Podcasts about Shaddai

Join Lisa and Laura for our series Names of God. In biblical times, names were of great importance—they conveyed a person's essence, history, nature, or character. As we explore the various names of God in the Old Testament, we gain insight into His character. With each name, we will learn a new attribute, deepening our understanding of and growing closer to God. In today's episode, we explore our second name, El Shaddai, which comes from two Hebrew words, “El,” the singular word for God, and Shaddai, meaning “Almighty” or “All-Sufficient.”  Do you believe that God is your Sustainer and has the power to show up in impossible situations and work miracles? Or do you take matters into your own hands when it looks like God isn't coming through on His promises? Today's conversation is one of our favorites, and you are encouraged to grab a cold drink, your Bible, settle in, and receive the truth you desperately need to hear: God can do the impossible. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Genesis 17:1: When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless." Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Genesis 12:1–2: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Genesis 15:2–3: “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring; and a slave born in my house will be my heir.” Genesis 15:4: “This man shall not be your heir; your own son shall be your heir.” Genesis 16 Genesis 17 Genesis 18:12–14: So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:15: But Sarah denied saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Genesis 22 Romans 4:18–21: In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, “So shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Psalm 91:1–2: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. How is God calling you to trust Him as El Shaddai? Look at that area of life where He is asking you to trust Him and ask yourself whether there's a root of bitterness in your heart because you feel He is taking too long.  Show mentions. Walking with Purpose, short Bible studies for summer Amy Grant, “El Shaddai” John Parkhurst, Biblical lexicographer 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, X, and YouTube.

Big Idea: Palm Sunday uniquely presents Shaddai to move our lenses back, then up, and finally forward to ensure that we embrace, follow, and reflect Him in all areas of our life!

Introducción¿Cuántos aquí creen en Dios? y ¿Cuántos le creen a Dios? estas son dos cosas totalmentediferentes el creer y creerle. Creer en Dios casi todo el mundo cree que existe un Dios, pero creerlea Dios en una cosa diferente.Santiago 2:19 “Tú crees que Dios es uno; bien haces. También los demonios creen y tiemblan.”¿Qué es creerle a Dios? Creerle a Dios es confiar en Él, en su Palabra, en sus promesas. Algo difícilpara el ser humano es creer en lo que no se puede ver, en lo que no se puede tocar, en lo que notenemos enfrente de nosotros.(Mencionar tema y hablar de la imagen: miedo, confianza, seguridad, seguridad)A diario estamos expuestos a situaciones incómodas que nos desalientan y nos llenan de temor, ypreocupación, pero allí en medio de lo que está aconteciendo en nuestras vidas debemosagarrarnos del evangelio y avanzar creyéndole a Dios.Pero cuando la situación adversa viene una vez, y otra vez más y nuevamente nos golpea sinavisar, quizás nuestra reacción no sea la misma aunque ya hayamos escuchado el mensaje de Diosen más de una ocasión…Cuántas veces venimos escuchando la Palabra de Dios y en el momento decreerle a Él, se nos olvida lo escuchado. Nuestra humanidad a flor de piel.La palabra de Dios nos enseña mediante este pasaje de 1 Reyes 17 uno de los escenarios dondeDios se manifestó en gran manera usando al profeta Elías. Quien no dudó en ningún momento enobedecer el mandato de Dios.En aquellos tiempos Israel había sido desmoralizada ya que sus antiguos reyes llevaron al puebloa la idolatría, ya estaban rindiendo cultos a dioses paganos como Baal, por lo que no había ningúnsacerdote íntegro que llevara la Palabra de Dios al pueblo, por esto fue Elías elegido por Dios asícomo a otros hombres.Elías como sacerdote de Dios vivía en Fe y hacía como Él le ordenaba. Luego de haber traído laprofecía de la sequía al rey Acab 1.estuvo escondido en el arroyo de Querit y al cabo de unos días2.por ordenanza de Dios partió a Sarepta a encontrarse allí con una viuda y 3.un milagro.***El Señor traía a mi corazón el otro día una Palabra que primero fue para mi y luego meencomendó se la impartiera a alguien de aquí…llegó en un momento de adoración.Y hoy se la comparto a todos: “Si tu problema tiene un nombre, el Dios que servimos tambiéntiene nombre: Yahweh, Rapha, Elohim, Shaddai, Jireh, Adonai, El Roi.***Support the show

Na'hum. (consolation). Nahum, called "the Elkoshite," is the seventh, in order, of the Minor Prophets. His personal history is quite unknown. The site of Elkosh, his native place, is disputed, some placing it in Galilee, others in AssyriaThe name refers back to Yahweh's compassion connected with Jonah's mission eighty-seven years before. The name Nahum is an abbreviated form of the name Nehemiah, which means “Comfort of Yahweh.”What is the purpose of this book? The book of Nahum is devoted exclusively to the announcement of the destruction of the city of Nineveh, the prophecy gave hope to the people of Judah who had long been terrorized by Assyria's constant and ominous threatBefore I get into this study, I discuss Sabbatai Zevi, who declared himself to be the Messiah in 1666. He amassed a following of over one million believers, half the world's Jewish population during the 17th century, by proclaiming that redemption was available through acts of sin. Sabbatai's believers planned to abolish many of the ritualistic observances, because, according to the Talmud, in the Messianic time there would no longer be holy obligations. Fasting days became days of feasting and rejoicing. Sexual promiscuity, adultery, incest and religious orgies were encouraged and practiced by Sabbateans. Then I go into the design of the Washington Mall and how it compares to the thinking of the Kabbalah, that Sephiroth Tree of Life, and how the Serpent of Wisdom twines itself around that tree1   Burden = ‘mas-saw'' means ‘a lifting up and a placing upon'. It is a burden, a weight or and affliction that is placed on an individual, a nation or an empireNineveh = Among other things, the prophecy of Nahum shows us that Yahweh not only deals with individuals, He also deals with nationsNahum prophesied that: -Nineveh would end “with an overflowing flood". That flood occurred when the Tigris River overflowed its banks and destroyed part of Nineveh's wall-Nineveh would “be hidden”. After its destruction in 612 B.C. the city truly was hidden in that it was not discovered until A.D. 1842-After Nineveh's destruction, it has never been rebuilt-In Nahum 2:1-2, the prophet had prophesied that Assyria would be conquered, but that Judah would be restoredVision = khaw-zone' In the Hebrew this also could be a revelation. Not written before or separately from, its deliverance. This was more than a message communicated to Nahum in words or phrases from Yahweh. Because this was a vision, in some way Nahum saw it2     GOD. = Hebrew El. EL  is essentially  the Almighty , thought the word is never so rendered (see below, "Shaddai"). EL is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered "Yahweh" as Elohim is, but  El  is Yahweh the Omnipotent jealous. = kan-no'; jealous or angry: (Exod. 20:5-7. Deu. 4:24)the LORD. = Hebrew. Yahweh. While Elohim is Yahweh as the Creator of all things, Jehovah is the same Yahweh in covenant relation to those whom He has created. Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COMErevengeth = naw-kam' A primitive root; to grudge, that is, avenge or punish;avengethis furious = khay-maw'; heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever)a possessor of wrathtake vengeance on = be an Avenger to3    slow to anger = long-sufferingacquit = clear, or hold guiltlessHave any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com 

» MARCH 2025 Early Bird Offer: Get the 30-Day Unlock God Mode Manifestation Program «  Unlock God Mode is a 30-day program designed to elevate your manifestation skills and and align you with your deepest desires. Join this tranformative course designed to help you connect deeply with life and achieve your goals with clarity and purpose. Claim the early bird sale (limited-time) at unlockgodmode.org * * * In The Seven Eyes of God, Neville Goddard explores a mystical interpretation of Zechariah's vision of a stone with seven facets, representing the seven stages of divine sight within man. These "eyes" symbolize the progressive levels of consciousness through which man perceives reality—leading ultimately to spiritual awakening.He explains that the eighth, hidden eye represents the final awakening of the divine imagination, the moment when man truly sees as God sees and recognizes all things as states of consciousness rather than external realities.The Seven Eyes of God – The Evolution of VisionLucifer – The Fallen LightThe first stage of perception is Lucifer, the morning star, symbolizing man's fall into material consciousness.This is where man sees himself as separate from God, unaware that he is the creator of his world.Moloch – The God of SacrificeIn this stage, man believes he must sacrifice and suffer to appease an external deity.This is the eye of fear, where people believe suffering earns divine favor.Wars, religious persecution, and self-denial arise from this false perception.Elohim – The Worship of External GodsHere, man attributes power to external forces—stars, planets, and unseen cosmic forces.He believes his destiny is determined outside of himself rather than by his own imagination and assumption.Shaddai – The Almighty PowerIn this stage, man places faith in governments, financial institutions, and social structures for security.He trusts in the strength of rulers and external systems, believing they will provide stability.Pahath – The Snare of MaterialismHere, man traps others for personal gain, using deception and manipulation.This is the eye of commercialism, advertising, and political schemes—a world where power is exercised through control.Jehovah – The Realization of "I AM"At this level, man recognizes that reality is shaped by his inner world.He understands that assumption and belief create his circumstances.Instead of manipulating others, he boldly asserts his desires and creates his world from within.Jesus – The Eye of Redemption and SacrificeThis is the state where man no longer seeks only for himself but gives freely to others.He recognizes that every person is just in a state, not to be condemned but lifted through imagination.He saves others by seeing them as already fulfilled in their desires.The Hidden Eighth Eye – The Final AwakeningThough the Bible only explicitly mentions seven eyes, there is an eighth eye, veiled in mystery.The eighth eye is the true vision of God, which opens when the seventh eye (Jesus) is fully clarified.It is described in symbolic terms as circumcision—not of the flesh, but of consciousness, unveiling the divine imagination.When this eye opens, man is no longer bound by the five senses, and he sees the world as it truly is—perfect and eternal.The Western Gate – How to Enter the World of VisionNeville shares an experience of awakening in another world by holding onto an object in a dream and waking up in that reality.He teaches that whatever you hold onto in imagination becomes real in your world.This is the Western Gate, tied to the sense of touch, symbolizing our ability to persist in an imagined reality until it solidifies.Practical Application – How to Use the Sixth and Seventh EyesChoose a desire you wish to manifest.Live in the feeling of already having it. Assume it is yours.Touch it in your imagination. Feel it as real, as Neville did when he held onto an object in his dream.Remain faithful to this assumption, despite outer appearances.Watch as your world reshapes itself to reflect your inner reality.The Key to Seeing Through the Eighth EyeThe eighth eye does not open through rituals, religion, or effort, but through selfless love and vision.When you see only the good in others and lift them up, you prepare yourself for the final awakening.The second coming of Jesus is not an external event—it is the moment you awaken to the full realization that you and the Father are one.Final Thoughts – Awakening the Eyes of GodNeville teaches that every belief, condition, and limitation is just a state that man has fallen into. No one is truly lost.You have worshipped false gods (Moloch, Shaddai, Elohim).You have been trapped by materialism (Pahath).You have sought security in external forces rather than your own imagination.But now, you see through the eye of Jesus, and soon, the eighth eye will open.When it does, you will see only beauty, perfection, and wholeness in all things. You will understand that:"God became man so that man may become God."Now, let us go into the silence. ***Download the free Neville Goddard PDF Guide at manifestwithneville.com - Discover the transformative power of Neville Goddard's wisdom with this FREE 60-page guide on his 12 timeless principles of manifestation and reality creation.★ Follow the podcast for daily lectures from the mystic Neville Goddard ★FREE RESOURCES:• Join the FREE Neville Goddard newsletter• Join the FREE Telegram Channel• Feeling is the Secret • Full Audiobook* * *The James Xander Trip Podcast:• Listen on Spotify• Listen on Apple Podcasts• Listen on YouTubeDIVE DEEPER:• The Unlock God Mode Course• The Infinite Wealth Guided Meditation* * *ABOUT NEVILLE GODDARD:Neville Goddard (1905-1972), was an English writer, speaker and mystic. He grew up in Barbados and moved to the United States of America as a young adult. Neville Goddard was perhaps the last century's most intellectually substantive and charismatic pu...

Summary: When Abram was 99 God appeared to him telling him I am “God Almighty” (Heb. El Shaddai). Shaddai comes from an old word meaning “mountain” and refers to His mighty power that is high and unshakable. And, if Abram wanted to know God's power, he had to walk, that is live, close to the Lord. So too the passage before us speaks the same unto us. How can we do it? Join us for Genesis 17 to for the “how to”.

In this episode we hop into our "time dune buggies" and head back to Jordan from Shechem near the Soleb Temple where we find the Deir Alla Inscriptions. Why is this site so important? Because it gives us a different meaning for "Shaddai" or "Shadday" as found in the Bible being paired with El (El Shaddai). In this 7th century inscription Shadday is a goddess who oversees the Sadayin Deities who were in charge of curses. So hop on and lets go!

In this episode, Charlie, a non-binary sci-fi fantasy writer, together with their husband Brian, discusses the concept of harvesting imagination and light in accordance with the Via Creativa. They delve into the cyclical nature of creativity, emphasizing the importance of practical spirituality, the interplay between light and darkness, and the necessity of sharing one's creative output. They also reflect on the profound role hope plays as an act of creative will, particularly in challenging times.Support us on: https://ko-fi.com/cedorsettBecome a patron of the arts patreon.com/cedorsettFor Educational Resource: Wisdoms Cry https://wisdomscry.comFor all of the things we are doing at The Seraphic Grove go to Creation's Paths https://www.creationspaths.com/BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/creationspaths.comThreads https://www.threads.net/@creationspathsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/creationspaths/Transcript:Charlie- New: [00:00:00] On this first quarter moon after Lunesta, we turn our minds to the Via Creativa to the creative way. And start asking ourselves, how can we harvest imagination and light? What. Imagination Are we harvesting in the season? intro Hello everyone. My name is Charlie and I am a non-binary scifi fantasy writer. I'm joined by my wonderful husband, Brian. Brian - New: Hello. Charlie- New: Today we're going to be talking about harvesting imagination and light. Because we are at our first fruits festival Lunesta, we are. Focusing on this harvesting image, especially as we're here, harvesting those first fruits, those first little inklings. That are coming up [00:01:00] on the fields. How can we bring that in? How can we have more of that in our life? I think a lot of us really need more imagination in our life . I used the word light. A lot. I've always used light in terms of God, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God. And the word was God. And the same was in the beginning with God and without him, nothing would have been made that was made. And in him was light. And the light was the life of humanity. . That beautiful prologue to the gospel of John and so light. And diety are forever joined in my brain. Even more than that right now, as it feels like we're going through such dark times with. The riots that are going on in Britain and the wars around the world. And. The economy and the weather and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and. I think we need to be. Mindful about looking for those places where we can find a [00:02:00] light. Where we can find hope. Where we can find. Whatever it is that pierces the darkness. And brings us to the other side. For the new moon we talked about entering that darkness and harvesting peace. Today. As we're entering this. Time where we're focused on the Via Creativa, the creative way. Answering that question for ourselves in our own lives. How do you find. imagination. How do you find light? And I do mean how not where, but how, because I think we need to be practical. We can be all mystical and metaphysical, and I can use all manner of metaphors here about where and all thats not going to help anyone. I. Have a very strong bias that mysticism. Spirituality needs to be practical. It needs to be. Rooted down in our bones in a very practical, honest, and straightforward way. Let's start with a brief recap of the Via Creativa. [00:03:00] Because. There's a quality that it has that. Often gets missed in people. When Matthew Fox talks about the Via Creativa. He says that it is born from the union of path one and path two. Of that via positive, and via negativa in that. Cosmic hospitality. And that letting go and letting be, and that welcoming in and letting go. That it's in the union. Of these two that the Via Creativa the creative way. Comes forth. I think it's really important for us. To hold that in our minds, when we're thinking about the creative way. Because. Creativity really is about welcoming in the ideas. I think we focus on that a lot. I'm waiting for inspiration. I am waiting for the muse to sing to me and to tell me the things that I should be making. We don't want to think about the other side of that. That's the letting it go or we let the letting it go [00:04:00] terrify us. Well, I've written this thing. Why should I publish it? I've made the song. Why should I sing it in front of somebody else? I've made this food. What if nobody else likes it? I made this. Knitwear crochet where thing. What will people say? If I wear it in public, maybe I'll just wear it around the house. We put these paralyzing. Roadblocks. Between us. Really letting our imagination and our creativity flourish. That's why. seeing creativity is arising from that hospitality, that davar, that divine word. Coming into us. . That willingness to let go and let be. You really have to do both things to be creative. The via creativity. We're told that this is the place where we learn to give birth to God that we are. Where this is the place for goddess as much mother. As child. Both of those images. Have that welcoming, gracious, Via Positiva energy to them. They [00:05:00] also have that letting go energy. a, mother has to let their child go to go out into the world. A child has to let go of the family to go out into the world. And all of our creative endeavors do as well. More than anything right now. In this time in this place, I think the greatest creativity that we're called to. Is hope. Because hope really is a creative act. Hope isn't. An emotion as much as people want it to be. Yeah. We can feel hopeful. It creates a sensation in us when we have it. Brian - New: The emotion is more, the joy. That the hope brings. When you really break it down, In itself is not the emotion. It brings joy. It brings happiness.Charlie- New: It really is born from the joy that's born, that we're feeling. We confuse it for an emotion. It's kind of like how we think compassion is an emotion. No, we feel loving kindness. We feel that loving [00:06:00] sensation within us, but compassion it's self is a mental act. It is an act of choice. If I can use the big words that I like to use, it's a volitional act. It's an act of our will. Hope is very much an act of will. It's not. A pie in the sky dream. I think too many people. Allow hope. Too. Be that thing that's just out of reach. To be that thing that's just beyond us. I know it's probably not going to happen, but I have hope. That's a platitude. That's not really hopeless. Brian - New: Once again, it's without works. Charlie- New: Yeah. Brian - New: When said. In that manner. It is said without the intention of doing anything, it's more of, this is an excuse. For the situation rather than. Normally when it's actual hope. When you say you have hoping you mean it. There is. Intention behind it. Charlie- New: It's the one thing that we say a lot. We go back to this faith without works is dead. That [00:07:00] really is core to everything. , if you get nothing out of any of the other spiritual ideas that we put forward, if you can just latch onto that faith without works is dead idea. We'll be so much better off. Then most people that are. Trying to find a spiritual path because that's really the core, the heart of all of it. As we discussed in the via negativa. On the new moon. That harvesting piece is that active? Portion. That we're engaging it. In. That place of darkness. In the Via Creativa in this creative path. There is this instinct, this urge to say that the action here is to create something. To make a sculpture, make a painting, write a poem, write a story. Tell a story. Cook a meal, bake some bread, there's this very. Literal understanding of being creative. I don't want to discourage that. I don't want to discourage that in [00:08:00] any way. If that's where your heart is. If that's where you're feeling called and moved. Do that. We need to expand our understanding of creativity. To other aspects. Of our lives, our creative projects in and of themselves. Maybe that creativity is I'm going to go walk in this other place that I normally don't walk. maybe that creativity is finding a new restaurant to go hang out at. Finding a new cafe. Finding a new way to find a new artist to listen to. Or a new book to read. Creativity comes in a lot of shapes and sizes. It's not just our creative output. I think this content culture that has developed alongside influencer culture has gotten us to think of. Creativity as having a necessary output. Brian - New: An exercise. I found very helpful. Getting a deeper understanding. Of the creative. Process. Especially in regard to imagination. Was when I thought [00:09:00] about. Cleaning a room. The simple act of cleaning, via Positiva, via negativa, we're in the actual act of cleaning the space. Adding pretty things and removing ugly things out or the detritus. However you want to word it. it was adding and removing. It was enjoying the a And wonder of it. Then those two are married. The creative process. Actually came next. It is when I sat back. . alow. Others to experience that space. I had just been cleaned. I shared it. I observed, I watched how that space was used, how it was enjoyed or not enjoyed. I watched for the gratitude. It's always nice for someone to appreciate it, but there wasn't an expectation of that. There was no attachment to having to have someone say, oh, thank you for [00:10:00] cleaning this room. That was not there because that's not part of that creative imagination. What was part of that observation was watching to see the natural flow of the space. How did everybody use the cleaned room? Then that carries over into the via transformative as we'll go into later in the month. In this exercise that then allowed me to re-imagine. Small aspects of that space to how is it better used? How are others using it? How has it impacted? It was that creative imagination that allowed me to rethink. The entire room. Realizing sometimes I put artificial structures in, when I cleaned, sometimes I put a piece of furniture in a place that blocks the flow. Uh, some of those you get into when doing . Charlie- New: feng shui Brian - New: feng shui. In a space. It's sitting down and it, that is that creative [00:11:00] imagination. . And the creative process . On how is that space? Actually supposed to be because clean doesn't mean free of dirt. There may be. Flowers or plants that need to be added to give life to the space. It may be light needs to be added to brighten it. It may be too much light and maybe too many plans. You may need less, but it's just that. Taking that moment. To just be in the moment. Watch how it is. Interacted with and imagining. Which is pure creativity. Just imagining. How it could be better. Charlie- New: I've often said that the first two paths, the Via Positiva and via. Negativa. are internal. They're looking at they're inviting in their internal work. For the most part they are. And this other two, the paths three and four, the Via Creativa and via transformativa, Our outward paths. Whereas. [00:12:00] In the Via Positiva, we are welcoming it. We're. Allowing that divine word to come into us. We're practicing cosmetic. Hospitality. And learning that hospitality is earthiness and bringing all of those good things in whether they're into our hearts, into our lives, into our homes. Whether it's doing the internal work on ourselves. That is done on that path. In the Via Creativa. This is the turning outward. This is the moving out. I don't personally. Believe that creativity can happen within. Creativity. Requires some form of external action. Whether that's just practicing body prayer. That you were praying internally. Just holding it all inside and now you're adding gestures and ritualizing your prayer in that way. Whether that's learning to seam with your own voice for dance. In the moment. [00:13:00] Or all of the other creative acts that come out. The Via Creativa. Is an outpouring. We've welcomed everything in the Via Positiva, We've learned what we need to let go and let be in the via negativa and now we're allowing it to flow through us. We are becoming a channel, a conduit. We are part of that flow. Now. There is that. need to share. That can be as simple as telling another person about a thing. You don't have to publish your work to the whole wide world. Don't ever think that's what I'm saying. When I say. Share your stories or share your music or what have you. You don't have to start a bakery to share your baked goods. It is good to share them. That could be as simple as if you live in a very rural place. Maybe. Bake something special for your dog. There are a lot of really nifty dog foods that you can make that require a lot of creativity. And I say that to somebody, like I grew up very rural. Remember when it was [00:14:00] just me and my dog. Right around right. I didn't have any friends that lived close by. That was always an event when you would go. And actually visit other people because they live so far away. If that's your case. Share with the birds. Go outside and tell the birds your stories. Tell the birds. Tell them to the wind, tell them to the trees. To me, that's just as valid. Whether or not you experienced the spirit of that tree, the spirit of those birds. Community with you or not. You're still sharing. You're still taking that step. To speak to something outside yourself to. Cher. With things outside of yourself. And that is just vitally important. This is a place where we're getting in touch with our creativity, with our imagination. With that light. That ever shines within us. a while back. I did a piece where I talked to you about the idea that we live. In the Zelle [00:15:00] Shaddai we live in the shadow of the almighty. And what that means. This image of all creation is God dancing before God. The shadow that's cast into the void in between. Is what makes our world. That we are all living in the shadow of the almighty. how are you casting your shadow? How are you sharing your light? That's what the Via Creativa is about, is learning to. Interact with that play between light and shadow. To bring it in and let it flow through you. Jesus used a lot of light analogies for us. We are to be the shining city on a hill that. Who should let the light of our eyes shine out that we shouldn't put our light under a bushel. ? He used these light images a lot. That's because light. Like creativity. Can't be contained. Hope like creativity. Can not be contained. It has to be free. It can be [00:16:00] blocked. That's a very different thing than containing it. Brian - New: Even then light gets creative. Have it just travels in one direction. And then once it's blocked, it gets creative and goes in another direction. , there's the simple trick has hold a mirror up and you can see the beam of light somewhere else because it reflects, and it doesn't just reflect off the first time it gets blocked and reflects. Sometimes it can even amplify. Slightly as it reflects because it starts reflecting off multiple places. Charlie- New: Why is the sky blue? Brian - New: That's reflecting off the ocean. Charlie- New: No, actually, it's the refracting light. Brian - New: Oh, yeah. Charlie- New: The way the light hits the atmosphere, it bends and shakes, and the blue light scatters. It just scatters. So much that we see it. And the other light makes it down to us. The light that feeds our plants is actually red light. The plants are green because there's too much green light. They need to reflect that light back so they don't get burned. So they're green because they're reflecting that green [00:17:00] light. So they don't get burned by it. But the green light. Isn't what nourishes them. If you've ever worked with grow lights, if you've done any you'll notice that they're very red. And the reason for that is not because, oh, didn't that? Cool. It's just that those are the wavelengths of light. The plant actually needs. There's no point in generating wasting the energy to generate green light. Which is there in the white light, all along. Because the plant will just reflect that back. It doesn't need it. It doesn't want it. It's too much of it. And that right there. If you think about it. Is what we're talking about, hearing that Via Creativa Via Positiva, via negativa balance. It's letting in. Inviting in that path one. The red light. Letting go of reflecting via negativa path to the green light. So that it can Via Creativa path three, grow. And make all of those beautiful leaves and flowers. And everything else. That's why we have such [00:18:00] a variety in plants. When you see a plant that has kind of reddish leaves. Oh, It's wanting that red light. It doesn't want that red light anymore. It's reflecting that back. That's powerful idea. It's one that's so subtle. We don't think about it. Cause it's all around us. You look up the window. And you see. Green grass. Or a tree leaf. Or something and you see that green and you just it's great. There's so much. In the meaning of that green leaf. That's the power of the via creative and taking this time. That we do. To meditate on it, whether it's just on the first quarter moon. I tend to focus on the Via Creativa in the time period between the main moon phases. So between now and the full moon. That's the. Monthly cycle of the Via Creativa for me, I take that time to meditate on the third path. To think about all of those. I guess you could call them hidden messages. That are out there. That aren't really hidden. They're just, and again, a repeated theme that we keep going to, we just don't notice [00:19:00] them. Brian - New: Yeah. There's subtle. Very, still small whispered voice. And they allowed room. Full of conversation. Charlie- New: Because we need hope right now. We need creativity right now. We need. To live. Right now. It's so hard in this late stage capitalist world that we live in. To find those moments of joy. And peace. And lightness, not just light, but lightness. We feel so burdened so heavy. And yeah, I could use as a platitude, right. That wonderful quote from Jesus. Come to me all who are weary and heavy Laden and take my burden upon you. For a disliked. Yeah. I remember as a child seen that wonderful him cast your cares upon Jesus. Right? I remember seeing that when I was a kid. And it sounds. So simple. But it is one of the hardest things to do. One, it requires us to. Use our creative mind. [00:20:00] To understand what we need to hold onto and what we need to let go of. This is where creative, the via creativa or the third path. It looks back at the two that came before it. . also looks forward, what things need changing. That's what we're going to be talking about. When the full moon comes about. What are we changing? What needs change? what needs transformation and celebration brought to it? So here we are. What creative things can we do? Do we need to do, or are we not seeing. How have we gotten locked into a certain mode? And a certain habitual action. Brian - New: That's why I liked that exercise. Of the simple act of cleaning. It is. A simple thing. Most of us think of it as a chore it's treasury that we just do because it needs doing. some of us are fortunate enough to find a lot of joy in it. With the power of imagination. And the creative path. One Ken. Simply shift that [00:21:00] perspective. Can go, I'm going to clean this space. It is going to be an act of compassion. Given to everyone. That enters that space, including yourself. And as an act of compassion, it's done without thought of reward. But knowing. With that hope and faith, good things will come out of it. And then with that power of creation, power of the creative imagination. Making that shift and then doing the cleaning. It is now a gift. Not one that you have to have a thank you for it. It's just a gift. That you can enjoy. That any everybody else entering this space can enjoy. That you can then also further contemplate. Meditate upon. How it can be transformed. For the next time you do it. So that then you can. Make it even better gift. Charlie- New: That's why as we're going about our days. We're even if it's just right now, while you're hearing the sounds of our voices. Just take a. [00:22:00] Moment. A little breath. And ask yourself. Where's that light. Whereas that lightness. Where's that. Creativity. Where is my imagination right now. Where are you finding those things? Where are you practicing those things? Where are those things calling to you? They may not be in the most obvious places. Maybe you need to be creative about the path you take to work. Maybe you need to be creative about how you do your sleep schedule. Or the routine that you have to get up in the morning. Maybe you need to have some creativity. And how you pray. Or meditate. Maybe you need to have some creativity in your meal planning. Have you gotten into a rut? Anytime anything starts feeling routine. I think it's important for us. To ask ourselves that question. Is this routine because I want it to be, because this is what I have chosen. Or because I just got into a pattern and it became a [00:23:00] habit. So much of what we're trying to do in the creative life and the spiritual life. It's learning to see those habitual patterns. And which ones need to be broken free from. it's very easy for us to just get into a pattern. That's really the power of. The third path. It shows us where we need to bring that imagination. That creativity and that light. So that we can change. That's what the path four is all about. But before. Little baby. Jesus can walk. We have to give birth to him. We do that. When we learn to trust the divine imagination living within us. And to be co-creators with God. In this amazing and wonderful cosmos. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you have enjoyed today's episode. If you have. Please. Like us or whatever you can do wherever you're listening. If you're at a place where you can leave a review that helps us out. Immensely. Don't [00:24:00] forget to share. If you think that somebody, you know, would benefit from hearing this. That helps us out more than, you know, And if you. Have a few pennies, you can throw our way. If you head over to https://www.creationspaths.com/, you can join our sub stack over there and get the classes as they start coming out. Or. You can go over to my https://ko-fi.com/cedorsett or patreon.com/cedorsett. I'm see Dorsett on both. And that helps with everything that I do, including the stories, the music and everything else. Thank you so much for spending this time with us and may the blessings of the first quarter moon be upon you. Bye. Brian - New: Bye. Get full access to Creation's Paths at www.creationspaths.com/subscribe

Shaddai significa el que provee, el que sostiene, el que satisface, el que nutre. Dios puede manejar cualquier problema o circunstancia. Te puede proveer, sostener, satisfacer y nutrir cuando más lo necesites. Tu fe en Dios no debe tener restricciones. #365conDios

Today's Bible Verse: "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1) Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ MEET OUR HOSTS at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Hello, thank you for listening to your daily bible verse, the podcast that examines one verse each day to learn more about God and His will for us. I'm your host, Jennifer Slattery. And after this short word from our sponsor, we'll dive into today's Bible verse, Psalm 91:1 Today's Bible verse is Psalm 91:1, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  It's tornado season in Nebraska where I live and while some of our friends unfortunately experienced significant damage in our neighborhood, the storms have been more clamorous than catastrophic. While we've had to hunker down in the basement a couple times for the most part, we've remained comfortably tucked in our beds, finding the emergency sirens, the howling wind, and occasionally house shaking thunder more of a nuisance than fear. I cannot say the same for our daughter and son in law's dog, Bubba. However, as we discovered about a week ago, when he and his little sister spent the weekend with us, the poor guy does not weather storms, well, terrified, he wanted to not only remain as close to us as possible, but he also dove under the blankets trying to seek shelter beneath us. While we certainly weren't the biggest or even strongest thing he could hide under from his perspective, we were the most powerful and so when afraid, he turned to us to keep him safe.  In two recent faith over fear podcast episodes, another podcaster and I talked about some powerful Scripture that helps quiet fear if you struggle with anxiety, I encourage you to check those out the first dropped on June 18. And the second on the 25th. Again, you can find full on the Faith Over Fear podcast accessed wherever you listen to podcast content.  In today's verse, God invites us to seek shelter in him. And unlike my husband and I his strength and power are limitless, and he's bigger than anyone or anything coming against us. He is the Most High, a low when or Elohim, a word in the original Hebrew that emphasizes his supremacy, the fact that he is greater than or stronger than all and above all, he is the highest possible being and the highest object of human worship. He is also the Almighty, the English translation for Shaddai, which in the original Hebrew means breasts, field or land and therefore has the connotation of provision, fruitfulness and nourishment. Putting these two names together then we see the psalmist is declaring God to be big and strong enough to keep him safe and capable of providing for all his needs. No wonder he can rest in the shelter of God's presence although some translation state in his secret place. 19th century theologian Albert Barnes wrote that this implied abiding where God abides adding quote, "the idea is that of having one's home or residence in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle or temple, and of sitting with him in that sacred place" and quote, in Psalm 27:5 ancient Israel second king, a man by the name of David wrote that God would hide him in the shelter of His Sacred tent. Therefore to abide or dwell in God's shadow is to abide or to dwell to reside with to remain connected with God.  Resting in a shadow implies the same level of proximity. I'm reminded of a game my daughter and I used to play when she was young while outside on sunny days, we would try to jump on or catch one another shadows while the other person tried to keep enough distance between them to keep that from occurring. But simply, one must follow someone closely in order for their shadow to fall upon them. remaining in God's shadow then means seeking His will and doing our best to remain yielded to His Spirit in every moment. This in turn leads to the sole deep rest of knowing we don't have to figure everything out. We don't have to solve our own problems, fight our own battles, meet our own needs, make ourselves righteous or earn our salvation. All we must do in each moment is follow. However, God leads trusting him to take care of everything else of all that concerns us. In Christ, we can cease our stressing, striving and conniving and lean into a steady strong an ever present embrace knowing he will respond onto our storms in one of three ways, he will lead us well away from the storms path before we're even aware the rain has begun to fall. Or he'll tell us to flee and will show us precisely how to do so. Or he'll give us what we need to stand strong amidst the howling wind. We see in Scripture, examples of God caring for his children in each of these ways. What we don't see, however, is him abandoning them in their fear, nor will we ever see him respond to us in that way. He will always offer a shelter in his secret place in the shadow of his will. Let's pray. Holy Father, you are so loving, faithful, attentive, powerful, and gracious. You are God. Almighty, you hold all power in your hands, you reign supreme. You are faithful and you are loving and you are always present, you will never leave us. You will never forsake us. You surround us with Your love and you Speak tenderly to us. You invite us to draw near always you never turn us away. When we are afraid. May we turn to you? May we rest in you may we seek your will. May we listen for your voice and may we follow however you lead knowing that you will watch over us that you will keep us in your loving embrace. Thank You that we don't have to figure everything out. Thank You that we don't have to fight our own battles. They choose that you fight on our behalf. Thank you that you have good plan for us and you have the power to bring that good to pass. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ, the one who allowed us to have a deeply connected relationship with you from now to eternity. We love you and we praise you and it is in the name of Jesus our Savior, your son that we pray. Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

6.14.24 - Shaddai Livingston & Sunni Patterson by Crosstown Conversations

Job has what he has been asking for, a forum where he confronts the Lord. Imagine staring into that overwhelming power, here taking the form of the Whirlwind. The Lord inquires - Will you challenge me? Or shall he who contends with Shaddai, be corrected?    Job becomes utterly deferential: Behold, I am vile – meaning of no account!  Job concedes his place before the Almighty.  He continues: I will not answer. I place my hand over my mouth. The Lord revealed himself to Job, who eschewed evil, walked with God and made the proper sacrifices, as a lesson to mankind.  It is the mindset we should all have toward the Almighty.   Job is hit with the realization -- God was present all along and recognizes himself wrong for thinking otherwise.  The Lord continues:  Gird up thy loins like a man! I will question you; and you will answer.   God is teaching Job and asks us all to consider:  Would thou annul my judgment? Would you condemn me so that you may be justified? Would you speak as if you were more righteous?  Have you the arm (power) of God?  Can you thunder with the voice of God? Can you adorn yourself with majesty and splendor? Do you recognize the Pride of man and justly punish same; and bring the wicked to their knees and hold sin to account?  Do you hide the malevolent in the dust and bind their faces; shutting them in the grove? God is making the point, being the universal King is infinitely complex! Job is reminded of all the Lord is responsible for. He realizes the symphony of life goes on with an ineffable beauty. The Lord concludes: If you can do any and all of this, I will confess – that you are God and that you can save yourself by your own hand. It is quite easy for us to point to infinite aspects of life we think unjust.   Many conclude: I was wronged! There is no justice!  This is an all-too-easy cop-out leading some to dispense with proper reverence.  The more enlightened road is to pursue spiritual wisdom with maturity, coming to realize we are not fit to question God.  This involves acknowledging limits of our perspective.  You are best off accepting divine wisdom you are fortunate to be granted.  So much of this involves trusting, praying, and repenting.   The Lord moves on to one of his mystical, mighty or allegorical creations: Behold, my Behemoth! Behemoth is initially referenced as a mighty beast; but then is taken to mythical proportions.  The Lord points to how he devours grass like an ox.  He directs us to his mighty physical features, meant to highlight the similar power of the monster's creator.   Look at his strength – the power in his hips and loins as well as his navel!  Behemoth is quite the masculine figure, with fierce verity.   Look how he moves his tail like a cedar!    This likely references an erect phallus.  Continuing with sexual prowess – God references the sinews of his stones (testicles) being tightly knit.  He then moves on the beast's envious physique -- his Bones are strong as brass and ribs like iron rods.  He is chief is ways of God.  Only He who made him can approach him! God is the ultimate tamer of beasts.  Behemoth has been referenced, by some scholars, as a primitive chaos monster, who God overcome and controls. The question is raised: is the Scripture utilizing Canaanite or pagan concepts and importing it with new meaning, for any variety of purposes?  Nevertheless, Behemoth is an expressive mega-beast. This figure roamed the earth causing discord but God brought him under control. The Lord continues: My mountains yield him food.  He plays in the fields. He is able to find shade and lie under trees.  The willows of a brook surround him.  Indeed; he can drinketh up a river. He remains unbothered as it flows down his gullet. Behemoth is ultimately  a giant force under God's domain. Intertwined with this chapter are timeless psychological & mythological lessons.  

Un joven de 30 años de edad perdió la vida el pasado fin de semana, al caer del cuarto piso del residencial Shaddai, ubicado en la avenida Anacaona, en el Distrito Nacional.

Almighty God is enough to meet our needs. Gods protection comes to those who dwell in him.

Aprofunde sua devoção a Deus em fiel.in/devocionalNão me chamem de Noemi, mas de Mara, porque o Todo-Poderoso me deu muita amargura. Quando saí daqui, eu era plena, mas o Senhor me fez voltar vazia. (Rt 1.20-21)Quando Noemi retornou a Belém, deixando os túmulos de seu marido e filhos em Moabe, podemos apenas imaginar a dor e o sofrimento que ela experimentou ao voltar para lugares e rostos familiares. Que pensamentos e memórias teriam surgido? Ah, aquela é a Sra. Fulana de Tal, e aqueles devem ser seus filhos. Olha como eles cresceram! É aqui que eu costumava trazer os meninos. Este é o lugar onde Elimeleque e eu costumávamos caminhar…Quando a amargura sobre sua situação se instalou, Noemi, cujo nome significa “agradável”, decidiu que um nome mais adequado para si mesma era Mara, que significa “amarga”. Ela não tentou colocar os desafios da vida de lado e convencer a todos de que estava tudo bem. Fazer isso teria sido menos do que honesto — uma traição à teologia que sustenta sua fé em meio ao que o escritor de hinos William Cowper chamou de “uma providência carrancuda”.A situação de Noemi fala do fato de que, mesmo para o povo de Deus, certas dores na vida parecerão insuportáveis, algumas circunstâncias parecerão injustas e algumas perguntas permanecerão sem resposta. Sua resposta levanta uma questão: o que faremos quando o luto atingir nossa própria vida? A realidade do sofrimento é um problema para o cristão, mas não é um problema menor para todas as outras pessoas. Todos precisam lutar com o problema da dor. Um ateu não pode fazê-lo satisfatoriamente, porque, se não há Deus, simplesmente vivemos em um universo de acaso, onde as coisas simplesmente desmoronam. Mas o cristão pode perguntar — na verdade, devemos perguntar — assim: “Onde está Deus no meio disso?”A expressão honesta de emoção de Noemi condiz com sua teologia. Ela não atribui tudo o que aconteceu ao acaso, mas reconhece a mão de Deus em ação. Ela declara que Deus está bem no meio de sua dor; ela o chama de Shaddai, “Todo-Poderoso”, o Deus providente e protetor. O que significa Shaddai? É a característica de Deus que significa que suas melhores respostas vêm em nossas piores circunstâncias. Noemi passou por fome, perda, tristeza, dúvidas e despedidas — mas, por conhecer a Deus como Shaddai, ela poderia deixar a explicação e a responsabilidade por tais provações amargas com ele.Para onde você vai quando as ondas batem, quando as rodas saem da estrada, quando tudo dá errado? Deve ser do seu conhecimento sobre quem Deus é e como ele lida com o seu povo. Esta é uma base segura sobre a qual se apoiar. Para onde mais podemos ir?Quando Noemi deixou Belém, havia fome. Quando ela voltou, houve colheita. Através das nuvens de tristeza, a luz da esperança começou a brilhar, conforme o palco foi sendo montado, para que Deus providenciasse abundantemente para Noemi e para Rute. Quando Deus está operando, até mesmo a desesperança pode ser a porta de entrada para novos começos e novas oportunidades. Um dia ele dissipará toda a escuridão. Deus é seu Shaddai. Em que parte da sua vida você precisa ouvir isso hoje? E quem ao seu redor precisa que você lhe compartilhe isso?--Devocional Verdade para a vida, por Alistair Begg | Editora Fiel.Conteúdo oferecido em parceria entre Truth For Life e Ministério Fiel.

Pastor Sam

Yiskah and Ellen explore parenting, nurturing, name for G-d; : Shaddai=breast. We talk the personal vs the collective, and more~

Iglesia Evangelica San Pablo sitio Monte Serie Los Nombres de Dios Ps, Rita Mellado 28 Enero 2024

What is theodicy? How can the name "Shaddai" help us to better understand who God is? Join Ezra as he considers how the book of Ruth illustrates the life-changing truth that God is so much more than we can imagine.

What is a "theodicy odyssey?" What does the name "Shaddai" reveal to us about who God is? Join Ezra as he considers how the BIble illustrates the life-changing truth that God is so much more than we can imagine.

EXALTANDO O NOME DE JESUS! Você conhece o nome de Deus? A coragem de Davi vinha do conhecimento do nome de Deus! Deus irá levantar pessoas que têm como projeto de vida exaltar o nome Dele. No entanto, se quisermos conhecer a Deus, devemos conhecer Seus nomes! Os nomes de Deus: Yahweh: Eu Sou. Adonai: Senhor do Universo. Elohim: No princípio, Deus criou os céus e a terra. El Shaddai: El significa força, poder. Shaddai é usado para amamentar. O poderoso que amamenta. Ele é Aquele que derrama; Ele não fica pingando gotas nos Seus filhos, Ele vai transbordar o nosso cálice! El Eliom: O Deus altíssimo. El Olam: O Deus eterno. Kadosh: O Santo. Gaal: Redentor. Jó teve sua vida redimida. Deus vai recompensar o seu sofrimento, a sua labuta! Jeová Elohim Sabaoth: Senhor Deus dos Exércitos. Deus vai cessar a guerra! Deus te dá tempos de paz. El Roi: Deus que vê. Ele é Aquele que não está indiferente às nossas angústias. Jehovah-Rapha: O Senhor que te sara. Jehovah-Rohi: O Senhor é meu pastor e nada me faltará. Jehovah-Shammah: O Deus que está lá. Emmanuel: Deus conosco. Jehovah-Nissi - O Senhor é a minha vitória. Jeová-Shalom - “Deus minha Paz “. Ele traz paz para as nossas vidas Jeová-Tsidkenu - Deus da minha retidão. Fará nossa justiça romper como um rio. Aba: Pai. Eu tenho um Pai que cuida de mim. Jeová Jiré: O Senhor que provê. Tudo que você precisa para cumprir o seu destino você terá! Jesus! O Deus Criador se tornou um Rei neste mundo e Ele reinará pelos séculos dos séculos! O nome de Jesus está sobre todos os nomes. Entre em 2024 desafiando cada uma das situações que se levantam contra você em nome de Jesus! O nome de Jesus é o centro da Bíblia e há poder no nome de Jesus para curar os enfermos. Há poder no nome de Jesus para libertar os cativos, para receber tudo que pedimos em oração! Seu nome está acima de todo o nome!

About Us: Business owners, Chamber directors, industry leaders, Main Street Directors, school and hospital leaders discuss what's happening in North MS with station owner, Melinda Marsalis. Interviews are recorded in Ripley, MS at Sun Bear Studio, broadcast every Tuesday at 11 am on The Shark 102.3 FM Radio and added here to help you stay informed.   If you would like to be considered for an interview, you can call or email Melinda.  The Shark 102.3 FM Radio Station and Sun Bear Studio, located in Ripley, MS, are owned by Chris and Melinda Marsalis.  Chris and Melinda have a passion for community development and love all of the amazing things that are going on in North Mississippi.  This Week:   In this episode, Melinda is really excited to learn more about the State School Superintendent for Mississippi's Advisory Council as she talks with two of its members. Ireland Rakestraw, a senior, and Shaddai Galvez, a junior, are both students at Blue Mountain High School and were appointed as members of the council. The Advisory Council is made up of 150 members. Ireland and Shaddai have already met with the council at The Capitol in Jackson. The council is made up of high school juniors, seniors, and students in their first year of college. The girls have gotten to know people from all over the state. The goal of the council is to take insight from students to better the education system in Mississippi. Ireland and Shaddai have already learned so much about what is going on in the state and they look forward to the next meeting in February. Give this podcast a listen to learn more.www.jc.media662-837-1023theshark1023@gmail.com

Shaddai, the Almighty, is a name used to identify the Lord as Creator in Job.  It also is used when talking about God as the Judge of His creation.  Shaddai made the world, and Man, He has the right to judge the world, and in particular, Man.

The Hebrew name, Shaddai, is used more to identify God in the book of Job than the rest of the Old Testament combined.  Shaddai has the meaning, "Almighty," and is therefore, and not surprisingly, associated with the Lord's power displayed in creation.

Show #1978 Links from this broadcast:  Harvest Revival Church – Men’s Retreat: https://www.harvestrevival.center/events/mens-retreat Prepare2Stand: https://coachdavelive.com/event/prepare-to-stand BardsFest: https://bardsfm.com/bardsfest/ 1 Corinthians 15: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A19-26&version=KJV Ecclesiastes 1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecc+7&version=KJV Jamie Walden’s son’s healing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m95X8h-L8jM Kingdom should suffer violence: https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-God-suffers-violence.html Shadow of Shaddai: https://youtu.be/Y-vyZrAWxyM?si=ze9yGgDKkfMAmW5s […]

The biggest obstacle to faith for a lot of people is this: “If God is all powerful, then why does He cause (or allow) bad things to happen?” There's something fundamental that we must establish before we ever address this question directly: God is good, all the time (James 1:16-17).   We know this, at least in part, by what Jesus did. Jesus said that he who has seen him has seen the Father (John 14:8-9), and Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38, Matt 15:30, Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:16, Matt 9:35, Matt 10:1, Matt 12:15, Matt 15:30, Luke 4:40, Luke 10:9).  He never refused healing to anyone who came to Him. He never harmed anyone "for their own good," or put a disease on anyone "to teach them something" or "to discipline them." Not once. In fact, He actively worked against all sickness and disease, to destroy the devil's work (1 John 3:8). He is the same today as He was when He was on earth (Hebrews 13:8). God the Father doesn't change either (Malachi 3:6). We know of God's character from His names in the Old Testament. He is Jehovah Nissi (The Lord my Banner - Ex 17:15). He is Jehovah-Raah (The Lord my Shepherd, or My Friend - Gen 48:15, Psalm 23:1, 80:1, Ez 34:11-15). He is Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals, Ex 15:26). He is Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There - He has not abandoned you: Eze 48:35). He is Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness, Jer 23:6, 33:16). He is Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord who Sanctifies You: Ex 31:13, Lev 20:8). He is Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will Provide, Gen 22:14). He is Jehovah Shalom (The Lord is Peace, Judges 6:24). He is Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts, 1 Sam 1:3, Ps 24:9-10, 84:3, Isa 6:5). Many other scriptures establish His goodness. He is ONLY good. (1 John 1:5, Psalm 84:11-12; Psalm 146:6-10; Psalm 107:9, Psalm 31:19, 1 Tim 4:4-5, Eph 1:3, Romans 8:28, Ps 103:2-5, Ps 145:16-19). God doesn't do bad things to His children. Yet He's powerful enough that for those who trust in Him, He can take even terrible circumstances that were not part of His plan, and bring good out of them.“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). Those who know their scriptures well may point out Old Testament passages that sound like God, in fact, did do evil things. One example is in 2 Sam 24:1, when it says the Lord moved David (in pride) to count the number of his subjects... and then condemned David's sin in having done so (2 Sam 24:10) and punished him severely for it. Yet the exact same story appears in 1 Chron 21:1, where it says Satan moved David to number Israel. This is a very rare glimpse into what was happening in the spiritual realm in the Old Testament, where there is almost no doctrine of Satan. The primary exception to this is at the beginning of the book of Job; otherwise Satan is only mentioned by name here, and in Zechariah 3:1-2. (He is mentioned in Genesis 3 as "the serpent," of course, and also as Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12 and Ezekiel 28 as well.) The Old Testament had almost no doctrine of Satan because the people had no authority over him under the Mosaic covenant. What good would it do to learn that you have a bloodthirsty enemy, but there is nothing you can do to protect yourself from him? Because of this, in the Old Testament, anything supernatural, good or bad, was attributed to God, whether God was the instigator or not. The New Testament (and the revelation in Job 1:6-12) shows that this is not the case; there is a spiritual war going on, and we have an adversary who hates us. (For more on how God's dealings with man changed with different covenants, see my Blood Covenant biblical retellings duology: Blood Covenant Origins and Blood Covenant Fulfilled.) So if God doesn't cause bad things to happen, why do they happen? Evil comes about as a result of one of or a combination of three things -- 1) Satan, the enemy of God and therefore of us, who would like nothing better than to see us destroyed:“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 2) A fallen world that will be redeemed one day, but isn't yet: “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” (Rom 8:20-21). and 3) people who are sinners, and either aren't yet saved or aren't yet perfected:“There is no one righteous [apart from God], not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Rom 3:10-11). But if God is truly sovereign, or all-powerful, even if He doesn't cause bad things to happen, doesn't He at least allow them, for His own purposes--which largely boils down to the same thing? I thought this way for a very long time--that He was like a great General of an army, who sometimes had to make sacrifices for a greater good. Sometimes (sorry), that sacrifice turned out to be you. On one particular night, sitting in front of my fire alone and in the midst of a major life crisis, the Lord disabused me of this mistaken belief about Him. At the time it was an emotional, intuitive understanding, and the fruit of it--renewed joy, hope, faith, and trust in Him--was one layer of evidence that it was true. It was only later that I studied why this definition of God's sovereignty is also biblically inaccurate. God is sovereign in the sense that He is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing, but He is not all-controlling. God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; they did anyway. Was that God's will? Certainly not! He did everything He could to keep them from doing it, short of making them automatons, when He told them, don't do it. Likewise, any sovereign can set laws that his citizens may not necessarily obey. The US is a sovereign nation and in 1974 the administration set the "National Maximum Speed Law" of 55mph. But many drivers exceeded that speed limit regularly.  The New English Translation has the word “sovereign” appear more than any other biblical translation (368 times). Not one of the original Hebrew or Greek words connotes the idea that He controls everything that happens. Most of the time it's just the way they render God's names.The word sovereign is often translated from Shaddai (meaning Almighty) when it's part of God's name (48 times in the OT). Other times it's translated from ‘elohiym: supreme God, as a superlative, or ‘elyown, meaning High or Most High. Sometimes it's thrown in as part of the transition of ‘Adonay: an emphatic form of the Lord. Sometimes it's translated from tsaba', also translated the Lord of Hosts, meaning one who commands an army. In some cases the word sovereign is used to describe God's characteristics, but in context, it doesn't mean what we typically mean by the word (that His will always happens). The NET version of 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all." Only this translation uses the word sovereign; the others , translate it Head. This word connotes the idea of a supreme ruler, but not of one who always gets His way.  Psalm 84:11 is one of my favorites. It says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield (magen: shield, buckler, protector).” The same verse is translated in NET: "For the LORD God is our sovereign protector." Clearly this doesn't say anything about His will always being done, either. Sovereign power is also translated as holiness from qadash: "to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate." This word is used in Ezekiel 28:25: "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power (or holiness) over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob." Micah 5:4 says, "He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.” Sovereign authority is ga'own (exaltation, majesty, pride) shem (name, reputation, fame, glory): thus, better translated “in the majesty of the name” of the Lord.  Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea." Sovereign majesty here is yada (to know, to perceive, to make known) kabowd (glory, honour, glorious, abundance), also translated “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Of course God's will does not always come to pass. The classic example of this is 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,” and 1 Timothy 2:4: “Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Matthew 18:14 also says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, not just those who are saved. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, and 1 Tim 4:10 says, "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” But not everybody will be saved, clearly. God gave us free will; He doesn't force us to choose Him, nor does He make any of our other decisions for us, either. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." God wills it; He paid for it; but He won't get everyone as He would like. There are other verses that imply the concept of sovereignty (in the sense that when God decides to do something, He does it, and no one can stop Him).  But this refers to God's right and His power, and says nothing about potential restrictions He places on His right and power one way or the other. Here are a few of those verses: Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Isaiah 46:10: “I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (i.e. He can use bad and work it for good.) So what restrictions did God place on His own power, and why are they there? God gave dominion of earth to men in the Garden of Eden (Gen 1:26-29)--like the lease on a property, the earth lease. When Adam obeyed Satan instead of God, he gave the earth to Satan, and Satan became the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). Jesus defeated Satan on the cross, but the earth lease has yet to run out. Even the demons whom Jesus cast out knew that there was a set time when they would be evicted--but it was not yet (Matt 8:29). Once God had given His word, He had to abide by it. Everything in the universe is upheld by the integrity of His word (Hebrews 1:3). And yet, He still wanted to save us--but we'd locked Him outside of His own world by our choices. He had to find a way to "legally" get back on the inside. He'd given dominion of the earth to men (Psalm 115:16), so He had to become a man, to buy it back--our kinsman redeemer (see the book of Ruth for a true story that is also a parable of this). Jesus did buy it back, but even though He now has the rights to it, He won't take possession of it until He returns. He has delayed only so that all who would will be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Revelation 5 depicts the moment when the earth lease is finally up. Jesus begins to take possession of it, and to "evict" the evil from the world. Even then, He won't do it all at once, but in progressive steps, because part of the purpose of the Tribulation is to redeem His chosen people, Israel. Indeed, their turning to Him and asking Him to return is a prerequisite for His second coming (Matt 23:39). Until then, though, God has made "legal" provision for those who follow Him through successive covenants with men on earth who could agree to give Him permission. Prior to Abraham, God had no "legal" right to protect His favorites, which is why the book of Job played out the way it did. But once the Mosaic law came, it laid out blessings for those who followed God, and cursings for those who disobeyed Him (Deut 28)--because sin still had to be punished. The story of the Old Testament shows repeated episodes of disobedience, because the Jews could not follow the Law. God always knew this, of course--Paul's treatise in Romans demonstrates that the point of the Law was to show that all people are incapable of following it. Even so, there were those even in the Old Testament who figured out that what God really wanted was a changed heart (Psalm 51:10, Micah 6:8), not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Those few, like Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and David, got to enjoy a real relationship with God, even before Christ. Aside from spiritual blessings from obedience in the Old Covenant, God wanted good things for His people so much that He built in multiple paths to receive it. He designed the body such that it heals itself. In the law, He also instructed His people on how to work with the natural laws so that their bodies would be healthy. He told them to rest one day per week (the Sabbath). The Old Covenant is full of dietary rules, to eat certain things and not to eat others (corresponding to modern recommendations for health), to quarantine those who contracted contagious diseases, to decontaminate objects that had been in contact with mold, and many other things that would have made no medical sense to the Jews at the time. More than that, the most common command in scripture is to "fear not." We now know that stress (anxiety, fear, panic, etc) contributes to, by some estimation, up to 90% of chronic illness. From a practical standpoint for provision, scripture is filled with recommendations to be honest, generous, diligent and not lazy, to diversify our efforts, etc --to work with natural laws of sowing and reaping, so that we might prosper. I n the Old Testament, there are accounts of miraculous interventions for healing, provision, victory, etc--but God always worked through a man who cooperated with Him via the covenant in place at the time. In the New Testament, Jesus was the perfect embodiment of the will of the Father. He healed everyone who came to Him--but the method was often different. In some cases, He healed with a touch (Luke 5:13). In other cases, people touched Him (Mark 5:31), or even the hem of His garment (Matt 14:36). In other cases He merely spoke the word (Matt 8:8, John 11:43). In others He put mud on blind eyes (John 9:6). There was no formula; He met people where they were at, individually. Then in the New Covenant, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13-14), leaving us with only the blessings for those who are in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). This means that today, there are many promises for blessing, healing, provision, and victory that we can stand on and receive by faith, whether a sudden miraculous intervention or a slow blessing working with natural laws (which is more common, Mark 4:14, 26-29). God sends His word to heal us (Ps 107:20). We can receive the blessings that are now already ours in Christ (Eph 1:3) by abiding in Him (John 15:7), trusting in Him (Prov 3:5-6, Psalm 91), learning what His word says (Hosea 4:6) and renewing our minds with it (Romans 12:2), casting down all imaginations to the contrary (2 Cor 10:5), and resisting the devil when he tries to lie to us about what is truly ours (James 4:7), by speaking God's word in faith (Mark 11:23), and by forgiving others and ourselves (James 5:16). Since God's word is as a seed, it takes time for the harvest to come (Mark 4:14, 26-29) and we will reap if we do not grow weary and lose heart (Gal 6:9). What if we fail to do our part and for whatever reason, don't or can't seem to receive this way, though? The earth is still under Satan's control until the earth lease runs out, and it's also still dominated by sinful people. The world itself is still corrupted by sin (Romans 8:19-22). God made provision for us to overcome these things, but there is still much to overcome. Job (who had no covenant to protect him at all) complained to God, "Have you eyes of flesh? or do you see as a man sees?" (Job 10:4). Even in the Old Testament, God pitied us and knew that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14), but then Jesus came and walked in our shoes. He can sympathize with our weaknesses exactly (Hebrews 4:15). When Peter walked on water and then took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink, Jesus still reached out and caught him (Matt 14:28-32). When the disciples feared drowning and woke Jesus, Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves (Mark 4:35-41). If we begin to fear and take our eyes off of Him, He's there for us too, to give us mercy and grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). He also gave us the body of Christ to stand with us and bolster our faith with the prayer of agreement (Matt 18:19, James 5:14-15). We also still have all of the alternative methods to receive God's blessings, as well: all truth is His truth. He gave us principles like sowing and reaping (Gal 6:7) which includes blessing the work of our hands (Deut 28:4-8). He gave us the science of natural laws, including medicine and logic. He promises to give us wisdom for whatever we need when we ask for it (James 1:5-8)--we just have to take Him at His word. Whatever tragedy may have befallen you in your life, God was not the author of it. He wants good things for you, and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). He is for you, and not against you (Romans 8:31). If He gave you the very best He had, Jesus, to redeem you and make you His, why would He not also freely give you everything else that is good (Romans 8:32)? He weeps with you in your tragedy (John 11:35). He never wanted this for you. But He can take even that tragedy and bring good out of it, if You will trust Him to do so (Romans 8:28). God has been much maligned, even in the church. It's convenient and even sometimes comforting, in a twisted way, to say that God must have done, or allowed, some tragedy for some greater purpose of His that we cannot see. But the truth is, the earth is still a battleground, and God is the Hero, not the villain. He is only good. All the time.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Happy Father's Day! It is amazing how this Psalm and these first six verses of it coincide with the day that we celebrate fathers. No doubt, many of us had amazing fathers who were a part of our growing up years. But is possible that many are reading this that did not have this wonderful and much needed experience. Well, verse 5 reminds us that our great God, YAH, is a perfect heavenly Father, who will always be there for you, and give both the fatherless and the widows His protection! From the title we learn that Psalm 68 was written by King David to be a song that would be sung by the best of best of the singers, “the Chief Musician”.  It is possible that David wrote this Psalm on the occasion of transferring the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to the temple, the special place he had prepared for it on Mount Zion. It is a most soul stirring hymn. Psalm 68 is also the fourth of a quartet of psalms (64-68), which celebrate the millennial reign of Christ. John Phillips wrote this about it: “It pulls out all the stops, and its notes boom in a tremendous orchestration of history and prophecy. It has been called "one of the masterpieces of the world's lyrics" and "the grandest and most elaborate of dedication odes." One commentator says that "even in the diluted English version, it is difficult to read this marching song without the feet longing to tramp and the hands to wave." You might take the time to read the "Song of Deborah" in Judges 5, as preparation for studying this psalm, and compare the parallels: Ps. 68:4/Judg. 5:3, Ps. 68:7-8/Judg. 5:4-5, Ps. 68:12/Judg. 5:30, Ps. 68:13/Judg. 5:16, Ps. 68:18/Judg. 5:12, and Ps. 68:27/Judg. 5:14, 18. The emphasis is on God's mighty acts on behalf of Israel resulting in His decision to dwell on Mount Zion. Several names of God are used, including Elohim (23 times), Jehovah, Jah (short for Jehovah, as in hallelujah, Elijah, etc.), Adonai (6 times), and Shaddai. Psalm 68 is Messianic and Paul quotes verse 18 in Ephesians 4:8 and applies it to the ascension of Christ. The psalm is a jubilant hymn of praise to Jehovah in which the nation of Israel gives four expressions of triumph through their God. First, we celebrate our great and awesome God because of His coming to us. Verse 1 is a quotation from Numbers 10:33-35, Israel's "marching cry" whenever they set out on their journeys.  “And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp. So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: "Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You." And when it rested, he said: "Return, O LORD, To the many thousands of Israel." The quotation is fitting because the psalm pictures the Lord "on the march" on behalf of His people. He fights their battles, leads them into the land of their inheritance, and takes up residence in the sanctuary on Mt. Zion. The enemies of Israel are blown away like smoke (Psalm 37:20) and melted like wax (Psalm 97:5), while the righteous (Israel) rejoice at God's works and sing His praises. The phrase "extol him who rides upon the heavens" or "upon the clouds" (v. 4) should probably read "cast up a highway for him who rides through the deserts". It's the picture of an oriental monarch and his entourage approaching a town, and the citizens clearing away the obstacles on the road (Isa. 40:3; 57:14; 62:10; Matt. 3:1-3). The coming of the King encourages the helpless people, especially the orphans and widows, the lonely, and those imprisoned unjustly (vv. 5-6; see Deut. 10:18-19; 27:17-19; Luke 4:16-19). But the rebels had better be careful! They might be cast out of the Promised Land that flows with milk and honey (v. 6b)! But my friend, you can always rely on our heavenly Father to be there for you! God bless!

" And he [Moses] heard The Voice, saying: Blessed art thou, Moses, for I, Elohim  Shaddai have chosen thee; and thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy decree even as if thou wert the Creator. And lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days; for thou shalt deliver my people from bondage, even Israel, my chosen peoples." -1 Moses 1:45-47Read the 5 Books of Moses in a free PDF free PDF, buy a paperback or a hardback copy from Lulu, or a paperback on Amazon.Music: “Impact Moderato” by Kevin MacLeodSupport the show

Contact AmyPTSD & Me, and forgiving again. More on my journey of forgiving, again, when triggers take over.This is PTSD.This is forgiving again.You can hear the totality of Amy's story by visiting wednesdayswithwatson.com.This episode should encourage those of you who often get frustrated with PTSD and triggers. This episode should serve as an encouragement to those fighting the PTSD battle.Special thanks to Phil Baker for allowing us to use his song "Marked By You" may we all seek to be marked by our suffering savior.Psalm 91: The PTSD Patient's prayer: You who sit down in the High God's presence,    spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,Say this: “God, you're my refuge.    I trust in you and I'm safe!”That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,    shields you from deadly hazards.His huge outstretched arms protect you—    under them you're perfectly safe;    his arms fend off all harm.Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,    not flying arrows in the day,Not disease that prowls through the darkness,    not disaster that erupts at high noon.Even though others succumb all around,    drop like flies right and left,    no harm will even graze you.You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,    watch the wicked turn into corpses.Yes, because God's your refuge,    the High God your very own home,Evil can't get close to you,    harm can't get through the door.He ordered his angels    to guard you wherever you go.If you stumble, they'll catch you;    their job is to keep you from falling.You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.14-16 “If you'll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,    “I'll get you out of any trouble.I'll give you the best of care    if you'll only get to know and trust me.Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;    I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.I'll give you a long life,    give you a long drink of salvation!”You ARE:SEEN KNOWN HEARD LOVED VALUED

Click to Print Reading Genesis 49 1. And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather ye yourselves together, and I will tell you what shall befall you in the end of the days. 2. Assemble yourselves and hear, ye sons of Jacob, and hear unto Israel your father. 3. Reuben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my forces, excellent in eminence, and excellent in power. 4. Light as water thou shalt not excel, because thou wentest up on thy father's bed, then profanedst thou it; he went up on my couch. 5. Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of violence are their swords. 6. Into their secret let not my soul come; in their assembly let not my glory be united; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their good pleasure they unstrung an ox. 7. Cursed be their anger for it was vehement, and their wrath for it was hard. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. 8. Judah, thy brethren shall celebrate thee, thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies, thy father's sons shall bow down to thee. 9. Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey my son thou art gone up; he bowed, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10. The scepter shall not be removed from Judah, and a lawgiver from between his feet, even until Shiloh come; and to him is the obedience of the peoples. 11. He binds his young ass unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washes his clothing in wine, and his covering in the blood of grapes: 12. His eyes are red with wine, and his teeth are white with milk. 13. Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the seas, and he shall be at a haven of ships, and his side shall be toward Zidon. 14. Issachar is a bony ass, lying down between the burdens. 15. And he shall see rest that it is good, and the land that it is pleasant; and he shall bow his shoulder to bear, and shall be a servant to tribute. 16. Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17. Dan shall be a serpent upon the way, an arrow-snake upon the path, biting the horse's heels, and his rider shall fall backward. 18. I wait for Thy salvation, O Jehovah. 19. Gad, a troop shall ravage him, and he shall ravage the heel. 20. From Asher, his bread is fat, and he shall yield the delights of a king. 21. Naphtali is a hind let loose, giving discourses of elegance. 22. Joseph is the son of a fruitful one, the son of a fruitful one over a fountain, of a daughter, she marches upon the wall. 23. And embitter him, and shoot at him, and hate him, the archers. 24. And he shall sit in the strength of his bow, and the arms of his hands are made strong by the hands of the mighty Jacob; from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. 25. By the God of thy father, and He shall help thee, and with Shaddai, and He shall bless thee, with the blessings of heaven above, with blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, with blessings of the breasts and of the womb. 26. The blessings of thy father shall prevail above the blessings of my progenitors, even to the desire of the hills of an age: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the Nazirite of his brethren. 27. Benjamin is a wolf; he shall seize in the morning, he shall devour the spoil, and at even he shall divide the prey. 28. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel; and this is what their father spake to them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. 29. And he commanded them, and said unto them, I am being gathered unto my people; bury me unto my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite; 30. In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is upon the faces of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a sepulcher. 31. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah: 32.

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 54 Psalm 54 (Listen) The Lord Upholds My Life To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil1 of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?” 54   O God, save me by your name,    and vindicate me by your might.2   O God, hear my prayer;    give ear to the words of my mouth. 3   For strangers2 have risen against me;    ruthless men seek my life;    they do not set God before themselves. Selah 4   Behold, God is my helper;    the Lord is the upholder of my life.5   He will return the evil to my enemies;    in your faithfulness put an end to them. 6   With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;    I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.7   For he has delivered me from every trouble,    and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies. Footnotes [1] 54:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 54:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum insolent men (compare Psalm 86:14) (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Genesis 49 Genesis 49 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: 2 Chronicles 27 2 Chronicles 27 (Listen) Jotham Reigns in Judah 27 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices. 3 He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD and did much building on the wall of Ophel. 4 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. 5 He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents1 of silver, and 10,000 cors2 of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. 6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9 And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place. Footnotes [1] 27:5 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [2] 27:5 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Acts 20:17–21:16 Acts 20:17–21:16 (Listen) Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.1 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by2 the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,3 which he obtained with his own blood.4 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. Paul Goes to Jerusalem 21 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.5 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers6 and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews7 at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. Footnotes [1] 20:21 Some manuscripts omit Christ [2] 20:22 Or bound in [3] 20:28 Some manuscripts of the Lord [4] 20:28 Or with the blood of his Own [5] 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra [6] 21:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17 [7] 21:11 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time (ESV)

With family: Genesis 49; Luke 2 Genesis 49 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills (ESV) Luke 2 (Listen) The Birth of Jesus Christ 2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when1 Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2 who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.3 The Shepherds and the Angels 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14   “Glory to God in the highest,    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”4 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Jesus Presented at the Temple 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29   “Lord, now you are letting your servant5 depart in peace,    according to your word;30   for my eyes have seen your salvation31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32   a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.6 She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. The Return to Nazareth 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. The Boy Jesus in the Temple 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents7 saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”8 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature9 and in favor with God and man. Footnotes [1] 2:2 Or This was the registration before [2] 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married [3] 2:7 Or guest room [4] 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men [5] 2:29 Or bondservant [6] 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years [7] 2:48 Greek they [8] 2:49 Or about my Father's business [9] 2:52 Or years (ESV) In private: Job 15; 1 Corinthians 3 Job 15 (Listen) Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God 15 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2   “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge,    and fill his belly with the east wind?3   Should he argue in unprofitable talk,    or in words with which he can do no good?4   But you are doing away with the fear of God1    and hindering meditation before God.5   For your iniquity teaches your mouth,    and you choose the tongue of the crafty.6   Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;    your own lips testify against you. 7   “Are you the first man who was born?    Or were you brought forth before the hills?8   Have you listened in the council of God?    And do you limit wisdom to yourself?9   What do you know that we do not know?    What do you understand that is not clear to us?10   Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,    older than your father.11   Are the comforts of God too small for you,    or the word that deals gently with you?12   Why does your heart carry you away,    and why do your eyes flash,13   that you turn your spirit against God    and bring such words out of your mouth?14   What is man, that he can be pure?    Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?15   Behold, God2 puts no trust in his holy ones,    and the heavens are not pure in his sight;16   how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,    a man who drinks injustice like water! 17   “I will show you; hear me,    and what I have seen I will declare18   (what wise men have told,    without hiding it from their fathers,19   to whom alone the land was given,    and no stranger passed among them).20   The wicked man writhes in pain all his days,    through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.21   Dreadful sounds are in his ears;    in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.22   He does not believe that he will return out of darkness,    and he is marked for the sword.23   He wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?'    He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;24   distress and anguish terrify him;    they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.25   Because he has stretched out his hand against God    and defies the Almighty,26   running stubbornly against him    with a thickly bossed shield;27   because he has covered his face with his fat    and gathered fat upon his waist28   and has lived in desolate cities,    in houses that none should inhabit,    which were ready to become heaps of ruins;29   he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure,    nor will his possessions spread over the earth;330   he will not depart from darkness;    the flame will dry up his shoot

In this episode, we pray for the protection of our children throughout this year. We cover their body, minds, and spirits with the covering of the blood and decree that no harm or evil will come close to our children.

Old Testament: Genesis 49–50 Genesis 49–50 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;10 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God's Good Purposes 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people11 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.12 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills [10] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [11] 50:20 Or a numerous people [12] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 24 Psalm 24 (Listen) The King of Glory A Psalm of David. 24   The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,1    the world and those who dwell therein,2   for he has founded it upon the seas    and established it upon the rivers. 3   Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?    And who shall stand in his holy place?4   He who has clean hands and a pure heart,    who does not lift up his soul to what is false    and does not swear deceitfully.5   He will receive blessing from the LORD    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6   Such is the generation of those who seek him,    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.2 Selah 7   Lift up your heads, O gates!    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,    that the King of glory may come in.8   Who is this King of glory?    The LORD, strong and mighty,    the LORD, mighty in battle!9   Lift up your heads, O gates!    And lift them up, O ancient doors,    that the King of glory may come in.10   Who is this King of glory?    The LORD of hosts,    he is the King of glory! Selah Footnotes [1] 24:1 Or and all that fills it [2] 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob (ESV) New Testament: Mark 3 Mark 3 (Listen) A Man with a Withered Hand 3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus,1 to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. A Great Crowd Follows Jesus 7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. 9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. The Twelve Apostles 13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons. 16 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,2 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Jesus' Mother and Brothers 31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers3 are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Footnotes [1] 3:2 Greek him [2] 3:18 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot [3] 3:32 Other manuscripts add and your sisters (ESV)

Old Testament: Genesis 49–50 Genesis 49–50 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;10 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God's Good Purposes 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people11 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.12 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills [10] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [11] 50:20 Or a numerous people [12] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees (ESV) New Testament: Matthew 17:14–27 Matthew 17:14–27 (Listen) Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon 14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon,1 and it2 came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.3 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”4 Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection 22 As they were gathering5 in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed. The Temple Tax 24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.6 Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Footnotes [1] 17:18 Greek it [2] 17:18 Greek the demon [3] 17:18 Greek from that hour [4] 17:20 Some manuscripts insert verse 21: But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting [5] 17:22 Some manuscripts remained [6] 17:27 Greek stater, a silver coin worth four drachmas or approximately one shekel (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 24 Psalm 24 (Listen) The King of Glory A Psalm of David. 24   The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,1    the world and those who dwell therein,2   for he has founded it upon the seas    and established it upon the rivers. 3   Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?    And who shall stand in his holy place?4   He who has clean hands and a pure heart,    who does not lift up his soul to what is false    and does not swear deceitfully.5   He will receive blessing from the LORD    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6   Such is the generation of those who seek him,    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.2 Selah 7   Lift up your heads, O gates!    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,    that the King of glory may come in.8   Who is this King of glory?    The LORD, strong and mighty,    the LORD, mighty in battle!9   Lift up your heads, O gates!    And lift them up, O ancient doors,    that the King of glory may come in.10   Who is this King of glory?    The LORD of hosts,    he is the King of glory! Selah Footnotes [1] 24:1 Or and all that fills it [2] 24:6 Septuagint, Syriac, and two Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text who seek your face, Jacob (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 8:22–31 Proverbs 8:22–31 (Listen) 22   “The LORD possessed1 me at the beginning of his work,2    the first of his acts of old.23   Ages ago I was set up,    at the first, before the beginning of the earth.24   When there were no depths I was brought forth,    when there were no springs abounding with water.25   Before the mountains had been shaped,    before the hills, I was brought forth,26   before he had made the earth with its fields,    or the first of the dust of the world.27   When he established the heavens, I was there;    when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,28   when he made firm the skies above,    when he established3 the fountains of the deep,29   when he assigned to the sea its limit,    so that the waters might not transgress his command,  when he marked out the foundations of the earth,30     then I was beside him, like a master workman,  and I was daily his4 delight,    rejoicing before him always,31   rejoicing in his inhabited world    and delighting in the children of man. Footnotes [1] 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created [2] 8:22 Hebrew way [3] 8:28 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 8:30 Or daily filled with (ESV)

Morning: Genesis 49–50 Genesis 49–50 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;10 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God's Good Purposes 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people11 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.12 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills [10] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [11] 50:20 Or a numerous people [12] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees (ESV) Evening: Matthew 15:1–20 Matthew 15:1–20 (Listen) Traditions and Commandments 15 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,' and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”1 6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word2 of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8   “‘This people honors me with their lips,    but their heart is far from me;9   in vain do they worship me,    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” What Defiles a Person 10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.3 And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?4 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” Footnotes [1] 15:5 Or is an offering [2] 15:6 Some manuscripts law [3] 15:14 Some manuscripts add of the blind [4] 15:17 Greek is expelled into the latrine (ESV)

Genesis 48–50 Genesis 48–50 (Listen) Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh 48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty1 appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.' 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance2 to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,   “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,    the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,16   the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;    and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;    and let them grow into a multitude3 in the midst of the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude4 of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,   “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,  ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope5 that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;6    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.715   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,8    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.9 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.1023   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms11 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,12 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty13 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.14  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;15 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God's Good Purposes 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people16 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.17 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai [2] 48:7 Or about two hours' distance [3] 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude [4] 48:19 Hebrew fullness [5] 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem [6] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [7] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [8] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [9] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [10] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [11] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [12] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [13] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [14] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills [15] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [16] 50:20 Or a numerous people [17] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees (ESV)

Genesis 48–50 Genesis 48–50 (Listen) Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh 48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty1 appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.' 5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance2 to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,   “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,    the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,16   the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;    and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;    and let them grow into a multitude3 in the midst of the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude4 of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,   “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,  ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope5 that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;6    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.715   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,8    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.9 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.1023   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms11 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,12 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty13 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.14  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. 50 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. 4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim;15 it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. God's Good Purposes 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people16 should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. The Death of Joseph 22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.17 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Footnotes [1] 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai [2] 48:7 Or about two hours' distance [3] 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude [4] 48:19 Hebrew fullness [5] 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem [6] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [7] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [8] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [9] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [10] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [11] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [12] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [13] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [14] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills [15] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt [16] 50:20 Or a numerous people [17] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees (ESV)

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Chassidus Applied to 24 Teves – 210 yearsWhat is the main contribution of the Alter Rebbe? What is the significance of the Alter Rebbe's Hilula on this day? Why did the Alter Rebbe oppose Napoleon instead of trying to transform the Western World? Why were the challenges in America more difficult than the ones in Russia? What did the Alter Rebbe teach us about the power of song? What is a chiddush of the Alter Rebbe that can help us daven better so that our prayers are answered positively? What is the best way to study Tanya in English? Why do we sing the Alter Rebbe's song only on special occasions? How should one pray? One person's journey from living like a robot to becoming emotionally alive. Why not develop a Chassidus-based psychology? Chassidus Applied to VaeiraWhy was the name Havaya revealed to Moses? What is the difference between G-d's name E-l Shaddai and Havaya? Why are there four expressions of redemption? What lessons do we learn from the ten plagues? What is the history behind the Alter Rebbe's discourse called “der frumer Vaeira”? Why are the plans to expand 770 deemed controversial by some in the community?

We're diving into a four-week Advent series on the names of God. In Scripture, naming of people and places tends to be very important, and the same is true of the various names used for and to describe God. Benson & Sean will guide us through 20 of the most well-known names for God, and explore what they mean for us and how they help us better prepare our hearts for Jesus. Plus - a very special four-part Christmas countdown!

In this continuing study I take a look at the Rapture Doctrine. Is this a Pre-Trib, as taught in most mainstream Churches are do Christians go through the Tribulation Period? I compare Thessalonians to Matthew 24 along with Revelation. I venture into Paul's writings to explore what he has to say, along with what Yahweh says in Ezekiel.  In this Part 32 I go back to Matthew 24 verse 18 and see what Yahshua Messiah has to say to His disciples and most important TO US TODAY! I discuss the fact that this present Pope is a Luciferian! Beginning with verse15, begins the second sign that Yahshua has given us. 18   Take a real good look at these verses 15 to 18. Notice that this is basically all one sentence. Therefore the thought remain the same throughout Yahshua's message. Yahshua starts out in verse 15, telling us when we see the ‘abomination of desolation' taking place, then in verse 16 He is telling those that live in Judea to flee to the mountains. Verse 17, He tells us not to come down from the roof top and gather up any of our personnel belongings and then in verse 18 we are instructed not to leave the field and return for our clothes. I have another thought on this verse. Why would you and I while working in the field, spiritual speaking preaching the Gospel of Yahshua Messiah throughout the world, as I am doing right now, need to go back home and gather our clothes when we are seeing these events unfold to us as Yahshua Messiah said? 19  Why would Yahshua Messiah state this, if man was told by Yahweh to replenish the earth? Yahshua Messiah is not contradicting His Father! Yahshua Messiah is speaking in a spiritual sense, on those that follow after this false messiah, doing his work. As one nurtures a baby they will nurture the works of Satan. Remember Yahshua Messiah is coming back for his virgin bride. That's to say those that didn't follow after anti-Christ. This in essence is the Mark of the Beast found in Rev 13. This is a mark of service, which is hidden over a long period of time, by which they do his work. Keep in mind that this mark of the beast is not some tattoo as same my think nor some type of a computer chip, driver's license etc. Let me ask you something. What is in your fore head? You're Brain! That allows you to think! In those days = those days of the abomination of desolation! Other words, WOE to them that hanky-panky with Satan!!!!! I made mention of the Virgin Bride. Let us take a look at Matt. Chapter 25. 3  lamps = torches – light = symbolic of Yahshua Messiah ‘El- ah – yon' this word is made up of three Divine titles of Yah! EL - EL  is essentially  the Almighty , thought the word is never so rendered (see below, "Shaddai"). EL is Elohim in all His strength and power. It is rendered "God" as Elohim is, but  El  is God the Omnipotent. AH = Jah is Yahweh in a special sense and relation. Yahweh as having BECOME our Salvation (first occ. Exod. 15:2), He Who IS, and WAS, and IS TO COME. It occurs 49 times (7 x 7. Spiritual completeness) YON = Elyon first occurs in Gen. 14:18 with  El , and is rendered "the most high (God)". It is El and Elohim, not as the powerful Creator, but as "the possessor of heaven and earth." Therefore the name is associated with the Messiah as the Son of "the Highest" (Luke 1:35). It is Elyon, as possessor of the earth, who divides the nations "their inheritance". In Psa. 83:18, He is "over all the earth". The title occurs 36 times (6 x 6 or 6 squared See Ap. 10). So we conclude that this oil is the ‘Word' of Yahshua Messiah, i.e. the Gospel. Kind in mind if one doesn't know the Word, then “they” can't do the work for Yahshua Messiah. Have any questions? Email me at utwoy@netzero.net

¡Escucha nuestra mini temporada exclusiva en Podimo! https://podimo.com/latam/herejes Apoya Herejes: https://www.patreon.com/herejeselpodcast Merch https://www.staymetal666.mitiendanube.com/ Durante más de 20 años (y probablemente aún hasta hoy) existió en el Estado de Chiapas una secta esclavista, llamada misiones de Shaddai (uno de los nombres de Dios en el Antiguo Testamento). Prohibían la educación, exigían diezmo y propinaban castigos físicos. A partir de este caso, en Herejes analizamos como esto es mucho más común de lo que parece, cuáles son sus causas, y por qué parece no tener remedio. Fuentes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_WZVyonAm_Q0-thmBPbPvqTmCE_yVfKnGRPO_P6l64Y/edit?usp=sharing - Ale Durán - https://twitter.com/FunkBob - - https://www.instagram.com/corsario.hereje/ - Ale Vázquez -  https://instagram.com/vasco.hereje/ - Bobby López - https://twitter.com/BobbyEsqvlz - https://www.instagram.com/bobby.hereje/

In this episode of The Original Torah Pearls, Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20), we talk about the meaning of the terms Bamidbar and Shaddai, decipher the names Schlemiel and Schlimazel, and uncover the secret of Hasenpfeffer Incorporated. We also explore the questions: Who … Continue reading → The post Torah Pearls #34 – Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20) appeared first on Nehemia's Wall.

In this short video, Derek introduces Psalm 91 with a meditation on verse 1, which is a summary of the whole Psalm: "He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide under the Shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai)."

4 Lent First Psalm: Psalm 89:1–18 Psalm 89:1–18 (Listen) I Will Sing of the Steadfast Love of the Lord A Maskil1 of Ethan the Ezrahite. 89   I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.2   For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;    in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”3   You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;    I have sworn to David my servant:4   ‘I will establish your offspring forever,    and build your throne for all generations.'” Selah 5   Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!6   For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?    Who among the heavenly beings2 is like the LORD,7   a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,    and awesome above all who are around him?8   O LORD God of hosts,    who is mighty as you are, O LORD,    with your faithfulness all around you?9   You rule the raging of the sea;    when its waves rise, you still them.10   You crushed Rahab like a carcass;    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.11   The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;    the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.12   The north and the south, you have created them;    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.13   You have a mighty arm;    strong is your hand, high your right hand.14   Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.15   Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,    who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,16   who exult in your name all the day    and in your righteousness are exalted.17   For you are the glory of their strength;    by your favor our horn is exalted.18   For our shield belongs to the LORD,    our king to the Holy One of Israel. Footnotes [1] 89:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 89:6 Hebrew the sons of God, or the sons of might (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 89:19–52 Psalm 89:19–52 (Listen) 19   Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one,1 and said:    “I have granted help to one who is mighty;    I have exalted one chosen from the people.20   I have found David, my servant;    with my holy oil I have anointed him,21   so that my hand shall be established with him;    my arm also shall strengthen him.22   The enemy shall not outwit him;    the wicked shall not humble him.23   I will crush his foes before him    and strike down those who hate him.24   My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,    and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25   I will set his hand on the sea    and his right hand on the rivers.26   He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,    my God, and the Rock of my salvation.'27   And I will make him the firstborn,    the highest of the kings of the earth.28   My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,    and my covenant will stand firm2 for him.29   I will establish his offspring forever    and his throne as the days of the heavens.30   If his children forsake my law    and do not walk according to my rules,331   if they violate my statutes    and do not keep my commandments,32   then I will punish their transgression with the rod    and their iniquity with stripes,33   but I will not remove from him my steadfast love    or be false to my faithfulness.34   I will not violate my covenant    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.35   Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;    I will not lie to David.36   His offspring shall endure forever,    his throne as long as the sun before me.37   Like the moon it shall be established forever,    a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah 38   But now you have cast off and rejected;    you are full of wrath against your anointed.39   You have renounced the covenant with your servant;    you have defiled his crown in the dust.40   You have breached all his walls;    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.41   All who pass by plunder him;    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.42   You have exalted the right hand of his foes;    you have made all his enemies rejoice.43   You have also turned back the edge of his sword,    and you have not made him stand in battle.44   You have made his splendor to cease    and cast his throne to the ground.45   You have cut short the days of his youth;    you have covered him with shame. Selah 46   How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?    How long will your wrath burn like fire?47   Remember how short my time is!    For what vanity you have created all the children of man!48   What man can live and never see death?    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 49   Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?50   Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,    and how I bear in my heart the insults4 of all the many nations,51   with which your enemies mock, O LORD,    with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. 52   Blessed be the LORD forever!      Amen and Amen. Footnotes [1] 89:19 Some Hebrew manuscripts godly ones [2] 89:28 Or will remain faithful [3] 89:30 Or my just decrees [4] 89:50 Hebrew lacks the insults (ESV) Old Testament: Genesis 49:1–28 Genesis 49:1–28 (Listen) Jacob Blesses His Sons 49 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2   “Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,    listen to Israel your father. 3   “Reuben, you are my firstborn,    my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,    preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.4   Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence,    because you went up to your father's bed;    then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5   “Simeon and Levi are brothers;    weapons of violence are their swords.6   Let my soul come not into their council;    O my glory, be not joined to their company.  For in their anger they killed men,    and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.7   Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,    and their wrath, for it is cruel!  I will divide them in Jacob    and scatter them in Israel. 8   “Judah, your brothers shall praise you;    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;    your father's sons shall bow down before you.9   Judah is a lion's cub;    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.  He stooped down; he crouched as a lion    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?10   The scepter shall not depart from Judah,    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,  until tribute comes to him;1    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.11   Binding his foal to the vine    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,  he has washed his garments in wine    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.12   His eyes are darker than wine,    and his teeth whiter than milk. 13   “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;    he shall become a haven for ships,    and his border shall be at Sidon. 14   “Issachar is a strong donkey,    crouching between the sheepfolds.215   He saw that a resting place was good,    and that the land was pleasant,  so he bowed his shoulder to bear,    and became a servant at forced labor. 16   “Dan shall judge his people    as one of the tribes of Israel.17   Dan shall be a serpent in the way,    a viper by the path,  that bites the horse's heels    so that his rider falls backward.18   I wait for your salvation, O LORD. 19   “Raiders shall raid Gad,3    but he shall raid at their heels. 20   “Asher's food shall be rich,    and he shall yield royal delicacies. 21   “Naphtali is a doe let loose    that bears beautiful fawns.4 22   “Joseph is a fruitful bough,    a fruitful bough by a spring;    his branches run over the wall.523   The archers bitterly attacked him,    shot at him, and harassed him severely,24   yet his bow remained unmoved;    his arms6 were made agile  by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob    (from there is the Shepherd,7 the Stone of Israel),25   by the God of your father who will help you,    by the Almighty8 who will bless you    with blessings of heaven above,  blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,    blessings of the breasts and of the womb.26   The blessings of your father    are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,    up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.9  May they be on the head of Joseph,    and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 27   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,    in the morning devouring the prey    and at evening dividing the spoil.” Jacob's Death and Burial 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. Footnotes [1] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh [2] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags [3] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid [4] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold [5] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall [6] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands [7] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd [8] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai [9] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills (ESV) New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:14–11:1 1 Corinthians 10:14–11:1 (Listen) 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel:1 are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Do All to the Glory of God 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. &

With so many of our kids going back to school, moving out, and/or heading off to college, I felt like it was the perfect time on Prayers From a Mom to pray for their safety and our sanity. I took our favorite protection prayer, Psalm 91, and wrote it out for you to personalize for your kids or grandkids. Psalms 91 The protection prayer is attached HERE, you can print it out and personalize the who or where you are praying for. ACTION STEPS: Fill in your kids' names into the blanks of Psalm 91 written below and print this prayer out and keep it with you to pray when you get worried. If this transition with your kids is leaving you alone more often, find something that makes you happy (and that's good for you) to do for yourself with some of the free time you have. Find little ways to show your kids you love them even though you aren't with them as much. Consider their Love Language when showing them love. FOCUSED PRAYER: Father, I cover my kids in your promise from Psalm 91 that says... When my kids abide under the shadow of Shaddai, ____________ is hidden in the strength of God Most High. You are the hope that holds ___________ and the stronghold to shelter him/her, the only God for ____________, and his/her great confidence. You will rescue __________ from every hidden trap of the enemy, and you will protect ___________ from false accusations and any deadly curse. Your massive arms are wrapped around him/her in protection. __________ can run under your covering of majesty and hide. Your arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping ___________ from harm. ____________ will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against him/her. He/She will not fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble ___________, nor will the powers of evil be launched against him/her. Even in times of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, ______________ will remain unscathed and unharmed. ____________ will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against _______________ or disease infect him/her. God sends angels with special orders to protect _____________ wherever he/she goes, defending _____________ from all harm. If ____________ walks into a trap, angels be there for him/her and keep him/her from stumbling. __________ will even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath his/her feet! For here is what you have spoken to me: “Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name, I will greatly protect you. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel my presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” In Jesus' Name, Amen! SHOW RESOURCES: BLENDED FAMILY: 3 KEY INGREDIENTS WANT MORE… New episodes come out every Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Join our FaceBook Group family PRAYERS FROM A MOM live Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Check out our website ENJOYING THE MOMENT to read more of our story. You can contact me HERE.

With so many of our kids going back to school, moving out, and/or heading off to college, I felt like it was the perfect time on Prayers From a Mom to pray for their safety and our sanity. I took our favorite protection prayer, Psalm 91, and wrote it out for you to personalize for your kids or grandkids. Psalms 91 The protection prayer is attached HERE, you can print it out and personalize the who or where you are praying for. ACTION STEPS: Fill in your kids' names into the blanks of Psalm 91 written below and print this prayer out and keep it with you to pray when you get worried. If this transition with your kids is leaving you alone more often, find something that makes you happy (and that's good for you) to do for yourself with some of the free time you have. Find little ways to show your kids you love them even though you aren't with them as much. Consider their Love Language when showing them love. FOCUSED PRAYER: Father, I cover my kids in your promise from Psalm 91 that says... When my kids abide under the shadow of Shaddai, ____________ is hidden in the strength of God Most High. You are the hope that holds ___________ and the stronghold to shelter him/her, the only God for ____________, and his/her great confidence. You will rescue __________ from every hidden trap of the enemy, and you will protect ___________ from false accusations and any deadly curse. Your massive arms are wrapped around him/her in protection. __________ can run under your covering of majesty and hide. Your arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping ___________ from harm. ____________ will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against him/her. He/She will not fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble ___________, nor will the powers of evil be launched against him/her. Even in times of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, ______________ will remain unscathed and unharmed. ____________ will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against _______________ or disease infect him/her. God sends angels with special orders to protect _____________ wherever he/she goes, defending _____________ from all harm. If ____________ walks into a trap, angels be there for him/her and keep him/her from stumbling. __________ will even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath his/her feet! For here is what you have spoken to me: “Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name, I will greatly protect you. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel my presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” In Jesus' Name, Amen! SHOW RESOURCES: BLENDED FAMILY: 3 KEY INGREDIENTS WANT MORE… New episodes come out every Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Join our FaceBook Group family PRAYERS FROM A MOM live Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Check out our website ENJOYING THE MOMENT to read more of our story. You can contact me HERE.

With so many of our kids going back to school, moving out, and/or heading off to college, I felt like it was the perfect time on Prayers From a Mom to pray for their safety and our sanity. I took our favorite protection prayer, Psalm 91, and wrote it out for you to personalize for your kids or grandkids. Psalms 91 The protection prayer is attached HERE, you can print it out and personalize the who or where you are praying for. ACTION STEPS: Fill in your kids' names into the blanks of Psalm 91 written below and print this prayer out and keep it with you to pray when you get worried. If this transition with your kids is leaving you alone more often, find something that makes you happy (and that's good for you) to do for yourself with some of the free time you have. Find little ways to show your kids you love them even though you aren't with them as much. Consider their Love Language when showing them love. FOCUSED PRAYER: Father, I cover my kids in your promise from Psalm 91 that says... When my kids abide under the shadow of Shaddai, ____________ is hidden in the strength of God Most High. You are the hope that holds ___________ and the stronghold to shelter him/her, the only God for ____________, and his/her great confidence. You will rescue __________ from every hidden trap of the enemy, and you will protect ___________ from false accusations and any deadly curse. Your massive arms are wrapped around him/her in protection. __________ can run under your covering of majesty and hide. Your arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping ___________ from harm. ____________ will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against him/her. He/She will not fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble ___________, nor will the powers of evil be launched against him/her. Even in times of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, ______________ will remain unscathed and unharmed. ____________ will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against _______________ or disease infect him/her. God sends angels with special orders to protect _____________ wherever he/she goes, defending _____________ from all harm. If ____________ walks into a trap, angels be there for him/her and keep him/her from stumbling. __________ will even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath his/her feet! For here is what you have spoken to me: “Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name, I will greatly protect you. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel my presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” In Jesus' Name, Amen! SHOW RESOURCES: BLENDED FAMILY: 3 KEY INGREDIENTS WANT MORE… New episodes come out every Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Join our FaceBook Group family PRAYERS FROM A MOM live Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Check out our website ENJOYING THE MOMENT to read more of our story. You can contact me HERE.

With so many of our kids going back to school, moving out, and/or heading off to college, I felt like it was the perfect time on Prayers From a Mom to pray for their safety and our sanity. I took our favorite protection prayer, Psalm 91, and wrote it out for you to personalize for your kids or grandkids. Psalms 91 The protection prayer is attached HERE, you can print it out and personalize the who or where you are praying for. ACTION STEPS: Fill in your kids' names into the blanks of Psalm 91 written below and print this prayer out and keep it with you to pray when you get worried. If this transition with your kids is leaving you alone more often, find something that makes you happy (and that's good for you) to do for yourself with some of the free time you have. Find little ways to show your kids you love them even though you aren't with them as much. Consider their Love Language when showing them love. FOCUSED PRAYER: Father, I cover my kids in your promise from Psalm 91 that says... When my kids abide under the shadow of Shaddai, ____________ is hidden in the strength of God Most High. You are the hope that holds ___________ and the stronghold to shelter him/her, the only God for ____________, and his/her great confidence. You will rescue __________ from every hidden trap of the enemy, and you will protect ___________ from false accusations and any deadly curse. Your massive arms are wrapped around him/her in protection. __________ can run under your covering of majesty and hide. Your arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping ___________ from harm. ____________ will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against him/her. He/She will not fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble ___________, nor will the powers of evil be launched against him/her. Even in times of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, ______________ will remain unscathed and unharmed. ____________ will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment, for they will be paid back for what they have done! When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against _______________ or disease infect him/her. God sends angels with special orders to protect _____________ wherever he/she goes, defending _____________ from all harm. If ____________ walks into a trap, angels be there for him/her and keep him/her from stumbling. __________ will even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness, trampling every one of them beneath his/her feet! For here is what you have spoken to me: “Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name, I will greatly protect you. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will feel my presence in your time of trouble. I will deliver you and bring you honor. I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!” In Jesus' Name, Amen! SHOW RESOURCES: BLENDED FAMILY: 3 KEY INGREDIENTS WANT MORE… New episodes come out every Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Join our FaceBook Group family PRAYERS FROM A MOM live Monday-Thursday at 6:30 AM (CST). Check out our website ENJOYING THE MOMENT to read more of our story. You can contact me HERE.