My Mornings with Jesus and Joe

S1 EP025 The Power of Words Words are more than a random collection of sounds in our ears or lines drawn on paper. Words carry power. With them we can bless or curse. But where does their power come from and why do we use the ones we do? In this episode, we discuss what our choice of words reveals about the state of our heart, why they are more damaging or more edifying than we realizes, and how w...

S1 EP024 Anxiety Part 2   In the last episode we talked about the source of anxiety, both external and internal. Today we are talking about the cure. No God, no peace. Know God, know peace. Could it really be that simple? By following the instructions for in God's truth, we can know peace. We can learn what it means to take every thought captive and to cast our cares upon the Lord. But receive the...

  Everywhere we go it seems like everyone is talking about their anxiety. It is an anxious world we live in. But does it have to be. In part one of this two-part series, we discuss how most of the things that we are anxious about are from external sources. But the real root of our anxiety is internal. The word for anxiety in Scripture can be translated several different ways: worry, distracted, tr...

The world's most perfect counsel and guidance is available to us 24/7 in the Holy Spirit, but are we treating him like a warning light—ignoring him until the engine blows up. Life often feels like an out-of-control high speed chase with the enemy's bullets ricocheting all around us. Did I mention we're trying to survive it in a Ford Pinto (the world's most dangerous car)? We long for someone more...

In a world full of trials and troubles, who we keep company with is vitally important. We need more than just a long list of acquaintances we call friends. We need people we can trust in our deepest pain and darkest moments. Is our trust well placed with the circle of friends we keep? Is your salvation and subsequent walk with God important to them? Or are they only there for what you have to offe...

A vital part of the armor of God is the footwear. Ephesians 6:15 tells us these shoes for our feet are the readiness that has been given by the gospel of peace. But ready for what? Why is the viewing the gospel of peace as a critical pair of footwear essential to the believer's life? In this episode we talk about these shoes Paul refers to are and why they matter to the spiritual battle we are in....

Who are we called to pray for and how do we pray for them? Intercessory prayer is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. It is how we access the kingdom of God on behalf of others in order that they might be blessed. We don't even need to know their specific need because the Holy Spirit in us will speak directly to God who does know. When we pray in the righteousness imparted by the blood of...

Quiet time can either be something we long for or something we fear. We may long for it without ever finding it. Or we may fear it for reasons that we don't like to admit. But Jesus exemplified for us the need for quiet time through the many verses that show Him getting alone to spend time with His Father. Maybe that is why our world is increasingly designed to keep us from having quiet time. It i...

Prayer is the vital means through which our soul connects with God. But we forget it is also a conversation with God. If prayer is simply about having a conversation with God, why does it often seem difficult? Does God understand us when we struggle with our prayers? What stumbling blocks are in our way and how do we silence the world so that we can have a rich and powerful prayer life? Let today'...

Life comes with a limitless number of labels the world will try to stick on is, but only two matter. We must know that we are children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High King, and we must live in such a way that the world knows we are followers of Jesus Christ. Any identity we we go by, whether it be from our profession, education, nationality, family, or from our giftings and talents is...

Marriage, parenting, work, and discipling each come with their own set of unique needs. How do we do each well? How do we establish and protect boundaries that help us be effective in each area of our life? In part 2 of our Q&A we talk about the importance of guarding our time, knowing our priorities, and how to our marriage has gotten stronger the closer we get to God. Scripture: Romans 15:5-6 ww...

In this episode we're answering questions about our ministry and what discipleship looks like for us. From knowing who to disciple, to stewarding our time, to dealing with distractions, we are sharing out real life experiences and what we've learned along the way. Learn to recognize your mission field, identify the stages of discipleship, and surround yourself with the three people everybody needs...

We've been born into a world at war, but we aren't talking about politics or nations or world conflict. We're talking about the spiritual battles going on all around us. Men have been created and equipped to engage in the battle, but too often they don't recognize the fight or the spiritual authority that has been given to them by a victory already won. And when they don't engage, families suffer....

If we're honest, must of us will admit we aren't good at asking for help. But what happens when our circumstances knock us out of the boat and into turbulent water? Will we risk drowning before we reach out to allow our friends to pull us back into the boat? Using a real-life story of falling out of the boat, we share the life lessons God showed us about: 1. Being willing to ask for help when we f...

The Bible tells us there is a very real and resent danger. It is deception, and it is all around us. Thankfully, as Christians we've been given the resources to understand what it is, how to detect it, and how to stand against it. In this episode we'll talk about the steps we take to avoid being deceived. Scripture: Proverbs 14:8 Blog Posts: https://lorialtebaumer.com/faith/into-the-forest-i-go-wh...

Seeking God is a lifetime commitment. Though we find Him, there is always more. But what happens when we hit a low spot? Do we continue to run to God even when we feel like we have missed the mark? Are we determined, as Jacob was, to wrestle with God until we have the blessing? In this episode we'll share some real moments when we had to decide whether we were going to succumb to defeat or continu...

There are three reactions people might have when they get to heaven and find out who's with them. They might say it's so good to see them there. They might say they didn't expect to see that particular person there. But perhaps the most frightening possibility of all would be to find ourselves asking "where's so-and-so?" We don't want to risk letting our friends and family miss out on eternity in...

We spend a lot of time talking about how we're supposed to live in light of the cross, but how are Christians called to live in light of the empty tomb? In this episode we talk about our faith in Jesus' resurrection and what the empty tomb really means to us. And it really is good news! As followers of Jesus Christ, we really are living from the victory of the empty tomb. The tomb is empty, so any...

Why do our hearts rise up with the arrival of spring? Could it be because our hearts recognize where we were meant to be? In this episode, we're discussing what it means to have an Eden heart. Spring is a season of new life, but it is also God's way of reminding us of where we came from and where we are meant to spend eternity.  Related blog post: https://lorialtebaumer.com/faith/our-hearts-desire...

In this episode, we talk about what happens when our hearts receive the wrong answers to the questions they hold. Before healing can happen, it's important to understand the different ways men and women handle the lies we believe (the fig leaves we hide behind), and why who we go to for help matters. Link to previous episodes:  Link to blog post: https://lorialtebaumer.com/faith/jesus-sees/ - full...

Every man and woman has questions that must be answered before their hearts can function as healed and whole. Too often the world has given us the wrong answers and those wrong answers lead us into living our lives in protection mode. In this episode we'll discuss those questions, why they matter, what they teach us about who God is, and where to find start when we need healing. Link to previous e...

The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart. But what does it mean when Scripture talks about our heart being the wellspring of life? In this episode, we'll visit Jerusalem to walk along the archeological remains of the Cardo, an ancient Roman street that served as the lifeline of the city. Then we'll use this road to draw parallels to our spiritual heart and discuss the need to guar...

Have you ever questioned the idea of hearing from God? What does it sound like? How do you know if it's real? You might be surprised by the answer. In this episode, Joe and I share moments when we've heard from God. We also discuss why some people think they aren't hearing from God and explain why they probably are hearing from him more than they realize. We'll also talk about distinguishing God's...

Lots of people miss out on the fullness of living a Christ-centered life because of misconceptions. These misconceptions may be about God, the church, or themselves. But there is truth in God's word that leaves no one out of receiving what Christ came to give us—a life of walking in freedom. In this week's episode we will discuss some of the common misconceptions that become stumbling blocks for b...

Have you ever struggled with something in your Christian walk? Maybe you were faced with unexpected challenges you weren't sure how to navigate or needed help but weren't sure where to find it? This week we share about a disastrous hike and all the life lessons we learned from it. The Christian walk isn't a promise of a problem free journey. But there are tools, resources, and people who can help...