Context: In this Prophecy Friday episode of the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, we walk through Isaiah 34–39 and watch a proud empire crumble while a king on his deathbed prays and lives. This episode explores judgment on the nations, joy for the redeemed, a siege that never succeeds, and a healing that seems impossible.

Entities: Steve Webb; King Hezekiah (The King Who Prayed); Sennacherib; Isaiah; Assyria; Jerusalem; Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind; Lifespring WhyChristmas; William Paterson; Dwight L. Moody; Billy Sunday; Helen Sunday; New English Bible.

Why this episode matters: Isaiah 34–39 shows us that...

On Day 5 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar, Steve Webb and James Cooper turn their attention to something almost everyone associates with Christmas: carols. From a playful burst of O Come All Ye Faithful on the zither harp to stories from church history and village life, this episode traces how Christmas carols grew from ancient songs into one of the most loved parts of the season.

What Is a Carol, Really?

Steve kicks things off by having a little fun with a musical intro, then points out that Christmas Carols really do help...

On Day 4 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar, Steve Webb opens the door to a fun and fascinating piece of Christmas history: the origin of the Christmas card. What begins with a surprise audio card from James Cooper soon unfolds into the story of Sir Henry Cole, the penny post, and the first officially sold Christmas card in 1843. This episode blends charm, Victorian quirks, and a surprising amount of postage trivia.

A Christmas Greeting From James

The door opens to an audio Christmas card from James, thanking Steve, Leanne, and the family for...

Today’s Reading: Job 13–14

Episode Title: Trusting God When Life Feels Unfair

Welcome to another episode of the Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind. Today we walk with Job through two deeply emotional chapters—chapters filled with honest questions, raw pain, and a longing for answers that seem just out of reach. If you’ve ever felt like life was unfair or wondered why God allows certain seasons to unfold the way they do, this episode will resonate with you.

Job does something bold today—he brings his confusion directly to God. He challen...

On Day 3 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar, we arrive at the official start of Advent—Advent Sunday. This episode, originally recorded in 2006, highlights one of the most meaningful themes of Advent: listening to the voices of the prophets. Steve Webb welcomes you, then hands the microphone to James Cooper of WhyChristmas.com to guide us into the Scriptures that foretold the coming of Jesus.

The First Candle: The Prophets

James begins by explaining why the first Sunday of Advent traditionally focuses on the prophets. These men—Isaiah, Micah, and many others—spoke centur...

Episode: Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind S3E045

Title: Trusting God When the World Shakes

Reading: Psalms 18–20 (Psalms Wednesday)

Context: In this Psalms Wednesday episode we read Psalms 18, 19, and 20 and reflect on how to trust God when life feels unstable. We explore David’s cry for rescue, the beauty of God’s Word, and the call to trust the Lord rather than any earthly power.

Entities: David, Pandita Ramabai, Mukti Mission, Billy Graham, Hour of Decision, East German church leaders, Berlin Wall, Steve Webb, Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind...

Episode Context: This Advent episode explores Luke 24:27, where Jesus reveals the scarlet thread of redemption running from Moses through the prophets. The entire Old Testament points toward Christ. This episode explains how Scripture forms a unified story that leads to the manger and ultimately to the cross and resurrection.

Beginning With Moses: How Jesus Reveals the Story Behind the Story

There is something about December that makes the world feel different. The lights go up. The music changes. The days grow shorter, and the nights seem quieter. Even with...

Day 2 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar continues our journey toward Christmas by looking at one of the most recognizable symbols of the season: the Christmas tree. These Advent Calendar episodes were originally recorded in 2006, but the story, meaning, and joy behind these traditions remain timeless. Each day, Steve Webb and James Cooper help us rediscover the depth behind the customs we often take for granted.

The Story Behind the Christmas Tree

In this episode, James Cooper takes us back hundreds of years to explore how Christmas trees became part of...

Today’s readings: Judges 7, Judges 8, Judges 9, Judges 10, Judges 11

Listen to the passage online:
Judges 7 to 11 at BibleGateway.com

Why this episode matters: The story of Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11 has caused many listeners to question the goodness and character of God. In this episode, “A Foolish Vow,” we slow down, look at the language and the larger context, and see how a difficult story, read carefully, actually points us back to a wise and faithful God.

Entities: Jephthah, Gideon, Abimelech, Judges 7 to 11, Israel, Midian, Ammon, Hannah, Samuel...

Context: In today’s reading we move through Genesis 24-27, some of the most important chapters in the early story of God’s people. We see Abraham’s servant searching for a wife for Isaac, the birth of Jacob and Esau, and the unfolding of God’s long awaited covenant plan. These chapters lay the foundation for the rest of the Old Testament and what will ultimately point to Jesus.

Welcome to day 43 of the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind. Today we read Genesis 24, 25, 26, and 27. This sweep of Scripture carries us from Abraham’s final years into...

The Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar is back. These special episodes were first recorded in 2006 and are now presented again in 2025 so that you can walk day by day toward Christmas with the Lifespring family, James Cooper from WhyChristmas.com, and your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. The story of Advent and Christmas is timeless, even if some of the old phone numbers and links have changed.

What This Episode Is About

In Day 1 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar, Steve introduces the series and welcomes his friend James Cooper, the creator of
WhyChristmas...

Loving Your Neighbor When It Is Not Easy

Welcome to another Epistles Sunday on the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind. Today we read Romans 13 and 14, two chapters where Paul moves from the big picture of how believers should respond to authority to the close-up reality of loving real people in real life. These chapters challenge us to live out our faith with humility, patience, and genuine love, even when it costs us something. The message fits well with the theme woven through the episode: no one said this life of faith would be easy, but...

Context: In this episode of Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind, we continue in the Gospel of Matthew and listen in as Jesus feeds the crowds, walks on the water, confronts religious hypocrisy, and responds to a desperate Canaanite mother whose simple prayer is, “Lord, help me.” This episode is a mid week breath of Scripture and grace for anyone who needs fresh courage to keep trusting God.

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14–16

In Matthew 14 we hear about the death of John the Baptist and see the compassion of Jesus as He feeds the five thousand...

Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Isaiah 29-33, and I’m calling the episode “Tell Us Nice Things.”

Thoughts on Isaiah 30 

Sometimes prophecy reads like today’s news, doesn’t it?

8Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness 9 that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the lord’s instructions. 10They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies...

Who Really Understands God?

Today is Poetry Thursday, and we’re looking at Job 11 and 12, where emotions run high and misunderstandings run even higher. Zophar delivers a harsh rebuke, accusing Job of arrogance and empty talk. Job fires back with sarcasm and frustration, pointing out that his friends are not half as wise as they think they are. Beneath it all is the real question these chapters raise: who actually understands what God is doing?

Job is worn out, grieving his children, confused about the suffering he’s experiencing, and pushed to t...

The Shape of a Changed Life

Today is Psalms Wednesday, and we’re spending time with Psalms 15 through 17. These passages give us a close look at what a changed life actually looks like. Not just words. Not just claims. A life that reflects trust in God, obedience to His ways, and a heart that wants His presence more than anything else. David’s short list in Psalm 15 is powerful because it challenges us to take inventory. Are our lives showing the reality of our faith? Or are we just saying the right things with...

Give Thanks to the Lord — For He Is Good

As the Thanksgiving season arrives life does not always slow down. Some years bring joy. Some years bring heavy burdens.
For many of us it is both at once.
Psalm 107:1 meets us there:
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever.”

This verse is not just a holiday slogan. It is a lifeline for people who have walked through hard things. Psalm 107 is filled with rescue stories: wanderers with no home, prisoners in darkne...

Finish the Job

Reading: Judges 1–6

Today we step into the book of Judges and watch what happens when God’s people stop short of full obedience. Joshua is gone, the tribes are in the land, and chapter 1 opens with a question that sounds hopeful on the surface but hides a problem underneath. The people ask the Lord who should go up first to fight, but as the chapter unfolds they do not fully finish the work God gave them. Instead of driving out the nations as He commanded, they leave pockets of resistance in p...

The Father, the Son, and the Substitute – Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind S3E036

The Father, the Son, and the Substitute

Welcome to another episode of the Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind.
Today we are in the book of Genesis, reading chapters 20 through 23 and watching Abraham grow from a man with shaky obedience to a father whose faith is willing to trust God with the most precious thing in his life.

Today’s Reading

Passage: Genesis 20–23 on BibleGateway

Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Romans 11-12, and I’m calling the episode “God’s Open Door Policy”.

Thoughts on Romans 11

Paul ended the last chapter by saying that Israel had rejected the Messiah, and he begins this chapter by asking if God then, has rejected them. 

Not surprisingly the answer is, “Of course not!”. God kept a remnant, a few out of the nation of Israel, who did believe, because of His divine grace. 

And then Paul goes on to say that it is because of the unbelief of Is...

Seeds, Weeds, and the Kingdom of Heaven

Today’s reading is Matthew 11–13. These chapters reveal Jesus as both gentle and strong. He invites the weary to come to Him, confronts unbelief with truth, and teaches about the kingdom of heaven through parables that are simple to hear but deep to grasp. Together, these scenes show us a Savior who sees the heart, knows our burdens, and leads us with wisdom that does not fail.

Commentary

In Matthew 11, Jesus answers John the Baptist’s doubts with evidence. The blind see, the lame walk...

The Cornerstone You Can Trust

Today’s reading is Isaiah 23–28. These chapters move from God’s judgment on the nations to His promise of a future kingdom filled with justice, peace, and joy. Much of the language is heavy, reflecting the consequences of rebellion and the weight of human pride. Yet woven through it all is a theme that steadies the heart — God is building something unshakable, and He invites us to stand on it with confidence.

Commentary

In this episode I share brief thoughts on each chapter from a 30,000-foot view. Is...

Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Job 9-10, and I’m calling the episode “Job’s Response”. 

And that’s going to be all for today. I’m asking your forgiveness, because this has been one of those days. Nothing bad, but just a ton of stuff, and I’m just too exhausted to produce a full show for you today. I hope that’s ok with you. I’ll be back tomorrow with a normal show.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 9-10 GWT

Support

I Will Sing To the Lord

Today’s reading is Psalms 12–14, and the theme “I Will Sing to the Lord” echoes through every chapter.
In these psalms David wrestles with discouragement, deception, and the feeling that God has forgotten him.
However, these chapters also show how he found renewed confidence and hope by turning his eyes upward.
As a result, this episode invites us to discover the same steady truth: even when our feelings waver, God remains faithful.

Chapter 12 — A Cry for Truth

In this psalm, David crie...

When Prayer Pushes Out Panic

Philippians 4:6–7 is one of the most quoted passages in the New Testament, and yet it often becomes a verse we skim instead of a lifeline we grab.
“Do not be anxious” is not a demand to shut off your emotions or pretend everything is fine. It’s an invitation to bring the full truth of your heart into the presence of God.
This episode of Verses We Missed explores how prayer becomes the place where fear is released and peace is received.

The Lighthouse of Philippians 4:6–7

Th...

As For Me And My House

Today’s reading is Joshua 21–24, and these closing chapters of the book bring us to a turning point. The land has been given, the promises have been kept, and Joshua is near the end of his life. In this episode, we look at his final challenge to Israel and what it means today to say, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Commentary

Joshua reminds the people that every good promise God made has come to pass. The victories they enjoy are...

Seen By God

Today’s reading is Genesis 16–19. These chapters move through familiar stories of promise, failure, judgment, and mercy. Even so, one truth rises above everything else. God sees. In every wilderness and every hard moment, He is paying attention. The title “Seen By God” is more than a theme. It is the experience of a servant woman at a spring in the desert, and it is still the hope of every believer who feels forgotten.

Commentary

In this episode, we look at how easily we can grow tired of waiting...

The Message That Changes Everything

Today on the Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind, we spend time in Romans 9 and 10, two chapters filled with deep teaching and life changing truth. Paul talks about God’s purpose, His mercy, and His faithfulness. He also explains how salvation works, and why the message of Jesus must be shared clearly and confidently. As we move through the text, we see how God keeps His promises and how our response to Him matters.

God’s Purpose and Mercy

Romans 9 shows us that God works according to His...

Welcome to Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind, where we revisit past episodes of the Lifespring family of podcasts so you can hear the entire Bible read in one year. In this episode we are in the Gospel of Matthew, reading chapters 8 through 10, and then spending some time in Matthew 10 thinking about what it really means to confess Christ openly in a world that is often hostile to Him.

Today’s Reading

Today’s reading is Matthew 8–10. These chapters show Jesus healing the sick, calming storms, casting out demons, calling Matthew, raising the dead, openin...

When God Closes a Door

Today’s Reading

Isaiah 18–22. You can read these chapters at

BibleGateway.

Overview

In these chapters Isaiah delivers strong words for several nations that surround God’s people.
He speaks to Ethiopia, Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. He also turns his attention to Jerusalem
itself. The message is clear. The Lord is not only the God of Israel. He rules over every kingdom,
and he uses history to carry out his purposes.

Egypt’s power will fade. Babylon’s idols will...

When Suffering Does Not Make Sense

Today’s Reading

Job 7–8. You can read these chapters at
BibleGateway.

Overview

Job continues speaking from a place of deep suffering. His life feels like hard service with no rest. He questions his purpose, and he cries out to God with honest words. Many people have felt this kind of pain. The Lord invites honesty, even when it sounds raw.

Bildad responds to Job with cold logic instead of compassion. He tells Job that his children died because of their sin...

Safe in His Hands (Psalms 9–11)

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — S3E024

Today’s reading is Psalms 9–11. I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. These psalms call us to trust God when fear rises. As we listen, we learn again that the Lord sees, judges fairly, and shelters His people. Therefore, we can rest in Him.

Praise and Justice (Psalm 9)

Psalm 9 lifts praise to God who judges righteously. Moreover, the oppressed find a safe place in Him. Even when nations rage, God remains faithful. As a result, hearts grow steady and...

Welcome to Episode 005 of Verses We Missed. I’m your host, Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster. This weekly show is released every Tuesday night at 10 p.m. Pacific so that it’s waiting for you Wednesday morning — a mid-week breath of Scripture and grace.

Today’s Verse

2 Samuel 5:24 — “And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”

David had faced the Philistines before. The battlefield was familiar. The...

A Place to Run To

Today’s readings are Joshua 16–20, and together they show us something important about the heart of God. These chapters continue the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. At first, it can seem like background information. However, it reminds us again that God is faithful. He completes what He begins, and He keeps the promises He makes.

Cities of Refuge

In addition, Joshua 20 introduces the cities of refuge. These were places where someone who had unintentionally taken a life could run. Because of this prov...

When Faith Pauses

The focus idea for today is When Faith Pauses. Sometimes our faith slows down or hesitates, yet God continues to work with patience and grace. He does not abandon us when our confidence weakens. Instead, He invites us to trust Him again.

Scripture Readings

Today we read Genesis 12–15. These chapters show Abraham beginning his journey of faith, learning to follow God step by step. You can read the passage here:
Genesis 12–15 at BibleGateway.

Understanding the Journey

Abraham received God’s promises, yet he did no...

The Freedom We Could Never Earn (Romans 7–8)

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — S3E021

In today’s reading we focus on the freedom we could never earn as we walk through Romans 7–8. I am your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. Paul names the struggle of the flesh in chapter 7. However, he then announces the good news in chapter 8: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we rest in grace and we learn to walk by the Spirit.

Romans 7 — The Struggle We All Know

We recognize the tensio...

Blessed According to Jesus (Matthew 5–7)

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — S3E020

In today’s reading we focus on Blessed according to Jesus as we walk through Matthew 5–7, the Sermon on the Mount. I am your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. These chapters show what true blessing looks like. Therefore, we listen carefully to the words of Jesus and let His teaching shape our desires and our choices. Moreover, this teaching forms a life marked by humility, mercy, purity, and trust.

Blessed according to Jesus: The Beatitudes

First, Jesus begins with the...

Only God Can Save (Isaiah 12–17)

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — S3E019

Today’s reading is Isaiah 12–17. These chapters remind us that no matter how strong a person appears, no matter how powerful a nation becomes, human strength will always fall short. Only God can save. I am your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. As we look at these passages together, we are encouraged to place our trust not in what seems solid around us, but in the Lord who never fails.

Isaiah 12 — Praise to the God Who Saves

Isaiah 12 is a chapt...

Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Job 5-6. After that I’ll have some comments on chapter six. I’ve been a bit long-winded on the last couple episodes, so today’s comments are shorter. Then we’ll do our “On This Day In Church History” segment, after which we have some prayer requests and praises.

Thoughts on Job 5

Last week we read the beginning of Eliphaz’s remarks to Job, in which he basically said that obviously Job is suffering because there is some sin in his life, and God is punishing him. 

I...

Crying Out to God (Psalms 6–8)

Lifespring! One Year Bible Rewind — S3E017

In today’s episode, we reflect on crying out to God as we read Psalms 6–8. I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. These psalms guide us through real emotional and spiritual valleys. They remind us that the Christian life includes sorrow, confusion, trust, hope, and finally worship. As we move through them, we see the beautiful movement from distress, to trust, to praise.

Psalm 6 — God Hears Us Even When We Are Exhausted

In Psalm 6, David cries out from a place...