My Mornings with Jesus and Joe

Join husband and wife, Joe and Lori Altebaumer, as they come together to have faith-based conversations about Christ centered living and what it means to live a bold life of faith. From their kitchen table they will have real, honest conversations about the struggles they face and the lessons they learn as they grow in the understanding of what true Christian discipleship looks like from the perspectives of both a man and a woman. This weekly fifteen-minute podcast brings inspiration, encouragement, humor, and insight into what it takes to live as victors in a world at war for our hearts.

Finishing the Race: A Special Message About Charlie Kirk 09/16/2025

Our Protector and Keeper 07/28/2025

Comfort in Troubling Times 07/21/2025

Understanding the Desires of Your Heart 07/14/2025

God's Word About the World 07/07/2025

Prophecy: Our Reason for Hope 06/30/2025

Forgiveness: Living Debt Free 06/23/2025

Discipling Our Children 06/16/2025

A Legacy of Faith 06/09/2025

Biblical Proverbs 06/02/2025

The Wisdom of Proverbs Part 2: Jesus in the Proverbs 05/19/2025

The Wisdom of Proverbs 05/12/2025

Crossing the Line 05/05/2025

Crossing the Line Sometimes we draw a line in the sand by saying “No, I’m not going to be a part of that.” And sometimes it’s a good choice to make. Ex. John 8 “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, It’s a bad thing though when it means not doing something we are called or commissioned to do by God through His Word. What are some of the things God commands us to do: Care for widows and orphans. James 1:27 to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Speak up for those without a voice Proverbs 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the speechless,In the cause of all who are []appointed to die. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. Love our neighbors as ourselves Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Micah 6:8 and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. We can agree with everything we find in God’s Word, but if we only believe it without putting it into action we’re no better than if we haven’t believed it at all. Our verse … But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 Sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand. Even when you’re the one who needs to step over it. We have a very real enemy, black flag of no quarter over our churches and families, our governments and schools. He wants the end of everything God has created. And that means all of mankind. There is no neutral party in this war. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah draws a line in the sand with the words, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” I love that he uses the word “limping,” as though we’re not fully functional until we’ve stepped firmly over the line—one way or the other. One of the most powerful “line in the sand” moments is found in Judges 7:3 in the story of Gideon. Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. Over two thirds of the men turned back from war because they were afraid. When we look back to Judges 6:7, we find that the children of Israel had cried out to God for deliverance from the very people they were now too afraid to fight. They wanted an end to the oppression and a chance for a better life, but they didn’t have the courage to fight for it. We can talk about ending abortion, broken families, abuse, addictions, racism, hatred, and oppression. We want to see biblical marriage restored and honored, God in our schools, and an end of human trafficking. But when it comes to crossing the line to fight in that battle, we won’t take that step. T Every bit of ground we don’t take for the Kingdom of God is ground we give to the enemy. If we won’t cross it now when it may cost us much less, will we cross the line when it could cost us our jobs, our homes, our lives? Jesus said that if we want to do His work here on earth, we can’t look back to the world we came from. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Stepping forward takes commitment, determination, and grit. Need we need to count the cost. My prayer has become … Oh my soul, march on in strength. Judges 5:21 /episode/index/show/7708e15b-93aa-4ca0-8364-c69b65321932/id/36426940

Worshipping Like Isaiah 04/28/2025

Worshipping Like Isaiah WORSHIP 6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” There are 4 parts to worship according to Isaiah in these verses 1. Adoration (Isaiah 6:1-4) - Awe and reverence for our Creator - We were created for worship - We will worship something, what or who do you worship? 2. Confession (Isaiah 6:5) - When we have the propre adoration and perspective of God, we realize how small we are - When we come to the end of ourself - We realize the gap between us and God with no other way to bridge that gap but Jesus - - For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. 3. Cleansing and Forgiveness (Isaiah 6:6-7) - Cleansed, no more guilt, and no more shame - Our sins are forgiven - Good to not carry the sin that weighs us down - - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 4. Decision (Isaiah 6:8) - "Here I am. Send me!" - When we hear God's call, we respond with obedience - Once we encounter the risen Lord, we can't help but want to serve the King - We serve as His loyal subjects without fear - Our "yes" is on the table - We should be compelled to go and serve, sharing the gospel as we go /episode/index/show/7708e15b-93aa-4ca0-8364-c69b65321932/id/36326480

6 Tips for Studying the Bible 04/21/2025

The Cross, The Blood, and The Empty Tomb 04/14/2025

The Disciples' Prayer 04/08/2025

Rapture Ready 03/31/2025

Stay Alert to Spiritual Warfare 03/17/2025

Stay Alert to Spiritual Warfare Spiritual Warfare Verse: Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Basics of Spiritual Warfare 1. Spiritual warfare involves the spiritual forces of evil in the unseen realm, led by Satan (the devil), that are at work in the world today to do the following: Tempt - Deceive – Revelation 12:10 – the accuser of the brethren John 8:44 – the father of lies Discourage – Afflict – And even harm people – 2. Spiritual forces of evil originated when Satan led a rebellion in heaven against God and 1/3 of the angels joined Satan in his attempted coup. God cast them out of heaven to the earth. Here are a few verses to remind us of the destination of the enemy at this current time. 1. Revelation 12:4 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 2. Revelation 12:7-9 Satan Thrown Down to Earth 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Isaiah 14:12 ESV “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! Luke 10:18 ESV And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. What are some tips for us? 1. Satan loves to sow discord If something is confusing, chaotic, or doesn’t make sense, it's probably him. We don’t serve a God of chaos, we serve a God of order! A good picture of this is in Genesis 1 and 2 2. Satan loves to attack when you are heading into a ministry opportunity or just coming from one He ramps up the attacks before to derail you from your focus on God! He will push on you after the ministry opportunity to see how serious you are about your walk with God and will try to get you to go back to your old ways or make you feel as though you did not rise up to the expectations and that you are unworthy. He will also try to get you to isolation or back to comfort instead of advancing the kingdom with some opposition. 3. Satan loves to take advantage of us when we are physically weak or emotionally drained This is when we are most susceptible to the enemy's attacks and it is harder to fight back. 4. Satan looks for entry points into our lives Don't give him a foothold! Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. Guard your heart, your thoughts, your marriage, and your children. The enemy knows your wounds and how to manipulate you. He reads our mail He is on a mission to immobilize us and keep us from our mission w/ God /episode/index/show/7708e15b-93aa-4ca0-8364-c69b65321932/id/35718850

Spiritual Drift, Part 2 03/10/2025

6 Signs of Spiritual Drift 03/03/2025

Hindsight 02/24/2025

Knowing Your Worth 02/17/2025

Generational Curse or Learned Behavior? 02/10/2025

Beneath the Broken Oak 02/03/2025

Finding Purpose in Doing 01/27/2025

Financial Stewardship Part 2 01/20/2025

Financial Stewardship Part 2 Financial Stewardship Part 2 Last week we discussed 4 basic points about money 1. Money is dangerous 2. Money is limited 3. Money is valuable 4. Money is like water And we must remember this one thing Its all God's anyway, God is the owner and we are the managers! This week we will discuss 4 principles associated with money and financial stewardship 1. Give faithfully (Proverbs 22:4) We are not to let appetite and anxiety rule us We should trust God (Proverbs 3:9) 2. Work diligently (Proverbs 10:4) Don’t be a sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11, 13:4, 22.29) He doesn't start things He doesn’t finish things He doesn’t have things 3. Save consistently (Proverbs 13:11) Start small and it will grow over time – just start We need to practice delayed gratification Learn how to handle money – get help Givers are the happiest people! (2 Corinthians 9:7) and they trust God and walk in true joy 4. Live humbly (Proverbs 12:9) Keep your standard of living low This allows you to build margin, keep your expenses lower than income INCREASE YOUR STANDARD OF GIVING BEFORE YOU INCREASE YOUR STANDAR OF LIVING! (Acts 20:35) (2 Corinthians 8:2) Wealth is a gift from God designed to flow through us to others! When we do this right, we are a conduit allowing the flow through us! What a witness this is to those around us, they get to see the blessings flow to us and then through us! Another discussion that usual comes up when giving is talked about is how much How much should I give? The old testament mentions to tithe or 10 % (Malachi 3:10) But now we are living in the New Testament, and it does not say…. The point is that the law or the Old Testament does say to tithe or 10%, and the New Testament is grace, and grace is always more that the law! So why limit God to only 10%??? Proverbs 22:4 ESV Proverbs 3:9 ESV Proverbs 10:4 ESV Proverbs 6:6-11 ESV Proverbs 13:4 ESV Proverbs 22:29 ESV Proverbs 13:11 ESV 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV Proverbs 12:9 ESV Acts 20:35 ESV 2 Corinthians 8:2 ESV Malachi 3:10 ESV /episode/index/show/7708e15b-93aa-4ca0-8364-c69b65321932/id/34915960

Financial Stewardship, Part 1 01/13/2025

Epiphany: What Gift Will You Give 01/06/2025

Epiphany: What Gift Will You Give 1. Epiphany · celebrates the magi’s visit to the Christ · kept on January 6 and also called “Three Kings’ Day” and “Twelfth Day · means “manifestation” or “revelation.” Celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the magi (the wisemen/mago were Gentiles · Simeon’s prophecy in - a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. · For some, Epiphany also commemorates other manifestations of Christ’s divinity to the world o His baptism o turning water into wine ( Epiphany traditions: the Star Singers (children dressed as kings and holding up a large star, singing carols from house to house); collecting money for charity; and the “plundering” and burning of Christmas trees. Other traditions include prayers (some offered to “Caspar,” “Melchoir,” and “Balthasar,” the traditional names of the magi); the blessing of holy water; the burning of “blessed” herbs; and the offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Should a Christian celebrate Epiphany? There is certainly nothing wrong with celebrating the different events of Christ’s life, and a Christian is free to observe whatever day he wants, as long as he “does so to the Lord” o – § 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. o avoid the superstitions and empty rituals () Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. § some customs directly conflict with scripture. For instance, asking the magi to bless one’s house conflicts with the Bible’s clear teaching that we pray only to God Himself . . . as in the Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Whatever holidays we choose to observe, the Lord should always be glorified in them 2. What the Wisemen brought a. The Bible doesn’t tell us the significance of the three gifts, but tradition gives us a deeper meaning i. Gold = a precious metal symbolic of divinitity ii. Frankincense = a very fragrant substance used with burnt offerings (aka sacrifices) as a pleasing aroma to God, a symbol of holiness and righteousness. Symbolic of Christ’s willingness to become a sacrifice iii. Myrrh – used in embalming, symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. b. Christ doesn’t need our gifts, but he is pleased when we use them for his glory and to bless others 3. The gift of our commitment a. Rebuilding the wall i. Nehemiah 2:18: And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set[] their hands to this good work. b. Not a New Year’s Resolution that we set for our own benefit and willingly give up on when the going gets hard, but a commitment to “set our hands to the good work of restoring the walls that have been broken down in our families and relationship, our addictions, our straying from the pure and holy life God calls us to. c. Challenged by our pastor to make and sign an agreement with God for the coming year. A commitment we make to God is a serious commitment. d. Numbers 3:20 - If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. e. Ecc 5:4 - When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— f. My commitment becomes my established priorities. 4. The list: a. Obey Christ b. Live a pure and holy life c. Spend less time on social media d. Share Jesus with 1 person a month e. Invite people to church f. Read God’s Word every day and let it lead you in spiritual growth g. Pray daily h. Tithe regularly i. Attend church more regularly j. Repent This Epiphany (today) offer God the better gift of making a commitment to him. /episode/index/show/7708e15b-93aa-4ca0-8364-c69b65321932/id/34731440

My Mornings with Jesus and Joe

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