How can we learn from verses we may not easily understand? Today, Join the Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson considers the context while studying Psalm 73. The author, Asaph, was a righteous man who was despondent as he saw the prosperity of the wicked. When we see the wicked prosper, we can look to God for wisdom in discerning the future, and realize that first: purity, obedience and faithfulness are not for nothing, and second: that in God’s presence, there is fulness of joy.
 
 Additional Scripture referenced:
 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
 Hebrews 11:24-25, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”
 
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Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Ben Solomon, who serves with School Impact to reach students and parents of local schools. In Psalm 72, Solomon describes a just king, but how does that relate to our call as Christians today? Ben walks us through how Psalm 72 is a picture of God’s heart for children in poverty and how we as believers can respond. No matter our decisions on education, our conversations should reflect the love of Christ and his heart for children of every socioeconomic status. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced: 
 Ephesians 4:29 – "let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouths"
 Colossians 4:6 – "let your speech always be gracious"
 
 For more of Ben’s story, check out his previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-235-nehemiah-13/id1600151923?i=1000637165655
 
 To learn more about School Impact and resources for parents or ways to serve, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/ministries/engage/school-impact
 
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
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How can we balance petitioning God for help while placing our confidence in Him? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey staff member Lauren Atkinson to talk through Psalm 71. David appeals to God’s righteousness and asks for God’s refuge while recounting God’s faithfulness in the past, present and future. This psalm provides a model for how we can pray as we praise God for His character and ask Him to act according to who He is. We know now that David's prayer for salvation and deliverance in God's righteousness is answered fully and finally in Christ.
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned:
 Colossians 2:9-10, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
 1 Corinthians 1:30, “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
 
 Check out Lauren’s previous episode:
 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oYLSsWyw2kTfnYCz7xWyL?si=dcec620db1284013
 
 If you're interested in serving on the Join The Journey Hospitality Team, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20journey
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/7rt0H3g
 
 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

Why does the Lord sometimes delay instead of helping us right away? Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member Sara Fusco to talk through Psalm 70 and why sometimes God makes us wait. In a world of instant gratification, God often uses waiting to grow our patience, trust and dependence on Him. What if God asking us to wait is actually out of an overflow of his love for us? If God is asking us to wait, and God is always good, then waiting must be good too. God will always use waiting for our good and His glory as He uses it to make us more like Jesus Christ. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced: 
 Romans 5:3-5 – "hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
 
 To hear more of Sara's story, check out her previous episode on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-089-numbers-10-11/id1600151923?i=1000612608086
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal for Psalms:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

How should we respond to God when we face despair? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and Join the Journey Intern Lauren Fricke go through Psalm 69 as David walks through deep despair yet turns to God in honesty and reliance. This psalm is a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness and protective hand when we go through the harder times of life.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Isaish 43:1-3, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”
 John 15:25, “But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause”.
 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one”.
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
 
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 

Today Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark Member Brandon Pokley to talk about Psalm 68. This passage shows us more about who God is by seeing what He values. We see many elements about God's character from this psalm found in Jesus' teachings as well, as Jesus Christ is the very "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and the "exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3). As we see God rightly, the Holy Spirit transforms our character to become more like Christ and find joy in His presence.
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 Psalm 16:11 – "in Your presence there is fullness of joy"
 
 If you're interested in serving on the Join The Journey Resource or Hospitality Team, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20journey
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal for Psalms:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
  
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

What does God's care toward all of the nations teach us about him? Today Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey staff member Rebekah Banks to talk about Psalm 67 and God's heart for the nations. The mission of God doesn't just start in the New Testament. Israel was to be a reflection of God to the world, but they failed. Christ came so that all nations could know God and glorify him. As believers, we are united to Christ by His Spirit who is transforming us to look like Christ and reflect His glory to the nations. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced:
 1 Kings 8 – Solomon asks the Lord to bless the foreigner
 Ezekiel 36 – "for the sake of My holy name"
 John 17 – "glorify the Son that the Son may glorify You"
 2 Corinthians 3 – "we are being transformed into the same image"
 
 To learn more about how you can get involved with global missions at Watermark, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/engage/global
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal for Psalms:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Join The Journey Editor Makaila Swank to talk about Psalm 66, a thanksgiving psalm praising God for his faithfulness. This psalm models for us how we can express suffering we experience, appeal to God’s mercy as we ask for help, praise God for his deliverance, and continue to praise Him for future faithfulness. We have hope for today knowing that we have been freed from the power of sin. The encouragement this psalm brings is amplified knowing that there is a day where we will experience no more pain or suffering for eternity. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced
 Exodus 14 – God parts the Red Sea during the Exodus 
 Psalm 137 – psalm recalling Israel’s time in exile
 Isaiah 43:2 – “when you pass through the water, I will be with you…”
 
 For more of Makaila’s story, check out her previous episode:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey/id1600151923?i=1000624748142
 
 If you are interested in serving with Join The Journey, check out this link: https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20journey
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898

How does nature sing to God? Today, Emma Dotter is joined by faithful Watermark member, Alfred Abraham to explain how nature declares the God of our salvation in Psalm 65. Nature speaks to how God preserves, provides for and protects us. As God cares about nature’s flourishing, so he cares about our flourishing. As Creator, God shows His power in creation and His intentionality in our lives today. 
 
 Additional Scripture Referenced: 
 Acts 2-3 – Pentecost 
 John 6:35 – Jesus is the bread of life
 John 7:37 – Jesus the Living Water quenches the thirsty
 Matthew 5:14-16 – Jesus is the Light of world 
 Philippians 2:4-11 – Christ’s example of humility in salvation
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
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Why is it hard for us to ask for help? Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter takes us through Psalm 64 where David is asking God for emotional protection from discouragement and physical protection from harm. It can be hard to ask for help from others and the Lord, whether that is from fear of being vulnerable or a desire to be self-sufficient. When we don’t ask for help, we reinforce the idea that we should do things on our own instead of depending on the Lord. Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we have full freedom to come before Him in need. When we ask God for help like David does in Psalm 64, we can move from hopelessness to joy, gratitude and praise for the Lord.
 
 Grab a NEW Join The Journey Journal for 2024:
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 Got kids? Check out the NEW Join The Journey Jr. Journal for 2024:
 https://a.co/d/eYBgvUM
  
 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898