Conversations in the Barn

I set out on a walk across the ranch hoping to let my prayers wander. Somehow, they went in a straight line.

This week on Conversations in the Barn, I reflect on Pastor Isaac’s sermon on Colossians 4:2-4 and what it means to be devoted to prayer. We look at Paul’s surprising request from a prison cell and consider how time spent with God can help us look beyond our prayer lists, notice the doors he opens, and recognize opportunities to be part of what he’s doing.

Scripture: Colossians 4: 2-4

Read the Blog: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/20/beyond-the-prayer-list

About the Author: Rachel Mahoney

Rachel met her husband, Vic, while they were both in college. They live on Vic’s family ranch in the Black Hills of Wyoming with their two daughters.

As Communications and Technology Director at Black Hills Cowboy Church, Rachel helps tell the church’s story through its website, social media, and media production. She also creates Conversations in the Barn, a midweek blog and podcast that connects Sunday’s teaching with life beyond the church walls.

Rachel finds it hard not to notice God in the beauty of the Black Hills. Long walks through the hills and across the ranch are some of her favorite ways to take in the wonder of his creation and draw closer to him. She also enjoys slow evenings with friends and making memories with her family.

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What does it mean to be devoted to prayer? And how can we develop a deeper, more meaningful prayer life?

In Colossians 4: 2, Paul calls us to devote ourselves to prayer, remaining watchful and thankful. But Christian prayer is about more than occasionally saying a few words or bringing God a list of requests. It's about building an ongoing relationship with Him, one marked by commitment, attentiveness, and gratitude.

Being watchful in prayer doesn't mean living in anxiety or constantly looking for something to fear. It means staying spiritually awake, paying attention to what God is doing around us, and learning to recognize His presence in our everyday lives. Think of a steady, sure-footed horse that remains aware of its surroundings without spooking at every little thing.

This message challenges us to rethink how we pray. Instead of rushing straight to our needs, what would change if we began with thanksgiving? Remembering what God has already done can reshape how we see our circumstances, our struggles, and the things we're asking Him to do.

Join us as we explore Colossians 4 and discover how to grow in prayer, practice gratitude, and become more attentive to God's work in our lives. A richer prayer life isn't simply about saying more. It's about learning to live more closely with God.

**Scripture:** Colossians 4: 2–6

*Conversations in the Barn | Black Hills Cowboy Church, Beulah, Wyoming*

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Pastor Isaac admitted he wanted to skip this one. Colossians 3:18–4:1 speaks to wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters, and these verses carry real weight, including a painful history of being used to silence and oppress.

In this episode, Rachel reflects on Isaac’s reminder that “you never get promoted to God,” a frustrating evening correction to the Sunday program, and John Wesley’s final letter, written six days before his death after reading the testimony of Olaudah Equiano, a formerly enslaved man.

Whose voice might we be tempted to dismiss? And what might grace ask of us once we’ve heard them?

Read the full blog post, “Too Busy Bristling,” here: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/13/too-busy-bristling

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What does the Bible say about Christian relationships, marriage, parenting, and how we conduct ourselves at work? In Colossians 3: 18– 4: 1, Paul explains how following Jesus should shape our everyday relationships, including the way husbands and wives treat each other, how parents raise their children, and how employees and employers fulfill their responsibilities.

At the center of this passage is a powerful truth: we all have a Master in heaven. No matter our position, authority, or influence, we are all accountable to God. When we recognize Christ as our ultimate authority, it changes the way we lead, serve, work, and care for others.

Living out your Christian faith isn't just about what happens at church on Sunday. It's about practicing humility, faithfulness, and genuine care in the relationships that fill our everyday lives. Even when a relationship is difficult or our responsibilities feel unfair, Scripture challenges us to respond in a way that honors the Lord.

Join us for this message from Colossians as we explore biblical principles for marriage, family relationships, parenting, leadership, and the workplace. Discover how putting God first can transform the way you treat the people around you and help you build relationships marked by faith, humility, and reverence for Christ.

Scripture: Colossians 3: 18– 4: 1

Conversations in the Barn | Black Hills Cowboy Church, Beulah, Wyoming

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For years, I noticed my grandmother treated me differently than my siblings, and I never knew what to do with that difference. When I finally found the courage to ask her about it, the conversation didn't go the way I hoped. This week on Conversations in the Barn, I'm walking through Pastor Isaac's message on Mark 10, where Jesus asks a blind man the same question he asked two of his own disciples, 'What do you want me to do for you?' and what that question eventually taught me about what I'd really been praying for all along.

Blog Post: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/10/06/the-empty-box

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What does it mean to truly see?

In Mark 10, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting beside the road outside Jericho. His story is about more than physical healing. It is a picture of what faith can look like when we recognize who Jesus is, acknowledge our need, and refuse to stop calling out for mercy.

Bartimaeus calls Jesus the “Son of David,” recognizing Him as the promised Messiah and Savior. When the crowd tries to silence him, he cries out even louder: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

His persistence gives us a powerful picture of prayer. God is not a vending machine, and prayer is not simply about getting the outcome we want. As we continue seeking God, something happens in us. We learn patience. Our faith deepens. Our hearts become more aligned with God’s will.

And then Jesus stops.

The sovereign Lord of the universe hears one man’s cry and stops for him.

As we look at the story of Bartimaeus, we’re invited to consider our own faith, our prayers, and whether we are truly seeing Jesus for who He is.

Scripture: Mark 10: 46-52

Black Hills Cowboy Church | Beulah, Wyoming

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For months, I dreaded the day our tech booth would have to be completely unplugged and put back together. What I found on the other side wasn't the disaster I'd imagined, it was a lesson in gratitude I didn't expect. This week on Conversations in the Barn, I'm talking about Pastor Isaac's message on Colossians 3:16 and what he calls 'the habitude of gratitude,' the idea that thankfulness isn't a feeling we wait for, but a habit we practice. Join me as I work through a messy tech booth, a moment of dread, and what it means to notice God's goodness even when we don't feel like looking for it.

Link to Blog Post: https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/09/29/another-mess

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What does it really mean to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly?

In Colossians 3, Paul gives us a picture of what it looks like for our faith to become more than a weekend event. The question isn't simply whether Christ has a place in our lives, but whether he is truly at home there.

Think about your house. There is a big difference between giving someone a guest room in the basement and handing them the key to the master bedroom. One gives them a place to stay. The other gives them a place to belong.

The same can be true of our relationship with Christ. We can give him a portion of our time, attention, and thoughts while keeping other rooms of our lives firmly under our own control.

This message from Colossians 3 challenges us to look honestly at the clutter in our inner lives and ask whether the word of Christ is dwelling in us richly. Where does our mind go during the week? What gets our attention? What shapes our decisions?

Letting Christ dwell in us richly isn't a one-time decision. It is a daily posture of opening the door a little wider and allowing his truth to take up more room in us.

Scripture: Colossians 3:16

Conversations in the Barn is the sermon podcast from Black Hills Cowboy Church in Beulah, Wyoming.

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This week on Conversations in the Barn, I'm telling the story of a coyote, a missed shot, and a rifle that turned out to be an inch off, without either of us knowing it. Pastor Bryan preached this week on being one degree off course, and this episode follows that thread into the quiet, easy-to-miss ways our own lives can drift, and why checking your aim doesn't have to come from fear. You can read the written version of this story on the blog, "An Inch Off." The link is below.

https://blackhillscowboychurch.snappages.site/blog/2026/09/22/an-inch-off

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What if the greatest threat to your spiritual journey isn't a dramatic fall, but a single degree of drift?

A pilot can be just one degree off course and still look like everything is going according to plan. But over time, that small deviation can take the plane miles from its intended destination. The same can happen in our spiritual lives. Small shifts in our priorities, thinking, and relationship with God can quietly change the direction of our lives.

In this message, we look back at Genesis and the creation story to remember where we came from and why God created us in the first place. We were made for relationship with one another, stewardship of God's creation, and most importantly, relationship with God.

When we understand our origin and our destination, we can better recognize when we've begun to drift.

This conversation challenges us to ask some honest questions: Do we know where we came from? Do we know where we're going? And if we've started drifting from God, do we know how to find our way back?

A life anchored in God's purpose doesn't mean we will never drift. It means we have a reference point that can help us recognize when we're off course and turn back toward him.

Scripture: Genesis 1-2

Conversations in the Barn is the sermon podcast from Black Hills Cowboy Church in Beulah, Wyoming.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.