As a general rule‚ middle-aged sports commentators sound most authoritative when they comment on sports. Alas‚ when they veer into cultural topics‚ they often come across as preachy in the most cringe-inducing way. For instance‚ on &;quot;The Stephen A. Smith Show&;quot; podcast on Friday‚ host Stephen A. Smith‚ 56‚ defended...

This kid is going to be getting a lesson in the criminal justice system. Video making the rounds out of central North Carolina last week -- showing a high school student slapping a teacher in a classroom‚ twice -- should be shocking to even the most jaded critics of the...

A group of mothers are sounding alarm bells over the &;quot;darkness&;quot; they have found in the lyrics of Taylor Swift's latest hit album. The moms were seen pointing out the stream of foul language and the mature themes on Swift's latest album‚ &;quot;The Tortured Poets Department‚&;quot; which has seven explicit...

As the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump enters its second week‚ the prosecution's first witness is drawing criticism. Trump is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying documents. If convicted‚ he faces four years in prison. On Monday‚ Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called former CEO American Media...

Skin color‚ which vies with sexuality for distinction as the most tedious subject in America‚ has once again made headlines. Stephen Jackson‚ who won the 2002-03 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs and who happens to be black‚ illustrated the modern mind's toxic obsession with race when he denigrated...

The only way you can live a spiritual life Jesus answered‚ &;quot;Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again‚but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed‚ the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.&;quot; – John 4:13-14 Science tells us that the body needs‚ on average‚ about three quarts of water a day to operate efficiently. Water helps break up and soften food‚ making it the most critical chemical in the digestive process. In fact‚ the blood in your body is about 90% water and carries nutrients throughout the body. As a cooling agent‚ water regulates your temperature through perspiration. And without the lubricating properties of water‚ your joints and muscles would've worn out long ago like a piece of old rusty machinery. Water is the most vital substance for you to have physical life. In much the same way‚ the Holy Spirit of God is the single most important ingredient for you to have true spiritual life. Trying to be ‘spiritual' without the Holy Spirit makes about as much sense as trying to live without water. You simply can't do it. The Holy Spirit in your life confirms your place in heaven and empowers you to live godly each and every day. And if you're in Christ‚ He's already inside of you&;#33; Live by the Spirit each day and let Him guide you in your walk with Christ. Prayer Challenge Thank God for the Holy Spirit‚ and pray that He would help you submit to the Spirit's work in your life. Questions for Thought Why do you think so many people try to live a spiritual life in their own strength&;#63; How might your life look different if you were to submit to the Spirit in everything you do&;#63; Visit the Senior Living Ministries website Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post The Only Way You Can Live a Spiritual Life – Senior Living – April 23 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for Hope When You're Discouraged and Drained By Keri Eichberger &;quot;Taste‚ and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.&;quot; – Psalm 34:8 The weight felt heavier than usual. I sat numb during my morning prayer time that Sunday morning‚ not even sure I could muster the strength to shower for church. God gets it. He still loves me if I miss just this once. But I couldn't. I have five people counting on me to be a role model of faith‚ counting on me for absolutely everything. At least that's the recent weight I had been carrying. And the heaviness was compounding to near paralyzation.  I dragged myself to the bathroom‚ where my seemingly much lighter husband was tending to his own pre-church preparations. He casually remarked on an email he'd just opened concerning a missing assignment from one of our kid's teachers‚ but it hit me more like a bomb to the soul. Have you ever received something so small that managed to push you over the edge&;#63; A single drop of water that made the swelling balloon inside finally burst&;#63; That was it for me. A mere missing assignment. And the floodgates opened. A cry of &;quot;enough&;quot; escaped my soul and over my eyelids. Life had compounded‚ along with loads of discouraging feelings of falling short. And at last‚ I was left empty. By the help and grace of God‚ I made the choice to pick up my resistant feet and go to church anyway. And when I showed up‚ so did he. The music began‚ and I stood in song while tears returned and rolled down my cheeks. But this time‚ they were surprisingly streaked with encouragement. Tiny drops of hope released as melodies of surrender and praise poured out as I opened and turned my heart toward the Lord. What do you do when you sense the heavy weight of the world&;#63; When you become overwhelmed with discouragement or find yourself drained of all strength and left with little hope. Do you turn toward the Lord to refill your spirit and strength&;#63; I wish I could tell you that my soul did a complete 180 as the worship music and truths of God flooded my heart that Sunday morning. But that's not exactly how it happened. In fact‚ sometimes God only gives subtle nudges of hope to simply point us back to him. Small tastes of his goodness remind us where to return for our true source of hope and help. But in the same way the one bit of news about a child falling behind in school was my breaking point‚ one spec of hope and encouragement from God can initiate a swelling impact in a positive direction. Rebounding your heart with hope and offering delightful tastes of the goodness of God. Sweet blessings that lighten your load as you take refuge in him. Whether you're currently weighed down by responsibility or expectations or you're drained due to disappointment and discouragement‚ I'd like to encourage you to take one step with God. Go to church when you feel you can't offer a song of surrender and praise‚ make a list of what you're thankful for‚ memorize an encouraging Bible verse‚ or consider pausing for five minutes of prayer in the mid-afternoon. Take just one step with God. Gather small moments from him and with him when you're feeling weighed down with heavy loads. And little by little‚ day by day‚ you will taste and see that the Lord is good as his presence and promises to lift the weight and uplift you. Keep turning to him and walking hand-in-hand with him‚ and he will fuel your joy and restore your hope.  Let's pray:  Precious Lord‚ You are so full of goodness‚ mercy‚ and unfailing love. But even still‚ there is hurt and heaviness in the world. I feel it in my world. And too often‚ I allow responsibilities‚ expectations‚ and disappointments to weigh me down. I let discouragement and defeat slip in. And I become drained. Forgive me for not always turning to you. Forgive me for not always taking hold of your hand and stepping side by side with you. Lord‚ will you help me to remember to do just that&;#63; To take one step at a time‚ one day at a time‚ looking to you‚ leaning more on you‚ taking more and more delight in you and in all the beautiful things that you have to offer. Blessings that continually‚ abundantly surround me. Remind me that it is you who always lightens my load. That there is always hope in you. And remind me to taste and see that you are good. Thank you for giving me the gift of hope as I take steps with you and take refuge in you. Thank you for your goodness and faithfulness. In your gracious Son’s name‚ Jesus‚ Amen. Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/FG Trade Keri Eichberger is a Jesus-loving Kentucky girl. She is married to her best friend‚ Mike‚ and has a full house of five kids. After years of writing for an online audience‚ Keri became ordained through Southeast Christian Church‚ giving her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes‚ and has a passion for sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or Instagram. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below&;#33; Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU&;#63; Click the button below&;#33; Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Hope When You’re Discouraged and Drained – Your Daily Prayer – April 23 appeared first on GodUpdates.

April 23‚ 2024

T-Bone Walker was the man with the eye-popping live show who influenced everyone from BB King to Jimi Hendrix. And these are his best albums

A good-versus-evil concept story featuring keyboards and a nine-minute title track set the scene for records that would arrive in future decades