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THE LATE NIGHT_PODCAST

You cannot negotiate with God! While we may often find ourselves pargaining over daily transactions like fees or payment plans, God's authority remains absolute and unwavering. Psalm 119:89 reminds us that His word is unchangeable and bevond dispute. In Isaiah 55:1, we see a gracious invitation extended to those in search of salvation, underscoring that such gifts cannot be bartered or negotiated. The sacrificial death of Christ. as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. illustrates God's profound love and forgiveness, offered freely rather than as a transaction Our relationship with God should be rooted in trust and obedience, acknowledging that we possess nothing of equal worth to exchange for His blessings. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is a gift unattainable through our efforts, and attempts to negotiate often arise from adesire to control outcomes. Instead Christians are encouraged to bring their needs to God in prayer, valuing the immeasurable gift of salvation. Ultimately, any effort to negotiate with God is in vain; His authority is supreme. We must move forward with clarity, recognizing that our commitment to the Lord allows no room for compromise; we are either wholly devoted to Him or we are not Which side will you choose?

AčT/Cæř

2 Corinthians 5:18 All things are from God.... even our reconciliation, His gift to us through Jesus. What is a ministry..the ministry of reconciliation? Can we encourage people to be reconciled to God if we've not been reconciled ourselves? Pau didn't write his letter to the Corinthians without his personal experience of reconciliation. That day, on the road to Damascus, Jesus changed Paul's life forever. Jesus offered him something he didn't know he wanted, but desperately needed. That season in Paul's life. when Jesus anointed him to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation, not only gave him a new purpose, life focus, it gave Paul the ability to be an example of the righteousness of God. We can't say he was without sin, but we can sav he was led by the spirit. If anyone believed he was unworthy to be reconciled to God, Paul's resume' proved that Jesus reconciles even wretches like me'. Our testimony bears wItness to the power ot reconcillation. Everyone needs to hear that message Perhaps we've had a 'Damascus' experience, maybe we can point to the day of our own reconciliation, the day when we first believed. That would be the day we started our new job, passing on what we've received. Our own reconciliation, harmony with God, loosens our tongue and opens our mouth to speak His Words to the lost. the hopeless, those trapped in a web of lies and deceit. The ministry of reconciliation is vital to eternal life. Paul told the Romans, how can the people know the truth, if they've not heard it? And how can they hear if there isn't a preacher, a minister who said in their heart. 'Here am I. send me' Paul received everything he needed to be a part of the ministry of reconciliation, we've received it too...everything we need. Lord, thank You for loving us enough... the whole purpose of creation is reconciliation. It takes our breath away when we think of what it cost You tc be our Redeemer. We don't deserve it. We'renot worthy of it, but We desperately need Your favor

justme

The most famous man in the world bought a mansion to escape the noise, but the only reason it ever felt like home was the quiet woman who had been dodging his tantrums since he was a toddler. . Elvis Presley had just purchased Graceland. To the outside world, it was destined to be a palace of rock and roll excess, filled with flashbulbs and a revolving door of strangers. But while the paint was still fresh on the walls, a small, sharp-eyed woman was already moving her belongings into a room on the first floor. Minnie Mae Presley was not a guest or a staff member. She was Elvis’s paternal grandmother, a woman who had lived through the crushing poverty of Tupelo and the lean years in Memphis long before the gold records arrived. She was the family’s iron spine, a person so woven into the fabric of their lives . The stakes of Elvis’s life were becoming impossibly high. He was a global phenomenon, a man who couldn't walk down a street without being hunted by fans. The human struggle was the desperate need for a sanctuary where he didn't have to be "The King." He affectionately called her "Dodger." The nickname came from a childhood incident where a young, fiery Elvis threw a skillet at her, and she had skillfully ducked to avoid the blow. She didn't hold a grudge or treat him like a star; she treated him like the boy who used to throw things. As the rising danger of fame threatened to swallow Elvis whole, Minnie Mae provided the only thing money couldn't buy: a rhythm. While the "Memphis Mafia" and the entourage drifted on the current of Elvis's unpredictable schedule, Minnie Mae ran the household with absolute authority. She kept the meals appearing at reasonable hours and the furniture in its proper place. More importantly, she provided a quiet kitchen table where the most famous man in America could sit and just be a grandson.

Candace Perry

Are you distracted? In Luke 10:41, when Jesus calls Martha's name twice—“Martha, Martha”—it carries profound meaning. He recognizes her anxieties and distractions, gently encouraging her to redirect her attention from the pressures of service to the significance of being present with Him. This exchange highlights a deep intimacy, reminding us that while serving is important, it should not eclipse the vital act of resting in His presence. Throughout the Bible, God often repeats names to express urgency and closeness, as seen with figures like Abraham and Moses. This serves as a call for us to prioritize quiet moments with God amid our hectic lives, prompting us to reflect on whether we are truly centered on Christ or merely swept up in the daily chaos. I often find that as the week unfolds, I too can become so focused on my tasks that I may miss my time in God's Word. Yet, just as Jesus reached out to Martha, He invites us to focus on Him, where genuine rest is found. As we move into this week, let us remain attentive to God's invitations to spend time with Him, allowing His presence to refresh us and prepare us for the challenges ahead.

justme

A French boy blinded by a tool in his father's workshop picked up that same tool years later — and used it to punch out the code that would give millions of blind people the power to read. THE ACCIDENT It was 1812. In a small village called Coupvray, about forty kilometers east of Paris, a three-year-old boy named Louis Braille was playing in his father's saddlery shop. He watched his father, Simon-René, carefully punch holes into leather using a sharp tool called an awl. Louis wanted to try. The awl slipped. It struck his left eye. The village doctors did what they could — herbal salves, bandages — but in 1812, there was nothing they could really do. The wound became infected. Then the infection crossed to the other eye. By the time Louis was five years old, he was completely and permanently blind. THE FAMILY THAT REFUSED TO GIVE UP In early 19th-century France, blindness was a sentence. Disabled children were routinely hidden away, used as street entertainment, or left to beg. Louis's family refused all of it. His father made him a wooden board studded with round-headed nails, arranged in the shapes of letters, so Louis could learn the alphabet by touch. His mother insisted he continue his chores. The village priest tutored him privately. The village schoolmaster let him sit in on classes — where he out-performed every sighted student in the room. By the time Louis was ten, they had won him a scholarship to one of the most extraordinary schools on earth: the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, the very first school for the blind ever founded. THE LIBRARY OF THREE BOOKS When Louis arrived in Paris in 1819, he made a devastating discovery. The school library contained just three books. Only three. Books for the blind existed, but they were printed with enormous embossed letters pressed into thick wax paper. Each book took months to produce, cost a fortune, and required readers to trace slow, clumsy shapes with their fingertips. Most blind students never became