A Prayer for Finding God's Presence in NatureBy Lynette Kittle Bible Reading"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day" – Genesis 1:31 Listen or Read Below: All we have to do is look around at creation and be amazed. If this is the fallen version of God's creation, what must the pre-Adam fall have looked like? And not just how it looked visually but the aromas, fragrances, and freshness of every living plant and tree. It's hard for us to imagine, but in looking at what is still here, even in its fallen condition, God's creation is spectacular and reveals His presence. Romans 1:20 explains, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." We can also look up and see all that He has created, as Psalm 19:1 describes: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." God is a hands-on Creator who knows exactly how many stars there are in the sky and has named each one, too. Psalm 147:4 explains, "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." What Nature Teaches Us about GodThere is much we can learn about God's presence in nature; as Job 12:7-10 explains, it has much to teach us: "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Nature's Range of EmotionsScripture describes nature as full of emotions, things we don't often associate with the earth, trees, and plants. Psalm 96:12 says, "Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." Likewise, even rocks are able to express emotions, as Jesus says in Luke 19:40. "’I tell you,' He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'" Furthermore, Isaiah 55:12 describes how the earth and trees are able to put on what seems like a musical. "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Needless to say, there is much to learn about God's presence in nature. Keeping Nature in Godly PerspectiveNature points us to God, but many on earth through the centuries have been led astray and instead of glorifying Him through it, turned to worshipping it. Romans 1:25 warns of the danger in doing this. "They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen." Nature Suffers With UsSadly, as Romans 8:20-22 describes, nature, too, was affected and suffered from the fall of humans. "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Nature's Glorious FutureBut like God has freed us from sin's hold on us and made us new (Ephesians 4:24), He has a plan for the earth, too. As 2 Peter 3:13 explains, "But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." As the Apostle John describes, "Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea" (Revelation 21:1). Let's Pray: Dear Father,Words cannot express the awe and wonder we experience in seeing Your glorious creation here on earth. Even with the fall of humans, and its affect on nature, the splendor of Your creativity is evident. Through the earth's nature You designed, we have a glimpse of Your eternal power and divine nature, of Your amazing workmanship as Creator of the world. Help our hearts, Lord, to see Your presence in nature and to turn to You in worship with grateful hearts for the magnificence and gift of Your creation.In Jesus' name, amen. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Anastasiia Shavshyna Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today's Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV. Related Resource: Jesus Calling – Stories of Faith Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times-and they've shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.  Inspired by Sarah Young’s classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts. Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer for Finding God’s Presence in Nature – Your Daily Prayer – October 18 appeared first on GodUpdates.

October 18, 2024 Slow the Spinning and Start WinningTINA FISHER, COMPEL Pro Member Lee en español "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory." Psalm 118:14 (NLT) Right now, where I live in the U.S., it's the season of fall carnivals and county fairs. I'm all about the rides, games and food: funnel cake, cotton candy, and pretty much any charbroiled meat on a stick. Stand in line to see a life-size heifer sculpted from butter? I'm in! It reminds me of a time when life seemed simpler. In my childhood, I loved the breathtaking views from the top of the Ferris wheel. And in the padded seat of the silver Scrambler ride, my heart raced with excitement as I pulled the safety bar close and tight. I was sometimes an anxious rider. "Did it click?" I'd ask the person next to me. "I don't think I heard it click." My favorite ride on the carnival midway was the Tilt-a-Whirl, a bright red contraption consisting of individually spinning cars on a rotating platform (yes, that's two different kinds of spinning at the same time!). I think I liked it so much because it was also a ride I could somewhat control. How fast we went was not just up to the carnival guy with long hair and the hula-girl tattoo. Any seasoned fairgoer knows that to make your car rotate faster, you have to lean into the spin. That's the thrill of the ride on a three-ticket adventure. But what do we do when the whirling circumstances we find ourselves in are much more serious? When they're not just timed rides guaranteed to end soon if we keep our eyes closed and hold on tight a little longer? There is no forward motion when we lean hard and fast into drama, stress and the out-of-control conflicts in our lives. There's no victory in impulsive emotional reactions that only leave us feeling dizzy, ashamed and apologetic. But one of the greatest benefits of knowing Jesus is the way His peace, so divinely written into the pages of Scripture, can bring calm into the chaos that keeps us spinning. For me, something finally clicked when I found refuge in God's Word: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT). "I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces" (Psalm 34:4-5, NLT). Life isn't always fair ... or like a county fair. But God is not a God of fear or confusion, and we can choose to respond to the tilt and whirl of unpredictable circumstances in a way that represents Christ at work in us. We can choose to leave the spin and lean into Him. "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory" (Psalm 118:14). Dear Lord, thank You for showing me that when I truly lean into You, I can experience the amazing joy of Your presence and peace, regardless of life’s circumstances that are sometimes beyond my control. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Whether you are just getting started or have been writing for years, there's no better time to take the next step in your writing journey. For the next 24 hours, registration for COMPEL Pro is open! When you join, you’ll receive practical teachings from industry experts, a community of fellow writers to encourage you, opportunities to submit your work to top Christian publishers, and so much more. So what are you waiting for? Join Now! Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it’s also what trips you up after you’ve been burned. As you experience broken trust, sometimes you're even left asking, If God let this happen, can He even be trusted? Lysa TerKeurst, counselor Jim Cress and Dr. Joel Muddamalle understand these struggles. That’s why they’re talking about trust on this current season of the Therapy & Theology podcast. Listen to the episode "How Can I Trust God When I Don't Understand What He Allows?" here. ENGAGE Today's devotion writer, Tina Fisher, is a member of COMPEL Pro Writers Training. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 91:1-2, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'" (NIV). What's one thing you often think about until it wears you out? How can you give that to God today? Let us know in the comments - and as you do, take refuge by filling your heart and mind with God's Word that is good and lovely. And be at peace. © 2024 by Tina Fisher. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Slow the Spinning and Start Winning –  Encouragement for Today – October 18, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

With guests including Axl and Slash, for his new album maverick guitarist Michael Schenker went back to the songs he recorded first with UFO

Former President Donald Trump roasted Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats, and even told some self deprecating jokes at the Al Smith charity dinner on Thursday night. Trump made the jokes at the 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City while Harris snubbed the event, becoming the first presidential nominee to skip the dinner in decades. As the former president made remarks about the different high-profile people seated around him, he looked at NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is under federal criminal indictment, and said: “Mayor Adams, good luck with everything. They went after you.” “Oh boy, I knew that nine and a half months ago, I said, he just said something about the administration, he’s going to be indicted any moment,” he said. Trump then made a reference to his own trials that he has faced in the city, saying: “And these days, it’s really a pleasure [to go] anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance. Anytime I don’t get a subpoena, I’m very happy.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “It is a true pleasure to be with you this evening… and these days, it’s really a pleasure ANYWHERE in New York without a subpoena for my appearance.” pic.twitter.com/JykMDrMXQX — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump mentioned that it’s tradition that both Democrats and Republicans always attend the event, joking that if you don’t go, “bad things are going to happen to you from up there” he said, pointing toward Heaven. “My opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and in particular, to our great Catholic community,” Trump said as the audience cheered. “Very disrespectful.” MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28 “The last Democrat not to attend this important event was Walter Mondale, and it did not go very well for him,” he said. “He lost 49 states and he won one, Minnesota.” Trump said that the real reason Harris missed the event was that she was hunting with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who recently was widely mocked for not knowing how to operate a shotgun while claiming to be a hunter. PRESIDENT TRUMP: “My opponent feels like she does not have to be here, which is deeply disrespectful to the event and in particular to our great Catholic community — The last Democrat not to attend this important event was Walter Mondale and it did not go very well for him.” pic.twitter.com/7dwLQAeYyY — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump said if the organizers of the dinner wanted Harris to attend, they “should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would have been here guaranteed, she would have been guaranteed. She would have been okay with that.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “But if you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, I guess you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis and she would’ve been here guaranteed.” pic.twitter.com/sRBNMBOKgJ — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump then referenced a sexually suggestive video from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer earlier this week, joking that Harris was “in Michigan receiving Communion from Gretchen Whitmer. That’s not a pretty sight.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “All polls are indicating I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be, but I don’t think Kamala has given up yet. Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer.” pic.twitter.com/T8NAHcRnPm — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 “But Catholics, please don’t be too insulted by Kamala’s absence, if the Democrats really wanted to have someone not be with us this evening, they would have just sent Joe Biden,” Trump added. “You know he’s having second thoughts. You know that, right? He wants to come back,” Trump continued. “If she does any worse in the polls, they’re going to bring him back again, I think. Chuck, he’s going to do it. He’s the one that got him out. … Joe has almost disappeared from view. The only way he could be seen less is if he had a show on CNN. They had nothing. They’ve got nothing.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Joe has almost disappeared from view. The only way he could be seen less is if he had a show on CNN.” pic.twitter.com/LCFpprxxzs — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 “Right now, we have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have mental faculties of a child. It’s sad,” Trump said. “This is a person that has nothing going, no intelligence whatsoever, but enough about Kamala Harris. Let’s get on to something else.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “The fact is, we need new leadership in this country. Right now we have someone in the White House who can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have the mental faculties of a child… But enough about Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/SNDNSedqwO — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 One of Trump’s top moments from the night was when he referenced woke white men who are voting for Harris. “There’s a group called ‘White Dudes For Harris,'” Trump said. “I’m not worried about them at all, because their wives and their wive’s lovers are all voting for me, every one of those people are voting for me.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “There’s a group called “White Dudes for Harris”… but I’m not worried about them at all, because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for me.” pic.twitter.com/QWhzG1q1Sz — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump noted that Harris has plans for child care and then took a jab at her husband, Doug Emhoff, who impregnated his child’s babysitter during his first marriage. “The only piece of advice I would have for her in the event that she wins would be not to let her husband Doug anywhere near the nannies,” Trump said. “Just keep him away.” PRESIDENT TRUMP: “A major issue in this race is childcare, and Kamala has put forward a concept of a plan… The only piece of advice I would have for her in the event she wins would be not to let husband Doug anywhere near the nannies.” pic.twitter.com/dSqiwYCIYU — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 “I’m supposed to tell a few self deprecating jokes this evening,” Trump later added as the audience erupted in laughter. “So here it goes. Nope. I’ve got nothing. I’ve got nothing. There’s nothing to say. I guess I just don’t see the point of taking shots at myself when other people have been shooting at me for a hell of a long time.” Donald Trump with an assassination joke: “I guess I just don’t see the point of taking shots at myself when other people have been shooting at me for a hell of a long time…” It takes a special kind of person to find humor in such a horrible situation. pic.twitter.com/62rtoT9xDK — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 18, 2024 Trump noted that while Walz did not show up at the event, he will claim that he did — a reference to Walz being a notorious fibber. PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I’d like to thank our M.C. this evening, Jim Gaffigan. Most recently, Jim has been playing Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live. That’ll be a very short gig, Jim, but it was fun while it lasted!… Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself. But don’t worry,… pic.twitter.com/lGSUg7OeSY — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 “I used to think the Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods, but then I met Tim Walz,” Trump added. PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I used to think Democrats were crazy for saying that men have periods. But then I met Tim Walz.” pic.twitter.com/Vl92TQnfbh — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump also took a shot at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), whom he said was “here looking very glum.” “Look on the bright side, Chuck, considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president,” Trump quipped. PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum — But look on the bright side, Chuck, considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.” ?? pic.twitter.com/BjPY3YtcrZ — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024 Trump also took a crack at former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have another former New York City Mayor with us, frankly, easily the worst in our history,” Trump said. “And it’s not Michael [Bloomberg], that I can tell you.” “I’m surprised that Bill de Blasio was actually able to make it tonight, to be honest,” Trump said. “He was a terrible mayor, I don’t give a s*** if this is comedy or not. He was a terrible mayor. He did a horrible, he did a horrible job. That’s not comedy, by the way. That’s fact. But unlike the rest of New York, at least, Bill doesn’t have to worry about the criminals, they owe him big. He let them get away with a lot of stuff.” President Trump ROASTS Bill de Blasio: “I’m surprised that Bill de Blasio was able to make it tonight. He was a terrible mayor. I don’t give a shit if this is comedy or not. He was a terrible mayor. He did a horrible job.” pic.twitter.com/TqV9KZ0VtH — Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 18, 2024

All we have to do is look around at creation and be amazed. If this is the fallen version of God’s creation, what must the pre-Adam fall have looked like?