"We need to do a better job of instituting alters for the Lord and be reminded of what He has done in our lives." In today's episode, Emma Dotter is joined by former Join The Journey intern, Makaila Swank to discuss the importance of pausing and praising to remember what God has done. This is a practice that can protect us from falling back in to sin.
 
 Addtional scriptures from today's episode:
 Judges 20 & Nehemiah 8 - Come together in unity
 Genesis 8 – 1st thing Noah does after the Ark is builds an alter to the Lord
 1 Samuel 7:12 – Ebenezer
 Numbers 8 – Mosaic law states work starts at age 25
 Numbers 4 - Levites can’t carry the tabernacle until 30
 1 Timothy 4:12- The Lord cares more about faithfulness than age
 Psalm 137 – Singing in the exile
 
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 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Got kids? Check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 
 Want to read the Bible with your kids? Check out the Join the Journey Jr. Bible reading plan: https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham\

Who does God use to accomplish His purposes? As Watermark Institute student Hannah Staubs shows us, God can use those we’d least expect to accomplish His purposes! In today’s episode, Hannah walks us through Ezra 1 and 2, and she helps us understand how God used the prophet Daniel. 
 
 Additional Scripture used in this Podcast:
 Isaiah 45:1 & 45:4-6, God would use Cyrus to accomplish His purposes 
 John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble”
 
 The Join The Journey staff team would love the opportunity to get to know you! The upcoming prayer gathering will be held during the normal Watermark prayer service (a take over, if you will) on December, 3rd at 5:30 PM in the chapel at the Watermark Dallas campus. Join us as the podcast family gathers IN PERSON to pray, thanking God for all He’s taught us this past year & looking forward to all that he will do in 2024. For more information regarding the Watermark prayer services, check out: https://www.watermark.org/prayer  
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Got kids? Check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 
 Want to read the Bible with your kids? Check out the Join the Journey Jr. Bible reading plan: https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham
 
 

In today’s bonus episode, Emma Dotter gives a 5,000 foot view of the book of Ezra. Reminding us that whenever disaster or chaos falls, there is always a tiny remnant that God delivers. This is a theme still seen even in the New Testament. We also see Ezra as a model leader. He sets a realistic model for us today, seeing that although he wasn’t perfect, he sought out God’s Word more than anything else. 
 
 Additional Scriptures used in this Podcast: 
 Romans 11:5, “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” 
 Matthew 7:13-14, “…For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
 2 Corinthians 1:22, “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
 Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
 
 Want to serve with JTJ? We would LOVE to have you! Here is the link to sign up! 
 https://www.watermark.org/search/serve?query=Join%20the%20Journey
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Got kids? Check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 
 Want to read the Bible with your kids? Check out the Join the Journey Jr. Bible reading plan: https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5886-elijah-and-elisha

Emma Dotter is joined by Garrett Wikle to help us understand the Exilic prophets aka prophets that speak during the Exile. We will be covering what happens in the 70 year exile and how it relates to our Join The Journey reading plan.
 
 Additional Scripture referenced in this episode:
 Daniel 3:18 - “Even if”
 Daniel 6 - Daniel and the Lions’ Den
 Ezekiel 36:24-32 - God’s people being recreated in the New Covenant
 2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant
 Isaiah 7, 9, 11 - His name will be called Emmanuel
 Ezekiel 33:32 - Ezekiel called the “entertainer”
 Daniel 7 - The promise of “one like a son of man coming on the clouds”
 Mark 14, Luke - “Son of Man” references
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham

What’s with all this killing? Is the God of the Old Testament a moral monster? Emma Dotter touches on what is happening in Israel right now as well as how we make sense of 2 Kings 24-25.
 
 Additional scripture referenced in today's episode:
 Genesis 1:26-27 - Created in the image of God
 Ezekiel 33 - God doesn't delight in the death of the wicked
 Matthew 5- Pray for your enemies
 Rev 5:9, 7:9 - Jews and Palestinians worshiping together in eternity
 Romans 12:9 - Abhor what is evil
 Genesis 12:3 - God intended for all the families of the earth to be blessed by Israel
 Exodus 19:6 - Israel was called to live set apart lives
 Ezekials 18:23- God doesn't delight in the death of the wicked
 2 Peter 3:9 - He desires all people to know Him
 
 Watermark Family Letter on Israel, Gaza, and the Gospel: https://www.watermark.org/blog/israel-gaza-and-the-gospel
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham

Today Emma Dotter is joined by Aaron and Robin Dutton! Josiah took the repentance from the Lord really seriously. How seriously are we removing the “things from our house”? The Word of God is the thing that ends up changing their hearts, and spurred on the elimination of sin. Is there such an elimination of sin in our lives today? And are people more inspired to live like Christ from watching our lives? 
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham

Today Emma Dotter is joined by Watermark high schooler, Laine Smith! In unpacking 2 Kings 21-22, Laine shows us that these men in this passage chose to work with integrity instead of choosing to work for selfish gain. Having confidence in working for the Lord is essential because your value and identity is found there. 
 
 Additional Scriptures in this episode: 
 Colossians 3:23
 
 Laine’s previous episode: 
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-028-genesis-31-1-21/id1600151923?i=1000598629505
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham

The reign of Hezekiah is one that is very well-known, and we are told that there is no king like him. Emma Dotter clarifies the intricacies of Hezekiah’s reign and how his ending was confusing compared to how it began. She asks the listener to evaluate their own faithfulness, and what ditch they can fall into.
 
 Additional Scripture used in this Podcast:
 Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while he may be found.”
 Acts 17:26-27, “Though he is not far from any one of us.”
 
 Want to know more about the tunnels Hezekiah built? Check it out here:
 https://youtube.com/shorts/HTp8UpSeVaE?si=bdg2F6SV0lBftsak
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7TCKPR1/ref=sr_1_14crid=3MDHUUF0FW85G&keywords=join+the+journey+volume+2&qid=1686688452&sprefix=join+the+journ%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-14
 
 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham

Emma Dotter is today joined by Kendall Williams, Watermark Staff member on the Join the Journey Team. Kendall explains that God didn’t immediately allow the people of Israel to be brought into exile, he extended lavish grace to them, with the prophets coming to them. Kendall also reminds us of the challenge to put to death sinful deeds now instead of later. 
 
 Additional Scriptures referenced in today’s Episode:
 Numbers 33:50-56
 Romans 6:20-23
 
 Kendall Williams’ previous episode:
 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-108-numbers-33/id1600151923?i=1000615987101
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
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 Got kids? Check out the Join The Journey Jr. Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/join-the-journey-junior/id1660089898
 
 Want to read the Bible with your kids? Check out the Join the Journey Jr. Bible reading plan: https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5886-elijah-and-elisha

The kings in these chapters continually did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Emma Dotter is joined by The Porch staff member, Andrea Calderon to talk about how far the kings had drifted from the Lord and the results of their choices.
 
 Grab a Join The Journey Journal that coincides with this part of the Join The Journey Reading Plan:
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 Join the Journey Jr. https://www.jointhejourney.com/jr/5781-do-you-remember-god-s-promises-to-abraham