Podcasts about scripture genesis

Daily Dose of Hope September 30, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 38   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you this morning in awe of your blessings and love.  Thank you, Lord, for the ways you continue to guide our lives.  Lord, we are desperate to know you better.  In these next few moments of silence, Jesus, please speak to us.  We need to hear your voice...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis, followed by the book of Exodus.  Today's reading is Genesis 38.   The story takes a break from Joseph and turns to Judah, his older brother.  Judah was a businessman of sorts, he leaves his home and family for financial reasons we assume. He moves away from his Hebrew roots to a Canaanite town. Not surprisingly, he ends up marrying a Canaanite woman. Why is this an issue? As we have mentioned before, the Canaanites worshiped other gods.  There was no way this wouldn't seep into the family life of Judah.  The whole chapter sees Judah's moral decline.   Judah arranged for his oldest son, Er, to marry a young woman named Tamar. But Er was a wicked man in the Lord's sight, so the Lord took his life.  Judah told Er's younger brother Onan to marry Tamar.  At the time, they practiced Levirate marriage, which meant if a man died before he produced a male heir, then the next oldest brother would sleep with his sister-in-law to try to produce an heir. The baby would then be considered a child of the dead brother. This may sound weird to us but it was one of several systems that God put in place to ensure that the most vulnerable segments of society would be cared for.    Onan didn't want to have a child who would not be his own heir.  So whenever he had sex with Tamar, he spilled the semen on the ground. This prevented her from having a child who would belong to his brother. And the Lord considered Onan evil for doing this, so he killed him too.   Judah decides he doesn't want to risk his third son with Tamar. If Shelah dies, then Judah will be without heirs, and any inheritance he may gain from Jacob will be lost. So he misleads Tamar into waiting until Shelah is grown up. I'm not sure that we can understand the significance of this. This was a grave sin, denying Tamar the ability to have a husband, a male heir or any kind of meaningful life. He doesn't release her from the marriage -he tells her to go live as a widow which means she could not remarry - but he doesn't offer her the option of his third son. Tamar is in a no win situation here. Doomed to live a life of poverty and/or prostitution.   Tamar has taken matters into her own hands. Judah has basically abandoned her. Years have gone by, Shelah the third son is definitely marrying age and Judah has never sent for Tamar. She knows he isn't planning to, nor is he planning to release her from living as a widow. She knows that her fate isn't good unless she does something drastic. So she takes off her widow's clothing and dresses like a prostitute. She hangs out where her father-in-law will see her and he propositions her. So, this gives us more insight into Judah's character. Maybe he frequented prostitutes, Tamar must have somehow known that he would be willing to solicit her.   And Tamar ends up pregnant.  Judah finds out and he is ready to execute Tamar.  In the end, when Judah finds that he was the guy who got his daughter in law pregnant, he declares her righteous. Even though she was deceptive, she was the one who managed to continue to family line.)  Okay, so this whole scenario seems dysfunctional, right? Evil sons, so evil that God kills them. A conniving father-in-law who doesn't care for the well-being of his daughter in law or his family line. A desperate daughter in law who pretends to be a prostitute so her father-in-law can get her pregnant. It all sounds a bit weird. So, what are we to make of this? Why was this included in God's whole story of redemption?   Here are some thoughts:   o   Judah leaves his family, leaves all Godly influence, and moves to Canaan. The further we move away from Godly community, the further we will move from God. There is a purpose in gathering with other believers, having a community of worship. We are a forgetful people and we need to be reminded who and whose we are. Judah clearly forgot this. o    The culture of the near east during this time period left much to be desired. Women, children, foreigners were highly vulnerable. They had zero social status and could easily be abused and maligned. God put some structures in place to ensure the care of the most vulnerable - Levirate marriage, gleaning; the prophets spoke out about mistreatment of the poor, the Old Testament clearly speaks of taking care of widows and orphans. Jesus walked closely to the poor, the needy, the oppressed, the outcast. Clearly, God cares for those who are needy and vulnerable and the expectation is that we will as well.  o   Finally, this story really demonstrates how God uses broken, messed up people to achieve his purposes. Judah was far from Godly. Tamar, though God called her righteous and she was certainly courageous, she was still a bit deceptive and scrappy. And yet God chose these two people to carry on the line of Jacob. It was the union of these two flawed individuals that produced an heir in the direct line of Jesus. If you look at Matthew 1, Tamar is the first of four women specifically mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. God could have chosen anyone...but he chose them. I love this because it demonstrates how God uses sinful people, flawed people, broken people, people with baggage, people who have failed, people who weren't the best and brightest, imperfect people like you and me, to achieve his purposes. We may not have a great past. We might not even have a super present, but he wants to use us, flaws and all, to expand his Kingdom, to carry out his mission in the world.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 29, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 37   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us seek holiness in all we do.  Help us become the people you desire us to be.  As we work through today's Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts.  Help us see things differently.  We want to hear from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is Genesis 37 and begins the tenth and final major section of the book.  The rest of the book will focus primarily on Joseph.  We will see that Jacob favoring Joseph will set the story in motion.  While God can use anything for his good (and he does in this case), favoritism never turns out well when it comes to children.    In today's reading, Joseph is a very arrogant and naïve 17-year-old and the favorite of his father's many children.  Jacob does not keep his favoritism secret, either.  He makes this beautiful coat for Joseph, which Joseph wears in front of his other brothers.  This is really a recipe for disaster.  To make matters worse, Joseph has dreams where the brothers bow down to him and Joseph decides it's a good idea to share these dreams with his brothers!  Some things are better kept to ourselves.  No wonder the brothers hate him.  It appears Joseph thinks a lot of himself and he doesn't mind sharing how great he is with the others.  Of course, Jacob has fed that to Joseph for years.  We can just sense that this is not going to end well.  Between Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's arrogance, something is going to snap among the other brothers.   And we don't have to wait for long for that to happen.  Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers who are grazing the animals out in the fields.  They see him when he is still far off and several of them want to kill him.  Reuben the oldest wants to save Joseph's life, understanding the pain this will cause his father.  Eventually, Joseph is sold to a band of Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.  This will open us a totally new dynamic to the story.   But the saddest part is that they lie to Jacob and tell him Joseph was devoured by a wild animal.  They bring the beautiful coat with some goat blood to him as evidence.  And Jacob is, understandably, consumed by grief.    A few thoughts here.  First, favoritism or partiality destroys families.  Maybe you have seen this or experienced this yourself.  It is always destructive.  Second, sin has a way of escalating quickly.  Jealousy moves quickly to hatred which can move to murder and then lies and deception.  So very heartbreaking.  Finally, we have to trust that God is going to work through all this mess.  God is going to take this brokenness and suffering and work through it and despite of it.  We'll get to read more about that in the next few days.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

SCRIPTURE- Genesis 8:7       “Noah sent out a raven to see if the waters had lessened on the earth. It flew back and forth until the waters dried up."REFLECTION- Sr. KathleenMUSIC- "God of Day and God of Darkness" by The O'Neill Brothers Group - "Be Born in Me" InstrumentalNOTES- PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God,into Your hands I surrender my life.Pour out Your Spirit upon methat I may love You perfectly,and serve You faithfullyuntil my soul rests in You.

In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the Boston Marathon finish line first, medal and all — until it turned out she'd skipped most of the race. Anybody can claim first place. But the claim can be tested.Most of us would say God comes first in our lives. But God has been testing that claim since the very beginning. In the final message of FIRST, Lead Pastor Ted Coniaris returns to the very first offering in Scripture — Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 — and shows why one gift pleased God and the other didn't. It was never about the size of the gift. It was about whether it said "you are first" or "here's what's left." Ted closes the series with the Big Rocks illustration, a personal story of God's provision, and a final invitation to the 90-Day Tithing Challenge as we launch the last 90-day sprint to the finish line of New is Now.Scripture: Genesis 4:1–7; Exodus 34:14; Matthew 6:21; Philippians 2:9–11; Exodus 23:19; Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7Thank you for listening to the full FIRST series with us.

What about dinosaurs? Did God create everything in six literal days? Can someone believe the Bible and believe in evolution? As we continue Puzzling Passages at The Porch Community Church, we explore Genesis 1 and some of the biggest questions surrounding creation, science, and faith. We approach these questions with wonder and humility, recognizing that faithful Christians may understand the details differently while affirming the same foundational truth: God is the Creator, and we are made in His image. Our faith is centered on Jesus Christ—His life, death, and resurrection. But believing God created changes how we live today: how we treat others, where we find our worth, and whether we trust Him to bring something new into the chaos of our lives. What changes if you actually live like you believe God created? Scripture: Genesis 1:1–2, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:4, and Psalm 90. #PuzzlingPassages #ThePorchCommunityChurch #Genesis #FaithAndScience #MadeInGodsImage

Daily Dose of Hope September 28, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 36   Prayer:  Holy God, We start by praising your name.  You are a good God, a mighty God, and a wise God.  Work in our lives.  Speak to us.  We need you, Lord.  Over and over again, we need you.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis, which is both fascinating and challenging at the same time.  Today's reading is Genesis 36.   The text today covers the family of Esau.  He has three wives, five sons, one daughter, and ten grandsons. By worldly standards, this seems to be a successful family.  And not only does he have many descendants, ultimately his family became a powerful nation and dynasty.  Many of his descendants became chiefs.  And in verse 31, some were even called kings. So, he became a powerful patriarch! I mean, he had power and influence, his children and his descendants became very influential, wealthy people.   But another important element about Esau and his family is that Esau did not choose to walk with God.   While he was deceived about his birthright, he was also careless with it.   I mean, he sold it for a bowl of lentil soup. He just seemed to not care about the spiritual things.  There is never a mention of Esau and God.  And then, he chose to have Canaanite wives.  We know this was frowned upon for the Hebrew people.  Both Isaac and Jacob traveled far and wide to find non-Canaanite women to marry.  The Canaanites were considered a sinful, rebellious, and idolatrous people.  You wonder what kind of upbringing his children received.  Did they know about the one true God or only about the false gods of the Canaanites?   I have mixed feelings about Esau.  He clearly didn't value the things of God, but did he ever receive the proper teaching from Isaac and Rebekah?   Jacob was the chosen one very early on.  Did Esau have a chance?  I'm not sure what I think about this.   What is very sad is that Esau's descendants end up being enemies of Isreal in the coming generations.  There were frequent wars between the two nations.    Tomorrow, the discussion moves to Jacob's sons and there is no more mention of Esau in the book of Genesis.  What do you think about Esau?  I would love to hear from some of you.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Highland Christian Church - Asheville, NCCommunicator - Jason GarrisThe story of Israel, the nations, and the Messiah… God chooses the ONE to bless EVERYONE. God chose one family so that every family could share in the blessing of His restored world.Scripture: Genesis 12:1–3; Isaiah 49:6; Romans 11; Revelation 7:9–10 

How do we recognize and live into God's presence in our ordinary, everyday lives, rather than chasing or trying to sustain mountaintop spiritual experiences? Mthr. Barbara argues that spiritual highs inevitably fade when confronted with the mundane—but that's not the real problem. The real issue is that Jacob (and we) treat sacred things as ordinary, becoming so caught up in our own stories that we miss God's movement all around us. This sermon reclaims an ancient truth: all of life is meant to be worship, every moment a gateway to heaven, and our calling is not to sustain feelings, but to see Christ and show the world what it looks like to be loved by and in relationship with the infinite God.Scripture: Genesis 28:10-17 (NRSV)Preacher: The Rev. Barbara WhiteSt. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church | Louisville, KYhttps://www.sfitf.org

Title: Answers to Accusations! Scripture: Genesis 3:1; John 3:1-4 Speaker: Dr. Victor Borden Date: September 27, 2026

Worship: Sunday, September 13 - Twentieth-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Minister: Rev. Debbie Weatherspoon; Message: "Breath of God"; Scripture: Genesis 2:4-9; Music director: Scott Jespersen; Audio engineer: Joaquin Muñoz, David Cardenas; Podcast producer: Ethan Toven-Lindsey

Daily Dose of Hope September 25, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 35 + Going Deeper with Emmy   Prayer:  Almighty God, thank You that You are the God of eternity. When my heart fears change, remind me that Your love never ends. When I grow tired, lift me into Your everlasting strength. Anchor my life in Your promises and help me live today in light of eternity. Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the podcast and devotional that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis.  Today's Scripture reading is Genesis 35, plus we have our going deeper discussion with Emmy Roberts.   God let's Jacob, now Israel, know that it is time to return home to the land of his father.  Jacob has everyone abandon their household gods (I'm not sure why they had these to begin with) and they head on their way.  They have been traveling for awhile but the journey has been long with many distractions on the way.  But this was a hard time to live and the problems keep coming.  First, Rebekah's nurse, a woman named Deborah, dies and she is buried.  Then, Rachel delivers a baby boy and it's a tough birth.  She also passes and is buried on the way.    When they final reach Hebron, where Isaac lived, he dies as well.  Jacob and his family have arrived in time to bury his father.  This has been a journey of great loss for Jacob.  And there will be more to come.   Let's move on now to our going deeper discussion with Emmy.  We have a lot to discuss this week!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 24, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 34   Prayer:  Almighty God, I come before you today with a sense of gratefulness.  You are Lord of all and yet you care for me.  Thank you, Lord.  Help me walk through this day with humility and your wisdom; help me represent you well.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help me gather my scattered thoughts, I want to hear your voice...Come Holy Spirit, and guide this time.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the podcast and devotional that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis.  This has been really fascinating and challenging at the same time.  Scripture certainly doesn't hide dysfunction or toxic family structures.  We get to see more of that today.    Today's text is Genesis 34.  Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob (or the only daughter that Scripture mentions), went out to see the women of the land.  This means she went by herself to hang out with the women of Shechem. Remember that the Canaanite people are a picture of worldly living. This would have been a dangerous venture for Dinah.  The Canaanites are a picture of living separate from God or apart from God. The sons of Abraham were not to mix with the Canaanites. They were not to intermarry. They were not to have anything to do with them.  And, pretty quickly, we are about to find out why.    When Shechem, the son of Hammar, who was the prince of the land, saw Dinah, he took her and seized her.  The implication is that he kidnapped her and raped her.  And then afterward, he decides he loves her and spoke tenderly to her.  He has just sexually assaulted her and now he is speaking tenderly to her!  The whole thing is disgusting.  Shechem obviously thinks he can take what he wants, who he wants, and do whatever he wants without any kind of repercussion.  This was the twisted morality of a Canaanite prince.   Shechem decides he wants to take Dinah as his wife.  Poor Dinah.  We have no idea what she is thinking during any of this.  She must have been very scared.    Her father and brothers hear about the situation.  They listen to Shechem's desire for Dinah but also for his desire for their peoples to intermingle and intermarry.  Remember, this would have very much gone against God's instructions.  Besides that, they want nothing to do with these people.  Look what has happened to their sister.  All they want to do is get back at them.  So, the brothers come up with a plan.   They pretend to go along with Shechem's request.  Sure, you can marry our sister.  Sure, we will trade with you.  But first, you must all be circumcised.  And they did it.  All the men went under the knife because their prince told them to.  I'm guessing they really didn't have much of a choice.    And when they were still healing (It takes at least three weeks for an adult male to heal from circumcision by the way), Dinah's brothers plundered the city and killed all the men.    Now, keep in mind these were Leah's boys.  They were avenging their sister.  They may have felt like Jacob didn't do enough to protect her.  They may have felt like they were less favored because Leah was their mom instead of Rachel.  Keep in mind, there was probably a lot of dysfunction in this household.  These young men were acting out of rage, possibly a lifetime of rage.  What happened to Dinah might have been the straw that broke the camel's back.  So, Jacob was upset with them, but we don't have a lot of evidence that he did a lot to guide them or lead them in the way of righteousness.    What are your thoughts on this?  What feelings does this evoke in you?   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The Power of Clarity | Dominion ChurchWhat if the clarity you're praying for is waiting on the other side of your obedience?In Genesis 12:1–4, God called Abraham to leave what was familiar and take a step toward a promise he could not yet see. This message reveals how complacency, familiar voices, and comfort can cloud our vision—and how trusting what God has already said brings clarity for the road ahead.What has God already made clear that He's waiting for you to obey?Watch, share this message with someone who needs direction, and subscribe for more from Dominion Church.Scripture: Genesis 12:1–4#DominionChurch #ThePowerOfClarity #ChristianSermon

Daily Dose of Hope September 23, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 33   Prayer:  Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are working our way through the book of Genesis.  There is a lot of substance here.  I would love some of your thoughts.   Today's reading is Genesis 33. Jacob is on his way home.  He has wrestled with God, and he seems ready to make real change in his life.  Jacob has now been reunited with his brother, Esau, who he deceived multiple times.  He is repentant and humble.  He isn't trying to manipulate his way into more wealth.  But his new name, Israel, has not yet taken full effect.  Why do I mean?   Well, Jacob's transformation in today's reading seems a bit shallow.  I hate to say that.  I want to see him as a changed man.  He certainly acts in a deferential way toward his brother, Esau, but there are also signs of manipulation.  He sends gifts and his family before facing Esau himself.  Esau meets Jacob warmly, but Jacob is suspicious.  He still seems to fear for his life, and he makes excuses to get away from Esau.  Even though God has given Jacob a new name, he is still a fearful man and we still see signs of the deceiver.  As Esau leaves, Jacob tells him that he and his family will meet them in Seir.  In truth, Jacob goes to Shechem, and establishes himself in a place that was a safe distance from Esau.   Does Jacob still not trust God?  He doesn't seem to living into his new name.    What we are going to find is that Jacob's inability to fully reconcile with Esau, his continued deception, and his unwillingness to let go of the past is going to lead to isolation.  Jacob has led a life of deception and running.  He is not a virtuous hero by any means.  He is a sinful man, who we see being gradually transformed by God.  But the sad part of all of this is that his children are watching and learning.  They are not going to come away from this unscathed.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope September 22, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 32:22-32   Prayer:  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us.  Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis, followed by a deep dive into the book of Exodus.  Today, we are finishing up Genesis 32.   Today's text is fascinating.  Here we find Jacob, 60 years old, at the lowest moment of his life.  He isn't sure if he and his family are going to live or die, as he knows his brother, Esau, is headed his way.  He sends gifts Esau's way, prays to God, and then goes to sleep.  It's while he sleeps that Jacob enters a wrestling match with a man he firmly believes to be God.   It's interesting, God could have defeated Jacob quickly but he allows Jacob to keep holding on.  God doesn't let go of Jacob either. Then, God changes Jacob's name. God first asks Jacob his name and he has to say it out loud – he is Jacob, deceiver.  It's then that God changes it to Israel. Here is where Jacob has come full circle. He is no longer the arrogant deceiver who could care less about his brother, his dying father, and his many wives and their maidservants.  He is someone who says, "I'm not going back. I'm going to hold on to you, God. I'm going to be the man YOU knew I could be."   Have you ever wrestled with God? This is our story, is it not? We wrestle with God all the time.  We wrestle with God when we do something that we know we shouldn't be doing or when we are somewhere we know we shouldn't be.  We wrestle with God when we answer the question, "Is there a God?"  We wrestle with God when we deal with tragedy, when we are disappointed, when we've prayed and prayed and prayed and still our loved one dies, or we lose our job or our marriage. We wrestle. We want to believe but we are angry and tired and weak.   The bottom line is that sometimes our wrestling with God is actually an act of faith, an act that yes, I do believe in you, God, and I am going to hold on. I am going to hold on even though I don't want to, even though I feel let down and grief-stricken.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 21, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 32:1-21   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today distracted and with scattered thoughts.  Help us focus, Lord, on you and your Word.  Help us, in the next few moments, to be silent, still, and remember that you are God...Thank you, Lord, for your care and concern for our lives.  Thank you for how you show up in amazing and unexpected ways!  We give you glory, Lord Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is the first half of Genesis 32.   It is the day of reckoning.  Jacob has left Laban and is heading back to the land of his father.  That means he will go through the land of Edom and have an interaction with his brother, Esau, who he deceived multiple times.  By this point, Jacob knows and understands what he has done.  He has now been on the receiving end of deception several times himself.    As Jacob's journey begins, the angels of God meet him.  I find this fascinating.  Jacob saw them and he says, "This is the camp of God!"  Psalm 34:7 says that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear them, and he delivers them.  It's kind of beautiful that the Lord is letting Jacob see that his presence is with him.    So, let's get back to Jacob and Esau. Jacob's messengers tell him that Esau is coming to meet him with an army of four hundred men.  This obviously scares Jacob.  He begins to pray.  He pleads with the Lord.  He says something like this, "Save me, Lord, from my brother Esau.  I'm afraid he'll come and attack me and my wives and my children.  But you said that you will make me prosper and will make my descendants like the sand of the sea."  While he doesn't need to remind God of his promises, I'm sure it makes him feel better.  He knows this is very, very serious.   Jacob decides to get ahead of the problem. He splits his entourage into three groups and sends them in three different directions.  He is hoping at least one of the groups will survive.  Each group was given very specific instructions.  They are to call Esau, "My Lord," and offer him a gift of a very significant livestock.  Jacob, who was once proud, has become humble.  He is asking for Esau's favor, even though he knows that he doesn't deserve it.   Have you even been in a dire situation similar to Jacob?  I know it wouldn't be exactly the same.  But have you been in a situation in which you feel like your livelihood or your family is in danger?  This would lead to such a feeling of desperation.  What would your prayer be to God?  If you were in Jacob's shoes, what would you say to God?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki          

You finally get out of survival mode and a new unexpected conflict hits. When someone threatens your hard work or takes what belongs to you, the human instinct is to fight dirty to protect yourself. You want to force a solution and panic takes over. But endless fighting is not your only option.In this message from "The Friend of God" series, Pastor Adam Burton unpacks Genesis 21:22–34 to expose how quickly we panic when our earthly security is threatened. Discover how recognizing God's daily help, walking in quiet integrity to resolve conflict, and trusting the Everlasting God will secure your future when the ground begins to shake.

This sermon looks at how, when faced with a famine, Abram doubted God's promises, risked, the future, and became a curse instead of a blessing.This sermon is part of our fall series based on the life of Abraham where we are looking at what it means to risk faith in the faithful God.Scripture: Genesis 12:10-20

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13 Sermon: “The Drama of Desire” by Rev. Jane H. Rowe Solo: The Lone, Wild Bird - bbb Southern Folk Melody, arr. David N. Johnson

Daily Dose of Hope September 18, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 31 + Going Deeper with Emmy Roberts   Prayer:  Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  As we enter into this weekend, help us be aware of your presence in a new way, Lord.  And right now, help us gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word.  In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is Genesis 31, plus we have our going deeper discussion with youth and next gen lead, Emmy Roberts.   In today's reading, God tells Jacob to take his wives, children, livestock, and belongings, and head to the land of his father.  Laban is not to be trusted.  Although the Scripture doesn't explicitly say so, it appears that Laban and his sons may have plans to harm Jacob.  They are incredibly jealous of his success.    So, that is exactly what they do.  They secretly leave, without telling Laban.  This ends twenty years of Jacob being taken advantage of by Laban.  If it were only that easy.  Laban hears about what has happened and comes to find Jacob.  He acts hurt.  He does put on a good show.   The odd part of this situation is Rachel taking Laban's household gods.  Why did she do this?  One possibility is that Rachel and Leah felt that their father Laban treated them like strangers and consumed their money. Taking the idols may have acted as a form of financial payback or a way to secure their household's wealth.  There is also the real possibility that while Rachel knew God, she may have still had some kind of unhealthy attachment to the false gods.  Finally, some commentators suggest Laban used the idols for divination to track fugitives. Rachel may have stolen them to keep her father from finding out which route Jacob's fleeing caravan took.   Regardless, she took them and was able to outsmart her father, Laban, who was the ultimate deceiver and trickster.  God ensured that Jacob and his family were protected.   With that, let's get into our going deeper conversation with Emmy about this week's reading.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

IN THIS EPISODEEveryone is saying “the body keeps the score.” The science is real: stress and trauma leave a physical mark, and OCD is some of the clearest proof there is. But, there's a half of this conversation almost nobody is having. Scripture said the body keeps the score first, and it says something the wellness world can't: the score isn't the final word. This is the story of what my OCD taught me about the brain, the body, and a God who made both and took one on.* Why OCD is some of the clearest proof that the body keeps a score (and what a brain scan actually shows)* What the science really says about trauma and the body, including the part that's overblown* Neuroplasticity: how a “renewed mind” physically rewires the brain* What Scripture said about the embodied life long before the wellness industry* Jesus, Gethsemane, and a rare stress condition only the physician-Gospel-writer recorded* The exact place the wellness world turns something true into something that will fail youTimestamps:00:00 OCD Alarm at the Sink00:59 Body Keeps Score Thesis01:54 OCD Brain Lock Science03:50 Trauma Claims Fact Check05:19 Stress Is Physical06:15 Rewiring Through Neuroplasticity08:05 Embodied Soul in Scripture09:33 Jesus and the Suffering Body11:04 Renewing Mind Meets Science11:50 Honor Body Don't Worship14:57 Resurrection and Redemption15:18 Closing Questions and Next StepsSubscribe to The Bold Life + read the companion article on renewing your mind. SOURCES / FURTHER READING - Jeffrey Schwartz, “Brain Lock” — the caudate/orbitofrontal loop, the Four Steps (Relabel, Reattribute, Refocus, Revalue), PET-scan changes after therapy.- Bessel van der Kolk, “The Body Keeps the Score” (2014) — trauma's physiological imprint.- 2025 BJPsych Bulletin review evaluating 122 claims in the book (the “overblown” caveat) — cite as “a 2025 review in a psychiatric journal.”- Established stress physiology: cortisol / HPA axis, amygdala reactivity.- Hematidrosis: rare stress-induced condition; sympathetic nervous system; Luke 22:44; Luke as physician (Colossians 4:14).- Scripture: Genesis 2:7; Psalm 6:6; Psalm 31:9-10; Psalm 32:3-4; Luke 22:44; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:2; 1 Kings 19; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Psalm 139:14. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emilyvermillion.substack.com/subscribe

Daily Dose of Hope September 17, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 30   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture.  Help us commit to being grounded in your truth.  Help us make learning more about you a priority.  We get so distracted!  The world comes at us from all sides.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is Genesis 30   Today, we continue the saga of Jacob and his wives.  As we mentioned yesterday, it appears that Leah, the older sister/first wife, got a raw deal, discarded by her dad and not loved by her husband.  But we mentioned yesterday that God blessed her with many sons.  With each child, we see a spiritual change in Leah based on what she names her boys.  Reuben was the first-born and his name means "behold, a son."  When Leah had Reuben, she felt like the Lord had seen her misery.  Simeon was second and his name means "God has heard."  Levi was third and his name means "joined in harmony," because Leah thought after three sons, her husband would finally feel attached to her.  By the fourth son, Judah, we see a change in Leah.  Judah's name means "the praised one."  It took four births before we see some healing.  Instead of lamenting about her life, she begins to see God's hand and starts to praise him!   But while Leah has born Jacob four boys, Rachel has been unable to conceive.  Now, she is incredibly jealous of her sister.  This is when the drama begins!  Rachel has Jacob sleep with her handmaiden and through her, they have two sons.  Leah, who has stopped having kids, responds by having Jacob sleep with her handmaiden and they have two sons together.  Rachel is desperate for a baby of her own and there is this interesting interaction between sisters, sharing some mandrakes (which were thought to increase fertility in barren women) and making arrangements about who gets to sleep with Jacob when.  As a result, Leah has two more babies, a boy and a girl, and Rachel finally has Joseph.    So, what in the world was Jacob thinking?  Scripture certainly doesn't mention him having an opinion or taking any kind of stand against this craziness.  It appears to the outside observer that he was perfectly fine being thrown from wife to wife to handmaiden to handmaiden.  It appears he will sleep with whomever and whenever.  We have perspective, of course, so what we know is that God's purpose is for all of these sons to be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.  God was planning to fulfill the covenant he made with Abraham through these sons.  We just get to witness a lot of messiness in the process.   It's also in this chapter that Jacob asks Laban either for his freedom or his wages.  He is ready to go off on his own, but his father-in-law seems to be aware that the only reason that he has been successful is because of Jacob's skill, labor, and blessing.  So Laban agrees to give Jacob all his speckled and spotted goats and dark-colored sheep as his payment for continuing to tend Laban's flocks.  But remember Laban is a deceiver and a trickster.  He tries to cheat Jacob by removing all patterned animals ahead of time and sending them a three-day journey away, leaving Jacob with only solid white sheep and solid-colored goats.   But Jacob also has some things up his sleeve.  Jacob decides on a rather unusual methodology for what appears to be selective breeding of sheep and goats. This section is often heavily criticized as being superstitious folklore. The charge is made that these goat-herders in Canaan obviously knew nothing about genetics.  What was Jacob doing and what did he understand about breeding?   I had to read this a few times.  It is rather confusing.  So, Jacob put the peeled sticks in the watering trough so that the flocks would breed near the troughs.  Just FYI, these kinds of sticks would have been really tasty to the sheep.  The females would be attracted to the troughs with the sticks, drink from the troughs, and the males would come behind them to breed.      The spotted or speckled traits must have been recessive, so it was possible for the solid-colored sheep to have a few babies who carried the recessive trait.  It seems maybe that God gave Jacob a vision of which animals carried this recessive trait.  It was those animals that he gave extra food or medicines to keep them really healthy.  Basically, God is making it so Jacob will prosper, even though Laban is underhanded and deceiving.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope September 16, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 29   Prayer:  Abba Father, Prepare our hearts for your Word today.  Help us approach this Scripture with an openness to learning something new from you.  Jesus, thank you for your perfect example of mercy and love.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis.  Today, we read Genesis 29.   Jacob is not in Haran, where his mother's brother, Laban, lives.  He meets his cousin, Rachel, and falls for her, basically saying he will work for his Uncle Laban for seven years in exchange for the ability to marry Rachel.  Romantic love is very uncommon in the Old Testament so this is a bit of a unusual circumstance.  Laban is a deceiver and trickster, not unlike Jacob himself.  After seven years of labor, there is a wedding and Laban gives Jacob Leah (the older sister) instead of Rachel.  We don't know why Jacob didn't notice the sister switch.  Maybe it was dark, maybe she was veiled, or maybe he was drunk.  Regardless, Leah becomes his first wife.    I have always felt so sorry for Leah.  Not only was she the less favored sister, but her father pawns her off to a man who doesn't want her.  I can't imagine how humiliating this must have been for her.   Jacob wakes up the morning after the wedding and realizes that he has married Leah instead of Rachel.  He is really mad and insists on Laban giving him Rachel.  After a week, Laban does so, but Jacob must agree to seven more years of labor.   The text refers to Leah as the unloved wife.  But she does have many children, four boys right off the bat.  Rachel, on the other hand, has none.  What Laban has done is create a wedge between the sisters and many sad years of competition.   Did Jacob get a taste of his own medicine?  Maybe, but it was at the cost of these two women, who had very little control over their lives.    But regardless, God is going to work his plan.  Leah's boys (at this point in the story) are Reuben, Simeon, Judah, and Levi.  Levi will be the ancestor of Israelites priests and Judah will be the ancestor of Israelites kings.  And we should also mention God's promise to Abraham that he will be the father of many nations.  This covenant will be fulfilled even with Laban's trickery and the sad rivalry between Leah and Rahel.  God fulfills his promises, even through flawed human beings.   Once again, that should bring us a sense of encouragement!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope Sept. 15, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 28   Prayer:  Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are.  Thank you for how you care for us.  We get distracted.  We veer away from you and your Word.  For that, we are so very sorry.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to abide in you.  Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom.  Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them.  Lord, we belong to you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis, and we are about halfway through.  There is still so much to learn and wrestle with!  Today, we continue with the life of Jacob in Genesis 28.   Our reading today starts with Isaac sending Jacob off to find a wife, a woman who was not a Canaanite.  The interesting thing to me here is Esau's reaction.  Esau was already married to two Canaanite women.  He must have known that his choices displeased his parents.  This wasn't something that would be kept a secret.  In fact, at the end of Genesis 26, the text says that Esau's choice in wives made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.  Now, Esau decides to choose a third wife who was not a Canaanite, possibly to gain some favor with his parents.  This seems like a superficial attempt to gain his parent's approval.  Probably a genuine change of heart and a sincere apology would go further.  Regardless, now he has three wives.    Let's move on to Jacob.  The rest of the chapter contains what is typically referred to as "Jacob's Ladder."  Jacob heads off of his own and sleeps in the desert, using a stone for a pillow.  He dreams of a staircase connecting heaven and earth with angels descending and ascending.  God tells Jacob that he will protect him and God confirms the covenant He made with Abraham that his offspring will be many and that the Promised Land will one day belong to his descendants.   Some people see this dream of Jacob's as highly symbolic, representing Jesus Christ, who came to earth as a mediator and became that ladder or stairway for us to reconnect the relationship with God that was severed because of sin.  So, if you ever hear Jesus being called our "Jacob's ladder," that is why.    Again, it's interesting that God chose Jacob, the youngest child and the one who deceived his father and brother.  But God chooses certain people for his own reasons.  Jacob will come to symbolize so much more as we move forward in the book of Genesis.     More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 14, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 26:34-35  & 27   Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice in your name today.  You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega.  You are the one who was, and is, and is to come.  We give you all the glory and praise.  Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is the very end of Genesis 26 and the full chapter of Genesis 27.   It's easy to wonder why God chooses to bless some of the guys in Genesis.  Take Jacob, for instance.  He and his mom devise a plan to deceive Isaac, his dad.  Disguised as Esau, wearing his brother's clothes, and attaching animal skins to his arms and neck, Jacob offers his father a savory meal to replace the one that Esau was supposed to prepare for him.  Jacob then lies to his blind and dying father, saying, "I am Esau your firstborn.  I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me."  Isaac at first seems to know that something is up; he says that the voice seems to belong to Jacob.  But he goes ahead and offers Jacob his blessing.    When Esau finds out what has happened, he is devastated.  He mentions another meaning of Jacob's name, deceiver.  He says something like, "Is he not rightly named Jacob?  For he has now deceived me two times.  He took away my birthright and now he has taken away my blessing."    Jacob seems to cross every line that presents itself.  There is no rule or relationship that is beyond him.  If he wants something, he will get it.  He doesn't mind messing up the line of inheritance and the chain of blessing.  He isn't worried about disrespecting his father or hurting his brother.  He appears to only be interested in himself.  The weirdest thing to me is that his mom is complicit in the whole thing.  Favoritism is always bad news.   But even though Jacob has tried to steal every advantage with mom helping him all the way, life doesn't turn out so well for him.  If he is seeking an advantage, it doesn't come.  As we are about to see in the next few chapters, Jacob will meet his match with his Uncle Laban who is also a deceiver.  And then his own sons will deceive him after they sell Jacob's youngest son and their brother into slavery.  Jacob ends up getting a taste of his own medicine big time.  For us as the readers, there is no satisfaction in any of it, only heartache.    But there is something we will learn from Jacob.  God is going to use him.  God is going to take this deceitful man who lies to his dad and openly tries to harm his brother, and form him into someone who will serve and work for God.  Jacob is going to have to go through the mill but he is going to meet God in some pretty incredible ways.  God can change and transform anyone.  We get to see that over and over again in Scripture.   The other thing that we will see is that the Bible doesn't sugarcoat people.  Scripture is very open about people's flaws and brokenness.  In many ways, this gives me a weird sense of encouragement.  God doesn't need perfect people.  In fact, his specialty seems to be broken, messed up people.  And if God can use all of these people, then he can also use you and me.  And while I don't want to be a deceiver like Jacob, I know I have my own flaws and sins.  And I love that God can still change me and use me.  In fact, I pray that he will.  Thank you, God, for being a God who is still in the business of transforming lives.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

This sermon looks at Abram's call to leave his land, his people, and his family to embark on a journey with God, even when he didn't know where that journey was leading.This is the first sermon in a new series based on the life of Abraham where we are looking at what it means to risk faith in the faithful God.Scripture: Genesis 12:1-9

Why do we carry guilt and grudges when God has already released us from them through Christ's forgiveness? How do we learn to truly let go and extend that same mercy to others? Drawing on Joseph's final reconciliation with his brothers in Genesis and the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18, Fr. Nathan Dearen reveals the radical nature of God's forgiveness—it casts our sin away "as far as the east is from the west"—and calls us to let that mercy overwhelm the guilt of our past and flow through us to those who have wronged us.Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21, Matthew 18:21-35 (NRSV)Preacher: The Rev. Nathan DearenSt. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church | Louisville, KYhttps://www.sfitf.org

ALL FOR ONE                                                     THREE CRITERIA                                                  JEREMIAH AT PHILLIES GAME                        SCRIPTURE GENESIS 1:27                                   27. SO GOD CREATED MANKIND IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE CREATED THEM; MALE AND FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 1:28   28. GOD BLESSED THEM AND SAID TO THEM,” BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; […]

We all have a breaking point when waiting on God feels impossible. Month after month goes by in silence. The temptation to grab the wheel and fix the situation with our own hands becomes overwhelming. But what happens when the artificial safety nets we build eventually run dry?In this message from "The Friend of God" series, Pastor Adam Burton unpacks Genesis 21:1–21 to expose the massive cost of rushing God's timing. Discover how to stop manipulating your circumstances, release the heavy burden of control, and open your eyes to the well of grace that Jesus has already provided for you.

Daily Dose of Hope September 11, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 26:1-33   Prayer:  Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us.  We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances.  Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness.  Help us seek pure hearts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It's in your name we pray, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis.  Today, our reading is the bulk of Genesis 26, through verse 33.   We read in today's chapter that there is a famine in the land so Isaac goes down to Gerar.  Gerar was a town south of Canaan, located in a fertile valley, which makes sense why Isaac would choose that location.  But when he gets there, he does something that will sound very familiar to us.  He tells the local king that Rebekah is his sister!  Like father, like son.  Even though God has promised to protect him, Isaac is still fearful.  How often we fall into the same pattern as our parents.   It's here that we see God's grace.  God blesses Isaac despite himself.  Even after the king finds out that Rebekah is his wife, God ensures that Isaac is blessed and protected.  His flocked multiply.  His wells are plentiful.  He is so very successful that the locals are feeling threatened and he keeps moving around.  He ends up settling in Beersheba, where God reinforces that he is with Isaac and will make his descendants great.    Isaac's success ends up being a witness for the Lord.  Eventually, the king comes and finds him.  He admits that he knows that Isaac is successful because of God Almighty is with him.  It isn't anything that Isaac has done (it's actually despite Isaac).  It's all God.  This leads to Isaac making a covenant of peace with the king.  Again, we see God's hand at work.   How often have you seen God's hand at work in your life, even when you have been disobedient or sinful?  It's amazing to me how God's grace can persist through our mess and stubbornness.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope Sept. 10, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 25   Prayer:  Almighty God, we start by pausing before you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God.  God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It's truly a miracle.  Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the books of Genesis and Exodus.  Today, our reading is Genesis 25.   The chapter begins with Abraham taking a new wife.  Remember, Sarah has passed.  This new wife, Keturah, has quite a few kids.  But the chapter makes it clear that despite these additional children, Abraham gives everything he has to Isaac.  He is the son who God promised to him and the one through whom God's promise will pass.   But then the Scripture says something kind of interesting.  It says that Abrahm gave gifts to the sons of the concubines.  I don't know about you, but I was initially like, what???  Did Abraham have concubines?  Upon some deeper study, the only untoward relationship we know of in Abraham's life is with Hagar.  So, it could be that this is a reference to both Hagar and Keturah, letting us know that God's covenant promise was through Sarah.  The other women did not have the same status.   And then, Abraham dies.  His sons bury him in the same cave as his first wife, Sarah.   We then read about the birth of Isaac's twin boys, Jacob and Esau.  They were fraternal twins that seemed to be in competition with each other from birth.  Some Jewish commentators actually say that they tried to kill one another in the womb, but that certainly does not seem to be evident in the Scripture.  What we do know is that God revealed to Rebekah that the older (stronger) brother will be subordinate to the younger (weaker) brother. But in some ways, the boys divided the parents.  Isaac favored Esau while Rebekah favored Jacob.   Let's fast-forward.  The Scripture moves quickly to when the boys are young men.  It's a story most of us have heard before.  Esau sells his firstborn right for a bowl of Jacob's delicious stew.  We get a picture of Esau as impulsive.  His hunger needs to be dealt with immediately!  He doesn't think about the long-term consequences.   I've always thought this story is so strange.  Esau seems to be impulsive, but he also seems to be treated unfairly.  Thus, we have to look at the deeper themes here.  By favoring Jacob, God is siding with the powerless, the weak, and the younger brother.  By favoring Jacob, God is actually identifying with Israel, the tiny, powerless nation who lived in the middle of much stronger nations.    And while God identifies with Jacob, Jacob is still not always characterized in the best light.  God's favor comes in spite of Jacob's negative behavior.  We can actually get a picture of God's grace here.  Despite his brokenness, God has decided to work through Jacob.  Despite our brokenness, God will work through us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki            

Daily Dose of Hope September 9, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 24   Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, We are so grateful that your mercies are new every single morning.  No matter what our week has been like, we can come to you today afresh and anew.  Lord, forgive us for our many failings.  We want to do better.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 24.   Today, we read about Isaac's marriage to Rebekah.  The chapter begins with Abraham asking his senior servant to swear an oath that he will find a wife for Isaac among his father's people rather than the surrounding Canaanites.  You probably noticed that when asking his servant, Abraham has the servant place his hand under Abraham's thigh.  I definitely needed to look this up.   This was the typical way of swearing a solemn oath in the ancient world.  The thigh was considered the source of posterity. Or, more properly, the "loins" or the testicles. The phrase "under the thigh" could be a euphemism for "on the loins."  We really don't know.  But there are two reasons why someone would take an oath in this manner.  First, Abraham had been promised a "seed" by God, and this covenantal blessing was passed on to his son and grandson. Abraham made his trusted servant swear "on the seed of Abraham" that he would find a wife for Isaac.  Second, Abraham had received circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Our custom is to swear on a Bible; the Hebrew custom was to swear on circumcision, the mark of God's covenant. The idea of swearing on one's loins is found in other cultures, as well. The English word testify is directly related to the word testicles.  So, there's your trivia for today.   Other scholars say that's totally hogwash.  They would say placing a hand under the thigh indicated someone was under their authority.  I'll let you decide which interpretation works.   The senior servant heads out to find a wife for Isaac.  He goes to the land of Nahor, where Abraham's brother and family live.  I kind of feel sorry for the servant here.  It's kind of an awkward situation.  He needs to find an appropriate wife and convince her family to allow him to take her far, far away.  His sincerity and humility certainly help his case though.  He truly wants to do the right thing and it seems that people can sense it.   God makes sure his promises are fulfilled here.  Rebekah agrees to go with the servant, even when her family seeks to delay it.  She goes back with the servant and takes her place in Sarah's tent, demonstrating that she is the new matriarch.    We get to learn more about Isaac in the next few chapters.  Get ready!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope September 8, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 23   Prayer:  Abba Father, We come to you today in awe of your love for us.  Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice.  Thank you for sitting high and looking low.  We give you all the glory and praise, Lord Jesus.  Help us to be less selfish and more like you.  On our own, we mess it up.  We need you, Jesus.  We need you minute by minute.  Guide our thoughts today, Lord.  Guide our words and guide our actions.  May we look more like you today, Lord, than we did yesterday.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 23.   This chapter details the death of Sarah and Abraham's grieving.  We get a picture of how the ancient Hebrews buried and mourned for their deceased.  Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded, so that tells us something about her – she is very highly regarded.    Abraham, very appropriately, grieves deeply for his wife.  Then, he has to figure out where to bury her.  He has a place in mind, the cave of Machpelah.  It was located in the land belonging to Ephron the Hittite. In his travels around Canaan, Abraham had earlier lived in this area and there built an altar to God (chapter 13). He knew this cave and was willing to pay for it.    They do this weird negotiation.  In those times and in that culture, it was appropriate to first offer the plot for free, knowing that the purchaser would refuse that.  Then, there would be back and forth negotiation.  We can see this in the Scripture.  Abraham ends up getting the burial cave for 400 shekels of silver.  I read a few articles that this was a real rip-off, but Abraham was wealthy and he wanted the land.  He would have paid any price for it.  Remember, eventually, all the land was to become Abraham's.  But for this small piece, Abraham actually possessed a deed.   So, Sarah is buried there.  This is also where Abraham's son buries him.  It's where Isaac and Rebekah are buried, where Jacob buries Leah, and where Joseph buries Jacob.  It is often called the Cave of the Patriarchs. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

What do you do when you feel stuck?You've prayed. You've tried to do the right thing. You've trusted God. But nothing seems to be changing.In Genesis 40, Joseph finds himself in exactly that kind of season. He's been betrayed, falsely accused, and thrown into prison for something he didn't do. Then, just when it looks like there might finally be a way out, the man who could help him simply forgets about him.Joseph was stuck.But God had not forgotten him.Testing times will either lead to breakdowns or breakthroughs. The question is, how do we keep going when we reach our quitting point?Joseph's story gives us three powerful prayers for seasons of testing:“LORD, GUARD MY HEART.”Testing can easily turn into bitterness, anger, resentment, or discouragement. Joseph had every reason to become bitter, but he continued to trust God and care about the people around him.When life gets hard, ask God to keep your heart soft.“LORD, SHOW ME WHERE YOU ARE AT WORK.”Joseph couldn't see the whole plan, but God was already working behind the scenes.Even in prison, Joseph noticed what God was doing around him. The very people God brought into that prison would eventually become part of the plan to move Joseph forward.You may not understand your current season, but that doesn't mean God isn't working in it.“LORD, THANK YOU THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET ME.”The cupbearer forgot Joseph.God didn't.Maybe you feel stuck in a relationship, a job, a financial situation, a health struggle, or a season that just won't seem to end.You may feel forgotten, but you are not forgotten.God sees where you are. He knows what you're facing. And even when you can't see what He is doing, you can trust that He is still at work.Don't quit in the testing time. Your breakthrough may be on the other side of your quitting point.

Daily Dose of Hope September 7, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 22   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come to you today in awe.  You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy.  And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy.  Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us.  Thank you, Lord, for your patience.  Help us to focus more on you.  Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better.  Work in us.  Stretch us.  Challenge us.  Convict us.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently working our way through the book of Genesis and today we are looking at Genesis 22.   In our reading for today, we have Abraham almost sacrificing his only son, Isaac.  This passage has always kind of bothered me.  It seems inconsistent with God's character to want Abraham to kill his son.  And remember, when something seems off, we need to dig deeper.  What is God doing here?  In the past, Abraham doubted God.  Think about all the mishaps we have been reading about.  He tried to have children his own way instead of waiting on God.  He repeatedly tried to pass Sarah off as a sister instead of his wife. By asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God was testing Abraham.  Does Abraham finally trust God?  He is finally ready to trust in God's provision?  I don't think God ever intended harm to come to Isaac.  I think he wanted to see how much Abraham had grown.   Besides that, this passage is a beautiful foretelling of another sacrifice.  God himself sacrificed his only son in order for us to be reconciled to a holy God.  John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.    At the end of the chapter, we find more genealogy.  At first, this seemed out of place.  But when you dig beneath the surface, it actually makes sense.  This genealogy lists the family members of Abraham's brother, Nahor.  Nahor has many descendants, including a granddaughter named Rebekah.  Rebekah will eventually become Isaac's wife.  God has the covenant line all taken care of.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

We all have a default survival mode. When the pressure rises and life gets scary, we tend to drop our faith and pick up our old bad habits. We try to control the situation with our own strength and hustle. But what happens when our very best efforts are the exact things putting us in danger?In this message from "The Friend of God" series, Pastor Adam Burton unpacks Genesis 20:1–18 to expose the exhausting trap of self-reliance. Discover how to stop depending on your own grit, see frustrating closed doors as God's protective roadblocks, and finally let His grace cover your biggest messes.Download the Sermon Cheat Sheet: https://web.cbcmaysville.church/docs/20260906_sermon_cheat_sheet.pdf

Daily Dose of Hope September 3, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 20   Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are.  Thank you for how you care for us.  We get distracted.  We veer away from you and your Word.  For that, we are so very sorry.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to abide in you.  Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom.  Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them.  Lord, we belong to you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently studying the book of Genesis, and its full of sinfulness, drama, but also a lot of God's mercy.  Today, we are reading Genesis 20.   So, Abraham and Sarah are back on the move, the Scripture saying that they moved toward the south, in a town named Gerar.  Okay, can you believe Abraham tries to pass Sarah off as his sister again?  By this time, Sarah is in her nineties.  Yet, the king, Abimelech, still brings her into his palace.  We could probably spend some time talking about this point, but I'll let it go.  It's just kind of weird.   God intervenes again.  He comes to Abimelech in a dream and tells him that Sarah is Abraham's wife.  God also calls Abimelech a dead man unless he has Abraham pray for him.  Once again, Abraham makes a bad decision, lies, puts his wife in a really vulnerable situation, and God saves him.  It is amazing.  God is going to be sure that he keeps his promise through Abraham.  Despite Abraham's stupidity.    I guess that's good news for us.  God keeps his promises to us, he cares for us, and he shows us mercy, even when we mess up over and over again.  God uses a very flawed man called Abraham to build a nation.  If he can do that, then he can also use you and me.  Maybe it's kind of odd, but this gives me a lot of encouragement.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope September 2, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 19:30-38   Prayer: Holy God, We pause before you.  We become still, recognizing that you are God.  You are Creator, you are Provider, you are Sustainer.  Thank you, Lord.  We repent for how we have failed you.  We repent for our pride, our anger, our bitterness, our flawed view of others.  We repent for not putting you first.  Forgive us, Lord.  We are broken and sinful people.  Lord, use us anyway.  We pray that you can lead us to a place of healing and peace so that we can then be useful to your Kingdom.  Help us be your servants, open to your leading and direction.  We are yours.  We belong to you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is the second half of Genesis 19, verses 30-38.   More drama!  After Lot almost allows his daughters to be gang raped, now they are arranging to have sex with their dad.  Let's just go ahead and say it – this is very dysfunctional, toxic even.    Let's talk about how we got here.  Lot is fearful so he won't live in the town.  Thus, he and his daughters are residing in a cave.  This probably says something about where they are spiritually too.  They are isolated, they are lonely, and they are afraid.  Are they even acknowledging God?  I don't get the impression God Almighty plays much of a role in their everyday lives.  Not because God has moved on, but because they have chosen a path away from Him.   Fear makes people do desperate things and that's what we see in today's text.  The girls are worried that pretty soon, their dad will die and they haven't had any children.  They say there are no men.  Of course, that isn't true.  The nearest town would have plenty of men but they have isolated themselves to the point that they aren't thinking straight.  So, they get their father drunk and have sex with him.  This is really repulsive and it's hard to imagine that these young women would even think of doing this.  It makes me wonder what their past was like.  But we won't go there today.    Bottom line:  Sin spirals downward.  Lot was sinful. His wife sinned.  The girls sinned. The sins of the fathers affect their children.  Sin always has consequences.  Always.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope September 1, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 19:1-29   Prayer: Dear God, We come to you today with sorrow.  We know that we are sinful and broken.  We know that we have fallen short.  We have been disobedient as individuals and as a church.  Lord, please forgive us and show us your better way.  How we need you.  We are lost without you and our behavior so often speaks to that.  Help us seek holiness.  Help us love others the way you love them.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, please help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis.  Today's reading is the first half of Genesis 19, verses 1-29.   Lot, Abraham's nephew, chose the best land.  It just happened to be that land included some pretty evil cities, both Sodom and Gomorrah.  Their wickedness has been mentioned a few times before this chapter but we get the full experience in chapter 19.    The angels from chapter 18 head over the Sodom.  Lot meets them with a hospitable spirit, offers them a place to stay, and food to eat.  But the men of the town surround Lot's house and demand to have sex with the visiting men.  Not a nice way to welcome people to town.  But instead of standing up to the mob, Lot offered his two daughters for the mob to rape!  What are we to make of this?    It was a sacred duty to care for those under your own roof in the ancient Near East.  Hospitality was a big deal.  But one would think caring for your daughters would be as well.  Lot clearly has some priority issues.  It shows his lack of care for his own daughters, maybe because they are women who have little value in his society, maybe because he was scared, we don't really know.  It's despicable though.  I'm grateful that God's messengers intervened to make sure those girls were safe.   The Bible definitely gives us the whole, ugly truth about people, their sin, their failures, their good choices, and their terrible choices.  God is not lifting them up as an example, but he is allowing us to learn from them.  Lot clearly had compromised his values.  He moved to Sodom.  He rubbed elbows with wicked people.  Something rubbed off on him.  But he allowed it.   The two men, God's messengers, make it clear that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed.  Lot and his family must leave.  The sons-in-law, clearly not having a lot of respect for Lot, laugh at the thought of destruction.  But Lot, his wife, and the two daughters head out of dodge.  But his wife looks back, which God warns them not to do, and she turns into a pillar of salt.  I would have really liked some more information here – what a shock to the family!    Sin has consequences.  We get to see that again and again in Scripture.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

The final sermon from our sermon series, "The Gospel in the Life of Jacob".Scripture: Genesis 46:29–31; 47:7–12, 29–31; 48:15–16

Daily Dose of Hope August 31, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 18   Prayer:  Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives.  Thank you for your presence and your peace.  Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today.  In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty.  Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently studying the book of Genesis, learning a lot about God's character and truth, but also realizing how people haven't changed much at all.    Today's reading is Genesis 18.  This is a fascinating chapter.  Three men come to see Abraham.  But we also know that the Scripture says that the Lord appeared to Abraham.  Thus, we can assume that one of the men was actually the Lord in human form.  The other two might have been angels.    It seems that Abraham knew right off the bat that he was in the presence of God.  He runs out to meet the men, he makes sure they are fed the absolute best.  We know Abraham had been in the presence of God before and so there must have been something about the men that Abraham immediately recognized.    I had some thoughts about this.  How often have we encountered God?  How often have we encountered his messengers, the angels?  Are our eyes open to see when a heavenly being visits us?  Think about Hebrews 13:2, which says not to forget to show hospitality to strangers because by doing so, some people have shown hospitality to angels without even knowing it.    The men tell Abraham that within a year, Sarah will be pregnant.  She laughs and God knows it.  He calls her on it.  I don't blame her.  Women in their nineties don't typically think of pregnancy.  But God had willed it and he makes it clear, nothing is too hard for him.  Do you believe that nothing is too hard for God, I mean really?   The Lord shares with Abraham that he plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their horrible wickedness.  It's obvious that Abraham is greatly bothered by this.  He moves into this negotiation with God.  Will God destroy those cities if there are fifty righteous men?  What about forty-five or forty or thirty or twenty or even ten?  God is patient and says that he won't destroy Sodom or Gomorrah if there are even just ten righteous people there.    God's justice is perfect.  He knew that Sodom and Gomorrah needed to be destroyed.  As horrible as they must have been, it's still hard for me to think about such destruction.  I just have to keep going back to that truth:  God's justice is perfect.  He always knows best.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

MAKE BETTER DECISIONS | Bishop S.Y. YoungerYour decisions have destinations.In this powerful and heavily prophetic message, Bishop S.Y. Younger teaches from Genesis 13:11–12, using the story of Lot to reveal how the decisions we make today can determine where we find ourselves tomorrow.God never intended for us to navigate life using our own wisdom alone. Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to the discernment, wisdom, and direction needed to make better decisions in our everyday lives.Just because it looks good doesn't mean it's God.Just because you can choose it doesn't mean you should.Let the Holy Spirit lead you.

In this message from the "The Friend of God" series, Pastor Adam Burton unpacks Genesis 19:1–38 to expose how we slowly become blind to danger and linger when God tells us to leave. Discover how compromise paralyzes us, why we cannot negotiate halfway safety with our sin, and how God's unearned mercy ultimately drags us out of the fire.DOWNLOAD SERMON NOTES: https://web.cbcmaysville.church/docs/20260830_sermon_cheat_sheet.pdf

Daily Dose of Hope August 27, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 16   Prayer:  Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are.  Thank you for how you care for us.  We get distracted.  We veer away from you and your Word.  For that, we are so very sorry.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to abide in you.  Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom.  Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them.  And help us trust.  Lord, we belong to you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus.  Today's reading is Genesis 16.   Yesterday, God reinforces his covenant with Abram that he will be the father of many nations.  God promises to give Abram and Sarai a son but when it doesn't happen in their timing, they decide to take matters in their own hands.  Sarai devises a plan to have Abram sleep with her handmaid, Haggar, in order to bear him a son.  When Haggar does get pregnant, Sarai isn't happy at all.  Despite the fact that this was all her idea, Sarai becomes furious with Haggar and abuses her.  Haggar leaves and heads into the desert, a dangerous scenario for a pregnant handmaid in those days.  But God meets her there.  He sends an angel who tells her to go back to Sarai and promises that her son, Ishmael, will be a strong and defiant man.    I used to read this Scripture and really burn with anger toward Sarai.  Why was she so mean to Haggar and why didn't she just trust God to begin with?  But over the years, I've realized how often I take matters into my own hands, I don't wait for God's timing, I jump the gun and say and do things without listening to God's clear instructions to wait on him.  While I in no way condone her treatment of Haggar, it's easy to see how she burned with jealousy.  She wanted to be the one who was pregnant with Abram's child!  She wanted to see God's promise come true right now!!!  Of course, we know the end of the story.  God's mercies are so very good.  He cared for Haggar in her hour of need, and he cared with Sarai, despite her disobedience.  And God also cares for us, despite ours.    What's fascinating to me about this power couple, Abram and Sarai, is how very normal they are.  They have times in which they make such crazy choices that leave us scratching our heads and then they have times in which their obedience toward God is incredible.  Maybe we are kind of that way as well.  Sometimes, I feel like I take two steps forward and one step back.  Abram and Sarai were not that different.   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope August 26, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 15   Prayer: Today we pray an ancient prayer from St Ambrose of Milan, who lived from 337-397 AD...O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore You, a heart to delight in You, to follow and to enjoy You, for Christ's sake.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus.  Today's reading is Genesis 15.   In today's reading, God reinforces his covenant with Abram.  But I want to go to the very beginning of the chapter when God tells Abram, in a vision, to not be afraid.  Let's not forget that Abram just finished a major battle and he had every reason to expect an attack from one of the enemy kings.  But God tells him that He, the Lord, will be Abram's shield.  God is going to protect him.   And then there is this interesting dialogue between God and Abram about Abram's heir.  Abram tells God that while God has given him wealth and now protection, what good is any of it if he doesn't have an heir?  He doesn't hold in his frustration.  Abram is honest with God about his frustrations and fears.  Just FYI, we can always be honest with God about our frustrations and fears.  God knows anyway.   So, this is when God reinforces the covenant that he made with Abram.  God promises that Abram's descendants will be as plentiful as stars in the sky.  It is clear and Abram believes (he has faith in God), but he expects it to be soon.  Yet in the chronology of Abram's life, the fulfillment of this promise was still 15 years away.  God's timing is often very different from our own timing.   The chapter ends in an interesting way.  God has Abram fall asleep.  He then prophesies that Abraham's descendants will be in slavery for 400 years (we know this happens in Egypt) and that God will ensure that those descendants eventually gain wealth and be able to return to the land God promised them.    God's plan is in place.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope August 25, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 14   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come before you today in awe of your Word. Thank you for speaking to us through Scripture.  Help us commit to being grounded in your truth.  Help us make learning more about you a priority.  We get so distracted!  The world comes at us from all sides.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus.  Today's reading is Genesis 14.   In today's reading, we have the first recorded battle in Genesis.  It's also the only time Abram is connected to warfare (who knew he had so many armed men at his disposal?)  You might have noticed here that Abram is called a Hebrew as well.    But what is going on?  Remember that Abram and Lot are now living in separate places.  Lot actually lived in Sodom, which happened to be captured in the battle described in verses 1-11.  Lot is taken captive.    Now, God has promised to protect and care for Abram and it seems he is finally trusting in that.  Abram goes into battle to save his nephew and is very successful.  He meets up with two kings, Melchizedek (Salem's priestly king) and the king of Sodom.  Melchizedek comes with wine, food, and blessings.  The king of Sodom comes with his hand out.  These were obviously very different kings, which seem to further highlight the difference between Abram and Lot.  Abram is upstanding and generous, not worried about wealth or property.  Lot is living in what we will learn is a sinful place, possibly hanging out with the wrong people, and espousing values that are very different from Abram's.   I want to just briefly touch on King Melchizedek.  If his name sounds familiar, it may because the author of Hebrews says that Jesus is a priest and king, in the order of Melchizedek.  What does this mean?  Well, Jesus was not in the family line of priests.  His appointment as high priest and king came directly from God.  This is similar to Melchizedek, who is kind of mysterious figure, a king-priest which would have been highly unusual.  We have no evidence that Melchizedek's kingship or priestship were inherited.  Yet, he is called a priest of the most high God.  Did God directly appoint him too?  We really don't know, but it is fascinating that the author of Hebrews makes this connection.   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

A sermon from our sermon series, "The Gospel in the Life of Jacob".Scripture: Genesis 37:1–11, 26–36

Daily Dose of Hope August 24, 2026   Scripture:  Genesis 13   Prayer:   Lord, How we need you.  Thank you for your presence, thank you for the way you continue to pursue us.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and focus on you...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the book of Genesis and this will be followed by a deep dive into Exodus.  So far, Genesis has been filled with lots of truth and lots of drama.  Let's see what today holds.   The reading for today is Genesis 13.  Abram, Sarai, Lot, and all their herdsmen and animals came back from Egypt.  The two men are so wealthy now that the land where they previously lived just couldn't sustain both households.  Plus, their herdsmen were bickering.  So Abram comes up with a plan to separate the two households.  He gives Lot the option which land to take, and he would go in the other direction.  Lot goes to the plain of Jordan and Abram heads to Canaan.   Let's just say Abram handles this situation really well.  He deals with conflict in a very selfless way.  The crowded land and the arguing herdsmen could have ended up with a much different ending.  But Abram doesn't hold on tight to anything; he lets Lot take the best land for himself.  He is not greedy and he trusts God to make sure he and his own household are taken care of.   Possibly as a result of Abram's wisdom and selflessness, God reinforces the covenant he made with Abram.  These are the words he uses, which are pretty powerful, Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you."   God is a God who keeps his promises.  He is going to build a people through Abram.  Are we beginning to see a new and different Abram that has grown in maturity and trust?  I hope so.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

What do you do when life goes sideways?You were trying to do the right thing. You were following God. You thought you knew where life was headed. Then suddenly, everything changed.That's where we find Joseph in Genesis 37.Joseph begins the day simply obeying his father and checking on his brothers. By the end of the day, he's been betrayed by his own family, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and carried away from everything he knows.Joseph couldn't see what God was doing. He could only see the pit.But God could see the whole story.In this message, we discover three important truths for the seasons when life doesn't go according to plan:KEEP OBEYINGJoseph's obedience didn't lead to immediate comfort. In fact, it led him directly into hardship.Sometimes we assume that if we're following God, everything should work out smoothly. But difficulty doesn't necessarily mean you've taken a wrong turn. Obedience isn't promising God that you understand the whole journey. It's trusting the One who does.GUARD YOUR HEARTJoseph's brothers allowed jealousy and resentment to grow until bitterness became destructive.The same thing can happen to us. Hurt that isn't dealt with can slowly become anger, bitterness, gossip, unforgiveness, or resentment.You may not be able to control what someone does to you, but by God's grace, you can choose what you allow that pain to produce in you.TRUST GOD'S PURPOSEJoseph's brothers thought they were destroying his future. Instead, their actions ultimately moved Joseph toward the very place God would use him.That doesn't make their actions good. Their betrayal was real. Joseph's suffering was real. But God's faithfulness was greater.The pit was part of Joseph's story, but it didn't get to write the ending.Maybe you're in a season right now that you never expected.The marriage didn't turn out like you thought.The business didn't succeed.The diagnosis wasn't what you prayed for.The relationship ended.The prayer still hasn't been answered.And you're wondering, "God, where are You?"Joseph's story reminds us that hardship is not proof of God's absence. Your current chapter is not necessarily your final chapter.When life goes sideways, keep walking in obedience. Guard your heart from bitterness. Trust that God is still working, even when you can't see what He's doing.The pit may be part of your story, but it doesn't get to write the ending. God does.

Bishop Jim's insightful messages help others find THEIR METRON through M~otivation E~nlightenment T~ranscendence R~enewal O~utreach and N~etworking Learn more: www.bishinthenow.com Follow Jim Swilley on Youtube to see the videos live Sundays at 11:11 am – https://www.youtube.com/bishinthenow   Bishop Jim Swilley continues “The Healing Word” by exploring healing not simply as something that comes vertically “from God,” but as something that also moves horizontally through human connection, relationships, words, thoughts, and presence. Beginning with Jesus healing the centurion's servant from a distance, Jim considers how difficult circumstances can actually become catalysts for revelation. The message moves into the power of our thoughts and intentions, while avoiding the simplistic idea that every negative experience is something we somehow attracted. Ultimately, the emphasis is on connection: sometimes the healing word is encouragement, sometimes it is simply hearing the voice of someone you trust, and sometimes it is an uncomfortable truth spoken by someone who loves you. Healing happens as we remain open, nurture our relationships, release offenses, reframe painful memories, and become intentional about the energy and words we send into one another's lives. Main Takeaways 1. Sometimes the negative becomes the catalyst for revelation.Jim returns to the Roman centurion who tells Jesus, “speak the word only” and his servant will be healed. The centurion understood that physical proximity was not necessary for healing. Jim's larger point is that circumstances that make us uncomfortable, insecure, rejected, or seemingly trapped can sometimes push us into seeing possibilities we would never have considered otherwise. Scripture: Matthew 8:5–13; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 11:7 “Sometimes the worst thing that ever happened to you may be the best thing that ever happened to you.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 2. The healing word is not limited by distance.Psalm 107 says that God “sent his word, and healed them.” Jim connects this with prayer, positive intention, “sending good energy,” and simply intentionally holding another person in your thoughts. Different people may use different terminology, but the underlying idea is connection that transcends physical distance. Scripture: Psalm 107:20; Matthew 8:8 3. Healing is horizontal as well as vertical.Spirituality is not only about our relationship with God. Jim emphasizes the importance of the “horizontal beam” — our relationships with one another. Jesus connected loving God with loving our neighbor, making human relationship an essential expression of spiritual life. Scripture: Matthew 22:37–40; Ecclesiastes 4:12 “It's the relationships in your life that reveal the Christ to you.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 4. Prayer should seek agreement rather than control.Prayer can become unhealthy when it is really an attempt to make another person's circumstances conform to what we think should happen. Jim argues that before praying for someone, we should understand what that person actually wants rather than assuming we know the proper outcome. Scripture: Romans 8:26; Matthew 18:19 5. Mature spirituality moves beyond everything being simply good or bad.Using the imagery of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil versus the Tree of Life, Jim challenges binary thinking. Heroes can be flawed. Villains can be wounded people. Painful circumstances can produce unexpected growth. The cross itself demonstrates that suffering and resurrection can exist within the same story. Scripture: Genesis 2:9; Hebrews 12:2 6. Unreleased offenses can keep the past alive in the present.Jim uses Charles Manson as an extreme example of what can happen when someone continually collects offenses and interprets everything through what has been done to them. The lesson is not to deny what happened, but to process it rather than allowing yesterday's pain to dictate tomorrow's behavior. “When you keep collecting offenses, it makes you crazy after a while.” — Bishop Jim Swilley 7. Our thoughts matter, which makes intentional living both freeing and challenging.Jim shares a message from Charles McFall responding to the statement, “Every thought I think is creating my future.” “It is as freeing as it is terrifying. Living without intent is scary and it's hard work to always be intentional.” — Charles McFall Jim acknowledges the tension: we cannot simply turn off unwanted thoughts. The practical work is learning how to reframe them rather than repeatedly allowing painful memories or fearful projections to control the present. Scripture: Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8 8. Sometimes we need someone's presence more than their advice.Jim describes calling someone close to him during an intense week and deliberately not talking about what was troubling him. The conversation itself was enough. Sometimes healing energy comes through familiarity, connection, a trusted voice, or someone simply saying, “It's going to be okay.” Scripture: Proverbs 17:17; Galatians 6:2 9. A healing word isn’t always a comfortable word.Like medicine, something can hurt while ultimately helping us. Someone who genuinely loves us may tell us something we do not want to hear. Healthy relationships create enough safety for truth, vulnerability, correction, and growth. “A healing word sometimes is an uncomfortable word. It's a challenging word.” — Bishop Jim Swilley Scripture: Proverbs 27:6; Ephesians 4:15 10. Relationships are worth maintaining because we need connection.One of the strongest conclusions of the message is that independence should not become isolation. Keeping relational “airwaves clear,” releasing unnecessary offenses, communicating honestly, and understanding how different people connect can become part of our own healing. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; 1 Corinthians 12:20–21 The Central Thought You cannot control every thought that enters your mind, every painful memory, every difficult circumstance, or every unknown in your future. But you can change the framework through which you interpret them. Instead of repeatedly wounding yourself with yesterday, you can extract whatever truth is useful, release what belongs to someone else, and remain open to the people whose presence brings healing into your life. “Hang on and keep staying open and get outside of yourself and let people speak into your life and nourish and nurture your relationships, because you never know when you're going to need that person.” — Bishop Jim Swilley