Podcasts about only god

SURRENDER NOVENA STARTS MONDAY!!!! 9 Days of Prayer! Surrender and let Jesus take over while I'm in Italy on retreat doing the same! I love you and I'll be back soon! KEEP PRAYING DAILY! EVERY MORNING AND ALL DAY! I'm with you!*********************************God isn't just on the mountaintop, He's in the valley, too, and everywhere in between, and beyond. God's Love, It's Peace, your innermost Self, can be felt even when you're in the valley of sadness. It can be felt on the pathless-path up the mountain, and once you reach the summit, you'll find that there isn't a 'you' feeling this Love, there's only Love. Only God. And in and AS That, you abide.I Love you!nik--Our new book, 'Wake Up to Love' is HERE! Get your copy. Share a copy. Be the Love you wake up to.--Support GoOD Mornings on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/goodmorning________________QUOTES"Shiva lives on the mountain top of awareness. This world is in the valley. Many old souls have been trying to climb this mountain in reverse gear. Even if they climb and reach near Shiva, they roll back down to the valley because of their attachments. Climbing this mountain is not as important as changing the orientation: Turn your back to the valley and face toward Shiva."- @ImmortalTalks on IGShiva is your innermost Self and the alert snake, with its raised hood around His neck represents PEAK Loving Awareness, Shakti, GoOD Energy on TEN! As you read these words feel your back straightening, your shoulders relaxing down and back, your face smiling, your energy rising, Love peaking. There! There you are! Stay (t)here. This is Go(o)d Energy and when you're practicing feeling and being This, This is all you see. You see that there is no valley or mountaintop, there's only the Kingdom. Only Love is here. "Everywhere you look, you see what you're looking for. When you're looking for God, all you see is God."-Ram Dass

[Psalm 139:13-16] You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. [14] Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. [15] You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. [16] You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.Something as ________________ as your body doesn't happen by ________________.[Genesis 2:7] Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.You are literally ________________ bought to ________________ by the breath of God.[Proverbs 4:23] Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.[Proverbs 2:6] For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.Design and ________________ don't come from ________________.[Exodus 4:11] Then the LORD asked Moses, "Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD?Your voice is a custom ________________ made by God himself.Only God could create something as ________________ as our ________________.All the information to create ________________ is contained in a single ________________.[Ephesians 2:4-5] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)

For many people, God is bad news, and religion is the cause of all the problems in the world. But Christianity is not about religion. It's about the reality of God as a person who is awesome and incomparable. He has no equal. There is no one like Him. God is able to help you, your family, our culture and our world because He is far above any and every human problem we may face. His greatness is beyond human comprehension.    Today many of us may be busy, discouraged and depressed. Looking at ourselves, looking down, comparing ourselves to others. Busy with our to do lists, our work, the piles of laundry, or discouraged by the state of the nation and of society. But everything changes when we get a new perspective of the greatness of God. What is so big to us is so small to Him. What has impressed, impacted and impeded our lives so far is as nothing to Him.    We've seen in Isaiah 40:1-5 that God is a God of consolation who wants to comfort us. He's a God of preparation – He wants to get us ready and shape us up for the best lives. And He wants us to have a revelation of His glory to come. But the rest of this opening chapter of the second part of Isaiah lays the foundation of who God really is. We see: 1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28) 2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20; Romans 1:25; Genesis 1:31) 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14,27; 1 Corinthians 1:27) 4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17) 5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24,28; Daniel 7:14; Isaiah 6-11) Apply  1. Far above natural creation (Isaiah 40:12,22,25-28). We are told to ‘lift your eyes and look to the heavens…' The more we know about our world and its relationship to entities beyond our world makes us realise how much we don't know. Even though we can travel quickly around our world there is no disguising that the oceans and deserts and continents of our world are simply vast. Even bigger is the universe. So how much greater is the God who made them? The Bible is clear that there is a God and that He is the Creator of all we know. (See: Bill Bryson ‘A short History of nearly everything'; Olivier Bonnaissies and Michel-Yves Bolloré ‘God: Science, the Evidence'; Lee Strobel ‘The Case For A Creator'). If you want to study the arguments in more depth, you can read the books, but basically their conclusions are very much in line with the vision of the prophet Isaiah who gives us a picture of the almighty creator of a vast creation.  2. Far above all idols (Isaiah 40:18-20). Almost half of Isaiah chapters 40 to 55 talk about rival gods and the idol of the people had turned to worship. Here Isaiah compares how ridiculous it is for someone to worship a lump of wood with some gold or silver attached to it over the greatness of the one true God. The apostle Paul also highlighted this (Romans 1:25). Of course God ‘saw all that he had made, and it was very good' (Genesis 1:31) but that does not mean we should exchange our worship of God to worship things created by Him or for His glory – such as looking to the stars for guidance through horoscopes, instead of looking to God who created the stars. Idols can topple. And when we put anything in place of our God, those things will eventually fall. Only our God endures forever. 3. Far above human understanding (Isaiah 40:13-14, 27). The mind of God is far beyond the intelligence of any human cleverness (1 Corinthians 1:27). No-one can understand the mind of the Lord, except the Lord reveals a portion of His thinking to us through His word the Bible.  The most qualified academic, or the most convinced rationalist, the most so-called ‘enlightened' spiritualist, may be publicly celebrated for the brilliance of their intellect. But compared to God they are nothing.  4. Far above the nations (Isaiah 40:15-17). Nations are nothing that will make a difference in the big picture. This gives us a good perspective! Through history nations and empires have arisen in great power. The Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans etc. Yet walk around the Acropolis or the Coliseum today and they are ruins. The Romans thought they could persecute Jesus and Paul and the early Christians in such violent ways as they saw fit, but pagan Rome is gone and Christianity survives today. Even the British Empire ‘where the sun never set' seemed impossible to change, yet now look at what humbled and humiliated state our nation is in. Look at the nations today and it's still the same – India and its 1.46 billion people, China and its more than 1.4 billion people,… it might sound big to us, but to God it's all just a drop.  5. Far above human rulers (Isaiah 40:23-24). So many rulers of this world have been so proud and arrogant. Alexander the Great, Napolean, Stalin, Hitler who boasted of a 1000 year Reich that lasted little more than a decade. Hitler committed suicide in a bunker. Mussolini was strung up by his own countrymen. Ceausescu of Romania seemed an all-powerful dictator but saw his rule collapse in days. Everybody, even the great Queen Elizabeth II, has a limited reign. Only God is eternal (Isaiah 40:28). Daniel had a great vision of the God whose rule was eternal (Daniel 7:14). So do not be so impressed with the powers of this world. They will all pass away.  Our God is far above natural creation, all idols, and all human understanding, He is far above the nations and above human rulers. But what does this mean for us? Well Isaiah says to the people that this God is your God. He is bigger than your sad history of captivity. He is bigger than your sadness and depression. He is bigger than your worries. He is bigger than your debt. This is why God is good news (Isaiah 40:6-11). God is with you, God is for you. This great and almighty God gently wants to lead you and keep you close to His heart. So decide to put your confidence is this great God today and every day.  

“I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” (3 John 1:4 NLT) When I was young, I had a parakeet named Popcorn. He was a fantastic bird. I would stand a few feet away from his cage, open the little door, and call his name, and he would fly and land on my shoulder. I would walk around the house with him on my shoulder. One day on Balboa Island, I saw a guy walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. So, I went home, put Popcorn on my shoulder, and walked outside. Popcorn flew off, and I never saw him again. It’s one thing to lose a parakeet, but it’s quite another to lose a child. When my son Jonathan was about five years old, he got in a hotel elevator before I could get to it. I almost had a heart attack as the doors closed between us. I waited for what seemed like hours for the next elevator. I started at the lobby and searched every floor until I found him. Parenting is an awesome responsibility. And one of the greatest joys of Christian parents is seeing our kids walk with the Lord. The apostle John wrote, “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth” (3 John 1:4 NLT). When kids are young, they’re receptive to our leading. They’re compliant and, for the most part, obedient. As they get older, especially when they enter their teenage years, they start to push back and think for themselves. Sometimes they start to question their faith. If that’s happened in your family, don’t panic. Solomon wrote, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3 NLT). Children are a gift. We don’t own them. They belong to God. They are not ours to mold but to unfold. To nurture and to raise in the way of the Lord. The apostle Paul offers some direction in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (NLT). One way to provoke children is to show favoritism. Another is to withhold affirmation and compliments. We bring them up by choosing the right path for ourselves—by walking the walk. We do it by spending a lot of time with them, helping them understand the things of God in our daily interactions. We do it by instilling in them a Christian worldview that will serve them in the world outside your door. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it” (NLT). In other words, create a thirst for spiritual things in your child. If your children follow that path for their entire lives, you can thank God for it. If they don’t, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a failure as a parent. The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that a seemingly worst-case scenario can result in a child making a deeper commitment to the Lord. As parents, we must stay true to our beliefs. And we must never give up on our kids. We can’t see their spiritual journey. Only God can do that. But we can be ready when that journey leads them back to us. Reflection question: What encouragement would you offer to the parent of a prodigal child? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some evolutionists claim that with enough time, the impossible becomes possible. Yet science shows that time cannot make nonliving matter come alive. Only God has the power to create life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

2 Timothy 2:23–26 (NLT) - “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.”  Every leader, and believer, will encounter difficult people. Paul's advice to Timothy is simple and powerful: don't argue, be patient, and keep teaching gently. Some people will resist truth, not because they lack understanding, but because their hearts are not yet open. Only God can change hearts. Our role is not to win debates but to show kindness, patience, and truth, trusting that God, in His time, will bring people to their senses.   #DailyDevotions #2Timothy2 #PastorSumrall #Patience #Kindness #LeadWithGrace #CathedralOfPraise Subscribe to cathedralofpraiseTV: https://www.youtube.com/c/cathedralofpraiseTV/?sub_confirmation=1 Discover fundamental truths and the power of Scripture with Pastor David E. Sumrall on Daily Devotions. Pastor Sumrall serves as the Undershepherd of the Cathedral of Praise, a Christian church dedicated to Jesus and His Word, with campuses across Metro Manila and branches around the world.   Don't forget to like, subscribe to Cathedral of Praise TV https://www.youtube.com/c/cathedralofpraiseTV/?sub_confirmation=1,and hit the bell icon 

I've heard many people say, "Only God can judge me!" I've also heard others claim that Christian's shouldn't judge, or that they are too judgmental. But what does the Bible have to say about this? What did Jesus mean when He preached on judgment? Let's dive into that in this week's episode! ORDER MY BOOK HERE: https://a.co/d/0vE5Cji PRINT OUT MY FREE "SHAME CYCLE WORKSHEET" HERE: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/shamecycleworksheet CHECK OUT MY FREE RESOURCES: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/kirbykelly For 10% off of Faithful Counseling, and to start your healing journey today, go to: https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/kirbykelly To sponsor a child in need alongside me with Compassion International, go to: https://www.compassion.com/kirbyisaboss Support the ministry!: https://kirby-kelly.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5d23856d41ec3a0001234376 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Job 6-8; Acts 12 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode for October 20th, 2025, Host Hunter invites listeners to join him and a global community of Bible readers as they journey through Job 6-8 and Acts 12. Together, we hear Job's heartfelt cries of suffering and his friends' responses, then witness Peter's miraculous escape from prison in the book of Acts. Hunter encourages us to trust in God's ability to open doors in our lives, reminding us to pray, rest, and be ready to walk through the opportunities God provides. With moments of reflection, gratitude, and prayer, this episode is a call to draw closer to God and rest in the assurance of His love—no matter what season you find yourself in. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It begins with prayer and rest. When Peter was imprisoned, waiting for what looked like certain execution, the church prayed, and Peter slept. These were not the actions of people relying on their own cleverness or strength, but the actions of people whose hope rested in God alone. “Get up, get dressed, grab your coat, and follow me”—those words from the angel came to Peter in the darkest of circumstances, reminding him that the doors only God can open are the ones that truly set us free. The miracle in this story isn't just the escape, but the way it happens—through prayer, through rest, and through simple obedience. No cunning required, no frantic schemes, just God's gracious intervention. That's our invitation too: to rest in God, to pray, to make ourselves available, and to be poised to participate when the path ahead unfolds—in his time, in his way. Prayer acknowledges God's goodness. Rest is the disposition of a heart that knows God can and will do what we cannot. And when the door opens, we walk forward in faith, trusting in his purposes for us. Today, as you face your circumstances, remember: Only God is able. Yours is to pray and to rest, and when he calls, to get up and go. The miracle ahead is Christ in you—the hope of glory. That's my prayer for myself, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And it's my prayer for you. May we walk forward into God's purposes, rested, prayerful, and ready. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

“Only God can do the impossible.”  - Ruth Chou Simons Author and artist Ruth Chou Simons joins Shannon to discuss her new devotional, The Way of the Wildflower: Gospel Meditations to Unburden Your Anxious Soul. Ruth writes about the importance of having a dependent relationship with God and recognizing that only He can do the impossible. She also shares meditations to help combat different issues. As a mother of six, Ruth discusses how she balances family life and career by cultivating her spiritual life through the quiet moments of everyday decisions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2025 is the Year of Shalom at The Journey. Shalom means peace in Hebrew, but it's a sentiment that's stronger than we realize. Only God's peace enables us to endure all of life's trials and tribulations, so if you want to learn how to practice this peace, join us for this week's message!

If life was given on ________________ then you are here on ________________.[Acts 17:24-25] "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, [25] and human hands can't serve his needs--for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.Only God has the power to give something _____________.[Genesis 2:7-8] Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person. [8] Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.Every living thing bears the ____________________ of God.[Psalm 104:24-25] O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. [25] Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.No system runs perpetually on its own unless someone ________________ it to.[John 10:10 ESV] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.In a world filled with ________________, so many people are walking around spiritually ________________.God wants to set us free from ________________.[Ephesians 2:4-5] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)

2025 is the Year of Shalom at The Journey. Shalom means peace in Hebrew, but it's a sentiment that's stronger than we realize. Only God's peace enables us to endure all of life's trials and tribulations, so if you want to learn how to practice this peace, join us for this week's message!

Send us a textIt all seemed wrong. A new Pharaoh had just decreed every Hebrew baby boy must die. Here Amram and Jochebed were sitting in their humble home in Egypt, holding their newborn baby . . . boy. Only God could help them now. Pick up your Bible or phone and turn to Exodus 3 to hear the story.This episode is based on the God's Word for Life, Fall 2025 Adult Lesson Guide entitled, "The Birth of Moses" (October 19, 2025).Find an Apostolic church that preaches this glorious gospel and our response at UPCI.orgThis episode is produced by the Pentecostal Resources Group and is hosted by LJ Harry. To order resources of the God's Word for Life curriculum, visitPentecostalPublishing.com and PentecostalResourcesGroup.com. Share your God's Word for Life stories with me at pphcurriculum@upci.org.

Today, we will be looking at the words of Jesus and what He had to say about money. Regardless of our financial circumstances, we can find some peace and hope in this often volatile area of life.The wording of Matthew 6:19-24 in the New Life Bible is intriguing. Listen to the words of Jesus … “Do not gather together for yourself riches of this earth. They will be eaten by bugs and become rusted. Men can break in and steal them. Gather together riches in heaven where they will not be eaten by bugs or become rusted. Men cannot break in and steal them. For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also. The eye is the light of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. If your eye is bad, your whole body will be dark. If the light in you is dark, how dark it will be! No one can have two bosses. He will hate the one and love the other. Or he will listen to the one and work against the other. You cannot have both God and riches as your boss at the same time.Now, Jesus is not saying that it's wrong to have a savings account. That's not the point. The concept here is not about our bank account, but our motives and focus. It's interesting to think of money as a boss. In fact, we will often put up with a lot in our lives in work with actual bosses because money is our ultimate boss. But Jesus is saying that mindset easily competes with God's place in our lives.If you are honest with yourself right now, what tends to be the boss in your life right now? What drives your actions and attitudes? Security? Money?Verse 21 is a great litmus test to constantly evaluate our lives:For wherever your riches are, your heart will be there also.The converse is also true: Whatever has your heart, that's also where your riches will be found.What has your heart right now? What or who is your mind set on?We put our efforts into what we love most. Money, security, self reliance all can be rusted or eaten away by things beyond our control. Only God's riches and security are reliable. So, let's let that love be our driving force—where our riches, our treasure, our hearts, are.Let's pray: “Heavenly Father, please help me to keep money and security in perspective—a heavenly perspective. I want you to be my security. I give my self reliance and confess that you are my security, my treasure and where my heart is. As above, so below.”

Some new home stories start with spreadsheets. Ours began with a tired face at a graduation party and a nudge that wouldn't let go. After six years in an 800-square-foot cottage that doubled as an studio and home, we were out of options and almost out of hope. We'd heard “you'll never find it” from strangers and a realtor that reviewed our dream + budget on paper...Then quickly things changed. We reconnected with friends, after something in our heart told us to send the text that answered a prayer 6 years in the making. Their prayers met ours, and the door opened. Walking through that house felt like seeing a blueprint of our calling: a kitchen crafted for cooking, design details we'd pick ourselves, a guest room to truly be able to live 'open door' living. Layer on layer of the story reveals that this plan was not something we could have planned on our own. Only faith. Only God. We talk candidly about how living in limbo can affect hospitality, the myths social media sells about home, and the invitation to name your dreams, pray specifically, and keep setting the table while you wait.If you're navigating a cramped apartment, a damp rental, or headlines that say home is “not for you,”- this story is for you. Come hear how one gentle whisper, in divine timing, turned into a home that revived our work, rest, and welcome.Finally, we're inviting you into our miracle house story. Come on in! This Episode is Sponsored by: Creative Crayons Workshop- Purchase your own coloring tablecloth for the holidays (Or to keep your littles entertained while you listen to the show!) Use code KAYTY at checkout to save. Support the show

Welcome to episode 220 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we will talk about money.  Key takeaways:   Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and hell combined. Why? Because money reveals what we really believe about God, ourselves, and the future. Our checkbooks and credit card statements are spiritual X-rays that show the condition of our hearts. Earthly treasures face three threats: Rust/corrosion: Things decay and break down Moths: Pests that destroy valuable items Thieves: People who steal what you've accumulated Your treasure determines where your heart goes, not the other way around. When you invest in something, your emotions follow your investment. What happens to our treasure happens to us. Where our treasure is, there will be our inner being—our total person. Whatever controls your financial decisions controls your life.  If fear controls your money, fear controls you.  If greed controls your money, greed controls you.  Only God should have that level of control. All our activities matter, for they reveal the nature of our character. We need to remind ourselves that money is non-moral. There is no inherent evil in it and no inherent good. The question of right and wrong has to do with what we do with money. Biblical contentment isn't about having enough money; it's about trusting that God provides enough for His purposes.   Greed is a trap for the rich and the poor and everyone in between.  You do not have to be rich to fall to greed.    Quotable:   If anything in this world is everything to you, it is an earthly treasure.  Application:   If we can't handle money (which is temporary), how can God trust us with spiritual responsibilities (which are eternal)? Real contentment and material prosperity have nothing to do with one another. How can the Christian learn to be content with simple living? Certainly not by accepting the standards set by this world.  An eternal perspective and an attitude of detachment toward things are prerequisites. As an eternal perspective develops, dependence on material things will decline. What does your money say about your heart? What does your spending reveal about your priorities? Do you give generously or grudgingly? Are you anxious about money or trusting toward God? Does your financial planning include God's kingdom purposes? Are you storing treasures on earth or in heaven? Let God transform your relationship with money, moving from fear and greed to trust and generosity.  Connect with us:   Web site:  https://springbaptist.org   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/SBCKleinCampus (Klein Campus)   https://www.facebook.com/SpringBaptist (Spring Campus)   Need us to pray for you? Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/      If you haven't already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

This is the final episode in our three-part series on the life and teachings of Walter Russell, presented in connection with our upcoming project – The NeuroHarmonic Method. Born into extremely disadvantaged circumstances and with no formal education beyond the fourth grade, Russell nevertheless achieved so much that Thomas J. Watson Sr., the founder of IBM, once remarked that it would take seven lifetimes of masterful effort to equal his accomplishments. Over the years, admirers have often described him as a kind of modern Leonardo da Vinci—a self-taught genius whose creativity spanned art, science, philosophy and much more. Russell himself always emphasized that the only way he had accomplished so much was by tapping into the indwelling God presence within. He taught that this same source of intelligence is available to every human being. The purpose of the NeuroHarmonic Method is to provide everyday people with practical understandings and techniques to uncover and activate the higher dimensions of their own inner intelligence. In this episode, we'll explore three key elements of Russell's perspective that are not only fascinating, but potentially transformative as you continue on your own journey to awaken the highest and best within yourself. Enjoy the episode.   Episode 42 – Views From An Elevated Perspective   This is the third episode about Walter Russell, one of the most accomplished people in American history. Episode 40, called Self-Bestowed Genius, gave an overview of Russell's life including some of his major accomplishments. It also described the incredible claim that Russel made that he was in touch with an infinite fountain of wisdom within himself that was the source of all his success in life. He also said that the same intelligence is within every human being.           The episode that followed, called the Five Laws of Success, presented Russell's five key elements on how we can tap into that intelligence to help elevate our lives. Those five elements were humility, reverence, inspiration, deep purpose and joy.           Now, although his accomplishments were remarkable in their own right, this multi-millionaire, internationally acknowledged master of drawing, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, business and philosophy had dropped out of school after the fourth grade, and had accomplished all of it with no real education, just by tapping into this source of inner wisdom. It was hard to believe, but as he always said, his life spoke for itself.   Following his death in 1962, he left behind teachings on many different topics. As I researched them, much of it was over my head. But there are three key points that I found particularly fascinating and I thought I'd pass them along so you can give them some consideration and see if they do anything for you. The first one concerns an ability we have in our consciousness that I had never considered before. Russell was very fond of the idea of something he called decentration which, he taught, was the opposite of concentration.           Now, we all know what it means to concentrate on something. You focus your attention on it and the more you concentrate on it, the more it gets into your mentality. And importantly, a lot of times, we have problems letting go of it, especially if it's charged with troubling emotions like anger, guilt and fear.             Holding on to negativity is far more prevalent than it may seem. According to current research, we each think about 50,000 thoughts a day, with a large percentage of them being negative and recurring, which means that we keep churning over the same negative thoughts and feelings again and again.             But Russell said we have the power to decentrate them. This power is a natural part of our mind, but we haven't been taught to develop it. With concentration, you focus your attention on something and give it your inner energy. With decentration, you do just the opposite. You dissipate your energy and remove your attention from the object.           He said you don't have to try to change the thoughts and emotions. If we have nothing further to gain from examining them, we can just choose to remove our energy from them and they will disappear on their own. After all, the only reason these things exist in our mind is because we are giving them energy. It's a very simple fact, but it can be easily missed.           He said it takes some practice, but like anything else, if we keep trying, we can get good at it. To start with, if a thought or idea is bothering you, just give yourself a verbal command like, “I decentrate that thought.” Or “I decentrate that feeling.” And then let your mind picture withdrawing your energy from it and see it dissipating, like mist in the sunlight.     It seemed like Russell had mastered the process.  He said he could decentrate to zero while he was in the middle of Grand Central Station, meaning he could give zero energy to thought and feeling while being in the middle of a crowd.  It may appear to be a tall order, but another thing Russell always said was, “If I can do it, you can.” You may want to give it a try. After many years, I think I may be starting to get the hang of it. So that's the first point from Russell that I wanted to bring up. The second one is about this inner intelligence that Russell claimed was the source of all his incredible accomplishments. He said it is within each one of us, and it isn't the higher side of our intelligence, or the part of us that is in touch with the higher spheres or some angelic realm of wisdom. It's not the genius part of ourselves or  anything like that. He said that what is inside of us is God Almighty. Period. Full-blast, full-power. God. At first, I found it surprising, then I realized that the idea forms the basis of most religions in the world. Many traditions speak of the Indwelling God Presence. For instance, the 15th century Indian poet Kabir used the image of the ocean and a drop of water to illustrate the point.  God would be the ocean, and each individual would be a drop. Kabir said that the drop is in the ocean, everyone knows this. But the ocean is also in the drop and very few know this. So, we all have God within. But according to Russell, as well as a myriad of other teachers and masters over the ages, if you want to get close to it, you have to surrender to it. And according to them, the more you do, you start to realize that you can merge with it, which, they say, is kind of the point of the whole thing. In his first law of success, humility, Russell put it this way, “I found that to achieve greatness one had to go only one inch beyond mediocrity. But that one inch is so hard to go, that only those who become aware of God in them can make the grade, for no one can achieve that one inch alone.” And he added, “The ‘I' must be forgotten, one must not be the part; he must be the whole. Until one learns to lose oneself, he cannot find himself.” In that vein, when someone asked him, “Why can't I do the things that you can do?” He replied, “The only difference is that I do everything for God and you do everything for your body.”           It reminds me of something I once read about Parmahansa Yogananda, the great yogi from India who spent many years in the west, elevating the lives of millions of people. until he passed away in Los Angeles in 1952.           In response to someone who kept questioning him about his personal life, he once said, “Oh, I killed Yogananda long ago. Only God dwells in this temple now.”           It's always humbling for me whenever I run across expressions like these. The idea of only God dwelling in my temple seems almost unimaginable. With my relentless mind generating a constant stream of random thoughts, I have so much garbage in there, I feel like the line in one of Bob Dylan's songs, “If my thought dreams could be seen, they'd probably put my head in a guillotine.”           With that summary of the state of my inner world, that ends the second point of Russell's that I wanted to bring up. The last one is pretty incredible. It's about his vision of our future and it runs pretty deep.             In 1921, he coined the term, “The New Age.”  Apparently, he was the first person to use it. He said that we were now moving into the next stage of our evolution, a new age which he called, “Epoch Three of Humanity.”           So, what were Epoch One and Epoch Two? According to certain theories of brain evolution, our brain didn't start out the way it is now. In the beginning, it was much smaller and we didn't have the ability to think rational thoughts or create language. We had instincts, we had emotional feelings, we were bonded to our family and our tribe, but we couldn't think. According to Russell, this state of being was Epoch One.           Then, for reasons that remain unknown, some major evolutionary changes took place and our brain radically transformed. It got about a third larger with much more fat, and we could begin to think rationally. We could think If-Then.  If I do this, then that will happen. Like I know that the sun comes up on this side of the cave, so if I sleep here, then I'll be warmer in the morning. Soon after, language began to develop, eventually followed by writing. Before this evolutionary change, the only form of communication we had was just glorified grunting.           This ability to think rational thought began Epoch Two of humanity, which went from pre-historic caveman days until now. Of course, rational thought changed our whole world and our lives in it. Every advancement from the wheel to the computer came from it. But critically, one primary factor hasn't changed at all, and that is, survival. We're still struggling to survive, living by the law of the jungle to a large degree. Kill or be killed. Winner takes all. Although it may not be clearly apparent, this fear-based concept of life is at the root of all the greed and lust for power that has dominated human history for all this time. All of this misery, generated by all of our conflicted concepts, theories and opinions, is all based on fear.           But, according to Russell, in Epoch Three of humanity, it is all going to change. It's probably not going to be an overnight transition. It may take some time, maybe even a century or two, and even though it may seem quite dark, supposedly, this is just the darkness before the dawn.             So, what are the implications of this new epoch? What does it mean? According to Russell, it means nothing less than a new kind of human being living a new kind of life on earth.           Humans will eventually be liberated from a life of drudgery. With the right intentions, technology will evolve to the point where all of the great resources of planet earth will be properly harvested for the benefit of all.           It might be hard to understand how bountiful the earth really is, but here are a few quick facts to consider. As far as overcrowding is concerned, if you took every single human being on the planet and put them all together with one yard between them, they wouldn't even fill up the state of Rhode Island. So, the entire population of the world could fit into the smallest state in America.              As far as hunger is concerned, more than 50 percent of all the food presently harvested on earth is thrown out every year, which means that human hunger isn't the result of there not being enough food for everyone. It's the result of misdirected and poorly coordinated human activity.           And when it comes to energy, it is estimated that there is enough power in the amount of sunlight that hits one acre of land in one hour to provide all the electricity to the city of Chicago for a whole year.           So, enough said about enlightened technology, what about the human? This is where it gets really encouraging. Russell said our destiny is to emerge from this fear-based, survival-oriented, dog-eat-dog existence into a much higher level of intelligence, whose foundations will be based on each individual's constant, conscious relationship with that divine energy that is within each one of us or God Almighty, as Russell called it.   Life will be like heaven on earth and if we could see the humans of 100 or 200 years from now, they would appear God-like to us, manifesting all the highest human characteristics. Wisdom, love, compassion and kindness, along with all the other better angels of our nature, would be part of our everyday way of life.             Okay, maybe it sounds too good to be true. But hey, I didn't come up with this stuff, Russell did. And supposedly he was getting it from the source of wisdom within him that was the source of all his amazing achievements. So even though it may sound like a great big piece of pie in the sky, I'm sticking with it. I'd love to imagine that 200 years from now, someone may be reading or listening to this information that came from this primitive man who was living in these primitive times. And that person would be thinking how obvious all of it was. Of course, all of these great things were going to come true. It had to happen and couldn't have been any other way. How obvious! Wishful thinking? Who knows? But no matter what may be happening in the world around us, we're still entitled to our hopes and dreams and as the saying goes, “It takes a dreamer to make a dream come true.”           Well, that's the end of this episode. As always, keep your eyes, mind and heart open and let's get together in the next one.

A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1  and It's Importance to Our Faith     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”      This verse is like a treasure chest full of truth about who Jesus is. It tells us that Jesus, called “the Word,” is God and has always been with God. Let's break it down into three simple parts, using the original Greek words to help us understand, and see how it shows that Jesus is fully God.   Part 1: “In the beginning was the Word”   What it says in Greek: En archē ēn ho Logos   Simple meaning: “When everything started, the Word was already there.”   -“In the beginning”:  This is like the very first moment of everything, just like the start of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, where God created the world. The Greek word archē means the start of all things.  It's saying Jesus was there before anything was made.   -“Was”:  This Greek word tells us the Word didn't start existing—it was already there, always existing, forever. Jesus didn't have a beginning; He's eternal God.   -“The Word”:  The “Word” is Jesus. In Greek, Logos means God's way of speaking or showing Himself. Jesus is God's special way of talking to us and showing who God is. The word ho (the) means He's the one and only Word, not just any word.   What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, was there before time began. He didn't get created because He's eternal, just like God. This shows us Jesus is God because only God has no beginning.     Part 2: “And the Word was with God”   What it says in Greek: kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon   Simple meaning: “The Word was close to God.”   -“Was with”:  The Greek word pros means being right next to someone, like best friends who are always together. It shows Jesus was with God in close proximity, sharing a special relationship.   -“God”:  This is talking about God the Father. The Greek words show it's a specific person, not just a vague idea of God. Jesus, the Word, is not the Father, but He's with Him.   What this tells us: Jesus is a distinct person from God the Father, but they're together as One. This shows Jesus is part of the Godhead, not a creation. It's a hint that God is more than one person but yet still one God.     Part 3: “And the Word was God”   What it says in Greek: Kai Theos ēn ho Logos Simple meaning: “The Word was God.”   -“God”:  In Greek, Theos means God, but here it doesn't have the word ho (the) like before. This doesn't mean Jesus is less than God. It's a way to say Jesus has all the qualities of God—He is God in His nature, not a different or smaller god. -“Was”:  Again, this word shows Jesus didn't become God; He always was God, forever.   What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, is fully God. He's not just like God or partly God—He is God, with all of God's power, glory, and nature. This is super important because it tells us Jesus isn't just a great person or a prophet; He's God Himself.   Kai ——  And Theos —  God ēn ——-   was (can also mean “always existed”- thus, “God ‘always existed' as the Word.”) ho ——   the  Logos — Word   Our translators didn't get it wrong, it was proper to translate it “…and the Word was God,” in English in 1611.  Saying “God was the Word” is like saying God's essence is perfectly shown in Jesus. It's two ways of saying the same thing: Jesus is truly, fully, 100% God.  Christ came to fully reveal God to humanity, thus the Word was God and God was the Word.   Why This Matters: Jesus is God — Yet there are approximately 10,000 world religions that claim He isn't. (Source:  Google, Accessed 10-8-2025)   John 1:1 is like a big sign shouting that Jesus is God. Here's what we learn:   1. Jesus is eternal: He was there “in the beginning,” before anything was made. Only God is eternal, so Jesus is God. 2. Jesus is close to God: He's with God the Father in a special, loving relationship, showing He's a person in the Godhead, not just a thing or idea. 3. Jesus is fully God: The Word is God, sharing all of God's qualities. This means Jesus has God's power, love, and glory.   This verse sets up the whole Gospel of John, where we see Jesus do amazing things only God can do, like creating life (John 1:3) and forgiving sins (John 8:58). Later, in John 1:14 (“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”), we learn that this Word became a human—Jesus! So, the God who was there forever (always existed) became a person to show us who God is and to save us.           Summary of the Lesson on John 1:1   “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”   The verse is broken into three parts to show that Jesus, called “the Word” (Greek: ho Logos), is fully God.   “In the beginning was the Word”: Jesus existed before everything, even before creation (like Genesis 1:1). The Greek word ἦν (was) shows He's eternal, with no beginning, proving He's God.   “And the Word was with God”: Jesus is close to God the Father, like best friends, in a special relationship. The Greek πρὸς (pros) shows they're distinct but united, hinting at the Trinity.   “And the Word was God”: Jesus is fully God, sharing all of God's qualities. The Greek Θεὸς (Theos) without “the” emphasizes His divine nature, not a lesser god.   The phrase “the Word was God and God was the Word” reflects the Greek, emphasizing Jesus' full deity.    In conclusion, John 1:1 teaches that Jesus is eternal, in close relationship with the Father, and fully God, setting the foundation for His identity as our Savior who became human (John 1:14).    This one verse establishes the most outstanding case for the Deity of Christ, that is, Jesus Christ is God.

Verse 22 says "there is no sorrow like all of my sorrow". Wow... Only God can redeem the times when we are trapped and unable to free ourselves. Chad compassionately meditates on this passage and gives us hope, hope based upon the liberating work of Christ on our behalf. Mikaela Adams sings "Not Alone". Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of Psalms by Chad Bird Remembering Your Baptism: A 40-Day Devotional by Kathryn Morales Sinner Saint by Luke Kjolhaug The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction by Donavan Riley More from the hosts: Chad Bird Lyrics to "Not Alone" There is no sorrow  Like all my sorrow My heart is broken  There's no tomorrow My sinful pathway Has made the day fade There is no comfort And no one to help, no one to help   Chorus: Not Alone You hear me Not alone  You are with me In this world Of resurrection life Take my pain For Your glory Hold me forever Hold me forever In resurrection life   My bones are on fire My feet are entangled No way to go forward No way to retreat All that I  hope for Is that you draw near me My heart is fainting And no one to help, no one to help 

316– Welcome to Freedom FridayEver wondered why you still feel guilty, even after you repented?Being free from guilt is so much more that just repenting.It's really about learning to see yourself in a whole new light, as a child of God instead of as a miserable sinner.Paul says to put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man.He doesn't say to fix up the old man, the old way of seeing yourself as a sinner. Sin does not define who you are. Only God does.The more you see yourself the way God defines you as His image and likeness, the more you'll find freedom from any and all guilt.Previous episodes mentioned:312: Finding Freedom from Guilt and Shame314: What Does it Really Mean to Repent?Show notes: Full transcript--thebiblespeakstoyou.com316Text me your questions or comments.I'm putting together a special program called Guilt Free Faith. So many people I talk to are walking around with guilt and shame they don't need to hold onto. They deserve to let go of this burden of guilt and live their lives in freedom.It's going to be a small group program. I'll be running it over the next few weeks and it's starting soon. If you'd like more information, contact me and I'll send you all the details. Support the showIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify__________________James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person) Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus) Make a donation to support the show Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you Contact James here

Jonah 1:11-16 ESV11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. • • •1. Storms reveal our need for God's help. • • •Jonah 1:13 ESV13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. • • •2. Storms reveal God is in control. • • •Jonah 1:14-15 ESV14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. • • •Psalm 89:9 ESV9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. • • •1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 ESV9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. • • •3. Only God can rescue us from the storm. • • •Jonah 1:16-17 ESV16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. • • •Romans 10:9-10 ESV9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. • • •Application:Self-help is no match for what God can do for you!

So much of what we see is a product of human behavior and too often not a conspiracy of unified design by evil. We have to learn to observe the patterns and identify the fruits rather than judge the heart. Only God knows the truth of the heart. We are in a time of transformation, where false paradigms and divisions are collapsing. Lean into Holy Spirit for wisdom; focus on the moments you live not the illusions shaped by the content of the web. Our commission is sharing the light of Christ, to go into the village and share the miracles of Jesus that lives within us. Read Matthew 10. #BardsFM_Morning  #EyesToSee #TheWayOfChrist Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this October 3rd episode, join your host Hunter as we journey together through Day 277 of our year-long exploration of scripture. Today, we'll open the pages of Ezra chapters 5 and 6, where we witness the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and God's faithfulness to His people. We'll pause with David in Psalm 138 to reflect on gratitude and God's loving kindness. Then, we'll dive into Luke 16, where Jesus shares parables about stewardship, faithfulness, and the powerful story of the rich man and Lazarus—a timely reminder about the true riches found in God, not in material wealth. Along the way, Hunter offers reflections on heart posture, spiritual blindness, and the gift of being “named” and known by God. He closes with heartfelt prayers and practical encouragement to care for both body and soul, reminding us all that as we seek God together—no matter where we are in the world—we are deeply loved. So, grab your Bible, settle in, and let's walk this path of faith together today. The Story of the Named and Nameless: Faith, Riches, and Resurrection Lessons from Ezra, Psalms, and Luke: The Blessings of Faith and Humility Sitting with the Named Ones: Discovering Faith Beyond Riches Ezra's Restoration, David's Praise, and Jesus' Parables on Faithfulness Blindness of Wealth and the Hope of Resurrection: Insights from Luke 16 Walking in Faith: Rebuilding Hearts and Homes in God's Name From Exile to Celebration: God's Faithfulness Through Ezra, Psalms, and Luke Learning Humility and Hope from the Table of Abraham and Lazarus Faith That Sees: Overcoming the Blindness of Comfort and Riches Daily Reading, Daily Renewal: Finding Joy and Strength in God's Word Sure! Here are 30 topical keywords covered in this transcript: Ezra, Temple rebuilding, King Darius, King Cyrus, Jerusalem, Passover, exile, burnt offerings, Haggai, Zechariah, Persian kings, gold and silver cups, Babylonian exile, Psalm 138, worship, faithfulness, God's promises, prayer, humility, protection, resurrection, New Testament, Luke 16, parables, rich man and Lazarus, wealth, generosity, repentance, Moses and the Prophets, eternal life, daily devotion Hunter's Story (Short Bio Format): During a critical period in Jerusalem's history, when the city's temple lay in ruins, Hunter found himself among a resilient group determined to restore what was lost. Inspired by the voices of prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, who urged the people to rebuild in the name of their God, Hunter joined Zerubbabel and Jeshua in rekindling the effort to reconstruct the Temple. Their work soon attracted attention from the authorities: Tataniah, the governor west of the Euphrates, accompanied by his associates, challenged the project, demanding to know who had authorized the reconstruction. Despite the obstacles and scrutiny, Hunter and his companions persevered, guided by faith and the encouragement of the prophets—striving to restore both their temple and their community spirit. Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this October 3rd episode, join your host Hunter as we journey together through Day 277 of our year-long exploration of scripture. Today, we'll open the pages of Ezra chapters 5 and 6, where we witness the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and God's faithfulness to His people. We'll pause with David in Psalm 138 to reflect on gratitude and God's loving kindness. Then, we'll dive into Luke 16, where Jesus shares parables about stewardship, faithfulness, and the powerful story of the rich man and Lazarus—a timely reminder about the true riches found in God, not in material wealth. Along the way, Hunter offers reflections on heart posture, spiritual blindness, and the gift of being “named” and known by God. He closes with heartfelt prayers and practical encouragement to care for both body and soul, reminding us all that as we seek God together—no matter where we are in the world—we are deeply loved. So, grab your Bible, settle in, and let's walk this path of faith together today. Absolutely! Here are 10 thoughtful discussion questions based on the October 3rd, 2025 episode of the Daily Radio Bible: Reflecting on Ezra 5-6, what stood out to you about the rebuilding of the Temple and the challenges the Jews faced? How did God's intervention influence the outcome? In Psalm 138, David expresses deep gratitude and trust in God's faithfulness. Are there recent moments in your life where you experienced God's faithfulness in a personal way? In Luke 16, Jesus shares the parable of the shrewd manager. What lessons do you think Jesus wanted us to learn about stewardship, honesty, and the use of worldly resources? The story of the rich man and Lazarus highlights issues of wealth, privilege, and compassion. How do you see these themes playing out in your own life or in your community? Hunter discusses being blinded by riches and what it means to ‘forget your name.' In practical terms, what are ways we can guard our hearts against spiritual blindness or self-centeredness? What role do faith and trust play in our interactions with others, especially those in need, as reflected in the teachings of this episode? The episode highlights “the named ones”—those remembered in scripture for their faith. Who are the ‘named ones' in your own spiritual journey that inspire you? Hunter encourages listeners to take care of both body and soul. How do you balance spiritual and physical well-being in your daily life? Prayer is central to this episode. How has prayer—either through traditional prayers like the Lord's Prayer, or your own spontaneous prayers—shaped your relationship with God? The episode ends with the reminder that ‘you are loved.' How does knowing and internalizing God's love change the way you approach daily challenges and relationships? Feel free to use these questions for personal reflection or group discussion! Certainly! Here's a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in the episode "Daily Radio Bible – October 3rd, 2025," with sub-topic bullets for each primary topic: 1. Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast Hunter greets listeners and notes the date and day of the Bible journey. Introduces himself as a Bible reading coach, journeying with listeners daily. Emphasizes the goal: to let the Bible guide towards the Living Word, Jesus. 2. Daily Scripture Readings Book of Ezra (Chapters 5 and 6) Prophets Haggai and Zechariah encourage the rebuilding of the temple. Opposition from local officials and the intervention of King Darius. King Darius confirms Cyrus's decree allowing the rebuilding and orders resources to be provided. Celebration and dedication of the completed temple. Celebration of Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Psalm 138 David gives thanks and praises God's unfailing love and faithfulness. Emphasis on God's care for the humble and protection in times of trouble. Affirmation of God's enduring faithful love and the plea not to be abandoned. Luke 16 Parable of the shrewd manager, focusing on faithfulness with worldly resources. Teaching on the impossibility of serving both God and money. Critique of the Pharisees' value system. Parable of the rich man and Lazarus, highlighting the consequences of hard-heartedness and blindness to spiritual poverty. 3. Reflection and Commentary on the Readings Focus on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Contrast between the nameless rich man (representing spiritual blindness) and Lazarus (a named, faithful individual). Warning about the hardening of heart due to wealth and reliance on status. Emphasis on the hope of resurrection and being known—having a name—by God. The importance of living by faith rather than trusting wealth or reputation. 4. Prayer and Personal Application Multiple prayers for guidance, protection, and for God's purposes to be fulfilled. Petition for peace, love, understanding, and living out God's will in practical ways. Gratitude expressed for God's mercies, creation, and redemption. 5. Practical Encouragement and Farewell Hunter encourages listeners to also take care of their physical bodies (e.g., taking a walk, enjoying nature). Affirms the value of time spent investing in the soul and spirit through Scripture. Personal anecdote about enjoying disc golf and being mindful of seasonal changes. Invitation to return for the next podcast episode and a reminder of God's love for each listener. This episode weaves together Scripture reading, reflection, prayer, and practical life encouragement, offering both spiritual insight and daily life application for listeners. Today we dove deep into the wisdom of Ezra, Psalms, and Luke, exploring how faith, gratitude, and humility can transform both our personal and professional lives. We learned that true success isn't measured by wealth or status, but by the richness of our soul and our generosity toward others. Remember: Invest in what truly matters—your character, your purpose, and your impact on those around you. Let every day be an opportunity to build lasting value, both in business and in life. Absolutely! Here's a LinkedIn post inspired by the October 3rd, 2025 episode of the Daily Radio Bible podcast: On today's episode of the Daily Radio Bible, I was reminded of the power of faith, perspective, and gratitude. Hunter took us through passages from Ezra, Psalms, and Luke—forming a moving meditation on humility, spiritual focus, and the value of small, daily investments in our souls. Here are three key takeaways that resonated with me: Guard against the blindness of privilege: The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) serves as a reminder not to let wealth or comfort blind us to our own need for God or the needs of others. Faithfulness in little things matters: Whether it's tending to the tasks at hand, caring for your health, or nurturing your relationships—Hunter encourages us to value the daily “little things” that shape our character. Invest in what truly pays off: As Hunter beautifully put it, spending time listening, reflecting, and drawing near to God is an investment that yields lifelong dividends, unlike many of the distractions that vie for our attention. Let's prioritize what's truly valuable—both in our spiritual journeys and our day-to-day routines. Have you made time lately for what matters most? #DailyRadioBible #Faith #PersonalGrowth #SpiritualWellness #Gratitude Subject: Feasting with the Named Ones – DRB Newsletter for October 3, 2025 Dear DRB Family, Grace and peace to you on this beautiful October day! As always, thank you for joining us on our daily journey through the Bible. Our latest episode, "October 3rd, 2025," is now available, and we're so glad you could share in this time around the warmth of God's love. Today's Readings: Ezra 5-6 Psalm 138 Luke 16 Highlights from This Episode In today's reading, we revisited the incredible story of how faith, perseverance, and God's providence enabled the Israelites to rebuild the temple amidst opposition. As we learned from Ezra, even earthly kings like Cyrus and Darius can become surprising instruments in God's redemption story. Psalm 138 reminded us of God's constant faithfulness, while in Luke 16, Jesus offered the stirring parable of the rich man and Lazarus. A Reflection on Names, Riches, and Faith Host Hunter shared a poignant meditation on the difference between the “named ones” and the nameless in Jesus's story. While the rich man in the parable was left without a name—lost in his riches and blind to his need for God—Lazarus was named, honored, and welcomed at Abraham's side. The reminder for us: our trust belongs not in wealth or reputation, but in the God who raises the humble and knows us by name. Let us nurture hearts that recognize our need for God and rejoice in the gifts—both earthly and eternal—that He freely gives. Daily Encouragement Hunter also encouraged us to move our bodies in gratitude for the life we have, just as we invest time nourishing our souls with Scripture. Whether it's a walk outdoors, a gentle stretch, or simply deep breaths of fresh air, these moments can remind us of God's presence. Let's Pray Together As always, this episode closed with heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, and the Lord's Prayer—rooting us in God's goodness and mercy each new day. Action Steps: Take some time today to move your body and thank God for the life and breath you've been given. Reflect on the ways God has named and loved you, regardless of your circumstances. Invite someone to listen to today's episode and join our community of daily Bible readers. Thank you for investing these precious moments into your soul. Until next time, remember: you are loved. In His love, The Daily Radio Bible Team P.S. Have feedback or a prayer request? We'd love to hear from you—just reply to this email! And don't forget to take time to breathe, move, and let God's joy be your strength today. [Listen to the episode] [Visit our podcast page] [Support the DRB]

"Only God can convert the wicked, but men have the power to control the wicked," so it's not enough to pray about evil. It must be rooted out, and that is part of Christian responsibility. A Chalcedon Podcast with Dr Charles Roberts and host Andrea Schwartz

Only God can quench the soul's thirst. Trust Him to satisfy every need with lasting fullness.

Fruits of the Spirit: Peace outPhilippians 4:4-7Rev. Justin OlivettiMain idea: Only God can give us true, lasting peace in our lives

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:1-6)God is the potter; we are the clay.The question is not whether we are willing to be formed by the hand of God but whether we are aware of the forming that is already and always happening.“My bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance,and upon your scroll all of them were written, the days that were formed before one of them was.” (Ps 139:15-16)The ruin isn't specified.The ruin isn't sugarcoated.The ruin isn't from the potter's hand.The ruin isn't the first or the last word.2. God is the potter; we are the clay?7 At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. 9 And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you, from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.12 But they say, “It is no use! We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of our evil will.”Trust in the Slow Work of God Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability— and that it may take a very long time.And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually—let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (1881-1955)

It's easy to start strong when the vision is fresh and the excitement is high. But what happens when the opposition gets loud, the obstacles feel overwhelming, and distractions pull at your attention? In those moments, the temptation is to quit. What if the real difference between a forgotten story and an “Only God” story is the courage to persevere when it would be easier to walk away?

Only God is exalted in Himself, and when He became a Man, He exalted Himself by humility, so we must do what Christ does and desire what He desires.

Only God is exalted in Himself, and when He became a Man, He exalted Himself by humility, so we must do what Christ does and desire what He desires.

When I was younger, I recall being upset when my parents would punish me because I had done something wrong. I know now that they were trying to make me a better man, but it didn't feel like that in the moment! Today, Pastor Gary says that many people don't want God's guidance but desire the benefits of knowing Him. To know God is to love all that He is. He wants to lead you and guide you to be more like His Son every day. Only God can give you eternal life, but you must be all in for His plan.

Adolfo Kaminsky knew how to remove indelible ink from paper. As a member of the anti-Nazi resistance in France, he altered identification cards to save hundreds from concentration camps. Once he was given three days to forge nine hundred birth and baptismal certificates and ration cards for three hundred Jewish children. He labored two straight days without sleep, telling himself, “In one hour I can make thirty blank documents. If I sleep for an hour thirty people will die.” The apostle Paul felt a similar urgency. He reminded the church in Ephesus how he’d “served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing” (Acts 20:19). Paul said, “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you” (v. 20). This urgency compelled him to share with everyone the necessity of repentance and faith in Jesus (v. 21). Now he was sailing back to Jerusalem, eager to “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (v. 24). Paul couldn’t save people. Only God does that. But he could tell them God’s good news about Jesus, the only “name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Who is the Holy Spirit bringing to your mind today? You can share God’s good news with them.

There is a barrier of unbelief that prevents people from knowing and experiencing Christ. Only God can remove these obstacles that hinder individuals from receiving Him. In his message today, Pastor Mark discusses how God uses everyday people to help break down these invisible barriers that separate us from God. Pastor Mark emphasizes that nothing is more powerful than Christ's love. People are drawn to Christ by various means. As they overcome any fear they may have, and we continue to share God's love with them, they will see the difference in our lives that knowing Christ has made and desire to follow Him as a result.

Are you facing a situation that feels impossible to fix on your own? This devotional reminds us that God can do what we can’t do and invites us to fully trust Him in circumstances beyond our control. When we reach the limits of our own abilities, God’s power begins where ours ends. Drawing from Luke 18:27, we’re reminded that “what is impossible with man is possible with God.” Whether it’s a strained relationship, financial hardship, health struggle, or an unanswered prayer, God invites us to surrender our worries and rely on His strength, timing, and plan. ✨ Highlights God can do the impossible — Our limitations don’t limit Him. Faith grows in the waiting — Trusting God deepens when we surrender control. Prayer comes first — Instead of forcing solutions, bring your needs to God first. Surrender releases peace — Handing our impossible situations to God allows us to rest in His power. God’s strength shines through weakness — Our struggles become opportunities for Him to display His glory.

Your limits are an invitation to receive God's care. Only God knows our deepest needs. Many times when it comes to our mental health, we're the most vulnerable after a great victory or before a big breakthrough. Only God can meet your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. Only through Jesus can we truly “defeat” the things we can't define. Even the strongest, most faith-filled people have limits. Even the most resilient people have breaking points. Where do we turn in our time of need? We need to learn to run to Jesus!

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 ESV Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESVIn order to thrive and bear fruit in any season or weather what matters most is where you're planted!The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The LORD is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:13-15 CSBChrist-followers who are planted in a life giving, God following community are more fruitful and resilient than they would ever be if they were trying to live life on their own. Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV Friendship divides your sorrows and doubles your joys. - AnonymousSo then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Ephesians 2:19-21 ESV God is more than enough to make us great together!When we are rooted in the love of God true family becomes our reality. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 ESVOnly God and us get to decide for us who we get to become together. Just a suggestion Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13 CSBA friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 ESVHow happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah. Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:4-7 CSBChrist-centered community is the right covering and comfort for crisis. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 ESV Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESVIn order to thrive and bear fruit in any season or weather what matters most is where you're planted!The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The LORD is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:13-15 CSBChrist-followers who are planted in a life giving, God following community are more fruitful and resilient than they would ever be if they were trying to live life on their own. Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV Friendship divides your sorrows and doubles your joys. - AnonymousSo then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Ephesians 2:19-21 ESV God is more than enough to make us great together!When we are rooted in the love of God true family becomes our reality. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 ESVOnly God and us get to decide for us who we get to become together. Just a suggestion Planted in the house of the LORD, they thrive in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13 CSBA friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 ESVHow happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah. Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:4-7 CSBChrist-centered community is the right covering and comfort for crisis. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Billy Hallowell and Brandon Showalter of The Christian Post sit down to process the shocking assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. They reflect on Kirk's bold faith, his commitment to truth, and the deep spiritual wounds this tragedy has exposed across America. From personal memories of Kirk's warmth to a call for national repentance and healing, this conversation points to the only true source of hope: Jesus Christ."The fact that we're seeing [this] in the United States, that's ... spiritually evil darkness that needs to be cleansed from our land," Showalter said. "Only God can heal that."

In a heartfelt and challenging message titled “Deep Calleth Unto Deep,” Sis. Cheryl Budworth reminds us that God's presence is not found in the shallows, but in the depths. Preaching from Psalm 42 and weaving in personal testimony, Sis. Budworth paints a vivid picture of what it means for the deepest part of our need to cry out to the deepest part of God's sufficiency. Just as David cried from the valley of despair—overwhelmed by wave after wave of trial—so we too are invited to let our longing, sorrow, and questions drive us into deeper intimacy with Christ. Shallow routines and surface religion will never satisfy. Only God's love, wisdom, mercy, and Spirit can answer the cry of our souls. This message is both an encouragement and an invitation: don't resist the storms, but let them draw you closer to God's living water. Whether you are weary, thirsty, or longing for more, “Deep Calleth Unto Deep” will remind you that when your soul cries out, God always answers with His unsearchable depth of grace and truth. To hear more about what God is doing in Sheboygan County and around the world, visit us at posc.church!

Only God can MAKE things happen.

In 2006, the body of Polish student Angelika Kluk was found hidden in the most unthinkable place: stuffed beneath the floorboards of a Glasgow church.The man who put her there – greyhaired handyman Peter Tobin – was about to have his own sins laid bare. And what police found would reveal a predator whose impact stretched far beyond the church walls: with vanished girls, broken families, and a raft of missed opportunities to stop a prolific offender from slipping through the cracks of the UK justice system.Eventually, Tobin was unmasked as one of Britain's darkest serial killers, with whispers linking him to the infamous “Bible John” murders. His true victim count? Only God can keep the score.Exclusive bonus content:Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHandPatreon - Ad-free & Bonus EpisodesFollow us on social media:YouTubeTikTokInstagramVisit our website:WebsiteSources available on redhandedpodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In “The god You Made,” Pastor Robert Madu warns of the danger of idols—the things we reach for because we can see them, instead of waiting on the God we cannot see. God relates to us through covenant, not contracts; His love is rooted in His promises, not our performance. Through His covenant, God not only delivers us from struggles but also delivers us to worship Him. The question is not if we will worship, but who or what we will worship. Only God—who knows us and calls us by name—can satisfy what no idol ever will. Thank you for partnering with Social Dallas! To GIVE Online- head to our website: www.socialdallas.com/give Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! Also follow us on all Social Media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/social_dallas

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:2-5; 2:7; Psalm 33:6-9; Ephesians 2:4-10"Look, Levi, I'm making a snowman!" cried Claire, rolling a white blob of playdough into a ball.But her brother didn't seem to be listening. Levi was concentrating. He had spent the last ten minutes sculpting the face of a lion out of some yellow playdough. Claire had to admit, Levi's lion was pretty good. He had used a plastic knife to carve out the lion's features, and now he was working on a fiery mane."Looks like you guys are having fun!" said Mom, pausing at the table to view their creations. "I like your snowman, Claire! And that lion's beginning to look quite lifelike, Levi. I love the way you've twisted all those strands together to make his mane. You're both so creative!""Creative?" asked Claire. "I thought only God created things.""Well, the Bible says God made people in His own image," said Mom, taking a seat at the table. "That's why we enjoy being creative. Some people like to paint. Some people like to bake. But while humans can only create things using materials that already exist, God created the universe out of nothing.""Nothing?" asked Claire. "How can you make something out of nothing?" She waved her hands around as though trying to shape a creature out of thin air. "It's impossible!"Mom laughed. "God created light just by speaking! And Psalm 33 tells us He created the heavenly hosts--all the stars in the sky--by the breath of His mouth."Claire gasped. "Wow! That's amazing!""But when He created Adam," Mom continued, "God fashioned him with His own hands from the dust of the earth and breathed life into his nose."Levi finally spoke. "Whoa! This lion I've been sculpting is just a model. It will never live or move. But God made a real man!""That's right," said Mom. "Only God can do that! And only God can give people new life. The Bible explains that because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humans are born spiritually dead because of sin. But when we trust Jesus to save us from sin, it's as though God breathes new, eternal life into an old pile of dust. Jesus makes us alive all over again!"Claire and Levi looked at each other and smiled. "That's so awesome!" –Angela JelfHow About You?Do you enjoy being creative? Do you like drawing or writing stories? Or perhaps you enjoy building things or making up games. God made us to be creative, but He is the ultimate Creator because He made the universe out of nothing! And He breathes new spiritual life into those who trust in Jesus. Have you received Jesus and the new life He brings? (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.)Today's Key Verse:Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (NIV) (Genesis 2:7)Today's Key Thought:Only God can create life

Read Online“The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.” Matthew 22:2–3The king in this parable is God the Father, and the wedding is the marriage between Christ and the Church. The Father invites each one of us to be a member of the Church and to enter into divine union with His Son Jesus, thus entering into the life of the Holy Trinity. But we see right away in the parable that the invited guests “refused to come.” As the parable goes on, the king tried even harder to invite the guests, but they all responded in one of two ways. “Some ignored the invitation and went away…” and “The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.” Clearly, this was not the response hoped for by the generous king.We see in these two responses two levels of rejection of the Gospel that are present in our world today, just as it was at the time of Jesus. The first level of rejection is indifference. Many people are very busy today. We easily become occupied with many things that matter little in the end. Many are consumed by their smartphones, computers and tablets. Many spend countless hours watching television. Others become workaholics, spending most of their time at their occupation and leaving little time for that which is most important, such as family, prayer and service. As a result, it is very easy to become indifferent to the matters of faith and easy to fail to pray every day so as to seek out and fulfill God's will. This indifference is quite serious.There is also a rejection of the faith in our world through a growing hostility toward the Church and morality. There are many ways in which the secular world continues to promote a culture that is contrary to the Gospel. And when Christians speak out and oppose these new cultural tendencies, they are condemned and often characterized as being prejudiced or judgmental. Such malice was displayed by the guests in this parable who “laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.” Hostility toward the Church, the faith and clear moral principles laid down by God appears to be growing every year. This form of rejection of the Gospel is even more damaging than the simple indifference mentioned above. In this parable for today, Jesus says that in response to those who were indifferent and hostile, the king “sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.”This parable should not be read in such a way that we look at others and condemn them as if we were the king and had the right to do so. We do not have that right. Only God does. Instead, this parable should be read from the perspective of your own life. Hopefully you are not one of those who are hostile to the Gospel. But perhaps you and many other Christians struggle with the first form of rejection: indifference. We can easily become indifferent in many various ways and on many different levels. The opposite of being indifferent is to care and to care deeply about going to the wedding feast when invited.Reflect, today, upon the Wedding Feast to which you are invited. You are invited to enter into the glorious celebration of becoming one with the Savior of the World. You are invited to surrender your life to Him without reserve. You are invited to holiness, moral integrity, unwavering fidelity to God, service of others, charity that knows no bounds and so much more. To enter the Wedding Feast of the Lamb is something that must take place every day and every moment of your day for the rest of your life. God is inviting you. Will you say “Yes” with every fiber of your being? My inviting Lord, You desire that all people fully accept the invitation You have given to become one with You through spiritual marriage. You call us to the glorious Wedding Feast and eternal rejoicing. May I never be indifferent to Your invitation and always make my response with all my heart. I love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You all the more. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Brunswick Monogrammist, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Tuesday, 19 August 2025   Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:32   “And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that every sin and blasphemy would be forgiven men, but the “Spirit blasphemy” will not be forgiven men. He now continues and builds upon that thought, saying, “And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man.”   Such was to be expected. Here is a Man who lived a poor existence, was from Nazareth, something looked down upon, was the Son of a carpenter, and who probably did these labors Himself, who had argued with the Pharisees about the dietary laws, who had healed on the Sabbath, etc.   Everything about Him was not what one would expect of the Messiah, even if He had a group of disciples around Him and His teachings were interesting. It is obvious they were interested in Him and what He was up to because they kept popping up in accounts recorded in the gospels, inspecting Him and His movements.   But because He didn't fit their notions about a Messiah, they spoke against Him and what He did. Eventually, they would rid themselves of Him by having Him crucified. These things were forgivable, as Jesus notes, “it will be forgiven him.”   It is certain that being complicit in Jesus' death was pardonable. This is evident from the appeals of the apostles after the resurrection –   “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36   This thought is reiterated in Acts 4 when Peter addresses the “rulers of the people and elders of Israel.” Even after their actions against the Son of Man, they could still obtain mercy and forgiveness. However, Jesus continues, saying, “But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him.”   The words “speak against” are to be taken as parallel in meaning to the “Spirit blasphemy” of the previous verse. It is the point that is highlighted for these people to understand the consequences of such words. Mark provides additional understanding of what Jesus is referring to with the words, “because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.'”   The men accusing Jesus were ascribing the work of the Spirit to an unclean Spirit. Jesus logically defended why this could not be the case and that He must, in fact, be casting out demons by the Spirit of God. This is the issue. With that now understood, those who understood the Source of His power would have to concede the argument and accept the authority of the Spirit in Christ's works.   To continue in such accusations would be to speak against the Holy Spirit. At what point God determined this threshold had been met, such a person's fate was determined. There would be no forgiveness “neither in this age, nor in the coming.”   The point of the Levitical sacrifices was to obtain forgiveness for transgressions under the law. There are instances where it is noted that forgiveness would not be granted to people under the law. One example is found in the sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 3. Another is found in Isaiah 22:12-14.   In both cases, there was a complete abandonment of God. The Spirit was spoken against as if being ineffectual in the lives of these people through their words and actions. In the coming age, which appears to be referring to the age after Christ's resurrection, it is the Spirit who seals a person for salvation.   This “age” cannot be speaking of the state after death. One's life determines one's state before God. It cannot be speaking of the final age where all saved humanity will be glorified. The eternal state of man will be set at that time. To limit it to the millennium is too narrow a focus for the intent of Jesus' words. Therefore, the age He refers to would be the time after the law is fulfilled and abolished.   To reject the calling of the Spirit upon one's life is a life action that can be equated to speaking against the Spirit. To deny Christ and His power to save, a power evidenced and validated by the resurrection, is to deny the only hope one has of being saved. There can be no forgiveness for this.   Only God can restore man to Himself. To deny this is to deny what God in Christ has done. To do so can be equated to saying Christ had an unclean spirit. Otherwise, it would be obvious that the narrative concerning Him is true. If it is true, it would mean God had ordained Him to be the Author of salvation.   Life application: The door to forgiveness and salvation in Christ remains open until one's final breath. After that, man must face judgment. Some people will never hear the message and will die apart from God. Some will hear and not believe for whatever reason. However, they may at some point believe and be saved.   Others will hear the message and never accept it. The Spirit cannot work in the life of such a person. There can be no forgiveness for such a denial of what God has done. Jesus is the necessary key to understanding the words of this verse.   His resurrection is the proof of the Spirit of God's power to save all men –   “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4   “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11   Lord God, help us to be about the business of sharing the good news concerning forgiveness through the shed blood of Christ. May You guide us as we talk to others so that our words will be effectual in leading them to a right understanding of what You have done. Yes, Lord, help us in this. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.  

Today we will learn about Jesus performing many miracles and allowing people to experience the power of God. Parents, want to keep talking? Here are some ideas:*Tell me some things that are powerful. What do you think is the most powerful thing on earth? How did Jesus show God's power (He performed many miracles) (ages 2-5)*When John baptized Jesus, a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.” How does it feel when your parents say those words about you? What are some things you can do to please your parents? (ages 6-10)*Jesus called a wide variety of people to be his disciples-fisherman, tax collectors, revolutionaries—why didn't Jesus call more powerful people like religious and government leaders? Think of the Christians you know. Are they all the same? Why does jesus call people with different interests and personalities to follow him? (ages 11-12)One last thing! This week April asked, “What is something you know ONLY God can do?”. Simply record a voice memo and send it in a text to 636-280-5433. You may even be featured in an upcoming episode. *By sending in a voice memo, you're providing consent for your minor's voice to be on the podcast*Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/Normal Goes A Long Way is hosted on Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Get 20% off when you choose Zencastr for your podcasting needs: https://zencastr.com/?via=jill#madeonzencastr

Karrie is back with a new season of The Honest Pod and she reflects on how much the podcast has been an integral part of the greater mission of Freedom Movement. Karrie leads Freedom Movement organization and its mission to create safe places that foster healing, hope, and the courage to love who God created you to be. Karrie started the nonprofit in 2014 with the understanding that every single one of us is broken and has wounds, many of which are not often addressed within traditional church environments. She saw firsthand that God's true redemptive purpose for our lives does not begin once we're free from pain, rather it stems directly out of that pain.This season of the Honest Pod will have an emphasis on moving from the places that are shattered or stuck in your story to restoration. Some questions that will be reflected on in the upcoming episodes: -What do we do with the pain in our stories? -Why are we still stuck?  -What areas of my story do I still need to dive into? -How do we move forward from those places? Karrie begins with the story of Hagar and the pain surrounding Hagar's story. God meets Hagar in her darkest moment and asks her two deeply honest questions. God reveals to us healing begins with honesty and curiosity. By answering those questions, Hagar can step into who God created her to be. Karrie's work within Freedom Movement helps connect people to their stories and reach into difficult questions. God is always at the center of story work. Only God ultimately brings transformation and peace but there are things we can do to partner with God on our healing journey. Karrie's Instagram: @karriescottgarciaKarrie's Website: karriegarcia.comFreedom Movement Instagram: @freedom_movementFreedom Movement Website: wearefm.orgSign up for Freedom Movement Trainings:https://www.wearefm.org/trainingsFind Story Work Retreat info & sign-ups:https://www.karriegarcia.com/work-with-karriePurchase Karrie's book Free & Fully Alive!https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310366445?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_A6200T1AKD7FS2PZ8VA1Book Karrie for Speaking Engagements:https://www.karriegarcia.com/book-karrie 

We all want what someone else has. Coveting lurks deep in our hearts, cloaked behind reasonable sentiments like prudence, planning, and fairness. In this message, Pastor Lutzer raises four crucial questions about the nature of covetousness. Only God alone can break this pattern and give us a heart of repentance. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

We all want what someone else has. Coveting lurks deep in our hearts, cloaked behind reasonable sentiments like prudence, planning, and fairness. In this message, Pastor Lutzer raises four crucial questions about the nature of covetousness. Only God alone can break this pattern and give us a heart of repentance. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍