Podcasts about pure in heart

What if the most important kind of cleanliness has nothing to do with what's on the outside, but everything to do with what's happening in your heart?This week on The Connecting Podcast, Paul and Shelby explore Jesus' words, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” examining why we can't cleanse our own hearts and why our only hope for true purity is the cleansing grace of Jesus.For more episodes of The Connecting Podcast, visit PaulTripp.com/Connecting.

What if the most important kind of cleanliness has nothing to do with what's on the outside, but everything to do with what's happening in your heart?This week on The Connecting Podcast, Paul and Shelby explore Jesus' words, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” examining why we can't cleanse our own hearts and why our only hope for true purity is the cleansing grace of Jesus.For more episodes of The Connecting Podcast, visit PaulTripp.com/Connecting.

Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. God is a god of overflowing abundance and generosity. He gives liberally to all without discrimination. Now, if we struggle when we see the wicked prospering, we're not alone; the Psalmist also struggled with this at times (cf. Psalm 73). Of course, just because God causes the wicked to prosper for a time does not speak to how lightly He takes sin. Rather it speaks to how liberally He dispenses His grace. God is not a bitter god, constantly fuming to get His way and settle the score. Oh, God is just, and you can count on His justice being thorough and perfect (Exodus 34:7). But He is also patient and kind, longing for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). So, the kindness that He showers on the wicked does not speak to a failure of God's justice, but to the abounding nature of His grace (Romans 2:4-5). Jesus put it this way: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”~Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV) You see, such generosity of spirit is rare, because it generated only by the Spirit of God. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. Psalm 73 (ESV) 1 Truly God is good to Israel,    to those who are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,    my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death;    their bodies are fat and sleek.5 They are not in trouble as others are;    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6 Therefore pride is their necklace;    violence covers them as a garment.7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;    their hearts overflow with follies.8 They scoff and speak with malice;    loftily they threaten oppression.9  They set their mouths against the heavens,    and their tongue struts through the earth.10 Therefore his people turn back to them,    and find no fault in them.11 And they say, “How can God know?    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the wicked;    always at ease, they increase in riches.13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean    and washed my hands in innocence.14 For all the day long I have been stricken    and rebuked every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”    I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this,    it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;    then I discerned their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places;    you make them fall to ruin.19 How they are destroyed in a moment,    swept away utterly by terrors!20 Like a dream when one awakes,    O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21 When my soul was embittered,    when I was pricked in heart,22 I was brutish and ignorant;    I was like a beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;    you hold my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel,    and afterward you will receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you?    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail,    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28 But for me it is good to be near God;    I have made the Lord God my refuge,    that I may tell of all your works.

Today is Imposition Paper #2 - Scripture and Canonization. What is scripture and what is its role in Mormonism? This Imposition Paper seeks to reform the cultural perspective on revelation and canonization in hopes of creating a more healthy relationship with scripture and allowing necessary revisions as society progresses. Then we jump into the second book of Dallin Oaks, his most recent Learning the Great Fundamentals: Jesus Christ, Priesthood, and the Plan of Salvation. This is a compilation of his talks edited by two church employees. This will help us compare his rookie card, Pure in Heart, to his book published as he ascended to the mantle of prophet. Then we have happy green energy news coming out of Utah! Sword of Laman: Learning the Great Fundamentals: Jesus Christ, Priesthood, and the Plan of Salvation, by Dallin H Oaks    Happy News: https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2026/08/03/utah-sets-solar-power-record/   Accidental Medical Discoveries: How Tenacity and Pure Dumb Luck Changed the World, by Robert W. Winters   Other Appearances: Here's our latest episode with Chris Shelton on his series. Wahoo!  Speaking of Cults: Leaving Mormonism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFoTxm8xDnk    He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g  Show Links: Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social  Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking on "Store" here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com  Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10  

What we allow into our hearts shapes the lives and homes we build. Pastor Todd shares from Matthew 5:8 and challenges us to guard our hearts, pursue purity, and build homes centered on Christ.⛪️ To invest in the ministry of My Church Winnipeg and invest into the lives of others through giving click here: https://mychurchwinnipeg.ca/give

The promise of Jesus is remarkable: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Continuing our Enough series through the Beatitudes, this message explores what Jesus means by having a pure heart and why purity matters so deeply to our relationship with God. Biblical purity isn't simply about outward behavior or appearing to have it all together. It reaches into the heart—the center of our thoughts, desires, emotions, and will. The reality is that none of us have a naturally pure heart. Scripture is honest about the depth of our sin and our inability to make ourselves righteous. But that is where the good news of the gospel meets us. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are declared righteous by grace, not by our own efforts. Jesus' sacrifice makes forgiveness possible, and the Holy Spirit continues the work of making us more like Christ. This message is ultimately one of hope. God doesn't simply expose the condition of our hearts—He offers to transform them. Through Jesus, we can know God now and look forward to the day when we will see Him face to face. Sunday, August 9th, 2026 Speaker: Pastor Doug Rife Series: Enough: A Series on the Beatitudes How can we pray for you? - Text “PrayFW” to 94000 Giving - https://templefw.churchcenter.com/give/ Welcome to Temple Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. We exist to guide people to life change in Jesus Christ. For more information: https://www.templebaptistchurch.net/

By Troy Phelps - Speaker: Troy Phelps Date: 8/8/26 Continuing through the Beatitudes, this sermon examines what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to become merciful, and to be pure in heart. These teachings reveal Christ's call to a life of transformation—allowing God, through His Spirit, to shape our

You've listened to Neville's words. Now practice living from them. Join Unlock God Mode at unlockgodmode.org and begin a 30-day journey into state, assumption, self-concept, and conscious creation.  ------------------------ Start here: nevillegoddard.com – download Neville Goddard's most powerful book free and receive weekly insights to help you manifest.  ------------------------ NEW PODCAST: Follow the brand new Neville Goddard Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform. The Neville Goddard Podcast is dedicated to bringing Neville's timeless ideas into a modern, immersive format you can return to again and again. This is a modern faithful interpretation of Neville Goddard's most powerful teachings. Listen to Episode 1 on Spotify → Listen to Episode 1 on Apple Podcasts →   ---------Neville once said, “Assumption, if persisted in, will harden into fact.” That one truth is enough to change your life. The question is, how do you live from that place, day by day? That's exactly what Unlock God Mode was created to help you do.If you've been waiting for a sign to take Neville's teachings deeper and make them the rhythm of your daily life, this is it. Start your journey now: unlockgodmode.org. ---------The Pure in Heart (Neville Goddard, 1963 Lecture) ***Download the free Neville Goddard PDF Guide at manifestwithneville.com - Discover the transformative power of Neville Goddard's wisdom with this FREE 60-page guide on his 12 timeless principles of manifestation and reality creation.★ Follow the podcast for daily lectures from the mystic Neville Goddard ★FREE RESOURCES:• Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter• Join the FREE Telegram Channel• Feeling is the Secret • Full Audiobook* * *The James Xander Trip Podcast:• Listen on Spotify• Listen on Apple Podcasts• Listen on YouTubeDIVE DEEPER:• The Unlock God Mode Course• The Infinite Wealth Guided Meditation* * *ABOUT NEVILLE GODDARD:Neville Goddard (1905-1972), was an English writer, speaker and mystic. He grew up in Barbados and moved to the United States of America as a young adult. Neville Goddard was perhaps the last century's most intellectually substantive and charismatic purveyor of the philosophy generally called New Thought. He wrote more than ten books under the solitary pen name Neville, and was a popular speaker on metaphysical themes from the late 1930s until his death in 1972.Possessed of a self-educated and uncommonly sharp intellect, Neville espoused a spiritual vision that was bold and total: Everything you see and experience, including other people, is the result of your own thoughts and emotional states. Each of us dreams into existence an infinitude of realities and outcomes. When you realize this, Neville taught, you will discover yourself to be a slumbering branch of the Creator clothed in human form, and at the helm of limitless possibilities.Neville's thought system influenced a wide range of spiritual thinkers and writers, from bestselling author Dr. Joseph Murphy to Rhonda Byrne and Wayne Dyer.He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of readers around the world.* * *SOCIALS:• Neville Goddard Newsletter• Neville Goddard Telegram• Neville Goddard Instagram• Neville Goddard Threads• Neville Goddard Twitter• Neville Goddard YouTube* * *ABOUT THE COURSEUnlock God Mode is a transformative 30-day course designed to accelerate your journey towards greater wealth, love, and success through a deeper understanding and manipulation of your reality.  Comprising of 30 audio lessons, this course unfolds as a self-paced, introspective expedition into reality creation, aiding you in elevating your consciousness to what's referred to as the God Mode. Throughout this journey, practical tools will be provided daily to help enrich your life with more love, money, and success by altering your mental models and perceptions. This course combines theory and hands-on experience to create a unique deep dive into manifestation, consciousness, and reality creation. Join me on an extraordinary, 30-day adventure (1 lesson per day) and watch your reality transform. Begin the Unlock God Mode experience today »* * *Follow Neville Goddard on Telegram, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and YouTube.★ Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter ★» For the Neville Goddard listener: Access the 30-Day Unlock God Mode Program «----------

2026년 성경통독 시리즈 (Bible Reading Plan Series) 28 2026년 8월 9일 레븐교회 주일예배 설교 (박기범 목사) Text: 마태복음 (Matthew) 5:1-12 Title: "마태복음 (1): 천국의 복 Matthew (1): Blessed Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven" 마태복음 (Matthew) 5:1-12 [새번역/ESV] 1 예수께서 무리를 보시고, 산에 올라가 앉으시니, 제자들이 그에게 나아왔다. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 예수께서 입을 열어서 그들을 가르치셨다. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "마음이 가난한 사람은 복이 있다. 하늘 나라가 그들의 것이다. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 슬퍼하는 사람은 복이 있다. 하나님이 그들을 위로하실 것이다. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 온유한 사람은 복이 있다. 그들이 땅을 차지할 것이다. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 의에 주리고 목마른 사람은 복이 있다. 그들이 배부를 것이다. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 자비한 사람은 복이 있다. 하나님이 그들을 자비롭게 대하실 것이다. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 마음이 깨끗한 사람은 복이 있다. 그들이 하나님을 볼 것이다. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 평화를 이루는 사람은 복이 있다. 하나님이 그들을 자기의 자녀라고 부르실 것이다. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 의를 위하여 박해를 받은 사람은 복이 있다. 하늘 나라가 그들의 것이다. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 너희가 나 때문에 모욕을 당하고, 박해를 받고, 터무니없는 말로 온갖 비난을 받으면, 복이 있다. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 너희는 기뻐하고 즐거워하여라. 하늘에서 받을 너희의 상이 크기 때문이다. 너희보다 먼저 온 예언자들도 이와 같이 박해를 받았다." Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”Isaiah 6:3"Earth's crammed with heaven,And every common bush afire with God;But only he who sees takes off his shoes—The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries."Elizabeth Barrett Browining“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Matthew 5:8By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.Hebrews 11:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.John 1:3O Lord, how manifold are your works!    In wisdom have you made them all;    the earth is full of your creatures.Here is the sea, great and wide,    which teems with creatures innumerable,    living things both small and great.Psalm 104:24-25Colorado Picture*Fish Picture*GOD IS NOT HIDING HIMSELF FROM YOU.THE LIFE OF WONDERWonder: a feeling of awe or astonishment.2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”Isaiah 6:2-3Wonder is for the CHILDREN of God.At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 18:1-4God is better than you think.25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.John 21:25THE BARRIER TO WONDER24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”John 20:24-25The barrier to wonder is a heart that cannot see beyond physical sightWe are and remain such creeping Christians, because we look at ourselves and not at Christ; because we gaze at the marks of our own soiled feet, and the trail of our own defiled garments, instead of up at the snows of purity, whither the should of Christ is climbed.George Macdonald26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”John 20:26-27THE BRIDGE TO WONDERThe Bridge to Wonder is the eyes the heart being opened to see Jesus rightly.It is not His will that one of His little ones should perish and, therefore, He chases away unbelief, which is their deadliest foe. The Good Shepherd will leave the 99 to seek the one wanderer! If Thomas is the most unbelieving, Thomas shall have the most care! He is only one, but yet he is one, and the Lord Jesus will not lose one whom He has ordained to save!Charles Spurgeon27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”John 20:27THE RESPONSE TO WONDER28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28It had flashed upon the mind of Thomas that this august Person whom he had regarded as the Messiah was also God. He saw that the Man at whose feet he had sat was more than man and was assuredly God, and this amazed him so that he used broken speech. He does not say, “You are my Lord and my God,” as a man would say who is making a doctrinal statement, but he brings it out in fragments. He makes adoration of it.Charles Spurgeon27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.Colossians 1:27

Wherever you are today, this biblical meditation, narrated by Bonnie Curry, offers a quiet space to pause and reconnect with God. What does it mean to be pure in heart? Meditate on Matthew 5:8. Abide is a Christian meditation app that helps you experience peace and grow in your relationship with Christ through Scripture, prayer, and reflection. Try Abide free for 30 days and explore our premium, ad-free meditations here: https://abide.com/peace Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

"Blessed are the pure in heart" may be one of Jesus' most misunderstood teachings. What if purity isn't perfection, but wholeness? Let's get into it. Follow us on social media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viningslake Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viningslake TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@viningslake

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 73–80, where the psalmists wrestle with one of life's hardest questions: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while God's people suffer? Again and again, these psalms remind us to shift our perspective and remember one unchanging truth—God is still King.We begin with Psalm 73, where the psalmist honestly struggles with envy and discouragement before declaring, "But God..." We explore how God's presence becomes our true strength and examine connections between this psalm and the New Testament, including Jesus' words about the "pure in heart" and Paul's language of those who were once "far off" but have been brought near.As we move through Psalms 74–76, we see God revealed as the righteous Judge of both Israel and the nations. Though evil may seem to triumph for a season, these psalms proclaim that God will judge wickedness, remain faithful to His covenant, and ultimately receive worship from all peoples. Along the way, we notice recurring images of shepherds and sheep, reminding us that God continually cares for and leads His people.Psalms 77–80 repeatedly look back to Israel's history, especially the Exodus, to remind God's people of His faithfulness in the past. Even in seasons of doubt, when it feels as though God has forgotten His chesed—His steadfast covenant love—the psalmists choose to remember His mighty acts. We also discover why knowing the stories of Genesis through Samuel enriches our understanding of these songs, as the psalmists continually draw from Israel's history to strengthen hope in the present.Finally, Psalm 78 challenges every generation to pass on the story of God's faithfulness. Parents are called to teach their children God's works and His instruction so that the next generation will place its hope in Him. The section concludes with Psalm 80, where Israel is pictured as God's carefully tended vine and the people cry out for a faithful leader—a hope that ultimately points us forward to the coming Son of Man.Throughout these psalms, we see a consistent message: when life is confusing and evil seems to prevail, God's people remember who He is, what He has done, and confidently place their hope in the God who remains in control.If you want the FREE hand outs that go along with this series, sign up for our newsletter at our website. Our website is The Context and Color of the BibleWe are on Facebook - The Context and Color of the Bible | FacebookWe are on Instagram - @contextandcolorofthebibleWe are on YouTube - The Context and Color of the Bible - YouTubeMusic: Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabukLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does Jesus really mean when He says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God"?In this powerful message from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, we continue our journey through the Beatitudes by exploring one of Jesus' most challenging and hope-filled promises. A pure heart isn't about perfection - it's about having an undivided heart that is fully surrendered to God.If you've ever struggled with disappointment, bitterness, anxiety, cynicism, or feeling distant from God, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical steps to help you rediscover childlike wonder, heal from life's wounds, and recognize God's presence in your everyday life.Whether you're part of the Shepherdsville community or listening from anywhere in the world, this message will challenge you to examine what is shaping your heart and inspire you to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus.In this episode, you'll discover:What "pure in heart" actually means in Matthew 5:8Why Jesus cares more about the condition of your heart than outward appearancesHow to overcome a divided heart and grow in spiritual integrityThe difference between wisdom and cynicismPractical ways to guard your heart and experience God's presence dailyHow childlike faith helps us see God's goodness in ordinary momentsIf you're looking for a church in Shepherdsville, KY, biblical teaching rooted in Scripture, or encouragement for your walk with Christ, this episode is for you.Keywords: Shepherdsville KY church, Shepherdsville Kentucky sermon, Beatitudes Bible study, Matthew 5:8, Pure in Heart, Christian podcast, Kentucky church, Jesus' teachings, Sermon on the Mount, Christian living, faith, spiritual growth, Bible teaching, discipleship, seeing God, grace, mercy, Kingdom of God.

What does it mean to be pure in heart? What does it mean to see God? Pastor Vern takes us through another look of one of Jesus' famous blessings.

The Blessed Life According to the Son | Part 4Blessed are the Merciful and PureMatthew 4:17, 23-25, 5:1-8 | King's Chapel Live StreamWhat does a life transformed by the Gospel actually look like?As Jesus continues the Beatitudes, He reminds us that the blessed life is not something we earn. It is the life that grows in those who have already been made citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven through Christ.Because we have received God's mercy, we become people who show mercy. Because Christ has given us a new heart, we begin to live with an undivided devotion to Him.In this message, we explore what it means to be merciful toward those who are hurting, broken, and in need. Just as the Good Samaritan showed compassion to a stranger, Christians are called to reflect the mercy of Jesus by restoring dignity, extending kindness, and pointing others to the hope found in Christ.We also consider what Jesus means when He says, "Blessed are the pure in heart." A pure heart is not a perfect heart. It is a heart that has been made new by God's grace and is wholly devoted to Him. Through Christ, God replaces our hearts of stone with hearts that desire Him above everything else.The Beatitudes are not a list of qualifications for entering God's Kingdom. They are the beautiful evidence of what God is doing in the lives of those He has already redeemed.If you long to become more like Christ and to reflect His mercy in a divided world, this message points us back to the transforming power of the Gospel.Connect with King's Chapel in Longwood, FL - ▶️ www.kingschapelfl.com▶️ https://www.facebook.com/KingsChapelfl▶️ https://www.instagram.com/kingschapelfl/For the GLORY of our Great GodFor the GOOD of our NeighborMatthew 5:7-8 sermon, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes explained, mercy in the Bible, pure in heart meaning, Good Samaritan sermon, Christian discipleship, King's Chapel Longwood FL

Satchel Burton teaches on Matthew 5:8.

Purity of heart refers not only to God having cleansed our hearts. It's about having a heart with a singular focus, one that is wholly devoted to God and His will.But how? How can we have that focus when life is filled with seemingly endless distractions? Between streaming services, socials, and so much in life clamoring for our attention, how do we maintain hearts that have the right priorities?Today we explore the answers to those questions, as we turn to Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."(RAR2026EP31)

The Name Above Every Name Conference Two Guarding the Heart with the Name The Jesus Prayer and the Hidden Battle “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” — Proverbs 4:23 When we begin to pray the Jesus Prayer with any measure of faithfulness, we often encounter something unexpected. Rather than becoming peaceful, we become distracted. Rather than discovering silence, we discover noise. Rather than finding purity, we become painfully aware of the confusion within us. Many become discouraged at this point. They imagine they are failing. The Fathers tell us something very different. For the first time, we are beginning to see. The purpose of the Jesus Prayer is not merely to console us. It is to bring us into the light of Christ. And whenever light enters a darkened room, it reveals what has long been hidden. The heart is no different. The Jesus Prayer does not create our distractions. It uncovers them. It does not produce our passions. It reveals how deeply they have already taken root. This is why the beginning of prayer can feel more difficult than life before prayer. Grace has begun its work. ⸻⸻⸻ Archimandrite Zacharias often reminds us that God grants us His light gradually because He knows our weakness. If He were to reveal our heart all at once, we could not bear the sight. Instead, He teaches us gently. He uncovers one attachment. Then another. He exposes one fear. Then another. He reveals one hidden wound. Then another. Not to condemn us. But to heal us. This is the great difference between the accusation of the enemy and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. The enemy exposes in order to produce despair. Christ reveals in order to restore communion. The one drives us inward. The other draws us toward repentance. This distinction must never be forgotten. 2 ⸻⸻⸻ The Fathers speak constantly of watchfulness. This is not suspicion. It is not anxiety. It is not becoming preoccupied with ourselves. Watchfulness is simply the refusal to live asleep. Most of us spend our lives reacting. A word is spoken. A memory arises. An anxiety appears. A desire awakens. Without reflection we follow it. The Fathers ask us to pause. Not to analyze. Not to condemn. But to stand before Christ. The Jesus Prayer gradually creates this holy pause. Instead of immediately following every thought, we return to the Name. Again and again. Not violently. Not anxiously. Simply and quietly. 3 Like a child returning home. The Name becomes the place where the heart learns to remain. ⸻⸻⸻ One of the greatest misunderstandings of the Philokalia is the belief that thoughts themselves are the enemy. The Fathers never teach this. Thoughts come and go. Many arise without our consent. Temptation is not sin. Memories are not sin. Emotions are not sin. Even powerful images may arise without our choosing them. The hidden battle begins only when the heart gives consent. This is why the Fathers devote so much attention to freedom. Between the arising of a thought and our agreement with it there exists a sacred space. The Jesus Prayer enlarges that space. It restores our freedom. We are no longer carried wherever every thought wishes to lead us. We become capable of remaining with Christ. This is one of the greatest miracles of grace. ⸻⸻⸻ The enemy has always sought to scatter the human heart. 4 Our age makes this easier than ever. Never before have so many voices demanded our attention. Never before have we carried so much noise in our pockets. Never before have we been so easily distracted from the one thing necessary. The tragedy is not merely that we become distracted. It is that we gradually lose the capacity for recollection. We become strangers to our own hearts. The Jesus Prayer quietly gathers what has been scattered. Like a shepherd calling sheep from every hillside, the Name summons the fragments of our life back into unity. Thought by thought. Breath by breath. Day by day. The heart slowly becomes one. ⸻⸻⸻ This battle cannot be won by force. Many begin the spiritual life with enormous determination. They resolve to conquer every passion. To eliminate every distraction. To achieve uninterrupted prayer. Such zeal often ends in exhaustion. The Fathers counsel another way. 5 Humility. When distractions arise, we do not become angry. When thoughts return a hundred times, we return to Christ a hundred and one times. The victory lies less in never wandering than in always returning. The prayer itself teaches us this rhythm. Return. Remain. Return again. Eventually we discover that perseverance is stronger than intensity. ⸻⸻⸻ Archimandrite Zacharias repeatedly insists that humility attracts grace. This is why every sincere invocation of the Name weakens the dominion of pride. “Have mercy on me.” These words leave little room for self-sufficiency. They are the language of one who knows he cannot save himself. Strangely, this becomes the beginning of true freedom. Only the humble can receive help. Only the poor can receive riches. Only the empty can be filled. The Jesus Prayer continually places us in this blessed poverty. ⸻⸻⸻ 6 The hidden battle is therefore not primarily against demons. Nor is it first against thoughts. It is against forgetfulness. Adam forgot God. Israel forgot God. We forget God. Everything else follows from this forgetting. The Jesus Prayer becomes an act of remembrance. Not merely remembering a doctrine. But remembering a Person. The heart learns to live in His presence. As remembrance deepens, many passions lose their strength. Not because we have crushed them. But because Christ has become more beautiful than the things that once captivated us. Love quietly accomplishes what fear never could. ⸻⸻⸻ The Fathers speak of purity of heart. Our world often misunderstands this expression. Purity is not emotional perfection. Nor is it psychological simplicity. It is singleness. One heart. 7 One desire. One Lord. This is why Christ says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Only a unified heart can truly behold Him. The Jesus Prayer slowly gathers every divided affection into this one desire. Christ Himself becomes the center around which every thought, memory, sorrow, and joy begins to find its proper place. ⸻⸻⸻ Perhaps the greatest surprise of the spiritual life is that victory often feels like weakness. The proud imagine victory as mastery. The saints experience it as dependence. They become less confident in themselves. More confident in Christ. Less interested in their own progress. More attentive to His mercy. The Name accomplishes this quietly over many years. Not dramatically. Almost imperceptibly. Until one day we discover that we no longer rely upon our own strength. We instinctively turn toward Christ in every circumstance. The prayer has become the movement of the heart. 8 ⸻⸻⸻ As we continue this retreat, let us not become discouraged by the hidden battle. The very struggle is already a sign that grace is at work. If we now see distractions that once escaped our notice, give thanks. If we recognize passions that once ruled us unnoticed, give thanks. If we discover our weakness, give thanks. For Christ has not come to condemn what He reveals. He has come to heal it. Let us therefore guard the heart—not with fear, but with hope. Let us return again and again to the holy Name. For every sincere return, however small, is already a victory of grace. And slowly, often without our noticing, the heart that was once scattered among a thousand desires begins to rest in the One whose Name is above every name. 9

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12th July 2026 - Derry City. Ministered by Jabez Joel.

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Continuing the summer series on the Beatitudes, Pastor Scott Engebretson tackles Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Scott challenges the common tendency within the church to dismiss purity of heart as an impossible standard reserved only for heaven. Instead, he presents biblical purity as an undivided loyalty and single-hearted devotion to God here and now. Exploring passages from Psalm 24, Psalm 51, and James 4, Scott emphasizes that we cannot manufacture or scrub our way into a clean heart on our own strength. Rather, an undivided life requires a humble posture before our Creator, asking Him by faith to recreate our hearts, submit our lives to Him, and receive the overflowing grace available to us. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.

Michael Basham.com A Frontlines Report of Faith and freedom! Join the Spirit Wars and be a part of history!! We are Faith filled intercessors who love the truth and spreading the Gospel in every possible way and led by the Holy Spirit. Donate via PayPal, SpiritForce01@gmail.com A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. 3 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering]. 4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath [with which he smites others] will fail. 9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. 10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease. 11 He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech—because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. 13 The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets! 14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it. 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want. 17 Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. 19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you. 20 Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? 22 Rob not the poor [being tempted by their helplessness], neither oppress the afflicted at the gate [where the city court is held], 23 For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive [the poor or afflicted]. 24 Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate, 25 Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare. 26 Be not one of those who strike hands and pledge themselves, or of those who become security for another's debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set up.

Saturday July 11“Whatever things are pure." Thisword speaks of that which is morally clean, undefiled, innocent, and holy. Itdescribes a life that has not been contaminated by the pollution of sin. Welive in a world that has almost lost the meaning of purity. Every day we aresurrounded by images, conversations, advertisements, movies, televisionprograms, websites, and social media that appeal to the lust of the flesh, thelust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Impurity has become so common thatmany people no longer blush at what once brought shame. ButGod has never lowered His standard. Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, "Blessedare the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Notice He did notsimply say, "Blessed are the pure in conduct." He said, "Blessedare the pure in heart." God is always interested in the condition of theheart because the heart determines the conduct of the life. That is why Paul istalking about our thinking. Long before sin becomes an action, it usuallybegins as a thought that has been entertained. Someonehas wisely said, "Sow a thought, and you reap an action. Sow an action,and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character,and you reap a destiny." Everything begins with what we allow our minds todwell upon. Job understood this battle. In Job 31:1 he declared, "Imade a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?"Job recognized that what entered through his eyes could influence what remainedin his mind. How much more important is that principle today? Neverbefore in history have people carried around in their pockets devices that caninstantly expose them to almost every form of impurity imaginable. That is whywe must be more intentional than ever about guarding our minds. David prayed inPsalm 101:3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes." Whata wonderful commitment! Imagine how different our lives would be if everybeliever prayed that prayer each morning. Paulgives similar instruction in Romans 13:14, "But put ye on the LordJesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the luststhereof." Notice he doesn't simply say, "Don't sin." Hesays, "Don't make provision for it." Don't feed it. Don't encourageit. Don't place yourself where temptation is invited to stay. Instead, fillyour mind with Christ. The wonderful truth is this: The more room God's Wordoccupies in your mind, the less room sinful thoughts have to remain. Lightalways drives out darkness. Truth always exposes lies. Purity always overcomescorruption. This does not mean that believers will never experience temptation.Even our Lord was tempted. But temptation is not sin. Sin begins when we chooseto entertain what God tells us to reject. Every time an impure thought entersyour mind, immediately bring it before the Lord. Replace it with Scripture.Turn your attention to Christ. Sing a hymn. Quote a Bible verse. Begin thankingGod for His goodness. The battle is won not merely by resisting evil but byfilling our minds with something far better. Perhapsthe greatest motivation for purity is not fear. It is love. When we truly lovethe Lord Jesus Christ, we want our thoughts to be pleasing to Him. David prayedin Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of myheart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Whata wonderful prayer for each of us. May the meditation of our hearts bring joyto the heart of our Savior. Today, ask yourself this question: "Would I becomfortable if the Lord Jesus could visibly read every thought that passesthrough my mind today?" The wonderful news is that He already does. Andyet He loves us enough to forgive us, cleanse us, and transform us. As we yieldour minds to Him, He continues making us more like Himself. Remember, God'sdesire is not merely clean hands. He desires clean hearts, pure minds, and holylives.

What were the Position Papers and what were they for? We go over a brief overview of the Reorganized Latter Day Saints (RLDS) organizing a committee to deal with some major flaws in policy and doctrine. The committee circulated some ideas to RLDS leadership in the form of Position Papers. They were leaked before the ideas could be fully fleshed out, but that set off a chain of events that led to the RLDS abandoning its conservative past for a progressive Christian future, eventually becoming the Community of Christ. Today is our first Imposition Paper, seeking to reform the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the face of its telegraphed retrenchment phase. Then we tackle the final chapter of Pure in Heart by Dallin Oaks to hear him pad his word count, prophiteer, and summarize everything he's said in the book before the conclusion. Soon we'll see how 90s Oaks compares to 2026 Prophet Oaks! We wrap with happy news about data showing, conclusively, that vaccines, indeed, work, just like we've all known all along before idiots made it a wedge. Show Notes:  Evan Sharley's post about the Presidential and Position Papers https://gileriodekel.com/2022/07/the-position-and-presidential-papers/   Sword of Laman:  Pure In Heart, by Dallin H. Oaks  Is it Possible to Control Your Thoughts? What Experts Say: https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/info/ocd-stats-and-science/is-it-possible-to-control-your-thoughts-what-experts-say  Involuntary Entry Into Consciousness from the Activation into Sets: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01017/full  Cognitive Control of Obsessional Thoughts: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796709000308#sec4    Happy News:  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621z28z138o   Kang, Lydia; Pedersen, Nate. Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything (pp. 390-394).    Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social  Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking on "Store" here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com  Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10  

Michael Basham.com 22 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all. 3 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering]. 4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate and willful; he who guards himself will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap calamity and futility, and the rod of his wrath [with which he smites others] will fail. 9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. 10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out; yes, strife and abuse will cease. 11 He who loves purity and the pure in heart and who is gracious in speech—because of the grace of his lips will he have the king for his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. 13 The sluggard says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets! 14 The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it. 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself and he who gives to the rich—both will surely come to want. 17 Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them. 19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you. 20 Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you? 22 Rob not the poor [being tempted by their helplessness], neither oppress the afflicted at the gate [where the city court is held], 23 For the Lord will plead their cause and deprive of life those who deprive [the poor or afflicted]. 24 Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate, 25 Lest you learn his ways and get yourself into a snare.

This is the hardest week of Norense's year.One year ago, he lost his sister. And in a few days, he'll stand at her memorial and deliver a video he's been carrying the weight of building — a tribute to a woman who beat stage three breast cancer, stood at a family reunion with tears streaming down her face, and pointed every ounce of her healing back to God.Recorded audio-only from a rainy apartment in Brooklyn, this episode wasn't scripted. It was necessary.Norense walks through the last day he spent with his sister — the peace he felt walking out of a Sugar Land hotel with his family, not knowing it was the peak before the worst moment of his life, and the accidental run-in at a gas station that became the last hug, the last conversation, the last moment he'd ever share with her.But this isn't a sorrow message. It's a surrender message. Norense unpacks why expression alone isn't healing, why suppressing your story hands power to the enemy, and why the same man who once ran to performance, women, and money to escape his pain found something none of it could offer: a hope that held when everything else was stripped away.In this episode:Why expressing what you've been through is proof the enemy doesn't have you — and where most people stop short of actual healingThe difference between "wisdom" and fear dressed up as wisdom when it comes to sharing your storyNorense's raw account of the last day with his sister — and the gas station goodbye he didn't know was goodbyeWhy losing loved ones in college led to suicidal ideation, but losing his sister this year didn't — and the one variable that changed everythingHow vices — sex, alcohol, drugs, workaholism, performance — are counterfeit nutrients for a craving only God can satisfyThe difference between being pure in heart and perfect in heart — and why purity is a journey of surrender, not a finish lineWhy living below your privilege as a child of God keeps you trapped — and how to walk in the authority you've already been givenKey Truth: "When you're tired of running — when the drink wears off and the high fades — instead of pausing and running the other direction, we try to intensify. But more was never going to satisfy what only surrender can."Key Verse: Matthew 5:8 — Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.⚠️ A note: This episode touches on grief, loss, and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.If this episode hit you:Rate and review the Mind Bully Podcast — and keep Norense and his family in your thoughts and prayers this week as he honors his sister's life.

Summer on the Mount — Week 1: The Upside-Down Good Life | Matthew 5:1–12 Texts: Matthew 5:1–12What if the life the world calls blessed is not actually the good life?In Week 1 of Summer on the Mount: A Better Way to Be Human, Pastor Kevin begins walking through the Sermon on the Mount by looking at the Beatitudes. Before Jesus teaches about anger, desire, prayer, money, anxiety, or obedience, He begins with blessing. He answers the question everybody is asking in some form: Who is really living the good life?This message shows that the Beatitudes are not a ladder to climb so we can earn God's favor. They are an announcement that the Kingdom has come near. Jesus blesses people the world does not know what to do with: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.If you have been chasing a version of blessing built on success, control, comfort, image, or comparison, this message is an invitation to let Jesus redefine the good life—and to come to Him honestly, poor in spirit, hungry for righteousness, and ready to receive.Broad River Church | Norwalk, CT Join us Sundays: 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (English) | 1:00 PM (Español) Learn more or take your next step: https://broadriver.church/nextstepsFollow us on Instagram: @iambroadriverchurch

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Witness the ultimate act of faith and forgiveness as Stephen, the first martyr, sees the heavens open and prays for his persecutors.In this episode, experience the powerful and poignant story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and his unwavering faith even in the face of death. Discover the purity of heart that allowed him to see Jesus and forgive his enemies.Today's Bible verse is (Matthew 5:8, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nazareth and the Hidden Life Retreat Reflection IV The Hidden Life and the Healing of Desire Epigraph “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — St. Matthew 5:8 “Paradise is the love of God.” — Saint Isaac the Syrian ⸻ At the center of every human life there is desire. Not simply desire for pleasure, though pleasure is part of it. Not simply desire for comfort, recognition, intimacy, or meaning. Deeper still there is a longing for communion. The human person was created not merely to exist, but to participate in divine life. We are beings fashioned for relationship, for love, for beauty, for self- offering, for union with God. The fathers understand this with tremendous seriousness. Human desire is not treated by them as something shameful in itself. Desire belongs to our creation in the image of God. The tragedy is not that we desire. The tragedy is that desire has become fragmented. This fragmentation lies beneath so much of modern suffering. People hunger endlessly yet do not know for what they hunger. They seek intimacy yet fear vulnerability. They seek pleasure yet remain restless afterward. They seek visibility yet feel unseen. They seek stimulation yet become emotionally numb. They seek escape yet remain inwardly trapped. 1 The modern world intensifies this confusion constantly because it trains desire outward continually. We are surrounded by invitations to consume: images, experiences, identities, bodies, possessions, attention, recognition. The soul gradually becomes dispersed among countless impulses and fantasies. Desire loses depth because it no longer knows how to remain still long enough to encounter its true object. And thus many people experience life as a continual cycle of longing and disappointment. The fathers would say that the heart has forgotten where it belongs. This is why purity of heart is so important in the Christian tradition. Purity does not mean emotional sterility or repression. It means the gradual healing and reunification of desire. The pure heart becomes capable once more of seeing rightly because it is no longer divided continually among competing passions. Christ reveals this purity perfectly. And astonishingly, He reveals it first not through miracles or preaching, but through the hidden life of Nazareth. This matters deeply. The hidden years reveal desire completely at rest within the will of the Father. Christ does not grasp at visibility. He does not seek identity through recognition. He does not consume experience in order to feel alive. He remains rooted entirely within communion. This is why the silence of Nazareth possesses such healing power. Modern humanity suffers from exhaustion partly because desire has become detached from communion. We seek endlessly yet remain inwardly unsatisfied because the heart cannot be nourished by consumption alone. Human beings were created not for endless stimulation but for participation in divine love. 2 And yet the modern person often no longer knows how to receive love except through fantasy, control, performance, or emotional intensity. This distortion affects every dimension of life: relationships, sexuality, prayer, work, friendship, even the way we imagine God. Many people secretly approach God Himself through the logic of performance. We imagine we must construct a spiritual identity worthy of love. We attempt to secure ourselves through achievement, moral success, productivity, usefulness, or emotional experiences. Even repentance can become subtly performative. But Nazareth dismantles these illusions slowly. The hidden Christ reveals a form of existence rooted not in self-construction but in communion. He does not need to prove Himself continually because His identity rests entirely in the Father. And this freedom allows Him to remain hidden peacefully. This exposes something painful within ourselves. Much of our restlessness comes from trying continually to establish ourselves apart from communion with God. The ego seeks to secure existence through: recognition, desire, admiration, sexual validation, success, spiritual intensity, or being needed by others. But none of these finally heal the heart because the deepest human longing is not for self-expansion but for union. This is why the saints become increasingly peaceful. Not because desire disappears. But because desire becomes purified. 3 The fragmented heart slowly becomes whole. This purification usually unfolds through hidden struggle rather than dramatic experiences. The fathers speak continually about watchfulness because they understand that the battle occurs largely within attention and desire itself. Thoughts arise. Fantasies emerge. Memories awaken passions. The imagination drifts continually toward self-protection, possession, resentment, vanity, lust, and fear. And the person slowly learns: not hatred of desire, but discernment. The ascetical life is therefore not rejection of humanity. It is the healing of humanity. Fasting teaches desire not to rule tyrannically. Silence teaches desire to listen. Prayer teaches desire to remain before God. Hiddenness weakens the craving for recognition. Repentance heals the fragmentation caused by shame. Love slowly restores communion. All of this unfolds gradually. Modern people often become discouraged because they expect immediate transformation. We want healing quickly. We want prayer to become easy. We want temptation to disappear. We want certainty. But the fathers describe purification as long, hidden, patient work. And much of this work occurs precisely within ordinary life. This is another revelation of Nazareth. Christ heals human existence not only through dramatic moments but through daily hidden fidelity. The years of ordinary labor are not spiritually empty. The hidden life itself becomes salvific because Christ fills ordinary existence with divine presence. And perhaps this is where many souls begin finally to breathe again. When they realize that holiness is not primarily the construction of an extraordinary spiritual identity. 4 It is communion. The mother caring for an aging parent. The monk remaining faithfully in dryness. The husband learning patience slowly. The woman enduring hidden loneliness without bitterness. The person returning quietly to prayer after failure. The exhausted soul continuing simply to offer small acts of love. All of this belongs to the hidden life of Christ. This does not romanticize suffering or ordinary life. Nazareth was not sentimental. Hiddenness can feel humiliating. Repetition can feel empty. Desire does not become purified without struggle. The false self resists relinquishment continually. And yet beneath this struggle something beautiful slowly emerges: the heart begins to simplify. One no longer needs constant stimulation. One no longer seeks identity through performance so desperately. One becomes more capable of silence, presence, attention, gratitude, and tenderness. The soul begins slowly to recover the capacity to behold. This is profoundly important because modern life trains us primarily to consume. We look quickly, use quickly, discard quickly. The gaze itself becomes restless and acquisitive. But the pure heart learns another way of seeing: reverently, patiently, eucharistically. Persons cease to become objects. Ordinary moments cease to feel disposable. Even suffering becomes capable of communion. And perhaps this is ultimately what Nazareth reveals: 5 that salvation is not escape from human life but the transfiguration of human life from within. Christ enters ordinary existence fully in order to heal desire at its roots. Not by destroying longing, but by leading longing home. For the deepest hunger of the human heart is not finally for pleasure, recognition, intensity, or even relief from suffering. It is for God. And every fragmented desire is ultimately healed only when the soul begins once more to rest in Him.

Matthew 5:1-12 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.What do people EXPERIENCE when they experience YOU?1. The Beatitudes are a SEASONING process.God wants to SEASON you before He SENDS you.Romans 5:3–5 We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.What if your current season isn't PUNISHMENT? What if it's a SEASONING?2. Salt is not meant for the SHAKER. Its purpose is in what it TOUCHES.Your seasoning is meant to be EXPERIENCED.Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.Salt in the shaker has POTENTIAL, but salt in contact has PURPOSE.Salt changes the FLAVOR of everything it touches.

What does it really mean to be blessed? In a world that equates blessing with success, comfort, and status, Jesus offers a radically different vision. In this series, Blessed, we'll discover the surprising path to a life of deep joy, and purpose. Jesus redefines what it means to live under God's favor. This is an invitation to embrace a kingdom perspective—one that turns our assumptions upside down and forms us into people who reflect the heart of Jesus.

What does it really mean to have a pure heart? Many believers assume Jesus was talking about moral perfection, leaving them discouraged by their own struggles. But His words reveal something far more freeing—and life-changing.In "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart", Duane Sheriff explores one of the most misunderstood Beatitudes and reveals that biblical purity is not sinless perfection but a single-minded devotion to God. Through Matthew 5, Matthew 6, Proverbs 4, and other key passages, we understand that a pure heart is one that is focused on God's Kingdom above all else and allowing His truth to shape our thoughts, motives, choices, and emotions.Rather than living under guilt and condemnation, believers can recognize temptation before it takes root, bring every struggle to Christ, and receive His grace to overcome it. As we guard our hearts and keep Christ first, every area of life—from our relationships and family to our finances and purpose—is transformed.Jesus promised that the pure in heart "shall see God." Keeping Christ as your first love enables you to experience His presence, favor, and blessing in every area of life.

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn't that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord's sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 73 

“Water has tremendous erosive power, particularly when carrying large amounts of sediment and rock, like the Colorado River does with flooding.” So says the National Park Service when explaining the role the Colorado River has had in the forming and carving out of the Grand Canyon. They go onto describe; “When large amounts of water are moved through a river channel, large rocks and boulders are carried too. These rocks act like chisels, chipping off pieces of the riverbed as they bounce along.”Isn't that how life feels at times? Trials come our way like a flood followed by doubts, discouragements, and despair chipping away at our faith causing us to lose our footing. In Psalm 73, Asaph begins; “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.”The cause of Asaph's struggle was seeing how those who love Jesus suffer while those whose worship and love are for themselves seem to prosper. It is a real and raw question – if we have found favor in the Lord's sight, why then is life so dang hard? The thing that lifts us up out of the flood and sediment that follows is to gaze on our Shepherd. He is our sanctuary, He is our strength, He is near and He is good. How wonderful it is to know that our faith may falter, our hope may dim and our strength may fail, but God is steadfast, His love is unfailing, His grip is strong. Jesus alone is able to keep us from falling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great Joy. Jude 24-25Let us shift our gaze onto the Comfort and Care of our Shepherd who promises us mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. Hebrews 4:16Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Psalm 73 

In this message from The Beatitudes, Caleb Cole teaches from Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” A pure heart is not a perfect heart, but an undivided heart surrendered to God. Through Scripture, Caleb challenges us to examine our speech, money, thoughts, actions, and eyes, and to ask Jesus for a new heart that can truly see and experience God. (00:00) - Matthew 5 and The Beatitudes (02:13) - Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (03:34) - The Heart as the Center of a Person (05:00) - What Blessed Means (06:00) - What Pure in Heart Means (07:30) - A Pure Heart Is an Undivided Heart (09:00) - Your Speech Reveals Your Heart (11:10) - Your Money Reveals Your Heart (16:00) - Your Thoughts Reveal Your Heart (18:00) - How Our Thoughts Become Tainted (21:00) - Taking Every Thought Captive (22:00) - Your Actions Reveal Your Heart (24:00) - You Must Be Born Again (26:10) - Ask God for a Pure Heart (29:20) - Guard Your Eyes (32:00) - The Promise of Seeing God (36:00) - A Prayer for a New Heart

What does life in the kingdom of God actually look like? In the Beatitudes, Jesus paints a surprising portrait of the people who belong to His kingdom. They are poor in spirit, mournful over sin, meek rather than self-promoting, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and committed to making peace. These qualities may seem weak in the eyes of the world, but Jesus calls them blessed.In this message, we'll explore how the Beatitudes are not merely a list of virtues to achieve, but a vision of the kind of people Jesus forms by His grace. As followers of Christ living between the arrival of the kingdom and its future fulfillment, we are invited to embrace the tension of the “already and not yet” and become people who make the kingdom visible wherever we go.

Jesus is the one with clean hands and a pure heart. Jesus is the one who entered into the Holy Place and turned around and opened the door for sinners like you and me. Brett McDonald | Senior Pastor

Jesus is the one with clean hands and a pure heart. Jesus is the one who entered into the Holy Place and turned around and opened the door for sinners like you and me. Brett McDonald | Senior Pastor

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In this episode, you can learn:• Why the Beatitudes may describe a step-by-step process of psychological transformation rather than simply a list of virtues• How humility creates self-awareness, while self-acceptance creates the foundation for lasting change• Why emotional honesty, congruence, and compassion are essential for personal growth• How the first and last Beatitudes form a unique framework for understanding identity, transformation, and the development of the selfvideo: https://youtu.be/KbuiXmwdKeA?si=9ikjR9sQJLYJqoOXWhat if the Beatitudes are not merely moral teachings, but a roadmap for transformation? In this episode of Autism & the Structure of Reality, we explore the Beatitudes through the lenses of psychology, neuroscience, and personal development, revealing a progression from humility and self-awareness to self-respect and self-acceptance. Along the way, we examine why so many people struggle to change, how avoidance prevents growth, and why the first and last Beatitudes may hold the key to understanding the entire process of becoming who we are capable of becoming.Elevate How You Navigate with Len & a free call https://elevatehowyounavigate.comMAYU Water, use "autism" for 10% off at https://mayuwater.comDaylight Computer Company, use "autism" for $50 off at https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/autismDaylight Kids (!!!) https://kids.daylightcomputer.com/autism ‪Chroma Light Devices, use "autism" for 10% discount at https://getchroma.co/?ref=autism00:00 The Beatitudes; Self-Transformation & the Sermon on the Mount01:13 Poor in Spirit; Humility, Confidence & Self-Awareness04:23 Mourning; Emotional Honesty & Facing the Self08:28 Meekness; Strength Under Control10:03 Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness; Motivation, Meaning & Values14:14 Mercy; Judgment, Compassion & Understanding Others16:06 Pure in Heart; Congruence, Alignment & Integrity17:45 Peacemakers; Compassion, Relationships & Letting Go of Control22:53 Persecuted for Righteousness; Identity, Self-Respect & Acceptance24:08 Self-Awareness → Self-Acceptance; The Two-Part Process of Change27:05 Why Many Christians Stay Stuck; Reading Without Transformation28:07 The Two Present-Tense Beatitudes; Final ReflectionsX: https://x.com/rps47586YT: https://www.youtube.com/@FromTheSpectrumemail: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com

Exclusion of evidence and habeas corpus? Who needs us? It's a Dallin Oaks episode and we go over two law review articles (pub. 1966 & 70) he wrote focusing on the rights of criminals. How we handle evidence consistent with the constitution is a complicated issue and Hoaks has a hot take. Plus, he thinks habeas corpus has gotten a bit out of hand with how many death row convicts it was helping. Then we dive through 2 more chapters from Pure in Heart about Spirituality and Worship. The hot takes here are akin to moldy soup in the back of the fridge. We round out with happy civil engineering news from California!   Show Notes:  Studying the Exclusionary Rule in Search and Seizure https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3650&context=uclrev Search and Seizure laws and SCOTUS rulings https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-fourth-amendment-mean https://www.justia.com/criminal/procedure/search-and-seizure-rules/ https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt4-7-1/ALDE_00000805/ Legal History in the High Court–Habeas Corpus (1966) https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5483&context=mlr Bushel's Case https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushel%27s_Case   Sword of Laman: Pure In Heart, by Dallin H. Oaks    Happy News: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/california-wildlife-crossing-biggest-annenberg    Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social  Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking on "Store" here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com  Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10  

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus  (NOT a Morning Mindset resource)   ⇒ TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE MORNING MINDSET - Your personal recommendation can make an eternal difference in the lives of the people you know! STEP ONE: Go to http://YourMorningMindset.com  STEP TWO: Share that page with someone you know! ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:2–12 - And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. [5] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. [6] “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. [7] “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. [8] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [9] “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. [10] “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com