Love God First

In this episode, we explore the profound example of worship demonstrated by Abraham in Genesis 18. I emphasize the importance of sincere worship and serving the Lord with excellence. Through Abraham's actions, listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own worship practices and the need for a pure heart in their relationship with God.     

How do I live boldly for Jesus despite the painful sacrifices God may call me to endure? In this episode we are wrapping up the account of Abraham and his household getting circumcised. Last time we focused on the covenant God made with Abraham and the sacrifices involved in faith, and we discussed the significance of circumcision as a symbol of faith as well as the challenges and costs associated...

How do I live boldly for Jesus despite the painful sacrifices God may call me to endure? In this episode we explore the next installment in the account of Abraham, focusing on the covenant God made with him and the sacrifices involved in faith. We discuss the significance of circumcision as a symbol of faith and the challenges and costs associated with living a life of faith. This is a two part ep...

In this second episode with Allison Allen, we continue exploring the power of name changes in Scripture—this time taking a deeper look at Abraham and diving into the story of Jacob as well. Allison also explains what she calls the “Great Exchange”—a powerful invitation for Christians to trade old identities for God-given ones, leading to true freedom and healing.

As we reach the part of Abraham’s story in Genesis where God changes his name, we’re taking a deeper look at the significance of names in the Bible. Joining us for this two-part episode is Allison Allen—podcaster, speaker, and author—who shares rich insights into the spiritual and symbolic weight names carry throughout Scripture. Allison also opens up about how she personally connects with Abraham...

In this episode we explore Abraham's and Sarah's name change and how that change helped them to walk in faith. We also discuss what our first priority is as Christians. It is easy to focus so much on what I do for God that I forget to focus on my relationship with Him at the root of it all. Studying about Abraham's name change helps remind us to reset our focus if we have forgotten. 

Observing Abraham's age in this chapter of Genesis can make a person stop and think about their own age and mortality. And that is good! Because if we stop for a few moments and reflect about our where we are in life, we can reset with a better attitude and a godly focus on what truly matters. 

This is our final episode talking to Dave and Kathleen Norcross, missionary emissaries to the South Pacific. Get challenged in your own walk with God as you listen to these two inspirational missionaries share their stories!    If you are interested in finding out more about missionary work, check out Foursquare Missions International's website: https://www.foursquaremissions.org/

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world for Jesus? Is God calling you to be a missionary? Or do you just love to hear what Jesus is up to around the world and want to partner with those on the front lines by praying? Whichever scenario describes you, you are in for a treat! In this second of three episodes, we are taking a break from studying Genesis so we can talk to two...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world for Jesus? Is God calling you to be a missionary? Or do you just love to hear what Jesus is up to around the world and want to partner with those on the front lines by praying? Whichever scenario describes you, you are in for a treat! For the next three episodes, we are taking a break from studying Genesis so we can talk to two missi...

In our second summer devotional episode, we take just a few minutes to look at a three-step process to ask God for guidance. Prayer time is not supposed to be only a one-sided conversation. We can count on our Heavenly Father to give us wisdom and direction as we pray and ask, then seek and knock. 

In this short summer devotional, we take a moment away from Genesis to think about the last two verses of Psalm 139. David models for us how to pray a prayer with a humble, trusting heart that is open to God. We can do the same thing!

In this episode we explore the story of Hagar one finalt time as we focus on the character of God as El-Roi, the God Who Sees. I emphasize the importance of understanding God's constant presence in our lives, especially during times of loneliness and suffering. Through Hagar's experience, listeners are encouraged to reflect on the fact that Jesus is ever-present with us, whether we can feel it or...

Keywords   Hagar, biblical stories, faith, obedience, strength, divine intervention, motherhood, character growth, spiritual healing, God's promises     Summary   In this third episode from the account of Hagar, we explore the story of Hagar from her own perspective, highlighting the truths about her character and looking closely at God's interaction with her. Through Hagar's journey in the desert...

In this episode we delve into the story of Hagar, Abram, and Sarai, exploring themes of decision-making, passivity, and the importance of living out an active faith. I emphasize the need to learn from Abram's mistakes, particularly when looking at his passive responses to Sarai's actions. Looking closely at Abram's part of the story will encourage listeners to actively pursue God and engage with t...

In this episode, I explore the story of Hagar from Genesis 16, focusing on the themes of dependence on God, the struggles of Sarai, and the cultural context of her decision to give her maid as an extra wife to her husband. Through Sarai's story we can see how easy it is to try and generate our own human solutions to God's leading and promises instead of relying on God Himself to do what He has pro...

In this episode Pastor Kari Bulman and I continue our conversation about covenant and its significance to us today.  Through covenant, God's shows us His unwavering commitment to His people. Hopefully by the end of this episode we can get closer to truly understanding the depth of God's commitment to us.     Keywords covenant, love God, Old Covenant, New Covenant, marriage, promises, faith, relati...

In this episode Pastor Kari Bulman and I explore the concept of covenant and its significance in both biblical and modern times. We talk about the difference between the Old and New Covenants and discuss how covenants represent trust and commitment, contrasting them with the contracts we make in our modern-day world. Ultimately, we highlight the beauty of God's unwavering commitment to His people...

In this episode, we delve into the profound theme of God's covenant love as illustrated through the life of Abraham. We explore the nature of covenants in the ancient Near East, the significance of the covenant ceremony between God and Abram, and how this covenant foreshadows and is fulfilled by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. The episode emphasizes the level of commitment God has to His promises...

  We explore on a little bit more of the journey and life of Abraham, focusing on him becoming a father of many nations because he believed in the Lord. I touch on the the importance of honesty in prayer, but the real focus is on the significance of faith and its connection to righteousness. Ultimately, we must make the choice to believe God just like Abram did.   Keywords Abraham, faith, God's pr...

With the example of the priest-king Melchizedek in Genesis 14 as a springboard, we take this episode to look at what the author explains in Hebrews about the similarities between Melchizedek and Jesus. And by the end we see how having a high priest like Jesus can be such a comfort to our souls.   

In this episode, we watch Abram and his allies fight and defeat some Mesopotamian kings, save Lot, and head home to the hills. But on the way back, Abram meets a unique individual who is unlike almost every other person in the Bible. Join me as we lay some groundwork on understanding Melchizedek. We will discuss his and Abram's interactions and how Melchizedek's priesthood has some big repercussio...

In this episode we watch the next chapter of Abram's story unfold with his nephew Lot. We are focusing this episode on the theme of spiritual growth and on being patient with the process the Lord has us in because there is an absolutely wonderful reward in store for us at the end. Listen to find out what unique reward we have to look forward to!   Keywords spiritual growth, Abram, Lot, God's promi...

In this podcast episode, we explore the process of decision-making for Christians using biblical examples from Abram and David. I emphasize the importance of faith, the need to renew one's mind and the necessity of seeking God's guidance in making decisions. The discussion highlights the consequences of fear-driven choices and provides practical steps for making decisions aligned with God's will....

In this episode I discuss the significance of building altars in our lives as a means of remembering God's promises and sustaining our faith. I emphasize the importance of returning to these altars to strengthen our relationship with God and to remind ourselves of His faithfulness. Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, I illustrate how modern-day altars can be created through journali...