Forgivin' Livin' Daily Podcast
Our podcasts are 5-8 minutes in length. We create these messages using one or two brief verses from the Bible that come from a devotional book. Our purpose is to help you hear the grace of Jesus in these verses so that your life may find its grounding in Christ alone. It is this grounding in grace that makes forgivin’ livin’ your way of freedom.
10/04/2026
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00(Sundaycast) Exalt! (Nehemiah 9:5; 1 Cor 10:31)(Discipleship)
EXALT! The two buildings in the image are directly across from each other in Istanbul. They both reflect the importance of creating worship structures in which the glory of their god can be exalted. At one time the Hagia Sophia was the largest church in Christendom built by the Emperor Justinian. Since the fall of Constantinople it has gone through several transformations of purpose. About 6 years ago, it changed again from a museum to a mosque. The Blue Mosque, pictured on the right side, was built about 1000 years after the Hagia Sophia by the Sultan Ahmet 1. When visitors come to Istanbul these two buildings are visited most of all by tourists. Today also is the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis. As we know, he was a man who humbled himself rather that enjoy the exaltation of his family and wealth. His life is not measured by a buildings which might exalt him but rather by building up the church of Christ. We all know that we are called to be living stones in the Kingdom of God on earth. As our hymn today helps us claim, the church’s one foundation is not structures but it is Jesus our Lord living and working through you and me. We are God’s temple on earth. God’s choice of you and me exalts our Lord.
10/03/2026
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00(Mission Cast) Out Of The Heart (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:11) (Repentance)
HEART. Jeff reflects upon how our words reveal the condition of our hearts. Words do matter. Jesus said that it is out of the heart that comes all manner of evil thoughts. We may say the right words and even behave rightly, but the heart may be far away from God. We do not love God with all our heart, soul, strength, or mind; and, we do not love our neighbor as ourselves. Fortunately, God fulfills his promise to give us a new heart through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. His atoning sacrifice has won for us the forgiveness of sins and he exchanges our sin for his righteousness. In Christ, we are made a new creation — with new hearts! Our missional goal is to live in alignment with God’s love and grace, that both our words, our thoughts, and our behavior are in harmony with one another. Blessings to Johan and Sonja as they travel with tour members to Greece and Turkey. May they all reflect the grace of love of God in Christ Jesus through their hearts for one another and the people they meet.
10/02/2026
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00Listen (1 Samuel 3:9; Matthew 7:24) (Discipleship)
LISTEN. We are in one of the world’s most famous cities. Its location bridges two continents, Europe and Asia. It was once known as Byzantium until 330 when the city became the new capital of the Roman Empire and was renamed Constantinople. This city fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The current name Istanbul was used by the Turks for the city even before it fell in 1453. Its name reflects the word, “Islamboul,” which means “full of Islam.” In 1930, the Turkish government began to publicly ask that the name “Istanbul” be used in all maps and other means of recognition. We are here for four days. We will be listening today especially as we walk through the parts of the city that have buildings and monuments that take us back to the early years of Constantinople when it became the center of the Christian world. We know that places always change in Christianity. But what never changes is Jesus who is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). One day we will be part of a new city which God is preparing for us (Hebrews 11;10, 16). Images of that city contrasted to cities of this world is prophesied by John in Revelation many times, especially chapter 21. “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (21:2). That city will be full of the Lord God Almighty…”and the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (21:23).
10/01/2026
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00(Theta) Revive (Psalm 71:20 & 2 Peter 2:9) (Trust)
REVIVE. We land in Istanbul today. It’s a city that has covered over its Christian past by covering this mosaic of Jesus with plaster. Then uncovering it. It’s in the oldest Basilica on earth. It was then called Hagia Sophia. That name has changed now since it is no longer a museum but a mosque. But whatever happens, our calling is always to look to the word of life in Jesus to remove our coverings and revive us again.
09/30/2026
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00(Awaken) Found By The Great I Am (2 Chron 15:2; John 4;25 26) (Hope)
This year’s Awaken members are pictured above. They are Leah, Jaedyn, Ben and Alec. We will be discovering more about them and their ministry this year as they bring us the podcast every other Wednesday. Trevor Wersal is the director of The Awaken Project this year. Keep all of them in your prayers as they seek ways to discover their gifts for ministry and the calling Jesus has for each of them.
09/29/2026
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00(Irishcast) The Name Above All Names ( Dan 2v20 Rev 7v12) (Hope)
In 1970, when I was a Seminary intern at Augustana Academy, Canton, South Dakota, the school choir, under the directorship of Professor Madson, sang this anthem, “BLESSING, GLORY, WISDOM AND THANKS.” This experience affected me so powerfully during a difficult time in my life. My friend Paul Twedt sang in that choir. Later, on a tour to Holden Village, he and a small number of other choir members sang it for us again. I know some day I will hear the heavenly choir sing it with all the power it is meant to convey. And you know what, I have already passed the audition. I’m in the choir. And for the first time in my eternal life, I will sing in tune and won’t miss a note. Wow. I can hardly wait. (https://youtu.be/pQpZttyG1PM)
09/28/2026
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00Jesus Chose You (Hosea 2:19; John 15:16) (Salvation)
Today’s text from John 15:16, “you did not choose me, but I chose you” is the verse we chose for the “2027 Daily Texts.” It’s a powerful assurance that our identity and calling in Christ is not based on us but on God’s complete love and commitment to us. God wanted us to be with Him. So God makes it clear by sending HIs only begotten Son to die in our place so that we can be assured of this powerful love of God for imperfect people. And we don’t have to make much of ourselves to gain favor with our God. We already are favored by God and that favor is what we need to trust. This promise is repeated many times in the Bible but it is expressed fully in the person of our Lord who makes this love of God known to us in every way possible.
09/27/2026
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00(Sundaycast) Jesus Wants You To Know The Father’s Love (1 Samuel 12:22; John 17:26) (Faith)
This mosaic image of Jesus is on the walls of the Hagia Sofia Basilica in Istanbul. This famous building has gone through several transformations since it was built as the largest basilica in Christendom in 537 AD. It currently is a mosque. For a number of years, the mosaic had been covered by plaster until that was removed in the last century. Jesus is a prophet in Islam but He is not God. So this image might be acceptable from what the Koran teaches about Jesus. But what Jesus teaches us about His Father is that they share “agape” love for one another. And this special love is full of grace for imperfect people like us is what Jesus came to earth to declare. The Trinity practices the ABC’s with you and me. Jesus wants us imperfect people to be assured that we are loved by both Him and our dear Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Someday, He will bring all of us imperfect people who believe in Him to join in an everlasting love feast that will never end. Do we want anyone to miss out on this? No! That’s one reason we are going to Turkey and Greece to invite people to the greatest destination wedding of all time. All expenses paid by Jesus. Pray for us who are going but we all need to pray for people we know who need to get on the guest list!
09/26/2026
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00(Mission Cast) Proclaiming The Kingdom(Zechariah 9:10; Matt 24:14) (Hope)
Jeff and Mim discuss the privilege of being God’s ambassador’s of his gospel to all nations. God has given this charge to his children to bear his name among the nations. We discuss that you don’t have to go overseas to be his ambassador, but you do need to be willing to go and speak in His name to whomever he sends you. It might be to your neighbor across the street, or a chance encounter in a grocery store, or even while traveling. We must be ready to give an account for the hope that is ours is Christ Jesus at any time. We also discuss the importance of our message matching our behavior, especially if we are wearing evangelistic messaging written on our clothing. We pray for Johan and Sonja as they travel to Turkey and Greece. We pray for health and safety — and many gospel adventures! Blessings!
09/25/2026
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