Episode 79
Then Josiah said, "What is this that I see?" The men of the city told him, "It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah. He is the one who said that these things would happen which you have done against the altar of Bethel." Josiah said "Let him alone. Let no one move his bones." II Kings 23:17-18a New Life Version

There are thousands willing to serve in the limelight and glory but how many will labor in the low places with little or no recognition? These are the ones who God honors, those who serve without fanfare or praise.

Episode 78

The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

God sees everything we do. We may cover our eyes and our deeds but we cannot hide from Him.

Episode 77
Now the just shall live by faith: Hebrew 10:38a

Faith is asking God ,believing in our heart that he is able to do every good thing. But it is also listening to him, listening to what he is doing in a given situation.

Eposide 76
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. II King 22:8;10

Confrontation with the Word forces all of us to make a decision, will we ignore it, bury it, discard it and put it out of our minds or will we hear it, allow it to change us and align ourselves with God’s purpose.? The choice is ours.

Episode 75

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 New International Version

Plain clothes civilian that miraculously changes into the superhero when dangers threatens makes for exciting reading or viewing but this is real life and we are the plain clothes Clark Kent. We are more than conquerors.

Episode 74
Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. Judges 16:28a New Living Translation

. Blind, defeated, but with his hair now grown back Samson the prisoner was brought out to be ridiculed. The Philistines rejoiced but Samson‘s heart turned to God once more. He remembered to call on the name of his Father God and God answered.

Episode 73

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:45-48

Unique in all history is the week of Christ’s Crucifixion. The Prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal, the arrests by the solders. The time had come. Jesus prayed to his Father for strength and moved forward knowing what was ahead for him

Episode 72
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. Matthew 27:32 NIV

Simon could no doubt hear the mocking, and see the suffering of the man of sorrows. Simon could feel the quiet, strong spirit of Christ and the comfort Christ tried to give his followers even as he was on the way to his own death. This was no ordinary man.

. Episode 71
So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. Ruth 1:22 NIV

The Lord doesn’t have to alter the past to bring blessings to your future. You are where he knew you would be and if you allow he will guide you to where he wants you.

Episode 70
He was despised and rejected by others, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem Isaiah 53:3 New International Version

People are not always as they appear. Isaiah 53 paints a very real picture of the coming Christ and it is not a pretty one. The prophet speaks not only of the pain of his great personal sacrifice but also of other people’s reaction to the Messiah.

Episode 69

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I I trust you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psalms 143:8 New Living Translation

Like a diamond, love has many facets and features. At the center and the most critical elements are the benevolent affection of God for his children and the reverent affection due from them to God.

Episode 68

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty."John 19:28

It seems a contradiction in terms at best, Good Friday? How can it be good? It was the darkest day in history.

Episode 67

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
John 5:6

Maybe it has always happened this way before but God may be doing a new thing in a new way. Let’s be open to the move of God however he chooses to come.

Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. Deut. 1:8

What has God promised you? Search his word. If you live for Him all the promises of the Book are yours. Read them. Memorize them, own them for the promises are yours to claim and possess.

Episode 65
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut. 6:5

How do we love God? We love him with the entirety of our being. We love God for who he is and what he has done.

Episode 64

The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Deuteronomy 1:6 (New International Version)

. Are you ready to move away from a place of safety to move forward in Christ?

Episode 63
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

At its best love opens us up to the Spirit of God who transforms our own selfish, evil nature into a mirror that reflects the nature and image of God.

Episode 62

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3

Replace fear with hope. Replace doubt with faith. Replace loss with the love of Christ and know that at the time you need Him most the Lord is there with you.

Episode 61.
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Gen.22:13

What is it that you love more than God. Know that he will require it on the altar at the place called, The Lord will provide.

Eposide 60

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Genesis 33:4 NIV

In spite of everything God is still here, turning what was meant for evil into good.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:17-19

A little baby sent to bear the sins of the worlds and wherever the message of Christ’s life, death and resurrection have gone so have gone life changing experiences.

Episode 58
What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation.

Christ can truly make all things new.

Episode 57

That is the faith walk, choosing life, choosing to hold on to the promises of scriptures in the face of every difficulty and problem. It is knowing that we will make our journey and be with the Lord.

Episode 56

In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.
:I Thessalonians 5:18 New Life Version

It is always appropriate to give thanks to God.

Episode 55

So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. Acts 27:25 New Living Translation

There are many who would quickly say they believe in God but the test of our faith is here. Do we believe God? What happens when our faith is challenged?

Episode 54
They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. Acts 14:19b-20a New International Version

Confident of their success in ending Paul life the crowd saw to it that his body was dragged out of the city and left for dead. Then something happened that would be considered unusual for man but commonplace and typical for God.

Episode 53
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Acts 18:23 NIV

Weight training has implications far beyond the development of our physical bodies. What can we learn about the development of our spiritual lives?

Episode 52
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:20

He is there, finally before Jesus and Jesus looks at the man but sees his friends. He saw their faith, their determination, and their commitment and honored it.

Episode 51

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins." Luke 21:1-2

Jesus saw the widow, not just the gift but the giver and the love and the faith she held in her heart. It was a blessing for her to be seen by the Savior. She had his full attention.

Episode 50

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Psalms 63:6

Praise is especially fitting in times of trouble. Praise in good times comes easy. But in time of need, pain and trouble the praise comes not just from the lips but from the heart, out of the soul.

Episode 49

Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way. or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer and the officer throw you into prison. Luke:12: 57-58

A plea bargain can save a life. An out of court settlement can make all the difference. And so Christ asks today, “Why not take an out of court settlement, a plea bargin, and an opportunity to receive the consideration of mercy? ”

Episode 48
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Mark 5:15 New International Version

Our lesson today is about a man and a city that had its entire reality altered by the presence of Jesus. At the center is a most unlikely individual, a man living among the tombs.

Episode 47
But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. I Corinthians 3:13 New Living Translation

Everybody has a song to sing, maybe not the same song, maybe not the same medley, maybe not with the same level of skill but each has a song.

Episode 46

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation... 2Cor 1:4

God leads us to high ground, yes because he loves us but also because we then know the way up. We know how to find God’s hope and comfort. We know that beyond the storm there is a rainbow, a peace and quiet and a Savior who never forsakes us.

Episode 45
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.
I King 17:14

Few of us will be singled out for being famous or rich but each of us can make the step of faith to trust God with our lives just as the widow did.

Episode 44

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal Isaiah 26:3-4

When we stay in him, submerge ourselves in him, wrap ourselves in him he can keep us not only in peace, but perfect peace. He is the shelter in the storm.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Episode 43
The beauty of this life was meant to be shared by family and friends and the sorrows of this life were meant to be made lighter when someone comes beside you to help carry the load. There is nothing like a friend.

Episode 42

The ability to play is a gift. It can teach us basic social skills and sometime just provides a way to “lighten up.” For families it can become the moment that will be remembered 30 or 40 years later with a smile.

And whoever has a desire to be first among you, let him be servant of all. Mark 10:44

Episode 41
To go higher, go lower. To be more like Christ reach out and serve those who are in need, wash the wounds and sores of those who are suffering, speak words of comfort to those who seem ignored by others. Give to those who cannot give back.

Episode 40

It is sometimes hard to imagine but even in the most difficult situations God is at work behind the scenes working things out for our good. Keep your hope and faith. Positive change is on the way.

Episode 39

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Joy in life is discovering a walk with Him who loves us so. Happiness will continue but the gift of salvation will grant the ability to experience joy in His Service regardless to what is going on around us. Look for the perfect moments.

Eposide 38

Dr. John R. Berry was an extraordinary man , a gifted preacher, theologian, teacher and a man of great humility and courage. Today's devotion is a prayer from Dr. Berry for the nation.

Episode 37

The age old question, “Who is my neighbor,?” continues to ring out in contemporary society. Like the young lawyer each person must answer that question for themselves.

Episode 36

Freedom breaks across barriers. It creates bonds and it clarifies our purpose. Freedom in Jesus Christ is the greatest freedom anyone can experience.

Episode 35
Friends can make all the difference. It may not seem like much, a little here and a little there sharing, helping, encouraging, but together we are working to make a difference in the world.

A friend can make all the difference. Find out more this week.

Episode 34

We are all different and yet all the same. God uses our differences to help us appreciate our common humanity and need for each other.

Episode 33

How often do we carry the wounds and scars of our lives long after the events are past? Our painful memories are worn like bitter battle scars. How can we move on when we want to and just can’t?

Episode 32

Remember your dream, the one that was put on hold? If it was a dream sent from God maybe it’s time to give your dream another try. Delays are not always denials.

Episode 31

For some teachers this year will mark the end of a career. In the next few years many in the baby boomers generation will retire. These children of the sixties entered teaching believing in the noble challenge of changing the world through education. Were they successful? Has a teacher made a difference in your life? This week Dr. Johnson encourages listeners to celebrate a teacher

Episode 30
Could you be an actor in a God drama being played out to teach others more faith and trust? Your problems may be the key to someone else’s solution just as it was for the woman who suffered for eighteen years before her deliverance. Listen to this week’s podcast to learn more.