Latest / Abide Meditation App / Christian Sleep Talk Down To Fall Asleep in Minutes [Sleep Meditation With Calm Ocean Wave Music] - Abide Meditation App

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Christian Sleep Talk Down To Fall Asleep in Minutes [Sleep Meditation With Calm Ocean Wave Music] - Abide Meditation App · Abide Meditation App

• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Find rest as you listen to this peaceful bedtime story.
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: For more Bible stories that bring you refreshing sleep, download
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: the Abide app in the iTunes or Google Play store.
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: Good evening, Welcome to another Abide bedtime story.
• 0:42
  Speaker 3: Tonight.
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: I'll share a story on the Beatitudes from the Book
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: of Matthew the fifth chapter. In this well known passage
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: of scripture, Jesus lists eight beatitudes that bring his children
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: peace and joy, eight beatitudes that bring his children blessings.
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: While Jesus wants his children to be happy, he desires
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: us even more to find joy. He's teaching us how
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: to find it. Before we begin, let your eyes gently shut. Relax.
• 1:22
  Speaker 2: The day is over. It's time to rest. Put the
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: troubles of today behind you and look forward to the
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  Speaker 2: blessings of God. Get comfortable. Let your head sink into
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: the soft pillow. Stretch out your legs. Breathe in God's
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: peace and breathe out your worries. You are God's child.
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: He loves you, He is watching over you. Accept his
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: peace and protection as I pray for you. Heavenly Father,
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: thank you for this child of yours. Thank you for
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: their heart for you, Thank you for their desire to
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  Speaker 2: know you more. Thank you for their talents and for
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  Speaker 2: their many gifts. I ask that you will bless this
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: child of yours with your peace, with your presence, with
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: your love. I ask that you will give them peaceful dreams. Father,
• 2:45
  Speaker 2: we know that sleep is a blessing. Thank you for rest.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you for giving us a time to slow down, unwind,
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  Speaker 2: and focus.
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  Speaker 3: On you and your word.
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  Speaker 2: I asked that you will protect them and refresh them
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  Speaker 2: for a new day. It's in Jesus name that I pray.
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  Speaker 3: Amen.
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: Now, imagine you are one of Jesus' disciples. You have
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: been walking from town to town under the hot Galilean sun,
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  Speaker 2: watching him heal the sick and preach the good news.
• 3:31
  Speaker 2: Just the other day, he healed someone with paralysis, then
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: he healed someone with Caesar's then he drove out a demon.
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: You've been a disciple only a short while, but you're
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: astonished at what he has done. No one has ever
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: seen anyone like him. It's like something straight out of
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: the book of Exodus. It's common for a stranger to
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  Speaker 2: approach you and ask is Jesus the Messiah? But as
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  Speaker 2: jesus ministry has grown in popularity, the crowds have grown too,
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  Speaker 2: so much so that hundreds, perhaps thousands often follow him.
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  Speaker 2: People from Galilee, the the capitalists, Jerusalem, Judea, and the
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  Speaker 2: region across the Jordan often crowd around Jesus and around
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  Speaker 2: you two.
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  Speaker 3: Sure it's a blessing, but.
• 4:43
  Speaker 2: Jesus has had very little time alone with you and
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  Speaker 2: the other disciples lately, and now another large crowd is
• 4:50
  Speaker 2: approaching far off in the distance. Then Jesus speaks, Let's
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  Speaker 2: climb this hill to get away from the crowds for
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: a while. He says to you and the others, I
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  Speaker 2: have a few things I have been wanting to tell you.
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: It's a warm day in Galilee, but there is a
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  Speaker 2: cool breeze blowing off the lake below. The light wind
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  Speaker 2: feels great on your skin. As you and the others
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  Speaker 2: follow Jesus up the grassy hill, you take a peek
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  Speaker 2: back at the lake. Two fishermen are casting their net
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  Speaker 2: into the water. Across the lake, two more fishermen are
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  Speaker 2: pushing their small wooden boat into the lake. You fished
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  Speaker 2: at that lake many times. But you're glad you are
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  Speaker 2: with Jesus today. You're glad he asked you to be
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  Speaker 2: with him. You remember what he told you. Come follow me,
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  Speaker 2: and I will send you out to fish for people.
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  Speaker 2: You take in the unique smell of moisture in the air.
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  Speaker 2: You also enjoy the scent of colorful wild flowers below
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  Speaker 2: your feet, white and blue and yellow and red. Then
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  Speaker 2: Jesus stops walking. This looks like a good place to talk.
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  Speaker 2: He says. It's a beautiful scenic spot on the side
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  Speaker 2: of the hill. Several large boulders surround you. The grass
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  Speaker 2: is a lush green, flowers are abundant. Jesus sits down
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  Speaker 2: high above everyone. This will allow you and the others
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  Speaker 2: to hear his voice. You sit down on an area
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  Speaker 2: near him. Jesus surveys the disciples, making sure everyone made
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  Speaker 2: it up the hill. He looks at the others, then
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  Speaker 2: he looks at you, then at the others again. He
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  Speaker 2: begins speaking. Blest are the poor in spirit, for theirs
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  Speaker 2: is the Kingdom of heaven. Blest are those who mourn,
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  Speaker 2: for they will be comforted. Blest are the meek, for
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  Speaker 2: they will inherit the earth. Blest are those who hunger
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  Speaker 2: and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blest
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  Speaker 2: are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blest
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  Speaker 2: are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
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  Speaker 2: Blest are the peace makers, for they will be called
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  Speaker 2: children of God. Bless are those who are persecuted because
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  Speaker 2: of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
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  Speaker 2: are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely
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  Speaker 2: say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
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  Speaker 2: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
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  Speaker 2: For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who
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  Speaker 2: were before you. It's been thirty minutes since Jesus spoke.
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  Speaker 2: He is high on the hill talking alone with Peter.
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  Speaker 2: You and the others are further down the hill talking
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  Speaker 2: to one another. It's a bit windier now, but the
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  Speaker 2: fishermen are still on the lake below. Two of them
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  Speaker 2: are pulling up their net filled with a big catch.
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  Speaker 2: You think back to your fishing days, but mostly you
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  Speaker 2: think back to what Jesus just said. His message was
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  Speaker 2: different than anything you've anne heard. It was countercultural, it
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  Speaker 2: was radical, but it was so so wonderful too. He
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  Speaker 2: promised you mercy, He promised you comfort. He said you
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  Speaker 2: would be called a child of God. He even said
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  Speaker 2: you would inherit the earth and be welcomed into the
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  Speaker 2: Kingdom of Heaven. Blest, he said, are those who are
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  Speaker 2: poor in spirit, those who see themselves fully dependent on
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  Speaker 2: God and not themselves. Blest, he said, are those who
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  Speaker 2: more Blessed he said, are the meek, and those who
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  Speaker 2: hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed he said, are those
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  Speaker 2: who are merciful. Blessed he said, are the peacemakers. He
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  Speaker 2: even said, you would be blessed if you are persecuted.
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  Speaker 2: You and another disciple, Andrew, begin talking. Andrew fears some
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  Speaker 2: disciples may leave Jesus because of his message. You agree
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  Speaker 2: with him, but you and Andrew pledged devotion to Christ.
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  Speaker 2: Then you see Jesus coming your way. He stops and
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  Speaker 2: begins talking to you. You share your thoughts about his
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  Speaker 2: sermon with him. He smiles, looks away for a moment,
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  Speaker 2: and then looks back at you. I will be with you,
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  Speaker 2: he says, I will help you. I will give you
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  Speaker 2: the strength to persevere. Remember I love you. He hugs you.
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  Speaker 2: As Jesus begins walking down the hill, your mind turns
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  Speaker 2: to the words of the Psalmist. It's one of the
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  Speaker 2: passages your family taught you growing up. It comforted you
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  Speaker 2: as a child and as an adult too. Blessed is
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  Speaker 2: the one who does not walk in step with the wicked,
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  Speaker 2: or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit
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  Speaker 2: in the company of bakers, but whose delight is in
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  Speaker 2: the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his
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  Speaker 2: law day and night. That person is like a tree
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  Speaker 2: planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season,
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  Speaker 2: and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers.
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  Speaker 2: Not so the wicked. They are like chaff that the
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  Speaker 2: wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in judgment,
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  Speaker 2: nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the
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  Speaker 2: Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the
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  Speaker 2: way of the wicked leads to instruction. Jesus loves you.
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  Speaker 2: He wants what is best for you. He wants you
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  Speaker 2: to be blessed. He wants you to be filled with joy.
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  Speaker 2: He wants you to have peace. Like a loving shepherd
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  Speaker 2: watching his sheep, The all powerful, all knowing God of
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  Speaker 2: the universe is watching over you right now.
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  Speaker 3: He's right beside you. Take comfort. Let me pray for you.
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  Speaker 2: Dear God, Thank you for this child, Thank you for
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  Speaker 2: this time to relax and meditate on your word. Thank
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  Speaker 2: you for sleep.
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  Speaker 3: Father.
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  Speaker 2: I ask that you will grant them patience and peace.
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  Speaker 2: I ask that you blessed him with wonderful dreams. I
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  Speaker 2: asked that you will give them a great night's sleep
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  Speaker 2: so they will wake up refresh. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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  Speaker 2: Jesus is the good shepherd. You are his sheep. Except
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  Speaker 2: his promises, trust his protection, rest in his presence. Please
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  Speaker 2: take a few moments to make yourself comfortable. Settle your
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  Speaker 2: head on the soft pillow, pull the warm covers around you,
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  Speaker 2: and take a few slow, deep breaths. Invite the Holy
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  Speaker 2: Spirit to be with you. His presence is what we
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  Speaker 2: seek tonight. He is your comforter, your counselor, and your
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  Speaker 2: constant blessing of peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to cover
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  Speaker 2: you and your entire household as you sleep. As Jesus said,
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  Speaker 2: I will ask the Father, and he will give you
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  Speaker 2: another helper that he may be with you forever.
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  Speaker 3: That is the spirit of truth.
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  Speaker 2: When you think of what it means to store up
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  Speaker 2: treasure in heaven, it might feel like an elusive thought,
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  Speaker 2: something that is distant and out of reach. Yet storing
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  Speaker 2: up treasure on earth is something most of us strive
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  Speaker 2: for and spend years of our.
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  Speaker 3: Life trying to achieve.
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  Speaker 2: However, the pressures of building earthly treasures can become overwhelming.
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  Speaker 2: We feel pressured to make more money, get a better job,
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  Speaker 2: and build notable lives. Worries about our jobs, finances, and
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  Speaker 2: the future try to consume us. That's why we need
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  Speaker 2: to hear the promises of God every day and receive
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  Speaker 2: his direction. We need to turn our affections to what
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  Speaker 2: it means to store up treasure in heaven. This will
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  Speaker 2: be our focus tonight, storing up treasures in heaven as
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  Speaker 2: we hear in encouraging words from the scriptures and receive
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  Speaker 2: comfort and knowing that storing up treasure in heaven far
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  Speaker 2: surpasses our bank accounts on earth.
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  Speaker 3: Rest on that statement for a moment.
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  Speaker 2: Storing up treasure in heaven far surpasses our bank accounts
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  Speaker 2: on earth. Before we begin our Bible meditation, please remove
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  Speaker 2: any distractions, get comfortable, pull the soft covers around it,
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  Speaker 2: then simply rest. Allow your breathing to become soft and steady.
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  Speaker 2: Start with a deep breath in and slowly exhale. Feel
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  Speaker 2: your breath falled into a steady cadence of peace.
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  Speaker 3: Let's pray.
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  Speaker 2: Dear God, we invite you here tonight to fill the
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  Speaker 2: room with your presence. We do not take this invitation lightly, Lord,
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  Speaker 2: but instead we humble ourselves as you inhabit this room.
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  Speaker 2: Without you, Oh Lord, we are empty. No amount of money, resources, talent,
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  Speaker 2: or treasure can fill us up. We are nothing without you. Please, Lord,
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  Speaker 2: speak through the dreams of this listener tonight and point
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  Speaker 2: them heavenward in Christ Jesus, beyond the pressures of life.
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  Speaker 2: Lift their thoughts to the highest of heights, the place
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  Speaker 2: where you dwell, Heaven. We commit this sleep meditation to
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  Speaker 2: you and ask for your continued guidance throughout the night.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you Father for being faithful through the night watches
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  Speaker 2: and into the start of a new day. And you
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  Speaker 2: we put our trust, our hope, and our peace in
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  Speaker 2: the precious name of Jesus.
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  Speaker 3: Amen.
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  Speaker 2: Matthew recorded these beloved words of Jesus in Chapter six,
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  Speaker 2: verses nineteen through twenty one. Do not lay up for
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  Speaker 2: yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and
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  Speaker 2: where thieves break in and steal, But lay up for
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  Speaker 2: yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys,
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  Speaker 2: and where thieves do not break in and steal. Where
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  Speaker 2: your treasure is there, your heart will be also. Let
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  Speaker 2: this passage sink deep into your heart, mind, and soul. Tonight,
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  Speaker 2: breathe in slowly and exhale. Feel the presence of the
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  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit in the room. How comforting it is to
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  Speaker 2: be in his presence. Every worry and concern falls away
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  Speaker 2: when God is moving and active in our lives. Remain
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  Speaker 2: in his presence now. Jesus was clear when he said,
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  Speaker 2: do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. This
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  Speaker 2: command is easier said than done. But it is possible,
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  Speaker 2: my friend, For with God all things are possible. Rest
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  Speaker 2: assured in the possibilities that lay before you in Jesus's name,
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  Speaker 2: Breathe deeply of God's guidance as he leads you to
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  Speaker 2: build up treasures in heaven, treasures of love, joy, goodness, kindness,
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  Speaker 2: and peace. For the These holy treasures bring us the
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  Speaker 2: deepest contentment. Feel the contentment God's holiness brings. The love
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  Speaker 2: we have for our family and friends is a beautiful treasure.
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  Speaker 2: The joy we experience in the beauty of God's creation
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  Speaker 2: is a priceless experience. The goodness and kindness that builds
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  Speaker 2: others up is equal to storehouses of treasure. The peace
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  Speaker 2: that God gives us is more precious than silver or gold.
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  Speaker 2: These godly attributes are heavenly treasures we can gather as
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  Speaker 2: often as we want. They are not limited to time, money,
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  Speaker 2: or any earthly pursuit. They are freely given and freely received.
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  Speaker 2: Building up storehouses of treasure in heaven. For where your
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  Speaker 2: treasure is there, your heart may be. Also Align your
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  Speaker 2: heart with God's heart. Tonight, let your heart cry be
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  Speaker 2: that of David's. From Psalm fifty one, verse ten. Create
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  Speaker 2: in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a
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  Speaker 2: steadfast spirit within me. Purity of heart, a steadfast spirit,
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  Speaker 2: treasures in heaven. Allow these to be your heart's petition
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  Speaker 2: before God tonight. Release all earthly affections from money and increase.
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  Speaker 2: For the steps of a man are established by the Lord.
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  Speaker 2: When he delights in his way. You are established in God.
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  Speaker 2: Remain in the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. He delights
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  Speaker 2: in you when you abide in Him. Abide in the
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  Speaker 2: true vine. Your steps are guided by a loving father.
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  Speaker 2: Hear his voice say this is the way, walk in it,
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  Speaker 2: delight in the place in which the Lord has established you. Tonight,
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  Speaker 2: Heavenly Father, you are our delight and a world that
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  Speaker 2: is full of quick fixes and instant gratifications, You are
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  Speaker 2: our constant source of joy. Please remind us of this
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  Speaker 2: when we strive to store treasures on earth, make more money,
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  Speaker 2: and fill our lives with superficial peace. Remind us that
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  Speaker 2: where our treasure is there, our heart is also. Forgive us,
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  Speaker 2: Lord for seeking other ways to bring happiness. Show us
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  Speaker 2: what it means to have true joy, the joy that
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  Speaker 2: comes from the fruit of your spirit. Please, Lord, cover
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  Speaker 2: this beloved child with the assurance that you are their
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  Speaker 2: peace and provision. They can fully depend on you and
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  Speaker 2: Jesus' name. Amen in your job, you can depend on
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  Speaker 2: Jesus in your relationships. You can depend on Jesus in
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  Speaker 2: your home. You can depend on Jesus. Rust deeply in
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  Speaker 2: your dependency on him. Tonight, do not lay up for
• 23:34
  Speaker 2: yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys,
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: and where thieves do not break in. And steal, for
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  Speaker 2: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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  Speaker 2: It was the Reverend Billy Graham who once wrote, in
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  Speaker 2: the midst of sorrow and trouble, this life has many
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  Speaker 2: blessings and enjoyments which have come from the hand of God.
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  Speaker 2: Even our capacity for love is a gift from God.
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  Speaker 2: We show our gratitude by giving back to him a
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  Speaker 2: part of that which He.
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  Speaker 3: Has given to us.
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  Speaker 2: Blessings, enjoyment, and even our capacity for love are God's
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  Speaker 2: gifts to us. His gifts are so lavish, there is
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  Speaker 2: plenty to share. We can give back to Him that
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  Speaker 2: we can pass the blessing on to others. From his
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  Speaker 2: overflow of love, you extend that love to others. From
• 24:49
  Speaker 2: his extraordinary peace, you can display that peace in your
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  Speaker 2: home and workplace. From his abundant joy, you can radiate
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  Speaker 2: joy to everyone around you. These are the beautiful treasures
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  Speaker 2: you build in heaven. Feel joy in the abundance of
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  Speaker 2: your heavenly treasures. Now, there's an old song titled There's
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  Speaker 2: a Treasure in Heaven. A portion of the lyrics go
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  Speaker 2: like this, There's a treasure in Heaven, faithfully kept in
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  Speaker 2: God's care. Bridges beyond measure silver and gold can't compare.
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  Speaker 2: Saints will be there to join us in a joyful reunion.
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  Speaker 2: We'll see there's a treasure in heaven waiting there for me.
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  Speaker 2: Holy God, creator of heaven and Earth, Please cover this
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  Speaker 2: beloved child with peace. Lead them from one pleasant dream
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  Speaker 2: to another, dreams of heavenly treasures. Overflow them with your
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  Speaker 2: loving kindness, your goodness, and your faithful provision. For in
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  Speaker 2: you we have everything we need. Bless this listener, Lord,
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  Speaker 2: Bless them, keep them and guard them. Show them the
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  Speaker 2: abundant blessings found in you. Whisper the truth in their ear,
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  Speaker 2: and say to them, this is the way you should go.
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  Speaker 2: We trust you, Lord, above all earthly gain. We want
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  Speaker 2: to build beautiful treasures in heaven. We want our lives
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  Speaker 2: to fill heavenly storehouses with overflowing treasures of love, joy, goodness,
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  Speaker 2: and kindness. For your word says against such things, there
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  Speaker 2: is no law.
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  Speaker 3: We love you, Lord.
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  Speaker 2: We look to you to provide just what we need
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  Speaker 2: for life and for eternity. Thank you, Praise you for
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  Speaker 2: being our ultimate treasure in heaven, our light, and our salvation.
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  Speaker 2: It is in the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen,
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  Speaker 2: instead of your mind being filled with anxiety, you will
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  Speaker 2: be encouraged to think about the things that are true
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  Speaker 2: and lovely, honorable and pure, excellent and worthy of praise.
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  Speaker 2: Let God speak to your heart as you hear his word,
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  Speaker 2: So settle deeply into your bed. Let your head rest
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  Speaker 2: heavily on your pillow as you relax every muscle in
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  Speaker 2: your body. Take a deep, slow breath, Hold it for
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  Speaker 2: a moment, and then release it. Feeling the tension of
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  Speaker 2: your day fade away. Feel the comfort of your warm covers,
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  Speaker 2: the peacefulness of this moment. Don't let in any distractions,
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  Speaker 2: Tell them to go away. This is your time to
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  Speaker 2: be with the Lord as he guides you into deep
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  Speaker 2: sleep without worry or concern. Keep breathing deeply and slowly
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  Speaker 2: as you listen, letting your body ease into sleep. Father God,
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  Speaker 2: I bring this child of yours before you to day
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  Speaker 2: and ask you for your favor. I already know that
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  Speaker 2: you love them deeply, and I ask that you would
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  Speaker 2: give them that assurance as well.
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  Speaker 3: I pray that as they sleep, their.
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  Speaker 2: Dreams would be of those things that are honorable and
• 28:44
  Speaker 2: lovely and worthy of praise. Keep away all distractions, concerns
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: and stresses, so that they can rest peacefully. May the
• 28:57
  Speaker 2: sound of my voice telling them of the wonders of
• 29:00
  Speaker 2: you and your world lull them quickly into sleep that
• 29:05
  Speaker 2: lasts the whole night through and is refreshing and rejuvenating.
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: I ask these things knowing that your desire is for
• 29:13
  Speaker 2: them to live abundantly in you. It's in the name
• 29:18
  Speaker 2: of Jesus that I pray, Amen, Your purpose on this
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: earth is to enjoy God and to serve Him forever,
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: to dwell on his excellent greatness, to fill your mind
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: in heart with His word. Anything else you are given
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: to do will be fueled by these things. Philippians, chapter four,
• 29:45
  Speaker 2: verse eight. In the Amplified Bible says, Finally, believers, whatever
• 29:51
  Speaker 2: is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever
• 29:57
  Speaker 2: is right and confirmed by God's word, whatever is pure
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is
• 30:08
  Speaker 2: admirable and of good repute. If there is any excellence,
• 30:14
  Speaker 2: if there is anything worthy of praise, Think continually on
• 30:18
  Speaker 2: these things. Center your mind on them, and implant them
• 30:23
  Speaker 2: in your heart. Your time to night will be spent
• 30:27
  Speaker 2: letting your mind dwell on these things.
• 30:34
  Speaker 3: First, here are.
• 30:35
  Speaker 2: Some things that are true told by the scriptures Romans
• 30:41
  Speaker 2: chapter eight, verse twenty eight. And we know that for
• 30:45
  Speaker 2: those who love God, all things work together for good.
• 30:49
  Speaker 2: For those who are called according to His purpose all things.
• 30:56
  Speaker 2: That's a promise. God will work all all things together
• 31:01
  Speaker 2: for good. First John chapter one, verse nine. If we
• 31:09
  Speaker 2: confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
• 31:13
  Speaker 2: us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• 31:21
  Speaker 2: Faithful and just. That's who God is. If he says
• 31:27
  Speaker 2: he will do something, you can be sure that he
• 31:30
  Speaker 2: will do it. If you have confessed your sins, you
• 31:33
  Speaker 2: are cleansed from all unrighteousness. John three, verse sixteen. For
• 31:42
  Speaker 2: God so loved the world that he gave his only son,
• 31:47
  Speaker 2: that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have
• 31:50
  Speaker 2: eternal life. Oh beloved, rest in that truth. He loves
• 31:59
  Speaker 2: you so much. Lord God, your word is trustworthy. Let
• 32:08
  Speaker 2: this precious child dwell on these things as they sleep tonight.
• 32:12
  Speaker 2: Write them on their heart. Bind your truths to them
• 32:17
  Speaker 2: so they live, and breathe them day in and day out.
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: Let them hear only words of truth. Your word is truth. Amen.
• 32:30
  Speaker 2: Now let those things that are honorable dwell in your mind.
• 32:36
  Speaker 2: Let's turn to the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew
• 32:39
  Speaker 2: chapter five to see behavior that is honorable to God.
• 32:46
  Speaker 2: Jesus said, you have heard that it was said an
• 32:50
  Speaker 2: i for an eye, and a tooth for tooth. But
• 32:54
  Speaker 2: I say to you, do not resist the one who
• 32:57
  Speaker 2: is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek,
• 33:01
  Speaker 2: turn to him the other also. And if anyone would
• 33:05
  Speaker 2: sue you and take your tunic, let him have your
• 33:08
  Speaker 2: cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go
• 33:12
  Speaker 2: one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the
• 33:16
  Speaker 2: one who begs from you, and do not refuse the
• 33:20
  Speaker 2: one who would borrow from you. You have heard that
• 33:25
  Speaker 2: it was said you shall love your neighbor and hate
• 33:28
  Speaker 2: your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies,
• 33:33
  Speaker 2: and pray for those who persecute you, so that you
• 33:37
  Speaker 2: may be sons of your father, who is in heaven.
• 33:41
  Speaker 2: For he makes his son rise on the evil and
• 33:44
  Speaker 2: on the good, and sends rain on the just and
• 33:48
  Speaker 2: on the unjust. For if you love those who love you,
• 33:52
  Speaker 2: what reward do you have. Do not even the tax
• 33:56
  Speaker 2: collectors do the same. And if you greet only your brothers,
• 34:01
  Speaker 2: what more are you doing than others? Do not even
• 34:04
  Speaker 2: the gentiles do the same. Let these honorable things dwell
• 34:13
  Speaker 2: in your thoughts. Jesus, you don't ask us to do
• 34:18
  Speaker 2: anything that you don't, then enable us to do so.
• 34:22
  Speaker 2: As this child of yours thinks about doing honorable things,
• 34:27
  Speaker 2: help them to know that they are not doing them
• 34:29
  Speaker 2: alone in their own strength, but by the power and
• 34:33
  Speaker 2: might of your Holy Spirit dwelling within them. And we
• 34:38
  Speaker 2: will thank you and praise you for that power.
• 34:42
  Speaker 3: In your name.
• 34:43
  Speaker 2: Amen, Let your mind dwell on that which is just.
• 34:53
  Speaker 2: Deuteronomy ten, verse eighteen. He executes justice for the fatherless
• 34:59
  Speaker 2: and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food
• 35:03
  Speaker 2: and clothing, and Chapter thirty two, verse four of that
• 35:10
  Speaker 2: same book the Rock. His work is perfect, for all
• 35:15
  Speaker 2: his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity.
• 35:21
  Speaker 2: Just and upright is he give justice to the weak
• 35:28
  Speaker 2: and the fatherless, maintain the right of the afflicted and
• 35:32
  Speaker 2: the destitute.
• 35:36
  Speaker 3: God is a.
• 35:36
  Speaker 2: God of justice, it is in his very nature to
• 35:40
  Speaker 2: be just. Let your mind dwell on these things, Lord God,
• 35:47
  Speaker 2: thank you for your justice, that we can always know
• 35:51
  Speaker 2: that you will do the right thing. Whether we see
• 35:55
  Speaker 2: it to day or years from to day. We can
• 35:58
  Speaker 2: trust that you will follow through on your word. Help
• 36:02
  Speaker 2: this child of yours tonight as they dwell on your justice,
• 36:07
  Speaker 2: Give them hope and courage in the name of Jesus.
• 36:10
  Speaker 3: Amen.
• 36:15
  Speaker 2: Think about those things that are pure. Psalm twelve, verse
• 36:20
  Speaker 2: six is a perfect place to start. The words of
• 36:25
  Speaker 2: the Lord are pure, words like silver refined in a
• 36:29
  Speaker 2: furnace on the ground, purified seven times. Let the words
• 36:35
  Speaker 2: of God fill your dreams as you hear him speak
• 36:38
  Speaker 2: to you. His words are pure Psalm nineteen, verse eight.
• 36:47
  Speaker 2: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.
• 36:52
  Speaker 2: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
• 37:00
  Speaker 2: on Timothy chapter one, verse five. The aim of our
• 37:04
  Speaker 2: charge is love that issues from a pure heart and
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: a good conscience and a sincere faith. When the Temple
• 37:15
  Speaker 2: of God was being built, everything was to be made
• 37:18
  Speaker 2: of those things that were pure. There were to be
• 37:22
  Speaker 2: no impurities in the temple. Now you are the Temple
• 37:27
  Speaker 2: of God. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. Dwell on
• 37:32
  Speaker 2: the Lord, and keep your heart pure. Holy Lord, there
• 37:39
  Speaker 2: is nothing pure aside from you. So I pray that
• 37:43
  Speaker 2: His beloved child listening tonight will guard their heart from
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: all impurities as they dwell on your word that is true,
• 37:51
  Speaker 2: just and pure. Thank you for promising them your strength
• 37:57
  Speaker 2: in the name of Jesus. I pray, Amen, here is
• 38:04
  Speaker 2: what God considers lovely, that you should dwell on it.
• 38:08
  Speaker 2: Psalm four, verse one. How lovely is your dwelling place, O,
• 38:14
  Speaker 2: Lord of Hosts Isaiah chapter fifty two, verse seven. How
• 38:20
  Speaker 2: lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who
• 38:23
  Speaker 2: brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news
• 38:27
  Speaker 2: of happiness, who announces salvation and says to Zion, your
• 38:34
  Speaker 2: God reigns. Maybe you've thought about the fact that the
• 38:41
  Speaker 2: feet of those who bring the news of Jesus are lovely,
• 38:45
  Speaker 2: but they are dwell on those messengers, on those who
• 38:50
  Speaker 2: proclaim the Messiah the savior of the world. Jesus, you
• 38:57
  Speaker 2: are the Messiah. You are the savior of the world,
• 39:01
  Speaker 2: and those who would speak about you to others are
• 39:04
  Speaker 2: lovely to dwell on. I pray that this precious one
• 39:08
  Speaker 2: listening to night will be one who has the lovely
• 39:11
  Speaker 2: feet of a messenger of your gospel. Grant them peace
• 39:15
  Speaker 2: as they dwell on the loveliness of your dwelling, and
• 39:18
  Speaker 2: the telling of the good news in your name Amen.
• 39:25
  Speaker 2: In the New Testament, their early church fathers were directed
• 39:29
  Speaker 2: to appoint people who had good reputations. They were devoted
• 39:34
  Speaker 2: to the Lord and to their families. They were ones
• 39:37
  Speaker 2: who were worthy of being looked up to. They would
• 39:40
  Speaker 2: fulfill their duties in the church well. Proverbs twenty two,
• 39:47
  Speaker 2: verse one says, a good name is to be chosen
• 39:51
  Speaker 2: rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver
• 39:56
  Speaker 2: or gold. First Timothy, chapter five, verses nine through ten
• 40:05
  Speaker 2: describes a widow who could be given help by the church.
• 40:09
  Speaker 2: It says, let a widow be enrolled if she is
• 40:12
  Speaker 2: not less than sixty years of age, having been the
• 40:16
  Speaker 2: wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works,
• 40:20
  Speaker 2: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has
• 40:25
  Speaker 2: watched the feet of the saints, as care for the afflicted,
• 40:30
  Speaker 2: and has devoted herself to every good work. Let your
• 40:34
  Speaker 2: mind dwell on what it's like to know a person
• 40:36
  Speaker 2: such as this loves to serve others, is suspitable, cares
• 40:42
  Speaker 2: for the afflicted. Let the peace such a person brings
• 40:46
  Speaker 2: envelop your heart. Father, We praise you for your gifts
• 40:54
  Speaker 2: that allow us to serve others and to serve you.
• 40:58
  Speaker 2: I ask your blessing on this beloved child as they
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: sleep tonight, that you would bring to their mind that
• 41:06
  Speaker 2: which is of good repute, that they would dwell on that,
• 41:09
  Speaker 2: and not on those who do not honor you. It's
• 41:13
  Speaker 2: all for the sake of Jesus. Amen, here is what
• 41:20
  Speaker 2: is excellent and should fill your thoughts. Psalm one fifty,
• 41:25
  Speaker 2: verse two. Praise him for his mighty deeds. Praise him
• 41:30
  Speaker 2: according to his excellent greatness. Titus three, verse eight. The
• 41:39
  Speaker 2: saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on
• 41:43
  Speaker 2: these things, so that those who have believed in God
• 41:46
  Speaker 2: may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These
• 41:51
  Speaker 2: things are excellent and profitable for people. Hebrews Chapter eight,
• 41:58
  Speaker 2: verse six. But as it is, Christ has obtained a
• 42:03
  Speaker 2: ministry that is as much more excellent than the old
• 42:06
  Speaker 2: as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is
• 42:10
  Speaker 2: enacted on better promises, excellent greatness, excellent works, a more
• 42:19
  Speaker 2: excellent covenant. Think upon these things, Dear heavenly Father. There
• 42:29
  Speaker 2: is so much excellence in your name and your character
• 42:33
  Speaker 2: and your mighty works. Help this loved one tonight to
• 42:37
  Speaker 2: dwell on the excellent greatness of your name and the
• 42:41
  Speaker 2: excellent ministry of our Lord Jesus. Is they rest in
• 42:45
  Speaker 2: you tonight. It's in the matchless name of Jesus that
• 42:49
  Speaker 2: we pray.
• 42:51
  Speaker 3: Amen.
• 42:55
  Speaker 2: And now we will close with the words of Revelation
• 42:58
  Speaker 2: Chapter five, verse eleven through thirteen, which tells us why
• 43:03
  Speaker 2: the Lord Jesus above all else is worthy of praise.
• 43:09
  Speaker 2: Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and
• 43:13
  Speaker 2: the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels,
• 43:17
  Speaker 2: numbering myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with
• 43:23
  Speaker 2: a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb who was slain
• 43:28
  Speaker 2: to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and
• 43:32
  Speaker 2: honor and glory and blessing. And I heard every creature
• 43:37
  Speaker 2: in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and
• 43:41
  Speaker 2: in the sea, and all that is in them, Say
• 43:45
  Speaker 2: to him who sits on the throne and to the lamp,
• 43:48
  Speaker 2: be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.
• 43:54
  Speaker 2: Amen and Amen. Sleep in peace, dear one, dwelling on
• 44:01
  Speaker 2: the things of God. While you drift off to sleep,
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: you will explore the treasures of His good instruction for
• 44:11
  Speaker 2: our lives to day, growing in the richness and depth
• 44:15
  Speaker 2: of the wisdom and knowledge of Him. His word is
• 44:20
  Speaker 2: sweeter than honey and more precious than gold. Before we begin,
• 44:29
  Speaker 2: close your eyes, relax your shoulders, and pause the distractions.
• 44:36
  Speaker 2: There is nothing to fear. This is your time to
• 44:41
  Speaker 2: be with the Lord. Breathe calmly and deeply.
• 44:49
  Speaker 3: In peace. Lie down and.
• 44:51
  Speaker 2: Sleep because the Lord will give you his safety. He
• 44:57
  Speaker 2: will protect you in his unfailing love. As you find
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: a comfortable position and prepare for sleep, Thank God for
• 45:08
  Speaker 2: his continued protection in your life. Stretch out your muscles,
• 45:16
  Speaker 2: beginning at the souls of your feet, let his relaxing
• 45:22
  Speaker 2: presence fill up to the crown of your head. Calm
• 45:28
  Speaker 2: your heart. You are resting in God's loving arms. This
• 45:36
  Speaker 2: is your time to dwell under His wings. Beloved, you
• 45:42
  Speaker 2: are in a good place, a beautiful place. Let me
• 45:50
  Speaker 2: pray for you. Praised are you, o?
• 45:55
  Speaker 3: Lord?
• 45:57
  Speaker 2: Teach us your statutes with our lips. We declare all
• 46:03
  Speaker 2: the rules of your mouth. Thank You for your precious,
• 46:08
  Speaker 2: abundant word. I pray that your child will rest. I
• 46:17
  Speaker 2: also pray that all the lists, duties and tasks of
• 46:21
  Speaker 2: the day will fall away, no more toil, no more busyness.
• 46:30
  Speaker 2: Keep them in perfect peace because their mind is steady
• 46:35
  Speaker 2: on you. I pray this in the wonderful name of Jesus,
• 46:43
  Speaker 2: your Son, our Savior, and my Lord in Now, take
• 46:56
  Speaker 2: a deep, slow cleansing breath, rest as you sink into
• 47:02
  Speaker 2: your mattress, Pull up the covers, and quiet your mind
• 47:10
  Speaker 2: before God. As we begin this story or tree of Life,
• 47:20
  Speaker 2: let's wander back to serenity, the place where life began,
• 47:27
  Speaker 2: the garden of Egle. Let your mind drift away. As
• 47:33
  Speaker 2: you lie under a huge, luxurious green tree. You hear
• 47:39
  Speaker 2: the soft roar of a river near by. The birds
• 47:44
  Speaker 2: chirp sweetly, The warm and sweet summer wind blows gently.
• 47:52
  Speaker 2: Stillness and quietness at its finest. As you find the
• 47:57
  Speaker 2: utmost rest and pleasure for your soul, Genesis tells us.
• 48:05
  Speaker 2: And out of the ground, the Lord God made to
• 48:09
  Speaker 2: spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight
• 48:14
  Speaker 2: and good for food. The tree of Life was in
• 48:19
  Speaker 2: the midst of the garden. Picture yourself there in the
• 48:27
  Speaker 2: middle of a lush, graceful green garden. In front of you,
• 48:34
  Speaker 2: there is a tree that has every fruit growing in
• 48:37
  Speaker 2: it that you can imagine shiny red crisp apples, round,
• 48:44
  Speaker 2: plump purple pomegranates, beautiful bright yellow bananas, orange tanging mandarins.
• 48:57
  Speaker 2: The fruit of this tree is like what we are
• 48:59
  Speaker 2: to cultivate in the spirit love, joy, inner peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness,
• 49:23
  Speaker 2: and self control. You spend a moment gazing at this
• 49:29
  Speaker 2: beautiful sight, breathing in Abbah and breathing out I belong
• 49:38
  Speaker 2: to you. Breathe in God's grace, Breathe out your worries.
• 49:50
  Speaker 2: Take a look at the bright green leaves of the tree.
• 49:55
  Speaker 2: They are greener than any gardener could cultivate in the field.
• 50:01
  Speaker 2: You recall the vivid imagery in Scripture. I saw the
• 50:07
  Speaker 2: tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding
• 50:12
  Speaker 2: its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were
• 50:17
  Speaker 2: for the healing of the nations. You take your Bible
• 50:22
  Speaker 2: out and turn to the first psalm you read, and
• 50:27
  Speaker 2: hold on to these precious words. Blessed is the man
• 50:33
  Speaker 2: whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and
• 50:37
  Speaker 2: on his law he meditates day and night. He is
• 50:43
  Speaker 2: like a tree planted by streams of water that yields
• 50:48
  Speaker 2: its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.
• 50:55
  Speaker 2: In all that he does, he prospers. You smile in
• 51:03
  Speaker 2: the summer sun, knowing that God takes total.
• 51:08
  Speaker 3: Delight in you. As you rejoice in his word.
• 51:14
  Speaker 2: Your heart is so full as you continue to bask
• 51:17
  Speaker 2: in his tangible presence. While you contemplate these words, you
• 51:26
  Speaker 2: walk slowly into the flowing stream nearby. The Word of
• 51:32
  Speaker 2: God nourishes your soul, and Jesus' living word causes you
• 51:40
  Speaker 2: to be in a posture of thanks. Arriving at the
• 51:46
  Speaker 2: small brook, you remember another promise. See how glorious a
• 51:54
  Speaker 2: love the Father has given us, that we should be
• 51:59
  Speaker 2: called God's children. God, I pray that throughout the night
• 52:06
  Speaker 2: you would restore identity, that this listener would embrace the
• 52:12
  Speaker 2: role of son or daughter, as your words so clearly says.
• 52:17
  Speaker 3: We are.
• 52:20
  Speaker 2: Cause everything that your beloved does to prosper. I pray that,
• 52:28
  Speaker 2: as they are warm in their comfortable blankets, that you
• 52:33
  Speaker 2: would bless them and keep them. Let them be renewed
• 52:38
  Speaker 2: by the watering of your word.
• 52:42
  Speaker 3: In Jesus' name. Amen.
• 52:48
  Speaker 2: Amid the summer heat, you generally splash some water on
• 52:53
  Speaker 2: your face. It feels refreshing. You continue to walk in
• 53:01
  Speaker 2: the garden after feeling was stored by the stream. After
• 53:09
  Speaker 2: going about the gorgeous green hills, you notice that the
• 53:14
  Speaker 2: sun is slowly sinking. Then you turn and realize that
• 53:20
  Speaker 2: God is with you in the midst of.
• 53:23
  Speaker 3: The cool of the day.
• 53:29
  Speaker 2: He says to you, don't be afraid, child, My grace
• 53:36
  Speaker 2: is enough for you. Even in your weakness. You are
• 53:41
  Speaker 2: made strong by my power. Your heart is overwhelmed with joy.
• 53:50
  Speaker 2: As Adam and Eve walked in the garden, so are
• 53:54
  Speaker 2: you walking with him in the gentle coolness of the day.
• 54:02
  Speaker 2: You think to yourself, Lord, I'm unworthy to be here
• 54:08
  Speaker 2: with you. As John was worthy to untie your sandals,
• 54:15
  Speaker 2: I'm unworthy to be next to you, He says. Calm
• 54:21
  Speaker 2: your mind, for I am the Lord, your healer. You
• 54:27
  Speaker 2: have nothing to fear. As you are walking with God.
• 54:36
  Speaker 2: He continues to open your mind to understand the scriptures.
• 54:43
  Speaker 2: He says to you, My word is a tree of
• 54:46
  Speaker 2: life to those who lay hold of her. Those who
• 54:51
  Speaker 2: hold her fast are called blessed. Long life is in
• 54:56
  Speaker 2: its right hand, and in its life left are riches
• 55:01
  Speaker 2: and honor. You continue breathing slowly and deeply as God
• 55:12
  Speaker 2: directs you around the garden. As the sun slowly sets.
• 55:18
  Speaker 2: You ask, how can a young person stay pure? He answers,
• 55:26
  Speaker 2: by obeying my word.
• 55:29
  Speaker 3: Trust in me.
• 55:31
  Speaker 2: My word will not return void. My word sets free
• 55:37
  Speaker 2: those who are in bondage, those who are brought low.
• 55:42
  Speaker 2: It is the very lifeblood of this garden. You look
• 55:50
  Speaker 2: into the picturesque sunset, thinking about what God has led
• 55:56
  Speaker 2: you through. He says to you, be still and know
• 56:02
  Speaker 2: that I am God. I am the only one exalted
• 56:06
  Speaker 2: in the earth. He is who he says he is,
• 56:15
  Speaker 2: and you are overcome with deep joy.
• 56:21
  Speaker 3: Breathe it. Be still. Breathe thou and know. Friend.
• 56:33
  Speaker 2: Here's some of these promises that God provided for Israel.
• 56:38
  Speaker 2: If he can do it for them thousands of years ago,
• 56:42
  Speaker 2: he can provide for you. For I know the plans
• 56:48
  Speaker 2: I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans
• 56:53
  Speaker 2: for good and not for disaster, to give you a
• 56:57
  Speaker 2: future and a hope in those days when you pray.
• 57:03
  Speaker 2: I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you
• 57:09
  Speaker 2: will find me. I will be found by you, says
• 57:14
  Speaker 2: the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.
• 57:22
  Speaker 2: I will gather you out of the nations where I
• 57:24
  Speaker 2: sent you, and will bring you home again to your
• 57:29
  Speaker 2: own land. Beloved, rest in God's powerful word. His character
• 57:42
  Speaker 2: shines through his innermost thoughts are revealed in it. He
• 57:49
  Speaker 2: will give you a future and a hope, as he
• 57:51
  Speaker 2: did to those of old. Let me pray praised aur you,
• 58:02
  Speaker 2: O Lord, teach us your statutes. With our lips. We
• 58:09
  Speaker 2: declare all the rules of your mouth. Thank you for
• 58:13
  Speaker 2: your precious, abundant word. May your beloved rest confidently in
• 58:20
  Speaker 2: your promises. Keep them in perfect peace because their mind
• 58:27
  Speaker 2: is steady on you. I pray this in the wonderful
• 58:34
  Speaker 2: name of Jesus, your Son, our Savior, and my Lord.
• 58:42
  Speaker 3: Amen. Rest well, dear one.
• 58:51
  Speaker 2: Tonight, I'm going to read to you from the prophet Isaiah.
• 58:55
  Speaker 2: When Isaiah first spoke these words, he was speaking to
• 58:59
  Speaker 2: God people that a particularly difficult moment. They needed hope.
• 59:05
  Speaker 2: They were hurt and confused. They had seen their homes
• 59:10
  Speaker 2: and their land destroyed, and they wondered if they would
• 59:14
  Speaker 2: ever again have a safe, peaceful home, a home that
• 59:19
  Speaker 2: would endure. In Isaiah twenty five and twenty six, Isaiah
• 59:26
  Speaker 2: sees a vision of cosmic peace, a future in which
• 59:31
  Speaker 2: God restores the whole world and brings his peace, his
• 59:35
  Speaker 2: shall own to earth. Tonight, we'll let Isaiah's peaceful vision
• 59:42
  Speaker 2: guide us into deep, refreshing, restorative rest as we imagine
• 59:48
  Speaker 2: what our forever home might be like. But before we begin,
• 59:53
  Speaker 2: take a moment to get cozy. Adjust the lights, stretch out,
• 59:58
  Speaker 2: or curl up, and let the day's worries or thoughts
• 1:00:02
  Speaker 2: of work still to be done, drift away. Get your
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 2: blankets just right, and let your heads sink softly into
• 1:00:11
  Speaker 2: your pillow. The Lord your Gode is with you and
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 2: promises to watch over you as you sleep tonight. As
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 2: you lay in comfort, take a few moments to relax
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 2: each part of your body.
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 3: Begin with your feet.
• 1:00:29
  Speaker 2: Focus on each toe, softening and relaxing as you slow
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 2: your breath. Then focus your attention on your ankles and calves.
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 3: Knees, and thighs.
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 2: Slowly move your attention up your body, relaxing each part
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 2: one at a time and breathing deeply until all your
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 2: muscles are loose and warm. If you're stressed, release your
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 2: stressed to God. If you're worried, let those worries go.
• 1:01:36
  Speaker 2: Bring your thoughts and your feelings to God, whatever they
• 1:01:41
  Speaker 2: are God can hold them. Breathe in God's peace and
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 2: breathe out your worries. God is with you now. God
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 2: is watching over you. God is preparing a place for you,
• 1:02:01
  Speaker 2: a home where everything will be made right for right
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 2: now you can lie down and sleep in peace. Let's pray,
• 1:02:15
  Speaker 2: Heavenly Father, we praise your name. Your loving kindness is
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 2: from generation to generation, and your mercies are new every morning,
• 1:02:28
  Speaker 2: even when things seem dark or difficult. You are with us,
• 1:02:37
  Speaker 2: and you are with your child now as they rest.
• 1:02:41
  Speaker 2: Thank you for the good plans you have for them.
• 1:02:45
  Speaker 2: Thank you for the good plans you have for all
• 1:02:47
  Speaker 2: your people. Thank you for promising new heavens and a
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 2: new earth where your love will reign forever, and we
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 2: will all find a home that will endure tonight. Please
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 2: bless this child with the gift of sleep. Free your
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 2: child from any worries, stresses, or anxieties. Calm their nerves
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 2: and heart, and quiet their body. And as I read
• 1:03:17
  Speaker 2: these words from Isaiah twenty five and twenty six, let
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 2: the words of the prophet guide them into a deeper
• 1:03:24
  Speaker 2: sense of your promise of hope and peace and a
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 2: forever home. Relax, Let your breathing grow slow and steady
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 2: as I read from Isaiah chapter twenty five. Oh Lord,
• 1:03:43
  Speaker 2: I will honor and praise your name, for you are
• 1:03:46
  Speaker 2: my God. You do such wonderful things. You plan them
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 2: long ago, and now you have accomplished them. You are
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 2: a tower of refuge to the poor, the Lord, a
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 2: tower of refuge to the needy and distress. You are
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 2: a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 2: For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a
• 1:04:14
  Speaker 2: storm beating against a wall, or like the relentless heat
• 1:04:18
  Speaker 2: of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 2: nations as the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat.
• 1:04:27
  Speaker 2: So the boastful songs of ruthless people are still God,
• 1:04:34
  Speaker 2: who praise you for the glorious things.
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 3: You have done.
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 2: You will not let oppression and injustice win the day. Instead,
• 1:04:42
  Speaker 2: you bring freedom and justice for all those who trust
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 2: in you. Your eye is on the sparrow. You care
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 2: for the smallest and weakest among us. Be a refuge
• 1:04:54
  Speaker 2: for this child tonight, shelter them as they sleep, Bring
• 1:04:59
  Speaker 2: sweet dream memes and a deep rest.
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 3: Renew them.
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 2: We ask this in Jesus name Amen. The prophet Isaiah
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 2: continues painting a picture of what God has prepared for
• 1:05:13
  Speaker 2: those who love him in Jerusalem. The Lord of Heaven's
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 2: armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people
• 1:05:23
  Speaker 2: of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear,
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 2: well aged wine and choice meat. Picture yourself there, seated
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 2: at God's banqueting table, surrounded by people you love, friends,
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 2: old and new. Lights are twinkling, and candles glow. As
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 2: you look up and down the table, you see people
• 1:05:51
  Speaker 2: you never expected to see here. The surprise brings you joy,
• 1:05:57
  Speaker 2: and you feel a smile blooming on your face at
• 1:05:59
  Speaker 2: the wondrous things God has done. You see people from
• 1:06:04
  Speaker 2: every nation, a clamor of happy voices, speaking in musical languages.
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 2: People who once were enemies are now friends. They pass
• 1:06:16
  Speaker 2: bowls of food down the length of the table, and
• 1:06:20
  Speaker 2: there is enough for everyone, more than enough. No one
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 2: will go hungry here, no one will be cold, No
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 2: one will be without a bed and a home and
• 1:06:33
  Speaker 2: a place of belonging. You pick up your fork and
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 2: take a bite, and you eat, and you look in
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 2: amazement at all God has done. Isaiah tells us more
• 1:06:47
  Speaker 2: about what the forever home will be like. There, God
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 2: will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 2: that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever.
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 2: The sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 3: He will remove.
• 1:07:06
  Speaker 2: Forever all insults and mockery against his land and people.
• 1:07:11
  Speaker 2: The Lord has spoken. In that day, the people will proclaim,
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 2: this is our God. We trusted in him, and he
• 1:07:21
  Speaker 2: saved us. This is the Lord in whom we trusted.
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 2: Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings. Mighty God,
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 2: we proclaim that you are our God. You have swallowed
• 1:07:39
  Speaker 2: up death forever in the work of your son Jesus
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 2: on the cross. We look forward to the day when
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 2: you will make your home among us, seat us at
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 2: your banqueting table, and feed us with your love. Even
• 1:07:52
  Speaker 2: now we have tasted in seeing your goodness. We proclaim
• 1:07:57
  Speaker 2: our trust in you alone, watch over us and guide us,
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 2: and to rest that we may have the strength we
• 1:08:05
  Speaker 2: need to praise your name in the day to come.
• 1:08:10
  Speaker 2: Pace your breathing as I continue reading from Isaiah twenty six.
• 1:08:18
  Speaker 2: In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will
• 1:08:21
  Speaker 2: sing the song. Our city is strong. We are surrounded
• 1:08:28
  Speaker 2: by the walls of God's salvation. Open the gates to
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 2: all who are righteous, allow the faithful to enter. Can
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 2: you picture this city. It's perfectly safe, not because it's
• 1:08:45
  Speaker 2: surrounded by a tall wall, but because it's surrounded by
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 2: God's salvation. In this city, God encircles you. You and
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 2: everyone else who has sought refuge in God finds a
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 2: welcoming home here. Because in God's Kingdom, salvation is free
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 2: to anyone who puts their faith in him. Anyone who
• 1:09:09
  Speaker 2: asks God for deliverance will find it. Will be brought
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 2: into this safe city, where the oppressors cannot reach them,
• 1:09:17
  Speaker 2: where violence has ended, where the shadow of death has
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 2: no more power. Isaiah continues, God, you will keep in
• 1:09:28
  Speaker 2: perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts
• 1:09:32
  Speaker 2: are fixed on you. Let me read that again. You
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 2: will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you,
• 1:09:43
  Speaker 2: all whose thoughts are fixed on you. God, help your
• 1:09:50
  Speaker 2: child now to fix their thoughts on you, to trust you,
• 1:09:55
  Speaker 2: and to rest in the perfect peace that you bring.
• 1:10:00
  Speaker 2: Let these words guide your breath. Breathing in you will
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 2: keep me breathing out in perfect peace. Inhaling, you will
• 1:10:16
  Speaker 2: keep me and exhaling imperfect peace. Isaiah continues, trust in
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 2: the Lord always. For the Lord God is the eternal rock.
• 1:11:02
  Speaker 2: He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant city.
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 2: He brings it down to the dust. The poor and
• 1:11:10
  Speaker 2: oppressed trample it underfoot, and the kneading walk all over it.
• 1:11:17
  Speaker 2: For those who are righteous, the way is not steep
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 2: and rough. You are a God who does what is right,
• 1:11:25
  Speaker 2: and you smooth out the path ahead of them. Lord,
• 1:11:30
  Speaker 2: we show our trust in you by obeying your laws.
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 2: Our heart's desire is to glorify your name. Then the
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 2: night I search for you. In the morning I earnestly
• 1:11:43
  Speaker 2: seek you. God, smooth the way for your child. Raise
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 2: up the valleys and lay low the mountains, make a
• 1:11:56
  Speaker 2: level path for your child to come to you. May
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 2: this child sleep in your peace tonight and rise up
• 1:12:04
  Speaker 2: in the morning ready to seek you again. Sink deeply
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 2: into sleep. As I read these final words from Isaiah,
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 2: he says, Lord, you will grant us peace. All we
• 1:12:21
  Speaker 2: have accomplished is really from you, O Lord, our God.
• 1:12:26
  Speaker 2: Others have ruled us, but you alone are the one
• 1:12:30
  Speaker 2: we worship. Isaiah is confident that whatever trials we face,
• 1:12:37
  Speaker 2: God is with us, and God has a plan for
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 2: restoring all things to himself. God will bring peace to earth.
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 2: God has brought peace to earth in Jesus, and God's
• 1:12:51
  Speaker 2: peace will come again in its fullness to rein in
• 1:12:56
  Speaker 2: our hearts and our lives. Our forever home will be
• 1:13:00
  Speaker 2: a place where God's justice and love win the day.
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 2: Let that confidence guide you into peaceful rest tonight. There
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 2: is nothing you need to accomplish. God works on your behalf.
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 2: God works as you rest. God never grows weary, God
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 2: never forgets you. All that you have comes from God.
• 1:13:30
  Speaker 2: He has made for you a home that will endure.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 2: He alone is worthy of worship. Gracious and powerful God,
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 2: thank you for giving us a vision of your dream
• 1:13:43
  Speaker 2: for the world, of what you have prepared for your people.
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 2: We believe that you will restore all things. You will
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 2: make all things new, and we eagerly await your coming
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 2: and glory. We praise and exalt you for your love
• 1:14:01
  Speaker 2: endures forever. Thank you for allowing us to see your
• 1:14:07
  Speaker 2: work in the world. God, I ask now that you
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 2: would be with your child as they sleep through this night.
• 1:14:17
  Speaker 2: Give them peaceful dreams, restore their spirit, and wake them
• 1:14:22
  Speaker 2: in the morning to a new day that you have
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 2: made that they may rejoice and be glad in it,
• 1:14:29
  Speaker 2: that they may experience your fresh mercies, that they may
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 2: work to help usher Your kingdom in on earth. In
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 2: the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen,
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 2: as you dwell on the life of faith into which
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 2: you have been called by God. The book of Hebrews,
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 2: chapter eleven is filled with stories of people who have
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 2: lived lives of faith. It tells of the things they
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 2: trusted God for even when they could not see a
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 2: way through themselves. That same faith, and that same faithful,
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 2: good God is available to you. All you need to
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 2: do is grasp it and then rest in it. So
• 1:15:25
  Speaker 2: as we begin, settle into your bed and take a slow,
• 1:15:29
  Speaker 2: deep breath, feel your heart rate begin to slow, relax
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 2: your neck muscles, and your shoulders clench and unclench your fists.
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 2: Keep breathing slowly and deeply. Then, as you exhale, release
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 2: the worries and burdens that you have carried with you today.
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 2: Now is the time to let God renew your strength.
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 2: Let me pray for you, faithful Father, I thank you
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 2: for your care for each one of us. As your
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 2: precious child sinks into deep sleep tonight, cover them in
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 2: the assurance of your love and your presence. If they
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 2: wake during the night, let your whispers of love cause
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 2: them to drift quickly back to sleep. Remind them that
• 1:16:22
  Speaker 2: you are always with them and that you will never
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 2: leave them. Let them be confident in their faith, no
• 1:16:30
  Speaker 2: matter how small, because you are big. Even a mustard
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 2: seed of faith can do great things because that faith
• 1:16:39
  Speaker 2: is in you. Hold them closely in your arms tonight, Lord,
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 2: for they are your precious child. It's in your holy
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 2: name that I pray. Amen. Imagine walking into a room
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 2: where there are hundreds of people, all sitting on chairs.
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 2: They're laughing and tall. Some are even singing a song
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 2: of praise to God. There are lots of chairs still left.
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 2: They are humble looking chairs, but obviously comfortable, as they
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 2: are very much like the ones everyone else is sitting in.
• 1:17:16
  Speaker 2: There are slight differences, maybe in the shade of the
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 2: wood or the height of the legs, but they are
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 2: all fundamentally the same. They are south, they are reliable.
• 1:17:29
  Speaker 2: They can be trusted to hold up the one sitting
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 2: in them. As you look around wondering what chair you
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 2: should choose, you notice some really elaborate looking chairs, some
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 2: look like thrones. They are softly cushioned and decorated all
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 2: over with glittering gold and gemstones. Your eyes are glued
• 1:17:54
  Speaker 2: to them. That's the kind of chair you want. It's
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 2: very flashy, it must be very comfortable. In fact, you're
• 1:18:03
  Speaker 2: pretty sure you've heard about others who have sat in
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 2: this kind of chair. You're sure it's the kind of
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 2: chair that will hold you firmly for years to come,
• 1:18:12
  Speaker 2: something you can really trust, and so you head to one.
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 2: It's actually up on a high dais, so you have
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 2: to climb some steps to get to it. Once you
• 1:18:23
  Speaker 2: climb the steps, and boy, there were more than you
• 1:18:26
  Speaker 2: initially noticed, you have to input a code into a
• 1:18:30
  Speaker 2: keypad on a gate that surrounds the chair. You hadn't
• 1:18:34
  Speaker 2: really noticed that gate before. It takes you a while
• 1:18:37
  Speaker 2: to figure out what the code is. Nobody has told
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 2: you the secret, but man, you really want to sit
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 2: in that chair. Finally you figure it out and the
• 1:18:49
  Speaker 2: gate opens. Then you notice that you have to carefully
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 2: walk over some stepping stones, crossing a turbulent river to
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 2: actually reach the das. It didn't look this hard from
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 2: down below, but you're determined to get there, so you
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 2: carefully tread across the stones. Finally you reach the chair.
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 2: You sit, anticipating the comfort of the seat, but to
• 1:19:13
  Speaker 2: your utter dismay, it completely collapses, dumping you on the ground. Chagrined,
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 2: you look up to see Jesus standing before you and
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 2: reaching for your hand, with a smile on his face.
• 1:19:29
  Speaker 2: When you reach out to take his hand, you understand
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 2: the grandeur of what you put your faith in didn't matter.
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 2: The fanciest chair won't hold you if it's not strong.
• 1:19:41
  Speaker 2: It's not the amount of faith you have that matters.
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 2: It's what you put your faith in that does. And
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 2: so you let Jesus lead you to one of the humble,
• 1:19:53
  Speaker 2: rough hewn chairs. You join the throngs of people who
• 1:19:57
  Speaker 2: came in the room before you. They appear confident and happy,
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 2: fitting comfortably into the chairs they have been in for many,
• 1:20:06
  Speaker 2: many years. They never wear out, they never let them down.
• 1:20:11
  Speaker 2: They hold them firmly through all that they do. No
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 2: analogy is perfect. Of course, our God is bigger than
• 1:20:20
  Speaker 2: a chair, but the truth is still applicable. You can
• 1:20:24
  Speaker 2: have the largest amount of belief ever that something unreliable
• 1:20:28
  Speaker 2: will hold you up, or the smallest amount of faith
• 1:20:31
  Speaker 2: in the God of the universe, and that grain of
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 2: faith in the Almighty God will make all the difference.
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 2: As you continue breathing deeply and slowly, listen to the
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 2: words of Hebrews eleven from the New Living Translation. Faith
• 1:20:51
  Speaker 2: shows the reality of what we hope for it is
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 2: the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith.
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 2: The Peace and Days of Old earned a good reputation.
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 2: By faith. We understand that the entire universe was formed
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 2: at God's command, that what we now see did not
• 1:21:11
  Speaker 2: come from anything that can be seen. It was by
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 2: faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 2: than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was
• 1:21:24
  Speaker 2: a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts.
• 1:21:30
  Speaker 2: Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 2: by his example of faith. It was by faith that
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 2: Enoch was taken up to Heaven without dying.
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 3: He disappeared because God took.
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 2: Him, for before he was taken up, he was known
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 2: as a person who pleased God, and it is impossible
• 1:21:53
  Speaker 2: to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 2: to him must believe that God exists and that he
• 1:22:01
  Speaker 2: rewards those who sincerely seek him. It was by faith
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 2: that Noah built a large boat to save his family
• 1:22:09
  Speaker 2: from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 2: things that had never happened before. By his faith, Noah
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 2: condemned the rest of the world, and he received the
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 2: righteousness that comes by faith. It was by faith that
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 2: Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and
• 1:22:32
  Speaker 2: go to another land that God would give him as
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 2: his inheritance. And even when he reached the land God
• 1:22:39
  Speaker 2: promised her, he lived there by faith, for he was
• 1:22:44
  Speaker 2: like a foreigner living in tents, and so did Isaac
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 2: and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently
• 1:22:54
  Speaker 2: looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city
• 1:22:58
  Speaker 2: designed and built by God. It was by faith that
• 1:23:03
  Speaker 2: even Sarah was able to have a child. Though she
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 2: was barren and was too old, she believed that God
• 1:23:10
  Speaker 2: would keep his promise, and so a whole nation came
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 2: from this one man, who was as good as dead,
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 2: a nation with so many people that, like the stars
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 2: in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 2: is no way to count them.
• 1:23:28
  Speaker 3: All.
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 2: These people died still believing what God had promised them.
• 1:23:33
  Speaker 2: They did not receive what was promised, but they saw
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 2: it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 2: that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously,
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 2: people who say such things are looking forward to a
• 1:23:47
  Speaker 2: country they can call their own. If they had longed
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 2: for the country they came from, they could have gone back,
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 2: But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland.
• 1:23:59
  Speaker 2: That is why God is not ashamed to be called
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 2: their god, for he has prepared a city for them.
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 2: It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac a sacrifice
• 1:24:11
  Speaker 2: when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises,
• 1:24:17
  Speaker 2: was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 2: God had told him Isaac is the son through whom
• 1:24:25
  Speaker 2: your descendants will be counted. Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died,
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 2: God was able to bring him back to life again,
• 1:24:34
  Speaker 2: and in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back
• 1:24:37
  Speaker 2: from the dead. It was by faith that Isaac promised
• 1:24:43
  Speaker 2: blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 2: It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old
• 1:24:51
  Speaker 2: and ding, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 2: worship as he leaned on his staff. Was faith that Joseph,
• 1:25:01
  Speaker 2: when he was about to die, said confidently that the
• 1:25:05
  Speaker 2: people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 2: to take his bones with them when they left. It
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 2: was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 2: months when he was born. They saw that God had
• 1:25:19
  Speaker 2: given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid
• 1:25:23
  Speaker 2: to disobey the king's command. It was by faith that Moses,
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 2: when he grew up, refused to be called the son
• 1:25:31
  Speaker 2: of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of
• 1:25:35
  Speaker 2: God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.
• 1:25:40
  Speaker 2: He thought it was better to suffer for the sake
• 1:25:42
  Speaker 2: of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 2: he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was
• 1:25:50
  Speaker 2: by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 2: fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 2: he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
• 1:26:02
  Speaker 2: It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 2: Israel to keep the passover and to sprinkle blood on
• 1:26:08
  Speaker 2: the doorsteps so that the Angel of Death would not
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 2: kill their firstborn sons. It was by faith that the
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 2: people of Israel went through the Red Sea as though
• 1:26:19
  Speaker 2: they were on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried
• 1:26:23
  Speaker 2: to follow, they were all drowned. It was by faith
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 2: that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 2: days and the walls came crashing down. It was by
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 2: faith that Rahab, the prostitute, was not destroyed with the
• 1:26:41
  Speaker 2: people in her city who refused to obey God, for
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 2: she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. How
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 2: much more do I need to say? It would take
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 2: too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel,
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 2: and all the prophets. By faith, these people overthrow kingdoms,
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 2: ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.
• 1:27:10
  Speaker 2: They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire,
• 1:27:14
  Speaker 2: and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their
• 1:27:17
  Speaker 2: weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 2: and put the whole armies to fight. Women received their
• 1:27:25
  Speaker 2: loved ones back again from death, but others were tortured,
• 1:27:32
  Speaker 2: refusing to turn from God. In order to be set free.
• 1:27:35
  Speaker 2: They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.
• 1:27:40
  Speaker 2: Some were jeered at and their backs were cut open
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 2: with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning,
• 1:27:49
  Speaker 2: some were sought in half, and others were killed with
• 1:27:52
  Speaker 2: the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 2: destituted and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 2: this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves
• 1:28:06
  Speaker 2: and holes in the ground. All of these people earned
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 2: a good reputation because of their faith. Yet none of
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 2: them received all that God had promised, for God had
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 2: something better in mind for us, so that they would
• 1:28:22
  Speaker 2: not reach perfection without us ordinary people serving an extraordinary God.
• 1:28:30
  Speaker 2: It's not the size of your faith that matters. It's
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 2: the one you put your faith in, the one who
• 1:28:36
  Speaker 2: created the world and holds it all together, the one
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 2: who loves you unconditionally. Let His Holy Spirit fill you
• 1:28:45
  Speaker 2: with all the faith that you need to live a
• 1:28:47
  Speaker 2: life pleasing to God. Because Heaven awaits us, we know
• 1:28:52
  Speaker 2: there is something better coming, and trusting God with today
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 2: is just the foretaste of the faith that will be
• 1:28:59
  Speaker 2: rewarded when we receive eternal life. Let me pray over you,
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 2: Lord Jesus, shine the light of your love over your
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 2: beloved child. Tonight, let them bask in the glow of
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 2: your glory as they sleep peacefully, trusting in your watch
• 1:29:18
  Speaker 2: care over them. May their dreams be about you and
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 2: the people who have embodied faith from the Bible. May
• 1:29:26
  Speaker 2: they wake refreshed, ready to trust you in the big
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 2: and the small, because you care about them. Both. We
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 2: love you and we worship you. It's all because of Jesus. Amen.
• 1:29:43
  Speaker 2: Before we begin our journey to the reservoir, take a
• 1:29:47
  Speaker 2: moment and prepare yourself for sleep. Turn off your lights
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 2: and find a comfortable position in bed. Adjust your shoulders,
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 2: moving them gently as you nestle in. Make sure you
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 2: are cozy and comfortable, allowing your mind to fully rest
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 2: as you go to sleep. To night, consider any distractions
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 2: that might be pressing for your attention as your day
• 1:30:16
  Speaker 2: comes to a close. Ask God to help you set
• 1:30:21
  Speaker 2: those aside, knowing that He is sovereign over all. As
• 1:30:27
  Speaker 2: you sleep, trust that God is in control and anything
• 1:30:32
  Speaker 2: fighting for your attention can be dealt with tomorrow. Remember
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 2: the comforting words of Psalm one hundred twenty one, verses
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 2: three through five. He will not let your foot be moved.
• 1:30:48
  Speaker 2: He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who
• 1:30:52
  Speaker 2: keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is
• 1:30:57
  Speaker 2: your keeper, The Lord is your shade. On your right hand,
• 1:31:03
  Speaker 2: Rest confidently, knowing that the God of Israel is watching
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 2: over you too. Dearest Heavenly Father, our God of hope
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 2: and peace. I come to you tonight on behalf of
• 1:31:20
  Speaker 2: your child, this child whom you love and in whom
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 2: you are well pleased. I ask that you would bless
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 2: them tonight as they rest, Bless their mind as they
• 1:31:34
  Speaker 2: lie down to sleep, granting them the gift of a peaceful,
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 2: undistracted mind.
• 1:31:43
  Speaker 3: God.
• 1:31:43
  Speaker 2: I know that there are likely many things fighting for
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 2: their attention, taking their affection and devotion away from you,
• 1:31:53
  Speaker 2: and discouraging them as.
• 1:31:54
  Speaker 3: They grow weary.
• 1:31:57
  Speaker 2: But I know they desire to walk with you and
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 2: to follow your leading. Would you strengthen them in this desire.
• 1:32:06
  Speaker 2: Help them to see that you are at work.
• 1:32:09
  Speaker 3: In their life.
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 2: Remind them that hope is a promise, and that through
• 1:32:15
  Speaker 2: faith and confidence that you are working in their life,
• 1:32:21
  Speaker 2: they can find strength and renewal. Remind them of the
• 1:32:26
  Speaker 2: promise of Isaiah forty verses thirty and thirty one. Even
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 2: youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
• 1:32:38
  Speaker 2: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 2: They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run
• 1:32:46
  Speaker 2: and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Amen,
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 2: you're standing on a path that runs alongside the Ford Building.
• 1:32:59
  Speaker 2: This English Gothic style building looks more like a chateau.
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 2: It was built over a hundred years ago, made possible
• 1:33:08
  Speaker 2: by the generosity of its namesake, Henry Ford. A reflection
• 1:33:15
  Speaker 2: pool sits perfectly in the courtyard of the Fort building.
• 1:33:19
  Speaker 2: You walk closer, where you see the old multicolored stone
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 2: reflected in the serenely still water. The deep blue of
• 1:33:28
  Speaker 2: the sky is reflected too, along with clouds that look
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 2: more like piles of cotton candy. You walk all the
• 1:33:37
  Speaker 2: way up to the reflection pool, crouching down to dip
• 1:33:41
  Speaker 2: your fingers into the cool water, and you are surprised
• 1:33:46
  Speaker 2: at how shallow the reflection pool actually is. The chateau
• 1:33:52
  Speaker 2: style stone building forms a U shape with the reflecting
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 2: pool in the courtyard space. The building itself varies from
• 1:34:00
  Speaker 2: one floor to two and even three and four floors
• 1:34:04
  Speaker 2: at various points. There are arches in nearly every window
• 1:34:09
  Speaker 2: and down the open hallway on the short side of
• 1:34:11
  Speaker 2: the building. The arches are painted white, as is the
• 1:34:16
  Speaker 2: mortar holding the stone securely in place, and the arches
• 1:34:21
  Speaker 2: stand out crisply against the dark stone. You pause for
• 1:34:26
  Speaker 2: a moment to imagine that thousands of students who have
• 1:34:30
  Speaker 2: walked these halls and sat in this courtyard over the
• 1:34:33
  Speaker 2: past twelve decades, the stories that have been told, the
• 1:34:38
  Speaker 2: time spent, how much purpose and use has been found
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 2: in these spaces. As you walk away from the Ford Building,
• 1:34:51
  Speaker 2: you decide it is time to head up Lavender Mountain
• 1:34:54
  Speaker 2: on your journey to the reservoir. Lavender Mountain is low
• 1:35:00
  Speaker 2: located three miles up from the main campus where you
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 2: began exploring. You are lucky to catch a ride on
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 2: a golf cart that serves as a shuttle, offered by
• 1:35:09
  Speaker 2: a staff member who helps keep the grounds of the
• 1:35:12
  Speaker 2: campus pristine for travelers like yourself. The kind elderly gentleman
• 1:35:18
  Speaker 2: who drives you up points out little paths along the
• 1:35:22
  Speaker 2: three mile stretch, sharing his own stories from the decades
• 1:35:26
  Speaker 2: he has spent caring for these woods. When you reach
• 1:35:31
  Speaker 2: the end of the three mile drive, he drops you
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 2: off at a lodge. Just before he drives away to
• 1:35:38
  Speaker 2: return to his groundskeeping work. He invites you to make
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 2: yourself at home in the lodge, welcoming you to hot
• 1:35:45
  Speaker 2: coffee or a cool glass of water, if either suits
• 1:35:49
  Speaker 2: your desire. The hospitality is a hallmark of the generous
• 1:35:54
  Speaker 2: Southern culture. You offer a smile of thanksgiving, and he
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 2: drives away. You can't help but first take a few
• 1:36:04
  Speaker 2: moments to admire the stunning architecture of the mountain campus.
• 1:36:08
  Speaker 2: It is as beautiful as the buildings you first explored,
• 1:36:12
  Speaker 2: yet different and nearly every way you learn these buildings
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 2: were built to reflect the architecture of a French manner.
• 1:36:21
  Speaker 2: The buildings are tall, all brick and neatly painted white.
• 1:36:27
  Speaker 2: The brownish orange roofs are steeply angled. They are regal
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 2: and yet simple. You learn that these buildings were built
• 1:36:37
  Speaker 2: for and long used as a dairy form, and you
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 2: imagine the glory of cattle enjoying the vastness of this
• 1:36:46
  Speaker 2: lovely mountain. It reminds you of another psalm in chapter fifty,
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 2: verses ten and eleven, where the psalmist, writing from the
• 1:36:56
  Speaker 2: perspective of your majestic God writes, for all the animals
• 1:37:02
  Speaker 2: of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 2: on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains,
• 1:37:11
  Speaker 2: and all the animals of the field are mine. One
• 1:37:16
  Speaker 2: of the first things you see at the start of
• 1:37:18
  Speaker 2: the trail is an old mill. It sits atop a
• 1:37:23
  Speaker 2: stream where water still flows. You notice a brass sign
• 1:37:28
  Speaker 2: with an inscription and walk closer to read more about
• 1:37:32
  Speaker 2: this surprising structure tucked up the mountain. From the sign,
• 1:37:38
  Speaker 2: you learn that this old mill was constructed in nineteen
• 1:37:41
  Speaker 2: thirty and was used to produce corn meal for the
• 1:37:45
  Speaker 2: people who lived on the mountain. The iron hub in
• 1:37:49
  Speaker 2: the center of the wooden wheel was a gift to
• 1:37:52
  Speaker 2: the miller and was moved to this spot under the
• 1:37:56
  Speaker 2: direction of Henry Ford. The mill itself is boasted as
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 2: one of the largest in the world, with a diameter
• 1:38:05
  Speaker 2: of forty two feet. You admire the stone structure built
• 1:38:10
  Speaker 2: to supported along with the little stone house like space
• 1:38:14
  Speaker 2: built right next to it, where you imagine much of
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 2: the work was done during its years of operation. There
• 1:38:23
  Speaker 2: is one more thing of note on the side indicating
• 1:38:27
  Speaker 2: its purpose and history, and you learn that the water
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 2: flowing in the stream you stand next to is water
• 1:38:34
  Speaker 2: from a reservoir. You pause for a moment, recognizing the
• 1:38:39
  Speaker 2: value of all that is stored up in the reservoir,
• 1:38:43
  Speaker 2: and you ask God to give you a heart that
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 2: stores his faithfulness the same way. God, we give you
• 1:38:51
  Speaker 2: glory for your goodness and your unending kindness. Help us
• 1:38:57
  Speaker 2: to see more of you, Help us to store up
• 1:39:00
  Speaker 2: hope to draw in times of need. You follow a
• 1:39:06
  Speaker 2: trail that leads you up toward the reservoir. You pause
• 1:39:10
  Speaker 2: briefly to give thanks to God for a beautiful day.
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 2: The sun is shining brightly in the sky, and the
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 2: warmth feels comforting on your cheeks and shoulders. It is
• 1:39:24
  Speaker 2: a welcomed dichotomy to the cool, consistent autumn breeze. The
• 1:39:31
  Speaker 2: path begins with the steady incline and soon begins to curve.
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 2: You follow the curve and find yourself quickly tucked away
• 1:39:40
  Speaker 2: on the lovely mountain trail. Your favorite part of fall
• 1:39:44
  Speaker 2: is now in full view. The changing leaves are vibrant
• 1:39:49
  Speaker 2: and varied. While you noticed some degree of color at
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 2: the bottom of the mountain, now you see it covering
• 1:39:57
  Speaker 2: the trail of trees. You notice several types of oaks, large,
• 1:40:04
  Speaker 2: looming and dense. They fill the forest with different shades
• 1:40:08
  Speaker 2: of orange and bright reds. And there is your favorite,
• 1:40:14
  Speaker 2: the yellowing elm that looks like sunshine falling as the
• 1:40:17
  Speaker 2: breeze claims dozens of leaves and drags.
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 3: Them to the ground.
• 1:40:23
  Speaker 2: You see the copper color of the changing pine needles
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 2: and the steadiness of the evergreen, creating the backdrop and
• 1:40:31
  Speaker 2: causing the contrast. You find so delightful in the leaves.
• 1:40:35
  Speaker 3: That change as you walk.
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 2: You delight in the fact that there is beauty and change.
• 1:40:43
  Speaker 2: While you don't always like change in your own life,
• 1:40:47
  Speaker 2: you remember now as you admire the changing leaves, that
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 2: God has a purpose in every season, even here. Even now,
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 2: you consider the ways that change has brought trials and uncertainty.
• 1:41:05
  Speaker 2: You continue your hike on the lovely trail, experiencing the
• 1:41:09
  Speaker 2: peace and beauty of birds chirping and leaves rustling beneath
• 1:41:13
  Speaker 2: your feet. You continue admiring the leaves and take time
• 1:41:18
  Speaker 2: to appreciate the variety of shades you have seen. Shades
• 1:41:22
  Speaker 2: of orange, yellow, and red found as you journeyed on
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 2: the trail. Although from a distance the colors seem to
• 1:41:32
  Speaker 2: be the same. Up close, When you pick up fallen
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 2: leaves from the ground and compare them to others you
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 2: have kept along the walk, you see it clearly they
• 1:41:43
  Speaker 2: are different, nuanced, ever changing, even when falling from the
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 2: very same tree. The path seems to be curving again,
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 2: and with this curve you see a break in the trees.
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 2: You feel a spring of hope inside you that perhaps
• 1:42:03
  Speaker 2: this curve is the last on the path to the reservoir.
• 1:42:09
  Speaker 2: As you come around the corner, it's clear you have
• 1:42:13
  Speaker 2: made it to your journey's destination. You stand in admiration
• 1:42:17
  Speaker 2: as you gaze upon the reservoir. It is just as
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 2: beautiful as you imagined it would be. The reservoir is vast,
• 1:42:27
  Speaker 2: covering fifty five acres of lavender mountain, holding millions and
• 1:42:32
  Speaker 2: millions of gallons of water. As you stand from your
• 1:42:36
  Speaker 2: spot on the trail looking out over the reservoir, you
• 1:42:41
  Speaker 2: find it hard to conceive such an incredible amount. You
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 2: consider how for over one hundred years this reservoir has
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 2: provided water for the many who live on the mountain.
• 1:42:55
  Speaker 2: You consider how it has sustained life and provided renewal,
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 2: how it has offered security and nourished plants and animals.
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 2: This vast collection of water has been filled and refilled
• 1:43:09
  Speaker 2: over and over, and without fail it has been drawn
• 1:43:14
  Speaker 2: upon for nourishment.
• 1:43:15
  Speaker 3: And sustenance once again.
• 1:43:19
  Speaker 2: You imagine what your life would be like if stored
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 2: within you was a reservoir of hope. You consider how
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 2: you could offer faith and confidence and trust in God
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 2: to those who were down and in need of strength.
• 1:43:37
  Speaker 2: You could offer it to yourself too, looking to God
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 2: in times of need to find endurance that sustained you
• 1:43:45
  Speaker 2: through trying times. Even youths grow tired and weary, and
• 1:43:52
  Speaker 2: young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in
• 1:43:56
  Speaker 2: the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on
• 1:44:00
  Speaker 2: wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary,
• 1:44:05
  Speaker 2: they will walk and not be faint. Picture the reservoir
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 2: of hope that God is deepening in your life He
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 2: has always provided for you in the past, and imagine
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 2: how these experiences can fill your reservoir with confidence that
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 2: God will be faithful again. Gracious, Heavenly Father, thank you
• 1:44:32
  Speaker 2: for being a God of hope. In a broken world
• 1:44:36
  Speaker 2: where there is so much that needs to be made right,
• 1:44:39
  Speaker 2: we look to you in hope believing that You are
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 2: still at work to renew and restore all things. Please
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 2: help this precious listener to keep their focus on you,
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 2: not just when things are going their way, but when
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 2: times are hard. Help them to trust in You, their
• 1:45:04
  Speaker 2: gracious God. Thank you for the gift of sleep. Help
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 2: them to rest well tonight that tomorrow they may rise
• 1:45:14
  Speaker 2: and live their life to bring you praise. In the
• 1:45:18
  Speaker 2: name of Jesus, I pray Amen. Look to God for
• 1:45:25
  Speaker 2: hope in times of trouble. Lean on Him when the
• 1:45:29
  Speaker 2: challenges of life are overwhelming. Store up experiences of His
• 1:45:34
  Speaker 2: faithfulness like a reservoir, and your hope will never run dry.
• 1:45:41
  Speaker 2: Abide in Christ. Do you feel restless? Do you feel unsettled?
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 2: Are you longing for peace? Tonight you will hear words
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 2: from the apostle paul Le that beckon your heart to
• 1:46:01
  Speaker 2: find peace, rest and comfort. You will be reminded that
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 2: Christ has made a way for you to find everlasting peace.
• 1:46:13
  Speaker 2: You will be invited to rest in that peace tonight
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 2: as you sleep. As you lay down, find a comfortable position.
• 1:46:24
  Speaker 2: No matter what this day held, it has come to
• 1:46:27
  Speaker 2: a close, and God invites you to release it and
• 1:46:33
  Speaker 2: enter into the blessed rest that he gives his beloved
• 1:46:37
  Speaker 2: As you sleep, Let your shoulders relax with your eyes closed,
• 1:46:45
  Speaker 2: Release any pressure that's tensing you up, and prepare to sleep.
• 1:46:52
  Speaker 2: Take a slow, deep breath, holding it for a moment
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 2: before exhaling. Slowly, take another deep breath. Let the pressures, waits,
• 1:47:09
  Speaker 2: and uncertainties that you are worried about fall away. Tonight,
• 1:47:16
  Speaker 2: your heavenly Father invites you to rest as you sleep. Father, God,
• 1:47:26
  Speaker 2: thank you for protecting your child through another day. As
• 1:47:31
  Speaker 2: they lay down to sleep, I asked that you would
• 1:47:35
  Speaker 2: lead them to the peace and rest that comes from
• 1:47:38
  Speaker 2: knowing you and being in your presence.
• 1:47:42
  Speaker 3: Be near to your child.
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 2: Tonight, Jesus, let the words that come from your holy
• 1:47:48
  Speaker 2: scriptures lead them to sleep in peace and wake enjoy.
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 2: We look to you for our hope. You are our
• 1:47:59
  Speaker 2: everlast peace. In Jesus' name.
• 1:48:03
  Speaker 3: Amen.
• 1:48:07
  Speaker 2: Children have the most wonderful imagination. When they play, their
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 2: whole world transforms to them. Any item or location can
• 1:48:18
  Speaker 2: morph in an instant, simply because the child's mind decided
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 2: it was time to have an adventure. Maybe the days
• 1:48:28
  Speaker 2: of careless play seem miles away from where you currently
• 1:48:31
  Speaker 2: find yourself. Often children will play castle with kings and queens,
• 1:48:38
  Speaker 2: or maybe even a court jester. Their backyard transforms, and
• 1:48:44
  Speaker 2: with all the power of a monarch, they rule over
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 2: an imaginary world. Maybe you wish you could go back
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 2: to the days where the only thing you had to
• 1:48:55
  Speaker 2: worry about was having enough time to play creatively. In
• 1:48:59
  Speaker 2: this way, it can be easy sometimes to wish that
• 1:49:04
  Speaker 2: life were as simple as it was back then, when
• 1:49:07
  Speaker 2: you could just imagine something and suddenly the world around
• 1:49:11
  Speaker 2: you changed. Things are surely different now, but maybe the
• 1:49:17
  Speaker 2: invitation remains to imagine and see the world around you change.
• 1:49:23
  Speaker 2: What if God's invitation to you through his word was
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 2: even more profound than your wildest, childlike imagination, that you
• 1:49:35
  Speaker 2: could find something more than a temporary, whimsical escape from
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 2: the world around you and find a more lasting mindset change.
• 1:49:47
  Speaker 2: In his letters to the Colossian Church, the apostle Paul writes,
• 1:49:53
  Speaker 2: let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since
• 1:49:57
  Speaker 2: as members of one body, you were called to peace.
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 3: And be thankful.
• 1:50:03
  Speaker 2: Let the Word of Christ dwell among you richly as
• 1:50:08
  Speaker 2: you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns,
• 1:50:13
  Speaker 2: and songs from the spirit. Singing to God with gratitude
• 1:50:18
  Speaker 2: in your hearts, let the peace of Christ rule in
• 1:50:23
  Speaker 2: your hearts. Imagine approaching the most majestic castle. You have
• 1:50:32
  Speaker 2: seen it from a distance, but finally you have the
• 1:50:36
  Speaker 2: opportunity to experience whatever might be inside. You slowly walk
• 1:50:42
  Speaker 2: up to the gate, only to find the guards have
• 1:50:45
  Speaker 2: been expecting you. They open the massive brass gate and
• 1:50:51
  Speaker 2: you walk through. You're no longer on a normal sidewalk.
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 2: The ground beneath you has changed to an intricate brick design.
• 1:51:02
  Speaker 2: Feel the freedom of acceptance as you walk toward the
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 2: front doors. Notice the array of flowers and the perfectly
• 1:51:12
  Speaker 2: manicured bushes. Lean in to smell the roses. Admire the
• 1:51:19
  Speaker 2: variety of blues, yellows, whites, and reds filling the flower bed.
• 1:51:26
  Speaker 2: Walk closer to the front door, preparing to enter and
• 1:51:30
  Speaker 2: finally see what's inside. As you reach the door, you
• 1:51:36
  Speaker 2: encounter more guards, but they too seem to be expecting you.
• 1:51:41
  Speaker 2: Notice the ornate design of the front doors, taller than
• 1:51:45
  Speaker 2: any you've seen before. Open the door and walk through
• 1:51:51
  Speaker 2: to find a still more majestic entry. Look up to
• 1:51:56
  Speaker 2: see the height of the ceilings. Notice the extravagance of
• 1:52:00
  Speaker 2: the staircases, one to the right and one to the left.
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 2: You've entered a place with a monarch, a king or
• 1:52:10
  Speaker 2: queen that rules over the space and all the space
• 1:52:13
  Speaker 2: outside of it. But the ruler isn't what you imagined.
• 1:52:18
  Speaker 2: It isn't a person. It's peace. Let the Peace of
• 1:52:24
  Speaker 2: Christ rule in your hearts. For peace to rule means
• 1:52:30
  Speaker 2: that peace leads the conversation, Peace initiates, peace responds, Peace
• 1:52:37
  Speaker 2: makes the decisions. Peace as the final word. Christ gives
• 1:52:44
  Speaker 2: you the invitation to surrender to peace. Lay down your
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 2: anger and let peace rule. Let go of your bitterness
• 1:52:54
  Speaker 2: and let peace rule. Stop striving and let peace rule.
• 1:53:00
  Speaker 2: You belong in a palace of peace, and be thankful.
• 1:53:07
  Speaker 2: Let the Word of Christ dwell among you richly as
• 1:53:10
  Speaker 2: you teach and admonish one another. The invitation of Jesus
• 1:53:15
  Speaker 2: is not simply to let peace have the final say.
• 1:53:19
  Speaker 2: It is through thankfulness to let the Word of Christ
• 1:53:24
  Speaker 2: dwell among you ritually. Letting peace have the final say.
• 1:53:31
  Speaker 2: Change is what happens in the palace of your life.
• 1:53:35
  Speaker 2: Letting the Word of Christ dwell among you is to
• 1:53:39
  Speaker 2: fill the room with truth. Tellers and promise keepers. To
• 1:53:44
  Speaker 2: dwell is to remain, to live, to stay in a space.
• 1:53:50
  Speaker 2: Run to the richness of the Word of Christ, and
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 2: you will find balm for your weary soul. You will
• 1:53:58
  Speaker 2: find truth flowing from the heart of God. You will
• 1:54:03
  Speaker 2: find the promises of Jesus, spoken of old and preserved
• 1:54:07
  Speaker 2: for us in the Holy scriptures. Though we long for
• 1:54:11
  Speaker 2: the goodness of God, most spaces are filled not with
• 1:54:15
  Speaker 2: truth or truth tellers. Instead of letting outside less her
• 1:54:20
  Speaker 2: voices have the loudest voice, let the Word of Christ
• 1:54:25
  Speaker 2: dwell with you. Ritly wander deeper into the palace. Turn
• 1:54:31
  Speaker 2: the corner to find another majestic great rule. Admire the
• 1:54:38
  Speaker 2: colors woven into the rug, deep greens, gold, and soft reds.
• 1:54:45
  Speaker 2: Smell the instants burning permeating every room. Look at the
• 1:54:53
  Speaker 2: curtains perfectly hung and pulled back to the side. Draw
• 1:54:59
  Speaker 2: closer to the window, and look outside at the luscious
• 1:55:03
  Speaker 2: green grass in the bright blue sky. Imagine you turn
• 1:55:08
  Speaker 2: the corner and find a grand piano positioned perfectly in
• 1:55:13
  Speaker 2: the great room. Listen as the words of Christ that
• 1:55:18
  Speaker 2: dwell among you. Turn to songs of blessing sung throughout
• 1:55:23
  Speaker 2: the palace. Let the Word of Christ dwell among you
• 1:55:29
  Speaker 2: richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
• 1:55:33
  Speaker 2: wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the spirit, Singing
• 1:55:39
  Speaker 2: to God with gratitude in your hearts. Walk back to
• 1:55:45
  Speaker 2: the front room and wander up the stairs. Listen to
• 1:55:49
  Speaker 2: the sound of your feet on the tile as you
• 1:55:51
  Speaker 2: ascend the stairs. Wander into each and every room you
• 1:55:57
  Speaker 2: find each more than the last. Imagine you have filled
• 1:56:04
  Speaker 2: these rooms with truth tellers, Truth dwelling among you, Peace
• 1:56:10
  Speaker 2: reigning around you, Truth to guide you, peace to sustain you.
• 1:56:19
  Speaker 2: This is the invitation of Christ. Let the peace of
• 1:56:23
  Speaker 2: Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body,
• 1:56:28
  Speaker 2: you were called to peace and be thankful. Let the
• 1:56:33
  Speaker 2: Word of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach
• 1:56:37
  Speaker 2: and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns
• 1:56:41
  Speaker 2: and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude
• 1:56:46
  Speaker 2: in your hearts. We are all longing for peace. We
• 1:56:54
  Speaker 2: are looking forward in so many different places, desperate to
• 1:56:59
  Speaker 2: see this peace reign over our families, workplaces, relationships, and
• 1:57:05
  Speaker 2: the world. We are longing for the truth of the
• 1:57:08
  Speaker 2: Word of Christ to dwell among us. The beauty is
• 1:57:13
  Speaker 2: found in the promise given to you. As you walk
• 1:57:17
  Speaker 2: with Jesus. Choose to lean on the peace that comes
• 1:57:22
  Speaker 2: from Him as you fall asleep to night, and as
• 1:57:28
  Speaker 2: you wake in the morning to begin a new day.
• 1:57:31
  Speaker 2: Choose peace, remember the message of Jesus, and let that
• 1:57:37
  Speaker 2: dwell in your mind and heart instead. Heavenly Father, I
• 1:57:44
  Speaker 2: ask again that your peace would permeate tonight as your
• 1:57:47
  Speaker 2: beloved sleeps. You are our hope of peace and a
• 1:57:51
  Speaker 2: broken and hurting world, and we'd look to you. Bless
• 1:57:58
  Speaker 2: your child to night. May your message dwell richly in them,
• 1:58:03
  Speaker 2: leading them to delight and rest in your promises. We
• 1:58:08
  Speaker 2: love you, Jesus, Amen, find peace tonight as you rest
• 1:58:15
  Speaker 2: in the loving arms of the God who delights to
• 1:58:18
  Speaker 2: bless you, care for you, and lead you sleep well tonight,
• 1:58:25
  Speaker 2: and may you wake to know the Lord's love for you.
• 1:58:27
  Speaker 2: Deeper and deeper in tonight's story in the quiet Place,
• 1:58:41
  Speaker 2: we will feel the benefits of deep rest and darkness
• 1:58:45
  Speaker 2: as we see how God created nature to enjoy times
• 1:58:48
  Speaker 2: of hibernation and dormancy, how covers of snow keep seeds
• 1:58:54
  Speaker 2: warm so they can Germany maybe you have a hard
• 1:58:59
  Speaker 2: turning off the lights, quieting your mind, letting go of
• 1:59:04
  Speaker 2: the things that still need to be finished, accepting the
• 1:59:09
  Speaker 2: gift and the goodness of rest. Tonight, we're going to
• 1:59:14
  Speaker 2: meditate on all the new life offered by God in
• 1:59:18
  Speaker 2: the dark, quiet moments when we finally surrender and accept,
• 1:59:24
  Speaker 2: even embrace the rest He gives us. In John twelve
• 1:59:32
  Speaker 2: twenty four, Jesus says, very truly, I tell you, unless
• 1:59:38
  Speaker 2: a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
• 1:59:42
  Speaker 2: it remains just a single grain. But if it dies,
• 1:59:46
  Speaker 2: it bears much fruit. When we experience the dormancy, it
• 1:59:53
  Speaker 2: may feel like death, but you will see tonight how
• 1:59:57
  Speaker 2: God is at work even in the darkness. He has
• 2:00:02
  Speaker 2: a plan, even in the midst of winter, to bring
• 2:00:05
  Speaker 2: new life. Before we begin our story, make sure you're comfortable,
• 2:00:12
  Speaker 2: adjust the lights or the blankets if you need to.
• 2:00:16
  Speaker 2: And let's take just a few minutes for progressive muscle
• 2:00:19
  Speaker 2: relaxation to get your body ready to sleep. We're going
• 2:00:25
  Speaker 2: to tense muscle groups one at a time, holding the
• 2:00:29
  Speaker 2: tension for about five seconds, then exhaling and letting that
• 2:00:34
  Speaker 2: muscle group fully relax for ten seconds before moving on
• 2:00:38
  Speaker 2: to the next muscle group. Research has shown that this
• 2:00:43
  Speaker 2: technique offers a range of benefits, including pain relief and
• 2:00:47
  Speaker 2: better sleep. It may also reduce migraines and systolic blood pressure.
• 2:00:54
  Speaker 2: Begin by lifting your toes upward, tensing your muscles, then release.
• 2:01:17
  Speaker 2: Now pull your toes downward. Hold then release. Next, tense
• 2:01:39
  Speaker 2: your calf muscles hold, then release. Move your knees towards
• 2:02:00
  Speaker 2: each other. Hold, then release. Squeeze your thigh muscles hold,
• 2:02:27
  Speaker 2: then release. Clench your hands hold, then release. Tense your
• 2:02:58
  Speaker 2: arms hold, then release. Squeeze your buttocks hold, then release.
• 2:03:38
  Speaker 2: Contract your abdominal muscles. Hold, then release. Inhale and tight
• 2:04:00
  Speaker 2: in your chest. Hold, then exhale and release. Raise your
• 2:04:21
  Speaker 2: shoulders to your ears hold, then release. Purse your lips
• 2:04:42
  Speaker 2: together hold, then release. Open your mouth wide hold, then release.
• 2:05:20
  Speaker 2: Close your eyes tightly hold, then release. Lift your eyebrows hold,
• 2:05:48
  Speaker 2: then release. Let your whole body relax, warm and loose
• 2:06:04
  Speaker 2: as you rest in safety. Ecclesiastes three one through eight
• 2:06:12
  Speaker 2: says for everything, there is a season and a time
• 2:06:17
  Speaker 2: for every matter under Heaven. Now is the time to rest.
• 2:06:24
  Speaker 2: Let yourself fall into a deep sleep, confident that more
• 2:06:29
  Speaker 2: is happening in quiet stillness than we can understand. Be
• 2:06:36
  Speaker 2: like plants and animals in the middle of a long winter, waiting, resting,
• 2:06:42
  Speaker 2: storing up strength, gestating new life. Be like a seed
• 2:06:47
  Speaker 2: in the dark earth, resting until its time comes. Let
• 2:06:54
  Speaker 2: me pray for you as we begin. Heavenly Father, we're
• 2:07:00
  Speaker 2: coming to you now, grateful for the gift of rest,
• 2:07:04
  Speaker 2: Grateful that you've called us to trust you, and that
• 2:07:07
  Speaker 2: you are abundantly trustworthy. Right now, we're giving over to
• 2:07:13
  Speaker 2: your control all the things that are still busying our minds,
• 2:07:18
  Speaker 2: the things left on our to do lists, the worries
• 2:07:22
  Speaker 2: about things we can't control, the anxious thoughts that want
• 2:07:26
  Speaker 2: to keep us up. We're giving them all to you.
• 2:07:31
  Speaker 2: We're believing that you will watch over us and all
• 2:07:34
  Speaker 2: that concerns us while we rest. Thank you, God, we
• 2:07:39
  Speaker 2: love you, and Jesus name, we pray Amen. Speaking of
• 2:07:47
  Speaker 2: his death, Jesus said, very truly, I tell you, unless
• 2:07:53
  Speaker 2: a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
• 2:07:57
  Speaker 2: it remains just a single grain. But if it dies,
• 2:08:01
  Speaker 2: it bears much fruit. Listen again this time, and the
• 2:08:07
  Speaker 2: message translation listen carefully. Unless a grain of wheat is
• 2:08:13
  Speaker 2: buried in the ground. Dead to the world. It is
• 2:08:17
  Speaker 2: never any more than a grain of wheat. But if
• 2:08:20
  Speaker 2: it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.
• 2:08:28
  Speaker 2: Times of darkness and quiet, moments when all life and
• 2:08:32
  Speaker 2: activity seems to have ended. These are the moments when
• 2:08:36
  Speaker 2: life can truly begin. Jesus himself is our model. As
• 2:08:44
  Speaker 2: you settle under your blankets, picture yourself like a seed
• 2:08:48
  Speaker 2: in the dark earth, still quiet, dormant, carrying life within you,
• 2:08:56
  Speaker 2: resting until it's called forth. Let your breath grow deep
• 2:09:01
  Speaker 2: and easy as you settle in here, breathing in God,
• 2:09:06
  Speaker 2: we are grateful for the dark and exhaling even as
• 2:09:11
  Speaker 2: we anticipate the light. Inhaling God, we are grateful for
• 2:09:17
  Speaker 2: the dark and exhaling even as we anticipate the light.
• 2:09:26
  Speaker 2: Let's take a walk through a winter landscape and imagine
• 2:09:29
  Speaker 2: what's happening underground. Winter can seem long. The landscape is muted,
• 2:09:36
  Speaker 2: covered in blankets of white snow. It crunches underfoot, Trees
• 2:09:43
  Speaker 2: barren of leaves, stretch toward the sky. The landscape feels
• 2:09:47
  Speaker 2: emptier than usual, spacious. At the edge of the forest,
• 2:09:52
  Speaker 2: you see evergreens as well as bare branched deciduous trees.
• 2:10:00
  Speaker 2: The sun is already low in winter. The days are short,
• 2:10:05
  Speaker 2: while the nights stretch on God created seasons. God is
• 2:10:11
  Speaker 2: in these quiet, dark times, and we can learn about
• 2:10:15
  Speaker 2: our own lives from watching the rhythms of the earth.
• 2:10:19
  Speaker 2: Maybe one of the lessons winter has for us is
• 2:10:22
  Speaker 2: a reminder that new life is always preceded by season
• 2:10:26
  Speaker 2: that seems quiet, That darkness itself is rich with life.
• 2:10:33
  Speaker 2: That resting is required for all of us, from the
• 2:10:38
  Speaker 2: trees to the turtles, the gardens to the woodland creatures,
• 2:10:43
  Speaker 2: if we are to endure, God, thank you for showing us,
• 2:10:49
  Speaker 2: through your creation, the way to rest. As your child
• 2:10:53
  Speaker 2: nestles into bed now, choosing to believe that you will
• 2:10:57
  Speaker 2: never sleep, but are always watch over them, Bless them
• 2:11:02
  Speaker 2: with easy sleep, deep rest, sweet dreams, and restorative quiet.
• 2:11:09
  Speaker 2: Ready them for new life as they trust in you
• 2:11:12
  Speaker 2: to work and watch over them. Bless them as they
• 2:11:16
  Speaker 2: sleep in Jesus nay Amen. Seeds and flower bulbs rest
• 2:11:24
  Speaker 2: dormant in the earth during a long winter, waiting for
• 2:11:29
  Speaker 2: the right moment to emerge toward the sun. As you walk,
• 2:11:34
  Speaker 2: you imagine where they might be laying deep underground. Maybe
• 2:11:39
  Speaker 2: there will be a line of daffodils or tulips emerging
• 2:11:43
  Speaker 2: by the fence in a few months. At the edge
• 2:11:46
  Speaker 2: of the woods, you think of the animals who live here.
• 2:11:50
  Speaker 2: You find a path and enter in. Some animals also
• 2:11:55
  Speaker 2: hibernate for these months. You picture a black bear. She
• 2:12:00
  Speaker 2: was ravenous and busy at the end of summer, eating
• 2:12:04
  Speaker 2: all the blackberries and raspberries and huckleberries she could find.
• 2:12:09
  Speaker 2: She'd eat for to eight hours a day, not just berries,
• 2:12:13
  Speaker 2: but also savory snacks like swamp thistle and jewel weed,
• 2:12:18
  Speaker 2: yellow jackets and ants, hazel nuts and hickory nuts. Her
• 2:12:23
  Speaker 2: body told her to keep eating, and she did right
• 2:12:28
  Speaker 2: up until the weather changed. Then she dug herself a
• 2:12:32
  Speaker 2: din beneath a fallen tree, one that fit the contours
• 2:12:36
  Speaker 2: of her body, and raked grass and bark over her
• 2:12:41
  Speaker 2: Nestled safe, She closed her eyes and let her muscles relax.
• 2:12:46
  Speaker 2: Her body went limp, and for months she dreamed her
• 2:12:51
  Speaker 2: body takes care of her as she rests. All those
• 2:12:55
  Speaker 2: nuts and berries fuel her sleep and something else too.
• 2:13:00
  Speaker 2: They fuel the life that's growing inside of her. Two
• 2:13:04
  Speaker 2: cubs growing bigger day by day. Eventually she'll deliver them
• 2:13:11
  Speaker 2: without even waking up. For their first weeks of life,
• 2:13:15
  Speaker 2: they'll live outside her body as much as they lived insided,
• 2:13:19
  Speaker 2: taking all their nourishment from her, cuddled against her warm body,
• 2:13:25
  Speaker 2: until her summer stores of food have melted away. Then
• 2:13:30
  Speaker 2: she'll finally wake. She'll wake hungry. She'll open her eyes
• 2:13:35
  Speaker 2: and see what was borne into the world while she rested,
• 2:13:39
  Speaker 2: her babies full of life and ready to explore.
• 2:13:42
  Speaker 3: The fields and forests.
• 2:13:46
  Speaker 2: Those fields and forests will be ready too, Buds on branches,
• 2:13:51
  Speaker 2: bright green shoots coming from the ground, early wild flowers
• 2:13:56
  Speaker 2: peeking out across the meadow, Birds returning to their homes
• 2:14:00
  Speaker 2: after a winter in the south, filling the air with song.
• 2:14:05
  Speaker 2: All this beauty came from the darkness, from the waiting
• 2:14:09
  Speaker 2: and resting. And God will grow good things in you
• 2:14:15
  Speaker 2: as you rest in the darkness tonight. He will replenish
• 2:14:19
  Speaker 2: your strength, restore your energy, and fill you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,
• 2:14:30
  Speaker 2: and self control, bringing forth life even as you sleep.
• 2:14:38
  Speaker 2: Let me pray for you. God, you arranged the seasons.
• 2:14:43
  Speaker 2: You declare that sometimes are for resting and other times
• 2:14:47
  Speaker 2: are for activity. In your wisdom you call all these seasons.
• 2:14:52
  Speaker 2: Good Now is the time for sleep. Grant to your
• 2:14:57
  Speaker 2: child the gift of deep restoring of rest, the kind
• 2:15:02
  Speaker 2: of rest that leads to new life emerging when they wake.
• 2:15:06
  Speaker 2: We ask this in the name of the Father, Son
• 2:15:09
  Speaker 2: and Holy Spirit.
• 2:15:11
  Speaker 3: Amen. Sink deeply into.
• 2:15:16
  Speaker 2: Sleep as I read Jesus words from John one final time.
• 2:15:22
  Speaker 2: Listen carefully. Unless a grain of wheat is buried in
• 2:15:26
  Speaker 2: the ground, dead to the world, it is never any
• 2:15:30
  Speaker 2: more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried,
• 2:15:34
  Speaker 2: it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. Holy Spirit,
• 2:15:40
  Speaker 2: dwell richly in this child tonight. Abide in them as
• 2:15:44
  Speaker 2: they abide in you. May this child sleep in your
• 2:15:48
  Speaker 2: peace tonight and rise up in the morning ready to
• 2:15:52
  Speaker 2: seek you again. Thanks for listening to this Abide sleep story.
• 2:16:01
  Speaker 2: Calm your fears. The God of the universe is protecting
• 2:16:06
  Speaker 2: you and taking care of you, like a loving shepherd
• 2:16:10
  Speaker 2: watching his sheep. God will always provide for your every need.
• 2:16:17
  Speaker 2: You have no reason to worry. Long ago Jesus told
• 2:16:24
  Speaker 2: his followers, do not be anxious about your life, what
• 2:16:29
  Speaker 2: you will eat or what you will drink, but seek
• 2:16:33
  Speaker 2: first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. In today's story,
• 2:16:40
  Speaker 2: will travel two thousand years back in time to a
• 2:16:44
  Speaker 2: Judayan hillside as Jesus talks to his followers about worrying
• 2:16:48
  Speaker 2: and about God's providence. As you prepare for today's story,
• 2:16:54
  Speaker 2: get comfortable, Let your head sink slowly into the pillow.
• 2:16:59
  Speaker 2: Stretch out your arms and legs, and let your muscles relax.
• 2:17:05
  Speaker 2: If something's not right, then simply pause the Abide app
• 2:17:09
  Speaker 2: and come back in a few moments. Finally, choose your
• 2:17:13
  Speaker 2: favorite background of music on the app. If you fall
• 2:17:16
  Speaker 2: asleep during the story, that's okay. The app will stop
• 2:17:21
  Speaker 2: on its own. The God of Peace is protecting you
• 2:17:25
  Speaker 2: and providing for you. Lay your burdens before him, rest
• 2:17:30
  Speaker 2: and his promises. Join me as I pray for you.
• 2:17:35
  Speaker 2: Dear Father, You are the creator of all that's good,
• 2:17:39
  Speaker 2: of love, joy and peace. But too often, God, we
• 2:17:46
  Speaker 2: worry about the future. We don't have peace in our
• 2:17:51
  Speaker 2: lives because we're focused on what we don't know. Too often,
• 2:17:55
  Speaker 2: our eyes are not on you. Too often, we're work
• 2:18:00
  Speaker 2: read and anxious.
• 2:18:02
  Speaker 3: God.
• 2:18:03
  Speaker 2: We lay our troubles before you. Now help us trust you,
• 2:18:08
  Speaker 2: give us peace in the middle of trials in our
• 2:18:10
  Speaker 2: lives and troubles around the world. Grant this child of
• 2:18:14
  Speaker 2: yours a wonderful night's sleep and dreams about your kingdom.
• 2:18:21
  Speaker 2: It's in Jesus name that I pray. Amen, as you
• 2:18:26
  Speaker 2: keep your eyes closed. Imagine walking through the countryside of
• 2:18:30
  Speaker 2: Judea in the days of Christ. It's a day far
• 2:18:34
  Speaker 2: removed from our cluttered lives. There are no cell phones,
• 2:18:39
  Speaker 2: no computers, no video games, no cars. It's just you
• 2:18:45
  Speaker 2: and God and his creation, oh and a few hundred
• 2:18:50
  Speaker 2: other followers of Jesus. You're one of those followers, But
• 2:18:55
  Speaker 2: it doesn't seem crowded. Everyone around you is patient and
• 2:19:00
  Speaker 2: happy and full of cheer. It's as if they've waited
• 2:19:04
  Speaker 2: all their lives for this moment. It's as if their
• 2:19:08
  Speaker 2: people have waited centuries for this time and history. No
• 2:19:12
  Speaker 2: one's in a rush, no one is pushy. They're savoring
• 2:19:16
  Speaker 2: every second. A mother and her young son are in
• 2:19:20
  Speaker 2: front of you, laughing. The boy, he appears to be
• 2:19:24
  Speaker 2: about five, turns around and gives you an innocent wave.
• 2:19:29
  Speaker 2: You smile back near them. As a short, gray haired,
• 2:19:33
  Speaker 2: elderly woman, she asks the question everyone else is thinking,
• 2:19:38
  Speaker 2: Is he the Messiah? No one answers, but You've heard
• 2:19:43
  Speaker 2: enough stories about Jesus healing the sick and giving sight
• 2:19:46
  Speaker 2: to the blind that you've already formed your opinion. He
• 2:19:51
  Speaker 2: claims to be God's Son, and you believe it. At
• 2:19:55
  Speaker 2: the head of the crowd is Jesus himself, surrounded by Peter, James,
• 2:20:00
  Speaker 2: and John and the other disciples. He's led his followers
• 2:20:05
  Speaker 2: to an area near the Sea of Galilee. It's a
• 2:20:09
  Speaker 2: beautiful day and you're enjoying the walk. It's warm and
• 2:20:13
  Speaker 2: mostly sunny, with only a few white, wispy clouds high overhead.
• 2:20:19
  Speaker 2: They're moving ever so slowly across the sky, as if
• 2:20:23
  Speaker 2: they too are hanging around and watching Jesus, wanting a
• 2:20:27
  Speaker 2: glimpse of the Messiah. The warm sunshine massages your skin,
• 2:20:33
  Speaker 2: and a cool breeze off the Sea of Galilee ensures
• 2:20:36
  Speaker 2: you don't get too hot. The breeze carries with it
• 2:20:40
  Speaker 2: a dozen earthy aromas, water and dirt and fresh water fish,
• 2:20:45
  Speaker 2: and even the unmistakable scent of wildflowers from the nearby shore.
• 2:20:51
  Speaker 2: To your right, and you spot two fishermen in a
• 2:20:54
  Speaker 2: small sailboat pulling their net up from the Sea of Galilee.
• 2:20:59
  Speaker 2: They've caught perhaps a dozen fish today, and you watch
• 2:21:03
  Speaker 2: as they carefully pluck each one from the webbing. Suddenly,
• 2:21:08
  Speaker 2: one of the fishermen looks in your general direction and
• 2:21:11
  Speaker 2: motions to his friend, who looks your way. To you
• 2:21:15
  Speaker 2: quickly realize that they're not looking at you, but at Jesus.
• 2:21:21
  Speaker 2: Both men rush to the back of the boat and
• 2:21:23
  Speaker 2: grab their paddles. They hurriedly place them just under the
• 2:21:27
  Speaker 2: surface of the water and begin rowing to shore. They're
• 2:21:31
  Speaker 2: wanting to see Jesus, and if they hurry, they will.
• 2:21:37
  Speaker 3: Up.
• 2:21:37
  Speaker 2: Ahead on your path, you spot a squirrel searching for
• 2:21:41
  Speaker 2: food within the rocks. It's cleaning its face, oblivious to
• 2:21:46
  Speaker 2: the crowd around it. You hear a joyful child's voice
• 2:21:51
  Speaker 2: commenting on the squirrel's bushy tail and furry ears. All
• 2:21:55
  Speaker 2: of a sudden, the squirrel dashes away from you and
• 2:21:58
  Speaker 2: toward the front of the crowd. Perhaps it's chasing an insect,
• 2:22:03
  Speaker 2: or maybe it's just like those fishermen, and it wants
• 2:22:06
  Speaker 2: to see Jesus too. A few minutes have passed and
• 2:22:12
  Speaker 2: Jesus has led everyone to a hill overlooking the Sea
• 2:22:16
  Speaker 2: of Galilee. It's filled with large and small boulders alike,
• 2:22:21
  Speaker 2: with green grass growing everywhere else, please gather around. He
• 2:22:26
  Speaker 2: tells the crowd. He's sitting halfway up the hill on
• 2:22:30
  Speaker 2: a large flat rock underneath a tall juniper tree. The
• 2:22:36
  Speaker 2: hill is spacious enough to give everyone plenty of room.
• 2:22:40
  Speaker 2: Just as important, it's quiet enough so that anyone in
• 2:22:43
  Speaker 2: the crowd can hear. You. Find a small boulder to
• 2:22:48
  Speaker 2: sit on to listen to Jesus. He's about seven long
• 2:22:52
  Speaker 2: steps directly in front of you. Although the twelve Disciples
• 2:22:56
  Speaker 2: are the closest to Jesus. Peter is sting on her
• 2:23:00
  Speaker 2: rock to your right. He's laughing and talking to Andrew,
• 2:23:04
  Speaker 2: his brother. Jesus is patient. As everyone continues to find
• 2:23:08
  Speaker 2: a place to sit, an older woman sits down to
• 2:23:12
  Speaker 2: your left in an empty spot of green grass. She
• 2:23:16
  Speaker 2: appears to be in her sixties, and she begins chatting
• 2:23:20
  Speaker 2: her husband. She tells you is a farmer. Things have
• 2:23:24
  Speaker 2: been tight lately during the drought. Her brow is filled
• 2:23:28
  Speaker 2: with wrinkles. She looks anxious. It hasn't rained in days.
• 2:23:33
  Speaker 2: She says, I'm worried. She asks you if you think
• 2:23:38
  Speaker 2: Jesus is the Messiah. You smile at her and give
• 2:23:42
  Speaker 2: an approving nod. A hush quickly falls over the crowd.
• 2:23:47
  Speaker 2: Jesus is speaking. Blessed are the poor in spirit, he says,
• 2:23:53
  Speaker 2: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those
• 2:23:57
  Speaker 2: who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek,
• 2:24:02
  Speaker 2: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who
• 2:24:06
  Speaker 2: hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• 2:24:11
  Speaker 2: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed
• 2:24:17
  Speaker 2: are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• 2:24:22
  Speaker 2: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons
• 2:24:25
  Speaker 2: of God. Blessed are you when others revile you and
• 2:24:30
  Speaker 2: persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you
• 2:24:34
  Speaker 2: falsely on my account, Rejoice and be glad, for your
• 2:24:39
  Speaker 2: reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the
• 2:24:43
  Speaker 2: prophets who were before you. You are the salt of
• 2:24:48
  Speaker 2: the earth. But if salt has lost its taste, how
• 2:24:52
  Speaker 2: shall its saltiness be restored. It is no longer good
• 2:24:56
  Speaker 2: for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under
• 2:24:59
  Speaker 2: people's feet. You are the light of the world. A
• 2:25:04
  Speaker 2: city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do
• 2:25:08
  Speaker 2: people light a lamp and put it under a basket,
• 2:25:11
  Speaker 2: but on a stand, and it gives light to all
• 2:25:14
  Speaker 2: in the house. In the same way, let your light
• 2:25:18
  Speaker 2: shine before others, so that they may see your good
• 2:25:22
  Speaker 2: works and give glory to your father, who is in heaven.
• 2:25:27
  Speaker 2: Jesus has been speaking for about fifteen minutes. You're struck
• 2:25:32
  Speaker 2: by his calm demeanor, his knowledge of scripture, his love
• 2:25:36
  Speaker 2: for the people. Above all, You're struck by his wisdom.
• 2:25:41
  Speaker 2: He's unlike any rabbi you've seen. His words seem as
• 2:25:44
  Speaker 2: if they're straight from God himself. Your mind begins drifting
• 2:25:51
  Speaker 2: as you think about Jesus' role in your life. A
• 2:25:54
  Speaker 2: thousand questions swirl in your head. If Jesus is the Messiah,
• 2:25:59
  Speaker 2: then what does that mean for your future? What does
• 2:26:03
  Speaker 2: it mean for your people? Is he the answer to
• 2:26:06
  Speaker 2: every problem in your life? Is he God? Suddenly Jesus
• 2:26:14
  Speaker 2: looks straight at you and smiles. He continues preaching, But
• 2:26:20
  Speaker 2: you think to yourself, was he reading my mind? Did
• 2:26:24
  Speaker 2: he know what I was thinking? Whatever the case, you
• 2:26:29
  Speaker 2: continue listening. No one can serve two masters, Jesus says,
• 2:26:35
  Speaker 2: for you will hate one and love the other. You
• 2:26:38
  Speaker 2: will be devoted to one and despise the other. You
• 2:26:42
  Speaker 2: cannot serve both God and money. That is why I
• 2:26:46
  Speaker 2: tell you not to worry about everyday life, whether you
• 2:26:50
  Speaker 2: have enough food and drink or enough clothes to wear.
• 2:26:55
  Speaker 2: Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing.
• 2:26:59
  Speaker 2: Look at the births, he says, putting to a few
• 2:27:02
  Speaker 2: sparrows on the tree limbs above him. It don't plant
• 2:27:06
  Speaker 2: or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly
• 2:27:10
  Speaker 2: Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to
• 2:27:14
  Speaker 2: him than they are? Can all your worries at a
• 2:27:18
  Speaker 2: single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing?
• 2:27:24
  Speaker 2: Jesus says, pointing to the valley below. They don't work
• 2:27:29
  Speaker 2: or make their clothing. Yet Solomon, in all his glory,
• 2:27:33
  Speaker 2: was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if
• 2:27:36
  Speaker 2: God cares so wonderfully for wild flowers that are here
• 2:27:39
  Speaker 2: today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly
• 2:27:44
  Speaker 2: care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
• 2:27:50
  Speaker 2: So don't worry about these things, saying what will we eat,
• 2:27:55
  Speaker 2: what will we drink?
• 2:27:56
  Speaker 3: What will we wear?
• 2:27:58
  Speaker 2: These things dominate the thing thoughts of unbelievers, But Your
• 2:28:02
  Speaker 2: heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom
• 2:28:08
  Speaker 2: of God above all else, and live righteously, and he
• 2:28:13
  Speaker 2: will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow,
• 2:28:18
  Speaker 2: for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is
• 2:28:23
  Speaker 2: enough for today. An hour has passed, Jesus has finished preaching.
• 2:28:33
  Speaker 2: He and his disciples are huddled together further up the hill,
• 2:28:36
  Speaker 2: about twenty paces from you. Straight ahead, some of Jesus'
• 2:28:41
  Speaker 2: followers have walked back to their villages. Others, though, are
• 2:28:45
  Speaker 2: still gathered on the hillside, and groups of two or
• 2:28:48
  Speaker 2: three discussing this sermon on the mountain. The elderly woman
• 2:28:54
  Speaker 2: who sat to your left is one of those who
• 2:28:56
  Speaker 2: has hung around. She's smiling now. Her has radically changed.
• 2:29:02
  Speaker 2: She's no longer worrying. She approaches you with tears of
• 2:29:06
  Speaker 2: joy and shouts, the Lord will provide, The Lord will
• 2:29:10
  Speaker 2: take care of us. She points to the western horizon.
• 2:29:15
  Speaker 2: A storm is building, A cool wind is blowing your direction.
• 2:29:21
  Speaker 2: Much needed rain is on the way. You look up
• 2:29:26
  Speaker 2: at Jesus and his followers, who are also looking at
• 2:29:30
  Speaker 2: the growing storm. He briefly glances down at you and smiles.
• 2:29:37
  Speaker 2: Tears of joy stream down your face as you recall
• 2:29:40
  Speaker 2: Jesus' words.
• 2:29:42
  Speaker 3: Look at the birds.
• 2:29:44
  Speaker 2: They don't plant or harvest or store food and barns,
• 2:29:48
  Speaker 2: for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far
• 2:29:52
  Speaker 2: more valuable to him than they are? Can all your
• 2:29:56
  Speaker 2: worries at a single moment to your life? And why
• 2:30:00
  Speaker 2: worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the
• 2:30:04
  Speaker 2: field and how they grow it don't work or make
• 2:30:08
  Speaker 2: their clothing. Yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not
• 2:30:13
  Speaker 2: dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares
• 2:30:17
  Speaker 2: so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown
• 2:30:20
  Speaker 2: into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.
• 2:30:26
  Speaker 3: Seek the Kingdom.
• 2:30:27
  Speaker 2: Of God above all else, and live righteously, and He
• 2:30:32
  Speaker 2: will give you everything you need. As we transition back
• 2:30:39
  Speaker 2: to the present day, let's meditate on Jesus promise to
• 2:30:43
  Speaker 2: his followers. As you relax and fall asleep, listen again
• 2:30:48
  Speaker 2: to the words of Christ. I will pray for you
• 2:30:50
  Speaker 2: throughout the passage. Remember God will provide for your every need.
• 2:30:58
  Speaker 2: Jesus said, do not worry worry about everyday life, whether
• 2:31:02
  Speaker 2: you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.
• 2:31:07
  Speaker 2: Isn't life more than food? In your body more than clothing.
• 2:31:11
  Speaker 2: Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or
• 2:31:15
  Speaker 2: store food and barns. For your heavenly Father feeds them.
• 2:31:20
  Speaker 2: And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?
• 2:31:24
  Speaker 2: Can all your worries at a single moment to your life?
• 2:31:28
  Speaker 2: And why worry about your clothing?
• 2:31:32
  Speaker 3: Let me pray for you. Father.
• 2:31:36
  Speaker 2: Your word tells us that we are more important than
• 2:31:38
  Speaker 2: the birds of the air. Genesis even says we are
• 2:31:42
  Speaker 2: the pinnacle of creation. That's because we are made in
• 2:31:46
  Speaker 2: your image. You sent your son to earth to die
• 2:31:50
  Speaker 2: for the sins of humanity. We affirm your word. I
• 2:31:55
  Speaker 2: pray for peace for this child of God. As they
• 2:31:58
  Speaker 2: fall asleep, Jesus said, look at the lilies of the
• 2:32:04
  Speaker 2: field and how they grow.
• 2:32:06
  Speaker 3: They don't work or make their clothing.
• 2:32:09
  Speaker 2: Yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not dressed as
• 2:32:12
  Speaker 2: beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully
• 2:32:17
  Speaker 2: for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the
• 2:32:20
  Speaker 2: fire tomorrow, you will certainly care for you. Why do
• 2:32:26
  Speaker 2: you have some little fag So don't worry about these things?
• 2:32:31
  Speaker 2: Saying what will we eat, what will we drink? What
• 2:32:35
  Speaker 2: will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers.
• 2:32:41
  Speaker 2: But your heavenly Father already knows.
• 2:32:43
  Speaker 3: All your needs.
• 2:32:47
  Speaker 2: Father, God, we know you care for your creation. You
• 2:32:52
  Speaker 2: are the master artist. The birds of the air, and
• 2:32:56
  Speaker 2: the lilies of the field, and the colorful wildflowers, they're
• 2:33:01
  Speaker 2: all just a small part of your masterpiece. They don't
• 2:33:05
  Speaker 2: plant or harvest or restore food, and yet you take
• 2:33:09
  Speaker 2: care of them. They're never worried or anxious, and yet
• 2:33:14
  Speaker 2: you always provide for them. Your word tells us you
• 2:33:18
  Speaker 2: already know our every need. We praise you for who
• 2:33:23
  Speaker 2: you are, promise, keeper and provider.
• 2:33:27
  Speaker 3: We love you.
• 2:33:29
  Speaker 2: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
• 2:33:35
  Speaker 2: and He will give you everything you need. So don't
• 2:33:38
  Speaker 2: worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
• 2:33:43
  Speaker 2: Today's trouble is enough for today.
• 2:33:48
  Speaker 3: Father.
• 2:33:49
  Speaker 2: We lay our burdens before you, and we thank you
• 2:33:52
  Speaker 2: for everything you have given us. I ask that you
• 2:33:56
  Speaker 2: will grant this child of yours a wonderful night's sleep
• 2:33:59
  Speaker 2: and pleasant drink. It's in Christ's name that I pray. Amen,
• 2:34:07
  Speaker 2: listen once again to the comforting words of Jesus, the
• 2:34:11
  Speaker 2: creator of the universe and the provider of everything you need.
• 2:34:17
  Speaker 2: That is why I tell you not to worry about
• 2:34:19
  Speaker 2: everyday life, whether you have enough food and drink or
• 2:34:23
  Speaker 2: enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food and
• 2:34:28
  Speaker 2: your body more than clothing.
• 2:34:31
  Speaker 3: Look at the birds.
• 2:34:33
  Speaker 2: They don't plant or harvest or store food and barns,
• 2:34:37
  Speaker 2: for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far
• 2:34:42
  Speaker 2: more valuable to him than they are? Can all your
• 2:34:46
  Speaker 2: worries at a single moment to your life? And why
• 2:34:50
  Speaker 2: worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the
• 2:34:55
  Speaker 2: field and how they grow. They don't work or make
• 2:34:59
  Speaker 2: their clothing. Yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not
• 2:35:03
  Speaker 2: dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares
• 2:35:07
  Speaker 2: so wonderfully for wild flowers that are here to day
• 2:35:10
  Speaker 2: and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care
• 2:35:14
  Speaker 2: for you. Why do you have so little faith? So
• 2:35:20
  Speaker 2: don't worry about these things, saying what will we eat?
• 2:35:24
  Speaker 2: What will we drink? What will we wear? These things
• 2:35:28
  Speaker 2: dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, But your heavenly Father already
• 2:35:33
  Speaker 2: knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above
• 2:35:38
  Speaker 2: all else, and live righteously, and He will give you
• 2:35:43
  Speaker 2: everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
• 2:35:48
  Speaker 2: will bring his own worries. To day's trouble is enough
• 2:35:52
  Speaker 2: for to day. The Savior of the universe is watching
• 2:35:57
  Speaker 2: over you. He's protecting you. He'll provide for your every need.
• 2:36:04
  Speaker 2: You have no reason to worry. He's taken care of
• 2:36:08
  Speaker 2: you in the past, and he'll take care of you
• 2:36:11
  Speaker 2: in the future. You are far more important to God
• 2:36:15
  Speaker 2: than the birds of the air or the lilies of
• 2:36:17
  Speaker 2: the field. You are a child of the living God,
• 2:36:22
  Speaker 2: just as a loving mother or father takes care of
• 2:36:25
  Speaker 2: a helpless infant. God will take care of you. Trust
• 2:36:32
  Speaker 2: in his promises, Rest in his peace. Let me pray
• 2:36:38
  Speaker 2: for you, dear Father. Your word tells us that when
• 2:36:43
  Speaker 2: we seek your kingdom first, you will give us everything
• 2:36:47
  Speaker 2: we need. Father, we are seeking your kingdom. We want
• 2:36:52
  Speaker 2: to know you more, We want to abide in your presence.
• 2:36:58
  Speaker 2: I asked that you will grant this precious child of
• 2:37:01
  Speaker 2: yours pleasant dreams and a peaceful night's sleep. Help them
• 2:37:06
  Speaker 2: to wake up refreshed, ready to serve you another day.
• 2:37:10
  Speaker 3: It's in Jesus name that I pray. Amen. There is
• 2:37:59
  Speaker 3: one reason we don't need to fear.
• 2:38:02
  Speaker 2: God is the Great I Am, who is always present
• 2:38:06
  Speaker 2: and never abandons us for a moment. Before we get
• 2:38:11
  Speaker 2: into the joy of this truth, take a few moments
• 2:38:14
  Speaker 2: to clear your mind, give your swirling thoughts a rest,
• 2:38:19
  Speaker 2: and breathe in God's love and goodness. Close your eyes,
• 2:38:26
  Speaker 2: take a deep breath and relax. Breathe out all the
• 2:38:32
  Speaker 2: worries of the day, and breathe then the comforting presence
• 2:38:37
  Speaker 2: of God's Holy Spirit. Let tension leave your body as
• 2:38:42
  Speaker 2: you dwell with God, certain that He loves you and
• 2:38:46
  Speaker 2: is with you now as well as through the night.
• 2:38:52
  Speaker 2: Breathe in a sense of God's presence. Exhale your fears.
• 2:39:00
  Speaker 2: Think about the fact that the mightiest being in the universe,
• 2:39:04
  Speaker 2: the Great I Am, will never leave you. Because of this,
• 2:39:11
  Speaker 2: you can say, I am not afraid. Close your eyes
• 2:39:21
  Speaker 2: to block out all distractions. Then take a deep, slow breath.
• 2:39:29
  Speaker 2: Take another as you need to, so that you feel
• 2:39:32
  Speaker 2: your body relaxing in your heart calling let your body
• 2:39:38
  Speaker 2: relax from the top of your head to the tip
• 2:39:41
  Speaker 2: of your toes. Make sure your limbs are relaxed first
• 2:39:52
  Speaker 2: John four verse eighteen sets there is no fear in love,
• 2:40:01
  Speaker 2: but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
• 2:40:06
  Speaker 2: do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
• 2:40:10
  Speaker 2: perfect in love. There is no fear in love. What
• 2:40:20
  Speaker 2: a fantastic reassurance that there is one who loves us
• 2:40:23
  Speaker 2: so much that it leaves no room for fear. Let's
• 2:40:29
  Speaker 2: talk to this amazing God, this Great I Am, who
• 2:40:34
  Speaker 2: is always in the present moment with you. Because of him,
• 2:40:40
  Speaker 2: I am not afraid. Dear Heavenly Father, the Great I Am.
• 2:40:50
  Speaker 2: We have no idea how much you love us. We
• 2:40:54
  Speaker 2: can't comprehend perfect love because we only know human love,
• 2:41:00
  Speaker 2: which can be fickle and wavering. But your love is
• 2:41:06
  Speaker 2: constant and even better, not dependent on our frailty and weakness,
• 2:41:14
  Speaker 2: but on your goodness and power. We ask for this
• 2:41:20
  Speaker 2: love to soak deep into the bones of this child
• 2:41:23
  Speaker 2: of yours, so that they will have confidence that you
• 2:41:27
  Speaker 2: always act for their good and your glory, and because
• 2:41:32
  Speaker 2: of that they will rest tonight and sleep in Jesus Christ,
• 2:41:39
  Speaker 2: the author of grace and peace. We pray Amen. The
• 2:41:48
  Speaker 2: apostle John lived with Jesus for three years. He traveled
• 2:41:53
  Speaker 2: with him everywhere and saw him do amazing things. He
• 2:42:00
  Speaker 2: saw powerful things, such as when Jesus healed the sick,
• 2:42:05
  Speaker 2: cast out demons, and raised the dead. He saw Jesus
• 2:42:09
  Speaker 2: transfigured as he talked to Moses and Elijah. These were incredible,
• 2:42:15
  Speaker 2: astounding things. But he also saw tender moments when Jesus
• 2:42:23
  Speaker 2: knelt down and talked to children, when he gave women
• 2:42:28
  Speaker 2: dignity that others in their society didn't offer them, and
• 2:42:32
  Speaker 2: when he reached out to people others despised. This must
• 2:42:38
  Speaker 2: have given John a whole new glimpse into who God is.
• 2:42:44
  Speaker 2: It's one thing to read that God is full of
• 2:42:46
  Speaker 2: loving kindness. It's another to watch Jesus live that out
• 2:42:51
  Speaker 2: in a way that was greater than any love John
• 2:42:54
  Speaker 2: had ever seen before. John was there, and when Jesus
• 2:43:01
  Speaker 2: explained to Nicodemus that God loved the world so much
• 2:43:05
  Speaker 2: that he gave us his one and only son. In
• 2:43:09
  Speaker 2: other words, and all these things, he saw Jesus amazing love.
• 2:43:19
  Speaker 2: So it makes sense that the apostle John said there
• 2:43:23
  Speaker 2: is no fear in love. God's love is so perfect
• 2:43:29
  Speaker 2: and strong that it crowds out fear, so that no
• 2:43:32
  Speaker 2: room is left for the worries of life to weigh
• 2:43:35
  Speaker 2: us down. The Great I Am is offering you freedom.
• 2:43:42
  Speaker 2: Don't go back into your prison and fear. Realize the
• 2:43:47
  Speaker 2: door is wide open and that you can walk through
• 2:43:51
  Speaker 2: into God's love and presence even as you nestled down
• 2:43:56
  Speaker 2: to sleep. You can say it aloud, I am not afraid.
• 2:44:05
  Speaker 2: How do we know God loves us? Let's go back
• 2:44:10
  Speaker 2: to the verses before verse eighteen in the New Living Translation,
• 2:44:15
  Speaker 2: First John, Chapter four, verse nine through ten says God
• 2:44:22
  Speaker 2: showed how much he loved us by sending his one
• 2:44:25
  Speaker 2: and only son into the world so that we might
• 2:44:28
  Speaker 2: have eternal life through him. This is real love, not
• 2:44:35
  Speaker 2: that we loved God, but that he loved us and
• 2:44:39
  Speaker 2: sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
• 2:44:45
  Speaker 2: As I read it again, listen to how this passage
• 2:44:50
  Speaker 2: defines real love. God showed us how much he loved
• 2:44:54
  Speaker 2: us by sending his one and only son into the
• 2:45:00
  Speaker 2: world so that we might have eternal life through him.
• 2:45:06
  Speaker 2: This is real love, Not that we loved God, but
• 2:45:11
  Speaker 2: that he loved us and sent his son as a
• 2:45:14
  Speaker 2: sacrifice to take away our sins. How reassuring that the
• 2:45:49
  Speaker 2: Great I Am, the one who always was, always is,
• 2:45:54
  Speaker 2: and always will be cared about us enough to send
• 2:45:58
  Speaker 2: his son to earth for our sakes.
• 2:46:03
  Speaker 3: We didn't know what we needed, but he did.
• 2:46:08
  Speaker 2: He knew we needed a savior who would understand our
• 2:46:12
  Speaker 2: weaknesses and be able to atone for them. Therefore, I
• 2:46:18
  Speaker 2: am not afraid. And not only that, but he told
• 2:46:52
  Speaker 2: us what real love is. It's not our own feeble
• 2:46:56
  Speaker 2: efforts to love God, but that He loved us. And
• 2:47:01
  Speaker 2: because He is the Great, I am that love is
• 2:47:05
  Speaker 2: always present with us and is powerful enough to overwhelm
• 2:47:09
  Speaker 2: our fears so that we can rest in peace. Listen
• 2:47:44
  Speaker 2: to First John chapter four, verses thirteen through sixteen, which
• 2:47:51
  Speaker 2: further explains how we can count.
• 2:47:53
  Speaker 3: On this love.
• 2:47:56
  Speaker 2: And God has given us his spirit, proof that we
• 2:48:01
  Speaker 2: live in Him and He in us. Furthermore, we have
• 2:48:06
  Speaker 2: seen with our own eyes and now testify that the
• 2:48:09
  Speaker 2: Father sent his son to be the savior of the world.
• 2:48:14
  Speaker 2: All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God
• 2:48:17
  Speaker 2: have God living in them, and they live in God.
• 2:48:23
  Speaker 2: We know how much God loves us, and we have
• 2:48:26
  Speaker 2: put our trust in his love. God is love, and
• 2:48:31
  Speaker 2: all who live in love live in God, and God
• 2:48:35
  Speaker 2: lives in them. Not only did God give us his son,
• 2:48:41
  Speaker 2: but he gave us his spirit as well. This is
• 2:48:45
  Speaker 2: part of what it means that he calls himself I Am.
• 2:48:51
  Speaker 2: When John was spending those three years with Jesus, he
• 2:48:55
  Speaker 2: didn't have the Holy Spirit living in him. He had
• 2:48:58
  Speaker 2: Jesus company, which was wonderful beyond belief. But when Jesus
• 2:49:05
  Speaker 2: left the earth, he gave his people the Holy Spirit,
• 2:49:10
  Speaker 2: meaning I AM, would always be with us. John must
• 2:49:15
  Speaker 2: have lived in wonder at this. Let the magnitude of
• 2:49:19
  Speaker 2: this soap deep into your soul. The Spirit living in
• 2:49:24
  Speaker 2: you is proof that God not only loves you, but
• 2:49:29
  Speaker 2: has given his watchful care of you every moment. So
• 2:49:36
  Speaker 2: you can say with confidence, I am not afraid. We
• 2:49:43
  Speaker 2: not only have God living in us, but we live
• 2:49:47
  Speaker 2: in God. This is astounding. We get to live in
• 2:49:53
  Speaker 2: the Great I Am, the one who knows everything, sees everything,
• 2:49:59
  Speaker 2: and most of all, loves perfectly. The apostle John understood
• 2:50:05
  Speaker 2: this intimately and gave us great insight into who God is.
• 2:50:11
  Speaker 2: In the Gospel, he wrote, John calls himself the disciple
• 2:50:15
  Speaker 2: whom Jesus loved throughout the narrative, defining his very identity
• 2:50:22
  Speaker 2: by his relationship with Christ. The knowledge that Jesus loved
• 2:50:27
  Speaker 2: him became the defining point of his life that ruled
• 2:50:31
  Speaker 2: over everything and chased away his many fears. And in
• 2:50:37
  Speaker 2: this passage he doesn't merely say that God is full
• 2:50:41
  Speaker 2: of love, but that God is love. In other words,
• 2:50:48
  Speaker 2: the word love is defined by the great I Am
• 2:50:53
  Speaker 2: and is meaningless without him. So how does knowing that
• 2:51:27
  Speaker 2: God loves you help you let go of your fears?
• 2:52:01
  Speaker 2: It means that you know you have a safe place
• 2:52:03
  Speaker 2: to land, that no matter what happens to you, I
• 2:52:08
  Speaker 2: Am as surrounding you with his perfect love. Hand your
• 2:52:13
  Speaker 2: biggest fear over to God right now and bask in
• 2:52:18
  Speaker 2: His love for you. Even as you get ready to
• 2:52:21
  Speaker 2: drift into sleep, let your soul resonate with this I
• 2:52:28
  Speaker 2: am not afraid. Listen to the end of our passage
• 2:53:02
  Speaker 2: in First John chapter four, verses seventeen through eighty. And
• 2:53:09
  Speaker 2: as we live in God, our love grows more perfect,
• 2:53:14
  Speaker 2: so we will not be afraid. On the day of judgment.
• 2:53:18
  Speaker 2: We can face him with confidence because we live like
• 2:53:22
  Speaker 2: Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear,
• 2:53:27
  Speaker 2: because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid,
• 2:53:33
  Speaker 2: it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that
• 2:53:36
  Speaker 2: we have not fully experienced His perfect love. Not only
• 2:53:43
  Speaker 2: can we be free of fear in the midst of difficulty,
• 2:53:47
  Speaker 2: but we are also free from any kind of fear
• 2:53:50
  Speaker 2: of God. We don't have to be afraid of judgment
• 2:53:55
  Speaker 2: because Jesus has paid the price for us.
• 2:53:59
  Speaker 3: We don't have to be.
• 2:54:00
  Speaker 2: Afraid of any kind of punishment. If we are, we
• 2:54:05
  Speaker 2: have not experienced His perfect love. As your eyes grow sleepy,
• 2:54:12
  Speaker 2: soak up God's perfect love and really believe it.
• 2:54:16
  Speaker 3: If you wake in the night and feel.
• 2:54:18
  Speaker 2: Anxious or begin to worry about something, let I AM's
• 2:54:23
  Speaker 2: love wash over you. Let the phrase such love has
• 2:54:28
  Speaker 2: no fear fill your mind. It may even be helpful
• 2:55:02
  Speaker 2: to take a deep breath as you say as you
• 2:55:06
  Speaker 2: breathe inn say such love as you breathe out, say
• 2:55:14
  Speaker 2: has no fear. Lord, the ever present I Am, who
• 2:55:22
  Speaker 2: never leaves us for a moment, help this child of
• 2:55:26
  Speaker 2: yours truly understand that you never act outside of your love.
• 2:55:31
  Speaker 2: You always surround this beloved one with your care, and
• 2:55:35
  Speaker 2: you will never abandon them for a moment. Keep this
• 2:55:39
  Speaker 2: child of yours centered on your love so that they
• 2:55:43
  Speaker 2: can experience freedom from worrying even as they sleep soundly.
• 2:55:49
  Speaker 3: In You tonight, Amen.
• 2:56:04
  Speaker 1: I feel like when I listen to the sleep meditations
• 2:56:08
  Speaker 1: that I have a friend next to me