2 Samuel 13

1 After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom.
2 Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her.
3 Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
4 so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar...

Watch ORTHODOX MORNING PRAYERS & READINGS for Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026: https://robertdhosken.substack.com/p/watch-orthodox-morning-prayers-and-603

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A Prayer for the Death of a Daydream

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The Girl in the Pew: Loving Jesus. Loving People. Speaking the truth in love.

Philistia Pittman is The Girl in the Pew, a woman of immense spiritual depth and battle-tested resilience.

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#TheGirlInThePew #SpeakTheTruthInLove #FaithJourney #SurrenderingYourPlanstoGod #TrustingGodWithDetours #SovereignShifts

Wednesday Encouragement — Keep Your Eyes Upon Christ

Blessings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

We have reached the midpoint of another week. On Monday, we reminded ourselves that after gathering to worship on the Lord’s Day, we were sent back into the world to live what we profess and faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, halfway through the week, perhaps the pressures of life have already begun to distract us.

Responsibilities accumulate. Problems arise unexpectedly. News from around the world troubles our hearts. Financial concerns, family responsibilities, health concerns, and the countless demands of everyday life can slowly pull our attention away from the One upon whom our eyes must remain fixed.

That is why today we need to remind ourselves again:

Keep your eyes upon Christ.

Peter walked upon the water while his attention remained upon Jesus. But when he looked at the wind and the waves surrounding him, fear replaced faith and he began to sink.

How often do we do the same?

We look at the storms instead of the Savior. We concentrate upon our problems rather than His promises. We become overwhelmed by circumstances while forgetting that the sovereign Lord who controls the wind and the waves is walking with us through the storm.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” — Matthew 14:30

And immediately, Jesus reached out His hand.

What a beautiful reminder for us today. When our strength begins to fail, we do not need complicated words. Sometimes the most powerful prayer is simply:

“Lord, save me. Lord, strengthen me. Lord, guide me.”

Whatever you are facing today, bring it before Him. Our sovereign God has not lost control of one single detail of our lives.

And while we carry our own burdens, let us remain sensitive to those around us. Someone you encounter today may also be struggling silently. God may use your prayer, your encouragement, your compassion, or your testimony of Christ to strengthen them.

So let us continue through the remainder of this week faithfully doing what God has called us to do.

Do not watch the storm.
Watch the Savior.
Do not surrender to fear.
Walk by faith.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:2

May our Lord strengthen us, guide us, and keep our hearts firmly fixed upon Him as we continue serving together.

Serving Christ Together for His Glory Alone.

Soli Deo Gloria.

~. . . And the evening and the morning were the 237th day. Good Morning, God's Beloved. On this 238th day of 2026, might I suggest to you that when you pray, do so with the heart of a child . . .==> "So anyone who becomes as humble as a little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." [Matthew 18:4]
[And as you RESPECT and LOVE one another as hard as you can, Please PLAY NICE, PRAY for one another, Distance-CHECK on your neighbors, and Keep a SMILE on your Faith.]
(For more videos like this, subscribe to my YouTube channel, MelzMark Video Productions, at www.youtube.com/[VStMelz])
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EEKgNJuaQ34&is=FHFrhOqT_m3jntg9

DON'T SLEEP, BUT WATCH

1 Thessalonians 5:6

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober."

Paul reminds believers that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly. Since we belong to the light, we must live awake, vigilant, and ready.

Spiritual sleep doesn't always stem from rejecting God; it can begin with negligence, routine, and laxity. One can be present in the church while being spiritually absent.

Watching means keeping your heart attached to God, discerning dangers, and remaining ready to obey. Sobriety prevents us from being intoxicated by the distractions of the world.

Examine your level of spiritual alertness. Is your prayer, your communion with God, and your adherence to His Word still alive? Awaken what is weakening and refuse to let routine lull your faith to sleep.

O Lord, awaken my spirit and keep me vigilant. Deliver me from all spiritual negligence so that I may remain ready, sober, and faithful until your return, in the name of Jesus.

#Vigilance🏼
#SpiritandLife

Social Media Plagiarism

What do y'all think about these content creators who are sitting at a desk with a microphone (and sometimes headphone) at the bottom of the video (with someone else's original video above them, who do nothing but point upward and say, "You gotta watch this!"? You can find them by Googling their name. But do they ever produce any original content? I can't figure out how our culture evolved to create systems which reward plagiarism. Now, do you wanna know why it bothers me? Because I'm a true content creator who's trying to make a difference with what God has given me - music, insights, etc. I guess since I've ranted again (several times lately) I guess I deserve whatever negative feedback I might get. Nevertheless, I'd really like to know if this bothers anyone else….

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This could be the sustainable fundraising solution your organization has been looking for.

I invite you to watch this short video presentation:
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It explains exactly how the program works and how your organization can benefit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjjfbYP5Tms Romans 8 Study

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNYjphY918w Feeding and Growing the Seed in Us.