Podcasts about sovereign lord

What if we could know God more deeply, beyond what we know about him? In this episode, Stacey Burton turns the tables and interviews Stasi about what she is so passionate about - the message of her new book, The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus, releasing October 6th! Together they explore how God draws us closer, rung by rung, from being clay in our Potter's hands to enjoying friendship with Jesus to, well, endlessly upward! Wherever you are on the journey, God is always inviting you closer to his heart.…..SHOW NOTES:…..Ladder Of Love: A pathway to emotional healing and spiritual intimacy with Jesus by Stasi Eldredge (Oct 6, 2026) Visit this link to preorder by October 5, and also claim your free Journaling Guide after ordering.  ⁠https://wildatheart.org/the-ladder-of-love⁠VERSES: Matthew 11:28 (NIV) – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Genesis 2:7 (NIV) – Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) – Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) – For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.John 10:11 (NIV) – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.Luke 15:4 (NIV) – Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?John 10:27 (NIV) – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) – Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.Romans 8:17 (NIV) – Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.Psalm 25:14 (NIV) – The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.John 15:15 (NIV) – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.Song of Songs 8:5 (NIV) – Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.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,Matthew 16:15 (NIV) – "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"John 17:3 (NIV) – Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.…..RESOURCESThe Daily Prayer from Wild at Heart – Also available within the Pause App or on the Wild at Heart App.  https://wahe.art/4e1NSIg…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube – ⁠https://wahe.art/4h8DelL⁠Spotify Podcasts – ⁠https://wahe.art/496zdfn⁠Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://apple.co/42E0oZ1⁠ Amazon Music & Audible – ⁠https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ⁠

It's Monday, September 28th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims killed Nigerian pastor, wounded his son, and killed 12 others Armed Muslims killed a pastor and a believer on their way to worship God on Sunday morning in Plateau State, Nigeria, reports International Christian Concern. The pastor's son is in critical condition.  This was not an isolated attack. Just hours earlier, five laborers in the region were shot on their way to work. Gunmen also terrorized several surrounding communities, ultimately killing 13 people.  These murders reflect the heightened outbreaks against Christians and Christian-majority areas in the country.  According to TruthNigeria, this past week, 41 people were reportedly killed, and at least 100 were kidnapped. In Revelation 6:9-10, it says, “When [Jesus] opened the fifth seal, [John the disciple] saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?'” Argentinian President: The United Nations is “useless” In a gutsy appearance before the United Nations, Argentinian President Javier Milei said, "[The United Nations] has become a useless organization whose only purpose is to sustain a caste of fatally arrogant parasites masquerading as well-intentioned bureaucrats.” Incoming Democrat Rep. arrested in anti-Israel protest Dozens of New York Democratic politicians, including incoming Democratic Socialist Congresswoman Darializa Chevalier, were among those arrested on September 24th for ignoring police orders during an anti-Israel protest of 250 people, reports The Western Journal. Chevalier is a socialist ally of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who is expected to be in Congress come January. She was protesting the speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly whom she called a “war criminal.” She said, “As the Democratic nominee for New York's 13th Congressional District, I refuse to allow a war criminal to roam the streets of our city unchallenged. I refuse to play host to a man who has overseen the slaughter or injury of more than 64,000 children in Gaza with American taxpayer dollars.” While Chevalier has not yet won the election, a very deep blue New York 13th District practically guarantees a victory. The politician arrested for disrespecting the rule of law has previously tweeted about abolishing police, prisons, and borders, and has explicitly called for the government to seize private property.  In one now deleted September 2021 post, Chevalier wrote, “A world without borders—just like a world without prisons or police—is possible, necessary, and the only moral way forward.” Media commentator: We are not spin doctors for Democrats Appearing on PBS' NewsHour, David Brooks of The Atlantic surprised his leftist media colleagues by asserting that too many in the mainstream media have become too cozy with Democrat politicians from whom they should distance themselves. Listen. BROOKS: “Starting in 2015, we, in the mainstream media, learned that, if you bash Donald Trump, the clicks go up, the ratings go up. It became the business model. We play it straight. We do our job, but it's become the business model. “We get to go to dinners, sometimes off-the-record dinners, between journalists, columnists, and politicians. It used to be, when you were at a dinner, an off-the-record dinner with the Democratic politician, there was distance between the journalists and the Democrats, because they're politicians. Our job is to keep some distance. “In my view, at many places and in many of the dinners I have been to, there's no distance anymore. And that is a problem for the media. And that is our problem. We have got to re-establish some distance from the Democratic Party. “These are people we cover. They're not people we root for. They're not people we're spin doctors for. They're people we cover.” (You can see those comments at the 7:05 mark in this video) Supreme Court allows Trump to verify only U.S. citizens vote In a 6-3 decision on September 25th, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to resume its expanded voter citizenship verification program, which lets states use Social Security records to check voters' citizenship to ensure that noncitizens do not illegally vote in the upcoming November 3rd election, reports CBS News. That decision paused a lower court order by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan in June that claimed that the voter verification system somehow violated federal privacy laws. Not surprisingly, Judge Sooknanan was a Biden appointee. Leftist Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Jackson dissented. New Jersey Lt. Gov. resigned over sexual harassment complaint On September 25th, New Jersey Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill announced that Democratic Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell resigned from his position amid allegations in an ethics report that claimed he violated state sexual harassment policies, reports The Epoch Times. A 61-page report, conducted by a law firm commissioned by the governor's office, found that Caldwell made an advance toward a female staffer's friend and allegedly made a crude remark to the staffer. The staffer also attempted “to distance herself from him and to avoid travel with him when possible.” Kind gesture of pizza delivery driver richly rewarded And finally, when a Domino's store in Boise, Idaho ran out of Diet Coke, the 68-year-old delivery driver, Dan Simpson, took it upon himself this past March to make a special trip to a nearby grocery store and personally pay for a 2-liter soda for the customer to accompany the pepperoni pizza, reports The New York Post. When the surprised customer heard about what happened, he offered to reimburse Dan.  Simpson refused, saying that they had tipped him well and he just wanted to make sure that their order was right. Listen to that encounter captured on the customer's Ring camera. SIMPSON: “We were out of Diet Cokes.” WILSON: “Okay.” SIMPSON:  “I stopped at the store, though.” WILSON: “Oh, you did not have to do that.” SIMPSON:  “That's okay.” WILSON: “Did you really?” SIMPSON: “Yeah, that's all right.” Brian Wilson, the man who placed the order, explained to Channel 2 News, why Dan's act of kindness meant so much to him and his wife. WILSON: “Our situation is unique in the fact that my wife and I are both visually impaired. We share the same retinal disease. Hers is more progressed than mine. “So, she doesn't unfortunately drive at all. I do still have daytime ability to drive, but at night, when you got those Diet Coke cravings, you can't just run up to the store, right? It's not as easy for us as it would be for someone else who is sighted completely.” Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit to include “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” According to the now viral video captured by the Ring camera, and seen by millions of people, the couple, who were dazzled by Simpson's helpfulness, created a social media donation page which raised enough money to help the pizza delivery man to retire. SIMPSON: “I checked my bank account, and there was $163,000. What a retirement gift that was!” Simpson was especially grateful because he had been juggling a full-time job in addition to delivering pizza at night for the past 13 years. In an interview with KTVB-TV, Simpson shared that he had previously abused alcohol, but had learned his lesson. SIMPSON: “I got in a lot of trouble with drinking and drugs, and I've been clean and sober now for well, this September, I think will be 24 years. I did go to prison twice for DUIs, and when I got out, I said, ‘That's it!' I knew I'd never drink again. I was just finally done. Ever since I stepped out of prison, I've basically worked two jobs and worked hard and tried to do the right thing.” Remarkably, he plans to continue to deliver pizza on the weekends, so he doesn't get bored in retirement. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, September 28th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260928fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. The parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die. “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:1-4,30,32 Don't Blame Others In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You can't blame others for the wrong things you do. Well, that isn't entirely true. You can—and you do. We all do. It sounds like, “They started it.” Or, “She was frustrating me.” Or maybe, “What they did was far worse.” When we are caught sinning, we naturally make excuses. We quickly point a finger at a sibling, friend, parent, or even a teacher. When we blame others, we are doing what sinners have done since sin first entered our world. When God asked Adam if he had eaten fruit from the one tree in the garden he was not supposed to eat from, Adam's response was to blame someone else. “The woman you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). The Israelites in Ezekiel's day had a similar attitude. “The parents eat the sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge” was their way of saying, “Our problems are our parents’ fault.” Point the finger. Shift the blame. Excuse your sin. That attitude probably feels familiar. Through the prophet Ezekiel, our just and loving God tells us to stop blaming and start confessing. In Sunday worship, we admit, “I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved others as I should. We have done those things that we should not have done, and we have not done those things which we should have done.” No blaming others. We honestly confess it to our holy God. Why does God call us to repent? Because he doesn't want sin to destroy us. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone . . . repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32). God wants us to confess our sins and receive the forgiveness Jesus won for us by his perfect life and innocent death. Jesus accepted the blame and punishment for every sin—even the sins for which we blame others. So when you do something wrong, you don't need to hide behind an excuse. Confess it. Jesus has taken your blame away. You are forgiven! Now live freely and confidently as God's forgiven child. Prayer: Dear God, forgive us for blaming others instead of confessing our sins. Help us to live in faithful confidence of our forgiveness. Thank you for your faithful love that never fails. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What should you do when you have done something wrong? God forgives us not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus has already done. How does that make you feel? Questions for Elementary Age Children Why are we sometimes tempted to blame someone else for what we did? How does knowing Jesus forgives you help you tell the truth? Questions for Middle School and Above What excuses are you most tempted to make when you are confronted about a sin? How does God's forgiveness give you the freedom and confidence to accept responsibility? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Father, Give Me Speed with Stability! "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19 Did you know that an overwhelming 70% of individuals feel overwhelmed by the pace of life today? In a world that glorifies speed, instability often lurks just beneath the surface. So, as we hustle and rush, dreaming of success and significance, yet we must crave a solid foundation that doesn't crumble under pressure. As we gather today, let us boldly approach the Father, asking, “Lord, grant me speed with stability!” In Habakkuk 3:19, we read, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.” God equips us not just for rapid advancement but also teaches us to navigate with grace. Just as Solomon received wisdom in a moment, allowing him to reign swiftly yet wisely, we too can seek God's guidance to accelerate our progress without falling prey to collapse. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, but remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day. In our personal lives, how many of us feel the tension between ambition and our spiritual roots? Proverbs 10:22 reminds us, “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” As we pursue our dreams, let's ground ourselves in prayer, community, and the Word, ensuring our desires are aligned with God's purpose for us. I speak this prophetic declaration over you today: May you advance quickly as you deepen your roots in faith! Like a tree planted by the water, may you experience growth both above and beyond, thriving in every season. Just as Daniel stood firm amidst trials, may your faith in action shine brightly, reflecting God's grace and stability in turbulent times. Amen. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Amen. Prayer for the Day! Heavenly Father, thank You for the divine speed over our lives. Lord, we come before You today, seeking Your divine speed while longing to be anchored in Your truth. Root us deeply in Your love and wisdom as we venture forth with courage. May our hearts swell with hope and overflow with Your presence! In Jesus name. Amen. https://maglife.org

While pregnant, Kay Tolman had her first memories of satanicritual abuse. Since then, she has had 36 years of healing, helping others heal and training ministers to do the same.  Wecan't live in this world without experiencing some level of trauma. God graciously created us with the ability of our minds to compartmentalize and hold onto trauma until we are ready and able to heal from it. Today Tiffany Jo Bakertalks with Kay, the Founder of Revelation Gateway Ministries, about how broken soul parts play a role in our trauma, life, triggers and healing.Listen in for:What is Dissociative Identity Disorder/MultiplePersonality Disorder, alters, fragmentation, child part, and partsWhere we see broken soul parts in the bibleThe differences between demons and broken soulpartsHow common parts are and the continuum offracturingKey quote:“When there is trauma, the soul can fracture… the younger achild is during the trauma, the more likely they will fracture.” – Kay TolmanFavorite Scripture: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 andrelease from darkness for the prisoners.”To learn more about Kay Tolman, Revelation GatewayMinistries, A Door of Hope Podcast and all that they are doing, go to https://www.rgmconnect.com *Want timely words, resources, and episodes delivered rightto your inbox to help you fuel and fulfill your faith journey? Simply subscribe today to never miss an episode at https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/subscribe (don'tworry, you won't get spam or excessive emails)*If you're looking for perfectly polished people or podcast,this isn't for you.. We're real people, with real good information, and a really great God. Don't miss the next Tiffany Jo Baker Podcast episode as wecontinue to help you GET FREE, LIVE FULL & THANK GOD! You can watch on YouTube and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/tiffany-jo-baker-podcast or listen in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Ratings and reviews are like high-fives and “go-girl's” on podcasts. Helping you refresh and refocus so you can do all the thingsyou are called and created to do, my 31 Day Devotional “Soul-Care for Go-Getters” is available on Amazon and my website shop here. ( https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/go-getters-devo ) As a 3x Surrogate, Speaker, Soul-Care and Success Coach andHoly Spirit-led Strategist, I uplift the soul and success of women like you who are walking out your WHY, so you can birth your God-given dreams at home, online, and in the real world. Find me, @‌TiffanyJoBaker, on Instagram,Facebook and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com. Iwould love to connect with you there!

Welcome to Day 2948 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2948 – Wisdom Nuggets – Proverbs 5:15-23 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2948 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2948 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Wisdom-Trek: Drinking from Your Own Well – The Sacred Joy of Covenant Love and the All-Seeing Eye of God On our previous podcast, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Seven, we walked through the sobering, urgent warnings of Proverbs chapter five, verses one through fourteen. Solomon pulled back the curtain on the deceptive anatomy of temptation, showing us how speech that is smoother than oil ultimately leads to bitter poison, lost honor, consumed wealth, and the agony of deathbed regret. We saw exactly why divine wisdom commands us to stay far away from the doorway of moral compromise! Today, as we step onto Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Eight of our ongoing trek, we advance into the triumphant, uplifting conclusion of Proverbs chapter five, focusing on verses fifteen through twenty-three. Here, Solomon does not merely give us a negative warning against counterfeit intimacy; rather, he presents God's glorious, positive design for pure, passionate covenant love within marriage! Furthermore, he reveals the sobering cosmic truth that every single step of our journey is fully exposed before the all-seeing eyes of Yahweh. Having spent over fifty years focusing on and studying Biblical wisdom, and having accumulated seventy years of life experiences—enjoying the rich blessings of a lifelong marriage and watching generations thrive—I can tell you that honoring God's design for covenant intimacy is one of the greatest safeguards for your soul, and the strongest foundation you can build for your family's legacy. Let us open our minds and hearts to the first logical section of this passage, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the deeply connected, metaphoric thoughts found in Proverbs chapter five, verse fifteen, verse sixteen, and verse seventeen. Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. Look at the exquisite, life-giving metaphor Solomon utilizes here! In the arid, sun-baked landscape of ancient Israel, fresh, clean water was a priceless treasure. A private cistern, carved out of solid rock to catch the rain, or a deep well tapping into an underground spring, represented life, health, security, and domestic peace for a family. Solomon commands: "Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well." In biblical poetry, water flowing from a clean well symbolizes the exclusive, refreshing, holy intimacy shared between a husband and a wife. It is a closed system of trust, providing daily nourishment to the soul. Notice the urgent, rhetorical questions in verse sixteen and verse seventeen: "Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers!" This connects us directly back to what we studied in Proverbs chapter four, verse twenty-three, where we were commanded to guard our heart above all else, because out of it flow the wellsprings of life! When a person engages in casual, promiscuous, or unfaithful encounters, they are taking a sacred, life-giving spring and dumping it into the filthy, contaminated gutters of the public street! They degrade what the Creator made holy, squandering their emotional vitality, their physical health, and their spiritual purity on total strangers. Through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview, covenant intimacy is a sacred sanctuary. It is a private well meant to be cherished, protected, and enjoyed exclusively within the boundaries of a marriage covenant sworn before the heavenly council. The narrative now expands into a celebratory, passionate description of marital delight, weaving together the logical thoughts found in Proverbs chapter five, verse eighteen, verse nineteen, and verse twenty. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may you always be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or embrace a promiscuous woman? Look at the joyful, unashamed endorsement of physical love within covenant marriage! Solomon prays, "Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth." In the ancient Near East, calling a fountain "blessed" meant it was abundant, clean, and constantly overflowing with life-sustaining water. Solomon describes the wife of one's youth as "a loving doe, a graceful deer"—beautiful metaphors of tenderness, elegance, and lifelong affection. Notice that powerful, defining phrase in verse nineteen: "may you always be captivated by her love!" In the original Hebrew language, the verb translated as "captivated" is shagah—which literally means to be intoxicated, spellbound, or ecstatically overwhelmed! God is not a cosmic killjoy who opposes passion, desire, and delight. He created romantic love and physical desire! But He designed that passionate ecstasy to be experienced safely within the protective fortress of covenant marriage, where it deepens trust, bonds two lives into one, and creates a joyful environment for raising the next generation. Over my seventy years of living, and my fifty years of studying Scripture, I have seen that true, lasting romance does not fade with time when it is rooted in covenant commitment; rather, like a deep, established well, it grows richer, deeper, and more satisfying with every passing decade. Then, look at the piercing, contrasting question in verse twenty: "Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or embrace a promiscuous woman?" Solomon uses that exact same Hebrew word, shagah! He contrasts the holy intoxication found in a faithful marriage with the cheap, destructive intoxication of infidelity. Why chase a dirty, broken puddle in a dark alley, when God has already given you a pure, refreshing fountain in your own home? Solomon now pulls back the cosmic veil to reveal why secret compromise is the ultimate human delusion, linking together the profound theological thoughts in Proverbs chapter five, verse twenty-one, verse twenty-two, and verse twenty-three. For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of discipline, plunging into ruin because of his great foolishness. Here stands the ultimate wake-up call for every traveler on life's trek! Verse twenty-one declares: "For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes." The word translated as "examining" is palles—the exact same engineering term we studied in Proverbs chapter four, verse twenty-six, where we were commanded to level out or weigh our own paths! You may successfully conceal your secret thoughts, your hidden online activity, or your private affairs from your spouse, your pastor, your family, and your employer; but you can never conceal a single breath from Yahweh! To fully grasp this terrifying, magnificent truth, consider it through the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. Yahweh is the supreme King who sits enthroned above the celestial assembly, holding universal court over all of creation. Before His holy presence, the darkest midnight is as bright as the noonday sun! Every secret path, every hidden motive, and every private action is fully exposed and weighed in the scales of divine justice. Foolish men and women deceive themselves into thinking, "No one sees me," completely forgetting that the Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth is watching every single step. Look at the inescapable, self-inflicted consequence detailed in verse twenty-two: "An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him!" Sin always promises freedom, but it always builds a prison. The individual who plays with immoral compromise thinks they are in control, believing they can stop whenever they want. But Solomon reveals that sin acts like invisible cords, or a hunter's net, that slowly and methodically wraps around the soul! It binds the human heart in spiritual addiction, suffocating guilt, and layers of deception, until the traveler is completely, helplessly trapped. Finally, verse twenty-three delivers the solemn, tragic summary of chapter five: "He...

What happens when the grand vision of the Sermon on the Mount meets the messy reality of daily life? In Echoes from the Mountain, a series on the Book of James featured on we explore how James takes the radical kingdom ethic preached by Jesus and translates it into a practical guide for faith in action. Tune in as Sunday's pulpit message meets your Monday morning walk.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260912dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'” Ezekiel 33:11 What does God want from me? “What does God want from me?” We’ve probably heard it; perhaps we’ve thought about it. In our Bible verse today, God first tells us what he DOESN’T want. He doesn’t want to send us to hell. He doesn’t want to condemn us. Oh, it’s true, that's what we deserve, because of our sinfulness. And if we consistently, stubbornly rebel against God, refusing to believe in him, then God has no choice, and he will send us to hell. But truly this isn’t what God wants So, what DOES God want? In short, he wants us. He wants our heart, our affection, our trust. He wants us to spend eternity with him. He wants you and me so badly that he—Jesus—became one of us, dying on the cross to pay for our sins in full. God wanted you that badly; God loved you that dearly. And God wants you to have the benefits of Jesus’ work—forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and much more—for all eternity. That’s what God wants for you! Prayer: O Savior, thank you for claiming me as one of your children. Although I’d rebelled against you, you wanted me. What grace! Lead me to always turn to you, to focus on you, to live in a way that makes clear that I appreciate what you’ve done for me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260912dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'” Ezekiel 33:11 What does God want from me? “What does God want from me?” We’ve probably heard it; perhaps we’ve thought about it. In our Bible verse today, God first tells us what he DOESN’T want. He doesn’t want to send us to hell. He doesn’t want to condemn us. Oh, it’s true, that's what we deserve, because of our sinfulness. And if we consistently, stubbornly rebel against God, refusing to believe in him, then God has no choice, and he will send us to hell. But truly this isn’t what God wants So, what DOES God want? In short, he wants us. He wants our heart, our affection, our trust. He wants us to spend eternity with him. He wants you and me so badly that he—Jesus—became one of us, dying on the cross to pay for our sins in full. God wanted you that badly; God loved you that dearly. And God wants you to have the benefits of Jesus’ work—forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and much more—for all eternity. That’s what God wants for you! Prayer: O Savior, thank you for claiming me as one of your children. Although I’d rebelled against you, you wanted me. What grace! Lead me to always turn to you, to focus on you, to live in a way that makes clear that I appreciate what you’ve done for me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

There are some important things that we should never forget - like taking heart medication! Similarly, there are things about God that we should never forget - such as his sovereignty. God has absolute authority, complete control, and final say over everything, and no one can stop him or overrule Him.If WE were in control, most of us would change almost everything that makes us uncomfortable - and that's exactly why we should NOT be in control!As children of the Sovereign Lord, we should respond to our situations:- with TRUST, not understanding- with SURRENDER, not struggle- with REST, not worry- with PRAISE, not complaintIsaiah 46:9, Deuteronomy 6:12, Psalm 103:2, Daniel 4:35, Psalm 115:3, Proverbs 3:5, Luke 22:42, Psalm 46:10, Job 1:21

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260910dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 God Wants Sinners to Live It’s the middle of the night. Loud banging pounds on your front door. The doorbell rings without stopping. Small stones tap against your bedroom window. Then your phone starts ringing and doesn’t stop. The ruckus is anything but welcome. But when you look out the window, you discover your house is on fire, and your neighbor has been desperately trying to wake you up and save your life. Thank God he did! And wouldn’t you do the same for him? Wouldn’t you do whatever it took to rescue him from the flames? That is what God is talking about through the prophet Ezekiel. Warning fellow believers about the danger of sin is rarely appreciated at first. But just as a neighbor makes a racket to save someone from a burning house, God sounds the alarm because he loves us. Through Ezekiel, God made it clear that a warning about sin is not intended to be an unwanted disturbance. It's a message of life! God rings our doorbell, pounds on our door, and sends fellow Christians to get our attention. Maybe it is your parents. Maybe a Christian friend. Maybe your pastor. However the warning comes, it comes in love, because God wants sinners to live. How much does he want that? He chose the death of his own Son over the death of the wicked. Jesus’ death gives you forgiven life. Jesus’ resurrection gives you eternal life. And as surely as Jesus lives, he wants nothing more than for us to be alive with him, forever, in heaven. That is why God sounds the alarm. Not to knock sinners down, but to lift them up with the gospel. Not to condemn, but to call them to the Savior who forgives. So, whichever end of the warning you are on, remember God’s purpose. His goal is never your death. His goal is your life! Prayer: Sovereign Lord, thank you for turning me from my sin and giving me life in Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260910dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 God Wants Sinners to Live It’s the middle of the night. Loud banging pounds on your front door. The doorbell rings without stopping. Small stones tap against your bedroom window. Then your phone starts ringing and doesn’t stop. The ruckus is anything but welcome. But when you look out the window, you discover your house is on fire, and your neighbor has been desperately trying to wake you up and save your life. Thank God he did! And wouldn’t you do the same for him? Wouldn’t you do whatever it took to rescue him from the flames? That is what God is talking about through the prophet Ezekiel. Warning fellow believers about the danger of sin is rarely appreciated at first. But just as a neighbor makes a racket to save someone from a burning house, God sounds the alarm because he loves us. Through Ezekiel, God made it clear that a warning about sin is not intended to be an unwanted disturbance. It's a message of life! God rings our doorbell, pounds on our door, and sends fellow Christians to get our attention. Maybe it is your parents. Maybe a Christian friend. Maybe your pastor. However the warning comes, it comes in love, because God wants sinners to live. How much does he want that? He chose the death of his own Son over the death of the wicked. Jesus’ death gives you forgiven life. Jesus’ resurrection gives you eternal life. And as surely as Jesus lives, he wants nothing more than for us to be alive with him, forever, in heaven. That is why God sounds the alarm. Not to knock sinners down, but to lift them up with the gospel. Not to condemn, but to call them to the Savior who forgives. So, whichever end of the warning you are on, remember God’s purpose. His goal is never your death. His goal is your life! Prayer: Sovereign Lord, thank you for turning me from my sin and giving me life in Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/family-devotions/20260909fam.mp3 Listen to Devotion Read: Ezekiel 33:7-11 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” Ezekiel 33:7,11 God Puts Christians on the Case In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. You may be familiar with the cartoon TV series Paw Patrol. A group of dogs serve as emergency first responders. A human named Ryder leads them. If someone in Adventure Bay needs help, they call Ryder. Then Ryder sends the Paw Patrol from their lookout tower to rescue the person in danger. If you have seen the show, it is impossible to imagine Ryder or the pups hearing about someone in danger and saying, “That's not our problem.” Imagine how shocking it would be if a firetruck drove away from a burning house, a police officer covered his eyes during a bank robbery, or an ambulance sat at the station instead of going to a bad car accident! First responders are responsible for noticing danger and helping people. God gave Ezekiel a similar responsibility. Ezekiel was a spiritual watchman. God told him to warn the Israelites about the deadly danger of continuing in sin. God gives us opportunities to watch out for people, too. God does not want tattletales. He does not want us snooping around, hoping to catch someone in sin. But when someone we love is heading toward spiritual danger, we should not simply say, “That's not my problem.” That would be like the Paw Patrol sitting on their paws or firefighters, police officers, or ambulance drivers not doing their job. Sin is even more dangerous than a fire or accident. Unrepented sin separates people from God and leads to eternal death. Yet God does not enjoy punishing sinners. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” God wants them to turn from sin and receive life from him. So, God puts Christians in positions to help watch over one another and to help each other be turned away from sin. Parents watch over their children. Pastors watch over their congregations. Teachers watch over their students. Christian friends and family members lovingly watch out for one another. How do we recognize spiritual danger? We listen to God's Word—not merely our own opinions. Then we lovingly share what God says. God uses his Word to expose sin, lead people to repentance, and show them their Savior. Jesus carried every sin to the cross so that sinners could be forgiven and live. God puts Christians on the case—but God's powerful Word performs the rescue! Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for putting people in my life who watch over me and lovingly warn me about sin. Help me to take their words to heart. Give me the courage to help rescue others from their sin. Amen. The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire. Questions for Younger Children What important job did God give Ezekiel? Does God want sinners to die, or does he want them to turn to him and live? Questions for Elementary Age Children How can we tell whether something is sinful—by our opinions or by God's Word? Who are some trusted adults who can help you when someone is doing something wrong or dangerous? Questions for Middle School and Above Why might someone be tempted to say, “That's not my problem,” when a friend is caught in sin? How does God use both his warning about sin and his promise of forgiveness in Jesus to rescue someone? Download Family Devotions Family Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

What if the ache within us is not something to push through alone, but an invitation toward healing? Stasi welcomes her son, counselor Sam Eldredge, for a tender conversation about loneliness, vulnerability, relationships, and the courage to face our stories honestly. Wherever we feel stuck or alone, Jesus is near—gently inviting us to open our hearts, receive the care we need, and follow him into freedom, restoration, and more life than we imagined possible.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Revelation 1:18 (NIV) – I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.Genesis 2:18 (NIV) – The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) – As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 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.…..SAM ELDREDGEWebsite: https://www.nobleworkshops.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobleworkshopsSAM'S BIOSam Eldredge has spent his career in the space where psychology and faith meet. Trained in the modalities that form the backbone of Noble's work such as Internal Family Systems, experiential therapy, somatic practice, attachment theory, and EMDR-informed movement, he has spent over two decades watching what happens when people are given the right conditions to do the work they have been carrying.Noble Workshops grew out of that watching.Sam grew up immersed in the world of the heart. His formation was shaped deeply by the work of Wild at Heart, an organization that has spent decades helping people recover their inner lives and understand the story they are living. That foundation shaped his understanding of what people are actually hungering for: genuine movement, not just information. The freedom that comes when something long stuck finally begins to shift.Noble was Sam's response to a gap he kept seeing: people who had done meaningful work, who had language for their pain and faith in the possibility of change, and who still couldn't find a structure that allowed that change to actually take root. Weekly therapy sessions, however skilled the guide, have limits. Immersion changes what is possible.He founded Noble to offer something different. A week held with clinical rigor and genuine care, set apart from ordinary life, where the work can finally build on itself rather than reset on longer timelines.…..ADDITIONAL RESOURCESPainting: The Harrowing of HadesAndSons Podcast Archives: https://wildatheart.org/podcasts/and-sons…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube – https://wahe.art/4h8DelLSpotify Podcasts – https://wahe.art/496zdfnApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Amazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ

Have you ever felt the pull to grow closer to God, yet found yourself distracted, rushed, or unsure where to begin? We start with a scene most of us recognize: the music is great, the rhythm is steady, but nobody moves until one person finally steps into the beat. That small act changes the whole room, and it's a picture of how spiritual momentum often begins in real life. I'm Tosha Williams, and I'm sharing a simple framework that has shaped how I walk with God and how I disciple the people He's placed in my everyday life. The rhythm is listen, linger, lead. We listen for God's voice as we draw near through Scripture and prayer. We linger in His presence long enough for Him to form us, not just inspire us. Then we lead by letting what He's doing in us flow outward in conversations, relationships, parenting, mentoring, and ordinary moments where faith becomes visible. That's devotion-driven discipleship, the move from Seek Him to Speak Him. Psalm 73:28 anchors it all: “It is good to be near God… I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge… I will tell of all your deeds.” We connect each phrase to a practical next step, and we name the tension many Christians feel: we try harder, get tired, and wonder what's missing. What if the issue isn't effort, but rhythm? If you're hungry for deeper Christian living that's doable in everyday life, this is your starting point. This episode goes along with a devotion-driven discipleship guide that can be found in the Family Disciple Me app. Sign up to be the first to know when it's available!______________________The Family Disciple Me ministry exists to catalyze devotion driven discipleship in our homes and around the world. We believe that discipleship starts with a conversation, and FDM provides free, easily-accessible, biblical resources to encourage these meaningful conversations  along life's way. Sign up through our website to be "the first to know" about upcoming releases and resources (including the FDM App - coming soon!!!) You can also follow Family Disciple Me on social media.  Family Disciple Me  is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, and all donations are tax deductible. More information, blogs, statement of faith and contact info can be found at familydiscipleme.org 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus introduces His mission by announcing that He is who the prophet Isaiah spoke about when he said, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Luke is inviting us to see Jesus as the fulfillment of all of God's promises. That's not just good news for people way back in Jesus' time; that's good news for us, today!     --- The fullness of the gospel is better, truer, and more beautiful than any story ever told. Join us as we explore the gospel as it's revealed in every book of the New Testament: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/63628-the-full-gospel   | SWITCH IRL | Find a location near you here: https://www.life.church/locations/   | SOCIAL |

Aug 25, 2026 Dr. JOE MORECRAFT,Pastor of Heritage PresbyterianChurch of Cumming, GA, who willaddress: “GOSPEL OPPORTUNITIES OURSOVEREIGN LORD GAVE to MEDURING A HEALTH CRISIS” Subscribe: iTunes TuneIn Android RSS Feed Listen:

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260817dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:8 More Than Expected Have you ever thought of God as a gatherer? Isaiah 56 paints a surprising picture. The Lord is not content merely to bring back the exiles of Israel. He promises, “I will gather still others.” The gathering will be bigger than anyone expected. For centuries, God’s people might have assumed that the blessings of salvation belonged only to a certain nation and a certain family line. Yet God had larger plans. He intended to gather people from every tribe, language, nation, and people. He would gather outsiders, foreigners, and those who seemed far away from his promises. Through the coming Savior, God’s kingdom would expand far beyond the borders of ancient Israel. That promise includes us. Most of us are not descendants of ancient Israel. We were not standing at Mount Sinai when the covenant was given. Yet here we are, gathered among God’s people. We hear his Word. We receive his promises. We call upon Jesus as our Savior. How did that happen? Not because we found God. Not because we were wiser, better, or more spiritual than others. The Lord gathered us. Like lost sheep, we had wandered away. By nature, we were separated from God and hostile to him. Yet the Good Shepherd came looking for us. Through the gospel message, the Holy Spirit created faith in our hearts. Through baptism, God claimed us as his own. Through his Word, he continues to gather and keep us in the one true faith. What makes this gathering so remarkable is that it is completely unexpected. If anyone had predicted our spiritual future before God called us, they would have been wrong. Left to ourselves, we would never have chosen Christ. Yet God chose us. He sought us. He gathered us. So, when you wonder whether you belong among God’s people, remember who did the gathering. The Sovereign Lord himself brought you near through Jesus. The God who gathered Israel has gathered you, too. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for seeking me when I was lost and gathering me into your family of believers. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Isaiah 56:1-8 - Salvation for Others 56 This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice     and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand     and my righteousness will soon be revealed. 2 Blessed is the one who does this—     the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,     and keeps their hands from doing any evil.” 3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,     “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain,     “I am only a dry tree.” 4 For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,     who choose what pleases me     and hold fast to my covenant— 5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls     a memorial and a name     better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name     that will endure forever. 6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord     to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,     and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it     and who hold fast to my covenant— 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain     and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices     will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called     a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 The Sovereign Lord declares—     he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them     besides those already gathered.”

Psalm 73:25-28 (from the Archive)New Living Translation25 Whom have I in heaven but you?    I desire you more than anything on earth.26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,    but God remains the strength of my heart;    he is mine forever.27 Those who desert him will perish,    for you destroy those who abandon you.28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.Music: "Rest in the Shadow" by Julian & Melissa Wiggins,Used with permission.

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.

With your co-hostesses: Lyschel Burket from HopeRedefined.org Bonny Burns from StrongWives.com Cat Etherington from nakedtruthproject.com Donate to cost of publication. Listen now: Today, we continue our discussion around silence and stillness which are both important for nervous system regulation, increasing self-awareness and creating space for us to listen for what the Lord has for us. This conversation is to offer some practical tips and tools to expand your capacity to sit in stillness and silence. Silence and stillness are important for  We Will be Discussing: What are some ways you've been able to improve your tolerance of silence and stillness in the beginning? What are some practical tips and tools you can offer our listeners around sitting in stillness and silence? What hope can you leave our listeners? 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 salvation...." Gathering of Hope - September, 2026, Australia betrayed partner gatherings here Global Hope Initiative - Missional pilot program (to support local global grassroots communities)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah's prophecy, declaring that He had come to proclaim good news, bind up the brokenhearted, set captives free, and announce the Lord's favor. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reflects on Isaiah's promise that the Messiah would give His people “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” This garment of praise is not something we are born wearing—it is a gift we must choose to put on. Praise does no good hanging in the closet of theory. It must be wrapped around the heart through gratitude, worship, and daily surrender to Christ. Dr. Youssef reminds us that true praise flows like a river from a heart that remembers God's goodness. Though God has given us countless reasons to praise Him, we must still participate. We must choose the praise-filled life, rejecting despair and fixing our eyes on Jesus. In Christ, sadness can be exchanged for gladness, despair for praise, sorrow for healing, and discouragement for hope. As we praise the name of Jesus, the cloud of discouragement begins to lift, and God supplies strength for the weary. Those who hope in Him will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, and walk and not faint. Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing me with the garment of praise through Christ Jesus. Help me to wear it daily. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1). Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Empowered by Praise, Aligning with Heaven: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

[1 Samuel 16:1, 7, 13 NIV] The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." [7] But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." [13] So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.David received God's promise ______________ before he received the ______________.[Acts 13:22 NIV] After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'An obedient heart ______________ Gods ______________ over you.[Psalm 27:10 NIV] Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.[Psalm 69:8 NIV] I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother's children;Leadership ______________ long before the ______________.David's primary ______________ was in his ______________ to God[Psalm 27:13 NIV] I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.[Psalm 143:8 NIV] Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.[1 Samuel 16:19, 21 NIV] Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." [21] David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.[1 Samuel 17:32-37 NIV] David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." [33] Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth." [34] But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, [35] I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. [36] Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. [37] The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."It doesn't matter what you ______________, it matters what God ______________.[2 Samuel 7:22 NIV] "How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 386, “No Soap Strong Enough for That,” Kim discusses the lengths humans will go to try to cleanse themselves from sin and guilt. She takes listeners through a brief overview of many scriptures that point to the only way to receive cleansing for sin.   Our focal passage for this episode is Jeremiah 2:14-22, with 22 as the focal verse:   “No amount of soap or lye can make you clean. I still see the stain of your guilt. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   What “soap” have you tried to use to cleanse yourself of your sins of commission or omission?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   Matthew 27:11-24 Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-12; 3:23; James 2:10 Psalm 51; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Hebrews 9:13-14 John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7-9 Examples of Modern-Day “Soap:” 1. Busyness; 2. Being a “Good Person;” 3. Religious Activity; 4. Image Management; 5. Comparison; 6. Success; 7. Self-Improvement; 8. Numbing the Conviction. Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus     I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF Jeremiah/Lamentation PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Jeremiah & Lamentations by Steven Smith “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT     "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

Ezekiel 37:1-6 (from the Archive)New Living Translation37 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. 3 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! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'”Music: "Rest in the Shadow" by Julian & Melissa Wiggins,Used with permission.

ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ ਛੰਤ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੨    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਣ ਲਾਗੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਜਾਗੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਜਾਗੇ ਪਾਪ ਭਾਗੇ ਮਿਲੇ ਸੰਤ ਪਿਆਰਿਆ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਚਰਣ ਲਾਗੇ ਭਰਮ ਭਾਗੇ ਕਾਜ ਸਗਲ ਸਵਾਰਿਆ ॥ ਸੁਣਿ ਸ੍ਰਵਣ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਹਜਿ ਜਾਣੀ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਵਡਭਾਗੈ ॥ ਬਿਨਵੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰਣਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜੀਉ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਗੈ ॥੧॥Here is the English summary of the Shabad by Guru Arjan Dev Ji (fifth Sikh Guru) in Raag Soohee Chhant:OverviewThis Shabad centers on the spiritual transformation, peace, and ultimate liberation that come from connecting with the True Guru, singing the praises of the Divine, and meditating on the Naaam (God's Name).Verse-by-Verse SummaryVerse 1: Awakening and Divine ProtectionSummary: Meeting the beloved Guru inspires a person to sing God's praises and remain spiritually vigilant against negative influences. Basking in the love of the Lord dissolves past sins and dispels all doubts. By listening to the sacred Word and humbly surrendering one's mind and body to the Almighty, life's tasks are fulfilled and a deep connection with God is formed.Verse 2: Inner Joy and PurificationSummary: Singing the praises of the Eternal Lord brings constant joy and eradicates all suffering. Reciting the Divine Name purifies both mind and body, filling the heart with profound bliss. By becoming humble (the dust of the feet of the holy) and worshipping God, one becomes pleasing to Him. Guru Nanak prays for grace to continuously sing the Lord's virtues.Verse 3: Crossing the Worldly OceanSummary: Guided by the Guru, contemplating God's lotus feet allows a person to cross the terrifying ocean of worldly existence and end the cycle of reincarnation. True devotional love makes the seeker dear to the Divine. By meditating on the One, infinite, and all-pervading Lord, all doubts vanish, allowing the seeker to see God everywhere and in everything.Verse 4: Deliverance and Eternal PeaceSummary: The Name of God purifies the sinner and brings all the tasks of the saintly to completion. Reuniting with God after long separation destroys ego and inner turmoil, filling the soul with dynamic, everlasting joy (chardi kala) and supreme peace. The Guru establishes the core truth: constantly remember and meditate on the Sovereign Lord of the Universe.Core TakeawayThe central message is one of spiritual bliss, humble surrender, and liberation. Surrendering to the Guru's teachings and immersing oneself in Naam-Simran (meditation on the Divine Name) removes inner doubts, purifies the soul, and reveals the presence of God in all creation.

Our 4th and final NT norm is the centrality of prayer in the life of the early church. Listen in as we share 4 "P" observations on prayer - It was a Priority; It Preceded the filling and work of the Spirit; It was the church's response to Persecution; and it was Personal and Persistent. 4 P's: 1-Priority. Begins the book of Acts—“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers" (1:14).  In Ch. 2, the church was praying when the Holy Spirit filled them.  Acts 2:42- he church was devoted to prayer. It was one of the first things that marked them out—alongside the apostle's teaching, breaking the bread, and fellowship. Acts 6: We see the priority of prayer even more strikingly when the apostles single out prayer alongside of the ministry of the Word as their primary responsibility. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” “I stand here to confess frankly that from my inmost heart I attribute the large prosperity which God has given to this Church vastly more to the prayers of the people than to anything that God may have given to me. I know it is so.” - Charles Spurgeon 2-Precedes the filling and work of the Spirit.  Acts 2 begins with the believers all together in one place, praying. And we know what happened next—the sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind, filling the house where they were.  Acts 4- The believers are gathered together praying in the midst of persecution—praying specifically for boldness. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (4:31). Acts 13- The prophets and teachers of the church in Antioch were gathered and they were worshipping the Lord and fasting. Just then the Holy Spirit calls out Barnabas and Saul. And after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  These are pretty pivotal moments in the history of the gospel—especially in Chapters 2 and 13. And we see that God's people had been devoting themselves to prayer in the time leading up to these great events—these experiences of the Spirit's work. Prayer had paved the way for these people to respond when the Spirit showed up.  3-Persecution- Prayer was the church's consistent response to persecution. Acts 4- Peter and John have just been threatened by the high-priestly council. "When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord. . .” (4:23-24). Their immediate reaction to the threat of violence from the ruling authorities was to pray. And hear what they prayed: “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Acts 12- Peter is in prison and miraculously rescued by an angel of the Lord. When he is rescued, it says “he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” Again, the response of the church to the persecution of her people is to pray.  Acts 16- Paul and Silas in prison. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” In the midst of persecution, we find these two workers praying and singing hymns.  Prayer is what we do when we are persecuted. It is the response of God's church to the threats and persecutions. In each of these moments, God miraculously answered. 4-Personal and Persistent. In Acts, we don't get much details about the personal prayer lives of the apostles. Many references are to the church praying corporately. However in Paul's epistles, we find Paul talking about his own prayer life all over the place – way too many to reference, will just name a few- Eph. 1:16- "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers…" and we see his personal prayer for the Ephesian believers.  Eph. 3:14-19. Paul's prayers were important enough for him to write out for them and for us. A few examples from 1st Thessalonians: 1 Thess. 1:2- "We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers." 1 Thess. 5:17- "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:25- "Brothers, pray for us."  Paul was not voicing prayers for believers every moment of every day. He was sometimes preaching the gospel; he was sometimes sleeping; he was sometimes eating or traveling. But he had such a habit of prayer that he described it as day and night, constant.  Eph. 6:10-20- Paul teaches us that we are in a spiritual battle and prayer is an essential weapon. Paul commands us to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. The Word, The Spirit, and constant prayer. As we've found these 4 NT norms, we have seen in a new way for us how intertwined they are. The Word bears fruit by the power of the Spirit. The Spirit honors and responds to the preaching of the Word and obedience to the Word and prayer. Prayer is what invites the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, and there is no real prayer without the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Prayer was seen as part of the work of the church. It was at the center of their ministry. We have a saying among our teams here that prayer is the greater work. We believe that because we ultimately believe that this work we're doing is His work. It doesn't move forward unless He moves and the Spirit grants repentance and life. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gives the growth.” Prayer is an admission of our helplessness and a plea for God to do what only He can do. That's why we see the early church devoting themselves to it. Prayer was necessary to them—it was just a part of their lives, and of their gathering together. If you are listening and feel like you're a terrible pray-er, don't give into discouragement or paralysis or accusations --- just start! Read a good book on prayer. Make sure you're spending daily time with God alone in the Word and in prayer. Use your drive or shower to pray. Post a prayer list by your bathroom mirror and pray as you brush your teeth. Set a timer for a certain time each day. 12:12, 3:10. And ask God for help!  This concludes our series on NT norms – daily ministry, the Word, the Spirit, and prayer.  

Hey family, in times of confusion, either in our own lives or in the world at large, it can be difficult to determine where our hope lies. Jesus gave us some of the most hopeful words ever written when he began by saying, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor." Join us Sunday as we welcome Pastor Jason Williams of Solid Rock Church in Texas, who will share with us the Good News we all need. We meet at 10 a.m. at 360 Schermerhorn St. Children ages 4-12 also meet at 10. (They are learning about Moses and the plagues!) --Edwin

Welcome to Day 2908 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2908 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 144:-9-15 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2908 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2908 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Symphony of Shalom – Reclaiming the Blessing of the Covenant King Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2908 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. On our previous expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Seven, we stood amazed as we explored the first half of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Four, focusing on verses one through eight. We witnessed David, the warrior king, standing directly on the rugged frontiers of cosmic conflict, shouting praises to Yahweh, the majestic Storm Warrior, who trains his hands for war and gives his fingers skill for battle. We listened as David pleaded for the Almighty to bow the heavens, flash His supernatural lightning, and rip open the cosmic veil to rescue him from the "deep waters"—those treacherous, lying foreign enemies who sought to subvert the divine order. Today, we step directly onto the second half of this magnificent mountain pass, diving deeply into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Four, verses nine through fifteen. The spiritual and narrative scenery undergoes a beautiful, breathtaking transformation here. We are moving out of the clashing, smoky din of cosmic warfare, and stepping directly into a quiet, sunlit valley filled with a glorious, harmonious symphony of peace, domestic prosperity, and generational restoration. David understands a profound kingdom truth that every wise trekker must grasp: the ultimate purpose of divine warfare is never just the destruction of the enemy; it is the comprehensive establishment of shalom—the complete, flourishing wholeness of a society living in perfect alignment with the Creator. The first segment is: The New Song of the Vindicate Viceroy Let us open our ears to the first movement of this concluding sequence, as recorded in the New Living Translation, where David groups his logical thoughts together in verse eights, verse nine, and verse ten. I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will play on a ten-stringed lute. For you give victory to kings! You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword. David anchors his future firmly in praise, declaring with joyful anticipation, “I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will play on a ten-stringed lute. For you give victory to kings! You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword.” To fully appreciate the weight of these lines, we must view them through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, kingship was not merely a matter of human politics or military strategy. The king of Israel was uniquely designated as the earthly viceroy, the covenant partner, of Yahweh, who sits enthroned above the celestial assembly. While the surrounding pagan nations looked to their localized, rebellious deities for military dominance, David looks directly to the supreme Creator. When he mentions that God “gives victory to kings,” the original Hebrew word for victory is teshuah, which carries the profound meaning of deliverance, salvation, and cosmic rescue. David is acknowledging that no earthly monarch—regardless of how massive his infantry or how brilliant his chariot tactics might be—can secure a true victory outside of the sovereign decree of the heavenly council. Furthermore, when David vows to sing a “new song” while playing upon a ten-stringed lute, he is introducing a powerful prophetic concept. In biblical theology, a new song is never just a fresh melody; it represents a brand-new epoch in human history. It is an anthem of redemption that is sung only after a decisive, miraculous victory has been secured by the arm of the Lord. The ten-stringed lute adds a layer of majestic, symphonic fullness to this praise. David is orchestrating a grand celebration before the heavenly hosts, publicly testifying that it was not his own royal status or human strength that preserved his life, but rather the active, intervening hand of Yahweh, who personally stepped into the fray to snatch His chosen servant away from the edge of the fatal, chaotic sword. The second segment is: The Persistent Refrain: Confronting Systemic Falsehood The narrative takes a fascinating, highly strategic turn in verse eleven, as David repeats a powerful, familiar refrain that links this section directly back to the warfare themes of our previous podcast episode. Save me! Deliver me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. David breaks back into an urgent, defensive petition, crying out, “Save me! Deliver me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.” You might wonder why David, right after promising to sing a triumphant new song of victory, would suddenly drop right back into a desperate plea for rescue from lying adversaries. This literary structure reveals a profound truth about our daily trek of faith. The victory has been legally decreed in the heavenly courtroom, but the final mopping-up operations are still being actively contested on the earthly battlefield. David is dealing with foreign, hostile entities who do not share his covenant allegiance to the Most High. He describes them as having mouths full of lies, individuals who raise their hands to take solemn, binding oaths of truth, but unleash calculated perjury instead. This persistent focus on deception connects perfectly with the broader theological tapestry of Psalms One Hundred Forty through One Hundred Forty-Three. In the ancient world, truth was the foundational concrete that held cosmic and social order together. When a nation's leaders weaponize systemic lies, gaslighting, and false diplomacy, they are actively mimicking the original, deceptive language of the ancient serpent, attempting to dissolve the boundaries of truth established by God. David recognizes that he cannot build a flourishing, prosperous society if the foundations are continuously being eroded by foreign deception. Therefore, before he can detail the beautiful blessings of peace, he must ask the Sovereign Lord to completely sever the influence of these toxic, deceitful operations from the borders of his land. The third segment is: The Blueprint of Shalom: A Flourishing Next Generation Once the dark, chaotic waters of deception are pushed back by divine justice, the true, exquisite design of kingdom prosperity can burst forth. Let us listen to the magnificent generational blueprint David maps out in verse twelve. May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. David paints a breathtaking portrait of domestic flourishing, praying, “May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.” Notice the deep, highly intentional metaphors David employs to describe the vibrant health of the next generation. He prays that the young sons of the kingdom will grow up like well-nurtured, deeply rooted plants. In a rugged, agricultural society, a well-nurtured plant represents vitality, strength, consistent productivity, and future stability. It implies that these young men are being carefully cultivated in the soil of wisdom, growing up to become sturdy, reliable protectors and providers who will uphold the moral integrity of the covenant community. Simultaneously, David looks upon the young women of the kingdom, praying that the daughters would be like graceful, elegant pillars, exquisitely carved to beautify a majestic palace. This imagery carries immense structural and architectural significance. In the ancient Near East, the corner pillars of a palace or a temple were not merely ornamental; they were massive, load-bearing structures that held the entire weight of the roof together, ensuring the stability of the building. Yet, they were also heavily sculpted with intricate, beautiful artwork. David is declaring that the women of Israel are the dignified, essential pillars of society. They possess a profound combination of unyielding structural strength and elevated, spiritual beauty. They give shape, stability, and cultural elegance to the home and the...

Welcome to Day 2907 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2907 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 144:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2907 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2907 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Cosmic Warrior's Sanctuary – Bowing the Heavens to Rescue Frail Mortals On our previous expedition, on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Five, we bore witness to David's heavy, cumulative exhaustion in Psalm One Hundred Forty-Three. We stood alongside him in the dark, feeling the suffocating, numbing weight of a long-drawn-out wilderness campaign, as he pleaded for the morning light of God's unfailing love to rescue his failing spirit. Today, as we crest a magnificent new ridge along our multi-month journey through the psalter, we advance directly into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Four, verses one through eight. This text serves as an incredibly powerful, triumphant answer to the dark paralysis we analyzed in our last study. David is no longer sitting frozen in the dust, wondering if the darkness will permanently consume him. Instead, he bursts forth with a magnificent, high-energy anthem of praise, recognizing that the very hardships he endured were the training grounds for his ultimate destiny. As we explore these eight verses together, we will discover a dynamic mosaic of royal warfare, cosmic geography, and profound theological humility, viewing this entire battlefield through the brilliant, ancient worldview of Yahweh's sovereign heavenly host. The first segment is: The Divine Arsenal: Training for the Frontiers of Chaos Let us open our minds to the opening movements of this royal liturgy, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the deeply connected, contiguous thoughts found in verse one and verse two. Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me. David begins this segment with an unshakeable, rhythmic blast of absolute adoration, declaring, “Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me.” To fully appreciate the vast, panoramic scope of these opening lines, we must view David's military reality through the fascinating, complex lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, kingship was never viewed as a purely secular, administrative function. The king of Israel was understood to be the earthly representative, the unique viceroy, of Yahweh Himself. When David addresses God as Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of Heaven's Armies—he is recognizing that his earthly battles are intimately intertwined with a grand, unseen cosmic conflict. The hostile surrounding nations were not just political competitors; they were groups aligned with rebellious, territorial spiritual principalities who actively sought to subvert the cosmic order established by the Most High God. Notice that David does not boast in his own inherent athletic prowess, or his natural military genius, even though he was a legendary warrior who defeated giants. Instead, he attributes all of his kinetic capability to his Creator, shouting, "He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle." Yahweh is depicted here as the Master Commander, personally mentoring His earthly king, tuning his reflexes, and sharpening his tactical focus so that he can effectively push back the frontiers of chaos. David then layers title upon glorious title, describing God as his rock, his loving ally, his fortress, his tower of safety, his rescuer, and his shield. In the ancient world, a tower of safety or a fortress on a high crag was completely unassailable by infantry. By running into the character of Yahweh, David enters a fortress that sits completely above the reach of both earthly weapons and dark, cosmic forces. It is from this secure, celestial vantage point that the true King of the universe executes judgment, subduing rebellious human assemblies under the feet of His anointed servant. The second segment is: The Radical Contrast: Cosmic Majesty and Fleeting Shadows Right in the middle of this high-stakes military declaration, David pauses to display a stunning level of philosophical and theological humility, combining the logical thoughts found in verse three and verse four. O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow. David pivots his gaze away from the grand geopolitics of his kingdom to look directly into the mirror of human fragility, asking, “O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.” This exquisite, highly poetic exclamation directly echoes the haunting cosmic questions raised in Psalm Eight. As a king who sat in council with the elders, and who regularly contemplated the vast tapestry of the night sky, David was acutely aware of the mind-boggling scale of reality. In the ancient cosmic geography, above the physical dome of the sky rested the glorious, burning palace of the divine council, populated by majestic, immortal spiritual beings who had witnessed the very foundations of the earth being laid. In comparison to these enduring celestial hosts, and in comparison to the eternal, uncreated majesty of Yahweh, what is a human being? David uses two incredibly vivid Hebrew metaphors to describe our mortal condition: hevel—which translates to a mere breath of warm air, a vapor that appears for a microsecond in the winter cold and then vanishes completely—and a passing shadow, like the silhouette of a bird flying over a field, gone before the eye can even track its movement. Yet, the profound mystery of biblical wisdom lies right here in this juxtaposition. The transcendent Sovereign Lord of the cosmos, who rules over billions of stars and commands legions of heavenly messengers, actively chooses to step down into history to notice, think about, and harbor deep affection for these fragile, breathing dust-creatures. He doesn't just tolerate humanity; He partners with mortals, inviting them to participate in the restoration of His cosmic order. The third segment is: Cosmic Theophany: Splitting the Fabric of the Sky Having established both the supreme majesty of God and the radical dependence of man, David now launches into a dramatic, high-impact prayer for an immediate, supernatural intervention, weaving together the cosmic warfare motifs found in verse five and verse six. Open the heavens and come down, Lord. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Flash your lightning and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them! David calls down the ultimate cosmic cavalry, crying out with immense urgency, “Open the heavens and come down, Lord. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Flash your lightning and scatter your enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them!” This section contains some of the most concentrated, highly dramatic theophany imagery in the entire Old Testament. When David prays, “Open the heavens and come down,” the original language literally means to bow or to bend the heavens. In the ancient mindset, the sky was seen as a solid, physical separation between the celestial realm of God's throne room and the terrestrial realm of human history. David is asking Yahweh to grab the fabric of the cosmos, bend it downward, and rip open the boundary line, invading earthly geography with the raw, unfiltered glory of His heavenly presence. When the Most High steps down, the physical geography of the earth cannot sustain His weight. He touches the mountains—which in the ancient near eastern worldview were considered the pillars of the earth, the cosmic boundary stones where the gods met—and they instantly erupt, billowing smoke like volatile volcanoes, completely unmasked as fragile structures before their Creator. David then describes the weapons of this cosmic combat: lightning bolts functioning as divine spears, flashing across the dark sky to scatter the entrenched armies of the wicked, while supernatural arrows of thunder confuse and disorient the adversaries. This is...

Welcome to Day 2904 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2904– “The Ultimate Close Encounter”  based on Luke 9:51-62 Putnam Church Message – 06/14/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Snapshots From An Amazing Album.”   Last week's message was “Snapshots From An Amazing Album,” in which we studied four snapshots from Christ's ministry. Today, we continue with our twenty-eighth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “A Face Like Flint.” Our core passage today is Luke 9:51-62, on page 1611 of your pew Bibles. Samaritan Opposition 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. The Cost of Following Jesus 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today grateful for the steady, determined love of Jesus Christ. We confess that our hearts are often divided. We are distracted by comfort, delayed by excuses, wounded by rejection, and tempted to look back when You call us forward. Lord Jesus, as we watch You set Your face toward Jerusalem, help us see the depth of Your love and the seriousness of Your mission. Teach us what it means to follow You with unreserved sacrifice,>undivided devotion,> and unwavering commitment. Give us courage to press on. Give us grace to forgive. Give us faith to follow. May Your Word shape our hearts today. Amen.   Introduction: The Finish Line in View The 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles gave us one of the most unforgettable marathon moments in Olympic history. Gabriela Andersen-Schiess entered the stadium near the end of the women's marathon, but something was terribly wrong. Heat exhaustion and dehydration had taken hold of her body. Her legs were stiff. Her movements were uneven. Her body looked like it might collapse at any step. Doctors moved toward her, but she waved them off because if they helped her, she would be disqualified. She had already run more than twenty-six miles. Only a few hundred meters remained. So she kept moving. / Step by painful step. / Lean, stagger, recover. / Another step. / Another step. / Another step. For nearly six agonizing minutes, she willed herself forward until she crossed the finish line and collapsed into medical care. What stayed with people was not that she won the race. She did not. What stayed with people was her determination. The finish line had become her single focus. She had come too far to quit. In Luke 9:51, Luke brings us to a major turning point in his Gospel. Jesus has healed the sick, calmed the storm, cast out demons, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, revealed His glory on the mountain, and taught His disciples what the Kingdom of God is like. / But now the story turns. Luke says, “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”  That phrase — “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem,” — is powerful. It draws from the Old Testament image in Isaiah 50:7, where the Servant of the Lord says, “I have set my face like flint.” Flint is a hard stone. It does not bend easily. It is not soft clay. It is firm, sharp, and unyielding. Jesus set His face like flint toward Jerusalem. / Why Jerusalem? Because Jerusalem was where betrayal waited. Jerusalem was where rejection waited. Jerusalem was where false trials waited. Jerusalem was where the cross waited. Jerusalem was where the tomb waited. But Jerusalem was also where resurrection would break the power of death. Jerusalem was where salvation would be accomplished. From this point forward in Luke's Gospel, the cross is always in the background. Every conversation, every parable, every miracle, every encounter is moving Jesus closer to the place where He will give His life for the sins of the world. The theme of this passage is simple| but demanding: Jesus pressed on toward the cross, and He calls His followers to press on after Him. Here are the four truths that we can glean from today's passage, as found in your bulletin insert on the side ‘A Face Like Flint.' Main Point 1: Jesus Set His Face Toward the Father's Mission Luke tells us that the time was approaching for Jesus to be taken up. That points beyond the cross, beyond the grave, beyond the resurrection, all the way to His ascension. Jesus knew the whole journey. He was not stumbling into Jerusalem unaware. He was not trapped by circumstances. He was not surprised by the hostility waiting there. He was not swept along by political events beyond His control. Jesus knew where He was going. And He went anyway. That is love. In the previous message, “Snapshots From An Amazing Album,” we saw Jesus tell His disciples again that He would be handed over into the hands of men. They did not understand. They were afraid to ask. But Jesus understood fully. He knew the cost before He paid it. / Now, He begins the journey. This is the beginning of what many Bible students call Luke's “travel section.” From Luke 9:51 through much of chapter 19, Jesus is moving toward Jerusalem. Luke will remind us again and again that Jesus is on the way. He is not He is not He is not He is pressing on.     Ancient Context: The Servant With a Flint Face Isaiah 50 gives us the background. The Servant of the Lord says He gave His back to those who struck Him, / His cheeks to those who pulled out His beard, / and His face to humiliation and spitting. Then He says, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone.” That is the spirit of Luke 9:51. Jesus knew humiliation was coming. / He knew suffering was coming. / He knew the cross was coming. / Yet He set His face like flint. This is not stubbornness. Stubbornness can be foolish. This is holy resolve. This is obedience anchored in the Father's will. Object Lesson: Flint and Clay Hold two objects: a piece of soft clay and a slate. Clay can be pressed, shaped, bent, and changed by almost any outside force. But flint is firm. It holds its edge.

The next time you fear the future, rejoice in the Lord's sovereignty. Rejoice in what he has accomplished. Rejoice that...

Welcome to Day 2900 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2900 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 140:1-13 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2900 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2900 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: Shielded from the Serpent's Venom – The Cosmic Courtroom of King Yahweh In our previous expeditions through the majestic heights of the Book of Psalms, we rested in the transcendent sanctuary of Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Nine. We marveled at the staggering, intimate reality of God's complete omniscience and omnipresence, celebrating how He meticulously knit us together in the secret places of the earth, and how His protective hand continuously hems us in from behind and before. But as we step onto a brand-new mountain pass today, moving directly into Psalm One Hundred Forty, verses one through thirteen, the spiritual scenery shifts with dramatic, jarring intensity. We are descending from the quiet, beautiful mountaintop of divine contemplation, straight into the muddy, dangerous trenches of earthly and cosmic warfare. David reminds us quite vividly that while we are perfectly known and perfectly secure in the eyes of our Creator, we still must navigate a deeply broken, highly hostile wilderness, populated by those who actively align themselves with the forces of chaos and destruction. The first segment is:The Venom of Deception: Verbal Warfare in the Cosmic Realm Let us open our ears to the opening movements of this desperate prayer, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical thoughts found in verse one, verse two, and verse three. O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent. Those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. In this opening cry, David wastes absolutely no time exposing the terrifying nature of the adversaries who have surrounded his life. He pleads, “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent.” But notice carefully how David defines this violence; he does not immediately point to unsheathed swords, or marching infantries. Instead, he unmasks the internal architecture of their malice, explaining that they plot evil in their hearts, stir up trouble all day long, and weaponize their words, making their tongues sting like a snake, while the venom of a viper drips from their lips. To fully appreciate the gravity of these verses, we must view them through the fascinating lens of the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, words were never viewed as merely empty acoustic vibrations floating harmlessly through the air. Words were seen as potent, concrete extensions of spiritual reality, possessing the power to either bless and uphold cosmic order, or curse and unleash primordial chaos. When David describes his enemies as plotting evil in their hidden hearts, he is revealing that they are operating as human agents for the rebellious, unseen spiritual principalities who rule the dark corners of the globe. Furthermore, the striking imagery of the snake and the viper's venom carries a massive theological echo. It deliberately transports the ancient Israelite mind all the way back to the garden of Eden, back to the nachash—the deceptive, shining serpent who was a rebellious member of God's heavenly host. That original spiritual rebel did not overthrow humanity through physical violence; he overthrew humanity through the subtle, poisonous corruption of his words, whispering deceptive lies that fractured the cosmic order of Yahweh. David is declaring that the wicked people surrounding him are speaking the native, venomous language of the serpent, attempting to inject spiritual poison into the social, political, and spiritual life of God's covenant community. The second segment is: Hidden Snares Along the Trail: The Strategy of the Proud The narrative of David's struggle continues to unfold as he links his logical thoughts together in verse four and verse five, mapping out the covert operations of his predators. O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me. These proud people have set a trap to catch me. They have stretched out a net along the pathway and spread traps in my path. David intensifies his petition, crying out, “O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked. Protect me from those who are violent, for they are plotting against me.” He then uses the vivid vocabulary of an ancient wilderness hunter, describing how these proud people have set a trap, stretched out a massive net along the pathway, and spread hidden snares directly in his path. This section beautifully illustrates the treacherous nature of our spiritual and earthly journey. Our adversaries rarely launch their assaults out in the open where they can be easily anticipated. Instead, like a calculated hunter tracking prey through the brush, they rely on covert manipulation, gaslighting, and invisible entrapment. They wait until we are walking along our normal, daily pathway, and then they attempt to trip us into a compromise, or trap us in a web of false accusations. Notice that David specifically identifies these engineers of chaos as “proud people.” In the biblical worldview, pride is not just a psychological trait; it is a profound cosmic posture. To be proud means to actively refuse to submit to the sovereign rule of Yahweh, mimicking the original pride of the fallen cosmic rulers who erroneously believed they could usurp the authority of the Most High. These proud human adversaries set traps for David because they believe they can successfully operate outside of God's moral boundaries, tracking down and devouring the righteous without ever being held accountable by the cosmic court of heaven. The third segment is: Appealing to the Supreme Magistrate of Heaven Faced with venomous lips and hidden nets, David does not attempt to fight fire with fire, nor does he rely on his own military strategic brilliance. Instead, he enters the celestial courtroom, combining his urgent thoughts in verse six, verse seven, and verse eight. I said to the Lord, “You are my God!” Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle. Lord, do not give in to their evil desires. Do not let their evil plots succeed, or they will become proud. David plants his feet firmly on covenant ground, declaring directly to the Almighty, “You are my God! Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!” He appeals to Him as the Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued him, and the one who served as a protective helmet over his head on the day of intense battle. He begs the King, “Lord, do not give in to their evil desires. Do not let their evil plots succeed, or they will become proud.” This is a breathtaking masterclass in spiritual legal procedure. In the ancient world, when a weaker vassal was attacked by a hostile, lawless force, his only hope was to appeal to his high suzerain—the great king who had sworn a covenant oath to protect him. David bypasses all localized earthly authorities and goes straight to the ultimate Judge of the divine council. He uses the specific, sacred names of God—Yahweh and Adonai—reminding the Creator of their unique, binding relationship. By calling God “the strong one who rescued me,” David is looking backward at his historical track record of deliverance, recalling how Yahweh previously protected his head from the physical and spiritual arrows of his enemies on the field of conflict. David knows that if the Sovereign Lord allows these deceptive, serpentine plots to succeed, it will cause these wicked people—and the rebel spiritual powers backing them—to boast that they have successfully outmaneuvered the cosmic King. Therefore, David's prayer is not merely a plea for personal survival; it is an appeal for the public vindication of God's supreme authority over the forces of lawlessness. The fourth segment is: The Law of Reciprocity: Chaos Devouring Itself The psalm now transitions into an incredibly intense, imprecatory phase, where David outlines the divine retribution he desires to see fall upon his tormentors. Let us listen to these heavy words in...

Help Persecuted Christians TODAY: https://csi-usa.org/quickstart/ Christian Solidarity International On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: A new poll reveals a growing generational divide inside the Republican Party over support for Israel, as younger conservatives grow more skeptical of the war in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus, relief efforts continue after Venezuela's devastating earthquake. FOCUS: Professional magician Dustin Tavella is using his platform to share the Gospel, revealing how God transformed his life and how a powerful message given to his wife changed everything. MAIN THING: Internet streamer Sneako is under fire after making inflammatory remarks during an Egyptian World Cup celebration in New York. CBN's Raj Nair and Billy Hallowell unpack what happened, why it's drawing attention, and the broader cultural implications. BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 71:5 — "For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." SHOW LINKS Radical Revelations with Raj Nair https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-revelations/id1888511250 Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454

Control freaks are easily frustrated. We can't take control, because control is not ours to take. The Bible has a...

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. [NIV]

www.northmaincog.org/online Sovereign LORD 2026 Theme: Gentleness Series Title: Life Hacks – Lessons from Proverbs Scripture: Proverbs 16:9; 19:21; 20:24; 21:30-31 June 28th, 2026 Follow along on the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49617735

SHOW NOTES   In Podcast Episode 381, “Defining Moment vs. Moment of Defiance,” Kim discusses the similarities and differences between King Zedekiah of Judah and Samson. Both leaders had opportunities in the midst of great adversity to cry out to God, but only one used his voice to beg God to intervene. What became a defining moment for Samson was only one last moment of defiance for Zedekiah, and his life and legacy are found lacking.   Our focal passage for this episode is 2 Kings 25:1-7, with 7 as the focal verse:   7 They made Zedekiah watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.   Lagniappe:   21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison…28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. (Judges 16: 21, 28-30)     WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT FEATURE:   As you ponder the moments described in Samson's and Zedekiah's lives, what lessons did the Lord bring to your mind?   Additional Resources and Scriptures:   2 But neither King Zedekiah nor his attendants nor the people who were left in the land listened to what the Lord said through Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 37:2) Jeremiah 39:1-10 Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus X - https://x.com/eoinlovingjesus?s=21&t=YcRjZQUpvP7FrJmm7Pe1hg INSTAGRAM -  https://www.instagram.com/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus” YouTube Channel: Check it out at https://www.youtube.com/@EncouragingOthersInLovingJesus   I WANT TO BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.   RESOURCES USED FOR BOOK OF 1 & 2 Kings (1 & 2 Chronicles) PODCASTS: “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament OT in One Volume” “Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings” by Tony Merida “The Tony Evans Bible Commentary: Advancing God's Kingdom Agenda” “Life Application Study Bible” “The Swindoll Study Bible: NLT” by Charles R. Swindoll Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary “The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary” by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Editors) Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament, 2004, by Kenneth L. Barker, John R. Kohlenberger, III. xAI. (2026). Grok [Large language model]. https://x.ai/grok/chat      "Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus" Facebook Group:   Our Facebook Group is devoted to providing a place for us to encourage each other through all the seasons of life. Follow the provided link to request admittance into “Encouraging Others in Loving Jesus”—https://www.facebook.com/groups/encouragingothersinlovingjesus/ Feel free to invite others who will be good encouragers and/or need encouragement to follow Jesus.   This podcast is hosted by Kim Smith, a small town Country Girl who left her comfort zone to follow Jesus in a big City World. Now, she wants to use God's Word and lessons from her faith journey to encourage others in loving Jesus.   In each episode, Kim will share insights regarding a portion of God's Word and challenge listeners to apply the lessons to their daily lives.   If you want to grow in your faith and learn how to encourage others in loving Jesus, subscribe and commit to prayerfully listening each week.   Remember, “It's Always a Trust & Obey Kinda Day!”   If you have questions or comments or would like to learn more about how to follow Jesus, please email Kim at EncouragingOthersinLovingJesus@gmail.com.     National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline   988   https://988lifeline.org/   Reference: Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Tyndale House Publishers. Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004.   Podcast recorded through Cleanfeed and edited through GarageBand. The soundtrack, entitled “Outlaw John McShane” was obtained from Pixabay.     The HIDDEN Episodes:  If you can't access episodes 1-50 on your podcast app (the podcast was then entitled "A Country Girl in a City World - Loving Jesus"), you can get all the content at my Podbean site at https://acountrygirlinacityworldlovingjesus.podbean.com/  

www.northmaincog.org/online Sovereign LORD 2026 Theme: Gentleness Series Title: Life Hacks – Lessons from Proverbs Scripture: Proverbs 16:9; 19:21; 20:24; 21:30-31 June 28th, 2026 Follow along on the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49617735

He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. — Isaiah 40:23 Isaiah points out the Lord's supremacy over the government leaders of this world. They rise to power and seem unshakable, but they are eventually overthrown and replaced.Where are the pharaohs of Egypt? Where is Sennacherib of Assyria? Where is Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon? Where is Cyrus of Persia? Where is Alexander the Great? Where are the caesars of Rome? Where are the dictators who ruled with an iron fist? Where are the judges who made the courts a place of injustice and oppression? They have all fallen and will fall.The Lord himself is the one who reduces them to nothing. No political power can stand against the Lord's sovereignty. No court, however respected, can annul God's decrees. Human power is limited. The powerful people of this age will fall. All who exalt themselves and crush the defenseless with inhuman brutality will be torn from the earth and will perish.God brings down the proud and exalts the humble. History shows that one empire on the earth will follow after another. Great kings and powerful generals and clever judges will fall. “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength” and “soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). Sovereign Lord over all, you humble the proud and overthrow unjust powers. Teach us to trust in you, to defend the oppressed, and to wait on you with hope so that we may rise with renewed strength. In Jesus' name, Amen.

When life brings unexpected trials, it can feel like our strength, hope, and even our faith are beginning to fail. Psalm 73 reminds us that even when our flesh and hearts grow weak, God remains the strength that sustains us. He does not promise a life free from hardship, but He promises His presence through every valley we walk. Highlights: God remains our strength when our hearts and circumstances feel overwhelming Trials are a reality of living in a broken world, but God promises to walk with us through them True comfort comes from drawing near to God and trusting His presence God provides wisdom, peace, and guidance when we feel unable to move forward Even difficult seasons can reveal God’s faithfulness and deepen our dependence on Him Join the Conversation Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Even When the Heart FailsBy Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“…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. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Ps. 73:22-28 (NIV) Have you ever been through an unexpected trial and felt as if your heart and your flesh are failing? Where do you turn when the circumstances are so overwhelming, so oppressive, that it feels as if any and all physical strength has been drained out? Normal stamina and rigor seem to be completely absent, leaving you utterly exhausted from the simplest daily tasks. And if that isn’t challenging enough, your heart follows suit and struggles to carry the weight of your unwelcome burdens. Unfortunately, we all face hardships, disappointments, and at times even devastation. While the Bible is full of God’s promises, unending love, and hope for the future, it is also clear that sin and suffering are ever-present realities in this world. The consequences of these can wreak havoc on our hearts and minds. Our Heavenly Father understood this from the moment sin entered the world and forever changed the landscape of all of our lives. He made provision through His only Son to pay the penalty for sin, but that payment does not shield us from encountering heartbreak. While we cannot evade challenging and hurtful circumstances, God promises to walk side-by-side with us as we take every step through the valley. I don’t know where you find yourself today. Perhaps you are in a sweet season of joy and abundance. If so, I celebrate with you. Treasure the good gifts God has bestowed upon you during this time. But if you are facing a season of struggle, then I empathize and offer my deepest condolences. Today, I find myself wandering through yet another desert, confused, conflicted, and in desperate need of holy consolation. Yet even in this, I know God is still granting me “good” gifts, even if nothing about it feels “good.” There really are times when there is nothing here on earth that can satisfy or bring true comfort. Loved ones can be present, be a listening ear, and provide some measure of relief, but only the Lord can reach those dark caverns of our souls when the heart fails. He assures us that He is always with us, no matter how crushed and lost we feel. When we feel like we cannot possibly take one more step, He guides us with His counsel. He provides supernatural wisdom for the hard decisions we may have to make and a peace that surpasses all understanding. Though the wind and the waves may buffet our sails, the Lord declares, “Peace, be still.” As the Lord fulfills every one of these promises, He is granting us good gifts. He is demonstrating His unfailing love as He draws us closer to Him. God reveals Himself to us as we seek refuge in Him and in Him alone. We can trust Him. On the other side of the cross is resurrection. On the other side of whatever hardships and hurts you are facing today, there is glory. Will you join me today, as we remind ourselves of God’s goodness and promises shared in Psalm 73:22-28? “…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. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (NIV) Intersecting Faith & Life: Are there circumstances in your life right now that have threatened to overtake your faith and peace? Do you feel as if your heart has failed? If so, how does today’s scripture offer you hope? Even if the pain and disappointment feel unbearable, can you sense God’s presence in the midst of all you are going through? Regardless of where you find yourself today, I pray that God’s faithfulness is evident in your life, and you can declare with me, “It is good to be near God.” Further Reading:Hebrews 13:5John 16:33 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. — Isaiah 40:22 Isaiah reminds us that God's reign is not only in heaven but is also established over the entire earth. God rules over everything and everyone. All of the world's inhabitants—although great in number—cannot be compared to the immensity of God. The Lord is greater than all things.God is sovereign over the heavens and the earth. No empire or nation can compare to his reign. Before the greatness of God, humanity is tiny. No human being can be compared to God. Our strength is mere weakness, while God is all-powerful. Our wisdom is only foolishness, while God's wisdom is impenetrable. We need to place our trust in him.God is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. He created the world with a purpose and maintains it to fulfill that purpose. In the presence of God's divine majesty, the best we can do is bow down and worship the Lord in spirit and truth. The Lord of the universe loves and cares for us, and although we are small, he crowns us “with glory and honor.”Have you placed your trust in God? How have you surrendered the desires for your life to him today? Sovereign Lord of the universe, we are humbled before your majesty. Teach us to trust your wisdom, to yield our desires to you, and to worship you. Amen.

Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. — Isaiah 40:17 As he continues describing God in his majesty and superiority, Isaiah says that all the nations, in comparison, are “as nothing”—even “less than nothing.” This means there is no room for pride or any sense of self-accomplishment in the sight of God. When Isaiah wrote this passage, Babylon was the superpower in that part of the world. It conquered many nations and had dominion over them.Looking back, we see that the empires of the past fell. The great realm of Egypt lay covered with the dust of centuries. Assyria lost its far-reaching empire. Babylon, greater than Assyria, would soon fall into the hands of the Medo-Persians, and later Persia would fall to the Greeks. That is how it goes: nations rise and fall. Strong today, weak tomorrow. A nation may be rich and powerful for a time, but then it will crumble, fall, and eventually be forgotten— less than nothing.Only God is never removed from his throne. Only the glory of God never fades. Only the power of God is never confronted by a greater power. Proud nations drink the cup of failure, but the Lord God will never face defeat. Sovereign Lord, nations are as nothing before you, and yet you care for them and all people. Help us to trust in your unshakable rule. Root us in your eternal glory, unfailing power, and eternal reign that can never be challenged. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. — Isaiah 40:15 Here the prophet Isaiah portrays God's superiority over all the nations of the earth. The world's great economic and military powers are no match for God. Empires rise and fall, but God remains the Sovereign Lord over all. Armies develop weapons and conquer other powers, but then other, stronger armies rise—and fall. In the meantime God remains on the throne of the universe. In poetic language, Isaiah says that all these nations, with all their power, are to God “like a drop in a bucket” or like dust on a set of scales. And islands, with their charm and beauty, are only like fine dust that can blow away in a breeze.God is incomparable in his power. He is unique in his wisdom. He is indisputable in his governing. He is infinitely greater than everything he has created. Nothing compares to God. No one can equal him. In today's world we have more than 200 nations. Even all of them together cannot compare with God. God is greater than the universe. He is infinitely greater than anything that exists.Despite his greatness, the Lord is the personal God who cares about each one of us. He knows your name. He loves you with an everlasting love and draws you to himself. He has never given up on loving you, and he wants you to have full life with him forever. Sovereign Lord, humble our hearts before you. Though you rule the universe, you know and love each one of us. Draw us close, and keep us in your never-ending care. Amen.

Drawing from Asaph’s transparent confession in Psalm 73:2-3, this reflection explores how unresolved hurt and constant focus on injustice can slowly lead us toward disillusionment. Like Asaph, many believers struggle when they see harmful people thriving while their own wounds deepen. Yet the turning point in the psalm comes when Asaph intentionally enters God’s sanctuary and regains an eternal perspective. In God’s presence, he remembers that earthly success is temporary, but God’s love, justice, and guidance are eternal. This devotional encourages Christians to stop carrying pain alone and instead seek refuge in the Lord. God does not dismiss our hurt or ignore injustice. He sees every wound, strengthens weary hearts, and offers healing to those who draw near to Him. Even when circumstances remain difficult, His presence steadies us and renews our faith. Highlights Psalm 73 honestly addresses discouragement over injustice and evil. Comparing our suffering to others’ success can lead to bitterness and despair. Rumination and isolation often pull us further away from God’s peace. Asaph found clarity only after intentionally entering God’s presence. God offers refuge, healing, and perspective in seasons of pain. Justice may seem delayed, but God remains faithful and sovereign. Drawing near to God strengthens faith and quiets fear. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: When We Feel Discouraged by the Evil in Our WorldBy: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;I had nearly lost my foothold.For I envied the arrogantwhen I saw the prosperity of the wicked. - Psalm 73:2-3 (NIV) Some time ago, I met with a sweet woman trying to heal from some deep emotional wounds. Because of past harm, she struggled to trust others and feel safe in relationships. Relatively new in her faith and transformation journey, she was just beginning to make sense of her emotions and inner world. As her understanding grew, so did her anger. This multiplied when she learned the person who’d most harmed her had slandered her to others, causing some to misjudge her and others to withdraw completely. She felt like she would never break free from her pain and bitterness. Worse, her offender didn’t seem to suffer any consequences for her actions. The person actually seemed to be thriving. Have you been there? Watching someone else treat others with ruthless cruelty, and not only get away with it, but benefit from your pain and the wreckage they caused? We can all probably think of situations in which injustice left us deeply wounded, wondering why God allowed us to experience such pain. We’ve also probably watched others seem to get away with horrendous behavior, while our suffering only increases. This was precisely how Asaph, the royal musician who penned Psalm 73, felt. We don’t know when he wrote this passage. But if this is the same Asaph who served during the time of King David, he may have been watching the betrayal David experienced at the hands of his son. Or perhaps the wickedness he refers to hits closer to home. His words might also stem from a more existential reflection on considering the world at large. At times, it does seem like the wealthy, powerful, and unscrupulous thrive, with little worries or pain, while we fall into one crisis after another. And in those seasons when someone else’s success seems to mock our pain, it’s easy to question the heart, promises, and plans of God. Unfortunately, if we cease tending to our souls, our sorrow can turn to disillusionment and eventually bitterness. Our inner angst can turn us from, rather than to, the One who knows us fully, loves us deeply, and is always working on our behalf. When we sense ourselves tiptoeing toward disillusionment and despair, we can follow Asaph’s example, as revealed in verses 16-17. Initially, he attempted to make sense of his circumstances on his own (v. 16). This only increased his inner angst. But then, in the next verse, we read: “… till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (NIV). He intentionally turned to God. I don’t know how far he needed to travel to reach the Temple. But this required effort and determination. It also meant setting aside whatever other tasks he wanted to complete that day. When we’re hurting, frightened, or struggling with doubt, it’s easy to get stuck in our heads as we rehearse all the evils we’ve experienced or seen. The more we ruminate on what feels hard and uncertain, the more powerless and discouraged, and potentially, even abandoned, we feel. And our mind rarely remains focused on the inciting incident. Often, one negative thought leads to another, then another, until we’re overwhelmed. And like I said earlier, unmitigated introspection can pull us further from God, which only increases our fear or despair. But the converse occurs, as well. When we turn to God, seek His presence, and authentically engage with Him, He meets us in the intensity of our emotions and speaks clarity to our confusion, truth to our doubts, and surrounds us with His love. Did you catch how the Lord did this for Asaph? In God’s sanctuary, the place in which His presence dwelt, He gained faith-building understanding. Yes, the wicked seemed to thrive without any concerns or consequences. But justice would come, and Asaph would experience God’s goodness. Notice how he ended his poetic prayer. In verses 23-26, we read: 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.Whom have I in heaven but you?And earth has nothing I desire besides you.My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever. And then, in verse 28: But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; Intersecting Life & Faith: I don’t know what you’re going through currently, what feels heavy and unfair and unjust. But I do know God sees you, loves you, and is for you. He won’t abandon you in your pain, nor will He allow the wicked to thrive forever. He brings justice, healing, hope, and refuge. If you’re feeling disillusioned by someone else’s sinful behavior, bring your emotions, unfiltered, to God and trust Him to meet and to heal you there. To shield and uphold you in His love. Before you sign off, if this episode hit a tender place in your soul and you’re struggling to make sense of some relational patterns that are leading to more anxiety than joy, visit the Faith Over Fear podcast to listen to my conversation with Jennifer Renee Watson on the threads of people pleasing and how to gain the confidence to tend to your soul—when others try to beat you down. That episode is titled "When People Take Advantage of Your Kindness: Biblical Help for People Pleasing." Further Reading: Psalm 37:1-7 Romans 12:19 Psalm 94:1-3 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to Day 2863 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2863 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 127:1-5 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2863 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2863 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – The Architect, the Watchman, and the Warrior In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we climbed through the seventh Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Six. We stood in the tension of the “already, but not yet,” remembering the unbelievable, dream-like rescue of God's people from exile, while desperately praying for a fresh outpouring of His grace. We learned the profound, agricultural lesson of the sower. We discovered that in the contested territory of this fallen world, we often have to plant our seeds in tears, exhausted by the spiritual warfare around us. Yet, we anchored our souls to the unbreakable, cosmic guarantee that those who weep as they plant will eventually return singing, carrying a massive, joyful harvest. Today, we take our next deliberate steps upward on this ancient pilgrim trail. We are exploring the eighth song in this magnificent collection. We are turning our attention to Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, verses one through five, in the New Living Translation. Interestingly, this specific psalm is attributed to King Solomon. Solomon was the ultimate builder of the ancient world; he built the glorious Temple, fortified cities, and amassed unprecedented wealth. Yet, in this psalm, he pauses to deliver a sobering warning about the futility of human ambition. He teaches us that building a physical empire, or a lasting family legacy, is entirely useless if the Architect of the cosmos is not the one holding the blueprints. Let us step onto the trail, and learn how to build a legacy that actually lasts. The first segment is: The Futility of Autonomous Ambition Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verses one and two. Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. This magnificent stanza opens with a definitive, double-sided declaration of human limitation. “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.” To truly grasp the weight of these words, we must view them through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview, specifically regarding the Divine Council and the cosmic rebellion. When human beings attempt to build a house, a dynasty, or a fortified city without the authorization and the active presence of Yahweh, they are essentially repeating the catastrophic sin of the Tower of Babel. At Babel, humanity sought to build a localized empire, a massive tower to reach the heavens, in order to make a great name for themselves, completely autonomous from the Creator. That act of autonomous ambition resulted in God disinheriting the nations, confusing their languages, and placing them under the jurisdiction of lesser, rebel spiritual principalities, the fallen elohim. Therefore, any city, or any human institution, built outside the cosmic order of God, is inherently vulnerable. It belongs to the chaotic, unstable realm of the rebel gods. You can hire the greatest architects, lay the thickest foundation stones, and post the most highly trained sentries on the walls, but if the Most High God is not the active Protector of that territory, the entire enterprise is spiritually bankrupt. It is destined to collapse into the dust. This reality brings us to the deeply psychological, and practical, observation in verse two. “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” The rebel gods of the surrounding pagan cultures demanded endless, anxious labor from their followers. The deities of Canaan, Egypt, and Babylon were viewed as cruel taskmasters, requiring constant sacrifices and frantic appeasement just to ensure the rains would fall, and the crops would grow. The kingdom of darkness thrives on human anxiety. It wants you waking up before dawn, terrified of failure, and going to bed late, exhausted and consumed by the stress of basic survival. But Solomon, the wisest king of Israel, calls this frantic, autonomous striving “useless.” It is vanity. It is chasing the wind. He draws a sharp, beautiful contrast between the oppressive systems of the world, and the loving economy of Yahweh. “For God gives rest to his loved ones.” Other translations say, “He provides for His beloved even in his sleep.” The God of the Bible is not a cruel taskmaster. He is the loving Father who provides Shalom—complete, restful wholeness. This does not mean that believers are called to be lazy. We are called to be diligent, responsible stewards of creation. But the motivation changes entirely. We do not work out of a suffocating, paralyzing fear of starvation, or a desperate need to build our own autonomous empires. We work from a place of profound rest, knowing that the Sovereign Lord is the ultimate Provider, and that He is intimately guarding the house we are building. The second segment is: The Divine Gift and the Rejection of the Fertility Cults Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verse three. Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Suddenly, the psalm pivots. Solomon shifts the metaphor from building a physical house out of stones and cedar, to building a household, a dynasty, made out of human lives. He declares, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” In our modern culture, we might read this simply as a sweet, sentimental statement about the joy of parenting. But in the ancient Near East, this was a massive, aggressive theological claim. It was an act of profound spiritual warfare. The nations surrounding Israel were deeply entrenched in fertility cults. They worshiped gods like Baal and Asherah, believing that these localized, rebel deities controlled the womb, the rain, and the harvest. When a couple wanted to conceive a child, they would participate in the corrupt, often deeply immoral, rituals of the pagan temples, frantically trying to manipulate the gods into granting them fertility. By stating that “Children are a gift from the Lord,” the psalmist is explicitly stripping all power and authority away from the false gods of Canaan. He is reminding the pilgrims that Baal has absolutely no jurisdiction over human life. The womb is not controlled by the chaotic forces of nature; it is the exclusive, sovereign domain of Yahweh. Every single child is a direct, intentional inheritance, and a precious reward, handed down by the Creator of the universe. To build a family legacy, you do not turn to the frantic, anxious practices of the world; you look upward, to the Giver of all good things. The third segment is: The Warrior's Quiver and the Expansion of the Kingdom Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven: verses four and five. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. Having established the divine origin of the family, Solomon introduces one of the most striking, martial metaphors in the entire Psalter. “Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.” Why does he compare children to weapons of war? Because, in the biblical worldview, raising a family is not a neutral, passive activity. It is an act of strategic, generational combat. The world is contested territory, deeply infected by the lies, the injustice, and the chaotic rebellion of the dark spiritual principalities. When you raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, you are intentionally shaping imagers of God, preparing them to push back against the darkness. Consider the nature of an arrow. An arrow is not meant to be kept safely inside the quiver forever. A warrior carefully shapes the shaft, balances the weight, sharpens the arrowhead, and attaches the fletching. All of this meticulous, grueling preparation is done for one specific purpose: to launch the arrow outward, into enemy...

Yesterday I gave you a new name you couldn't pronounce, but a powerful promise from our God through a name he reveals. Remember, Yahweh M – God’s promise of actively sanctifying you to make you holy simply by relationship with him. Not through your perfection, but through his. Not by your works, but the works already done for you. And because of this, you can surrender and find sweet rest. Now today, we will study a name you really know. A name you can pronounce. A name you can understand. And we will see God's perfect fulfillment of this name in the work of Jesus. Psalm 23:1 (You complete the sentence) – “The LORD is my …. SHEPHERD” Yes, God is our shepherd, meaning he is our guide, our provider, and our protector. He is present, and he is personally aware of YOU. This is your game changer! Recognize, you are the sheep. The one created and designed to need help. You were never intended to know the way. You were never expected to get there on your own. You simply can't – you're the sheep. You were designed to need a shepherd. Ezekiel 34:11-12, This is what the Sovereign LORD says, “I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.” Have you ever had one of those dark, cloudy days? One of those days that rocked your world and caused you to get lost in the darkness? One of those days that made you question everything you thought you knew. Yes, those are the days when sheep tend to get scattered. We run and hide in our thoughts and try to isolate from the pain. And my friend, don't you know that's when you are in the most danger? Running and hiding is never your answer. If you watch a few nature shows on Africa, you will quickly see the lesson play out. If there's a group of zebra (which by the way are called a dazzle), and those zebra are being chased by a lion, they are safe as long as they stay together. But inevitably, do you know what happens – there's one who strays from the dazzle and runs to hide by itself. THAT'S THE ONE THAT GETS EAT EVERY TIME. What's the moral of the story? Don't run and hide. Stay with your people. I've intentionally created my own small zebra herd to go through life with. We are accountability sisters. We don't let each other hide. If one is suffering, we all gather around. If one is struggling, we pick them up. We continually call on the God for each other. Because here's the truth, our enemy is like a lion! 1 Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” God tells us he is the shepherd finding his sheep that have scattered. He is rescuing them from the places where they run on their dark, hard days of life. Girl, if you've been hiding, he's looking for you! Ezekiel 34 goes on to say in verses 15-16, “I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Wow, what a promise we have from God. He is our shepherd. To study a shepherd is to study the ways of our God. A shepherd doesn't just watch sheep, he LEADS his sheep. The shepherd knows what his sheep need and he knows where to find it. He knows where those green pastures are. He knows where those still waters are. Every step, he leads his sheep to what they need. A shepherd fights for his sheep. There's always a lion looking to devour that helpless sheep and without a shepherd to protect them, they will never survive. Scripture talks about King David as a young boy being a shepherd to his father's sheep. He became strong and ready for battle against the giant Goliath because he had been fighting off lions to protect his father's sheep for a long time. A shepherd is actively fighting to protect his sheep. You simply have no idea the battles God fought for you just YESTERDAY. You are very likely completely unaware of all God did to protect you from harm. That's the thing about sheep – we can be completely clueless about the dangers. We can be so hyper focused on trying to run to the next pasture that we are oblivious of the lion that was waiting around that corner. But the shepherd knew and the shepherd protected. Do you ever wonder why where you wanted to go and what you wanted to do didn't work out? Do you ever wonder why you can't just go where you want to go and have it the way you want it? LIONS!!!!!! Hidden dangers of the enemy. You may be clueless, but your shepherd is not. He redirects you out of protection. How about you stop fighting against his guidance and trust him. Once again, we're back to that same word again – SURRENDER. The LORD is your shepherd – sweet sheep, will you trust him? Will you go where he is leading you? Will you trust where he guides? Will you lay down and rest when he says to stop? Will you stop wandering off convinced there's something better somewhere else? When a sheep is injured, the shepherd literally carries them. He lovingly binds up their wounds and brings them healing. He restores them. This is the work of the shepherd. And the LORD says, THAT IS WHO I AM FOR YOU, my girl. I AM YOUR SHEPHERD. A shepherd doesn't just show up for working hours and then leave. No, a shepherd lives with his sheep. He walks with them. He lays down with them. He stays with the sheep. The truth is, you are never alone. You are never in this by yourself. You never have to look out for yourself all on your own. Whether you know it or not, you've had a shepherd right there with you every day of your life. If the Lord is your shepherd, you are never lost, you are never alone, and you are never without what you truly need. You are perfectly cared for. You can call on the Shepherd. That's who God is for you. He is your guide. He is your provider. He is your protector. And he's sent a GOOD SHEPHERD to be forever with you. That's our Jesus! Here's what Jesus says in John 10, starting in verse 11, “I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the GOOD SHEPHERD: I know my own sheep, and they know me.” You can call him GOOD SHEPHERD. You can CALL ON the GOOD SHEPHERD. You can absolutely COUNT ON the GOOD SHEPHERD to show up for you. He literally knows you. He knows precisely where you are at this very moment, and he has a good place to take you to next. Isn't that amazing to think that our Good Shepherd actually sees what is ahead for you and is continually leading you to that good place?!!! And he knows every threat along the way so he protects you. He knows every need for the journey so he provides for you. If you get hurt on the way, he heals you. He stays close. But if you get yourself a wild hair and decide to not stay close to the Good Shepherd, he will go search for you and rescue you. If you're the one who is hiding, he is looking for you. If you're the one who has strayed, you're not beyond his reach, just fall back into his arms. If you're one who is hurting, let him heal you. If you're one who is worried about future pastures, stay close and let him show you the way. God made a promise to be your shepherd, and he sent his only son to be YOUR GOOD SHEPHERD! You can call him by name now. Good Shepherd, this sheep really needs you today. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

There is a particular kind of weariness that comes from feeling stuck — when you have tried every solution you can think of, waited longer than feels reasonable, and still find yourself in the same place, wondering if anything will ever change. In those moments, it is tempting to conclude that you have simply reached the end of what is possible. But what if the end of your possibilities is precisely where God's begin? Jeremiah 32:17 is a declaration that refuses to be contained by our circumstances: the God who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm is the same God who is present in your stuck place right now. Nothing — not your complicated relationship, your unanswered question, your closed door, your exhausted imagination — is too hard for Him. The obstacles that loom so large in our vision are remarkably small compared to the power of the One who spoke galaxies into existence. He is not intimidated by what you are facing. And He is not finished. New possibilities do not always arrive as dramatic breakthroughs — sometimes they come as a quiet nudge, a fresh perspective, a creative idea that hadn't occurred to you before. But they come. Keep your eyes open, keep bringing your questions to God, and keep trusting the One who can do what you cannot. Something new may be closer than you think. Today's Bible Verse "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 32:17, NIV Ponder Today Feeling stuck is not the same as being without hope — the God who created the heavens and the earth is never limited by the circumstances that feel impossible to us. When we focus first on God's greatness rather than our problems, our perspective shifts — the obstacles are still real, but they are suddenly much smaller than the power available to us. New possibilities don't always arrive dramatically — sometimes God moves through a fresh idea, a subtle nudge, or a creative solution that opens a door we hadn't noticed before. God doesn't expect us to figure everything out on our own — He invites us to bring every question and uncertainty to Him, and to ask for guidance at every step of the way. God's timing may look different from ours, but He is always at work — even when we cannot yet see results, new possibilities are forming beneath the surface of what is visible to us. Today's Prayer Dear God, You are the Creator of heaven and earth, and Your love and power are unlimited. You see exactly where I feel stuck, and I confess that I sometimes focus more on the size of my problems than on the greatness of You. Help me trust You to bring new possibilities into my life. Open my eyes to solutions, ideas, and opportunities I might be missing. When I don't know what to do next, guide me step by step. Remind me that nothing is too hard for You, and give me patience when Your answers don't come right away. I trust that You are at work, creating something new. Thank You for walking with me. Amen. Enjoy Today's Prayer? If this episode encouraged you, we'd love to stay connected! Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and faith-filled content delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss an episode — subscribe and share with someone who needs encouragement today. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.