المحتوى المقدم من A Word From The Lord (AWFTL). يتم تحميل جميع محتويات البودكاست بما في ذلك الحلقات والرسومات وأوصاف البودكاست وتقديمها مباشرة بواسطة A Word From The Lord (AWFTL) أو شريك منصة البودكاست الخاص بهم. إذا كنت تعتقد أن شخصًا ما يستخدم عملك المحمي بحقوق الطبع والنشر دون إذنك، فيمكنك اتباع العملية الموضحة هنا https://ar.player.fm/legal.
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Much is made about the creative decisions in ads for the Big Game, but how does all that money, those requisite celebrity cameos, and everything else that goes into these multi-million dollar investments translate into Return on investment? Today we’re going to talk about what the numbers tell us from all those high-profile ads and who the winners and losers of the Advertising Bowl are in 2025. To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Nataly Kelly, CMO at Zappi, who unveiled their annual Super Bowl Ad Success report on Monday. We’re here to talk about the approach, the results, and what those results mean for brands that invested a lot of money - and time - into their campaigns. About Nataly Kelly I help companies unlock global growth For more than two decades, I have helped scale businesses across borders, as an executive at B2B SaaS and MarTech companies. I’m Chief Marketing Officer at Zappi, a consumer research platform. I spent nearly 8 years as a Vice President at HubSpot, a multi-billion-dollar public tech company, driving growth on the international side of the business. Having served as an executive at various tech companies, I’ve led teams spanning many functions, including Marketing, Sales, Product, and International Ops. I’m an award-winning marketing leader, a former Fulbright scholar, and an ongoing contributor to Harvard Business Review. I love working with interesting people and removing barriers to access. RESOURCES Zappi website: https://www.zappi.io/web/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Listen to The Agile Brand without the ads. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ymf7hd Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company…
المحتوى المقدم من A Word From The Lord (AWFTL). يتم تحميل جميع محتويات البودكاست بما في ذلك الحلقات والرسومات وأوصاف البودكاست وتقديمها مباشرة بواسطة A Word From The Lord (AWFTL) أو شريك منصة البودكاست الخاص بهم. إذا كنت تعتقد أن شخصًا ما يستخدم عملك المحمي بحقوق الطبع والنشر دون إذنك، فيمكنك اتباع العملية الموضحة هنا https://ar.player.fm/legal.
A sharing of Christian video sermons delivered globally by Archbishop Foley Beach
المحتوى المقدم من A Word From The Lord (AWFTL). يتم تحميل جميع محتويات البودكاست بما في ذلك الحلقات والرسومات وأوصاف البودكاست وتقديمها مباشرة بواسطة A Word From The Lord (AWFTL) أو شريك منصة البودكاست الخاص بهم. إذا كنت تعتقد أن شخصًا ما يستخدم عملك المحمي بحقوق الطبع والنشر دون إذنك، فيمكنك اتباع العملية الموضحة هنا https://ar.player.fm/legal.
A sharing of Christian video sermons delivered globally by Archbishop Foley Beach
How God Says He Loves Us: Part 2 -- The Covenant with Abraham MESSAGE SUMMARY: Throughout human history, God has reached out to humans for a personal relationship and to express His love for humankind. We have a God that loves us so much, and God’s love for us is expressed to us through His “ covenants ”. Also, God’s “ covenants ” reveal to us His grace and faithfulness. In today’s message, we will discuss God’s C ovenant with Abram and Abraham . A “ covenant ” can be defined as an “ oath or promise of God ”. In a Biblical covenant : 1) God establishes the Covenant; 2) God always implies that “I am your God, and you are my people” – God desires a personal relationship with us; and 3) God sets the covenant’s terms and rulers. In Genesis 12:1-5 , God presents His promise to Abram: “ Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran .". In Genesis 15:18 , God makes a covenant with Abram: “ On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your offspring I give his land . . . ’”. In Genesis 17:4-5, God makes another covenant with Abram changing Abram’s name to Abraham: “ Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations .". in Genesis 21-1-4 , Abraham’s son through Sarah, that God had promised Abraham, is born: “ The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him .”. In Genesis 22:1-18 , the final part of God’s covenant with Abraham is found when God provided the blood sacrifice of the lamb that sealed His covenant with Abraham: “ And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice .’”. The significance of God’s covenant with Abraham includes: 1) Abraham believed God and had faith, and because of Abraham’s faith God made Abraham righteous – foretells the significance of the Gospel because God’s covenant through Jesus for us is a covenant of faith; 2) God’s covenant with Abraham foreshadows His covenant through Jesus as he Messiah, the Christ – Isaac is the first legitimate son of Abraham, and Jesus is considered the last son through Abraham, Isaac voluntarily went to the alter and Jesus voluntarily went to the cross, Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice and God gave His Son as a sacrifice; 3) God’s covenant is still being fulfilled today – in a physical sense, the covenant is fulfilled through the Arabs and the Jews since both consider Abraham as their father and fulfilled in a spiritual sense through Jesus as Paul tells us in Galatians 3:14 : “ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith .". Remember, the God who made covenant with Abraham is Jesus. TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 10:9; Genesis 9:20-29; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:1-9; Genesis 15:1-27; 1 Peter 3:18-21; John 3:16-17; Hebrews 11:6; Galatians 3:7-9,14-16,29. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE : www.AWFTL.org . WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ God, the Father, Is Spirit; Jesus Followers Must Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth with Reality and Honesty and Not a Façade”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
How God Says He Loves Us: Part 1 -- The Covenant with Noah MESSAGE SUMMARY: We have a God that loves us so much, and God’s love for us is expressed to us through His “ covenants ”. Also, God’s “ covenants ” reveal to us His grace and faithfulness. In today’s message, we will discuss God’s C ovenant with Noah . A “ covenant ” can be defined as an “ oath or promise of God ”. In a Biblical covenant : 1) God establishes the Covenant; 2) God always implies that “I am your God, and you are my people” – God desires a personal relationship with us; and 3) God sets the covenant’s terms and rulers. In Genesis 6:5-22 , the corruption of humanity, through mankind’s sin after the Fall, became too much for God, and He became sorry that He made mankind. From Genesis, we know that God “grieved in His heart” because of human evil, corruption, and violence. However, Noah found favor in the eyes of God. Noah was righteous and blameless, and Noah “walked with God”. After destroying all humans and all other inhabitants of the earth, except for Noah, his family, those animals that Noah collected for His arch, God “blessed Noah in Genesis 9:1-29 ; and God established His covenant with Noah in Genesis 9:9-1:10,11-13 : “ ’Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you . . . that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth .’". Therefore, this covenant is not only with Noah and all other living things on the earth; but God’s covenant with Noah is with us too! The “rain’bow’” is a sign of this covenant between Noah and all humanity; and this “rainbow” is, also, a sign of God’s love, grace, and mercy. In 1 Peter 3:18-21 , the Apostle Peter relates Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, which is redemptive covenant for our salvation, to God’s earlier covenant with Noah: “ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . ". In this text from 1 Peter , we learn that our “baptism” represents our Salvation through Jesus. Like Noah and his family, we have been saved “through the water” not “by the water”. Therefore, “baptism” is another covenant between God and all humanity, through God’s Grace, to save mankind from itself if we accept God’s Grace. God does not see us, now, in our sin like humanity’s evil of Noah’s time; rather, God sees us through the eternal (like the “rainbow”) “Justifying” covenant blood of Jesus. TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM FORGIVEN . If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Genesis 6:5-22; Genesis 9:1-29; 1 Peter 3:18-21; Psalms 28:1-9. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE : www.AWFTL.org . WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Jesus Followers Have Eternal Life, Even Before their Earthly Death, Because Whoever “ believes him {God} who sent me {Jesus}” ”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Beginnings of Prayer – Part 5: Start Now and Improve Your Prayer Life -- A Robust Prayer Life Will Transform Your Life MESSAGE SUMMARY : INTRODUCTIOIN -- Prayer is: 1) spending time with God – acknowledging God’s presence in all our lives’ activities; and 2) conversation with God – listening to and talking with God. Prayer reflects on our relationship with God. Why don’t we pray. The Apostle James, in James 4:2-3 , provides a perspective regarding Prayer Life : “ You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions ." In praying, we should know the difference between prayers of "petition" (praying for one's own needs) and prayers of "intercession" (praying for the needs of others). God wants prayers of " petition " from us -- all our needs and concerns should be brought to Him in prayer because He loves and cares for us. However, God want us to, also, focus on others and their needs ( intercession ) -- physical and spiritual. " Intercessory prayer ” is fundamental to deepening our prayer life and our personal relationship with God. SUNDAY MESSAGE -- This Sermon is Q and A session on prayer with Archbishop Beach and Rev. Matt Jordan. Jan Karen, author of the Mitford Series, says that "In the big issues of life as well as the small, God wants to hear from His children . . . the most important thing we get from prayer is the relationship that we enter into with God.". As Jesus tells us in Luke 11:9-10 that, as His followers we are both expected to pray and to ask as a fundamental part of our lives in Him: “ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened .". Additionally, Luke tells us, in Luke 18:1 , that we should continue to pray: “ And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart ." How do you know that God has answered your prayer? What does it mean when God has not answered your prayer? Why, if God answers our prayers, should we ask for others to pray for us? How do we know if we are praying in the Holy Spirit? Why does my mind start wandering when I start praying? How good is it to have a prayer journal? Why, sometimes, are we tempted to sin when we pray? How important is fasting? Do we stop in our prayers enough to give thanks to the Lord? The common position, derivative of all these questions is expressed to us in Ephesians 3:21b-24 that prayer is life changing and fundamental to a life in Jesus: “ the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness .". Pray specific prayers, in the Holy Spirit and in Scripture, for ourselves and for others -- be persistent . TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM A FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Jeremiah 33:3; Luke 11:1-13; Luke 18:1-8; Luke 22:44; Ephesians 3:20. ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE : www.AWFTL.org . WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ For Jesus Followers, Fasting, with Food, Will Symbolize a Victory Over Oneself and Solidify a Personal Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Beginnings In Prayer - Part 4: Listening to God Because He Desires to Speak to Us MESSAGE SUMMARY : Prayer is: 1) spending time with God – acknowledging God’s presence in all our lives’ activities; and 2) conversation with God – listening to and talking with God. Prayer reflects on our relationship with God. Why don’t we pray. The Apostle James, in James 4:2-3 , provides a perspective regarding Prayer Life : “ You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions ." In praying, we should know the difference between prayers of "petition" (praying for one's own needs) and prayers of "intercession" (praying for the needs of others). God wants prayers of " petition " from us -- all our needs and concerns should be brought to Him in prayer because He loves and cares for us. However, God want us to, also, focus on others and their needs ( intercession ) -- physical and spiritual. " Intercessory prayer ” is fundamental to deepening our prayer life and our personal relationship with God. We need to consider "how we listen" to and for God. Usually, God speaks through the Holy Spirit like He spoke to Mary. Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit and “listening” through the Apostle John in John 16:13-15 : “ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you .". God, mostly but not always, uses that "still small voice" in our minds. We need to seek out places and times so that we can listen for and to God. Listening validates relationships in our secular lives -- why would it be different in our relationship with God ? God wants to speak to us because we have a relationship with Him -- He loves us and wants to be with us. God's "Counselor", the Holy Spirit, is His primary communication bridge to us. God speaks to us, through the Holy Spirit, as He promised. God guides us to all truth -- to His direction for our lives. When God speaks to you, write it down, as God tells us through the prophet Habakkuk in Habakkuk 2:2- 3: “ And the LORD answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay .’". God, often, speaks to us through the Bible, through other people, and through our circumstances. As we listen for God, we need to respond to God as Samuel did in Samuel 3:10b : " Speak Lord, for your servant is listening . ". Pray specific prayers, in the Holy Spirit and in Scripture, for ourselves and for others -- be persistent . TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Jeremiah 33:3 ; John 16:7-14; John 10:1-25; Habakkuk 2:1-3; 1 Samuel 3:1-18 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Daniel’s Prayer Was “ seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong’ ””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Beginnings of Prayer -- Part 3: Prayer is Not About Us, It Is About Others MESSAGE SUMMARY : Prayer is: 1) spending time with God – acknowledging God’s presence in all our lives’ activities; and 2) conversation with God – listening to and talking with God. Prayer reflects on our relationship with God. Why don’t we pray. The Apostle James, in James 4:2-3 , provides a perspective regarding Prayer Life : “ You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions ." In praying, we should know the difference between prayers of "petition" (praying for one's own needs) and prayers of "intercession" (praying for the needs of others). God wants prayers of "petition" from us -- all our needs and concerns should be brought to Him in prayer because He loves and cares for us. However, God want us to, also, focus on others and their needs (intercession) -- physical and spiritual. "Intercessory" prayer is fundamental to deepening our prayer life. "Intercessory Prayer" is one of the most important, if not THE MOST important, ministries of the Church. Living our own abundant life is first about our focus on others before we focus on ourselves. Pray specific prayers, in the Holy Spirit and in Scripture, for others -- be persistent . TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ezekiel 22:29 ; Isaiah 53:12; Romans 8:24; 1 Samuel 12:23 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK: www.awordfromthelord.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe’s Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Beginnings in Prayer -- Part 2: Faith, a Gift of the Spirit, Is a Key Element in Our Relationship with God Through Prayer MESSAGE SUMMARY : Part I -- INTRODUCTION: We are told in the New testament that there is a Spiritual Gift of faith that God imparts, but most of us don't use our Spiritual Gift of faith. Faith is like a muscle; if we don't use it, like a muscle, faith atrophies. You cannot live on yesterday's faith -- you must use your faith, or you will become weak in your faith! Part II -- PRAYER - 2: Prayer is: 1) spending time with God – acknowledging God’s presence in all our lives’ activities; and 2) conversation with God – listening to and talking with God. Prayer reflects on our relationship with God. Why don’t we pray. The Apostle James, in James 4:2-3 , provides a perspective regarding Prayer Life : “ You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions ." We are trying to encounter God as He wants us to through prayer. Prayer is an incredible Spiritual Gift that the Lord has given us; a gift so that we might know Him and to accomplish His purpose for us. When discussing prayer, the attribute of prayer, that is often left out, is faith. As Jesus tells us about the importance of faith in Matthew 15:25-28 : “ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly .”. It does not take much faith to have great faith. The writer Hebrews, in Hebrews 11:1-3, defines faith: “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible .". In order to create and sustain our prayer life , we must: 1) have faith and believe that God exists; 2) believe that God will honor your seeking Him – start by praying as you are; and 3) exercise your faith – stretch your prayers for God. If you have a prayer life, how do you approach your prayer life? Do you enter your God relationship through prayer with a faith expectation and confident that God hears you and will respond? Just remember that Jesus taught us that it does not take much faith to have "great faith". Faith is what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Prayer exercise for this week : 1) pick some issue for which you need direction; 2) ask god, by faith, to give you an answer; and 3) all week long, come to God asking for an answer until you get an answer. Faith is the power behind your prayers . TODAY’S PRAYER : Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 8:10 ; Matthew 15:25-28; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 14:31; Matthew 17:20-21; Hebrews 11:1-3; Hebrews 11:6 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ The Old Testament Law of “ an eye for an eye ” Was Reversed by Jesus in His “Great Commandment” in which Jesus Followers Are “ to Love ””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORDFROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Beginnings in Prayer – Part 1: How is Your Prayer Life; Is Anything in Your Life More Important than Prayer? MESSAGE SUMMARY : Part I: Be ready for the Lord and pay attention to and for His second coming. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” We, as believers, should be aware of God’s signs as they arise. Part II: Prayer is : 1) spending time with God – acknowledging God’s presence in all our lives' activities; and 2) conversation with God – listening to and talking with God. Prayer reflects on our relationship with God. Why don’t we pray. The Apostle James, in James 4:2-3 , provides a perspective regarding Prayer Life : “ You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions ." Relationships, especially your personal relationship with God, are two-way -- listening and speaking. Sometimes, in our prayers, it is more important to listen for and to God than to speak and ask. Spending time with God, in sweet fellowship and in conversation, happens when we make prayer an important priority in a life filled with faith, repentance, and trust. God wants us to “pray without ceasing” and as a part of all our life activities. If prayer is so essential to a Christian way of life, why is our Prayer Life so insufficient? We don’t have a sufficient Prayer Life because: 1) we don’t know that prayer is important -- ignorance; 2) we don’t know how to pray -- knowledge ; 3) we are too busy to pray -- priority ; 4) we don’t really believe prayer will help or prayer will be effective -- faith ; 5) we don’t want to face the sin in our lives – repentance ; 6) we may be afraid to pray – trust ; and 7) our past history with prayer – experience ,. To recharge our Prayer Life this week, perform this exercise: for five minutes each day, pray about a – 1) situation, 2) circumstance, and a 3) person or relationship . Imagine what our lives and the lives of our community and country would be like if we were a people of prayer with a sufficient Prayer Life ! TODAY’S PRAYER : Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 1 John 2:1-6 ; James 4:2-3; Matthew 7:7-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-17 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God’s Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life’s Trials They Should “ fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always ””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
The Struggle with Time -- Until I Determine How I Want to Use My Time, Others Will Determine How My Time Is Used MESSAGE SUMMARY : Life will never settle down until we chose to settle down in living our lives. Life is a choice more than we realize. We are given twenty-four hours in a day, and if God had wanted us to have thirty-six hours in our day, He would have given us a thirty-six-hour day. Therefore, if we don’t have enough clock in our day, we are doing some things we should not be doing. We can determine some of the time traps that keep us from serving the Lord and how we can address the traps to better serve ourselves and the Lord. Is the clock our dictator; do we allocate time to serve the Lord, our families, and our work? How do we delegate ? Life will never settle down until we choose to settle down; life is a choice. To manage our time as God would have us manage our lives: 1) Work is important and necessary, but working is not living; 2) Time is life first and then money; 3) More life productivity means more time; 4) How we use our time significantly effects our self-esteem, identity, and our fulfillment; and 5) We cannot control time, but we can control how we use time. We must get control of the time issues in our lives. The simple formula for managing our time: Pray, Prioritize, and Plan . Managing our time better is a fundamental question as we end a year and begin a new year. We must learn to honor the Lord by "honoring our time ". TODAY’S PRAYER : Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ; Ecclesiastes 9:11-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Romans 8:18 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ At Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
A Christmas Message MESSAGE SUMMARY : The real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ – the Messiah, who is the Savior of the World. Christians emphasize Christmas and Jesus’ birth because His birth: 1) fulfills many Biblical prophesies, especially n terms of the time and location of Jesus’ birth; 2) points the fact that Jesus was more than just a man; 3) and life saw Jesus claim the right to forgive sins; 4) led Jesus to call God His “Father”, which indicated that Jesus was God; 5) resulted in Jesus’ Resurrection, which validated Jesus’ claims and made Him different; and 6) was God, through Jesus’ birth, still trying to get our attention. God, through His Grace and through the birth of Jesus, did for us what we could not do for ourselves – save ourselves from our sins and our death that would result from our sins. God, through the birth of Jesus -- the God-Man, entered into our earthly mess to save us because, after God’s Grace and Jesus’ birth, all our sin now resides on Jesus. God’s Grace through the birth of Jesus, demonstrates God’s love for us. God wants us to know that Jesus was born for us out of His love for us. Therefore, we need to consider that God, the Creator of the Universe, entered the world, through the baby Jesus for us so that we might have a personal relationship with Him. Have you yielded to God so that your mind’s consideration of God’s Grace, love, and Jesus’ birth can move from your mind into a commitment of both your mind and your heart to your faith in Jesus as your Savior and into God’s service? Until we yield to God’s lordship over our lives, we are saying to God that “we don’t need your love”. Is Jesus your Lord and, therefore, your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life ? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God’s Christmas gift by saying: “ I am sorry; thank you; and please ”. TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:9-11; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1-3; John 1:4; John10:30; John 14:8-11; John 3:16-17 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ When Jesus Asked You: “ Whom do you say that I am ?”, Did You Answer Jesus: “ You are my God and the Lord of my Life !”?”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORDFROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Why We Do Christmas MESSAGE SUMMARY : Introduction: We are still in the season of Advent , which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, a season of hope; and Advent is the beginning of our Church’s “New Year”. Message: What does Christmas mean to you? “Could we be missing the point of what Christmas is all about”? Irrespective of all the personal, social and cultural noise we encounter around the Christmas season, we must not lose sight of the fact that Christmas is all and only about Jesus. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the most important person that ever lived – the God and man Jesus. Is this birth and life of the Incarnate and unique Son of God, as both the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of humankind, true? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” because Jesus birth and life are based upon historical evidence. Also, the birth of Jesus is God coming among us in a desire to have a personal relationship with us and with all people. If God is so desirous of a personal relationship with us, why did God go to so much trouble to bring Jesus to us? Because, every time we sin, we are building a barrier between us and God – God is Holy, and He cannot relate to sin. Therefore, God’s Grace provided Jesus as both the means of our Salvation and as an intermediary (i.e. Jesus is both God and a human without sin) from which we can have God’s desired personal relationship with us. However, when Jesus died on the cross, He took on all sin and became the required and once offered sacrificial payment for all sin . Jesus birth, life, death and Resurrection became the doorway for our personal relationship with God. As Jesus tells us in Mark 10:45 : “ For even the Son of Man {Jesus}came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many .”. “God loves us because of who God is.” Why do so few of us accept God’s offered gift of Salvation through His Grace? When those not yet believing look at the lives of those of us that believe, they, often, they see us living by the fruit of the flesh rather than by the fruit of the Spirit – our hypocrisy. Also, God’s offer is rejected because He may require us to give up some sin that we enjoy. Additionally, some believe that the cost of becoming a Christian is too great; however, the cost of not becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian and accepting God’s offer. Many refuse God’s gift because they believe that they are not worthy or good enough for God and His gift. They are correct; none of us are worthy of God’s gift, but that is the point – Jesus’ birth, life, death and Resurrection provide us with the means a path to be worthy of God’s gift. Is Jesus your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life ? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God’s Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”. TODAY’S PRAYER : Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 10:45 ; John 15:13; John 3:16-17; Galatians 5:18-25 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org . WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Letting God Be Lord Over Your Finances, which Are His but He Entrusted to You, Will Liberate Your Life!”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us MESSAGE SUMMARY : The people in and around Jesus’ birth were just ordinary people like us. In our celebration of Jesus’ birth on this Christmas, we celebrate the event that transformed world history and many of our lives. The birth of Jesus was a supernatural birth and was God’s intervention into the Universe’s natural order. This birth was foretold hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, and these prophesies were written and recorded, for us, in the Bible. Jesus’ birth was the birth, of a child, that did for the human race what the human race could not do for itself. Jesus was born for all people. This baby, Jesus, was born to be a Savior for all humankind. The birth of Jesus was the birth of God as both human and divine – the Incarnation , as the Angels told the Shepherds on the first Christmas Eve in Luke 2:9- 11: “ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord .’". In Isaiah 53:4-6 , Jesus, birth, death, and Resurrection, as our means for our Salvation, were foretold more than five-hundred years before Jesus birth: “ Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all .". God, through His Grace, gave of Himself what we could not do for ourselves, thereby, providing, through the birth of Jesus, us with the means for our Salvation from our sins and for our Eternal Life. This Gift of and by God is what Christmas and Christianity are all about. Is Jesus your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life ? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God’s Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”. TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:9-11; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1-3; John 1:4; John10:30; John 14:8-11; John 3:16-17 . ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Jesus Followers Are the Enemy’s {devil’s} Target to Mess You Up and To Destroy Your Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
A Day Is Coming – Part 2 MESSAGE SUMMARY : We are in the season of Advent , which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, a season of hope; and Advent is the beginning of our Church’s “New Year”. In the book of Isaiah, Isaiah 24 through Isaiah 26 presents prophesies regarding the future about 600 years before the birth of Jesus. More specifically, Isaiah 24:1-13 describes the destruction of the world resulting from the sinful acts of God’s people. However, Isaiah 24:14-16 describes a period of joy and hope in the world. As in the time of Isaiah, we should not give credence to the prophesies, by fellow humans today, of the world’s destruction and/or a specific date for Jesus’ ”second coming” {arrival}. Jesus told us both not to be “anxious” about those things that we cannot control and that “no one knows the day and the hour” of His return (i. e. Jesus “second coming”). Rather, in this season of Advent, we recognize the hope brought to the world by God’s grace and His gift of Jesus. Our hope is built upon Jesus’ birth, death on the cross, and His Resurrection all providing us with the means for our Redemption, Salvation, and our Eternal Life. However, there will be a day when Jesus returns again to earth (i. e. Jesus’ “second coming”) on a day that cannot be predicted by humans. Jesus’ “second coming” will establish His Kingdom and a new Heaven. Therefore, even though we do not know the when of Jesus’ “second coming” we haves God’s promise of the what Jesus’ “second coming” will mean. We need not fear the “second coming”. The “second coming” is a promise by God and should lead us, in this season of Advent, to renew our preparation in hope and not fear and anxiety. We have God’s promise that nothing can separate us from His love, as the Apostle John tells us in 1 John 4:16-19: “ So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us ." We do not want to get so wrapped up in the details of Jesus’ “second coming” so that, like the First Century Jews, we miss Jesus. One certainty, in Jesus’ “second coming”, is our “Judgement”. Jesus’ “second coming” will “arrive”, but we have nothing to fear if we are ready. We are “ready” by living lives of Faithfulness to the Gospel and through Repentance . Is there something in your life with which you have not dealt with in Repentance ? If so, you are not “ready”. We must be willing to follow Jesus and to respond to those things He asks of us. The Apostle John tell us in Revelation 22:20-21: “H e who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus ! The Grace of Lord Jesus be with all. Amen ”. Do you want to be ready for Jesus’ “second coming”? If so, are you ready TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God . (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Isaiah 24:1-16; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-19; 1 John 4:16-19; Revelation 20:4; Matthew 25:31-32; Johnb5:24; 1 Corinthians 11:28-32; Romans 11:25-27; Luke 1:31-33; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 10:37-39; Revelation 22:20-21. ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Jesus Followers’ Righteousness Will Flow, with the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from Their Heart Through Their Personal Relationship with Jesus”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
A Day Is Coming – Part 1 MESSAGE SUMMARY : We are entering the season of Advent , which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus’ “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus’ “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, the beginning of the Church’s “New Year”. Today, we begin our focus for Advent on Jesus “second coming” as promised by the Jesus in Luke 21:27-28: “ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near .”. Jesus realized that his first “arrival” on Earth was to sacrifice and to fulfil the Old Testament prophesies. Jesus knew, also, that His “first arrival” would provide a means that, through His sacrifice and Resurrection, could give all humans a personal relationship with God. However, Jesus knew that, after His sacrifice in His “first coming” into the World, that He would return to the World – Jesus’ “second coming”. Jesus’ “arrival”, in His “second coming”, is described, in the Bible text, that 1) Jesus is coming as the Son of Man – a term Jesus used to refer to Himself, from God’s perspective ; 2) Jesus is coming in a cloud; 3) Jesus’ coming is preceded with certain signs in the Universe – all the “signs”, described in the Scripture, have already happened; and 4) the time of His coming being will be “soon” but “unknown”. As we are told in James 5:7-8, Jesus is coming again: “ Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains . You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand .". The Bible, clearly, teaches that Jesus is coming into the World again – the “second coming”. What do we need to do given the certainty of Jesus’ “second coming”? In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus answers this important question regarding our preparation for His “second coming”: “ But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man .”. Be reminded that the “cares” and “anxieties” of our lives can trap us from being ready for Jesus’ “second coming”. TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 13:32; Luke 21:27-28; Matthew 16:27; Daniel 7:13-14 ; Luke 21:25 ; Luke 21:8-10; Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Mark 13:32; John 14:3; Acts 1:9; 1 John 2:28; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7-8 ; 2 Peter 3:10 ; Luke 21:34-36. ( Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH : www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ Jesus Followers Have a Personal Relationship with the Creator of the Universe So Pray, Listen, and Be Patient for God’s Call ” : https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE LINK : www.awordfromthelord.org DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Turkeys and Eagles – Part 6: We Don’t Need to Be Wimpy Christians MESSAGE SUMMARY : Series Overview: This Series has been looking at Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to point out “ Turkeyisms ” – things by which have duped us into believing or behaving in ways which aren’t what Christianity is all about. This Series has pointed out some changes in our thinking needed so that we can be like “ Eagles ” -- o be the people that God wants and intended for us to be. This Sermon will focus on Ephesians 6. Sermon : Turkey Thinking: “ There is no real devil; the devil is just a concept to explain evil. ” (The devil’s best trick is to get us to believe there is no devil.); Eagle Thinking: “The devil and his cohorts never sleep.” Ephesians 6:10 – “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”. How does one know if they are being tempted by the enemy? We know we are being tempted by the enemy when we are influenced to do something against Jesus -- the enemy wants to make us a weak Christian. However, we can’t blame the temptations of our flesh on the devil. We need to always be clothed in the full armor of God to be full-time soldiers of Jesus against the devil. Turkey Thinking: “ There is no spiritual warfare; Christianity is love, joy, and peace. Christianity is not about war. ”; Eagle Thinking: “ If I am serving the Lord, then I am always engaged in a spiritual battle .”. In this battle, we are not battling our fellow humans. One of the enemy’s best strategies is to get us fighting each other, especially in the church. The devil wants us to divide and conquer. We must put on the full armor of God so that we can stand firm against the devil. The “full armor” means we are to both seek and speak God’s truth while establishing a relationship with God. We are to live a righteous life in the full awareness that God has forgiven us. In standing firm and with our relationship with God, we are to share the Gospel. We are to “take up the shield of faith” by trusting in God in our warfare with the devil. The evil one wants us to doubt our Salvation from God’s Grace and our faith that ensure eternal life with Jesus. Finally, we are to “take up the sword of the Spirit” – the Word of God. In Ephesians 6, the sword is the only element, of God’s full armor, that is for both offense as well as defense. Paul then tells us “to pray in the Holy Spirit” – praying while fully focused on the Lord; prayer is the most powerful weapon we have in our fight against the devil. God wants us to be strong in Him” and not wimpy Christians in our warfare with the evil one. TODAY’S PRAYER : Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen . Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV) : Ephesians 6:10-20; Matthew 13:19-21; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 4:12. SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH : www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “ To Be a Jesus Follower, You Must First Enter the Only Door to God’s Kingdom and that Door is Jesus – the Door to Eternal Life ” : https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE : www.AWFTL.org . DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
Reflections on the Elections BACKGROUND: This message was drawn from a sermon delivered by Archbishop Foley Beach during a prior Presidential election season. While this sermon was delivered in the past, its thesis that “God is right in the middle of our elections” is based on Daniel’s interpretation King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men”. America is once again in an election cycle which has only begun with the election of a President. MESSAGE SUMMARY: “Where is God in all of this”? We were so engaged in prayer leading up to the election that it’s hard to believe that God was not involved in this election. God was and is in the middle of this election and our country’s governance just as He was in the time of King Nebuchadnezzar’s vision and Daniel’s interpretation (Daniel 4:17 ESV). “Someone asked me: ‘How could God allow a pro-abortion president’?”. At this time, we cannot answer this question, but God can and does use anyone in His plan for Salvation that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. In Isaiah 55.9, God reminds us: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”. Every person in leadership is flawed to some degree. “If He can use me as His minister of the Gospel, He can use anyone! King Cyrus was a great sinner and a bloody pagan, but God called him by name to be His servant. Look at Alexander the Great, another true pagan who was bloody, brutal, and bisexual; and yet, God used him to build a common language and roads, like the Via Morris highway which connected Europe to Africa and was located next to Capernaum where Jesus set up His base. Therefore, this road literally paved the way for the coming of the Messiah.” The election of Lincoln is another example God’s sovereignty. He used Lincoln to hold the nation together in spite of Lincoln being hated on all sides. Because God is Sovereign, it is often said that God gives us the government we need or the government we deserve — it is too early to know which path God has now chosen for our governance. As we approach these 2024 elections, remember: “The Most High rules the kingdoms of men, and He gives it to whom He will.” (Daniel 4: 17, 24-25, 32, 37) TODAY’S PRAYER : Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter . Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY’S AFFIRMATION : I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus , I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV ) : Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:24-25; Daniel 32; Daniel 37; Mat. 22:16-21 A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE : www.AWFTL.org . THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON : You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon : “ Wake Up America! ” , at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL : https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB…
مرحبًا بك في مشغل أف ام!
يقوم برنامج مشغل أف أم بمسح الويب للحصول على بودكاست عالية الجودة لتستمتع بها الآن. إنه أفضل تطبيق بودكاست ويعمل على أجهزة اندرويد والأيفون والويب. قم بالتسجيل لمزامنة الاشتراكات عبر الأجهزة.