Podcasts about sometimes god

Pray for God's Healing Grace Because Jesus “spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus knows the aches and wounds of your soul, and He wants to bring you healing. Jesus does not want you living in pain, heartache, or emptiness. The Apostle Luke tells you, in Luke 9:10-11, that Jesus wants to cure those who need His healing: “On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.". We are in an “instant society”, but healing is a process; and your healing may take a long time. Sometimes God wants you to wait, or He may see your need for healing differently from your perspective. However, in your personal relationship with God, you must pray and ask for His healing. In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!". Pray for God's healing grace for your soul and your body.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, fill me with the simple trust that even out of the most awful evil around me, you are able to bring great good — for me, for others, and for your great glory. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 91). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I can do what he asks of me. (Philippians 4:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 9:10-11; Revelation 22:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14-16; Psalms 146:1-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Sometimes God has to prune us down to a stump in order for new life to sprout up.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 55:8-9Gunner ran to the garage when he heard his parents drive in. "Is Grandpa okay?" he asked anxiously as they got out of the car.Dad put his hand on Gunner's shoulder. "Your grandfather isn't suffering anymore," he said quietly. "He died this afternoon--he's in heaven now." Gunner swallowed hard, forcing back tears that choked his throat. He walked away while Dad was still talking.In his room, Gunner thought about all the things he and Grandpa had planned to do. "It's not fair!" he muttered. He looked up as Dad came in. "I don't get it," Gunner said. "I prayed all day for Grandpa. God can do anything, can't He? So why didn't He heal Grandpa?""Sometimes God's answer to what we ask is no," Dad said gently. "I don't know why He didn't heal Grandpa, but I know Jesus promises to be with us in our pain and sadness. Grandpa is in heaven with Him now, and someday we'll see him again." Gunner turned away. He wasn't ready to give up his grandfather. "But I wanted Grandpa to stay here with us."Dad sat down beside him. "When you ask Mom and me for something we don't think is good for you, we tell you no. You don't like it when we say no. You might be upset about it--maybe even angry sometimes. But you know we love you and want what's best for you, right?" Gunner nodded. "We talk about what's happening and how all of us feel, and we go on loving each other," continued Dad. "We're a family even though we disagree. Well, that's how it is with God too. When we don't get what we ask Him for, we're unhappy and sometimes get angry with Him. It's okay to tell Him how we feel, but we need to remember that God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. He wants what's best for us--and for Grandpa.""But I'm going to miss Grandpa so much," Gunner said, resting his face against his dad's shoulder."Me too," Dad said. "We can cry together." Gunner slipped his arm around his dad and hung on tight. "But let's thank Jesus that Grandpa is with Him now," said Dad. "And let's trust Him even though we're hurting." –Janet BoulterHow About You?Has someone you love died? Is someone sick? Tell Jesus about your hurts and fears. You may not always understand why He allows certain things to happen, but He will always be there with you and help you through times of pain and sorrow. Remember that He is good and that He loves and cares for you, even when you don't understand.Today's Key Verse:As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways. (Isaiah 55:9)Today's Key Thought:Trust Jesus when you're hurting

Sometimes God's will isn't what we would have picked out for ourselves. It isn't what we want. And it's difficult to accept.Esther's life didn't turn out how she wanted it to. She found herself separated from her family and married to the unbelieving King of Persia. Through these trials, God made Esther into a Supernova, shining even more brightly in the hardships. But before she could get there, she had to die to her own dreams and her own plan. Are you willing to do the same? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29

Sometimes God's will isn't what we would have picked out for ourselves. It isn't what we want. And it's difficult to accept.Esther's life didn't turn out how she wanted it to. She found herself separated from her family and married to the unbelieving King of Persia. Through these trials, God made Esther into a Supernova, shining even more brightly in the hardships. But before she could get there, she had to die to her own dreams and her own plan. Are you willing to do the same? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/508/29

Sometimes it's hard to wait on God. Sometimes it's hard to obey God. That innate desire for instant gratification, along with a desire to go our own way, runs through us fiercely sometimes. But God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what we can take (and take care of) at a given time. He gives us His wisdom to protect us from pain and sorrow in this world. He promises that He'll never put more upon us than we can bear, that He'll provide for all of our needs, and that His timing is perfect. Hold strong, my friends, to the path that God has set for you.  Join us in this episode of the Woman at the Well Ministries podcast as Erika Klose teaches from Deuteronomy chapter 7, focusing on verse 22, “And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.” Scriptures Mentioned in this Episode Deuteronomy 7:22 – Quoted multiple times and emphasized throughout: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A22&version=KJV  Deuteronomy 7:1–5 – Explained in the teaching: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A1-5&version=KJV  Deuteronomy 7:6–11 – Used to explain Israel's special status: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A6-11&version=KJV  Deuteronomy 7:17–21 – Referenced when addressing fear: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+7%3A17-21&version=KJV  1 Peter 2:9 – Quoted: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+2%3A9&version=KJV  2 Corinthians 6:14 – Referenced regarding being unequally yoked: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+6%3A14&version=KJV  Hebrews 13:4 – Referenced regarding purity: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A4&version=KJV  Proverbs 28:22 – Referenced regarding financial caution: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+28%3A22&version=KJV  Isaiah 55:9 – Quoted: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55%3A9&version=KJV  1 Corinthians 10:13 – Quoted: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+10%3A13&version=KJV  Philippians 4:19 – Quoted: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A19&version=KJV  Ecclesiastes 3:1 – Quoted: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+3%3A1&version=KJV  Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

Sometimes God finds us hiding in the lowest places and still calls us to stand tall. This episode is for anyone who feels unqualified, unseen, or unsure.

Main Point. The God we forget is also the God who faithfully delivers us. Driving Question. What happens when God is forgotten? (3 lessons from this text): Drifting from Truth – (vv. 6–10). Devotion to Counterfeits – (vv. 11–15). Delivered by God – (vv. 16–19). 1. Drifting from Truth (6–10) "All it takes is one generation to forget the gospel, and we are always one generation away from losing it". D.A. Carson Apply: Love God and prioritize Christ and the Gospel. Be diligent to teach your children the goodness and glory of God. 2. Devotion to Counterfeits (11–15) What do you trust in and treasure more than God? 3. Delivered by God (16–19) Interpretive key for the book of Judges: Idolatry Judgment and bondage to a foreign enemy Cries out to the Lord Salvation: through a Judge (12 judges in the book) Judge dies, people return to idolatry God's evaluation (20–3:6) Application. Sometimes God doesn't remove trials immediately, because they reveal what we really love. Takeaways. Pluralism is a great evil in God's sight. God disciplines his people who compromise. Build your family on the word of God and the One who saves.

Sometimes God calls you into battle before you're ready.Countryside Christian Church - https://www.countryside.cc#biblestories #Jesus #churchonline #truth #setback #freedom #strength

Going deeper and letting go.Have you felt like you have been in the shallow end of life and God is calling you to go deeper? Do you feel like God it's been shifting things in your life in this season and is calling you to step out and faith towards the vision He has for you? .God is calling the first disciples, and he uses the miracle of catching an unlimited number of fish in a different way . He has commanded the disciples to go to the deeper end of the lake and to let down their nets again, even though they were not successful all night and the most profound words Simon Peter tells Jesus “ but because you say so I will let down the nets!”.1) Jesus tells the disciples to go to the deeper water.- Sometimes God is going to call you to go to an unfamiliar place a place that is uncomfortable so that you can receive the blessings and the harvest and the gifts and promises that you are believing for.- Jesus is telling us to step out of the shallow area and go further and deeper with him.2) Jesus gives them a command and tell them to let down their nets for a catch.- Jesus is giving them a specific instruction and commandment that we must obey.- What has God manage you to do and have you obeyed? - when the disciples stepped out to obey the command of the Lord, he tells them what to do and why to expect they catch.- the Nets represent our position of influence or our career and our gifts that bring provision in our lives. - the catch represents the blessings the fruit in the return from our labor and God's promises.3) God will bring you partners for the catch.- when we step out by faith and we walk in in obedience to God and we let down our nets. God will give us an overflow of blessings. - he will provide people in your life to help carry the vision and the burden and bear arms with you so that you can walk out what God has called and commanded you to do.Call to action: - What are the things in your life that you need to let go to God? What are the nets that you need to let down so that you can receive all of the blessings that God has promised you? Go and like follow and subscribe to she_envisions on IG and hear more encouraging messages.

Often as God redirects us it is easy to get focused on ourselves rather than God. In this second teaching from Acts chapter 15, we look at the character of God on display through the redirection of Paul.

Often as God redirects us it is easy to get focused on ourselves rather than God. In this second teaching from Acts chapter 15, we look at the character of God on display through the redirection of Paul.

As sorrow filled the disciples' hearts over Jesus' departure, He gently reminded them: “It is to your advantage that I go.”Only through His leaving would the Spirit come. What felt like loss would become their greatest gain. Sometimes God's greatest victories are disguised as painful goodbyes. Trust what He's doing, even when it's hard.

Sometimes God puts people in our lives who are mirrors who help you get glimpses of yourself you wouldn't otherwise notice… tune in as I share some raw thoughts about things recently revealed…My YouTube, Social Media & ALL OTHER LINKS!

Sometimes God seems silent, absent, late, or even careless. However, the Scriptures make it clear that God remembers and keeps His promises.

Sometimes God has us wait on Him to answer us. Here's a little perspective on how to handle the wait. 

In "Asking," Pastor Dave Gustavsen shares five principles that should guide us when we pray. God invites us to pray boldly, like kids asking a loving Father. At the same time, we should pray with humility, trusting that God sees what we cannot and knows what is best. When we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. Sometimes God answers quickly, and sometimes He doesn't - but we're encouraged to keep asking, trusting in HIs love and wisdom. Dave Gustavsen | June 1, 2025Visit our website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

How Do I Repent?Ezekiel 18:30 " Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise, iniquity will be your ruin.”This first sentence is letting us know that we will be judged based on our own actions. At one time, it was believed that we would be judged based on the actions of our ancestors. This verse corrects this thought. When I looked up this verse on the Enduring Word Commentary, it said, “The error in believing in communal or family salvation or damnation is so serious and dangerous that God unmistakably emphasized the individual's responsibility before God.“It may be true that in my physical being I have inherited tendencies to some forms of evil from my father, but in the fact of my essential relation to God, there are forces available to me more and mightier than all these tendencies. Neither righteousness nor evil is hereditary.” (Morgan)This is important for each of us to understand. We are not bad because our parents were bad. We are not good because our parents are good. We are responsible for our own actions. This is good news. This means we don't have anyone to blame but ourselves.  This also means all the responsibility falls on our own shoulders. I want to take a minute to look at one line in particular in the Enduring Word Commentary. It said, “In the fact of my essential relation to God, there are forces available to me more and mightier than all those tendencies we might have inherited.” In other words, we don't have to do this on our own. Even though we will be judged on our actions, we don't have to have the strength to make the right choices all on our own.Because we are children of God, we can call on Him to give us strength and to help us make the right choices. The second part of the verse above says to repent and turn from all your transgressions. The verse I discussed in yesterday's episode told us to repent and return to the Lord. Today's verse is telling us to repent and turn away from our transgressions. When I was trying to think about what to talk about in this episode it dawned on me that we might not all know how to repent. Repent is one of those words that we all kinda know what it means but we don't necessarily know how to define it or how to do it. Repentance is more than just saying “I'm sorry.” It's a heartfelt turning away from sin and turning toward God. Here's a biblical and practical step-by-step understanding of how one repents:1. Recognize the SinRepentance begins with awareness. We often live unaware of how our choices, attitudes, or habits go against God's will.Ask God for clarity. Sin can be obvious (like lying or cheating) or subtle (like pride, bitterness, or fear that blocks faith). Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.Listen with humility. Sometimes God uses other people, Scripture, or conviction during prayer to expose what needs to change.Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”Reflection prompt: Where in my life am I resisting God's way? What attitudes, habits, or relationships might be leading me away from Him?2. Feel Godly Sorrow (Not Just Guilt)This isn't about shame. It's about recognizing how our sin hurts our relationship with God and others, and it grieves us deeply—not just because of consequences, but because of love.Worldly sorrow says, “I'm sorry I got caught or hurt someone.”Godly sorrow says, “I've grieved the heart of the One who loves me most. I want to be changed.”2 Corinthians 7:10 “ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.”Reflection prompt: Do I feel sorrow because of what my sin cost, or just because it was exposed?3. Confess the Sin to GodConfession is honest communication with God. It's naming the sin and agreeing with Him about its seriousness, without hiding or blaming.Openly admit your sin to God in prayer. Be specific and honest. No excuses or blaming.“God, I've been dishonest in my work,” or “I've held unforgiveness toward ___."Confession is not groveling—it's returning to a loving Father who already knows and still welcomes you.1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”Reflection prompt: What do I need to confess out loud to God today, trusting in His mercy?4. Turn Away from the Sin (Change Direction)This is the literal meaning of repentance: to turn. It means letting go of the old and moving toward a new way of living.Make a conscious decision to change direction.You may need to delete contacts, change your routine, stop certain conversations, or set up boundaries. This part is hard—but repentance without change is just regret.Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,”Reflection prompt: What do I need to let go of today so I can move toward God?5. Turn Toward God (Restore Relationship)Repentance isn't just about stopping sin—it's about renewing intimacy with God. When we turn from sin, we turn to grace, peace, purpose, and healing.Pray, even if you feel unworthy. God is not holding your sin against you—He's welcoming you home.Dive into Scripture, worship, community, and His promises.James 4:8a “ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”Reflection prompt: How is God inviting me to return to Him—not in fear, but in love?6. Bear Fruit That Shows RepentanceThis is the outward evidence of an inward change. You don't earn God's love by being good—but real repentance produces visible fruit.Fruit might look like changed speech, different choices, seeking reconciliation, or serving others with a humble heart.This fruit grows over time—don't rush it. Stay connected to God and He'll transform you.Matthew 3:8 — “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”Reflection prompt: What new actions or habits is God inviting me to develop that reflect a changed heart?Summary: True Repentance Involves…Head (Recognizing the wrong)
Heart (Feeling sorrow over it)
Hands & Feet (Turning around and walking in a new direction)Repentance is not about being perfect—it's about being real before God. It's how you return home to His love, over and over again. He's not angry; He's ready to embrace you.Luke 15:20 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”Dear heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening. Lord, help us to understand repentance more. Move our hearts and show us where we need to repent. Show us where we have sin in our hearts and in our habits. Please help us to recognize sin in our lives and to repent and turn back to you. Please help us to repent and turn away from that sin. Give us the strength to ask you to show us the sin in our lives and the courage to change our habits so that we can walk away from that sin. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. Today's episode was an example of what I teach in mentoring. Tonight I will go deeper and give more detail into each one of those six steps to repentance. At the end of each mentoring session, I give 2-3 reflection questions to help us stop, talk to the Lord, and really reflect on what we just learned and how it relates to us personally. We look at how we can use what we just learned to make lasting changes in our lives. I invite each one of you to join the mentoring tonight. There is a link below or you can go to the mentoring tab on my website, walkboldlywithjesus.com. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Tuesday: Today's Word from the Lord was received in October 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Do not be afraid to go forward. I am with you each step of the way. Do not go in the shadows, I keep telling you. Come to me. Come, and I will reveal my light. I will make you a light to others, so that they may come to me and know my love.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

If you're bummed out, struggling, things not going well, and you don't know where to go, join Chip as he begins this series and shares how a divine equation can change your world.Main PointsThe Divine Equation:C+P=E (Circumstance + Perspective = Experience)KEY #1: FocusWhere is my focus? -Philippians 1:1-11How to develop an upward focus -Philippians 1:3-6A choice = GratitudeAn action = PrayerAn Attitude = ConfidenceThree observations about an outward focus -Philippians 1:7-8Difficult circumstances reveal our true affections.Living above our circumstances occurs when our hearts are so full of people that there is no room for self-pity.Sometimes God allows adverse circumstances to realign our affections!How to develop an outward focus -Philippians 1:9-11Think about those who have loved you the most.Pray for those you think about the most.Conclusion: Where's your focus?Upward or Inward?Outward or Inward?Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource Mentions"I Choose Joy" Book"I Choose Joy" Home Church StudyMid Year MatchMid Year MatchConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Sometimes as God calls us, the path he takes us on during that calling is not what we would have expected. This week we look at the ministry of Paul in Acts chapter 15 and see how God redirected him to end up exactly where He wanted Paul to be. 

Sometimes as God calls us, the path he takes us on during that calling is not what we would have expected. This week we look at the ministry of Paul in Acts chapter 15 and see how God redirected him to end up exactly where He wanted Paul to be. 

What's the toughest situation you're facing today? A relationship? A negative boss? Financial pressure? Join Chip as he shares truth from God's Word that will begin to neutralize that issue in your life and allow you to experience joy in the midst of your most perplexing problems.Main PointsThe Divine Equation:C+P=E (Circumstance + Perspective = Experience)KEY #1: FocusWhere is my focus? -Philippians 1:1-11How to develop an upward focus -Philippians 1:3-6A choice = GratitudeAn action = PrayerAn Attitude = ConfidenceThree observations about an outward focus -Philippians 1:7-8Difficult circumstances reveal our true affections.Living above our circumstances occurs when our hearts are so full of people that there is no room for self-pity.Sometimes God allows adverse circumstances to realign our affections!How to develop an outward focus -Philippians 1:9-11Think about those who have loved you the most.Pray for those you think about the most.Conclusion: Where's your focus?Upward or Inward?Outward or Inward?Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource Mentions"I Choose Joy" Book"I Choose Joy" Home Church StudyMid Year MatchMid Year MatchConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

If you're bummed out, struggling, things not going well, and you don't know where to go, join Chip as he begins this series and shares how a divine equation can change your world.Main PointsThe Divine Equation: C+P=E (Circumstance + Perspective = Experience)KEY #1: FocusWhere is my focus? -Philippians 1:1-11How to develop an upward focus -Philippians 1:3-6A choice = GratitudeAn action = PrayerAn Attitude = ConfidenceThree observations about an outward focus -Philippians 1:7-8Difficult circumstances reveal our true affections.Living above our circumstances occurs when our hearts are so full of people that there is no room for self-pity.Sometimes God allows adverse circumstances to realign our affections!How to develop an outward focus -Philippians 1:9-11Think about those who have loved you the most.Pray for those you think about the most.Conclusion: Where's your focus?Upward or Inward?Outward or Inward?Broadcast ResourceDownload Free MP3Message NotesAdditional Resource Mentions"I Choose Joy" Book"I Choose Joy" Home Church StudyMid Year MatchMid Year MatchConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

This week, we're taking you back to April of 2016 with a full episode pulled straight from the archives—completely unedited and just as good as we remember it. If you've been with us for a while, we hope it brings back a few laughs or memories. And if you're newer here, think of it as a time capsule from the early Oddcast days. Either way, we hope it brings you some joy, encouragement, and maybe a new favorite moment. Enjoy! Topics: TV Guide Nostalgia, Joke Spa, Administrative Amateurs, Anxiety & Prayer, NFL Drafting Friends, Trusting God's Timing, Sci-Fi Dinner Decision, Working With Difficult People, The Bible Is Not A Fairy Tale, The Sherry Show Plan, Wombat Cuddler Job Update BONUS CONTENT: Honesty Café, Selfies at Lincoln's Grave, Listener Voicemails Quotes: “We live in a time where everyone thinks they're really, really smart.” “God is a loving Father that actually wants you.” “Why don't you ever see hippos hiding in trees? Because they're really good at it.” “Stay in your car for three weeks and listen to our show.” “Sometimes God uses difficult people to refine our character. Sometimes that's the only way it's going to happen.” . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook! For Christian banking you can trust, click here!  

Sometimes God's providence may seem counterproductive or clash with our plans. But God has our best in mind. In this message, Pastor Lutzer provides three insights about God's sovereign purpose for nations and even individuals. Will we trust His wisdom even when we don't understand His ways? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

Sometimes God's providence may seem counterproductive or clash with our plans. But God has our best in mind. In this message, Pastor Lutzer provides three insights about God's sovereign purpose for nations and even individuals. Will we trust His wisdom even when we don't understand His ways? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

Focus: Christians often suffer from indecisiveness or wishing they knew what God's will was for them in a decision. Once decided, we often suffer from tunnel vision. Sometimes God wants to change our direction even mid journey. Listening and discerning isn't limited to convenience, and it doesn't end once we start executing a plan. Acts 16:6-10

I urge . . . first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. . . . — 1 Timothy 2:1 Maybe you have seen a plaque or a sign that says “Prayer Changes Things.” Indeed, God has shown in the Bible that he uses the prayers of his people in his kingdom-building work in this world. Many examples show that God often provides what his people ask for in prayer. But that doesn't mean God is something like a good-luck charm or a magic genie that grants our wishes. Our prayers need to be in line with God's will for our lives and for his kingdom work in this world (see Matthew 6:9-13; 1 John 5:14-15). And while God will often answer our prayers aligning with his will, there are times when the answer may be different from what we ask. At times we don't understand God's will or his plans or even his ways (Isaiah 55). Sometimes God's answer may be “Yes, but not yet” or “Not in the way you think” or even “No.” (See Luke 22:42.) In 1 Timothy 2 Paul urges believers to intercede (pray) for everyone—including “kings and all those in authority”—because “this is good, and pleases God our Savior.” When we intercede faithfully for others, we become personally involved in God's redemptive work. Each spiritual victory, I believe, is a testament to the fact that someone has been praying. Lord and Savior, help us to pray faithfully for others, that they may come to know you and have faith in you. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And when we struggle, Lord, please give us your peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.

From day-to-day living to the biggest challenges in your life … are you relying upon yourself, or on God? That’s the subject today on Bold Steps, with Pastor Mark Jobe. We’re sharing a message that he first preached at a Moody Bible Institute Student Chapel service … and it’s a lesson that we all need to consider very seriously. Sometimes God wants to downsize your strength to prepare you for the greatest battles in your life. We should be as prepared as possible, but God wants to make sure that our trust and dependance is in HIM alone and not in ourselves. Bold Steps Gift: LIES GIRLS BELIEVE: AND THE TRUTH THAT SETS THEM FREEBecome a Bold Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bride Sanctified for the Marriage Feast (audio) David Eells, 5/14/25 Let me begin by saying that the Man-child and the Bride have been going through the sanctification process and overcoming in their personal trials to be ready in time for the anointing of the Man-child. They have passed the “love tests,” been cleansed and sanctified, becoming stronger in faith, in unity with one another, and proven to be faithful and obedient. I believe that the end of these tests and trials is coming and the Lord is coming with His reward and will reveal His chosen Bride to those who have eyes to see. But also the same trials that came to the Bride will then come to the Church in the tribulation and then these revelations below from 2011 will be very important.     Cleansing the Bride for the Feast (David's notes in red) A faithful pastor friend for many years called me and asked my advice. He said he was being slandered behind his back by some people in order to separate disciples. I shared with him that this was happening all over the world, according to many witnesses who have come to us. I told him that we had been told several years ago that an army of demons would come to try to destroy me and UBM. I shared what the Lord told us, that His purpose was to separate people from us because they were leavened and were polluting His Bride, who must now be pure to celebrate the wedding feast for the last seven years. I said Esther was separated from the virgins in the house of the women to go to the King's house before the seven-year reign of the beast, represented by Haman. We received revelations I want to share to help us understand this. (This was just after the first faction in 2011.)     Sons of Perdition Attack the Saints  Ellie McBride - 10/05/2011 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was at home visiting with Cynthia Marks. (In the natural, Cynthia is one of my co-workers.) She ordered something and was having it delivered to our house for some reason. After she left, I discovered that she had left something behind, so I called her on the phone to let her know. (It seems that Cynthia represents the sons of perdition in whom the false Jesus, Apollo, lives. In ancient times, Cynthia was a cultic title of the Greek god Apollo. Cynthia means “from Mount Kynthos”, which is on Delos Island, on which Apollo was supposed to have been born. Webster's Dictionary says that “Apollyon” used to be a common variant of “Apollo” until recently. Many scholars identify “Apollyon” as the Greek god “Apollo”, the god of death. Apollyon's Mountain, Kynthos or Cynthia, represents his kingdom of those who are destroyed, which in Greek is Apoleia. This is what the word says also: Apollyon is the King of the Abyss and those in it. Rev.9:11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek [tongue] he hath the name Apollyon [meaning Destroyer]. His kingdom is over those he destroys. 2Th.2:3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [ which is in Greek: Apoleia; those who are spiritually destroyed]. Rev.17:8 The beast [which is in spirit a corporate entity of demons ruling over flesh] that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition [Apoleia]. The demons enter into the corporate body of the sons of perdition to destroy them and they are brought into the abyss. Jud.10 But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed. 2Pe.2:12 But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed. Railing in Greek is “blasphemeo”, which means “to speak evil of or slander”. Dear friends, let no man beguile you. Don't let the sons of perdition, these modern-day Judases, deliver anything to your house or leave anything behind as this dream warns us. In the natural and just like this dream, these people visited Ellie to leave some slander behind but she refused it because she had seen a vision of several of them spiritually dead. Others we are hoping will repent and come out from among them.) Cynthia's mother came to our house on a different day while they delivered the item Cynthia had ordered. (The Harlot is the mother of the corporate body of the son of perdition.) It turned out to be a very large blue stuffed animal. It looked like it might be a dog. (A stuffed dog is an unclean beast with no heart or mind of the Spirit. It is blue because they want to present this life of theirs to you as heavenly but it is born of destruction. What they want to give to the saints is a traitorous life of self-will, ego, rejection, faction, slander, unforgiveness, hatred, retaliation and lusts of all kinds. The Church is about to learn this of them.) It had a very long body with long floppy legs. (These people cannot stand or walk in the Kingdom.) I wondered why she ordered that and thought that maybe it was a present for her granddaughter named Promise. (The children of the Promise will not receive from the son of perdition.) Cynthia's mother said she would take it and deliver it to Cynthia. I told her it was okay and that Cynthia was to come over to pick it up and was also to pick up the other item she left behind. (In other words, “get that garbage out of my house”.) Since Cynthia and her mother don't get along that well, I was not comfortable with allowing her to take the items. (Just as Judas, the son of perdition, and the Sanhedrin, head of the Harlot, didn't get along but they did business in order to crucify the body of Christ.) After Cynthia's mother left, I learned of some sort of attack going on. (Any time the sons of perdition leave anything at your house it's an attack on you. They tried to do this with Ellie in the natural but she refused it.) I no longer remember how I learned of it. I might've looked outside and seen it after hearing some shots. Psa.11:2 For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. I saw some people with weapons shooting round balls or pellets of various sizes, but never any bigger than a baseball. When these pellets hit their target they would burst and splash blood all over their target. Lev.17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood... Life here is the soul or nature. Shooting represents speaking slanderous accusations against someone, which puts their evil nature in those who receive their words. When we do not warn the wicked, rather than be partakers of their sin, their blood [or nature] is upon us. Tit.3:10 A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse; 11 knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned. Eph.5:11 and have no fellowship [giving and receiving] with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. We are warned not to eat the unclean beasts which was revealed to Peter in Acts 10 to be speaking of partaking of the nature of unclean people.) I became curious about this and desired to understand why it was happening and why the blood. (I believe the projectiles are people being sent out to target certain brethren and if they are able to “hit” them or have an effect on them, the victims become contaminated with their blood or nature [through their evil spirits as we have seen].) I watched for a while. In the meantime, Cynthia came to our house to pick up her things and then tried to leave, but when she stepped out the front door there was a bad storm raging. She went back into our house to wait out the storm. (The sons of perdition have no faith because of their sinful life but they also know that the house of the righteous is the only safe place from the storms, so they decide to stick around for fear but not for long.) I was still busy studying this private war. The people were not attacking everyone, only members of a certain group. (As Judas did to Jesus, they attack mostly the David heads of the Bride but to a lesser extent the Bride because they cannot be a member of that body, which is so contrary to their nature. Psa.15:1 Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [The answer is Jerusalem, the Bride as in Revelation 21:9,10.] 3 He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor) By watching, I learned that the attackers' projectile weapons had a limited reach. Once I figured that out, I stepped outside where it was happening and stood just out of the reach of the projectiles where I could face them and watch them safely without being hit. (I have been able to observe the war on the righteous from a safe distance without being affected.) (The Lord is saying, do not come in contact in any way with these people, lest they put something of their evil nature in your house.) I stood there and watched as they fired at different targets and watched as blood would cover the targets. (Defiling those who do not separate from them, meaning sanctifying themselves from them.) I saw a pellet that had not burst and picked it up to study it. I stood there for a long time observing when I heard my telephone ringing. I heard the phone number being called out and I recognized it as Annie's phone number. (In real life, I had attempted to contact her by phone on 10/04/11 but got the recorder and was only able to leave a message.) (“Annie” means “blessed with grace”.) In the dream, I believed she was returning my call. I apologized to her for taking so long to answer the phone. I informed her of the attack that I was observing take place. (Those who are blessed with grace will receive the warning to avoid the factious.) After talking to Annie, I received another call. This time from a man who was calling to check on me for some reason. (I believe this might have been David.) (I did this in real life and she informed me of an attack there.) I informed him of the attack I was observing as well and let him know that I had in my possession one of their pellets. I told him I intended to study it. I was very curious as to why they were attacking, and I was desirous to understand their weapons. (Ellie is being used to show what not to do here. Studying their weapons of slander is contrary to the commands and very dangerous. Curiosity has caused some to be infected with their slander and faction spirits. People find it hard to believe that “Christians” can lie like these do and are tempted to believe them. This curiosity could lead to something worse, as in the next scene.) The scene changed and I was in the shower with the water running. I did not notice right away, but I soon saw that it was not water coming out of the shower head, but blood. I quickly stepped back and thought it was gross that I had this blood on me. I called out to those in the house to caution them that somehow the attackers had managed to contaminate the water with their blood. I wondered to myself how they managed to do this. (Examining their words and thoughts is receiving a seed of demons and will bring a flood [shower] of temptation to overcome those who do not obey. Pro.8:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.) I let the water run until it was clear water again and no longer blood and I was then able to bathe. (I believe this is referring to them misusing the Word to persuade their targets into seeing things their way. Brethren should beware that if they are continuing to fellowship with some of these attackers that they are using the Word in such a way as to bring confusion and doubt.) The Lord spoke this verse to me concerning this dream: Isa.4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning. See also Christian Snipers.   Separating Goats from Sheep   B.A. - 10/04/2011 (David's notes in red) At 4:30 a.m. this morning, I had a vision: It was dark, but in the darkness, I saw a house. The house was shining very brightly on the right side; it appeared to be glowing. I saw people gathered in a circle; they were very tall and they seemed at peace. They were praying and singing praises to the Lord. (This is the UBM house and on a larger type the house of God. They were on the right side because they were sheep which Jesus put on His right. That side was shining brightly because the glory of God was there. They were tall because they were big and mature in the ways of the Lord.) I saw how the left side of the house was very dark and smoke was coming out of the walls. The people looked like dwarves. They were angry and agitated, and they kept pacing back and forth. (Those on the left, of course, are the ones who act as goats, which Jesus put on His left. It was very dark because they were walking in darkness. Smoke is coming out of the walls because the judgment of God is upon it. They were dwarves because they had been stunted in their growth and were small and immature in the ways of the Lord. They are angry and agitated because they are full of faction, anger, slander, criticism, wrath, etc. They are pacing back and forth because they are nervous and stirred up by these demon spirits.) There was a door that separated the two sides of the house. There were no handles on either side of this door. (God has made a separation between the righteous and the wicked. They may not get at the truly righteous who obey His Word to separate from them and we may not minister to them, for God has given them over to this.) The people on the left were angry because they could not figure out how to get this door open to get into the other side. (The goats have been bitter and angrily trying to get at the righteous with their slander.) They wanted to stop those people from singing and praising the Lord. (The demons hate peace and praise among the righteous.) There was a crack about 3/4 of the way down through the center of the house. It looked like at any time the house would split apart. (This is the spiritual earthquake we have seen that is bringing separation of the wicked from the refuge and Bride. The separation will soon be physical, and they will leave our house as a purified house. The Lord said to me as I meditated on this that His foot was pushing down on the left side of the house. It looks like possibly there is a quarter of the way left to go but as the weight of their sin becomes greater they will break off. Father has been showing us for several years through dreams, visions and prophecy that an army of demons would make war with UBM and me in an attempt to destroy us but at the same time we were shown we would become greater in holiness, power, and ministry. (2025 update Note: This has been happening since 2011.) I noticed that the right side of the house was firmly on the foundation, whereas the left side of the house had no ground beneath it. I thought to myself, if that house splits all the way, the left side is going to fall and there's nothing to catch it! (We were told by the factious they would leave peaceably but they lied because they had their eye on carving up UBM from the cover of darkness. God also had His plan to separate those who could give in to these lusts and so He has. We pray constantly for our brethren that they would come to repentance and we know that a few ultimately will.)   The Lamp Of God B.A. - 10/07/2011 (David's notes in red) First Vision Mat.5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do [men] light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. 16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Psa.119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path. I had a vision of a large, green wicker floor lamp. As I looked at this lamp, I was drawn to it, so I went over and touched it. When I touched the lamp, it suddenly sprang open and revealed a refrigerator on the inside. This lamp appeared to be breathing (the breath of the Holy Spirit [in the lamp of the saints]). I believe this refrigerator in a lamp represents the Word of God in the saints. The fact that it was made of wicker (wood) and green (the color of life) represents the true people of God. The lamp revealing its inner self as a refrigerator is showing us the hidden manna in God's people. Also, a refrigerator preserves food (the spiritual food of the Word of God stored within our hearts) for future preparation when needed. Only God's true people are this lamp and have this refrigerator. The Lord is showing me that He is using faction to strengthen His Body. The Lord is drawing His Body together to feast on His Word and to pray in unity to combat this evil attack. We are being prepared as spiritual warriors. The Lord is pleased to see His David being defended and lifted up by the true Body of Christ. These factious spirits will not be able to penetrate the hedge of protection that the Lord has placed around His David and the true Body at UBM. The Holy Spirit is telling me to tell the Body to wait on and trust in the Lord. Psa.37:7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.     Preparation for the Bride Second Vision I saw the Body of UBM dressed up like brides. Some of the brides were in the kitchen preparing a large meal (feasting on the Word of God) (the wedding feast of the last seven years), some setting tables (preparation for the feast), others sweeping the floor (purging out the leaven) and washing windows (clearing our perception and discernment). This vision is very encouraging. Everyone seemed to know their gifts and were going about their tasks with joy and love. The righteous are preparing spiritually for their role as the Bride.     Bride to Be Separated M.C. - 03/25/2012 (David's notes in red) In my dream, I was in a very large building along with many thousands of people who were slowly milling around. There was white lighting overhead that appeared to be fluorescent. Facing ahead of me, the building seemed to be open with no wall. Most of the people in the building were to my left and there was a wall to my right. Our position in the building was critical. I knew I needed to be praying, especially in tongues, for the people in this room, particularly the people whom I knew. It was urgent that I pray that they would be in the right position. (Note that in this dream, every time I was impressed by the importance of prayer, a priority was placed on praying in tongues.) (The Spirit knows who the Bride is and what those left behind need in order to go with the Bride who follows the Man-child as it was with Jesus.) We were running out of time. (At this time, people must choose to be obedient by being in the process of putting on the lampros garment of the Bride, which is their righteous acts, according to the scripture. Those who are content to walk in a leukos garment are not yet ready to escape greater tribulation, which is needed for sanctification. Rev.19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [lampros] [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints [or sanctified ones].) Suddenly, those on the right side of the building started moving out of the building straight ahead through the opening. We were accelerating very quickly. As I glanced to my left, I noticed that there was a distinct line forming between the people who were still standing motionless and the people who were being moved out. In fact, the people who were left were lined up perfectly at the very edge of the line. The group left behind were all facing us. We hadn't known where that line was before. (There will be a distinction between the Bride and the rest of the church at the beginning of the Marriage Feast of seven days/years of the tribulation. Is this separation geographical? No, it's spiritual: it is authority, dominion, holiness, anointing, etc.) I realized we were out of time to pray for people to be in the group that was leaving (because the Bride was chosen to follow the Man-child reformer body as it was with Jesus.). I was very anxious for the people who were being left behind. I desperately tried to scan the faces of people right at the demarcation of the line, since there was a space between us now, but we were moving out so fast that I couldn't seem to recognize anyone. It was terrible. Behind the people remaining to the left, the light seemed to be fading; it got darker and darker the further to the left one went. (They are going into the darkness of tribulation for sanctification.) There were many thousands of people left behind whom I could see and an almost infinite number of people behind them were off in the darkness. I didn't recognize anyone in the dream. The separation was terrible and very sudden with no announcement. Once we started being moved out of the building, I couldn't seem to do anything by praying as to who was on which side. (The Bride is chosen to be the Bride at the beginning of her own Marriage Feast with the Groom.) At first I was very upset about the people being left behind and then I thought to myself that I needed to stop worrying and start praising God and thanking Him for what He was doing, and to leave the people whom we left behind in His hands. (Some of these people will be lost, as 1/3 of the stars of Abraham's seed fall from their heavenly place in Christ to the earth to be trampled under the feet of the Beast. Some of these people will overcome to walk in purity and holiness through the crucifixion of the tribulation.) I somehow felt that I could still pray for them, but the priority for that prayer was now on the back burner. Now I needed to concentrate on what was ahead of us that we were all moving toward. (Those chosen will recognize the new leadership of the Man-child as they did in Jesus' time. Joh.3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom ... As in the book of Esther, she is taken into the King's house at the beginning of the people of God's tribulation but she is also to use her position to save them. The Philadelphia Church of brotherly love escaped the hour of trial because they had already been through many trials and became beautiful to their Lord.) As we were being moved out of the building, our speed got faster and faster as we flew into the darkness. There was a strong wind blowing in the same direction as we were flying. I felt that it was really important to pray, especially in tongues. Eventually, we started coming down to the ground here and there in the darkness. When I came down, I noticed there weren't very many others around and we were all separated. There seemed to be a high metal roof overhead, like you might see over a large train station with an occasional light here and there. We were still moving, but now we needed to adjust to our new situation. There were white envelopes (the shape looked like #10, but their size was slightly larger) with white paper inside with instructions and encouragement for us that came flying past us in the wind parallel to the direction we were going. They weren't fluttering around. (These letters sailing by were kind of a “cool” phenomenon. We, the wind and the letters were all going in the same direction.) I think we had to collect them. Some were in tongues. We needed to get together, adjust to our new environment as we kept moving, read what was in these envelopes to find out what to do next and start working as a group. (The Bride will learn to work as a true Body of Christ by the individual messages of the Holy Spirit.) We also had much praying to do, especially in tongues. My takeaway from this dream at the time of this writing is that I need to be praying for people to be in this group that leaves. Praying made a difference in this dream. I had regrets when the separation happened in the dream. I don't want to have any regrets when this really happens. The first time I opened my Bible the morning I dreamed this, it opened not to a Bible verse, but to the Bible Study Helps section entitled “This Bible in Your Hand”. I opened to chapter nine, “Sooner Than You Think”.     Cleansing for the Marriage Feast C.P. - 12/27/2011 (David's note in red) I received this dream from the Lord, which I believe is a warning about preparing for the marriage feast. I feel it's important to share this because it relates to keeping your house filled with Christ. Our physical bodies serve no purpose except to house Christ and if we're not serving Him then we are serving other gods (which 1 Corinthians 10:20 says are actually demons). I dreamed we were at our home and my husband was on his way out. I somehow knew I'd be joining him later. I left the door open and the next minute my mother was at the front gate and just walked in (uninvited guest). She went straight to the “guest room” and told me she'd be staying with us from now on (I think my mother represents unclean spirits of anger, rejection, unforgiveness, condemnation, as well as the apostate church). Also, if we do not guard our gates (being the mouth, ears, and minds), we can expect the spirits we cast out to try to come back and make a home out of us. We read this in Mat.12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation. I protested and told her that she could not do so. She said that I had prepared a room for her and that she was now staying with us. (Whatever place in our hearts the husband, Jesus, vacates, it is prepared for other spirits to return.) I was very uneasy about this because I knew my husband would not be happy about this (this is the fight between our flesh and our spirit. We know what the spirit requires of us; we need to keep our spiritual house clean and abiding in Christ). However, I acquiesced to her demand. Just then, my younger sister also walked into the house. (She represents the immature Christians who are easily swayed by the older, fallen-away church). They both sat at the dining room table and I thought of feeding them, but never put any food in front of them to eat. (These spirits and demons need to be fed, but it's our choice whether we'll add fuel to their demands to make us fall away from the promises of God.) They immediately started bad-mouthing my marriage to my husband (who represents Jesus). (The true Gospel and the true Bride are a threat and an insult to the apostate church because it preaches salvation instead of bondage.) They told me it was unnatural to be that close to him and that he had changed me; they did not even recognize me anymore (Jesus changes us to the extent that these spirits of apostasy are not at peace in us or in others concerning us.) (The true Bride will not be recognized in the tribulation because people will not want to accept the truth). My sister was particularly loose with her mouth and after a while, I calmly said to her that it was unfair to talk about my husband that way because he had helped her so many times and was very loyal to her. (The Lord has been loyal to the apostates but they do not return that love through obedience.) I told her that if she had nothing good to say, she should leave. She got up to leave, but just before doing so she and my mother asked me to “prove” my love for my husband (the saints will surely be tested). I said, surely I would do that. They told me to go out the back door (the past) of my house and take a shower in the street. (Nakedness represents sin and washing in front of others represents confessing our sins so that God will cleanse us. 1Jn.1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jas.5:16 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Notice you are to confess most sins to a righteous person who has faith so they can pray for you. Others are not trustworthy but gossipers. Sins against an individual most of the time, should be confessed to them so that they will forgive you. However, if they do not know about it, it may cause them to stumble. Sometimes God would have you confess publicly so others will fear God and recognize evil.) The scene changed and I was in the middle of Oxford Street in London at night. (Europe's busiest and densest shopping street, which represents Babylonish buying and selling the church does in darkness.) I took a shower in a transparent cubicle on the left sidewalk of the street. (Literal and physical nakedness is not permitted scripturally. Only spiritual nakedness can be seen as good in that we should not have any hidden sins. Pro.28:13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. Psa.32:3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed [as] with the drought of summer. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 6 For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him. Also, we should reveal sin as sin so that the world will know that we agree with holiness.) But we will also be protected (as in the cubicle). The world will see us but will not be able to “touch” us. I noticed that there was a group of well-dressed, suited men walking out of a restaurant together with a pretty lady (those who want to look good to the world but not to God) who had dark hair (submission to darkness) and wearing a red dress (Sin is described as red in Isaiah 1:18. We see here the harlot spirit of apostate Christianity). I felt so vulnerable being naked in the shower, but I had never been more clean; my skin glistened. (Confessing our sin makes us vulnerable to others but we are cleansed.) The woman seemed to get very angry with me for showering in public and she came over to me and wanted to spray me with whipped cream (the perversion and sweetening of milk, symbolizing the sweetening of the truth to make it acceptable to more people). I kept ducking and diving out of her aim and she said, “Don't try to pretend to be different; you've done exactly the same as me”. To that I replied, “No, I have not. I have never defiled anyone”. She walked away and I managed to get back into my house. (We do not defile others when we are not hiding any sin and when we confess what we have done wrong as sin.) Then I was trying to get ready for a banquet (the Marriage Feast of 7 days -- the tribulation). My mother was still there, shouting insults at me and about my husband all the time. I asked her to help me get ready for the banquet, but she did not. (The nature and spirits of apostasy will not prepare one to be in the Bride or even to attend the feast.) (Sometimes we are so used to our demons and spirits that we think they are part of our nature and try to use our own characteristics to prepare for trials. We need to be mindful that everything that we exhibit that is not of God and does not liken us to Jesus needs to be cast down and told to depart from us; we cannot be slaves to two masters.) Instead, every time I put on a white garment, she either wet it or soiled it. (When apostasy is in our hearts, our life and actions manifest spots and blemishes on our spiritual garment.) I was getting a little frustrated with her and told her she must leave. I told her I needed my garment ready for when my husband came to take me to the banquet. Rev.19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God. She said she could not leave because I'd left the door open for her and had a room for her. I then told her that I no longer had a guest room and that the room she was trying to inhabit belonged to my eight-month-old baby (the fruit of Jesus, 888 is his gematria in Greek) (the salvation and manifestation of Christ in us takes time and it is through faith that it can grow). She got angry and tested this but could not go into the room (Once Jesus is large enough in us, there will be no space for the spirits and demons. Once the saints have grown in faith, there will be no place for the apostate church). Eventually, I managed to get my white garment on and she left, and I waited for my husband. (After rejecting apostasy, it had to leave and the garment was pure for the Groom.) Rev.15:4 Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.

Sometimes God's will isn't what we would have picked out for ourselves. It isn't what we want. And it's difficult to accept.Esther's life didn't turn out how she wanted it to. She found herself separated from her family and married to the unbelieving King of Persia. Through these trials, God made Esther into a Supernova, shining even more brightly in the hardships. But before she could get there, she had to die to her own dreams and her own plan. Are you willing to do the same? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29

God takes us to a place of overflow where we can hear Him speak clearly about our purpose and promise beyond our struggles and daily needs. • The Lord is our shepherd who guides us to a place of not wanting or lacking anything essential• Sometimes God forces us to lie down and rest before we can properly receive from Him• Abraham heard about his greater purpose from a place of abundance, not deficit• The valley of the shadow of death is just that - a shadow we pass through, not death itself• God uses His rod to protect us from attacks and His staff to rescue us when we're stuck• Many can't experience overflow because their spiritual cups have holes from past hurts• The table God prepares for us after our trials is where He anoints and fills us to overflowing• Breaking barriers requires operating from overflow, not constantly from a place of lack• God often speaks about our purpose only after we've moved beyond survival-mode prayers• Rest is essential for spiritual nourishment - you can't eat when you're filled with anxietyIf you've been struggling to break through barriers in your life, ask God to fix the holes in your cup so you can retain what He's pouring into you. Your breakthrough comes from the overflow. Welcome To Chosen City Church! We are excited to you have worship with us today and we pray that this sermon blesses you!Partner With Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/part...Support Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/givePodcasts and More:https://linktr.ee/chosencitychurchConnect With Chosen City ChurchWebsite: https://chosencitychurch.com.comInstagram: @ChosenCityChurchYouTube: Chosen City ChurchFacebook: Chosen City ChurchIntro and outro created by Joe Anderson Jr. of Truflava Productions

Contestant number 43,212 walked onto the stage to audition for Britain's Got Talent. She stood in sharp contrast to previous performers. Unkempt curly hair and a less than flattering dress suggested a frumpy housewife. Simon Cowell interviewed her briefly and her admission that she was 47 years old caused raised eyebrows and scattered laughter from the audience. Her awkward verbal responses added to the anticipation that her performance would be cut short quickly. Expectations hit rock bottom when she revealed the ambitious choice to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables. But when contestant number 43,212 finished singing just the first phrase, “I dreamed a dream in time gone by” the audience had begun to cheer and applaud while each judge wore a look of amazement and disbelief. Her voice was beautiful and strong. She finished the song to a standing ovation, and Susan Boyle was on her way. Simon Cowell said later she was the textbook example of “never judge a book by its cover.” Sometimes God surprises us in the same way, working in ways and through people we might not expect. The post ELISHA-SEEING THE HAND OF GOD AT WORK: God's Hand in Restoring Lives (YOU-Spr'25, Study 2, Session 4) appeared first on YOU.

The only faith the Bible talks about, the only sort of Faith Jesus talked about was the sort of faith that moves mountains. The sort of faith that conquers the world! The sort that has powerful results.   Conquering Faith There are times in our lives when we have to overcome obstacles. Now not every obstacle is there for overcoming, let me say. Sometimes they're meant to be there at least for a while, and sometimes they're meant to be there as a permanent feature. I don't know if you recall the apostle Paul's prayer to God about the thorn in his flesh that was hindering him, but three times Paul asked God to take it away, and God's answer was no, because that thorn in Paul's flesh was there to keep him humble. Even adversity, especially adversity sometimes, plays an important part in God's plan for our lives. But sometimes it's God's plan for us to overcome obstacles in our lives. Sometimes we need to be more than conquerors over our circumstances, in order to achieve what God's called us to achieve. When we have to conquer an obstacle that's way beyond our power or our wisdom or our strength, then we need to have faith – faith in the One who does have the power and the wisdom and the strength to make things happen. We need the sort of faith that conquers the world, and that's the sort of faith that we're going to chat about again today on the programme – world-conquering faith. So let's go back to Hebrews 11 and see what God has to say to us today about that sort of faith. Hebrews 11:29: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute didn't perish with those who were disobedient because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Sampson and Jephthah and David and Samuel and all the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fires, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Isn't that just one of the most amazing passages? I get a real courage in my heart just reading that passage. So, what's God saying to us through His Word today? When the nation of Israel fled from their centuries of slavery in Egypt, and after they'd wandered for forty years in the wilderness, God finally let them into the land that He promised them through Abraham centuries before. Now you'd think, wouldn't you, that if the land was the land God had promised and He'd chosen and He'd provided, that God could ordain for them that they'd kind of waltz in there and settle down and take over, but that wasn't God's plan. The land was occupied by many nations and kings and tribes, and the Israelites had to take the promised land battle by battle. That's often God's way. That's why so often, life as a Christian seems to be battle after battle. That's why sometimes we think to ourselves: "Why is following Jesus this hard? Why doesn't it all just fall into place? What about the promises of God?" Well, the promises are there, just like the promised land was there for Israel, but they had to be taken (often battle by battle), and those battles, my friend, require faith. Faith pleases God and so those battles are our opportunity to grow in our faith, as we rely on God's promises to take us through, and that's pleasing to God. So Israel took Jericho ... by strength? No, by faith! And Rahab, the prostitute who'd harboured the Israeli spies before that battle, she was saved by faith. And then the writer goes on to list many situations and circumstances in the history of Israel where battle after battle after battle after battle had been won, as Israel God's people stepped into the breach and put their faith in their God. My friend, that's what the Christian life looks like. That's what we're meant to be living, and after each battle and each trial and each beating and each victory, you know what happens? Our faith grows stronger. We don't just become mighty men and women of faith by sitting here in our lounge-rooms watching the television, we become mighty men and women of faith by using our faith – by exercising the muscle of faith, so that it grows stronger and stronger with each battle. And one day we wake up and we're able to face bigger battles for Christ because now we have the faith we need to live through them. Let me share with you a letter I received awhile back from a woman, Elsie – an elderly lady, who used to support Christianityworks by sending some stamps every few months. Listen to the world-conquering faith of this frail old woman. She writes: Although I'm only a very aged pensioner' (those are her words), ‘I have been kept by God's grace through many years. In the last eighteen months, I have had both floodwaters and burning tree-embers over my veranda, but God has protected me through it all. Only last night the bush-fire threatened my home again, and I went to bed knowing that only our Creator could keep me safe. Berni, I'm sending you these stamps in the name of our miracle-working God, who fed thousands with five small loaves and two fishes, who burst open prison-doors, calmed tempests, split rocks and provided water, conquered death and defeated Satan, and who is coming again to take us all to His eternal home in glory. May these stamps help others to enter His peace. And so they did. We used those stamps in our very next mailing to our supporters, and in response to that mailing, I received a letter from another woman, who as it turns out lived just a few kilometres from Elsie, who'd been to the point of suicide when she received our letter, yet God used that letter to save her life. She wrote: "Thank you for saving my life." I believe with all my heart that that miracle was born out of Elsie's world-conquering faith. I rang Elsie, I told her what had happened, and she wept with joy. What an awesome God we serve, that this self-described "aged pensioner" can be filled with that sort of world-conquering faith. And as you receive God's word today, may you be filled with a passion to travel through the battles, through the fires, through the floods of your walk with Jesus, so that day after day He will grow in you the sort of faith that conquers the world.   Unwavering Faith You know the thing that is absolutely the most difficult thing about faith? It's that sometimes when I believe in God for something, He doesn't give me the answer I was believing for. Sometimes when I trust in God to do something, something that's really good – something that's really powerful – something that truly would glorify His name, either He doesn't do it or He delays in doing it, or He does it in a completely different way to what I was expecting. You see, when it comes to faith, I just want it to be simple: I decide what needs to be done, I ask God to do it, and I believe in Him that He's going to do it and He does it! Hey, that's simple enough. How come God doesn't get it sometimes? How come He heads off in some tangent when I can see plain as day what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how it needs to be done? Now, as we've been exploring what Hebrews chapter 11 has to say about faith over these last few weeks, have you noticed that each of the examples so far has focused on successful outcomes of having faith in God? Yippee! But the Bible is nothing if it's not realistic, and so it also talks about those times when God doesn't seem to deliver on our prayers – when we've prayed in faith and He doesn't show up. Have a listen. This first passage follows on from the Abraham story. God had promised Abraham many descendants, even when he and his wife were old, beyond childbearing age, and He promised a land of his own – the promised land, in which his descendants would be like ... well, more numerous than the stars in the sky, and the grains of the sand on the beach. Question: How much of that promise did Abraham actually get to see? Well, only two small parts. Firstly, God gave him a son Isaac – miraculous to be sure, but only one – not the multitude that had been promised, and God fleetingly let him pass through the Promised Land, so what does the Bible have to say about these unfulfilled promises? Hebrews 11:11: By faith he received the power of procreation, even though he was too old and Sarah herself was barren, because he considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore, from one person – and this one as good as dead, descendants were born – as many as the stars in heaven, as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. All of these died in faith, without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. People who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to return, but as it is, they desire a better country – that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, He has prepared a city for them. So, Abraham didn't even see the outcome of his faith. All but two of the Israelites that finally centuries later left slavery in Egypt, perished in the wilderness and never saw the Promised Land; only their children did, and yet God commends them for their faith. God's plan, God's promises span centuries, right down to the birth of Jesus. God's promise of many descendants is what gave Jesus to us, and you and I today are still being blessed. Because Abraham trusted God, because Israel trusted God, you and I are blessed in Jesus who came through God's promise to Abraham. God's plans span millennia, way beyond Abraham's life! Abraham's life was just one small piece in the overall jigsaw puzzle, and yet God commends Abraham for his faith. See, that's the big picture – that's the truth. You and I, our lives, are just one small part in the overall scheme of things, in God's whole plan for the human race. And sometimes from our narrow perspective, well, we can't see the whole picture. In fact, I'd suggest that our perspective is inherently way too narrow ever to fully comprehend God's big picture. So often, God makes promises and we step out in faith into these promises, and things don't go quite the way we planned, and yet those apparent failures are critical in the overall plan of God. Again, listen to what Hebrews has to say further on, on this very thing. Having regaled us with all the successes of faith that various leaders and kings and prophets had, the writer of this book of Hebrews under the hand of God turns his attention to the apparent failures of faith. Hebrews 11:35: Women received their dead by resurrection, but others were tortured, refusing to accept release in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats – destitute, persecuted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in the deserts and mountains, in caves and holes in the ground, yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better, so that they would not apart from us be made perfect. So, you read that, and it seems to me that having faith in God is more important to God than the outcome of that faith. Stepping into the firing line with a distinct possibility of getting shot, trusting in God, is more important to God than whether or not we get shot. That's what the Scripture is telling us, and it's true. What we're interested in is a narrow form of success – success in our little bit, but sometimes our apparent failure, or what you and I would call failure, is a critical element of the jigsaw in God's overall plan. Just think: What if Jesus had been saved from the cross? Where would you and I be now? But I'll tell you something. I bet you the disciples were praying to God in those final hours that Jesus would be saved – that He'd be spared. I bet you that had you and I been one of those disciples, that's exactly what we'd have been praying, right? It's not always about winning each battle. Sometimes God's got a bigger picture and what pleases Him, and what He commends us for, is a faith that stands an unfailing faith, despite the outcome.   Overcoming Faith Well, we're going to conclude our time together in this particular series by looking at what Hebrews chapter 11 has to say about the sort of faith that overcomes obstacles – the sort of faith in God that'll help us overcome difficult circumstances. Often we hope that if someone is against us that our faith will mean that we'll end up winning, and they'll end up losing. That's a good thing to believe for, isn't it? Do we see something of that in the Bible? Well, yeah, we do. We often see God's people in the Old Testament, whether under the leadership of Moses or Joshua or David or Jehoshaphat or quite a number of judges and kings and prophets, turn to God in times of distress, and God goes out there and fights the battles for them and gives them victory over their enemies. Sometimes that's what the Lord does in our lives, and when we just feel to get out there amongst it and the forces of hell are unleashed against us, there is absolutely nothing wrong with praying in faith for victory, so that the Lord's will can prevail. There's been many-a time in my life when I've been up against it; when it seems that people came against this ministry of Christianity Works and our mission to share the good news of Jesus with many, many people around the world; when our finances have been so difficult that we couldn't really see how we could possibly continue; when people that we relied on failed us, and left us in a difficult spot. Please don't ever think that just because I'm here on the radio proclaiming the good news of Jesus, none of these things happen to us; they do, and the more we preach Christ, the more the enemy unleashes his armies against us. That's par for the course. So, when we're in a tough place, should we turn to God as our first resort instead of our last? Should we rely on His faithfulness to overcome the obstacles and opposition that we face? Absolutely we should, because He's our God, and yet that's not always what He has in mind. Sometimes His victories are so different to what we're expecting. There's something that Jesus said to His disciples in the final days before His crucifixion that must have seemed so outrageous and so plain wrong to them, as they heard it, and as they lived out the next few days. This is what He said. Have a listen. John 16:32-33: Jesus said, ‘The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered each one to his home, and you will leave me completely alone, yet I am not alone because the Father is in Me. I have said these things to you so that in Me, you may have peace. For in this world you will face persecution, but take courage; I have conquered the world'. The first verse speaks of the coming fear and trials that the disciples were already beginning to face. You'll each scatter! You'll flee to your homes! You'll leave me alone! Man! If Jesus had been saying that to me, I wouldn't have been impressed. You'll face persecutions. Zippedy doo dah! There's a promise of God that we can stand on, and yet in the very next breath, He's saying: But I'm telling you these things so that in Me, you might have peace. Have courage! For I have overcome the world; I have conquered the world. Words are cheap. Not so long after this, they see Him arrested, tried, beaten to within an inch of His life – the flesh literally hanging off His back where He'd been whipped, lugging a cross – a huge wooden cross – up to Golgotha, where He's nailed to the cross, and there He dies. And yet this miracle man Jesus had said to them: Take courage! Be of good cheer! I've overcome the world; I've conquered the world. Let me ask you this: When He was hanging there on that cross, did He look like much of a conqueror – much of an overcomer – in the eyes of His frightened, disillusioned disciples who'd fled, who'd left Him in His darkest hour, just as He'd predicted? Not likely, and yet just a few days later, He was raised from the dead – just a few days later, to their absolute disbelief, even though He'd been telling them this would happen. The One whom they'd seen dead and lifeless was alive again. He truly had conquered the world. He'd conquered the grave; He'd conquered death; He'd overcome the very worst outcome of all – the outcome of dying. Do you see how the immediate circumstances of His trial and crucifixion shroud the ultimate victory in the disciples' gaze? And so, my friend, it often is with us. So often we're focused on the short-term victory in this or in that – a victory that all too often involves saving our skins (let's be honest), when all along our Father in heaven is working out His ultimate victory in our lives. And in order to realise that ultimate victory, for a time, we have to suffer. Have a listen to how the apostle John puts it. 1 John 5:4: For whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Ultimately, it's the one who believes Jesus is who He says He is who conquers this world – because in Jesus Christ, you and I have victory over the grave; we have victory over death; we have victory over this world. And as we're travelling through the short-term pain of a lifetime, that's what keeps us pressing on to the end – the truth that in Christ Jesus, we have life eternal. Peter the apostle says this. 1 Peter 1:6: In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while, you have to suffer various trials; so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. To that you and I can shout: "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Through Him, we have victory over the grave." There are going to be times in this life when you and I feel like losers. Peter was writing that to a bunch of people who had been tarred and feathered and burnt on stakes at Caesar's parties. These people weren't just suffering various kinds of trials; they were dying for their faith, but in those moments to them, and in those moments to us, God is faithful. His love is unfailing; His promises are true, and we have all that we need to make it through. For me to be able to serve you with this truth today is such an incredible privilege. As I walk through my trials, as I suffer through my things, I need this word just as much as you do. I need the encouragement and the power of God's Word just as much as you do, so please take this truth; hold it close to your heart; because through your faith in Jesus Christ, as weak and as tenuous as it may feel sometimes, you have already overcome the world. I've said these things to you that in Him, you may have peace.

Sometimes God doesn't remove the fire. Sometimes... He just holds you through it. In this episode, I'm sharing how God provided in the middle of my hardest moments—not by making things easy, but by giving me just enough strength, just enough grace, and just enough peace to keep going. Provision didn't always look like I expected. It wasn't flashy or instant. But it was exactly what I needed, right when I needed it. If you're walking through a season that feels too heavy, too exhausting, or too uncertain—this episode will remind you that God is still showing up, even in the smallest ways. You're not forgotten. You're being carried. Let's talk about what real provision looks like in the fire.     If you want to learn how to embrace the Dirt on your journey, come join me over on Substack at kawailani.substack.com

Sometimes God's providence may seem counterproductive or clash with our plans. But God has our best in mind. In this message, Pastor Lutzer provides three insights about God's sovereign purpose for nations and even individuals. Will we trust His wisdom even when we don't understand His ways? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. 

3 mistakes to avoid with your Lead or Supervising PastorMistake #1: Wrong assumptionsIn the middle of a difficult moment with leadership relationships, it is very easy to assume the worst about them. A Christian counselor friend once said, “When we assume the motives of someone else we are wrong most of the time.” I have learned this is very true.We often forget is what it's like to be in their shoes. Remember when others misjudged you? What did you want from them? What did you wish for? It might be a good exercise to make a list of what you remember as a starting point for making changes in your relationships.The danger of assigning motives, of assuming someone's intent, is we never know all the facts. They maybe new to the church? To the role? To you? They come with their own often un-named values, beliefs, and assumptions about what we, their leadership, should or should not do. It's very complicated.The temptation is always to side with your own beliefs, to assume you are correct, because we know them…or think we do. But God is clear when He says, “You shall not be partial in judgment … For the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty and the awesome God, who is not partial …” (Deuteronomy 1:17; 10:17). Meaningful relations can't happen if we are assuming the worst or assigning blame without knowing all the data. And we will rarely have all the facts.Conclusion: Choose to believe the best. Ask God to give you His love and grace and to help you give grace, expecting nothing in return. You will never know the full impact of the Lead Pastor world! Help them see you as a “friend” not a “foe”.Mistake #2: ImpatienceWe've had a lifetime to get to know our ministry, but when it comes to being the Lead Pastor…not so much. It's all too easy to impatiently expect these relationships to gel perfectly. Relationships take time … lots of time with many investments of grace, love, and patience. There are so many factors to consider—working styles, age gaps, passion gaps, interest gaps, etc.Often what helps me in impatience is to know, that through PRAYER, God can make things go far faster than I can. Simple, huh? Along with that, you need to be good for your church. You are part of the team to help, not just have your way. You need to show up, but not throw up!Basically, be what a friend taught me, “Be a good General, not a bad General”. A bad General takes their assignment and does whatever higher ups tell them. A good General will assess the situation, give their advise and then execute on whatever leadership decides. If you feel it is wrong, PRAY, God will course correct.Conclusion: We are only responsible to suggest and pray.. God is more than able to work His will in their lives without our help. Our job now is to be patient with the process and trust Him to do the work. SOMETIMES God is working in the background and doesn't tell us! LOLMistake #3: DefensivenessWhen a Lead Pastor points out a flaw he or she sees in us, it hurts. Our natural inclination is to be defensive, to explain our position and how hard we tried to do our best rather than just apologize and say, “I'm so sorry that hurt you so much or wasn't done the way you expected.” We forget so easily that we are all flawed, broken people and no pastor is perfect. So why are we surprised when stuff happens and people give us issues?This next statement isn't natural but … instead of having defensiveness of those of we serve (our Lead Pastor), we should be grateful for the opportunity to mend and apologize for the mistakes we make! Even if it was 100% unintentional. Modeling an apologetic heart and seeking forgiveness will open the door for you to do the same with those that serve under you (staff or volunteer). A friend once said, “Seeing a flaw in ourselves is a joy because we now have the opportunity to be rid of it.” It takes maturity and humility to see our shortcomings this way, but it's liberating.Only when we own our mistakes and admit where we failed leadership will we grow rich relationships with them and church leadership. The truth is always your friend.Only humility produces the beauty of meaningfully deep relationships. And continually acknowledging our own shortcomings and failures before God makes beautiful our lives in the greater body of Christ. It's been quite a journey at Saddleback Church since March of 1998. I've known lots of misunderstandings and mistakes. Thankfully I've known forgiveness too. I love our church so much, including the staff and people LOL. Each difficulty brings uniqueness which challenges us to a greater faith, and that is always good.He's got us, He's got our ministry and He's got our Lead Pastor too!  ★ Support this podcast ★

Sometimes God, in His mercy, wrecks our plans before they wreck us.

Obeying God is always a lot easier to talk about than to do. Especially when it doesn't make sense. Especially when it costs something. Especially when it feels like God is asking us to step away from what's safe and comfortable and predictable. Let's admit it: Sometimes God's will feels unreasonable. And yet, that's usually right where obedience begins.

Because Somebody Prayed1 John 5:14–15 “And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.”I love this verse because God is reminding us that we can trust Him. He reminds us that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us, and if we know that he hears us, then we know we have obtained the request made of him. I don't know about you, but I can get caught up in the part that says, according to his will. I have asked the Lord for many things, and I don't think that he has given them to me. I get frustrated when I am praying for someone, and I remember that God said if we ask in Jesus' name, then anything we ask for will be given to us.I know that God's ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts greater than our thoughts, and yet it is still frustrating when we can't understand what is going on. It is frustrating when we think we know exactly what we need or what we want and we ask the Lord, we beg the Lord and it just seems like He is not listening. If you have struggled with this, let me share with you what has helped me understand it a little better.Have your kids, your nieces/nephews, or your friends' kids ever asked for something that seemed really important to them? They asked for something that they really want, and to them, it is something that they have to have. They have given it thought, and they know it is the best thing for them. Yet, you know it is not good for them at all. You only know this because you have been where they are and things didn't end well. You have seen where this thing will take them, and it isn't anywhere good.For instance, your child, or a child you are close to, wants to drop out of school. They have given it thought, and they will get a job at the local grocery store or fast food restaurant. They are tired of all the work they need to do at school and don't want to do it anymore. However, you can see that it is not the best choice for them. You can see how that one choice will limit so many other choices about their future. They are begging you to let them drop out, and yet you know it is not really best for them.This is what I think of when I think of God answering our prayers. Good thing He doesn't give us everything we ask for because sometimes, just like our kids, we ask for some things that are not good for us. We ask for things that we think we want, but God knows we don't really want them. For instance, we might think we want a new job, but then we find out the new job has a lot of travel, or the boss isn't a nice person. God shields us from so many things that we aren't even aware of because he is shielding us from them. He does this because He is a good Father.I heard a song on the way to adoration his morning, and you know how much I love songs. I wanted to share the lyrics of this one with you today because it talks about how important prayer is. The song is titled “Somebody Prayed,” and it is sung by Crowder. The song begins:Every night there by your bedYou fold your hands and bow your headThrowing out another prayer in faithWhen you're wondering if He's hearing youLook at me, I'm living proofI'm only right where I am todayBecause somebody prayedThese lyrics remind us that when we pray and do not see results, we can look at those around us and be confident that if God answers their prayers, He will answer ours, too. I think it is vital to remember that the answers to our prayers may not look like we want them to and may not come in the timing we want them to. I like how Crowder can realize that the reason he is where he is today is because his mom prayed for him a lot. So I hit my knees 'cause I'veSeen all Heaven move (don't matter if you hit rock bottomMy God pick you up when you call Him.)I pray, "Father, please" 'cause I'veSeen what He can do (don't matter if the storm cloud comingMy God come through when you call Him)I love this verse too because it says that it doesn't matter if you hit rock bottom because God will pick you up when you call Him. This reminds us that we are never too far down for God to pick us back up again. It also says it doesn't matter if the storm cloud is coming because God will come through when we call Him. Crowder says he has seen all heaven move, and he has seen what our heavenly Father can do.You might be in a storm right now, or you might be at your lowest point yet. Either way, you can rest assured that when you call on the Lord, He is going to answer that call. He is going to lift you up out of that pit or get you safely through that storm. That is just who He is. If you wonder if this is true, look around you at all the people you know who are struggling, or the ones who were struggling and have made it through to the other side.  They were not alone. God helped them, and if he helped them, he can help you too!These hands have no powerThere ain't an hour He don't come throughThat's why when mountains move, I say"Looks like somebody prayed”This verse is reminding us that we can do nothing without God. He is our source of power. He is our Savior. This is why, when something amazing happens in our lives, we should automatically know that someone was praying for us. Our default should be to thank God and to thank whoever was praying for us. Sometimes we think that because we didn't pray, then it wasn't God who helped us. However, there are so many people praying all the time. There were many saints who would send up prayers for anyone who needed them. Or they would pray for those who had no one else to pray for them. You might have a whole army of people praying for you, and yet you might not even know it.For instance, when someone asks me for prayer I usually ask my parents to also pray for them because I know my parents are mighty prayer warriors. I also ask my prayer group to pray, my Encounter Ministry fellow students, and the prayer line at my church. Then sometimes I would also add their request to these three online prayer requests websites, one of which is the Lourdes website. Do you see how someone could have a whole army of people praying for them and not even know it?For the child of God that's far from homeThe one who thinks they're too far goneI'm throwing out another prayer in faith (prayer in faith)Worn-out altars, tear-stained pewsStill I won't give up on youI believe that anything can changeWhen somebody praysI love this verse because he is talking to anyone who feels like they are far from home. Anyone who feels like they are too far gone. Then he tells them that he is praying for them. We all need to be praying for those who are far from home and think they are too far gone. There is no too far gone with the Lord. He is always willing to take us back. He is always waiting for us to realize that and to come home. I love it when he says he won't give up on us because he believes that anything can change when somebody prays.This is an important thing for us all to believe. It is so true. Anything can change when somebody prays. The enemy often tries to make us believe that our situation is too bad and that there is no solution. He tries to convince us that we don't need to pray because there isn't anything God can do for anyone. There isn't anything anyone can do. This is ridiculous! God can do anything! We might not see a way out, we might not think things can get better, but God can always make a way, even when we can't see how. It is always worth it to say a prayer. It can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes God is just waiting for you to ask. He is waiting for you to invite Him into it all. Why wouldn't we want God to be in all of it?I've seen miracles come from feeble wordsI've seen hospital rooms turned into cathedralsI've seen freedom come to the prisonerYou can't tell me that prayer don't workThe first line says, “I've seen miracles come from feeble words.” Do you know why I love this? I love it because it reminds us that we don't have to know what to say. We don't have to pray these long, eloquent prayers. We don't have to ask for the exact thing or say the exact right words in order for our prayers to be answered. It's not like in all those movies about making a wish on a genie in a bottle. If you don't get the wording perfectly, then something bad happens. God is not like that. We don't have to know the perfect thing to say. We just have to call upon his name and ask him for what we want.It goes on to say, “I've seen hospital rooms turned into cathedrals.” I think what he means by this is that hospital rooms can be a powerful place for prayer. Sitting by a loved one's bedside can prompt people to pray more. It can also help us to be bold and ask for more from the Lord. Desperation to save our loved ones can be a powerful motivator. He also says, I've seen freedom come to the prisoner.  This is another great result of prayer. You might know someone who is stuck in their past. They may be an actual prisoner in jail, or they may be a prisoner to guilt, shame, and unforgiveness. Either way, prayers can free them from their prison. I have seen it happen many times!!The song ends with:So every night there by your bedWhen you fold your hands and bow your headNot a single word you've ever said in vain'Cause He hears everythingI like this verse too because it reminds us that not a single word you've ever said is in vain. When we pray to God, He hears us. We can be confident in this, just as the scripture verse for today reminds us. God hears it all, whether you are in church praying or you are crying out to him in your car. Wherever you are, no matter how far gone you think you are, He always hears every word of it, and none of it was said in vain. He hears you and He will answer your prayers according to his will and according to His timing.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening today. Lord, we love you, and we want to bring all of our requests to you now. Lord, we ask that you give us some understanding of your ways and why our prayers appear not to have been answered for so long.  Help us be patient, Lord. Help us to keep coming back and asking the Lord. Help us to see where in our lives you have answered prayers. We love you Lord and we are so grateful for all you do for us. We are sorry if we take you for granted. We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I. Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in October 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “Be the one that spreads my love and my joy. Be the one who brings comfort and is a source of peace for all. If you but listen carefully to my voice that calls you each and every day.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Mental Man Monday: Saquon Barkley, Donald Trump, T.D. Jakes, and Building the Wrong LegacyThis week on Mental Man Monday, Izzy Baker leads a solo session packed with real talk about legacy, leadership, and trusting God's timing—even when it feels uncomfortable. The episode kicks off with a recap of the latest PSA: The Mental Health Podcast episode, reflecting on what it really means to build something lasting, not just something popular.Izzy shares the reality of the sacrifices that come with building for purpose instead of chasing clout. He also lightens the mood by commenting on the viral “100 men vs. 1 gorilla” debate that has taken over Threads and TikTok, showing how humor can briefly break the noise of today's culture wars. The conversation then gets serious as Izzy weighs in on the backlash Saquon Barkley received after golfing with President-elect Donald Trump.He challenges listeners to ask hard questions about alignment, integrity, and the real reasons behind the relationships they choose. The episode closes with a powerful reflection on Bishop T.D. Jakes stepping down from The Potter's House and passing the leadership mantle to Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts. Izzy connects this transition to mental health, aging gracefully, scandal avoidance, and understanding spiritual timing.Sometimes God has to sit you down in order to prepare you for the future He has planned. Key themes in this episode include why building for legacy requires patience and sacrifice, how to evaluate relationships based on authenticity rather than status, and when to recognize that your assignment is shifting.If you have been wrestling with your career, your friendships, or your calling, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper and move wiser. Stream now for a fresh take on leadership, legacy, and masculine growth in today's world.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/p-s-a-the-mental-health-podcast--5520511/support.

Many fishermen live their entire lives searching for one trophy that never gets caught. Hunters are the same and there are even things outside of fishing and hunting that drive people to strive for that one special goal.   Sometimes God uses those special things in our lives to draw us closer to Him. On today's show, we will meet a young fireman who had a dream of one day catching a very special fish and it wasn't until he gave into God's will that he was able to fulfill his dream.

[Luke 24:13-14] That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened.God comes and _______________ us when we're headed the _______________ way.Don't walk away from the _____________________.[Luke 24:15-16] As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. [16] But God kept them from recognizing him.God is with us in the _______________.[Luke 24:17-21] He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. [18] Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days." [19] "What things?" Jesus asked. "The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. [20] But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. [21] We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.The resurrection doesn't let you go back to _______________.Sometimes God doesn't interrupt your _______________, He _______________ through it with you.[Luke 24:25-27] Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. [26] Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" [27] Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.Jesus always waits for an ____________________.[Luke 24:30-31] As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. [31] Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! [32] They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?" [33] And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, [34] who said, "The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter."Even if you do not _______________ Him, Jesus is already _______________ with you.

Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" God is the fountainhead of all goodness. Every breath we take, every drop of rain, every morsel of food, every kindness we taste, every joy we experience, every provision we receive—flow from His sovereign grace. He gives, not because He must, but because it pleases Him to do so. All that is good originates in Him, and apart from Him, there is no good at all.He grants the gift of life and sustains it with breath. He bestows family, health, daily bread, and shelter. Yet these temporal blessings, however generous, pale in comparison to the spiritual riches which He lavishes upon His people in His beloved Son: election, redemption, regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification!These gifts are never random. They are sovereignly appointed, wisely measured, and lovingly given. Sometimes God's gift is joy--and at other times His gift is sorrow. Sometimes it is abundance--and other times affliction. But always, they are suited to the eternal good of those who love Him. All His gifts serve His purpose—to conform us to the image of His darling Son, and to magnify the glory of His grace.How then should we respond? With awe. With gratitude. With humble trust. "What do you have, that you did not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4:7. Everything we possess is a trust from God, to be used for His glory and the good of others. We are God's stewards, not owners of all the good things He has blessed us with.He gives freely, fully, and forever. The gift of His Son is the fountain of every other gift. In Him are hidden all the treasures

Have you ever had to wait for something? Not so easy is it. Most of us want things as soon as possible. Sometimes God calls us to wait for His will. Today, Pastor Rich will look at Caleb's faithfulness to wait 45 years for the fulfillment of God's promises. Joshua 14:6-15, Numbers 14:30-38

Title: Jesus Is the Resurrection and the LifeMain Text: John 11:1-44Key Points:The Setup: Lazarus' Sickness and DeathJesus delays responding to Lazarus' sickness not out of neglect but to reveal God's glory (John 11:4, 15).Sometimes God's greatest miracles are hidden inside our waiting.Jesus Meets Us Where We AreMartha approaches Jesus intellectually (“I know he will rise at the last day”)—Jesus gives her truth.Mary approaches Jesus emotionally—Jesus responds with compassion (John 11:35, “Jesus wept”).Jesus isn't intimidated by your questions or crushed by your emotions—He meets you exactly where you are.The Resurrection Is Personal and PresentJesus doesn't just promise resurrection one day—He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)Eternal life doesn't start after death—it starts the moment you believe.The Miracle Beyond LazarusThe miracle wasn't simply that Lazarus lived longer—it's that Jesus displayed His power over death itself.Jesus isn't just offering more time—He offers eternity.Take Off the Grave ClothesLazarus comes out alive, but still bound (John 11:44).What "grave clothes" are still wrapping you up? Fear, shame, bitterness, sin?Jesus calls us to freedom—new life, new identity, new hope.You Are Now People of the ResurrectionRomans 6:4-5: We were buried with Him and raised to live a new life.2 Corinthians 5:17: The old is gone, the new has come.Final Challenge:Are you living like you've been raised with Christ? Or are you still wearing grave clothes that He's already told you to leave behind?

Sometimes God calls us to take action and it takes time to realize His purpose. Faithfulness in the same direction over a long period of time produces fruit, results, and victory … It's just that, sometimes, good things take time. God's promises take time.  Subscribe to the latest sermons: http://bit.ly/TBCsermons To learn more about The Block Church: http://theblockchurch.org/ Stay Connected Facebook: http://bit.ly/2vOiaLa Instagram: http://bit.ly/2nzZNWB Twitter: http://bit.ly/2KEScPL #theblockchurch #ChurchOnline #Onlinechurch

Sometimes God will ask us to do things that don't make sense in the natural. But if we are obedient and trust Him, we will see the hand of God in our lives. In this message, Ps. Lisa walks us through five steps to breakthrough!  

Sometimes God will strengthen your faith directly. But most of the time, he does so through another person.

Losing a loved one comes with grief, questions, longing… it can be overwhelming. But Jesus is with us through it all. Pastor Greg Laurie shares the powerful story of Jesus bringing comfort to Mary and Martha after the loss of Lazarus. Notes: Focus verse: John 11 Death interrupts our plans, our dreams, and our everyday lives.Death is harsh and final and real. ​“And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”1Corinthians 15:26 (NLT) Mary and Martha were devastated by the unexpected death of their brother, Lazarus. ​Read John 11:1–3 ​#1 Life is filled with pain, sorrow, and the death of loved ones. The unexpected death of a friend or co-worker often reminds us of our own mortality. ​#2 God loves us even when we suffer. Mary and Martha provide us with an excellent example of what to do in a crisis. We should always bring our troubles to Jesus. #1 When the Israelites turned against Moses,“…he cried out to the Lord,…”Exodus 15:25 #2 When Hezekiah received a threatening letter,“…[he] went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.”Isaiah 37:14 #3 When John the Baptist was beheaded, his disciples,“…went and told Jesus.”Matthew 14:12 “God is our refuge and strength,A very present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1 Read John 11:4–7 When hardship, tragedy, and even death hit in our lives, we might ask the same thing,“If Jesus really loved me, why did He let this happen?” Jesus was looking at the big picture. ​Jesus waited. Read John 11:20–26 ​Death is not the end. It is a transition from this life to the afterlife.Death does not have the final word, Christ does. “Where were you, Lord?” Mary and Martha brought their doubts to Jesus. There is nothing wrong with asking God, “Why?” We live on promises not explanations. ​"And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"John 11:26 Read John 11:32–36 #3 Jesus weeps with us in our times of pain. Jesus was God and man. As a man He felt our pain and sorrows.Isaiah 53:3–4 ​Hebrews 2:17–18 ​Read John 11:33, 38 Jesus was angry with death itself. Jesus thanked his Father for hearing His prayer and then raised Lazarus from the dead.John 11:43–44 #4 God can be glorified through human suffering and bring good out of bad. Sometimes God will be glorified through the removal of the affliction.Other times He will be glorified through the enduring of the affliction. We develop hope through hardship.Romans 5:3–4 Our faith is real, and it will sustain us in our hour of need. The tomb is not the entrance to death, but to life. ​Jesus defeated death at the cross of Calvary.Death died when Christ rose.--- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.