”” Acts2:11NASB2020““For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. “And His mercy is to generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.”Luke1:49-50NASB2020““Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone; He is mighty in strength of understanding.”Job36:5NASB2020“Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.”Psalms24:8NASB2020“For this is what the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, says: “I dwell in a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”Isaiah57:15NASB2020“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Matthew11:29NASB2020“‘Oh, Lord God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows mercy to thousands, but repays the wrongdoing of fathers into the laps of their children after them, great and mighty God. The Lord of armies is His name; great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of mankind, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;”Jeremiah32:17-19NASB2020“Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, the One who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save.””Isaiah63:1NASB2020““You will also suck the milk of nations, And suck the breast of kings; Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”Isaiah60:16NASB2020 

Judgment and love are opposites. From one Come all the sorrows of the world. But from The other comes the peace of God Himself.Forgiveness looks on sinlessness alone, and judges not. Through this I come to You. Judgment will bind my eyes and make me blind. Yet love, reflected in forgiveness here, reminds me You have given me a way to find Your peace again. I am redeemed when I elect to follow in this way. You have not left me comfortless. I have within me both the memory of You, and One Who leads me to it. Father, I would hear Your Voice and find Your peace today. For I would love my own Identity, and find in It the memory of You.- Jesus Christ in A Course in Miracles, Lesson 352

When we decide to go back to the gym as part of our new Year's resolutions

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether Today we will read Psalm chapter 2, verses 1-4 and then 10-12. They say, “Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and His Anointed One: ‘Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.' … So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling. Pay homage to the Son or He will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion, for His anger may ignite at any moment. All those who take refuge in Him are happy.” There's a lot here. Not the first of which is that this Psalm, the second Psalm, so obviously points to the LORD's “Anointed One” - the Son. The One to receive the nations as His inheritance? Sound familiar? Sound like Jesus? Should we be surprised? All of scripture, if you're willing to see it, is pointing to Him. The nations are His. But you, like so many grieving prophets before you, might be lamenting that as you look around, speak with friends, speak with family, engage people on social media, watch the news…that so many, seemingly the majority at times, ignore, malign, and disregard God, or at least His design and rule. Many are quote “tearing off their chains and freeing themselves from their restraints.” In the effort to achieve freedom they rebel against the very One Who can give true freedom. And the Lord responds in a way we may not like. He laughs. He ridicules and mocks. He is angry. And like a pile of wood which before the fire was cool to the touch and seemingly unmoved forever, suddenly the spark ignites and the heat is unbearable. And there is a promise to the faithful. Unlike the rebels who will encounter the Lord's wrath, those who take refuge in Him, are…safe? Secure? Morally affirmed? No - they are happy. Do you want to be happy? In closing, notice who the warning is aimed at. It's the kings - the rulers. They are the ones actively throwing off God's restraints. Are you a king or a ruler? If not, recognize then that your capacity to influence is limited. Do not fret or take ownership for something that is not yours. Pray for your rulers - pray for your kings. But you do rule something. At the very least you rule yourself. Your business. Your home or family. You may help oversee an organization. Take the warning then in verses 10-12. Be wise, receive instruction, serve the Lord with awe. Pay homage - literally - kiss the Son - worship. The warning is stern if you don't - you will perish in your rebellion. So don't rebel - don't perish. Take refuge in Him and be happy. God, I choose to take ownership of what's mine. I don't want to refuse You or Your rule over me. You are the King and I take refuge in You. Show me how to do that and what it means for me.

Now the name Jehovah is filled with meaning. In our English Bible it is either translated LORD or GOD when used with Adonai Jehovah – (Lord GOD). It is also pronounced Yahweh. This name comes from the Hebrew verb hayah, which signifies “to be” or “to become”. When translated in the first person, it becomes as in Exodus 3:14 - “I Am,” said twice. “I Am that I Am”. The name LORD, therefore, points to the God who is continuously becoming – “the Self-Existing One.” G. Campbell Morgan – defined Jehovah as, “The Becoming One – that is the One Who becomes to His people all that they need!” Some interpret the name LORD as containing two truths in one name. The first meaning is: “the One who exists in Himself.” The second is: “the One who reveals Himself.” The Jews well knew the significance of this great Name. When Jesus stood before them and said, "Before Abraham was I AM," (John 8:58), they knew He was claiming to be God, in the absolute sense of the word. He was claiming that the Jesus of the New Testament was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. So it is interesting that this great chapter begins with the compound name of Jehovah which is Jehovah-Rohi. Jehovah-Rohi combines the personal name of God, Yahweh (or Jehovah), with the descriptive name of God, Rohi or Ro‘i, meaning, “my Shepherd.” Elsewhere God is simply called the Shepherd. The root word is ra‘ah which means to feed and tend domestic animals by pasturing them. This name speaks of God caring for His people in practical ways as well as providing spiritual sustenance. There are at least seven more compound names of Jehovah in the Old Testament that are reflected in the contents of this Psalm. "I shall not want", tells us that the LORD is Jehovah-Jireh, which means “in the mount it shall be seen that the Lord will provide". We learn of this name in Genesis 22:14 where God on Mt. Moriah provided Abraham a substitute ram to sacrifice instead of his son Isaac. “He leads me beside still waters", speaks of Jehovah-Shalom, Who is "the Lord our peace". When the LORD ask Gideon to attack the enemy with 300 men and Gideon was afraid, He revealed Himself to him by this name of Jehovah. This is found in Judges 6:24. "He restores my soul" informs us that the LORD is Jehovah-Rophe, "the Lord who heals". The LORD reveal Himself by this name to Israel at the bitter waters of Marah in the wilderness in Exodus 15:26. There Moses was told by God to cut down a tree and throw it into the bitter water and immediately it became sweet and drinkable. "He leads me in paths of righteousness", helps us to understand that the LORD is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, "the Lord our righteousness". This name of Jehovah is found in Jeremiah 33:16 where the LORD promises to save and redeem His people and become their salvation. "You are with me" reflects the name Jehovah-Shammah, "the Lord is there". We read about this name in Ezekiel 48:35, when the LORD restores the temple and once again dwells in the midst of His people. "In the presence of my enemies", assures us that the LORD is "Jehovah-Nissi, "the Lord our banner". This name is found in Exodus 17:15 where when LORD is lifted up, He gives victory to His people. "You anoint my head with oil", reminds us that the LORD is Jehovah-M'Kaddesh, "the Lord who sanctifies". We see this name in Leviticus 20:8, where the LORD sets apart His people and makes them holy through the sacrificial blood. I pray today that you will worship the LORD in a fresh and new way as you trust Him to be all you need. Today He is saying to you and me, “I AM your ____________.” You fill in the blank! God bless!

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. The other day we mentioned how Psalm 23 could be divided into three parts. The secret of a happy life (vv. 1-3), the secret of a happy death (vv. 4-5), and the secret of a happy future (v. 6). Today we want to talk about the secret of a happy life. A happy life is a blessed life. God wants us to be happy, despite what we might think because of the circumstances and pain in our life that has caused so much unhappiness. The Book of Psalms begins with the word “blessed”. Jesus begin His first recorded message with the word “blessed” (Matthew 5:3-11). The word “blessed” basically means happy! God wants us to enjoy life and the world He created for us to live in! Years ago there was a radio program called, “Happiness is a Choice”. My friend, when we make the choice to follow the Lord Jesus Christ as the Shepherd of our lives He will definitely lead us in the green pastures where we will find abundant satisfaction. In Psalm 22, David compared the enemy to animals that are clever and strong (22:12-16, 21), but in this Psalm, he pictured God's people as lowly sheep. Why? So we would learn about the Shepherd and see how tenderly He cares for us. Several commentators have said that sheep are “stupid” or “dumb” animals. Sheep are defenseless animals that are prone to get lost, and they need almost constant care. You can't drive sheep, as you do cattle; they must be led. The eastern shepherds know their sheep by name and can call them and they will come. Jesus spoke about this in John 10:1-28. “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (vv. 2-3). “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (v.9). “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand (vv. 27-28). Especially in the days of Christ, the sheep were kept, not for food but for wool, milk, and reproduction. When Passover would come on the Jewish calendar thousands of Jews from all over the world would come to Jerusalem to observe and participate in it. Each family would need a sheep or lamb to sacrifice for the ceremony. They tell us that literally as many as 250,000 sheep would be sacrifice during this time. The sheep were being basically raised to be sacrificed for the shepherd. But when Jesus came, He was the Shepherd who would be sacrifice for the sheep! Because He is the only One Who could pay our sin debt, He is the only Door into eternal life. Eternal life is not a future event but a present experience for anyone who will trust the Lord Jesus to be their Savior and Shepherd! Yes, the secret to a happy life is to know the Shepherd's voice and make the choice to follow Him into “green pastures”. Will you do this today? God bless!

Luke 2:1-7 John 6:35 Your comfort food Your nourishing meal One Who and what you become Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether https://www.seekGodtogether.com Today we will read Romans 13:1-2. These verses say, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.” Someone is always mad after an election. Maybe everyone is mad. One side thinks the other is cheating, or stupid, or worse. We look at our politicians like demigods who will fight our battles and champion our values. So it feels like a personal loss when our side loses. But how many times have you noticed that even when your side wins, the fruit of that candidate rarely meets the expectations you had? And so we pray on our knees that things will go the way we believe they should. And we rejoice when they do and dread when they don't. And yet over all of it looms the only One Who matters at all. Of course - God Himself. Paul isn't presenting a distant God. As though we need to petition Him into action. Beg Him for attention. Intervene lest we elect the wrong person. No - God has placed these rulers into the positions they're in. Not only the authority themselves, but the office they hold is from God. This alone should be a huge weight off our shoulders. We all have our political opinions but lack the power to make it happen. But God does. So rest in it. It's probably a good thing you're not the king. But then what? How do we act? How do we speak? Paul tells us. Don't resist. Don't fight. But didn't Paul? Didn't Paul appeal to Caesar? He spoke up. Yes he did. He was bold in his defense of Christ. He was bold in his defense of truth. But he wasn't physically violent. He didn't protest. And he didn't attack the individual. Eventually Paul would be thrown into prison. According to tradition, he would be beheaded by the same governing authorities to which he encourages us to submit. Of course this raises protests. Should more have resisted Hitler, or Stalin? Of course! Am I saying they were instituted by God? I don't know - I can only receive this passage as it is. Without jumping to extremes, let's generally accept that God is in control even over the worst of leaders. We can follow Paul's example, or Boenhoffer's for that matter. Do what's right, even suffer for doing good. The world billions of times over is better for the good because of Paul. But for today, relax. However you hoped the most recent election would have gone, God is bigger. That candidate - they're just human. Make your requests to God. The politician is almost entirely incapable of helping you. Have an open posture of Christ-like submission so that you can be blessed. Breathe deep. Enjoy the day. Empires rise and fall. God is in control of it all. So go to Him. Well God, where is my faith? If it's in our political system then I'm in trouble. I'll remind myself today that You're the King. You're the true ruler and I'm glad You are. Bring Your Kingdom here - let me be a part. Help me live as You would have me live. I love You.

I have stood by the bed of hundreds of dear people at the hospital or in their home, ministering to them and their family in their time of sickness, and often as they are passing into eternity. I would quote Psalm 23 and watch as the Lord would fill the room with His presence and comfort that comes from this wonderful passage that assures us of His loving care and His promise to be with us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death! This Psalm never grows old and the more you read it, meditate on it, the more you love it and desire to read it again and again! Someone said you could divide this Psalm into three parts. The Great Shepherd is One Who can take care of our frailty (vv. 1-3). The Great Shepherd is One Who can take care of our foes (vv. 4-5). The Great Shepherd is One Who can take care of our future (v. 6). A great Bible commentator was going through the Bible of his dear deceased mother and found where she had written these words over Psalm 23. “This is where you will find the secret of a happy life, the secret of a happy death, and the secret of a happy future.” What a great way to look at this Psalm! Throughout Scripture, God uses the image of the shepherd and his sheep to teach us about the care of our heavenly Father for us. The first person ever born on earth, Abel, was a shepherd. Genesis 4:2 tell us “Abel was a keeper of the sheep…”. He was also the first person ever killed because of His close relationship with God. I'm sure this would be a great message because from the very beginning God was giving us a picture of a coming Messiah Who would be killed because of His willingness to do His Father's will. The patriarchs of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were shepherds. Moses spent forty years caring for his father-in-law's sheep, and David, Israel's greatest king, served his father as a shepherd. The whole background of both the Old and New Testaments is built around an agriculture culture and community that existed in those times. So, it is no wonder that God would use this image of the shepherd and the sheep to illustrate so many powerful lessons for us. It is something that especially the people of Bible times would understand. Then there is the image of God as Israel's shepherd that begins in Genesis 48:15, where Jacob said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day”. Jacob calls God his Shepherd again in Genesis 49:24, and this image continues throughout Scripture (Psalms 28:9; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10; Matthew 10:6; 15:24; Mark 6:34). The promised Messiah was seen as a shepherd in the prophecy of Ezekiel 34:11-25. “For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. "As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.” You can also see this picture again in Micah 5:4; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 2:6; 26:3; Mark 14:27. In John 10:1-18, Jesus Himself proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep! It is my prayer that this Shepherd Psalm will come alive with meaning for us over the next few days! God bless!

The Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).  Our faith grows as we learn who God truly is. Just one look, even a glance at Psalm 144 will fill your heart with such confidence in God and assurance that God is able that you will easily be transformed to  walk by “faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).  In part 4 of this 5 part series on The Characteristic Roles of God, come take a journey with Kim through the scriptures focusing on Psalms 144 and let the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Listen Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube | Podbean Quotable Kim-isms “After salvation, when we are delivered from our sin, Jesus continues to be our deliverer.” “As Christians, we need to make sure that our plan syncs up with God's plan.” “Jesus walks above the issues.” “God preserves us by wrapping us in His love and holding us with His might.” “Faith will protect us from desperation, depression, and from the lies of the enemy.” “The lies of the enemy can be rendered harmless by faith.” “Call on the One Who has never lost a battle.” Mentioned in this Episode Psalm 34:4  Psalm 118:8 Psalm 70:5  Daniel 6:27  II Timothy 4:18  Psalm 28:7  Psalm 84:11  Proverbs 30:5  Ephesians 6:16  Social | Facebook | Instagram This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. For more information and to engage with Woman at the Well Ministries, visit us at http://www.watwm.org or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/watwm. 

"Christmas is not just a time for family and penalty rates, prawns and backyard cricket. Santa teaches us it's a confronting celebration of the One Who has the power to shatter false religions and calibrate cultures..." FULL TEXT: https://GoodSauce.news/3-lessons-christmas-teaches-culture

November 28-December We've been studying the Old Testament all year and now we are coming upon prophets that we know little about. These three prophets: Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, likely contemporaries with our friend Lehi, may be deemed by some as only prophets of doom, but, as the Lord always does, before there is imminent destruction of a people who have rejected His commandments, He sends His servants the prophets to warn them and invite them to come to the only One Who can keep them safe: Jesus Christ Himself. Let's look together today at the Lord's everlasting ways and explore some thoughts about justice and mercy.

And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land. Matthew 9:30–31Who is Jesus? This question is much more easily answered today than it was at the time Jesus walked the Earth. Today we are blessed with countless saints who have gone before us who have prayerfully and intelligently taught much about the person of Jesus. We know Him to be God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Savior of the World, the promised Messiah, the Sacrificial Lamb and so much more.The Gospel above comes from the conclusion of the miracle in which Jesus healed two blind men. These men were overwhelmed with their cure, and their emotion overtook them. Jesus instructed them to “See that no one knows about this” miraculous healing. But their excitement could not be contained. It's not that they were intentionally disobedient to Jesus; rather, they did not know how else to express their sincere gratitude other than to tell others about what Jesus had done.One reason Jesus told them not to tell others about Him is because Jesus knew they did not fully understand Who He was. He knew that their testimony about Him would fail to present Him in the way that was most truthful. He was the Lamb of God. The Savior. The Messiah. The Sacrificial Lamb. He was the One Who came into this world to redeem us by the shedding of His blood. Many of the people, however, wanted a nationalistic “messiah” or a miracle worker alone. They wanted one who would save them from political oppression and make them a great earthly nation. But this was not Jesus' mission.Oftentimes we can also fall into the trap of misunderstanding Who Jesus is and Who He wants to be in our lives. We can want a “god” who will save us only from our daily struggles, injustices and temporal difficulties. We can want a “god” who acts in accord with our will and not vice versa. We want a “god” who will heal us and free us of every earthly burden. But Jesus taught clearly throughout His life that He would suffer and die. He taught us that we must take up our own crosses and follow Him. And He taught us that we are to die, embrace suffering, offer mercy, turn the other cheek, and find our glory in that which the world will never understand.Reflect, today, upon whether Jesus would caution you about speaking too loudly about your vision of Who He is. Do you struggle with presenting a “god” who is not actually God? Or have you come to know the very Person of Christ our Lord to such an extent that you are able to give witness to Him Who died. Do you boast only in the Cross? Do you proclaim Christ crucified and preach only the deepest wisdom of humility, mercy and sacrifice? Recommit yourself to a true proclamation of Christ, setting aside any and all confused images of our saving God.My true and saving Lord, I commit myself to You and pray that I will come to know and love You as You are. Give me the eyes I need to see You and the mind and heart I need to know and love You. Remove from me any false vision of Who You are and replace within me a true knowledge of You, my Lord. As I come to know You, I offer myself to You so that You may use me to proclaim Your greatness to all. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2022 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This world tells us to do what we please, but that only leads us to enslavement to the flesh. God is the only One Who can truly do what He pleases. Bible Reading: Psalms 135-138 Verse of the day: Psalm 135:6, "The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." Word of the day: Pleases. It is the Hebrew word:  חָפֵץ (khaw-fates').

Matthew begins his Gospel by sharing the genealogy of Jesus. He feels the need to prove that Jesus is a Son of Abraham and a Son of David. Luke begins by talking about the events which lead up to the birth of the Lord Jesus. John's Gospel starts out in eternity past reminding us that Jesus is God in the flesh. Mark does not start out by talking about the Lord's heritage or His birth. Mark's desire is to present Jesus as a servant and a servant does not need a genealogy. Mark begins by jumping right into the action. Mark's first sentence serves as a title to the book and it serves to plunge us immediately into the earthly ministry of Jesus. Mark is going to share with his readers the good news concerning who Jesus is and what He did while He was here. Mark calls the Lord “Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. The name “Jesus” is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name “Joshua”. It means “Jehovah is Salvation”. Jesus is a human name and it reveals the reason Jesus came into this world. Jesus came into this world to save lost sinners, Matt. 1:21; Luke 19:10. The name “Jesus” declares His Person. He is called “Christ”. This identifies Jesus as the “Jewish Messiah”, or “the Anointed One”. The name “Christ” declares His Position. Jesus is pictured as the One Who will deliver His people from their enemies. Then Mark raises the stakes. He calls Jesus “the Son of God”. Mark lets us know in very clear terms that he is writing about a man, Who is no ordinary man. He is writing about a man Who is God in the flesh, John 1:1, 14. The name “Son of God” declares His Power. So, this title declares four important truths regarding Jesus. 1.  He is truly human – He has a human name – Jesus. 2.  He is truly divine – He is the promised Messiah. He is the Son of God. 3.  He is truly unique – He is both humanity and deity in one Person. 4.  He is the true source of Good News – Jesus alone is the source of salvation! We have Mark's introduction of the book that bears his name. Let's begin the process of moving through these verses. We will consider the beginning of the ministry of Jesus as Mark writes about the man who was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today we are going to take a few moments to look at the ministry of John the Baptist.

Young Min Maya is beaten by her own mother for accepting Jesus, but she remains faithful to the One Who has saved and healed her.

Advent means the coming of someone, one who was expected. What is the nature of God towards us; this One Who heard our cry and came to deliver us? Today we look at the words of God through the Prophet Jeremiah to hear the heart and thoughts of our Deliverer. "For I know the thoughts I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not affliction: you shall call upon me and I will bring you out of captivity." - Jeremiah 29. Advent is a season in which God gives us grace that stirs up within us the cry for His deliverance in our lives. Come, Lord, Advent here and delivered us.

Sunday Morning. November 20, 2022. Pastor Tim Cruse.   From Psalm 103:1-3, 11-16, we see why we must bless the One Who has blessed us.

I merely follow, for I would not lead. Father, You are the One Who gave the plan for my salvation to me. You have set the way I am to go, the role to take, and every step in my appointed path. I cannot lose the way. I can but choose to wander off a while, and then return. Your loving Voice will always call me back, and guide my feet aright. My brothers all can follow in the way I lead them. Yet I merely follow in the way to You, as You direct me and would have me go. So let us follow One Who knows the way. We need not tarry, and we cannot stray except an instant from His loving hand. We walk together, for we follow Him. And it is He Who makes the ending sure, and guarantees a safe returning home.- Jesus Christ in A Course in Miracles, Lesson 324

The God Who created us wants us to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. Psalm 19 is one of the best passages in the Bible that helps to find and know that there is a God, but it also teaches us how we can experience Him as our personal LORD. In the first six verses, David tells us how creation speaks and tells us there is a God of glory. This is what we call general revelation. Then in verses 7-11, David speaks of God's specific or special revelation, His Word, that tells us Who God is and enables us to experience the God of creation personally. The revelation of God in creation is truly wonderful, but it is limited when it comes to manifesting the attributes of God and His purposes for creation. Following the fall of man, creation has been subjected to futility and bondage (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:20-22), so we need something that reveals more clearly the attributes and character of God. That "something" is the inspired Word of God. In verse 1, when David wrote about creation, he used the name Elohim for God. “The heavens declare the glory of God – (Elohim)”. We are introduced to God by this name Elohim in Genesis 1. This name Elohim is used some 33 times in the very first chapter of the Bible that reveal's God's great power as He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. But here in Psalm 19:7-11, when David wrote about God's Word, he used the "covenant" name LORD seven times, which is the English translation of “Jehovah”. No doubt, this is because the God of creation is also the God of personal revelation to His people. Israel was a very special nation, chosen by God to receive His law, covenants, and promises (Rom. 9:4). "He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation" (Psalm 147:19-20). Jehovah is also pronounced Yahweh. This name comes from the Hebrew verb hayah, which signifies “to be” or “to become”. When translated in the first person, it becomes as in Exodus 3:14, “I Am,” said twice. “I Am that I Am”. This the way God introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush. The name LORD, therefore, points to the God who is continuously becoming – “the Self-Existing One.” G. Campbell Morgan defined it as, “The Becoming One – that is the One Who becomes to His people all that they need!” Some interpret the name LORD as containing two truths in one name. The first meaning is: “the One who exists in Himself.” The second is: “the One who reveals Himself.” Jesus declared Himself to be Jehovah in John 8:58 when he said: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Jesus is the Great I AM! Jesus said, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:6) Yes, my friend, the heavens declare God's glory, but the Scriptures tell us what God did so that we may share in that glory. There is no conflict between what God does in His universe and what He says in His Word. It was by His Word that He created the worlds (Psalm 33:6-9), and it is by His Word that He controls the worlds (Psalm 33:11; 148:8). In verses 7-11, David recorded six different names for God's Word, six attributes of the Word, and six ministries of the Word in the lives of those who receive it and obey it. We will be looking at these powerful words of encouragement over the next few days! God bless!

In the beginning of this chapter, there are serious spiritual forces that are in conflict. Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee and meets a man who was possessed by a demon. He was unconquerable and untameable. When this man meets Jesus, he bows down - not because he loved Him, but because he had come in contact with Someone mightier than himself. Jesus commands the legion of demons to cease their torment of the poor demoniac- and they then continue their reign of chaos, terror, and death on the herd of pigs nearby. --What a testimony of Jesus' love for this man- He let 2000 pigs die because he valued the life and soul of the one man who was now freed forever from the power of the devil- --Of course, the local population was upset about the loss of their pigs and they responded to Jesus with fear. Even though they saw the demoniac now in his right mind, they just wanted Jesus to leave and go away before He cost them any more financial loss. --But the man whom Jesus had rescued from the devil wanted to go with Him- However, Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends and family the good news of what He had done for him. --Have you come in contact with the One Who can change everything about your life- Don't let the memory fade- Stick close to Jesus, and go and tell others all about what He has done for you-

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether https://www.seekGodtogether.com Today we will read 1 John 4:19. This simple verse says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” What is love? If you say, “Everyone has their own definition…” I would understand the sentiment and even sympathize. But it would be wrong. Love is not from you. Love does not bow to your, or my, or anyone's definition. Biblically, love is from God and we merely reciprocate what God has started. And it's not just that God loves… and while it seems like that would be enough…there's more. It's deeper. Love is not merely what God does. It's what God is. God's essence, His makeup, His core personality, His nature, His appetites, His passion and desire, His priorities, are all love. There is literally nothing He does that isn't built on the foundation of love. You could say that while everything you do is human, and there is literally nothing you could do that isn't human, and that varies broadly, so everything God does is love. You are human, He is love. Has God done a thing in which in your humanness you disapprove? Well you can be confident that His actions are only motivated by His love for you. But wait there's more, not only IS God love, and not only does He act in love, but He has chosen to share His essential love with creatures like you. Yes you are the recipient. Do you feel like it? Maybe you don't. But it doesn't matter - you are! You are literally the MOST LOVED creature in the entire universe. Has a human broken your heart? Are you neglected by humans? Are you lonely? The pain is real and I don't mean to diminish it. But please don't lose the big picture that the One Who created you loves you so deeply it'd be impossible to take it all in over an eternity. You are a derivative lover. You cannot love if He had not loved first. He gave more than His feelings. He gave of Himself - His essence - His love. God contracted and expressed His love and now we are here as recipients. We can now participate, experience, and share that love with others. In fact that is what we are called to. That is what we are made for: to love God, and others. God You're just too much to take in. I'm at a loss for words. Thank You for being You and for giving Yourself. Thank You for allowing me, a simple human to experience and share in the Love of God. Take me from glory to glory, love to love, and allow me to experience more of You and share with others.

Opening Song: Jesus Paid It All (https://open.spotify.com/track/0X6zo3gCOaS6ccC7IT9Emf?si=d91148db874043c3) by Kings (MHM) Lyrics: And I hear the Savior say Thy strength indeed is small Child of weakness watch and pray Find in Me thine all in all 'Cause Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow Lord now indeed I find Thy pow'r and Thine alone Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone And when before the throne I stand in Him complete Jesus died my soul to save My lips shall still repeat Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow He washed it white as snow He washed it white as snow Oh praise the One Who paid my debt And raised this life up from the dead Passage: 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:24–28 ESV) Musical Reflection: It Is Well With My Soul (VILLE DU HAVRE) by Philip Bliss Reflection Notes: A hymn born in tragedy, “It is Well” was penned by Horatio Spaffor after hearing that his daughters had all perished in a shipwreck. Through this devastation, Spafford and his wife clung to the promise of God's goodness. Spafford's immortal words were set to music by his good friend and hymn writer, Philip Bliss; Bliss titled the tune “Ville du Havre” after the ship on which Spafford's children had died. Prayer: 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.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Though we live in this world, we are not of this world. We live under the gaze of our God, the One Who loves us. When it seems there is reason to fight with raised voice and clenched fist, we remember the way of Jesus. We fight the good fight of faith because of Who we love and Who we represent. I will read to you from: 1 Timothy 4:6-10 1 Timothy 6:11-12 2 Timothy 4:5-8 Philippians 2:5-11 Philippians 2:14-16 1 Peter 1:6-9 If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you! http://www.sherriyoungward.com/donate To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at www.sherriyoungward.com

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether https://www.seekGodtogether.com We're continuing in Colossians 1. This is a song, possibly an early hymn, that Paul uses to teach on Jesus. Today we'll look at verse 16 which says, “For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him.” When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? A man in His 30s walking about? Gentle and humble? Teaching, amazing crowds, working miracles? What is He like? What does He think? Is He a segment of the overall teaching of scripture? Is He the final bit of God's redemptive plan? Not according to Paul. This Jesus, the middle eastern carpenter, is not new to the scene. He's not just really old. He's not just the darling of the universe. No. He CREATED it! All of it! Every last bit is His design. It was His power that made it all. He did it. And this verse emphasizes some particulars. He created that which is visible - that is on earth. But guess what, that's not all. There are invisible things also created by Him - the things of heaven. And there's more. Paul lists a category of creation, or rather 4, that are uniquely His: thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. All words to denote the powerful. They are indeed 4 unique greek words. They mean something even if we can't parse them out perfectly. But here's what we can know - these rulers, powerful as they may be, whether visible or invisible, majestic, awful, frightening, oppressive…are all created by Him and for Him. There is literally nothing in all of creation that has any ounce of power where the name of Jesus isn't branded all over. He is the owner. And He will accomplish exactly what He intends through it. So you don't need to worry. They are powerful - yes. But they too must surrender, bow the knee, and yield their power to the One Who is up to more than you, or I, or any archangel or devil could possibly imagine. This is the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus of Paul. Who is Jesus to you? Jesus, I admit, I just think way too little of You. Give me a Paul-sized vision of You. Bring that to my imagination today.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether https://www.seekGodtogether.com We're continuing in Colossians 1. This is a song, possibly an early hymn, that Paul uses to teach on Jesus. Today we'll look at verse 16 which says, “For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him.” When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? A man in His 30s walking about? Gentle and humble? Teaching, amazing crowds, working miracles? What is He like? What does He think? Is He a segment of the overall teaching of scripture? Is He the final bit of God's redemptive plan? Not according to Paul. This Jesus, the middle eastern carpenter, is not new to the scene. He's not just really old. He's not just the darling of the universe. No. He CREATED it! All of it! Every last bit is His design. It was His power that made it all. He did it. And this verse emphasizes some particulars. He created that which is visible - that is on earth. But guess what, that's not all. There are invisible things also created by Him - the things of heaven. And there's more. Paul lists a category of creation, or rather 4, that are uniquely His: thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. All words to denote the powerful. They are indeed 4 unique greek words. They mean something even if we can't parse them out perfectly. But here's what we can know - these rulers, powerful as they may be, whether visible or invisible, majestic, awful, frightening, oppressive…are all created by Him and for Him. There is literally nothing in all of creation that has any ounce of power where the name of Jesus isn't branded all over. He is the owner. And He will accomplish exactly what He intends through it. So you don't need to worry. They are powerful - yes. But they too must surrender, bow the knee, and yield their power to the One Who is up to more than you, or I, or any archangel or devil could possibly imagine. This is the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus of Paul. Who is Jesus to you? Jesus, I admit, I just think way too little of You. Give me a Paul-sized vision of You. Bring that to my imagination today.

This was the next sermon in our regular Sunday series from Genesis. It was a sermon entitled "Covenant Pomises" (from Genesis 8:20-9:17) that called us to wrestle with three big ideas... (1) A Striking CONTRAST, (2) A Repeated COMMAND, (3) A Sobering CORRECTIVE, and (4) A Reminder of the COVENANT. At the end of the day, the goal was to encourage us all with the truth that: We serve the sovereign One Who still reigns, Who still remembers, and Who is still keeping every word of every promise He has ever made!

Join me as we meditate on the three letters - בּ ט ח - that lie at the root of the Hebrew word for Trust, Bitachon, בּטחון. These letters contain within them a gate to letting go of the illusion of control, and instead, trusting the One Who is truly in control at every moment. This meditation guides the listener through this gate, and experiencing the trust and security that lies within it. Please like & follow! Thank you. Music credits: Nature Healing Society - Free Meditation Music 432Hz - https://youtu.be/RlnfVgRTMRE Borrtex - Memoir of Solutide - https://youtu.be/HESy-al4JN4 Lee Rosevere - Self Care - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee...

In Ephesians chapter 3, the blessed Apostle St. Paul bows his knees in intercession before Christ. He intercedes that all of us might truly come to know the height, depth, width, and length of the love of God toward each one of us. It is interesting that, on the one hand, St. Paul describes the love of God as immeasurable; that which is immeasurable. On the other hand, he uses physical measurements to describe that very love. The early Church Fathers tell us that the measurements St. Paul is using point us to the Cross; the very prism through which the love of God for every soul brilliantly shines forth. To behold the Cross is to behold the love of the One Who hung upon it; a love we will eternally grow to understand and experience.

It has been in recent months that William Shatner (Star Trek) visited space which is a big deal for someone who became famous for playing Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series. However, his response once he got to space really stood out to me. Here is how he described it:"When I got to space, I was so excited to see what this next frontier was like. But there was no mystery. There was no majesty to behold, all I saw was death. I saw a cold, dark black emptiness. It was unlike any blackness you can see or feel on Earth. It was deep and enveloping and all encompassing."Of course, this was of deep shock to William Shatner but then he turned back towards the Earth where he saw the light of home and this is what he had to say: "Here I see the opposite. I can see the beige of the desert, the white of the clouds, and the blue of the sky. It's life."This experience really reminds me of what life is life without Jesus. John 8:12 says:"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12Christ is the true Light of the World, but we who have received His new-life have been entrusted to carry the testimony of His light, His life and His love into a darkened world, and He has commanded us to live out our lives in a manner that is well-pleasing to Him. We are to walk in the light as He is in the light and we are to point lost souls to the One Who lightens our darkness and breathes life into the lifeless soul.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether Today we'll read Proverbs 1:7. This verse says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” We don't like the beginning of this verse do we? Fear? The fear of the Lord? Why not the love of the Lord or the worship of the Lord? Fear? I fear a scary person. I fear a tragedy. I don't want to fear God. And yet - just consider - that you and I always fear something. We fear the economy crashing. We fear losing our job, or our health, or a child. We fear if our candidate loses. The entirety of cable news preys on our fears of current events. We fear being a social outcast. We fear our loss of relevance if our facebook post doesn't get enough likes. We are fearful people. Just accept it. The only question is - where is the fear focused? But fear is evidence that we are fragile. Fear proves that we are not self-sufficient. Fear proves vulnerability - and we are. So we can fear all these things and more - even though we're powerless to affect them. Or…and this seems a much better option…fear God. Because all the things we fear are utterly nothing against Him. He could snap His finger and this whole universe comes crashing down. Isn't it better then instead of focusing on hundreds of disparate small fears, to focus on the One Who has power over it all? And Who created it all? Wouldn't it be better to learn from Him and appeal to Him? Why not seek His insight on all the things that have you worked up? Proverbs says this fear is the “beginning” of knowledge. And yet for all of this. There will be those who despise the idea - who despise wisdom and discipline - who despise the fear of God. These are called “fools.” It seems then the fool is the one going it alone. Let's go to the only one Who matters today. Let's fear God and see what He has to say about our lives. “God, when I stop and think about it, there's nothing I fear that You are not in control of. Therefore it's important that I know Your heart - because You don't always do what I want. I need Your power to accomplish things You've tasked to me. I need Your wisdom so that I can think like You. In all the best ways possible, I choose to fear You.” --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Lk 10:13-16 - Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me. Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church Saint Jerome, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) Walking with Generation Z: Steps Toward Flourishing. We must help young people see that, through our own efforts, we will often fall short of living a virtuous life. But with God's grace and forgiveness, we can be strengthened and transformed  https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/09/19/walking-with-generation-z-steps-toward-flourishing/ 4) Structure for success: Looking to bring some structure to your spiritual life? The "5S methodology" is a tried and true way for workers to share tasks and get things done. Many of its principles and practices can help Catholics keep their spiritual senses sharp in order to draw closer to JesusChrist  https://catholicstand.com/using-a-lesson-from-industry-to-bring-order-to-your-life/

At a primary school in Greenock, Scotland, three teachers on maternity leave brought their babies to school every two weeks to interact with schoolchildren. Playtime with babies teaches children empathy, or care and feeling for others. Most receptive often are the children who are “a little challenging,” as one teacher put it. “It’s often [they] who interact more on a one-to-one level.” They learn “how much hard work it is to take care of a child,” and “more about each other’s feelings as well.” Learning from an infant to care about others isn’t a new idea to believers in Jesus. We know the One who came as the baby Jesus. His birth changed everything we understand about caring relationships. The first to learn of Christ’s birth were shepherds, a humble profession involving care of weak and vulnerable sheep. Later, when children were brought to Jesus, He corrected disciples who thought children unworthy. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Showing the essence of empathy, Jesus “took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (v. 16). In our own lives, as His sometimes “challenging” children, we could be considered unworthy, too. Instead, as the One Who came as a child, the Lord accepts us with His love—thereby teaching us the caring power of loving babies and all people.