Grace 809

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a duel on Mt. Carmel. He dared them to call on Baal to send fire. From morning to evening they cried. Satan had no response. With the prophets of Baal exhausted and defeated, Elijah “repaired the altar of the Lord” (1 Kings 18:30 NASB).

Twelve stones symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. They saturated the altar with water three times so that everything was soaked. Then Elijah prayed. He didn’t even request fire. But the Lord sent it. A blaze from heaven consumed the water, the rocks, the wood, even the dust. For the first time in three generations, the nation of Israel cried to Jehovah, “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 NASB).

Is it time for our generation to rebuild the altar?

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Prophecy Friday. We’ll read the first seven chapters of Zechariah. I’m calling today’s episode “The Lord Remembers.”  

Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries. Both were called by God after the 70 year exile. Zechariah’s prophecy came two months after Haggai’s first prophecy. Where the prophecies of Haggai had primarily to do with the Temple, Zechariah’s were about the people. The language of Zechariah’s messages were very similar to that of the book of Revelation, with symbolism, types, and visions.

Zechariah, which means “The Lord Remembers”,  is a common name in the Old Testament, and we do not know much about the author of this prophetic book. We do know from the book of Ezra that he was the son of Iddo.

In chapter one, God’s message to the people is, “Return to me, and I will return to you.”

Were you able to see Zechariah’s reference to Jesus in these chapters? 

In chapter 1, verse 11, He is the man who stood among the myrtle trees.

In chapter two, he is the man with a measuring line in his hand. Here, Jesus is going to measure the physical size of Jerusalem, because many are going to be added to the city because those who have been spread abroad like the four winds of heaven are being called back. Because of this, Jerusalem will increase. 

Then a second angel comes to Jesus and tells Him to tell Zechariah that Jerusalem will be like a city without walls because of the multitude of the population of people and livestock. But the people are not to be afraid of having no walls, because God will be their protector, like a wall of fire around them, and His glory will be in their midst.

Beloved, this is a vision of what is to be. God is not just calling the Jews, but anyone who will put their trust in His Son. In verse 11 of chapter two, the Lord says, “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.”

This chapter is a call to all of us to rejoice in God’s plan and His promises.

In chapter 3, Jesus is referred to as the Branch.

We read again of the Branch in chapter 6. There, He is referred to as the Branch, who will build the Temple of the Lord. What temple did Jesus build? The Church. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians

By making a few practical changes, you can reduce stress in your life, quiet the chaos and restore your sanity. Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory share what being overwhelmed feels like for the four main personality types (expressive, analytic, driver, and amiable). They talk about practical ways to organize your schedule, say no, increase your capacity for joy, make time for the Sabbath and create a personal manifesto that states your values to help you make choices in the future.

Receive a copy of the "Overwhelmed" bundle and an audio download of "Practical Help for When You're Overwhelmed" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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On the second day of the D-Day invasion, Leon was taken captive by the Nazis. While being marched to a POW camp, he and another soldier escaped. A farmer found them and put them in touch with the French underground. They took his US credentials and created a French ID card for him.

He made it back to the Allied camp. Yet with no American ID, he was suspected of being a spy. He rolled up his sleeve and said, “Would this prove I’m an American?” It was a tattoo of an eagle, and on its breast was an American flag with the word Mother written across it. That convinced them.

Sound familiar? God says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV). Satan is vicious, but he will not be victorious. Why? Your name is tattooed on God’s hand.

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Poetry Thursday. Ecclesiastes 7-8. I’m calling today’s episode “Trust.”

I think that what we can take from Solomon’s teaching here in Ecclesiastes is that wisdom, money, power and everything else that man strives for does not bring happiness or understanding or peace. Solomon had it all. But at the end of his life he realized that what God does is far beyond man’s understanding. 

Notice that not once has he accused God of being unjust or unfair. He has said that some of the things he has seen are unfair, but he chalks that up to just what happens in this life. And he admits in the last two verses of today’s reading that we just cannot understand it.

Some things we just need to leave in the hands of God. Our human heart doesn’t easily find that conclusion to be very satisfying, but if you don’t want to drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is impossible for our puny, finite minds to grasp, then you really do have to come to grips with that reality. 

We need to trust that God truly does love us. And He does. We need to trust that God truly is holy. And He is. We need to trust that God is just. And He is. We need to trust that on the last day, God will set everything right. And He will. 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7-8 CEV

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Not once has he accused God of being unjust or unfair.

INTRO S12E316 – 0:11
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. This episode is pre-recorded. I don’t know what I was thinking yesterday when I said I’d be back in time to produce this show for you at the regular time,

Kathi Lipp shares how she and her husband have learned to share responsibilities and become better teammates.
Listen today's broadcast
Get today's featured resource "Overwhelmed"
Explore more episode resources
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family Minute, please give us your feedback.

By making a few practical changes, you can reduce stress in your life, quiet the chaos and restore your sanity. Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory share what being overwhelmed feels like for the four main personality types (expressive, analytic, driver, and amiable). They talk about practical ways to organize your schedule, say no, increase your capacity for joy, make time for the Sabbath and create a personal manifesto that states your values to help you make choices in the future.
Receive a copy of the "Overwhelmed" bundle and an audio download of "Practical Help for When You're Overwhelmed" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources 
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

The devil knows your name. He has a wrecking ball with your name on it. As General Eisenhower wrote to US troops on the eve of the great D-Day invasion, “Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.”

But the steadfast soul does not fear Satan. Elijah didn’t. Elijah entered Scriptures talking about the living God. He served and obeyed the living God. He sought the living God. And because he did, the 850+ prophets of Baal meant nothing to him. The equation is never 850 to 1. It is 850 to 1 plus God.

F. B. Meyer said, “God will never fail the man who trusts him utterly….Be sure that you are on God’s plan, then go forward in God’s name.”

Read more Unbreakable Courage

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Transcript

Today is Psalms Wednesday. We’ll read chapters 131-133. I’m calling today’s episode “No Room For Pride.”

Psalm 131 is David’s song in which he declares that pride has no place in his heart.

For someone with as many accomplishments as David had, it can be very difficult not to harbor pride or arrogance. We know from Scripture that David had at least one bout with pride, when he got into trouble with Bathsheba. To be sure, lust was a big part of his sin, but pride was at the root of his fall. He thought that he could get away with his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent sin of the murder of her husband. But the cascading consequences of the first sin reverberated for many years. 

David learned the hard way that pride will inevitably wreak havoc on one’s life, and in this psalm he says that he has learned that it is much better to be content with God, and the blessings He brings to a contrite heart. 

Oh, beloved. Would that we would learn this lesson early in life, instead of spending wasted years in pursuit of glory, riches and power. A heart in pursuit of a vital, dynamic, deep relationship with God will always result in a life infinitely more fulfilled. It will be a life that leaves an eternal legacy. 

But even if we learn the lesson later in life, as David did, we know from this psalm that our heart can find peace with God, despite earlier failures. Coming to Christ, admitting that we need the forgiveness that only He can bring, is but the first step in laying down our pride. From that point on, He begins the work of making us a new person, the person He created us to be. 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 131-133 ESV

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
It can be very difficult not to harbor pride or arrogance.

INTRO