Podcasts about psalmist

Morning Offering, September 21, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Company https://bit.ly/3SYq4AgDiscover how the five-part structure of Matthew's Gospel echoes the Torah and presents Jesus as the new Moses who fulfills God's promises.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 20, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Company https://bit.ly/4is8jUjHealth or sickness, wealth or poverty, honor or dishonor, St. Ignatius challenges us to seek not simply what feels better, but what leads us toward the purpose for which we were created.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 19, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4riWXEwCatholic teaching says the body and soul separate at death, but the body still matters because God ultimately promises the resurrection and glorification of the whole human person.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 18, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4AdcDwQFrom shipwrecks and beatings to martyrdom, Father Brad reflects on why St. Paul's willingness to suffer gives powerful moral weight to his proclamation of the Resurrection.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 17, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4cHaPlPFairy tales and myths aren't merely childhood escapes, but stories that can form the imagination to recognize deeper truths about humanity, creation, and God.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 16, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4xTkzBUYou can be talented, knowledgeable, and spiritually gifted, but St. Paul reminds us that without love, even extraordinary gifts lose their meaning.Every 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)________________

by Elder Chris McCool, pastor (preached on September 6, 2026) Today we continue in our sermon series on “one thing” as seen in Scripture. When we paused the message yesterday, we were learning about the “one thing” David the Psalmist declared that he desired of God: to dwell in God’s house forever. He didn’t make...

Morning Offering, September 15, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/3UvzweGWhen someone is hurting, they may not need easy answers, and Father Brad reflects on the importance of accompanying people in their pain while holding onto genuine Christian hope.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 14, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4cjBKE4On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Father Brad explains why Catholics look upon the crucifix and how Scripture points from Moses' serpent in the desert to Christ lifted up on the Cross.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 13, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/3Sxwru5From the Book of Sirach to the Our Father, Scripture reveals that receiving God's mercy cannot be separated from learning to forgive those who have hurt us.Every 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)________________

Psalm 19:7–11 sets forth the perfections and benefits of special revelation — God's word — as the counterpart to the general revelation explored in verses 1–6. This exposition works through the six descriptive titles David assigns to Scripture (law, testimony, statutes, commandment, fear, judgments), the corresponding attributes attached to each, and the practical effects they produce in the soul of the one who meditates on them. Main points: - the perfections of the word of God as set forth in the six titles and their attributes - the benefits of the word — its effects on the soul, the heart, and the eyes - the response the word calls forth — desire for it above gold, warning heeded, and prayerful dependence on God Scripture references: - Psalms 19:1-14; 29; 119 - Romans 10:4; 10:18 Free Grace Baptist Church — https://www.freegrace.ca Full transcript & sermon notes: https://sermons.freegrace.ca/sermons/sermon-psalm-19-the-psalmists-contemplation-on-the-revelation-2 Description generated by Tyrannus.ai: https://www.tyrannus.ai

Psalm 19:7–11 sets forth the perfections and benefits of special revelation — God's word — as the counterpart to the general revelation explored in verses 1–6. This exposition works through the six descriptive titles David assigns to Scripture (law, testimony, statutes, commandment, fear, judgments), the corresponding attributes attached to each, and the practical effects they produce in the soul of the one who meditates on them. Main points: - the perfections of the word of God as set forth in the six titles and their attributes - the benefits of the word — its effects on the soul, the heart, and the eyes - the response the word calls forth — desire for it above gold, warning heeded, and prayerful dependence on God Scripture references: - Psalms 19:1-14; 29; 119 - Romans 10:4; 10:18 Free Grace Baptist Church — https://www.freegrace.ca Full transcript & sermon notes: https://sermons.freegrace.ca/sermons/sermon-psalm-19-the-psalmists-contemplation-on-the-revelation-2 Description generated by Tyrannus.ai: https://www.tyrannus.ai

God's Word talks about the harvest of righteousness – and if you've ever lived in a farming community you'll know that harvest time is a time of huge celebration. So this harvest of righteousness – it's not just empty words, it's a big deal.   The Fruit of Righteousness One of the things that we do in this world – particularly, let me say, in the West – is that we get hooked on junk food. Pretty much, most people need three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some don't get that of course, and others skip meals because they're too busy to eat. And in between meals we like to have little snacks and often the snacks we consume can be our undoing. Instead of healthy snack of a banana or an apple or an orange, we go for the chocolate bar or the doughnut or the packet of chips or something equally unhealthy. Of course, one of those every now and then, no problem but if those are the things that we snack on most of the time, they are going to make us sick and tired, literally. I've done that a few times in my life and each time I have eventually come to my senses and replaced those unhealthy snacks with healthy ones, well, at first it seemed like a real burden to give up the junk food snacks, but within a day or two, here's what happens: 1. What I found is that I rediscover how wonderful fruit tastes: a sweet mandarin, a juicy orange, a crisp apple, a ripe banana. They are fantastic. What a surprise! 2. Within just a few days, I am feeling much healthier: more energy, more alert, a spring in my step. The fruit, as it turns out, is good for us in so many different ways. Last week on the programme we were chatting about reaping the harvest of righteousness and we saw that God's righteousness is two things: it's both bad news and good news. Bad news because He is righteousness and we are not and eventually that brings His wrath crashing down on our heads and good news because He knows that, which is why He sent us Jesus Christ His Son to save us. Now we are going to talk about the bad news and the good news a bit more next week on the programme but right now we are going to look at the fruit, good, healthy, life-giving fruit. As I mentioned just earlier, making the transition from bad eating habits to good eating habits, at the time always seems … well, it feels like we are making a sacrifice, giving up the sweet chocolate bars and the fatty chips. It's never fun making that choice and starting on the journey towards healthy eating. But not only is the fruit really, really nice, it yields fruit in our life. We feel better; we have more energy, right? We know that and it's the same with sin and righteousness. When we are addicted to some sin – we all have one or two sins that we are predisposed to – it seems like such a sacrifice giving them up, it really does, even though they are not good for us; even though they are hurting us. And often times God helps us by sending us through a rough patch; by disappointing us, so that we can learn for ourselves the impact that our sin is having so that we can feel the pain and have the opportunity to let go of the sin and turn back to Him. Have a listen to what the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament has to say about this. Hebrews chapter 12, beginning at verse 5. If you have a Bible come there with me. He writes: And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children— 'My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and he chastises every child whom he accepts.' Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline, in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, when we had human parents to discipline us, we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." You know what he is saying? No pain, no gain, right? And in a sense, that's what is going on here. So often, we're travelling through tough times and we don't take the time to read the signs. We squeal in pain, "Oh God, why is this happening to me?" and we don't stop to hear His answer. Often times the reason it's happening because God is at work in our lives and leaving the sin behind is hard, our flesh is addicted to it. It's like a heroin addict leaving the drug behind. It's hard, it hurts. And God lets it happen to us because He loves us; because He knows that the peaceful fruit of righteousness is so worth the effort and the pain. Can we just talk about that fruit for a moment? Can we talk about the harvest; the gain that comes out of the pain? Because it's like the real fruit that I was talking about before – it is fantastic. When we are wallowing around in our sin, well, you know, that affects our lives. Someone who is living constantly in sin of anger is going to have a rotten life, right? Someone who is labouring under the yoke of unforgiveness is going to have a rotten life. Someone who hasn't learned to sacrifice and to love is having unhealthy, tragic relationships. The list of cause and effect goes on! And most times we don't even notice them. We don't stop to think about the sin – the cause – and the effect that it's having on our lives. I use this word "sin" deliberately, as much as it jars with many people because it's what God calls our rebellion. It means literally to "miss the mark; to miss the whole point; to miss out on our share". And that's what we are doing when we are rebelling against God. We are missing out on the goodness, just like when we are stuffing our faces full of unhealthy food, we are missing out on energy and well-being that should be going on in our lives. But when we allow God's discipline – through the difficult and often painful circumstances we are travelling through – be the tool that helps us let go of the sin; the tool that shows us the pain and helps us to the heart decision of letting go and turning back to Him, then here's what's going to happen: just like giving up junk food snacks, it's not going to be a pleasant start. It always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time but the peaceful fruit of righteousness, well, it's kind of like that sense of well-being and vibrancy and energy that we get when we ditch the junk food in favour of the good stuff – the fruit. I just want to encourage you that sometimes the tough patches are God's polishing cloth in our lives. And the sin He's putting His finger on right now is actually ruining our lives. It's robbing you and me of the peaceful fruit of righteousness that He wants us to live in day by day. So we can struggle and squirm and fight God. The problem is, the longer we do that, the longer He will keep us in that uncomfortable place. Or we can go to Him, ask Him to show us what He is doing and let go of that sin quickly. Yes, even though it never seems pleasant at the time, more likely painful and the sooner we get with His plan; the sooner we will be living in the peaceful fruit of righteousness. What do you think?   The Harvest of Righteousness I remember when I was in my last year of High School – quite a few years ago now – I travelled to a country town to teach the clarinet at a music camp during the school holidays. And I had the opportunity to stay for a week on a farm. Now, this was a large property and they farmed many thousands of sheep – thousands of them. It was quite an experience for a young guy because I'm a city boy. I had spent all my time growing up in an industrial city so I had never really thought too much about, well, where things come from – milk, after all, came in bottles, eggs come in cartons, meat comes from the butchers and so on. You don't really think too much about it when you live in the city, so spending this week on the sheep farm was the most amazing experience. We had the opportunity to help dip the sheep, so you had to pick them up and throw them down the shoot so they ended up in a trough full of sheep dip – it was back breaking work. And for a lad who had never really thought too much about where lamb chops came from, other than from the butchers, it was a real eye opener. Farming is hard work. Ever since then I have had the greatest respect for farmers. And not only is it hard work but pretty much they only get their income once or twice a year. And that happens when they take what they have grown - whether that be a crop like wheat or sheep or cattle for slaughter or wool for clothing – when they take what they have grown to market. It happens at harvest time. But of course there are many things that can interrupt the harvest: drought, flood, fire, a plague of locusts, diseases in animals. And even when there is a bumper crop, often as a result of the abundance, the prices the farmer gets at market are going to plummet. So it's a tough life and that week on the sheep farm has given me a deep, abiding respect for farmers and their families. But there is something else, another lasting legacy that this week on the farm, as a young lad, has left with me and that's an appreciation of the tough reality of farming on one hand and the sense of jubilation of a successful harvest on the other. See we city slickers hear this word "harvest" and it really doesn't mean too much to us. It kind of washes by. But harvest time is the culmination of the farmer's work. It's the time of reaping the reward. A successful harvest brings great joy and a sense of accomplishment and relief and safety and provision, not just for the farming families, but in fact, for the whole community. That's what "harvest" means, so when the Bible talks about "harvest" that's the sense of what's going on. And remember back then in the first century, there was no welfare or Government assistance or anything like that. If the harvest failed, people starved and it's still like that in many parts of the world today. Suffice to say, what I am trying to get to here, is the fact that the 'harvest' is a big deal – it's a huge deal. If you live in a rural community, you already know that but it's not something that's necessarily that obvious to us city slickers. So when the Apostle Paul writes to his dear friends in Philippi about this harvest of righteousness, he is saying something big. Philippians chapter 1, beginning at verse 9: And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and the praise of God. Interesting that he begins his point about this harvest of righteousness with a four letter word "love"! His prayer for his dear friends in Philippi is that their love would overflow more and more because it's in this flood-tide of God's love, which works its way out in our love for one another, that we gain the knowledge and develop the insight to know what God's best is for us. And living out His best isn't always the easiest thing to do, as we have seen over the course of these last few weeks. Living out God's best requires sacrifice and it hurts a lot of times but when our heart is soaked in God's love; when lives are about overflowing more and more with the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, then in that place, with that humility, with that surrender and sacrifice, we gain the knowledge of God and the insights of God which transform us into His image which help us to live out the righteousness we already have; the right standing we have with Him because of our faith in Jesus who died to pay for our sin and rose again to give us a brand new life; an abundant life; an eternal life. And friends, that is the thing: the love of God at work in us, that produces what? It produces the harvest – big word that – the harvest of righteousness, which comes to us through Jesus and brings glory and praise and honour to God. When Jesus was asked, "What's the most important commandment of all?" He answered Luke chapter 10, verse 27: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbour as yourself. Love is the most important thing of all. As Paul wrote some years on, in Romans chapter 13, verse 10: Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. We have kind of been conditioned to believe that love is all about romance and feeling good and … well, sure, those are a couple of aspects of love but that's not the sort of love that both of these passages talk about. The original Greek word for "love" here is "agape", which means "unconditional love" – faithful love that never ends and never fails – the sort of love that costs us a lot and often appears to deliver very little at the time. It's that sort of love and it doesn't matter how talented or gifted we are, if we don't have this sort of love, then in God's eyes we are nothing but a noisy gong or a clanging symbol. Gifts and abilities and talents without this sacrificial faithful love, are completely worthless. That's what it says in First Corinthians chapter 13. Now I know in my own life there have been times that have been so trying and testing, when people have been difficult and unhelpful and hurtful – those times and those places never feel good and yet it is in those times and places that the Word of God has done its greatest work in me. I thank God that early on in my walk with Him, He established in me a pattern of regular Bible reading because it's in those difficult periods that God's Word has done His greatest and mightiest works in me. And it's still like that today. Friends, in the most difficult times of our lives we can experience this harvest of righteousness, or as it is written elsewhere in the Book of Hebrews, "the peaceful fruit of righteousness", because as we persist in doing good; in honouring God; in living out the relationship and right standing – that righteousness, purchased for us by Jesus as He took the punishment of our sin on Himself on that cross – as we live that out we discover God Himself. Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God. Matthew chapter 5, verse 8. And that, my friend, is exactly what happens. God draws us ever nearer to Him through the righteousness that He imparted to us through Jesus and the righteousness that He now brings to life in our new lives in Christ. The righteousness that we live out, little by little, He restores us back into His image through the trials of life. That's the harvest – God Himself, and like every harvest, it's a big deal. I mean really!   Where Do You Get It? I hope that as we have been chatting today, it's starting to sink in that it's all about the harvest; it's all about the fruit. God didn't just send Jesus to save us from an eternity separated from Him, He also sent His Son to buy us a new life, here and now. Now I know so many people who believe in Jesus but aren't growing into that new life. I was speaking with someone recently who had been involved in a large survey across a major denomination of God's church and one of the questions that people had been asked was whether, given their involvement in this church, they felt that they were growing spiritually. You know what? Only thirty percent answered "yes" – the rest, seventy percent, answered "no". So here I am, rabbiting on about a new life, the fruit of righteousness, the harvest of righteousness but you have to ask yourself, if that's what God's Word says; if that's what God promises, where do you get it? How do you and I reap the harvest and become part of the thirty percent, rather that the seventy percent who don't? My favourite Psalm, well, it's hard to have just one favourite Psalm, isn't it? But my FAVOURITE Psalm is Psalm number 1. Have a listen with me because it's about growing fruit, Psalm 1, verse 1. If you have a Bible, come there with me: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams, which yield their fruit in season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. I love this because it's a piece of wisdom on how to bear fruit. It's a piece of wisdom on how to succeed - not in the world's sense, but in God's sense. It's a piece of wisdom to stop us from withering under the heat and pressures of life. What's the Psalmist saying? Let's get a grip! Keep living out your old life; this life of sin and it ain't going to work out so well. In the second part of the Psalm which we haven't read so far, it says exactly that. But you want to be happy and blessed? Then don't do that old stuff. Don't go and "follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers" – don't do that! Instead, delight yourself in the Word of God. Meditate on what God has to say, day and night. And when you do that, you know what it's like? It's like a tree being planted right next to a waterway. In fact, the word that used there for "streams of water" literally means "an irrigation channel" – a stream of water that's deliberately been put there to help the tree to grow good fruit. It's like planting yourself next to one of those. Meditate on what God has to say, day and night and you are going to flourish – you are going to bear fruit; you are not going to wither and die when it gets too hot out there. The Word of God is like clean, living, fresh water – drink that in. Be planted right next to that and you won't be able to help it. You are just going to bear fruit in season. The Apostle Paul reiterates that in his letter to the Colossians in the New Testament. Colossians chapter 1, beginning at verse 9. He says this: For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. Do you see that? Fruit is linked to knowledge: knowing God, knowing His truth, knowing Him deeply. And it only comes through the Word of God, drinking it in; letting the fresh, living water of His Spirit and His Word fill us, so that we grow – not like the majority of Christians who aren't growing – that we grow and bear fruit for God's glory. It only happens when we grow in our knowledge of God. It does not happen when we wander out there in the wilderness; when we are happy to follow the advice of the wicked or take the path the sinner treads or sit in the seat of scoffers. Do you see what an anathema that is to God? Do you see how opposite that is to the knowledge of God? Whenever the Bible talks about knowing God, be it in the Old Testament or the New Testament, whenever it talks about that, it doesn't talk about head knowledge, it talks about knowing God; the fruit is linked to knowing God. The fruit comes from putting our roots deep down in that living water – the Spirit of God and the Word of God – and drinking that in. That's what happens when we grow in our knowledge of God – we bear fruit. Not academic knowledge, not head knowledge, not dry knowledge, not the sort of knowledge that helps you pass an exam – it's a relational knowledge; a deep intimate life knowledge of God that causes us to bear fruit, friend and that's where we get it. Not by working harder, not by trying to fulfil a whole bunch of rules, not by anything else, except developing a dynamic relationship with Jesus and we do that through His Spirit and His Word. That's where we get the fruit. That's where we get the harvest of righteousness. And that's why some people are growing spiritually and bearing fruit and others aren't because some have a deep relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit and His Word and others don't. It's pretty simple really. It's not rocket science. And the choice there ... the choice is for each one of us. Friend, so many Christians go to church; they listen to the sermon, they come home and they never think about it, they never open their Bible and they wonder why their lives aren't bearing fruit. Friend, the choice is for each one of us. It's up to me in my life and let me be really clear; it's up to you in your life.

Morning Offering, September 12, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/4clGl8OThe Eucharist is deeply connected to communion, unity, and Christ's sacrifice as Father Brad reflects on what it means to become participants at the altar.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 11, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/3UsHCoqGovernments, communities, and laws can promote the common good, but Father Brad reflects on why the deepest transformation of the human heart ultimately requires turning toward God.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 10, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/46wDWEQAn action may not be sinful in itself, but St. Paul challenges Christians to consider whether exercising that freedom could scandalize another believer or contribute to their fall.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 9, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/4x230P4Whether people praise you or criticize you, Father Brad reflects on asking God for the grace to remain faithful to Christ instead of allowing public opinion to determine your path.Every 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)________________

Have you ever felt so alone and oppressed that you thought God had abandoned you? The Psalmist cries of living in shame even though he has not forgotten God. There are times in our lives when hope for relief seem to be dissolving as they drift away from us. We search our hearts to see we still trust in the pain of unwarranted shame. In that trust, we remind God of His unfailing love – a love that heals and restores. That changes everything. Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us. Contributors: Elizabeth Ames-McCrimmon, Michelle DeChant, Nancy Holland, and Adam Maddock

Morning Offering, September 8, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/4xwywWrFrom Mary's birthday to the names surrounding Christ's genealogy, Father Brad explores our deep human desire to know the people and stories that connect us across generations.Every 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)________________

Hold on to your praise, even in your darkest seasons. Drawing from the story of Paul and Silas in prison, this message reveals how worship isn't a reflection of our current circumstances, but a declaration of God's unchanging faithfulness. When we choose to praise God in the middle of pain, we invite His presence into our struggle and turn our deepest trials into a testimony for others. If you've just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: http://ele.vc/tIepfr Scripture References: Acts 16, verses 23-34 – Paul and Silas imprisoned Psalm 77, verse 6 – Psalmist remembers his song in the night Revelation 4, verse 11 – Elders declare God worthy of glory, honor, power Colossians 3, verse 16 – Word of Christ dwells through psalms and songs Exodus 14, verse 31 – Israel fears the Lord after Egypt's defeat Exodus 15, verses 1-2 – Moses and Israel sing the Lord is their strength Exodus 15, verses 20-21 – Miriam leads women with tambourines and dancing Psalm 118, verses 14, 17 – The Lord is my strength, I shall live Mark 14, verse 26 – Jesus and disciples sing a hymn before Gethsemane  

Hold on to your praise, even in your darkest seasons. Drawing from the story of Paul and Silas in prison, this message reveals how worship isn't a reflection of our current circumstances, but a declaration of God's unchanging faithfulness. When we choose to praise God in the middle of pain, we invite His presence into our struggle and turn our deepest trials into a testimony for others. If you've just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: http://ele.vc/tIepfr Scripture References: Acts 16, verses 23-34 – Paul and Silas imprisoned Psalm 77, verse 6 – Psalmist remembers his song in the night Revelation 4, verse 11 – Elders declare God worthy of glory, honor, power Colossians 3, verse 16 – Word of Christ dwells through psalms and songs Exodus 14, verse 31 – Israel fears the Lord after Egypt's defeat Exodus 15, verses 1-2 – Moses and Israel sing the Lord is their strength Exodus 15, verses 20-21 – Miriam leads women with tambourines and dancing Psalm 118, verses 14, 17 – The Lord is my strength, I shall live Mark 14, verse 26 – Jesus and disciples sing a hymn before Gethsemane  

Morning Offering, September 7, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/4iDrTNhWhy does the Catholic Church sometimes impose serious penalties? Father Brad explains how discipline can seek repentance, protect the faithful, restore justice, and prevent scandal.Every 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)________________

The Psalmist reminds us that no matter how we feel and what we see, God will keep us safe and secure. It is in His presence we can see the truth of our situation. He shows us the way and in His faithful care of us we are rescued. Don't be afraid. Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us. Contributors: Elizabeth Ames-McCrimmon, Michelle DeChant, Nancy Holland, and Adam Maddock

Hold on to your praise, even in your darkest seasons. Drawing from the story of Paul and Silas in prison, this message reveals how worship isn’t a reflection of our current circumstances, but a declaration of God’s unchanging faithfulness. When we choose to praise God in the middle of pain, we invite His presence into our struggle and turn our deepest trials into a testimony for others.If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: http://ele.vc/tIepfrScripture References:Acts 16, verses 23-34 – Paul and Silas imprisonedPsalm 77, verse 6 – Psalmist remembers his song in the nightRevelation 4, verse 11 – Elders declare God worthy of glory, honor, powerColossians 3, verse 16 – Word of Christ dwells through psalms and songsExodus 14, verse 31 – Israel fears the Lord after Egypt's defeatExodus 15, verses 1-2 – Moses and Israel sing the Lord is their strengthExodus 15, verses 20-21 – Miriam leads women with tambourines and dancingPsalm 118, verses 14, 17 – The Lord is my strength, I shall liveMark 14, verse 26 – Jesus and disciples sing a hymn before GethsemaneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morning Offering, September 6, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.com https://bit.ly/3UOcdghWhether you're a parent, priest, bishop, pastor, or civic leader, true authority requires the meekness to control yourself rather than simply controlling the people entrusted to you.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 5, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/3V3tq5nFather Brad shares a story about Mother Teresa's challenge to “find your own Calcutta” by serving the sick, lonely, unwanted, and forgotten people already around us.Every 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)________________

The Wonderful Works of God Will Stueve Download Psalm 111,Praise the Lord!I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! My family and I have noticed an abundance of large spiders around, and occasionally, to our horror, inside our house recently.There's a reason for this… apparently, August and September mark “peak spider season” in Minnesota, as adult spiders reach their full size after feeding all summer, and as the morning dew makes their webs more visible to us…In 1723, the great theologian Jonathan Edwards wrote about this in his treatise “Of Insects and Spiders.” In this short letter, Edwards marvels at the wise design of God the Creator as he considers the complex behaviors of the “flying spiders” common in New England. As he considers the complex design of their webs, how they can seemingly support themselves in mid-air… He says,“We hence see the exuberant goodness of the Creator, who hath not only provided for all the necessities [of spiders], but also for the pleasure and recreation of all sorts of creatures, and even the insects and those that are most despicable.”Whereas Edwards studied spiders with delight and saw them as an opportunity to praise God, my only thought when I see a spider is to kill it as fast as humanly possible…The point is: The wonderful works of God are all around us if we have eyes to see. And that's what this sermon is about.Psalm 111 is about the wonderful works of God. More specifically, the big question from our text this morning is: What makes God's works so great?In this sermon, I want to answer that question by showing you three truths about the works of God.God's works demand our praise.God's works reveal his character.God's works teach us to fear him.1. God's works demand our praise.Look with me again at verse 1 of our psalm:“Praise the Lord!I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”The psalmist resolves to praise God with his whole heart and publicly. And right off the bat, this first verse convicted me as I prepared this past week. How often do I praise the Lord with half of my heart, and not my whole heart? Have I ever truly praised God with my whole heart?These were convicting questions for me this week. It made Psalm 86:11 come alive for me… as the Psalmist prays, “unite my heart to fear your name.”So that I may praise you not with half my heart, but with my whole heart.Oh, to have a congregation, this whole church filled with whole-hearted worshipers, so captivated by God's glory… so in awe of his wonderful works, that they are moved to praise him with their entire being. That's what the psalmist envisions for us here.I can remember when my wife and I came to Cities Church for the first time. We were captivated by this building. When I walked in, I could not help but say, “Wow!” The huge wooden beams holding up the towering ceilings. The beautiful stone steeple. And the colorful stained-glass windows. Look around for a second! This place was designed and built by man. That's amazing!This building is truly a wonderful work of art, a feat of human engineering, and we rightly admire its beauty. How much more should we admire the wonderful works of God?!Get this: The man who designed this building… God made him. God designed him and gave him every breath of his life… And that is true of each and every one of us in this room.By a miracle of God's hand, our hearts are beating with blood, our lungs are filled with air, and this earth is still rotating around the sun! Hebrews 1 says that Jesus Christ “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Meaning, if Jesus were to snap his fingers, you and I would cease to exist in an instant.Every breath we take, and every moment we continue to exist is due solely to the mercy of God.Whether we consider that, or the intricate machinery inside every cell in our bodies to the vast reaches of the Milky Way galaxy and billions of galaxies beyond ours. God's wonderful works are all around us in creation and give us countless reasons to praise him! So be an admirer of God's works in creation…Thank God for the breath you just took!Like Edwards, consider the complex web of the spider… God made that!Consider how the honey bee gets nectar from the flower… God designed that!Consider the beauty of the night sky… and marvel at the Creator of it all.The theme of our whole lives should be verse 2…“Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.”The works of Yahweh are to be studied. Literally, the Hebrew word ‘darash' means “to seek out.”We are to study, to diligently seek out the works of the LORD anddelight in them. We should be awe-struck admirers of God's works in creation, and we should be eager students of God's word.The Bible is the works of God written. The works of God written for us. God wrote a book. And we ought to read it, and study it with delight, and meditate on it all the day!At a chosen time each day,Read the Bible while you may,Do not start until you pray,Ask, “What does this passage say?”Look for Him who is the Way,Find a lesson for today,Pray once more, and go your way.May we be a people that eagerly studies and delights in the works of God in nature and in Scripture for his works demand our praise.Look with me at verses 3-6“Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.”This brings us to part two.2. God's works reveal His character.This is a basic point. What you do reveals who you are. Your works reveal your character. The character of a good student is revealed by their long hours of study. The character of a good parent is revealed by the love and attention they give to their children.And likewise,the righteous character of God is revealed by the splendor and majesty of his work. And we must press on to know the character of God through his works. Why? Why is that important?Well, we cannot truly love what we don't know. Am I a good husband to my wife if I know literally nothing about her? If I make no effort to learn about her, her hobbies, her interests…?So too with God!We cannot love God very well if we know nothing about him! And make no effort to learn about him!And if the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart then we must press on to know God's character. And we see God's character on display in these verses.Particularly, on the heels of Psalm 110: I believe these verses are celebrating the Greater Exodus, the Greater Provision, and the Greater Conquest of the Melchizedekian Priest-King who is David's Lord.Verse 4 says that God's works reveal that he is gracious and merciful.This refers to the Exodus… Where God reveals his glory to Moses and says,“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”And we know that God's righteousness, grace, and mercy is seen most clearly in the greater Exodus of the cross of Christ. The Israelites were delivered from the tyranny of Pharoah and we as New Covenant Christians are delivered from the tyranny of sin and Satan.Verse 5 tells us that God provides food for those who fear him, which calls to mind the manna he provided for his people in the Wilderness.And God's provision is seen more clearly in the greater manna, Jesus himself who says, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”Lastly, verse 6: “He has shown his people the power of his works,in giving them the inheritance of the nations.”This, of course, refers to the conquest of the promised land under Joshua.We see God's power in our greater Joshua. Jesus is the greater Joshua… the conquering Warrior-King of Psalm 110, leading his people to a new Promised Land in the New Heavens and the New Earth.We must know that God's perfect grace, mercy, provision, and power is sufficient to meet all of our needs…If you are broken over sin… if you have failed… rest in God's mercy and grace today.If you are anxious about your life… are you not of more value than a sparrow? Trust the God who provides!If you see chaos in the world around you, remember God's power. That right now he is ruling and reigning over all nations for his glorious purposes!God's works demand our praise; they reveal his character, and point three…3. God's works teach us to fear Him.Look at verses 7-8, and notice how God's works and God's words are put in parallel here,“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.”God is trustworthy, and so everything he says (his precepts, his words) are trustworthy. In other words, you can stake your life upon God's words!And verse 8 says that because God's word is trustworthy, we are to obey him faithfully and uprightly.The psalmist continues in verses 9-10,“He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!”From the very beginning, after humanity fell into sin, God has promised redemption… And the whole story of the Bible, through God's covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David… all culminate in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.“God sent his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).Those who reject Christ will be separated from God forever. But those who receive Christ are given the right to become children of God. Forgiven of all their sin, and given new hearts to obey God with joy. This is beautifully prophesied in Jeremiah 32:40, which says, “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”In the new covenant, God puts the fear of him in our hearts, so that we do not turn away from him! What a promise! Has God done that in your life? Do you fear God? What does it mean to fear God?Proverbs 3 says that to fear the LORD is to turn away from evil.Psalm 112:1 says that the blessed man fears the Lord and greatly delights in his commandments.But I think our church's mission statement also helps us here: Cities Church exists to make joyful disciples of Jesus who remember his realness in all of life.I think that's a good definition of the fear of the Lord. To fear the Lord is to remember his realness in all of life. Do you remember God's realness in all of life? Has God put the fear of him in your heart? Do his wonderful works cause you to marvel in awe at him? When you hear the good news of the gospel, does your soul cry out, “Holy and awesome is his name!”?If that is not true of you this morning, ask God to change your heart. Ask him to put the fear of the LORD in your heart today.Because, as verse 10 says,“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;”This is crucial for us to get. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom… Not one helpful tip … Not one thing to tack on to the Christian life… but the beginning of wisdom… the foundation of the good life.Meaning, if you are not basing your life upon the reality of who God is as your Creator, and what he has done as our Redeemer, then you are a fool! If God is not the central reality of your life, then whatever you are building in your life is a straw-house doomed to fail.Jesus says,“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”Or as Psalm 111 puts it,“Those who practice [the fear of the LORD] have a good understanding.”So as we close here, I want us all to reflect on this question: Where do I need to grow in practicing the fear of the LORD? In your home, in church, at work, at school. What would it look like for you to remember the realness of Jesus in all of life?God's works are indeed wonderful.They demand our praise.They reveal his character.And they teach us to fear him.His praise endures forever!Let's pray.

Psalm 19:1–6 presents the created order as a continuous, universal declaration of God's glory — what theologians call general revelation. This exposition of the psalm's first movement examines how the heavens, the firmament, and the daily cycle of the sun testify to the Creator's existence and majesty, and what that testimony means for human accountability before God. Main points: - the fact of general revelation — the heavens declare God's glory - the scope of general revelation — its voice goes to the ends of the earth - the character of general revelation — the sun as a picture of the reach and power of God's self-disclosure Scripture references: - Psalm 19:1-6 - Romans 1:18-20 Free Grace Baptist Church — https://www.freegrace.ca Full transcript & sermon notes: https://sermons.freegrace.ca/sermons/sermon-psalm-19-the-psalmists-contemplation-on-the-revelation Description generated by Tyrannus.ai: https://www.tyrannus.ai

In Plato's Republic, he tells the Allegory of the Cave. In it, we are to imagine an underground world, where people are chained in a cave for their entire lives. They can only see shadows on the wall cast by a distant fire. In the lesson, Plato has Socrates ask his student Glaucon if the people who have been living all their lives chained in the cave would think the shadows are reality. The student replies ‘Yes.'  But then the wise teacher says: “Now imagine what would happen naturally if the prisoners were released from their shackles and cured of their ignorance. Right after they are released and suddenly forced to stand up, turn their necks around, walk, and look towards the light, these activities will cause them pain; because of the bright glare they would be unable to see those things which they previously had seen only as shadows. Now what do you think they would say if one were to tell them that what they saw before was fooling them, but that now, when they are closer to what really exists and when they face that which more truly exists, they see more clearly, in a straightforward manner? What if that person pointed to the objects as they passed and asked the former prisoners to tell him what they were? Don't you think they would be baffled and think that the shadows they formerly saw were truer than the objects that are now being pointed out to them?” The allegory goes on to discuss more deeply the path to discovering wisdom and virtue but I think it is a powerful picture of life as a Christian.  The Christian, once they have been given spiritual eyes to see, can no longer pretend that the shadow world of living for sin and pleasure and riches is actually life. Conversion is a radical discovery that what you thought was life was only the shadows. True life is found only when you are living in the reality of Christ and the heavenly world of gospel grace. In our study of the Wisdom Psalms, this week we are going to continue in Psalm 119:33-40. The sermon is entitled “Give Me Life!” Twice in this passage, the psalmist says “Give me life.” It is clear in the Bible that what often purports to be life is actually death and what actually seems like death to many is life.  How many people live their whole lives unaware that they no nothing of real life? How tempting is it for us to live in the old familiar shadows of a dark world that only casts reflections of the real life of God's Word. Wisdom is a God-given determination to live in the Real World… anything less is death.  Come this Sunday, as we listen to the Psalmist prayer asking to be lead forward into all that is Life. Let's learn together how to no longer live as we once did in the darkness of a world of sin and death. Let's seek real Life together in Christ. See you Sunday! Invite a friend.

Morning Offering, September 4, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/46wDE0IFrom baptism once being called “illumination” to confession being called reconciliation or penance, Father Brad shows how ancient Christian language reveals different dimensions of familiar Catholic realities.Every 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)________________

Not Righteous Professing Christians Are "Whitewashed Tombstones" - Pretty on the Outside but Dead on the Inside MESSAGE SUMMARY: A righteousness, that comes from your being in communion with the Holy Spirit, is not like a professing Christian who is really just a "whitewashed tombstone" -- pretty on the outside but dead on the inside. Rather, followers of Jesus are called to live righteous lives, as we are instructed by the Psalmist in Psalms 37:39: “The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.". Also, Paul tells us in Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'”. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.". In Matthew 5, Jesus tells us, as His followers, that we are different and blessed; and these blessings flow from your living a righteous life in Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to create in you a clean and pure heart.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge that I prefer to ignore and deny my pain and loss. I struggle with seeing how resurrection life can come out of death. Grant me the courage to pay attention to what you are doing, and to wait on you — even when everything in me wants to run away. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 114). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Insensitivity. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 5:1-48; Romans 1:17; Romans 2:13; Psalms 70a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Is Your Life's Focus on Jesus the Narrow Door and the Only Door to Your Eternal Life?”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Morning Offering, September 3, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/4qVmJhNFrom Daniel's fiery furnace to Christ the true High Priest, this reflection reminds us that worship isn't only for peaceful moments, but also for the times when we feel hemmed in on every side.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, September 2, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/4iE2piNWhat does childlike faith actually mean? Father Brad reflects on why Christians cannot build up the Church through their own strength but must learn to rely completely on God's grace.Every 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)________________

“Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” — Psalm 73:24 The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God's counsel should henceforth guide him. A […]

Morning Offering, September 1, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/4qL4ImhJesus didn't merely announce freedom for the oppressed; His ministry of healing and deliverance revealed that the promised work of God was already breaking into the world.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 31, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/459D8oUFather Brad reflects on St. Paul's words to the Corinthians and warns that powerful rhetoric and emotional persuasion should never replace the truth of Jesus Christ crucified.Every 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)________________

What can Torah teach us about anxiety, grief, resilience, shame—and the work of healing a shattered heart?On this episode of Search for Meaning, I sit down with Rabbi Dr. Tal Sessler, author of Torah for Mental Health: Jewish Wisdom for Psychological Growth. A rabbi, philosopher, spiritual counselor, and psychotherapist-in-training, Tal has spent his career exploring the intersection of Jewish wisdom, philosophy, and the human search for meaning.His new book begins with a striking Jewish idea: brokenness is not an aberration. According to the Kabbalistic teaching of shevirat ha-kelim—the breaking of the vessels—it is woven into the very fabric of creation. From there, Tal brings Torah into conversation with contemporary psychology, exploring Moses's despair, Jacob's wrestling, Joseph as a “wounded healer,” and the extraordinary human capacity for resilience and growth.We talk about what rabbis can learn from therapists—and therapists from rabbis; the difference between surviving trauma and growing through it; and whether faith and religious practice can actually help heal what the Psalmist calls the “shattered heart.”We also discuss a particularly moving connection between Tal and Rachel Goldberg-Polin. At the beginning of her memoir about her son Hersh, When We See You Again, she quotes three words from Tal: “Words are redemptive.” We explore what those words mean in the aftermath of unimaginable loss—and why telling our stories can itself become part of the work of healing.It's a conversation about brokenness and resilience, Torah and psychology, the power of language, and what Jewish wisdom can teach us about becoming more whole.Learn more about Tal at https://www.rabbisessler.com

Morning Offering, August 30, 2026 is brought to you by The Catholic Company https://bit.ly/4q0cOHnIf you're experiencing spiritual dryness, loneliness, or opposition, Psalm 63 shows us how to turn our suffering outward toward God instead of becoming trapped within ourselves.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 29, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4wJ6XZCYou don't need status, power, intelligence, or influence to be useful to God, because Scripture repeatedly shows Him working through ordinary people.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 28, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4gg4oYYAre rest and recreation really wasted time? Josef Pieper argues that true leisure frees us from constant productivity and opens us to beauty, culture, and God.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 27, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/3THacSDIf someone you love has walked away from the faith, St. Monica's prayers for St. Augustine remind us never to give up hope in God's power to bring a soul back to life.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 26, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4hOxFevFather Brad explores the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes before showing how the Dead Sea Scrolls transformed our understanding of Judaism, Scripture, and the world of Jesus.Every 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)________________

Is life just unrelenting drudgery? Sure, the Psalmist describes it as a "vale of tears". But that bitterness is routinely alleviated by sweet music, good food, tenderness, friendship, the delight of a clever plan coming together (thanks, George Peppard), tears of joy as well as of sorrow. Or at least there is in real life and in Homer's Odyssey. But there doesn't seem to be much (any?) of those things in Christopher Nolan's unrealistic screen adaptation of the famous epic. Jeff and Dave devoted three hours of their lives to seeing the movie, now they ask you to surrender one hour of yours to listen to their screed. Bottom line? Nolan's Odysseus is a flattened, unimaginative, perpetually depressed character. His Calypso is dull, unappealing, merely therapeutic. His Penelope merely regal, not her husband's witty match as in Homer. And the gods? Though frequently mentioned and referenced, and in the case of Zendaya's Athena occasionally seen, the movie would have been pretty much the same without them. In conclusion, despite the stunning visuals, despite the beautiful scenery, give us the shampoo commercial of Wolfgang Peterson's Troy. And don't even get us started on the music. Back to School coupon code for Dr. Noe's Greek and Latin classes : AUTUMN15.

Morning Offering, August 25, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4595teYFather Brad reflects on Jesus' warning to the Pharisees about obsessing over small religious details while neglecting the weightier demands of mercy, morality, and love.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 24, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4wHRIzRYour spiritual life may not have started perfectly, but St. Bartholomew reminds us that what ultimately matters is whether we faithfully finish the race.Every 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)________________

Have you ever experienced a season of absolute despair? A time when you wondered, “Will life ever get better?”Many of the writers of the Psalms of lament wondered the very same thing. They wrote from places of deep pain and despair—and maybe some of you can relate.This Sunday, we'll take a look at two Psalms: Psalm 88 and Psalm 89, read by Kelly Manker. At first glance, these Psalms can seem almost bipolar, but together, they represent the tension of the Christian life.We all go through chapters of life that feel like Psalm 88—chapters marked by absolute despair. Yet those moments don't invalidate the unfailing love and faithfulness of God that we see in Psalm 89.Join us as the Psalmist shows us that we can be honest with God about the struggles of life while also reminding us that His unfailing love meets us right there in the middle of them.After the message, we'll celebrate the unfailing love of God together through communion.--WebsiteFacebookInstagramSunday SetlistSunnybrook App (ios)Sunnybrook App (Google)Connect with us!How can we pray for you? Let us know.Giving

Morning Offering, August 23, 2026 is brought to you by Catholic Coffee https://bit.ly/4fSIBFjAre Church teachings restrictions on freedom? Discover how boundaries, like the walls around a playground, can create the security we need to truly flourish.Every 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)________________

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence.” ~Georg Simmel (1858-1918), German sociologist, philosopher, and critic “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”~Elizabeth Elliot (1926-2015), missionary, author, and speaker “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”~Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983), Dutch survivor of a Nazi death camp “The condition of the Psalmist's mind was complex—he feared, but that fear did not fill the whole area of his mind.... It is possible, then, for fear and faith to occupy the mind at the same moment. We are strange beings, and our experience in the divine life is stranger still. We are often in a twilight, where light and darkness are both present and it is hard to tell which predominates. It is a blessed fear which drives us to trust. Unregenerate fear drives from God, gracious fear drives to him.”~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London pastor “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.”~Reported to be the last words of Perpetua (c.182-c.203), a 22-year-old noblewoman and new mother, killed for her Christian faith in Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) “Loving God—really loving Him—means living out His commands no matter what the cost.”~Charles Colson (1931-2012), attorney, political advisor, convicted felon, advocate for prison reform, and midlife convert to Christ “…reason is not king in human beings, the heart is. Therefore, to change your actions, you must change your desires. But your desires will change, only if the Holy Spirit who wrote the Bible also writes his laws on your heart.”~John Ashley Null, theologian at Humboldt University Berlin and North African Bishop “The faith of the church must be tried by God's word, and not God's word by the church; neither yet my faith.”~Jane Grey (1537-1554), English noblewoman and very brief de facto monarch of EnglandSERMON PASSAGEPsalm 56 (ESV)To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;  all day long an attacker oppresses me;2 my enemies trample on me all day long,   for many attack me proudly.3 When I am afraid,   I put my trust in you.4 In God, whose word I praise,   in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.   What can flesh do to me? 5 All day long they injure my cause;   all their thoughts are against me for evil.6 They stir up strife, they lurk;   they watch my steps,   as they have waited for my life.7 For their crime will they escape?   In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 8 You have kept count of my tossings;   put my tears in your bottle.   Are they not in your book?9 Then my enemies will turn back    in the day when I call.   This I know, that God is for me.10 In God, whose word I praise,   in the Lord, whose word I praise,11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.   What can man do to me? 12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;   I will render thank offerings to you.13 For you have delivered my soul from death,   yes, my feet from falling,  that I may walk before God   in the light of life.1 Samuel 21 10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,         ‘Saul has struck down his thousands,          and David his ten thousands'?” 12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

Morning Offering, August 22, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.comhttps://bit.ly/4coXzSyWhy do Catholics call Mary the Queen of Heaven? The answer begins with Isaiah's prophecy, Jesus as the promised King, and the biblical role of the queen mother.Every 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)________________

Morning Offering, August 21, 2026 is brought to you by Rosary.comhttps://bit.ly/4q1dEUiFather Brad reflects on Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones to explain why Christianity sees the human person as a profound unity of body and soul.Every 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)________________