Use Your Words Wisely The words of the reckless pierce like swords‚ but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18 Several years ago‚ a professor at the University of Pennsylvania was known for giving boring‚ cliché-ridden lectures. At the beginning of one semester‚ an innovative class breathed new life into his course by assigning baseball plays to each overused phrase. For example‚ "on the other hand" was a base hit; "by the same token" was a strikeout; "and so on" was a stolen base. Divided into two teams by the center aisle of the lecture hall‚ the students throughout the term played inning after inning of silent but vigorous baseball. On the last day of class‚ the impossible happened – the score was tied‚ the bases were loaded‚ and the batter hit a home run! The winning team stood and cheered wildly. Though deeply appreciative‚ the professor was quoted later as having wondered why only one-half of the students had been enthusiastic about his lectures. It's easy to forget about the effect our words have on others. They can lift up‚ tear down‚ or as many of the professor's students learned‚ bore to death. The Bible treats the tongue as the most powerful organ in the body. Something that can do great good but also something that can do great damage. Your words have the power to breathe life into someone's day. People are listening‚ and God's entrusted you to speak. So‚ how will you use your words today? Prayer Challenge:  Ask God to give you the discipline to use your words wisely. Pray that what comes out of your mouth would draw others nearer to Christ. Questions for Thought: Who are some people in your life that you could encourage today with your words? Are there times when choosing not to speak can be as devastating as saying something hurtful? Why do you think that is? Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Use Your Words Wisely – Senior Living – April 3 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for Choosing to Believe God Is GoodBy Brooke McGlothlin "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good‚ for those who are called according to his purpose." – Romans 8:28 An absolute bundle of nervous energy‚ she sat across from me in the small counseling room‚ trying to wrap her mind around the positive pregnancy test confirmed on the sheet of paper in front of her. Her stress had everything to do with her stage of life and the total and radical shifting of priorities and plans a new baby meant. Instead of the freedoms of retirement calling her name‚ long‚ sleepless nights‚ tantrums‚ diapers‚ and the realities and risks of being an older mom now loomed in the not-so-distant future. She'd been living happily in one reality‚ and now a new one inserted itself into her life without permission...or so she thought. "I've never been a fan of...well...that option..." she said‚ "but I just don't know if I can do this again. What if something's wrong with the baby? What if it affects my health negatively? What if having this baby makes it harder for me to take care of the children I already have?" These were the questions plaguing her‚ and I understood completely. With only a few years between us‚ I knew that her fears would be my exact fears were I to find myself pregnant and expecting a child in my mid-forties. As I listened to her rattle off statistics about all of the things that could possibly go wrong‚ a small question began to form in my mind. When she paused to take a breath‚ I looked at her and quietly asked: "Do you believe God is good?" As a professing Christian‚ she quickly said yes. But then I asked her a follow-up question: "If the very worst possible scenario were to happen with this pregnancy‚ would you still believe God is good and that His plans for you are good?" And then she began to cry. Romans 8:28 is a familiar and beloved verse to Christians around the world. Most of us can quote it word-for-word and often do‚ especially when things don't seem all that good. I remind myself frequently that the words "all things" really do mean all things. God works the good‚ the bad‚ and the ugly together for our good when we belong to Him. But it isn't really the words "all things" that I struggle with about this verse. No‚ if I'm honest‚ I struggle with another word entirely: "good." Most of the time‚ I have to face the fact that what I define as good may or not be what God defines as good‚ and sometimes it takes what seems bad in the moment to produce a greater good God wants to work in my life for His glory. Let's pray: Father‚ I believe You're good and that Your plans for me are good‚ but in the heat of the moment‚ I often confuse my definition of good with Yours. Help me to see the circumstances of my life through the lens of Your Word and to remember that I can trust You no matter what comes my way. Make me confident in Your goodness so that I can live in a way that others see You in me. In Jesus' Name‚ amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PhotoAlto/EricAudras Brooke McGlothlin is the Founder of Million Praying Moms‚ Host of the Million Praying Moms podcast‚ and author of seven books‚ three of which hit the ECPA bestseller list. Her latest‚ Everyday Prayers for Peace and Praying Mom: Making Prayer the First and Best Response to Motherhood‚ speaks to the power of a life partner with God in prayer. She's a wife of 20+ years and mom to two teenage boys who make their home in the mountains of Appalachia‚ calling southwestern Virginia home. 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! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Choosing to Believe God Is Good – Your Daily Prayer – April 3 appeared first on GodUpdates.

April 3‚ 2024 Trusting Jesus in the Midst of Broken DreamsKAT SHULTIS  Lee en español "Then Jesus said‚ ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe‚ you will see the glory of God?'" John 11:40 (NIV) One afternoon‚ after a doctor's appointment‚ I sobbed in my closet. It was my third season in a row as an elite runner with a new injury‚ and I was seeing many doctors each week to figure out my health issues. My body was failing me‚ so I felt like a failure‚ even though I was working harder than ever to be healthy and happy again. It felt like all of my dreams for the future were crashing to the ground‚ along with who I thought I was. My dad‚ who had heard me downstairs‚ came and sat with me in the closet‚ empathy in his eyes. "Why me?" I asked him. "Why do I have to go through this?" He replied‚ "I don't know why‚ but throughout the Bible‚ God allowed His closest friends to experience pain." Then he reminded me of the story of Lazarus. Lazarus and his sisters‚ Mary and Martha‚ loved the Lord intimately. But when Lazarus got sick‚ the Gospel of John tells us Jesus waited days before going to Judea‚ and by then Lazarus had died. "When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping‚ and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping‚ he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (John 11:33‚ NIV). Jesus was moved by others' tears even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus had told His disciples verses before‚ "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up" (John 11:11‚ NIV). But He physically wept with the sisters before He performed the miracle. "‘Where have you laid him?' he asked. ‘Come and see‚ Lord‚' they replied. Jesus wept" (John 11:34-35‚ NIV). By raising Lazarus to life‚ Jesus brought much glory to God. "Did I not tell you that if you believe‚ you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). That day in my closet‚ I battled to surrender my will. My desire for my running dreams to come true felt stronger than my desire to trust God. God was walking me through something deeply painful‚ but I just kept asking Him for a pain-free life. Eventually I realized that while I didn't want hard things‚ I wanted God's will for my life and for Him to receive glory more than anything else. So I asked Him to lead me where I would need to fully trust Him‚ where I could not walk on my own. Since that day‚ I've experienced a deepening sense of God's goodness‚ kindness and love. God was always doing something in my life; I just had to trust Him enough to stay with Him through the storms. I'm praying you‚ too‚ can enter into this kind of trust even in your pain and disappointment. May we give our lowest for His highest. God‚ thank You for loving us. Sometimes we must surrender things in our lives before You raise up something beautiful. Amid the hardships of this life‚ we say‚ "Lord‚ come." We ask You to be with us in the brokenness we cannot understand. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS How do you set your eyes on heaven when your life has not turned out as planned? How do you walk through hard seasons of disappointment and learn to heal? Kat Shultis goes deep into discussing our identity in Christ - and how we can rely on Him for comfort‚ peace and purpose in all circumstances - in her book My Lowest for His Highest. You will learn to dance upon life's disappointment and come out stronger on the other side. ENGAGE For more real-life encouragement‚ join Kat over on Instagram. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalms 62:8‚ "Trust in him at all times‚ you people; pour out your hearts to him‚ for God is our refuge" (NIV). When was the last time you asked God to bring you peace in a trying circumstance and took a second to breathe before turning to anxiety first? What is one thing you can do today to surrender and trust God's timing and plan in your circumstances? Share in the comments! © 2024 by Kat Shultis. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Trusting Jesus in the Midst of Broken Dreams –  Encouragement for Today – April 3‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1559 - Spain and France sign 2nd Treaty of Le Cateau-Cambrésis 1856 - Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes badly damaged by gunpowder explosion‚ kills 4‚000 on island of Rhodes 1868 - A Hawaiian surfs on highest wave ever - a 50-foot tidal wave 1925 - Netherlands and Belgium sign accord of Westerschelde 1948 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Richard Button 1969 - Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces that the United States will start a policy of "Vietnamization"‚ reducing American involvement 1986 - Maureen O'Boyle (future host of "A Current Affair") is raped 2016 - ANA Inspiration Women's Golf‚ Mission Hills CC: Lydia Ko of New Zealand wins by 1 from Charley Hull and Chun In-gee for her second major title 2019 - Ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak goes on trial for the 1MDB corruption scandal in Kuala Lumpur‚ pleads not guilty 2022 - Return engagement of David Byrne's musical revue "American Utopia" closes at St. James Theatre‚ NYC‚ after 134 performances More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1312 - 2nd council of Vienna‚ Knights Templars suppressed 1969 - Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announces that the United States will start a policy of "Vietnamization"‚ reducing American involvement 1977 - Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's 1st meeting with US President Jimmy Carter 2006 - 68th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Florida beats UCLA‚ 73-57; Gators first title; center Joakim Noah named tournament Most Outstanding Player 2013 - 50 people are killed by flooding across Argentina 2017 - Bomb on St Petersburg metro kills 11‚ 2nd bomb defused More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1904 - Sally Rand‚ American burlesque dancer‚ vedette‚ and actress known for her ostrich feather fan and balloon bubble dances‚ born in Elkton‚ Missouri (d. 1979) 1914 - Katherine Stammers Menzies‚ English doubles tennis player (Wimb 1935)‚ born in St Albans‚ England (d. 2005) 1930 - Max Frankel‚ American journalist (Tables of Id of Organic Compounds)‚ born in Gera‚ Germany 1934 - Jane Goodall‚ British primatologist‚ anthropologist‚ and writer (Through a Window: My Thirty Years With the Chimpanzees of Gombe)‚ born in Hampstead‚ London‚ England 1964 - Nigel Farage‚ British politician and leader of the UKIP who campaigned for Brexit‚ born in Downe‚ Kent 1980 - Trevor Moore‚ American actor and comedian (The Whitest Kids U' Know)‚ born in Montclair‚ New Jersey More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 628 - Khosrow II‚ Sāsānian King of Persia (579-628)‚ murdered by his son Kavad at about 57 1822 - Friedrich Justin Bertuch‚ German publisher and patron‚ dies at 74 1983 - Danny Rapp‚ American pop singer (Danny and The Juniors - "At The Hop")‚ takes his own life at 41 2003 - Homer Banks‚ American singer and songwriter ("Be What You Are")‚ dies at 61 2003 - Michael Kelly‚ American journalist (b. 1957) 2010 - Dusan Radic‚ Serbian composer‚ dies at 80 More Famous Deaths »

Review &; photos by Charlie Steffens Don’t pinch me. I’m Irish! The spacious grounds of Oak Canyon Park‚ a pleasant venue nestled in the Santa Ana Mountains of eastern Orange County was the site for the first date of Flogging Molly’s inaugural Shamrock Rebellion. As a pre-Saint Paddy’s Day beer and music festival‚ it was destined to be an all-out day of fun with a boat load of green-wearing people that thronged the grounds. The second and final date of Shamrock Rebellion would happen the next day in Las Vegas on St. Patrick’s Day. VintageRock.com was there to see four bands perform‚ but missed the free beer tasting with the brew supplied by the local breweries. Face to Face‚ a band from Victorville‚ California‚ played a 45-minute set that was so good it merited a 30-minute extension. By the first chorus of their opener “A-OK”‚ a swift-moving circle pit had started as fast punk rock songs ensued. Bassist Scott Shiflett is a standout player who laid down a heavy groove and rolled out punchy basslines in fast tempo. He and drummer Danny Thompson are an amazing rhythm duo. Props to singer and guitarist Trever Keith who engaged the crowd like a true emcee. The quintet exhibited exemplary musicianship‚ while keeping it reckless and appealing to a crowd who came to get rocked. Buzzcocks‚ elder statesmen from the first wave of English punk‚ took it to pieces‚ giving their audience recognizable songs like “Fast Cars‚” “Orgasm Addict‚” “Ever Fallen In Love (You Shouldn’t’ve)‚ and ones that old fans might have chosen for the setlist. The band certainly drew in new fans that day‚ since there were Baby Boomers‚ Gen Xers‚ Gen Ys‚ Gen Zs‚ all the way down to toddlers riding on their parents’ shoulders. Buzzcocks are punk rock in the purest sense and synonymous with fun. Frank Turner and his band‚ The Sleeping Souls‚ came onstage as the sun began to set. The energy was palpable as the crowd‚ many of whom were singing and dancing‚ experienced an all-out rock show. FTATSS played an assortment of old and new songs from Turner’s extensive catalog‚ including “Girl From The Record Shop‚” a catchy song from the forthcoming Frank Turner album Undefeated. The last song‚ “Four Simple Words‚” was the finest six minutes of the whole festival — a super-charged rock and roll song with a show tune-like intro and ending. Flogging Molly opened with “Drunken Lullabies‚” appropriate for the festive atmosphere. Before Molly kicked into “Life In a Tenement Square‚” singer and guitarist Dave King‚ a compelling storyteller‚ spoke of his childhood days in Ireland‚ which inspired the song. The band proceeded to rock Shamrock Rebellion‚ capping off the night with “The Seven Deadly Sins.” The seven-piece folk punk band‚ fronted by King‚ performed a generous set of favorites that had the crowd singing along deep into the night. The post Flogging Molly’s Shamrock Rebellion | March 16‚ 2024 | Oak Canyon Park | Silverado‚ CA – Concert Review &; Concert Photos first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell were not Emerson‚ Lake &; Palmer. But they came close and should have been bigger. The three-CD Complete Collection from Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell pays tribute to a band that passed by too quickly‚ was initially unfairly compared‚ but featured its own sound‚ and sadly‚ all passed on. Included here is the version of ELPowell’s only studio album‚ Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell‚ released in 1986‚ with three bonus tracks‚ their Live In Concert and a CD of rehearsals called The Sprocket Session. This last only ever released as a bootleg. From the opening of “The Score‚” it is as evident how spectacular a remastering engineer Andy Peace did here as much as how solid this album is. Surely‚ Powell is a heavy hitter‚ heavier in his way than Carl Palmer‚ that ‘other’ drummer keyboardist Keith Emerson and bassist‚ guitarist‚ and vocalist Greg Lake famously played with. But he tends to drive the guys along in a way‚ maybe with less finesse‚ but no less rockin’. I had occasion to speak to Powell after he played a set with Brian May on one of the stops of May’s solo tour. Powell‚ known for wailing away with some of the thickest sticks in the business‚ told me that although he had gotten used to drumming with the big logs they still took lots of energy to wield. A nicer guy you never would have met. The first tunes here‚ “The Score‚” “Learning To Fly‚” “The Miracle‚” and even the poppy “Touch And Go” surely get Emerson‚ Lake‚ and Powell chugging along nicely. I hadn’t spun this album in quite a few years and was surprised how solid these songs were. Lake’s voice is rich throughout‚ spectacular on “Lay Down Your Guns‚” especially. Emerson is his usually finger-fleeting powerhouse‚ laying down various synth lead lines‚ heavy organ‚ and a sly piano on “Step Aside.” Powell gets his solo turn on “Mars‚ The Bringer Of War‚” as he would in high dramatic style when the band played this instrumental live. B-sides “The Loco-Motion” and “Vacant Possession” are included on the first CD‚ as is a single edit of “The Score.” The Sprocket Sessions disc features a dozen tunes‚ Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell songs as well as Emerson‚ Lake‚ and Palmer. Here the trio works through rehearsals of what would come to be their live set when they toured. The last disc‚ Live In Concert features Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell playing a dozen tunes in front of an audience. Although this is the one disc here where the sound quality is not the very best‚ thought I find Lake’s bass too upfront in the mix at times. It’s a great time capsule moment of what this band was capable of live. This is a slightly truncated version of the full show this trio perform at Madison Square Garden in September 1986‚ and the end medley of “Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression)‚” “America‚” and “Rondo‚” was pretty much the encore of the show they were performing at the time. Opening with the first horn bleats of “Fanfare For The Common Man‚” which is played later in full in this set‚ “The Score‚” opens this live collection of 11‚ with two Lake acoustic numbers in the middle‚ ELP stuff like “Knife Edge‚” “Pirates‚” and‚ “Mars‚ The Bringer of War / Drum Solo.” Fans of Keith Emerson‚ Greg Lake‚ Cozy Powell‚ and even ELP‚ do wonder what would have happened if Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell did indeed go on to make more albums. The question is just another one of those ‘what-might-have-beens’ in the touch-and-go world of vintage rock. ~ Ralph Greco‚ Jr. The post Emerson‚ Lake &; Powell | Complete Collection – Box Set Review first appeared on VintageRock.com.

Metallica changed the rules with their second album‚ Ride The Lightning. It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world would play along