We Christians live not for our own pleasure, but to glorify God through Jesus Christ, who grants us ultimate joy in both spirit and body

Psalm 66 How Awesome Are Your Deeds To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm. Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah 5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. 13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah 16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was [under] [and he was exalted with] my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Sermon Title: "RIGHT GIVING IN A WRONG SEASON" Key Texts: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 51:17 INTRODUCTION Beloved, we are in the last days. Times of hardship. Times where many are pressed on every side. And in these days, giving has become godly for some... and desperate for others. God loves a cheerful giver. But the enemy has twisted giving into a trap for the wounded. Today God is calling us back: Look to God first, not to giving as a formula. 1. GIVING IS GODLY, BUT MOTIVE MATTERS 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving is worship. It is obedience. It is sowing. But in this last age, error has entered. Many are giving not out of faith, but out of fear and desperation. "If I give this, then God must heal me. Then God must pay my rent." That’s not covenant. That’s bargaining. And when we bargain with God, we leave ourselves ungodly and still desperate because our eyes are on the gift, not the Giver. Isaiah 1:11 — “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord.” God wants the heart before the hand. 2. THE REAL NEED: REPENTANCE AND RELATIONSHIP Your message says it: “Look to God in repentance, obedience of God's word and be right before God.” Hardship will come. 2 Timothy 3:1 — “in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” But the answer is not just to give more. The answer is to return to God. Joel 2:12-13 — “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” God’s priority is not your offering. It’s you. When you are right with God, He heals both: Physical wounds: Psalm 147:3 — “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Spiritual wounds: Psalm 51:17 — “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” 3. THE DANGER: USING GOD FOR THE GIFT You said: “Unfortunately receivers of what they give. Ain't looking to this but after their more giving in. Leaving them ungodly before and desperate in life.” This is the trap. Using God like an ATM. Acts 8:20 — Peter told Simon, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” When we chase the blessing more than the Blesser, we stay in cycles: Desperation → Give No instant result → More desperation → Give more We become tired, bitter, and far from God. Jesus warned us: Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 4. GOD’S WAY: HEAL FIRST, THEN GIVE FROM WHOLENESS God is not against your giving. He is for your healing. Hebrews 12:1-2 — “Let us lay aside every weight... and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” God’s order: Repentance - Turn from sin and self-reliance Obedience - Walk in His Word daily Relationship - Seek His face, not just His hand Giving - Now give from a place of faith and joy, not fear When you do this, God restores. Malachi 3:10 — “Bring the full tithe... and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you.” But notice: the tithe comes after “Return to me” in verse 7. CLOSING CALL + PRAYER Church, don’t let hardship push you into error. Don’t give to manipulate God. Give because you love Him. If you’ve been giving out of desperation, today is the day to return. Prayer: Father, heal us. Heal our finances, but more than that, heal our hearts. Forgive us for making giving a transaction

PROVERB OF THE DAY (Proverbs 17) 1. Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2. A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers. 3. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. 4. An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 5. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. 6. Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. 7. Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. 8. A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers. 9. He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. 10. Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. 11. An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14. The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. 15. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. 16. Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? 17. A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18. A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. 19. He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. 20. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. 21. He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. 22. A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. 23. A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice. 24. Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. 25. A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him. 26. Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness. 27. He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. 28. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3 NLT ____ The fruit that is produced within us is meant to be used for God’s glory. ____ Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief. ____ Loving Savior, please help me bless others with words that can be trusted. ____ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NLT

TODAY'S WORD Text: Isaiah 40:31 “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” MESSAGE: RENEWED FOR THE RACE The last days are tiring. Many are weary. But God has not called you to run dry. 1. STRENGTHENING: Waiting on God is not wasting time. It’s refueling. When you pray, worship, and sit in His Word, He puts new strength in you. Like an eagle, you’ll rise above the storms. 2. ENCOURAGING: You will NOT faint. You will NOT quit. The same God who sustained you at St. Joseph P.3-P.7 will sustain you at Parents Joy P.1-P.4. He does not grow tired Isaiah 40:28. 3. SANCTIFICATION: To "wait on the Lord" means to set yourself apart from distractions and fix your eyes on Him Hebrews 12:1-2. Sanctification is choosing His presence over panic, His peace over pressure. PRAYER: Father, I wait on You today. Renew my strength. Lift me on eagles’ wings. Help me to run this race and not grow weary, and to walk in holiness until Jesus comes. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Encourage one another and build each other up.”

✝️ THE GOSPEL FROM CALVARY 📅 Monday, 17th August, 2026 🚨 CONTEND FOR THE FAITH! ✝️🔥 📜 TEXT: JUDE 1:1–25 📜 🔑📖 KEY VERSE: «“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” — Jude 1:3 (KJV)» The Christian faith is precious, powerful, and worth defending. In his short but powerful letter, Jude warned believers about false teachers and ungodly influences that had entered among God's people. Jude's message is simple but urgent: DO NOT GIVE UP THE FAITH! 🔥 We live in a world where truth is often questioned, biblical values are increasingly challenged, and many voices compete for our attention. But the believer is called to remain rooted in God's Word and to earnestly contend for the faith. 🔥 THREE LESSONS FROM JUDE 1️⃣ CONTEND FOR THE FAITH. 🛡️📖 Jude 1:3 says: «“...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”» To contend for the faith does not mean fighting people. It means standing firmly for the truth of God's Word. Don't abandon biblical truth because it is unpopular. Don't compromise your convictions because of pressure. Don't change God's standards simply because society has changed. Stand for Christ. Stand for truth. Stand for the Gospel. ✝️🔥 2️⃣ BEWARE OF UNGODLY INFLUENCES. ⚠️ Jude warned that certain ungodly people had secretly entered among the believers. Their presence was dangerous because they could influence others away from the truth. This teaches us that not every teaching, philosophy, lifestyle, or spiritual message should be accepted without examination. 📖 Test what you hear against Scripture. 🙏🏽 Ask God for discernment. 👀 Watch the influences around you. ❤️‍🔥 Protect your relationship with Christ. Be careful what you allow to shape your thinking. 3️⃣ BUILD YOURSELF UP SPIRITUALLY. 🏗️🔥 Jude 1:20–21 gives believers a powerful instruction: «“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God...”» Notice the progression: 📖 Build yourself on the faith. 🙏🏽 Pray in the Holy Ghost. ❤️ Keep yourself in God's love. 👑 Look for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life. A strong Christian life does not happen accidentally. You must intentionally develop your relationship with God. Pray. Study the Word. Worship. Obey God. Stay connected to Christ. 🛡️ DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR FAITH The pressure to compromise can come from many directions. Friends may pressure you. Society may pressure you. Relationships may pressure you. Entertainment may pressure you. Even people who claim to know God may pressure you. But remember: Your faith is more valuable than acceptance from people. Never exchange eternal truth for temporary popularity. Never exchange holiness for pleasure. Never exchange your relationship with Christ for worldly approval. ❤️‍🔥 HAVE MERCY ON THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING Jude does not only tell believers to defend the faith; he also teaches us how to respond to people who are struggling. Jude 1:22 says: «“And of some have compassion, making a difference.”» There are people who need correction, but they also need compassion. There are people who have wandered, but they can still be restored. There are people who are confused, but God can use you to lead them back to truth. Therefore, stand firmly for truth while showing the love of Christ. ❤️‍🩹✝️ 🔥 KEEP YOURSELF IN THE LOVE OF GOD Jude 1:21 says: «“Keep yourselves in the love of God...”» This does not mean that God's love is weak or that we must earn His love. It is a call to remain in fellowship and obedience to Him. Don't allow sin to become your lifestyle. Don't allow bitterness to occupy your heart. Don't allow worldly desires to take the place of Christ. Stay close to Jesus. 👑 GOD IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU The letter of Jude ends with one of the most beautiful declarations of God's power: «“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy...” — Jude 1:24» What a powerful assurance! We are called to contend. We are called to watch. We are called to pray. We are called to remain faithful. But ultimately, God is the One who keeps us. 🙏🏽🔥 When you feel weak, He can strengthen you. When you are tempted, He can help you. When you are discouraged, He can restore you. When you are struggling, He can keep you from falling. ✍🏽 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A believer who knows the value of the Gospel will stand firmly for the truth, walk faithfully with Christ, and never trade eternal truth for temporary approval. 🔥✝️ 🙏🏽 PRAYER Heavenly Father, Thank You for the precious gift of salvation and for the faith You have entrusted to us. Give me grace to earnestly contend for the faith. Help me to recognize false teachings and ungodly influences. Give me spiritual discernment to know what is true and courage to stand for Your Word. Build me up in my most holy faith. Teach me to pray consistently and keep me in Your love. Help me to show compassion to those who are struggling and to point them back to Jesus. Lord, keep me from falling. Preserve my faith, strengthen my walk, and help me remain faithful until the end. To You be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. 🙏🏽🔥 📜 THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALMS 73–75 📖 ✝️ THE CALVARY MINISTRY ONLINE Birthright is Evangelism

Brenda Walsh Ministries Reasons to Praise God. There’s a verse in the Bible that has some people scratching their heads and wondering what in the world did God mean? It’s found in James 1:2, where it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Now, one might say, “Just wait one minute! Does God actually want me to enjoy my heartache?” Well, of course not! Keep on reading verse 3, “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” And verse 4, “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” God is perfecting our characters, to prepare us for heaven, and we must persevere to stay strong, fight the good fight, and finish the race! There’s a reason God allows us to experience trials, although it doesn’t mean every time we go through heartache, that it’s God’s fault - sometimes life just happens as the result of sin! But how we respond to our hard times is what’s important! Instead of blaming God, lean on Him! Ask for strength, courage, and comfort, and you’ll find that working through each trial grows perseverance that is faith-building, and even in the midst of the trial, you’ll find reasons to praise God! Text: Romans 5:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 1:6-7

Amazing Facts. Daily Devotionals How do you help people who have had negative experiences with the church? August 17th, 2026 In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells a parable about a missing sheep. In the story, the shepherd searches relentlessly until he finds it. Then he lays it on his shoulders and lovingly carries it back home. The Lord wants us to follow His example and send out search parties to look for the lost sheep among us. These missing sheep are our neighbors, friends, and family who have wandered away from the flock. Here are some specific ways you can help someone who has left the church: First, pray for them. God promises, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Prayer is powerful. Invite them back! The biggest issue facing former members is how to reconnect with the church. They could be waiting for the invitation, so you can be the one to help them find a path back. In some cases, a friendly phone call or visit might be all that is needed. Remember to treat missing members the way you would want to be treated. Offer a warm, no-pressure invitation. Be loving and nonjudgmental, and leave room for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. We should also “receive one another, just as Christ received us” (Romans 15:7). Be prepared to receive with open arms those who return, as the father received the prodigal son (Luke 15:20). The shepherd in Jesus’ story called his friends and neighbors in for a celebration. He told them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” At the end of the parable, Jesus says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). Shouldn’t we feel the same way? Imagine how a person would feel if the entire church turned out to celebrate their return! Key Bible Texts And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isaiah 58:12 KJV)

August 17 🌿 “WHO GOD SAYS I AM” I AM BEING MADE NEW EVERY DAY 📖 2 Corinthians 4:16 (LLV) — “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Time leaves its marks upon all of us. Bodies grow tired. Strength changes. Faces show the years we have lived. Things we once did without thinking may someday require more effort. Paul knew this reality well. His body carried the scars of hardship. He had endured beatings, imprisonment, hunger, weariness, and suffering. Yet he wrote: “We do not lose heart.” Why? Because Paul was looking at something the mirror could not show him. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” There is a work God is doing within us that time cannot undo. The body may grow older, but faith can grow stronger. Our steps may become slower, but our walk with God can become deeper. The world may measure life by what we can still do. God sees what we are becoming. More patient. More compassionate. More trusting. More aware of His presence. More like Christ. And notice Paul's words: “Day by day.” God's renewal is not reserved for dramatic spiritual moments. It happens today. And tomorrow. And the day after that. Through prayer. Through Scripture. Through hardship. Through joy. Through ordinary faithfulness. God continues His work within us. There may come a season when the outward life seems to contain more losses than gains. But for the person who belongs to Christ, there is never a day when God has nothing more to do. Until the day we see Him face to face, He is still making us new. A new beginning can happen every morning: whatever yesterday took from me, God is still renewing something within me today. Reflection: Instead of concentrating only on what time has changed or taken away, can I recognize something God has been quietly renewing within me? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that Your work within me continues through every season of life. When I become discouraged by the changes I can see, help me remember the work that cannot be seen. Renew my faith, deepen my love, strengthen my hope, and continue forming Christ within me day by day. May I never lose heart, because You are never finished with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.