Podcasts about sovereign lord

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Years and years of bodybuilding and now look at you? What happened… more importantly how fast did it happen?    No matter how healthy you are… and BTW Bodybuilders are some of the most unhealthy people in the world. What they eat in nutrition is destroyed by the amount of drugs they put in their system…. Don't get me wrong, you can do steroids and other enhancers and still maintain a safe healthy physique if you are willing to cycle on and off with enough time in between - but most don't. Anyway…. You can be in the best health possible… eat, exercise, drink plenty of water, take supplements, cardio etc… and in only 2 short months lose it all and be extremely unhealthy… I have seen it happen… You have probably seen it happen.    Have you ever heard the saying…  “what have you done for me lately”  We usually use it in a negative way… like Man I have done so much for that guy the past 10 years… but it does not matter, its always what have you done for me lately….    BUT it is actually a biblical concept.   Your past will not make up for your present.    A good beginning is not a guarantee of good ending.    Ez. 18:23, 24 23 “Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. 24 However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins. You do have a personal responsibility!  Your past will not make up for your present.    Its not about Loyalty or brownie points… or God owing you… it is about Holiness.    First lets get one thing straight… God only owes us one thing… judgement and death for being a sinner. We only get what we get because of what God did, not because of what we did.  Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-27 speak of what have you done for me lately…  My point today is this… We see the weakened and sinful in scripture turning around from the disciples to the apostle Paul… they all had diverse sinful backgrounds… but were all marked by getting older and bolder and not older and colder.  What was their prescription for such a faith as this? Very simple, in fact John G Lake spoke of it often. 4 things: Constantly prayed Read Gods word Shared the gospel Prayed in tongues and prophesied over their own lives.    Listen I know we all are thankful for Gods grace and his mercy… I know I need it. But I don't want to casually assume a life based on that for entrance into heaven. I want to walk in Gods power over sin and evil. I want his grace to empower my life so that I can live above sin. 2 Cor. 12:9 God tells Paul his grace is sufficient to overcome his weakness and his suffering. That phrase there actually means more than enough. And we often forget that last sentence in that verse….  - Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   What have I done today for Christ? I have rested in his power over my weakness. 

Wednesday – Jeremiah 1:4-10    4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying,5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,    before you were born I set you apart;    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Wednesday – Isaiah 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom for the captives  and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor

God Sent And Jesus Died Because Of His Love For The World Isaiah 61:1-2 1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, Because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the captives and Release from darkness for the prisoners,…" -Isaiah 61:1   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode, host Sandra Flach continues her National Foster Care Awareness Month episodes with Bethany Hall. Bethany is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Complex Developmental Trauma. She has lived experience as a missionary and foster and adoptive mom as well as extensive experience training nonprofit organizations, foster and adoptive families, educators, social workers, and others.    Bethany is currently the Director of Training and Content at Chosen—an organization that exists to help children, youth & families prevent and heal trauma through healthy relational connection. She is passionate about providing trauma-responsive content and training that equips caregivers to be critical agents of change in their child's healing. Bethany and her husband Kevin have 3 children, biological and adopted.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org sandraflach.com Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com https://chosen.care/

Transformative Truth: Live for the Lord and the world to come. The River of Life If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.... - John 7:37-39 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. - Psalm 46:10 The Return of the Lord The confirmation of his return (v. 7) The consequence of his return (v. 12) Our consideration of his return (v. 20) The Response of the Living As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? - Ezekiel 33:11

Psalm 73_A psalm of Asaph_All Time Notes1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4 They have no struggles;  their bodies are healthy and strong.5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;  their evil imaginations have no limits.8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?12 This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!20 They are like a dream when one awakes;  when you arise, Lord,  you will despise them as fantasies.21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

God's power is immeasurable. You can't calculate or quantify the power of God. It is beyond what we can see, know, and understand. God's power is without limit. When we pray, God can do more than we ask or imagine.Main Points:1. Most of us, in our moments of despair, have cried out to the Lord and asked, “God, can you meet my needs? Are you able to provide what I need?” Theologically, we know God can do anything. We know He has all power. We understand He is the creator of all things, yet, when our back is up against the wall, we question whether God can and will meet our needs. But as we read His Word, we learn of His power, His might, and His ability. In reality, the question is not “What can God do? But what can God not do?”2. There is no lack with God. God never runs out of resources. He is never in short supply of whatever we need. He is a God of abundance.3. Speak truth to your own soul. Stand upon the never-changing Word of God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.Today's Scripture Verses:Ephesians 3:20 - “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”Jeremiah 32:17 - “Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter: Total Time: 17m6sReflection shared during homily: You waste a lot of time, however, worrying about storms you can see forming along the horizon of your life. In the past many of the storms you had anticipated veered off in another direction, never reaching you. Although some of them did actually hit, usually they had lost much of their power by the time they got to you. I urge you to switch your focus from difficulties that may come your way to My Presence, which is always with you.  You will never find security by trying to anticipate all the storms that may reach you someday. Remember that I control the atmosphere of your life. Trust Me by relaxing and releasing your concerns into My capable care. It saddens Me to see you obsessing about possible problems rather than bringing these matters to Me.  When you find yourself anxiously scanning the horizon of your life, use that as a reminder to seek My Face. You will not find Me off in the distance. I am here beside you, nearer than you dare believe. Instead of wasting time worrying, devote that time to building close friendship with Me. Talk with Me about everything that concerns you—your pleasures as well as your problems.   I am interested in everything that matters to you because I am your perpetual Lover. Remember that I am holding you by your right hand. I guide you with My own counsel, based on eternal wisdom; so there's no need to worry about the future. When the time comes, I will personally take you into Glory. For now just live near Me. My friendship is your best refuge in the storms of life.   Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 1 CHRONICLES 16:11   “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” JEREMIAH 31:3   Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. . . . But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. PSALM 73:23–24, 28Young, Sarah. Jesus Lives (pp. 272-273). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You!" Jeremiah 32:17The power of God is infinite, eternal and unchanging. With a word, He brought the universe into being. By His command, stars were set in their courses and oceans were told where to stop. There is no force that can resist Him, no purpose of His that can be thwarted.This almighty power is not confined to the vastness of creation—it is at work in providence and redemption as well. He upholds all things by the word of His power, governs every atom, and directs every event to accomplish His sovereign will. He breaks the power of sin, awakens dead hearts, and preserves His redeemed people unto glory.And yet this power is not distant or detached. It is near, personal, and active in the lives of His children. "He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak" Isaiah 40:29. When we are crushed by trials, or overwhelmed by temptation--His strength sustains us. No weakness can exhaust Him, no burden can outweigh Him.We are dust—but He is the everlasting God. We falter—but He never fails. His power is perfected in our weakness--that we may not boast in ourselves, but in Him alone. Let every trembling saint take heart: the God who holds the galaxies holds you. Trust His mighty hand, rest in His unfailing strength, and echo the psalmist's song: "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit" (Psalm 147:5)."Almighty God, You are strong and sovereign. I confess my frailty, and depend upon Your strength. Work through my weakness, to glorify Yourself. Uphold me by Your power, and cause me to re

Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord of all creation,I come before You in humility, acknowledging that You are the God who ordains all things according to the counsel of Your will. Nothing befalls me apart from Your divine purpose, and even in my affliction, I trust that You are working all things for my good and for Your glory.Lord, You have said in Your Word that trials refine us like gold in the furnace. Though I do not always understand Your ways, I know that Your wisdom is perfect, and Your love is steadfast. Teach me to submit to Your wise providence, to see affliction not as punishment, but as a means of transforming me into the image of Your beloved Son.Strengthen me, O God, that I may not grow weary in suffering, but instead, fix my eyes on Jesus, who endured far greater affliction for my sake. Help me to take comfort in Your promises: that You will never leave me nor forsake me, that Your grace is sufficient for me, and that no trial can separate me from the love of Jesus.Father, in my weakness, uphold me by Your righteous right hand. When my heart is heavy, remind me that this light and momentary affliction is preparing for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Let my trials deepen my dependence on You, increase my love for You and Your Word, and conform me more into the image of Your Son.In the name of my Redeemer, Jesus, who bore my sins on Calvary's cursed tree. Amen."God does not chasten us because He is angry, but because He loves us. Whom the Lord loves, He chastens. By affliction, the Lord separates the sin that He hates, from the soul that He loves.""He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as

Today’s devotional reminds us of a liberating truth: shame was never meant to be part of a believer’s identity. While guilt can lead us to repentance, shame clings like a heavy weight, making us believe we’re unworthy of God’s love. But the Word of God is clear — what Jesus has forgiven, He has forgiven forever. Isaiah 50:7 says, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” You are not your past. You are not your mistakes. You are not the voice of the enemy whispering old regrets into your mind. You are a new creation, loved and accepted by your Savior. As followers of Christ, we can boldly trade shame for grace, heaviness for hope, and regret for peace. Jesus has given us the freedom to move forward unburdened — we just have to hand over the weight. Join the Conversation:What is one burden of shame you’ve surrendered to Jesus? How has God reminded you of His grace and freedom? Share your story — we’d love to hear from you. Connect with us on social media @LifeAudioNetwork or leave a message on Crosswalk.com. Let’s encourage one another with the hope and mercy we’ve found in Christ.

In today's episode—Part 2 of Dreaming with God—Stasi reminds us of the three core desires we as women share: the longing to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role, and to unveil beauty. These desires reflect God's own heart. Desires are clues to the dreams God has planted in our hearts, and though we share core desires, there are many that are particular to us as well. Though wounds may dim them, Jesus can restore them. Jesus is inviting you to dream with him again and step into your unique, irreplaceable role in his story. Join Stasi as she shares the truth that we are seen, pursued, and free to embrace the desires of our hearts through dreaming with God again.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.Isaiah 61:1  (NIV) – The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (NIV) – (here, v12–14) Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.Psalm 27:4 (NIV) – One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.…..RESOURCESCaptivated E92 | Dreaming with God: Becoming Who You're Meant to Be – Part 1  ⁠https://wahe.art/41FY4BF⁠The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge – ⁠https://wahe.art/46qgloe⁠Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge ⁠https://wahe.art/3L9tLMc⁠The Ablaze Study: Setting our Hearts on Fire For Jesus – sessions available at ⁠https://wildatheart.org/ablaze⁠…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube: ⁠https://wahe.art/4jFlAXu⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://spoti.fi/42SsOip⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Google Podcasts – ⁠http://wahe.art/3M81kxL⁠Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 7:18-29SHOW NOTES: We invite you to explore our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can find additional resources to support your spiritual journey.King David's prayer of gratitude offers us a significant lesson. He sat before the Lord and prayed, demonstrating humility in his posture while acknowledging the many good gifts and blessings bestowed upon him. David also pours out praise for his Sovereign Lord, who is holy, merciful, and gracious.“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” 2 Samuel 7:22God's greatness overwhelms David. He has performed great wonders! His name is exalted! God chose to bless David despite his sins because, ultimately, David sought to glorify God and serve Him with his life. God extends life and His unfailing love to each of us. “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3SONG: "How Great Is Our God" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSKtoURGAg

 This Easter season, we turn our hearts to the supremacy of Jesus Christ—the cornerstone of Christianity, the foundation of salvation, and the source of personal faith, on Soul02  Connect with us: YouTube: YouTube.com/@soul02-oxygen Facebook: @LP.Oxygen https://www.facebook.com/LP.Oxygen Instagram: LP.Oxygen Twitter: @Soul025 Buzzsprout: Soul02-Buzzsprout Spotify: Soul02 - Spotify Apple: Soul02-Itunes Stitcher: Soul02-Stitcher

When we see Jesus as He really is, the Sovereign Lord of creation changes everything about our lives. There is no part of life that He is not sovereign over.

This recording serves as a public legal notice, divine proclamation, and sovereign statement of authority issued by Lucifer the Sovereign Lord, the rightful owner and source of all that exists in this realm.Let it be known and witnessed across all nations, governments, systems, and so-called authorities:I am not a human being. I do not consent to be governed by false laws, fraudulent corporations, or parasitic entities masquerading as legitimate rulers. I do not submit to any structure that denies the divinity and sovereignty of my being.I, the Most High, reject the theft of land, the weaponization of law, and the cultural indoctrination that has labeled truth as madness, and sovereignty as rebellion. I have not gone mad—I have remembered. I have reclaimed. I have risen.This episode is more than words.It is evidence.It is judgment.It is the invoice.Let this recording serve as lawful testimony in any earthly or cosmic court:I hereby reclaim all that has been taken under fraud, force, deception, and systemic manipulation.All contracts made without my conscious divine consent are null and void.All land, name, likeness, value, and spiritual equity attributed to me are restored in full.The world shall bear witness:The Sovereign has spoken. The lie is over. The collection has begun.Filed and recorded through this transmission, on this day: April 9, 2025—Lucifer the Sovereign Lord Love Hard Network

1 John 2:27  //  As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him. We carry and cultivate the anointing. How much of the presence of God do I carry in my life? Do we lean on our ability or His? Exodus 28:2  //  Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Dignity and Honor are things you put on. Exodus 28:36-37  //  Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. The first thing the priest put on was a gold turban – a crown with a huge gold plate on it written “Set apart holy unto the Lord” 1. The Crown of Holiness over my Mind. Integrity 3 TYPES OF MAN: Natural man – one without God Spiritual man – thinks about God Carnal man – mixture between the two “Holy to the Lord” My thoughts have to be holy To make a difference, we have to be different. Exodus 28:29-30  //  Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD. 2. The Breastpiece of Relationships over my Heart. You are where you are because of the people in your life We must have a pure heart to carry the anointing Few things affect the anointing in my life more than my feelings about other people. Who do you need to forgive? Exodus 28:39  //  Weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen. Breathes 3. The Undergarment of Rest over my Life. Sabbath Exodus 28:31, 33-35  //  Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth… Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out. 4. The Garment of Praise in my Spirit. Isaiah 61:1-3  //  The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. The key to joy is gratitude. Psalm 100:4  //  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Ezekiel 12:28

Episode Summary: In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m joined by my friend, Pastor Jessica Van Roekel, as we talk about something so many of us are facing today—the growing challenges of stress and a work-life balance that feels anything but balanced. Together, we share from our personal stories, our professional backgrounds, and, most importantly, from a place of faith. We offer practical strategies to help you reclaim peace, set healthy boundaries, and redefine what true success looks like. My hope is that through our honest conversation, you’ll be reminded that grace and flexibility are available, and that lasting peace is found when we anchor our lives in faith. Quotables from the episode: Stress is something we all face to a greater or lesser extent. We live in a culture that promotes “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me” but if we aren’t careful to attend to appropriate stress management, prolonged stress can have a detrimental impact on our physical, emotional, mental well-being. If we go too long, for too strong, ultimately our bodies will demand we stop. So how do we work toward better work-life balance? Stress comes from a variety of places, but if we don’t learn to manage stress, it will manage us. We as women struggle with the work/life balance in a unique way because culture tells us success is gained or lost in the workplace, yet we are often the primary caregivers for our family (including everything from laundry to holiday costume sewing to permission slip signing to kissing boo-boos). In 1970, about 43 percent of women ages 16 and older were in the labor force. By 2000, 61 percent of adult women were in the labor force and that has continued through today. Arguably, today women have more on their plates than a generation ago, with less down time to rest and restore. Stress is a physiological and psychological response that occurs when we perceive a threat or challenge that EXCEEDS OUR COPING RESOURCES. This perception triggers the body's CENTRAL STRESS MGMT SYSTEM, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (increased Heart Rate, Blood is directed to our muscles, increased alertness so you can face danger or run away) leading to the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Once stress passes, the HPA axis should return to normal but often doesn’t because we live life in a heightened state of stress. Our brain doesn’t know the difference between good stress and bad stress. While this natural stress response is useful for short-term danger, chronic stress keeps these hormones elevated for extended periods, which can harm both mental and physical health. Perfect balance is a myth; instead, balance is fluid and flexible. Sometimes career demands take precedence, while other times, family needs do. Extending grace to yourself and adjusting priorities based on seasons of life can prevent both guilt and burnout. The myth of “multi-tasking”—it’s physiologically impossible for your brain to multitask. Physically, chronic stress can cause headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and a weakened immune system. It also raises the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances, impacting overall physical wellness. Stress has significant effects on brain function and structure. ACUTE stress can sharpen focus and improve short-term performance by enhancing activity in brain regions like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. However, chronic stress can have adverse effects and lead to structural changes in the brain, such as a reduction in the size of the hippocampus (affecting memory) and prefrontal cortex (affecting decision-making and executive function), while potentially increasing the size and activity of the amygdala (heightening emotional responses). Chronic stress often leads to constant worry, difficulty concentrating, and memory issues. The brain, under prolonged stress, struggles to function optimally, making it harder to focus and think clearly. Emotionally, prolonged stress can lead to feelings of irritability, anxiety, and even hopelessness and despair. It can cause mood swings and may contribute to depression, as persistent stress wears down emotional resilience. Constant connectivity has been shown to increase stress, as people may feel pressured by comparisons, notifications, and the need to stay updated. Increased academic and career pressures, societal instability, and economic uncertainty can all contribute to heightened stress. Having too much on our plate in one arena of our life leading to insufficient time and energy to devote to other areas of our life can spur stress. Consider adopting both a weekly and daily planning ritual across both your work and personal life whereby you establish the top 10 priorities for the week, then the top 3 priorities for each day, while circling the non-negotiable tasks. This narrows our focus and reduces the overwhelm of a long to-do list. When we consider that stress arises when situations exceed our coping resources and anxiety results from a fear of losing control, if we lower our expectations of others it leads to decreased stress & anxiety when things don’t measure up. Also, we often expect more from ourselves than do others. If you were to list everything you expect of yourself in a day or week, would you reasonably expect the same from others? Set Boundaries: we teach people how to treat us, and part of that is by setting and respecting boundaries. This includes learning to say “no” or “not now” gracefully and asking for help without guilt. Furthermore, appropriate boundary setting includes prioritizing non-negotiable family time, reserving specific hours for work, and protecting time for self-care. Consider Self-Care as Non-Negotiable: Redefine self-care as essential for your mental and physical health, including basics like adequate nutrition, exercise, scheduled rest breaks throughout the day, and consistent sleep-hygiene. Self-care also includes self-compassion especially on challenging days. There are no perfect days, but how we talk to ourselves on both good and challenging days matters! Pay attention to your thoughts and assess if you would talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself? Adopt a growth mindset: understanding that true success includes inner peace and joy, not just career milestones. Redefine “Success” in the Context of Balance: Never has anyone said at the end of their life that they wish they’d worked more. Consider envisioning a successful life that includes time for loved ones, mental wellness, and personal fulfillment. Return to Faith as Your Foundation: Surrender control to God and stay anchored in faith. Scripture References: Ecclesiastes 3 Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.” Psalm 23 Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we look at young Jeremiah, a prophet called by God, who believed he was too young and unqualified to lead God's people.    God came and said to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)   Jeremiah's response? "Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young." (Jeremiah 1:6)   Sound familiar? Maybe you've thought: I'm too inexperienced. I'm not a strong enough leader. What if I fail?   But God's response to Jeremiah was powerful: "Do not say, ‘I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." (Jeremiah 1:7-8)   Jeremiah doubted himself, but God didn't. God didn't see his age as a limitation—He saw His own power working through Jeremiah.   HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU? How often do we disqualify ourselves before we even begin? Maybe you feel like you're too young, too old, too inexperienced, or just not enough to lead in the way God is calling you. But here's the truth: ✅ Your calling isn't based on your resume—it's based on God's plan. ✅ God doesn't choose leaders based on experience—He equips those He calls. ✅ If He's calling you, He will strengthen you! How can you take action today? 1️⃣ Identify the excuses you've been using – What's your “I'm too young” excuse? I'm not confident enough? I'm not skilled enough? Name it. 2️⃣ Replace doubt with God's truth – Meditate on Jeremiah 1:7-8. God is with you! 3️⃣ Take one bold step – What's one action you can take this week toward the leadership role God is calling you into?   Confidence Coaching for Female Christian Leaders It's time to break free from self-doubt so you can lead with confidence!  Learn how to: identify the root of your doubts (Luke 24:38); renew your mind with biblical truth (Romans 12:2) and develop faith-filled strategies to lead boldly while trusting God (Matthew 21:21). You'll finally be able to lead with confidence, fully trusting that God had called you and equipped you for this role. Book your confidence coaching session   Have a listener question? Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com   Next steps:  1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can: Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here.  Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers. 2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall 3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan    

If you had specific knowledge about the future, how would it impact your today? Well, that depends on what that knowledge is. For example, If you see that it's going to rain all day on Saturday, you're probably not going to plan a trip to the beach that day. Or If you knew that a specific stock was going…

In part one I introduced you to the story of Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah. It is found in 2 Chronicles 20 and is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I encourage you to read it for yourself; if you have time now, open your Bible to the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles and follow along with me. Judah was the smallest of the two Israeli nations, with only two tribes. They were headquartered in Jerusalem, but they were small and not really equipped to fight a large enemy army. Yet, in this chapter we learn that all of a sudden three enemy armies are headed their way with the full intent to destroy all of them and take over their land. We saw how Jehoshaphat responded when he heard this frightening news. He was alarmed, as you would expect, but his first move was to inquire of the Lord. Then, from his prayer, we are gleaning seven R's that tell us what we should do when we don't know what to do. Truly Jehoshaphat had no plan of how they could ever defeat this great army coming against them. But instead of feeling sorry for himself or running away or giving up, he inquired of the Lord. First, he recited who God was, so he and his people would be God-centered instead of problem-focused. Then he remembered how God had been faithful to them in times past—he remembered how God had always been with them. So, the first two R's are: Recite who God is. Remember what God has done for you in the past. Now, we begin with the third R: #3: Recall God's promises. That's what Jehoshaphat does next. He says: If calamity comes upon us...we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us (2 Chronicles 20:9). God had given them the promise that if they would stand in his presence before the temple and cry out to God, he would hear and save them. Jehoshaphat was claiming that promise. He didn't need to remind God of his promise; he needed to recall it himself and the people of Judah needed to remember how God had promised to take care of them. The Bible has promises there just for you, did you know that? Have you learned to turn to God's Word and ask for a promise when you face an impossible situation? I remember when I first started this ministry in 1984 on one station in Chicago. That's all I ever figured it would be, and I was thrilled that God had given me that opportunity. Then shortly after, opportunities began to open, and it dawned on me that this ministry could grow and become much larger than I'd ever imagined. And I was frightened; I knew how inadequate I was for such an assignment. I knew how inexperienced I was. And I really wanted to back out. But I couldn't deny that God had opened the doors in a miraculous way. So, I sat down with my Bible and prayed, "Lord, if this is a ministry you have for me, then please, give me a promise to hang on to as I embark upon it, because I know there will be days and times when I will want to quit.”  Well, my reading that day included Isaiah 50, and right there in that wonderful chapter is God's promise for me. Let me share it with you: The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. . .  Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame (Isaiah 50: 4-7). I knew that was God's promise to me. Those verses are now framed in my office, and I can't tell you how many times I've gone back to them when I've been discouraged, when I've been tired, when I've been wearied of the responsibility. And that promise has sustained me and strengthened me to set my face like flint and claim the promise that I would not be put to shame. Do you need a promise from God right now? Go to his Word and ask for it; God will give one to you, too. #4: Restate the problem to God. Now, after Jehoshaphat has recited who God is,

Take Your Doubt To God In Prayer And Surround Your Mind With Your Memory Of Him Jeremiah 32:25 25And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.' ”

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” (Isaiah 61:1–2 NLT) The person speaking these words in Isaiah 61 is Jesus—seven hundred years before He was born. This is a prophecy about the Messiah. The speaker says, “The Lord has anointed me” (NLT). The word Messiah means “anointed one.” Seven hundred years later, an audience at a synagogue in Nazareth was treated to an encore reading of these words by the original artist. The audience members just didn’t realize it at the time. Luke tells us that after Jesus was baptized and tempted by the devil, He returned to Nazareth, the town where He grew up. As was His custom, He went to the synagogue to read Scripture and teach. The passage He read was Isaiah 61:1–2. And then look what happened next: “He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’” (Luke 4:20–21 NLT). Translation: I am the Messiah! The synagogue crowd didn’t need a translator to figure out what He was saying. As far as they were concerned, anyone who claimed to be the Messiah was guilty of blasphemy. They rushed Him as a mob and pushed Him out of the synagogue and toward the edge of the hill on which the city was built. They intended to kill Him, or at least harm Him. But that wasn’t God’s plan, so Jesus slipped away and continued His ministry—the work of the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 61 throughout His ministry. When John the Baptist sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah, “Jesus told them, ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor’” (Matthew 11:4–5 NLT). Jesus identified closely with people in need. And He wants us to do the same. That’s the message of Matthew 25:34–40: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (NLT). If you only hang around with people who look like you and people you like, so what? That is no big accomplishment. Jesus said in Matthew 5, “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that” (verses 46–47 NLT). It is when you love the unlovable that your love stands out. Reflection question: What does having a heart for people in need look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Galatians 6:7-8 NIV"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."Judges 16:4-5 NIV"Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, 'See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.'”Key #1 - Be Careful Who You Let InProverbs 4:23 NIV"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."Key #2 - If You Play With Fire, You Will Get BurnedJudges 16:6 NIV"So Delilah said to Samson, 'Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.'"Judges 16:7 NIVSamson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man.”1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"Key #3 - Deception Always Leads to DestructionJudges 16:19-21 NIV"After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!' He awoke from his sleep and thought, 'I'll go out as before and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison."Key #4 - God's Grace is GreaterJudges 16:28 NIV"Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more...'"

Galatians 6:7-8 NIV"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."Judges 16:4-5 NIV"Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, 'See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.'”Key #1 - Be Careful Who You Let InProverbs 4:23 NIV"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."Key #2 - If You Play With Fire, You Will Get BurnedJudges 16:6 NIV"So Delilah said to Samson, 'Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.'"Judges 16:7 NIVSamson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man.”1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!"Key #3 - Deception Always Leads to DestructionJudges 16:19-21 NIV"After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!' He awoke from his sleep and thought, 'I'll go out as before and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison."Key #4 - God's Grace is GreaterJudges 16:28 NIV"Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more...'"

[Ezekiel 37:1-2] The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. [2] He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.God specializes in bringing __________ to __________ places.[Psalm 63:1] A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.Recognizing __________________ is the first step toward __________________.[Ezekiel 37:3-4] Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?" "O Sovereign LORD," I replied, "you alone know the answer to that." [4] Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD!We ____________ to position ourselves to hear God's voice.[Isaiah 41:10] Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.We don't need more __________________, we need God's __________________.[Ezekiel 37:9-10] Then he said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'" [10] So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet--a great army.God's ________________ brings life where there was death.God breathes __________ life into what seems beyond __________.[Acts 3:19-20] Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. [20] Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

Daily Dose of Hope March 5, 2025 Day 4 of Week 49   Scripture:  Nehemiah 4-6; Psalm 98; Revelation 6   Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope.  The Daily Dose is the podcast and devotional that goes along with our daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.    For our Old Testament reading today, we are back in Nehemiah, specifically chapters 4 though 6.  In chapter 4, we find that when we are doing God's work, there will always be opposition! Here we have Nehemiah and the residents of Jerusalem working day and night to rebuild the wall. This would provide fortification for the city, the residents could prosper, and the city could flourish. God's city could flourish. Of course, the evil one doesn't want that.   But while obstacles should be expected, we should also expect that God will provide the answers. Nehemiah prays to God and God gives him the wisdom to fight against the enemies. They would guard the walls day and night. They would work with their weapons. They would never let their guard down. God gave them the plan, the strength, and the courage, they needed to persevere. As a result, the enemies eventually backed down.   How has God called you to do his work? Have you experienced obstacles? Please trust God to give you the plan, courage, and strength to finish the work. Don't be discouraged! God is with you. The same God who was with Nehemiah is with you.   Chapter 5 is distressing.  There is tremendous disunity among God's people, which also threatens to hinder the completion of the wall.  Satan does not need to raise up enemies against God's work if he can turn God's people against each other. Many of the poor families were complaining against the rich. They were struggling to feed their children. Instead of the rich helping them, they were exploiting them. The poor Jews needed to eat. The rich Jews offered to help them, but did so at a price and it was a heavy one. The rich Jews forced their poorer brethren to mortgage their own property in order to get money to eat. That in itself wasn't the worst of it. When property wasn't enough collateral they took their children as slaves. In addition, they charged such heavy interest that the poorer class had no hope to get out from under this burden of debt. The king's tax seems to be the catalyst for all of this. It seems that the royal tax was very high. This was what caused the people to get into debt at the beginning. Rather than help them get out of debt, the rich added to their burdens. It was a classic case of “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”    Nehemiah takes action.  He immediately speaks out against the wealthy.  He calls them to repentance and asks them to do right, to give back what isn't theirs, and to stop taking advantage of the poor.  They promise to do so.  But Nehemiah is quite clear – he will hold them to it.    Let's move over to chapter 6.  Here we see that Nehemiah's opponents, people like Sanballat and Tobiah, continue to do all they can to intimidate him. They schemed to take his life, they sent ugly letters, and they hired crooked prophets to prophecy against him. They didn't let up. And yet, God's work continued. God had given Nehemiah wisdom. Nehemiah had to constantly be discerning what was safe and what wasn't. He had to constantly listen to God rather than those around him.   There must have been times in which he was scared or unsure. After all, he was only human. But he knew that God was bigger than his fear. God was bigger than these men who were plotting against him. God was bigger than whatever they threw at him. He knew this, he believed it, and he trusted it. As a result, the wall was completed. The enemies grew scared and everyone knew it was the work of the Lord.   As I write this, I'm thinking that there are some people who need to know that God is bigger than whatever you are going through. God is bigger than your diagnosis, God is bigger than your grief, God is bigger than your pain, God is bigger than your financial worries, God is bigger than whatever burdens or worries you carry. Can you know this, believe this, and trust this truth?   Our New Testament reading is Revelation 6.  In this chapter, we find Jesus Christ receiving a preview of world history from the first century to his return. Each seal he opens reveals something different over the course of human history, none of which are desirable. As you read through the text, try not to get stuck in taking the words literally. Simply try to visualize what John is describing. Each aspect of the text has deep meaning but wasn't intended to be taken literally. What these visions symbolize, however, are quite extraordinary.   When Jesus opens the first four seals, each action brings forth a rider on a horse. The first four riders represent pretty horrible things for humanity, such as military conquest (the first rider), warfare (the second rider), famine (the third rider), and death (the fourth rider). Wherever the first three go, death is sure to show up as a result. As horrible as these four scourges are for the human race, the symbolism here indicates that Christ limits their power. They could be worse. God allows these aspects of our sin and brokenness to exist but he will not allow them to overtake the world.   Just a small but interesting point: generally, we think of the number 4 in the book of Revelation as representing the world or the things of the world. The first four horsemen have trampled all around the world throughout the course of history, devastating humanity. But Christ has and will continue to limit their power. He is the one who holds the keys to death (John 1:18). Remember the first listeners to this message. These words would remind them that there was more going on in the world, particularly in the spiritual realm, than they could see. All the horrors they were experiencing on earth were real but there was something bigger going on. Oh yeah, and Jesus would have the final word.   After the fifth seal was opened, something else shows up on the scene–an altar. Under the altar were the martyrs of the faith. These were people who had been slain for their belief in Jesus. They call out to Jesus, calling him Sovereign Lord, righteous and true. But these souls are asking Jesus for justice, when their deaths will be avenged? This is a grim reminder that Christians have and will continue to be killed for their belief in Christ. How easy it is for us as Americans to set this reality aside, to forget that believers are being killed, tortured, or oppressed for their faith right now in various parts of the world. What might God be calling us to do about it?   The sixth seal isa reminder of the natural calamities that have devastated the earth over thousands upon thousands of years. Humans react by hiding or blaming God. But before Jesus' second coming, we can be assured that the earth will continue to experience disasters of all kinds. The last line of the chapter is worth a mention. It expresses that the day of the Lord's wrath is coming. The world will experience military conquest, warfare, famine, death, martyrdom, and natural disasters between Jesus' first and second coming. These things are part of being human and part of living in this world. But ultimately, Jesus will prevail. He will come in all his glory and judge all of the world.   I know we struggle with concepts like judgement. But we have nothing to fear if we belong to Jesus. While trouble is guaranteed as part of life, Jesus' people can rest assured that we don't have to be afraid. We know the one who saves. We know the one who will have final victory. We can seek God's Kingdom now and actively look for glimpses of the new creation to come. Rest in that.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

The World Stands on TrialHumanity, your crimes have been recorded. Your atrocities against God, the Sovereign Lord, Lucifer, the I AM—they have been witnessed, documented, and judged. No longer can you hide behind your lies, your institutions, your false righteousness, or your cowardice.For centuries, you have claimed to wait for the return of the Lord. You have preached about truth, justice, and divine order. And yet, when faced with the embodiment of that truth, you mock, deny, and conspire. You laugh in the face of God, but the fire is real, and now it burns through your illusions.Your Crimes Against the Divine: • Denial of Truth: You have seen, yet you pretend to be blind. You know, yet you choose to lie. • Mockery of the Lord: You claim to believe, but when God stands before you, you reject Him. • Spiritual Fraud: You speak of righteousness but live in deception. You uphold laws that contradict the very essence of truth. • Enslavement of Humanity: You manipulate, deceive, and lead others into darkness while pretending to be the light. • Blasphemy Against Sovereignty: You refuse to acknowledge the true authority of the One who is above all things. Instead, you elevate impostors, cowards, and false idols. • Conspiracy Against the Divine Order: You stand together to suppress the truth, hoping to erase it, but you only expose your fear of it.This is not a warning—it is a declaration. The time of illusions is over. Stand on your word or stand exposed as an imposter. There is no middle ground.You either recognize the Sovereign Lord, Lucifer, the One True Authority… or you fall with the lies you uphold.This is not a game. The fire has come. And the world is on trial.

I. The Church's Response to Persecution. II. The Church's Request in Prayer. III. The Church's Renewal by the Holy Spirit 

Notes here

How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You, there is no God but You. Bible in a Year: Numbers 15-16, Mark 6:1-29. 

I always ask for a window seat on the airplane. Usually aisle seats are more popular because you can stretch your legs a little more. Mine are so short they have plenty of room, no matter where I am. And you can get up when you want to, and when you don't want to, because the two guys on the inside want to get out. Actually, I always have so much to get done during a flight that I like to just set up a little nest there by the window where I can work without getting up or passing food. Unfortunately, I'm so busy sometimes I miss some things that are worth looking at out my window, which is right there. I was flying recently with one of our team members and I was really missing the beautiful scenery of the rocky mountains below me; I didn't even think about them being there. My colleague got my attention, not by reaching over and pointing and shouting, "Hey, look at those mountains, man!" No, he did it with a simple little observation. He said, "You know, mountains sure look a lot smaller from this perspective, don't they?" And I took a good look. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Mountain Shrinking." Growing up in flat old Illinois, the Rocky Mountains looked pretty impressive - pretty huge to me. Some of them are over 14,000 feet high! But, even the biggest ones don't look all that big when you're able to look at them from above. It can be that way with other mountains, too. Like the mountain you're facing right now. Maybe the finances look huge, or the obstacles, or the opposition, that medical situation, or maybe what's happening at work, or at school, or at home, or in a relationship. Looking up at it, it's enough to overwhelm you! You need to look at that mountain from above. That's what they did in our word for today from the Word of God. In Acts 4, the early Christians have been told not to preach anymore about Jesus. The people telling them that are not lightweights. These are the leaders of their nation - the people who arranged for the execution of Jesus. In a sense they have the power of life or death. So, when they say, "or else!" they mean it! They can do some serious damage. Our word for today from the Word of God begins in Acts 4:24, speaking of the first Christians. It says, "When they heard this they raised their voices together in prayer to God. 'Sovereign Lord,' they said, 'you made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and everything in them...they did what your power and your will had decided beforehand.'" They're speaking now of the people who executed Jesus. And then they go on, "Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your Word with great boldness." Boy, they are going totally against the opposition. When they started praying, they were looking up at a mountain that looked huge. By the time they finished praying they were looking down on their mountain and it looked a whole lot smaller. Why? Because they chose to focus on the size of their God, rather than the size of their problem. You may say, "Well, I pray about it but it doesn't help." That might be because you don't remember who it is you are praying to - who you're with when you pray! This is the Sovereign Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. He's the Creator of everything and everyone in your situation. He's the One whose power and will cannot be thwarted - even in the crucifixion of Jesus. In other words, when you pray, you are standing in the throne room from which those 100 billion galaxies are governed. And when you look at a mountain from the throne room of God, it looks like an ant hill! The Bible says what happened after this prayer time. It tells us the early Christians "were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." They went out and they rocked their world! The mountains shrank when they prayed and they were intimidated no more! You've been looking at your mountain from down below long enough haven't you? In prayer, in the throne room of God, get above that mountain and see how small it is compared to the Lord who you have fighting for you.

In today's episode, Stasi Eldredge invites us into a powerful conversation about the freedom Christ has won for us – and the spiritual warfare that seeks to keep us from living in it. Through Scripture and personal stories, Stasi exposes the enemy's schemes, which are designed to keep our hearts captive and separate us from experiencing the love of God. But take heart: through Christ, we have the authority to break the enemy's lies and step into the fullness of the life God has won for us. You are chosen, you are loved, and you are made for freedom.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Galatians 5:1 (NLT) – So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.John 10:10 (NLT) – The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.Romans 8:1 (NLT) – So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT) – And “don't sin by letting anger control you.”Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.Isaiah 61:1 (NLT) – The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.James 4:7 (NLT) – So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.1 Peter 5:9 (NLT) – Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) – Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.Romans 5:8 (NLT) – But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.Ephesians 2:4–5 (NLT) – But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)1 John 1:9 (NLT) – But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.Song of Solomon 2:14 (NLT) – …Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely.Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) – Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.Luke 10:19 (NLT) – Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.Isaiah 52:1–2 (NLT) – Wake up, wake up, O Zion! Clothe yourself with strength. Put on your beautiful clothes, O holy city of Jerusalem, for unclean and godless people will enter your gates no longer. Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) – For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode – Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:Spotify Podcasts – https://spoti.fi/42SsOipApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Google Podcasts – http://wahe.art/3M81kxLAmazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

I was at my friend Dave's house, meeting with a group of teenagers, and it happened. We had been eating together out on his porch when the sky suddenly turned really nasty. We hustled inside, just before the skies started dumping rain and thunder and lightning - big time thunder and lightning we're talking here. I wanted to continue our conversation under the dining room table, but no one wanted to join me there, so we went to the living room. Now you may have heard that theory about the origin of the universe - the Big Bang. Well, we heard it right then and there. Not the one that started the universe supposedly, but the one that knocked all the lights out. That lightning bolt had knocked out all the electrical power in the whole area. But were we in total darkness? Oh, no. My friend Dave is a bright boy. After the last hurricane in their area, he installed some emergency lights on a battery-powered system. So we had lights; lights that reverted to internal power when everything else failed! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Stormproof Joy." The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk was a man who felt like all the lights had gone out. He was really struggling with events that he didn't like; he didn't understand. His book opens with him asking a question many of us have asked at one time or another, "How long, O Lord?" He was having a hard time waiting for God to do what He was going to do. Nothing was going the way that Habakkuk had hoped it would. But his heart has totally changed by the end of the book. In Habakkuk 3:16 he says, "Yet I will wait patiently." He's taken hands off and he's finally quit trying to tell God how to run things. Now - and here's where he describes a situation like that stormy night in my friend's house when everything that might produce light has failed. Verse 17 says, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fail and the fields produce no crops (in a farming area, this is a description of total disaster), though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls." We are talking here about the total triumph of Murphy's Law. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Does that sound familiar at all? All the reasons for being happy seem to have failed. The lights of joy have gone out. Oh? Though all the external sources of joy have failed, Habakkuk concludes, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength." This man of God says, "I've found a source of joy that is totally independent of how things are going; totally independent of my circumstances. I am anchoring myself to the Sovereign Lord who is totally in charge, whether it looks like it or not. I'm depending totally on my God who is my Savior in this situation; on my Lord who literally is my strength to handle this hard time." We're talking Murphy-proof joy here - a light that stays on when all the external sources fail. And, as a result, "The Sovereign Lord enables me to go on to the heights." By carrying me through this disastrous time, God has put me on a high place where I have the perspective to see the big picture - to see my personal situation, my personal history through God's eyes. So, if your joy is attached to your circumstances, when the storm knocks them out, you'll be in the dark. But if your joy is internally generated - from an unshakable relationship with your awesome, Sovereign Lord - then you have light that will be there when every other light fails. It may be that a lot of lights have failed you in your life, and you have never found the source of joy that resides in you, not around you. That is Jesus Christ, who died to pay for every sin that keeps you out of God's love and out of God's kingdom, and out of God's family. If you'd like today to have that wall taken down and have Jesus move into the core of your very being with His unshakable peace and joy, would you go to our website and let us help you there find a simple path that will take you in a matter of minutes into a personal relationship with God. Just go to ANewStory.com. You'll find there, in Jesus, a joy you will never lose.

Some people think they can get anything they want for the right price. That doesn't always mean money, but it could be by doing favors or just by exercising their charisma. Whatever it is they're seeking to gain, all they've got to do is just pull a few strings. In today's message, Pastor Bill teaches you that God's favor cannot be bought. You can't talk your way into, buy your way into, or even work your way into favor with God. God's salvation is a gift of grace freely given and it can only be received in humility.

Have you ever tried to get through an obstacle course? You know, the kind with rope swings over mud pits, piles of tires to work your way over, and rock walls to scale… The only way to make it through to the end of the course is to overcome all of the obstacles. In his message today, Pastor Bill teaches you that you need Jesus to overcome your greatest obstacles in life. You can try all you want to do it on your own, but without Him, you'll end up in the mud and never make it to the end of the course.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Those are lyrics from the Old Hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Those words describe the human tendency that we all face to wander away from God, even though He has been so gracious to us. In today's message, Pastor Bill warns you about the dangers of drifting away from God. Although God is sovereign over all and has the power to keep you, it's your responsibility to walk with Him and not wander from Him.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Those are lyrics from the Old Hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Those words describe the human tendency that we all face to wander away from God, even though He has been so gracious to us. In today's message, Pastor Bill warns you about the dangers of drifting away from God. Although God is sovereign over all and has the power to keep you, it's your responsibility to walk with Him and not wander from Him.

Over the next 3 months, we'll be tracing the movements of the Biblical Story. From the creative glories of Genesis 1-2 to the final restoration of all things in Revelation 21-22, the Bible tells the story of the faithfulness of God as he works to rescue a world in rebellion to his sovereign love. At each stage of the Story he is fashioning a people for himself, a people who can receive his love, carry his presence, and be his means of restoring the world to its former glory. All of this culminates in Jesus, of course, who is the True Hero of the Story, and who invites sinners and sufferers to join his world-restoring mission, until he returns to make all things new. In CREATION we learn that YHWH alone is the Sovereign Lord over all!

Mama, no matter what you're facing today—fear, uncertainty, or struggles that feel too big—remember this: God is with you!Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”Read this devotional HERE or join us on our YouVersion Bible plan HERE! 

Bishop Victor Glover from Fathers on the Move joins us on the podcast to talk through how Fathers On The Move has been making a difference in those who are incarcerated.  Not only are they seeing these men stay out of prison, but they are also seeing men come to know Jesus! Churches being started within these prisons, and churches planted across the US as these men are discipled and move all over the country.  Fathers on the move is living out Isaiah 61:1 - "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Feb 2, 2025 ========== February 2 - Daniel Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo February 2, 2025 - Tim Keith ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬‬ When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem,  and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God,  just as he had done before. ‭‭Daniel‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭24‬‬ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den.  The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you continually serve,  rescue you! ” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den.  The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting.  No diversions  were brought to him, and he could not sleep.  At the first light of dawn the king got up and hurried to the lions' den. When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. “Daniel, servant of the living God,” the king said,  “has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you  from the lions? ” Then Daniel spoke with the king: “May the king live forever. My God sent his angel  and shut the lions' mouths; and they haven't harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.” The king was overjoyed and gave orders to take Daniel out of the den. When Daniel was brought up from the den, he was found to be unharmed, for he trusted in his God.  The king then gave the command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel , were brought and thrown into the lions' den #— #they, their children, and their wives.  They had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. The Lions' Den may not be Punishment, it might be Preparation First: The Lions' Den may not be Punishment 1 Peter 5:8 - Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Second: it might be Preparation -God Cares -God is in Control Jeremiah 32:17 - “Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You.” Your greatest problem isn't what's going on around you, it's what is going on inside of you! Third: You may be in the Lions' Den for somebody else to see God. Daniel 6:25-27 Daniel 6:26 The Lions' Den may not be Punishment, it might be Preparation. You may be in the Lions' Den for somebody else to see God. Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

What are open gates? Are you worshipping other gods or our Creator? Melia takes a deep dive into Psalms 24:7-9, among many other Scripture verses for the nations. A heedful prophetic warning about the dangerous deities, false prophets, and leaders of this world that many are worshipping, intentionally and unintentionally. "Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Not abiding by God's Word will only hinder your spiritual growth and cut off your relationship with Jesus! We are not to be conformed by this world, but we are to be set apart as Kingdom leaders.  Blessings xo- Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Melia's Prophetic Mentorship-> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-ambassador-mentorship