Podcasts about advent week

2025-12-21 - Advent - Sam Huggard

In this episode, we finish our Advent journey in Jonah 4:1-11. In this chapter, we have an opportunity to see Jonah's response to God's mercy on Nineveh. Together we discuss Jonah's feelings of resentment towards both Nineveh and God, and how God uses the circumstances around Jonah to hold up a mirror to Jonah, functioning to expose Jonah's heart and working towards transformation into God's likeness. From this we identified that when we direct our focus and attention to Jesus, in the midst of our pain and hurt, He can help us move beyond that pain as we open up the space for Jesus to fill us with His hope, peace, joy, and love, regardless of what has happened to us.

Today, we continue our Advent journey by stepping into Anna's quiet yet powerful moment of worship in Luke 2:36–38. As a widow shaped by years of loss, prayer, fasting, and devotion, Anna's eyes had been trained to recognize Jesus when He appeared in the temple. Her story invites us to consider how a life turned toward God forms our ability to truly see Him. Drawing from Bette Dickinson's devotional Making Room in Advent, this episode explores what it means to make room for worship — to offer our grief, longing, and faithfulness to God. Through Anna's witness, we're invited to see how worship clarifies our spiritual vision so that when God shows up in our own stories, we'll recognize Him — and help others see Him too. I hope you'll listen in. Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__ Key words: Advent season, spiritual formation, vulnerability, listening, creativity, emotions, curiosity, presence, process, courage, self-awareness, emotional health, personal growth, waiting, hope, connection, worship

Advent Week 2: The peace we receive is given to us to give to others. Our lives, marked by the fruit of the Spirit, become evidence that this divine reconciliation is real. We are called to be those who continuously make the announcement: The Prince of Peace has come, the war is over, and His peace is for all the people.Support the show

Advent Week 3: Jesus wants your joy to be abundant! Jesus' intention is not that you just get enough joy, but that your joy would be so prolific that it spills out and is given away. When we live this joyful life, in a joyless world, it becomes our greatest witness. When others see us sustained in the midst of suffering, they will wonder what sustains us. Our consistent, unshakable joy is a living invitation.Support the show

Advent Week 4: Love has been God's story from the beginning. From the moment of creation, God's love was part of the fabric of our world. His love turned the world inside out when He sent His Son to live among us—the God of the universe to be born in a stable, to die on the cross, and to rise again from the grave. It took love to disrupt and overturn the power of death and evil.Support the show

Landon Coleman

In the final message of Advent, from our Christmas Eve service, we look at the joy available in Christ because of his first coming, and the future joy that awaits us in his second coming.

New here? We're SO glad you're here! Hit that *subscribe* button and the bell to be notified when we upload!SUBSCRIBE to our free daily devotions: https://blessedisshe.net/subscribe/Check our our FREE RESOURCES for you: https://blessedisshe.net/free-resources/Catholic Resources + How To Guides: https://blessedisshe.net/catholic-resources-how-to-guides/Download our FREE study guide: https://blessedisshe.net/study-guide/Find out more: https://blessedisshe.net/about/Check out our Shop: https://blessedisshe.net/shopShop our Amazon favs: https://www.amazon.com/shop/blessedissheBlessed is She exists for any woman who wants to radically follow Jesus through a vibrantly Catholic life every single day. We create beautiful and accessible resources, products, and experiences to foster community and deepen faith, both online and in person. We invite you into this community, no matter where you are on your walk with Christ.You belong here.

In this episode we carry on into Jonah 3:1-10 (again the entire chapter). Finally, here in Jonah 3, we see both Jonah's obedience as he arrives in Nineveh and shares the message from God and the response of the Ninevites. Together we talk about the miracles of obedience, belief, repentance, humility, and salvation found throughout this chapter. We reflect on God's loving nature as the God of second chances and examine the depth and completeness of Nineveh's repentance. Ultimately, we recognize that as people sent by God, our calling is not to condemn, but to offer salvation to those around us through Christ.

Tique wraps up our Advent Conversation Series and the Nativity story in Luke 2 using the carol, Go Tell It On the Mountain.

Join us in our Advent series to learn about the four themes of Advent. In this short episode, we explore the theme of love and the love of Christ that we experience in the Advent season and beyond. Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter! Connect with us:  The Daily Grace Co. | Facebook | Instagram | Daily Grace Blog | 

As Advent draws to a close, Saint Joseph invites us to make room—not just in our homes, but in our hearts.In Week Four of A Quiet Light, we reflect on Saint Joseph, Most Obedient, and pray with Matthew 1:18–24. This Gospel reminds us that obedience isn't about having all the answers—it's about trusting God enough to take the next step. Joseph heard the call, woke up, and did what the Lord asked. No hesitation. Just love in motion.The word we're sitting with this week? ✨ Trust. The kind that chooses surrender over control, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.Our invitation this week is simple: notice where God may be knocking. Where might He be asking you to make room for Him—again or for the first time? Ask for the grace to say yes, even if it feels uncomfortable or unfinished.

In our final week of Advent, Richard and Daniel talk about the most important commandment: love.  TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 4:45 Are there any statements or quotes you've particularly hung onto as a leader? 9:07 As a leader, what does it look like practically to be defined by love?  14:08 How do you not fall into the trap of people pleasing? 18:09 How is love connected to servant leadership? 21:05 How can loving people be powerful and good for business? 24:25 Why is it so hard for many leaders to love those they lead? 30:00 What is love, what isn't love, and how do we love our employers/employees? 35:08 Advent Ending and What's Next! DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3 RESOURCES: Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

Advent Week 3

This Sunday marked the close of our Advent season as we glory in Christ's righteousness, behold the goodness of His work, and marvel at the love of God—seen now in part, but one day fully revealed. Christ has come, and He will come again.

This Sunday, Kai closed our Advent journey by reminding us that love is the why behind Christmas. From 1 Corinthians 13, we were invited to see love not as a feeling, but as an enduring act—one that draws us deeper into knowing Jesus and becoming more like Him. We were created to be His beloved, and we're encouraged to keep praying that God would form us into a more loving people each day. Merry Christmas, Genesis

In this final episode of the Advent season Ruth and Marilyn discuss the unique spiritual invitations and soul work of the winter season. They touch on the inward journey of self-examination, processing grief, and embracing the transformation in life's dormancy. They conclude with a deep discussion on themes of letting go, living in the present, and the spiritual significance of endings and new beginnings. The episode also features a poignant poem by Robert Hayden and an Advent-themed prayer by Ted Loder.   Questions for Reflection: How would you name or characterize the season that you're in?  How can we be present in the season that we're in versus clinging to something else?  How  can we trust the letting go process of one season, letting go of one in order to embrace the next?    In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Joseph's Prayer from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Today, we continue our Advent journey by stepping into the shepherds' moment of wonder in Luke 2:15–20. As they hurry to Bethlehem and behold the newborn Jesus lying in a manger, we are invited into a deeper way of seeing — one that moves beyond surface-level observation and into holy perception. Drawing from Bette Dickinson's devotional Making Room in Advent, we explore the difference between simply seeing with our physical eyes and truly perceiving with hearts open to awe. This episode invites us to rediscover a sense of holy astonishment this Christmas. To make room for wonder and to perceive God's presence with fresh eyes. I hope you'll listen in. Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__ Key words: Advent season, spiritual formation, vulnerability, listening, creativity, emotions, curiosity, presence, process, courage, self-awareness, emotional health, personal growth, waiting, hope, connection, wonder

ADVENT 2025 Week 4: Stand In LoveJeremy Rose - December 21, 20251 John 4:7-21 & Matthew 25:31-46⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theaxischurch.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----Subscribe to The Axis Church sermons on Apple Podcast or Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify Podcast

What if joy isn't something you chase—but something you receive? In this Advent message, Pastor Aaron McRae explores the deep, lasting joy that Jesus brings—a joy that is often unexpected, received by faith, and anchored in eternity.Drawing from Luke 2 and the Christmas story, this message reframes joy beyond temporary happiness, success, or comfort. Pastor Aaron contrasts the world's pursuit of happiness with the biblical invitation to joy—one that meets us in brokenness, suffering, uncertainty, and fear. From the unlikely joy announced to shepherds, to reflections from thinkers like C.S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and modern neuroscience, this message shows how true joy is not circumstantial, but relational.This sermon speaks directly to those navigating stress, grief, anxiety, financial pressure, health challenges, or spiritual dryness. It reminds us that Jesus came not only to save what is lost, but to heal what is broken—and His joy is available here and now, regardless of circumstances.If you are searching for meaning beyond happiness, longing for hope this Christmas season, or wondering where to anchor your joy, this message will help you make room for the lasting joy found only in Jesus.Scriptures ReferencedLuke 2:1–14Psalm 16:11Psalm 51:12Galatians 5:22Philippians 4:4–6Psalm 119:14Romans 15:13Hebrews 12:2Resources & References MentionedArthur Brooks — Leadership and Happiness (Harvard Business School)Dietrich Bonhoeffer — Conspiracy and ImprisonmentC.S. Lewis — Mere ChristianityC.S. Lewis — Surprised by JoyFrieson, Wilder, — Living from the Heart Jesus Gave YouSerenity PrayerFor the full gathering of this message which includes worship, visit our Youtube channel. Stay Connected With Hillside Community Church.Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/c/HillsideCommunityChurchInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/hillsidechurches/Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/hillsidechurchesWebsite | https://hillsidechurches.com

Peace isn't found in the absence of problems, peace is found in the wholeness of God's presence.

Advent is the time each year when the church slows down to focus on the words of the angels in Luke 2: "For behold I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." What is this good news and why does it cause great joy? This holiday season, we will take a dive into both, explore their meaning, and why it can bring breakthrough in each of our lives!

Advent Week 4 LOVE Aaron Wallace by Pastor Aaron Wallace

In this week's Advent sermon, Pastor Stephen Mizell challenges us to rethink everything we thought we knew about love. As we light the fourth Advent candle, discover why love isn't just a warm feeling or sentimental decoration—it's a Person you meet and a divine action that changes everything. Drawing from 1 John 4:7-12, Pastor Stephen unpacks the profound truth that God doesn't just love—He IS love. This means love existed before creation, before redemption, and before the incarnation. We don't manufacture love; we can only reflect it. We don't generate it; we can only distribute it. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the Bible never treats love as a decoration The difference between sentimental love and sacrificial love How the manger and the cross are inseparably connected Why your theology is only as good as your relationships The challenge of being God's "full expression" of love to the world A special word for those finding this Christmas season difficult KEY QUOTE: "Christmas is not about God shouting from the mountaintops, 'I love you.' It's about Him whispering it from a manger." This sermon includes a salvation invitation and a tender moment addressing those experiencing a "Blue Christmas"—anyone grieving loss, waiting for answered prayer, or finding the season less joyful than expected. Pastor Stephen reminds us that the good news of Christmas isn't that God avoided darkness, but that He stepped into it. SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:7-12, Romans 10:9 ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Pastor Stephen Mizell serves as the lead pastor of Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. His teaching combines biblical depth with practical application, helping people encounter Jesus in real and transformative ways.

Part 4 of a 4-week Advent series released every Sunday.There comes a point in the spiritual journey where effort quietly runs out.Where striving no longer works.Where something in you longs not for improvement, but for rest.If you've ever felt like love was something you had to earn—through goodness, productivity, spirituality, or self-control—this final Advent episode is for you.Welcome to the fourth week of Advent on the Holy Rebels Podcast, where we make space for grounded spiritual practices, nervous system awareness, and the deep wisdom of the Christian mystical tradition.This week is all about Love.Not romantic love.Not approval.Not love as a reward.But the love you don't have to earn—the love you can rest in.Nina Hirlaender OFS brings together Franciscan spirituality, mystical theology, and psychology to explore Love not as a feeling we chase, but as the ground of being itself—the presence that holds when joy rises and falls, when faith feels strong or thin.Across the contemplative tradition, love is not something added to life after we get it right. It is the deeper reality already giving itself to us—before achievement, before repair, before worthiness. This episode traces how Advent has been gently leading us here all along: from trusting, to resting, to tasting… into abiding. What you'll take away from this episode:the meaning of Love as the fourth and final theme of Adventwhy love is not a wage, reward, or outcome—but a giventhe difference between original sin and original grace—and why it matterswhy receiving love can feel unsafe when the nervous system is burned outa practical re-script for the belief “If I'm good enough, then I'll be loved”how love takes flesh in ordinary life—boundaries, giving, receiving, and restLove isn't something you rise up to. It's something you lean back into. It is already here—beneath the noise, beneath the effort, steady as your breath.Advent doesn't end by asking you to try harder or become better. It ends by inviting you to rest in what has been holding you all along.Press play to enter the final week of Advent with more spaciousness, more honesty, and a deeper trust in the love that does not withdraw. This is the love you don't have to earn.Send Nina a text message.Support the showRate, Review & Follow“I love Nina and Holy Rebels Podcast.” If that sounds like you, please rate and review my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to practise their spirituality and nurture their inner wisdom. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a review.” Nina reads every single review and it always brings a smile to her face. Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. If you're not following, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now Show Notes: www.holyrebelspodcast.comConnect with me!facebookinstagram

Week 4 - Love

Our God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to the cross so that we might live and be accepted by Him. 

Matt Pearson, Senior Pastor of ClearView Baptist Church in Franklin, Tennessee speaks about Advent - Week 4.

Active Faith: Taking Possession of the PurposeMike Mantooth

Hebrews 1 & 2

Hebrews 1 & 2

ADVENT 2025 Week 3: Stand In JoyBarrett Wilson - December 14, 20251 John 4:7-21 & Matthew 25:31-46⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theaxischurch.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-----Subscribe to The Axis Church sermons on Apple Podcast or Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify Podcast

Join us in our Advent series to learn about the four themes of Advent. In this short episode, we explore the theme of joy and the joy we have in Christ in the Advent season and beyond. Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter! Connect with us: The Daily Grace Co. | Facebook | Instagram | Daily Grace Blog | 

Advent has a way of bringing the quiet and the uncomfortable to the surface, and Saint Joseph meets us there with steady strength.In Week Three of A Quiet Light, we reflect on Saint Joseph, Terror of Demons, and pray with Zephaniah 3:11–12—a lesser-known passage that reminds us God draws near to the humble and the lowly. Joseph shows us that real strength isn't loud or forceful. The word we're sitting with this week? ✨ Courage. The kind that steps into the dark places trusting God is already there.Our invitation this week is simple: bring what's hidden into the light. Take a few quiet moments to examine your heart, and if you're able, consider reconciliation as a way to make room for peace and joy.Don't miss the Cutting Room Floor at the end for deeper reflections, personal stories, and a few moments that didn't make it into the main episode. ............................... 

Week 3 of Advent centers around joy and how we can experience joy despite our worldly circumstances.   TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Introduction 2:10 Leadership Trivia 2:50 Why has God placed the topic of joy so close to your heart? 6:45 Why are the younger generations unhappier than older generations? 8:30 What is the Biblical view of joy? 12:45 What is the difference between joy and happiness? 16:10 Is it ok to feel joy in difficult times? 19:25 How can a leader keep their joy even faced with weariness, critiques, etc.? 25:10 What is the role of humor in Christianity? 32:50 Leadership Trivia Answer DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here: https://bit.ly/382Exi3 RESOURCES: Mark your calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here: https://www.blackabycoaching.org/workshop CONNECT: X: @richardblackaby Facebook: https://bit.ly/2WvZPzw Read Richard's latest blog posts at www.richardblackaby.com

In this week's episode, Ruth and Marilyn discuss the themes of winter and vulnerability. They explore the metaphorical storms of winter, praying beyond safety, and infinite longing. The conversation also touches on the challenges posed by climate change, the significance of collective humility, and the importance of grappling with complex, real-world issues within church communities. Marilyn concludes by reading her poem 'After the Fire,' reflecting on loss, renewal, and the essential nature of vulnerability in the spiritual journey.   Questions for Reflection:  How do we open up to moving beyond safety? How do we pray beyond safety? How do we find security within the midst of our frailty and fragility and vulnerability?  Where does our security come from even if we've lost things that are the most certain to us? Where does our security come from and what are the particularities of our situation that we're being invited to live in fully?    In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist O Come O Come Emmanuel from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Today, we continue our Advent journey by stepping into Mary's honest moment of questioning in Luke 1:34–38. When she asks, “How will this be?” she names the real limits of her life — and yet it's within those very limits that God chooses to work. Drawing from Bette Dickinson's devotional Making Room in Advent, we explore how God chooses not to bypass human limits but to work within them. In the incarnation, God takes on the constraints of our humanity and invites Mary — and us — into partnership not by asking for strength, expertise, or perfection, but by inviting simple availability. I hope you'll listen in. Get Faith & Feeling's weekly resource email Watch this episode on YouTube Grab a copy of my book Stop Saying I'm Fine Connect with me on my website Find me on Instagram @__taylorjoy__ Key words: Advent season, spiritual formation, vulnerability, listening, creativity, emotions, curiosity, presence, process, courage, self-awareness, emotional health, personal growth, waiting, hope, connection, limits

The discourse within this podcast episode elucidates the profound theme of "Peace that Finds You in the Middle of the Chaos," which resonates deeply during the second week of Advent. In this context, we contemplate the biblical narrative found in Luke 1:26-38, where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she has found favor with God. This pivotal moment, rather than ushering in tranquility, initiates a tumultuous upheaval in her life, challenging our conventional understanding of peace as the mere absence of conflict. We explore the notion that true peace emerges not when circumstances align favorably, but through a surrender to God amidst disorder and uncertainty. Consequently, we invite listeners to reflect upon their own lives, recognizing that the divine presence offers solace and stability even when chaos surrounds them.In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey D. Skinner explores the theme of peace during the second week of Advent, focusing on Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel. He emphasizes that true peace is not the absence of chaos but the presence of God within it. Through Mary's story, he illustrates how God chooses the overlooked and how surrendering to God's will can lead to profound peace amidst life's upheavals.TakeawaysThe second week of Advent focuses on peace.Mary's encounter with Gabriel highlights God's favor on the overlooked.Peace in scripture is not the absence of conflict but God's presence in it.Mary's surrender led to the incarnation amidst chaos.God's grace precedes our actions and understanding.Honest questioning from a place of surrender is honored by heaven.The same Spirit that overshadowed Mary is with us today.True peace is received through surrender, not manufactured.Mary's story offers hope to those in chaos and uncertainty.The peace of Advent is about finding God in the midst of turmoil.As we delve into the second week of Advent, the podcast elucidates the theme of peace that emerges in the midst of chaos, drawing upon the biblical account of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel. This pivotal moment serves as a profound illustration of the complexities surrounding the notion of peace, particularly when juxtaposed with the realities of life's unpredictable nature. The conversation begins with an examination of the initial reaction of Mary, who is described as perplexed upon receiving news that she has been chosen to bear the Messiah. The podcast invites listeners to reflect on the implications of this encounter, which challenges the conventional understanding of peace as merely the absence of strife. Instead, it posits that true peace is birthed from a deep and abiding faith in God, even when circumstances are laden with uncertainty and upheaval. Furthermore, the discussion highlights how God's choice to announce such momentous news to a young, overlooked woman exemplifies His tendency to work through the marginalized and the insignificant. This serves as an empowering reminder that every person possesses intrinsic value and purpose, regardless of societal status. The narrative not only illustrates Mary's courageous acceptance of her role but also emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God's will, thereby finding peace amidst chaos. In light of contemporary challenges, the episode resonates with those grappling with their own tumultuous experiences, offering hope that even in our most trying times, God's presence can provide a steadfast peace that surpasses all understanding. To encapsulate, the podcast encourages listeners to reframe their understanding of peace as an active engagement with God, rather than a passive state of being. By embracing the chaos of life and recognizing the divine purpose that undergirds it, we are empowered to trust in God's overarching plan, much like Mary did. This Advent season, we are called to embody the peace that...

Join us in our Advent series to learn about the four themes of Advent. In this short episode, we explore the theme of peace and the peace we have in Christ in the Advent season and beyond. Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter!   Connect with us: The Daily Grace Co. | Facebook | Instagram | Daily Grace Blog | 

Advent is a good time to slow down a little, and St. Joseph the Workman shows us what it looks like to stay steady and trust God in the middle of everyday life.In Week Two of A Quiet Light, we focus on St. Joseph the Workman and pray with Matthew 11:28–30—Jesus' reminder that we don't have to carry everything alone. Joseph lived this in a very real way. The word we're sitting with this week? ✨ Rest. The kind of rest that comes from putting things back in God's hands.Our invitation this week is simple: let your daily work become a place to talk to God. Whether you're doing chores, driving, or checking things off your list, bring Him into it. Let Him lighten the load.Don't miss the Cutting Room Floor at the end for some extra stories and moments we couldn't fit into the episode.

This week, ​​Ruth and Marilyn discuss the concept of Blue Christmas services that acknowledge grief during the festive season and offer consolation to those experiencing loss. The episode also delves into the idea of dormancy, likening spiritual dormancy to the natural world's winter phase, where growth happens unseen. The conversation highlights the importance of creating space for mourning, acknowledging our vulnerabilities, and the need for faith and guidance during these seasons of grief and apparent inertness. Questions for Reflection:  Where do you feel that you need to mourn? Have you had the guidance that you've needed for your mourning? And if not, how might you seek that out? Is there any place in your life right now that can be explained or given meaning through an understanding of dormancy?  In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.    Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology. Mentioned in the Episode: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi Moby Dick by Herman Melville Wintering by Katherine May The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist A Light Unto My Path from Advent Music in Solitude   We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO to this reflection

If the weight of waiting has ever felt crushing…if your desires feel delayed…if your suffering feels like, “Lord, I can't do this anymore”, this episode is for you.In this first week of Advent, we talk honestly about the ache of longing and the places in our lives that feel heavy. But we also talk about the God who meets us there, who gives us grace for the long haul, who replaces our faint, weary hearts with “long-lasting batteries,” and who teaches us to hope again.We explore:The weight of waiting and how the Lord strengthens us in seasons of sufferingWhat happens when God invites us to name our desires with hope, not resignationHow Advent calls us to slow down, unclench our calendars, and step into sacred timeThe difference between external “liturgical living” and the gentle interior rhythm of graceWhy even the smallest shifts in prayer can reorient our hearts in profound waysHow the Lord is doing deep work in our souls—often beyond what words can describeAdvent isn't about striving. It's about letting ourselves be carried, like a leaf on the river of God's grace, toward the heart of the Father, toward the eternity we long for, and toward the desires He Himself placed within us.So if you're longing… aching… hoping… or simply tired, come sit with us. There are graces available in this Advent, in this moment, that have never been available before.We're so glad you're here.

Join us in our Advent series to learn about the four themes of Advent. In this short episode, we explore the theme of hope and the hope we have in Christ in the Advent season and beyond.   Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter!   Connect with us:  The Daily Grace Co. | Facebook | Instagram | Daily Grace Blog | 

In this season of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth invites listeners to embark on a unique journey during Advent 2025. Departing from traditional liturgical approaches, we will focus on the overlap between the seasons of Advent and winter, inspired by Marilyn McIntyre's book 'Midwinter Light: Meditations for the Long Season.' Ruth will be joined all through Advent by Marilyn McIntyre, herself. Together they will explore themes such as inner reflection, the significance of silence, and the profound connections between spirituality and the physical season of winter.  This week, Ruth and Marilyn discuss the importance of recognizing and responding to the invitation for inward focus during this time and the subsequent freedom it can bring. We conclude with practical suggestions for embracing the quiet and contemplative aspects of the season and posing the following questions for reflection: How are you perceiving or sensing the invitation inward?  As you sense or perceive that invitation, do you feel yourself resisting, or are you willing? And finally, do you have any sense at all of what you might be invited to freedom from and freedom to?   Marilyn McEntyre is an author of over 20 books, including Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (2021) and Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict (2020). Her book, What's in a Phrase? Pausing Where Scripture Gives You Pause won the Christianity Today book award in spirituality. Midwinter Light, reflections on poems for the “long season,” has just been released. A former professor, now writer, writing coach, speaker, and retreat leader, her deepest interests lie in connections between spirituality, language, healing earth, and each other. She teaches regularly for programs at Western Seminary, New College Berkeley, and the Oblate School of Theology.   Mentioned in the Episode: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande Reconstructing Illness by Anne Hunsaker Hawkins   Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Come Thou Long Expected Jesus from Advent Music in Solitude   Join us for our next Online Oasis—a sacred pause in a busy season. Together we'll remember Christ's coming, anticipate his coming again, and open ourselves to the tender ways he is coming to us even now—with light for darkness, peace for turmoil, and hope for despair. Join us this Wednesday, December 3, from 12 to 1pm CST for this Online Oasis, MakingRoom for Advent. The cost is flexible, as it is our hope that everyone who wishes to participate will be able to do so. Register today! We're starting a Substack! This will be “a new home for reflection, conversation, and connection with our transforming community.” Our new Substack is called “On the Journey with the Transforming Center,” and it will include thoughtful reflections from Ruth Haley Barton and the Transforming Center team, as well as alumni and friends of the Transforming Center, occasional special video teachings and guided practices, and space to interact with our content and respond with how God is working in your life through the posts. This will also be the new home of all of our podcast patron content! There will be free and paid tiers. We'd love for you to join us over on Substack. (Existing patrons, check Patreon for a special link to provide you with a discounted rate!) Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive spiritual practices tethered to the lectionary readings to accompany them through Advent. Become a paid member of Substack today to receive these practices and so much more!   The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links