Is it foolish to pray to a god we can't see, who might not even be there? Some think so, and just about everyone has questioned our belief in God at some time. But Psalm 14 says the real folly is to see the evil around us and to persist in the belief that there is no god. No one wants to live in a world dominated by sin. We long for something better. God planted that longing in our heart. Those seeking God will find him. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a qui...
May 18, 2020•11 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Think of a time when you felt fantastic. How long did it last? Do you know what caused it? You can actually learn to delight yourself in God. Psalm 16 trains us in using our emotions in a positive way to grow in our relationship with God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This pod...
May 15, 2020•10 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Where do you need healing or forgiveness? What part of you needs healing? What do you need to be forgiven? Those might seem like different things, but what we will see today in Psalm 6 is they are pretty closely related. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you...
May 14, 2020•10 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Having any trouble sleeping? The Psalms show us how to pray at night before we go to bed. If you have any hesitation about God hearing you, you need to listen to this episode and Psalm 4 and let it guide you to make your request, your tephillah or prayer known before God. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and resp...
May 13, 2020•10 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Royalty may not mean much to you but it's important to God. The Psalms have a lot to say about kings of the world and God's kingdom. Who will you bow to? Whose authority matters in your life? Psalm 2 pushes those questions to the center of our prayers. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal...
May 12, 2020•15 min•Season 3Ep. 3
The Psalms show us--and teach us--how to pray honestly, from the heart. That doesn't mean that all the words come out sounding pretty and poetic. Sometimes, they are ragged and raspy like the psalm we will pray today. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you ho...
May 08, 2020•8 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The Psalms are a favorite for praying, singing and meditation. You probably have several favorite verses from the Psalms. How well do you read the entire book--all 150 psalms, all ~2500 verses? We want to explore how to go further and deeper in the psalms in this season. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and respo...
May 07, 2020•16 min•Season 3Ep. 1
How do you read and pray a gospel? How are they like (and unlike) other books about famous people? On today's program we talk about some key aspects of the gospels that are often overlooked. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy ...
Apr 22, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 54
What is it like to have a relationship with God? How does that work in the day to day? Jesus showed us what it looks like to live a fully human life and to also be in a full, deep relationship with God. We get a front row seat to witness that when we read/listen to one of the gospels in the Bible. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day...
Apr 15, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Jesus' final words to his followers carry special weight. He has risen from the dead and speaks with God's full authority. He receives the worship of his disciples and remains Lord even when some doubt, as all disciples do at one time or another. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. ...
Apr 14, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 52
The Easter story is too big to be limited to one day a year. There are many things in it that we can learn, so today's episode is like Easter, part 2. We hear the rest of the angel's message and Jesus himself. We also learn of a conspiracy launched to counter what really happened at the tomb. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day list...
Apr 13, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 51
The ground shakes again as it did on the day Jesus died, but the reason for it is completely different! Additionally, an angel from God delivers an astonishing message today. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow proces...
Apr 12, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Aftermath. Fallout. Cleanup. We have a number of words for what comes after a life-changing, world-changing event. In our journey with Jesus, that’s where we are. Jesus was condemned. He has died. Jerusalem is quiet on the Sabbath as everyone rests from any work. We need a breather to catch our breath, to think about what has happened. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spen...
Apr 11, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 49
The journey stops--it feels like we have fallen off a cliff. Everything has changed, and yet exactly how that change would look isn’t yet clear. We've crossed a threshold. Things are never going to be the same again. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how...
Apr 10, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 48
We’re in the last gasp and things have gotten desperate. The physical, emotional and spiritual suffering has taken its toll and is breaking down a man hanging on a cross. The real contradiction we will see today goes far beyond the physical pain and suffering, though. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and respondi...
Apr 09, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 47
We haven’t reached the peak yet. It means we haven’t seen the worst of it. What we're going to hear today is going to be tough and grim. But you can make it through. God has been here before. He has something he really wants to speak to you if you're listening. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a...
Apr 08, 2020•11 min•Season 2Ep. 46
What's the crux of the matter? Crux is Latin for "cross", and Jesus passes a crossroads, a "point of no return" in today's story. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process. In fifteen minutes (or less) you will list...
Apr 07, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Who's in charge around here? Look around today and you might wonder who’s in charge. Who makes the rules…and enforces them? Are they legitimate? We’re going to listen to a part of Matthew’s gospel that speaks to these questions. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will ...
Apr 06, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 44
What's your biggest regret? It’s a heavy question, especially in difficult times. But the Bible was written especially for difficult times. We’re going to see what regret might drive a person to do, and I want to show you another way. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast...
Apr 02, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 43
We’re living in times of uncertainty. This isn’t completely unprecedented in history, but it’s unprecedented for those of us living now. Our system has been shocked. Shut down. Enforced distancing. What do we do? How to navigate this? As we are taking a pause from our journey with Jesus through Matthew's gospel, it's important to pull closer to God. Pray and breathe and get a little perspective as you can. We're in the days of sacrifice, of doing without. In the historical Christian tradition, t...
Apr 01, 2020•4 min•Season 2Ep. 42
To our followers: We're taking a break for the next few days to catch our breath but the journey continues on Friday with Episode 41. In the meantime, consider reading or re-reading some portions or all of Matthew 21-26 the next few days. Use our four step-process to read, meditate and pray God's message back to him. If you're new to the podcast, there are other earlier episodes you can listen to for your first fifteen minutes of the day. Send us an email and let us know what you think of the po...
Mar 30, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 41
It’s a terrible thing to deny what you know is true. Why would you ever do that? Fear? Pressure? Torture? These are not pleasant things to think about at the start of the day, or really any time. But we need to look deeper so we do not deny the truth when we need to stand strong. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God ...
Mar 27, 2020•7 min•Season 2Ep. 40
We hear stories often about a miscarriage of justice, of how the authorities charged to protect us and faithfully serve the law fall down on the job. Of course it doesn’t happen always or even as often as the stories might make us believe. But humans can be seriously wrong even when they fervently believe they are upholding the law. Like in today’s story. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in t...
Mar 26, 2020•10 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Have you ever been seized by something that felt bigger than you, that seemed to carry you along without any effort on your part? There are times we feel small in the light of larger events, when we do irrational things to try to get a handle on the situation. Today’s reading speaks to that feeling and gives us a handle to grab on to in Matthew 26. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the righ...
Mar 25, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 38
It can be deeply embarrassing when you are caught doing something you aren't supposed to be doing. Jesus asks his disciples to stand watch, guard him, and pray with him while he faces the ultimate test. Instead they fall asleep. Three times. Soldiers stationed for sentry duty who fall asleep can be court martialed. Something worse is going to happen here. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in t...
Mar 24, 2020•8 min•Season 2Ep. 37
We are learning to pray each episode of First Fifteen. We’ve learned that prayer is conversation with God, a back and forth listening and response to him. We make requests sometimes, and other times God makes requests of us. What do we do when what God wants doesn’t line up with what we want? If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day list...
Mar 23, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Can you recall the last time you tried to do a kind deed and it was totally misunderstood? There is some sting in that. In today’s reading someone is going to get stung, and we get to see their true character revealed before the end of the story. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. ...
Mar 20, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 35
What would you do if you won the lottery? What if someone rich gave you a large sum of money and asked you to manage it for them? Jesus gives us that kind of a challenge question so we can see what importance God places on finishing what we started. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal wa...
Mar 19, 2020•9 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Who wouldn’t like to know the future? What is going to happen to bring distressing times to an end? Is there anything we can really count on in uncertain times? If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process. In fifteen ...
Mar 18, 2020•7 min•Season 2Ep. 33
What could possibly be more important than listening to God? There is something, and Jesus tells us what it is today in Matthew 23. If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place. Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way. This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process. In fifteen minutes (or less) you will li...
Mar 17, 2020•7 min•Season 2Ep. 32
