God Still Speaks Today

Just because we aren’t allowed to gather in church buildings today doesn’t mean that the breath of God’s Spirit is not in the body of Christ! We shout to the wind, “NO!” Jesus can break through closed doors, barriers, discontentment, guilt, and shame. He can take out the garbage of all our past pains and sins if we let Him. He is a restorer and giver of life today and forever if we put our faith and trust in Him. Let's breathe the breath of God into our community as we live out our Commissioning, with our Cure, to fulfill our Challenge today. 

This event is the cornerstone to all faith in Who Jesus was and that He had accomplished all that the Scriptures had prophesied that the Messiah would complete. As you listen to this podcast today, what happened with Jesus and the other people affected by His resurrection that connected with you today? With Jesus' dramatic and powerful resurrection from the dead, what is most helpful for strengthening your faith from Matthew’s perspective of this event? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, consider the people spoken of in this narrative: Simon of Cyrene, the holy people who had died and were raised to life, the 3 women, the other 2 who were being crucified and Joseph of Arimathea. Each one has different a story from their perspective. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What happened in this chapter that connected with you? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, consider the people spoken of in this narrative: Judas, Barabbas, Pilate, the soldiers, the chief priests and the elders, the crowd, Simon of Cyrene, holy people who had died and were raised to life, the 3 women, and Joseph of Arimathea. Each one has different a story from their perspective. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter that connected with you? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Many people in the Bible have been through difficult surges in life that seemed impossible to endure or even survive. God's protecting and saving hand is in motion still today during this global pandemic. He is our only capable Surge Protector longing to touch and heal people's brokenness today! 

As you listen to this podcast today, notice how Jesus responded to those who Betrayed Him, Denied Him and Rejected Him. How does it make you feel when you are treated that way? Can God help us to love even as Jesus did? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter that connected with you? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, consider how Jesus spoke to His disciples of the things that were about to happen. He knew every detail. He talked to them as friends, not as servants and described the things that he wanted them to know about what was coming so they would understand His purpose. Does He still know every detail about us and how we reject or pursue Him? What stood out to you in this passage? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, remember that Jesus is still speaking to His disciples about the end times. When you compare the 3 parables in this chapter, what thread did Jesus weave through them that helped you connect with His view of the end times? What did Jesus teach in this chapter? What things stirred your heart in what He said? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

It's interesting watching a house being built. Contractors and builders have important tasks to be completed. So too the architects, permit departments, inspectors, interior designers, and of course the money lenders. Get out your hard hat and tools and let’s get to work. Click on the link and scroll down to the story of Nehemiah and press play. Be ready to answer these questions at the end of the podcast: Who gave permission and resources to build? What were the difficult things that didn’t help? What was your favorite part of the whole building process  to completion?

As you listen to this podcast today, what did Jesus say about the End times that made it real to you? Do you see things like that in our world today? What did verses 9-14 say to you? What parts of Jesus’ prophesy stick in your mind? Why is it important that Jesus quotes from previous prophets like Daniel, and Isaiah? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, compare what did Jesus said to the crowds versus what He said to the disciples. How many “woes” did He give them and why? Do you see things like that in our world today? What did Jesus teach in this chapter? What positive things did He say? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Who likes a miraculous story? Super heroes are everywhere today, but they are not as powerful as a true man of God. The Bible tells stories of Superheroes that are real and not just imaginary like cartoons or animated characters. Click on the link and scroll down to the story of Elisha and press play. Be ready to answer these questions at the end of the podcast! What was your favorite thing that happened because Elisha was a prophet of God? What happened to those who were mean to him? Is it important to make the same choices as Jonah did or do something different? How would you have responded if you had been there? Why? How will God bless you for honoring Him with your life? 

Faith in God stimulates our confession of sin leading right away to a desperate repentance from our sins which initiates our part in joining Jesus Christ in our restoration process to a fully blessed relationship with God! Jesus is the only port we must step through to enter God’s presence. When Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" He meant it. God's Holy Spirit will help you with this though when you sit down in His presence and give yourself completely to Him. I have done that, will you? 

As you listen to this podcast today, consider Jesus parable, teachings, response to religious leaders and their traps, current events and people from history. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

As you listen to this podcast today, consider the miraculous things Jesus performed, what people said as He entered Jerusalem, the things He taught in parables and the way He reacted to current affairs in His time. How would you have responded if you were walking with Him and listening to Him and seeing His actions even in the temple and at the fig tree? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

What was significant to you from this chapter? What did you learn about the Kingdom of Heaven? And could Jesus have been any more specific (for the 3rd time) with His disciples as He told them about what was coming soon (vs. 18-19) and yet 2 wanted to be on His right and left. Hmmm...there were 3 crosses that day! lol. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Who likes amazing stories about superstar like people? It seems that they fill the most popular movies and books all the time. Well the Bible tells stories of dramas with strong people too. Click on the link and scroll down to the story of Elijah the superstar Prophet and press play. Be ready to answer the questions at the end of the podcast!

Jesus continued teaching in this chapter about marriage, children and even speaking about the wealthy and religious people. If you could say that you were caught in your mind about something Jesus said in this chapter, what would it be? Did you hear something that you will hold onto? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Jesus taught a lot in this chapter! What stuck out to you like a highlighter pen was pressed into the text in your mind from this chapter? When you read or listen to this chapter, what was significant to you about the Kingdom of God, mercy, forgiveness, the lost, or God’s presence even in a small group? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

What was significant to you from this chapter? How do you think this affected Peter, James and John on the mountain? And what about the Drachma in the fish’s mouth? What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Did you hear something that stuck in your mind that you will hold onto? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

I’m sure you have thought about what it would be like to hear God speak to you! Many times people downplay the beauty and peace that comes when God speaks to us. Sometimes He speaks to us in a quiet voice in our inmost mind. And other times He speaks out loud when He needs to make a point maybe in a sermon, or from a friend or family member. This story comes from book of 1 Samuel 1:1-7:1. Click on the link and scroll down to the story of the boy Samuel and press play. Be ready to answer the questions at the end of the podcast! Yes, God Still Speaks Today! 

What was significant to you from this chapter? What did Jesus teach in this chapter? What can someone give in exchange for their soul? Why do you think Jesus predicted His death and resurrection again? Did you hear something that stuck in your mind that you will hold onto? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

According to Jesus, what makes a person unclean? Why? Why did Jesus feed the crowd of 4,000 men plus women and children…AGAIN? Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? What was significant to you from this chapter?  Did you hear something that stuck in your mind that you will hold onto? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

There are certain things that stir your thoughts to the point where you want to go do something. You see or experience something that makes you want to interact with someone else about it: Some people want to go talk to a friend, while another person may want to yell in their closet at their clothes; Some people will want to go start a peaceful march, while others will want to go break something;  Some people will want to hide out in the hills alone, while at the same time others will want to go to a rave.  How do you respond when you hear a sermon like "On Fire for God"? Does it make you think or respond? Click on the link and write down your thoughts about what happens in your mind and heart. 

Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What did Jesus teach in this chapter? What was significant to you from this chapter? Why did Jesus feed the crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children? Did you hear something that stuck in your mind that you will hold onto? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

I have heard so many people say things like, "I don't need church to worship God. I just go out and Worship in the Wild." King David writes some incredible thoughts in Psalm 104 that promote our recognition of Worshiping in the Wild. BUT...it has nothing to do with not meeting together. Click on the link and consider my thoughts, responses and questions at the end of this walk through Psalm 104.  Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others. 

Often our hearts may get complacent about stuff in life. Like the dad in "The Incredibles" before he got an incredible call to do something significant. Do you ever feel that way? What would we do if God spoke to us about an incredible thing He wanted to accomplish through us this year even with the COVID-19 pandemic looming over the world.  Have you prayed and asked God for His vision and desires? Consider doing that and then waiting on Him to point the way! I believe...do you? Click on the link and listen to the prayer and then add your honest thoughts and prayers as well. 

Matthew records all the parables Jesus taught on one particular day because he recognized how significant they would be to the readers. Jesus did and said many other things in public as well as personally to the disciples. But these are written here to help explain some important truths to those who would listen, glean and cherish them. What was significant to you from this chapter? Did you hear something that stuck in your mind that you will hold onto? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Matthew describes Jesus’ ministry from different angles: How He deals with the people…healing the infirmed and setting the captives free, and how He looks into and speaks into the religious people of His day, and how He describes things still to come. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the Bible. What stood out to you in this chapter? What can you apply to your life because of what Jesus said? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Jesus’ power and authority over every earthly thing was a “game-changer” for people looking for Messiah. He fulfilled all the prophesies and proclaimed the Good News everywhere He went. He even gave the same power and authority from God to those who were His disciples. I was surprised that John, Jesus’ cousin, had to ask! He was there when Jesus was baptized and he had been the one proclaiming Jesus’ worth before He ever began His earthly ministry. I also love how Jesus moved from judgment to “rest” in the last verses. Click on the link and listen with your Bible in hand as I read from the NIV bible. What stood out to you in this chapter? What can you apply to your life because of what Jesus said? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Who likes stories about strong people or maybe a drama? It seems that they fill the most popular movies and books all the time. Well the Bible tells stories of dramas with strong people too. Click on the link and scroll down to the story of Samson and press play. Be ready to answer the questions at the end of the podcast!

The value of prayer is often overlooked or rejected because people have not received everything they asked for immediately. Faith is being sure that what we hope for will be accomplish in God's all-wise and best time. I think Satan has used this powerful tool of God to distract people from trusting in God. And sometimes people have just chosen not to walk in faith because they just didn't want to believe in Him anyway. There is no perfect prayer that needs to be repeated over every situation, but our expression of faith and trust in God is what is required for every situation. Are you trusting Him today with your prayers? If so, go to Him asking and believing today! 

Jesus called His disciples and started teaching them before sending them out. Why were His words so hard to receive? What is the hardest thing for you to do as a disciple of Jesus today? I know many people try to create loopholes or easier routes around the truth so they don't have to think about what Jesus taught. I encourage you not to be distracted by deceptive thoughts that deny Jesus' words which were given to Him by His Father in Heaven. Press into the truth, don't avoid it or deny it.

What was a key ingredient to each of the miracles Jesus did in this passage? Why do people look at faith as if it is a malignant strain of human weakness? The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Why did the Pharisees say, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons”? How should we pray like Jesus taught at the end of this passage? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

The depth of Jesus teaching and miracles transformed people’s concepts about what is possible in this world. So why do people choose to deny the power and ability of God today? After hearing this passage today, list the miracles Jesus performed, then the things He taught and then examine what God taught to you. Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

Have you ever considered that Jesus actually pushed the boundaries of life? After hearing this passage today, consider how He might press the world’s boundaries in today’s world. If He would do it, what should we do? Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others. 

Everybody has to make choices, every day of the week! Sometimes we make good choices and sometimes we make bad choices. This podcast today is about choices that a man named Jonah had to make and what happened because of each choice he made. I hope we can make good choices by listening to God and following His will to keep us and others around us going in the right directions. 

There are many ways to develop your prayers and prayer life. How we approach God is often a main factor in how we discover God's voice and learn to listen with a renewed sense of anticipation. This is a form of approach and a stabilizing structure that may assist you as you prepare to hear how God still speaks today.  

Have you ever encountered the power of God in your life? What did it look like? Were you healed as someone prayed for you, or maybe set free from a spiritual power that was reigning over you or maybe you experienced a transformation through forgiveness? After hearing this passage today, ask yourself these 3 questions to engage your thoughts about this passage? 1) “List the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” 2) “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and 3) “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

I always say, “Literary bones must have meat on them.” That’s what Jesus has been doing (in Matthew 5-7). He wraps up the solid meat portion of His teaching meal with the transition word, “THEREFORE”. So we ask ourselves, what’s it there for? Jesus said “everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house in the rock.” Have you been building the house of your life on the solid foundation of Jesus’ teachings? After hearing this passage today, ask yourself these 3 questions to engage your thoughts about this passage? 1) “List the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” 2) “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and 3) “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

It is amazing that Jesus tells us that God will judge us by the way we judge others. It sets a precedent for us to be more gracious like God. How do you break this down into applicable, daily actions? Ask yourself these 3 questions to engage your thoughts about this passage? 1) “List the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” 2) “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and 3) “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

I saw an episode of “Hoarders: Buried Alive” yesterday. It reminded me of this scripture. This is one of my favorite passages in Jesus teaching because I see life beyond today’s situations. At the same time it gives a clear perspective on what I deal with right here and now. Remember, I ask 3 questions at the end of these passages to engage your thoughts about what we have just read? 1) “List the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” 2) “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and 3) “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

What are the issues that dominate your concerns about spiritual life? Is it about giving "your" money, or what about your prayer "life" or giving up things you like such as food by "fasting"? It's interesting what Jesus speaks about when He approaches topics for His teachings. He knows what people are dealing with and what the best practices should be to help direct or even redirect their thoughts in the wisest ways.  Remember, I ask 3 questions at the end of these segments to engage your thoughts about this passage? 1) “List the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” 2) “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and 3) “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” Think, evaluate, celebrate, be motivated, and share God’s truth with others.

In a small group I had some people say about these verses that they are some of the hardest things for them to actually do. So, what will we do with them? Make a plan and see if you can hang onto that plan for God's purposes, not your own! 

AS I read through this Psalm of David today it moved me to pray through it as well.  Join me in this podcast of praise! 

This week's Sermon is about overcoming failure. Many times people find themselves over-committed from a bad financial choice, or drowning in negative results from a plan we conceived, or singing the blues from a relationship that has totally fallen apart. Failure is a regular experience by everyone. It is like a pandemic of pain that crosses everyone's path at some point or another. Maybe you remember your first failure in school, or on a playground, or in a competition, or in a business venture. How we handle the outcome of our apparent failure is what may determine our future successes. When you fall down, Get Up, Brush yourself off and choose a Healthy Habit!

Jesus is beginning to bring the Jewish mindset into alignment with God’s thinking. For so long they have been distracted by so many rules and laws that they had taken their eyes off of why the commandment was given in the first place. Every original commandment was designed to help people connect with God’s heart. When people put their own twist on what God said, it will change the value and meaning of the truth He was conveying. Jesus was “righting the ship” so to speak, or realigning people’s misunderstood perspectives on God’s truth. Have you heard people say things that you knew were not exactly said the way God said it? How will you emerge with the belt of truth tightly wrapped around you to keep your pants from falling to the floor when you stand before God?

I want you to understand the intentionality of my reading content in the coming segments of podcasts. Using the context of Jesus’ specific teachings to all of us in life, I feel stirred to take quality time for us to digest the value that Jesus contributes to our lives. Therefore I will offer, following each reading, a time of reflection for us to think through the dynamics of reality in our world today. I will ask…“What are the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” “What are the things that catch my personal attention when I consider this passage?” and “What has Jesus taught me, to do or be in my life, for God’s best future and glory?” So, each reading will be provided in shorter, manageable segments for us than I have done in previous longer readings as in Job. So let’s step into Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5:1-12…

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a very thoughtful discourse regarding many important things to consider for life. The very impact of God's Son speaking directly to us about faith and life should do more than give us a moment to pause. It should make a marked difference in the way we live.  I will ask for your responses at the end of this reading…“What are the teachings offered by Jesus in this passage?” “What are the things that catch your personal attention when you consider this passage?” and “What has Jesus taught you, to do or be in your life, for God’s best future and glory?” 

In today’s reading, Matthew tells us about the early stages of Jesus’ ministry. Since temptation is a major part of all our lives as humans, Jesus needed to show us the victorious pathway through those troubled waters. He responded to Satan's temptations with appropriate quotes from the Old Testament scriptures, even when the things that were laid out before Him were tantalizing. Click on the link and listen as I read from Matthew 3-4. Follow along in your Bible if you have one there with you today. Afterwards, consider and share if you can how we respond when tempted by what we know is evil or not a part of God’s best for you?