Podcasts about psalm

Book of the Bible

  • 29,052PODCASTS
  • 361KEPISODES
  • 25mAVG DURATION
  • 50+DAILY NEW EPISODES
  • Dec 6, 2025LATEST
psalm

POPULARITY

20172018201920202021202220232024

Categories




    Best podcasts about psalm

    Show all podcasts related to psalm

    Latest podcast episodes about psalm

    The Daily Office Podcast
    Saturday Morning // December 6, 2025

    The Daily Office Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 23:13


    Morning Prayer for Saturday, December 6, 2025 (The First Sunday in Advent; Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 90Sirach 38:1-15, 24-34Acts 28:1-15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sun 12/7/25 - Invitatory

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 1:55


    Psalm 95 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sun 12/7/25 - Office of Readings

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 13:45


    Psalm 104 Isaiah 22:8b-23 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    A Morning at the Office - an Episcopal Morning Prayer Podcast

    Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 20, 21, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Amos 5:18-27, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 12, New Testament: Jude 17-25, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 19, Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

    psalm advent logo gospel matthew mtr old testament amos wiley ammons officiant mtr
    To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year
    Day 340. What is bearing false witness against your neighbor? (2025)

    To Be a Christian: The Anglican Catechism in a Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 7:27


    Today is day 340 and we are studying The Ninth Commandment. 340. What is bearing false witness against your neighbor? It is to willfully communicate a falsehood about my neighbor, either in legal or in other matters, in order to misrepresent them. (Deuteronomy 19:16–19; Psalm 109; Proverbs 12:17; Matthew 26:57–61) We will conclude today by praying The Qoph Stanza of Psalm 119 which is verses 145-152 found on page 438 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Unashamed with Phil Robertson
    Ep 1223 | John Luke Explores the Principle of “No Kings” & How Parenting Can Shape a Nation's Future

    Unashamed with Phil Robertson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 49:34


    Al, Zach, John Luke, and Christian explore the principle of “no kings” and how cultural envy pushed Israel to demand a leader who looked impressive but lacked character and paid for it dearly. The guys  trace the fallout from choosing Saul, contrast it with David's repentant heart, and show how wanting to resemble other nations sent Israel down a destructive path.  In this episode: Genesis 11; Genesis 12; Genesis 3, verse 24; Genesis 4; Exodus 14; Exodus 16; Exodus 17; Exodus 25; Deuteronomy 17; Joshua 2; Joshua 7; Judges 2; Judges 21; 1 Samuel 4, verses 19–22; 1 Samuel 5; 1 Samuel 6; 1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 9; 1 Samuel 10; Jonah 1; Hebrews 12, verses 28–29; Psalm 51; Romans 1 Today's conversation is about Lesson 1 of The David Story: Shepherd, Father, King taught by Hillsdale Professor Justin Jackson. Take the course with us at no cost to you! Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/⁠ More about The David Story: Encounter the beauty of the Bible. The David Story: Shepherd, Father, King explores the lives of Israel's first two kings—Saul and David—to discover the Bible's profound lessons about fatherhood, the nature of sin, and the consequences of sin on both a family and a nation. While David suffers great tragedies due to his own transgressions, he models a path to redemption through repentance. Join Professor Justin Jackson in a careful reading of First and Second Samuel to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning and beauty of this story that is not only fundamental to the Christian and Jewish faiths, but also a literary masterpiece. Join us today in this pursuit of a deeper understanding of the Bible in “The David Story.” Sign up at ⁠http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Confessions Of A Crappy Christian Podcast
    Ending Well: The Wife I Want to Be | Episode 389

    Confessions Of A Crappy Christian Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 39:58


    Welcome back to the Ending Well series. This is week five of looking back over the year, letting God redeem the hard parts, and choosing who we want to become as we step into a new season. Today's episode is all about marriage — but even more specifically, the kind of wife you want to be. Not the Instagram version. Not the performance version. The real, healed, whole version. This year, God radically reshaped how I see myself as a wife. I didn't set out to "become a better wife," but as He broke my addiction to productivity and constant performance, it transformed our marriage into an even safer place, a deeper gift, and a stronger home base. Episode Snapshot In this conversation, I share honestly about: The "strong, high-capacity, always-on" identity I lived in for years How that mindset spilled into our marriage and made me controlling, critical, and exhausted The follower's question that changed everything: "What did you do to change that brought this out in him?" Why sometimes you have to go first in doing the inner work The difference between survival-mode marriage and a marriage built on connection How God used pruning, slowing down, and healing my nervous system to completely shift my role as a wife We also name an important reality: There are marriages where abuse, betrayal, or deep harm is present, and "trying harder" as a wife is not the answer. I am not speaking into those situations; I am sharing from a context where I am married to a good man, and our biggest battles were often with our own mindsets, wounds, and habits. Key Shifts God Made In Me This Year Letting him lead Moving out of constant control mode Asking for his thoughts and actually listening Giving him room to step forward in decisions and in parenting Becoming less reactive, less critical Recognizing how perfectionism makes you hard on yourself and everyone around you Learning the difference between reacting and responding Owning moments where I project my own embarrassment or anxiety onto him Allowing myself to be supported Letting him help with dishes, laundry, the mental load, and home life Receiving service as an expression of love instead of proof that I am failing Integrating my calling and my home No longer seeing ministry or work as competition with being a wife and mom Letting God reorder my priorities: Jesus, marriage, children, then everything else Moving from "two separate versions of me" to one whole, integrated person Underneath it all, God shifted me from: "More of me, doing more, performing more" to "Less of me, more of Him — loving from abundance instead of exhaustion." A Scripture to Sit With "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Psalm 127:1 This is true of literal houses and of marriages. Reflection Questions Take these to prayer, to your journal, or into a gentle conversation with your spouse: What kind of wife do I actually want to be — if no one were watching but God? Where am I over-functioning, trying to hold everything together in my own strength? Do I criticize my husband more than I pray for him? Where might God be inviting me to soften, slow down, or make space for him to lead? Am I willing to let Jesus make me whole, instead of just more productive? Sponsor: PreBorn So many women walk into an abortion clinic afraid and alone, about to make a life-altering decision. PreBorn meets them there by offering free ultrasounds, which doubles the likelihood that they will choose life. This year alone, thousands of babies have been rescued through PreBorn's work. They also provide counseling, classes, and practical support for moms up to two years after the baby is born. You can sponsor an ultrasound for 28 dollars and literally help save a life. Visit: preborn.com/speakeasy Sponsor: CrowdHealth Health insurance can feel like a rigged game. CrowdHealth offers a totally different way: a community of people funding each other's medical bills directly, without networks or middlemen. With CrowdHealth you get: Bill negotiators fighting for lower costs More affordable labs and prescriptions A vetted list of doctors And if something big happens, you pay the first 500 dollars and the community helps cover the rest During open enrollment, you can opt out of the old system and take your power back. Get started for 99 dollars for your first three months at: joincrowdhealth.com with code: speakeasy

    Enjoying the Journey
    Start at Home

    Enjoying the Journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 10:45


    (Psalm 148:12-14) While we have been studying the dimensions of praise, today we come to the fourth and final one… the length of praise. This is not only for everyone, but it is also a praise that should begin in the privacy of our own homes. Start today by singing Hallelujah at home. (09293251205) Keep Studying  Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. 

    Girls Gone Bible
    If You're Hurting, Watch This | Girls Gone Bible

    Girls Gone Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 59:39


    Hiiii GGB!   In today's episode we talk about the incredible love and grace God has for us and how He meets us in every season. We share what it looks like to walk with Him through hard moments and how His presence shapes us to look more like Jesus. We read from Isaiah 48 and Psalm 32 as we talk through His guidance, His kindness and the way He holds us through it all. The second half of this episode is a joy bomb where we have probably the most fun we have had on an episode, and it is a clear indication that the best way to get through suffering is through joy. we love you so much. Jesus loves you more. -Ang & Ari   ORDER OUR NEW BOOK! You can order our new book "Out of the Wilderness— 31 Devotions to Walk with God Through Your Hardest Seasons" at girlsgonebible.com/book  JOIN US ON GGB+

    Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes
    Psalm 13

    Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 10:01 Transcription Available


    Fall asleep to special Psalm devotionals at https://www.sleeppsalms.com Tonight's prayer is from Psalm 13:5.  Welcome to "Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes," a tranquil oasis of serenity for your weary soul. In each episode, you'll embark on a soothing journey guided by the wisdom of the most popular book of the Bible, the book of Psalms. Bishop T.D. Jakes' calming voice and gentle prayers will lull you into a peaceful state of mind, perfect for restful sleep or deep meditation. Allow each profound devotional soothe your soul every night. Let the verses of the Psalms cradle your thoughts and provide solace, allowing you to drift into a night of tranquil slumber. Let the Lord be your shepherd tonight, and fall asleep to God's word. Join us as we embark on a profound exploration of these timeless scriptures, nurturing both your spirit and your dreams. Download the Pray.com app for more Bible stories to last a lifetime. To learn more about Bishop T.D. Jakes visit https://tdjenterprises.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Daily Office Podcast
    Friday Morning // December 5, 2025

    The Daily Office Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 26:43


    Morning Prayer for Friday, December 5, 2025 (The First Sunday in Advent; Clement of Alexandria, Priest and Teacher of the Faith, 210).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 89:1-18Sirach 34Acts 27⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

    The Daily Office Podcast
    Friday Evening // December 5, 2025

    The Daily Office Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 25:07


    Evening Prayer for Friday, December 5, 2025 (The First Sunday in Advent; Clement of Alexandria, Priest and Teacher of the Faith, 210).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 89:19-52Isaiah 48Luke 11:1-28⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

    Joni and Friends Radio
    Glory in Your Limitations

    Joni and Friends Radio

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 4:00


    We would love to pray for you! Please send us your requests here. --------This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus! Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

    Commuter Bible
    Nahum, Habakkuk, Psalm 149

    Commuter Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 27:04


    Like Jonah before him, the prophet Nahum preaches devastation and ruin for Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, a place of unparalleled power and wealth. Though they thought themselves to be secure from danger, their downfall came after nearby rivers flooded the city and destroyed part of the city wall, allowing Babylon to enter easily and set it ablaze. Later in Habakkuk, the prophet of the same name is recorded speaking to the Lord on behalf of his people. He openly and honestly struggles with understanding why God would allow injustice to prevail. By his conversation with the Lord, we are reminded of the sovereign power and authority of God, who calls the righteous to live by faith.Nahum 1 - 1:15 . Nahum 2 - 4:27 . Nahum 3 - 7:20 . Habakkuk 1 - 12:54 . Habakkuk 2 - 16:20 . Habakkuk 3 - 20:55 . Psalm 149 - 25:02 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

    In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions Through the Psalms with Dane Ortlund

    ❖ Today's Bible reading is Psalm 5: www.ESV.org/Psalm5 ❖ To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional: www.crossway.org/books/in-the-lord-i-take-refuge-hcj/ ❖ Browse other resources from Dane Ortlund: www.crossway.org/authors/dane-c-ortlund/

    One Year Bible Podcast
    Daily Bible Reading - Friday, December 5

    One Year Bible Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 10:41


    HOSEA 1:1-3:5 | 1 JOHN 5:1-21 | PSALM 124:1-8 | PROVERBS 29:5-8

    Reformed Forum
    Harrison Perkins | Understanding the Doctrine of Repentance

    Reformed Forum

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 75:18


    In this episode, Dr. Harrison Perkins speaks about his new book A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance (Christian Focus). Perkins brings the warmth of pastoral ministry together with the clarity of confessional Reformed theology. He explains that repentance is often misunderstood—as if it were a dreary duty or an entrance requirement for grace. Instead, Scripture presents repentance as a saving grace, a divine gift through which Christ frees his people from sin's enslaving power and draws them into renewed joy. Repentance is not the price we pay to come to Christ; it is the fruit of having already been brought to Him by the Spirit through faith. Together they explore key biblical passages (Psalm 51, Psalm 38, 2 Corinthians 7, Luke 3), the Reformed confessions, unhealthy distortions of penance, and the pastoral challenge of helping people see repentance not as a terror but as a mercy. Repentance doesn't merely involve feeling guilty—it involves embracing Christ, turning from sin, and tasting the joy that accompanies renewal. They also discuss what a repentant church culture looks like: a community marked by humility, honesty, grace, and a shared approach to the Lord's Table as those who come on equal footing—sinners saved by a gracious Redeemer. Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen's University Belfast; MDiv, Westminster Seminary California) is the pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He is the author of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Press 2024), Catholicity and the Covenant of Works (Oxford University Press, 2020), Righteous by Design: Covenantal Merit and Adam's Original Integrity (2024), Created for Communion with God: The Promise of Genesis 1–2 (Lexham Press, 2025), and a number of popular and academic articles. He regularly writes articles for Heidelblog and Modern Reformation. Watch on YouTube Chapters 0:00:07 Introduction 0:10:03 Background to the Book 0:16:22 Reframing Our Understanding of Repentance 0:20:39 The Joy of Repentance 0:24:35 The Reformed Confessions on Repentance 0:37:17 Psalms 38 and 143 0:43:26 Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance 0:48:15 Distinguishing Fruits of Repentance from Acts of Penance 0:53:28 Illustrations of Repentance 1:00:41 Exodus 24, Covenant, and the Repentant Community 1:06:45 Hope for Readers of This Book 1:12:06 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Harrison Perkins This is Christ the Center episode 936 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc936)

    My Morning Devotional
    Still And Know

    My Morning Devotional

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 8:08 Transcription Available


    When was the last time you truly let yourself pause and just be still? In today's episode, host Gaby Calatayud invite us to step away from the rush of daily life and discover the peace found in Psalm 46:10—“Be still and know that I am God.” Together, we'll reflect on how this timeless message speaks to parents feeling the weight of holiday expectations, those navigating grief or singleness, and anyone facing financial uncertainty. Through their honest conversation, we'll learn how being still is not about giving up, but about trusting God's faithful presence in every season of life.Join our community for a gentle, heartfelt devotional and let's unite in prayer, finding rest in God's promises together.Want to get resources related to this episode? Enter your info at https://www.mymorningdevo.co/newsletter/ and we'll send it to your inbox!Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota.Join our Community Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Join our newsletter and get additional resources Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family podcast The Family Business with The Alessis Check out our Worship Music Hear the new music project "Praise the Lord EP" from Metro Life Worship and Mary AlessiListen on SpotifyWatch on YouTube

    The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast
    #1,384: There is Always Hope in God

    The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 5:40


    Remember this: our hope in God isn't just a wish or a dream, but a sure confidence that what God says will happen. Every other hope will disappoint. Every other hope will come up short. God is the one who never fails, he never leaves us, and he never forsakes us.Main Points:1. Today, I ask you to let the Word of God penetrate the dark place in your soul. Let the light of God's truth illuminate your situation. If you feel hopelessness, despair, discouragement, or depression, receive this Word from the Lord.2. Just because you can't see him, it doesn't mean God is not at work in your life. Just because you don't recognize it at the moment, it doesn't mean there is no way out. Just because you don't feel him, it doesn't mean the Lord is not with you. 3. Discouragement, despair, and hopelessness are not God's will for your life. Let his truth fill your heart and mind. Meditate on His Word. Let God restore your hope.Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 34:17-19 - “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”Psalm 113:4-5 - “For the Lord is high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens. Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high?”Matthew 19:26 - “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”1 John 4:16 - “ We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”Psalm 25:3 - “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Evening Prayer

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 9:52


    Psalm 119:105-112 Psalm 16 Philippians 2:6-11 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Night Prayer

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 5:05


    Psalm 4 Psalm 134 Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Office of Readings

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 11:54


    Psalm 105 Isaiah 21:6-12 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Invitatory

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 1:55


    Psalm 95 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Daytime Prayer

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 5:45


    Psalm 119:33-40 Psalm 34 Isaiah 4:3 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    Pray Station Portable
    PSP Sat 12/6/25 - Morning Prayer

    Pray Station Portable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 8:36


    Psalm 119:145-152 Exodus 15:1-4a,8-13,17-18 Psalm 117 Isaiah 11:1-2 Prayer Requests to psp@sqpn.com

    P.S.A Podcast
    Social Media and You: How Online Habits Are Rewiring Our Mental Health Feat. William Sharpe

    P.S.A Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 51:43 Transcription Available


    Season 9 continues with a brand-new six-part series, Social Media and You, and Izzy Baker kicks it off on Thanksgiving Day with a conversation that hits home for anyone navigating digital life in 2025. From therapy misconceptions to doomscrolling addiction, Izzy opens the series with licensed professional counselor William Sharp, known online as With the Therapist, to explore the real link between social media and mental health. This one isn't just about apps — it's about attention, identity, and the hidden ways the online world is shaping how we think, feel, and believe. Izzy begins with humor and honesty, setting the tone for a Thanksgiving special that's as relatable as it is revealing.The meme of the week reads: “After being on social media… how's your mental health?” That question drives the episode as Izzy and Will unpack why therapy isn't just “paid advice,” why so many people — especially Black men — still resist counseling, and how misunderstanding therapy keeps communities stuck in cycles of burnout and emotional isolation. Drawing from Angel Reese and Monaleo's viral conversation about therapy, Izzy challenges the myth that “therapists tell you what you want to hear,” and instead highlights how real therapy forces us to confront the truths we've been avoiding.The discussion quickly widens into the bigger picture — how the digital world has become both a tool and a trap. Izzy and Will take a hard look at the rise of AI therapy tools like ChatGPT, the increasing dependence on digital validation, and how men are using online spaces to process pain in unhealthy ways. Will offers professional insight into why comparison culture hits men differently, explaining how purpose, work, and emotional restraint collide under the pressure of social media. Together, they explore what it means to live authentically when your highlight reel becomes your identity — and why so many “high-functioning” men are thriving online while quietly unraveling offline. In the Happy Hour segment, Izzy addresses one of the most controversial trends of the year — using chatbots as substitutes for therapy — and asks the hard question:At what point are we replacing God with technology? Drawing from Matthew 6:22 and Psalm 101:3, he warns listeners about guarding their eye gates and ear gates, breaking down how overstimulation, gossip algorithms, and endless “self-help” content can distort spiritual and emotional clarity. Will adds balance with practical strategies, from setting social media cut-off times to fasting from digital noise to refocus on purpose. The conversation turns deeply personal as the two men share how they've had to guard their peace as both content creators and counselors. Izzy opens up about his own struggles with distraction, comparison, and the temptation to overwork in the name of “purpose.”Will responds with a message on fasting, boundaries, and the freedom that comes from stepping away — even temporarily — to reclaim your mind. They both challenge listeners to examine how much control their phones really have, and to ask: Do you own your feed, or does it own you? By the time the Weekly Sabbatical arrives, the tone turns spiritual. Izzy reads from a reflection on Proverbs 4:20–22, reminding listeners that “what you watch, hear, and meditate on becomes either life or poison to your body.”He connects the scripture to modern habits — the endless scrolling, the comparison traps, and the way entertainment can quietly erode discipline and joy. The challenge of the week is simple but piercing: Do you need a social media fast — and if so, when's the last time you took one? As Thanksgiving unfolds, Izzy leaves the audience with a reminder that gratitude and presence matter more than performance. You don't have to post your plate to prove you're enjoying your blessings. You just have to live them.Listen. Reflect. And don't be afraid to join the conversation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.TrustBuilder Package

    Crosswalk.com Devotional
    When God Seems Distant

    Crosswalk.com Devotional

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 7:14


    Loneliness and spiritual distance spike during busy or painful seasons, but God hasn’t moved—our focus often has. Cindi McMenamin unpacks spiritual closeness, biblical community, and peace over loneliness through Hebrews 10:25, offering practical resets for reconnecting to God’s voice and His people. The first two sentences intentionally spotlight top keywords like God seems distant, biblical encouragement, and Hebrews 10 community for better discoverability. Highlights When God feels far, check the direction of your heart before checking the volume of His voice. Belief knows about God; obedience walks toward Him. Worry works like noise-canceling headphones… but the cheap kind with static. God’s Word and Jesus aren’t separate subscriptions—they’re the same plan. Avoiding community with believers often amplifies loneliness, not peace. Encouragement is a two-way street, and we all need construction cones in busy months. Closeness to God grows with intentional daily choices, not seasonal luck. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: When God Seems Distant By Cindi McMenamin Bible Reading:“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:25 NLT Are there days when you feel lonely and you wonder why? Isn’t God supposed to always be with you? Didn’t He promise in Hebrews 13:5 that He’d never leave His people? So why do you still feel lonely? Often, we are tempted to say, “God’s not speaking to me. He’s become distant.” But in reality, you and I are the ones who stopped talking to, stopped listening, or moved further away from Him. God promises us in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from His love, so if you feel like God is distant, perhaps it’s a result of one or more of these three scenarios: You might not be following Him closely. When we are merely believers, but not obedient followers of Jesus, the abundant life Jesus promised us in John 10:10 is not ours and this can result in feeling anxious, uncertain, and lonely. Through a lack of obedience to God or misplaced priorities, we can hold back the blessings He has for those who fully surrender to Him. It’s possible to possess a head knowledge of God (in which we know what we’re supposed to do and not to do), without engaging our hearts and loving Him with all that we are. That’s when we become stuck between the now and the not yet. We live in the now of the difficulties of life on our own and have not yet experienced the joys and blessings of a life fully surrendered to Him. In the now, you may have an understanding that there’s a God and you’ll be held accountable to Him. But you don’t yet have enough of an understanding of Him, or passion for Him, to pursue a closer relationship with Him that will lead to the fulfillment you seek. You might be worrying and not clinging to His Word. Mark 4:19 tells us the worries of this world choke the Word’s fruitfulness in our lives. If we claim God’s not talking to us through His Word, it’s possible we are worriers and our worrisome thoughts and anxieties are drowning out God’s voice. Don’t underestimate the importance of being in God’s Word regularly in order to grow closer to Jesus and to keep from sin (worry is just one sin among many). Psalm 119:9 asks: “How can a [person] keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word” (NASB). To live in close relationship with God is to embrace Jesus and His Word because Jesus is defined in John 1:1 as the Word. To accept Him is to accept His Word. To love Him is to love His Word. To obey Him and abide in (or dwell closely with) Him, is to obey and abide in His Word. God’s Word is for us today just as much as Jesus is for us today. We can’t separate the two or claim we want Jesus, but His Word is no longer relevant. Abiding in His Word is not optional for the follower of Christ, it’s essential. You might be avoiding other believers. Ignoring God’s commands in His Word, harboring sin in our lives, or avoiding community with other Christ-followers can also lead to feelings of loneliness. In Psalm 25, David asked God to turn to him and be gracious to him because he was lonely and afflicted. David prayed, “Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins” (verses 16-18). David acknowledged a direct correlation between sin in his life and the loneliness he experienced—likely from a separation from God’s people. (While sin itself doesn’t separate us from God’s presence, we often voluntarily separate ourselves from God’s people when we’re in sin.) David ended his song with these words: “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you” (verse 21). David knew that the key to personal fulfillment and even God’s protection was that he maintain integrity and uprightness and keep his hope firmly in the Lord. Integrity and uprightness can put us in a place where we experience less loneliness. And we can live with integrity when we embrace God’s Word and welcome the fellowship and accountability of God’s people. Intersecting Faith & Life: Do you need to set your heart on growing in your love relationship with God? Do you need to get into His Word so you will know Him more fully and He will be more than just a belief system? Or do you need to connect with a local church and become more closely intertwined with other believers? God is waiting for you to leave behind your loneliness and experience His presence—and His people—once again. Lord, I realize You are not the One who distances Yourself. Help me to get back into Your Word and into the places where Your people gather. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Further Reading: Romans 8:38-39. For more on overcoming your loneliness, see Cindi’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    The Lion Within Us - Leadership for Christian Men 
    616. Stewardship Over Vanity - Fun Friday

    The Lion Within Us - Leadership for Christian Men 

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 14:19 Transcription Available


    Send us a textWhat if the gap between where you are and the leader God is calling you to be could be bridged by a few simple, repeatable habits? We explore how delighting in God reshapes desire, why exercise is a form of stewardship, and how short, consistent family devotions can transform the culture of your home. Anchored in Psalm 37:4, we reframe spiritual growth from a Sunday-only activity to a daily rhythm that actually forms character.Ever think, “I'm just a guy… what real difference can I make?” You're not alone. But God isn't looking for perfect men — just obedient ones. Our I'm Just a Guy Bible study on YouVersion has helped 20,000+ men see how God uses ordinary guys to do extraordinary things.Check it out at thelionwithin.us/youversion or search The Lion Within Us directly in the Bible app.It's time to stop sitting on the sidelines.Step into the fight and become the man God called you to be. Join a brotherhood built on truth, strength, and action. Visit thelionwithin.us right now and start leading with boldness and purpose. Iron sharpens iron — let's go.

    Morning Offering with Fr. Kirby
    December 5, 2025 | Why Heaven Will Never Bore You (Psalm 27 Explained)

    Morning Offering with Fr. Kirby

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 4:46


    Father Brad reveals why heaven isn't “eternal boredom” but the deepest joy your soul was created for.Morning Offering, December 5, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

    MoneyWise on Oneplace.com
    How Spiritual Practices Can Transform Your Investing with Tim Macready

    MoneyWise on Oneplace.com

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 24:57


    We check the markets often—but how often do we check our hearts? Most of us approach investing with calculators, not character. Yet Scripture calls us to a deeper way. What if investing isn't just a financial activity but a spiritual practice—one that shapes who we're becoming?Tim McCready, Head of Global Advisory at BrightLight (part of the Eversource Wealth Advisors team), has been helping both Kingdom Advisors and FaithFi develop a theological framework for investing that aligns our portfolios—and our hearts—with God's purposes. His recent work explores how timeless spiritual disciplines can transform how believers think about investing.Why Investing Requires a Spiritual LensTim begins with Jesus' words in Matthew 6: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That's not just a warning—it's an insight into spiritual formation.“Our investment decisions aren't just a reflection of faithfulness,” Tim says. “They're shaping who we're becoming as we seek to be like Jesus.”When we invite God into our investment decisions, investing becomes more than strategy—it becomes worship. It becomes one more place where we ask God to form us into faithful stewards.The Ignatian Prayer of Examen—For InvestorsOne of the most compelling ideas Tim introduces is applying the historic Ignatian prayer of examen to our portfolios.For centuries, believers have ended their day with this reflective practice—examining God's presence, confessing sin, noticing grace, and preparing for tomorrow.Tim suggests: What if investors practiced something similar?Rather than viewing portfolios strictly through analysis or performance, the examen helps us approach them with discernment, surrender, and spiritual attentiveness.Step One: GratitudeGratitude quiets the noise and recenters us on God's generosity. Before looking at performance or market movements, Tim encourages investors to pause and thank God for His provision.It might sound something like:“Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts You've entrusted to me—including my investment portfolio. Speak to me about my stewardship, challenge me, and remind me of Your faithfulness as I draw near to You.”Gratitude reframes everything. It reminds us that portfolios are gifts to steward—not trophies to admire nor securities to cling to.Step Two: ReviewJust as the daily examen invites believers to review their day, the investing examen invites us to review each line of our portfolio with prayerful reflection.This simple discipline lifts our eyes beyond numbers to the impact our investments have on people, communities, and the world.As Tim notes, “We may find both joy and conviction—joy where God is pleased, and invitation where He's calling us to change.”Step Three: Repentance and RenewalThis is where the examen moves from reflection to transformation.Perhaps we discover that we've placed too much security in our portfolio. Perhaps a certain investment feels misaligned with God's desires. Perhaps God prompts us toward greater generosity.Repentance helps us acknowledge these areas honestly—and renewal invites us to receive God's forgiveness and step forward in faith.A simple prayer might be:“Gracious Provider, rule over every part of my life, including my investments. Forgive me for trusting wealth over You. Give me courage to act where You lead, and joy in following Your plan for my life.”This step reorients our trust away from the market and back toward the One who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10)Step Four: Community and AccountabilityThough investing can feel private, it was never meant to be isolated.We grow best in community. Sharing a budget or portfolio with a trusted friend or mentor is humbling—but powerful. Accountability exposes blind spots, clarifies values, and encourages faithfulness.Whether through a small group, a stewardship class, or a community like the FaithFi app, transparency invites God's wisdom through God's people.Step Five: Fasting from Market NoiseWe live in an era of constant market updates, by the day, hour, and minute. Tim points out that this flood of data gives the illusion of control while feeding anxiety.A spiritual practice of “fasting” from market noise—checking less often, turning off notifications, stepping back from constant updates—helps us rest in God's provision instead of reacting to every market swing.Jesus' question echoes here: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) Or, as Tim puts it, “add a single cent to your portfolio?”Step Six: ServiceSpiritually formed investors naturally turn outward. Financial experience is a gift meant to serve others—whether through mentoring, teaching budgeting, serving on a church finance committee, or helping younger believers develop healthy habits.Service transforms stewardship from something we manage to something we multiply.A Holistic Vision of Faithful InvestingWhen we bring together gratitude, review, repentance, community, fasting, and service, we begin to see investing not as a sterile financial exercise but as a rhythm of worship.“Investing is faithfulness,” Tim reminds us. “It forms us. It shapes us as disciples. A biblical approach to investing isn't measured only by returns, but by spiritual formation.”In other words, investing becomes a way to follow Jesus. A biblical worldview of investing doesn't start with performance—it begins with the heart. When we invite God into our investing, He uses even financial decisions to form us into the likeness of Christ.May our portfolios—and our hearts—reflect the One who has entrusted everything to us.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I worked hard to raise my credit score to about 730, but a miscommunication with my student loan led to a late payment and brought it down to 548. The issue is fixed, and the account is current, but my score is still low. How long will it take to recover if I keep making on-time payments?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    A Morning at the Office - an Episcopal Morning Prayer Podcast

    Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 16, 17, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Amos 5:1-17, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 10, New Testament: Jude 1-16, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 18, Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

    psalm advent logo friday morning gospel matthew mtr old testament amos wiley ammons officiant mtr
    Verse by Verse
    It's Good to Know That You Don't Know (Psalm 119:96)

    Verse by Verse

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 5:31


    David Johnson discusses Psalm 119:96—“I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.”

    Our Daily Rhythm
    December 5 | Psalm 21

    Our Daily Rhythm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 15:21


    December 5 | Psalm 21 by Christ Covenant

    An Evening at Prayer - an Episcopal Evening Prayer Podcast

    Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 22, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Amos 5:1-17, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 13, New Testament: Jude 1-16, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Second Canticle: 17, Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

    psalm advent logo friday evening gospel matthew mtr old testament amos wiley ammons laura ammons
    A WORD for This Day
    December 5, 2025 - Isaiah 12:5 - Cumulative Episode 1434 (339 for 2025)

    A WORD for This Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 24:06


    Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners Isaiah's exhortation to "Praise Yahweh in song, for He has done majestic things"Scripture References: Isaiah 12:5; Isaiah 1:1-20; Isaiah 6:1-8; Isaiah 12:1-5; Psalm 145:1-7; Psalm 147:1-11 Scripture translation used is the Legacy Standard Bible.  “Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.comFIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishafferCHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  JOIN DR. JORI IN DEVOTIONAL JOURNALING IN 2025Check out this 9 min YouTube Video outlining her journaling strategy! Don't Forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/lqe9TO7RSz4 BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com  Support the show

    Empty Nest Guests
    65. A Heart for Eternity With Janet and Dan Hellige (The Legacy Coalition)

    Empty Nest Guests

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 32:26


    A Heart for Eternity With Janet and Dan Hellige The Legacy CoalitionListen in as Charlotte, Janet and Dan talk about what it means for us as empty nesters to have a heart for eternity and to pass that yearning on to our children and grandchildren.Dan is the new CEO of The Legacy Coalition, a Christian grandparenting ministry. He and Janet have five children and seven grandchildren and a heart for what it means to parent and grandchildren with intention and the love of Christ.March 19 - 21, 2026, in Stonebriar, Texas, is the Legacy Coalition's Grandparenting Summit in Frisco, Texas. It's the only national conference on grandparenting. This year's theme, "A Heart for Eternity" invites us to invest our time, energy, and resources in what lasts. Because what we do now impacts not only our children and grandchildren, but untold generations to come. It's a wonderful opportunity to invest in your grandchildren's forever and to grow deeper in Christ as a couple as you do. At the summit you will receive wisdom, find hope, and learn from incredible speakers and breakout presenters. There will be a resource center, offering tools to help your grandparenting journey. And it's also uplifting to gather with other Christian grandparents who want to build their spiritual legacy. There is comfort in community!Janet and Dan encourage others to "be the gospel." There is much to learn from the Helliges, at the grandparenting summit and as you listen to this conversation. Thanks for sharing your time with us!To learn more about The Legacy Coalition and the Grandparenting Summit, click here.To reach Charlotte, click hereWhat the Bible says about aging, grandparenting and leaving a legacy:Job 12:12 - " Is not wisdom found from among the aged? Does not long-life bring understanding?"Psalm 178:6 - "May you live to see your children's children..."Proverbs 13:22 - "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children..."Proverbs 17:6 - "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."Isaiah 46:4 - "Even to your old age and hairs, I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

    Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
    My mother's favorite verse s30e101 Ps46:10

    Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 7:11 Transcription Available


    Here it is: Be still and know that I am God.I think this would be my mother's favorite verse.  It was one of the first passages she underlined in her bible. She's passed from this world now, so she really now knows that He is God! Meantime, for us we can be still and know some truths in Psalm 46.Join me and my mother today.https://youtu.be/asL_FfGmw7E

    Youth BiOY
    Day 339: God's Purpose for You

    Youth BiOY

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 13:20


    Psalm 139:1-10, Daniel 12:1–3, 1 John 5:1-20. In addition, God's *general will* for all of us is revealed in the Bible In the passages for today we see what God wants for you and for everyone

    Praying Through Scripture with Christina Hannan
    Surrounded by Love | Psalm 32:10

    Praying Through Scripture with Christina Hannan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 2:01


    "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord." Psalm 32:10

    Mourning Glory Grief Podcast
    S5 E13 Accompaniment in Grief with Dr. Abby Jorgensen

    Mourning Glory Grief Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 59:39


    *TRIGGER WARNINGThis episode discusses sensitive topics including loss through miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Certain portions of the episode might prove too graphic for some listeners.ShownotesIn this week's episode, Jennifer has a conversation with bereavement doula and sociologist, Dr. Abby Jorgensen to discuss the challenges faced by both lay people and the Church when it comes to discussing this difficult topic. She also provides clarity on an end of life doula vs. grief doula (loss of child) and what it is like to accompany someone in the grief work she does through her ministry, Haven Bereavement Doulas. Our GuestDr. Abby Jorgensen is a Catholic sociologist, doula, and assistant professor at Saint Louis University, where she specializes in the intersections of pregnancy, grief, and faith. She is the author of A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss (Ave Maria Press, 2024), a compassionate and practical resource rooted in faith and informed by both research and lived experience. In addition to her academic work, she is a certified birth and bereavement doula and the founder of Haven Bereavement Doulas. Find more about the work of Dr. Abby Jorgensen at: https://catholicbereavementdoula.com, or on social media at Abby the Sociologist Doula.ScripturePsalm 34:18John 19:34LinksHaven Bereavement DoulasSt. Gianna Beretta Molla St. Raymond NonnatusDouble effect - St. Thomas' theologyPrayer for the souls of Mandy, Mary Ellen, Sister Mary Sharon, Dick, and JackJournaling QuestionsWhat stood out to you from this episode or resonated strongly with you? Take some time to reflect on the scripture verse Abby mentioned, Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” How does it make you feel, thinking about the idea that the Lord is close to us when we are brokenhearted? Does it bring you comfort? Was there anything you found yourself relating to in terms of the responses you've received from others, including clergy, as it relates to your loss?Have you ever sought out someone to help you on your grief journey? Did you have trouble finding someone?What is something that surprised you to learn about the work of a grief doula?Abby spoke about the misconceptions she had about St. Gianna Beretta Molla and how, after gaining a better understanding of her journey to sainthood, St, Gianna has become a friend to her. Are there any saints who you have found who bring you comfort and you ask to intercede on your behalf?What is your mourning glory?We hope you enjoy this episode of the Mourning Glory Podcast and share it with others who are on a journey through grief. You can find links to all of our episodes including a link to our brand new private online community on our website at www.mourningglorypodcast.com. 

    Encouraging Christians
    Frustrated Out Of Your Mind

    Encouraging Christians

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 4:45


    Do you want to be blessed? Are you enjoying prosperity? Are you following the principles of God's Word laid out in Psalm 1? Or Christian, are you Frustrated Out Of Your Mind because you seek blessings and prosperity but they keep eluding you. Get on the right path and stop getting your counsel from the world.

    Daily Prayer from Forward Movement
    Friday Morning, 1st week of Advent

    Daily Prayer from Forward Movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 13:41


    Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 16, 17, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Amos 5:1-17, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 10, Second Canticle: 18, Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14, Mtr. Lisa Meirow

    psalm advent friday morning gospel matthew mtr old testament amos wiley ammons officiant mtr
    The One Year Bible Tour Guide
    December 5, 2025 - The One Year Bible Tour Guide

    The One Year Bible Tour Guide

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2025 32:12


    DECEMBER 5 - TODAY'S READING FROM THE ONE YEAR BIBLE- HOSEA 1:1 – 3:5; 1 JOHN 5:1-21; PSALM 124:1-8; PROVERBS 29:5-8   Commentary written and read by Pastor David K. MacAdam Like and subscribe to the One Year Bible Tour Guide this year and sign up to receive the written commentary to follow along with at www.newlife.org

    Catholic Answers Live
    #12487 Are Laypeople Supposed to Raise Their Hands During the Our Father? AMA - Tom Nash

    Catholic Answers Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025


    “Are laypeople supposed to raise their hands during the Our Father?” This question opens a discussion on the practices of the Mass, alongside inquiries about the role of saints in intercession, the meaning of almsgiving in Sirach 3:30, and how to reconcile personal distrust in the Church while seeking to return. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:58 – Are we supposed to raise our hands or hold hands during the Our Father as Mass? 15:38 – I notice people specifically ask saints to heal or protect them, not God. It’s off-putting. Can they do other things apart from interceding? 23:10 – In Sirach 3:30 it says that almsgiving atones sin. What does that mean? 24:50 – How do I reconcile my distrust for the Church? I want to return but I'm conflicted. 45:20 – I'm a Christian and a minority. How do you deal with people who tell me I should convert because their religion is better? 50:34 – I get frustrated when the choir sings and adjusts the responsorial Psalm. What would you recommend I do?

    An Evening at Prayer - an Episcopal Evening Prayer Podcast
    Thursday Evening, 1st week of Advent

    An Evening at Prayer - an Episcopal Evening Prayer Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 16:13


    Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 18:21-50, Laura Ammons, Old Testament: Amos 4:6-13, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 11, New Testament: 2 Peter 3:11-18, Andrew Armond, Second Canticle: 15, Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

    psalm advent new testament logo thursday evening gospel matthew mtr old testament amos wiley ammons andrew armond laura ammons
    Sermons - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
    Advent: Preparing for the Journey with Christ

    Sermons - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2025


    Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of the new Church Year. It is the first Sunday of our annual journey through Jesus's life, from his birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension, on to Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and then sent them, and us, as the Body of Christ out into the world to be Christ's loving hands and heart. We go through this journey of the first part of Jesus's life so we can pattern our own lives on his and better be the Body of Christ. The first steps of this journey more properly belong on Christmas, when we celebrate his birth. That is when his life began, after all. So what are we doing in Advent? Why is this the start of the new Church Year?This short four-Sunday season of Advent, which is three and a half weeks this year, is a season of preparation for the journey. It is always wise to prepare for any journey. We need to get our tickets, line up our lodging, pack our bags, throw in a couple of changes of clothes and any medication, find a good book to read, and anything else we might need for a successful trip. Whether this journey is a hike or a car ride, a train trip or airplane flight, or a boat voyage, we also need to throw in our pack some good snacks to keep us well nourished.Of course, our liturgical journey, our journey with Christ through his life, is not literal. It is a spiritual journey, and Advent is a time to prepare spiritually. While the preparations we do in Advent are things like getting the Christmas tree up and trimmed, hanging the lights, baking the cookies, wrapping the presents and so forth, Advent is also, and I would suggest more importantly, a time for us to fill our spiritual baggage with all that we need for this journey through Jesus's life, to prepare our souls to grow with Christ this year.One of the items that Advent gives us to throw into our pack for the journey is some rich and meaningful Scripture readings. There are certainly some great Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels, like we heard today, but I encourage you to pay extra close attention this season to the first reading from Isaiah every week. We will hear from Isaiah every week of Advent this year. Make sure that you pack those readings into your luggage.Isaiah lived in a time of great despair, and a time of great hope. These two things are not opposites. They are related to each other. I recently read a book on hope by a Korean-German philosopher, Byung-Chul Han, in which he argues that despair and hope go hand in hand like a mountain and a valley. They need each other, they create each other. The deeper the despair, the higher the hope we can have.Isaiah lived in a time in which everything that he and his people thought about the world, their identity as a people, and their relationship to God had been uprooted. The temple, the center of their faith, was destroyed, and the people were sent to live in exile. This was the time the Psalmist would say we hung up our harps and wept. Into this time, God sent Isaiah for two purposes: to explain what happened and why they were living in this great despair, and to offer them hope. The explanation that Isaiah and almost all of the prophets gave for why they were in this situation, is pretty straightforward. They failed in the twin commandments to love God and love neighbor. These two commands are linked in creation, for where does the image of God reside but in your neighbor. As Genesis teaches us, every single person is made in God's image. They had failed to worship God, and equally failed to honor the image of God in others. Their failures were especially acute around those who were suffering, the poor, the widow, the orphan, and many more.And yet, Isaiah was also sent to offer hope. Out of the deepest despair can come the highest hope. They need each other, they create each other. And boy, did Isaiah have some lofty hopes that he shared in the depths of this despair. Like in today's reading where Isaiah shows us God's dream of peace in which the swords are turned into plowshares and the spears into pruning hooks. War doesn't just end in this vision, but the weapons of war are transformed into tools of agriculture. That which once took life now gives life. The heights of these hopes can reveal the depths of the despair, and throughout the weeks ahead we will see how deep the despair was when we hear some of the wild visions of hope that Isaiah had. We will hear of God's dream of vegetarian lions, and Isaiah will share about the predator and the prey resting peacefully in each other's presence. It is a radical transformation of this world's order.We will hear of the miraculous healing of people, and the transformation of barren landscapes from death into life. And we will hear of leaders who are not strong and mighty, but gentle and lowly like children. In fact, we will hear of one Child in particular whom we have come to understand and to know as the one humbly born in a stable and placed in a manger among the straw and the animals. Born to more than lead us, he was born to nourish us with his very body in a holy and divine life.While this dream, this vision, this hope is partially realized in the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, it does not take much looking around to realize that it has not been fully realized. We still live far from the dream. But the thing about hope is that it is like dawn, the period every morning when the sun hasn't yet risen, but the light is beginning to peek up over the horizon. Hope looks to the horizon and sees the light that precedes the sun's rise.I used to run a lot, but I'm out of the habit, although Ryan is working hard to get me back into it. But back in the day when I used to run a lot, my favorite time to run was early in the morning, starting while it was still dark before dawn, then running through dawn until the sun rose. Often a line from Psalm 57 was repeating in my head like a mantra, “wake up my spirit, awake, lute and harp. I myself will waken the dawn.” Dawn is a beautiful anticipatory moment of what could be when the day isn't quite here, and it holds all of the day's potential. For me, running at dawn was a great moment of hope, a moment of what a full, complete, and thriving life could be.How much more is Isaiah's great vision? A dawn not of the daily return of the light radiating from our solar system's star, the sun, but the dawn from the light of Christ, and the peaceable Kingdom that it illuminates. Isaiah offers hope to us by sharing God's dream of what this world could be like. He shares his hope out of the depths of his people's deepest despair, and continues to share that hope with the depths of our despair today. Even if it feels like the entire world has been turned upside down, our identity destroyed, and our relationship and understanding of God has been shaken, there is still hope. And hope opens the imagination to see new possibilities.So get ready for Advent. Get ready for this Advent, my friends. Prepare yourself for the journey. Pack your bags, and don't forget to throw in Isaiah's vision of God's dream into your pack. You will want to read, learn, mark, and inwardly digest it as we go on this journey with Christ. As you more fully pattern your life on His this year, you can help waken the dawn and move one step closer to that moment of the realization of the hope of God's dream.AMEN.