Living On Purpose In Christ | Bible Study, Biblical Encouragement, Feeling and Feelings, Aroma Freedom (AFT), Essential Oils, Devotions

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and the companion printable resource here): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Have you ever prayed for something so long that you started to wonder if God quietly moved on? We sit in that ache and then walk straight into one of the most hope-giving stretches of Scripture: Genesis 12 through 25, where God makes a covenant with Abraham and asks him to move before he gets the full plan. I share why this “go without the address” moment is not just a Bible story but a practical picture of what faith looks like when you want certainty and God gives you the next step. 

We trace the long road between promise and fulfillment, including the messy parts Scripture refuses to edit out: fear, missteps, and the temptation to manufacture outcomes when waiting feels unbearable. Abraham and Sarah’s decades of delay raise real-life questions about God’s timing, unanswered prayer, and what it means to trust God’s character when circumstances do not cooperate. Then we watch the promise arrive with Isaac, and we revisit the altar moment where Abraham learns in his bones that the Lord will provide. 

A key turning point is a deeper look at the Hebrew word hesed, often translated “kindness,” but carrying the force of loyal love, covenant faithfulness, and steadfast mercy. That one word reshapes how we read Abraham’s story and how we interpret our own seasons of waiting, healing, and spiritual growth. If you need steady ground under your feet, this is a Genesis Bible study conversation that brings both theology and next-step encouragement. 

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s tired of waiting, and leave a review so more people can find biblical encouragement for real life.

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and the companion printable resource here): PaulaBehrens.com/store

We open Genesis 1–11 and trace the wide-angle story of creation, fracture, judgment, and mercy that explains both the beauty of the world and the ache we feel inside it. We leave with one steady thread to hold onto: we may wander, but God keeps pursuing, restoring His image in us, and moving His redemptive plan forward.

• Kicking off a four-part Genesis series and why the story shifts at chapter 12
• Creation as intentional design and humanity as God’s “very good” crown
• Your worth as settled before sin and before any mistake
• The fall as shame, hiding, and God’s pursuit with “Where are you?”
• Sin spreading through humanity and grace showing up in the middle of judgment
• The flood as judgment paired with mercy and the rainbow promise
• Babel as self-made glory and God scattering nations for His purposes
• The Selem (צֶלֶם) and Eikon (εἰκών) word study and how Jesus restores the fractured image
• A printable companion Bible study with prompts, applications, and a leader’s guide

If this podcast has been a blessing to you or helped you grow in your walk with Christ, would you take a moment to leave a review? It only takes a minute, and your words help more listeners discover this space and be encouraged in their faith as well.

You can find this printable Genesis study along with the rest of my resources at PaulaBehrens.com/store inside the "Printable Resources" section. 

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and The Covenant Money Blueprint (Bootcamp) here: PaulaBehrens.com/finances

Your stomach tightens the second money comes up, and then you feel guilty for feeling that way. We get it and we go straight to the root: for many Christians, finances aren’t just practical, they’re spiritually confusing. Scripture says “don’t worry,” yet the hum of financial anxiety still sits under the surface, especially when bills, budgeting, and giving collide with real life.

We talk through the hidden “money blueprint” that gets built long before your first paycheck, shaped by what you heard at home, what you watched in culture, and even what you may have absorbed in church. That blueprint shows up as fast, embodied reactions like tensing at a price tag, avoiding hard conversations, or feeling undeserving when help arrives. Once we name it, we can actually disciple it. Money becomes a place where renewing the mind is not theoretical, it’s personal and practical.

Then we make a major shift that changes everything: covenant versus contract thinking. If you’ve been relating to God’s provision like a contract (perform well, then you’ll be okay), it makes sense that you feel pressure and fear. Covenant thinking rests in God’s settled commitment, secured before you could ever “get it right.” We also share how a guided, session-by-session process can help truth move from head knowledge into the gut-level places where anxiety lives, including reflection practices, devotions, biblical encouragement, and aromatherapy with essential oils to help you slow down and tune in to your feelings. It's called The Covenant Money Blueprint (Bootcamp): Partnering With God To Reset Your Finances

If you’re ready for a faith-based reset, you can find the self-guided video course at PaulaBehrens.com/finances 

Subscribe to the show now and share with a friend who may feel stuck. Then leave a review so more listeners can find real peace around personal finance while receiveing biblical encouragement in the matter.

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and the companion printable resource here): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Have you ever done all the “right” faith things and still felt like the world is coming apart around you? That tension is exactly why Revelation ends the way it does. We open up Revelation 15 through 22 and follow the story from the final wave of judgment to the most comforting promise in Scripture: the Lamb wins, death dies, and God makes all things new.

Along the way, we talk through the seven bowls, not as shock value, but as a window into God’s holiness and God’s patience. We slow down at Babylon’s fall in Revelation 17 and 18 and name what it represents, both historically (Rome) and spiritually (every seductive system that offers false comfort and borrowed security). If you’ve felt pulled by what looks powerful, beautiful, or “safe” apart from Christ, these chapters bring clarity without despair.

Then the atmosphere flips. Revelation 19 gives us the wedding feast of the Lamb and the Rider on the white horse, victorious with a robe already dipped in blood, pointing back to Calvary. Revelation 20 brings the great white throne and the book of life, and Revelation 21 and 22 bring the heart of our hope: a new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem, the river of life, and the tree of life with healing for the nations. We even unpack the Greek word kainos, “new” in quality, not just new in time, because that changes how we carry hope into an ordinary Tuesday.

If you want to go deeper, I’ve created guided Bible studies and step-by-step leaders’ guides to walk through Revelation verse by verse. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs steady hope, and leave a review so more women can find this space.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Unsettling Visions and a Winning Savior

Revelation 12–14 can feel like the strangest, most overwhelming stretch of the whole Bible — a woman clothed with the sun, a dragon waiting to devour her child, beasts rising from sea and earth, and a mysterious number that's launched a thousand theories. In this episode, we walk through these chapters as part of a Revelation Bible study series, not as a puzzle to decode, but as a reminder of the spiritual battle happening behind everyday life — and the victory believers already share in.

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog and the companion printable resource here): PaulaBehrens.com/store

If you have ever felt unsettled by the imagery in Revelation or unsure how to process your feelings while reading it, this conversation offers biblical encouragement to help you stay grounded in Christ. It is a thoughtful Bible study approach for those who want deeper devotions, clearer discernment, and a steadier heart in the middle of spiritually intense passages.

Inside this episode:

• Who the woman, the dragon, and the child actually represent
• A deep dive into the Greek word nikaō (overcame) and what it means to win a battle that's already been secured
• What the beasts of chapter 13 reveal about counterfeit loyalty and cultural pressure
• The hope of Mount Zion and the 144,000 in chapter 14
• Why discernment, not fear, is God's invitation in uncertain times
• How to hold your emotions before the Lord when a passage feels heavy, confusing, or intense
• A gentle reminder that Bible study is not just about information, but transformation

Plus, details on a companion Bible study and leader's guide for anyone wanting to go deeper on their own or with a group.

And if you enjoy pairing your quiet time with essential oils or aromatherapy to create a peaceful space for prayer and devotions, this episode fits beautifully into a Spirit-led routine that helps you slow down, listen, and receive God's truth with peace.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Some seasons make faith feel like a quiet, lonely stand. Maybe you’re the only Christian at work who won’t compromise, or you’ve tried to share Christ with someone you love and met resistance instead of openness. In this Revelation Bible study, we open with that reality on the table and let Scripture reframe it: God doesn’t call us to guarantee outcomes, He calls us to be faithful.

We walk through the fifth trumpet judgment in Revelation 9 and the sobering truth that even dramatic warnings don’t automatically lead people to repent. That changes how we think about evangelism, prayer, and the pressure to “fix” someone else’s heart. We also make space for the emotions that can rise during a difficult Bible study passage like this, especially when our feeling and feelings around loved ones, resistance, and spiritual fatigue run deep. With biblical encouragement, we talk about God’s sovereignty, the real consequences of evil, and the mercy of boundaries God places even in judgment. When the world feels overwhelming, Revelation reminds us the darkness is not ultimate and the enemy is not sovereign.

Then Revelation 10 gives us the little scroll, sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach, a picture of God’s Word as both comfort and cost. Revelation 11 brings the two witnesses and the steady promise that God always preserves a witness. We connect it to the Greek word martyria (μαρτυρία), “testimony,” and to the Holy Spirit’s power that fuels courage when we feel small, tired, or afraid to speak.

If your devotions have felt heavy lately, this episode offers a steady reminder that God still speaks, strengthens, and sends His people. And if you enjoy weaving Bible study with simple rhythms like prayer, essential oils, and aromatherapy to support a calm and focused heart before the Lord, this episode will fit beautifully into your quiet time.

If you want to go deeper, we also point you to the companion printable Bible study and leader’s guide mentioned at the end. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so more listeners can find hope in Revelation.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

The news can shake your sense of stability, but the book of Revelation lifts our eyes to a throne that never moves. In this episode, we walk through chapters 6–8 and watch as the Lamb opens the seals—not to stir anxiety, but to anchor us in the steady truth that Jesus is not scrambling to keep up with world events. He is gently guiding history toward God’s good and final purposes, even when the pictures feel intense.

Together we consider the four horsemen as a vivid reminder of what happens when people place their trust in conquest, control, or comfort instead of the Lord. Then we pause at the fifth seal and hear the honest cry of the martyrs, “How long?” If you’re waiting for healing, reconciliation, direction, or a loved one to return to faith, those words may echo what you’ve been carrying. The sixth seal brings us face-to-face with “the wrath of the Lamb,” and we hold that phrase alongside the beautiful hope of the cross, where Jesus took judgment upon Himself for everyone who trusts Him.

Revelation 7 offers a welcome breath of fresh air: God seals His people as His own, and John sees a vast crowd from every nation worshiping together. That vision expands our hearts for evangelism and reminds us who God may be drawing even now. Then chapter 8 surprises us with silence in heaven, followed by the prayers of God’s people rising like sweet incense—an encouraging picture that our ordinary prayers matter more than we realize.

If you’re looking for steadier hope in unsettled times, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to keep going through the rest of the Revelation series, share the episode with a friend who needs the same encouragement, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Your to-do list can feel endless, the news can feel heavy, and even good responsibilities can quietly train your mind to live in constant alert. When that happens, we don’t just need another reminder to “trust God” we need a clearer picture of who God is and what’s true right now. Revelation 4 and 5 give us that picture by opening the door to heaven’s throne room, where there is no panic and no uncertainty, only worship and steady authority.

We walk through why John’s first sight is a throne, how the elders casting down their crowns rewires our obsession with recognition, and why the repeated cry of “holy, holy, holy” expands our small view of God. Then we move into Revelation 5, where the sealed scroll raises the stakes and John’s tears capture what many of us feel about a broken world that won’t heal on our timeline.

The turn is unforgettable: the Lion of Judah appears as a Lamb who was slain. We talk about Jesus’ worthiness, the meaning behind the Greek word for “worthy,” and how the cross shows a different kind of power. Finally, we bring it home with practical Christian encouragement: worship as alignment with reality, peace in anxious times, and evangelism that flows naturally when our hearts are captivated by Christ.

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who feels overwhelmed, and leave a review so more listeners can find this space and grow in faith.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

Spiritual drift rarely announces itself. It feels more like waking up mid-drive and realizing you cannot remember how you got here. If you have been wondering whether your walk with Christ has cooled, whether God still speaks when you feel weary, or how to regain the passion you once had, this Revelation study opens chapters 2 and 3 and lets Jesus’ own words do the searching and the healing.

We move through the seven letters to the churches and listen for what stays consistent: Jesus knows. He sees the unseen burdens behind your Sunday smile, the compromises you rationalize, the suffering you are carrying, and the quiet faithfulness nobody applauds. From Ephesus and the warning about forsaking first love, to Smyrna’s comfort in hardship, to the cultural pressure faced in Pergamum and Thyatira, the message is honest but never harsh. Even Laodicea’s strongest correction comes with a tender invitation: “Here I am. I stand at the door and knock.”

We also unpack the Greek word nikaō (νικάω), translated overcome or conquer, and why biblical victory does not mean an easy life. Overcoming means staying loyal to Jesus through trials, temptation, disappointment, emotions, and noise, trusting the One who has already conquered sin and death. You will leave with practical next steps for reading Revelation 2–3 slowly, using Bible study tools, reflecting with devotions and journal prompts, identifying which letter hits closest to home, and choosing to listen with humility and attention.

If you want to go deeper, check out the printable "Revelation (Part 2)" companion study (above) and the Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review on Apple Podcast so more listeners can find biblical encouragement and grow stronger in their walk with Christ. If faith-filled Bible study with essential oils and gentle aromatherapy helps you create a more peaceful space to listen and reflect, this episode will meet you there.

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Companion Resource (Printable): PaulaBehrens.com/store

The world is loud, and it is frighteningly easy to let headlines, opinions, and daily pressure hijack our attention until we are staring at the storm instead of Jesus. When that happens, trying to manage every anxious feeling and feelings of burnout can take over, leaving even believers who deeply want to reach others for Christ feeling stuck, unsure, and intimidated by spiritual conversations. Processing these heavy emotions begins with a simple shift in focus, because we cannot point others to a Savior we have stopped gazing upon ourselves.

That is why we are beginning a seven-part Revelation Bible study by starting where Revelation starts, with the revelation of Jesus Christ. Not timelines. Not speculation. Not fear. We are looking for pure biblical encouragement as Revelation chapter one pulls back the curtain and gives us a fresh view of the glorified Christ. He is radiant, holy, powerful, and near. John receives this vision while exiled on Patmos, which means God is fully able to meet us in our own hard seasons with real comfort and steadying truth.

We also dig into the meaning of apocalypse as an unveiling, and why Jesus standing among the lampstands is such a practical reminder that He is present with His church. If you need to hear the command to not be afraid again, this is for you. And if your daily devotions have started to feel like a checklist, you will get a simple invitation to return to presence, awe, and relationship with the living Savior who holds history in His hands. We will also talk about how incorporating aromatherapy and your favorite Young Living essential oils into your study space can beautifully calm a wandering mind and help you settle deeply into the Word.

Listen through to the end for how to grab the companion printable resource for Revelation (Part 1), then share this with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more women can find hope. Come hang out with us in our Facebook group at DevotionDrops.com

Send us Fan Mail

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YOUR NEXT STEP:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

Also available: 

Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour: PaulaBehrens.com/coaching1

The Story of Oils in Scripture | Class: PaulaBehrens.com/oils-in-scripture

Healing Oils of the Bible | Course: PaulaBehrens.com/healing-oils 

Weekly Biblical Encouragement Tips: PaulaBehrens.com/insider-list

Free Revelation (Part 1) printable study: PaulaBehrens.com/free-revelation-1

Bold Faith Bundle for new Christians | Printables: PaulaBehrens.com/bold-faith

In the Word — 24 free messages:  PaulaBehrens.com/in-the-word

Free 15-Minute Discovery Consult: PaulaBehrens.com/#discoverycall

Faith Membership Club | Through-the-Bible: PaulaBehrens.com/bible

The Store: PaulaBehrens.com/store