Podcasts about your word

Psalm 130:1-7 O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. If you, Lord, should write down our sins, O Lord, who could stand? But You are the One Who forgives, so You are honored with fear. I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word. My soul waits for the Lord more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. … hope in the Lord! For there is loving-kindness with the Lord. With Him we are saved for sure.David has worked through a great deal in his life. He has literally worked out his relationship with God to live in a state of security and blessing once again. He does not claim to be without sin now, but rather, he knows where to go when he does and to go quickly! Being aquatinted with our shortcomings produces humility and a correct posture of dependency on God for His grace and Power.David confesses that God is the only One who forgives, He is loving and kind, and the path to certain salvation. Can you confess with same assurance that the same God that David is talking about here from thousands of years ago is active and available today to you in real time.How would it change the way you approach your day, your relationships to live in the full acceptance of God's loving and kind forgiveness?Also, If God has forgiven you, isn't it time to let the weight of toxic shame go - and be empowered by the grace forgiveness and acceptance that the God of the universe extends to you.A free life is fully available every day, all the time, with God.Let's turn Psalm 130 into our prayer today:O Lord, I have cried to You out of the deep places. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears hear the voice of my prayers. You are the One Who forgives. I wait for You, Lord. My soul waits and I hope in Your Word. My soul waits for You, Lord, more than one who watches for the morning; yes, more than one who watches for the morning. I put my hope in You, Lord! For there is loving-kindness with You, Lord. With You, I am saved for sure. … As above, so below.

Today, we continue our series on healthy relationships, and we're talking about managing difficult relationships. There's a wonderful scene in the classic film To Kill a Mockingbird, when the attorney Atticus Finch is confronted by the father of a girl who has accused a black man of rape. The father, enraged, walks up to Finch—played perfectly by Gregory Peck. He spits in Finch's face as the attorneys' children watch. You can see the anger in Finch's face, but he slowly and calmly maintains his composure. He simply walks past the man, who now looks pretty small, and everyone's eyes. God has given us the power over difficult people. It's called not letting them set the rules. 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.” Not always easy, definitely, but we're capable of it. Remember that. This life is very much about winning and losing. Determine that a difficult person in your life is not going to win by controlling you and getting under your skin. In wrestling terms, don't let that person pin you. Is that obnoxious person in your life really all that obnoxious, or are you a grouch, letting yourself get caught in what is really only a difference in personalities? Go home from work one evening and think about that. Make your mind up to start out the next day by being nice to that person. You'll be surprised how that can change the equation. And that's what Colossians 4:6 is talking about when it says, “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” Or maybe you're a man frustrated with the relationship between your wife and your mother. This is always a potentially difficult situation. Maybe you think your wife should be more adaptable, but have you forgotten what God told the man in Genesis 2:24? It says, “This is why a man leaves his father and mother, and is united to his wife. And they become one flesh.” Your responsibility in that situation is to your wife, not to making sure your parents' feelings come first in all situations. So you see, often that difficult person you're dealing with is you, or at the very least a different perspective will help you see where the fault really lies. Finally, in 1 Corinthians 5, we read that Paul advises for really difficult people, a cooling-off period is legitimate. For example, the person who is causing real strife in a church should not be allowed to go on like that indefinitely; bad behavior sometimes must be confronted for the good of the community. And even for the good of the offended person, this is sound advice. So if we stick to what the Lord has already told us, and our tried and true methods for dealing with difficult people, we can get to a better place. Let's pray.Father God, a person who is angry or troublemaker creates chaos for everyone. Help us analyze each of these situations as unique so that we know how to handle them from Your Word. And most especially help us make it a habit to pray for those who are difficult, so that we might see their lives changed, and brought into harmony and unity. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

There are seasons in life when everything feels overwhelming — family struggles, financial pressures, illness, or work challenges. As our daily prayer and devotional remind us, in those moments, even getting out of bed can feel like too much. But God never intended for us to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Instead, He invites us to lean on Him, to trust Him fully, and to remember His goodness. Lynette Kittle encourages us that when life feels unbearable, we can take intentional steps to anchor ourselves in God’s truth: remembering His past faithfulness, staying persistent in prayer, feeding our souls with Scripture, and reaching out to encourage others. These small but powerful practices help lift our eyes off the heaviness and fix them back on the One who carries us. God’s Word promises that He is our Savior, our hope, and our strength. Even when life seems too hard, He is with us, sustaining us moment by moment. Your Daily Bible Reading: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." – Psalm 43:5 Key Takeaways God never designed us to carry life’s burdens alone; He calls us to lean on Him. Remembering God’s past faithfulness builds hope for today. Prayer, even when it feels hard, keeps us connected to God’s strength. Scripture refreshes weary hearts with truth and perspective. Reaching out to others, even in our struggles, brings blessing and renewal. Let’s Pray Together Dear Father, thank You for being my Savior and my God. Although my body, mind, and heart feel weary, I choose to put my hope in You. Remind me of Your goodness and faithfulness. Strengthen me through prayer and Your Word, and help me to bless others even when I feel weak. Thank You that in You, I have hope and reason to praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Calls to Action Write down three ways God has been faithful to you and revisit the list when life feels heavy. Set aside 5 minutes today to pray, even if it feels hard. Share this devotional with a friend who may be facing difficult circumstances. Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement and prayer. Related Resources When Life Feels Overwhelming, How Do I Pray? – Crosswalk.com 10 Verses to Bring Hope When You Feel Weary – BibleStudyTools.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When you're walking on a dark, unfamiliar path, a lamp doesn't show you the entire journey. Instead, it illuminates just the ground directly in front of you. This is what God's Word does in the midst of trials. It doesn't necessarily reveal how or when the trial will end, but it provides enough light for […] The post Your Word is a Lamp appeared first on Jubilee Church.

Lesson 254Let Every Voice But God's Be Still In Me.Father, today I would but hear Your Voice. In deepest silence I would come to You, to hear Your Voice and to receive Your Word. I have no prayer but this: I come to You to ask You for the truth. And truth is but Your Will, which I would share with You today.Today we let no ego thoughts direct our words or actions. When such thoughts occur, we quietly step back and look at them, and then we let them go. We do not want what they would bring with them. And so we do not choose to keep them. They are silent now. And in the stillness, hallowed by His Love, God speaks to us and tells us of our will, as we have chosen to remember Him.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

There are days when words flow easily in prayer—and then there are days when silence feels heavy, and you don't know what to say. But here's the gift: God has already given us the perfect words to pray—His Word. When we pray Scripture, we're not just reciting verses; we're aligning our heart with His truth and declaring promises that will never fail.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)Praying Scripture is one of the most powerful habits you can form in your prayer life. When you feel anxious, you can pray Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When you're weary, you can declare Isaiah 40:31: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”This practice does three things:* It roots your prayers in God's authority. Instead of praying based on emotion, you're praying based on unshakable truth.* It transforms your mind. As you pray His Word, you're also meditating on it, letting it rewire your thinking.* It increases your faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” When you pray Scripture, you're speaking life into your spirit.Praying Scripture also protects you from praying selfishly. Instead of asking only from your perspective, you begin to align with God's heart and His will. It becomes less about “Lord, do what I want” and more about “Lord, let Your Word be fulfilled.”Here's a practical step: pick one passage of Scripture today, personalize it into prayer, and speak it out loud. For example, take Psalm 23:1—“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”—and pray: “Lord, thank You that You are my shepherd. Today, I trust that I lack nothing in You.”Question of the Day:What Scripture do you need to begin praying over your life and family right now?Mini Call to Action:Choose one verse today, write it down, and pray it morning and night this week.Prayer:Father, thank You for giving me Your Word as a foundation for my prayers. Teach me to pray it daily, not as ritual but as relationship—so that Your truth fills my heart, my home, and my future.Let's Get To Work!Pray the Word, and you'll always pray His will. Scripture isn't just to be read—it's to be declared.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

There are days when words flow easily in prayer—and then there are days when silence feels heavy, and you don't know what to say. But here's the gift: God has already given us the perfect words to pray—His Word. When we pray Scripture, we're not just reciting verses; we're aligning our heart with His truth and declaring promises that will never fail.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)Praying Scripture is one of the most powerful habits you can form in your prayer life. When you feel anxious, you can pray Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When you're weary, you can declare Isaiah 40:31: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”This practice does three things:* It roots your prayers in God's authority. Instead of praying based on emotion, you're praying based on unshakable truth.* It transforms your mind. As you pray His Word, you're also meditating on it, letting it rewire your thinking.* It increases your faith. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” When you pray Scripture, you're speaking life into your spirit.Praying Scripture also protects you from praying selfishly. Instead of asking only from your perspective, you begin to align with God's heart and His will. It becomes less about “Lord, do what I want” and more about “Lord, let Your Word be fulfilled.”Here's a practical step: pick one passage of Scripture today, personalize it into prayer, and speak it out loud. For example, take Psalm 23:1—“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”—and pray: “Lord, thank You that You are my shepherd. Today, I trust that I lack nothing in You.”Question of the Day:What Scripture do you need to begin praying over your life and family right now?Mini Call to Action:Choose one verse today, write it down, and pray it morning and night this week.Prayer:Father, thank You for giving me Your Word as a foundation for my prayers. Teach me to pray it daily, not as ritual but as relationship—so that Your truth fills my heart, my home, and my future.Let's Get To Work!Pray the Word, and you'll always pray His will. Scripture isn't just to be read—it's to be declared.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Read OnlineAnd he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all. Luke 6:17–19The Gospel of Luke presents us with what is traditionally known as the “Sermon on the Plain.” Almost everything Luke includes in this sermon is also found in Matthew's “Sermon on the Mount.” Matthew, however, adds some teachings not found in Luke. Matthew's sermon has three chapters while Luke's has only one.In this, the introduction to this “Sermon on the Plain,” from which we will be reading all week, Luke points out that large numbers of people came from far and wide to listen to Jesus. This crowd included many Jews but also included many people from the pagan territory of Tyre and Sidon. And what was it that drew so many of them? They came to “hear” Jesus preach and “to be healed.” They wanted to hear the words of Jesus since He spoke with great authority and in a way that was changing lives. And they were especially amazed by the healing power that Jesus manifested. The last line of the passage above gives great emphasis to this desire for healing. “Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”It's interesting that Jesus performed so many powerful miracles as He went about His public ministry. This was especially the case as He began His ministry. He became a sort of instant celebrity to many and was the talk of the many surrounding towns. But it's also interesting to note that, as time went on, Jesus gave more emphasis to His teaching than He did to the miracles.What is it that draws you to our Lord? Perhaps if there were numerous manifest miracles performed today by God, many people would be amazed. But physical miracles are not the greatest work of our Lord and, therefore, should not be the primary focus of our relationship with Him. The primary reason we should be drawn to our Lord is because His holy Word sinks in deeply, changes us and draws us into communion with Him. This is clearly seen by the fact that now that the Gospel message has been deeply established and the Church formed, physical miracles are rare. They do happen, but not in the same way that they did as Jesus first established His public ministry.Reflect, today, upon the primary reason you find yourself drawn to our Lord. Seek out His living Word, spoken within the depths of your heart. The most important miracle that takes place today is that of interior transformation. When a person hears God speak, responds to that Word, and allows Him to change their life, this is among the most important miracles of grace that we could ever encounter. And this is the central reason we should be drawn to Him, seek Him out and follow Him wherever He leads.My miraculous Lord, please draw me to Yourself, teaching in the wilderness of my interior life of silence and solitude. Help me to seek You out so that I can hear Your Word, spoken to me to give me new life. May I always listen to You so that Your holy Word will transform me more fully, making me into the new creation You desire me to be. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Cosimo Rosselli, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

In Psalm 34:18, we’re reminded that “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” But in seasons of heartbreak, unanswered prayers, or overwhelming busyness, God can sometimes feel distant. Cindi McMenamin shares how we can quiet the noise, draw near to God, and experience His presence as close and real as the air we breathe. ✨ Highlights Why God sometimes feels distant and how to reconnect with Him Four practical ways to experience God’s presence: Take a Divine Pause — slow down, breathe deeply, and be still (Psalm 46:10) Whisper His Name — use simple “breath prayers” like “Jesus, I need You” (Acts 4:12) Read His Word Aloud — Scripture is “living and active” and draws us closer (Hebrews 4:12) Start Praising Him — worship shifts our focus from ourselves to God’s goodness The promise of Jeremiah 29:13: when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him

Bible Verse of the Day: "For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." – Hebrews 4:12 How Is the Word of God Living and Active? (Hebrews 4:12) Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that Scripture is not just ink on a page but a living, active force in the lives of believers. Unlike human words or philosophies, God’s Word is constantly at work—penetrating, discerning, and transforming us. The imagery of a “two-edged sword” underscores Scripture’s precision. It cuts deep, revealing hidden motivations and exposing the true state of our hearts. Nothing is beyond its reach—not our thoughts, not our intentions, not even the parts of us we try to keep hidden. This verse also carries both comfort and challenge. Comfort, because God’s Word brings life, direction, and encouragement. Challenge, because it confronts us with truth, reminding us that nothing is hidden from God’s gaze. The call is clear: approach His Word with humility, letting it shape us into people who live in step with His will. Daily Meditation God’s Word is alive, speaking across all times and cultures. It penetrates beyond outward behavior, reaching our deepest thoughts and motives. Scripture is an instrument of both encouragement and correction. Through the Word, we encounter God’s presence and align with His purposes. Let’s Pray Father, I come to You honestly—sometimes my heart feels distant, and my excitement for Your Word fades beneath the weight of life’s distractions. But I know Your Word is living and powerful, and I long for that closeness again. Please rekindle a deep passion within me to seek You through Scripture. Open my eyes to see the beauty, truth, and life in every page. Stir my spirit with fresh hunger to know You more and to treasure Your voice above all else. Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve treated Your Word casually or out of routine. Help me approach it with awe and expectation, knowing that You are ready to speak each time I open my Bible. Let my heart burn with joy and wonder as I encounter You in new ways. Teach me to delight in Your truth and to let it transform me daily.In Jesus’ name, Amen. About Joe - Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M. Sign Up for Joe's Newsletter here! https://joechristianguy.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Knowledge without application is just information. It fills notebooks, impresses people, and fuels pride—but it never truly transforms lives. Jesus didn't call disciples to merely learn about Him; He called them to live like Him. Discipleship's ultimate test is found not in how much we know, but in how authentically and faithfully we practice what we've learned.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:9Let's get real. We live in an age of unprecedented access to spiritual content—books, podcasts, sermons, devotionals. But simply absorbing content doesn't necessarily produce mature disciples. Spiritual maturity comes from consistently putting into practice what God has revealed to you.The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. He didn't tell believers just to listen or memorize. He urged them to watch his life and replicate his faithfulness. His challenge was straightforward: “What you've seen in me, do that.” That's real discipleship—when others can look at your life and clearly see a demonstration of Christ in action.It's tempting to keep learning without living, accumulating spiritual insights without applying them. But true transformation demands that you live out your convictions in practical, everyday ways. It means forgiving even when it's painful, serving when it's inconvenient, giving generously even when it stretches your faith, and responding to hurts with grace instead of bitterness.God doesn't measure discipleship by theological brilliance or Bible trivia. He measures it by obedience and authenticity. Your obedience is what turns truth into transformation.So today, evaluate your life honestly. Is there a disconnect between what you believe and how you behave? Are there truths God has revealed to you that you've yet to fully live out? Begin to close that gap.Question of the Day:What specific truth or lesson has God shown you recently that you haven't yet fully put into practice?Mini Call to Action:Decide on one practical step of obedience today and commit to taking immediate action.Prayer:Lord, help me not to settle for knowing without doing. Give me the courage to live out the truths You've taught me. Let my life reflect the reality of Your Word in action, so others see You clearly through me. Amen.Let's Get To Work!Disciples aren't just hearers—they're doers. Live out what you learn, and your life will become your loudest sermon.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Knowledge without application is just information. It fills notebooks, impresses people, and fuels pride—but it never truly transforms lives. Jesus didn't call disciples to merely learn about Him; He called them to live like Him. Discipleship's ultimate test is found not in how much we know, but in how authentically and faithfully we practice what we've learned.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:9Let's get real. We live in an age of unprecedented access to spiritual content—books, podcasts, sermons, devotionals. But simply absorbing content doesn't necessarily produce mature disciples. Spiritual maturity comes from consistently putting into practice what God has revealed to you.The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. He didn't tell believers just to listen or memorize. He urged them to watch his life and replicate his faithfulness. His challenge was straightforward: “What you've seen in me, do that.” That's real discipleship—when others can look at your life and clearly see a demonstration of Christ in action.It's tempting to keep learning without living, accumulating spiritual insights without applying them. But true transformation demands that you live out your convictions in practical, everyday ways. It means forgiving even when it's painful, serving when it's inconvenient, giving generously even when it stretches your faith, and responding to hurts with grace instead of bitterness.God doesn't measure discipleship by theological brilliance or Bible trivia. He measures it by obedience and authenticity. Your obedience is what turns truth into transformation.So today, evaluate your life honestly. Is there a disconnect between what you believe and how you behave? Are there truths God has revealed to you that you've yet to fully live out? Begin to close that gap.Question of the Day:What specific truth or lesson has God shown you recently that you haven't yet fully put into practice?Mini Call to Action:Decide on one practical step of obedience today and commit to taking immediate action.Prayer:Lord, help me not to settle for knowing without doing. Give me the courage to live out the truths You've taught me. Let my life reflect the reality of Your Word in action, so others see You clearly through me. Amen.Let's Get To Work!Disciples aren't just hearers—they're doers. Live out what you learn, and your life will become your loudest sermon.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Ephesians 6Relationships continue to be featured in this letter. Children must obey and honor their parents, receiving God's blessing if they do. Parents are called to raise their children with discipline and instruction in the Lord. Servants and masters are reminded to treat each other with respect, knowing that God is the ultimate Master. Christians must wear the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word. Paul emphasizes the power of prayer, encouraging constant communication with God. He concludes with a call to boldness in sharing the gospel, reminding believers to stand firm and trust in God's strength. We are called to obey God, honoring those in authority, and treating others with respect and integrity. In our daily lives, we must recognize that we are in a spiritual battle and cannot rely on our own strength. We need to put on the full armor of God daily, standing firm in truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation. God's Word is our weapon, and prayer should be our constant connection to Him. When challenges arise, we must remember that our strength comes from God, not ourselves. By staying rooted in Him, we can resist temptation and boldly share the gospel with those around us. Walking in His power enables us to live faithfully and confidently in every aspect of our lives. Glorious God, strengthen us to stand firm in Your power and to demonstrate Your will in our family and all relationships. Clothe us in Your armor so we may resist the enemy's attacks. Fill us with truth, righteousness, and peace, and increase our faith to extinguish every doubt and temptation. Protect our minds with the assurance of salvation and equip us with Your Word to fight spiritual battles. Teach us to pray constantly, always seeking Your guidance daily. Help us to be bold in sharing the gospel and to walk in obedience and integrity. Prepare us to be used by You. Thought Questions: -       This chapter features authority constructs: parent/child and master/slave. Why is it vital to be Christ-like on both sides of these relationships? -       How do you put on the full armor of God? What are your habits? More importantly, how does Christ's strength help you when you do this? -       “Pray at all times in the Spirit” (v18). What does it mean to pray in connection with the Holy Spirit, and how does He help you in your prayers?

Google officially released Gemini 2.5 this week, with possibly the best AI name yet, Nano Banana. Many are saying this is now the top dog for image generation and spells the end for Photoshop. At the other end of the spectrum, Taco Bell is rethinking its AI ordering in the drive-thru. Plus, we get you caught up on the rest of the week's tech news. All so you can get out there and tech better. Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com INTRO (00:00) Mr. Beast Team Water (03:15) Apple Event - September 9th, 2025 (05:35) MAIN TOPIC: Nano Banana (06:30) Google improves Gemini AI image editing with “nano banana” model 10 crazy Nano Banana AI image use cases that will blow your mind Google's official Nano Banana prompt guide Image editing in Gemini just got a major upgrade DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK:  Use built-in translation app as a foreign dictionary (13:55) JUST THE HEADLINES: (18:00) Florida deploys robot rabbits to control invasive Burmese python population Scientists unlock secret to thick, stable beer foams Rare snail has a 1-in-40,000 chance of finding a mate. New Zealand begins the search Your Word documents will be saved to the cloud automatically on Windows going forward World's first 1-step method by US-China team turns plastic into fuel at 95% efficiency Humans inhale as much as 68,000 microplastic particles daily, study finds Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce's engagement announcement breaks Instagram record TAKES: Taco Bell rethinks future of voice AI at the drive-thru (22:10) Nothing busted using professional photos as Phone 3 samples (24:10) Denmark to tackle deepfakes by giving people copyright to their own features (27:55) TransUnion says hackers stole 4.4 million customers' personal information (31:10) BONUS ODD TAKE: Snapshots of Kids Bike Jumping in the 1970s (33:35) PICKS OF THE WEEK:  Dave:  DuoLingo - freemium (37:20) Nate: 2 Pack Anker USB C Charger with Foldable Plug, 20W USB C Charger Block for iPhone 16/15 and More Series, Galaxy, Pixel, iPad (Cable Not Included) (45:00) RAMAZON PURCHASE OF THE WEEK (49:40)

Faith for the Coming Wilderness (1) (audio) David Eells – 9/3/25 Father, You say in (Eph 2:8)  for by grace (unmerited favor) have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9  not of works, that no man should glory. Interpretation: By unearned favor God gives us His gift of faith to be what we should be. And He tells us that we don't have anything that we didn't receive from Him so how could we be proud of anything that we are able to do? With that in mind I ask     in the name of Jesus, you would let Your anointing be in our midst and to bless us all to have eyes to see and ears to hear. Give us all discernment from Your Spirit, Lord. We thank You that everything that You have done for us through Jesus Christ has all been accomplished at the cross, and we praise You for it, Father. We thank You, Lord, for using this unworthy vessel to share with the brethren a little bit more of the Word. Amen. I want to talk to you about the First-fruits and encourage you about how you can be part of that ministry. One major question that people have concerns the difference between those who will be in the First-fruits and those who will be in the in-gathering. In Exodus 23, the Bible speaks of two harvests. (Exo.23:14) Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. (15) The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep: seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it thou camest out from Egypt); and none shall appear before me empty: (We cannot bear fruit except by the unleavened bread of the pure Word. If we have done this the proof will be in the harvest.) (16) and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sowest in the field: and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labors out of the field. The first-fruits are the first harvest and the rest are harvested at the end. The harvest is being brought into the Kingdom through the unleavened bread. We've learned that the First-fruits harvest is the Man-child ministry, and the ingathering harvest is those who are brought in later. Jesus was called the First-fruits who raised up His two witnesses who went out two by two to continue the harvest. (See Hidden Manna for the End Times, Chapter 7, “Maturity and Harvests,” which is available in PDF at ubm1. org), but what people want to know is, “How can I be in the First-fruits?” We'll find our answer if we examine the different types and shadows of the First-fruits. Two of the major types, of course, are Moses and Jesus. One thing we can see immediately from Moses and Jesus is that they went through a common experience, which prepared them to bring the people of God into the wilderness and teach them how to be overcomers. Moses went into the wilderness for 40 years (Act.7:30-34) and he overcame to lead the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days (Mat.4:1; Luk.4:2) and He overcame to teach the disciples. The number 40 represents “trial” or “tribulation,” so both Moses and Jesus overcame in their own trials. (Rev.2:26) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. (Rev.3:21) He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. In other words, dominion is given to the people of God who overcome in their wilderness trials. So where is this “wilderness” and what does it entail? Well, the wilderness is everywhere there is a Christian. We're not looking for a literal, physical desert somewhere to go into, so don't be thinking that! (2Co.3:6) Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Anywhere God's people are, there is a wilderness available to them. Why do I say “available”? That's because God's people are like Israel when they were in Egypt, and they don't necessarily want to go into that wilderness. In some cases, God even has to force them into that wilderness. Israel had to be forced into that wilderness by Pharaoh's army behind them and by God parting the Red Sea before them. But both Moses and Jesus each went out into their personal wilderness first; first they overcame their own temptations and trials before God used them to bring others there. The wilderness is a place where you are tempted and tried, and if you want to be used to bring others there, you first have to pass the test. Let me share with you some things the Lord has taught me about this wilderness. Not long after I became a Christian, by the Lord's grace and mercy, I started going out into the wilderness because I began getting the revelation of what it entailed and what it meant. To put it very simply, in the New Testament, a “wilderness” is any place and any trial in which you are believing and acting upon the Word of God. For instance, there is a mark of the Beast coming, and most Christians know that they won't be able to buy or sell with the world anymore, unless they take that mark. They will be put into a wilderness experience where they can't go back to Egypt, just like the Israelites out in the wilderness. The Israelites were tested to see if they were really going to believe in the promises of God, which was the only thing that would sustain them in their wilderness. We're coming to the same situation in our day. If you want to be like Moses, or if you want to be like Jesus, or if you want to be like Joseph, if you want to be like these different types and shadows of the First-fruits, you have to go out into your wilderness now. These men didn't wait for the crowd to go; they led them where they had already gone. I want to tell you quite frankly that if you are not living in the wilderness, you are not living as a believer. You are rebelling against the Word of God. If you are satisfied to go along with whatever the other religious people around you are doing, that won't put you in the First-fruits. You have to act upon what you see in the Word. Let me explain this wilderness to you a little bit more before I share a few testimonies. The Word of God says that our salvation has been accomplished. It's done. The Lord has already healed us. He's already delivered us. He's already perfected us. (Joh.19:28) After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst. (29) There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. Jesus said, “It is finished.” (Joh.16:33) These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. You see, the Lord has already overcome the world for us, and He did it by His sacrifice. He gave His Life for us. (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. Notice, these are past tense. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. This was all accomplished at the cross! (Joh.1:29) On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! He was the Lamb of God Who took away the sins of the world and there is a reason for that. The Bible says that God chose the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. (1Co.1:27) But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; (28) and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are. The “things that are not” are these promises that we don't see manifested in this physical realm. God says you are healed, you are delivered, you are perfected, and your sins are all taken away, but you say, “Well, David, I don't see that in this physical realm.” That's exactly right, but the Word of God is still true! When you hold fast to these past-tense promises, you will definitely see them come to pass because that's what faith is. Faith is believing and acting on these promises. God gave awesome promises to the Israelites when they went into their wilderness, and He was very much offended that they did not believe those promises. Let's look at what He said to them, since it was basically His whole problem with Israel in the wilderness. (Num.14:11) And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them? (12) I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they. (23) Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised me see it. (Because they did not believe in Him.) So, the Lord swore He would bring them into that land, but He changed His mind because all the promises of God are functional and based on our part of the Covenant, which is faith in the promises. We have to believe! (Mar.9:23) And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth. (24) Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Jesus taught that we are supposed to believe that we have received everything that we pray for. For instance, (Mar.11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever (What does “all” leave out? Nothing!) whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them (This is past tense in all the ancient manuscripts. It's just that the translators didn't understand why you should believe you have received something when you don't see it.) believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. God expects us to believe before we see; He expects us to believe we've received everything the Bible promises us. (Heb.11:1) Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. If you believe you received something when you prayed for it, what are you going to do to try to bring it to pass? If you say, for instance, that you believe by the stripes of Jesus you were healed, yet you continue trying to get healed by some worldly means, what you are proving is that you don't believe the good news that Jesus already healed you at the cross. For many years, I've never missed receiving a healing. I've raised five children and they have all received healing from the Lord. They were born at home (except for my oldest) and received healing for anything they ever needed. It didn't matter if it was broken bones, diseases, or whatever. They were always healed because I acted on what I saw in the Word of God concerning healing. His Word says that you don't have to accomplish healing; you have to receive it as a free gift, just as you receive every other form of salvation as a free gift. Since “God chose … the things that are not” to bring to nothing “the things that are,” how does He do that? (Rom.4:17) … God … calleth the things that are not, as though they were. Well then, how do we do that? We just speak it as done. Every miracle that Jesus ever did, He spoke it first. Nothing was there. He spoke it first, and it came to pass. And what the Lord wants us to do is speak in agreement with the Word. (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? We need to speak in agreement with the Word of God. If the Bible says we're healed, we need to agree with that. If we have to call for the elders to anoint us with oil so we can put our faith together to agree with that, then that's what we should do, but we need to agree with that. (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. You are delivered from sin. Consider it done. Why are so many people anxious and troubled about their sins? It's because they don't believe the Gospel! Why are so many people anxious and troubled about getting a healing? It's because they don't believe the Gospel! Why are so many people trying to deliver themselves? It's because they are not believing and acting upon the Gospel. Salvation in any form is a free gift. You accept it by faith. You speak it by faith. It is yours. (Col.1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; (13) who delivered us (past tense) out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. If you are attempting to save yourself and not accepting that you were delivered at the cross, then what you are proving is that you don't believe the Gospel. You believe in salvation by works. All of your self-efforts are hindering God from giving you what He wants to give you because He chose the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. The “things that are not” are these promises. The “things that are” is the curse. Look around you; God says He healed you and sometimes you don't look healed. He says He delivered you from sin and sometimes you don't think you are delivered from sin. He says He delivered you out of the power of darkness and sometimes you think you might have demons. Apostle Paul said, (Php.4:19) And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Every need! Wow! That's awesome! “My God shall supply every need of yours.” Think about that. You need to know and confess that all of God's promises are true anywhere you are. When you get into that wilderness, God is going to be there. God told Paul in (2Co.12:9) And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. His power is true power when we are weak, when we give up our own efforts to save ourselves. In the wilderness, there was no visible means of support for the Israelites. There was no lush land or a wondrous place to raise sheep and goats and crops. It was a desert. God brought them there to prove to them that He was Jehovah-jireh; the Lord my provider. (Gen.22:14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided. He brought them there to prove that He was their provider in all things, but they moaned, and they complained, and they wouldn't believe God, and so they fell in the wilderness because they walked by sight and not by faith. God is about to send us into a wilderness. We are coming to a place where the world will no longer cooperate with us, but will turn against us, persecute us, and separate us from their benefits. They will blame us for the judgments that are falling upon the world. There will be a brief recovery of the economy and then a collapse and wilderness.  The governments are going to look for whomever they can blame and cut off because their resources will be gone. Remember that Egypt was completely ruined by the time the Israelites went into the wilderness (Exo.10:7). But before the Israelites went into the wilderness, they had already eaten the Passover lamb. Then they came out of Egypt and passed through the Red Sea, which Paul called a “baptism.” (1Co.10:1) For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) and did all eat the same spiritual food; (4) and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. So they were saved, they were baptized, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and went right into the wilderness. If you believe the Word of God, that's exactly what you do! You go immediately into the wilderness, even if you are a baby Christian. You walk into that wilderness, you walk into that place where you receive your sustenance out of Heaven from God and you no longer receive your sustenance from man by his methods, by the works of the flesh. When the Israelites went into their wilderness, they carried all of their provisions out there with them, but in only three days, they started running out (Exo.15:22). In spite of their own efforts, they found themselves still dependent on the hand of God. Many Christians today think that we're going to store up all these things and get prepared for the coming wilderness, but God said that “My power is made perfect in weakness.” God is bringing us into a wilderness to multiply the food (Mat.14:13- 21; Mar.6:30-44, etc.), to bring the manna out of Heaven (Exo.16:31,35; Num.11:7,9, etc.), to bring the water out of the rock (Exo.17:6; Num.20:8, etc.) He's going to do all these miraculous things and more to provide for His people, yet His people are still of a mind of salvation by works. They think, “We don't have to walk by faith! We are going to save ourselves!” Well, I can tell you that exactly what happened to the Israelites is going to happen to the Church. In the wilderness, they are going to run out of everything, and they are going to be back depending upon God because that's His plan! We have to learn to use those promises, we have to learn to use the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Even though we see that the promises are not yet fulfilled in this physical realm, we have to use them to provide ourselves with the things that we need. Jesus already provided us with everything right there at the cross, and only through our weakness is God's power going to be made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9). Many years ago, I was driving down the interstate and I passed over the River Jordan, except it was spelled “Jourdan” instead of “Jordan.” And when I passed over it, the thought came into my mind, “Oh, boy! Thank You, Lord! I'm going to the Promised Land!” But God immediately corrected me. He said, “No, you're not. I'm sending you through a wilderness so that you can tell My people that I still supply there.” That's what happened, and at the time, I was in a wilderness. I had been in it for many years, but the Lord helped me to explain it better. My wilderness was simply that I believed the Word of God when I was a baby Christian. I didn't have any religious background; I was raised a Catholic, but I didn't know anything about the Bible, so at home I started reading the Bible. I was just consumed with a love for the Bible! I knew that this was the truth, and so I began to act upon those awesome, precious promises that God has given us, and I began to see some wondrous miracles before I ever became mixed up with any religion. I just knew that those promises didn't pass away with the apostles. The Lord taught me in this wilderness how to receive provision from Him, and He taught me that so that I can teach it to you. It's exactly as He told me: “I'm sending you through a wilderness so that you can tell My people that I still supply there,” because we are going into a wilderness. The Tribulation period is the wilderness (Rev.12:6, 17:6). And we have to prepare for this wilderness, but not in the way that carnally-minded Christians have been teaching. I can tell you right now that how they are getting prepared is not going to last. To get prepared to walk through this wilderness, you need to walk by faith in the promises of God. You need to act on what you read in the Word, and if you will do that, you will be weak. That's because you can do nothing to bring to pass a promise that God says He's already given you. If He says that He has healed you and you go running to man for healing, then you prove you haven't believed that verse yet! And you are not in the wilderness because, when you are in the wilderness, you are in a place of weakness to the flesh. The flesh cannot save itself in the wilderness; it has to turn to God. God started teaching me these principles of just acting upon the Word, and before I knew what a wilderness was, I was going there. So you don't have to wait to go into the wilderness. In fact, if you go there and you overcome now, you will be one of those whom God will use to bring others there and teach them the ways of the Lord. (Isa.55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. The ways of the Lord are not our ways. He has methods that are not our methods. You don't have to read the Gospel very far before you realize that. Jesus didn't use the methods of the world to bring about the deliverance of God's people. When did Jesus send anybody to a psychiatrist or a doctor? He spoke the Word of God! He called the things that are not as though they were. We're going to do the same thing! If you make it through that wilderness, you are going to do the same thing. Some of what God began to teach me about living in the wilderness had to do with my finances. For instance, I have been ministering for 55 years now, and I've never taken an offering. “Taking” an offering is an oxymoron! You can't “take” an offering; it's supposed to be freely given! Now, I have preached in other assemblies where people have taken up offerings for me.  And some of them, I'm sorry to say, were use to their preacher's “beatings” to make them give through condemnation. But the Lord taught me at the beginning, (Mat.10:8) … freely ye received, freely give (Deu.15:10; Psa.112:9, etc.). God wanted me to give everything that He gave to me, to just give it freely, knowing that He is Almighty God and that He will take care of me. And when I ministered, I never asked for an offering, nor do I talk about money in our local assembly. I know that in most churches, they talk about money every time they meet, but I don't talk about money because God puts it in people's hearts to meet the needs of the brethren. So I freely give and for the past 55 years, God has freely given to me. Truly, if you prove God's Word, you will be very impressed with God. I'm very impressed with God! I know He watches over me, I know that He knows my needs, I know that He provides for my needs and I know that I don't have to stand around and beg Him or beg men. I've never taken an offering and I continue to freely give of my ministry to people. We freely give away our materials and our books on our website, but God puts it in people's hearts to give back. (Luk.6:38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. Wow! That's awesome! And I've never had to condemn people into giving to me, either. I don't even have to mention it. I have taught on giving, of course, but I've never taught on giving to me, and I've never taught on putting people under the Law to give to me. The disciples never took up an offering for themselves but for saints who were suffering elsewhere. For instance, you can't find the command to tithe in the New Testament. Jesus said that tithing was of the Law. (Mat.23:23) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done (under the Law), and not to have left the other undone. There's no place in the New Testament where God commanded Christians to be tithers. That was a law that was given in the Old Testament to the Old Covenant people. If a preacher drags it over into the New Covenant, it's because he's not obeying Jesus. He's not freely giving and freely receiving. What he's doing is condemning people into supporting him because he has no faith. When Jesus sent out the disciples, they were men of faith, or He would not have ordained them, and He would not have sent them out. And when He sent them out, He told them, “Freely ye received, freely give,” and that's what they did. They didn't take up any offerings. They didn't throw any pity parties. They didn't cry about all of their needs. They trusted in Almighty God! He can take care of us and, by the way, He is not poverty-stricken! I learned very quickly that tithing was something that churches used because they didn't trust God, so they were putting God's people under the Law, which was pronounced to be a curse. (Deu.28:15) But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. (Jas.2:10) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point,] he is become guilty of all. I learned that Jesus said, (Luk.14:33) So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. We are not stewards of 10% and owners of 90% anymore! Read the New Testament! We are called “stewards” of 100%!  We handle it for God. We've been bought with a price (1Co.6:19-20; 7:23). We are not our own and neither is anything that we have. We are bondservants, and everything that we have belongs to our Master. He's the One Who tells us what to do with it, how much to give, where to give and to whom. Yes, we do in type and shadow, bring our tithes into the storehouse (Mal.3:10), which in the Old Testament was in the middle of the temple, but in the New Testament, God's people are the temple. When Jesus returns to judge the nations, He's not going to say anything about the tithe. (Mat.25:34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in (Notice its all about how we treat the temple.); (36) naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? (38) And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. You see, you bring your “tithes” into the storehouse by how you treat the temple. At times, God has even called on me to give away my car and my house, but anything that I gave away, He always gave back to me and, in most cases, even better. He has never failed me! When I've been to minister as an invited speaker at other assemblies, I always appreciated it if they chose to give me an offering, but I never asked for one. I also learned that it pleased God if I didn't tell everyone my needs. I just told Him my needs. There's not one instance in the Bible where an apostle took up offerings or told anyone their own needs. The only time they took up an offering was for someone else; they took up an offering for the saints in Jerusalem who were in desperate need, because when they came to Christianity, the Jews around them were plundering them. (Heb.10:34) For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. And so Paul had the churches take up offerings for the saints (1Co.16:3; 2Co.9:5; 12:16-18; Php.4:15-19), but he never took up an offering for himself and nobody else did, either. They were men of faith, and they walked by faith. They knew they were working for the Father and that the Father would pay them. You get to see the glory of God if you don't do things in the flesh. I'll give you one little instance. But first please remember that we have nothing to brag about. Everything comes from our awesome God by unmerited favor through faith which is His gift to us. When my children were young, I was impressed that I needed to go to Louisiana to visit some relatives. Well, this was at a time when I didn't have any money whatsoever. Even my children asked, “How are we going to Louisiana?” It was a pretty good drive, four-and-a-half hours from where we lived, and I told them, “We are going to go by faith.” I never let on to anybody in our assembly, “Well, I'm going to Louisiana and I don't have any money.” The next day, we all piled into our car, which was out of gas, and we headed out to Louisiana. Now, as I was going out of the door, I saw where a sister had left her Bible on the table, so I picked it up and I said, “We'll drop this by on our way.” You know, I was convinced that God was just going to put gas in my car because He had done it many times before. And when we stopped by this sister's house, I knocked on her door and I handed her the Bible when she answered. I said, “You left this at our house and I didn't want you to go through the weekend without having the Word.” I turned around to leave, but she said, “David, the Lord is telling me to give this to you,” and she handed me a $20 bill. Now, in those days, a $20 bill would fill up even a big station wagon, which is what I had with five kids in it. So I thanked her and I turned around and went back to town, and I took that money and filled the tank up with gas.  We were excited because the pump clicked off at $20. Folks, you never saw a tank of gas in a big gas hog car like mine go as far as that tank of gas went! And when we took off for Louisiana, we still didn't have any money because we had put it all in the gas tank. After we got to Louisiana and were visiting, an assembly over there somehow found out I was in town. They decided to invite me over to preach and, sure enough, they took up an offering and blessed me. I came back with a whole lot more money than when I left. Praise be to God! I remember taking my kids to the beach when we didn't have any gas in the car and God put gas in the car. And I remember one time a friend called me to come and pick him up because he had run his car off the road, and he was stuck. That was when my car was empty. It had been empty for days, and I had been driving it that way for days, and he was on the other side of town. I said, “Lord, Your Word says, ‘Give to him that asketh of thee' (Mat.5:42; Luk.6:30), and he's asking, so I'm going!” I got in my car that I'd been driving for several days without any gas in it, and I went over there and I picked him up where he was stuck alongside the road. I dragged him out and came back home. You know, I drove that car for a week and it never ran out of gas. There was another time I actually did have plenty of money, but the gas stations were closed. When I lived over in Baton Rouge, I once had to go to work very, very early in the morning, and I didn't realize that all those stations weren't open that early. I went to a couple of them, and they were closed, but I decided, “Well, Lord, nothing is stopping You from putting gas in my tank. I'm going.” So I jumped up on the interstate, and before I had gone anywhere, I saw that gas tank needle start climbing; I think it climbed up about a third of a tank while I was driving down the interstate, and then it stopped. I asked, “Well, Lord, why didn't You just go ahead and fill it up?” And I heard Him answer, “Well, I always give you what you need.” I said, “That's right!” It didn't matter to me if I ran out because I've seen my car run without any gas in it. It makes no difference to God. We must become as a child in trusting our Father. To such belongs the Kingdom of heaven. God bless you to believe and trust in His promises you find in the Word of His provision and care for you!

There's a difference between surviving as a believer and thriving as a disciple. One simply hangs on until Heaven; the other grows, bears fruit, and lives on mission for the Kingdom. What separates the two is hunger—a holy desire for spiritual maturity that refuses to be satisfied with yesterday's faith.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” — 1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)Peter paints a vivid picture: just as a newborn instinctively cries out for nourishment, so should we long for the Word, prayer, and fellowship with God. Spiritual maturity is not a passive process. You cannot drift into depth; you must pursue it intentionally.This hunger starts with realizing there is more of God to know, more of His ways to understand, and more of His Spirit to experience. Many Christians plateau because they mistake initial salvation for the fullness of the Christian life. But God is calling you to press in, to keep growing, to let Him refine you in character, faith, and obedience.Hunger for spiritual maturity will disrupt comfort zones. It will cause you to ask hard questions, wrestle with God's Word, and confront areas in your life that don't align with His will. It means you stop being content with surface-level spirituality and go deeper—studying Scripture until it changes you, praying until your heart aligns with His, and serving until your life reflects His love in action.Without hunger, we settle for spiritual junk food—things that entertain but do not nourish. With hunger, we feed on what will strengthen our faith, even when it's challenging to digest.The truth is, God will meet you at the level of your hunger. If you desire just enough of Him to get by, that's what you'll receive. But if you desire more—if you chase after Him like David did, if you long for Him as the deer pants for water—you will find depths of intimacy and revelation that transform your entire life.Question of the Day:How hungry are you for spiritual growth—and what does your daily life say about that hunger?Mini Call to Action:Choose one new spiritual discipline or practice to deepen your walk this week, and commit to it daily.Prayer:Lord, give me a deep, unshakable hunger for You. Stir my heart to desire Your Word, Your presence, and Your will above everything else. Remove distractions that dull my appetite for spiritual growth. Teach me to crave what nourishes my soul, so that I may grow into full maturity in Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.Let's Get To Work!Your level of hunger determines your depth of growth—chase after Him with everything you've got.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Your Daily Prayer

There's a difference between surviving as a believer and thriving as a disciple. One simply hangs on until Heaven; the other grows, bears fruit, and lives on mission for the Kingdom. What separates the two is hunger—a holy desire for spiritual maturity that refuses to be satisfied with yesterday's faith.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” — 1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)Peter paints a vivid picture: just as a newborn instinctively cries out for nourishment, so should we long for the Word, prayer, and fellowship with God. Spiritual maturity is not a passive process. You cannot drift into depth; you must pursue it intentionally.This hunger starts with realizing there is more of God to know, more of His ways to understand, and more of His Spirit to experience. Many Christians plateau because they mistake initial salvation for the fullness of the Christian life. But God is calling you to press in, to keep growing, to let Him refine you in character, faith, and obedience.Hunger for spiritual maturity will disrupt comfort zones. It will cause you to ask hard questions, wrestle with God's Word, and confront areas in your life that don't align with His will. It means you stop being content with surface-level spirituality and go deeper—studying Scripture until it changes you, praying until your heart aligns with His, and serving until your life reflects His love in action.Without hunger, we settle for spiritual junk food—things that entertain but do not nourish. With hunger, we feed on what will strengthen our faith, even when it's challenging to digest.The truth is, God will meet you at the level of your hunger. If you desire just enough of Him to get by, that's what you'll receive. But if you desire more—if you chase after Him like David did, if you long for Him as the deer pants for water—you will find depths of intimacy and revelation that transform your entire life.Question of the Day:How hungry are you for spiritual growth—and what does your daily life say about that hunger?Mini Call to Action:Choose one new spiritual discipline or practice to deepen your walk this week, and commit to it daily.Prayer:Lord, give me a deep, unshakable hunger for You. Stir my heart to desire Your Word, Your presence, and Your will above everything else. Remove distractions that dull my appetite for spiritual growth. Teach me to crave what nourishes my soul, so that I may grow into full maturity in Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.Let's Get To Work!Your level of hunger determines your depth of growth—chase after Him with everything you've got.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Over time, it's likely that you have drifted off course. Like a boat without a navigator, it's easy to let the current of reality, overwhelm, and frustration take you off course. My guest today, Larry Hagner has been a father for over two decades and knows firsthand what the drift looks like as a dad and how to steer yourself back on course. Today, we talk about staying awake and vigilant when it comes to leading your wife and kids, the first “domino” to fall before things go horribly wrong, how to get your wife back on course if she starts to drift, in what ways do you become lethargic, monotonous, and bland in your life (and, what to do about it), and learning to build “conversations of curiosity.” SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 - Introduction and Catching Up 00:11 - Larry's Knee Injury Discussion 04:33 - The Forge Event Recap 04:57 - The Pursuit of Legendary Fatherhood Book Launch 07:47 - Understanding the Drift 09:17 - Introducing Lance: The Avatar of the Drift 15:30 - Helping Your Spouse Overcome the Drift 16:12 - Getting Out of the Drift as a Man 23:51 - Coaching Consistency in Men 29:57 - Being a Man of Your Word 31:02 - Motivating Your Wife Respectfully 36:56 - Impact of Kids on Relationships 38:02 - Motivating and Guiding Children 41:50 - Creating Psychological Safety for Kids 47:22 - Building Trust Through Questions 53:30 - Navigating Single Fatherhood 55:09 - Finding Common Ground with Your Child 59:35 - Connecting with Larry and The Forge Event Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Parce que… c'est l'épisode 0x623! Préambule Bon… je saute à l'eau et je repars un podcast sur l'actualité en mode seul. Ce que je n'avais pas fait depuis vraiment longtemps. J'ai été excessif sur le volume de nouvelles, ne m'étant pas bien organisé. Je m'améliorerai avec la pratique… car, paraît-il, ça ne se perd pas, comme le “bécicle”. Aussi, et probablement le plus audible, j'ai eu un glitch à l'enregistrement. Comme quoi j'ai vraiment perdu la main. Pour l'aspect technique, j'ai oublié de retirer un filtre lors de l'enregistrement, ce qui fait que la bande originale est “instable”. Shameless plug 10 et 11 septembre 2025 - GoSec 2025 Code rabais de 15% - GSPOL25 13 septembre 2025 - BSides Montreal 2025 12 au 17 octobre 2025 - Objective by the sea v8 14 et 15 octobre 2025 - ATT&CKcon 6.0 14 et 15 octobre 2025 - Forum inCyber Canada Code rabais de 30% - CA25KDUX92 10 au 12 novembre 2025 - IAQ - Le Rendez-vous IA Québec 17 au 20 novembre 2025 - European Cyber Week 25 et 26 février 2026 - SéQCure 2026 Description Notes Breach Salesforce Releases Forensic Investigation Guide Following Chain of Attacks Salesloft breached to steal OAuth tokens for Salesforce data-theft attacks Hackers Lay in Wait, Then Knocked Out Iran Ship Comms Légalise Mastodon says it doesn't ‘have the means' to comply with age verification laws France and Germany reject Trump's threats on EU tech legislation AI CVE-2025-58062 - OpenMCP Client OS Command Injection Vulnerability AI Agents in Browsers Light on Cybersecurity, Bypass Controls Anthropic AI Used to Automate Data Extortion Campaign Crims laud Claude to plant ransomware and fake IT expertise Anthropic Disrupts AI-Powered Cyberattacks Automating Theft and Extortion Across Critical Sectors Anthropic teases Claude for Chrome: Don't try this at home Researchers flag code that uses AI systems to carry out ransomware attacks Securing the AI Revolution: Introducing Cloudflare MCP Server Portals Agentic Browser Security: Indirect Prompt Injection in Perplexity Comet Helping people when they need it most Exclusive: Meta created flirty chatbots of Taylor Swift, other celebrities without permission PromptLock - Le premier ransomware à utiliser une IA 100% locale Anthropic will start training its AI models on chat transcripts The Default Trap: Why Anthropic's Data Policy Change Matters Threat Actors Weaponizes AI Generated Summaries With Malicious Payload to Execute Ransomware New AI attack hides data-theft prompts in downscaled images Will Smith's concert crowds are real, but AI is blurring the lines Best Practices for Securing Generative AI with SASE ChatGPT, Claude, & Gemini security scanning with Cloudflare CASB Hackers Can Exploit Image Scaling in Gemini CLI, Google Assistant to Exfiltrate Sensitive Data New Prompt Insertion Attack – OpenAI Account Name Used to Trigger ChatGPT Jailbreaks Vulnérabilités U.S. CISA adds Citrix Netscaler flaw to its known exploited vulnerabilities catalog Docker Desktop bug let containers hop the fence with barely a nudge CISA Adds Three Exploited Vulnerabilities to KEV Catalog Affecting Citrix and Git The Hidden Risk of Consumer Devices in the Hybrid Workforce Shadow IT Is Expanding Your Attack Surface. Here's Proof Putin on the code: DoD reportedly relies on utility written by Russia-based Yandex dev Microsoft details Storm-0501's focus on ransomware in the cloud Surge in coordinated scans targets Microsoft RDP auth servers CVE-2025-7776 - Citrix NetScaler Memory Overflow Denial of Service CVE-2025-55526 - n8n-workflows Directory Traversal Vulnerability WhatsApp patches vulnerability exploited in zero-day attacks Cloud Azure apparatchik shows custom silicon keeping everything locked down Microsoft Azure Hardware Security to Help Thwart the World's 3rd Largest GDP Microsoft to enforce MFA for Azure resource management in October Pentagon ends Microsoft's use of China-based support staff for DoD cloud Risque Mansplaining your threat model, as a service Threat Modeling Tools Privacy Smart glasses record people in public. The most online generation is pushing back Your Word documents will be saved to the cloud automatically on Windows going forward Prepare for the unexpected with emergency access for your Proton Account FTC Chair Tells Tech Giants to Hold the Line on Encryption The UK May Be Dropping Its Backdoor Mandate Defensif Google to Verify All Android Developers in 4 Countries to Block Malicious Apps BGP's security problems are notorious. Attempts to fix that are a work in progress Who are you again? Infosec experiencing ‘Identity crisis' amid rising login attacks CISA Publish Hunting and Mitigation Guide to Defend Networks from Chinese State-Sponsored Actors Offensif Threat Actors Abuse Velociraptor Incident Response Tool to Gain Remote Access Hackers Weaponize PDF Along With a Malicious LNK File to Compromise Windows Systems Arch Linux Confirms Week-Long DDoS Attack Disrupted its Website, Repository, and Forums Hackers Abuse Microsoft Teams to Gain Remote Access on Windows With PowerShell-based Malware WinRAR 0-Day Vulnerabilities Exploited in Wild by Hackers – Detailed Case Study Breaking the Passkey Promise: SquareX Discloses Major Passkey Vulnerability at DEF CON 33 Beware of Website Mimicking Google Play Store Pages to Deliver Android Malware Malicious Android apps with 19M installs removed from Google Play Weaponized PuTTY Via Bing Ads Exploit Kerberos and Attack Active Directory Services ShadowCaptcha Exploits WordPress Sites to Spread Ransomware, Info Stealers, and Crypto Miners PoC Exploit Released for Chrome 0-Day Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild TAG-144 Actors Attacking Government Entities With New Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Collaborateurs Nicolas-Loïc Fortin Crédits Montage par Intrasecure inc Locaux réels par Intrasecure inc

Parenting is one of the greatest callings God entrusts to us — and also one of the most challenging. In Week 4 of our Home Sweet Home series, Pastor Dustin and Mandy Woodward teach on Godly Parenting, reminding us that raising children is not about perfection, but about faithfully stewarding the lives God has placed in our care. The Bible calls us to lead by example, embrace our responsibility, speak with intention, and trust God to do what we cannot. More than providing for our children, our ultimate responsibility is to point them to Jesus — in our actions, words, and everyday rhythms at home. Key Scriptures: Proverbs 22:6 | Jeremiah 1:4 | Deuteronomy 6:4–9 | Romans 12:2 | 1 Corinthians 15:33 | Proverbs 18:21 | James 5:16 In this message, you'll discover: – Why you must lead yourself before you lead your kids – The role of teaching and correcting in shaping attitudes, actions, and associations – The importance of speaking words of life and identity over your children – How to release control and trust God's plan for their future “Your words today become their inner voice tomorrow.” “You replicate who you are, not who you wish you were.” 31 Virtues to Pray Over Your Children: Salvation Grace Love Honesty Self-Control Love for God Justice Mercy Respect Self-Esteem Faithfulness Courage Purity Kindness Generosity Peace-Loving Joy Perseverance Humility Compassion Responsibility Contentment Faith Servant's Heart Hope Willingness to Work Prayerfulness Self-Discipline Passion for God Heart for Missions Gratitude Closing Prayer/Declaration: “Lord, thank You for the gift of family. Strengthen us as parents. And let our children rise up secure in their identity, bold in their calling, and rooted in Your Word. Make our homes a place where Your presence dwells and Your name is honored. We declare our homes will be houses of faith and peace, and our parenting will reflect Your heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.” This message is for every parent, grandparent, or guardian who wants to raise children anchored in Christ. Parents — which of the 31 virtues are you praying over your kids this week? Drop it in the comments!

When Listening to God Hurts

Joshua 1:6-8 NLT“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.For those who love God, for those who follow Christ, the way to reach the life goals that God created us to attain is only through Him—His way, His will, and His Word. To become everything He planned for us when He formed us in our mother's wombs.When God spoke to Joshua on behalf of the people of Israel about moving to the Promised Land, He twice said to “be strong and courageous,” and then to be very careful to follow His Word. Then they would prosper and succeed. The same is true for us today. Follow God's way, His will, and His Word, which in today's culture, will take being strong and courageous.Listen once again to this rephrasing of today's passage, this time for the Message Bible:Strength! Courage! Give it everything you have, heart and soul… Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.” (from Joshua 1:6-8) It is clear in this passage how important it is to Study and Meditate on God's word to be successful. The path to success and achieving goals for the believer only comes through an uncompromising path through His Word.Let's pray: “Father God, please give me a hunger for Your Word, a desire to study Your Book, to meditate on it, and be careful to obey what You tell me. As above, so below.”

Your Daily Prayer

In this devotional, Hannah Benson reminds us of a timeless truth: God sees you. Even when prayers seem unanswered, and our hearts feel weary, the Lord’s eyes are always on us. Through personal testimony and Scripture, Hannah shares how God gently reminded her of His presence in a moment of deep discouragement. Just as He revealed Himself to Hagar in the wilderness and heard Hannah’s cries in the temple, God is attentive to your life, your struggles, and your desires. Highlights God Sees You: Encouragement from Genesis 16:13 and the story of Hagar’s encounter with “El Roi.” When Prayers Feel Unanswered: Why God’s timing and responses—whether yes, no, or not yet—can still be trusted. Hannah’s Story: Biblical assurance that God hears and knows the desires of your heart. The Power of Obedience: How a simple note from a friend became a divine reminder of God’s care. Practical Encouragement: Be willing to follow the Spirit’s prompting—your act of obedience could be someone else’s answered prayer. Join the Conversation Have you ever had a moment where God reminded you that He sees you—maybe through Scripture, prayer, or even a word from a friend? Share your story with us by tagging @LifeAudioNetwork and using #GodSeesYou. Your testimony could encourage someone else who is wondering the same question today: “Lord, do You see me?”

Chapters (00:00:00) - Blessed Are the Merciful, for They Will Acquire(00:05:11) - A Pure Heart of Mercy(00:13:17) - Peacemakers(00:15:59) - Are You Ready to Be Peacemakers?(00:17:40) - The Calling of Peacemakers(00:21:43) - Blessed Are They Who Are Persecuted(00:22:26) - The Persecution of the Jews(00:29:26) - 3 of the Blessings of God(00:31:40) - Thank You for Your Word

Introduction: I Am Worried About: ___________________. "I Refuse to Worry..." (Matthew 6:25–34): Because of WHO MY FATHER is. (Matt 6:26-30) Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Because of my FAITH. (Matt 6:31-33) Because It DOES NO GOOD. (Matt 6:34) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Matthew 6:25-34What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is it that you are most tempted to worry about? Why have you struggled to let go of this? How should you view this in light of Jesus' teaching here?What is Jesus illustrating with the birds and the lilies?What are some practical steps you can take to actively “refuse to worry”?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT Open up those Bibles to Matthew chapter 6, and we're going to be picking up in verse 25.We're in the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mound.And in this section that we're in here, Jesus is talking about how His followers should relateto the world.And as Pastor Taylor prayed a moment ago, the subject that our Lord covers is worry.Do not be anxious.I've shared this story with you in past time, but I couldn't help but thinking about itall week this week.Many years ago I was at the doctor, and the PA comes in and slaps on the blood pressurecuff, you know, and was taking my blood pressure.And I remember the PA, she just looked at me and her eyes were huge.She goes, "You feeling okay?"And I'm like, "Yeah, I feel good."She says, "We need to talk to the doctor."I said, "What's going on?"She said, "Your blood pressure is critically high."And then she left the room.So I sat there for what felt like an eternity, looking back at my life, regrets.And then thinking about the future, you know, am I about to drop over dead?What's going to happen to my family?What's going to happen to the ministry?What's going to...Well, the doctor eventually came in, first words out of his mouth.He says, "Buddy, we got to talk about this blood pressure."I said, "Yeah, I know your physician's assistant said it wasn't good."He goes, "Oh, it is not good."Then he looked over at the counter behind him.He said, "Is that the cuff that she used to take your blood pressure?"And I said, "Yeah."He says, "Oh, that's for little kids.He has no one to your blood pressure so high."So he got a big boy blood pressure cuff and took it.And I lived to fight another day.But I got to tell you, and that time when the physician's assistant left the room andthe doctor came in, I don't know if in my life I've ever felt such worry.But some people, sadly, live in that zone.Or it's just worry, anxious.That's what we're going to look at today.What is worry?What is anxiety?Well, it's defined as an uneasiness about the future.That's an understatement.It's that, what might happen?What might not happen?Worry has a way of consuming your thoughts.Worry has a way of keeping you from sleeping.Worry for some of you has you stop eating.And for some of you, you can't stop eating.So on the top of your outline, you'll see a line, "I am worried about..."I just want you to take a minute.Write down the thing in your life that makes you anxious.Or write down what it is in your life where you are most tempted to worry.And if you're like, "Well, Pastor Jeff, I never worry about anything."Well come and see me after service because I've never met such a person.And I would love to.But what is the thing that you are most tempted to worry about?Write that down.Maybe for some of you, you are worried right now.Write that down.Alright, we're in church right now, so I'm going to ask a question.You give me the Sunday school answer.Are we supposed to worry?We're not.It's really easy to say in here right now, isn't it?After worship, after prayer.But we're going to leave here and many of you are going to worry and you are going to justifyyour worry.It's funny how that's a sin that we're all so eager to justify.And we say things like, "We just sort of..."Try to make it sound like it's not a thing, right?We're like, "Oh, I'm just a worrier."Right?"Oh, you know, I've just stopped the bothers me because I'm a worry wart."But you know, if you really grab what Jesus has to say in this passage about worry, ifyou've ever referred to yourself as a worry wart, you're going to be pretty embarrassedthat you've ever called yourself that.You might say, "Well, yeah, yeah, Pastor Jeff, I'm not worried about stupid things,right?I'm not worried about trivial things.My worries are over legit needs."Okay?Well, let's see what our Lord has to say.Look at verse 25 in Matthew chapter 6.Jesus says, "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you willeat or what you will drink nor about your body, what you will put on.Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"Notice Jesus is talking about legit needs.You see that?Food and water and clothes, legit needs.And keep in mind the people that Jesus was talking to, in this day they didn't have theWalmarts.Think of food, right?How did they get their food?They had to grow it or they had to go to the market and hope that there was still somethingthere to buy.Right?Think about water.They didn't go to the kitchen sink and just flick their wrists and have water appear outof the tap.And they lived in a climate that made having clean drinking water absolutely crucial.And their clothes, again, they didn't have closets and storage.And they usually had to make their clothes.So when you consider their culture, you would note obviously it was much easier for themto be tempted to worry.I was thinking about that this week.You know, if we had a time machine and we could bring somebody from Jesus' day to ourday.I think they would be absolutely baffled at the things that we worry about.And someone's going to say, "Well, Pastor Jeff, how can I not worry?I mean, look at the environment that kids are growing up in today.Look at the economy.How can I not be worried about money?What about my health?You know what's going on health-wise.How can I not be worried about that?"You know, they're eliminating positions where I work.I might be next and I might not have an income.How can I not worry about that?You just can't help it, right?And you would say, "Well, you know, Pastor Jeff, I remember, you said in the past time,you've said feelings are feelings.Right?You can't help how you feel."That's true.But we talk about worry.This isn't about feelings.This is about a choice.Because your feelings are going to change if your focus changes.And what you focus on is your choice.What you focus on affects everything.Three times in this passage, Jesus gives the command, "Therefore, do not be worriedand anxious."He says it in verse 25.He says it in verse 31.He says it in verse 34.And each time Jesus says it, He gives a reason why we in turn must say, "I refuse to worry."You ready to say that?All right?We're going to take a run at it.I want you to say that.I refuse to worry.Not much conviction from some of you.I'm hoping that maybe in a few minutes we can change your mind about that.I refuse to worry.Why?Number one, right?Just done.I refuse to worry because of who my Father is.Let's pick up here, verses 26 through 30.Jesus says, "Look at the birds of the air.They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."Are you not of more value than they?And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to a span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing?Because they are the lilies of the field, how they grow.They neither toil nor spin.Yet I tell you, even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.But if God so closed the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is throwninto the oven, will He not much more clothe you?Oh, you of little faith?This is where Jesus starts.I refuse to worry because of who my Father is.And He gives a couple obvious illustrations, right?He says, "Look at the birds.God feeds them."Oh, by the way, God doesn't drop the food into their nest, right?For those of you who might think, "Oh, okay, well I can just go home and sit down and donothing, and God will just door-dash me every day for the rest of my life."No, that's not how it works.Work is the God-ordained way that He feeds us, right?That's another serving for another time.But the birds are fed.And Jesus says, "Notice the flowers are dressed despite their very short life."So He talks about the birds.He talks about the lilies.And it's really the same point.God values His people more than anything on this earth.This is Jesus' point.God values you.Listen, God values you.More than anything on this earth, He values you.Not convinced of that.Well, let me ask you, when you look at all of the stuff created on the earth, what ismade in the image of God?There's only one thing on this planet that is said to have been made in the image ofGod with God's fingerprint, His likeness stamped on.And that is you.Not the dogs, not the goldfish, not the trees.You are made in His image.What is it on this planet right now that God sent His Son to die on the cross for?Jesus didn't die for the cats.Jesus didn't die for the parakeets.God bought you with His Son.Oh, and speaking of sons, what is it on this planet that is said to be adopted by God?God doesn't run down to the humane society and adopt a dog through the death and resurrectionof Jesus Christ to those who believe God adopted you.Are you starting to see your value here?Oh, oh, and what is it on the earth that God says is going to spend eternity in glory withHim?There's only one thing.You.You.You do understand now you have incredible value to God.And by the way, Jesus is obviously addressing believers here.Those who have turned from their sin, those who have received and believed in Jesus Christ,He's talking to believers because He says, "You're heavenly Father.Jesus says believers, if your heavenly dad gave you life, he's going to take care ofit."I refuse to worry because of who my father is.You know, a couple of weeks ago, my son, Cade, works at Chick-fil-A across the street.A couple of weeks ago, I pulled in to pick him up and it was hot.I had the windows down.I was sitting there waiting and there was a guy walking around the front sidewalk bythe entrance door and he was on the phone.Now listen, I wasn't eavesdropping.This guy was talking so loud I could have heard him from Zileanopoul.All right?This guy was walking around and using some choice words that we don't use while we preach.He was complaining obviously about something that happened in his interaction in the restaurant,in the Chick-fil-A.So he's walking around and he's like, "This is... this is..."Explodedly deleted.He goes, "I'm going in there to cuss somebody out."And he heads towards the door.So I'm like, "Here we go."Shut off the Jeep and I followed him in so close that he held the door open for me.He walked into the lobby.There were no customers there.Rare timing, Chick-fil-A.He walks into the lobby and stands there for a second and he turns around and sees me lookingat him and then he just leaves.Well Cade's standing there and Cade's like...Then I leave and Cade's like, "What was that all about?"Right?So Cade comes out into the car and he's like, "Why did you just come into Chick-fil-A?"And I said, "Well, did you see that guy that came in ahead of me?"He said he was coming in to cuss somebody out.Now look, I know my son and I know the last thing he would ever do is intentionally offenda stranger.I said, "That guy said he was going to come in to cuss somebody out."So I was going to make sure that that wasn't you.Cade's like, "What were you going to do?"Like throw him out the window.He could just roll right onto the hospital.I said, "But I was not going to let him cuss you out."And Cade said, "You would do that for me?"Like, "Would I do that for you?""Yes, yes I would do it."I'm like, "How could you even ask that question?"I would do anything for you, including take a beating in Chick-fil-A.I would do anything for you.And listen, if I thought dude was going in there after somebody else, I never would havegot out of the car.Not my business.But my son, oh no.That is not going to happen.I would do anything to provide for my son.I would do anything to protect my son.And when Cade's like, "You'd do that for me?"All I could think of was, "Do you have any idea how much your father loves you?"And that's exactly what Jesus is saying here."Worryer?"That's what Jesus is saying.You're worried?Do you have any idea how much your father loves you?And you're worried that you're not going to be taken care of?You don't know how much you mean to him.Like, well how much?How much?I think there's one verse more than any in the Bible that tells us how much it's Romans8.32.Can we get that on the screen?It says, "God, He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all."How will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?I wouldn't give up my son for any of you.I wouldn't give up my son for all of you.But God gave up His Son to death so that you can be saved.And that's what Paul was saying in Romans, and this is the truth that Jesus is sayinghere."If God gave you His Son, it's proof He's going to give you everything else that youneed."I refuse to worry because of who my father is.And let's see in verse 30, Jesus says, "O you of little faith."See, that's the issue.Look, some of you have little faith.Some of you do have faith enough to be saved, but you need to grow up.And you know why you're worried?The reason you're so worried all the time is you haven't really reckoned with the implicationsof what your salvation means.Your father loves you, and your father has a concern for you.Your father has a personal interest in what happens in your life.And the way a parent does for their kid, but not someone who's not their kid.You know what I mean by that?Because parents here today, whose kid do you make sure eats?Yours, right?How many times have you wondered in the past week if my kids have eaten?You're like, "Not at all."Right?Whose kids do you make sure have clothes?Yours.Right?Whose kid do you make sure brushes their teeth?So parents, what would you say to your kids?What would you say to your kids, parents, if you're home someday and you could hear yourkid in the next room pacing and worrying saying, "What if mom isn't going to feed me tomorrow?"What would you say?What would you say if you heard your kid in the next room going, "I'm really growing.What if I grow out of these clothes and dad doesn't buy me new clothes?"What would you say?That's Jesus' point.When you worry, you're acting like you forget who your father is.You're demonstrating, in the words of our Lord, little faith.Oh, speaking of faith, I refuse to worry, number two, because of my faith.I refuse to worry because of my faith.Look at verse 31.Says it again.Here we go."Do not be anxious saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'Whatshall we wear?'For the Gentiles seek after all these things.And your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will beadded to you."The Gentiles seek after all these things, obviously in this context.Jesus is using the word "Gentile" as it was commonly used in that day to refer to aheathen, in other words, somebody who doesn't know God.Right?So Jesus is saying that when I worry, I act like I don't have faith.See people who don't have faith, they just go after all the stuff.Right?It's all about me.People that don't have faith, honestly they live no different than an animal.An animal only thinks about getting needs met, right?Hungry, thirsty, tired.Like I live with animals, right?That's all they do.What they're thinking about is getting their next physical need met.When you don't have faith, that's how you are.Verse 25, Jesus said, as we already read, "Isn't life more than the physical child of God?Isn't your life about more than physically surviving, isn't it?"And when Jesus was tempted by the devil, remember what he said, "Man shall not liveby bread alone."Isn't that a statement of faith?Again, we talked about this last week, but this is exactly why people store treasureon earth.This life is all there is.I've got to make the most out of it.I've got to get what I can here now.Child of God, aren't you supposed to be different than them?Aren't you supposed to be salt and light?Do people see that in the way that you live, in the way that you talk, in the way thatyou refuse to worry?Look at verse 32 again.Jesus says your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.Your unsafe friends, your unsafe family, do they know that you know that your Father knowsand you know that He knows?Yeah.Do you say, "Well, I'm in need of something, but it's okay.My Father knows what I need, and He's going to provide it when He knows that I need it."That's faith.That's what faith looks like.And if you're right now, right now at this point in your life, if you're in a place ofneed, if you're in a place where God has to show up and provide, you're in a place ofwant, guess what?As a child of God, that means you have a front row seat to see God at work.Because according to Jesus, He already knows.So we've sort of taken the sin of worry, and in our minds, that's like a minor league sin,right?Oh, there's the big sins like murder and adultery and things like that.But worry, that's kind of a minor league sin, right?No.It's not.Worry strikes at the character and the promises of God.Worry makes some assumptions.Worry assumes that God doesn't know.Worry assumes that God doesn't care.Worry assumes that God is completely unable to provide the thing that I need.Worry is just...It's just...Worry is just bad theology.It shows a complete lack of faith, and Jesus says it makes you no different than an atheist.Are you on your own?You have to fend for yourself?You have to take care of yourself?Or are you a child of God that is richly provided for by your heavenly Father?Which one are you?Like I'm a child of God, right?So why do we worry then?Why do we worry?I'm wrestling with this question.You know, the sort of armchair, you know, psychologist, sociologist that I am.Why do we worry?So I went to that very authoritative source psychology today.I looked it up online.I wanted to see from a secular perspective how worry is defined.And I was blown away.You want to hear?Listen to this.I looked up, why do we worry?According to psychology today, their website says we worry because we have a hard timeliving with uncertainty.I want you to think about that for a second.You have a hard time living with uncertainty.If you're a Christian, what are you uncertain about?Go ahead and shout it out.If you're a Christian, shout out the things that we are uncertain about.Pastor, is there anything?I rack my brain all week.Like surely there has to be something that we are uncertain about.The only thing I can come up with is the time of the return of our Lord.If you're a Christian, you have no uncertainties.If you're a Christian and you're worrying, what you have is a lack of faith.You're like, oh yeah, I know Jeff, but I just, I got this need.I get this really bad need.I've been praying about it and look, I just don't know how God's going to provide.You don't need to know.That's His problem.You know what your problem is?Verse 33, "Let's seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these thingswill be added to you."But you need to worry about us seeking God.You seek the spiritual, He'll provide the physical.Do you see that?Focus on your walk with Christ.Instead of focusing on the stuff and your needs and what's worrying you, Jesus saidyou need to focus on being the person that God wants you to be.He'll draw near to God and He'll draw near to you.And when your heart is so near to the heart of God, you're going to have a worry-freefaith.So do you have that?Do you have a worry-free faith?I'll tell you how you can evaluate it.A worry-free faith shows up in how you pray.How do you pray?You're like, "Well, I really don't.I really don't pray."Okay, then you have no faith.All right, so we'll knock that one off.But if you pray like this, if you pray, "God, I'm desperate and God, I don't know whatI'm going to do, God, and I'm so afraid of what's going to happen tomorrow."That's little faith.But if your prayer sounds like this, "God, I'm seeking you for this and you already knowwhat I need, and I'm trusting that you're going to provide it when I need it."That is a prayer of faith.I'm asking, I'm trusting, I'm believing, but I refuse to worry.Why?Because of my faith.And finally, number three, I refuse to worry because of who my Father is because of myfaith and number three.I refuse to worry because it does no good.It does no good.Look at verse 34."Jesus says, 'Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxiousfor itself.Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.'"And you're like, "Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, right there, right there.Tomorrow.Tomorrow.That's what I'm worried about.That's the day that I'm worried about."And Jesus says, "Don't."Why not?Jesus says, "You've got enough trouble today.Can I get an amen?"You mean to tell me you've got nothing going on today that requires your attention?Nothing.And my schedule is clear.There is not a single thing that requires my attention, effort, energy, nothing.You're telling me that tomorrow needs all your attention?Obviously not.Obviously you would say, "Oh, you know what, Jeff, I've really got plenty going on today."And our Lord would say, "Good, go after that.Just go after that."Jesus said, "Tomorrow will be anxious for itself."Some translate that phrase, "Tomorrow," quote, "brings its own anxieties."In other words, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it because I can't cross it now,right?No, not cross that bridge when we come to it.How about cross that bridge if we come to it?When we worry about the future, what we do is we start imagining all these little scenariosthat are surely going to devastate us.What if I get sick?What if I have car trouble?What if I do lose my job?What if ... how much time, my friends, have we wasted worrying about something that neverhappens?That's what our Lord reminds us here in this verse, worry isn't just sinful, it's pointless.There's no upside, it benefits you nothing, it does no good.In fact, Jesus talked about this in verse 27.You can't add to your life by worry, can you?Because nothing good's ever added to the worrier.Nobody in the history of mankind has ever said, "You know what?I am so glad that I worried about that because I worried so hard that it fixed everything."It's pointless.It's pointless to worry about tomorrow because the reality is not everybody gets it tomorrow.You might not have it tomorrow.But if you do, if you do have it tomorrow, tomorrow has literally one guarantee thatyou can take to the bank.And that is this, tomorrow God will be just as much God then as He is today.And if God's word is true and I believe it is, the future is something to be excitedabout, not worry about.Because the Bible says our best days are ahead.All worry does in addition to dishonor the Lord is steal your joy today.It steals your peace today and it ruins your testimony today.Does no good.Far worship team will make their way back up front.Each of us might be feeling really confident right now.But when you leave here, when you walk out those doors, you are going to be tempted toworry about something.Probably not so much here now but home later, yes.I want you to take this outline and I want you to tuck this away in your Bible for later.That little thing you wrote at the top, I'm worried about.No, no, no.Instead what we're going to say is I refuse to worry about this.Why am I not worried about this?Because of who my Father is.That's why.I'm not worried about this because of my faith in that Father.I'm not worried about this because according to Him honestly, it's not going to do anygood anyways.I refuse.I refuse to worry.Let's pray.Father of Heaven, we confess before You that we demonstrate a complete lack of faith whenwe worry.We can come into this room and we can sing about Your power and Your love and Your goodness.But we deny all of those things with our lives when we choose to worry.So Father, I pray that today is a new day.From our brothers and sisters here, the thing that weighs on us, the thing that has keptus up at night, Father, I pray that we would look back at Your faithfulness throughout history.We would look back at Your faithfulness in our own lives.And that thing that burdens us, Father, I just pray that we would do, as Your Word says,that we would cast it at Your feet and we would refuse to worry about it.We pray in Jesus' name.Amen.

LESSON 228God Has Condemned Me Not. No More Do I.My Father knows my holiness. Shall I deny His knowledge, and believe in what His knowledge makes impossible? Shall I accept as true what He proclaims as false? Or shall I take His Word for what I am, since He is my Creator, and the One Who knows the true condition of His Son?Father, I was mistaken in myself, because I failed to realize the Source from Which I came. I have not left that Source to enter in a body and to die. My holiness remains a part of me, as I am part of You. And my mistakes about myself are dreams. I let them go today. And I stand ready to receive Your Word alone for what I really am.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Prayer Father, I come before You today, covered in the blood of Jesus, asking for deliverance from every mind-binding spirit sent to cloud my judgment, confuse my thinking, and block my understanding of Your truth. By the authority of Luke 10:19, I trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I command every mind-binding demon, every spirit of confusion, forgetfulness, mental fog, and mental oppression to loose me now in the name of Jesus. I break the chains of mental captivity. I silence every lying spirit that speaks contrary to Your Word. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn away every seed of deception planted in my thoughts. I declare that my mind is aligned with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Every dark veil placed over my understanding—be torn away now in Jesus' name. Lord, saturate my mind with Your truth, wisdom, and clarity. Release Your anointing that destroys every yoke (Isaiah 10:27). Let the river of living water wash my thoughts, cleanse my imagination, and renew my mental strength. DeclarationsI have the mind of Christ; therefore, my thoughts are holy and pure.No demonic influence can hold my mind captive.My thoughts are under the obedience of Christ.Confusion, fear, and mental oppression have no place in me.My mind is a temple of the Holy Spirit and a channel for God's wisdom.Closing Prayer Father, I thank You for the freedom I have in Christ Jesus. I seal my deliverance with the blood of the Lamb and declare that from this moment forward, my mind will be stayed on You, filled with peace and governed by Your Word. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/apostolic-deliverance-teaching--1288300/support.

We will be celebrating Christian Education in our worship this weekend. As we gather this weekend, our hearts and minds will be directed to the importance of God's Word which He has entrusted to His Church as a treasure. Because it is a treasure, Christians are called to pass that treasure of God's truth down from generation to generation as an inheritance.   Our closing hymn will reinforce these truths. This hymn, written by Danish pastor and hymn writer Nikolai Grundtvig, was originally written as a fifth stanza to Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress." While it serve well in that intended role, this hymn also serves as a stand alone hymn, which is how it has been primarily used for the last century. This hymn is based in part on Psalm 119:105 and 111: "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path... Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart." God's Word is a precious treasure that "guides our way" through life and is our support in death.  Our prayer in this hymn is that God would help us and strengthen us for the task of Christian Education, and the passing on of His Word of truth to the generations to come: "That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments" (Psalm 78:6-7). Lord, thank you for the treasure of Your Word and all the blessings that You offer through it. Give us the wisdom and the strength to pass Your truth on to succeeding generations! Amen.

Prayer Father, I come before You today, covered in the blood of Jesus, asking for deliverance from every mind-binding spirit sent to cloud my judgment, confuse my thinking, and block my understanding of Your truth. By the authority of Luke 10:19, I trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I command every mind-binding demon, every spirit of confusion, forgetfulness, mental fog, and mental oppression to loose me now in the name of Jesus. I break the chains of mental captivity. I silence every lying spirit that speaks contrary to Your Word. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn away every seed of deception planted in my thoughts. I declare that my mind is aligned with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Every dark veil placed over my understanding—be torn away now in Jesus' name. Lord, saturate my mind with Your truth, wisdom, and clarity. Release Your anointing that destroys every yoke (Isaiah 10:27). Let the river of living water wash my thoughts, cleanse my imagination, and renew my mental strength.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/apostolic-deliverance-teaching--1288300/support.

Your Nightly Prayer

Welcome to Week 1 of our brand-new sermon series, Home Sweet Home! In this series, we're diving into God's design for the family — marriage, children, parenting, singleness — and how every season of life can flourish when Jesus is at the center of our home. In today's message, “A Christ-Centered Home,” Pastor Dustin unpacks the biblical blueprint for family, reminding us that the home is more than a physical place — it's a sacred space where faith is formed, character is shaped, and love is lived out daily. Whether you're single, married, parenting, or an empty-nester, God's vision for the home begins with Him at the center. Key Scriptures: Mark 10:6–8 | Psalm 127:3–5 | Deuteronomy 6:5–9 | Ephesians 6:1–3 | 1 Corinthians 7:7–8 | Proverbs 3:6 | Colossians 3:15–17 | Acts 2:46 | 1 Thessalonians 5:11 In this message, you'll discover: – God's view of marriage, children, parenting, and singleness – Why the home is a sanctuary, not a stage – 8 practical keys to building a Christ-centered home – How to create rhythms of peace, love, and authenticity – Why protecting the table and building memories matters for spiritual formation “Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. Children are a gift, not a project. Singleness is a season with divine assignment. The home is sacred because God designed it that way.” 8 Keys to a Christ-Centered Home: 1. Make God normal in your home 2. Set the tone with peace, not pressure 3. Let love be obvious and ongoing 4. Be the same person at home and in public 5. Say sorry and forgive quickly 6. Protect the table 7. Build memories, not just schedules 8. Remind each other who they are in Christ Closing Prayer from today's message. Heavenly Father, I thank You for our family. We declare that Jesus is the center of our home, our hope, and our future. We choose to love one another deeply, forgive quickly, and speak life over each other. We will make time for what matters most: Your Word, Your presence, your church, and each other. Our home will be a place of peace, joy, and grace. As for us and our house, we will serve the Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

A leader with a direct report who is, she says, the most defensive person she's ever known, devotes an entire coaching session to gathering tools to help her cope. All the tools and ideas and scripts in this episode are in an easy-to-understand infographic. Download it for free here. To work on “deserving” dive into The Four Agreements.Dig into more tools for managing defensive people in our podcast library in these three categories:Communication SkillsManagement SkillsRelationship BuildingAdditional episodes you could listen to are:216 - 7 Steps to Stop Emotional Hijacks60 - Be Impeccable with Your Word 35 - Handling Defensive Behaviors173 - Managing Bad Behavior138 - Managing Disruptive Executives198 - Psychological SafetyAdditional tools and resources are in our monthly email. Sign up here.Curious about coaching? Shoot me an email. tom@essentialcomm.com.All our free infographics are in the Essential Tools bin.Your reviews help the show continue as an ad-free podcast. Let us know how we can support you.Until next time, thanks!From The Look & Sound of Leadership team 

Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). Thank you, Jesus!

Your Daily Prayer

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Hello everyone, and welcome to this time of worship and praise to our King. As I have talked about before, these gatherings of God's people are a mixture of many different groups of His Body coming together to worship their Lord in Spirit and in truth. As you open your spirit to enter into these times of communion with the Lord, our prayer is that you too will experience His presence in a deeper way. Worship in the Spirit Father I Turn To You Father, I turn to You. Your Word has come like the morning sun, and I turn to You. Father I turn to You. As the stars draw nigh in the evening sly, I turn to You. You have called my name, forever. When You draw me near, I will not turn my heart away. Father, I turn to You. Every hour I pray, I am Yours today, I turn to You. Wine-skins Stretching With New Wine Wine-skins stretching with new wine, flowing truth and grace. Hearts expand and lives unfold, as we see Your face. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! At Your Words we do not stagger, all You say is true. Drinking deep Your Living Water, plants grown in their youth. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Unveiled faces clear and new, ready chosen bride. Word that's hid in earthen vessels, Lord most glorified. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Worship in the Spirit My Eyes Are Set Our eyes are set upon You O' Lord. Our hope is fixed and will not be moved. My heart determines to be...

Your Daily Prayer

Mark 10:46-52 Coleton taught on the story of Bartimaeus, highlighting three key themes: Persecution, Prayer, and Faith.     1.    Persecution: Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus despite being rebuked and told to stay quiet. Coleton emphasized that faith in Jesus will sometimes annoy others or invite persecution. We can silence opposition by stopping, but doing so risks missing out on what Jesus wants to do in our lives. When we press on despite resistance, God not only works in us but often transforms our persecutors, turning opposition into partnership for the Kingdom.     2.    Prayer: Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus prayed honestly and personally, asking for sight. Coleton reminded us that God delights in hearing our voices, no matter how small or self-focused our requests seem. Prayer is both sharing our hearts freely with God and praying His promises back to Him, believing He wants to fulfill His Word in our lives.     3.    Faith: Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you.” Faith is more than belief—it's belief put into action. Bartimaeus cried out, came to Jesus, and asked for healing. Our faith impacts what we experience from God because He waits for us to respond to Him in action and prayer. The invitation is to keep calling out to Jesus despite opposition, to pray openly and according to His promises, and to act on what we believe so that we experience His power and presence. ⸻ Discussion Questions Persecution     •    When has following Jesus brought misunderstanding, ridicule, or pushback from others in your life? How did you respond?     •    What might it look like for you to “get louder” in your faith instead of backing down? Prayer     •    If Jesus asked you today, “What do you want me to do for you?” how would you answer?     •    What is one promise of God you need to pray over your life this week? Faith     •    Where in your life do you believe something about Jesus but haven't yet acted on that belief?     •    What practical step can you take this week to turn belief into action? ⸻ Quotes from Authors Used in the Sermon     •    Tertullian: “We (Christians) are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That's why you can't exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Apologeticus     •    Pastor Shen Xiaoming: “Exactly, and your opposition forces us to be dependent on Jesus. Your opposition makes us love our enemies. Your opposition makes us hungry for an authentic faith. And that beautiful white hot faith spreads everywhere and delivers people. If you really wanted to get rid of the church, you should let us do whatever we want, and then we would compromise and become weak like the American Church.”     •    Richard Foster: “In prayer we allow ourselves to be gathered up into the arms of the Father and let him sing His love song over us.”     •    Charles Spurgeon:     •    “It glorifies God to use His promises… Plead the promises of God. Open your Bible, put your finger on the passage, and say, ‘Lord, this is Your Word; fulfill it to me.' This is the kind of praying that has never yet been met with repulse.”     •    “Whether we like it or not, asking (in prayer) is the rule of the kingdom. ‘Ask, and you shall receive.'… If the Royal, Divine Son of God cannot be exempted from the rule of asking that He may have, you and I cannot either.”  

“Create in me a new heart, Lord, That gladly I obey Your Word. Let what You will be my desire, And with new life my soul inspire. “Grant that I only You may love And seek those things which are above Till I behold You face to face, O Light eternal, through Your grace.”

Read OnlineJesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.” Matthew 13:24–25This parable begins in a very good way. It states that good seed was sown. In other words, the pure Gospel was preached into good soil. This should be understood as any situation where the preacher is truly effective and where the Gospel reaches many ears and is planted in many hearts. This is worth rejoicing over. But this parable quickly points out that those responsible for guarding the good soil in which the Word of God was planted, failed in their duty to protect it. As a result, the “enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat.” In other words, the evil one also had sown his lies into the hearts of those who heard the Word of God, and those lies took root and began to grow.This is a clear description of the world we live in today. First, it's a description of the hearts of many Christians who have heard the Word of God and have responded, only to also struggle with doubts, confusions and lies sown by the evil one. But it is also a clear description of the world as a whole and even of the Church on earth. There are many divisions within societies and even within the Church. There are many competing voices. And among those whose hearts are good soil, it can be hard to distinguish between that which is from God and that which is a subtle deception from the evil one.The weed referred to in this parable is called cockle. Cockle was a weed that, as it grew, looked much like wheat. It was very difficult to distinguish from wheat until the grain began to appear. But when the grain did begin to appear, it was clearly distinguishable. And if the cockle were to accidentally be ground in with the wheat, it would cause nausea when eaten.The parable is quite clear. The lies that the evil one sows in the hearts of the faithful, those with fertile hearts, are very subtle, especially at first. It is easy for those subtle lies to confuse us. The evil one rarely succeeds in misleading the faithful through grave and obvious errors. Therefore, he deceives with small errors. As a result, the error is often not understood until much later as the fruit is born. The result is division, confusion, conflict and the like—conflict within our own souls, within our world and even within our Church.What is the solution? Vigilance. We, as followers of Christ, must be exceptionally vigilant in regard to that which we allow our hearts to receive. Just because something sounds good at first doesn't make it good. This is why we have the Scripture, the Magisterium of the Church and the teachings of the saints. We must constantly examine all that we allow into our hearts, our families, our world and our churches in the light of the pure and consistent teachings of our faith. And when we see divisions, this is a clear sign of some subtle error that has crept in. In the end, at the harvest time, when we all face Christ our Lord at our judgments, He will separate the good from the bad. But for our part, vigilance is essential so that only the pure seed of God's Word is received by us and sown by us.Reflect, today, on your own soul as fertile ground. What “seed” is sown there? What do you allow to penetrate your heart and take root? Are you vigilant, remaining attentive to the ways that the evil one tries to mislead you through subtle lies and errors? Ponder these questions honestly, and if you find conflict and confusion in your life, look more deeply at the source of these troubles. If there are lies that you have allowed into your own life, then turn them over to our Lord so that He can remove them at the proper time.Most holy Word of God, You are the living Word who sows seed upon the fertile ground of our Hearts. You plant Yourself in the hearts of those who believe so that Your life can bear good fruit in the faithful. Please sow the seed of Your Word in my own heart, dear Lord, and protect me from the deceptions of the evil one. As You do, I pray that You bring forth an abundance of good fruit through me. Jesus, I trust in You.  Parable of the Sower by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Read OnlineOn that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables… Matthew 13:1–3Why did Jesus speak in parables? In today's Gospel, Jesus goes on to teach the familiar “Parable of the Sower.” Immediately after that parable in today's Gospel, the disciples do ask Jesus this question. They ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responds to them, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.” So why is that?First of all, a story is easy to listen to. It keeps our attention and is easily remembered. In the “Parable of the Sower” that we hear today, Jesus explains that the seed sown by the sower falls either on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, or on rich soil. This is a very visible description that will lead people to conclusions right away. Everyone knows that the ideal place for seed to be sown is rich soil. And everyone knows that the seed sown on the path, rocky ground and among thorns has little hope of producing fruit. Therefore, this parable easily draws the listener in so as to understand some basic lessons.With that said, this story will only become a parable if the deeper lesson is learned. Clearly, Jesus wanted the crowd to understand that they will only understand the mysteries He is teaching them if they are like the rich soil. And He also wanted them to understand that much of what He was teaching them was not falling on rich soil in their hearts.This parable, as well as all of Jesus' parables, has the effect of causing the listener to think. Thinking leads to what we may term a holy curiosity. And this holy curiosity will begin to produce the rich soil that was needed within them so as to open the door to the deeper mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.How does Jesus speak to you? Are you able to listen to Jesus speak directly to you, in prayer, so as to reveal to you the deepest mysteries of Heaven? When God speaks to you, in prayer and meditation, does the seed of His Word take root in your very soul? Does His gentle, quiet but transforming Voice communicate to you Who He is and what His will is for your life? If not, then parables are for you. And knowing that is an important discovery. Reflect, today, upon the desire of God to speak to you. If you do struggle with hearing the clear and profound Voice of God resonate within your soul, then do not be afraid to spend time with the many parables that Jesus told. Try to place yourself within the scene. See yourself as a participant. In today's parable, see your inner self as the field. Think about those things in your life that keep your soul from being rich soil. Allow this story of Jesus to speak to you. As you do, be attentive to God's Voice. Listen for Him and listen to Him. And as you do hear Him, know that the seed He has scattered has begun to reach that rich soil of your heart. My teaching Lord, You desire to speak to me and to reveal to me all that You are. Help me to hear Your Voice so that I will come to know You more. Make my heart truly fertile soil in which the seed of Your Word is sown, so that You can produce within me an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Thomas De Witt Talmage, No restrictions, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Psalm 1:1–2 ESVBlessed is the manwho walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night.Recently, my friend Jordan sent me a text with those verses and a prayer:“Praying for a newfound delight in His Word. Jesus, captivate us afresh and anew. May we find ourselves delighting in You and Your Word above all else. Thank You that Your Spirit is at work within us to make that possible.”That word "delight" caught my attention. As I mentioned in last week's episode, sometimes just knowing what to ask for is a gift in itself.So before breakfast, I asked for a newfound delight in His Word. I will give examples of what comes to mind when I think of the word delight. One of them was at church recently. I hugged a friend, and in that moment, I felt her three-year-old daughter wrap her little arm around my back. A surprise hug. There's nothing quite like mutual delight—between friends, between family, between us and God.And that's what this episode is really about. Not just delighting in His Word, but delighting in Him. And realizing, He delights in us, too.I'll end with the song “Psalm One” from Scripture Songs, Volume One.If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

Read OnlineJesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Luke 10:38–39It's interesting that it was Martha who welcomed Jesus, but it was Mary who sat at His feet listening to Him. As the story goes on, we discover that Martha took her responsibility of hospitality seriously; she was very busy preparing a meal. But it appears that Mary needed a different form of hospitality from our Lord Himself. As Martha prepared to feed Jesus so as to care for His physical hunger, Mary sought to be fed by our Lord so as to feed her spiritual hunger. And interestingly, it was the generosity of Martha who was diligent in preparing the meal that made it possible for her sister to receive the spiritual food she longed for.When we read this story, we can easily become critical of Martha because she complained to Jesus about her sister. It is easy to see Martha's frustration in her words, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” And though Martha may have been a little impatient, Jesus' response to her was gentle and corrective. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” What was that “better part?” It was Mary's prayerful attentiveness to Jesus. She was hungry for His teaching, and Jesus offered it to her in a very personal and loving way. And though this image of Mary before Jesus is a beautiful image to ponder and to use as a model of our own prayer, there is also something important to be said about Martha's role in making Mary's prayer possible.Because Martha was diligent in taking care of the duties of hospitality, Mary felt the freedom to sit at Jesus' feet. Perhaps the ideal response from Martha would have been to notice that Mary was being spiritually fed by our Lord and to rejoice in that fact, giving her the continued freedom to sit at Jesus' feet. If Martha would have realized this, then she would have continued working in the background so that her sister could continue listening to Jesus. But even though Martha did interrupt this sacred moment for her sister, the fact remains that her initial diligence in taking care of preparing the meal did give Mary some time alone with Jesus.In a similar way, we will all be given various opportunities in life to take care of the daily mundane tasks that are needed within a family or community. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that unless everyone does their equal part, then things are not fair. But being “fair” should not be our focus. True charity, especially within the family, means that, first and foremost, we look for opportunities to better the lives of those around us. For example, spending extra time cleaning a home so that others can enjoy it more adds much to family life. Or spending hours preparing a nice meal for family or friends may afford everyone the opportunity of time well spent together. These are only a couple of the countless ways that our diligence and generosity toward others is fruitful, especially within family life.Reflect, today, upon these two women and the unique calling they each were given at the time of Jesus' visit to their house. One was called to be fed by our Lord as she sat at His feet. The other was called to work hard so as to make it easier for her sister to receive that spiritual nourishment. Know that both of these callings are important. For that reason, if God calls you to be more like Martha at times, rejoice in that fact and work hard at serving in many ways.If God calls you to be more like Mary at times, then rejoice in those moments and sit prayerfully at the feet of our Lord, being fed by His holy Words. My gentle Lord, when You came to the home of Martha and Mary, You fed Mary with Your Word and fed Martha by your gentle correction. I thank You for these two women and the roles they both play in teaching me how to love and to serve. May I always be diligent in my service to others, and may I always embrace every moment that You invite me to sit at Your feet in prayer. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Johannes Vermeer, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Send us a textGood 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.comI Corinthians 6 Paul addresses disputes among the Corinthians, criticizing that some take legal matters to secular courts instead of resolving them within the church. He emphasizes that believers, who will one day judge the world and angels, should handle such disputes among themselves. Paul also warns against unrighteous behavior, listing sins that exclude people from God's kingdom, including sexual immorality, idolatry, and greed. He reminds the Corinthians that they have been cleansed of such iniquities and are sanctified and justified in Christ. They must honor God with their bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit. There is no excuse for sinning in the body. He reminds them that they were bought at a price and must glorify God in their actions by living in purity and obedience to His will.Christians will inevitably face disagreements and disputes, as happens in any family, even among those we care about deeply. However, how we address these conflicts should be marked by grace and reflect the character of Christ. Before coming to faith, we lived in sin, embracing behaviors such as sexual immorality and self-serving actions, often at the expense of others. Now, through Christ, we are freed from sin's destruction and called to use our bodies and lives to glorify God. This transformation should be evident in how we peacefully resolve conflicts within the church. It should also be visible to the world through our disciplined, holy, moral choices, demonstrating our commitment to God's purposes and reflecting His righteousness in our bodies. Gracious Lord, thank You for calling us to live lives that glorify You. Help us handle disputes among us with humility, grace, and unity, reflecting Christ's love in all we do. Remind us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus, and that we are not our own. Teach us to honor You with our actions, living morally and holy in obedience to Your Word. We will strive to resist temptation and commit ourselves only to You. When we fail, we will always return to You, the God of our salvation.Thought Questions: -       Brethren suing brethren seems inconceivable, but it happens. How should Christians approach one another to prevent such an outcome? -       The Corinthians had committed grave sins yet were fully sanctified. What does that imply for you and others, regardless of what you have done? -       Your body is not your own. Why not? And how does it reshape your life and how you live it daily if you believe this simple statement?

When I visited the Alamo I felt the emotion of a place that was made pretty special by sacrifice. It was February 1836 when that little Spanish mission went into the history books. You remember the story. The Mexican forces, thousands strong, were advancing to crush the little Texas independence movement. Sam Houston needed time to organize his troops in order to fight back, and he did get that time because of what happened at the Alamo, and he did win, and they did get their independence. But in the meantime, the Alamo was the key to victory. One hundred eighty-six freedom fighters took a stand in that little mission called the Alamo - a stand that is still over 150 years later synonymous with heroism. You know, "Remember the Alamo!" Colonel William Travis was in command that day. The enemy demanded surrender, and Travis's answer could not be misunderstood. In fact, it's the same answer I hope you will give to the enemy's demands on you. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Un-intimidated." Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Acts 4, and I'll begin reading at verse 24. It gives you a little insight into the battles being fought by the early church. Now, the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, have called in Peter and John and have told them not to preach any more in the name of Jesus. And it says, "After further threats, they let them go." They could not decide on how to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had happened. So, they basically tried to shut down the witness of these people. The church gets together in a prayer meeting and prays like this in verse 29, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand and heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus." Man, that's a powerful response! The Sanhedrin had organized the crucifixion of Jesus not long before. These men could have possibly arranged for the same fate for the apostles they were trying to shut down. But here this bold prayer comes back as an answer. Now, they're experiencing heavy pressure on their faith, and they seem unintimidated. They're talking about miracles; they're talking about boldness. Reminds me of that stand at the Alamo. Colonel Travis received the demand to surrender, and he said to his troops, "There has been a demand from the enemy that we surrender, and I have answered with a cannon shot." Huh! I love that! "I've answered with a cannon shot," he says, "and our flag still waves proudly. I will live and die as a soldier." Now, maybe the Devil's been trying to get you on the defensive lately and demanding your surrender - you're being hammered, and squeezed, maybe overwhelmed. The temptation is to back off, to retreat, to nurse your wounds and maybe to not take any risks. But would you look at your heritage in Christ? When other Christians in the first century were in that situation, they were bold; they came out asking for miracles to do the supernatural. Where did this bold response to trouble come from? This cannon shot? It comes from a prayer meeting; one that if you read their prayer here in Acts 4, focuses on God's character, God's power, God's history, and God's promises. And when you size up your situation, your opposition in light of God's power, you are ready to go on offense. You don't need to play defense. Hey, maybe the enemy has demanded your surrender. Well, answer with a prayer-ignited cannon shot, "I shall never surrender! I shall never retreat!" In spite of the bombardment, you can stand firm in Jesus' name, and you can be unintimidated.

Send us a textGood 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.comI Corinthians 4 The apostles of Christ should not be viewed as exalted leaders, but rather as servants and stewards of God's mysteries. They are subject to God's examination, just like everyone else. Paul reminds the Corinthians that faithfulness to God is what truly matters, not the judgments or opinions of others. Genuine evaluation belongs to the Lord, who will illuminate hidden things and unveil the intentions of the heart. Paul cautions against pride and boasting in human leaders, urging humility by reminding them that everything they possess is a gift from God. Apostles are examples of suffering and perseverance, often regarded as “fools for Christ” while demonstrating God's power. Paul encourages the Corinthians to follow his example, living humbly and faithfully under God's authority, for they are ultimately accountable to Him alone. Judgment and approval belong to the Lord in every situation. This absolute truth carries two important implications. First, we do not have the right to determine our own righteousness. God examines each of us, and His conclusions supersede our own. Second, and hopefully obviously, we do not pass judgment upon other believers. They will answer to God, and His praise is all that matters in the end. Unfortunately, some Corinthians have become prideful and even judge the apostles as less than themselves, despite Paul and others having done so much for God and for them. There is no room for such arrogance in the kingdom. We should emulate the faithfulness of the apostles and the humble, active servants among us.  Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us through Your Word that we are stewards of Your mysteries. Help us remain faithful to You in all things, seeking Your approval above the opinions of others. Teach us humility, reminding us that everything we have is a gift from You. Strengthen us to endure challenges and reflect Christ's love, even when faced with opposition or ridicule. May we follow the example of faithful servants like Paul, living for Your glory and not our own. Reveal to us the intentions of our hearts and guide us to walk in humble obedience to You.  Thought Questions: -       If God's judgment about you is more important than how you see yourself, how do you determine what God desires from You as His servant? -       Why is it so tempting to demean others and elevate yourself? What do you usually miss about yourself and the other person when you do this? -       What would happen if we spent less time in pride or jealousy toward others and more time emulating the godliness we see in them?

Your Word, Number and Song of the day plus Manager Andy Wise from Corona High!

Send us a textGood 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.comI Corinthians 2 The gospel of Jesus Christ does not require special people or eloquent speech. In fact, such things can distract from the power of God. The solution is to centralize all teaching and honor upon “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” God's power supports our faith, not the wisdom of men or the abilities of any individual. Unfortunately, this power is hidden from the people of the world, not by God's will, but because of their hard hearts and closed ears. For those willing to hear the truth, the Holy Spirit has gifted them teachings from the mind of the heavenly Father. The “natural man” will not accept them, nor is he able to do so. However, he who evaluates things spiritually will know God's mind and be saved through His Son. As Christians, our hope rests fully in the Lord Jesus Christ. While we value teachers who help us grow in faith, they must never replace Christ as our ultimate source of strength. We appreciate those who guide us to the Lord, regardless of their abilities. Understanding God's will is a privilege once hidden but now revealed through Christ. For unbelievers, it remains a mystery, but for us, it is a profound blessing to know the mind of our Creator. Through the Holy Spirit and the teachings of apostles and prophets, we are guided in truth. We should eagerly seek God's Word daily, allowing it to shape our spiritual journey and draw us closer to Him. Loving Lord, thank You for revealing Your wisdom and truth through Your Spirit. Help us not to rely on human understanding, but on the guidance of Your Spirit as given through Your apostles and prophets. Fill us with humility and a desire to grow closer to You each day. Teach us to seek Your Word, not the words of men, and let it transform our thoughts and actions. Please grant us the mind of Christ, so we may walk obediently, reflecting His love and wisdom in all we do. We will dedicate time to contemplating spiritual truths in Jesus' name.  Thought Questions: -       How can you know if a teacher is working with pure motives? What will be central in their teaching as the strongest evidence of integrity? -       If the wisdom of God has never aligned with the world's wisdom, what should your attitude be toward counter-culture aspects of the faith? -       Is it scary to realize that the “natural man” cannot discern spiritual things? How do you protect against becoming such a person?

Send us a textGood 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.comRomans 15 Harmony among God's people requires selflessness and patience, especially when dealing with those who may be weaker in faith. Believers are called to follow Christ's example, who bore the world's reproach for the sake of the weak. This mindset reflects God's call for Christians to extend fellowship, love, and acceptance to one another, just as Christ has welcomed them despite their flaws. God's desire is to fill His people with joy, peace, and hope together through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul begins to conclude his letter by discussing his mission to preach to the Gentiles and his plan to visit Rome after delivering contributions to the poor saints in Jerusalem. He urges believers to unite in prayer for his ministry and for success in spreading the gospel. Christianity is a unique journey. In a world where people often pursue their own desires and show little patience for differing views, God's people find opportunities for unity even among conflicting convictions. We take these moments to practice patience and make concessions when possible, assisting fellow believers in growing their faith. We are humbled by the awareness of Christ's sacrifices made for our benefit. Together, we turn to Christ and His gospel to stand firm on the absolute truths that bind us. Our boasting is in God and His love, not in our own knowledge or perfect understanding. This nurtures joy and peace in our fellowship and inspires us to be mindful of each other's physical and spiritual needs.  Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word, which provides us with hope, encouragement, and guidance. Help us to follow Christ's example of selflessness by bearing with others in love and putting their needs above our own. Teach us to live in harmony with fellow believers, glorifying You with one voice. Fill us with joy and peace as we trust in You, so that we may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen us to support Your work of spreading the gospel through our prayers and acts of mercy as we share the goodness of Jesus with others.   Thought Questions: -       What does it mean to “bear the weaknesses of those without strength”? How have you done that with regard to issues among fellow Christians? -       Verse 14 says that Christians can “admonish one another.” What does that mean and how do you do that while also bearing with a brother? -       Gentile Christians sent funds to help poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem. How should Christians today be active in helping needy brethren far away?