Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Why would Jesus let go of heaven to come to earth as a baby? Today, we explore John 1 and the stunning truth that the Word became flesh, fully God and fully human, so we could be forgiven, restored, and set free. If guilt or regret has been weighing you down, this episode offers hope, clarity, and the reminder that everything we need is found in Jesus. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to h...

You're invited to pause and really behold what Christmas means. Isaiah 7:14 tells us that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son called Immanuel, which means God with us. Today, we look at the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Joseph and Mary and the closed doors they faced in Bethlehem. Their story reminds us that God often arrives in the most unexpected places and invites us to op...

Advent reminds us that before we ever pursued God, He was already pursuing us. In this episode we reflect on Isaiah 7:14, the miracle of the virgin birth, and the wonder of Immanuel God with us. Discover the beauty of a God who steps into our world, draws near in our darkest moments, and shows us what His presence really means. A powerful reminder of hope, closeness, and the heart of Christmas. Pu...

Step into the first week of Advent with a simple but powerful reminder: God is with us. Today we look at the meaning of “Behold” and the incredible impact of Jesus’ coming, from a manger in Bethlehem to the shaping of history itself. As we begin this season together, take a moment to slow down, reflect on Immanuel, and thank God for coming near. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you...

Discover how to give thanks even when life does not go the way you hoped. This Thanksgiving message explores Habakkuk’s declaration of nevertheless gratitude, the discipline of disappointment, and the daily gifts God places right in front of us. A heartfelt reminder to wake up tomorrow and say thank you, not because life is perfect but because God is faithful. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is desig...

Discover how gratitude grows when you stop waiting for perfect circumstances and start giving thanks right now. This Thanksgiving message shares the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom, why “I’ll be grateful when…” never works, and how Psalm 118:24 calls us to rejoice in this day God has made. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. G...

Learn how to give thanks in all circumstances, break free from a culture of complaint, and cultivate a grateful heart this Thanksgiving week. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and acti...

As we wrap up 21 Days of Prayer, take a moment to thank God for the good work He’s begun and trust that He’ll finish it. Nehemiah’s story reminds us that faithfulness isn’t about starting strong, it’s about finishing well. Don’t give up on what God’s rebuilding in your life or the lives around you. Keep showing up, keep building, and keep believing that the work He started will be completed. Pursu...

Nehemiah didn’t just rebuild walls; he rebuilt people. He noticed their names, their efforts, and their progress, and he took time to commend them. Encouragement is one of the most powerful tools God gives us to help others grow. Today, ask God to give you eyes to see progress in others and the courage to speak life into them. Celebrate someone’s small victory. Your words might be exactly what kee...

When life gets stormy, we need each other. Nehemiah’s people, like the early church, learned that cooperation and unity are what move God’s mission forward. Today, ask God to break down any walls of jealousy, pride, or distance that keep you from others. Pray for unity in our church, healing in relationships, and gratitude for the people who hold up your arms when you grow weary. Pursuing God with...

Nehemiah’s story reminds us that God’s work moves forward when everyone joins in. No one rebuilt the wall alone, and no one’s role was too small. Priests, goldsmiths, merchants, and families all cooperated to make the vision a reality. Today, ask God to show you where you can contribute, even if you feel unqualified. Pray for a heart that values unity and for the courage to do your part in rebuild...

Day 17 is a reminder that rebuilding lives takes teamwork. Nehemiah couldn’t rebuild the wall alone, and we can’t rebuild God’s Kingdom alone either. Every person, every role, every gift matters. Today, thank God for the people who serve faithfully at Eastside, pray for those coordinating the work behind the scenes, and ask God where you fit in His plan. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to...

Day 16 is all about people. Nehemiah knew the wall around Jerusalem wasn’t really the goal - the people were. Every name in Nehemiah 3 mattered because every person mattered. Today, ask God to help you see people the way He does. Pray for a heart that values individuals over accomplishments, and reach out to someone who needs to know they matter. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help yo...

We’re kicking off the final week of 21 Days of Prayer by talking about teamwork. Just like Nehemiah couldn’t rebuild Jerusalem alone, none of us can rebuild our lives in isolation. Take time today to thank God for the people who’ve helped shape your faith, and ask Him to show you someone you can encourage or support this week. We’re better when we build together.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is d...

This week, we’ve seen what it takes to rebuild when life feels hard: courage, focus, prayer, and perseverance. Today’s reminder is simple but vital - keep alert. One victory doesn’t make us invincible. Even after Nehemiah rebuilt the wall, the work wasn’t over. It’s easy to relax when things are going well, but maturity comes from knowing the enemy’s strategy is a subtle pull to get us to drift of...

We’ve talked about staying focused and avoiding distractions. Today, we’re looking at how to stand firm when false accusations and intimidation try to derail us. Nehemiah faced lies, slander, and threats, but instead of lashing out or quitting, he calmly set the record straight and prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” His example reminds us that courage isn’t loud, it’s steady. It’s the quiet confid...

It’s Day 12 of our 21 Days of Prayer, and today we’re looking at one of the hardest attacks Nehemiah faced: betrayal from within. Opposition hurts most when it comes from people we trust. But just like Nehemiah, and countless leaders through the years, we’re reminded to stay focused on the work God’s called us to do. When the noise grows loud and distractions pile up, it’s easy to drift from what...

As we rebuild what’s broken, we’ve seen how distractions and slander can derail us. Another challenge we may face is the seduction of alarmists. When fear gets loud and panic spreads, discernment becomes essential. Nehemiah was told his enemies were coming to kill him and that he should run and hide in the temple. But he saw through the manipulation and refused to let fear dictate his faith. Inste...

Rebuilding what’s broken isn’t just hard, it’s messy. It’s not just distractions that can pull us off course. Today, we see another attack Nehemiah faced: the sabotage of slander. False rumors spread. His motives were questioned. But instead of fighting back or quitting, he prayed, “Nothing like what you’re saying is happening… Now strengthen my hands.” We’ve all felt the sting of words that weren...

Today, we’re learning from Nehemiah why he was successful at rebuilding the wall and what it means for the rebuilding God is doing in our lives. Nehemiah faced subtle attacks meant to distract him from his purpose. When his rivals invited him to meet on the plain of Ono, he recognized the trap and replied, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.” Sometimes the greatest threat to your...

Being fully devoted to God sounds simple—but living it out isn’t easy. In Nehemiah 6, the work gets hard, opposition grows, and Nehemiah prays one raw prayer: “Now strengthen my hands.” How is real faith forged when you feel like quitting? It starts with being honest about what’s hard and choosing to keep showing up anyway. Whether you’re rebuilding your life, your faith, or your focus, today’s pr...

Over the past six days, we’ve learned from Nehemiah’s story about praying for impossible situations, trusting God’s timing, and letting Him change hearts we can’t. Today, Gene recaps four powerful principles that can reshape how you pray and how you live: 1- Part of praying is waiting. Real prayer requires patience and trust that God is working behind the scenes. 2 - Faith is no substitute for car...

So far, we’ve seen Nehemiah pray, wait, plan, and watch God open doors in miraculous ways. Today’s reminder might surprise you - even when God answers prayer and moves mountains, you’ll still face opposition. When Nehemiah set out to rebuild Jerusalem, everything seemed to be going his way… until critics appeared. Sanballat and Tobiah opposed him at every turn. The truth is, anytime you step out i...

Today, Gene shares a powerful prayer strategy inspired by Leslie Strobel—the prayer that helped change her atheist husband Lee’s heart. It’s based on God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Changing hearts isn’t our job, but it is God’s specialty. Whether it’s a spouse, boss...

Today, we see what happens when God finally answers and it’s bigger than Nehemiah could have imagined. The king doesn’t just say yes; he goes above and beyond, sending officers and cavalry for protection. That’s what God does. He doesn’t just answer prayers, He exceeds them! When we pray with expectation, God delights in doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Pursuing God with Gene Ap...