October 10, 2024 What Is the Source of My Discernment?LYSA TERKEURST Lee en español "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17 (NIV) I would consider myself a discerning person, but I know there can be a big difference between a "gut feeling" and authentic discernment from the Holy Spirit. We don't want to immediately assume what we are feeling or thinking is true or call it "discernment" without checking the source. Because let's be real: Sometimes our feelings are driven by fear, not wisdom. To give a personal example, there was a time when my unchecked skepticism from past hurt and betrayal started leaking into my other relationships. I wondered if my very best friends might one day turn on me. I even said to some of them, "Sometimes I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the day when things fall apart with us." None of this was based on any history of betrayal with these friends. The source that was informing me and strongly influencing my thoughts was my past trauma - my lived experience of being so deeply betrayed and my fear of being hurt again. This wasn't discernment from the Holy Spirit: It was fear and skepticism and my own assumption that something was always going on beneath the surface that would eventually hurt me. Just because it felt like my reality didn't mean it was the reality. But my feelings were so intense that I was living in a self-reliant, protective mode rather than trusting God to lead me. So I knew I needed to work on disconnecting my discernment from my extreme fears and reconnecting it to the Holy Spirit. Because the source of our discernment is crucial. Just like when you are depending on your GPS to help you properly navigate the best route to your desired destination, spiritual directions will only be good if you have the right address keyed in. Having the correct directions depends on having the right address from the right source. Bad source, wrong address, wrong destination. However, the gift of discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit helps us rightly navigate life and the situations we face. Our brains are always instinctively processing what's in front of us and trying to send our central nervous systems a warning if we aren't safe. But here's what is so challenging ... We don’t always know all the facts. That's where discernment comes in. Discernment is what fills in the gaps between the facts so we can make more informed decisions. So you can see how crucial it is that we have the right source if we want to have wise discernment. In fact, this is exactly what James 3:17 reminds us: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (emphasis added). In today's world, there are a lot of sources people turn to. But if we want true wisdom feeding our discernment, then we can't underestimate the need to consistently go to the source of Truth: God's Word. Recently, I heard my friend and fellow Bible teacher Wendy Blight give a beautiful message on changing the source of her discernment. In her early adult years, the source of her discernment was fear because of a violent attack she suffered. For years she couldn't sleep in her house alone. No matter what she did, this spirit of fear dictated so much about her life and seemingly wouldn't go away. But things changed when she started filling her mind with specific Bible verses combating the fear. She wrote these truths from God's Word on cards she carried with her and constantly declared them over her life. As the Truth filled her mind more and more, her discernment about her safety changed. Eventually, though it had tormented her for years, this spirit of fear left. I was so inspired by Wendy's teaching that I decided to attack some of my current struggles the same way. I need to let God's Word be the guide to wisdom so I can have better discernment. Not just "discernment" based on my fears or assumptions or misguided guesses. In the past, I have at times felt like my discernment failed me. I've said things like, "Why didn't I pick up on this sooner? Why was I so blind to what seemed so obvious to others? If only I would have listened to my inner sense that this wasn't right. I knew I shouldn't have believed that person." Maybe you have felt like I have. But, friend, please know: Walking by the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit doesn't mean you're always going to hear God’s voice very clearly, nor does it mean you will always get this right. Discernment rarely gives details. But it does mean you can still position yourself to receive godly guidance and read God's Word. As you honor God while you seek discernment, even if you don't get it all right, at least you're honoring God in the process. Lord, I come to You today to ask for Your wisdom and guidance. I want to live as someone who is led by the Holy Spirit. Most of all, may I find rest and peace for my soul in Your never-changing Truth that sets me free. God, You are the God of all Truth and the One who is the most trustworthy. I love You. I need You. I honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS How can you experience the spiritual progress you've been longing for? That's one of the reasons why Circle 31 Book Club exists! Through carefully vetted books, Circle 31 will challenge your thinking, deepen your faith, and lead you to take action based on what you learn. Their next pick is I Want to Trust You, but I Don't by Lysa TerKeurst, starting November 1. So get your copy, and join the Circle! ENGAGE Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (NIV). How has wisdom and discernment played a role in your life? What is something you need God's wisdom for today? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post What Is the Source of My Discernment? –  Encouragement for Today – October 10, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Tales of the first true progressive rock album, from two of the men who made it

On Wednesday night, the raging winds of Hurricane Milton ripped parts of the fabric of the roof off of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The beams of the roof were still in place. Roof is gone at Tropicana Field #milton #rays Video by: Nick Friedman@mysuncoast @WESH pic.twitter.com/VME6Um351J — Nick Burch (@PageWebber) October 10, 2024 Tropicana field is losing its roof #HurricaneMilton pic.twitter.com/z8F1HeT08f — Seth Weaver (@seth_weaver6) October 10, 2024 “First responders were staging with cots inside the stadium. There were no reported injuries,” ABC News reported. Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night with winds at 120 mph; Tampa avoided a direct hit.  By 10:30 p.m., winds from the hurricane had reached 91 mph in St. Petersburg, 105 mph at Egmont Channel, and 102 mph at Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport, WFLA reported. By midnight, almost two million Floridians across the state had lost power, PowerOutage.com reported. Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Devil Rays, is the only non-retractable domed stadium in Major League Baseball, the only year-round indoor venue in MLB. “Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service in Miami observed at least four twisters, including a ‘multi-vortex tornado,” as meteorologists reported storm surge starting to arrive along the southwestern Florida coast,” CBSD News reported. “Tornado warnings were issued for multiple cities, adding to hurricane and storm surge warnings already in place for many of those same places.” Although the hurricane had weakened from a category 5 storm to category 3 by the time it made landfall, scientist Jeff Masters told CBS News, ‘Some of the biggest catastrophes in hurricane history were from weakening storms. Katrina was weakening as it was approaching the shore and it caused $190 billion in damage. It was a Cat 3 at landfall and it was formerly a Cat 5. Well, here we have another former Cat 5 that’s going to be a Cat 3 at landfall, and the storm surge is baked in. It’s going to do unprecedented damage in this part of Florida.”

When we think of the music business, there are some artists’ iconic voices we’d know anywhere. They’ve achieved a level of international fame and recognition that only a select few will ever attain. One of the most powerful voices on earth has entertained us for decades, and she is the definition of the word incomparable. Celine Dion is an industry icon admired by fans and fellow artists. Among her biggest fans is none other than Kelly Clarkson, who recently paid tribute to Celine on her show. Kelly Clarkson Sang A Celine Dion Classic The love theme from Titanic was an instant classic and helped catapult Celine to international fame. It’s a big song that Celine performed with elegance and grace. Kelly, who also has a beautiful voice, tackled the song on her show recently, and Celine saw it. She sent the first American Idol winner a sweet video message that warmed our hearts. Kelly posted the video on X with the caption, “@celinedion, you have no idea how much you even noticing my existence means to me! Thank you so much for being such an amazing example of true passion and one of the greatest vocalists of all time that I am still, to this day, inspired by.” In the video, Celine shared with tears in her eyes, “I just saw you singing My Heart Will Go On, and I’m crying again. You were absolutely incredible. Fantastic,” she gushed. .@celinedion you have no idea how much you even noticing my existence means to me! Thank you so much for being such an amazing example of true passion and being one of the greatest vocalists of all time that I am still, to this day, inspired by pic.twitter.com/tAqJVkN9JU— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 9, 2024 Kelly shared after the clip that she performed another Celine song during her stint on Idol. She didn’t feel well that night and it was not her best performance. Having a chance to do it all over again, Kelly said 22 years later, she made her 19-year-old self proud. “I got to honor someone who is such a hero to me vocally,” she shared with a smile. This story’s featured image can be found here. The post Kelly Clarkson Covers “My Heart Will Go On” & Celine Dion Is Reduced To Literal Tears appeared first on InspireMore.

As Halloween approaches, more and more people begin to decorate their homes. While pumpkins and scarecrows often grace people’s porches, this Michigan family is taking it to an entirely different level. This family is going viral for their incredible Halloween light show. It looks like something you’d see at a theme park! Family Shares Epic Halloween Music and Light Show The family pulled out all the stops for the spooky season with their own Halloween light show. The NY Post shared a video of the incredible house on its Instagram page. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New York Post (@nypost) The entire house is decked out with purple lights that twinkle in tune with the spooky music that the family has playing. Specific lights light up depending on the lyrics as well. For example when the lyrics say, “Happy haunts materialize” little green ghosts appear on the roof. Similarly when the song says “Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,” tons of little spider-like creatures appear to be crawling over the roof. Additionally when the song says “Green grinning ghosts come out to socialize” three green ghosts from Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” appear. The lights and music from this house are so good it looks like an attraction at a theme park. Pair that with the giant skeleton and tombstones on the front yard and you have a truly spectacular display. The Internet Is In Awe The internet is loving this incredible Halloween light show. The positive comments continue to roll in. Comments like “Wow that was good” and “Wow, phenomenal” flooded the comment section. One user made a keen observation of how much power this house must be using. They commented, “Electricity bill go boom.” While we are sure that this family’s electric bill may be a bit higher this month we are still loving their display. We can only imagine how incredible this Halloween light show looks in person. The source of the featured image is here. The post Family Goes Viral For Their Epic Halloween Music And Light Show appeared first on InspireMore.

With all of the new changes happening on the Wheel Of Fortune set, a lot of people have opinions. Whether it is about the set design or the new host, people are talking. Now, Vanna White is sharing her honest opinion about the new host, Ryan Seacrest. Vanna White Shares Opinion About New Host Ryan Seacrest After one month of co-hosting the show, Vanna White is choosing to reveal her true thoughts on Ryan Seacrest. Vanna shared her thoughts with Parade. She stated, “Ryan just stepped right in. He did so much rehearsing and really cares about the show.” She hopes that fans at home can see Seacrest’s dedication. She continued by saying, “It’s going well; it really is. Ryan is a professional.” From there she shares that he is “well-liked,” “kind,” and a “down-to-earth” person. She also praises him for his work ethic. Sounds like the perfect co-host to have. Ryan Seacrest began hosting with Vanna White when he took over for long-time host Pat Sajak. Ryan made his debut as host on September 9, 2024. Why Vanna White Stayed On The Show Amid the many changes in the show, many fans wondered what made Vanna White decide to stay. She told Parade that the positivity was a huge factor in her decision to stay. Then, she shared a memory from the show that truly impacted her. She said that while watching someone win a million dollars is great, it is even better when they get to see how the show really changed people’s lives. For example, she said, “I remember now. It was after the bonus round, and the guy won a brand-new car. And he turned to Pat and said, ‘I don’t have to take the bus anymore.'” Vanna White shared how she loves watching people win and having a dramatic, positive impact on their lives. When she got the news that Ryan Seacrest was going to be the new host, Vanna White was happy. According to Parade the pair had met 20 years ago and had had nothing but positive encounters. Now as co-hosts, they are continuing to strengthen their friendship. The source of the featured image is here. The post Vanna White Shares Her Exact Opinion On Ryan Seacrest’s First Few Weeks As “Wheel Of Fortune” Host appeared first on InspireMore.

Have you experienced, or are you facing right now, some uncertain life changes? Are you dealing with feelings of fear, discontentment, or discomfort through it, like I am?