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Sunshine reveals God's character. In today's prayer and devotional, Chelsey DeMatteis reflects on the simple but powerful gift of warm, sunny days—and how they echo God's grace and goodness. Through her personal experiences and biblical truths, she encourages us to slow down and recognize the presence of God in everyday beauty. Sunny days aren’t just weather patterns; they are soul-deep reminders of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and the light of Christ. Scripture Observation and Application: Sunshine reveals God's character – warmth, joy, mercy, and light. Creation declares God’s glory (Psalm 19:1), and each sunrise and sunset can prompt heartfelt gratitude. Children’s simple thankfulness—like Chelsey’s son—can guide us toward deeper worship. Scripture reminds us: God is the ultimate source of light, both in nature and in our lives. Scripture to Meditate On: Psalm 19:1 – The heavens proclaim God's glory John 8:12 – Jesus is the light of the world John 1:5 – Light overcomes darkness Psalm 119:105 – God’s word lights our path 1 Peter 2:9 – Called out of darkness into marvelous light 2 Corinthians 4:6 – God shines light into our hearts
Today on Bold Steps Minute, Pastor Mark talks about how people say they will ask God questions when they see God in Heaven. Mark has a different idea of what may really happen when you are face to face.Become a Bold Partner Today: https://give.moodyradio.org/bsj?appeal=podcast&utm_source=bsm_podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_term=radioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SHAME ends here! When our sins or memories of the past make us want to hide, we must run to our Heavenly Father. God's love is stronger than shame! His light drives away the darkness. His love and mercy set us free! And His truth can replace any lie. In this conversation, Sheila Walsh, Dr. DeeDee Freeman, Nona Jones, Blynda Lane, and Elyse Murphy discuss how to live FREE from all guilt and shame. ---- There is nothing that you can do to escape God's Love! Here are 10 Bible Verses to remind you of God's unconditional love for YOU! ------- If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to go back and listen to the previous conversations in this series: 1. See God's Purpose in our Past 2. From Disappointment to HOPE ------- Do you want more Better Together? We have 1000+ conversations available! Start watching now for free on the TBN+ app! -------- If you need prayer, join our community on Instagram // Facebook // YouTube// TikTok and let us know how we can pray for you! --------- Better Together is TBN's first daily original program made by women for women! We discuss faith, family, friends, and so much more—no topic is off-limits. Find out what happens when real friends get together for real conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
La Porta | Renungan Harian Katolik - Daily Meditation according to Catholic Church liturgy
Delivered by Elyanne from the Parish of Saint James in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Sirach 44: 10-15; Rs psalm 132: 11.13-14.17-18; Matthew 13: 16-17.LONGING TO SEE GOD The title for our meditation today is:Longing to See God. A long history of salvation illustrates the life and growthof the faith of those called to fulfill the will of God. Their communicationand relationship with God were manifested in the covenant that God would revealHimself as the savior of mankind. God always spoke and promised, for example toAbraham, Noah, kings and prophets, but He did not show up as a human being thatthey could meet face to face. A communication or relationship thatstill exists as a promise always gives us the consequence to wait for itsrealization. This is true with all the stories in the old testament. All thosewho accepted the promise and understood it very well can only hope in faiththat the promise of the coming of the Messiah, the awaited messenger of Godcould be realized. They all had the desire to see God. Their longing was notsomething empty but a real one, because God Himself already spoke about that,divine miracles and many other signs had really strengthened their faith in thecoming of the One sent from Heaven. But until they all died and left thisworld their dreams and wishes had not been realized. This illustration can helpus to reflect about this. There were two grandparents did not see one of theirgrandchildren to become a priest and if possible a bishop. They did not seewhat they had dreamt of. They had already died when one of their grandchildrenafter following all his formation proceses then to be ordained as a priest.This situation is similar to the people in the old testament. About these people, there are someexceptions. The scriptures only record a number of persons who did not directlyexperience the coming of the Messiah into the world. The parents of John theBaptist, Zakaria and Elisabeth should belong to this category. This includesalso the parents of Our Lady, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, whose feast day wecelebrate today. This couple and grandparents were certainly very happy andproud because the Son of God who was born as Jesus Christ, is from the womb ofMary, their own daughter. When Jesus says, "Many prophetsand righteous people want to see what you see", He actually points this toSaints Joachim and Anne, and all other people including us, who see andexperience the incarnated God in this world. Jesus wants to say that by seeingand experiencing Himself in a real and personal way, this makes us a people sospecial and blessed. Therefore, we must be always grateful and happy. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus, may through the intercession of Saints Joachim andAnne, we will remain faithful to You in all our lives. Glory to the Father andto the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...
Send us a texta link to my web page https://www.bookclues.comA link to 4PM Media https://4pmmedia.com/What happens when God breaks out of the church walls we've confined Him to? Author Philip Martin invites us into this provocative question through his collection of Catholic short stories titled "Ephaphatha" – an Aramaic word meaning "be opened."Martin weaves together elements of Southern Gothic and magical realism to create stories where divine mercy and justice intersect with everyday life. Drawing from his experience as a Catholic theology teacher, he understands that while truth may be black and white, people are wonderfully complex. This complexity demands more than simple doctrinal statements – it requires stories that speak to the heart."Falsehood is not attractive," Martin observes during our conversation. "It might be comfortable, but it's not attractive." This insight drives his storytelling approach, one that recognizes today's young people as "fertile soil" thirsting for authentic truth rather than comfortable lies. Through tales of hands breaking through church walls, mysterious healings, and unexpected divine encounters, Martin creates narrative spaces where readers can experience what happens when God refuses to stay confined to Sunday mornings.The discussion extends beyond literature to explore the interconnection between truth, beauty, and goodness – transcendental qualities that have traditionally guided Christian understanding of reality. When truth is abandoned, beauty inevitably suffers as well. Conversely, beauty can serve as a powerful pathway back to truth, making aesthetically rich storytelling a particularly effective evangelistic tool in our visually-oriented culture.Listen now to discover how Catholic fiction speaks to modern hearts and minds through the timeless power of story. Whether you're interested in faith, literature, or simply compelling narratives, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on how stories can transform lives in ways straightforward facts never could.
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Betrayal. Offense. Disappointment. Every season of pain we face is an opportunity to defiantly choose hope! When we have encountered God's unconditional love and unmerited grace, we are called to extend forgiveness and compassion even to our "enemies." Listen in as Sheila Walsh, Dr. DeeDee Freeman, Nona Jones, Blynda Lane, and Elyse Murphy share stories of experiencing profound pain, betrayal, and disappointment, and how they chose hope and experienced healing. ---- Scripture is filled with verse after verse of God's faithfulness. When you process your pain and disappointment in the presence of your Heavenly Father, HOPE and GRACE will meet you! Read these 11 Bible Verses to give you HOPE! ------- If you missed last week's conversation, we encourage you to go back and listen to “See God's Purpose in our Past.” ------- Do you want more Better Together? We have 1000+ conversations available! Start watching now for free on theTBN+ app! -------- If you need prayer, join our community on Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok and let us know how we can pray for you! --------- Better Together is TBN's first daily original program made by women for women! We discuss faith, family, friends, and so much more—no topic is off-limits. Find out what happens when real friends get together for real conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
God is not hidden, but seeing Him comes through desire, expectation, and devotion to do so.
Your past does not define you! Our God is the Great Redeemer. There is nothing that is too far gone for Him to redeem. He exchanges our pain for purpose, hardship for wisdom, and what was meant to harm us for good. He is faithful to heal our hearts and use our story to help others find hope and freedom. In this conversation, Sheila Walsh, Dr. DeeDee Freeman, Nona Jones, Blynda Lane, and Elyse Murphy share stories of restoration, hope, and healing! ---- There is nothing that you can do to escape God's Love! Here are 10 Bible Verses to remind you of God's unconditional love for YOU! ------- If you missed last week's conversation, we encourage you to go back and listen to “Honor God by Serving Others.” ------- Do you want more Better Together? We have 1000+ conversations available! Start watching now for free on the TBN+ app! -------- If you need prayer, join our community on Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok and let us know how we can pray for you! --------- Better Together is TBN's first daily original program made by women for women! We discuss faith, family, friends, and so much more—no topic is off-limits. Find out what happens when real friends get together for real conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️
Is your life random coincidence, or God's divine providence?In this teaching, Pastor Mark Cummins unpacks truth from God's Word through the book of Esther and equips us to look past our current reality to see and trust God's hand at work in your life!
Unseen but Unstoppable ReCreate Church | Michael Shockley ------- EPISODE SUMMARY Are you wondering where God is in the midst of life's chaos? In this opening message of the Esther series, Pastor Michael Shockley reveals how God works behind the scenes even when He seems absent. Through Esther Chapter 1, discover how palace intrigue, royal scandals, and seemingly random events become part of God's greater plan for salvation. Learn to trust that even when God appears silent, He is orchestrating circumstances for your good and His glory. Core Message: God may be unseen, but He is never inactive - even the worst of human behavior can be woven into His redemptive plan. ------- KEY TOPICS COVERED Setting the Historical Scene - The Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 500 years before Jesus - The Jewish diaspora and those who chose to stay in Persia - God's positioning of Esther's family for future deliverance The Six-Month Party and Seven-Day Banquet - King Ahasuerus's display of wealth and power across 127 provinces - The extravagant celebration open to all social classes - How rulers used lavish parties to demonstrate unlimited resources Queen Vashti's Courageous Stand - The king's inappropriate request while intoxicated - Vashti's refusal to be objectified before the party guests - The political and social implications of defying the king The Counselors' Reactionary Response - Memucan's exaggerated fears about women's rebellion - The decree establishing male dominance in households - The contrast between pagan leadership and biblical leadership Biblical Leadership vs. Worldly Power - The difference between forced submission and sacrificial love - Ephesians 5:25 and Christ's example to husbands - Leading through integrity rather than intimidation God's Hidden Hand in Human Events - How God uses even evil behavior to advance His purposes - The positioning of circumstances for Esther's future role - Divine orchestration behind apparent chaos and coincidence The Bigger Picture of Salvation - Connecting Esther's story to the preservation of the Jewish people - How these events ultimately protected the lineage of Jesus - God's long-term plan spanning centuries ------- MEMORABLE QUOTES "Even when He's not in the spotlight, the Unseen, Unstoppable God is still running the show." "God may be unseen, but He is never inactive." "What looks like chaos and coincidence is the opening act of a salvation story." "God can even take the worst characteristics of humanity and work them out to accomplish His Will in our lives." "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28 ------- BIBLICAL FOUNDATION - Primary Text: Esther 1 - Supporting Texts: Ephesians 5:25, Romans 8:28 - Key Theme: God's unseen but active work in human circumstances - Context: The beginning of events that would lead to Jewish preservation and ultimately the coming of Christ ------- PRACTICAL APPLICATION If You're Struggling to See God's Hand: - Remember that God often works behind the scenes - Trust that apparent chaos may be part of His greater plan - Look for His activity in unexpected places and circumstances If You're Facing Difficult People or Situations: - Recognize that God can use even challenging circumstances for good - Trust that difficult bosses, neighbors, or family members may be part of His plan - Remember that unexpected setbacks might be divine positioning If You're in a Leadership Role: - Follow Christ's example of sacrificial love, not worldly power - Lead through integrity and service rather than intimidation - Build up others rather than asserting dominance If You're Wondering About God's Timing: - Understand that God's plans often span years or decades - Trust that He is positioning you for future purposes - Remember that current circumstances may be preparation for unknown opportunities To Develop Trust in God's Hidden Work: - Study stories like Esther where God works behind the scenes - Practice looking for God's hand in everyday circumstances - Remember that His ultimate plan is always redemptive and good ------- THE ULTIMATE INVITATION Just as God used palace intrigue in ancient Persia to preserve the Jewish people and ultimately send Jesus as Savior, He can handle whatever you're going through today. Trust Him with the details of your life, knowing that He may be unseen but is never inactive. ------- CONNECT WITH RECREATE CHURCH - Website: recreatechurch.org - Support the Ministry: Give through the Tithe.ly app or offering boxes ------- Remember: Even when God seems silent, He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
What do you need God's help with in your life right now? He is the God of miracles. He is the God who hears and answers prayer. He is the God of my salvation. Is He the God of your salvation?
Pastor Steve Putney. Gensis 41:37-57, 50:15-21
Pastor Steve Genesis 40
You could read David's story in the Bible and wonder what God saw in him. He fell as often as...
Pastor Steve Putney - Genesis 39
2025-06-15 -Isa 6:1-7 -"See God; See Me" by Imperial Berean
The Pathway To See God's Glory (John 15:7-8) || Walk With Jesus || Nirup Alphonse
The Pathway To See God's Glory (John 15:7-8) || Walk With Jesus || Nirup Alphonse
Pastor Steve Putney on Genesis 37
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:8In Week 23 of the Rebel Manifesto series, Pastor Elle unpacks the meaning behind having a pure heart and how that purity leads to deeper connection with God.Message Highlights:What does “pure in heart” mean?The Greek word katharos means clean, unmixed, and undivided. Purity is not about perfection—it's about motive, surrender, and alignment with God's will.Three Marks of a Pure Heart:Clean – A pure heart isn't sinless, but it is surrendered. It's a heart that desires what God desires.Unmixed – A pure heart is not divided by idols or distractions. Like unpolluted water, it is clear and focused.Undivided – A heart in unity with itself and with God. A scattered heart leads to scattered actions. Purity brings alignment and purpose.Why Purity Matters:The heart is the wellspring of life. Everything we do flows from it.Purity is about inward motivation rather than outward performance.Repentance clears the pollution from our hearts and keeps us aligned with God.Conviction is a sign of God's closeness, not His anger.“They will see God”This promise is both present and future. We will one day see Him fully, but even now, we can see Him—in His Word, in His people, and in His presence. God wants to be seen more than we want to see Him.Scriptures referenced include Matthew 5:8, Luke 11:28, Psalm 24:3-4, Psalm 86:11, and Ezekiel 16:26.Key Reflection:"Will you surrender your heart to Me so that I can be the one to make you pure?" — GodSubscribe to follow the Rebel Manifesto series and stay connected to what God is speaking through Overflow Church.
On today's episode, Johnnette Williams invites listeners to share how they experience God in their everyday lives. Callers give moving testimonies about sharing God's love, the power of family unity, and the meaning of the Our Father prayer. Johnnette also addresses questions that arise during the discussion, such as whether praying the rosary is efficacious when not in a state of grace, and when is it appropriate for a layperson to perform a baptism.
On today's episode, Johnnette Williams invites listeners to share how they experience God in their everyday lives. Callers give moving testimonies about sharing God's love, the power of family unity, and the meaning of the Our Father prayer.
On today's episode, Johnnette Williams invites listeners to share how they experience God in their everyday lives. Callers give moving testimonies about sharing God's love, the power of family unity, and the meaning of the Our Father prayer. Johnnette also addresses questions that arise during the discussion, such as whether praying the rosary is efficacious when not in a state of grace, and when is it appropriate for a layperson to perform a baptism.
John Biggs, CS, from St. Louis, Missouri, USAHear more from John on this week's episode of Sentinel Watch.
For years the disciples could walk and talk with Jesus, but after the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples saw him only in Spirit. The ascension plays a critical role in our Christian lives today. Canon Jonathan examines the active roles that Jesus still fulfills as our prophet, priest, and king.
Ask God to help you see the evidence of His love and power in your life.
Now anyone can see God!
Send us a textMr. Brice Turner, entrepreneur and current President of Hornet Cutting Systems in Wichita, KS (https://hornetcs.com/), has served our country in military combat in Iraq. He saw God's faithfulness, even during very challenging times. He has a heart for the individual and a real desire to see men and women changed through God's Word and the Holy Spirit. He actively invests in men's lives and has a great perspective on making disciples. KansasNavs.org
Do you ever wonder how to see God? Adapted from our Orange Curriculum, this 4-part series will explain how to see God in your everyday life. What if seeing and experiencing God was your daily rhythm? According the Jesus, it can be.Part 4
Mica Coffin shares a message about seeing a little girl reach out to a houseless man on the boardwalk after Mica offered a prayer to him. “Doesn't seeing the God in each other make us angels to one another.”
The post “If I see God directly, will I die?” appeared first on Key Life.
Do you ever wonder how to see God? Adapted from our Orange Curriculum, this 4-part series will explain how to see God in your everyday life. What if seeing and experiencing God was your daily rhythm? According the Jesus, it can be.Part 3
Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons - Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North
Introduction: Two Problems Jesus Has with Divorce (Matthew 5:31–32): Divorce TRIVIALIZES MARRIAGE. (Matt 5:31) Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Deuteronomy 24:1–4 – When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. Divorce RESULTS In ADULTERY. (Matt 5:32) Ephesians 5:24–25 – Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 5:31-32 & Mark 10:2-12What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What are some beliefs you've heard Christians believe about divorce and remarriage? How do these line up with Scripture?Explain what Jesus meant in Matt 5:32, how someone's divorce even leads to other people committing adultery.How exactly would you counsel a trusted Christian friend who is considering divorce?BreakoutPray for one another. Audio Transcript Matthew chapter 5, are you there?This section we are in on the Sermon on the Mount is about the heart of God's law.And we saw that Jesus said, "I didn't come to abolish the law or destroy the law."That's what we would call the Old Testament.Jesus said, "I didn't come to do away with the Old Testament."He said, "I came to carry out everything that was said in it."It's not irrelevant at all.And through this section you're going to see, as we've already seen many times, Jesus says,"You have heard that it was said, but I say to you."And when Jesus says that, what He's saying is, "You've lowered God's standard."And Jesus is correcting them, and He's correcting us when we take the Word of God and just makeit purely external.God wants your heart.God wants your heart.That's what we saw a couple of weeks ago.Pastor Taylor taught us, Jesus said, "Murder isn't just the physical act of killing someone.It's a heart issue."We saw last week adultery is not just the physical act.It's a heart issue.And in these verses we're looking at today, Jesus is continuing His teaching on the destructivenessof adultery.And today we're going to talk about divorce.And look, there's so much controversy on this topic.And if we're going to be honest, the controversy doesn't come really from God's Word becausethe Bible is clear.The reason there's so much controversy is because if you are a divorced person, thisgets very personal and it gets very painful.And look, I've done so many weddings over the past 20-some years, so many weddings.And I can tell you emphatically that nobody gets into marriage wanting a divorce.That doesn't happen.I've never seen the wedding ceremony where the vows include something like, "I can'twait to be done with you."Or "I love you today, but in six months I will hate you more than anybody on the planet."Nobody thinks that.Nobody expects that.And when divorce happens, it's always, it's just always so painful.And we get through a passage like, "Look, I know some of you are going to be temptedto tune out because you're going to think, 'Well, you know what, Jeff, you don't knowmy circumstances.'And you're right.I don't.I don't know your circumstances."And I'm certainly not trying to be dismissive of the pain that you've gone through.And I'm certainly not trying to be judgmental for what brought about your divorce if that'syour situation.And I'm also keenly aware that I cannot exhaust everything that the Bible says on the subjectin just one sermon.What I want us all to do, it's nothing new.I just want us to do what we do every week.We're just going to take a giant step back and we're going to see what our Lord sayson the subject.And we're going to see Jesus speaks on divorce here.And I can't undo anything that happened in the past, nor can you as much as we mightwant to.It's gone.But I'm hoping with this message that we can prevent any future pain and hurt that comesfrom divorce.So let's look at Matthew chapter 5, looking verses 31 and 32.Jesus says, "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate ofdivorce.'But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality,makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."What is going on in these verses?Well, first of all, look at verse 31.Jesus says, "It was also said," what?Jesus gives a quote, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce."You're like, is that what the Old Testament says?Ish.Here's the problem.This statement was used by the scribes and the Pharisees as a gross misrepresentationof a passage in the Old Testament.So does the Old Testament say that?Yeah, it kind of does, but they took a direction that the Lord never intended it to go.The scribes and the Pharisees took a passage from Deuteronomy, we're going to look at herein a few moments, and they twisted it for their own purposes.Jesus says, "But I say to you," and this is one of the most difficult verses in yourBible.Jesus says, "I say, everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexualimmorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commitsadultery."So here's the short version.See the scribes and the Pharisees, as I said, twisted this passage in Deuteronomy, and theyreduced it to this.Look, divorce and remarriage is okay as long as it's legal.As long as you do the paperwork, it's fine.It's just fine.It is just fine.And I think it's obvious that Jesus did not agree with their assessment because He saiddivorce leads to adultery.That's the short version.So let's unpack that a little bit today.On your outline, excuse me, we're just very simply calling this "two problems Jesus haswith divorce."All right, let's look at these two verses very intently, and we see there's two problemsthat Jesus has with divorce.Number one, write this down, divorce trivializes marriage.Divorce trivializes marriage.That's the problem.Quick review, marriage was defined once and for all to the first two people that God created,Adam and Eve.And I know there have been attempts to redefine marriage.It doesn't matter.God defined marriage once and for all.With the first two people that He created, Adam and Eve, and the most important versein your Bible on marriage is Genesis 2.24.It says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to hiswife, and they shall become one flesh."That's the most important verse in the Bible about marriage.And I can say that emphatically because when Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce,this was the verse He quoted, Matthew 19, Mark chapter 10, when the Apostle Paul waswriting about marriage and divorce and husband and wife issues, this was the verse He quoted,1 Corinthians chapter 6, Ephesians chapter 5.God's plan in marriage is two people turning into one person.That's the plan.There's not a relationship on the earth like that.Not a business partnership.Not members of a sports team.There's nothing like the marriage relationship.This was God's intention of marriage in the very beginning.I want two people to turn into one person.And when you study Genesis, you'll see divorce was never part of God's original design formarriage.Like, "All right, well, if it wasn't part of God's plan, where did divorce come from?Where did this idea for divorce come from?"So allowance was made for divorce in the Old Testament law.I want you to look at this.We're going to put this passage on the screen.I want you to look at it very closely because this is the passage that's in question herewhere Jesus is confronting the scribes and the Pharisees.This is from Deuteronomy chapter 24.Because, again, Law of Moses here, when a man takes a wife and marries her, if thenshe finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her and he writesher a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house andshe departs out of his house and she goes and becomes another man's wife and the latterman hates her and writes her certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sendsher out of his house.Or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, then her former husband, whosent her away, that's husband number one, may not take her again to be his wife aftershe has been defiled for that as an abomination before the Lord.And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you for aninheritance.Now listen, it's a tough passage but we're going to get through this together.Here's what Moses was saying.Divorce had to have a cause.And here it's defined in the Law as some "indecency."It could have been a natural or a moral or a physical defect or whatever.It had to be something that they categorized as unclean, whatever that is.This limited the possible reasons for divorce.This was the purpose, understand.The reason Moses wrote this Law was so that a man couldn't just divorce his wife for anyreason whatsoever.Just make up some excuse, something frivolous.I'm just divorcing you because I feel like it.I don't like the meatloaf you made or I don't like your new haircut or those shoes lookhorrible.You can't just willy nilly divorce your wife.Moses is saying, "Look, there has to be a reason for the divorce."So this was actually to emphasize the importance of marriage.Like, well why would he allow the divorce then?Why go through this?Don't miss this.The purpose of divorce in this case in Deuteronomy 24 was to protect the woman.You see, when you give her the certificate of divorce, that woman had legal proof that,listen, she was dismissed from the marriage but it was not because she was unfaithful.You see that certificate for the woman showed, "Look, I did not have an affair.My husband found something wrong with me and dismissed me but it wasn't because I wasunfaithful."That's what's going on in Deuteronomy 24.But I want you to see here, listen, because this is where the Pharisees and the scribesmissed it.In Deuteronomy 24, there is not a command to divorce.That passage is just simply describing a scenario.In that passage, if we're going to boil it down, we would say this, they were told towrite a certificate of divorce if there was a divorce.The only command that you see in this passage, the only one in that passage is this, if youdivorce your wife, you cannot take her back if she's rejected by her next husband.Or if he croaks, you cannot take her back.Again, the reason for this was to protect the woman.It was to keep women from being used and discarded.It was to keep men who are hogs admittedly, it's to keep men from saying, "You know what?I'm going to try out women."But you know what?My first wife was better than this one.So I'm going to get rid of her and I'm going to take the first one back because I preferredher.That's a horrible, horrible way to treat a woman.See, that's the heart of the law here.Like God's like, "No, no, no, no, no, you're not going to treat women that way, men.This isn't a high school relationship, boyfriend, girlfriend, on again, off again.No, no, no, no, no, no.We're not treating women like that.Marriage is a very serious covenant and you're not going to just have a woman on a leashwhere you let her go and you anchor back and let her go and you anchor back.No, you are not allowed to do that."That's the heart of the law here.Deuteronomy 24 was intended to stop divorce from happening willy-nilly.Everybody on board with me now.Okay, because now I want you to see how the scribes and the Pharisees twisted it.Look at verse 31 again in Matthew chapter 5.Jesus quotes them.He says, "It was also said, whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate ofdivorce."What the scribes and the Pharisees did was through their twisting this passage, theyactually made it say the opposite of what God intended.They used this passage to justify easy divorce, that you can get a divorce for any reasonat all so long as the paperwork is done.That's what they reduced this to.Like, well look, you studied the Old Testament, it tells you very plainly.If you get a divorce, make sure that all the documents are filled out appropriately.That's really all that matters, right?That's all that matters.Just that we signed on the right line and we crossed our T's and we dotted our I's.That's really what matters.As long as you do the paperwork, as long as the divorce is legal, hey, everybody's goodwith that because everything's above board then, right?I mean, I'm not like one of those illegal divorcers, right?You know, that I get some janky, unofficial, illegal divorce document from online, fromthe dark webs.I'm not like that guy.You better be sure that when I get a divorce, it's done right.That was their mindset.The Law of Moses commands divorce to be done legally, so make sure that you do it right.And see, that's Jesus' problem with their attitude.He says your attitude about divorce trivializes marriage.And you have justified in your mind the mistreatment of women in the name of making sure the paperworkis filled out properly.That's not what the Law is about, Jesus is saying.Now, over the years, I have heard all kinds of unbiblical justifications for people wantinga divorce.And I don't even have time to get into all that today.And we're going to get to the biblical reason for divorce in a moment.But we need to stop here and say, listen, marriage should not be taken so lightly amongGod's people.The scribes and the Pharisees were so diligent to make sure that the divorce was done right.We church should be so diligent to make sure that the marriage is done right.So that's the first problem Jesus has with divorce.You trivialize marriage.You trivialize marriage.Not on board with that.But here's the second problem Jesus says I have with your attitude towards divorce.Scribes, Pharisees, church in 2025, divorce results in adultery.Look at verse 32 again.Like I said, this is a difficult verse.But this is what our Lord said.Jesus said, but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the groundof sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery.And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.So Jesus is saying, listen, with divorce, even when the paperwork is done properly, divorceleads to nothing but more and more adultery.And I think one of the troubling things about this passage is I could see in my mind thatI make choices that cause me to be guilty and suffer consequences for my own choices.But it's very clear here in verse 32, Jesus is saying that a choice for a divorce resultsin other people being guilty of sin.That's a tough pill to swallow, but that's what He said.What does He mean?In Deuteronomy 24, that passage we just looked at, when the woman was divorced for somethingless than sexual immorality, which by the way, sexual immorality breaks the bond of marriage,but in the Deuteronomy 24 case, she was divorced for something less than that, right?Jesus said, even when you divorce for less than sexual immorality, that still makes foran adulterous situation.Jesus said the divorced wife moves on, she consummates a new union when there was nogrounds to break the first one, and if you do that, if you divorce like that, you arenow guilty of adultery, and whoever marries that woman is guilty of adultery, and whoevermarries you is guilty of adultery.And Jesus is saying when you unbiblically break the marriage covenant and people gooff and get remarried, He says now we've resulted in more and more adultery happening in otherpeople.That's what He said.He says now everybody's guilty.So what Jesus is saying to the scribes and the Pharisees is that you could sit here andsay, "Oh, I'm not an adulterer.I have never slept with another man's wife.I have never committed adultery."Jesus says you shouldn't think that way.Actually, you've made adultery worse because you have such a shallow view of divorce.Jesus said you lowered God's standard because all you're focused on is the external.I didn't commit adultery.Jesus said you did.You commit adultery when you look at a woman lustfully.It proves that you already had adultery in your heart.And furthermore, when you divorce without biblical grounds, which Jesus says is sexualimmorality, Jesus said you have committed adultery and you've made her and you've made her newhusband commit adultery too.Your sin not only affects you, but it affects so many more people than just you.And I really don't have to sell people who have experienced divorce how far reachingthe damage goes.The pain is not limited to just the two people in the marriage.I mentioned biblical grounds for divorce.Biblically, now looking at the whole counsel of God, I believe that there is one biblicalgrounds for divorce and it's hardheartedness.Like wait, wait, wait, wait.How do you know when somebody is heart-hearted?Because it would be real easy, right?You're like, "I'm divorcing you because I think you're heart-hearted."Like how do you know that somebody is heart-hearted?Biblically, heart-heartedness in a marriage manifests in two ways.One is abandonment.I don't have time to get into all this today, but just jot down 1 Corinthians 7 verse 15.Abandonment.When you have a spouse who just walks out of the marriage, "I'm not willing to counsel,I'm not willing to reconcile, I'm not willing to consider anything, I'm leaving you, I don'tcare.I am done."Abandonment.My best understanding from Scripture is that is biblical grounds for divorce.When you've tried, but your partner is completely unwilling.That gives evidence that their heart is so hard, they're not willing at all to investin a covenant.Abandonment.And the other evidence of heart-heartedness in marriage, well Jesus references here,and that's adultery.Your heart is so hard towards your spouse that you were willing to physically sleepwith somebody else.It's evidence of a heart-hearted.I want you to listen very closely because even these conditions, even the issue of adulterydoes not obligate anyone to divorce.Because you study God's Word.God's Word never condones divorce and it never commands divorce.There is not one passage in your Bible where God says, "If this happens, I command my peopleto get a divorce."That it is legitimate in abandonment and adultery, but it's still not commanded.So if you're married, you should do everything that you can to avoid divorce.See the scribes and the Pharisees, they live their marriages with one hand over the ejectseat button.It's like I'm not happy with you for any reason.I am done.Jesus said, "No, no, no, no, no, that's not how it should be.You should do everything you can to avoid divorce."You're like, "Well, what about abuse?What if I'm in a relationship where there's abuse that absolutely should not be happening?"And listen, if you're in an abusive situation, you need to let me know as soon as possible.Because we will protect you.We will get you out of harm's way.We will do everything to keep you from being abused.That should not be happening.Somebody else would say, "Well, what about neglect?What about detachment?What about my husband's a lazy bum?Do not be too proud to get biblical counsel.Because there's something else I've seen over the last two and a half decades or so.No marriage is beyond saving.I've seen couples come in hours away from filing for divorce whose marriage ended upin a better place than it ever has been through the result of the ministry of the Word ofGod.If both parties are willing, the marriage can be saved.And when we talk about, yes, abuse and neglect and things like that, we have to readily admitthat there are extreme cases that require extreme action, 100%.But in our day, like in Jesus' day, the vast majority of divorces weren't because of that.The vast majority of divorces were motivated by sinful, selfish desires.The vast majority of divorces result from people treating people like used cars.Like, "Well, this one isn't working out for me.I thought I would like it, but I'm not really digging it anymore.I'm just going to trade it in."That's most divorces.And Jesus says, "Now, you've reduced the marriage covenant.You've trivialized it.You've made it purely external.And now, as a result, all kinds of adultery is happening because you're unwilling to takemarriage seriously."That should not be among God's people.It's a hard passage.What I want us to do, just so I don't want anybody to think that this is some oddballpassage, this is a one-off.Because I want you to turn to Mark chapter 10, because what I want you to see here isJesus teaching the exact same thing, but in a different context.In Mark chapter 10, the context, you'll see they were testing Jesus.They were trying to trap Jesus.They were always trying to trap Jesus.And they thought, "Oh, we know how to trap Jesus.We'll ask Him about marriage and divorce.That'll get them for sure.Why?"Well, you know the story of John the Baptist.He objected to a marriage and divorce, and he lost his head.And I go, "We get Jesus on that.They'll get them for sure.We'll trap them."So I want you to see, now we have context, but I want you to see Jesus teaching the exactsame thing, but in a different context.Mark chapter 10, verse 2, "The Pharisees came up and in order to test Him asked, 'Is it lawfulfor a man to divorce his wife?'"They're like, "We got them.We got them."Slam dunk.Because, see, if Jesus says no, we're like, "Oh, you disagree with the Old Testament,which tells us to get a divorce."If Jesus says no, you shouldn't get a divorce, rather.You're disagreeing with the Old Testament.If Jesus says, "Oh, yeah, you can get a divorce.Oh, now Jesus is taking marriage lightly, and we're going to get Him either way."You know, Jesus is disregarding the serious system of marriage, or He's disregarding whatthe Old Testament says about divorce.We got them.We got them."Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"I love this.Jesus answered them, "What did Moses command you?"Jesus is like, "What's the Bible say?"Turned it back on them.They said, "Look at this.Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."Do you see?It's about the stinking paperwork again.That's all they were fixated on.Yeah, Moses said, "Fill out form A-27, and you're good."Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart," there it is, "because of yourhardness of heart," He wrote to this commandment."But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and thetwo shall become one flesh."Sound familiar?Genesis 2.24.And Jesus comments on it.He says, "So they're no longer two, but one flesh.But therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."Verse 10 says, "And in the house the disciples asked him again."That's controversial, wasn't it?Disciples asked him again about this matter.And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adulteryagainst her.And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."See, it's the same teaching.Same two points in this exchange that we see in Matthew chapter 5.Jesus says you've trivialized marriage, and it just causes more adultery.God takes marriage very seriously, especially to those who claim to be followers of JesusChrist.Why is God so...Why does God seem so strict about marriage?Why is God seems so serious about marriage?It's because divorce ultimately misrepresents God.See God takes marriage seriously because there's a picture that's to be on displayin the marriage.So when that picture is broken, God is misrepresented.Ephesians chapter 5 tells us what the picture is.It says, "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everythingto their husbands."Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.See this, this is the idea behind marriage.The ultimate goal of marriage is the ultimate goal of everything else in the universe isto glorify God.And the way God is glorified in your marriage is by demonstrating the relationship thatJesus Christ has with His bride, the church.And in this picture, the wife represents the church following, submitting, honoring, andthe husband is to represent Jesus loving, leading, laying His life down.And when you live this out, God is glorified and your marriage is blessed.But when you divorce, you're misrepresenting God.So my friends, what are we showing the world about God and the way we conduct ourselvesin our marriages?Our worship team and communion servers would come up.It's only appropriate that we close by gathering around the Lord's table.Like, well, what does this have to do with marriage?The answer is everything.Because we gather around the Lord's table, we are reminded that Jesus Christ has a covenantlove for us.This love that Jesus Christ has for us is forever.It's never going to change.And even when His bride fails Him, and we do.Oh, and we will.Jesus isn't going to give up on us.This is our reminder of what covenant love looks like.And this is a reminder of how covenant love is to be demonstrated in our marriages.
God's divine purpose is not always made known to us. It wasn't to Abraham. He saw only small pieces of the puzzle, but the whole scene was not revealed to him—not even in his lifetime. How could he be the blessing to all families on the earth when he had only one kid—at 100 years old?? Yet, he didn't see that he and his one child of promise would be directly responsible for the coming Messiah, who would surely be a blessing to all families on the earth. And, since we are spiritual offspring of Abraham, and we believe in the Messiah, we have the same blessing as Abraham did!
When you're going through pain, confusion, or silence—it can feel like God is nowhere to be found. But in Genesis 28, Jacob had a dream, woke up, and said: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” This devotional is for anyone who feels forgotten or overlooked by God in the middle of their trial. Just because you don't see Him working doesn't mean He's not there. His presence isn't always loud—but it is always faithful.
Do you ever wonder how to see God? Adapted from our Orange Curriculum, this 4-part series will explain how to see God in your everyday life. What if seeing and experiencing God was your daily rhythm? According the Jesus, it can be.Part 2
Grace for My Home | Christian Moms, Growing in Faith, Spirit-Led, Hearing from God, Sowing Truth
Text me a message! I would love to hear from you!Have you ever felt trapped in a spiral of negativity, where every challenge seems to confirm that life is just hard? That's exactly where I found myself years ago as a new stay-at-home mom to three young children. My home began feeling more like a prison than the sanctuary I'd envisioned.When my husband finally pointed out how negative I'd become, I was initially furious. But that observation catalyzed the change I needed.This episode is about the power of gratitude and positive perspective as revealed in Proverbs 15:15: "All the days of the afflicted are made evil, but those of a merry heart have a continual feast." When we see ourselves as victims, we unconsciously filter our experiences through that lens, confirming our negative expectations. But when we cultivate thankfulness, we begin noticing the countless blessings that were always there.This isn't about embracing "toxic positivity" or denying legitimate struggles. Rather, it's about recognizing that thankfulness keeps us in right relationship with God and transforms how we experience our daily lives. Through practical steps like keeping a gratitude journal and consciously choosing to "look up" rather than "look down," we can break free from negativity's grip and experience joy regardless of circumstances.What would change if you started intentionally documenting God's faithfulness in your life? How might shifting your perspective from "afflicted" to "blessed" transform not just your experience, but the atmosphere you create for those around you? Join me in choosing to see the things around us through His eys. Get a free copy of The Grace-Filled Home: 5 Essentials to Creating a Home Where Faith Can Grow Get your free copy of: 7 Powerful Prayers to Pray Over Your Husband Get the List! Our 35 Favorite Family Read-Alouds Purchase a copy of my latest book! Covered in Prayer: 31 Prayers to Cover You and Your Children in God's GraceIf you enjoy this episode and want to buy Audrey a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ajmccrac73dFor more mom encouragement visit graceformyhome.comJoin My Email List!Follow me on ...
Do you ever wonder how to see God? Adapted from our Orange Curriculum, this 4-part series will explain how to see God in your everyday life. What if seeing and experiencing God was your daily rhythm? According the Jesus, it can be.Part 1
We start this week with Emanuel and Jason's big story on Massive Blue, a company that is selling AI-powered undercover bots posing as protesters and children to the cops. After the break, Sam tells us about visiting the millennial saint. In the subscribers-only section, we talk business and the state of 404 Media. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/E98i9OFJbW4 Leaked: Palantir's Plan to Help ICE Deport People ICE Plans Central Database of Health, Labor, Housing Agency Data to Find Targets This ‘College Protester' Isn't Real. It's an AI-Powered Undercover Bot for Cops I Went to See ‘God's Influencer,' the Millennial Saint Carlo Acutis How 404 Media Is Navigating 'Economic Headwinds' Subscribe at 404media.co for bonus content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Here's Your One-Second Mood Reset-- Close your eyes. Find God. Open your eyes. See God. Know that that feeling is now appearing as the world. God is always in front of you. Waving at you. Walking by you. Talking to you. God is always right where you are, appearing as you and as everything on display. It's never hidden. This is the highest meditation. To Look and Love. To Look and Love. To Look, and not let the appearance of the world make you forget to feel Love. I Love you, nikki@curlynikki.com Please help me keep the show ad free + Get Merch! ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings ________________________________ Today's Quotes: "...and the greatest gift God can give is His own experience. Every object, every creature, every man, woman and child, has a soul and it is the destiny of all, to see as God sees, to know as God knows, to feel as God feels, to Be as God is." -Meister Eckhart "The Life Force that perpetuates your heartbeat and maintains and sustains all the other organs and functions of your body is not physical, but it is spiritual... is not temporal, but is eternal. And once that basic truth has been established in your consciousness, you will experience the dissolution of all fear, the healing of all diseases, and the resolution of all conflicts. This is the supernal activity of the Word being made flesh... this is the sacred process of Divine Grace being established on earth as it is in Heaven." -Don Mardak "The highest meditation is to think of nothing. If you can remain without thought, great power will come." -Swami Vivekananda
Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Cor 11 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to this episode of the Daily Radio Bible, where we're diving into day 102 of our immersive journey through the Bible with your host, Hunter. Today, we take a look behind the pages of First Samuel chapters eleven and twelve, explore the genealogies in First Chronicles chapter one, and reflect on the profound insights from Second Corinthians chapter eleven. From Saul's stirring leadership in times of crisis, to the long lineage of faith, and Paul's candid testament of strength found in weakness, each reading brings its unique perspective on our walk in faith. We'll also spend time in prayer together, seeking guidance and strength for the day ahead. So, settle in as Hunter unravels the scriptures and invites you into a deeper experience of God's word. Let's continue to open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of these ancient texts. TODAY'S DEVOTION: It's an upside-down world. Paul's being lowered in a basket through a hole in the wall outside of the city. As he's being lowered, God is lifting him up. We've been invited into an upside-down world. It's a world where those who are lowered down are being lifted up, while those who lift themselves up are being lowered from within. Paul very briefly talks about his elevated days. He reminds his readers just how elevated he was, that he was like those super apostles. But Paul wants them to know that this elevated status did nothing for his soul. In fact, he was descending from within, even while on the outside, his status was soaring high. Paul tells us that it was while he was being lowered, descending on the outside, accused and scorned and whipped and stoned and shipwrecked, hungry alone on the outside, even as he was being lowered in a basket, it was in these moments that God showed himself most present in his life. It was there that Paul knew God's strength the most. He experienced God's love most intimately when he was being lowered in that basket outside the city. It was a defining moment for Paul. God does his deepest work in our lowering, and anyone, super apostle or not, who tells us otherwise, might want to be avoided. See God in the lowering. Experience the fellowship of his suffering there. He is faithful to bring about his good purposes in all of our circumstances. And the prayer of my own heart today is that I will participate with him in faith, even in the lowering. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the 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
How has God shown himself to you? Are you refusing to obey and choosing to remain blind? Do you explain away miracles? In today's episode, Patrick shares how 1 Samuel 1:21-28 encourages us to open our eyes to God's work in our lives. If you're listening on Spotify, comment below one takeaway from today's episode! Read the Bible with us in 2025! This year, we're exploring the Historical Books—Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings. Download your reading plan now. Your support makes TMBT possible. Ten Minute Bible Talks is a crowd-funded project. Join the TMBTeam to reach more people with the Bible. Give now. Like this content? Make sure to leave us a rating and share it so that others can find it, too. Use #asktmbt to connect with us, ask questions, and suggest topics. We'd love to hear from you! To learn more, visit our website and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @TenMinuteBibleTalks. Don't forget to subscribe to the TMBT Newsletter here. Passages: 1 Samuel 1:21-28