Today on the podcast, Emma Dotter is joined by new Join The Journey Volunteer Admin, Lauren Atkinson, to discuss what David means in Psalm 53 when he says “there is none who does good.” David defines a fool not by someone’s intellectual capacity but by their spiritual state. Fools reject God in their hearts, and that is all of us before Christ. David cries out to God for salvation to come out of Zion. We know now the answer to David’s prayer. A Savior has come out of Zion, and His Name is Jesus Christ. 
 
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 Additional Scripture Referenced: Romans 3:23; Proverbs 4:23; Romans 5:8
 
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Who are we trying to promote in our lives, us or God? In this episode, Emma Dotter points out man’s tendency to lean toward temporary gratification in seeking praise, but that those who choose to be rooted deep in the house of God shine for Christ, not themselves. As believers, we are ambassadors for Christ and witnesses to all people, and we are left with the choice whether to glorify Him and trust in His steadfast love and power in our lives. 
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode:
 Isaiah 7:9, “…If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”
 Philippians 4:11, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere…”
 
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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

Can God take the Holy Spirit away from us? Today, Emma Dotter unpacks Psalm 49, where David is begging God to not remove the Holy Spirit from him after he committed a grievous sin. Thankfully, as believers, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we are saved and cannot have Him removed from us. While we may experience consequences for our actions, we can find freedom in confessing our sins and comfort knowing that our standing with God is dependent on Jesus’ merit, not ours. 
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode:
 2 Samual 11, David commits adultery
 Psalm 32:1-11, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…”
 
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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 faithful Watermark member Alexia Voltzow to talk through Psalm 50 where God judges the moralists and the wicked. All of creation belongs to God, so He does not need burnt offerings or our performance. There is good news for the people of God – in Christ the ultimate sacrifice has been provided. God desires our hearts, and our thanksgiving honors Him. Listen through the end to hear Alexia’s advice for cultivating a heart of thanksgiving every day.
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
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What happens when we trust in money? In Psalm 49, the psalmists lay out how wealth gives us a false sense of security because temporal solutions cannot solve eternal problems. In this episode, Emma Dotter recognizes the contrast between the shepherd of those who trust in wealth with those who trust in God and leaves us with an encouragement of how God rescued us from death and a challenge of how to combat the problem of placing our identity in things that do not last. 
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode:
 Matthew 6:19-24, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
 Luke 16:19-31, story of Lazarus and the rich man 
 Colossians 1:13, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son"
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
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All throughout the Bible, we see God’s love and protection of His people even when they don’t deserve it. Today, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark member Jamie Morrison discuss Psalm 48 and how we can experience God firsthand through Jesus, rest in the fact that God loves and protects His people, and learn from the big view of God that is presented at the end of this psalm. 
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode:
 Revelation 21, God is among us, and we get to experience Him firsthand through Jesus
 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat prays to God for help against his enemies
 
 Interested in going to or leading a Wake group? Check out the link below!
 https://www.watermark.org/ministries/wake
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: 
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Is it okay to move around in worship? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter and faithful Watermark staff member and singer Davy Leffall (new last name alert!) talk about how being informed by God’s Word helps us to distinguish between objective truth and subjective opinions. Davy then goes on to show how Psalm 47 is about recognizing God’s presence and character and responding rightly to Him. 
 
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Today, Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark Institute fellow Hannah Staubs as Hannah wraps up her time in the Institute and walks through Psalm 46. In a broken world, tragedy is going to happen. As believers, we find comfort knowing that Christ has entered into our brokenness. He is our refuge and help. The Lord of Hosts is not far off, but near and powerful. He is the God of Jacob, who always has been faithful and always will be faithful. 
 
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 You can also check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast:
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Through what lens should we view Scripture? Today, Parker Primrose fills in for Emma Dotter as he and faithful Watermark member Tip Housewright discuss how Psalm 45 captures the lavish picture of the beauty and majesty of God and our relationship with Him. Tip shows how this psalm points to Christ and His bride, the church, and explains why it is so important to see the Old Testament through the lens of the gospel and how this psalm inspires him to live for eternity and love what lasts.
 
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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

Where is God in our suffering? In today’s episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Psalm 44 and how we should respond when bad things continue to happen in our lives. Even when we are faithful in pursuing God and obeying Him, life may still not go our way. At the end of the episode, Emma draws hope from Paul in Romans 8, when he references this psalm to encourage believers that in Christ and His love, we are secure and will see ultimate victory. 
 
 Additional Scripture mentioned in the episode:
 Romans 8:31-39, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?...”
 
 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