Thought to share? Send me a text... We explore how a simple prayer space can reshape focus, then walk through Colossians 4 to see prayer as the key that empowers the armor of God, shapes our speech with grace and truth, and ties us into a real team of faith. We close with questions to ponder, a prayer of blessing, and a charge to complete the ministry given by Jesus. • prayer as persistence, devotion, alertness, thanksgiving • vulnerability in asking others to intercede • open doors for the...
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Thought to share? Send me a text... We explore how a simple prayer space can reshape focus, then walk through Colossians 4 to see prayer as the key that empowers the armor of God, shapes our speech with grace and truth, and ties us into a real team of faith. We close with questions to ponder, a prayer of blessing, and a charge to complete the ministry given by Jesus. • prayer as persistence, devotion, alertness, thanksgiving • vulnerability in asking others to intercede • open doors for the...
Thought to share? Send me a text... We explore how a simple prayer space can reshape focus, then walk through Colossians 4 to see prayer as the key that empowers the armor of God, shapes our speech with grace and truth, and ties us into a real team of faith. We close with questions to ponder, a prayer of blessing, and a charge to complete the ministry given by Jesus. • prayer as persistence, devotion, alertness, thanksgiving • vulnerability in asking others to intercede • open doors for the...
Thought to share? Send me a text... We share a simple image of a lawless road to show why loving boundaries matter, then walk through Paul’s household guidance that reframes power as partnership and work as worship. The heart of the message is mutual love, integrity, and awe that frees homes from fear. • why shared boundaries protect freedom • Roman household power and fear • mutual love between husbands and wives • children honoring parents; parents avoiding harshness • integrity at work a...
Thought to share? Send me a text... A snowy cabin, a tired heart, and a chapter that wouldn’t let go—Colossians 3 turned a season of burnout into a turning point for Betsy. After a painful reorganization at church and the quiet ache of feeling “not enough,” a long-buried moment resurfaced: a warning phone call that planted a lie and fueled years of striving. What seemed like a four became a ten because an old arrow finally worked its way to the surface. That’s where forgiveness stepped in—no...
Thought to share? Send me a text... We explore how deep habits form and how new life in Christ reshapes desires, language, and daily choices. Colossians 3 calls us to set our minds above, lay aside the old self, and embrace continual renewal as beloved people hidden with Christ. • setting minds on things above and living from new identity • naming idols of sex and money and their grip on desire • confronting normalized sins of anger, lying, and language • rejecting compartmentalized faith a...
Thought to share? Send me a text... In this episode, we trace how confident-sounding rules and secret knowledge can pull us from the center of faith, then anchor ourselves in Colossians 2 where Paul calls us back to Jesus as the true source. We explore legalism, licentiousness, spiritual disciplines, and practical steps for discernment shaped by Scripture and the Spirit. • the pull of persuasive but inaccurate teaching • Paul’s warning to the Colossians about shadows vs Christ • legalism de...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Drawing on the imagery of trees and their root systems, we explore how our spiritual roots in Christ determine our strength, stability, and fruitfulness in every season of life. • Like trees that bear fruit in their season, our spiritual lives depend on unseen roots that draw strength from Christ • Paul warns against distractions and human logic that pull us away from the fullness found only in Christ • Our completeness comes from Christ alone—no person o...
Thought to share? Send me a text... The Old Testament serves as a divine mystery thriller where God dropped clues about reconciliation with Him through a coming Messiah. In the ultimate plot twist, Jesus—not the expected political warrior-king but a shepherd-rabbi-savior—was revealed as the answer, with His indwelling presence being the great mystery now unveiled for all believers. • The mystery of how sinful humans can reconcile with a perfect God is solved through Jesus • Paul celebrates ...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Poetry reveals what's between the lines, and the poetic verses in Colossians 1 help us remember the wonder of God, pointing us toward the supremacy and centrality of Jesus as the divine portrait of the invisible God. • Jesus is the "divine portrait" (eikon) of the invisible God, countering Gnostic teachings • Christ created all things, holds all things together, and reconnects us to God • Through Jesus, God sees believers as "holy, flawless, and restored...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Paul's prayer for the Colossian church reveals how God makes us worthy through Christ, not through secret knowledge or spiritual achievement. This episode explores how the early believers were influenced by Gnosticism and other false teachings, and how Paul redirected them to true wisdom found only in relationship with Jesus. • God's pleasure over our lives makes us reservoirs of wisdom and spiritual understanding • Paul confronts the Gnostic heresy that ...
Thought to share? Send me a text... We return to the book of Colossians with fresh insights about God's transformative love and how understanding this love changes everything about how we live our faith. • Revisiting the first book of scripture covered on the podcast with deeper understanding and a new companion guide • Many Christians, even church leaders, struggle to fully believe they are 100% loved by God • Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), freeing us from anxiety and shame • O...
Thought to share? Send me a text... "Do you love me more than these?" The question hangs in the air between Jesus and Peter, standing by a charcoal fire on the shores of Galilee—the same type of fire where Peter had denied his Lord three times. This isn't a coincidence but a divine appointment for healing and restoration. The final chapter of John serves as a powerful epilogue where loose ends are tied together concluding with Jesus addressing our tendency toward comparison. When Pete...
Thought to share? Send me a text... What does the breeze have in common with our faith? Just as we can feel the wind without seeing it, faith often requires us to trust beyond what our eyes perceive. In this thoughtful exploration of John 20, we journey through the resurrection appearances of Jesus and witness the remarkable transformation of doubt into devotion. The disciples huddle behind locked doors, fearful and uncertain after Jesus's crucifixion. Suddenly, Jesus stands among them—pass...
Thought to share? Send me a text... The resurrection stands as the pinnacle moment of human history—the ultimate demonstration that darkness can never extinguish light. In this deeply reflective episode, we journey through John's eyewitness account of that first Easter morning, uncovering details that authenticate and illuminate this world-changing event. We begin where John begins—establishing Jesus as the eternal Word who "became human and made his home among us." This cosmic context sets...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Jesus's journey to the cross reveals his complete humanity and profound love as he fulfills numerous prophecies through his final moments, culminating in his ultimate sacrifice for humanity's redemption. • Walking through Jerusalem's streets multiple times during his final 24 hours, Jesus becomes increasingly beaten and weak with each journey • Jesus's words "I am thirsty" fulfill scripture while revealing both his physical humanity and spiritual thirst f...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Standing at the foot of Golgotha 40 years ago, I experienced a holy feeling that made Jesus's sacrifice tangible despite being in a modern bus parking lot. Jesus positioned himself at the center—between two criminals, between heaven and hell, between judgment and mercy—showing his role as the bridge between God and humanity. • Jesus declared as King in three languages on the sign above his cross • Possible acronym in Hebrew that spelled YHWH (God) • Women...
Thought to share? Send me a text... What happens when the power of politics collides with religious authority? Jesus's trial before Pilate reveals a pivotal moment where human justice systems falter but divine plans prevail. Pilate's interrogation of Jesus brings forward the timeless question: "What is truth?" While Pilate views truth as something determined by power and authority, Jesus embodies a truth that "comes from elsewhere but is meant to take up residence in this world," as theolog...
Thought to share? Send me a text... The pivotal moment in Gethsemane reveals the stunning contrast between Jesus' unwavering resolve and Peter's crumbling courage. Peter's journey from bold declarations to devastating denial unfolds in the shadows. When surrounded by his community, Peter draws his sword with reckless bravery. Yet when separated and alone in the courtyard, simple questions from servants—not even authorities—cause him to deny his Lord three times. That haunting rooster crow m...
Thought to share? Send me a text... Have you ever wondered what Jesus prayed about in his final hours? Most of us are familiar with the "Lord's Prayer" from Matthew 6—the model prayer Jesus taught his disciples. But John 17 reveals something far more intimate: Jesus' own heartfelt prayer before his arrest and crucifixion. This episode delves into this remarkable chapter, examining how Jesus first prays for himself, then for his disciples, and finally—most astonishingly—for you and me. "I'm ...
Thought to share? Send me a text... What happens when the faith we've always known suddenly feels uncertain? Whether you call it a crisis of belief or deconstruction, these pivotal moments challenge what we've built our spiritual lives upon. But as we discover in John 16, Jesus anticipated these struggles. Before His crucifixion, knowing His disciples would soon face their greatest faith crisis, Jesus provided extraordinary promises to carry them through. He revealed that the Holy Spirit's ...
Thought to share? Send me a text... The vineyard stands as one of the Bible's most powerful metaphors, and Jesus masterfully reclaims this symbol in John 15. Walking us through this rich text, we discover how the vine and branches illustrate our spiritual dependence on Christ. Remember when Jesus declares "I am the true grapevine"? This statement would have been revolutionary to his Jewish audience. The vine had long symbolized Israel—it was on their currency and adorned their temple gates....
Thought to share? Send me a text... We explore how a simple prayer space can reshape focus, then walk through Colossians 4 to see prayer as the key that empowers the armor of God, shapes our speech with grace and truth, and ties us into a real team of faith. We close with questions to ponder, a prayer of blessing, and a charge to complete the ministry given by Jesus. • prayer as persistence, devotion, alertness, thanksgiving • vulnerability in asking others to intercede • open doors for the...
