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I know that many of us are wounded sons and daughters because we have never heard our father’s blessing. We feel alone and unseen in the world, just like Evan Hansen and Norma Jean. But here’s the truth: Your Heavenly Father has declared the blessing of the Firstborn over you! Everything that belongs to Christ has been given to you as your inheritance; it is your birthright! You are so loved by Jesus that He willingly bore your loneliness that you might inherit His intimacy with the Father! Church, claim your inheritance! Receive the Firstborn blessing, and know who you are! You are deeply loved, chosen, redeemed, and adopted! You are seen, you are known, and you are HIS! This is the good news of the Gospel, thanks be to God! Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Let us be attentive to the garden of our souls no matter our age or stage of life. Remember that an untended garden only gets worse with time. Jesus said, “Abide with me, and I will abide with you. Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Your soul needs to be fed and nurtured, just like your body. There is no substitute for time with Jesus in the form of prayer, reading scripture, worship, and simply abiding with the LORD. Give careful attention to your souls such that you do not grow lazy or presumptuous like Isaac in his later years. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Whatever the circumstances of our lives, no matter what the cost, may it be the deepest desire of our hearts that those who we live amongst will one day say of us, ‘We see plainly that the Lord has been with you.’ Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

The root of bitterness and the liberating work of God’s unmerited grace are completely and utterly incompatible. God’s grace cuts off the root of bitterness, which is why the writer of Hebrews states: Be sure that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, so that the root of bitterness will not spring up and cause trouble. I want you to think about that, particularly if you harbor bitterness in your heart. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

This is the story of redemption, and you are part of that story. Church, will you respond to the love of the Father? Will you place your faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross? And will you tell of the great love of the Father to those who need to find their way home?  Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Abraham was a friend of God. Although he was far from perfect, Abraham understood that God chose him, God had a purpose for his life, and that when God said go, it was Abraham’s job to go. He believed God as demonstrated by his willingness to go, to do as he was instructed, to trust God even when he could not anticipate the outcome, and this is why Abraham was a friend of God. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

You do not have to secure the future or keep everyone safe by staying afraid, living in fear, or worrying about tomorrows you cannot guarantee. Bring everything to God. Let peace take the watch. Then take the next faithful step, with the God of peace beside you. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

If you are wrestling with anxiety, depression, and meaninglessness, I encourage you to Spend time every day for the next 30 days contemplating the 23 Psalm. Memorize every word and internalize the truth of who God is and who you are as revealed in the psalm. Every minute you spend thinking about these words will fire up the right side of your brain, and you will give opportunity for the Spirit of God to speak to your spirit. You might at first find that exercise to be boring…but that’s the point. Boredom is the fertile field of contemplation, and it is there that we begin to discover the meaning that God has already declared for our lives.  Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Remember that the Lord is at hand, so you don’t have to be trapped in a prison of anxiety over anything. No matter what happens, in every, single situation pray and then make your humble supplication - with thanksgiving - to God. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Mark Potter centered on finding unshakable joy while navigating the realities of anxiety. He acknowledges that while nervous system responses to trauma are natural, a life dominated by constant worry prevents believers from experiencing God's peace. He utilizes the Apostle Paul’s writings in Philippians to argue that rejoicing is a deliberate command rather than a fleeting emotion. He encourages listeners to combat stress through spiritual practices, community support, and professional counseling when necessary. Ultimately, he emphasizes that because Jesus is near and understands human suffering, Christians can demonstrate grace and reasonableness to others. Through the lens of the Gospel, Pastor Mark presents eternal rejoicing as an effective antidote to the global pandemic of mental distress. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Jim explores Genesis 24 by drawing deep thematic parallels between the story of Isaac seeking a bride and the Christian gospel. He presents Abraham as a figure representing God the Father, who commissions his trusted servant to secure a wife for his son, Isaac, a character seen as a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Central to the message is the character of the servant, identified as Elazar, who serves as a model for modern believers in his humility, devotion to his master, and dedication to his mission. The speaker emphasizes that salvation is an act of divine initiative where God seeks out individuals, much like the servant sought Rebecca. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their identity as commissioned servants of God, prioritizing his glory over self-promotion. Ultimately, he presents the biblical narrative as a divine love story that requires a decisive, immediate response to the invitation of Christ. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Jim West explores the historical narrative of Genesis 24 to illustrate the themes of divine guidance and faithful service. He focuses on the journey of Abraham’s servant, Eleazar, who is commissioned to find a wife for Isaac from his master’s ancestral homeland. Pastor West highlights the power of prayer and the use of signs as legitimate tools for those walking in faith, as demonstrated when the servant encounters Rebecca at a well. He emphasizes Rebecca’s courageous decision to leave her family for an unknown future, framing her "I will go" as a mirror to Abraham's own original call from God. Ultimately, he encourages his congregation to adopt a servant-hearted identity and remain obedient to God's specific callings in their own lives.   Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Jeff Sparks explores the transition from being a mere observer of faith to becoming a committed disciple of Jesus. Drawing from a recent mission trip to North Macedonia, he illustrates how believers must move beyond verbal declarations to demonstrate Christ's love through their actions, especially in challenging environments. He concentrates on John 8:30-37, outlining four critical markers of spiritual growth: declaration, demonstration, diagnosis, and deliverance. He emphasizes that true freedom is found not in personal autonomy, but in abiding in the word of God and allowing it to transform one’s heart. Ultimately, he calls listeners to stop living as spiritual tourists and instead join a critical mission of service and surrender. By acknowledging their internal bondages, believers are invited to experience the lasting liberation provided only by the Son of God. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Jim explores the profound intersection of grief and faith through the narrative of Sarah’s death in Genesis 23. He emphasizes that mourning is a natural expression of love, noting that even Abraham, the "father of faith," wept openly when faced with the loss of his lifelong partner. Beyond the emotional weight of the story, he highlights Abraham’s strategic and honorable purchase of a burial plot, which served as a permanent investment in the land God had promised his descendants. This transaction serves as a model for godly integrity in business and a testament to his trust in a future he would not live to see. Ultimately, he encourages believers to view themselves as sojourners and exiles who look forward to a heavenly home. By acknowledging the temporary nature of this life, he offers hope that death is merely a transition to a better, eternal country. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org

Pastor Jim uses the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 to explore the profound nature of spiritual testing. He differentiates between satanic temptation, which seeks to expose human evil, and divine testing, which aims to cultivate and reveal a believer’s faith. Central to the message is the concept of obedience as worship, illustrating that a person's true devotion is proven when they prioritize God over their most cherished earthly loves. He further identifies the ram provided by God as a precursor to substitutionary atonement, drawing a direct parallel between Isaac’s reprieve and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Finally, he emphasizes that enduring these "fiery trials" with integrity serves as a generational legacy, teaching families how to trust God’s providence. Through this lens, human existence is defined not by the pursuit of comfort, but by the glorification of the Creator under all circumstances. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram more info colonialkc.org