Podcasts about imagine god

Proverbs 4:26 reminds us, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”That's a call to intentional living—choosing wisdom over impulse, especially in how we manage our money. We often emphasize that budgeting isn't just about numbers—it's about aligning your resources with God's purposes.Matt Bell, a trusted voice in biblical finance, recently wrote about the contrast between cultural and Christian approaches to budgeting. He notes that culture gives your money a script:“Make $80,000 a year. Then move into this neighborhood, drive that car, wear these clothes, eat in these restaurants, and take these vacations. Then you can give.”In this model, spending comes first and usually leads to debt. If we're lucky, we might save or give with what's left. The result? Financial stress, shrinking savings, and a fading sense of contentment.Budgeting as a Sacred TrustBut what if budgeting isn't just a spending plan—it's a sacred trust?Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” Your income is a gift and a responsibility. Imagine God saying:“I'm entrusting you with $80,000 this year. Use it to reflect My love—meet needs, fund ministry, invest in My Kingdom. Save wisely. Enjoy what I've provided.”This echoes 1 Timothy 6:17, which reminds us that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” With a biblical framework, our financial decisions flip the cultural script:Give firstThen save and investThen spend wiselyAnd use debt sparinglyPaul David Tripp puts it this way:“God calls us to stop starting with ourselves and hoping there's money left over for him. Instead, the call is to willingly and joyfully accept that our money's primary purpose is to fund a kingdom of generosity… and then trust that God will provide what we need.”Jesus warned in Matthew 7:26–27 that anyone who builds their life on shifting sand—hearing His words but not doing them—will find their house collapsing in the storm. A budget based on biblical principles isn't just practical—it's foundational. It anchors our financial lives to the truth of God's Word.A Partner for Kingdom StewardshipIf you're ready to build your finances on that foundation, it helps to partner with others who share your values. That's why we're grateful for Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU).More than a bank, CCCU is a financial institution with a Kingdom mission. They offer everything you'd expect—checking, savings, loans, mortgages—but they also invest your deposits in ministries that serve the Gospel worldwide. Every dollar becomes a tool for transformation.If you're seeking a trusted financial partner that aligns with your faith and fuels your impact, learn more at JoinChristianCommunity.com.Budgeting isn't about restriction—it's about worship. It's about saying, “Lord, everything I have is from You and for You.” When we carefully consider our financial paths, we begin to experience the freedom, peace, and joy of Kingdom stewardship.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I will be full retirement age in August. I'm still working, so my Social Security will be a surplus that I want to put toward my home. I still owe $82,000 on it, but I also know it needs many repairs. Does it make more sense to put this extra cash flow toward repairs, paying down the mortgage, or a little bit of both?What's the difference between getting a debt consolidation loan or working with a debt counselor?I just wanted general information about universal index life insurance. It seems too good to be true. I've heard that you put money in, and it always increases, but you never lose money out of there, like in the case with stocks.I have a colleague with $12,000 in student debt. He wants to pay $1,000 down and the rest over time, but I think he should pay it off completely now. What's the best method for him to save money and pay off the debt quickly?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU)Christian Credit CounselorsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Do you ever feel like you have to do everything on your own? Like you can't depend on anyone else? A lot of us think that being independent means being strong. But what if going alone actually means missing out on something amazing? Proverbs 3:5- 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Imagine…God has all wisdom and knowledge. His understanding surpasses mine and yours. What if you trusted His plan for your life instead of your own? I can tell you from experience, starting a relationship with Jesus will change your life in the most marvelous ways. Pray. Ask God to guide you in His wisdom today. Watch, and see what He will do. Always remember, there is hope with God. I'm Andrew Palau. radio.hopewithgod.com

Sermon 4/6/2025 – Jn 12:1-8   The prophet Isaiah brings us words from our Lord God:  “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” This is a beautiful reminder that God will surprise us God makes a way for us God brings out an army of fighters for us God nourishes and replenishes us Whatever we face, God is there, navigating beside us   The arc of the Gospels from Luke these past weeks have been building the tension toward Jesus' arrest and crucifixion We can feel the tension within the community The Pharisees are threatening Herod's wish to kill Jesus They're grumbling about what Jesus is doing and who he's hanging out with (all the wrong people) And Jesus is responding with outrageous parables about how God isn't going to fall in line with human expectations God is extravagant in God's love for God's people God will protect God's people like a fierce mother hen God will nourish the fig tree until it bears fruit God will welcome the wayward son with open arms and celebration “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”   In the midst of anxiety With the threat of death Burdened with tension God is there God is about to do a new thing Can we perceive it? Can we? Because fear Anxiety Tension The energy of these emotions act like walls Huge barriers to God's love Barriers that make God's love, mercy, tenderness and forgiveness sit on the outside of our hearts --- One thing we know about anxiety and tension – Is that they spread They are more contagious than Norovirus or Influenza A As they travel among people and communities   So today, we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel story about Jesus in a safe place, the home of his friends His chosen family – Lazarus who he raised from the dead, and Martha and Mary These people who are close to Jesus have been shown the nature of God through the person of Jesus They have been shown God's extravagant love again and again Through parables And miracles Through Jesus raising Lazarus from death But the tension from the community is there, It's seeped in It has spread into their home Into their hearts and minds as Mary does a new and extravagant thing   We read these stories year after year We know that Judas is the “bad guy”, who will betray Jesus to the soldiers leading to his imprisonment and crucifixion But having a woman act as the “good guy” is surprising It would have been even more surprising then than it is now For Mary to demonstrate God's abundance For Mary to break cultural expectations Challenging gender roles As she takes her hair down Uses an entire pound of perfumed oil And wipes Jesus' feet But Mary's role isn't the only surprising role in this story We see the human side of Jesus, the fierce advocate, the strong defender, the wise teacher, the righteous Son of God, As he sits and acknowledges his need of tenderness His need of support His weariness from these past months As Mary cares for him Wiping the tension out of his whole body through his feet   “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”   We acknowledge the intimacy of this act on Maundy Thursday when Jesus washes the feet of his disciples Imagine the intimacy of Mary wiping Jesus' feet with her hair and expensive perfume… Imagine how close she would have to sit to Jesus… Imagine her face, and her gaze upon him… Imagine the smell of the perfume, an entire pound of it, filling her nostrils and wafting up to Jesus' face, filling his nose The lovely fragrance spreading…permeating the entire room Lingering… Imagine his gaze upon her… As Jesus sits around the dinner table, surrounded by others, and Mary touches his feet for the first time… Imagine Jesus' surprise as she continues ministering to him until the entire jar is gone… “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”   Now imagine God caring for you in that extravagant and tender way Imagine God knowing all you've done And not done All you've endured And all you're facing in life Imagine God bringing God's self so close to you So close, just a hair's length away Close to even the dirtiest and sorest parts of yourself Not just the parts you'd offer first But even the embarrassing and hurt parts The parts you keep tucked away and covered Imagine God coming so close to those parts And blessing them Wiping them Loving them Anointing your past, present and future With a beautiful and unexpected fragrance That takes over your whole self That fills the whole room That is obnoxious in a way that even others notice “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” /         /         /         / We are so often like Judas Keeping track Judging Anxious As the tension of our community and world Spread and infect our spaces Our school and work Our congregation Our homes Even our thoughts and hearts Which is why this season of Lent is all about repentance Turning back toward God Taking a chance to let down the walls and barriers The hardness this world has erected within us And let God in Let God sit so close to us Let God let down God's hair Let God use the whole jar And reach our most unpresentable parts Let God tenderly touch those parts of us Let God wipe them clean, Let God bless them, and anoint them with God's extravagant and Holy love Amen

Lance remembers doing puzzles at his grandmother's dining room table, and it sets him in mind of how the church operates: we are like pieces of the puzzle, but you don't get the full picture when we are still scattered. Imagine God bringing the pieces together at Main & Clay. As we come together as individual pieces of a puzzle, we begin to see how we fit. We want to build a shared culture, we want to gather together to grow disciples. To worship, to pray, to be discipleship with one another. To build each other up, so that God can use us to build the church. Acts 2:42-47 & Hebrews 10:24-25 fmhouston.com

Be Bold & Sprinkle Love Like Confetti 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.I liked this verse when I read it for a couple of reasons.  The first reason was that it says, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.”  I liked the phrasing of it.  The verse is saying that they have confidence in God through Christ.  They are acknowledging that Christ is the reason the have confidence in God.  It is through Him that all things are possible.  I like this because it means that all the responsibility for trusting God is not on my shoulders.  If I ask, Christ will help me with my confidence in God.The next line says, “Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God.”  I like this because, again, it takes some of the responsibility off of us to have to know how to do it all and to be good at everything.  If God asks us to do something, then He will give us all we need to do it.  This is sometimes hard to believe.  Imagine God asking you to build an orphanage in a foreign country.  One where you have never been before.  It is difficult to say yes to this when you have no idea how any of the pieces will come together.  Maybe you don't even know how to build anything, and you are not a fan of travel.  Maybe you don't have any money and you don't have the first clue how to do fundraising.  It would be hard to step into this calling when you don't have any answers.  And yet, some people do.  God asked Noah to build an arc.  He asked him to build an arc in the middle of a drought.  Noah had no idea how to build an arc. He was a farmer.  Noah had never built an arc before.  I don't think that Noah had all the supplies to build the arc before he said yes to the Lord.  God asked Noah to build an arc with very specific dimensions, and Noah said yes.  He said yes, not because he knew what he was doing and not because he had all the answers.  He said yes because he loved God, and God asked him to.  He said yes and relied on the Lord to give him what he would need to complete the project.  I wish we all had this kind of trust in the Lord.  I wish that when God asked us to do something, we all just said yes.  We didn't think about it, we didn't weigh the pros and the cons, we didn't worry about whether we were good enough or not.  I wish we just said yes.  If God wanted to erase everyone except Noah off the face of the earth, then it seems like the world was in a pretty bad place.  The world is in a pretty bad place right now.  It seems as though you can be anything you want today except for Christian.  You have to be tolerant of everyone else's beliefs, but no one has to be tolerant of Christian beliefs.  Don't get me wrong, I think that we should be tolerant of other people's beliefs.  I just expect that same respect, and it doesn't seem to be happening these days.  I believe that God is calling us all to action.  I believe He wants us to spread the gospel and to live His word every day.  This brings me to the next line in this verse, “our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant.” God made the apostles competent ministers of the new covenant.  He will do the same for us.  If we just say yes, he will equip us with the knowledge and power that we need to spread the good news.  If you are anything like me you shrink away from the responsibility to spread the good news.  You think to yourself, “Who am I to talk about God? What do I know?” or you say, “There are others much better suited to talk about Jesus. Others that have studied harder or paid attention more.” There are any number of things we tell ourselves to convince us that God may be calling some people, but He isn't calling me.  I am not worthy to serve the Lord.  I am not good enough, smart enough, educated enough, or whatever your version of “not enough” is.  This is the enemy talking!  He has convinced us that we aren't enough, so God couldn't possibly use us.  All the proof you need to know this isn't true can be found in the Bible.  God never used the most educated men, the most holy people, the people who got everything right.  He used normal, everyday people to be his instruments in the world, and He wants to use you.  Do not believe the enemy that you are not enough.  Are you worthy?  No, none of us are worthy, and yet God loves us and wants to use us anyway.  God made us in His likeness and image, so we can't be all that bad.  The last part of this verse is a really important part.  It is one that I find really interesting and want to dive deeper into.  I will touch on it today to draw your attention to it, and then, if you want to dive deeper to understand it better, you can do that.  The last part of this verse says, “Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  This talk of a new covenant is what I would like to dive deeper into.  The things I found regarding this particular scripture say that the letter of the law is the mosaic law.  Before Paul was converted, he used to enforce the laws of the old covenant.  The reason this verse says that the letter kills is because it is impossible for us to follow all the laws on our own.  We are a sinful people, and we can't live a life without sin without the Holy Spirit.  When Paul teaches the new covenant, he teaches those who trust in Jesus to live by the Holy Spirit.  I think this is where many of us go wrong.  We want to help everyone find Jesus, and we have noble intentions.  However, we go about it by preaching the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law.  Instead of starting out letting everyone know how much they are loved by our heavenly father, we tell them that they are living in sin if they live with someone they aren't married too.  Instead of loving people right where they are and trusting the Holy Spirit to convict them of any wrongdoing, we judge them and treat them according to how we feel they should be treated.  The Holy Spirit has really convinced me over the years that Jesus is love and that He wants me to be an example of that love to all that I meet.  I fall short, and I don't always do this. However, I never stop trying, and I know that when I do fail, God forgives me, and then he gives me the grace I need to do better next time.  If we truly want to help people find their way to Jesus, then we need to be a reflection of Jesus to all we meet.  When Jesus ate with the tax collectors and the prostitutes, he did not lecture them about what they were doing and how they needed to change.  He just loved them right where they were, and they saw a love and a peace in Him that they wanted.  Our words will not be the thing that changes people. Our actions will.  It seems like people are starving for love and connection these days.  This may sound weird because, with social media, it seems like everyone has so many more friends.  However, it is rare to get true connections with others online.  There is definitely a shortage of love these days.  Even with all these ways to communicate, people are feeling more alone than ever.  What if we spread love around to everyone we meet?  I heard this saying, and I love it. The saying is, “Sprinkle love like confetti.” What if we all made this our goal? Imagine how much better the world around us would be if we all sprinkled love like it was Confetti.  Imagine if we were all brave and bold enough to love more freely.Dear Heavenly Father, I  ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, help us to love you and to have confidence in you.  Lord, help us to say yes to whatever it is you are calling us to, even if we don't understand how or why you are calling us to it.  Help us to say yes, even if we don't have any of the answers we think we need.  Please give us the grace to trust You and rely on You for all we will need to carry out the mission You give us.  We want to be competent ministers of the new covenant.  Help us to lead by example and to teach the spirit of the law instead of focusing on the letter of the law.  We love you so much, Lord; help us sprinkle that love like confetti to all those we come in contact with.  Thank you so much for all you do for us.  You are truly spectacular, and we are so grateful.  We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen.Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus.  I look forward to spending time with you tomorrow.  Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in August 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, as I am merciful, so must you be. I do not hesitate to pardon you. I do not hesitate to give you a chance. You must do so with other people.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Are You Working Out What God's Working In You? Ever feel like life's a relentless rollercoaster of ups, downs, and loop-de-loops? What if you could approach each twist with a radically fresh mindset? Philippians 2 doesn't just paint God as a distant helper it reveals Him as your very life source. In Him, you're not just surviving you're thriving from a place of unshakable union. Imagine God at work within you, shaping your desires and actions to align with His purpose. As Christ's mindset pulses through you, confidence in His provision and a genuine concern for others start to flow effortlessly not as obligations, but as natural expressions of who you already are. Curious about transforming your trials into undeniable triumphs? Click to watch and explore how living from your union with Christ fuels everything you do, lighting up the world with His love through you! Discussion Questions for Philippians 2: 1. Read verse 3. How does genuine humility happen? How does humility reflect the heart of the Gospel? 2. Read verses 4-5. How does looking out for the interests of others start to happen in our lives? How can we have this mindset? 3. Read verses 6-8. What does it mean that Christ emptied Himself? What do you think God is trying to tell us through this? 4. Read verses 9-11. Why is the exaltation of Christ significant to our understanding of His nature and place in our lives? What does it mean that Jesus is Lord? 5. Read verse 12 and react to this statement: Work out what God has worked in! 6. Read verse 13 and react to this statement: God doesn't just cause us to do but also to will (or want) what He wants. 7. Read verses 14-16. From a grace perspective, how do we shine as lights in the world? And what does it mean to hold fast to the word of life? 8. Read verses 17-18. What does poured out as a drink offering mean? How can we share in joy as we encourage and build one another up? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1258/29

We're receiving an education in developing a biblical mindset right now on Light on the Hill. Glad you could join us. Imagine God coming up to you and saying, Ask for whatever you want me to give you! What would you ask for? That very question from God was posed to Solomon, and he asked for wisdom! God would give that to him and so much more. Pastor James Kaddis will look at this dialogue and relate it to what every Christian should know about wealth. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1459/29

Worship with Kathy Koop

Imagine God offering you anything you ask for. What would you choose? Ephesians 2:10 reveals three transformative truths: we are God's workmanship, created for good works, and called to walk in them. This passage answers life's big questions about identity, purpose, and fulfillment, urging us to align our desires with God's work and live a life of eternal significance. Visit us and find more at: https://www.friendshipsturgis.com and facebook.com/fbcms Helpful Links: New Here?: https://friendshipsturgis.com/connect Announcements: https://friendshipsturgis.com/announc... Online Giving: https://friendshipsturgis.com/give Kids: https://friendshipsturgis.com/kids Family: https://friendshipsturgis.com/family CCLI#: 2902454 CSPL# 055762

Ever felt the difference when you try to do life (or business) without God? In this episode, I share what it's like to move from just serving God to partnering with Him—as a friend, mentor, and guide. Imagine God walking with you through every moment, offering wisdom and joy. Whether you're running a business, raising a family, or building relationships, He's ready to lead you into His best for you. Join me on this journey of saying “yes” to God as your CEO, and let's see what amazing things He has in store! As always,

Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; Please worship and enjoy with me this description of Jesus. Never was there a more holy high priest than Jesus. Oh, the beauty of holiness. Holiness entails the concept of oneness or union with God. Jesus is fused into one with the Father and Holy Spirit, and all function as one beautiful, glorious being. Psalms 29:2, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in holy array [the beauty of holiness].” Holiness also means set apart from something (this world) to something (to God). There's no one like Jesus. As we look at Him and all the other high priests who ever served in God's temple, Jesus stands out in incomparable grandeur and beauty.  Unlike all other high priests, Jesus is innocent—literally, He stands apart from what is evil or bad. Not one thought, word, or deed is associated with evil. His life is also undefiled, spotless, or unstained by any evil. Evil has not touched Him. I'm reminded of something Jesus said to His disciples on His last night with them. John 14:30. “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” There is not one desire in Jesus for anything the devil has to offer. That is not true of any other high priest. The basic idea within the word separated from sinners is the idea of a chasm or a space between items or people. He is exalted above us. We are earth bound, associated with sin and evil, defiled, stained, and corrupted with lust for this world. Do you see us as a group standing together on the earth? But Jesus is not like us sinners. He is lifted up above the heavens. Can you see the space between us? Therefore, God has made it clear that He is fit to act as our intercessor with God forever. Imagine His life now as your life! Imagine Jesus standing in for you in the presence of God. Imagine God counting the beauty and glory of Jesus' life and character as yours, and worship Him.  My dear friends, we are indeed blessed beyond words. Could God do anything more for His beloved? It is fitting, it is clear, that God can do no less than the absolute greatest possible thing for those He loves, and that He has done. He has given Himself to be our righteousness, our redemption, our sanctification, and our confidence in His presence. Therefore, love others out of His fullness.

Join us as we look to God and what He has for us as a church in our future. Want to learn more about our church and get connected: https://linktr.ee/friends_church_eastvale

My God, Keep Fighting for Me! "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.' Deuteronomy 20:4 In life's darkest moments, it's essential to remember that you are never alone. Just like Riley Clemmons' lyrics remind us, there's a love that fights the night for us—a divine love that offers unwavering support and strength when we feel most vulnerable. This love is a constant presence, ready to lift you up when your strength falters. In marriage, careers, family, or ministry, God stands beside you as an unfaltering ally in every battle. “There is no limit to what we can achieve when we dare to keep fighting,” a quote that speaks volumes of truth. Imagine God as the steady lighthouse guiding ships through stormy seas; no matter how fierce the waves crash around you, there's always a guiding light showing you the way. This powerful analogy mirrors God's ceaseless dedication and promise: I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Psalm 27:1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Amid any situation, believe in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This verse is a testament to God's empowering presence in our lives, equipping us with endurance when our faith wavers. Even on days when hope seems distant, His unyielding commitment reminds us that we're capable of overcoming any obstacle. You aren't just surviving; you're thriving under God's protective care. Imagine Him weaving protection and resilience into your very being—turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Rest assured that his fight on your behalf is relentless and ever-faithful because He loves you like nobody else ever could. Amen. Romans 8:28 says, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Amen. Prayer for the Day! I pray that the Lord, in His boundless wisdom and grace, transforms every challenge you face into a stepping stone toward unimaginable growth. May each obstacle become an opportunity for God to demonstrate His mighty power in your life and bring forth a robust faith that withstands all seasons. In Jesus' name. Amen. https://maglife.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-divineo/support

Holy God so often we feel cut off from you and one another. Help us find our way to healing and hope, so that we can become new again. Amen.   Strikingly beautiful, Maria had deep dark eyes and long black hair. Superficially she seemed jaded, a kind of rebel. But if you took the time to really know her, she had great intelligence, sensitivity and heart. During my junior year of high school we were close friends. She used to talk about what it felt like getting painfully lost in the shuffle after her parents split up, about her resentful mother being left with almost nothing.   In those days divorce was suddenly becoming far more widespread and our society was not prepared. We did not know how to cope with divorce in a humane and grace-filled way. Divorce deeply affects all of us. Perhaps you have gone through a divorce yourself, or maybe it was your parents, your children, a close friend or work colleague. In our society really poor people, the ones who are barely making it, are far more likely to get divorced than wealthy people.   Being truly part of the human family means understanding how hard it can be to sustain a relationship and how much pain we can suffer when it breaks down. Many of us also have an experience of new life and joy on the other side of this suffering.   What does Jesus offer as we try to understand this feature of the human condition? Many preachers shy away from this complex topic and I worry a little about putting words into Jesus' mouth and a lot about saying something that inadvertently harms you. But I believe that Jesus offers practical and real good news. But like all communication his words need to be interpreted and this requires difficult work. It is worth it because this teaching will lead us to wholeness and new life.   The context matters. Jesus has been teaching his disciples about becoming “servants of all.” [1] In fact he says that the world completely misunderstands servanthood. In Imperial Rome but also today we tend to think of servants as lower, lesser, outsiders compelled to work for those who are greater than they are. We easily slip into thinking that the great ones are those who coerce and control others. But Jesus turns this idea on its head. He tells his friends that serving others, especially vulnerable people, is the key to a meaningful life. He says that the greatest one will be servant of all.   Some Pharisees come to Jesus. The name Pharisee in Aramaic means “the ones who are set apart.” [2] They care intensely about determining what and who is pure. They are right to fear Jesus because he undermines this whole project. For Jesus there is one human family and no one is impure or left out. The Pharisees ask Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” The narrator calls this question a trap. Whether Jesus says yes or no the Pharisees have a plan to condemn him.   Jesus understands that there is no right answer. He also knows what happened after King Herod and his former sister-in-law each divorced their spouses and married each other. John the Baptist criticized their marriage. And this led to his execution by Herod. Rather than trying to set a policy or law on divorce Jesus changes the question. Rather than asking if it is legal to divorce he asks us to consider what God wants for us.   During those times there were ethical disagreements concerning divorce. Some believed that the only justification for divorce was sexual infidelity. Others thought that a husband should be able to divorce his wife for pretty much any reason. According to the Book of Deuteronomy a man can write a certificate of divorce if his wife, “does not please him” or, “because he finds something objectionable about her” (Deut. 24:1-4).   This biblical passage puts all the power in the hands of the husband. It makes divorce the rule rather than an exception to be employed only after all other courses of action have failed. Most important this law endangers the most vulnerable people in society – women and children who could not own property and who depend for their well-being on the generosity of their husband and father. This actually describes the situation of my friend Maria.   Jesus hates just this kind of human suffering. You can almost hear him raise his voice as he says that the reason for a commandment permitting divorce is our “hardness of heart.” But note this. Jesus does not say Moses was wrong. Jesus does not say that the commandment permitting divorce should cease to be a law. Jesus is not forbidding divorce.   Instead he uses hyperbole to make a point. In our reading a few weeks ago Jesus said that, “if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out” (Mk. 9:47). Just as this is not a call for us to pluck out our eyes, Jesus describing remarriage as a kind of adultery does not mean that no one should ever get divorced. In every way Jesus says we are children of God and our actions have lasting effects on other children of God many of whom are far more vulnerable than we are.   Jesus is the same person who teaches us that the law was made for human beings not human beings for the law. Jesus' point is not to shame people who have already suffered all the effects of a broken relationship. He is not trying to make people stay in a relationship that is abusive or in one that has clearly died. He is not trying to preserve relationships that continue to do damage to the people who are in them.   Instead Jesus is moving our attention from what the law permits to God's dream for how our relationships could be. Describing this higher picture of marriage Jesus rejects the Pharisees' approach which only sees the relationship from the perspective of the divorcing husband. In his words here Jesus treats women and men the same (he talks in equal terms about a man and a woman divorcing a spouse).   Jesus paints a picture of what love can become. He quotes the book of Genesis and talks about people leaving their families in order to be joined together. So often in my own life I think about the deep and miraculous truth that “the two shall become one flesh.” Adding to this Jesus says that, “what God has joined together, let no one separate.”   Let that sink in for a bit. Imagine two beings so united in purpose and affection that they become like one single entity. Imagine God as the source of our deepest relationships and actively at work in helping them to thrive. I understand that marriage is not for everyone. Anyone entering into marriage needs to know that even in the best circumstances it can be hard work. Marriage involves renewing the relationship over and over again. Marriage requires wisdom, communication, perseverance, patience, courage, forgiveness and an openness to what is new and what cannot be controlled. It demands not just a commitment to the other person but to the relationship itself. To be strong a marriage requires a community of support like the one gathered here this morning.   Jesus wants us to know that there is more to life than feeling justified by the law and superior to another person. Jesus wants us to strive for goodness, to find the way that we are called to serve. But there are relationships that have become so broken that no matter how hard we try, they cannot be saved. Jesus speaks about this not because we have broken some rule and deserve to be punished, but because it is God's nature to be present to help us when we are suffering. [3]   I began by sharing my fear of speaking about divorce with you today. I guess I really did not want to be misunderstood on this point. Jesus does not condemn people for being divorced. Fifty years ago Diane, my mother-in-law and one of the women I most admire, went through a divorce with my father-in-law. Because of this the church she grew up in utterly rejected her. For decades she never felt comfortable in a church and I did not talk to her about it. Some of you might remember that magical midnight Christmas mass ten years ago when she joined us.   Delayed by her flight, Diane hesitantly made her way down the center aisle to her pew. In all those years as family we had never worshiped together. In the middle of my sermon, preaching from this pulpit I immediately recognized her. I almost started crying tears of joy because she had come home – loved by God and by you the people who welcomed her.   Our reading today ends as Jesus' disciples try to keep children from bothering him. Mark writes that Jesus feels “indignant” about this. He says, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark writes, “And [Jesus] took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”   This week I keep thinking of my high school friend Maria and Jesus taking her into his arms and blessing her. I imagine Jesus holding Diane with that smile from Christmas on her face and blessing her. And in my mind's eye I see all the people who have suffered the effects of difficult marriages and divorce and he is reaching out to embrace and bless us. [1] Matt Boulton, “One Flesh: Salt's Commentary for the Twentieth Week after Pentecost, SALT, 1 October 2024. https://www.saltproject.org/progressive-christian-blog/2018/10/3/one-flesh-salts-lectionary-commentary-for-twentieth-week-after-pentecost [2] “The appellation “Pharisee” is probably derived from the Aramaic word perishayya which means “the separated one.” Very likely the addresses of Mark's story would not know that. But from previous narrative they have already learned that the Pharisees maintain a pollution system that separates the world into two realms of the clean and the unclean.” Herman Waetjen, A Reordering of Power: A Socio-Political Reading of Mark's Gospel (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989) 165. [3] Canon Edie Weller writes about this in a sermon. She says, “Jesus was a realist. He knew that there are times when we can't reach or maintain the kind of relationship that God might dream for us. There are times and circumstances which lead to broken relationships, from which – as hard as we might work at it – we cannot recover. Jesus speaks about this not because the death of a marriage is more sinful or worse in some way than other experiences of human brokenness. Rather he speaks about this because he cares about us. God's grief in the face of our irreconcilable differences stems not from our having broken the rules or failed a divine test, but from God's response to our experience of such pain. Edie B. Weller, “Sermon for Sunday October 7, 2018 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Proper 22), St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Seattle, Washington. https://saintmarks.org/staff/the-rev-edie-weller/

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (imagine).” In this series, we will revisit the Imagine vision God gave us a year ago and talk about what we've done and where we're going.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. In our last few episodes we looked at what Moses tells the people of Israel.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” “Now choose life, so that you…may live.” “For the LORD is your life!” “LORD” in all uppercase letters in our English Bibles indicates that in Hebrew God's name, Yahweh, is used (for example, Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 42:8). Yahweh is the ancient Hebrew verb form for “HE IS.” God's name, Yahweh, is used more than any other term for God in the Hebrew scriptures. More than “God” is used.  God's name is filled with wonder and mystery and transcendence for us to meditate on using our biblically guided imagination. When we see God's name, HE IS, in the Hebrew scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), four important aspects of God are repeatedly emphasized.  HE IS the Creator and Sustainer of ALL that exists, including this entire universe (Ps 33:6; Isa 40:26; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24).  HE IS the Giver and Sustainer of ALL life everywhere always (Num 27:16; Job 12:10; Acts 17:25). HE IS eternal and forever God (Isa 40:28; Isa 57:15) HE IS ALWAYS infinitely 100% present with you and in control of everything in your life at every moment (Ps 31:14-15; without being any less present or focused anywhere else in the universe, because HE IS infinite). See Jesus's words in Matthew 10:29-31. We often meditate on God‘s name in this podcast because it is the key to experiencing God as HE IS.  So imagine – envision – this reality. He is the Source of all being; he is the Giver of your life and sustains your life at every moment; he is the one who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15), and so has the eternal perspective in all your life's circumstances; and he is infinitely, intimately, 100% present with you at every moment and in control of every circumstance in your life. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. In our last few episodes we looked at what Moses tells the people of Israel.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” “Now choose life, so that you…may live.” “For the LORD is your life!” “LORD” in all uppercase letters in our English Bibles indicates that in Hebrew God's name, Yahweh, is used (for example, Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 42:8). Yahweh is the ancient Hebrew verb form for “HE IS.” God's name, Yahweh, is used more than any other term for God in the Hebrew scriptures. More than “God” is used.  God's name is filled with wonder and mystery and transcendence for us to meditate on using our biblically guided imagination. When we see God's name, HE IS, in the Hebrew scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), four important aspects of God are repeatedly emphasized.  HE IS the Creator and Sustainer of ALL that exists, including this entire universe (Ps 33:6; Isa 40:26; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24).  HE IS the Giver and Sustainer of ALL life everywhere always (Num 27:16; Job 12:10; Acts 17:25). HE IS eternal and forever God (Isa 40:28; Isa 57:15) HE IS ALWAYS infinitely 100% present with you and in control of everything in your life at every moment (Ps 31:14-15; without being any less present or focused anywhere else in the universe, because HE IS infinite). See Jesus's words in Matthew 10:29-31. We often meditate on God‘s name in this podcast because it is the key to experiencing God as HE IS.  So imagine – envision – this reality. He is the Source of all being; he is the Giver of your life and sustains your life at every moment; he is the one who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15), and so has the eternal perspective in all your life's circumstances; and he is infinitely, intimately, 100% present with you at every moment and in control of every circumstance in your life. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Look for new once-per-week episodes each Tuesday during the summer. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. In our last few episodes we looked at what Moses tells the people of Israel.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” “Now choose life, so that you…may live.” “For the LORD is your life!” God's will for you has always been about Life. That's the whole reason Jesus came… John 10:10-11 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” As Jesus said in John 5:25-26 (NIV): “Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” Life. Joy. Love. That's God‘s eternal will for you and God is the only Source where Life is found. So choose Life, “now,” in this moment. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Look for new once-per-week episodes each Tuesday during the summer. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. In our last few episodes we looked at what Moses tells the people of Israel.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” “Now choose life, so that you…may live.” “For the LORD is your life!” God's will for you has always been about Life. That's the whole reason Jesus came… John 10:10-11 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” As Jesus said in John 5:25-26 (NIV): “Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” Life. Joy. Love. That's God‘s eternal will for you and God is the only Source where Life is found. So choose Life, “now,” in this moment. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Our summer schedule has begun. Look for new once-per-week episodes each Tuesday during the summer. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” To choose life begins with choosing—hitting the switch inside your head – “I want to choose life and life is found only in connection with God.” It's a switch you have to hit over and over. Because it regularly gets turned off by default in this Genesis 3 world.  So doing this is not a one time thing. It's a continual kind of thing. Done best in repeated/habitual moments of Christian meditation.  “LORD” in all uppercase letters in our English Bibles indicates that in Hebrew God's name, Yahweh, is used (for example, Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 42:8). Yahweh is the ancient Hebrew verb form for “HE IS.” God's name, Yahweh, is used more than any other term for God in the Hebrew scriptures. More than “God” is used.  When we survey the various truths associated with God's name, HE IS, in the Hebrew scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), four important aspects of God are emphasized.  HE IS the Creator and Sustainer of ALL that exists, including this entire universe (Ps 33:6; Isa 40:26; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24).  HE IS the Giver and Sustainer of ALL life everywhere always (Num 27:16; Job 12:10; Acts 17:25). HE IS eternal and forever God (Isa 40:28; Isa 57:15) HE IS ALWAYS infinitely 100% present with you and in control of everything in your life at every moment (Ps 31:14-15; without being any less present or focused anywhere else in the universe, because HE IS infinite). See Jesus's words in Matthew 10:29-31. We often meditate on God‘s name in this podcast because it is the key to experiencing God as HE IS. God's name is filled with wonder and mystery and transcendence for us to meditate on using our biblically guided imagination. So imagine – envision – this reality. He is the Source of all being; he is the Giver of your life and sustains your life at every moment; he is the one who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15), and so has the eternal perspective in all your life's circumstances; and he is infinitely, intimately, 100% present with you at every moment and in control of every circumstance in your life. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax your body, refocus your mind, and to re-imagine and re-narrate your life to a truer reality. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  Our summer schedule has begun. Look for new once-per-week episodes each Tuesday during the summer. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)  “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life….” To choose life begins with choosing—hitting the switch inside your head – “I want to choose life and life is found only in connection with God.” It's a switch you have to hit over and over. Because it regularly gets turned off by default in this Genesis 3 world.  So doing this is not a one time thing. It's a continual kind of thing. Done best in repeated/habitual moments of Christian meditation.  “LORD” in all uppercase letters in our English Bibles indicates that in Hebrew God's name, Yahweh, is used (for example, Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 42:8). Yahweh is the ancient Hebrew verb form for “HE IS.” God's name, Yahweh, is used more than any other term for God in the Hebrew scriptures. More than “God” is used.  When we survey the various truths associated with God's name, HE IS, in the Hebrew scriptures (what we call the Old Testament), four important aspects of God are emphasized.  HE IS the Creator and Sustainer of ALL that exists, including this entire universe (Ps 33:6; Isa 40:26; Isa 42:5; Isa 44:24).  HE IS the Giver and Sustainer of ALL life everywhere always (Num 27:16; Job 12:10; Acts 17:25). HE IS eternal and forever God (Isa 40:28; Isa 57:15) HE IS ALWAYS infinitely 100% present with you and in control of everything in your life at every moment (Ps 31:14-15; without being any less present or focused anywhere else in the universe, because HE IS infinite). See Jesus's words in Matthew 10:29-31. We often meditate on God‘s name in this podcast because it is the key to experiencing God as HE IS. God's name is filled with wonder and mystery and transcendence for us to meditate on using our biblically guided imagination. So imagine – envision – this reality. He is the Source of all being; he is the Giver of your life and sustains your life at every moment; he is the one who “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15), and so has the eternal perspective in all your life's circumstances; and he is infinitely, intimately, 100% present with you at every moment and in control of every circumstance in your life. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Join me in exploring the profound teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. Imagine God being our ultimate hope, delivering us from evil, and stretching us towards divine purpose. Envision a different world, where we become different people under a different King. I want to live in that neighborhood! Let's embark on this transformative journey together.

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax, refocus, and re-narrate your life. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Ephesians 6:11, 17 (NIV) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …17 Take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. John 6:63 (NIV) “The Spirit gives life... The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” Genesis 1:1 NIV “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax, refocus, and re-narrate your life. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Ephesians 6:11, 17 (NIV) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …17 Take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. John 6:63 (NIV) “The Spirit gives life... The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” Genesis 1:1 NIV “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax, refocus, and re-narrate your life. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Ephesians 6:11, 17 (NIV) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …17 Take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. John 6:63 (NIV) “The Spirit gives life... The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

This Mentoring Minute deals with a really good question you can ask your mentee to start some high-quality conversation. Back in youth group, we would trace out somebody's silhouette on a piece of butcher paper and have students fill in the space with what a Christian looks like. It was hilarious to watch the paper person come alive with a Christian bookstore t-shirt, a WWJD bracelet, multiple bibles and concordances in hand, other modest clothing and a John 3:16 sign with clown wig for the football games.So we know by now that Christ-followers come in all shapes and sizes. But, there are three things we know about what a Christian needs to look like and they come from Jesus' words in Mark 8:34. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”--Denying yourself – Oh what a powerful trait for the Christian! To deny yourself is to know your cravings and comforts and anything that will keep you from God and saying NO to them. Self-denial is about sacrifice! It is a daily choice to forgo our own motives and actions for the Lord's! To help your mentee understand this point, share what things you have denied yourself that have strengthened your faith.Taking up our cross – The Cross of Christ is our call as well in life and I know that sounds heavy but we follow Jesus' example when we realize our PURPOSE and live in obedience to what He has for us. We don't take up a cross that offers salvation for others. We do take up a cross out of obedience to God so we can do the work He has planned for us. Be prepared to talk about specific crosses you have taken up in your faith journey. Following Jesus – This is the best part. Imagine God telling us to deny ourselves, get to work on this earth for Him but then Him leaving us with no direction or guidance. We would be lost! But instead, Jesus says I have a plan and I will be revealing it to you as we walk through life together. --It's his PRESENCE in our lives that gives us the motivation to deny ourselves, the power to take up our cross, and the willingness to follow!Be sure to make the connection with your mentee that it's your hope to reflect Christ as a mentor. That as you follow Jesus and enjoy communion with him your prayer is that your mentee will follow him as well and have communion with Jesus and you as a mentor. –Please follow @youcanmentor on social media and give us a 5 star rating! If you are a part of a mentoring organization, we'd love to get to know you! Please reach out to us!Contact us at zach@youcanmentor.com or at www.youcanmentor.com

This is Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life – a time for you to relax, refocus, and re-narrate your life. I'm Dave Cover. I want to help you with Christian meditation where you can break through all the distractions and experience God's presence through biblically guided imagination.  If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Ephesians 6:11, 17 (NIV) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. …17 Take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. John 6:63 (NIV) “The Spirit gives life... The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on X (Twitter) @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on X @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Imagine God telling you that you are to wait for one specific thing to happen and He asks you to wait for it. So you wait. And you wait. And now you are getting old but you really do believe God, so you continue to wait. Today we will meet a man named Simeon who was told by God that he would not die until he saw Jesus, but he would have to wait. And then one day at the temple a young woman walks in with a baby and Simeon knows that with this baby – his waiting was over. Join us today to see the importance of never giving up.

Imagine God telling you that you are to wait for one specific thing to happen and He asks you to wait for it. So you wait. And you wait. And now you are getting old but you really do believe God, so you continue to wait. Today we will meet a man named Simeon who was told by God that he would not die until he saw Jesus, but he would have to wait. And then one day at the temple a young woman walks in with a baby and Simeon knows that with this baby – his waiting was over. Join us today to see the importance of never giving up.

We all long for home. When the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, it will be the forever home of the redeemed from all the ages. In this message, Pastor Lutzer introduces what will last in heaven and who will be welcomed. Imagine God dwelling with us throughout all eternity. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

Imagine God calling a mysterious babe to be an online evangelist

We all long for home. When the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, it will be the forever home of the redeemed from all the ages. In this message, Pastor Lutzer distinguishes what will not be in heaven and who will be welcomed. Imagine God dwelling with us throughout all eternity. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

We all long for home. When the New Jerusalem descends from heaven, it will be the forever home of the redeemed from all the ages. In this message, Pastor Lutzer distinguishes what will not be in heaven and who will be welcomed. Imagine God dwelling with us throughout all eternity. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

The Church at Ephesus does so many things RIGHT.  When God drops the curtain of all pretense and looks carefully at them, there is much to commend.  May this be true of us.Imagine God doing a spiritual health check up.  He doesn't have to FIND anything, He KNOWS already. God knows truly who we are.  The question is, do we? Let's assess this same idea with the Lord in ourselves.Bewithme.us bewithme.us@gmail.com Apple Podcast.

What if God has a banner, an anthem to sing over your heart this year? When my kids were young, I would sing songs to them as they fell asleep. Over their early years, certain songs became their own personal anthems - ones they chose over and over or ones that welled up in my heart in the closing moments of the day. Imagine God singing the verse you land on today over you as you move throughout this year. May it become a sweet song of his particular kindness for your heart over this mile marker in your story. Join Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings for part 1 of this conversation on The Exploring More Podcast, as they invite us to journey with God to uncover this anthem for our heart! Pick up your FREE COPY of the Word of the Year Devotional here or start a reading plan on YouVersion's Bble app here.

TODAY, we discuss the second installment of our exciting series on Deuteronomy titled Dear Prodigals. The title of the series is based on the Gospel of Luke on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Talk 2, Remember, focuses on the long lecture of Moses to the Israelites not to forget lessons of God's love during their long journey from slavery to freedom. Because when we forget God's blessings, we suffer soul dementia. And soon, we think we no longer need God. Imagine God speaking to you right now: “Remember! Remember My sacrifice for you. Remember My favor over your life. Remember how much I love you.” Talk 2 gives pointers on how to fight soul dementia.

In Christian meditation, we are re-aligning ourselves vertically. We're remapping our horizontal realities with a vertical view/perspective. Enabling us to embody that vertical perspective replaces anxiety and tension with a calm confidence. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Listen to the apostle Paul's prayer in… Ephesians 3:16 (ESV) “…That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Imagine “the riches of God‘s glory.“ Imagine the “power” of God‘s glory being in you by his Spirit in you. Imagine that power strengthening you by his Spirit in your inner being. Your inner being is the real you. There's a real you inside you that wants to live in God's glory, love, goodness, righteousness, joy. “Power” in the New Testament is almost always associated with overcoming evil. Imagine God‘s power overcoming evil in you — all the ways that evil has been deceiving you and lying to you. Your inner being is being strengthened. Imagine God's Spirit in your inner being right now —  with his infinite glory and power and love and Shalom. God‘s Spirit is infinite and abundant. The more God's Spirit strengthens your inner being with “the riches” of his presence, the more God's riches are still available to bring life and renewal to your whole being.  Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

In Christian meditation, we are re-aligning ourselves vertically. We're remapping our horizontal realities with a vertical view/perspective. Enabling us to embody that vertical perspective replaces anxiety and tension with a calm confidence. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Listen to the apostle Paul's prayer in… Ephesians 3:16 (ESV) “…That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Imagine “the riches of God‘s glory.“ Imagine the “power” of God‘s glory being in you by his Spirit in you. Imagine that power strengthening you by his Spirit in your inner being. Your inner being is the real you. There's a real you inside you that wants to live in God's glory, love, goodness, righteousness, joy. “Power” in the New Testament is almost always associated with overcoming evil. Imagine God‘s power overcoming evil in you — all the ways that evil has been deceiving you and lying to you. Your inner being is being strengthened. Imagine God's Spirit in your inner being right now —  with his infinite glory and power and love and Shalom. God‘s Spirit is infinite and abundant. The more God's Spirit strengthens your inner being with “the riches” of his presence, the more God's riches are still available to bring life and renewal to your whole being.  Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Matthew Matlack. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located. 

Imagine God appeared to you right now and said, -I want you to spend the day getting your friends and family ready for Judgment Day.- What would you do--

We stand at the brink of a major move of God here at CCV. How will you be a part of it?

God Doesn't Move, We Do. Imagine God as a huge, unshakable rock, just like those giant mountains He made. He's always there, never moving. But we, as humans, can move around and sometimes feel like God has disappeared because we can't see or feel Him in the same place all the time. But remember, God is always there, even if we can't see Him, just like that steady rock! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/marcuspointebaptistchurch/message

In this episode of the Driving Change podcast, host Jeff Bloomfield speaks with agnostic engineer-turned-author John Burke about the fascinating world of near-death experiences. John shares remarkable stories from his books, "Imagine Heaven" and the upcoming release "Imagine God." Encounter the blinding light and hear the voice of Jesus as individuals recall their divine revelations. These stories will challenge and encourage us, offering a glimpse into a reality beyond our comprehension. John delves into why only some people have these encounters. His role as a bridge is to present evidence to skeptics and seekers, providing a compelling case despite not having a personal near-death experience. In their conversation, Jeff and John explore faith, science, and free will. Brace yourself for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges doubters and skeptics. To explore further, visit www.imagineheaven.net or www.gatewaychurch.com

If you're looking for a divine mystery, you don't have to look any further than the first chapter of Genesis. In it, God created this entire universe and everything within it. And because his creative power is unparalleled, he built mystery after mystery into creation. It's an endless world of exploration! In today's message, Pastor Mark is going to show you some of the mysteries that God shared with us in scripture long before we ever thought to look for them. Life in Christ is never boring. There are so many mysteries left to unravel. Imagine God's joy when we begin discovering the awesome things he made for us to find!

Imagine God gave you a specific task and a specific mission to be carried out. Someone else comes along and claims to also be inspired by God but tells you to the exact opposite of what you thought you should do. What would you do? Is this choice an easy one or a hard one? This week we are exploring 1st Kings 13 and discussing a man who was in this exact predicament. As always be blessed and enjoy. Please follow, like, and share our podcast with a friend or family member!

Imagine God calling you, like Abraham, to leave your home and go to a new place without giving you the details.  My guest today, Amanda Burnett-Freyre, shares the faith journey that she and her family have walked the last few years.  This story will encourage you and challenge your faith in God.   If you're interested in joining my Suddenly Single FB community for women who are single due to betrayal, click the link here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/875545156984508/ Please like, rate, and share this podcast to bring hope and encouragement to others. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fullyalivecoaching/support

Thanks for joining us for our series Imagine! We would love to help you take the next step in following Christ. We want to know more about you, fill out a connection card by texting CONNECT to 43000. If you feel led to give through Declaration, you can text GIVE to 43000, and explore how you can take your generosity journey. If you have any questions about the ministries of Declaration please email, hello@declaration.org. or visit www.declaration.org/new-here. God bless you and have a great week!

  Bible verses for Meditation: Psalms 147 NABRE 15 He sends his command to earth; his word runs swiftly! 16 Thus he makes the snow like wool, and spreads the frost like ash; 17 He disperses hail like crumbs. Who can withstand his cold? 18 Yet when again he issues his command, it melts them; he raises his winds and the waters flow. 19 He proclaims his word to Jacob, his statutes and laws to Israel. 20 He has not done this for any other nation; of such laws they know nothing. Hallelujah! NIV He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. 19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord. Meditation: God is the ultimate commander. He is the ideal leader, president, king or any other title. His word can cross the universe faster than light. He is not bound by our understanding of the laws of nature. He freezes the earth or melts it. He commands the elements and they obey. With all the power he controls he presents His word to us. He tells us what he wants from us. He desires our faithfulness, He desires our hope in His grace. Imagine God as the most perfect loving ruler who has invited us to his table to eat. He can control mountains and storms and he patiently asks us to follow. His restraint in dealing with us disobedient humans is a testament to His love and goodness. He invites you to follow Him. Ponder in this moment how willing are you to follow God's commands? Are you willing to accept Him as your sovereign ruler? He is our Savior and our Lord. He loves and he demands. He asks and he answers. God's love for your is profound. Not a begrudging love, but an overflowing one. One not of desperation but of power and grace. He loves us. He loves you. Praise be to God for the gift of his unmatched love. Happy 500th Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Updates: Final Question: In what ways do you thirst for God? Final Thought: Saint Fransis said preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words. One of the most powerful ways we can reflect the light and life of God is by imitating Christ in our life. FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod            

I first want to talk to you about the word Replenish and why I love it so much. There are a lot of “R” words that I could have chosen: Rest, receive, recover, refill, or restore.Replenish stands out because within it is the connotation of refilling that which was poured out. It assumes you are giving, serving and working. It is important for us to remember that these dynamics are concurrent. We keep ourselves fresh and replenished as we continue to serve and give.No matter what your age or stage, I know you are engaging lots of output. Friends, family, work responsibilities--there is much to do. But if you've been listening here for long, you know me well enough to know that I believe deeply that you cannot continue to serve from an empty cup.Replenishing is the idea of the pitcher and the cup. Imagine God as a pitcher of cold, refreshing water and he is constantly pouring. We, the cup, remain under that replenishing stream as we live our lives. John 15 would call this abiding.Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living websiteLearn about and pre-order her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads