Podcasts about scriptures

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God's grace is helpful for more than just the hereafter. It also works for this afternoon. As Christians, we know God's grace secures our eternity. The question is: How can we apply it today—now?In this episode of ​Live the Bible,​ we're turning to the book of Titus for the key to making the most of God's amazing gift right now. Support the show

Psalms 1 & 2 E2 — Psalm 2 presents a crisis perpetuated by a long line of corrupt empires in the ancient Near East. Every one of these empires makes a practice of conquering, murdering, raping, and pillaging across the known world, while ancient Israel is just one small nation conquered and occupied again and again. So how do Yahweh and his anointed king respond to this injustice? Surprisingly, a lot like how the evil imperial rulers do: with mocking laughter, hot anger, and by smashing them like pottery! But why? In this episode, Jon and Tim explore Psalm 2 as a minority report from an oppressed, ancient people group and an intentionally provocative portrait of God within the broader context of the Hebrew Bible.  FULL SHOW NOTES For chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode. CHAPTERS Why Do the Nations Rage? (0:00-22:47) Yahweh's Laughter and Decree (22:47-39:28) A Warning for the Kings (39:28-55:26) REFERENCED RESOURCES Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here. SHOW MUSIC “Pivot” by Styles Davis & Venuz Beats “Hypha” by invention_ BibleProject theme song by TENTS  SHOW CREDITS Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Dr Adam Koontz and Col Willie Grills talk answer listener questions about the written or implied confessions of typical American congregations, having a knowledge and confidence in the Scriptures, distinctions between the sacraments, and seeking counsel from one's friends and pastor. Visit our website - A Brief History of Power Sign up for Memento, a Lutheran devotional for men. Thanks to our sponsors, Ad Crucem and Gnesio Health Dr Adam Koontz - Redeemer Lutheran Church Pr. Willie Grills - Zion Lutheran Church Music thanks to Verny

Hope for Right Now Podcast–Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey: Activity vs. Receptivity While Walking with Purpose Founder Lisa takes time to write our next women's Bible study, Laura Phelps welcomes guest Caitlin Bean to the Hope for Right Now podcast for a seven-week series: Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey. Lent is a time of sacrifice, preparation, and spiritual waiting—a time to prepare our hearts for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For many of us, it has become about exterior performance, a “holy checklist” we begin on Ash Wednesday and struggle to sustain for 40 days. And preparation? Who has time for that? We are exhausted—after all, it was just Christmas! If this is how your heart feels at the start of Lent, this series is for you—offering practical encouragement, Scripture reflections, and simple ways to experience a more meaningful, peace-filled Lent. In today's episode, Laura and Caitlin talk about receptivity, an aspect of the feminine genius, and why losing distractions is necessary for interior transformation. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Matthew 6:2–4: Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. John 6:10: Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be watchful; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Psalm 22:1–2: The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. He hath set me in a place of pasture. (Douay-Rheims) John 5:17: My Father is working still, and I am working. Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. Are we too busy to receive because of our ungodly need to achieve? Let's not forget that spiritual transformation depends on receptivity, not activity. We can rest, because God is always at work. Is there something in your life that you have called a failure that is actually the Lord setting you in a place of pasture? Show mentions. Walking with Purpose App. Now you can access all your favorite WWP resources—training videos, podcasts, and more—right from your phone or computer. Same great content. Brand-new convenience. Here's how to get started: Visit our learning site at learn.walkingwithpurpose.com to create your account. Bookmark the page for quick access (and check out our easy setup instructions if you need help). Download our app from Google Play or the App Store (look for our signature flower icon). Log in using your account info or one of the direct login options at the bottom of the screen. Caitlin Bean and Laura Phelps, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness Grant Herbel, Substack, “The Spiritual Danger of Turning Everything into Content” Pope Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Letters, Mulieris Dignitatem and Letter to Women Dan and Stephanie Burke, Avila Institute Luke Burgis, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life Mary Oliver, “Sometimes” (Red Bird, 2008) Danielle Bean, Substack Monsignor Charles Pope, SpiritualDirection.com Edith Stein, quote Alice von Hildebrand, The Privilege of Being a Woman Flourish 2026: Spiritual Motherhood, The Transforming Power of the Feminine Genius, St. Louis, MO, April 17-19, 2026. Register here. Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

In this episode we look in the mirror and ask ourselves the question of whether we love the glory that comes from man or the glory that comes from God more.Scriptures referenced:John 12:36-43Matthew 6:1-18Matthew 23:5-7Matthew 5:14-16Acts 4:23-31; 13:1-3Psalm 127:1Matthew 23:11-12John 15:5James 4:6Luke 14:7-11Matthew 28:18-20Luke 6:26John 15:18-20Psalm 115:1Mark 10:42-45Psalm 51:1-2, 7, 10Galatians 1:10**CORRECTIONS**When quoting John 12:38, I accidentally added the word "has" where it wasn't. It didn't affect the meaning, but here is the verse verbatim: "so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 'Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'"When quoting Psalm 115:1 I accidentally omitted the word "your" once. It doesn't change the meaning, but here is the verse correctly: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"Feel free to email the podcast at ijustwanttotalkabout@gmail.com, and we will respond as soon as we are able!I WANT TO BE DISCIPLEDI am on staff with another ministry called Mentoring Men for the Master (M3). M3 is a discipleship ministry; so, if you are interested in being discipled and having someone come alongside you to invest in you and your walk with Jesus, or if you would like to do this in someone else's life, feel free to email us at info@mentoringmen.net. You can also check out M3's website by clicking "I want to be discipled". Also note that despite the ministry's name, M3 disciples both men and women; so, the offer is open to all!I WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTERIf you would like to sign up to receive newsletter updates, simply click "I want to sign up for the newsletter" and fill out the form. Also, feel free to check out our most recent newsletter.I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTIf you feel so led, you can support the podcast by clicking "I want to support the podcast". I Just Want to Talk about the Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that any donations made are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for giving as the Lord leads!...

Several times in the Bible, we read that what is impossible for man is possible for God. What does this mean in various settings? Is making the impossible possible a matter of faith? Character? God's power? What might be dangerous about the possibility for humans? How can we understand and fully live within the boundaries of the possible while stretching to experience God's power in the impossible?Receive When life feels uncertain, it helps to remember who God truly is and that the Bible says repeatedly that nothing is too hard for God. But... the Scriptures also tell us there are things God cannot do—He cannot do evil, He cannot lie, and He cannot be overcome by death. That means His character is completely trustworthy. When we face fear, confusion, or disappointment, we can rely on His goodness, believe His promises, and trust that nothing—not even death—has the final word. Reflect Read the verses connected with this episode below. As you reflect on the Scripture, what stands out to you? Job 34:10, 12 Hebrews 6:18-19 John 12:24 Psalm 18:3-5 Psalm 16:9-10 Acts 3:15 Jeremiah 32:37 Genesis 18:14 Matthew 19:16-30 Genesis 11:1-9 Matthew 17:20 Hebrews 11:6 Job 34:10 says that it's impossible for God to do evil. How does this encourage you in your daily walk with Him? Hebrews 6:18 says that it's impossible for God to lie. How can this help you trust Him more? Acts 2:24 says that it's impossible for Jesus to die. How does this give you hope for your own rebirth with Him? Respond (Use this prayer to start a conversation with God) “Thank You Jesus that some things are impossible for You. Because You cannot do evil, cannot lie, and cannot be bound by death—let that help me trust You even more and encourage me to walk closer with You.”  Discover more about the topics in this episode with these recommended resources Mentioned in this episode: Our Daily Bread Reading Plans  Listen: God of Hope  Seemingly Impossible Commands | Week 1  Seemingly Impossible Commands | Week 2  Read: Facing The Impossible The Love of God: An Intimate Look at the Father-Heart of God Watch: The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53  The Holy Land: Connecting the Land with Its Stories  

God is following a plan. This truth is revealed in the numerous prophecies recorded in the Scriptures. Most have already been fulfilled, but there are still many waiting for the day of their fulfillment, particularly those dealing with the Second Coming of Christ.

In this message from Gospel of Mark 12:35–44, we step into the temple during the final week of Jesus' life and watch Him confront the religious leaders with a question they cannot answer. Quoting Psalms 110 and pointing back to the promise of 2 Samuel 7, Jesus asks how the Messiah can be both David's Son and David's Lord. The riddle exposes more than bad theology—it reveals hardened hearts. The scribes know the Scriptures inside and out, yet their love for recognition, status, and control proves they have missed the very One the Scriptures point to. This sermon unpacks that tension and reminds us: knowing who God is isn't about winning debates or looking spiritual—it's about lives transformed by the truth. The passage closes with a striking contrast at the temple treasury. As wealthy worshipers give from their abundance, a poor widow quietly offers two small copper coins—everything she had. Jesus declares her gift greater, not because of its size, but because of her surrender. Together, these scenes press one clear takeaway: knowing who God is shows up in how you live. From generosity to humility to daily obedience, our actions reveal what we truly believe. This message invites us to examine our own hearts—are we performing like the scribes, or trusting like the widow? And as we look to Jesus, the greater King who would soon give everything for us, we're called to respond with wholehearted faith.

Gary: Welcome to Search the Scriptures 24/7, a radio ministry of The Berean Call with T.A. McMahon. I'm Gary Carmichael. It's great to have you along. In today's program, Tom wraps up a two-part series with guest Rob Congdon as they address the topic: What's New with Calvinism? Here's TBC executive director Tom McMahon.Tom: Thanks, Gary. My guest for our second part of this series is Robert Congdon. He's the founder of Congdon Ministries International, CMI, and it's a ministry, as we mentioned last week, that has sought to assist local churches, earlier in Great Britain and particularly in the US, but now he's expanded the work to include other countries. And, as I mentioned, a primary focus of CMI is dealing with the defense of dispensationalism, premillennialism, and we talked last week about the importance of biblical hermeneutics – how anyone who reads the Bible and wants to know what God is saying…we have two other terms, “exegesis” and “eisegesis.” Well, eisegesis is when we approach the Scriptures with what we want it to say, or imposing our own ideas on it, whereas exegesis is trying to figure out what God is saying, and that's the heart of CMI. And, Rob, welcome back to Search the Scriptures 24/7.

In a world filled with noise, pressure, and uncertainty, many families are longing for something deeper than surface-level calm—they're searching for true peace at home.  This week on the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, we've been exploring what it means to cultivate a home marked by shalom—the kind of deep, abiding peace God intends for His people. Not a peace dependent on perfect schedules or spotless kitchens, but a wholeness rooted in knowing who God is and trusting the story He is writing, even when life doesn't unfold the way we hoped.  In today's conversation, host Patti Garibay sits down with Bible teacher, theologian, and author Elizabeth Woodson to explore how understanding God's grand redemptive story—from beginning to forever—can transform the way families experience peace, purpose, and joy. Elizabeth helps parents see how theology isn't meant to stay abstract, but to shape everyday life right at home: in our expectations, our disappointments, and the way we model faith for our daughters.  This episode is for the mom who feels stretched thin, for the family navigating tension or unmet expectations, and for every parent who wants her daughter to grow up anchored in God's truth rather than the world's definition of peace. You'll be encouraged to stop striving for control and instead receive the shalom that comes from surrendering your home—and your story—to the Prince of Peace.  Scriptures referenced in this episode:  Isaiah 9:6  John 14:27  Colossians 3:15  Psalm 127:1  Genesis 1–Revelation 22    To learn more about Elizabeth Woodson's work and her book From Beginning to Forever, visit thewoodsoninstitute.org  Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.     Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.    

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Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21-23 and Mark 6-7 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! On this February 26th episode, your Bible reading coach Hunter invites you to join in on day 57 of our year-long journey through the Scriptures. Today, we'll explore the detailed laws of purification from the book of Numbers, witness moments of deep need and miraculous intervention in Mark's Gospel, and find comfort in the heartfelt cries and praises of Psalm 28. In today's readings, we encounter people reaching out for healing—both the well-known and the unnamed—reminding us that Jesus' hands of compassion are extended to each of us. Hunter offers spiritual reflections, guiding us to warm our hearts by the fires of God's love, and leads us in thoughtful prayer to carry us into the day. Whether you're new or returning, this episode is not just about checking off a reading plan—it's about meeting the God who is with us, finding hope, encouragement, and the reassurance that you are loved. Settle in, and let's go on this journey together! TODAY'S DEVOTION: A man named Jairus, a synagogue ruler, falls on his knees before Jesus and begs him: Please come, put your hands on my girl. She's 12 years old, so that she will be healed and live. Mark tells us of another person who's reaching out her hands. He doesn't give us her name. This unnamed woman has been waiting, bleeding, for 12 long years. Everything she has is gone. Every possible option has been exhausted, and she's dying too. She needs Jesus to reach out his hands and touch her. Jesus responds to both of them—the prominent man Jairus and the unnamed woman. He's there for them both. He's there to do what he set out to do: to reach out his hands of compassion and stop the bleeding, to stop death. And he's going to do it by pouring out his own blood and offering up his own life so that all people everywhere, the somebodies and the nobodies, will know his redeeming love. He sees you today. He's reaching out his hands to you today in love. He's coming into your home. He's taking you by the hand, and he's speaking words of life: Talitha koum. Little girl, rise up. That is the gospel. That's the heart of our God. This is the message that we are so privileged to take to the world today. Hear his word to you. He's come to stop the bleeding. He's come to stop death. He's come to call you to life. And the prayer of my own heart today, for my own soul, is that I will hear him well. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

The Dismantling of the Religious Self Four Lenten Reflections on Delusion, Abandonment, and the Life That Remains in God “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 The fathers speak very little about religious success. They speak constantly about religious delusion. Not because religion is false, but because the ego can survive inside it indefinitely. It can pray. It can fast. It can obey. It can sacrifice. It can appear humble. It can appear faithful. It can appear entirely given to God. And yet never cease to exist as the center of its own life. The religious self is the final refuge of autonomy. It is the last structure to collapse. Christ did not come merely to forgive sin. He came to destroy the self that lives apart from Him and to raise the person into a life that is no longer his own. This destruction does not occur all at once. It occurs in stages. First, the destruction of false fulfillment. Then, the destruction of false righteousness. Then, the destruction of the self that believed it belonged to God. And finally, the revelation of the life that remains when the self that lived has died. This is not metaphor. It is the path. First Reflection The False Light That Feeds on Devotion On Seeking Fulfillment in Religious Things Instead of God “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?” Psalm 41:3 (42:2) Evagrios of Pontus returns again and again to the command of the Lord because he knows the tragedy of the human heart. The command is heard. It is repeated. It is admired. But it is not yet obeyed. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Matthew 6:33 This is not because the man refuses God. It is because he does not yet know how to live from Him. The soul seeks life with a desperation deeper than thought. It cannot endure emptiness. It cannot endure groundlessness. It must drink from something. And until it drinks from God Himself, it will drink from what surrounds Him. This is the beginning of the spiritual life for nearly every man. He turns away from obvious sin. He enters the life of prayer. He begins to fast. He reads the Scriptures. He studies the Fathers. He orders his days toward obedience and repentance. He removes himself from the chaos of the world and places himself among holy things. Everything outwardly moves toward God. But inwardly, something subtle and terrible begins to form. The man begins to live not from God, but from religious life itself. He begins to draw life from proximity. From belonging to the Church. From serving others. From participating in sacred rhythms. From being known as faithful. From being recognized as someone who has given his life to God. These things give him structure. They give him identity. They give him continuity. They give him the sense that his life has weight and meaning. And this feels like life. But it is not yet life in God. Christ did not say blessed are those who surround themselves with religious things. He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 The branch may rest against the vine. It may touch the vine. It may appear connected to the vine. But unless the life of the vine flows into it, it remains dead. St. Isaac the Syrian speaks with terrifying clarity about this condition. He writes that the soul seeks rest relentlessly, but until it rests in God, it will rest in created things. Even in holy things. Even in prayer itself. Because prayer can become a place where the ego hides. St. John Climacus warns of this when he writes that vainglory attaches itself to every virtue like a parasite. It feeds on fasting. It feeds on prayer. It feeds on silence. It feeds on obedience. It feeds on tears. It feeds on devotion itself. It is possible to pray constantly and remain centered in oneself. It is possible to serve constantly and remain untouched by God. It is possible to build an entire life around God and never yet have surrendered one's life to Him. Christ speaks of this with devastating simplicity. “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you.” Matthew 7:22–23 He does not deny their works. He denies their communion. They lived around Him. They acted in His name. They built their lives in His presence. But they did not live from Him. This is the great danger of religious life. It offers proximity without union. The ego adapts itself to religious structure because religious structure can sustain its existence indefinitely. The ego does not resist religion. It colonizes it. Abba Macarius the Great said, “The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and lions are there, and poisonous beasts are there, and all the treasures of wickedness are there. But there too is God.” Both realities coexist for a long time. The man prays, and the ego remains. The man fasts, and the ego remains. The man serves, and the ego remains. The ego does not fear religious activity. It fears death. Because Christ did not come merely to improve the ego. He came to crucify it. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 This is not metaphor. It is ontological violence. The ego can survive prayer. It cannot survive crucifixion. This is why the ego draws life from religious participation rather than from God Himself. Because participation strengthens its continuity. Communion destroys its autonomy. Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou writes that God allows the man to labor in the life of the Church for years while this hidden foundation remains intact. Not because God is absent, but because the man is not yet capable of bearing the loss of himself. So God permits him to live from secondary things. From belonging. From service. From stability. From identity. These things are not evil. They are merciful accommodations to weakness. But they cannot give life. The prophet Jeremiah speaks with words that cut through every illusion. “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13 The tragedy is not that the cisterns are wicked. It is that they cannot sustain life. They leak. They empty. They must constantly be refilled. The man must constantly reaffirm himself. He must remain useful. He must remain faithful. He must remain visible. He must remain necessary. Because his life depends on these conditions. But life in God does not depend on conditions. Life in God survives abandonment. It survives obscurity. It survives uselessness. It survives the loss of identity itself. This is why God begins, at a certain point, to remove the cisterns. Not as punishment. As mercy. He allows the man to lose what sustained his sense of himself. He allows him to lose position. He allows him to lose recognition. He allows him to lose certainty. He allows him to lose the emotional consolations that once accompanied prayer. Prayer becomes dry. Service becomes empty. The structures that once gave life now give nothing. This is the beginning of truth. St. Silouan the Athonite describes this moment as the withdrawal of grace that reveals to the man the true poverty of his soul. He writes that when grace withdraws, the soul sees its own weakness and learns that it cannot live without God. Not without religious life. Without God. The distinction becomes absolute. The man discovers that he does not yet know how to live from God Himself. He only knows how to live from what surrounds Him. This revelation feels like death. Because something is dying. The false center. The imagined continuity. The self that lived from participation instead of communion. Christ spoke of this death when He said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25 This loss is not symbolic. It is experiential. It is terrifying. Because the ego experiences the loss of its foundations as annihilation. Abba Moses said, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” What does the cell teach? It teaches the man that he does not yet live from God. It removes distraction. It removes affirmation. It removes reinforcement. And what remains is his poverty. His inability to give himself life. His inability to sustain himself. His inability to exist without drinking from God. This is the beginning of real prayer. Not prayer that expresses devotion. Prayer that expresses need. Not prayer that affirms identity. Prayer that arises from groundlessness. The publican understood this when he stood at a distance and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Luke 18:13 He had nothing left to sustain himself. And Christ says he went home justified. Because justification begins when illusion ends. God does not remove the false light to harm the man. He removes it to save him. Because whatever the man cannot lose without losing himself has become his god. God removes every false god. Even the religious ones. Until only God remains. St. Isaac the Syrian writes that the man who has learned to live from God alone becomes free from all fear. He can lose everything and remain alive. Because his life no longer depends on created things. It depends on the uncreated God. This is the passage from religious life into real life. The passage from devotion into communion. The passage from illusion into truth. It begins in loss. It ends in God.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

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There's a scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that most Christians have read but never actually deployed. When you understand what it's really saying -- in the Amplified Classic -- it will change how you give, how you pray, and how you expect God to move in your finances. In this Bible study we break down the full passage verse by verse and show you exactly how to walk it out in real life. In this session we cover: -What "all grace, favor, and earthly blessing" actually means in the Greek -Why your heart matters when you give -- and how it affects what you receive back -The difference between sowing sparingly and sowing generously -Why "I can't afford it" is a phrase that needs to leave your vocabulary forever -What faith in action actually looks like when money is tight -How to apply 2 Corinthians 9:8 as a daily confession and see results Scriptures covered: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Philippians 4:19, Psalms 112:9, Mark 11:23-24, James 2  

God tells us all we need to do, let's trust in His mercy!

One of the perennial discussions in the Reformed tradition is over the frequency with which we ought to observe and partake in the Lord's Supper together. In the history of the CRC, it was common to partake quarterly and on Good Friday. But the growing trend today in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches seems to be going the other direction, toward weekly celebration. In this week's episode we aim to mine the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition's great luminaries to show that while there is no express command, there does seem to be a general push for more frequency rather than less.   The article we mention in the episode from Resurrection OPC in Matthews, NC can be found here: https://www.rpcmatthews.org/articles/reformed-theologians-on-the-frequency-of-communion-past-amp-present ----more---- Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA. Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Moving from Baby Christian to Kingdom Steward In this powerful episode of Enter the Glory Zone, Dr. Edith Davis issues a wake-up call to the Body of Christ. We are not defined by our ethnicity or our denominations, but by our position as the one true Bride of Christ. Dr. Davis explains that while we are all valuable to God, our usefulness to the Kingdom is directly tied to our maturity and our skill in the Word. If you have been feeling defeated by physical symptoms, emotional turmoil, or spiritual attacks, this message provides the technical "how-to" for standing your ground and enforcing the victory Jesus already won. -- Dr. Davis breaks down the "Beautification Process" of the Church and what it means to be a bride without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. -- Discover the definition of a "Sound Mind" as a cool, calm, and collected mind that refuses to be governed by volatile emotions. -- Hear the testimony of a man sent all the way to the Philippines because there wasn't a single mature Christian available to answer the enemy. -- Learn the vital revelation of 1 John 4:17: understanding that as Jesus is in heaven right now—glorified and free from pain—so are you in this earthly realm. -- A deep dive into the 30 years of preparation Jesus underwent for three and a half years of ministry, and how he used "It is written" to defeat Satanic temptation. -- A powerful closing prayer and decree specifically targeting the protection of "soft targets" on planet earth and the binding of demonic forces. Scriptures for Further Study -- 2 Timothy 1:7 -- Hosea 4:6 -- Romans 10:9 -- 1 John 4:17 This is episode 395. +++++++ Check out my new website: https://www.enterthegloryzone.org/ MY AUDIO BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE You can Divorce Proof Your Marriage by understanding the Secret Keys of Love. You will come to understand that your Marriage has an enemy. You will come to understand that you are dating your future spouse representative. You will come to understand that your Marriage has the gift of Supernatural Sex. For more information about purchasing this audio book, click here: https://personalbuy.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product8702.html

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In today's culture, appearance matters more than ever. From social media to fashion to aging, Christian women are constantly told what to look like, what to buy, and who to become. But what does Scripture actually say about beauty — and how does our identity in Christ reshape the way we see ourselves?In this episode, Ellen talks with Ashleigh Brophy, creative director of Preserve Magazine, about:• How to break free from cultural beauty standards • What identity in Christ means for everyday confidence and worth • How creativity, motherhood, and calling flow from a secure foundation in Christ • How to renew your mind about appearance and comparison • Why biblical beauty begins with rest in your identity in Christ, not strivingTrue beauty isn't something you achieve — it's something that flows from a heart anchored in your identity in Christ.Check out Preserve Magazine and their brand new issue!Scripture referenced:Romans 12:2Exodus 31:1-111 Corinthians 12:4-26Proverbs 31:30About Preserve Magazine:Website | Instagram | TikTok Ashleigh's favorite Bible study tools:ESV | Mr. Pen Highlighters | Notebooks | Romans: Verse by VerseGot a question or something on your heart? We'd love to hear it! Drop us a note — your feedback helps us create episodes that truly encourage and inspire.Connect with God with the Every Woman's Bible

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! On this February 26th episode, your Bible reading coach Hunter invites you to join in on day 57 of our year-long journey through the Scriptures. Today, we'll explore the detailed laws of purification from the book of Numbers, witness moments of deep need and miraculous intervention in Mark's Gospel, and find comfort in the heartfelt cries and praises of Psalm 28. In today's readings, we encounter people reaching out for healing—both the well-known and the unnamed—reminding us that Jesus' hands of compassion are extended to each of us. Hunter offers spiritual reflections, guiding us to warm our hearts by the fires of God's love, and leads us in thoughtful prayer to carry us into the day. Whether you're new or returning, this episode is not just about checking off a reading plan—it's about meeting the God who is with us, finding hope, encouragement, and the reassurance that you are loved. Settle in, and let's go on this journey together! TODAY'S DEVOTION: A man named Jairus, a synagogue ruler, falls on his knees before Jesus and begs him: Please come, put your hands on my girl. She's 12 years old, so that she will be healed and live. Mark tells us of another person who's reaching out her hands. He doesn't give us her name. This unnamed woman has been waiting, bleeding, for 12 long years. Everything she has is gone. Every possible option has been exhausted, and she's dying too. She needs Jesus to reach out his hands and touch her. Jesus responds to both of them—the prominent man Jairus and the unnamed woman. He's there for them both. He's there to do what he set out to do: to reach out his hands of compassion and stop the bleeding, to stop death. And he's going to do it by pouring out his own blood and offering up his own life so that all people everywhere, the somebodies and the nobodies, will know his redeeming love. He sees you today. He's reaching out his hands to you today in love. He's coming into your home. He's taking you by the hand, and he's speaking words of life: Talitha koum. Little girl, rise up. That is the gospel. That's the heart of our God. This is the message that we are so privileged to take to the world today. Hear his word to you. He's come to stop the bleeding. He's come to stop death. He's come to call you to life. And the prayer of my own heart today, for my own soul, is that I will hear him well. That's a prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

During the recent State of the Union, something stood out — not because of policy, but because of how we respond to moral issues in our culture.When did we stop calling evil… evil?In this video, we examine Isaiah 5:20, Romans 1, and the growing moral confusion in modern culture. This isn't about politics. It's about discernment. It's about truth. It's about whether Christians still have the courage to call right “right” and wrong “wrong.”Have we traded conviction for comfort?Have we allowed popularity to define goodness?Have we stopped testing everything through Scripture?Let's wrestle with it together.

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

In this episode Pastor Bryan challenges the popular but dangerous habit of "narcissistic" Bible reading—treating the Scriptures like a mirror to validate our own feelings rather than a window into the mind of God. By exploring the critical distinction between Eisegesis (reading our own meaning into the text) and Exegesis (drawing God's meaning out of it), we uncover how misusing "inspiring" verses like Jeremiah 29:11 or Philippians 4:13 can actually silence the Holy Spirit's true intent. Listeners will walk away with a practical four-pillar framework for Hermeneutics, shifting from seeking "nuggets of personal approval" to encountering the transformative, Christ-centered reality of the Word.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate NowKeyword: Bible StudyWhat's the Difference between Eisegesis and Exegesis?What Is Biblical Hermeneutics?--

In this episode Pastor Bryan challenges the popular but dangerous habit of "narcissistic" Bible reading—treating the Scriptures like a mirror to validate our own feelings rather than a window into the mind of God. By exploring the critical distinction between Eisegesis (reading our own meaning into the text) and Exegesis (drawing God's meaning out of it), we uncover how misusing "inspiring" verses like Jeremiah 29:11 or Philippians 4:13 can actually silence the Holy Spirit's true intent. Listeners will walk away with a practical four-pillar framework for Hermeneutics, shifting from seeking "nuggets of personal approval" to encountering the transformative, Christ-centered reality of the Word.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate NowKeyword: Bible StudyWhat's the Difference between Eisegesis and Exegesis?What Is Biblical Hermeneutics?--

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Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

You hit the goal and it still felt empty. You had the breakthrough and three weeks later you were back to the same pattern. You keep finishing things and never feeling finished.Here's the problem nobody's telling you: you've been running a continuous improvement process on your life without ever defining what "improved" actually looks like. And in Lean manufacturing, that's not self-improvement — that's overprocessing. Activity without alignment. Motion without a model.Toyota figured this out decades ago. They didn't build the most efficient production system on earth through radical overnight revolution. They built it through Kaizen — small, incremental, daily improvements toward a clearly defined standard. No standard, no Kaizen. Without a target state, improvement has no direction.So what's the target state for your soul?In this episode, I make a case that might surprise you. The standard for human wholeness isn't a personality profile. It isn't your "best self." It isn't the curated version of you that performs well on LinkedIn. The standard is a person — Jesus Christ. Not as a stained-glass-window religious figure, but as the most operationally integrated human being who ever walked the earth.He managed His energy without guilt. He held authority and tenderness in the same body without fragmenting. He stayed on assignment when the crowd wanted scope creep. And Luke 2:52 reveals that He grew in four dimensions simultaneously — wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man — without overdeveloping one at the expense of the others.That's the blueprint. And everything God is doing in your life right now — the stripping, the waiting, the discomfort of still becoming — is a Kaizen cycle designed to close the gap between where you are and that standard.In this episode, you'll discover:→ Why continuous improvement fails without a defined standard — and what that means for every self-help framework you've tried → How Jesus operated as an integrated leader across five dimensions that no modern leadership model has replicated → The Luke 2:52 framework for four-dimensional human wholeness → Why the season of feeling "unfinished" is actually proof that God's process is working, not failing → Two practices to implement this week: the four-dimension audit and reading Mark as an operational case studyIf you've been exhausted from building yourself from scratch, this episode is the permission slip to stop — and the blueprint to start cooperating with what's already being built in you.—Scriptures referenced: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 1:6, Luke 2:52, Mark 1:35-38, John 4:6-34, Luke 4:43Lean Principle: Kaizen (改善) — Continuous improvement toward a defined standard—

Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux was preacher for this service. Mark 14:32-52: 32 They went to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 Then he took Peter, James, and John along with him and began to be troubled and distressed. 34 He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going forward a little, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He also said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 When he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong enough to keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 When he returned, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what they should answer him. 41 He returned the third time and said to them, “Are you going to continue sleeping and resting? It is enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.” 43 Just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. 44 Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 They laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood nearby drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 Jesus responded by saying to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me as you would a criminal? 49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But this happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50 Then the disciples all left him and fled. 51 A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body. They seized him, 52 but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 283 - Glory Be To Jesus, Who in Bitter Pains - The Versicles (pp. 120-121) - The Gloria Patri (p. 121) - Mark 14:32-52: 32 They went to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 Then he took Peter, James, and John along with him and began to be troubled and distressed. 34 He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going forward a little, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He also said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 When he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong enough to keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 When he returned, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what they should answer him. 41 He returned the third time and said to them, “Are you going to continue sleeping and resting? It is enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.” 43 Just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. 44 Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 They laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood nearby drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 Jesus responded by saying to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me as you would a criminal? 49 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But this happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50 Then the disciples all left him and fled. 51 A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body. They seized him, 52 but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked. - Hymn 334 - O Sacred Head, Now Wounded: vv. 1, 7, 9 - The Kyrie (p. 124) - The Lord's Prayer (p. 125) - Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord - The Collect (pp. 125-127) - The Benedicamus (p. 127) - The Benediction (p. 127) - Hymn 284 - Go To Dark Gethsemane: vv. 1 - 3 - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Preacher), Ryan Samek (Organist)

Now we are not only holding up the shield of faith, but we arealso taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We have alreadysaid many things about this but today is especially important as we talk aboutthe Word of God and prayer—the Word of God and prayer. Youcannot separate the Word of God from prayer. If you are praying as you should,you will be reading the Word of God as you should. You will be in the Word, andthe Word will be living in you. If you are not in the Word, you will not bepraying as you should. There is another very important truth: you must pray infaith. So we have faith, the Word, and prayer. These three are interdependentupon each other. You will not continue to do what you ought to do in any one ofthem without the others. Ilove what Mark 11:22–24 says: “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Havefaith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Beremoved and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, butbelieves that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that youreceive them, and you will have them.'” They go together. If you want powerin prayer, pray the Word. If you want boldness in prayer, pray the promises ofGod. Iwant to encourage you—if you have never read it before—you can find it onAmazon: Faith's Checkbook by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is available as adaily one-minute devotional book. I encourage you to get it. I used it foryears, and I continue to use it. It contains 365 promises that you “cash in.”It is like a checkbook—you take that promise, make it yours, and pray it backto God. When you pray the promises of God, it gives you boldness. God has mademany promises. Pray those promises. Ifyou want clarity in prayer, pray the Scriptures. One of the best books I stilluse every day—and I have given it to hundreds of people—is The Power of Prayer,a little one-minute devotional by E. M. Bounds. It is like a catalyst. It islike priming the pump. You read it, and you are motivated and encouraged topray. Justyesterday's February 24th reading was based on Romans 12:12: “Rejoicing inhope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Prayer andGod's promises are interdependent. The promises inspire and energize prayer,but prayer isolates and locates the promise, giving it realization andapplication. I love this illustration: The promise is like blessed rain fallingin full showers, but prayer is like the pipes that direct the rain—focusingthese promises until they become direct and personal, until they bless,refresh, and fertilize.Prayertakes hold of the promise and guides it to its marvelous end. It removes theobstacles and makes a highway for the promise to reach its gloriousfulfillment. Thereis always a little prayer at the end: “Dear Lord God, thank You for Yourpromises. Thank You that our earnest prayers can put Your promises to bless andrefresh in action. I praise Your name. Amen.” SoI want to encourage you today and understand that when you pray God's Word backto Him, you are praying according to His will. Because 1 John 5:14 says: “Andthis is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything accordingto His will, He hears us.” Oh, the precious promises, the Word of God, andprayer—this is the sword of the Spirit. My friend, it energizes. It carriesprayers to the place where they are needed in the lives of people. Menlike Andrew Murray wrote books such as, “With Christ in the School of Prayer”.Get hold of those books. Read them—but more importantly, pray as you read them.Listen to what God is saying to you. Be encouraged today to take up the shieldof faith, to hold up the sword of the Spirit, and to pray always. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Jesus is the Word of God come alive. The Scriptures reveal this clearly to us.

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #290 Title: Purim—Anticipating Instant Change   Web Description: We can look at what is happening in the world today and feel like darkness is taking over; everything is getting worse and nothing is going to change. But the Scriptures give us a different picture. The Scriptures show us that things can change in an instant, and the story of Esther is a prime example of that. As we celebrate the Feast of Purim this year, let us anticipate that when we come before the King in our intercession, He will reverse the plot of destruction against God's people and turn our mourning into rejoicing.   Show Notes: The book of Esther records that the Jews established the Feast of Purim "for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them." It was established so that all generations will remember how the annihilation that was determined and already set in motion was suddenly reversed. In an instant their mourning, sorrow, and fear of destruction were changed into a celebration of gladness and a holiday of feasting and rejoicing.   The Feast of Purim therefore is a celebration of instant change. When we celebrate it, we remember that no matter how bleak things are, everything can change in a moment. What could be bleaker than the plot for complete annihilation of the Jews in the time of Esther? Yet the reversal of that plot has been passed down to us as a remembrance that if we enter the presence of the King and bring our need to His attention, He will command the change and by His Word the destruction that is set to transpire will not happen.   As we see today with Hamas and Israel, satan is still set to destroy Israel and the Jewish people. And as we approach the time of the end, we are seeing satan's plot against the whole earth expand from the Jewish people into all humanity in his determination to destroy all flesh. But we also know by Purim and by the examples of the Scriptures that the plan of destruction can be completely reversed in a moment. So we do not let our hope be tainted by the negativity that surrounds us. We celebrate Purim this year with our hope renewed; and that hope is for instant change.   Key Verses:   •       Isaiah 60:1–3. "Darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you." •       Esther 9:20–22. "It was … turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday." •       Mark 13:19–20. "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved." •       Esther 9:23–25. "When it came to the king's attention, he commanded." •       Esther 9:26–28. "The Jews … made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them." •       Isaiah 29:5–7. "It will happen instantly, suddenly." •       Isaiah 17:12–14. "At evening time, behold, there is terror! Before morning they are no more."   Quotes:   •       "You can look and say, 'How can this ever change? How can things ever really be restored to the Kingdom of God from the direction that they're going? How could good come out of such evil?' But we must know and understand that it can, and it will." •       "We celebrate before we see. We have a time of celebration as an expression not only of our faith, but our knowing that God can bring about deliverance and change and bring about another purpose and will." •       "This feast was consecrated by Mordecai for us as those who are allies with the Jewish people and with Israel. And so I proudly celebrate Purim, and I am thankful for my inclusion in its celebration."   Takeaways:   1.    Purim is an example of deliverance, repeated many times in the Scriptures, that things can change 180 degrees in just one moment. 2.    We as believers must live in the knowledge and faith that at any second God can move and everything can change. We cannot be tainted by the oppression of this age. 3.    We must never lose the reality in God that in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, everything can be different.   Scriptural Examples of Instant Change:   Purim. Read the book of Esther. Passover. Read Exodus 12 The Famine in Samaria. Read 2 Kings 7 The Resurrection. Read John 19:30—John 20:29   Resources:   Help Israel Now | Interviews From Israel

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 How do you want to finish your life? That's not an easy question to think about. When we're young, we don't think about it at all. And the older we get, the more distracted we get. Some folks would love to be distracted all the way to the grave.But God wants so much more for you than that. SO much more....In this episode of Live the Bible, we're opening God's Word to 2 Timothy to uncover the secret to living and finishing well. Support the show

Send a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026 Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV)Speaker: Apostle Stephen A. Davis- STAY CONNECTED -https://StephenADavis.orgBishop Stephen A. Davis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bishopstephendavis/Bishop Stephen A. Davis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bishopstephenadavis/Refresh Family Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RefreshFamilyChurch/Refresh Family Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refreshfamilychurchVisit Our Website: https://refreshfamily.church/

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV)Speaker: Apostle Stephen A. Davis- STAY CONNECTED -https://StephenADavis.orgBishop Stephen A. Davis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bishopstephendavis/Bishop Stephen A. Davis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bishopstephenadavis/Refresh Family Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RefreshFamilyChurch/Refresh Family Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/refreshfamilychurchVisit Our Website: https://refreshfamily.church/

Mental health struggles feel intense right now—and if it feels like there's a battle for your mind, you're not alone.In this message from our Built Different series, we look at the story of Joseph (Genesis 37–50) and what resilience looks like when life doesn't get easier… it gets harder. Joseph's story is full of promise, injustice, temptation, betrayal, and waiting—yet Scripture repeats one powerful truth: “The Lord was with Joseph.”We talk about: • Why mental health isn't something you “just slap a verse on” • The real spiritual dimension of the battle for your mind (John 10:10) • Why obedience doesn't always improve your circumstances—sometimes it intensifies them • What to do in the “middle” season between promise and fulfillment • The power of lament as an honest, biblical way to process pain • How God can redeem what was intended for harm (Genesis 50:20)If you're anxious, overwhelmed, or exhausted—this message is for you. Jesus came to give life to the full, and resilience is found by being hidden in Him.

Psalms 1 & 2 E1 — The Psalms scroll—Israel's ancient hymn book—has deeply shaped the worship and prayers of millions of people over several millennia. The first two psalms work together as a unified introduction to the whole collection. Psalm 1 starts with the phrase “How good is life for the man who…” or in most English translations, “Blessed is the man who…” We then find a list of activities to avoid and an instruction to practice daily Scripture meditation. So how does this way of living lead to “the good life”? And what happens to those who follow it—and to those who don't? In this episode, Jon and Tim start a short series in Psalms 1 and 2 by first meditating on Psalm 1.FULL SHOW NOTESFor chapter-by-chapter summaries, biblical words, referenced Scriptures, and reflection questions, check out the full show notes for this episode.CHAPTERSThe Path of Tragedy (0:00-21:35)Becoming Like a Tree (21:35-40:40)Standing in the Judgment (40:40-1:06:14)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESThe Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert AlterCheck out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“Growing Season” by Gas Lab & Guillaume Muschalle“New Dae” by El Train & G MillsBibleProject theme song by TENTS SHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer, who also edited today's episode and provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty writes the show notes. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Hope for Right Now Podcast – Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey: Let Yourself Be Loved While Walking with Purpose Founder Lisa takes time to write our next women's Bible study, Laura Phelps welcomes guest Caitlin Bean to the Hope for Right Now podcast for a seven-week series: Desert Bloom, A Lenten Journey. Lent is a time of sacrifice, preparation, and spiritual waiting—a time to prepare our hearts for Easter through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. For many of us, it has become about exterior performance, a “holy checklist” we begin on Ash Wednesday and struggle to sustain for 40 days. And preparation? Who has time for that? We are exhausted—after all, it was just Christmas! If this is how your heart feels at the start of Lent, this series is for you—offering practical encouragement, Scripture reflections, and simple ways to experience a more meaningful, peace-filled Lent. In today's episode, Laura and Caitlin talk about our new Lenten devotional, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness, and share their personal Lenten fails and the idols they need to lose, while uncovering the fear behind letting go of achieving God's love in exchange for simply receiving it. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Hebrews 12:2: For the joy set before Him, He endured the Cross. Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Philippians 3:13–14: One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 43:18–19: Remember not the former things, or consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Deuteronomy 2:7: For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands; he knows you are going through this great wilderness; these forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing. Exodus 16:2–3: And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. What is your idol? What do you want more than God? Do you approach Lent like a spiritual performance review? How is the Lord inviting you to undo the production narrative you've been telling yourself?  Show mentions. Caitlin Bean and Laura Phelps, Desert Bloom: Discovering Unexpected Joy in the Wilderness Michelle Benzinger, Abiding Together Podcast Saint John of the Cross, “The Lord measures out perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.” Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Negative body images and eating disorders are far too common today—and many of us can trace those struggles back to our early years. In this episode of Family Vision, Amy is joined by a very special guest: her daughter-in-law, Brooke Rienow. Brooke shares her personal testimony of how insecurity and body image struggles began as a young girl, intensified through painful peer experiences, and later escalated in college into a serious battle with anorexia. She describes how "control," comparison, and pride quietly took root, and how an outwardly productive, high-achieving life hid a growing internal darkness. This is a raw and hope-filled conversation about what an eating disorder can look like behind the scenes—and why true healing is not just physical, but spiritual. Brooke also opens up about how her relationship with God became "checkbox Christianity" during the hardest seasons, and how the Lord began to bring her back to real freedom. Amy and Brooke share key Scriptures that provide a foundation for hope and healing. What You'll Learn in This Episode: - How early body image struggles can begin (even in kindergarten) - How comparison and peer cruelty can shape a child's self-image - Why college can become a pressure-cooker for control and insecurity - How eating disorders often shift from "I'm in control" to "it controls me" - Why isolation is one of the most dangerous parts of disordered eating - What anorexia can do physically—and why it becomes life-or-death - Why spiritual healing is essential for long-term freedom Resources: Visionary Parenting – Start reading for free: https://visionaryfam.com/parenting Join the Visionary Family Community – Become part of a global community of families committed to following Jesus: https://visionaryfam.com/community Support the Philippines Mission Trip – Help provide clean water filters and share the Gospel. Donate at: https://visionaryfam.com/hope (Type "filter" in the notes section) Upcoming Events – Visionary Family Conferences and Family Camp details: https://visionaryfam.com/events Connect With Us: If your family is navigating the challenges of an eating disorder and you would like prayer, please reach out to us at podcast@visionaryfam.com. Our prayer team would be honored to pray for your family. You can also request a prayer call with our prayer team leader, Peter Rothermel.