Podcasts about one who

If you want your faith to grow, you need to keep in step with the One Who defines faithfulness. Coach Faith Sherrer explains this core training principle to help you win today! Thank you for walking with us! We would like to send you this special gift... ...Hope Filled Living in a Culture of Despair: A Study of 1 Peter  by Pastor Brian Clark.  Learn how to live with steadfast faith while sharing the life of Christ with others! Yours with a gift of any amount. Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.

This sermon explores the urgency of serving others based on Galatians 6: 6-10, emphasizing the importance of love as the driving force behind selfless service and highlighting the transformative power of God's grace in fulfilling our highest calling-to bring glory to the One Who is worthy of all praise, honor, and adoration.

Have you ever been in a cave? If you have, perhaps someone has told you that the rock formations hanging from the ceiling—called stalactites—are thousands or even tens of thousands of years old. Scientists tell us that stalactites take 100 years, on average, to grow one inch. But just how accurate is this figure?Stalactites grow where water seeps through limestone rock, dissolving limestone in the process. When this water containing dissolved limestone emerges from the roof of a cave, it hangs for a moment. In a current of air, some of it evaporates, causing the limestone to deposit. Finally, the remaining water drops to the floor of the cave and continues to evaporate and deposit. The deposit on the floor is called a stalagmite.A concrete railroad bridge in Wooster, Ohio had a stalactite growing under it that was over 12 inches long! Had the railroad bridge been standing for more than 1,200 years? Obviously not—in fact, the bridge had been cleaned of stalactites only 12 years before! Nor is this situation unusual. More than 300 stalactites were counted growing under bridges in just this one city, and stalactites are not hard to find under concrete bridges in most cities.We take so many things at face value that evolutionists tell us about the world, even if they contradict the Bible. Before we start taking human words on faith, we should take at face value what the Creator says in the Bible. He knows more than all scientists put together and is to be trusted above any human teacher!2 Samuel 22:31"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."Prayer: Lord, men find so much to be afraid of, and I confess that I, too, fear too much. Yet mankind runs away from You, the One Who could calm all their fears. Help me to see that when I am afraid, I am running too. Forgive me, and let my trust in You for all things become stronger. Amen.Image: Concrete stalactites, Nikola Smolenski, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Galatians 6 is the passage for this message. If we are going to "continue" in our walk with Christ, we must learn to "faint not". How do you do this? By spending time with the One Who has all strength and power! Listen to this message, as there is much time spent in His Word dealing this subject.

Shabbat: Zecher l'Yetziat Mitzrayim Welcome to our daily Bitachon. Today, Friday, we have our special Shabbat Dvar Torah. It is interesting to note that in this week's Parashah, Parashat Yitro, we find the Aseret HaDibrot where one of the Ten Commandments is זכור את יום השבת לקדשו —"Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it." We also know that in Parashat Vaetchanan, we read the second version of the Dibrot , which says שמור את יום השבת —"Keep the Sabbath day." The main difference between the two—besides Zachor and Shamor —is that the first Dibrot tell us to remember Shabbat vis-à-vis Maaseh Bereishit (the Creation). God is the One Who created the world; therefore, we work for six days and rest on the seventh to remember that He, too, created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. The second Dibrot , however, speak about remembering Yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus). Now, it is quite obvious what Maaseh Bereishit has to do with Shabbat—it's the six-and-one pattern. But what exactly about Shabbat causes us to remember the Exodus? This is a simple but vital question, because every Friday night in Kiddush we mention both: Zecher le'Maaseh Bereishit and Zecher l'Yetziat Mitzrayim . The Power of Association Remembering something means that a specific trigger sparks a memory—an association of sorts. For example, if I say the word "orange," what do you think of? Some might say the color, some the fruit, and some might think of Florida. That is an association. If I say the word "mask," what does that mean to you? It could mean Corona; it could mean Purim. The word triggers a specific memory. In that sense, a mask could be Zecher l'Corona or Zecher l'Purim . So, when I hear the word "Shabbat," why do I think of Yetziat Mitzrayim ? It is an important question because the Torah places it right in the Ten Commandments and we repeat it in our Kiddush. Two Reasons for the Connection We will offer two reasons, though I am sure there are many more: Ownership of Time: The simplest reason, cited by most Rishonim , is that a servant does not own his own time. A slave cannot simply decide to take a rest; they are subjected to backbreaking work. If you are in a slave labor camp, you don't just take a nap in the middle of the day. If you can take a nap, it's an indication that you are in charge of your own time—you are the boss, not the slave. Therefore, when we rest on Shabbat—when you take your Shabbat afternoon nap—think to yourself: "I have the right to take a nap. I own my time." That only happened because Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim. The Scrolls of Faith: Many of us know that even before the Exodus, Shabbat existed for the Jews in Egypt. When Moshe was a newly appointed prince, he asked his stepfather, Pharaoh, to give the workers a day off, arguing they would work better with rest. The day he chose was Shabbat. On those days, Moshe distributed scrolls which the people would read to strengthen their Emunah . When we take that day off today, it reminds us of the Shabbat we had in Mitzrayim, and how we used that time to strengthen our Emunah and Bitachon . Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky notes that if you read Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat (Tehillim 92), it doesn't actually talk about Shabbat. So why is it the "Song for the Sabbath Day"? He explains that starting from Tefillah L'Moshe (Tehillim 90), there are eleven chapters written by Moshe Rabbeinu. These were the very scrolls he gave out to the slaves in Egypt to give them chizuk . Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat contains the concept of Tzaddik Katamar Yifrach —that the righteous will blossom while the wicked are cut down—and concludes Tzuri Velo Avlatah Bo , that God is our Rock and there is no iniquity in Him. That was the chizuk they practiced in Mitzrayim on Shabbat. Deepening the Experience So, we have two ways Shabbat triggers the memory of the Exodus: Remembering that we are free people who own our time. Remembering the spiritual preparation we did while still in slavery. I also saw a beautiful thought from the Alter of Kelm regarding how we can maintain excitement for Shabbat week after week. He says you have to delve deeper. You have to really think into these topics—think into Maaseh Bereishit and Yetziat Mitzrayim . The more you delve into them, the more you will appreciate and gain from the day. Shabbat Shalom.

Psalm 17:8 (ESV)Keep me as the apple of your eye;hide me in the shadow of your wings,What an interesting prayer. In this episode, we reflect on how delicate the eye is — and how close David must have felt to the Lord to ask for such personal protection. The “apple” refers to the pupil, one of the most sensitive and carefully guarded parts of the body. It's a picture of nearness and constant care.Have you ever prayed this prayer? I hadn't — not until recently.Charles Spurgeon wrote, “He who uses this prayer intelligently perceives the omniscience of Jehovah, who, better than a hundred eyes, can see all his foes from whichever quarter they may come.” What comfort to remember that God sees what we cannot and guards what we cannot control.Together, we'll consider what it means to entrust our fears and concerns to the One Who watches over us so closely.If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time gift, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

When John saw the vision of the throne room, a scroll was in the hand of the One who sat on the throne. The voice of the strong angel asked, who was worthy to break the seals, and open the scroll. When no one in all of creation was found, John began to weep. A voice in heaven told John to stop weeping, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah has been found worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. The scroll is a symbol of both hope and terror. The scroll will reveal the true King. The scroll will start the song of all creation. Do you belong to the One Who is worthy to open the scroll?

When John saw the vision of the throne room, a scroll was in the hand of the One who sat on the throne. The voice of the strong angel asked, who was worthy to break the seals, and open the scroll. When no one in all of creation was found, John began to weep. A voice in heaven told John to stop weeping, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah has been found worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. The scroll is a symbol of both hope and terror. The scroll will reveal the true King. The scroll will start the song of all creation. Do you belong to the One Who is worthy to open the scroll?

There's a life-changing miracle every believer in Jesus has experienced – being chosen by him! Imagine! The One Who created everything, rules over everything, is Ageless and eternal, majestic beyond all human description, adored and worshiped 24/7 by the throngs around the throne, is the One Who chose, and continues to choose, us! This is ‘Cinderella' on Steroids, a rags-to-riches makeover more heartwarming than a Hallmark movie. And it's become our story! Gen. 1:31, VOICE, Luke 2:8-14, Luke 15:11-32, Rev. 21:1-27 Genesis 1:31 – The Creator – __________________________ Luke 2:8-14 – The Celebrator –_________________________ Luke 15:11-32 – The Parent – __________________________ Rev. 21:10-27 – The Architect – ______________________

Our Election in Christ (3) (audio) David Eells, 1/14/26 I'm going to continue to speak on our election in Christ and how God has chosen Israel, and who Israel is in the New Testament. In (1Co.15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Everybody who abides in Christ is going to be made alive, so it's important for us to know what it means to be “in Christ.” Does it mean, “I accepted Jesus as my Savior”? It could be, but it might not be. Some people truly want Jesus to be their Savior. They are truly repenting and believing, while other people are merely parroting words. Did you know that the Bible says salvation and eternal life were not given to you? (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. The promise that God gave to Abraham was only to Abraham and Christ. And the promise of eternal life was given to Christ; it was not given to us. The gift of eternal life is in Christ. God didn't give the gift of eternal life into your hand outside of Christ. He gave that gift in Christ and only if you are abiding in Christ do you have that gift. The “once saved, always saved” believers think that they have been given a gift of eternal life which is outside of Christ, but that's not Biblical. (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The eternal life that God gave us is in Jesus. The only way you can have it is to be in Jesus because the promise wasn't to you, it was to the seed of Abraham, “as of one.” That seed is Christ. (12) He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. Let's face it, some only have religion. Jesus said, (Joh.15:1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. No man is going to pluck you out of Jesus' hand; the Father is the Husbandman and He is the One Who is going to pluck up the plant. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.... There are people whom we have considered to be Christians who are not Christians. They may have started out with Christ, but they have not come to Him. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch.... He is “cast forth” from where? He is “cast forth” from being in Christ. He said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.” If you are bearing fruit (Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:8-10), you are in Christ and have nothing to worry about. If you are not bearing fruit, it's because you are not abiding in Him. “To abide” means “to endure,” “to persist,” “to continue,” “to remain,” “to be steadfast.” To abide in Christ is to abide in His Word. It is to have ears to hear His Word (Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9; Romans 11:8; etc.) (Joh.15:6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and [so] shall ye be my disciples. It's in bearing fruit that you are proven to be a disciple. You can come into Christ, but you won't stay there if you don't bear fruit. (2Jn.9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. The “once saved, always saved” crowd believes that after you step over the line, that's it, but Jesus said that if you don't bear fruit, you are not My disciple and you are going to be cast forth as a branch. The word translated “elect” and the word translated “chosen” are the exact same word. The Greek word eklektos is translated sometimes as “chosen” and sometimes as “elect.” It's many who are called but few who are chosen. Jesus speaks about the man who made it into the marriage feast, but didn't have on the wedding garment. (Mat.22:11) But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (In Rev 19:8 the wedding garment was “the righteous acts of the saints”, which also represents our fruit.) (12) and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few chosen. Those who are abiding in the Kingdom are the ones who are bearing fruit and are chosen, or eklektos, or “elect.” The elect are all called and once they are saved, they are always going to be saved, but “many are called.” Among the called, there are those who don't bear fruit and there are those who bear fruit. Those who bear fruit are chosen. God said in (Hos.11:1) When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. You say, “He was talking about Jesus.” No, He was primarily talking about the children of Israel and then it was used of Jesus. He called them out of Egypt and into the wilderness, and then He tried or tested them. Some bore fruit and went into the Promised Land, and those were the elect. Those who died in the wilderness, in type, had been called, but they were not the elect; they were not chosen. (Num.32:11) Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: (12) save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed the Lord. Joshua and Caleb bore fruit and were chosen. Here's a good example of this: (Rom.11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved.... Is that all of natural Israel? No, because (Rom.9:27) … If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved. So, who is “all Israel” who is going to be saved? (Rom.11:19) Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. The “branches” that were broken off are the natural Jews who would not believe. (20) Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Paul is talking about the Gentiles who are standing in the vine by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. So, where is unconditional eternal security?? (22) Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. In the New Testament, “all Israel” is those natural Jews who believe and those Gentiles who are grafted into the vine by their faith. All the people who were broken off for unbelief were not Israel, but all of true spiritual Israel is going to be saved. Look what Paul said about the end of the Jewish Covenant: (Rom.11:5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (This is speaking of a remnant of Jews.) according to the election of grace. (6) But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. (7) What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. He said a remnant of natural Israel was elect, but Israel as a whole did not obtain grace. The called who were not the elect were hardened and the elect obtained grace because they believed. This was at the end of the Jewish Covenant. Now we are coming to the end of the mostly Gentile Covenant, and today “Israel” is the Gentile church and the few Jews; I.e., all who are “circumcised in heart.” (Rom.11:7) What then? that which the “Israel of God”(As a type of this Church) seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Is that Scriptural? Yes, because the Bible plainly says that the lukewarm are going to be spewed out of the body (Revelation 3:16) and there will be a great falling away (Revelation 12:4). Pagans can't fall away. Those people who fall away have to have been believers first, or they could not have fallen away, and the Lord is not coming until the falling away comes to purify the Church. (2Th.2:2) To the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; (3) let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who was reprobated. The same statement can be made of the Gentile era because the elect are going to obtain grace to bear fruit and the rest are going to be hardened. The rest are going to fall away, exactly as Jesus showed in the Parable of the Sower. This should really give you the fear of the Lord. By the faith that God has given us, we are responsible to take God's grace and put it to work in our lives. We are responsible for obeying what we see in the New Testament, not in “Church.” Everybody who abides in the vine, which is Jesus, whether it's the remnant of natural Israel or whether it's the remnant of the Gentiles, is true Israel. And “all Israel” shall be saved because all true Israel is the elect, regardless of race. At the end of the Jewish Covenant, Jesus came to prove who the elect remnant was among the Jews. Jesus said, (Joh.16:21) A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. (22) And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. Our personal man-child is born to us as the fruit of Christ being manifest through us to the world. All who exercise faith in the promises will bear His fruit, which looks like Him. In these days, the corporate Man-child body, in whom is the full manifestation of Jesus, is coming to prove who the first fruits elect remnant is in the Church, and the Man-child is going to use the same method that Jesus used to bring this nature to the Church. What was Jesus' method? (Mat.13:10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? In other words, “Why are you saying things to them that are so hard to understand?” (11) And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given.... “Whosoever hath” what? Well, if we go back three verses, we'll find the answer: (9) He that hath ears, let him hear. It's like when something makes perfect sense to you, but when you try to explain it to other people, somehow they just can't understand what you're saying unless they have the gift of faith. You see, Jesus' method for separating the elect from the non-elect was to preach the Word and when He preached the Word, the elect understood because they had ears. (Mat.13:12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given (If you have ears, it's going to be given to you. Sometimes we do not hear the word of the Lord with the respect that we should have. God is speaking.), and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. People who don't have ears to hear are going to lose what understanding they do have. Remember what happened to the servant who was given the one talent? (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (The Greek word there is doulous and it actually means “bondslaves.”), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey… (24) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; (25) and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. (26) But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (This servant had no ears; his knowledge was false. His Lord did scatter it, to him. He didn't realize that all was given to him by grace. It did not come by their works. Many think they own what they have.) (27) thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest (or fruit). The servant with the one talent didn't bring forth any fruit from what was given to him. The Lord took away the one talent from him and gave it to the servant who had the 10 talents. (Mat.25:28) Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath (ears) shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. Again, a person who doesn't bear fruit is not “harkening,” which means “to hear and obey,” unto the voice of the Lord, and even what they do have is going to be taken away from them. Jesus told us, (Mat.10:34) Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. That “sword” separated the righteous from the wicked, and the wicked from their demons. That was a good thing because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). (Jer.48:10) Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Now, there are a lot of preachers who are not going to cut anyone with the Word; it's too easy to lose tithes that way and so they aren't going to step on anyone's feet. Your sword is supposed to separate. The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and it divides. (Heb.4:12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word divides the carnal from the spiritual. Jesus wasn't trying to explain things to people who didn't have ears to hear. Even if He had given it to them, as we've seen, they could not have kept it. (Luk.13:23) And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them, (24) Strive to enter in by the narrow door (Many pass up the narrow door of grace until it is too late.): for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; (26) then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; (27) and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Well, they were walking with Jesus, but they had not come to Him, just as Judas walked with Him and did miracles and signs but was an unrepentant thief until he couldn't turn back. Jesus warned us (Mat.7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. How could they do these miracles if He didn't “know” them? It's because Jesus gave them authority to do those works (Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 9:1). You see, “knowing about” someone is not the same as “knowing” someone. “Knowing you” is like the relationship Adam had with Eve. He knew Eve. This is a personal relationship with the Lord, like a husband knows his wife. “I never knew you” is what Jesus will say about a person who was doing the work of God, but was not giving good ground to the seed. Some people think they surely must be acceptable to God because they are doing the work of God. No, you can do the work of God and yet totally fail in your personal relationship with God. Personally, someone can be a total failure in their life of obedience to God, but they can still go cast out demons and do many mighty works. It's not gifts that open the door to the Kingdom, folks, it's fruit. He said that many are going to seek to enter in, but they will not be able. When the five foolish virgins came to the marriage feast after the door was shut, they called out, (Mat.25:11) … Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Were they Christians? Yes, they were Christians and they did start out and seek to enter in, but they did not bear fruit. In a way, at the end of the Jewish Dispensation, the Lord was getting up to close the door, and Jesus was a part of God closing that door. Though all of those Jews, according to the Old Testament, were Covenant people, all but a remnant were rejected at that time, and God closed the door. Here we are at the end of the Gentile Covenant and the exact same thing is getting ready to happen again, which lets us know that we have to bear fruit. What's the difference between the called who don't bear fruit and the called who do bear fruit? The called who do bear fruit are the elect among the called because they abide in Christ by their faith, and therefore they receive more grace. Those who don't abide in Christ eventually lose even what grace they have. Hopefully, they will return when they receive the greater knowledge that is coming. Grace comes by faith. The only difference between those who bear fruit and those who don't bear fruit is that some walk by faith in the truth and some do not. There's no use in worrying, “Am I the elect or am I not the elect?” The only way you are going to prove that you are the elect is to walk by faith. You have that choice; everyone who is among the called has the choice to walk by faith or not to walk by faith. Why did Jesus rebuke His disciples for their unbelief? Did Jesus rebuke them because they couldn't walk by faith? Did He rebuke them because they weren't the elect? No, He rebuked them because they could walk by faith, but they were not walking by faith at that moment. He does the same with us sometimes when we are not walking by faith. But notice that they repented and He didn't remember their sins against them. (Joh.17:6) I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. He said that they were obedient disciples. Jesus doesn't remember our sins against us, either, but He wants us to repent and walk by faith. So don't get caught up in, “Am I just called and not elect?” All you have to do is walk by faith because, if you walk by faith, you will bear fruit and you will be the elect. We are here in this wilderness to walk by faith and to prove that we are ‘Joshua and Caleb'. The Jews who convert to Christianity have no problem with predestination, calling and election because that's what they have been taught all of their lives. It's the Gentiles who have a problem with it because it's so foreign to their thinking. (Deu.7:6) For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples: (8) but because the Lord loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. There are answers here to some theological problems if you believe that history repeats. As Jesus said, (Mat.5:18) … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. And Paul told us, (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. One theological problem is all the prophecies we've heard about the coming great revivals because people feel that God has failed unless He converts a large number of humanity. We can see here, if God has failed in the New Testament, He certainly did fail the Old Testament, but God wasn't going after large numbers. In fact, He picked the fewest of all peoples to be His people. He was after quality and not quantity. Some people think that God is out to convert the people of the world, yet Jesus prophesied, (Mat.7:13) Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. (14) For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Even though Jesus will “compel” many to come in, He didn't prophesy that great masses of humanity would be running into the Kingdom of Heaven over the course of time. Another theological problem for people is the classic question, “What about the heathens in deepest, darkest Africa? What is God going to do about them?” Well, we just saw that back in the days when God chose Israel and even all through the Old Testament, they were a small group of people compared to the rest of the world. If you had asked one of them that question, they would have replied, “What are you talking about? Don't you understand that God has chosen Israel?” And if you repeated your question, “Yes, but what about the heathens in the deepest, darkest Africa who have never heard about God?” They would have replied again, “Don't you understand? God has chosen Israel.” The Jews understood this. If you give people this answer today, they don't understand, but the Jews did understand because they were raised with the predestination doctrine. Now, I do have a couple of answers for this problem: one is election and the other is conscience. Let me point out that God said He was going to judge people according to their conscience, but first, I'd like to clarify something here. He's talking in this Scripture about Christians coming to God, as opposed to the Jews who were with God under the Law. And so He says, (Rom.2:15) In that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]; (16) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ. A person's conscience is either going to accuse or excuse them. We know this text is talking about Christians because they are the only ones “who show the work of the Law written in their hearts.” But the rest of the world is going to be judged according to conscience, too, and conscience won't put any of us in Heaven. Jesus said, (Mat.24:37) And as [were] the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. If God did the same thing He did in the days of Noah, some would find grace and the rest would find justice. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). He was elect; he found grace and the rest found justice. God did no wrong for the rest had defiled their conscience they were born with. Remember what Jesus spoke in the Parable of the Husbandman, who went out at different hours and hired people to work in his vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). The people who were hired last worked for only one hour, while the rest of them worked through the heat of the day. When it came time to pay the people, the husbandman called the last first and paid them a shilling and then He paid everyone else a shilling. But those who were hired first were unhappy. (Mat.20:11) And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, (12) saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. (13) But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? (14) Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? That's the Lord's reasoning. God is never going to do less than justice, and in fact, God is almost always merciful. He doesn't have to be merciful, but at the least, He's always going to do justice. We've received God's grace, but we don't deserve it; it's a gift of God. When God judges, the world will receive righteous judgment (Acts 17:31), but true Christians will receive grace. Praise the Lord! So the answer to “What about the heathen in deepest, darkest Africa?” is that the heathen in Africa are going to be judged according to their conscience. Their conscience will either condemn them or excuse them. Everyone in the world has a conscience, but for some, their conscience has condemned them until it became quiet and just gave up condemning them. Their conscience finally became hardened, you see, because they rebelled against it. God has chosen the few and He's always chosen the weak among men in the next two verses. (1Co.1:25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: So we see that God is clearly speaking of calling weak men. Then the translators, who probably didn't consider themselves weak and foolish, added things in the text over and over in the next three verses, which they italicized, showing it was not in the original text. Clearly, God is not speaking of things but MEN. So when we read them without things but with minor corrections from the Numeric Pattern, the text fits together and makes sense. (27) But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things strong; (28) and the base things of the world, and the things despised, did God choose, [yea] and them things that are not, that he might bring to nought those things that are: (29) that no flesh should glory before God. Clearly, He chose weak and the base men so no one can brag. He wants to prove His power to save. He has always chosen small and weak Israel. Even in the New Testament, spiritual Israel, those who are after the same faith as Abraham, is still the only one who is chosen. (Psa.147:19) He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. (20) He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Not showing the nations His ordinances and statutes in the Old Testament is the equivalent of not giving someone “ears to hear” the Gospel in the New Testament. Jesus told the Jews in (Joh.6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him... And (37) All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. God is not wrong by giving mercy to some and reaching out with the good news to bring them into the ark, no more than He was wrong when He brought those few into the ark in Noah's day. God is not wrong. And in many cases, God does not open the ears of people and He hardens hearts, and He hides things from “the wise and capable.” (Isa.45:15) Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. You may ask, “What's His method of hiding things?” Well, the devil is one. (2Co.4:3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: (4) in whom the god of this world (The devil is the god of this world because the world copies and thus worships him.) hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. The devil has permission to do this. Also, (Mat.11:25) At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding (This is speaking of the Pharisees, Sadducees and their students.), and didst reveal them unto babes: (26) yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. (27) All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal [him]. So it pleased the Father to hide some things, and in this text, He talks about hiding them even from religious people. There truly is a supernatural blindness on people. You've probably seen it when you try very simply to share the Gospel or a revelation from God with people, but somehow they just can't see it. And you look upon them almost in awe, wondering, “Why can't they see it? It's so simple.” Of course, it's simple to you because you have a gift they don't have. You have the gift of hearing.

What does Jesus show about Himself, during His arrest? Matthew 26:47–56 looks forward to the morning sermon in the holy assembly on the coming Lord's Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus displays His commitment to dying on the cross for our sins, and His compassion to even those who are sinning against Him. In the pivotal moment of His arrest, Jesus demonstrates both unwavering commitment to the divine plan and profound compassion toward those who oppose Him. He confronts Judas with a gentle yet piercing question—'Friend, why have you come?'—offering a final opportunity for repentance, even as He fulfills the Scriptures that foretold His betrayal. To Peter, who draws his sword in misguided defense, Jesus redirects him from fleshly defenses to submission to authority that entrusts himself to God and the fulfillment of God's Word. To the mob, He challenges their actions with rhetorical questions, reminding them of His daily teaching in the temple and calling them to reflect on their sin in light of Who Jesus is, and what the Scriptures have said about Him. In each encounter, Jesus turns the moment into an act of compassionate evangelism, inviting all—Judas, Peter, and the crowd—to consider who He is, what He has done, and the divine purpose behind His suffering. His resolve is rooted in Scripture, and the compassion of One Who goes to the cross to save sinners.

Peabo Bryson - ParadiseRay Parker Jr. & Raydio - All In The Way You Get DownMike Lindup Feat. Tony Momrelle & Alex Wilson - Could It Really Be?Angel Caamal - You Can See The Peace (Original Mix)Jazzanova, Vikter Duplaix, Wahoo - That Night (Wahoo Remix)Daniele Busciala, Earl W. Green - No Regret (Muzikman Edition Remix)Doug Gomez, DJ Loka - Shadows (Original Mix)AC Soul Symphony - Six Billion Dollar Man (Dave's Playout Edit)Corey Holmes, Janyce Koco Murray, Ms. Yazz ROAR, Larry La Birt - My Afro Drums (Vocal Mix)A Man Called Adam - Barefoot In The Headjoe bataan - young, gifted and brownJon Lucien - Love EverlastingHeliocentric World - Where's Your Love BeenSt. Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Original Mix)Omar - Golden BrownJalen Ngonda - All About MeKaryn White - You're Gonna Want Me BackTerri Green - That SomethingLeroy Hutson - Love, Oh LoveLeroy Hutson - I'll Be There, I'll Still CareRaheem DeVaughn ft October London – Tell Me Your NameDon West – Send it BackOlive Jones – End of TimePerri - No Place To GoClydie King -  The Thrill Is GoneHill Sisters - Oh My Love Sweet LoveBuddy Smith - When You Lose The One You LoveLamont Dozier - Don't Want Nobody To Come Between UsAnnette Snell - I Think I'm Falling In LoveAretha Franklin - You Got All The AcesDee Edwards - Why Can't There Be Love?David Ruffin - Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay)The Impressions - I'm The One Who loves YouThe New Creation - The Fish SongRay Charles - I Don't Need No DoctorCajun Hart - Got To Find A WayParisians - Twinkle Little StarCarl Carlton - Competition Ain't NothingThe Trends - Not Too Old To CryThe Ad Libs - I Don't Need A Fortune TellerSkip Jackson & The Shantons - Promise That You'll WaitTerry Callier - If I Could Make You Change Your Mind

התוכן "הבאים ישרש יעקב יציץ ופרח ישראל ומלאו פני תבל תנובה" [הפטורת פ' שמות]. ומדייק אדה"ז בתו"א מהי השייכות בין "הבאים [מצרימה]" להמשך הכתוב "ישרש יעקב וגו'". וממשיך שם "הנה כתיב כה אמר ה' בוראך יעקב ויוצרך ישראל", וצלה"ב מה שדוקא ביעקב נאמר בריאה, אף ששם ישראל הוא נעלה יותר ובו נאמר יצירה? ולהבין זה מקדים דכוונת ירידת הנשמה בגוף היא – לצורך עלי' שלא בערך ע"י עבודתה בעוה"ז התחתון. וזהו מה ש"מצוות" נמשלו ל"פירות", דכשם שצמיחת הפירי הוא ע"י השרשת הגרעין במקום הראוי לזריעה – בארץ דוקא, עד"ז צמיחת המצוות הוא דוקא כאשר הן נזרעות ומתקיימות בבני ישראל – "כי תהיו אתם ארץ חפץ", ודוקא בארץ הלזו התחתונה ע"י נשמה בגוף, בחי' יעקב – יו"ד עקב. וזוהי ההוראה והנתינת-כח מלימוד הפסוק "הבאים ישרש וגו'" בתורה: צריכים לדעת שתכלית ירידת נשמתו מאיגרא רמה לבירא עמיקתא – הבאים עכשיו למיצרים וגבולים דסדר השתלשלות ודגלות וכו' – היא "ישרש", "ער זאָל דורכנעמן דעם ארץ" עד שיתגלה שהיא "ארץ חפץ", ע"י שהוא בבחי' הביטול ד"יעקב", עד ש"יציץ ופרח ישראל וגו'". והלימוד מביא לידי מעשה – שלא מתפעלים מ"מצרים", ואדרבה – דוקא מהחושך כפול ומכופל שנמצאים בו – נעשה העלי' שלא בערך בקרוב ממש ע"י משיח צדקנו. ב' חלקים ממאמר ד"ה הבאים ישרש יעקב, כ"ד טבת ה'תשל"ט ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=09-01-2026 Synopsis (The haftorah of parashas Shemos begins:) “Those who came, whom Yaakov caused to take root; Yisroel budded and blossomed, and the face of the earth was filled with produce.” In Torah Or, addressing the connection between “those who came [to Egypt – Rashi]” and “Yaakov taking root,” the Alter Rebbe quotes the verse “So says Hashem: Your Creator, Yaakov, and the One Who formed you, Yisroel,” and asks why the verse associates Yaakov with the world of Beriah (בוראך – “Your Creator”) and Yisroel with the world of Yetzirah (יוצרך – “the One Who formed You”), if the name Yisroel is higher? To answer this, the Alter Rebbe explains that the purpose of the soul's descent into the body is to achieve an incomparably greater ascent through its service in this lowest world. This is why mitzvos are likened to “fruit”: just as fruits grow when a seed takes root, and only in fertile ground, so too mitzvos can only “grow” when they are sown in and performed by the Jewish people (the “land of desire”) – only in this lowest physical world, where the soul is clothed in the body, the level of “Yaakov” – “yud-akev” (“heel”). This is the message and empowerment from the verse “Those who came etc.”: One must know that the ultimate purpose of the soul's descent “from a high rooftop to a deep pit” (“coming to Egypt,” meaning the confines and limitations of the world and exile, etc.) is to “take root” – to permeate the land until it is revealed that it is a “land of desire” – through the bittul of “Yaakov,” which cause “Yisroel to bud and blossom” etc. And study leads to action, such that one is not deterred by Egypt; on the contrary, it is specifically through the doubled and redoubled darkness of exile that we will come to the ultimate ascent very soon, with the coming Moshiach Tzidkeinu.2 excerpts from maamar Haba'im Yashresh Yaakov, 24 Teves 5739 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=09-01-2026 לזכות ר' נפתלי ב"ר שלמה ע"ה אבן חיים ליום היארצייט שלו כ' טבת. ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.נדבת בנו ר' אברהם שי' אבן חיים

If you have ever walked out of an interview thinking I nailed that and still did not move forward, this episode is your wake up call. Today, I'm breaking down one of the most common reasons qualified CSMs struggle to land offers even when they prepare and practice. Most candidates prep for every interview the exact same way, and it quietly works against them. Recruiters, hiring managers, and cross-functional partners may ask similar questions, but they are listening for very different signals.In this episode, I walk you through a smarter, more strategic way to prepare based on who you are interviewing with so you can tailor your answers without sounding scripted or inauthentic. By the end, you will know exactly how to shift your messaging so you come across confident, credible, and intentional in every round. If you are tired of guessing what interviewers want and ready to finally control the outcome, hit play and let's dive in. And if you want to discover the easiest and most effective way to prepare for your Customer Success interviews, watch my Free Training on how to Nail Your CS Interviews: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/nailinterviews02:37 – Why Memorizing Interview Answers Backfires (and What to Do Instead)8:13 – How to Prep Differently for Recruiters vs. Hiring Managers vs. Cross-Functional Teams14:42 – The "Checklist" Approach Recruiters Really Use And How to Make It Work for You21:23 – How to Show Hiring Managers You're the One Who'll Help Them Hit Their Goals 27:00 – Ways to Stand Out in Cross-Functional Interviews by Addressing What Each Team Actually Cares About10:44 – The Fastest Way to Level Up Your Interview Prep (Hint: It's All About the Interviewer's Perspective)Other Episodes You'll Love:Episode 3: Falling short in interviews? ACE your next Customer Success job interview with these simple tips!

December 22, 2025Today's Reading: John 1:19-28 Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 43:1-24; Revelation 9:13-10:11“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The Pharisees sent priests and Levites to scope out the preacher, the first of many encounters between God and His enemies recorded in the Gospels. Their questions aren't for idle curiosity and genuine desire for the truth. The higher-ups want to know what they're dealing with and who the new preacher in town is, drawing the people away from themselves to Bethany across the Jordan.We know from Matthew and Luke that John knew this wasn't a harmless delegation when he called them a “brood of vipers.” Still, he doesn't shy or shirk from his duty. Boldly, John confesses that he isn't the Christ, but rather a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. He is “the voice” calling people to readiness before the coming One Whose sandals he's not worthy to untie.The blessed Christmas season highlights the birth of Jesus, and as we reflect upon His coming by the virgin Mary in a stable, John's words are for us to hear: “Make straight the way of the Lord.” We crumple and break the ways of God in our sin. We know the Law, what God commands us to do, but daily our pesky, wretched Old Adam gets the upper hand. Try as we might, the Law still convicts, and our reliance before God can only be the One about Whom John boldly testifies and confesses. John calls us to straighten things out, get on the right path, and stop twisting and turning. In other words, John calls us to repentance. Christ is coming, the theme of Advent, and our lives anticipating His return for Judgment. Christ is coming on the Last Day and comes even now in Word and Sacrament. Repentance and faith define the life of the baptized believer, availing Himself of Christ and His gifts whenever possible.Finally, we should note John's courage to confess in the face of enemies. It happens when the Christian knows persecution from those asking questions with evil intentions is coming. The Truth, however, prevails, and it's another fruit of faith to be bold in the face of danger, knowing the One Who comes is the One Who has saved us from sin, risen from the dead, and gives to His Church that hope and freedom the devil and God's enemies cannot overcome.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Once He came in blessing, All our sins redressing; Came in likeness lowly, son of God most holy; Bore the cross to save us; Hope and freedom gave us (LSB, 333:1)Author: Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Trusting God rarely comes with all the details upfront, and Mary’s story reminds us just how costly obedience can be. Faced with fear, uncertainty, and the very real possibility of public shame, Mary chose surrender over self-protection. Her response shows that trusting God doesn’t mean understanding everything—it means believing He is good even when the path forward feels risky and unclear. Highlights Mary’s calling disrupted her plans, reputation, and future Obedience often requires surrender before clarity arrives Trust means saying yes even when the cost feels heavy Mary praised God in the middle of uncertainty, not after it passed God’s plans may not align with our expectations, but they are always purposeful Surrender positions us to participate in what God is doing, not just observe it Faith grows when we value God’s will over our comfort Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: How Mary’s Surrender Teaches Us to Trust By Hannah Benson Bible Reading:“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” - Luke 1:46-49 ESV Have we ever stopped to consider how Mary may’ve felt when the angel Gabriel visited her? She was just a young girl, newly betrothed to Joseph. While the Bible doesn’t share with us her exact age, scholars speculate she may have been as young as 14. Now consider the fear that likely coursed through her veins when Gabriel delivered the news that she, an unmarried virgin, would bear a son. How scandalous! Perhaps questions ravaged through her mind: What would people think? No one would believe her if she told them the truth. With a pregnancy outside of marriage, the townspeople would stone her. And Joseph? Would he believe her? If he didn’t, surely he’d feel betrayed. Instead of arguing or begging the Lord to choose someone else, Mary simply asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (v. 34). Though the plan didn’t make sense to her, she chose to swallow her fears. Hard. As Luke writes in verse 38, Mary humbly responds: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”. And the angel departed from her.” Sometimes, I wonder if Mary knew the full implications of what she was saying yes to. Surely, the possibility of public shame and stoning crossed her mind. But whether she understood the full danger or not, Mary surrendered her future as Joseph’s wife, her reputation, and even her life to the Lord. Despite the danger, she chose to sing the praises of the Lord, saying “my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (v. 47). The Magnificat, as it’s often called, is the cry of Mary’s heart as she soaked in the goodness of God and shared how “he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (v. 49). Now, none of us has been asked to carry the Son of God inside of us the same way Mary did, but we have been asked to carry Him in our hearts. And following God does come at a cost. Are we willing to risk everything? To praise God no matter what? To surrender our future, whatever that looks like? To surrender our reputation and even our very life itself? Mary was willing. Did she know exactly why the Son of God came into the world? Perhaps, like the rest of the Israelites, she anticipated a Messiah who would rescue God’s people from their physical enemies. In this case, the Roman Empire. She didn’t need to fully understand why. Instead, she chose to embrace God’s plan, surrendering and yielding to His sovereignty even if it cost her. Intersecting Faith & Life: What may God be calling you to today? How might He want you to share the love of Jesus Christ with others? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone even when it’s uncomfortable, to surrender and submit to His plan, and trust His promises? To long for the Giver more than the gift, the Promise-Keeper more than the promise itself? If we read the other Gospel accounts of Jesus’s birth, we know Joseph contemplated divorcing Mary (Matthew 1:19). Being a just man, he didn’t want to put her to shame. But before he could, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and that the child was from the Holy Spirit (v. 20). God will always take care of each of us. When we walk in obedience, even when it looks impossible, or we may lose something we hold dear, we choose to walk in that obedience anyway. It doesn’t mean things will always turn out the way we want. Pain is a funny thing: it can either push us further from God or pull us closer to Him, depending on how we choose to respond. Mary could’ve never foreseen the plans God had for her or the role she would’ve ultimately played in bringing God’s Son into the world. Had she resisted, God’s plans still would’ve prevailed. Perhaps he would’ve chosen someone else for the task. But then Mary would’ve missed out on an amazing opportunity to be part of what God was doing. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” When we face the unknown, we must remember we are not trusting what we can see, but in the One Who sees all things, Whose wisdom transcends our limited view and Whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and whose ways are higher than our ways. Do you think anyone ever imagined He would send the Messiah born miraculously through a virgin? Do you think anyone ever imagined that Jesus Christ would come to save us, not as a war hero but as a humble carpenter who would grow up and take the punishment we deserved by dying on the cross in our place? Pray with me: Dear Father God, sometimes I struggle to trust You. Please help me to learn from Mary’s surrender, to trust You, and to walk in obedience even if it looks like I may lose something else I hold dear. I know Your plans are higher than my own (Isaiah 55). Thank You for Your great, indescribable love for me! In Jesus’s Name, Amen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

LESSON 352Judgment And Love Are Opposites.From One Come All The Sorrows Of The WorldBut 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 ACIM

Sermon - "The One Who is to Come" - Pastor Barry HughesSupport the show

The Divinity of the Messiah Colossians 1:15-23 by Justin Park All of God's Attributes Dwell in Christ John 1:18 John 8:58 Hebrews 1:2-4 John 1:1-5 Colossians 2:9           2. Jesus Gives His Enemies His Righteousness Zechariah 3:1-5 I Corinthians 1:18           3. Don't Shift from Gospel Hope Psalm 2:1-4 Application: Worship the One Who is Supreme        A. Give Glory to Christ Alone II Corinthians 5:9 I Peter 2:11 I Peter 2:12 II Corinthians 3:18         B. Proclaim this Gospel Nahum 1:2 Romans 3:23 Numbers 14:18 Romans 5:6 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 22:12 Philippians 2:10-11 Zechariah 2:10 Revelation 7:9

In the beginning of this week's Parashat Vayishlach, Ya'akov Avinu is preparing to confront Esav, who wanted to kill him. Rashi tells us that Ya'akov prepared himself in three ways: sending gifts, praying, and strategizing for a potential battle. Why did Rashi list them in this order—placing tefillah second, between sending gifts and preparing for war? The Be'era Parashah explains that Rashi is teaching a fundamental principle about tefillah. Hashem built into the nature of the world that prayer works. And just as giving gifts and preparing for war are normal hishtadlut that people do, so too tefillah operates within the natural order. It is not considered miraculous to have prayers answered. For this reason, the Maharsha writes that although the Gemara teaches that a miracle performed for a person can deduct from his merits, anything attained through tefillah—even the greatest salvations—does not take away any merits, because tefillah is never considered a miracle. This understanding should give us tremendous chizuk. The answering of tefillah is part of how the world was created to function. Tefillot are so powerful that they can change decrees no matter how impossible the odds may appear. Chazal tell us that in Shamayim it had been decreed that Esav would marry Le'ah and Ya'akov would marry Rachel—"the older for the older, and the younger for the younger." The Alshich adds that Le'ah had four overwhelming hurdles preventing her from marrying Ya'akov. First, the heavenly decree had designated her for Esav. Second, the Pasuk testifies to Rachel's beauty. Third, the Pasuk tells us that Ya'akov loved Rachel. And fourth, Ya'akov worked for seven years for Rachel and took great precautions not to be deceived by Lavan. Yet Le'ah prayed so intensely, so persistently, with so many tears that her eyes became tender. And through those tefillot, she overturned the decree and all the natural odds. Chazal say that the greatness of tefillah is such that not only did Le'ah avoid marrying Esav, she even preceded Rachel to marry Ya'akov. And because of those same tefillot, she gave birth to six of the twelve Shevatim—the Bechor, the Kehunah, the Levi'im, the Meluchah, and the lineage of Mashiah—all emerging from her prayers. The Pasuk in Parashat Vayera says that the angels were sent to destroy Sedom while Avraham was still standing before Hashem. The next Pasuk tells us that Avraham prayed for Sedom to be spared. The Seforno explains: even though the decree had already been issued and the angels had already arrived in Sedom, Avraham still prayed, because he understood the ways of Hashem. As Chazal tell us Even if a sharp sword is already touching a person's neck, he should still pray, because tefillah can work no matter how desperate the situation seems. This past year, a woman received the difficult news that she had a tumor, lo 'alenu. At that time, she strengthened herself in guarding her speech and devoted herself to encouraging others to do the same. She was told that she would need the strongest form of chemotherapy. The doctors warned her of every side effect—especially that it was absolutely guaranteed she would lose all her hair. She asked them if there was anything at all she could do to avoid this. Their answer was clear: with the dosage she required, there was a one-hundred-percent certainty she would lose every strand. But she strengthened herself with the knowledge that with Hashem, nothing is fixed. She poured her heart into tefillah—not only for a full recovery, but also that she should not lose any of her hair. Today, Baruch Hashem the tumor has been completely removed. And amazingly, she did not lose even one strand of hair throughout the entire process. The doctors had no explanation. But the explanation is clear. She prayed to the Creator of the world—the One Who decides whether hair falls out or remains. Tefillah is wondrous, and Hashem created it to work as part of the natural order of the world. The more a person recognizes Hashem's power and involvement in every aspect of his life, the deeper, stronger, and more effective his tefillah becomes. Shabbat shalom.

Send us a textWonderful CounselorSenior Pastor Keith StewartNovember 30, 2025In a world that feels darker, louder, and more confusing by the day, we are all desperate for a hope that actually holds. This message invites you to rediscover the wonder of Jesus Who steps into our chaos not just as a comforting presence, but as One Who knows exactly how to lead us through what we cannot fix on our own. Come and hear how real hope is not found in a change of circumstances, but in a Person Who is wonderfully at work in every detail of your life. Discussion Questions 1. Advent begins in darkness, not light. Where do you see “darkness” most clearly right now—in our world, in our community, or in your own story? How does Isaiah's promise of a child born into that darkness speak hope into those specific places? 2. “The doorway to hope is hopelessness.” Can you think of a time when you ran out of “horizontal” hope (people, places, circumstances) and it forced you to look up to God? What did you learn about yourself and about Jesus in that season? 3. “It's US.” We often want to believe our biggest problems are outside of us. Where do you most feel the pull to blame situations, locations, or other people? What might it look like, in that specific area, to pray, “God, I accept it. I'm the problem. It's me,” and invite Christ into that? 4. Losing our sense of wonder. In what ways do you see yourself “bored” with Jesus, church, or your faith—going through the motions more than living with wonder? What “substitutes” (comforts, amusements, habits) tend to dull your sense of awe in Christ? 5. Jesus as Wonderful Counselor – approachable, reliable, available. Which of those three qualities of Jesus do you need most right now—and why? What is one concrete step you can take this week to actually act on that (for example, bringing a specific struggle to Him in prayer, obeying a nudge He's already given, or leaning on the Spirit's presence in a scary situation)? 6. Living the “WOW” of God. If someone looked at your life right now, what would they conclude is your true source of hope and guidance? What is one area where you want Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, to “re-write the story” so that when you look back, you'll say, “WOW—only God could have done that”?

I. The Word of GodA. The Eternal Word ~ 1:1-2B. The Saving Word ~ 1:3 with 20:31Life Applications1. The Babe born in the manger is the One Who gives meaning tolife.2. Jesus is the answer to your greatest problem; the satisfaction ofyour greatest need.3. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.4. Jesus' coming is THE most important thing ever to happen tothis world.5. Nothing is more important than my relationship with Him.II. The Light of MenA. In Him was Life ~ 1:4aB. The Light of Men Shining in Darkness ~ 1:4b-5aC. The Darkness Has Not Overcome It ~ 1:5bIII. Conclusion

Contentment is one of the hardest lessons to learn—whether you’re a child circling toys in a catalog or an adult eyeing upgrades and “just one more thing” that promises satisfaction. Philippians 4:12 pulls us back to center, reminding us that peace doesn’t rise and fall with our circumstances. Paul learned to be steady in seasons of plenty and seasons of lack because his confidence was rooted in Christ, not conditions. When we anchor our joy in the unchanging character of God, we discover the quiet strength that carries us through both abundance and need. Highlights Contentment and happiness aren’t the same—one depends on circumstances, the other doesn’t. Paul learned contentment through every season: need, abundance, hunger, and fullness. Lasting peace is found in Christ, not in possessions, upgrades, or life improvements. Our hearts easily drift toward “more,” making contentment a daily, intentional choice. Philippians 4:13 reveals the true secret: Christ’s strength empowers us to be faithful in any situation. Even Paul, writing from captivity and suffering, modeled unwavering trust in God. Want and plenty both test our faith—but both can draw us closer to God when we rely on Him. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Faithful in Plenty, Faithful in Want By: Laura Bailey Bible Reading: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” - Philippians 4:12 NIV “Give me! It’s my turn to look!” my youngest daughter screamed as she ripped the latest Christmas catalog out of my middle daughter’s hands. We’d received four toy books this week, the glossy pages filled with the latest gadgets, and my daughters were eager to circle the items they’d had their eyes on all year and add a few more things to their lists.“I think I will hold onto this,” I said as I tucked the book underneath my arm. “You girls already have so much, how could you possibly find anything else you want?” My daughters turned to each other in an unspoken agreement that their mother was, in fact, crazy. They could never have “enough,” there was always something more to bring them greater joy. It is my responsibility as a parent to teach my girls about contentment, gratitude for what they have, and the dangers of placing our happiness in things. Don’t worry, I did address the heart issue with my littles. However, at thirty years their senior, I still struggle with the same things. No, it’s not the lure of a new doll that promises to boost my morale; instead, it’s looking forward to a raise, taking a trip, or upgrading the kitchen appliances. How often do I struggle to be faithful in plenty and faithful in want? Sadly, it is still a struggle. Paul, in his letter to the Christians at Philippi, encourages them to be content and faithful to what God has called them to, in all circumstances. Notice that Paul, in our key verse, uses the word content and not happy. Often, we use those words interchangeably, and while they are similar, they have slightly different meanings. Happiness, a state of euphoria, is dependent on circumstances, while contentment is a state of peace or satisfaction independent of circumstances. Paul desired that his ancient readers and today’s believers understand that peace and joy aren’t rooted in our circumstances but in our relationship with Christ. Therefore, contentment and choosing to be faithful to God’s purpose are daily choices. Often, my feelings dictate my soul's contentment. Paul understood this struggle. The verse following Paul’s “secret,” to contentment, tells us how he was able to, even in the worst of circumstances, he can stay faithful ( remember, Paul is writing this letter from house arrest, and was beaten, flogged, and severely injured for the gospel). Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul kept his faith even in the most dire of circumstances because God was with him, strengthened him, and gave him peace and joy through the work of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s life. The key to lasting happiness and peace isn’t found in a temporary world but in an everlasting God. Paul understood how easily we get discouraged, allowing the disappointments of this world to overcome us, rob us of our peace, steal our joy, and undermine our faith. But in our weakest moments, we must cry out to God, asking Him to give us the strength to “count it all joy” (James 1:2-4). Once my girls had settled down, I brought out the magazine and shared with them that I, too, can get sidetracked and distracted by all the shiny things this world offers. It’s not wrong to want a new pair of shoes, or a new game, or even to have a toy chest overflowing with playthings. However, we must guard our hearts against the proclivity to find contentment in our circumstances, cash flow, or STUFF. The “not-so secret” to be faithful in plenty and little, is to place our trust in the One Who is the Provider of it all. Intersecting Faith & Life: Next time you are tempted to measure your happiness by the temporary, take a minute to meditate on our key verse. Commit the verse to memory, or write it down on a sticky note as a reminder that we can find contentment in Christ, not our circumstances.Further Reading:James 1:2-8 A Prayer to Enjoy Each Season Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

LESSON 324I 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 ACIM

It's officially gifting season — and Molly and Emese are here to save you the stress. In this week's episode, they're breaking down exactly what they're buying, giving, and secretly hoping to get this year. From beauty sets that always sell out to cozy home finds, fashion staples, wellness favorites, and under-$100 steals, this is the only gift guide you'll need. They cover everyone on your list — the kids, the teens, the husbands, the in-laws, and, of course, yourself. Expect tons of recs (YSE Beauty, Crown Affair, Clare V., Westman Atelier, Diptyque, Flamingo Estate, and more), plus a few luxe splurges and personalized gift ideas that feel thoughtful, not overdone. Your complete 2025 Holiday Gift Guide starts now. Make something that means something this holiday. Shop Shutterfly.com/lipstickontherim for gifts like mugs, photo books, calendars, and blankets. And right now, you'll get Free Shipping on your order with promo code LIPSTICKONTHERIM A Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Mentioned in the Episode: Shop All Gift Guides: https://shopmy.us/shop/mollysims?Section_id=1163205&tab=collections For the Beauty Obsessed: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2560552 For the Health & Wellness Lover: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558401 For Him, Because He's Impossible to Shop For: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558400 For the Kiddos: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558399 For the One Who'd Rather Stay Home: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558394 Luxe Finds Under $100: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558390 The Stocking Stuffer Edit: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558393  For the Host with the Most: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558387 If You're Shopping for Me…: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558383 For the Fashion Fiend: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2558381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting a child who constantly melts down—even when you've tried every gentle parenting tip out there—can leave you exhausted and doubting yourself.You're doing your best to be calm and validating, yet you still feel like you're walking on eggshells. You're not alone. The truth is, gentle parenting isn't enough on its own—and understanding whycan completely change your family dynamic.Let's break down what gentle parenting gets right, what it misses, and how to help your child truly regulate and thrive. Learn more about why empathy without boundaries backfires, what “Regulate, Connect, Correct” really means, and how to shift from over-validation to true emotional safety.Why Doesn't Gentle Parenting Always Work?Gentle parenting promotes empathy, validation, and connection instead of harsh punishment. That's beautiful in theory—but many parents discover it's not enough in real life.Here's why: Validation alone doesn't calm a dysregulated brain.Kids may feel heard, but not necessarily safe.A dysregulated nervous system can't learn, connect, or cooperate.Empathy without boundaries often fuels anxiety and chaos.When kids stay stuck in big emotions, they become dependent on constant reassurance instead of learning self-regulation. That's when parents start feeling drained and walking on eggshells.

Send us a messageThe word “Ichabod” literally means “inglorious” or “there is no glory.” And in her pain and despair, the woman (who is unnamed in Scripture) lamented over the lossof the Glory of God from Israel.The Glory of God is used to describe not only His Majesty but also His favor and blessings toward His people. In the Old Testament, Ichabod became a reality for the Israelites.In the New Testament, Jesus later refers to the concept of the Glory of God leaving Israel. In His message to the populace of Israel, His final word to the religious leaders was: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.” (Matthew 23:37-38).That was His final statement of judgment on Israel for the rejection of their Messiah.He had indicted their leaders – and by indicting the leaders – that indictment fell upon all the people who followed them. And now, He proclaimed their house to be left desolate – “Ichabod!” For the Glory had departed.And that warning is being heralded by Jesus to the world-loving Church of today as its many compromises lead her further and further away from His unadulterated Word of Truth that alone guarantees Salvation's Eternal Life Promise – and the One Who alone is the Promise – Yeshua Hamashiach – Jesus the Messiah.In this series, we address this growing dilemma while contending for His Truth – and shining the Light of that glorious beacon into the darkness of this world while there is still time to do so. For once the last called and chosen one enters in – the Ark of God's Salvation will be leaving to meet our Beloved Savior in the air – before His Tribulation Judgment befalls the unbelieving – those who rejected theLove of the Truth – so as to be Saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10).Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Sometimes we all need to be still and let our souls catch up with our bodies. The One Who created the earth and everything in it, including you and me, designed us that way.  And our world, and our culture, and the news, and social media, and our phones, and our jobs and our choices and even our churches and good ministries are adding to that need for our souls to catch up.  We are not made for the pace we're living. So, how might Jesus be trying to get your attention?  And have you ever pursued what you thought to be His beckoning, only to wonder why He never quite seemed to be where you thought He was leading you to go? Today's Table features a two-week chase initiated by God across the Pacific Northwest featuring North Cascades, Olympic, and Mount Rainier National Parks that led to an unanticipated mountaintop and a conclusion not meant to be defined. Sometimes following Jesus is a mystery to be enjoyed rather than one to always be explained. Featuring "The Whole Thing" by Ellie Holcomb (Used by Permission through Musicbed).

Send us a messageScripture warns us of the many deceptions that would be especially prevalent in the last days – and having reached that time on God's Prophetic Calendar – thesedeceptions are in full force as Satan continues to “rob, kill, and destroy” as many as he can.His most deadly attacks are orchestrated through his masterful counterfeits – which are geared to draw mankind away from the One True God of All Creation and the Eternal Life that Only He can give – and to follow him instead. For he longs forthe worship that belongs to Elohim alone.And in order to accomplish his devious desires, he has infiltrated the true Church of Jesus Christ with his darkened ministers – who just like him – appear as angelsof light – when in reality there is no true light in them at all. But because their disguise is so deceptive – appearing to be draped in benevolence. kindness and love – many are drawn into their beguiling persuasions.In this message, we reveal these nefarious counterfeits while proclaiming the unadulterated Word of Truth that alone leads man to the One Who is the Truth – Yeshua HaMashiach – Jesus the Messiah!Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Today on LEADING THE WAY ?' Dr. Michael Youssef offers biblical keys to access your eternal destination . . . and the One Who holds the keys. (Matthew 16) Support the show: https://au.ltw.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to live with true contentment? For many, contentment feels just out of reach—always tied to the next raise, the next purchase, or the next season of life. In Scripture, we are called to a deeper, lasting contentment, one that doesn’t depend on circumstances but on Christ Himself. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West talks about trusting God, the One Who provides. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, where biblical wisdom meets today’s finances—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.To learn more about Rob West, click here.To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel - Luke 12:1-7 - At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to His disciples, "Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees. "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you Whom to fear. Be afraid of the One Who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that One. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Saint Ignatius, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Send us a messageIn 2 Corinthians 4:1-4, the Apostle Paul gives confirmation to why not all will come to the Saving knowledge of Jesus Christ the Lord. He writes:“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.”The tragic truth is that in this hour of great deception, not only are the minds of the unbelieving of the world being blinded from Salvation's Truth – but more frighteningly this blindness has fallen upon a certain portion of the Church – by way of “wolves” who have crept in and are spreading their apostate teachings.God's contenders of Truth are being called to rise up in the Light of that Truthand to herald it as His Watchmen on the Wall that man's blindness may be healed. And that they may see the One Who alone is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life  - while there is yet time to do so.For Jesus Comes Quickly!Support the showVisit our website: https://agapelightministries.com/

Good Morning Beloved! Happy First Fruit Monday... The Lord Has Been Good To Us. Let's Worship Him, The ONE Who has No Contenders!   God Bless 

Lesson 3 - The One Who has the VictoryMark 4:35 – 6:6. This lesson pictures the complete victory Jesus offers us. He rules over nature, over demons, even over death itself. He is Lord over all. But Mark reminds us it's also about what do we do with the claims of Christ. We can accept them like Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood, receiving what He promises and more. Or we can reject them like the Gerasenes and the people of Nazareth and miss out on everything. As always, we get to choose.To learn more about Michele or to support this international ministry please visithttps://intheword.com

Resting In the Promises (1) (audio) David Eells, 10/15/25 Today, I'd like to encourage you and remind you about the rest of God and to trust in His promises so we can see His salvation come to pass completely. We need the Lord to help us understand how deep and broad His precious promises of the Real Good News are, and what His power is to those who believe them. Jesus said, (Mat.9:29) According to your faith be it done unto you. And in (8:13) As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. It's important what we believe and know because faith is based on knowledge, and you can't believe for something that you don't know about. So we need to be familiar with the Word. The promises of God are for our salvation in personal (soul) salvation, healing (body) salvation, and also deliverance, protection, and provision. We know that all these promises are past tense. (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree ... by whose stripes ye were healed. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness.... (Rom.6:18) And being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. (22) But now being made free from sin and become servants to God... They are all past tense so that we can enter into His all-inclusive, New Testament rest. The rest mentioned in Hebrews speaks of ceasing from our own works through faith in His promises. We need to walk in that rest and in that peace so that we are not condemned by the devil, separated from the faith of God, separated from the things that God wants to do through us. All provision has been made in our New Testament Sabbath rest. Our sabbatismos, as it is called in Hebrews 4, means “a continual rest.” The Sabbath is no longer one day that we rest; we have to cease from our works and enter into His rest through faith every day. That's His promise. The Lord has been bringing individuals through their own personal wilderness so that they can learn how to live by faith. (Heb.10:38) But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul. Now, your soul is your mind, will and emotions; it's your nature, your character. Jesus Christ is an example of a saved soul, and walking in His steps is something that He has provided for us to do. (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. And we can see from His life that Jesus walked by faith, completely trusting the Father in everything. The Lord is using our time in the wilderness to work the same thing in us. We understand that we are living in the latter days, and Jeremiah said in (Jer.30:23) Behold, the tempest of the Lord, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. (24) the fierce anger of the Lord shall not return until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it. And continuing in (31:1) At that time (still talking about the latter days), saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Romans 11 tells us about all those who are grafted into the olive tree, which is called “all Israel” by faith. The Lord broke off the unbelieving Jews concerning the new Kingdom and He grafted in the Gentiles as the Church, and then He said, (Rom.11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved. “All the families of Israel” is a very large group of people around the world, not just natural Israel. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The wilderness is a sparse place with very little worldly provision for man. There, the Israelites had to have their salvation, provision, and protection from God. He brought them to a perfect place to learn to trust in Him for His provision. He made this an opportunity for them where God, in His mercy, had to ultimately save them after they ran out of all their provision from Egypt (a type of the world) and there was no natural provision around them. So, when you believe these past tense promises from God, you automatically enter into a wilderness because there is no help from man. I have seen God's wonderful stored provision for His people headed to wilderness.  God's already delivered you, healed you, provided for you, fed you, housed you, already protected you, and saved your soul. He's already done all these things; therefore, you can't do anything to bring them to pass. Since He's already done them, you just have to rest. (Heb.4:3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. In other words, God is saying, “Why shouldn't you rest? The works are already finished!” The problem is that people don't walk by faith and the promises are quickly taken away from them. Here's one instance: (Heb.3:18) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? (19) And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. So if you want to know where disobedience comes from, it comes from unbelief because when you believe the promises, you are at rest. You are at peace. You are trusting in God to bring it to pass and you are ceasing from your works. Now, your works of the flesh are disobedience and they're sin. Your works of the Law, which are of the Old Covenent, are sin in the New Covenant. So you see, unbelief brings disobedience, and the Greek word apeitheia means both “disobedience” and “unbelief.” It can be translated either way. How can that be? Let's read (Heb.4:11) Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience (apeitheia or “unbelief”). (6) Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience (apeitheia or “unbelief”). If you have unbelief, you will be disobedient and one reason is that you cannot cease from your own works when you don't believe God's already done it. You always want to help Him out, or you get your eyes on the world and your problems. When that happens, people fall victim to fear, doubt, discouragement, and all those things because of what they see with their physical eyes, rather than what they see in the Bible. If you walk by sight, you will not walk by faith. You'll be like Israel in the wilderness, who looked around and saw lack on every side. They didn't believe that God was able to meet their every need out there, and the devil agreed with them, so they became full of fear, discouragement, and disobedience, and they spoke against the Lord. You will do that too if you don't have faith. Let's read some of that story and look at a few points. (Num.21:4) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light (or “vile”) bread. They were speaking about the manna and calling it “this vile bread.” The bread of life is sweet to the taste but is bitter in the belly. In other words, the flesh does not like it because it demands your life, and that you give up your thinking and your ways. It demands submission. Well, these people were walking by sight, having their eyes on the problems around them, instead of on the promise, so they became discouraged and they spoke against the Lord. But God has already taken care of every problem that you could possibly have or imagine. It's all been covered by the blood. It's already been covered by the Lord on the cross. He's already taken it away; it's already solved as Jesus said in (Joh.19:30) It is finished. Jesus told His disciples in (16:33) Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. If we keep our eyes on those promises, they bring us rest. If we get our eyes on the problem, we stumble and fall. When that happens, we go back to walking by sight and speaking against the Lord. Do you know what speaking against the Lord can be? It can be anything that is contrary to the Word, anything that is not confessing the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. (Rom.10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Our salvation in every form comes not only by faith, but the works that come from that faith, and the biggest work that comes from faith is what we say. We have to learn to confess the Lord in the midst of the situations around us. The Lord brought the Israelites into the wilderness on purpose to try them, to see if they would walk by sight or by faith. Jesus tells us this, too. (Mat.10:32) Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. (33) But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. We believe His promises and they give us rest, and then what naturally comes out of our mouth is in agreement with the Word of God. And when you confess Him before men, He confesses you before the Father. The word “confess” here is the Greek homologeo, and it means “to speak the same as.” When we are in the tribulations of our wilderness experiences, we see our need, our lack, our sickness, and our sin; we see our problems, which as we have discovered the Lord has already taken care of. Are we going to agree with the Good News? “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It's very important that we're careful to confess faith in the promises. This brings the salvation that we're believing for. With our confession, we're “calling the things that are not as though they were.” It's very important that we confess Him before men, that we say before men what His Word says. (Heb.3:1) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, [even] Jesus. Jesus is the “High Priest of our confession,” Who offers an offering before the Father and that offering is what we say; it's the words of our mouth. And if we speak the same as Jesus, then He confesses us before the Father and before the holy angels. (Luk.12:8) And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: (9) but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. I also like this verse: (Mat.12:36) And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Thank God that we come into days of judgment so that we don't have to come into the Day of Judgment! The Greek word translated as “idle” here means “unfruitful.” There are unfruitful words that don't give us any help in the day of judgment. (Mat.12:37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified (that means “accounted righteous”), and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. When you come into judgment you want to be justified, so that you come through and overcome it. (Rom 3:4)  God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.  He tells us in order for that to happen, we have to confess Him before men. (Mat.15:18) But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. (19) For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: (20) these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man. When we think thoughts that are contrary to God, when we speak what we see, feel and hear, we're like the spies who went into the Promised Land and brought back a bad report. They reported what they saw, what they felt and what they heard, so they were condemned by God. They made the hearts of the people fearful and that made the people fall away (Numbers 13,14). The spies died in the wilderness because they brought a bad report and the rest died because they believed what they heard and not what God said. Our report, the good witness that we're supposed to give before men, has to be what “thus saith the Lord.” What did the Lord say about our circumstances and our situations? By your words you are going to be justified or accounted righteous, and by your words, you are going to be condemned. When these Israelites in the wilderness began to look at the problems around them and became discouraged because they didn't have their mind on the promise, they “spoke against the Lord.” (Num 14:28) … as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. They spoke about what they saw, what they felt, what they heard, and what their fears told them would happen. They cried the whole time to go back to Egypt because they loved the fleshly rest of trusting in the world to supply their needs. God wanted them to rest in the promises in the wilderness, and He had to bring them through the wilderness to get them to the Promised Land of rest. We see here that the people, walking in flesh, “spake against the Lord,” and that's what comes from the disobedience caused by unbelief. They spoke against the Lord, saying that He was going to cause them to die in the wilderness and they spoke of how much they hated the bread, which brought a curse upon them. (Num.21:6) And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. They said they hated the “light bread.” They hated the Lord! Did you know that if you don't love the bread of the Word, you don't love the Lord? Many people say they love the Lord, but what did the Lord Himself say? (Joh.14:15) If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. If you love the Lord, you will love the Word. Now the “light bread” that they reviled was the manna, but what was the manna? (Exo.16:31) And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers [made] with honey. Some Bible versions have a footnote that the word “manna” is actually the Hebrew word “man.” Wow! And Who is the Man? The Man is Jesus. (Joh.6:33) For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (34) They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. (35) Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. They hated the manna, which represented the Word of life. It represented He Who is the Word, Jesus Christ. They hated the Lord, but the Lord is these promises. (Joh.1:14) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. “The Word became flesh,” or to state it another way, the Word manifested in flesh. The Word became flesh in order for us to be like Him, bearing His fruit, because we also have to be the Word become flesh. God's plan is that He might reveal Himself through the body of Christ today, like He revealed Himself through the first body of Christ. The Israelites in the wilderness hated the Lord because they had their eyes on the problems instead of the promises, and they became discouraged. They hadn't entered into the rest. They hadn't ceased from their works and so they were under the curse. (Num.21:6) And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (7) And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. They sinned because they spoke against the Lord. Do you know it's overwhelmingly common for God's people to speak against Him? That's because their tongue is connected to their physical sight and their physical hearing. It's also common that God's people live under the curse, but the Lord did not ordain us to live under the curse. He ordained us to live above the curse. God told Joshua (Jos.1:8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: (Notice: You will be able to do what is written if you speak in agreement with the Word.) for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous (Hebrew: “to push forward”; this has nothing to do with the worldly “prosperity” doctrine.), and then thou shalt have good success (Notice: Christian success comes from speaking and acting in agreement with the Word.). To state it another way, when we speak in agreement with the Word, although not necessarily quoting the Word, “then thou shalt make thy way prosperous.” This is how we “prosper” in going to the Promised Land and what else did He say? “That thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” You see, faith makes us obedient; unbelief makes us disobedient. If we never cease from our works, then we will never enter into the rest. That's what the Lord exhorted in (Heb.3:11) As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Why? (12) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God. They couldn't enter into the rest because they had “an evil heart of unbelief” that made them speak against the Lord. When they realized this was sin, they asked Moses to pray for them and Moses prayed for the people. (Num.21:8) And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live. What does the serpent represent? We came out of this world and into the Kingdom of God, into what is called “the body of Christ.” So what body were we a part of before we came to the body of Christ? The body of antichrist. Anti means against. Jesus said, (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me.... He talked to the Pharisees and said, (Joh.8:44) Ye are of [your] father the devil.... They were members of the body of the devil, which is antichrist! And we used to be in the devil's body, too. We were created to be in his image but we were actually full of the poison of the serpent. We had that poison in our heads, just like the serpent does. Remember what Revelation says. (Rev.12:9) And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.... And yet the Lord called us to be a part of His body. The Bible says that Jesus became like that serpent on the pole. (Joh.3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. From now on, when we look at Jesus upon the cross, we can see our curse put there upon Him. We can see our sin and our sickness put upon Him. We can see our lack and whatever our problem is put there upon Him because of this. (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.... “Redeemed” is the Greek word exagorazo, and it means “to buy out or to purchase a slave with a mind to set him free.” Christ bought us. He delivered us from the bondage of slavery to sin, the devil and the curse. The “curse of the law” is all of the evil things that came upon mankind for disobeying God's Law (Deuteronomy 28). (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.... Jesus became the curse! We know that the devil administers the curse and he's been given that authority by God to do it so that people would be humbled, repent and turn to Him. (13) Christ… having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Now we see that Jesus became cursed on that cross; He became like the serpent, like us.): (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The Bible says that Abraham was blessed in all things. (16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. God made all these promises to Christ. He made all these promises to just one seed and now we must abide in Him. And we abide in Him by accepting the same promises, by speaking the same promises, by walking in faith in the same promises. And we receive the benefit of Abraham because Jesus became cursed for us. God put our curse, the whole curse that's partially enumerated in Deuteronomy 28, upon Jesus. No matter what problem you have, you should be able to see this problem upon Jesus. (Num.21:8) And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live. We were snake-bit and Jesus took the venom. I'd like to point out something else: (2Co.5:21) Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin (Jesus became the curse and He became the sin.) on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Do you have a problem with sin? Do you have a problem with the curse that comes from sin? We see the serpent on the cross and that the Lord has put all of this upon Jesus. Now we confess what the Bible says: (2Co.5:17) Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. All of that curse and sin has completely passed away. We are new creatures by faith in this. When you look at the serpent on the pole, you're supposed to see your curse, your sin, upon Him. The curse is very broad. If you read Deuteronomy 28, you'll find it's all sickness, it's all lack, it's all bondage to your enemies, etc. We're speaking against God if we're not speaking in agreement with His promises. We must repent. We must “change our mind,” which is what “repent” means. We are new creatures in Christ. Christ has been raised up on the pole for our salvation and we are to get our eyes upon Him because Moses said, (Num.21:8) ... every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live. (9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived. So when the Israelites got their eyes on the Son, which in this case is represented by the serpent, and on what the Son had accomplished, they were healed. Many years ago, I had a vision in which I saw myself walking to a stream and when I got into the stream, I received a revelation that as long as I lay on my back and looked at the sun, I could stay floating up the stream. As I meditated on that, the Lord gave me the understanding that this stream represents the Word of God. God told Moses, (Deu.11:26) Behold I set before you this day a blessing and a curse. He was talking about His commandments because they represent both a blessing and a curse. They represent the blessing of God's Good News, and they represent the curse of death to those who disobey it. So I realized that the water represented the Word of God (Eph.5:26) having cleansed [the church] by the washing of water with the word, and that it could either kill me or give me life. I could go upstream, contrary to nature, if I kept my eyes on the sun and I would always stay afloat; in other words, I would always stay above the curse. Water will kill you if you go beneath it, but if you stay on top, it's a blessing like Noah in the ark. We have to keep our eyes on the Son in order to stay above the curse that's upon this world because He's the One Who promised and He's the One Who bore the curse. We should be able to see our curse upon Him. If you can see your problem having been put on Jesus, you can be free of it; that's His method. It's very, very simple. If you get double minded you sink into the curse like Peter when he walked on water. That's what faith is all about; faith is believing that you have already received on account of the promises that God has already given. Continuing with my dream, as I was lying on my back with my face to the sun, I was floating upstream, contrary to nature and to the laws of this world. If you keep your eyes on the Son, it's supernatural. It's above the laws of this world. The supernatural takes precedence over the laws of this world. For instance, healing comes to people who believe that they have received it, but healing comes very hard to people who are always seeking it. It works the same way for deliverance from sins and all of the curse. (Mar.11:24) All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. That's very simple and an awesome benefit that the Lord has given to us. So I'm floating upstream and I looked around me and saw there were a few others who were doing the same thing. As we floated away, I noticed that there were people on the left side of the stream who floated up under a tent that was stretched over about half the stream. Whenever any of these people who were floating with me went under the tent and the shadow fell upon them, they sank to the bottom of the stream, for they lost sight of the Son and His salvation. I quickly got out onto the bank and cut the ropes holding the tent up. It fell into the water and the water carried it away. Then I made these floats to float the people up off the bottom. As soon as they saw the sun again, they started floating once more. I realized that the tent represented man's religion. The religions of man like to take credit for what God has already done. They like to tell men, “God does not do it that way anymore.” They have their fleshly ideas and their way of leading people is, “Let's go back to Egypt and do it the way of the world. Let's have God's salvation through man's provision. Let's go back by the fleshpots.” They don't teach people to walk by faith with their eyes on the Son, but they bring them into darkness. They block the light of the Son and the people sink. They're under the curse and think it's normal to live that way because everybody around them lives that way. God did not ordain us to do that. If we keep our eyes on the Son, we will stay above the curse; that's what the Lord revealed to me about this. Also it was those on the “left” that fell away. Jesus put the goats on the left. Many “Christians” are self-willed and rebellious like goats and must be taught better. Another revelation I want to share …   Resting in Jesus to Do the Work Missy Pollock - 04/11/2012 (David's notes in red) A couple was ministering to me concerning something I've been going through for about four years. The husband said he sensed in his spirit that soon things would come to light. Then, that same night, the Lord gave me the following dream to encourage me and build my faith. I believe that this dream can be encouraging and faith-building for other members of the body of Christ. In the dream, my husband (representing Jesus) was driving to work and I was with Him (the Lord doesn't do anything without me; He needs my cooperation). (Missy here represents the bride of Jesus, who is learning to let Him lead and do the work.) There was a car (representing circumstances and situations in my environment, or in my life) in front of us with a baseball glove attached to it by about 6 feet of string (my flesh) on the back bumper. (Getting ahead of the Lord's works.) My husband (Jesus) said that the baseball glove (the hand of God) was His. I said, “No, that's not your glove” (not recognizing God's hand in things). Then there was another car in front of us with a string attached to it with a baseball glove on a power line (Doing our work by)(the power of God's kingdom) and the car eventually pulled the string tight to the point that it came off and the glove stayed on the power line (God is using the circumstances in my life to cause me to let go and let God). This same thing happened again (the process of transforming me into His image through dying to self and taking up my cross and following Him) with another car and ball glove attached. The next time it happened, when the string was pulled tight, it wasn't a glove but a bird attached to the string, and it flew away and landed in a tree. (I am the bird in the Spirit, in resurrection, one with the Lord, free from the flesh [the string], resting in the tree from the works of the flesh. Amen. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!) (Also, a bird can represent God's Spirit who enables His works with gifts.) Then my husband was driving fast (doing a quick work in my life) and I asked Him to slow down (a quick work is hard on the flesh. Amen; it's dying! (1Pe.4:1) ... for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin). He made a comment that the road was a dirt road (an earthly, temporary journey: (2Co.4:18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.) and I said, “No, it wasn't.” My husband made a turn without even looking and a car almost hit us (Psalm 91). I said to him, “That car almost hit us.” My husband was annoyed with all my comments (because I wasn't trusting in Him). At some point, I saw that the road really was a dirt road and there were a lot of curves in the road (finally seeing that it was just a temporary (earthly) journey). My husband made another reckless turn. (This is just the perception of my carnal man. I need to make sure I set my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are on the earth.) These are the verses the Lord gave me to go with the dream: (1Ki.12:33) And he went up unto the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth (rest) day in the eighth (the number of circumcision, the cutting off of sowing flesh) month, even in the month which he devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel and went up unto the altar, to burn incense. (Serving God our own way in the flesh. The wife gave the meaning of the numbers. She said, “Step away from the matter now; it's in God's hands. Rest in all that God has shown you. The end of the matter is at hand. Be patient in spirit!”) Also (Joe.3:17) So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your god, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. We start out serving God in the flesh, but learn to rest through all the trials and tribulations He takes us through. Eventually, there are no strangers (man in the flesh) in God's Kingdom and His bride. (Ecc.3:14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him. Amen.

Can you have peace in the insanity of the Sandwich Season? Ruthie Gray, author and host the podcast, Sandwich Season Sanity, joins me to today to talk about the struggles we may face when juggling several difficult and time-consuming roles. We are never alone because God knows the way that we take, and you will be encouraged and maybe challenged from our conversation. Our peace comes from daily laying down our lives, our plans, our "To-Do Lists" to the One Who really is in control. "Pray your list," Ruthie says. And when we do, we will have peace in any life-season. SIGN UP FOR THE PEACEFUL MOM COLLECTION WITH RUTHIE GRAY Let's trade not-so-helpful stress for encouragement that hits right at home. Some gems from our podcast today: Laying down our past roles doesn't come easy because we can wrap our identity in those roles instead of who we are in Christ. There's a grief in releasing our kids and their kids into the Lord's control instead of hanging on to them for dear life. I can't afford to not spend time in God's Word, journaling, praying Scripture back to God and giving him my "to-do list" for the day. Our peace can only be as big as our faith, clinging to God no matter what the day brings. If you want a good relationship with your adult kids, ask open-ended questions instead of telling them what they already know about you and your well-laid out plans for your life (and their's!) I can idolize my title like "mom" or "grandma" so when they change, I go through an unnecessary identity crisis. We need to allow time for our own soul care to be healthy and ready for the next challenge life offers, welcomed or not. Ruthie Gray's book, Empty Next Awakening may be just what you need currently and it also makes a great gift for a friend. Find out more from Ruthie at ruthiegray.com and you can get her 5 short podcasts on getting peace in your insanity seasons HERE .  

Calling God a Liar Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 1:8-10 Episode Summary In part 4 of our 1 John series, Pastor Michael shares a ballad about a chili cook-off between the devil and a humble cook to illustrate pride's greatest danger: self-deception about sin. When we claim we don't need forgiveness, we make God out to be a liar. True redemption begins when we stop making excuses and honestly confess our need for Jesus. Key Points - Human beings are masters of self-deception, especially when it comes to sin - We create elaborate excuses and fig leaves to cover our failures rather than face them - Confession isn't earning salvation - it's aligning with reality and admitting we can't save ourselves - When we deny our sin problem, we call God a liar and reject His truth Main Takeaway God isn't looking for people who pretend to have it together. He's looking for people humble enough to admit they don't. The only people God can't forgive are those who think they don't need forgiveness. Memorable Quotes - "Redemption begins with the honest confession that we cannot save ourselves." - "If we say we have no sin, who are we trying to deceive? Ourselves." - "Jesus doesn't ask you to be perfect; He asks you to be real about your brokenness." - "Confession doesn't change His view of you; it changes your view of Him." - "As long as you think you can fix yourself, you'll never go to The One Who can truly heal you." - "You can't fix what you won't face." Reflection Question What "fig leaves" - excuses, distractions, or denials - have you been using to cover up what you don't want God or others to see? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's hilarious original ballad "The Devil Went Down to Dugspur" and discover why pride is the biggest spiritual roadblock we face. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Lesson 2 - The One Who is Lord of All Mark 2:13 – 4:25. Mark continues recounting the miracles, the confrontations and the teachings of Jesus as His ministry spreads and grows. The Pharisees move front and center in this lesson, angry at Christ's association with “sinners” and His total disregard of their rules and traditions, especially regarding the Sabbath. Christ openly challenges their stubbornness and pride, ending with a warning about the need to listen carefully to what He says, because everything hangs in the balance.To learn more about Michele or to support this international ministry please visithttps://intheword.com

A Sunday morning sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. Before the start of my Senior year, I had a surprise chance to come to the States, so I set out from the island of Bioko in Central Africa for far off middle America. The whole way across the Atlantic, I had almost exclusively one thing on my mind: new music! I was barely settled in my room at a small hostel for missionary kids in college, and I was looking for a ride to record store. It might be hard to remember what it was like in the days before streaming and clouds and the digital revolution we're currently in, but back then, unless I wanted to buy grainy knock off cassettes in Nairobi, the land of music was America. Barely had my feet touched the ground and I was loading up sample CDs at the store. One of those CDS has become one my favorites, one I go back to time and time again. It's Purpose by Design by Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ. This album sprints out the gate on the first track, with "I Want My Destiny." You can feel the theology of the song as much as the funky slap bass. This song is a time capsule in my journey of faith. It sings of a life redeemed by Christ. It rejoices in a life recreated for purpose. It shouts of a passion to serve the One “Who brought me and is able to keep me” and to follow Jesus “to the place where He has need of me.” These lyrics provide the surround sound of Apostle Paul's album to the Philippians. His entire epistle, according to G. Walter Hansen is Paul “urging them to join with him in his own journey to know Christ.” Hearing his epistle, set to this soundtrack, we are challenged to recognize, in Christ, our eternal citizenship has current blessing bearer responsibilities. Our salvation is fire insurance. It's calling. It's purpose. We must start living out our citizenship now. Enthusiastically awaiting Jesus' return, “with the time we have / Let's waste not all on selfish reasons / But we must seek to please Him first / Find His will upon the Earth” so that “When they look back from death to birth / They'll say they've seen Him.”

Do you hear that sound? Can you feel it? The cool ocean breeze in your hair, the salt on your tongue. It's the smooth crash of KVGM "The Last Wave", with your host, Hammock. A biweekly VGM podcast bringing you the jammiest video game music from all your favorite composers and consoles. Sit back, relax, and get ready to catch...the Last Wave. October is here, which means pumpkin spice everything and giant lawn skeletons and government shutdowns and the ongoing collapse of western civilization but we're jamming out with our yams out and pretending everything is fine...everything will be okay...let's just jam, together. Playlist Radio Waves - Tremolo Vibration (Denpa no Dorei, PC) ACT 3 - Hirokazu Koshio (Fashion Dreamer, Nintendo Switch) BGM 1- Yumi Kinoshita (New 3D Golf Simulation: Devil's Course, Sega Mega Drive) Menu - Scott Lee (BASS Strike, Sony PlayStation 2) The One Who's Fashionable - Yoshihiro Kawagoe (Dark Rose Valkyrie, Sony PlayStation 4) Investigation - Unknown (Team Batista no Eikou: Shinjitsu o Tsumugu 4-tsu no Karte, Nintendo DS) Slideshow - Minamo Takahashi (We Ski, Nintendo Wii) At Last - Naotoshi Nishino (Last Escort 2 -Shinya no Amai Toge-, Sony PlayStation 2) Drinks A - Unknown (Switchy Road DeluX, Nintendo Switch) Staff Roll - Yoshinori Hirahara and Katsuhiro Hatano (Saisoku Densetsu Racer X, PC-98) Special Request Stage 5 (Devastated Present 1993) - Tsukasa Masuko (Time Diver: Eon Man, Nintendo Famicom)

Today's Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Joshua Charles joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers: Saint Irenaeus Gospel - Luke 10:13-16 - Jesus said to them, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.' Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me." Bishop Sheen quote of the day

The Rambam writes that although teshuvah and tefillah are powerful all year long, during the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah they are even more potent and accepted immediately. As the pasuk says: דִּרְשׁוּ ה׳ בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ, קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב — seek out Hashem when He is closest, which is right now, in these days leading up to Yom Kippur. The mitzvah of this time is repentance: feeling regret for the sins we have done and sincerely accepting upon ourselves to improve going forward. Hashem desires our teshuvah even more than we do. He is called haRotzeh b'teshuvah — the One Who longs for repentance. There are many people we know whom we wish would be more observant. We try to encourage them, but they aren't interested. Yet tefillah can help bring them back to Torah and mitzvot. When we pray for others to make teshuvah , they receive more heavenly assistance to return. And if at this time of year our prayers are more readily accepted than any other time, we must seize the chance not only to pray for ourselves but also to pray for others to come closer to Hashem. Hashem has countless ways to awaken someone. In one simple act of hashgachah peratit , a person's life can change forever. A man named Reuven related the following story. Every summer, he and his family go up to the mountains for two months. They rent a truck to bring up their belongings, then drop it off at a return location and take a taxi back to their bungalow. One year, the return point was in a far-off place, completely devoid of Jews. Reuven arranged with a friend who was also returning his truck that day to share the same taxi. He returned his truck and waited. But his friend called to say he was delayed. As Reuven stood there waiting, a car pulled up. The driver asked if he knew of any shuls nearby. Reuven answered, "There are no Jews in this area. What brings you here?" The man explained that he had driven over four hours from his hometown to see the house his grandmother had lived in 85 years ago. Recently, he had been introduced to Torah and mitzvot and had begun putting on tefillin every day. But he hadn't yet put them on that day and was hoping to find a shul. Reuven immediately realized: This is hashgachah peratit. He told the man, "I should have been gone twenty minutes ago, but due to an unexpected delay I'm still here. Hashem wanted us to meet." He directed the man toward his bungalow colony, where thousands of Jews lived. Just then, Reuven's friend arrived in the taxi. Reuven excitedly told him what had happened. The friend replied, "I was so annoyed by the delay — but now I understand why it happened." He explained that when he went to return his truck, the clerk overcharged him. He argued for a long time until the clerk admitted it was a mistake. That delay was exactly what allowed Reuven to meet the searching Jew. Even a clerk's mistake is from Hashem. When they returned to the bungalow, they saw the man again and brought him to their rabbi. A relationship was formed, and over time this man became fully observant, now living a life of Torah and mitzvot. Hashem can give people extra help to return to Him. Especially now, we must pray for it. The Arizal said that one who has a child or relative off the derech should add at the end of the berachah Hashivenu Avinu l'Toratecha , before concluding, the following yehi ratzon : יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתַּחְתֹּר חֲתִירָה מִתַּחַת כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדֶךָ לְהַחֲזִיר בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל פּוֹשְׁעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבִכְלָלָם תַּחֲזִיר אֶת בְּנִי ______ בֶּן ______ בִּתְשׁוּבָה לְפָנֶיךָ, כִּי יְמִינְךָ פְּשׁוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים . Then conclude: " בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה ." May Hashem help us return to Him fully, and may He help all those who are distant to come back as well.

Psalm 130:1-7 O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. If you, Lord, should write down our sins, O Lord, who could stand? But You are the One Who forgives, so You are honored with fear. I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word. My soul waits for the Lord more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. … hope in the Lord! For there is loving-kindness with the Lord. With Him we are saved for sure.David has worked through a great deal in his life. He has literally worked out his relationship with God to live in a state of security and blessing once again. He does not claim to be without sin now, but rather, he knows where to go when he does and to go quickly! Being aquatinted with our shortcomings produces humility and a correct posture of dependency on God for His grace and Power.David confesses that God is the only One who forgives, He is loving and kind, and the path to certain salvation. Can you confess with same assurance that the same God that David is talking about here from thousands of years ago is active and available today to you in real time.How would it change the way you approach your day, your relationships to live in the full acceptance of God's loving and kind forgiveness?Also, If God has forgiven you, isn't it time to let the weight of toxic shame go - and be empowered by the grace forgiveness and acceptance that the God of the universe extends to you.A free life is fully available every day, all the time, with God.Let's turn Psalm 130 into our prayer today:O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. You are the One Who forgives. I wait for You, Lord. My soul waits and I hope in Your Word. My soul waits for You, Lord, more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. I put my hope in You, Lord! For there is loving-kindness with You, Lord. With You, I am saved for sure. … As above, so below.

After playing the Canon Press (Man Rampant) clip of Charlie Kirk discussing boldness and persecution, I discuss his death and legacy from a number of different angles (0:35). Then we dive into Charlie’s China podcast from last week (17:25). Later, after a brief interlude where Charlie berates the “king” (LeBron) for being a China “toy” (32:53), we finish with a sobering clip of him discussing his upcoming Utah trip (52:39). I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me (@chinaadventures) on Twitter/X where I post new/unique Chinese city prayer profiles every single day. Also, you can email me any questions or comments (bfwesten at gmail dot com) and find everything else, including my books, at PrayGiveGo.us! Borden of Yale: The Millionaire Missionary No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regrets www.BordenofYale.com Pray for China places of the week (Or, follow @chinaadventures daily…) https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-sep-15-21-2025 Charlie Kirk Podcast re: China: America Must Shape Up, or China Wins (Sept 3, 2025) https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-d8vyq-274dd443 2:42-3:28 - Audience of One (Who?) 3:28-3:35 - Not Xi, but Trump!? 3:35-4:31 - Comparing China and America’s military expenses (and size) 4:58-5:34 - What is China? Rival? Enemy? Internationalist ambitions. 5:34-6:08 - Chinese “Friendly” Neighbors. Kirk Meets China’s Vice. 6:09-6:48 - Tougher than the Cold War. China is far more pragmatic. 7:06-8:36 - China’s Moment in Empire vs America’s 8:37-9:09 - Trump Criticizes China (and comparing military $ again) 9:09-10:13 - Who is going to win the 21st Century? Installing a gate in the USA. 10:13-10:42 - US Department of Interior selling Made in China 11:44-13:40 - “The End of History and the Last Man” (Peak Neo-Liberal Ignorance) 13:40-15:49 - Bill Clinton celebrated China’s entrance to the WTO 15:50-17:15 - We are facing the consequences of 1990s pride and cockiness 18:40-21:23 - Charlie talking with Senator Mike Lee about his upcoming visit to Utah Puppet LeBron: https://www.newsweek.com/lebron-james-oped-china-ccp-nba-basketball-2126431 Subscribe to China Compass and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform. Follow us on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures), and find much more @ PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10, verse 2, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Talk again soon!

 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) We're in control of very little in this life, but the One Who is, cares even more about us than we do.  

Scores of people today, even in many of our churches, walk around aimless. They work their jobs and take care of their families, but they struggle to understand what it is that God wants them to do.He's told us! As with every other situation, His Word speaks directly to our circumstances.Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”The Lord requires of us that we have the mind of Christ. That we aim for showing justice and mercy to those we encounter. And notice: we are to love doing these things, not just go through the motions. And finally, we are to remember to be humble. There's only One Who is perfect, and that is the Father. In our present state, we are to emulate the qualities that caused His Son Jesus to turn the world upside down for good.If you ever wonder what your purpose is, start with these awesome words from the prophet Micah.Let's pray.Lord, help us to keep in front of us at all times the simplicity that is in Christ. He shows us the way. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 19:16-22 - A young man approached Jesus and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask Me about the good? There is only One Who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to Him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Two aspects of the Catholic Church, divine and human https://spiritdailyblog.com/church/two-aspects 3) 10 powerful Saints every student, teacher, and parent needs for going back to school https://www.churchpop.com/10-powerful-saints-every-student-teacher-parent-needs-for-going-back-to-school/ 4) Five things to do when your teen says being Catholic is boring https://catholic-link.org/catholic-boring-teens-parents/

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “I Will Trust In You” from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2353 The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Hello and welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. I'll be honest with you. I sometimes find it hard to believe God has blessed my life the way He has blessed it through music. I honestly have no idea how many songs I have written through the years, but they number in the thousands…most of which you will never hear on this earth. I do not share that as a boast, but I share it to show you how God has led me through my life. I have gone through much blood, sweat, and tears to receive and write down each of those songs. I have endured so much pain during certain periods of my life that put so much pressure on me that songs like Wounded Soldier or Atom Bomb or If I Could Just Sit With You Awhile were literally like lifelines sent from God's heart to mine. Even as I record this podcast I am in a great deal of physical pain and suffering due to Parkinson's. My attitude is one I have learned simply by living my life in relationship with Jesus. I believe God can and will use Parkinson's for my good and for His glory. That's honestly what I believe. I learned how to put off the old way of thinking and to put on the new way of thinking by simply meditating on Romans 8:28 NIV, which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” There are still naysayers in my life who try to negate this attitude by putting down my faith in Jesus. I have heard people say things like ‘If God is so loving, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people' or ‘How could you trust a God who allows such horrible things in your life?'. The answer to that is actually quite simple. As of the release of this podcast episode, I have been on this planet for over 66 years and have been walking intimately with Jesus through my faith in Him…and He has never given me one reason to not trust Him. He is trustworthy and He is Faithful and He is True…especially when bad things happen to me or someone I love. Mankind allowed sin into the world and sin is the source of all suffering and pain. I don't know how else to say it. This week I am sharing the story behind a song of mine called I Will Trust In You. This particular song came on May 9, 2010, which happened to be day seven of a 40 Day Fast I was doing as a means of cleansing my soul, mind, and body in order to draw closer to Jesus. As another means of helping me keep my eyes and mind focused on Jesus, I was meditating daily on Psalm 40 and on Isaiah 40. This song came as I meditated on Psalm 40 verse four part ‘A' in the NIV Bible. which says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD…” For far too many years I had placed my trust in all the wrong places and in all the wrong people, in my own performing to help make people like me; basically trying to save myself. In the process, I went through many times of betrayal and many times of emotional wounding and discovered, ultimately, that I could not even trust myself. I especially could not trust myself. To make a long story short, after all was said and done, I found myself at the rock bottom of my life having nowhere to look but up, and in that moment of utter pain and unending shame, I recognized the love of God; that God himself had been pursuing me my entire life. All those I had put my trust in for all those years, had let me down in one way or another. But the only one left standing with me and for me and beside me when I hit the bottom was the God of the universe. Jesus met me right in the depths of my depravity, loving me enough to reach as far as I could fall but also loving me enough to not leave me there in that dark and dreadful place. They say trust is earned and if that is the case, Jesus has earned it and then some! Think about it: Jesus endured pain and sorrow and suffering and torment and had the entire weight of my sin, plus the sin of the entirety of all mankind, all because He wanted to know us…and to make way for us to know Him. When I was left high and dry by others or by my own selfish thinking, He was there for me. Always has been. Always will. SONG Proverbs 3:5-6 in the New International Version of the Bible says it this way:  5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. I trusted in the Lord as a young man over 40 years ago and I find myself approaching the age of 67 and I can look back and honestly say the Lord has been more than trustworthy. Knowing him has been worth all the heartache and suffering and pain. He is worth our trust. He is worth our life. Let's trust him this next coming days.  Before I say goodbye for this week, I would humbly ask you to consider getting a copy of my brand new book titled Parkinson's & Recreation 2 - No Walk in the Parkinson's. I bare my soul in this book as to how I am dealing with Parkinson's and I believe it will encourage you whether you have Parkinson's or not. I really do. It's available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. And if you wouldn't mind doing this for me: once you have read the book, would you consider going back to the place you purchased it online and leaving me a five star review? I have to share a couple of quick reviews from those it has already received reviews from on Amazon.com. GT writes: loved this book! It was a great mix of humorous stories and anecdotes, history, reality checks, and just an overall good reminder of how crazy life can be. We all struggle and deal with difficulties, but it is how we face those and choose our attitude that makes the difference. A meaningful quote from the book “My God wastes absolutely nothing. Not even my failures. That should speak volumes to us all.” And my favorite review so far - I will only share the first sentence - because it's a bit longer. I actually found myself wanting to read the book again after reading just the opening sentence. PC writes: I laughed, I cried, I think I peed once or twice! That just made my day and then some! Please consider reading the book,Parkinson's & Recreation 2 - No Walk in the Parkinson's, and please consider telling others about it, if you don't mind. That would help me out tremendously. Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast! For more about my journey, music, and updates, visit dennisjernigan.com. Stay connected by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and enjoy my music on various streaming platforms. If you'd like to support this podcast's creation or the many various ways I still seek to minister the life and love of Jesus to others, consider joining my team at www.patreon.com/dennisjernigan. If you're looking for the mp3 of the song “I Will Trust In You" from the album "Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1," head over to the store at dennisjernigan.com or find it on your favorite streaming service. Remember this from today's episode: we can trust the One Who has always been there with us…the One who took our sin and shame to the cross on our behalf…the One Who fills us with resurrection power…the One Who never leaves us and never forsakes us. We can trust Him…even with something like Parkinson's thrown into the mix. My plan? To minister to the needs of others in spite of Parkinson's by continuing to trust in the Lord. Now, go forth and embrace the truth of who your heavenly Father says you are. I Will Trust In You Words & Music by Dennis Jernigan Received on May 9, 2010 Psalm 40:4a Verse I have made it this far by no help of my own There is only one, there is one help alone And I will trust in You I have put to much trust in the things that I see Sending my hope crashing down around me So I will trust in You Chorus I will say of the Lord, He is the rock where I stand Every other hope is merely sinking sand So I will trust in You For I know blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust Any other hope just blows away like dust So I will trust in You Verse I once promised myself, in myself I can trust But my broken promises left me in shame and disgust So I will trust in You There is only one name that I know I can trust And whatever it takes to find I know that I must So I will trust in You Chorus I will say of the Lord, He is the rock where I stand Every other hope is merely sinking sand So I will trust in You For I know blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust Any other hope just blows away like dust So I will trust in You I will trust in You I will trust in You Chorus I will say of the Lord, He is the rock where I stand Every other hope is merely sinking sand So I will trust in You For I know blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust Any other hope just blows away like dust So I will trust in You I will trust in You I will trust in You I will trust in You I will trust in You I will trust in You Chorus I will say of the Lord, He is the rock where I stand Every other hope is merely sinking sand So I will trust in You For I know blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust Any other hope just blows away like dust So I will trust in You Yes, Chorus I will say of the Lord, He is the rock where I stand Every other hope is merely sinking sand So I will trust in You For I know blessed is the man who makes the lord his trust Any other hope just blows away like dust So I will trust in You Yes, I will trust in You ©2010 Shepherd's Heart Music, Inc./Dennis Jernigan

When the unexpected circumstances of life catch us by surprise, it's easy to morph into “go-mode” - an analogy today's storyteller knows all too well.   Allyson Mouron, from our community group in Mountain Brook, Alabama, shares her journey of faith and trust in Jesus as she struggled with infertility and then the sudden loss of both her father and her best friend.  Through brokenness, hardship, and pain, Allyson reminds us the importance of learning to let go of control and find rest in surrendering to the One Who controls it all.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: - The safest and easiest place to be is a place of surrender. - Rest and peace are found in refocusing your mind. - You are called to only do two things - love God and love others.   Links: Want to hear more from Allyson about her infertility?   Give to StoryTellers Live in honor of Allyson and our past storytellers!!   Become a Patreon Insider to access bonus content ~ including an interview with Katie Dunn.  This is the second bonus episode of our “Meet the Hosts” series on Patreon!   Register for our Finding God in the Details: A Guide to Discerning His Voice and Discovering Your Story workshop being offered in-person on September 10th, 9:30 AM -12:00 PM CST. Shop for our When God Shows Up Bible Study series.   Check out all of our live speaking engagement opportunities on our website. Sign up to receive StoryTellers Live's weekly newsletter for updates and details on our live gatherings!