Podcasts about Spirit

Isaiah 48:12-50:11, Eph 4:17-32, Ps 69:1-18, Pr 24:5-6

Isaiah 48:12-50:11, Eph 4:17-32, Ps 69:1-18, Pr 24:5-6

Sometimes the right choice is also the hardest one. In our daily prayer and devotional, we are reminded that as parents, spouses, friends, or leaders, God often calls us to take steps of faith that don’t align with the world’s expectations. Saying “no” to conformity and “yes” to God’s way can feel uncomfortable in the moment, but His Word reminds us that His will is always good, pleasing, and perfect. Conviction is often the Spirit’s way of guiding us into what is best. Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation happens as we renew our minds in God’s truth. When we consistently lean into Scripture, pray for discernment, and trust His leading, He equips us with courage to walk forward—even when the path feels uncertain. Faith-filled steps may not always be easy, but they are always worth it. When we choose obedience, we not only honor God but also position ourselves and those we love to receive His best. Today's Bible Reading: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." – Romans 12:2 Key Takeaways Conviction is an invitation to step away from conformity and into God’s will. Renewing our minds with Scripture helps us discern His direction clearly. Faith often requires uncomfortable but courageous steps of obedience. God’s plans are always for our good, even when they feel hard in the moment. Let’s Pray Together Lord God, You are the way, and Your way is perfect. Help me not to conform to the world but to be renewed daily in Your Word. Give me courage to follow through when I feel convicted, trusting that Your plan is good, pleasing, and perfect. Thank You for guiding me and walking with me as I take steps of faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Related Resources & Articles How to Recognize God’s Voice in Your Decisions – Crosswalk.com 7 Ways to Build Unshakable Faith – BibleStudyTools.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Mind Shift Podcast, Aaron McManus and his father, Erwin Raphael McManus, dive into spirituality, miracles, and the reality of spiritual warfare. Aaron opens with lighthearted banter about culture and podcasting while Erwin reflects on authenticity and critiques within faith communities. They discuss Aaron's approach to handling online negativity and the importance of maintaining a positive presence, especially for young people, before shifting to Erwin's powerful personal stories—surviving near-fatal falls, being healed from paralysis, and facing a knife-wielding man driven by voices to kill him. Together, they emphasize the role of character, the fruits of the Spirit, and spiritual “frequency” in navigating these battles, stressing that true faith is marked by authenticity and resilience. Erwin reminds listeners that while spiritual warfare is real, the light always prevails over darkness, leaving the episode on a note of hope, faith, and courage.-Join the Mind Shift community here: http://erwinmcmanus.com/mindshiftpodFollow On Socialhttps://www.youtube.com/@ErwinRaphaelMcManushttps://instagram.com/mindshiftpodhttps://instagram.com/erwinmcmanushttps://instagram.com/aaroncmcmanusJoin The Newsletter!https://erwinmcmanus.com/newsletter

EVEN MORE about this episode!What if healing could flow not only to us but also to our beloved pets through the power of Spirit? In this episode, we explore the miracles of energetic healing, intuition, and spirit communication. Jeff from Virginia finds relief from kidney stone pain using spiritual visualizations, while Mary from Nova Scotia shares her deep heart-to-heart connection with her dog, Loki, as they face health challenges together. Chrissy discovers comfort and joy after her husband's passing through messages from beyond, and Rachel from Huntsville learns to interpret her dog Koozie's quiet requests. Clay from Oakland finds healing in memories of his cherished cat, Mervyn, reminding us how love bridges the gap between worlds.These heartfelt stories reveal how pets and loved ones continue to guide us through dreams, signs, and subtle communication. We also explore past-life wisdom, intuitive development, and the supportive presence of spirit guides. Together, these experiences offer powerful insights into how healing, love, and Spirit are always available, enriching our daily lives and deepening our connections to those we hold dear.Episode Chapters:(0:00:01) - Personal Healing(0:06:52) - Healing Pets and Bone Loss(0:21:16) - Communicating With Spirits and Healing(0:29:28) - Spiritual Messages for Pet and Loved Ones(0:38:29) - Connecting With Spirit and Healing(0:46:09) - Teddy's Love Guides Personal Healing(0:51:36) - Spiritual Healings and Pet Guidance➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Español YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Português YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Deutsch YouTube➡️Subscribe to Ask Julie Ryan Français YouTube✏️Ask Julie a Question!

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us into day 270 of our journey through the Scriptures, sharing readings from Ezra 4, Psalms 113 and 127, and Luke 9. Together, we'll witness the opposition faced by the Jewish people as they rebuild the temple, rejoice in the psalms of praise and wisdom, and follow Jesus as he sends his disciples, feeds the multitude, and reveals the true cost—and reward—of discipleship. Hunter weaves these passages together, reflecting on what it means to find real life in Christ by letting go of the world's definition of success and embracing the way of the cross. The episode concludes with heartfelt prayers and a warm reminder: you are loved. Join us as we seek wisdom, encouragement, and strength from God's Word on this September 26th. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Losing to Gain: The Way of the Cross If you hang on to your life, making it about you, insisting on your own way, you will lose your way. In the end, all your effort to gain will be a loss. The world's siren song is self and success. We think these are the marks of real living, the fruit of our hard work, the result of our cunning and sweat and our dedication. The world tells us that we will win and live with big bank accounts, big churches and big egos. That's the way of the world. And too often it can become the way of our churches, the way of our own lives. But Jesus points to something else. He points to the way of his kingdom. He says that we can gain all of the world and lose our soul. The way to live, the way to win in this kingdom is to daily take up a cross. People who carry crosses are giving evidence of their death. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth. Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels, a plentiful harvest of new lives.” The life released in death is released in resurrection power, not the power of the flesh. And its results are abundant. The results are lives awakened to the love of God who comes to deliver us from our success and cravings for life on our own terms, those things that lead to nothing in the end. Jesus shows us the way to his kingdom. He shows us that he is the way to life and love and abundance by finding our lives in him, to be awakened to the life that is ours in Him. But we must turn away from the siren songs of this world and turn up the sound and music of heaven, the sound and the song of our Lord and Christ, who tells us, “Follow me and you will truly live.” And that's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In this episode, I talk about why discernment speaks in peace, not logic, the difference between soul knowing vs. mind overthinking, how to recognize when God is confirming something without “evidence,” why peace is stronger data than pressure and more. CONNECT WITH ME…→ Instagram — @mattgottesman→ My Substack — mattgottesman.substack.com → Apparel — thenicheisyou.comRESOURCES…→ Recommended Book List — CLICK HERE→ Workshops — CLICK HERE→ Masterclass — CLICK HEREWORKSHOPS + MASTERCLASS:→ Need MORE clarity? - Here's the FREE… 6 Days to Clarity Workshop - clarity for your time, energy, money, creativity, work & play→ Write, Design, Build: Content Creator Studio & OS - Growing the niche of you, your audience, reach, voice, passion & incomeOTHER RELATED EPISODES:Answered Prayers Are Often Disguised As Uncomfortable BlessingsApple: https://apple.co/3HTDsjGSpotify: https://bit.ly/3JYc4l7

Nehemiah 1-5

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” (John 16:8–9 NLT) Over the next few days, we’re going to look at the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, one of God’s greatest gifts to us. The Holy Spirit performs vital duties in this world. Yet many of them go unnoticed because we simply take them for granted. But it’s important for God’s people to understand and celebrate His work. So, let’s start with this one: The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me” (John 16:8–9 nlt). The Holy Spirit shows us that we are sinners. He communicates the amazing truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He shows us that we need to turn to God. Without the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, none of us ever would have come to Jesus. That’s why, when I pray for a nonbeliever, I say, “Lord, convict them by Your Holy Spirit.” If I tell someone that Jesus has made my life fuller and better, and that I have joy and peace, they will think, “Well, that’s fine for you.” But what they need to realize is that they’re a sinner in need of a Savior. And that’s the work of the Spirit. The Spirit convicts us of our sin—not to drive us to despair, but to send us into the open arms of Jesus. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter delivered a sermon. Some of the people in the audience were culpable in Jesus’ crucifixion. Acts 2:37 says, “Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’” (NLT). The Holy Spirit was doing the piercing. The idea of piercing someone’s heart may be a little unsettling—if you imagine the act as an attack with a knife. But what if the blade is a scalpel? And the one wielding it is a highly trained surgeon? And the piercing is a necessary procedure to remove a cancerous tumor? Suddenly the scenario is reframed as a life-giving act of mercy. So it is with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. He reveals the ugly truth—that we are sinners, powerless to save ourselves. He reveals the dire consequences—that we face God’s eternal judgment. And then He reveals the life-giving truth—that God made salvation possible through the sacrifice of His Son. The Holy Spirit pierces our hearts—not to weaken us or destroy us, but to save us. He shows us just how much we need Jesus. Reflection question: What did the convicting work of the Holy Spirit look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this insightful episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, hosts Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb begin their series on Jesus's parables by examining the Parable of the Sower (or Soils). This foundational teaching from Christ reveals why some hearts receive the gospel message while others reject it. The hosts unpack the four soil types Jesus describes, exploring what each represents spiritually and how these patterns continue to manifest today. They emphasize that while the parable reveals different responses to the gospel, it also provides comfort for believers engaged in evangelism, reminding us that outcomes ultimately depend not on the sower's skill but on the condition of the soil—a condition that only God can prepare. This episode offers both theological depth and practical encouragement for Christians seeking to understand the various responses to the gospel message in their own ministry contexts. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Sower serves as a hermeneutical key for understanding all of Jesus's parables, as it directly addresses why Jesus taught in parables and provides the interpretive framework for understanding their purpose. The parable reveals four types of responses to the gospel (represented by the four soils), but only one that leads to genuine salvation and fruit-bearing. The focus of the parable is not on the sower's skill or the seed's quality but on the condition of the soil—emphasizing God's sovereignty in salvation while encouraging continued evangelism. The "rocky ground" hearers represent those who initially receive the gospel with joy but have no root system to sustain them when trials come, often resulting in what we might call "deconstruction" today. Christians should expect varied responses to gospel proclamation and not be discouraged when the seed appears to be wasted on unresponsive hearts, as this pattern was predicted by Jesus himself. The parable provides a warning against shallow faith while encouraging believers to develop deep spiritual roots that can withstand persecution and trials. Genuine conversion is ultimately evidenced by fruit-bearing, not merely by initial enthusiasm or religious affiliation. Understanding the Soils The Parable of the Sower presents four distinct soil types, each representing different responses to the gospel message. The first soil—the path—represents hearts where the gospel makes no impact whatsoever; the seed simply bounces off and is quickly snatched away by Satan. This illustrates not merely outward rejection of the gospel, but also intellectual non-comprehension. As Tony explains, this doesn't necessarily mean active hostility toward the gospel but could simply be indifference: "It may not be someone who has like a closed fist, 'I hate the gospel, I hate everything about God,' but for some reason they're just not [interested]." This parallels Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him." The rocky soil represents those who initially receive the gospel with enthusiasm but lack depth. Their faith appears genuine at first but quickly withers under pressure or persecution. This phenomenon is particularly evident in what we often call "deconstruction" today—where someone who appeared genuinely converted falls away when their faith is tested. As Jesse notes, "I think what I've been helpful for me is to get outta my mind...what's the length of time here? Is it possible that somebody could be in this place...which presents like a setting down of deep roots that could last like years on end?" The parable reminds us that immediate joy at receiving the gospel is not necessarily evidence of saving faith, and it calls us to examine whether our own faith has sufficient depth to withstand trials. The Comfort of Realistic Expectations One of the most encouraging aspects of this parable is how it calibrates our expectations about evangelism and gospel ministry. Jesus teaches that when the gospel is proclaimed, we should expect varied responses—including outright rejection—not because of any failure in the message or messenger, but because of the condition of human hearts. This provides tremendous comfort for believers engaged in evangelistic efforts who might otherwise be discouraged by apparent failure. Tony highlights this point: "This parable is not about the skill of the sower or even the efficacy of the seed...The point of the parable...is that it has to do with the soil itself." This understanding frees us from the pressure of thinking we must somehow perfect our evangelistic technique or presentation, while also removing the false guilt that can come when people reject the message we share. Furthermore, the parable encourages continued, generous sowing of the gospel seed. As Tony observes, "We don't see the sower in this parable meticulously only identifying the good soil and only planting the seeds there. He does promiscuously spread this seed everywhere that he can." This reminds us that our responsibility is faithful proclamation, while the results remain in God's sovereign hands. Memorable Quotes "The Parable of the Sower teaches really that the gospel call goes out to all... but only those who God regenerates, that good soil, are gonna receive it savingly and will bear fruit." - Jesse Schwamb "Just because our experience of Christianity and our experience of being in the faith feels so genuine and real and rooted, we should also recognize that it felt real and genuine and rooted for [those who later fell away]... There's a caution there for us." - Tony Arsenal "The exhortation built into this is that we need to seek that root. We don't get to determine what kind of soil we are on an ultimate level—that's God's election and his secret providence. But on a horizontal level, in our experience of things, we have agency, we make decisions. We seek to be rooted or unrooted in the gospel." - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript [00:00:36] Introduction and Greetings Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 462 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I am Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast of Good Soil. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. Well, will you look at us? Look at us. It's finally and officially begun. And that is this conversation. [00:01:00] Kickoff to the Parable Series Jesse Schwamb: This episode is really the kickoff, well, the first parable that we're going through together, starting a long conversation that I think is gonna bear much fruit, if you will. Yes. Maybe 30, maybe 60, maybe a hundred times. Lord willing. It's gonna be great. And we're starting off with a doozy. Yes. Actually, maybe this is like the granddaddy of all the parables because we're gonna hear Jesus tell us something about the word of God and how it's received among different hearers. And this is so fantastic. It's the only place to begin because this is truly some eternally contemporary words. Yeah, it's, this is the parable that's continually verified under our own eyes. Wherever the word of God is preached or expounded and people are assembled to hear it, the sayings of our Lord in this parable are found to be true. It describes what goes on as a general rule in our congregations in the world. Anytime the word of God goes out, what a place to begin. So we're gonna get there. It's gonna be great, don't you worry, dear listener. [00:02:04] Affirmations and Denials Jesse Schwamb: But of course, before we do that, it's our tradition, our word that's spoken is always something in affirmation with something or in denial against something. So I say to you, as I always do, Tony. What do you have for us on this episode? Uh, an affirmation or denial. Tony Arsenal: This is an affirmation. I'll try to keep it nice and short and tight. Uh, I am affirming everything that comes with the fall. It's the air's getting crisp. The season, the, the pumpkin. Yeah. Not, not the fall. With the, let's, let's, let's clarify. I'm affirming everything that comes with autumn. So, uh, the air's crisp, the pumpkin spice is flowing, the leaves are starting to come down. Although, as a New Englander, I feel like I might be a little disappointed this year they're saying that it might not be as vibrant because we've been under a bit of a drought. But, uh, I, I'm all for all of it. Sweaters, gimme like a nice cozy scarf to put on and like a, I don't know, like a stocking cap. Gimme some flannel. I'm just ready to rock and roll. I'm, I'm, I'm done with summer and I'm ready for fall and yeah, that's, that's the whole thing. That's the affirmation. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. [00:03:09] Autumnal Delights and Debates Jesse Schwamb: Beautiful. It's speaking of like eternally or seasonally contemporary. That is so good. Plus I would say like the fall or autumn. The best adjectives, doesn't it? Yes. Like including like the word ottum. Yes. Like, that's just a great word that we, we do not use enough of. So this season, loved ones dropping a tum in there because Yes. It's just such a good word. Tony Arsenal: And I, I know people hate on the pumpkin spice and uh, there was a rev, I think I've said this before, it's re revolutionized my understanding because I used to get so mad because I was like, this doesn't even taste like pumpkin. It's not pumpkin flavored items, it's pumpkin spiced. Flavored items. So it's the, the spice you would use in pumpkin pie is the spice that they're talking about. So people complain that you're just putting nutmeg in things. And to that, I say yes, that's the point. You just start adding nutmeg or pumpkin spice or cloves or all spice or whatever it might be. The point is we're using the same spices that you would use for making a pumpkin pie or some other sort of fall. Delicious fall. Pumpy squashy, goodness. Jesse Schwamb: You got that right. This is a classic case of don't hate the player. Hate the game. Tony Arsenal: It's true, it's true. And if you don't like it, if you don't like pumpkin spice, then just don't talk to me at all. I'm just kidding. Still get pumpkin spice. Like you can go to Starbucks and get the same, same coffee you always get. You don't have to get pumpkin spice, you don't have to drink pumpkin beer, you don't have to do any of that. The all the stuff is, all the normal stuff is still available. They don't tell you you can't have it. Nobody is opening your mouth and pouring it down your throat. So just calm down, order your normal drip coffee and move on with your life. Jesse Schwamb: Speaking of polarizing autumnal type things, I don't know if we've talked about probably, we have talked about this and I've just forgotten. Where do you land on the whole. Cotton, uh, sorry. Candy corn, not cotton candy, but candy corn. Tony Arsenal: I, I feel like we have talked about this and my perspectives may have changed over the years. I'm not a big fan of candy corn, but I will eat it until I vomit. If you put it in front, I think is the, is the consensus that if there's a bowl of it in front of me, the first thing that I will do is I will break off two little white tips of the ca uh, candy corn and stick them on my fangs and pretend to be vampire. Jesse Schwamb: Beautiful. Tony Arsenal: And then I will eat the remainder of the pound and a half of candy that's in front of me until I throw up. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And I know there's some difference between like candy, corn and like the little pumpkin confectionary ones. Yeah. Some people prefer those over others. And then this is not even to talk about the whole debate between when it comes to Reese's Peanut butter cups and Oh yeah. The pumpkin variety of those and No, all that stuff. Tony Arsenal: No. Mm. Jesse Schwamb: No. To those? Tony Arsenal: No, to those. The, the shaped, the shaped, uh, Reese's Peanut butter objects, I suppose they're not cups at that point. Uh, they use a different kind of peanut butter. I dunno if you know that, but they use a different peanut butter. So they, they actually do taste different than the actual didn't know that says peanut butter cups. Um, it's either a different kind of peanut butter or a different kind of chocolate. But one of the primary substances, uh, not in the Aristotelian sense, uh, one of the primary substances is different. And so it does actually taste different. It's not as good. And then the balance between the chocolate and the peanut butter is off. It's, it's not good. I'm a, I'm a peanut butter cup. Uh, I like to say aficionado, but I think probably snob would be a better. A better term for it. Jesse Schwamb: Listen, you'll, you like what you like by the way, only on this podcast, only, I think among long-term listeners, would it be necessary to clarify that you do not mean substance in there was six alien sense. Tony Arsenal: That's true. That's, that's definitely true. Well, Jesse, that is where we are. Enough about my, uh, fall. Uh, food preferences. What are you affirming and or denying? Tonight, [00:07:02] Musical Recommendations Jesse Schwamb: I'm gonna also come along with you on it with the affirmation, and maybe while you're drinking that PSL or you're searching for that candy, corn, you might like, want something to put into your ears that isn't us, that's a little bit more melodic. And so I'm affirming with the, this time and age in which it is all about curation. That's often a lovely thing. I use Spotify for all of my music consumption, and they just fed me like a really interesting playlist that I would never have thought of as a category, but I've really been enjoying, it's called Math Rock. And I saw, and I thought I'm, I'm usually kinda like dubious of the Spotify playlist because like they're kind of out there for me generally. But I thought to myself, well, this is an interesting port man too. Like, I like math. I like rock, and the description was complex rhythms and mesmerizing loops. So I thought, I like complex rhythms. I like loops that continue and mesmerize, so the check it out for yourself. If you're looking for something that's like, it's enough to be interesting while you're working on something, but not too interesting. So that distracts you. This is apparently the jam. So yeah, it's like just really interesting rock oriented, mostly instrumental music that is like. Really motivating, but again, not interesting enough to really distract you from the task at hand if that's not your thing. The other thing I would recommend, I know you'll join me in this, Tony, is that poor Bishop Hooper released a new album this week. It's called The Serpent and the Seed, and this one has a ton of tracks on it, like 18 or so, and it, it as well is a unique mix of both instrumental, really lovely, beautiful pieces and then some that carry more vocal and melodic stuff that's kind of their customary jam. Both of 'em are great. They both do have kind of an an autumnal vibe, if I'm honest. Now I'm thinking about it. It's really the perfect compliment to whatever it is that you're consuming that has that pumpkin spice in it. So math, rock, the serpent and the seed. There you go. Tony Arsenal: I'm trying to synthesize. I mean, math and rock are like two of Jesse's favorite things. So I'm trying to synthesize what it would be like to scream the quadratic equation at someone with some sort of like slightly off cadence, dissonant guitar rift underneath. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Tony Arsenal: I feel like there's a Me Without You album out there somewhere that that's exactly what it is. But Jesse Schwamb: yeah, probably there should Tony Arsenal: be at least. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there, there absolutely should be. And I'm with you. I'm willing to work on that album. That's a great idea. Like just, it's just an album of mathematical equations and like the deep mysteries of life, you know, listen, math is beautiful. Numbers are stories. There's, there's so much there. Yeah. You had me at Quadratic, so I, I think we've, we've given people a lot to enjoy in this fall season. It's true. Tony Arsenal: I, I. I couldn't solve a quadratic equation to save my entire life at this point. Uh, I took introduction to logic when I got to college 'cause I couldn't remember how to multiply fractions on the entrance exam. That's fair. So that's fair. So that was, that's my experience with math. But right Jesse Schwamb: now the internet wants to keep serving me videos about, you've seen like all these tests, like these entrance exams for like Harvard or like the Ivy Leagues, other Ivy Leagues, and it is all these random things, you know, like we're solving for like two variables, terminally, and there is some kinda like expon explanation to it. Um. Yeah, I guess that's what I've become and I watch 'em all. They honestly get me every time. Yeah. I'm like, I'm not gonna watch that. And then I'm like, oh, I'm definitely gonna watch that. So it just happens. It's great. Tony Arsenal: I love it. Meanwhile, meanwhile, YouTube is desperately trying to get me to watch Season six and Cobra High. And it's very quickly gonna be succeeding. I think the next time Netflix has a, has a promotion where I can get a cheap month or something like that, I will definitely be binging Cobra Kai. So I feel like our YouTube algorithms are very different. Jesse Schwamb: Very different. Yeah. Very different. Certainly in, um, there is a commonality of, of the mysteries of the world and. [00:11:06] Introduction to the Parable of the Sower Jesse Schwamb: In some way, that's what we're talking about in this entire series. And yeah, if for some reason you didn't hear a conversation from two weeks ago where we really set the table, I think for what a parable is, why Jesus uses parables. As far as I remember, you correct if I'm wrong, it was the definitive conversation about why the parable is not just peace wise in Jesus' teaching, but really why it's the centerpiece. Yeah, we talked about that at great length. So now we're really ready to go. If you didn't hear that, I highly recommend you go back and hear that. 'cause there's so much. I realize as we, we looked at this parable of the sower or better like the parable of the soils, that we could do a whole series on just this bad boy. Such not just like wide interpretation, but wide application. So much for us to really chew on and then to really come back to and chew the could. So we're gonna have to be probably every time a little bit self-editing and brief. So if you're just yelling at your device, why aren't you talking about this thing? There's a great place for you to yell into or maybe just calmly and very politely suggest rather than the void, you can join our Telegram group. Telegram is just an app for, it's kind of a conversational tool and platform, and if you're looking for it and I know that you are, don't, why would you even fool yourself? It's, you can find it by going to T Me Reform Brotherhood. There's a whole channel, there's a bunch of channels there, a bunch of little conversations that we have compartmentalize. There's one just to talk about the episode. So as we go through this, my encouragement to everybody is track with us, get your scriptures out. Come along with us in the actual journey of processing this. Do spend some time processing it with us. And then when there is inevitably that thing, they're like, why didn't you talk about this? You know, a great place to converse with others and us about that would be in the Telegram Chat. So T Me Reform Brotherhood. So enough of that, let's get to it. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, there's, there's some, um, there's some logic that would say we should have just rather than doing an Introduction to Parables episode, we should have just done the parable, because this parable does really follow, it really does form like an introduction to all of Christ's parabolic teachings. And, you know, it's, no, it's no, um, mystery either in God's providence or just in Matthew as being a, a, you know, somewhat genius level composer of, of a work of literature in putting this parable first, because you're absolutely right at the top of the show that this parable really is. Almost like the hermeneutical key for all of the parables. Not just for in terms of like understanding the parables, it doesn't do that so much. But in understanding the purpose of the parables and more importantly, explicitly in the middle of this, Christ explains why he teaches in parables. So we covered that a lot last time, so we're not gonna, we're gonna skip over that middle section 'cause we don't need to rehash that. But this really is the granddaddy of all the parables. It it is, um. It is Christ's teaching on why he uses parables in action. It's the application of his own theology, of parables, if you want to call it that. Uh, in principle. And he is gracious enough that in this very first parable, he actually gives us the interpretation, right, which is, is not entirely unique, um, in, in the gospels, but it is not always the norm. There are a fair number of parables where Christ just drops the parable and leaves it there, um, for both his immediate listeners to figure out and then also for us to figure out. We're not given the inspired interpretation, but this one we are given the inspired interpretation. And Jesse, I had to laugh because, um. Just as you get really, really upset and worked, worked up about when people say Christ's body broken for you. Uh, it just drives me nuts when people call this the parable of the soils. 'cause Christ gives it a name, right? So, so we'll talk about that too. And I, I'm, I'm mostly playing, like, I'm not gonna jump through the screen at you or anything like that, but that's the, one of the other unique features of this parable is that it's given it's, it's given a name. Um, and that's part of the interpretation is that in most cases, parables have a primary figure or a primary point that's being made. And if you get that primary point wrong or that primary figure wrong, um, you tend to get the rest of the parable wrong. In this case, Christ graciously tells us who the parable is about or what the parable is about, and then later on when we get to the, the next parable or a couple parables down, um, he actually tells us more about the parable through some other teaching as well. [00:15:38] Reading and Analyzing the Parable Tony Arsenal: So, Jesse, do you have that text in front of us? Do you wanna go ahead and read that first chunk? That's the parable itself. Jesse Schwamb: I do, let's do it by the way. Uh, maybe somebody should keep track. Here's a fun little game of how many times we say parable or parabolic. And of course, whenever I hear parabolic, I always think, of course there is like something of great hyperbole or allegory, but I often think of, uh, parabola, which to your point, Tony, I think you're just doing this for my sake now, and I love, this is an exponent oriented equation. Of course, it's a like a canonical section, which can only be creative mathematically by pronunciation again. So thank you for that. I thought you just did that for me, so Tony Arsenal: I have no idea what you just said. You might as well have been speaking like Hindu. Jesse Schwamb: It's fantastic. Well, let's, let's get to the actual, the best word, the word of life. And this is from Matthew chapter 13. Beginning just at the start of the chapter. That same day, Jesus went out of his, uh, house and sat beside the sea and, and great crowds gathered about him so that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables saying. A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprung up since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no roots, they were it away. Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain. Some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. He who has ears, let him hear. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So on a surface level here, the, the parable is straightforward, right? We have a very straightforward picture, which is, is common for most of the parables, that it's not some sort of unusual, crazy out there situation that's being described. It's a common scenario from everyday life, uh, that doesn't tend to have sort of like. Mythological legendary kinds of characteristics. We have a simple farmer who is out sowing his seeds. Um, some of the commentaries we'll point out, and I don't, I dunno how accurate this is or isn't, but I, I saw it in, in a couple different commentaries. So I'm inclined to, to believe it that our model of farming, uh, in sort of a western world or, or maybe not western world, but in a more, I dunno, technologically advanced world, is to teal the ground till the ground first, Jesse Schwamb: right? Tony Arsenal: And then to scatter seed. And it was much more common in the ancient world to actually scatter the seed kind of, uh, promiscuously and then till the ground. Um, I don't know the reasons for that. I'm not a horticulturist, but, um. The, the, one of the critiques that I've heard, and it's funny when people try to critique Jesus is 'cause they're always proven wrong, but one of the critiques I've heard is like, no farmer whatever would ever do this. Like, no, no sower would ever just throw seed on the ground, but this actually is the way they would've done farming. So he's, he's taking an everyday scenario that everyone would've been familiar with. Right. Nobody would've been like, oh yeah, that doesn't make any sense. They would've just said, oh yeah, of course you just throw the seed on the ground and then you come back around later and you do what you need to do. So it, it was really a scenario where some of the seed would've fallen on the path. And we're not talking about like a road next to the farm, but a lot of times the, the field had sort of, um. They're probably called like convenience trails is what they're called now. But people would travel through the, through the paths, and so there would be an area that's already walked, walked on that's a little bit easier to traverse. And eventually that area would turn into a pathway. So it was, it was kind of turned into sort of like hard clay turf that you couldn't get the seed into anyways. And then there would've been areas where, um, there was rocks under the surface. Most of our fields that our farm fields have been tilled and prepared and have been worked over, that the stones had been removed. But it wasn't always like that in the ancient world. And then you would've had areas where there was, uh, there was other vegetation, thorns, weeds, other kinds of plants that would've made, made it difficult for the crop to sprout and to bear fruit. So we have a very common scenario. There's nothing surprising about this. There's nothing out of the ordinary. It's just a simple farming metaphor that Christ employs here. Jesse Schwamb: And in some ways that's very consistent of course, because we have these very ordinary, normal things that God is using as a means of explanation for something that is very extraordinary, very supernatural. So we have the natural coming into play, not just as a representation, but to really demonstrates, illustrates and impound both in structure and form. This idea of what it means for the gospel to be communicated. And I'm with you, my understanding is in most ancient world. Those, those fields, we tend to think of them as fields and often the reference that way were like more like these narrow strips of land separated by these paths and you have this farmer casting the seed like very liberally. And not only that, but I think what's interesting right on the face. Is we see that there are basically four potential outcomes here and only one of those outcomes, 'cause we're already understanding this to mean the sowing of the sea, which is the word of life, which is the gospel message. Only one of those outcomes results in kingdom growth. There's a ratio of three to one. There's three times as many poor outcomes. In other words, there's all of these various ways in which we find that the seed is not rejected or does not result in the intended fruit. But there is just one path, one narrow kind of way in which it does result, and then it results in kind of various outcomes in terms of like the magnitude of the fruit or the plants that result from this planting. But as a result of that. I think what's really interesting to me right on the face is that we're seeing, like you said, there is a sower. He's casting the seed deliberately, he's coming on the path and he's just throwing it out. And in that narrow strip of land, there are all these different soils. And so right away we see if you're, if you're a farmer, you're understanding something about, it's not about the skill of the farmer in the casting of the seed. It's not even about the, the skill of the seed to grow. It's about the soil itself. And so again, we have this as three times as many potentially poor outcomes as there are for the one that results in this grand harvest. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And the one thing about this that might be, might have been, and, and again, some of the commentators are, are split on this, but might have been a sort of unexpected, um, element. And, and this is something we do see with, uh, with the parables, is there's usually some sort of, um. Unexpected or dramatic or turn of events kind of element, usually towards the end of a parable that would make, would, should be a subversion of expectations. Right? Right. And so the, in this instance, um, a yield of 30 times or, or 60 times or a hundred times, all of those yields would be crazy high yields. Um, you know, I, I, I think there are some plants, some of the commentators will make, make a point that there are some plants where like a 30. A 30 yield is normal. Um, but a 30 or a 60 or a hundred times yield of a crop is, is not the expectation. And so I think in, in a scenario like this, the reader or the listener is prepped by the fact that there are three, uh, negative outcomes and only one favorable outcome. To assume that the crop yield is not going to be great. Right? And then the reality is the crops that do sprout the crops that land on the good soil or the seed that lands on the good soil. Not only is it productive, it's so productive that it actually outpaces and kind of compensates for the lack of productivity or the lack of fruitfulness of the other three. So it's, it's three different, uh, it's four possible outcomes and then three levels of fruitfulness. And so this parable does sort of cause the listener or the hearer to think about, um, and start, you know, from the very outset, think about what does, what does it mean that the seed landed on the path and was stolen away by the birds? What does it mean that it sprouted quickly and uh, but didn't have roots and so it withered away in the sun? And what does it mean that, you know, it sprouted among thorns and so it couldn't bear fruit. And then I think the implied, um, the implied question that's being forced here because the parable does start out, you know, saying there was the sower, the sower, um. Sowed this seed out. He doesn't introduce this the same way he normally, he normally does or commonly does, right? Jesus often will start the peril ball by saying something like, the kingdom of God is like, right? Or you know this. This is like that. This, he just starts out saying like, a sower was out in the, in the field sowing seed. So the, the listener is not primed to know what the comparison is necessarily, but I think part of that is that now they're forced to ask what is the comparison? And I don't think it's much of a stretch. And again, this is why parables are so kind of paradoxical is it's not a difficult, when we get to the interpretation, it's not difficult to see the interpretation. Right, right. It's, it's easy to understand that the parable here, the metaphor is, is different reactions of, of some sort to. To a given thing, right? It's, it's different reactions to an investment of some sort. There's an investment of seed and in some instances it just doesn't take, in other instances, it takes and it doesn't sprout, and in other instances it sprouts, but it never fruits. So when we get to the interpretation, Jesus is gonna give us the clarity of what that investment is, and then who are, or what are the outcomes and what do they mean? In, in our, you know, in our thought process of what the kingdom of God is like. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, so let's do it then. [00:25:44] Understanding the Soils Jesse Schwamb: 'cause what we've got here is we basically have, each soil is representing some type of here. So we've got four heres but only one true believer. So it's probably behooves us to go through all of them and really kind of chat through. And maybe what we can do is try to bring some of our own practical application to each of these. I've been really meditating and pondering that, trying to think if this is practical for us, then how can we understand how each of these are being manifest all around us? And of course the intention here is not to like name people that we think fall into each of these four little groups, but more so to think about how we might understand people who do fall into each of these groups. And that is to say that. Each one of these, well, the, the first three rather, that these ones in which they're, the soil is in some degree suboptimal. I, I don't know that it means that it's always that way, for instance. So we might think of people that fall into those categories, but the Lord may be moving or working in them to move them into that fourth category. And of course, he's done that with ourselves, so we know that that's exactly how he operates. Um, and it's, I think it's good for us to remember that. I think there's a lot that's scary about this first soil, this idea that. The seed just bounces. So we get no uptake whatsoever in this one. But the other ones, at least you get a little satisfaction that there's some kind of reception. There is a receipt of that word. And the reason why I find this one to be so troubling is because these who hear it in the first case, they don't understand and they don't esteem it. And Christ is very clear to say that the seed itself doesn't sit there long. It bounces. So there's a, there is a literal hardness. That's reflected in that clay soil or that path, which is down trotted. And it's hard because of perhaps this constant lack of belief, this constant and unrepentant hearts or lifestyle, but it would be enough if it just kinda bounced off and sat there. But the fact that it's snatched away that the birds come and take it away, that Satan himself has an active and powerful role in influencing all of those who are hearing this word. And I think that hardness of heart may not just be manifest in, say, like an unrepentant lifestyle or this kind of clench fist against God on the inside, which is of course true of the natural man. But more than that, that anything that would take us away from true belief. So that is even any kind of our religious system or belief, any kind of philosophy, any kind of other worldview I think is in mind here because we know the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. And so. What he's doing in that sometimes happens first and foremost in the mind, manifested in the heart and then in our behaviors. So if he's stealing away this word by replacing it with something that is false, that is not true, that destroys, that pulls us away and moves us away, then this is very scary. He has a real power, which we talked about. I don't know, like maybe six or so episodes ago. It's worth listening to, I think. And so what I find here that is really traumatizing upfront is the involvement in particular of the sinful man under his own mean estate. That is, that it's clear that the natural man cannot conceive of the things of God without regeneration, and Jesus makes it abundantly clear. He's, he's basically saying what Paul says later on in First Corinthians when he writes, the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God, does not accept them. So again, there's no agreement. There's no, even an intellectual ascent does not accept the things of the spirit of God for they are folly to him and he's not able to understand them because they're spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one for who is understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him. But we have the mind of Christ, so there is no mind of Christ, which is, it's a horrible way to live life. And so in that space we have both the natural man, his total depravity, unable to pull himself up by his theological bootstraps or philosophical bootstraps or his intellectual emotional bootstraps to even discern what the way in which the world really actually is. And then in in, I say in addition to that, we have the devil himself waging war and attacking by pulling away that seed. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I have a little bit of a different take on this and I think this is what I am looking forward to in this series. Is there, there is gonna be. [00:30:01] Understanding the Parable of the Sower Tony Arsenal: Different, uh, different understandings that probably all fall and are all compatible, but all fall within a acceptable range of understanding. Here, you know, I, in, in reading some of the commentaries, Calvin makes the point that all four of these different types of seed represent people who in some sense are open to the gospel. They're, they're open to, he, he makes the point that this is not talking about the, the person who like refuses to hear the gospel at all, who like won't even come into the church. This is a person predominantly who is, is exposed to the word in some sense, probably in view as someone who's among the people of God who's in the, in the, in the physical body of the people of God who's among Christians or among those hearing the word. And for whatever reason, the, the, the seed doesn't, uh, it doesn't even get into the soil. Right, and he compares, Christ compares, um, this not to somebody who is hardhearted, but to someone who doesn't understand, right? That there's an intellectual element to this, right? You think of, um, you know, you think of somebody who hears the scripture and probably understands outwardly what it means, but doesn't ever comprehend it internally. They don't ever really, they don't ever really let it penetrate into their, into their hearts. Um, so it's been sewn into their hearts, but it doesn't actually take root in their hearts in any other sense. [00:31:38] The Role of the Soil in Receiving the Word Tony Arsenal: And this is what's a little bit different from, from the other ones that we're gonna see in all of the other cases. The seed takes root, Jesse Schwamb: right? Tony Arsenal: It actually penetrates the ground and begins to grow. Um, it, this is a seed that never even makes it that far. And so it may not be someone who has like a, who necessarily has like a closed fist. I hate the gospel. I hate everything about God, but for some reason they're just not. And when we say for some reason I'm talking, obviously I'm talking la you know, horizontally. Um, we know that the reason that they don't have an open heart is 'cause the Holy Spirit is not open to their heart. But for whatever earthly temporal reason, the word just doesn't penetrate. It bounces off of them. It just doesn't get there. Not necessarily because they're outwardly hostile to it. They just maybe are not interested in it. And so this is where I think that. Along with the evil one, snatching it away. That's actually like one in the same thing. Is, is part of what I think this is getting at is that the, the, the only reason that the, um, that Satan can snatch away the word from their heart or what has been sewn into their heart is because their heart has not received it. And so it's that sort of dual function and, and maybe it's kind of like, almost like, uh, in Exodus, you know, God hardening the heart and then Pharaoh hardening the heart and those two things are happening, you know, by means of concurs that God is doing it in a divine sense. I almost feel like this is an instance where kind of like the, the census or, or with job where Satan is the one who is doing it, but it's ultimately attributed to God as well. It's the hardening of the heart, but it's also the hardness of heart. Um, all of those things are playing a dynamic, but ultimately the point here is that there are those who the word is preached to. [00:33:30] The Sower's Responsibility and the Soil's Condition Tony Arsenal: Um, you know, we will find out in, in a little bit later, like, the sower is Christ in, in these parables here. It's not, it's not generally the sowing of the word. It's Christ who is sowing the word. It's the son who is sowing, uh, the seed of the word. And we can think about that either during his own ministry. This certainly was, um, was true of his own ministry on Earth, that there were some who just did not receive the word and they just, it just bounced off of them. But then also as the son sows the seed through his people, down through the church age, through history, whether it's in the Lord's Day service or personal, witnessing, personal, you know, um, evangelism, it's still God who is sowing the seed. It's still the Lord who is the sower of the seed. But even in that context, there are still some who just don't receive it. So I think what you said earlier is really, is really spot on. This parable is not about. The skill of the sower or even the efficacy of the seed. Right. And I think sometimes people read this and they, they look at it as though it is actually the sewer's fault. What a dumb sower. He sowed it on the path. Of course it's not gonna take root. That's not the point of the parable at all. The point of the parable, and we learn it just right, this very first one, is that it has to do with the, the soil itself. Which is why, you know, I, I kind of joke about calling it the parable of the soils, and that's a fine way to refer to it. And most of these parables could have multiple different, you know, accurate titles as well. But the point of the parable, or the main point of the parable is that the soil itself is what determines the outcome. Again, you know, we, we don't need to get into all the theological details of how the soil becomes, what the soil is. This show has the word reformed in the title. You can figure out that we're gonna say, well, God is the one that prepares the soil. And that also just fits with the, with the a parable here, right? The good soil is only good because it's been tilled and prepared by the sower ahead of time, right? So I think that's, that's spot on. And, and you know, as I think about the people I know in my life, um, it's very easy to get discouraged when you try to so seed to, to follow through on the metaphor when you try to so seed and it feels like it bounces off. But we shouldn't be surprised at that. We shouldn't be surprised when someone is just not interested because Christ in his very first parable tells us there are people out there like that. That doesn't mean you don't sow the seed, it doesn't mean you don't continue to spread the seed the way that the sower does. And the reason for that is that some of it is going to take, take root, some of it is going to take root and bear fruit and you are not in charge and you don't control which one does which. We don't see the sower in this parable meticulously only identifying the good soil and only planting the seeds there. He does promiscuously spread this, so this seed everywhere that he can. [00:36:26] The Reality of Hardheartedness Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there is something there that I think is comfortable about this hardness of the soil, because I think sometimes we underestimate that the normative position of man is to be antagonistic toward God. That's not to say like we're talking about in their every action they take, they're going to refuse to hear the gospel or they're going to fight vehemently or out outwardly against it. But it's true that everywhere we find the scriptures, whether it's this other metaphor about God, again, doing this great surgery, of taking out this height of stone, which is of course hardheartedness or whether we go to like Romans three, where Paul says that there's no one who understands, there's no one who seeks God. So we understand that the default position is, one, nobody's seeking after God. Two, that God is too threatening to us. He threatens ourself. He threatens our ego, he threatens our own way. He threatens our contingency, all of which we try to fight against, like to our own dismay. And you know, basically. You know, it's willing, suspension of disbelief. But it's interesting and I think comforting here that what he's saying is, is exactly what you've just said, which is do not he, he'd almost say like loved ones. Do not be surprised when you find that people are just not that interested. They're just not into the gospel. Because your default position is to be a gospel abuser. To be a covenant breaker. And so because of that, there's just a natural hardness. And that hardness, I think he has to draw out. He has to say it's gonna bounce and Satan's gonna snatch it away because it would be, it's too easy to look at those who are just like vehemently opposed to the gospel that wanna debate. You wanna shut you down, wanna yell at you, wanna put signs in your face, wanna spit on you. That's too easy to be like, well, of course. Those people are not gonna receive it. But what about the quiet people who just don't care? Or, yeah. What about the people who are too caught up in their way of life or their simple behaviors or their patterns, or again, just what? What about those? What about the Mormons? When they come to your door and you can speak into your blue in the face about what Paul says, like the gospel plus anything is anathema, and they're just kinda like, yes. Yeah. Totally. That's fine. Totally down with that. And you're like, yeah, but you're doing, you're doing that very thing. This is great comfort to know that even those situations where you're not at war explicitly with somebody, that it's still comforting to know that this is going to happen. And also I think it's a great reminder that apart from God, apart from that changing of the soil, as you said, Tony, we would be those same people. That's in fact where we start. I, I don't say that. Like there's a progression here. We find in the, from moving from one to four. There is though something like you've said, where it's just interesting that Jesus shows us the very kind of shades of this. And I think, again, we gotta get out of our head like the, the temporality of this or like, well, what length of time are we talking about? Like when we get to the second one, which we should move on to. And there is some sprouting of the seed. Like how much time are we talking about? Like if it's two weeks, are they in camp two, if it's three weeks, are they moved out of that into some other, one of the other schools? Uh, I think it's just to show us that there are really, again, four hearers, one believer, and we can see clearly what the one believer looks like. It's a little bit more difficult to maybe sometimes discern what the other three look like, but it gives us hope and encouragement and basically just a sense of like, this is the way the world works. To know pres positionally, that when we go out, and like you said, I love this already, this is a major theme, is speak the gospel to all people. I mean, in this way, the gospel is for all people. Because Jesus' saying, do not cast the seed here. Go and look at that narrow path and find out, try to keep it off the, the hard ground. Do not let the devil snatch it up. It just says, throw and seed, throw and seed. And so we have to keep doing that stuff. [00:40:10] The Challenge of Shallow Roots Jesse Schwamb: So let's get to number two. What, what? Yeah. What say? Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Let me read it here. This is in verse, uh, 20 and 21. Here. It says, as for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the world, immediately he falls away. So thi this is the person who, um, who has some sort of outward conversion experience, right? It's a person who receives the word, he receives it with joy, um, and appears to sprout, right? This is seed that has taken hold and has, uh, you know, the, the, and we, we can see that it has taken hold. So it's not just some hidden seed that has roots and never breaks the surface. Right. It's a, it's a, it's a plant that has made its way into the soil. It has taken roots of some sort. Um, but the roots are shallow. The roots never actually get, uh, deep enough to, to be able to survive the sun, right. In the, the original parable, it's, it's baked by the sun. And, you know, this is, um, I think what what we're gonna see is maybe to sort of preface your question, and I think probably this is gonna be one of those two parter episodes, even though we planned it to be one parter episode. Um, I think what we're gonna see here is that you can't actually know whether someone is. The hard rocks is the rocks or the thorns. Right? Un until, until all is said and done. Right. Right. And that's part of what's difficult is you, you want to look at a parable like this, and this is where I think maybe this is a good sort of like caution against overinterpreting, the parables, right? Christ is not trying to give us a rubric to identify who is what. Jesse Schwamb: Right. He's Tony Arsenal: not trying to give us like a litmus test to say like, that person is the hard soil. That person is the rocks. That person is the thorns. And you know, this reminds me, I, I recall, I, I dunno how many years ago, it was a couple years ago when Kanye West was going through his like Jesus phase, right? And he, everyone was like, oh my gosh, I can't believe that Kanye is a Christian and he's writing this album called Jesus. Jesus Saves. And, and I, I just remember saying at the time, like, guys, there's a parable of the soils here. Like we should be. Um, we should be joyful that it, it appears that this seed is taking root, but there are lots of different outcomes when the seed takes root. And it's funny because I, I don't, I don't remember what episode this was and please don't go look it up 'cause that's a waste of everyone's time. But I remember when that conversation happened and I don't know whether there was an affirmation or a denial or what context came up in, but I remember contrasting him to Justin Bieber. And it's ironic, right, because I actually just read on Twitter today. Let me see if I can find the post during the next time you're talking. Justin Bieber posted this really amazing, theologically astute, mature kind of statement on Twitter today. And I think at the time, if you had asked me, um, is Kanye more likely to be the good soil or Justin Bieber to be the good soil, I would've said Kanye. Right? Just because he's, he was older, he is a little bit more established in himself. Um. Justin Bieber was still very young. He was, he was sort of like all over the place personality wise. He seemed to be changing radically. And it just goes to show like, you can't tell. And, and I'm not even saying right now like, this is, this is where it gets difficult. I'm not even saying right now, Justin Bieber is good soil, although I did right. Retweet his quote and did hashtag good soil. Almost aspirationally, right? But we can take a look at someone's life in retrospect and say, this person is bearing fruit, or this person is not bearing fruit. And, and that's really where this particular, um, type of soil goes. It's not so much the fruit, it's the sprout. And I think when we look at a situation like Kanye and, and. There's hopefully still a lot of life left for Kanye, and that means there's still hope for a con, a genuine conversion and bearing fruit that keeps with repentance that does not appear to be what had happened at the time. Right? He's gone totally off the rails at this point. So we pray for that. We hope, we hope for better things for him. Um, but. At the time, Kanye was, is he, he's going by Y now. I don't even know what to call him anymore. But Kanye was a sprout that grew up with great joy quickly. And what we found through time is that it appears that he, when he was, although maybe he fits better into the second, this next category that we'll have to push off till next week, I think. But either way, like he appeared to have sprouted, he appeared to have taken root and ultimately did not actually bear fruit. And that's the defining feature of these first three ones. It's not so much about what happens with the seed. Does it get in the ground? Does it not get in the grow? Does it sprouts, does it not sprout? It's ultimately about the fruitfulness, right? The final, the final phase of the parable, the final, um, the final type of soil is the one that produces fruit. So we'll get to that in detail, but that's what we need to think about. And again, like I said, it's not as though crisis saying like, all right, here's this checklist of ways to determine whether someone's conversion is correct, is true or not. Because we can't know that until after the fact and well after the fact. We also can't know that it's valid until after the fact. What I think this parable, broadly speaking, gets at is that we have to look at every situation and realize that there are these different possible outcomes. And although I don't know that this is explicitly part of the parable, it also sort of points us to the fact that like, because it's not a foregone conclusion about what's gonna happen, maybe there's also something we can do about it. Right? Right. Maybe when we realize someone might be on the rocky soil. Whether we, we have some reason to believe that or we just want to get out in front of that possibility, maybe there's still room to actually get in there and, and move the seed to a different soil, I guess might be a better way to use the metaphor is to, to just take the seed somewhere else or to till the soil, to get the rocks out of the soil. Although this is not talking about like rocks in the soil. It's talking about a layer, probably a layer of bedrock. Like Yes, exactly. Just under the surface. Jesse Schwamb: Right? So Tony Arsenal: there is an immutability about these, these different categories of, of people, and again, this is where like overinterpreting, the parable can get to be problematic, but we, we see that there are these categories, we can't necessarily know which one of these categories a person is in when they have some sort of outward expression of faith where they've received. I think we can tell the difference between that first category. Someone who just has not received the, the gospel at all, has not received the word of God at all, right? Like it's just bounced off of him. It's made no impact. I think we can see that that's a relatively straightforward, um, situation for us to assess. And of course we can't see someone's heart, but it's, it's usually pretty outwardly, readily available to us that they just have not received the word in any means. Right. When we get to these second two categories, that's not the case. We're talking about two different categories of people who have received the word and it has begun to sprout. It has begun, it actually has sprouted, not just begun to sprout, but it's sprouted. Um, I just think we need to be really careful to sort of not place someone in an immutable category until after we've seen what's gonna happen. Yes. Really across their whole life. Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:47:41] The Importance of Deep Roots in Faith Jesse Schwamb: I'm glad you brought that up because we really have to remember that in the last three instances, you cannot tell from the soil what the outcome will be. So it is a little bit, I'm with you, kind of a misnomer in the translation. This idea of like rocky soil. Yeah. If it were truly like rocky soil, the way that probably most of us in the Western think of it like soil mixed with gravel, right? They're probably, the sewer would be like, why would I throw it on there like that? That doesn't make any sense. Certainly again, if you're looking for that, that really fertile, well tilled ground, the one that looks promising, you wouldn't do that. So more than likely, I'm with you. We're talking about like a hired limestone layer that would've been like a few inches below, and as the sun would come down, my understanding is of course, like that limestone would heat up. It'd be like the perfect warm environment for like a seed to immediately like spring up with some hope. And that's exactly I think what Jesus is after here. It's this idea that the seed springs up immediately. People receive the message with joy. There's been no root or development to deeper moist soil though, because it doesn't exist. It gets blocked out. But inci incidentally, like the heat of that rock bed actually is the thing that causes it to germinate and produce at least a sprout really, really quickly. But as soon as like any kind of other heat comes upon it, because it cannot not grow deeper because it cannot set the roots, because it cannot get enough water from deep down, then it's going to be quick to die. I think we see this all the time. Maybe we even see this to some degree, not exclusively and in the same kind of magnitude in our own lives. But you know, we may listen to a sermon with pleasure while the impression produced in us is like only temporary, short-lived. You know, our hearts can be like that stony ground. Sometimes it may yield like a plentiful cop clap of warm feelings and like good resolutions and good vibes. How often do we hear that language? But all this time, there may be no deeply rooted work in our souls. And that first like cold blast of oppression or temptation may cause like all of that to go away. What I see interpret it from this particular group and, and this the one that follows it very much the same is like a conversion to religion. So here where this is where I firmly, like, I think we have a class, and this might trigger some people, but I'm gonna say it anyway. We have a class for this to me is deconstructionism. Yeah. And I think what I've, I've been helpful for me is to get outta my mind is that. I'm not sure that we have to be so concerned in this, this metaphor or this great parable about like what's the length of time here? So for instance, is it possible that somebody could be in this place where there is this hard layer of rock, which presents like a setting down of deep roots that could last like years on end. Yeah, where somebody has heard the gospel message has come into the life of the church and finds that this is generally a pleasant way to believe and to live and to express these ideals until maybe they have a strong voice somewhere or they're confronted with the fact that this, their message now is not very tolerant. And so as soon as there comes against them, this push that maybe what you're saying is too exclusive, that all of a sudden there really is a manifestation that there's no real root there. Yeah, there was no conversion. There was a conversion to religious principle and ideas and insomuch as those things didn't push too much against whatever objectives they had. Not even like going after what happens in the the third instance here with all the pleasures of life and all the temptations of the flesh, but just that there is some challenge. To what they believe and that it would be continually lived out in their actual lives, meaningful enough that it would impact behavior, change their mind, and continue to make them outspoken about the thing in which they're setting their roots into that if those things would cause the death of. That sprouts, then to me, that's where we find deconstruction isn't falling. And so in that case, again, it's comforting because it's not a matter of actual conversion as it were. It's not a matter of actual regeneration that hasn't actually occurred. There's plenty of reasons to come alongside and to give the gospel some kind of favor or to give it some kind of acquiescence because it's good on its own. There are lots of things that are good about it, but the rootedness in that is not merely in the outward manifestations of all the benefits of the gospel. It is getting Christ, as we've said. Yeah. And if we're not abiding in Christ, then we will necessarily die. In fact, Christ says elsewhere when he speaks to himself that even every bad branch that does not bear fruit, the father prunes and throws away. And so here we find that happening. It's, this is traumatic, it is dramatic, but this is where I think we see oftentimes Christians really get unnerved and sometimes it really, I think, rocks them when they see people who've had, like you said, Tony, like some professional faith. And I remember us talking about Kanye, and I remember us saying like, I think you and I were cautiously optimistic. We said like, this is fantastic. God does this very thing where he transforms people. And then we see in the long term, in the long run, the manifestation of that transformation, not in just merely as sinner's prayer or some expression of knowing something about the gospel intellectually, but the living it out so that the plant itself grows up in Christ to know of his great love, and then to share and abide in that love where it bears fruit. And so here I find this again, to be just very comforting because I think we see this a lot and our nerves, a lot of Christians, but I think Christ is giving an example here to say, do not be a unnerved by this. [00:53:10] Encouragement for Sowers and Believers Tony Arsenal: Yeah, maybe one last thought and then we, we can push pause until next week when we come back to this parable. Is. I think it's, there's two words in this, um, this little, these two verses here that really stick out to me. There's the, the word immediately, right? Yes. He immediately receives it with joy. That word is repeated later on when he immediately falls away. So there is a, um, there's a, a sense of suddenness to this, to this kind of, I'm using quotation marks if you're not watching the YouTube to this quotation or this, um, conversion experience, right? I think we all know people who have kind of the slow burn conversion experience, right? That's not to say that those people may not be, um, on hard soil or rocky soil. Right. But the, the person that we're talking about in that crisis talking about is the person who hears the word and has every appearance of an outward, radical, outward conversion of joy. And then joy is the second word that that shows up here. One of the things that drives me crazy, you know, maybe just to, to riff off the, the deconstruction, um, narrative a little bit is it drives me crazy when some sort of, um, high profile Christian falls away from the faith or deconstructs or falls, you know, into deep sin and then abandons the faith or has a tragedy happened in their life and whatever reason they abandon the faith. There's this tendency particularly among, I, I think sort of. I don't know if like, there still are young restless reform Christians out there, but I think it's still a valid descriptor. Kind of like the, I'm trying not to be pejorative, but sort of like the surface level tulip is what I call them, like the five point Calvinists who like heard an RC sprawl sermon one time and think that they are like the def, they're the definition of Calvinism. There's this tendency among that demographic that when somebody falls away from the faith to act as though everything about their experience of Christianity was somehow like an act like it was a, it was a, it was a play they were putting on, they were deceiving everybody. Right. That's that's not real. It's not the, it's not the way that it actually works and, and. I think the, um, the flip side and the caution for us in that is that just because our experience of Christianity and our, our experience of being in the faith feels so genuine and real and rooted, we should also recognize that like it felt real and genuine and rooted for Derek Webb or for name, name your key, you know, Joshua Harris, name your big profile deconstruction person of the day. Um, there's a caution there for us and I think that's the caution here in this, um, in this, I dunno, part of the parable is. Just as this is saying, the reason that the person falls away immediately is because there is no root in them yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately falls away, right? The cause of this is because there is no route that ca

You will run into trouble with the law if you are convicted of a DUI: Driving Under the Influence. But believers run into trouble when we are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. In our Christian walk, we must fervently desire to be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit of God every day. If you truly want to live for the Lord, you must earnestly seek to be a DUI: a Disciple Under the Influence of the Holy Spirit. Tune in to Dr. Donald Barnhouse's teaching from Romans 8:4 on Dr. Barnhouse and the Bible. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/791/29

Christian emptiness can feel overwhelming, but in Christ, our emptiness becomes the very space He fills with His presence and peace. In How Emptiness Fills Our Souls, Peyton Garland shares her journey through OCD, therapy, and discovering how God uses our broken places to reveal His love and healing. If you’ve struggled with loneliness, anxiety, or spiritual dryness, this episode offers encouragement to see emptiness not as the end, but as the beginning of God’s work of restoration in your life. ✨ Highlights Ephesians 3:16–19: God strengthens and fills us through His Spirit How emptiness creates space for healing, hope, and God’s fullness Breaking free from cultural lies about independence and fulfillment Personal testimony of finding help through Christian counseling Why vulnerability opens doors to truth, peace, and lasting joy Emptiness as an opportunity to encounter God’s resurrection power

Have you ever noticed how so-called “unexpected expenses” always seem to show up at the worst time? The truth is, most of these costs aren't surprises at all—we know cars will break down, homes will need repairs, and Christmas comes every year. The key is not to panic when they arrive but to prepare ahead of time. One simple tool for this is the sinking fund.Scripture has much to say about preparation. Proverbs 21:20 tells us, “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” In other words, wisdom means setting aside resources now instead of consuming everything immediately.We also see this principle in Genesis 41, where Joseph, warned of famine, stored one-fifth of Egypt's grain during the years of plenty. His preparation wasn't random—it was steady and systematic. That's exactly how sinking funds work: consistent contributions toward expenses we know will eventually arise.What Is a Sinking Fund?A sinking fund is money you intentionally set aside for a specific future expense. Instead of panicking at a $1,200 Christmas bill, you save $100 per month all year. Instead of reaching for a credit card when your car needs new tires, you draw from the fund you've been building.This steady, disciplined approach provides freedom from debt and peace of mind when expenses come due. It's not glamorous, but it works.Proverbs 6:6–8 points us to the ant as an example of diligence: “Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” The ant doesn't wait until the snow falls to collect food—she steadily prepares in advance.Trusting God doesn't mean ignoring preparation. Noah trusted God, yet he still built the ark. Farmers trusted God, yet they sowed seed. Joseph trusted God, yet he stored grain. Faith and stewardship go hand in hand.Where to StartIf you're new to sinking funds, begin with one category. Break down the expense into monthly contributions:Car repairs & replacement—Tires, brakes, or even a future vehicle.Home maintenance—Roofs, furnaces, and appliances all wear out.Medical costs—Co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses.Gifts & holidays—Birthdays and Christmas come every year.Insurance premiums & taxes—Annual or quarterly payments made manageable.Even small amounts—like $25 per month—add up to create margin. Over time, your “storehouses” will be ready when needs arise.In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul urged believers to set aside money regularly in proportion to their income to meet the church's needs. This is essentially a spiritual sinking fund—planned, systematic stewardship for Kingdom purposes.The goal isn't to hoard resources. Jesus warns in Luke 12:16–21 against stockpiling for ourselves. Instead, sinking funds free us to live responsibly and bless others without fear.Faith Expressed Through StewardshipChoose one sinking fund today. Maybe start with Christmas: divide your expected costs into monthly pieces and begin saving now. Once you've built the habit, add another fund. Before long, you'll have a system that turns stress into confidence and panic into peace.Creating sinking funds is more than a budgeting trick—it's a spiritual discipline. Each small deposit is an act of faith, demonstrating that you trust God by stewarding His provision wisely. Preparation doesn't replace faith—it reflects it.So start planning today. Build sinking funds for tomorrow. Trust God with the outcome. And remember: faith isn't just believing God will provide when the bill arrives—it's also honoring Him by preparing with the resources He has already placed in your hands.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm retired but still working a few days a week. Social Security is still being deducted from my paycheck—what happens to that money? Will I ever get it back?I'm 66 and planning to retire in 10 months. My wife is also retiring soon. Together we earn about $180,000 a year. How can we best manage our retirement resources to maintain our current lifestyle?I didn't have financial training growing up, and now I see my kids struggling with unexpected expenses and poor money habits. Are there any books that can help shift our family's attitude toward money?I've looked into faith-based investment options, but they seem to have higher fees and less diversification compared to Vanguard or Schwab. What's your perspective on that?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Your Money Counts: The Biblical Guide to Earning, Spending, Saving, Investing, Giving, and Getting Out of Debt by Howard DaytonWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris S gives a lead on step 11 for Fellowship of the Spirit Toronto's speaker series on zoom 05-13-25

Your work is not secular if the Spirit of God dwells in you, because you make your workplace sacred just by walking in. This week, the guests explore the integration of faith and work, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise in the workplace. They emphasize the importance of viewing work as a mission field and the role of apprenticeship in faith. The discussion also explores the significance of economics in understanding faith and work, as well as the church's responsibility to equip believers for their Monday work. Practical tools and strategies for integrating faith into everyday work are provided, along with a vision for the future of faith and work conversations.

Job seemed to be a very righteous man, but he still had a thousand layers of self that God wanted to remove.  God used a young man named Elihu to deliver His message of chastening, not punishment to Job.  Elihu characterizes the Spirit-filled person: he was his own character, not a copycat; humble, but firm; answering to God, not man; and concerned about God's righteousness, not Job's.  Elihu's message primed the pump for God to speak directly to Job, bringing about conviction.  Through God's amazing grace and love, Job was able to turn from self-back to God. VF-2110 Job 32-42 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

Satan has a plan for your life, and it's not a wonderful one. The enemy of our souls wants to keep us trapped in sinful, stubborn habits. In this message, Pastor Lutzer shows why we can't simply renounce sin. By the Spirit's power, we replace the sinful habits with habits of righteousness. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001.  Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.  Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.    SUPPORT:  Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/  Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/    SUBSCRIBE:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia  Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/ 

Isaiah 45:11-48:11, Eph 4:1-16, Ps 68:19-35, Pr 24:3-4

Journey into the refreshment of Romans 8 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. After learning about sin, the law, and the wretchedness of humankind, this chapter comes like a breath of clean, cool mountain air. If you feel condemned or hopeless, then tune in to this encouraging message. Explore your security in Christ and the Spirit's empowerment in your life. Experience the freedom that comes from surrendering to God and walking with His Spirit!

Blurry Faces, Dark Presence & Something KnockingEpisode 454 | September 25, 2025 INFO & CONTACTWebsite: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.comTell Your Story: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/tell-your-storyForum: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/forumSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreon: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/patreonBuy Me A Coffee: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/bmacPayPal: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/paypalFOLLOW & SUBSCRIBEYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParanormalMysteriesPodcastSocial Media: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/linksPodcast Source: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paranormal-mysteries--2321086My Wife's Podcast: https://paranormalmysteriespodcast.com/sleep-relaxation-podcastCopyright 2017-2025 Paranormal Mysteries Podcast - Ryan Media. All Rights Reserved.

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comII Thessalonians 2Paul addresses confusion among the believers regarding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some were afraid that the day of the Lord had already arrived. Paul reassures them that it will not happen until the rebellion occurs and the "man of lawlessness" is revealed—someone who exalts himself above God and deceives many. However, God is in control and will ultimately overthrow him. Paul reminds the believers that they are chosen by God for salvation through the Spirit and must believe in the truth. He encourages them to stand firm in the teachings they received, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and not to be shaken by fear or false messages. Paul closes by praying that God would strengthen their hearts and encourage them in every good work and word. As followers of Christ, we must remain grounded in truth, especially when fear and confusion rise around us. Like the claims that Jesus had already come, we live in a world filled with distractions and deception, but we are called to hold to the gospel we have received. We must remember that God has chosen and equipped us through His Spirit to stand firm. Instead of being shaken by every new fear or rumor, we must focus our eyes on Christ and remain faithful in our words and actions. As in their day, apostasy and misleading figures may arise, but our hope is secure in Jesus, who has loved us and given us great hope as we continue to serve Him.    Unshakeable Lord, You are our steady anchor in a world full of confusion and change. When fear tries to shake us, remind us of Your unchanging truth. Guard our hearts and minds against deception, and strengthen us to stand firm in Your Word. Help us to live with courage, trusting that You have called us, loved us, and will finish the work You have begun in us. Fill us with the comfort of Your presence and the power of Your Spirit. May our lives reflect Your glory as we wait with hope and confidence for the coming of our Lord Jesus. Thought Questions: What do you know about the day the Lord Jesus will return? How does knowing the word help you refute false ideas about the end of time? What do you know about “the man of lawlessness”? No matter who he was or is, what does God promise will happen through Jesus? How does God call us to Him through the gospel? Why should you be directing people to the message of Jesus and pursuing His word yourself?

"What is meant by ""blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,"" and am I in danger of committing an unforgivable sin? in today's episode, Emma Dotter and Jo O'Steen talk about Matthew 11-12 and explain what it means to blasphemy and the difference between blasphemy against Jesus and the Spirit. Check out the article from GotQuestions: https://www.gotquestions.org/blasphemy-Holy-Spirit.html To learn how to serve with International Students: https://www.watermark.org/outreach/international-students You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SG7aaE1ZjjFkgB34G8zp3?si=c960a63736904665 Check out the Join The Journey Website for today's devotional and more resources! https://www.jointhejourney.com/ Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Watermark-Community-Church/author/B0BRYP5MQK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1755623322&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=8aeeec3b-6c1c-416d-87ae-5dfbbb6981df Check out the study sheet for the book of Matthew: https://assets.ctfassets.net/t8fa2ob1jrlx/5i70m1Udg6twAQhWIxyWyS/2f298cba3d5e53ca762b9f0e7dcf341f/40-Matthew-Study-Sheet.pdf"

#guidedsleepmeditation #anxietyrelief #bodyscan 0:00 - 2:30 Introduction 2:30- 24:00 Part 1. Deep Relaxation: Guided Nidra Body Scan for Stress Relief and Sleep 24:00 -36:30 Part 2. Calm Your Nervous System: Mindful Body Scan Meditation 36:30 - 56:00 Part 3. Compassionate Body Scan: Cultivating Self-Love and Acceptance 56:00 - 01:13 Part 4. Healing Body Scan: Releasing Tension and Inviting Peace 01:13 - 01:31 Part 5. Mindfulness Body Scan: Staying Present and Grounded 01:31:00- 01:45:30 Part 6. Anxiety-Reducing Body Scan: Find Your Inner Calm 01:45:30- 02:23:00 Part 7. Total Body Relaxation: A Guided Journey to Deep Serenity 02:02:30- 02:19:00 Part 8. Grounding Body Scan: Connect with Your Inner Stability 02:19:00 - 02:38:00 Part 9. Chakra Body Scan: Balancing Energy for Well-Being 02:38:00 - 02:54:00 Part 10. Immune Support Body Scan: Strengthening Your Body's Defences and heal 02:54:00 - 02:46:00 Part 11. Holistic Body Scan: Nurturing Body, Mind, and Spirit 02:46:00 - 04:00:00 Part 12 Quiet calming sounds and music Let me help you reduce anxiety, fall asleep, cope with grief, and navigate through life through guided sleep meditations designed for restful sleep. It will be ok. Each session combines relaxation techniques with my calming voice to create a peaceful environment, allowing you to fall asleep fast and wake up rejuvenated. Discover effective strategies to enhance your sleep quality, manage anxiety, and cultivate peace. I integrate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles into my content, offering practical insights to help you overcome sleep disorders and anxiety. Here, you will find a wealth of resources to support your journey toward better sleep and overall well-being. For additional support, I offer online counseling sessions as a certified counselor with a Master's in Counselling. Book a session through my SimplyBook.me page: [Book a Session](https://laurenostrowskifenton.simplybook.me/v2/). Connect with me on Patreon for exclusive content: [Join me on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/laurenostrowskifenton). Make a difference by contributing via PayPal: [Donate Here](http://paypal.me/Laurenostrowski). Follow my journey on Instagram for daily inspiration and updates: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/laurenostrowskifenton/). Explore my stories on Medium, where I share insights intertwined with life experiences: [Medium](https://medium.com/@laurenostrowskifenton). Check out my book, "Daily Rituals For Happiness," an instructional workbook designed to help you cultivate happiness every day. Please remember, while my content is meant to provide support, it is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health guidance. Always consult with a healthcare provider for personalized advice Original vocals and video by Lauren Ostrowski Fenton copyright © 2025 # sleepmeditation # guidedmeditation # fallasleepfast #personaldevelopment #deepsleep #mindfulness

Sleep better and Stress Less— with Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. We hope this biblical sleep meditation, narrated by Melissa Disney, helps your body relax and your mind rest on the truth found in scripture. In this peaceful sleep reflection, enjoy God’s presence as you take in the sights and sounds at the park on a sunny day. Hear from the Scriptures joy-filled promises for renewal and restoration through Christ Jesus. For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for better sleep is right here: https://abide.com/peaceDiscover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! On this special episode for September 25th, 2025, your host Hunter invites you to join in a meaningful moment as the podcast celebrates its 12th anniversary. Today's readings take us through Ezra chapters 2 and 3, where we witness the return of the Jewish exiles and the beginnings of rebuilding God's temple, as well as a moving journey through Luke chapter 8—highlighting the power and grace found in Jesus' miracles, including the healing of the demon-possessed man, the woman with the issue of blood, and the raising of Jairus' daughter. As always, Hunter reflects on the comfort and hope that come from trusting God, even in our darkest and most private fears. With heartfelt prayers and encouragement, he reminds us that Jesus meets us in our valleys and is the giver of life and hope. Plus, Hunter shares gratitude for the Daily Radio Bible community, acknowledging the faithful listeners and supporters who have made these twelve years possible. So grab your Bible, take in the beauty of the day, and join us as we journey together through the Scriptures, celebrating God's presence, promises, and enduring love. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Why trouble the teacher? Your daughter is dead. Why bother? Those are some of the words that Jairus heard. Words of despair—sounds of hopelessness that echoed in his ears as he faced the unimaginable. Jairus had reached out in faith, hoping Jesus would have an answer, a solution. But on that journey, amid the desperate hope, he is confronted by these crushing words: "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the teacher now." Fear and despair always want to have the last word. They come to convince us there's no point in turning to God anymore, that our circumstances are beyond reach, beyond hope. But Jesus steps into that place and turns the story around. Fear will not have the last word—Jesus does. And to Jairus, and to all of us who face moments of darkness and private agony, he says, “Don't be afraid. Just have faith.” Jesus brings Jairus into a quiet, private space—only Peter, James, John, and the little girl's parents are allowed in. There, in the most personal and painful of moments, God meets us. He enters our darkest valleys, the places where fear and loss feel most overwhelming, and his presence becomes our answer. In those moments, the only hope is his nearness—the hope of resurrection. Jesus speaks into that darkness: “Little girl, get up.” Talitha koum. It is the new life and hope only he can offer. It is the word we're longing to hear in every hopeless place. Jesus invites us, like the disciples, to come close, to witness and share in his life-giving power as he brings hope to those in despair. This is the prayer I have for my own soul. It's the prayer I have for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And it's the prayer I have for you: that we would meet Jesus in the valley, trust him when fear and despair surround, and receive from him the hope of resurrection. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

There's a hidden system in your body that most doctors overlook, yet it impacts your pain, your performance, and even your emotional well-being. In this episode of HEAL with Kelly, I sit down with Ashley Black - visionary inventor, fascia expert, and creator of the world-renowned FasciaBlaster® tools for a fascinating conversation that will completely change the way you see your body. Ashley shares her powerful journey of healing herself after a near-fatal illness that left her partially crippled, and how that experience led her to uncover fascia's true role in health and longevity. Together, we explore what fascia really is (and why it's not just “muscle”), how unresolved trauma and toxins can literally get trapped in our tissues, and why daily fascia care can boost muscle output, reduce inflammation, and even support long-term vitality. This conversation bridges science and spirit, East and West, cutting-edge research and ancient wisdom from fascia remodeling, trauma release, sacred geometry, and the healing power of community. Ashley Black isn't just teaching fascia, she's redefining how we understand the body, trauma, and human potential. And now, she's taking it even further with the upcoming launch of her revolutionary new product, NeXcia, designed to bring fascia care into the next era of health and healing. Key Moments You'll Love: ⚡ [1:25] Near-Death Experience & the Start of the Journey

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body and refocus your mind to experience the reality of God's presence. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Mark 1:35 NIV “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” John 6:15 ESV “Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Luke 24:33-49

Ezra 7-10

For many children, going barefoot isn't a choice—it's a daily struggle that puts their health, safety, and future at risk. But one pair of shoes can change that story.Today, we'll hear how Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls is bringing hope and dignity to vulnerable children around the world. Shawn Spurrier joins us to share how God is changing lives through something as ordinary—and extraordinary—as shoes.Shawn Spurrier is the Director of Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls at Buckner International, an underwriter of Faith & Finance. A Mission That Began in DallasBuckner Shoes for Orphan Souls started in 1999 as a local effort in Dallas, Texas, to serve children in Russian orphanages. Over 25 years later, God has expanded this work into a global ministry. Today, more than 5 million children in 86 countries have received shoes through the generosity of churches, businesses, and believers across the U.S.What began as a small act of compassion has grown into a worldwide movement of hope.More Than Shoes: Health, Safety, and EducationAround 300 million children worldwide lack access to shoes. This barrier affects nearly every aspect of life:Health—Shoes prevent footborne diseases, many of which carry social stigma and long-term consequences.Education—In many countries, shoes are required for school attendance. Without them, children are forced to stay home, trapped in cycles of poverty.Hope—Receiving shoes as a gift in Jesus' name opens hearts to the Gospel and connects families with life-changing ministries.Shoes are more than fabric and rubber—they are a bridge to dignity, opportunity, and transformation.Restoring Dignity for FamiliesFor many of us, buying new shoes for back-to-school is routine. But in parts of the world where Buckner serves, parents may spend months saving to afford just one pair—or go without entirely. Some families must rotate a single pair of shoes between siblings, deciding who can attend school on a given day.The gift of shoes restores dignity to parents, enabling them to provide for their children and giving kids the confidence to learn, grow, and thrive.Global Reach and Local ImpactBuckner's ministry extends both globally and locally:United States—Shoe distributions in Texas, including for families affected by flooding.Latin America—Serving children in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, and Peru.Africa—Programs in Ethiopia and Kenya.Beyond—Partnerships have extended Buckner's reach into 75+ additional countries.Every pair of shoes opens the door to broader ministry. Family Hope Centers offer resources, education, and Christ-centered training, bringing lasting transformation to entire communities.How You Can JoinTogether, we're striving to provide 1,000 children with shoes, socks, and the message of God's love.$15 provides one child with shoes and socks.$150 equips ten children.Visit GiveShoesToday.org to make your gift and bring hope to a child in need.Shoes may seem ordinary, but in the life of a child, they are extraordinary. They represent safety, opportunity, dignity, and above all, the love of Christ.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm 40 and have several old 401(k) accounts from past employers. One advisor suggests consolidating them for an expected return of 8–10%, while another recommends a hedge fund offering 15–17% returns. What's the best course of action?I'm 64 and want to get my end-of-life documents in order to protect my wife from probate. Her credit was poor, so she's not on the deed to our house. How can I take care of this without spending $3,000–$5,000 on a lawyer?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Buckner Shoes for Orphan SoulsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mark 3:20-30 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss blasphemy of the Spirit and the unforgiven sin.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=22718The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

In this episode, Cassandra chats with medium, Susan Allen about our soul pets, why they come into our lives, what they experience during their transition and how we can connect with them in spirit. Susan Allen is an internationally renowned Psychic Medium & Animal Intuitive. Connecting with Spirit, Susan consistently delivers powerful messages with gentleness, compassion, warmth, and wit, providing healing, peace, and closure to her clients. Having spent decades cultivating her innate spiritual gifts, Susan draws from her experience as an Energy Healer, Ho'oponopono Practitioner, Author and Spiritual Mentor. Susan works with individuals and groups from celebrities to doctors, professional athletes to moms, families, and more. You can book a animal soul speak reading with Susan Allen here:https://susanallenmedium.com/animal-soul-speak/Follow Susan on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/susanallenmedium/Follow Susan on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/susanallenmedium/ For more info on Cassandra's new offerings check out her booking calendar here:https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14575631 Apply to work one on one with Cassandra or in an small group:https://forms.gle/xS6LfD5tM3zVApuy5 Learn more about my sacred structure sessions: https://cassandrabodzak.com/sacred-structure-sessions Join the FREE Manifestation challenge in the DDYL Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/divinelydesignyourlife Grab my FREE Divinely Design Your Life Meditation Bundle to help amplify your manifesting practice and reinvigorate your spiritual connection here: https://www.divinelydesignyourlife.com/meditation-bundle Join the conversation on my “You with Intention” substack where I share my personal insights on what it looks like to be consciously creating your life first hand as well as my best advice on how to do it yourself right along with me. :)https://cassandrabodzak.substack.com/ Grab the “Amplify your Magnetism” 40 day guided manifesting through meditation journey here:https://www.divinelydesignyourlife.com/offers/9W5F4G7C/checkout Grab your copy of “Manifesting Through Meditation” the book here: https://amzn.to/2TZkX49Grab your copy of “The Spiritual Awakening Journal” here: https://amzn.to/3IJe8JdGet FREE Content from Cass on the DDYL Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/divinelydesignyourlifeLove audiobooks like me? Join audible: https://amzn.to/2W4RcO3 Say Hi to Cassandra on social media!http://facebook.com/cassandrabodzakhttp://twitter.com/cassandrabodzakhttp://instagram.com/cassandrabodzakhttp://youtube.com/cassandrabodzakTV

What is hindering you from having God-confidence? Being confident in yourself is very risky because pretty soon that self will let you down. But being confident in God—who he is and how he sees you—is a firm foundation that holds up no matter what. What is keeping you from having this God-confidence? Could it be a sin you haven't confessed and forsaken? Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1). Do you give up too easily and too quickly? Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12). Is your past imprisoning you? Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Are you afraid to fail? For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Has the enemy of your soul succeeded in making you feel unworthy, or keeping you burdened with sins which God forgave? I want to encourage you today to claim your right—your inheritance—as God's son or daughter. You have God's Spirit, and His Spirit makes it possible for you to be God-confident. His confidence is powerful, loving, and self-disciplined. Are you “taking advantage” of what is yours through God's Spirit? Are you aware of the Spirit's presence and the power you have as a result?

This message lays the foundation for understanding the dimensions of the Holy Spirit's personality. Part of His work is to enlighten our minds about spiritual things, conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ. There is a danger of grieving, extinguishing, or quenching what God is doing by willingly ignoring the conviction that comes by the Holy Spirit. He is a person; holy and eternal, just like the Father and the Son; and He cares about us, helps us, and guides us. VF-2109 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

In this transcendent episode of Soul Elevation, I speak with Rachel Corpus—a living angelic channel, four-time near-death experiencer, and messenger of the Archangels Michael & Gabriel. We dive deep into her angelic origins, how she recalls her true purpose through her early encounters, and what it means to walk the Earth as an angel in human form.

Dive into this uplifting Double Edged Sword Podcast episode exploring Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council, guided by the Holy Spirit, ruled against requiring circumcision for Gentile believers, fulfilling rather than abolishing the Old Covenant. Led by Peter, James, and Paul, their decision reflects a unified church, contrasting today's 45,000 denominations split by personal views and deception. Highlighting uniform liturgy, baptism's salvific role, and the Spirit's guidance over mere Scripture (1 Corinthians 1:10, 14:40), this episode urges unity in apostolic truth. Prophets Judas and Silas strengthened faith, not false predictions, as Antioch rejoiced in love and truth (1 Corinthians 13). Embrace Christ's unchanging Word (Hebrews 4:12) for a harmonious faith. Glory to His name!

Jesus calls believers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. But what does a life wholly yielded to God even look like in this day and age? It's marked by a willingness to: - Die to yourself - Trust God completely - Know His Word - Submit to His will - Point others to Jesus - Suffer for His name - Follow Christ alone - Love others selflessly We are unpacking all this and more this week on the Loving Life at Home Podcast. I hope you'll listen in and be encouraged. Show Notes VERSES CITED: John 12:23-24 – “...unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.'” Matthew 16:24 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (see also Luke 9:23 and Mark 8:34) Mark 8:35 – “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel will save it.” 1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Philippians 1:21 – “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Luke 22:42 - “Father, not my will, but thine be done.” Hebrews 12:1 – “... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 - “The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 1:27 - “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,” Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His” Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Psalm 100:5 – “…the LORD isgood; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.” Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word isa lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ephesians 2:4-10 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…” Isaiah 45:9 – “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker— An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands ‘? Romans 9:20-21 – “...Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?” John 3:30 – “He must increase; I must decrease.” Philippians 1:27-29 – “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” Philippians 3:10 – “That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death….” John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Matthew 10:28 - “Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Hebrews 12:2 – “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Job 2:9 - “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!'” Job 1:21 – “He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.'” John 14:6 – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Matthew 25:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Luke 10:27 – “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength… and love your neighbor as yourself.” John 13:35 – “By this will all men know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Galatians 6:3 – “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Romans 12:3 – “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” Hebrews 3:14 – “… exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” RELATED LINKS: Jim Elliot Was Not First to Say It - references Matthew Henry's biography of his father "For His Glory and My Good” - CityAlight praise song Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander – some of my husband's favorite books M Is for Mama Podcast: Episode 113 – a conversation between Abbie and me Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot EP 28:Bible Memory Tips & Tricks EP 85: Memorize Proverbs 3 with Me A Grand Investment - the Bible memory program I use with my kids & grandkids "Inspiration" - this poem by Henry David Thoreau contains the line I quoted without attribution, “Time cannot bend the line which God hath writ" "God Hath Not Promised" - the poem I quoted by Annie Johnson Flint STAY CONNECTED: - Subscribe: Flanders Family Freebies -weekly themed link lists of free resources - Instagram: @flanders_family - follow for more great content - Family Blog: Flanders Family Home Life - parenting tips, homeschool help, printables - Marriage Blog: Loving Life at Home- encouragement for wives, mothers, believers - My Books: Shop Online - find on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through our website

Luke 24:33-49

This episode of Red in 30 explores the tension between wants, needs, and true knowledge. It opens with vivid childhood memories—candy cravings, pizza parties, and overeating—as metaphors for how unchecked desires can make us sick. The point is clear: just because something feels good or looks appealing doesn't mean it's good for us. In the same way, spiritual teaching that feeds only our wants without shaping our needs leads to imbalance. God, like a wise parent, regulates what we can handle because He knows what will truly sustain us.The conversation presses into the danger of incomplete gospels and partial truths. Sometimes people are given just enough knowledge to be zealous but not enough to be whole, leaving them chasing illusions that never last. It's like building a house on sand—it may look solid for a moment but cannot endure. Identity, rooted in Christ as the rock, is the true foundation. Without that, even sincere effort and discipline can end in emptiness. The enemy often twists truth by offering “similar” versions that sound close enough but lack the life of God. If the foundation is wrong, everything crumbles.From there, the focus shifts to perspective. Modern culture prizes endless options and choices, but the higher call is to live from being chosen. Options often turn out to be optical illusions—like Mickey Mouse, not real in essence but made real by belief and attention. The danger is elevating choice over identity, chasing shadows instead of standing firm in being chosen by God. When life is built on that chosen foundation, storms can rage but stability remains. Faith rooted in identity isn't swayed by circumstances; it carries God's perspective into every environment like a thermostat, not a thermometer.The episode closes with a striking metaphor: the birdsong. Just as birds release sounds that open the pores of trees to take in more CO₂ and give out more oxygen, so too our voices carry unseen effects beyond intellect. Jesus' red words speak not just to our situations but to our wholeness, shaping us in ways we may not fully understand. Knowledge without Spirit is empty—like a placebo—while knowledge filled with Spirit animates and gives life. The challenge is to let our foundation, perspective, and identity be rooted in Christ, so that everything flowing from us carries His breath and presence into the world. Get full access to REDIN30 at redin30.substack.com/subscribe

The Spirit was stirring on this one. Are we as a nation in the midst of revival? What does the Bible say? You better pay attention to every individual word especially in the so-called "boring" verses that we so easily skip over in our reading.

God is using the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk to stir the hearts of his people and begin a revival in America. Thanks to the excellent leadership of Erika Kirk, Frank Turek, Marco Rubio, and others, this is only the beginning. THIS is how the Church in America can steward the incredible opportunity God has given us. That You May Know Him, Episode 271.

TW:  We do at one point briefly discuss suicide, so if this is a problem for you, feel free to skip the part about the spooklight's origins, which is where the discussion happens.  This week, Arthur talks school ande grandma, Laura talks her recent birthday (other Virgos holla!) and then we talk the Hornet Spooklight.  Seen over E 50 Road better known as spooklight road to the locals.  The area is also called the Devil's Promenade and the Spooklight is often seen over this cursed stretch of ground.  It lets viewers chase it, often dodging out of the way or going behind them.  Skeptics say it's reflections from the road.  Non-skeptics say it's been reported by indigenous Americans in the area for hundreds of years.  We talk it's origins, it's histories and so much more in this first episode of Spooky Season specials in the Family Plot Podcast!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/family-plot--4670465/support.

Isaiah 43:14-45:10, Eph 3:1-21, Ps 68:1-18, Pr 24:1-2

It's Witness Wednesday! In today's episode, Todd Friel engages in meaningful conversations with several university students. First up is Cole, a pro-lifer who isn't a believer. Later, Todd speaks with agnostic Moira, discussing God's existence and Moira's personal experiences with Christianity. Todd continually points the students back to the ultimate hope that we are called to share - the gospel of grace through God's Son. Segment 1 • Cole intrigued by Christianity but skeptical of its claims. • Todd shifts focus from crusades to Cole's personal sin problem. • God's holiness vs. human sinfulness is the real crisis. Segment 2 – Cole (part 2) • Cole wrestles with the Trinity and Jesus' dual nature. • Todd explains how only God-in-flesh could be a worthy substitute. • Salvation is central—Father sends, Son saves, Spirit convicts. Segment 3 • Agnostic Moira shares what she knows about Easter. • She only believes what she can see, and doesn't personally see the importance of faith. • Moira has been put off from Christianity by bad personal experiences. Segment 4 • Todd holds Moira to account against God's commandments. • She admits guilt when confronted with God's commands. • Todd explains Easter: Jesus' death and resurrection solves our sin and shame problem. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

In this episode of Pray the Word on Luke 1:67, David Platt encourages us to share God's Word in the power of the Spirit.Listen to our newest podcast, Everyday Radical!Explore more content from Radical.

What really happens when we die?Nichole welcomes back psychic medium and medical intuitive Julie Ryan. Known for her ability to scan people and animals and observe the process of death and transition, Julie brings a perspective that is both deeply spiritual and practical.Julie opens up about how she developed her intuitive abilities — not as gifts she was born with, but as skills she learned and now teaches to others. Through this work, she's witnessed surprising stories as a medical intuitive — from energetic healings that later appeared on medical scans to insights gained from animals and past lives.Nichole and Julie also explore:What the soul experiences in its final moments before crossing.How angels, loved ones, and even pets gather to comfort us during transition.Energetic signs families can look for to know a loved one is close to passing.The myths around death that deserve to be set straight.Why healing is always a partnership with Spirit — and why no one truly heals another person.You can learn more about Julie and her work at AskJulieRyan.com or receive a free copy of her book Angelic Attendants at JulieRyanGift.com.To connect with Nichole or join The Psychic Club, visit apsychicsstory.com.If you'd like to further support the podcast, please subscribe to it and/or:FOLLOW @apsychicsstory on Instagram. BOOK a session with Nichole.SIGN-UP to the newsletter for updates.JOIN Patreon for exclusive, ad-free content. BECOME A MEMBER of The Psychic Club.This podcast is intended to inspire you on your personal journey to inner peace. The podcast host, co-hosts or guests are not psychologists or medical doctors and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any psychological or medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional. Support the show

Cultural Christianity "uses the language of the faith, but doesn't actually follow Jesus from the heart." Pastor Adriel explains the difference between this and true faith, and what to do if you think you're a cultural Christian. PARTNER WITH US - https://solamedia.org/partner/?sc=AS2502V When you become a partner today, you'll receive two remarkable books as our thanks:Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Dr. Michael Horton and Praying with Jesus by Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We believe these books can guide you into a clearer understanding of the Spirit's work and a richer prayer life. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/

A chilling séance in a house steeped in spiritual history. In this spine-tingling episode, your hosts dive deep into the infamous Roff House—site of the 19th-century "Watseka Wonder" possession—with the team behind a daring documentary filmed during a real séance held there last year. Paranormal investigators Neal Gibbons and psychic medium DeEtte Ranae join Jeni Monroe and Tressa Slater to reveal what they witnessed, what followed them home, and why the spirits of Watseka may not be resting after all.   The Spirit of a Seance - Monsters Lounge Podcast   Neal Gibbons Link:  https://gravesideparanormal.com/   DeEtte Ranae Link:  https://deette.us/ Find all Monsters Lounge info and links here: https://www.monstersloungepodcast.com/ https://linktr.ee/monsterslounge (and while you're there, RATE, REVIEW, SUBSCRIBE AND FOLLOW) Pathways to Spirit with Sarah Lemos It's time to uncover your gifts and abilities. register now at https://www.mediumsarahlemos.com/ Join us, and spread the word about the Cryptid Womens Society! https://cryptidwomenssociety.com/cws-tressa/ PLEASE SUPPORT THE ADVERTISERS THAT SUPPORT THIS SHOW LEAN - Save 25% on Everything Sitewide by using code Laborday25 at check out www.BrickHouseNutrition.com Happiness Experiment -https://bit.ly/HappinessExperimentP60 Factor Meals - Get 50% off your first order & Free Shipping at ⁠⁠www.FactorMeals.com/p6050off⁠⁠ & use code: P6050off at checkout Mint Mobile - To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to ⁠⁠www.MintMobile.com/P60⁠⁠ Shadow Zine - ⁠⁠https://shadowzine.com/ ⁠⁠Love & Lotus Tarot -  ⁠⁠http://lovelotustarot.com/⁠⁠ PLEASE RATE & REVIEW THE PARANORMAL 60 PODCAST WHEREVER YOU LISTEN! Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5240411685126144 -Credit and a warm thank you to Jay Juliano for original theme music: Enter The Monster's Lounge -Special thanks to Dave Schrader and The Paranormal 60 Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 1; Psalm 84, 85; Luke 7 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: TODAY'S DEVOTION: TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL