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We share a simple image of a lawless road to show why loving boundaries matter, then walk through Paul’s household guidance that reframes power as partnership and work as worship. The heart of the message is mutual love, integrity, and awe that frees homes from fear.

• why shared boundaries protect freedom
• Roman household power and fear
• mutual love between husbands and wives
• children honoring parents; parents avoiding harshness
• integrity at work as service to Christ
• guidance to slaves and masters; justice and equality
• discernment, safety, and non‑enabling love
• living in awe and wonder before God

Companion Guide: 

0:00  Welcome & Road Without Rules

2:09  Why Boundaries Create True Freedom

2:36  Paul’s “New Road Rules”

3:28  First-Century Household Context

4:49  Wives, Husbands, and Mutual Love

7:38  Children, Parents, and Gentle Authority

9:53  Integrity at Work and Heart Posture

12:03  Slaves, Masters, Justice, and Hope

14:08  Love’s Boundaries and Discernment

15:31  Awe, Wonder, and Closing Blessing

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
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For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
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A snowy cabin, a tired heart, and a chapter that wouldn’t let go—Colossians 3 turned a season of burnout into a turning point for Betsy. After a painful reorganization at church and the quiet ache of feeling “not enough,” a long-buried moment resurfaced: a warning phone call that planted a lie and fueled years of striving. What seemed like a four became a ten because an old arrow finally worked its way to the surface. That’s where forgiveness stepped in—not as approval, but as release—and where Christ’s peace began to rule.

We share the honest process of naming hidden fears, pulling up the root of unforgiveness, and discovering how identity in Christ reframes every bruise. The passage’s call to “put on” compassion, kindness, humility, and unoffendable patience becomes more than a list; it’s the wardrobe of a heart that knows it is dearly loved. From that place, gratitude stops being a nicety and becomes strength. “Let the word of Christ dwell richly” shifts from theory to practice through simple rhythms: Scripture that takes up residence, a written list of truths that confronts lies, and Sabbath that protects the soul from endless proving.

This journey didn’t end in quitting; it sparked purpose. Sitting by the fire, Betsy recorded her first teaching to help students and busy listeners carry scripture into everyday life—seed of the podcast you’re hearing now. If you’re holding wounds that won’t name themselves or living under a story that drains joy, this conversation offers a path: tell the truth, forgive generously, surrender to peace, and let love be the mark of maturity. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review with one truth you’re choosing to believe today.

Download the Companion Guide Here: 

0:00  Welcome & Colossians 3 Focus

0:50  Ministry Burnout and Loss

2:05  Cabin Retreat for Rest and Clarity

3:10  Colossians 3 Illuminates Identity

4:14  Forgiveness and the Hidden Arrow

6:05  Peace, Surrender, and Pruning

8:10  Word Dwelling Richly and Calling

10:10  Birth of the Podcast Mission

11:3

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
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We explore how deep habits form and how new life in Christ reshapes desires, language, and daily choices. Colossians 3 calls us to set our minds above, lay aside the old self, and embrace continual renewal as beloved people hidden with Christ.

• setting minds on things above and living from new identity
• naming idols of sex and money and their grip on desire
• confronting normalized sins of anger, lying, and language
• rejecting compartmentalized faith and choosing integrity
• heart change as the root of lasting behavior change
• continual renewal as grace, not performance
• the equal welcome of all in the family of God
• practical pruning of habits, speech, and priorities

If you enjoyed today's episode, I encourage you to subscribe or follow on your podcast platform and stay with me as we continue our journey through Colossians

Companion Guide: https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

0:00  Welcome & Habit Stories

1:45  New Identity in Christ

3:05  Setting Minds on Things Above

4:18  Confronting Sex and Money Idols

5:21  Hidden Sins: Anger, Lying, Language

7:07  Compartmentalizing Faith

8:31  Heart Change Before Behavior Change

10:25  Continual Renewal & Equal Welcome

12:01  Grace, Robes, and Daily Pruning

14:22  Blessing & Listener Invitation

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/
and Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98

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In this episode, we trace how confident-sounding rules and secret knowledge can pull us from the center of faith, then anchor ourselves in Colossians 2 where Paul calls us back to Jesus as the true source. We explore legalism, licentiousness, spiritual disciplines, and practical steps for discernment shaped by Scripture and the Spirit.

• the pull of persuasive but inaccurate teaching
• Paul’s warning to the Colossians about shadows vs Christ
• legalism defined and contrasted with grace
• licentiousness as abusing God’s grace
• practices as disciplines, not requirements for worth
• how to test teachings with Scripture, counsel, and conviction
• the Spirit as wisdom and the church’s growth from the Head
• courage to resist spiritual bullying and walk in freedom

If you'd like to dive deeper into this teaching, I encourage you to download the Companion Guide Part 2. It's designed to help you ponder and discover more from God's Word. 

Companion Guide: https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

0:03 Welcome & Purpose

0:28 The Danger of Confident Misinformation

2:29 False Teachers in Colossae

3:55 Shadows Versus Christ

5:15 True Source and Eyewitness Authority

7:30 Legalism, Licentiousness, and Grace

10:22 Spiritual Disciplines Without Legalism

12:26 Discernment, Conviction, and Wisdom

14:58 Blessing & Companion Guide

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

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Drawing on the imagery of trees and their root systems, we explore how our spiritual roots in Christ determine our strength, stability, and fruitfulness in every season of life.

• Like trees that bear fruit in their season, our spiritual lives depend on unseen roots that draw strength from Christ
• Paul warns against distractions and human logic that pull us away from the fullness found only in Christ
• Our completeness comes from Christ alone—no person or achievement can truly complete us
• Through baptism and faith, we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, becoming new creations
• Christ's apparent defeat on the cross was actually his triumph over all powers of darkness
• Our identity is not defined by our accomplishments or failures, but by the One who lives within us
• Growing deep spiritual roots requires continual absorption of God's truth and devotion to him

Download Companion Guide Here: https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
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The Old Testament serves as a divine mystery thriller where God dropped clues about reconciliation with Him through a coming Messiah. In the ultimate plot twist, Jesus—not the expected political warrior-king but a shepherd-rabbi-savior—was revealed as the answer, with His indwelling presence being the great mystery now unveiled for all believers.

• The mystery of how sinful humans can reconcile with a perfect God is solved through Jesus
• Paul celebrates the struggles believers face as opportunities for spiritual growth
• The indwelling of Christ is described as a "heavenly treasure chest of hope"
• Christ's presence within us gives access to God's wisdom and knowledge
• Understanding God's truth helps believers recognize deceptive arguments
• Paul's purpose is that believers be encouraged, united in love, and have full understanding
• Knowing Christ is having access to all treasures of wisdom and knowledge

"I pray, as Paul did in verse 28 of chapter 1, may your heart awaken to his truth for you. May you all grow in the desire to understand your salvation in Christ and live into the truth."

0:00  Welcome to Moments to Ponder

0:34  God's Mystery Throughout Scripture

2:13  Paul's Message to the Colossians

5:16  Christ: Our Message and Purpose

8:20  Finding Truth in a World of Lies

9:49  Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Download the Companion Guide Here: https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
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Poetry reveals what's between the lines, and the poetic verses in Colossians 1 help us remember the wonder of God, pointing us toward the supremacy and centrality of Jesus as the divine portrait of the invisible God.


• Jesus is the "divine portrait" (eikon) of the invisible God, countering Gnostic teachings
• Christ created all things, holds all things together, and reconnects us to God
• Through Jesus, God sees believers as "holy, flawless, and restored"
• Our identity in Christ isn't just about forgiveness but a complete change of status
• The supremacy of Christ means he bridges our old life and new life in him
• Every broken piece of the universe finds proper place and harmony through Christ

I encourage you to subscribe or follow as we continue our journey through Colossians. You can find a companion guide on BetsyMarvin.com under resources or below: 

https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/
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Paul's prayer for the Colossian church reveals how God makes us worthy through Christ, not through secret knowledge or spiritual achievement. This episode explores how the early believers were influenced by Gnosticism and other false teachings, and how Paul redirected them to true wisdom found only in relationship with Jesus.

• God's pleasure over our lives makes us reservoirs of wisdom and spiritual understanding
• Paul confronts the Gnostic heresy that valued secret knowledge over relationship with Christ
• The more we know what's true, the easier it is to recognize what's false
• Maturity comes through yielding to God's work in us, not through accumulating more information
• God has already made us worthy to receive His glorious inheritance
• Jesus rescues us completely from darkness and transfers us into His kingdom
• Spiritual growth happens as we endure life's challenges with God's strength

If you enjoyed this episode, if you learned something today, please consider following the show, subscribing to it on your favorite podcast platform or leaving a five-star review. This helps the podcast more than I can say, allowing me to reach more people with the Word of God.

0:03  Welcome to Moments to Ponder

0:30  "I've heard about you"

1:56  Paul's prayer for wisdom

3:20  Confronting false Gnostic teachings

6:21  Living worthy through God's grace

9:51  Finding hope in God's strength

12:07  Episode closing and call-to-action

Download the Companion Guide: https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
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We return to the book of Colossians with fresh insights about God's transformative love and how understanding this love changes everything about how we live our faith.

• Revisiting the first book of scripture covered on the podcast with deeper understanding and a new companion guide
• Many Christians, even church leaders, struggle to fully believe they are 100% loved by God
• Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), freeing us from anxiety and shame
• Our perspective should shift from "doing something to be loved" to "doing something because we are loved"
• God's love is unconditional - we are loved not because of what we do but because of who God is

Download the free companion guide through the link in the show notes or on my website, betsymarvin.com, under Resources. As always, it helps me if you subscribe to this podcast on your favorite platform by following it and giving it a rating so that others can find this resource as they search for a place to grow and learn as well.

0:00  Welcome to Moments to Ponder

1:39  Introduction to Colossians

3:11  Paul's Greeting and Gratitude

6:01  Faith, Hope and Love in Action

8:37  God's Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

12:10  Experiencing God's Unconditional Love

14:25  Final Encouragement and Blessing

Download the Companion Guide:
https://betsymarvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/colossians-companion-guide-without-transcripts.pdf

Link to The Deep End with Lecrae feat. Francis Chan:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-francis-chan-abandoned-his-megachurch-for-living-rooms/id1731885106?i=1000709445993 

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/
and Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98

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"Do you love me more than these?" The question hangs in the air between Jesus and Peter, standing by a charcoal fire on the shores of Galilee—the same type of fire where Peter had denied his Lord three times. This isn't a coincidence but a divine appointment for healing and restoration.

 The final chapter of John serves as a powerful epilogue where loose ends are tied together concluding with Jesus addressing our tendency toward comparison. When Peter asks about John's fate, Jesus redirects: "What is that to you? You follow me!" It's a powerful reminder that we each have our unique journey with Christ. 

Take time today to ponder: Where might Jesus be asking you to cast your nets differently? How is he inviting you to bring what you have and join his work? 

Subscribe now so you don't miss our next series as we continue exploring how God's Word transforms our everyday moments into extraordinary encounters with him.

To find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/

For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head to
https://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/

You can follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/
and Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98